“The Heart Mender” by Andy Andrews
It is rare that an author can weave the past, the present, fiction, non-fiction, tragedies, successes, and drive home a biblical truth that almost everyone struggles with in one book, but Andy Andrews accomplishes that and more in The Heart Mender. The year was 1942 and WWII reaches the shores of Alabama and changes Helen Mason’s life forever. However, this is not her first time to experience life change due to WWII. This war has torn apart her heart, mind, soul and spirit. Events from the same war also become her heart mender.
This book caught my attention because of the non-fiction nature it possess. History is a great teacher and Andy Andrews uses this history lesson to teach about the difficulty of forgiveness that holds most people hostage. There were times I could smell the ocean mist, bacon and eggs cooking, and the smoke of gun fire. The setting of the book is in the Alabama Gulf Coast, a place of which I visit at least once a year. Andy took me on a journey that was relaxing yet challenging. The story is strongly convicting as it confronts forgiveness head on. God is the ultimate heart mender but it is amazing how he used the people in this most enjoyable read. I have read other Andy Andrews books that were enjoyable but this one is his best. I highly recommend you put this on your summer reading list.
The Heart Mender is published by Thomas Nelson Publishing and was provided to me to review by their Bloggers Book Review Program.
"Jesus Manifesto" by Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola
Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola hit the spot. They seek to give us Jesus and not some watered down version of Him. If one could erase all their brain has stored about who they think Jesus is, and let this book guide them through the Scriptures they might end up in a different place in their belief system.
It seems like Jesus has just become some cool guy in a pair of sandals hanging out at the local coffee shop. As they present in this challenging book, Jesus is much more. He might would be that guy in the coffee shop but He would be the main guy in the coffee shop. He is not some second rate person who is around to make everyone feel good about themselves. He is the all powerful, never surprised, amazing Savior and Lord. Western society seems to have produced this Jesus that looks very little like the one seen in the word of God. Take the time to read this book and be challenged in your life as it relates to Christ.
"Scouting the Divine" by Margaret Feinberg
Margaret takes us from a shepherdess to a wine-maker to a bee-keeper and she reveals things we have never seen before. She makes comparisons to Bible stories and things that I have never seen before.
I loved the shepherdess part of the book. Have you ever been called a sheep? Some of you may say "no" and some may say "well, of couse, in the Bible!". And you would be right because in the Bible God is called the "Good Shepherd" and we are his sheep. Things completely came alive to me as I read things about how sheep react with no mother sheep around and about sheep needing the shepherd to show them the way. In one part of the book she writes about how the shepherd has to lead the sheep from the front and not from behind, which would be pushing the sheep. She said the sheep will start to feel uncomfortable and scared if they are pushed from behind instead of led from the front. In all the stories the reader starts to see how we as humans compare to the sheep in so many ways, we are fragile but strond willed; we are smart but sometimes seem dumb or do dumb things, but the Shepherd is always there to lead us back to where we should be. When we have wandered off our Shepherd is ready to come looking for us and bring us home.
This book is amazing. It has changed the way I will forever look at scripture. It will forever change the way I think of The Good Shepherd.
Thank you Margaret Feinberg for an amazing book that I believe will change people's life; it will change people's relationship with The Good Shepherd; and people will once again read their Bible with anticipation and excitement because of this book.
READ THIS BOOK!!!!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED AND YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD BIBLE STORY AND YOU WILL SEE THESE STORIES IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
