Gray Matter ~ by David Levy, MD with Joel Kilpatrick

 When I first received this book, I read the back cover, and set it aside. It didn't appear that it would be the type of book that I would be interested in, so I decided to hold off on reviewing it for a while. I finally picked it up and began to read one cold, stormy evening, and I haven't been the same since.

No other book about spiritual journeys, or relationships with God have ever touched me as deeply as this book. I read it, with the full expectation that it would be a decent read, and perhaps I would learn a bit about the personal struggles of a neurosurgeon. The book definitely deals with the personal struggles, but it is so much more than that. This book literally touched my soul.

Dr. Levy begins by sharing his desire to get to know his patient's in a deeper way then their diagnosis. He feels that by delving into their lives on a spiritual level, he can treat them as whole people, rather than merely a medical problem needing surgery. His idea ~ to pray with his patients before and after their surgery. "To say that praying out loud with a patient before surgery would put me out on a limb is putting it mildly. It would catapult me out of the tree." Once he finally finds the courage to take the first step and pray with a patient, his life changes. The simple act of saying a prayer with his patient Mrs. Jones has a profound effect on him and her. They part and prepare for surgery in a cloud of peace.

Not all of his patients are receptive to the idea of praying with Dr. Levy. Some are downright hostile. But the ones that he shares the intimate spiritual moment with are forever changed. As the narrative continues, Dr. Levy explores deeper spiritual awakenings with his patients, from finding forgiveness and breaking free of bitterness and anger. Not all of his surgeries have the outcome he desires, some fail miserably, but the journey is nonetheless deeply moving and triumphantly inspiring.

I found myself in tears after several of the stories, and had to put the book down for moments in order to let the weight of them sink in. I was completely taken in by Dr. Levy's honesty about some of the more difficult cases, his occasion struggle with his own faith, and how he found his way back each time. "...if you want to do something well, you have to be willing to do it poorly at first."

This book was an amazing read. Throughout the narrative, I would stop and contemplate Dr. Levy's message. I found myself forgiving those who have harmed me in the past, letting go of bitterness that has been festering in my soul for far too long. I felt closer to finding my way down my own spiritual path, and it felt wonderful. This book has deeply affected me, more so than any devotional I have ever read. I highly recommend reading Gray Matter. It may not change your life, but it will certainly make you stop and think, even if just for a moment.

I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Max Lucado's Hermie and Friends ~ A Bug Collection

I was on of the 50 lucky people to receive the DVD Box Set of Max Lucado's Hermie and Friends A Bug Collection. This particular selection was in high demand on the BookSneeze program. I was very excited to receive my DVD's and to show them to my children, ages 5 1/2 and almost 3.

The DVD contains three separate disks, each containing an episode of Hermie and Friends. Each episode is introduced by Max Lucado and Hermis, who discuss some of the themes of the story to come. Some of the voice talents in this series include Tim Conway, Richard Kind, and Victoria Jackson.

The first DVD was "Milo, the Mantis Who Wouldn't Pray ~ It's About Prayer". In this episode, Milo the Mantis' Snack Shack is struck by a storm, and Milo is devastated. He struggles to find a way to express his sadness, but refuses to pray about it, or ask for help from God.

The second DVD was "Buzby and the Grumble Bees ~ It's About Bee-having." In this episode, Buzby has some trouble with his niece and nephew misbehaving and everyone sets out to teach them a lesson.

The third DVD was "Hailey and Bailey's Silly Fight ~ It's About Getting Along." Ladybugs Hailey and Bailey, who usually get along, have a huge fight in the garden and everyone else is forced to take sides. They struggle to make up before the good deeds that they set out to do get ruined by their bad mood.

The stories are deeply rooted in the bible, which is to be expected, considering they are a Tommy Nelson publication, however, I was expecting an almost sugar coated Bible story; what I got was some pretty intense lessons on God and how God expects us to live our lives, and how we should behave according to the Bible. I wasn't prepared for the heavy religious lessons, anticipating instead a sort of Veggie Tales storyline with a sprinkling of Christian values and morals. I'll admit, we aren't a religious family in the sense that we discuss God, Jesus and the Bible in explanation for everything that we do or don't do. I have taught my children about God and Jesus, and have read them Bible stories. However, I felt that the Hermie and Friends episodes were a bit too religious for us. I enjoyed the ladybugs, and thought the animation was well done, and Hermie is adorable; but Buzby the Elvis impersonating bee was too much, and the stories as a whole did not capture my children's attention. I know many families that would enjoy these DVD's, but they just weren't the best fit for us.

Flight of Shadows ~ A Novel by Sigmund Brouwer

  

I’ll admit, I’m not much of a Speculative Science Fiction enthusiast, but I was intrigued by Brouwer’s vision of the future. Unfortunately, having missed the first novel in the series, it took some effort (especially not having a grasp on futuristic fiction) to figure out the way the world in this novel worked.  The characters kept me going, though, I was engaged by them just enough to care about what may or may not happen to them. 

The story is set in the not so distant future, in an America that looks nothing like what we know today (or maybe it does, if you look beneath the surface, ironically) where social class is differentiated clearly and there is no chance of a shift of position. Influentials rule this world. They live the high life of luxury living and fancy clothing, and have the ability to enslave those beneath them.  The Industrials, what would equate to the middle class, have it hard. They are tattooed on their faces to identify them, and work day in and day out for the Influentials. They live outside of the cities in shantytowns and clusters of beaten down communities. Outside even further are the Illegals, the folks that are allowed no entry into the world of the other two, and are forced to scrape a living however they can. Amongst them are the Invisible, those that have no real ties to any class; those that have escaped from the trappings of Appalachia. Appalachia? In this world, Appalachia is its own nation, ruled with an iron fist of fundamentalist religion, where many of the characters have made a desperate escape.

The lead character is Caitlyn Brown, a young woman with a mysterious past and an awful secret. She hides her deformity with loose clothing and hides in the darkness, trying, without success to not be noticed. But, the problem lies in her past, in her creation. She is the result of a genetic experiment and many dangerous people want to harm her. She is wanted by a bounty hunter, who has escaped Appalachia to hunt her down. She is wanted by the government who want to harvest her DNA. She is wanted by her dearest friends, who wish to help her escape out West. She is wanted by the police for trumped up charges. Everyone who discovers her secret wants her for one reason or another, and not many of them are good.

While it took me a while to decipher all of the ins and outs of the world in which Caitlyn lives, once I had sorted out the classes and where everyone fit in, I was able to root for Caitlyn and Razor, her unlikely hero. Would they escape the maniacal clutches of Mason? Was Razor to be trusted at all? And the Doctor that Caitlyn waffles about visiting, the one who had promised her father that he could fix her deformity, will he be all that he seems? Will any of the questions that arise throughout Caitlyn’s terrifying adventure be answered? Will Caitlyn find the peace she desperately seeks? Perhaps. Perhaps not. If Science Fiction is your thing, you will definitely enjoy this novel.

I received this book free in exchange for my honest review ~ from Blogging For Books. If you would like to get your free books, too, please click the Blogging For Books link to the right.

An Amish Love ~ Three Amish Novellas

I haven't been reading many "actual" books lately, as I have been enamored with my Christmas present, my beautiful Kindle. However, I did put it down long enough to read through this beautiful collection of Amish romance stories entitled, "An Amish Love" by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long.

I am a huge fan of Amish literature. Whether it is romance, historical fiction, non-fiction, or cookbooks, I devour every bit of writing I can if it has to do with the Amish. My family has roots in Amish country, and I have always been taken with the simple and sustainable way that they live. I enjoy the glimpses into their world, even if it is through fictionalized accounts.

These stories are wonderful. They engage you and carry you away to the Amish world, one that is so far away, yet so very close. The characters are true and endearing. The descriptions are vivid and captivating. I loved that the stories were short, but not lacking in character development or plot. They capture your attention and cart you off into the world of the Amish, but not for too long.

My particular favorite story was the first in the book, "A Marriage of the Heart". It was definitely a romance story with a twist. I enjoyed the way that Abigail and Joseph manipulated each other, until they both began "to understand the tender truths of life-long love." They are each looking for a way out of the lives that they lead, and wind up falling ~ in love and into the Amish ways. This was a captivating story that I read in one sitting.

All of the stories in this book have similar qualities. Each of the characters is looking for "a way out" when what they ultimately find is "a way in". The stories intertwine, but also hold up well on their own, so you are able to just read one, or skip around them without losing any context.

I also loved that there are Old Order Amish recipes included. There is nothing better than a fresh batch of Amish cookies to go with your Amish romance novella! I definitely recommend this book, for any fan of Amish romance, or for someone who wishes to read a love story that isn't buried in sex scenes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://booksneeze.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Charlatan's Boy ~ Jonathan Rogers

I received a free copy of The Charlatan's Boy from Blogging For Books. Here is my review!

This book had me from "I don't remember one thing about the day I was born. It hasn't been for a lack of trying either....I don't care who you are - when it comes to knowing where you come from, you got to take somebody else's word for it." The voice of Grady grabbed me from the moment he began to speak. Yes, speak. The words leap from the pages and ring in your ears, loud and clear and full of life.

Grady is a frontier era Huck Finn, living in an imaginary world that rings as true as if it were your own backyard. His accent and choice of words resonates as if he were sitting right next to you, telling his story over a roaring campfire. Grady is as big as life, and his story is not one to be missed.

It begins with Grady and his caretaker, the illustrious huckster, Perfesser Floyd, who is everything from a traveling salesman and ringleader, to a Phrenologist and gambler. He is Grady's only "family", his only "friend", which makes Grady's desperate and detached desire to be a part of something, anything, that much more engaging. Will he ever know who he is? Or is he destine to be whatever Floyd decides he will be? From feechie wild man to the Ugliest Boy in the World to Phrenologist's assistant, Grady becomes the part and continually struggles with his "honesty muscle"...."if a feller feels honest, if he wants to be honest but he don't get much chance to talk honest or act honest, is he a honest feller or not?" Profound thoughts from a guy who's said to be "kind of stupid."

I thoroughly enjoyed the romp through Grady's Island of Corenwald, eagerly turning the pages to discover when and if these two performers would get caught in their scams, and wondering what they would think of next to con the coppers out of the unsuspecting civilizers of the next village. It was a struggle to put the book down and go to sleep. I very nearly read it straight through in one sitting. This is a fantastic book for the young adult reader, and for anyone who enjoys a great, old-fashioned feeling story full of larger than life characters that pull you into their world and leave you aching for more. The next installment comes out in the fall of 2011. I'm sure that my copy of The Charlatan's Boy will be ratty and dog-eared by then!

Please click the link to rate my review on the WaterBrookMultnomah Blogging For Books site ~  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/352

My First BookSneeze Review

So I joined BookSneeze. It's a program that gets books into your hands....for free...the only thing you have to do is provide them with a review of the book. That's it. Well, I'm a sucker for a good book....heck, I'm a sucker for a book, period. And if it's free....you get the picture. So here it is...my first review ~

A Year With God by R.P Nettelhorst

I'm going to start this out by coming clean. I am not a religious person. I consider myself to be somewhat spiritual, though, and I am always interested in reading and learning something new. However, with the Bible, I have often found it to be too difficult and somewhat cumbersome to really get into. This book offers something different (to me at least). It is a book of "Daily Readings and Reflections on God's Own Words", a daily devotional based solely on the Old Testament.

What struck me first in opening this book was the layout. I truly appreciated that the format was set up for short daily readings and they weren't dated, simply titled "Day 1" through "Day 365". I have browsed through daily devotionals on several occasions, but felt a bit constricted by the specific dates. I appreciate that this book gives the reader the opportunity to begin at any time of the year. I also liked that there were separate sections such as "Love and Hate" and "Faith and Doubt", etc. which lends itself to being even more flexible when dealing with a specific situation. If you are struggling with feeling betrayed, for instance, you could reference the section on "Loyalty and Betrayal" and read through the scriptures on the topic.

I appreciated the fact that the readings are kept short. One of the more difficult things, for me, in reading anything on a daily basis is the length of the passage itself. I find that many devotionals cite scriptures that are just too long and a bit overwhelming for me. I also like that the author deciphers the scripture and offers his own insight into it. And, while I may not wholeheartedly agree with everything he writes, I am able to put my own take on the scripture through his translation while I ponder the topic of the day. I plan to continue to read this devotional, with hopes that I may understand more about God's words and what they mean to us in this day and age. I would have enjoyed maybe a blank page after each passage as a place to write my own thoughts and feelings, so as to further my understanding of the scripture and allow me to reflect on the daily reading.

I have read other reviews on this book that state that it may not be a good choice for those "new" to spirituality or faith. While I understand that point of view, I have to disagree. I read the passages with an open mind and heart, trying to fully understand the meaning of the words. Much of the Bible is confusing, so I enjoyed Nettelhorst's reflections on the scripture. Again, I may not have agreed with all of what he had to say, but I have definitely learned more about God's Word, and look forward to furthering my own personal spiritual awakening.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://booksneeze.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


If you are interested in the BookSneeze program (it's free!!) please click the link to the left and join! The only requirements they have are that you have a blog (doesn't matter how many followers) and that you write a review for each book they send to you.

Shame on Me :( and some awesome sites YOU should join!!!!

Okay, I admit, I have let my blogging and, GASP!!! my menu planning, slide. But what can I say?! I am a busy mommy and I've been spending too much time with other endeavors...namely, my family. I am going to try to catch up a bit and start posting again. In the meantime, I have come across some seriously awesome sites that must be shared!!!

First: http://www.swapmamas.com
This is a site for all the thrifty mamas out there that like to keep cute clothes on their kids...and themselves!!! It's free to join and you can swap as much or as little as you like. If you decide to join, please put in my name (Michelle VanGurp) as your referral. I don't think I get anything, but it's nice for them to know where their members are coming from.

Second: http://www.alice.com/referral/CA57FD6
This is the best site I have come across for at home delivery of household goods. Now, this may not be for everyone ~ especially those of you that live very close to a store, but for us, it is an absolute GODSEND!!! I can get soooooo many items here, and the prices are less than, or equal to, the prices at Safeway and/or Wal-Mart...the best parts!!! FREE SHIPPING!!! And!!! They carry many green/organic products that are unavailable in my area. I made my first order a couple of weeks ago, and I'm hooked!!! It's also free to join and the only stipulation is that you have to order at least 6 items. However, for your first order, they let that slide and you can order any amount. Plus!!!! If you use the link above, you will receive a $10 credit once you spend $50 (and it doesn't have to be all in one order) AND!! If you sign up and get referrals yourself, you get %3 of their purchases credited to your account. Freakin' awesome!!!!!!! So, check out Alice!! Because, "Everyone needs an Alice!"

Third: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/TheFamVanGurp
This is the best site I have found that gives you points that add up to $$$$ for doing what you do anyway ~ surf the web!!! Seriously, you can earn giftcards and purchase all kinds of stuff with your "swagbucks" and there really isn't a catch. It's also free to join and they have a referral program that allows you to cash in on your friends swagbucks as well. So, click the link and become my "swagfriend"!!

Until next time, check out the sites above and join....cause it'll help me, help you!!