A Love For The Lost

Having previously read published accounts of David Brainerd's life, including that edited by Jonathan Edwards, I was familiar with Brainerd's compelling life story. The chance to review this Kindle formatted work made availble courtesy of Christian Focus 4 Kids and Brian H. Cosby's rendition, published as part of their tremendous Trailblazer Series of Christian biographies, provided the opportunity to share his life story with our children (ages 8 and 9). Both are avid readers and enjoyed the digital format of this publication. While our oldest was certainly able to dig into the book on his own, both he and his younger sister preferred to sit down in the quiet time before bed and have Dad read a portion to them. Supplementing our discussions were topics for further thinking provided at the back of the book, broken down by chapter in a topical format. These offered points of discussion during devotional time or as starters for discussing a chapter we were either reading or had just finished.

The difficulties young Brainerd faced offered opportunities to talk as a family about God's sovereign plans for each person and the fact that as Christians we are not to expect a life of ease and comfort, but rather a life of faithfulness and obedience that will ultimately glorify our Creator, even through times of trial and suffering. The life and ministry of David Brainerd was short and often filled with physical pain and self-doubt about his own worth and abilities. Despite this however, in his short life David exhibited the fullness of God's grace, mercy, and a Spirit-filled life that accomplished much for the kingdom of God through sharing the Word with the natives living in mid-18th century colonial America. Pillars of the Christian faith such as John Wesley, William Carey, Robert Murray McCheyne, and Jim Elliot all acknowledge the personal effect David Brainerd's life story had on them, and it's doubtless that countless others have likewise been drawn to his life witness.

The chance to review this work is timely. Some 265 years ago this week, David Brainerd passed into eternity (October 9, 1747) at the age of 29. His witness however is as strong today as it ever has been, calling on this generation, as those who came before and those to come, to remain faithful to God's call and persevere through any circumstance in the service of our King.

What is a Princess?

Mookie, my little princess

  Living with a girly girl, we're all about princesses in our household.  When Mookie was smaller we had a Disney easy reader called What is a Princess? It asked the question over and over and answered with "a princess is kind...gentle...smart", etc...   Well, the book I received from Christian Focus 4 Kids to review, How to Be a Bible Princess by Catherine Mackenzie, takes the basic qualities of a good princess to a different level.  Ms. Mackenzie takes major or minor women (some I had to look up and read the story again) from the Bible & highlights the characteristics that God used for his purposes, using both good and bad princesses as examples.  For each chapter she lays out the story of that particular character, uses some humorous quizzing to see how the reader may react to the situation, and discusses the character trait displayed in the story and how girls can find that within themselves.  The really cool thing that the author does though, is at the end of each chapter she turns it back to Jesus and how he showed those valuable traits.  Throughout the chapter she is constantly citing scripture to back up what she is laying out there for the reader.

   The book's cover automatically draws your little princess in, when we opened the package containing my copy, my little princess took one look at it's glittery cover and ran away with it to her room:) At 125 pages it is the perfect length for my soon to be 8 year old who is starting to read chapter books (there were a couple of longer chapters, but hey, one was Esther & Mookie loves Esther, so we let that pass).  However, I think it would be best read as a read-aloud devotional to do with your daughter.  Ms. Mackenzie puts forth some really thought provoking ideas and I think that it would be best served as a discussion tool. 
  With all the secular princess media out there, some with questionable subplots, it is so refreshing to find a book that draws a girl's interest to the Biblical princesses and does it in a fun and engaging way.  I loved the quote at the end that says, "a woman who loves God and his Word is to be praised.  She is worth more than rubies and she is worth more than princesses that wear rubies.  She is worth this because of her great God - and He is worthy!"

Thank you to Christian Focus 4 Kids for providing me with a free copy to review, it was a pleasure.  The opinions were my own:) 

The John Stott: The Humble Leader

This past year John R. W. Stott, "old and full of days", entered his final rest and eternal reward. His lifelong ministry and personal relationships with folks young and old alike promises to continue to yield good fruit, ushering future generations into the Kingdom by taking people to the foot of the Cross.

Over the past couple of weeks I've had the chance to learn more about this great man of God while reading the book, John Stott- The Humble Leader, with our young ones (ages 7 & 9). Affectionately known as "Uncle John" to his friends, John Stott is known world-wide for his ministry and written works such as The Cross of Christ and Basic Christianity among over 50 others.

This offering from the Trailblazers series at Christian Focus Publications weaves a brilliant tapestry depicting John's life from his early years as a perfect little heathen while attending All Souls church with his family where he was banned from Sunday School, to his turning point at university where he encountered the Living God and eventually answered his calling that led him back to All Souls as curate and rector among other Godly endeavors over a long and fruitful life. Each chapter ends with "Fact Files", short side-bar commentaries about topics or events mentioned in the chapter. We found these particularly good for focusing in on specific events of Uncle John's life and ministry. Sections titled "Thinking Further" and "Ideas For Things To Do" at the end of the book can help parents engage their young ones in Parts of Stott's life, preaching, and places he worked and visited and ultimately to better know, as I think Uncle John would want, "Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Thank you to Christian Focus 4 Kids for sending me a free copy of this book to review:)

Remembering the Titanic

 I was totally excited to get the chance to review another book for Christian Focus 4 Kids, this one Titanic: the Ship of Dreams- John Harper by Robert Plant.  My oldest, Bubby (9 years old), is totally into seafaring and shipwrecks, so I was looking forward to digging into another historical fiction with him.  He devoured the book in just a little more than a day, and then I got a chance at it:)  The book is based on an actual passenger of the Titanic, John Harper.  I had not heard of Rev. Harper prior to reading this book so I did a little research on him and it made me all the more eager to see what was in store with the fictionalization of his story.  Rev. Harper was a widower from England and traveling with his daughter, Nana to the USA to the Moody Church in Chicago via the Titanic.  The author portrays Rev. Harper just as I would imagine him myself, a person eager to share Jesus with everyone he met.  For example, his home church grew from a mere 25 to over 500 under his time as it's pastor, a sure sign of a thriving church.  While Rev. Harper is the primary character, most of the plot is seen through the eyes of Nana, and it's through her that we get to meet famous people such as the Astors who give her a tour of the ill-fated ship.
  I loved this story for bringing attention to a person who is such a light to the Titanic story.  Even as the ship was going down, Harper was fighting for souls - "women, and children and the unsaved into the lifeboats!".  With his last breath he was leading people to the Lord (that part of the story is very true & his last convert lived to tell the tale!).  The author did a fantastic job not just showing how Harper tried to win souls, but laid out the plan of salvation so plainly that even someone reading the book who is not a Christian could tell what it's all about.
  The book included historical notes on Rev. Harper as well as a timeline of his life & study questions.  I absolutely loved this book!  We will definitely be reading it again, hopefully as a read-aloud (if I can keep from tearing up!).  Thank you Christian Focus 4 Kids for sending me a copy to review!

A picture commonly accepted as being John Harper & his daughter Nana