A Candle in the Dark

What is your personality type and how do you communicate with others?

• Who am I? Who Are You?
• A Study of Personality Types and How to Communicate
• Wanda Fisher © 2012
• Order from Boilfast@comcast.net
• ISBN 978-1-933150-21-5
• 133 pp. pbk.
• Also available in kindle format from Amazon.com

 Who Am I? Who Are You? is Wanda Fisher’s third book, and written like her others in an informative and caring style.

 The book begins with explanations of the personality types, with charts and questions to help readers understand which they are. When we know our types and that of others we can grow into the health and wholeness by communicating with God’s grace and love. Loving with God’s love helps us become all that God intended for us to be.

 Mrs. Fisher says we must learn to function and live with the people around us and see them from God’s perspective. That will save us from unloving, judgmental attitudes and words. That can make all of life more pleasant.

 However, roadblocks hinder our journey to communicating as God desires.  Fisher discusses the hindrances of anger, fear, vulnerability, guilt, condemnation and unruly emotions. She gives pointers on how to deal with these. Each personality style handles issues differently, including forgiveness and repentance.

 An easy-to-read, well-written book, Who Am I? Who Are You? can revolutionize relationships, families, friendships and churches.

Kathi Lipp's CLEAN OUT YOUR PURSE Contest!

• The Get Yourself Organized Project   
  21 Steps to Less Mess and Stress
• Kathi Lipp ©2012
• Harvest House Publishers
• ISBN 978-0-7369-4385-7 (ppbk)
• Also available as an e-book
• 216 pp.

 Kathi is having a “Clean out your purse” time and anyone who leaves pictures or comments on  to http://samcivy.wordpress.com or http://geniwhite.typepad.com/a_candle_in_the_dark by May 20th.about their before and after experience will be entered in a drawing for a free copy of her book.

             For years, I carried a purse to church Sunday’s and rested the bag under my pew. For  years each Monday morning the senior pastor’s secretary phoned and said, “Geni, we have your purse.” So I finally stopped carrying one.

            However, recently our middle daughter gave me birthday money for a kindle. I refused to pay fifty dollars for a kindle cover and found a nice purse at Goodwill for $3.00.

            Yesterday, my husband Bob said, “Feels like you have a brick in there,” as he picked up my bag to search for a chocolate bar he’d given me. I decided I needed to join Kathi’s contest.           

            What did I find? My billfold, of course. Sunglasses in a red case, reading glasses in a black case. The kindle and USB cord in a side pocket. My business cards in a lovely,  enameled case I bought in Taiwan and my car keys, both in an inside pocket. I ALWAYS keep the car keys in that spot.

            Seven ball point pens, two for which I plan to buy refills. Five extra? I AM a writer. Two rolls of scotch tape. Two? Eye drops, one bottle, cough drops, three. A leather-covered pad of note paper that I forget to use. A clean, new zip-lock baggie for bringing bones from restaurant steaks to my friend’s dog. (or for half a piece of Costco pizza for my breakfast. I LOVE cold pizza for breakfast.)

            A small flannel coin purse in the shape of a sock—empty. I’ll leave this out. One tube of Tide-to-do for spot removal. The lid has fallen off, so it’s probably dried out. I never remember to use it, anyway. A small leather pocketed case with all my doctor’s business cards (twenty. Yes, twenty. I’ve been cared for by far more than that number in the last five years.) But I don’t need these cards in my purse.

            One tube of French skin cream a gift from my daughter-in-law in Taiwan. Such LOVELY stuff! A small container of ‘soap to go, also from her--thin leaves of beautifully carved soap for hand washing in public, but too beautiful to use.

 A small metal tape measure in a plastic case. I use this for measuring clothes at the thrift store.

            One empty cellophane wrapper from a Belgian waffle. Husband Bob and I split this delicious sweet, over chai tea for me and a latte for him. One pair Depends in a plastic baggie. A friend with Alzheimers needed that at church last Sunday. I carry these but PTL, haven’t needed them myself for ages. A blessing.

            That’s it. I didn’t remove much, sigh@

            How about you?

Did Two Books Change US Culture?

• The Road Trip That Changed the World
• The Unlikely theory that will change how you view culture, the church and most importantly, yourself.
• Mark Sayers ©2012
• Moody Publishers
• ISBN 978-0-802-0931-7
• paper back and e-book 275 pp includes notes

 Using Jack Kerouac’s well-known book, On The Road, as his basis, Sayers writes that this story has deeply affected and changed American culture. He says the church has absorbed those changes, to our detriment and he surely is partly correct. The author suggests that some Christians no longer seek God to worship Him, but only to ‘feel his presence’, thus practicing a self-centered religion. That might be a simplification of Christian behavior, however. And of Scripture, since several Psalms and verses in Hebrews (6, 7) encourage people about finding the joys of God’s presence.

 This book contains profound ideas and is well-documented. But I wonder about cultural dislikes the author hints at, such as casual clothing being worn in church. He alludes to a dislike of casualness several times, so this may not be a fleeting viewpoint. God deserves utmost respect, of course, which may be Sayers motivation concerning the issue of casual attire.

 In the Pacific Northwest where I reside, casual clothing is mostly what everyone wears everywhere. To dress like Sayers apparently considers respectable for church could label someone hoity-toity or prideful or from out of town.

 However, the author’s theology sounds Biblical and deeply committed to Jesus.

 Comparing Kerouac’s influence with present culture has merit, although maybe not as strongly as the book suggests. Based on my BS studies in history, I’d expect far more factors than one or two authors’ works to be major change influences on a culture.

 Nevertheless, this can be a valuable volume.

Where to Find this book  (Moody Press.Com)

Learn More About China and Enjoy a Story at the Same Time

• Dreams of Joy
• Lisa See © 2011 (author of Shanghai Girls)
• Random House Trade Paperbacks
• ISBN 978-0-8129-8054-7
• 349 pp. plus photos and discussion questions

 After the death of her husband, Sam, Pearl and her sister May (characters in Shanghai Girls) quarrel and reveal family secrets to their daughter, Joy. (Yes, she’s both women’s daughter.) Joy has been influenced in college by tales of how wonderful Communism is in China, so she runs away to Shanghai to find her birth father and help build the ‘new China’.

 Pearl realizes the dangers for Joy so follows her to China, sneaking in through Hong Kong. She learns that Joy found her birth father, ZG, but doesn’t see them for months.

 Joy doesn’t realize their sojourn in a small Chinese village is government punishment for ZG, a famous artist. Joy also falls in love with a peasant boy, Tao, not really understanding the culture and disastrous life in China during Mao’s rule.

 The story brings alive Chinese life during early communism, with a host of characters we can relate to. Naturally, as with any well-written tale, complications set in for everyone. The resolution is surprising, but satisfying and suggests a sequel for May and ZG, plus Pearl and another man, Dun.

amazon.com Where to Find this book

What Afghanistan is REALLY Like

In the Land of Blue Burqas

Kate McCord (pseudonym) ©2012

Moody Publishers

ISBN 978-0-80240814-4

320 pp. (p-bk)

 

This author spent five years in Afghani villages listening to natives so she could clearly understand their beliefs. She learned the language and how to relate her faith within the context of Afghani culture, often using parables they would understand and enjoy.

She was in Afghanistan for a private humanitarian organization, and her life was often in danger. Constantly pressured to become Muslim, she easily conversed about faith, the most frequent subject of interest to people there. Her understanding of Jesus’ beauty grew during her talks with Muslims.

 She met Afgani’s ‘where they were’, sometimes teaching someone how to forgive or praying for their healing. These people usually related that they’d sensed God in a satisfying way.

She was respected for being a person of prayer, as someone firm in her commitment to God and for her honesty. She presented God as loving and personal, a concept missing in Islam. She ‘spread seeds’ for God and often won the hearts of Afghani’s, the real way to a better life for them.

Her methods of presenting Christian truths can be a model for all followers of Christ—using intelligent examples with a friendly manner to compare Islamic beliefs and Christianity.

In the Land of Blue Burqas is valuable resource to understand both the goodness and the threats of Islam and to know effective way to converse with Muslims. The book is also an interesting, well-written account of lives in this far-away country

 
Moody Publishers.com Where to find this great book.

An Andrenalin-raising, Satisfying Romantic Mystery Novel

• Beguiled, a novel
• Deanne Gist, J. Mark Bertrand ©2010
• Bethany House Publishers
• ISBN 978-1-61664-099-6
• 329 pp. Hdbk.

If you need your full hours of sleep before a busy day, do NOT start reading this book the previous evening. Deanne Gist, romance writer, and J. Mark Bertrand, mystery writer, teemed up to pen this novel. Their shared talents created a satisfying, adrenalin-raising tale.

 Charleston, SC native Rylee Monroe walks dogs for wealthy clients to pay for assisted living for her grandmother, suffering from dementia. Grandmother raised Rylee after her father disappeared and her mother died. Her father’s former law partner has been a friend to Rylee over the years, as has his son, but they don’t know about the young woman’s strained finances.

 A burglar invades the homes of Rylee’s clients, taking items of less value than expensive treasures in each dwelling. Later, these items show up with some charity, such as on the doorstep of Rylee’s church. A police officer is convinced Rylee is the burglar, labeled the Robin Hood thief by journalist Logan Woods.

 Logan tries to find the real burglar and clear Rylee, including meeting clandestinely with a known killer. Logan falls in love with Rylee, but she’s afraid to love, fearing abandonment like her mother experienced when Rylee’s father disappeared.

 Logan is writing a history of Charleston’s crimes, which his boss says interferes with his newspaper reporting. She regularly threatens to fire him.

  His agent and an important editor pressure Logan to add more exciting details to his book, like about Rylee’s troubles. He doesn’t want to betray her confidences, but needs to sell this book.

 The ending will fully engage lovers of mysteries and of romances.

Where to Find this book Bethany House Publishers

Hope for Parents of Wayward Children

• Engaging Today’s Prodigals BOOK AVAILABLE APRIL 1, 2012
• Clear Thinking, New Approaches and Reasons for Hope
• Carol Barnier ©2012
• Moody Publishers
• ISBN 978-9-8024-0557-9
• e-book and print book

 Barnier writes from personal experience as someone who left the faith her parents taught her, then returned twelve years later. She shares why and how she rejected Christianity and what helped her reconsider and finally realize Jesus was who she really wanted. What caused her to become an atheist is an important warning to today’s parents and leaders. She had honest questions that no one would answer, not realizing she was searching for truth.

Her story and comments will give hurting parents good advice on what to do and not do in relating to their prodigal. She offers strong hope that their wandering child, even when an independent adult, may be redeemed some day.

 Many parents have wayward children for whom they pray regularly. This book will help them know they’re not alone and that their offspring can be restored to the wonderful life as a valuable child of God. The God who created every child never stops loving prodigals.

Moodypublishers.com Where to find this book after April 1, 2012

Finding God in Good Times or Hard and Knowing You're 'Right on' in Life

• Jesus Take the Wheel
• 7 Keys to a Transformed Life with God
• Stuart Migdon  ©2008
• Winepress Publishing
• ISBN 978-1-57921-932-1
• 281 pp. (Hdbk)
•  

In the introduction to this practical and motivating guide Stuart Midgon offers twelve benefits for following the lessons from this book. Each chapter discusses attributes we need or gain in seeking to trust and obey God completely. Greater peace and joy are two treasures available.

 The book is presented as a fifty-day journey and each chapter ends with a daily action step. Written in a non-judgmental style, the book is enjoyable to read.

 Migdon relates lessons he learned in his own life. He’d attained every goal he’d set for his life, but knew something was missing. Raised in Reformed Judaism, meeting Jesus as the Messiah gave him what he’d been seeking. He immediately became an avid Bible student and sought out learned mentors. He also writes about aspects of the lives of Moses and Jesus.

  This book is the result of five years of in-depth study of both the Old and New Testaments. Migdon’s work is a valuable resource for a satisfying life with God, even during hardships.

Where to Find This Book

A Beautiful and Encouraging Gift Book for Caregivers

• Because You Care
• Spiritual Encouragement for Caregivers (gift book)
• Cecil Murphey, Twila Belk © 2012
• Photographs by Betty Fletcher © 2012
• Harvest House Publishers
• ISBN 978-0-7369-4528-4
• 48 pp, Hdbk
•   

 When we see people who are famous, generous, kind, wise and truly humble, we may think they live perfect, trouble-free lives. However, this book reveals a different experience for Cecil Murphey and Twila Beck. I’ve corresponded with Twila off and on and met Cecil several times. But until reading this lovely gift book for caregivers I never guessed their responsibilities and heartaches.

  Both have spouses with major health problems, so what they say in this book, they have experienced. The volume demonstrates these authors special gift of heartfelt writing and may bring tears to your eyes, tears of joy for the beauty of the book and for the glimpses of the authors’ struggles. What you won’t feel and they don’t want is pity.

Twila poignantly expresses the strong emotions she faces when people say “He doesn’t look sick”, when her husband drops and breaks a jar of tomato sauce in a grocery store aisle and feels the shame. Few people realize his muscles gradually are weakening and no cure exists for his disease.

 Cecil has spent years of his married life searching his wife’s eyes, mornings, to see if her pain is worse or has abated somewhat. He deeply loves Shirley and naturally feels stress because he can’t do more for her.

 Three other women add accounts to the brief essays in this book. Also included are two lists of practical suggestions about finding God’s strength and what to do when a caregiver feels they can no longer cope.

 The photographs by Betty Fletcher enhance the entire volume in a gentle way.

 
Where to find this book

A Canine Assistance in Recovery from Tragedy (fiction)

• The Dog Who Talked to God
• Jim Kraus © 2012
• Abingdon Press, PO Box , Nashville, TN
• ISBN 13-978-1-4267-4256-9
• (e-book)

 Novel writer, Mary Fassler buys a miniature Schnauzer puppy, unaware of his unusual talent--he talks to God and sometimes to her. She admits she is confused, lost and needing to return to an awareness of God, but can’t. She actually is angry at God and doesn’t understand how her life could have become so tragic.

 In lesser skilled hands, Jim Kraus’s tale would be unbelievable. The book, however, leaves readers satisfied and feeling good about the dog and Mary.

  Mary’s name for the wee puppy, Rufus. He isn’t a angel in disguise but like a preschool child is often fearful and ignorant about ordinary life.

 Mary slowly reveals the huge tragedy she experienced and from which her friends believe she is not recovering. She is also lonely. Two girlfriends convince her to try dating again, another disaster. Rufus nearly dies to save her from creating a worse mess in her life.

 To please Rufus, Mary sells her five bedroom, four bath home and many of her belongings and buys an eight-year old Volvo. Then, because Rufus doesn’t like cold Illinois weather, they pack up and agree to find a new home near some place warm alongside an ocean.

 Planning to explore the east coast for several months, after three days, Mary is tired of traveling. She and Rufus settle into a Cape Cod house in Atlantic City, NC, a small town.

 That’s when the story turns especially heart-warming and delightful. Near the end of the story, Rufus announces an unexpected, but logical decision.

 You won’t be sorry if you read this lovely book.

Where to buy this book