The Shack by William P. Young

The Shack by William P. Young, 252 pages

I listened to this book as a playaway, but I also read along in parts.  I had been planning on reading this book for years, and I finally got around to it.  With the movie coming out a few months ago, I thought this would be the perfect time to do it.  I did not want to know anything about this book before I started it and to that I held true.  I had no idea what this book was about before I began it.  I was surprised by the plot.  However, I did know the major plot revolved around a very young girl turning up missing in the woods while camping with her Dad and siblings.  What I did not know or expect was what happened next. This book is about the father Mackenzie and his faith and relationship with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit.  It is also about his relationship with his own father and accepting the fate of his young daughter.

The Promise: A Christmas Tale by Ted Dekker

The Promise: A Christmas Tale by Ted Dekker-64 pages

This is a story about a mute boy named Reuben who is abandoned and abused by his "legal guardian" in a shepherds' camp in the time around Jesus' birth. He carries with him only his adoptive mother's shawl and her promise that he will someday meet a king in need of the shawl that will give him a voice. It is a story about how Jesus got his swaddling clothes and how the shepherds came to find and worship baby Jesus. I enjoyed reading it just as everything I have read of Ted Dekker's thus far. Dekker has been my favorite author for a while and continues to be. I have read many good and great books, but no author has captured my attention and imagination and made me think critically like he has.

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis with Beth Clark

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis with Beth Clark-280 pages

My mom read this book and recommended it (and actually left her copy for me to read last time she visited). I wanted to read it for last month's memoirs and biographies challenge, but didn't get around to it, so I decided to read it this month. I really liked reading this book and didn't want to put it down. It has really changed my outlook on life and what it means to do missions work and to truly do what God has called us to do. Katie Davis leaves everything behind in the U.S. and moves to Uganda shortly after graduating high school. She ends up adopting several young Ugandan girls and sponsoring hundreds to go to school and get proper health care and such. She creates a non-profit organization called Amazima (which means truth in Luganda) Ministries to help sponsor even more kids to get an education and live "better" lives. Throughout her time in Uganda she her faith is tested and stretched and God blesses her immensely and touched many Ugandan lives through her. Overall, I could not put this book down and recommend it to anyone interested in missions work of any kind, here and/or abroad. It has really opened my eyes and changed my outlook on what living in "third world" countries is really like and what God has called us to do.

Manga Bible, The Gospel, Part 1: Parables, Miracles and the Prince of Peace

Manga Bible, The Gospel, Part 1: Parables, Miracles and the Prince of Peace - 192 pages

This is a retelling of several Bible stories including parables and Jesus' miracles in comic strip format.  While it was interesting to see the artist's commentary throughout I didn't really care for this book.

Coaltown Jesus by Ronald Koertge

Coaltown Jesus by Ronald Koertge - 122 pages

Walker and his mother have been mourning his brother Noah's death for two months.  His mother can't stop crying.  So Walker prays to God to help his mother.  He is shocked when Jesus actually appears in his bedroom.  Jesus is there to help Walker deal with his grief.

I was really looking forward to reading this book.  However, I didn't really care for it once I started reading it.  It is written in verse format which actually worked pretty well.  The poems were well done and told the story well.  However, you  never really connected with the characters.  The poems were too short to really draw in the reader.  Instead you just read them quickly.  In fact, I read the whole book in about 20 minutes.  Overall, a very disappointing read.

Killing Jesus: A History

Killing Jesus: A History

By Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard

294 pages

Killing Jesus is not a religious book but a historical writing on the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth. It places Jesus’ life within a fascinating historical background. The book also details information on Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Tiberius and Herod. It gives one a sense of everyday life as a Jewish follower under the oppressive Roman political government.

The publication ends with the crucifixion, burial and the discovery of the empty tomb three days later. As a follower of Christ, I found the historical background very insightful to understand the scriptures, in a new historical light. I enjoyed it greatly.