Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Story of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World by Larry Randolph and Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Book Review

 

In Finding Grace, Larry Randolph tells the story of how he founded Canines for Christ. Him and his wife, Susan was already at retirement age and doing so much to help the community around them. He recalls how God spoke to him and told him he needed to invest in therapy dogs. He didn’t even have a dog at the time. He remembered how he has a special dog, Gus before when he was in desperate need of a best friend. The economy had just fell and real estate experienced a downturn. He had to file for bankruptcy. His family gifted him Gus to keep him company during the day. The economy did recover but his marriage to Chris didn’t. They divorced and Gus helped him through all of the pain and all the difference in the world. Eventually, Gus did pass away and he hasn’t had a dog since. He shared how he felt led to again get another dog and start his foundation. He had their logo embroidered in gold lettering and this represented the gospel and the blood of Christ. They grew it to over twenty teams and they travel all of over to homes, hospitals, care facilities, and schools to provide comfort and to display God’s love to them. In the book, they shared some of the people they were blessed to meet and help change their lives. 

 

 

One of these touching stories was about Laura and Carl. Laura met them at a drug store. She wanted to meet later on with them and tell them her story. She explained how she was hit by an 18-year-old driver going 50 mph in a 35 mph. She was driving home from a meeting when she was hit and it just so happened that an off-duty fireman heard the crash. He thought she was dead but he was able to revive her. She was given a 2 % chance of surviving. She shared how God spoke to her and told her that this wasn’t her time to go. She had to leave her job and she spends her day with her own dog, Chloe. They became a part of their ministry. 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome book on how this ministry has been able to make so much of a difference in people’s lives. This book is a wonderful example of sharing God’s love to a hurting world. It was inspiring to read the different stories and how they helped others. It was also touching to read about how Grace helped Larry when Susan faced health challenges. This book is a delightful read for any dog lovers with a mixture of positive lessons we can learn from dogs. 

 

 

 

"I received this book free from Tyndale Momentum for my honest review.”

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Grace-Inspiring-Therapy-Bringing/dp/1496473604/

Chivalry: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World By Zach Hunter Book Review

Chivalry is written in the concept of ten principles that is based on how the ancient knights conducted their life. Zach Hunter explained that when he is discussing the word chivalry in this book, he isn’t talking about how guys are supposed to treat girls. The code of chivalry is for male and female and is meant to be applied and live out where we can see a greater impact for Christ’s kingdom.  

The second code in the book is entitled, “I will never attack from behind”. Backstabbing, gossiping, and criticizing others seems to becoming more and more acceptable in our cultures. Zach stated that in ancient times, knights would only attack someone else and fight back if they were in fact being attacked by an enemy first. He goes on to declare that we should always be loyal to our friends and never share personal secrets that people have shared to us. If someone trusts us with things that they are going through then we should be committed to being a true friend. Jesus always loved others and like him we’re called to do the same. An essential lesson in this chapter was with the changing times and technology, Zach encouraged readers to have important conversations face to face. For some examples, if we are wanting to break up with someone, ask someone out on a date, or you need to converse something personal, plan a time to meet to or do it on the phone voice to voice.  

One of my favorite codes was, “I will honor truth and always keep my promises”. This one really stressed the significance of being honest and when we promise that we will do something then we must try our very best to follow through. Zach Hunter shared a personal story in this chapter about when his family moved from Georgia back to Colorado during the winter break in his senior year. He decided to spend the extra amount of time in introducing himself to every single classmate in all of his classes. He began to meet a girl outside of school for coffee regularly and they began to become friends. He knew that she saw her only worth and value in her appearance. Zach eventually began to fall for her and he decided to ask her to go to prom with him. She stated that she would love to go with him and he was really looking forward to the big night. A few weeks later at a concert, he received a devastating text from her that regrettably professed, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t go to prom with you. I already promised someone else I would go with them a year ago plus I made other plans with friends… I’m sorry but I can’t go to prom with you” (Page 96). He called her the next day and she blamed it on her friends. She stated that they all agreed to all go without dates and she had broken that friendship rule. Funny how she kept her “promise” with her friends but not with Zach and her story kept changed dramatically. He later deliberated what happened to his friend that he had grown up with and he acted like he truly cared about what Zach was going through. When prom finally arrived, Zach decided not to go to prom but made the mistake of checking Facebook and he saw that his friend went with the girl. He later found out the truth and that his friend went to school with a bouquet of flowers and got on a blended knee and asked her to prom, and shocking she agreed! Zach, I thought was very genuine and he described how he had always struggled with low self-esteem. He shared this story to explain to readers that being honest and speaking the truth in love is what God has commanded us to do. I really connected with this story because like Zach I have went through some bad dating experiences, let’s just say they could be country songs. I have seen people lie and try and play with my emotions in order to feel in control. I even had one girl that I went on a date with lie about how much money she was inheriting from their grandmother death and the amount kept magically increasing each time. Honest and telling the truth is something the world is beginning to lack. Being honest is beginning to be an enormous quality that I find attractive in a woman and it’s a character trait that I want to display to be the man, husband, and father he is calling me to be. Zach Hunter recently has gotten married so there is hope for me yet.

I would recommend this remarkable book on chivalry, especially to teenagers and college students because it’s more geared to that age group. But many adults would still benefit from absorbing the ten codes of chivalry and applying them to their daily life. I immensely enjoyed the ten principles presented in this book on chivalry and living how Christ has called us to live. The ten codes of chivalry are not easy to live out and many times we will fail but we have to keep trying to be transformed into the image of Christ. Some of my favorite life changing codes were, “I will never abandon my quest, I will fear no evil, I will fight only for the sake of those who are unable to defend themselves, or in the dense of justice, and I will honor true and always keep my promises”. I really loved the last section of the book called, “Onward Living the Code” because it contained numerous questions and a reminder of what each code of honor encompasses. The book enclosed many personal stories about Zach, a vast number of scripture verses, thoughts from a few of his friends about different chivalry core points, and countless examples from historical speakers and everyday people. The book has the powerful force to influence our generation with following the ten codes of honor and it will prominently benefit readers into living their full purpose in life.  

 

Tyndale House Publishers/ Tyndale Momentum has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Chivalry check it out on Amazon.com:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Chivalry-Quest-Personal-Honor-Unjust/dp/1414376359

 

Check out the Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zRj6e-bxo2U

 

Zach Hunter discussing Chivalry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD0yG2tycG4&feature=youtu.be

 

Q & A with Zach Hunter:

http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/AuthorQ&A.PDF

The Briarpatch Gospel : Fearlessly Following Jesus into the Thorny Places By Shayne Wheeler

 

In The Briarpatch Gospel, Shayne Wheeler exposed the challenges and trials of travelling in the thick briarpatch. Living in a complicated world is anything but an easy task. The briarpatch is consisted of people out of our typical circle of Christian friends. Some people try to avoid the gays, lesbians, and bi sexual orientation, the drunks, the loners, people with tattoos, piercings, ex-criminals, people who practice other religions, or anyone who doesn’t fit in our group of friends. As Christians, we’re called to love one another as Christ would. It’s important to remember that we’re not called to judge others. Who are we to say who Christ loves more and accepts, because we have all have sinned and fallen short at some time or another. Christ is the ultimate judge and he died on the cross for all of humanity sins.

 

Shayne Wheeler’s story started when he and his wife decided to move to Decatur, Georgia. He had a vision and a calling from God to reach out to a community and build a church. He decided that they needed to be a church that accepted everyone for who they are. Shayne pointed out that the world views Christians as being judgment and condemning rather than accepting and loving like Christ. Non-believers are watching how some professing Christians picket military funerals and loudly and boldly say, “God hates fags”. Reading scripture and we know that nowhere is that saying in the Bible. Shayne Wheeler shared on page 189, “In Romans 1, homosexuality is mentioned alongside such issues as envy, strife, gossip and slander, lack of love and mercy, even disobedience to parents (Romans 1:29-31). It’s important to love them and not say they are going to hell or that God hates them. Shayne Wheeler continued with, “I don’t think the Bible supports same-sex relationships, but that does not mean I think you love Jesus less than I do in my own struggles with things the Bible clearly speaks against-greed, unforgiveness, or even lust. It just means we are all sinners in need of the grace God provides for us in the cross of Jesus. Brokenness is in all of us. We are all in this together. We are family” (Page 195).

 

One of the chapters covered the topic of the hidden icebergs in our lives. Everyone knows that the dangerous part of the iceberg is beneath the surface.  It’s the part that we hide from others that damage our lives. Shayne Wheeler discovered that the two most problem areas people pursue is greed and sex. He stated that, “Yet Americans-whether Christian or no-give away less than 2 percent of their income to charitable organizations or to the poor” (Page 68). Many times we let our sole identity become how much stuff we have and how much is in the bank account. Sex is more of an intimacy longing and we want to be close to someone else but isn’t just about sex. It’s a sense of wanting to be connected and we want to be able to be ourselves with someone else. Many people turn to pornography for a temporary relief and they believe it will make you feel complete. But it never satisfies us for very long.  Walking with Jesus through this life and beyond means being honest with yourself and others about your weaknesses, no matter how problematic and uncomfortable you may be.

 

I would recommend this magnificent book to anyone who is looking to be shaken up and wants to be pulled out of your comfort zone. This book is for people who are seeking a resource on dealing with the critical needs in the world we’re living in today. If you’re aren’t willing to overcome your own judgment and pride and befriend gays, bi, and lesbians, the drunks,  people struggling with addictions, drugs, ex-criminals, and anyone who doesn’t seem like you, then this book might not be for you. It’s written for the radical people who are desperately trying to become like Christ. Christians, it’s time to reach out and show the love of Christ to all people especially people who we wouldn’t choose to be our friend. Shayne Wheeler had excellence points presented in the book that I know will offend most people. But loving others is a risk that we must take in order to become like Christ! This book will transform your life if you let it!

 

 

Tyndale House Publishers/Tyndale Momentum has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Briarpatch Gospel check it out on Amazon.com: 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Briarpatch-Gospel-Fearlessly-Following/dp/1414372302

 

Check out the book trailer:

Undaunted: One Man's Real-Life Journey from Unspeakable Memories to Unbelievable Grace By Josh McDowell Book Review

 

Undaunted is a personal memoir demonstrating the life of Josh McDowell. The book is also based on the movie Undaunted. He grew up on a farm in Union City, Michigan. At a young age, he began to realize that life isn’t always right and you aren’t always treated fairly. His father was an abusive alcoholic and would regularly beat his wife. He witnessed many quarrel and fights between his parents during his childhood. Many different times, he would stand up to his father and try to stop him from hurting his mother. He would sometimes be so drunk Josh would tie his father up in the family barn and threaten to kill him.  He secretly wanted him to die where his mother wouldn’t have to endure anymore pain. He had much resentment and bitterness over how his father behaved and treated his mother.

 

At the age of six, his family hired a farm aid named Wayne. His mother stated and warned Wayne that Josh was a trouble maker and that he liked to get into stuff. One day his mother and father had to take a trip out of town to visit some relatives. Wayne ended up having to watch Josh because he couldn’t miss school. Before his mother left she told Josh, “Do everything Wayne, tells you to do. If I hear that you disobeyed, I’ll give you a good thrashing when I get back” (Page29). This event led to Wayne molesting Josh at the young age of six. He was molested for the next seven years. He told his mother twice about the abuse and his own mother wouldn’t believe him. She denied and claimed that her son was lying and he never told anyone else.  

 

I would recommend this memoir to anyone who is looking for an inspirational story about overcoming the odds and the struggles of life. I especially connected to the realness that Josh displayed and shared the bad things he had to go through.  I can’t even begin to imagine the heartache and the pain of being sexual abuse. This book has made me think about making sure I don’t ever say to my children to do whatever someone tells them to do. I’m not saying that they don’t need to listen to authority, but if someone tries to touch them, I want them to speak up and I want to know about it. This book will awaken your eyes and you must always watch out for others and listen when your child speaks.

 

Josh had to encounter sexual abuse, an alcoholic abusive father, and he had great difficulty understanding a relationship with a God was possible and that he truly loved him. Like many fatherless and abusive fathers, he had to learn how to receive that the Creator knew him and loved him. This book will take readers through the whole ordeal and adventures of Josh’s searching for God’s answers and the truth. Josh was seeking to try and disprove that the Gospel wasn’t true and that it was all made up. Eventually we know he has radically changed because now he is a popular evangelist and a bestselling Christian author. This book revealed the details of his transformation journey to him following Christ. His story will inspire, encourage, and give readers hope to overcome whatever trials they had to face in their own childhood.

 

 

Tyndale House Publishers/ Tyndale Momentum has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Undaunted check it out on Amazon.com:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414371225/

 

Read Chapter One:

 

http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-7122-1.pdf

 

About Josh McDowell:

 

 

http://www.tyndale.com/10_Authors/author_bio.php?authorID=414



Check out Undaunted Movie Trailer:

 

 

http://youtu.be/jK5u1znD2-s

Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned so Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams By Shawn Johnson Book Review

In Winning Balance, Shawn Johnson has written about her successes and failures in her life of competing in the Olympics. Shawn started practicing gymnastics in a small town in Iowa. The first gym coach she had told her mother that her daughter had no talent in gymnastics. Eventually her mother decided to move her to another gymnasium. Shawn stepped into the place she was intended to be. Chow became her new coach and he began teaching her the proper way to handle and compete in gymnastic. Chow was an influential gymnastic teacher in China before he formed his own gym in America. God was directing both of their steps for His ultimate purpose to come to pass. This book covered the entire journey that lead to her winning a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics. She shared about her faith and how she remained in balance throughout her life. She has had to struggle with injuries, overcoming adversity, living a normal life, and life decisions. After the Olympics, she even starred on Dancing with the Stars and took home the championship trophy.  

I would recommend this story to anyone who loves watching the Olympics competitions. Even if you’re not fan of the Olympics you will still benefit from reading this book. The book is a magnificent example of never giving up on your dreams and settling for just enough in life. Working hard and going after her dreams proved to help Shawn achieve her best life. Difficult times may come but we have a decision to stop and quit or to keep pressing on. When she competed in the Dancing with the Stars competition fear almost got the best of her. A stalker came to the ABC studio and he crossed the fence but he was apprehended. He was planning to kidnap Shawn and make her marry him. They found a gun, a knife, a bulletproof vest, zip ties, and duct tape in his car. Reading this part of the story, I could sense the fear that she was facing. There were times she wanted to leave and quit the competition for her safety and protection. Satan tried to cause her to give into fear and run but if she did she wouldn’t have won the competition. She would have also let the stalker win and control how she lived her life. I immensely enjoyed the section after each chapter entitled, “Lesson I’ve Learned”. Living out these principles can change your life. If you’re looking for an inspiration story then this one will greatly encourage you.

Tyndale House Publishers/ Tyndale Momentum has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Winning Balance check it out on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Balance-Learned-Living-Dreams/dp/1414372108/

Author Photo:

Read Chapter One:

http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-7210-5.pdf

The Winning Balance book site:

http://www.winningbalancebook.com

The Winning Balance trailer:

http://youtu.be/ezMLWQhT4rI