Book reviews

Loving and Leaving a Church

Loving and Leaving a Church

Let’s face it – for many pastors the perception they have of their ministry when they set off to their first pastorate and the reality of that ministry are two very different things. Barbara Melosh’s Loving and Leaving a Church: A Pastor’s Journey tells the story of...

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My Favorite Color Is Blue. Sometimes

My Favorite Color Is Blue. Sometimes

Life is hard. Sometimes, children find that out sooner rather than later. For a child the loss of a loved one may be difficult to process. Children lack the vocabulary to express their feelings as adult do; their brains are not fully developed so completing the...

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Crafting Gratitude

Crafting Gratitude

Most of us know that practicing gratitude has many benefits including greater happiness, better health, and increased productivity. Gratitude journals, where you might list five things each day which you are thankful for, are one way to focus on gratitude, but after a...

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The Lifesaving Church

The Lifesaving Church

From the title, you might think this book is a how-to for churches and other faith communities on how to prevent suicides. It is that, but also much more. It is the story of the author, Rachael A. Keefe, her struggles in a highly dysfunctional family, her eating...

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The Pope’s Cat

The Pope’s Cat

Children are drawn to animals and find them fascinating, so it’s no surprise that a number of children’s books focus on animals. The Pope’s Cat written by Jon M. Sweeney and illustrated by Roy DeLeon is a little bit different, however. It tells the story of a very...

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Piggyback Psalms for Fun and Easy Singing

Piggyback Psalms for Fun and Easy Singing

There’s something about setting words to music which impresses them into our memories. I remember once my husband and I went to visit our two children who were attending the same college. We decided to go out to lunch and, with the parents in the front and the kids in...

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Books to Share to Show You Care

Books to Share to Show You Care

It’s hard to watch someone we love going through a tough time. We can offer to listen, pray, and try to help in other ways. Sometimes we might want to share a book which we think would be helpful. Both All Shall Be Well: A Spiritual Journal for Hope &...

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Holy Ground: An Alphabet of Prayer

Holy Ground: An Alphabet of Prayer

There’s no shortage of devotionals available. Search for them on Amazon and you’ll find ones for women, men, girls, boys, teens, and even animal lovers. Some of these encourage us to “claim” the promises in the Bible and realize the power of prayer to get us what...

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