From Margaret Mezzacapo|
Author: Nik Wallenda
Title: Balance : a story of faith, family, and life on the line
Yes, Nik Wallenda comes from the famous Flying Wallendas. In this book, he describes growing up in the circus and several of his famous stunts, including his walk over Niagara Falls last summer. It’s a quick read because there’s not a lot of substance to it –I would have liked some greater detail about circus life and how he performs his stunts. This book is suitable for all ages.
faith
The rewards of simplicity : a practical and spiritual approach
From Virginia Pisciotta
Author: Pam & Chuck D. Pierce
The rewards of simplicity : a practical and spiritual approach
Given the popularity of the Hoarder’s TV show, there is no shortage of books dealing with handling clutter. This book goes beyond (but does include) the usual helpful suggestions for getting rid of excess stuff, taking a broader and deeper view of the things (not always material) that clutter and complicate our lives. The book is written from a spiritual point of view and the authors (both ministers) use both Scripture and their own experiences to teach others how to simplify all aspects of their lives and free themselves from the anxiety that often comes with cluttered and complicated lives. The last paragraph in the postscript sums the book up nicely, “Simplification is not about making life easier. It is about clearing away the cobwebs that obscure our vision. It is about choosing that ”good part” and discarding the rest. It is about being free from the distractions that keep us from truly knowing and fellowshipping with our families, our friends and our God.”
Love amid the ashes : a novel
From Ginny Pisciotta
Author: Mesu Andrews
Love amid the ashes : a novel
Love Amid the Ashes is a fictionalized account of the biblical story of Job, as told through the eyes of Dinah, daughter of Jacob. Dinah, according to apocryphal writings, became Job’s wife after his first wife Sitidos died. Early in the story, Dinah travels with Job’s caravan to Uz to become the second wife of one of his sons. As Job loses everything, including all his grown children, Dinah stays on as part of his household faithfully tending to the needs of Job and his wife. She uses her knowledge of herbs to care for Job medically.
In this gripping novel , familiar biblical characters are mixed with fictional characters and become more alive with the added detail. We see bits and pieces of the lives of other biblical characters woven into the story of Job. The continuing rivalry of Jacob and Esau, the treachery of Simeon and Levi, even Joseph finds his way into the story as Jacob’s family travels to Egypt for survival.
If you enjoy biblical fiction you should like this book which is full of intrigue and suspense. You will hold your breath at times, even though you know the final outcome for Job is good.
Plain fear : forsaken
From Rosemarie Jerome
Author: Leanna Ellis
Plain fear : forsaken
Vampires and the Amish, sounds bizarre and I was skeptical at first but the story slowly lured me in until I was hooked. It begins with a young man running for his life and evolves into a young Amish woman haunted by her dead boyfriend and an ex-cop from New Orleans hunting for his wife’s killer. It is a dark story of secrets, love, faith and a battle to save a woman’s life and her immortal soul.
Pearl in the Sand : a novel
From Ginny Pisciotta
author: Afshar, Tessa
Pearl in the Sand : a novel
This gripping novel is faithful to the biblical account while elaborating on the story of Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute in Jericho who aided the Hebrew spies, joined the Israelites, and went on to become the mother of Boaz (the husband of Ruth) and the great grandmother of King David. This book has it all – action, romance and deep spiritual insight. My one gripe would be that at times you wished it didn’t take so long for Rahab and Salmone to understand each other (even after they married).
Girl Meets God
From Rebecca Segers
author: Winner, Lauren F.
Girl Meets God
“Girl Meets God” is the memoir of a young woman who is the product of a Jewish/Christian marriage, but raised a Reformed Jew. As she grows into her teens, she is drawn ever more deeply into her faith and as a college student at Columbia, she converts to Orthodox Judaism (this is necessary as her Judaism has been passed down patrilineally and is thus not accepted according to Orthodox Jewish standards). Notwithstanding her deep commitment to the faith of her father(s), she finds herself drawn even more fully to Jesus and ultimately commits to Christianity, converting yet again while studying at Oxford University in England. An incredibly bright and articulate woman, Lauren is still sorting out her connections to her past and her deepening Christian identity. At times witty, clever, midrashic and thoughtful or all at once, this moving memoir is sure to make the reader ponder his or her own faith journey and perhaps strengthen it as well.
Glory invasion : walking under an open heaven
From Ginny Pisciotta
author: Herzog, David
Glory invasion : walking under an open heaven
Can quantum physics and string theory support faith and miracles? Read this mind-boggling book. It will amaze you, excite you, and leave you with more questions than you had before reading it. This book is a powerful combination of testimony, the Word, theory and science. The author shows us that the unseen things that God used and uses to create are His presence and sound waves. Every created thing has sound waves and responds to sound waves spoken with the glory and Spirit of God. If you first get into the glory zone of His presence and then speak forth what He shows or tells you, creation will respond to your word. Glory Invasion is full of amazing stories of miracles, and gives great insight into how and why they occur, and how we can accelerate miraculous harvests.
The Unfinished Angel
From Donna Barnes
author: Creech, Sharon
The Unfinished Angel
There is an angel living in a tiny Alpine village where life is quiet and good-until an American girl named Zola arrives with her father to open up an international school for children. Our “angel” feels untrained and without a mission until Zola arrives. Unlike everyone else, Zola can see the angel, because she has dealt with angels before. When Zola discovers some homeless children who need help, Zola and the angel help each other, and help the villagers become a closer community in the process.
“The Unfinished Angel” will make you giggle and wonder if maybe you have been exposed to angels in your life and if they did indeed help you and maybe you even helped them.
The centurion’s wife
From Ginny Pisciotta
author: Bunn, Davis
The centurion’s wife
If you like biblical fiction you should enjoy this book. Experience the drama of the earliest days of Christianity through the eyes of Leah and Alban. Although born to wealth and power, Leah is now working as a servant in the household of her uncle, Pontius Pilate. She is dreading an arranged betrothal to Alban, an ambitious centurion who is sent by Pilate to find out what happened to the body of Jesus, and whether the disciples were planning a revolt against Rome. Procula, Pilate’s wife, sends Leah on a similar mission. Revisit familiar biblical characters, and meet new fictional ones in this novel filled with danger, intrigue, romance and life-changing faith.
The supernatural power of a transformed mind : access to a life of miracles
From Ginny Pisciotta
author: Johnson, Bill
The supernatural power of a transformed mind : access to a life of miracles
If you are tired of reading and talking about a gospel of power, but not seeing it in action, this book is a must read. Miracles should be a normal part of Christianity. To return to the orginal mission, to do what Jesus did, we must radically change our thinking. We must renew our minds. Bill Johnson does a great job of showing us what happens when we allow God’s supernatural power to work through us, and also how we can bring this kingdom reality into our lives.
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