The Bible Made Easier for Children

The Big Red Holy Bible is definitely child oriented - easy to read and filled with colorful pictures. It’s a great first Bible for children. Youngsters can understand some of those complicated stories we’ve all struggled with because it’s written in plain English – no interpreting. Of course, that means it’s been interpreted for the reader, which may be a problem for some. The Big Red Holy Bible includes a dictionary and an index that are also easy for children to use.

But I was disappointed that it comes with a paper cover instead of a hard cover. It’s too large a book as a paperback, especially in the hands of young children. Other than that I think it’s a good version for children to start reading before graduating to a more mature version.

Your Children will love A Christmas Knot

William Bentrim has done it again! His latest children’s book, A Christmas Knot, is just delightful to read – for both child and adult. It tells a sweet story about Hardy who is helping his Dad put up Christmas lights. Dad is called away for awhile. Hardy and his cousin Mardi decide to lay out the strings of lights so they’ll be ready to go up when Dad returns. Great idea. But Tiny, Hardy’s pup, sees a squirrel. Well, we all know where this is going. After the wild chase, there sits Tiny entangled in a ball of Christmas lights.

Dad returns and realizes Hardy and Mardi were just trying to be helpful. So off he goes to the hardware store to get new lights. Rather patient Dad, I’d say. I’m not sure if I would have been quite as calm. But there seems to be a lesson here for parents also.

The ending of the story brings us back to the meaning of Christmas. Dad decides to offer the large ball of lights to the local Nativity scene and it lights up as the Christmas Star.

Mr. Bentrim has created a fun story for children with a wonderful lesson for both children and their parents. And he brings in the true meaning of Christmas all at the same time. Read Bentrim’s A Christmas Knot to your children. You won’t be sorry.

Transforming Church in Rural America

Transforming Church in Rural America, by Shannon O'Dell, is both a story and an instructional manual. The story tells how Mr. O’Dell came to accepting his role as a pastor of a rural church and making it come alive. He was happy as a lark in his large urban church but kept being called to pastor a small, dying church in Nowhereland, Arkansas. Having been an active member of many suburban churches I can only semi-relate to the problems of both the urban and rural churches. But I can see the issues of many churches, no matter where they are located, are similar.

I’ve been part of churches that had the masses exit within weeks and months. I’ve been part of churches that worked hard on coming back after the exodus. It’s never easy. It takes a lot of work and a change in attitude by the pastor and the members.

Mr. O’Dell knows what he’s talking about. Not all of his suggestions would work for all churches but any pastor (no matter where his or her church is located) can come away with good ideas after reading this book.

His many good points particularly include his V.A.L.U.E. (Vision, Attitude, Leadership, Understanding, Enduring Excellence) system. I feel the Vision and Attitude are the most important, and the others should follow, with a little bit of help from our friends and prayer.

No matter what you get from this book you will find the points delivered with a good sense of humor. I laughed out loud in many parts of the book. Read it and see what you come away with. It’s good for any pastor, any leader in the church, anyone who volunteers in a church, or anyone who is simply a member with little participation. After this book, I think every reader will volunteer to help the life of his or her church.

Book Reading and Signing at Barnes and Noble

Come by to see me at Barnes and Noble on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. I'll be reading and signing A Surprise for Grandmother Rabbit. Barnes and Noble is located in Brunswick Square Mall, 753 Route 18, Brunswick Square, East Brunswick, NJ. The event will be in conjunction with the Book Fair Fundraiser to support Monroe Township PTA-Oak Tree School. Hope to see you there!

Sweet and Simple Story about Christmas

A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker tells the true meaning of Christmas. It’s well done with the child thanking God for each person and animal in the Nativity – Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, of course, but even the donkey, the star, the manger and the shepherds. The book is beautifully illustrated and perfect for a young child. This is a book that can be read on Christmas Eve and any other day of the year. It reminds us all of the spirit of Christmas and all of our blessings.

Amy Parker has written a simple but quite effective story for any child and parent to enjoy.

Don't Waste Your Time

The Falling Away by T.L. Hiines is a difficult book to read. Dylan Runs Ahead, a Native American, is addicted to prescription drugs. His white friend Webb is addicted to alcohol. They are involved in a drug deal where two men are murdered. But Quinn, a homeless woman who turns out to be one of the Chosen, is out to save Dylan (also Chosen). In the meantime, she kills a state trooper. Bizarre? It gets better (or in my opinion, much worse). Throw in a cult whose leader takes over people’s bodies and minds.

The storyline is rather disjointed and it takes awhile to figure out who’s wearing the white hats and who’s wearing the black hats. But once you think you’ve figured out who the good guys are, the story takes another bizarre twist. It’s basically confusing right to the last page, where the story ends rather abruptly.

Now maybe this storyline just isn’t to my liking. So go ahead and give it a shot. But even if you love suspenseful stories with a good deal of violence there are other well written books out there. This one is totally disjointed and confusing to read. My opinion – don’t waste your time on The Falling Away.

Let's Do Lunch!!!

Well, I’m always ready to do lunch - maybe that’s why I’ve been overweight for years. I’ve been on many diets and always have a problem sticking to the diet after a couple of weeks. No, I don’t need to lose 230 pounds like Roger Troy Wilson did, but maybe his book can help me lose that last 10 pounds! So I picked up a copy of his book, Let’s Do Lunch.

I’ve never heard of a diet quite like Wilson’s but I certainly see how it can work. Eat fruit, fruit and more fruit to take away the urge to satisfy your sweet tooth. I think that could work for me. Then he suggests lunch should be your main meal and contain all your protein for the day. I agree that’s a healthier way to eat. But could I do it? Maybe some days but my schedule just wouldn’t allow me to do it on a daily basis. But Mr. Wilson has an answer for that too. There are ways of “doing lunch” at dinner if that’s necessary for your particular schedule.

It all started with frozen grapes! You laugh but I’ve actually been eating frozen grapes as a snack for years. They’re delicious! But I never thought of them as a means to losing weight. Mr. Wilson created an entire diet that began with a simple plate of frozen grapes.

Other than eating lots of fruit for breakfast and dinner and having your protein at lunch, this is basically a diet that eliminates sugar and flour. Also, he suggests eating corn and beans (with the help of Beano for those who may need it), which will take away the urge to eat the fattening white foods – bread, potatoes, rice and pasta.

Let’s Do Lunch includes many delicious recipes and two weeks’ worth of suggested menus. Mr. Wilson also claims there’s no need to exercise while dieting. This is probably where I disagree with him, but it’s his story that’s a success – not mine. So give it a try – with or without the exercise.

I think I’ll give it a try to see if I can lose those last ten pounds – maybe with some exercise. See you! I’m off to stock up on lots of bananas, grapes, peaches and plums. Yummy!