still alive. but maybe not kicking.

ok, so i've long finished the books that i'm 'currently reading' on the right. but this year has been a very low reading year. compared to the usual 50 or so, i think i hit about 10. and i didn't even finish half on them.
(and to remind myself for future purposes on reviewing)

I finished (and can remember reading them!)
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
PS I love you

...and i'm half way through...
the Bible and Modern Medicine
the New Science of Strong Materials or why you don't fall through the floor
Pierced for our transgressions

Book Review 8 - Worship Matters

Title: Worship Matters

Author: Bob Kauflin

Having read this several months and since lent the book to my bro this is difficult to write but really this book deserves an amazing review. It is definitely the best book on worship I have ever read. Its written primarily for worship leaders but is a great read for those involved in worship teams in churches and for church leaders/pastors. If you go to amazon (I think) you can have a looksee of the contents page. The style of his writing is great, easy to read for British people and shortish chapters with enough depth to get you think and Biblical references to follow up and check his interpretations.

I actually have nothing more to say, its now available to buy in the UK so you don't have to be die-hard and get it shipped from america. This book is a great first read but its also great as a reference and make sure you find a mate to discuss what you're reading as you go, its definitely worth it.

Book Review 7 - Head Over Heels in the Dales

Title: Head Over Heels in the Dales

Author: Gervase Phinn

This is the 2nd time I've read this book and I thought it was every bit as funny and well-written as when I read it the first time. The book is part of the Dales series by Phinn, a school inspector in the North of England (that's for anyone reading this who's not British and doesn't know where the Yorkshire Dales are).

Head over Heels pulls together accounts of visits to schools in the region and times back in the office with fellow inspectors and as such is more than just a collection of funny things that kids say. Phinn excels at amusing descriptions of peoples characters and seems to have an amazing memory for details (maybe that comes with the job as inspector).

I don't think its worth writing a longer review for this one, just get a copy. Its part of the series of books (equally as good as far as I can remember) that includes 'The Other Side of the Dale, Over Hill and Dale and Up and Down in the Dales'.

Book Review 6 - The Devil Wears Prada

Title: The Devil Wears Prada
Author: Lauren Weisberger
February 2008

There's not really much to say about this book, if you like fiction and you enjoyed the film you'll probably like this book. However, I warn you it does have variation from the film in quite a few ways so you're going to have to put up with that. A few of the characters are really quite different, like Andy's best friend Lily, who is not (as in the film) a talented art gallery owner person but a constantly drunk student. I reckon the ending on the book is far superior and Miranda really does reach a whole different level of haughtiness.

I picked up this copy for £2 so if you can get it for similar its worth a try, though as times I found Miranda so totally annoying it was not what i'd call a relaxing read!

Book Review 5 - If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat

January 2008

Title: If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat

Author: John Ortberg

This is the 2nd time I've read this book and if I remember rightly I enjoyed it more the first time. Like Wild at Heart, I felt the author took a very small part of scripture and then expounded on it an amazing amount (to the extent of making up quite a few details). Having said that, the additional 'details' do make for an interesting read and helps you to imagine the scene where Peter walks on water with Jesus.

The book is well written and the chapters each follow a particular theme as the story unfolds. The book also benefits from questions at the end of each chapter to make you think a bit more about the application of points raised in your own life.

I'll quote just a bit from the end of the book from a chapter entitled 'How big is your God?' because it really spoke to me. In speaking about worship 'In worship I remember that reality is more than what I can see and touch. In worship I acknowledge that I look at a shrunken God on a regular basis, looking at him through the wrong end of the telescope. So in worship, at its heart, we magnify God. .. In worship I remember again that we worship the great God, the Mega God, the Lord of lords. ...From this point on, for the rest of your life, every time you walk on the water, each time you trust God and seek to discern and obey his calling on your life, your God will get bigger, and your worship will grow deeper, richer, and stronger'

Book Review 4 - Wild at Heart

December 2007

Title: Wild at Heart - Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

Author: John Eldredge

There has been a little controvesy about this book and its 'sister' book Captivated, so having been offered it to 'see what I thought' I took up the offer.

In parts, I did actually enjoy this book but sometimes it wound me up a little. I did wonder sometimes about how scripturally sound this book is and would recommend it with caution. Although he makes some good points about how men think, there are some gross generalisations.

I'm not sure if some of the points I wondered about were cultural as well. Having grown up in up in SE London not the US, I'm not how much we as kids thought about hunting and shooting bears(But then I'm female, I'd need to ask my brother if he wanted to be taken my Dad to take him hunting). And I wasn't treated like a princess (and didn't really want to be, to be honest). But as I say, I speak for myself. Its an interesting read and I felt it got better about 2/3rds of the way in and then dropped off a bit at the end.

Update

I havn't forgotten about this blog, i'm still reading, things have just gotten pretty busy! Its approaching the Christmas break, so I'm looking forward to finishing all the books i'm currently reading and will update properly in January.

Book Review 4 - Starring Sally J Freedman as Herself!

October 2007

Book Review 3 - Malachi

October 2007

Malachi is right at the back of the Old Testement in the Bible. Its a fab book, and will probably take you only about 10-20 mins to read, so you could read it twice!

If you want to know about this book look it up on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Malachi (although I must admit I did not read all of this source so cannot vouch for its accuracy). (Wikipedia is not the infallable Word of God.) However, I thought I'd share some things I learnt from this book rather than give you the low down on who wrote it and what the words from the Hebrew version mean literally.

I reeeally enjoyed this book, its a brilliant demonstration of how the human race hasn't really changed much. Its about a bunch of Chosen people who were going through the motions of sacrifice but not really giving God their all, just chosen to be obedient in uncostly areas.
'But you [God speaking to the priests] have departed from the way. You have caused many to stumble at the law...you have not kept My ways, But have shown partiality in the law'.

As the end of last month, my Bible notes helped cover this book and I'll quote (Ian Coffey, Cover to Cover) 'There were intellectual-sounding comments and questions that betrayed how far the people had strayed. 'Basically everyone is good and God loves us all' was one lie people had fallen for, and 'How can God be good if all these bad things happen?' was another (2:17)... ' How often have I heard those sentances from both people?

Malachi is a brilliant example of the faithfulness of God to a complaining people who don't really care much a lot of the time. Those who turned back and feared the Lord, even though they had wearied the Lord, 'the Lord listened and heard them; So a book fo remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who mediate on His name. "They shall be Mine,".."On the day that I make them My jewels I will spare them"

So thats just some thoughts really, its not a book review except to say, go read it or if you don't have a Bible click on the following link http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201%20;&version=47

Book Review 2 - Look, No Hands!

September 2007

Title: Look, No Hands!
Author: Brian Gault with Helena Rogers

This book is the autobiography of Brian Gault, who was 'one of the 480 survivors of 'miracle drug' Thalidomide's exposure to the British market..To the shock of his parents, he was born with no arms'. I've read this book a couple of times now, as those of you who know me, will know I'm fairly interested in the prosthetics side of medical engineering.

It really is an inspiring story and one of the points that really stuck me was about using trusting God to take us through when we just take the first steps along the path he has shown us. I guess sometimes we think God can't possibly want us to do something because we can't see how what we imagine is at the end of the road is possibly going to work (in our humble opinion!)

Its interesting to see how people can manage with limbs and you might even end up trying to pick up things with your feet by the end, just to test how difficult it is for people used to having hands and fingers.

Conclusion: An interesting autobiography, a pretty relaxing read if you're not into deep books and are inspired by normal down-to-earth people.

Another brief review giving more of the story is found at http://www.cmf.org.uk/literature/content.asp?context=article&id=1078