Naming Our Abuse and Journey to Heal Book Reviews

My Review for Naming Our Abuse:

 

I would recommend this awesome book to any male that has been abuse whether sexual, physically, mentally, or spiritually. I liked how this book was written by three men who shared details about what they went through with dealing with the horrible abuse. I especially loved how the authors also included questions throughout the book in order to assist people in finding their hope and healing again. I also liked how they had a little bit of room to write the answers. They talked about the difficult emotions of angry and even how guilt and feelings of suicide. I immensely liked how real the men was in trying to help others find healing and strength to continue on in their journey.    

My Review for Journey to Heal:

I would recommend this book to all females who have been abused. Men could also benefit from reading this book! I especially liked how this book stated truths to encourage and remind readers that they aren’t alone in their journey and also how the abuse wasn’t their fault and they couldn’t have prevented it. The statistics shared in this book was heartbreaking and it’s shocking to see how the number are only rising! I liked how this one contained scriptures verses and passages the readers could engage in to help them in their healing. I also liked how this one has a special prayers after each chapter to help readers to grow more spiritually. I also liked the layout of the book and how she included steps for each chapter.

                

 “I received a review copy of Naming Our Abuse and Journey to Heal from Litfuse for this review.”

About the book:

Naming Our Abuse: God's Pathways to Healing for Male Sexual Abuse Survivors (Kregel, April 2016)

A stunningly vulnerable look at the horrific realities of sexual abuse and how to overcome them.

Male sexual abuse is increasingly in the news, from scandals in the Catholic Church to exploitations at Penn State. Yet books and programs about healing are still overwhelmingly oriented toward the female survivor of abuse. As men who experienced childhood abuse, the authors of this book are uniquely qualified to address the healing process of male survivors.

Using the metaphor of a car accident, Naming Our Abuse leads the survivor from the Wreck to the Accident Report to Rehabilitation to Driving Again. This four-step model illustrates that healing is a process to be nurtured rather than something that can be healed in a single telling. Following the authors' examples, readers are invited to find solidarity with other male survivors and develop an understanding of their own wounding through journaling exercises.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1Zg5kfR

About the authors:

Andrew Schmutzer is a professor of biblical studies at Moody Bible Institute (Chicago) and a graduate of Dallas Seminary (ThM) and Trinity (PhD). He writes about integrative issues surrounding abuse, trauma, lament, and spiritual formation and speaks regularly on issues of sexual abuse. Find out more about Andrew on his Facebook: Andrew.Schmutzer

Daniel Gorski is a thirty-year veteran software engineer, having worked for AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Alcatel-Lucent, and Nokia. He earned a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Illinois and an MS in Computer Science from Kansas State University, specializing in expert systems and software automation.

David Carlson is a special education teacher, working in the suburbs of Chicago for the majority of his adult life. He takes great pride in being an advocate for his students and their families, helping them to navigate whatever challenges life may present. He is committed to encouraging and supporting male survivors through the various stages of their healing.

About the book:

Journey to Heal: Seven Essential Steps of Recovery for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Kregel, April 2016)

A path of hope and healing for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

A woman who was sexually abused as a child is confronted with many internal questions: Am I worthless? Will I get past the pain? Do I matter to God? These and similar questions can carve a deep hole in an already wounded soul. Too often, the lies of worthlessness are believed, the pain becomes too much to handle, and survivors find themselves making choices that lead to more heartbreak. With over 42 million survivors (both male and female) in the United States alone, the need for a clear path to healing is great.

Crystal Sutherland---herself a survivor of CSA---knows that while the recovery process is complex, healing is possible with God's help. For women who want to progress from simply coping to living abundantly, Journey to Heal guides readers through seven essential steps to recovery found in Scripture. Candid and open about her personal journey of healing, Crystal comes alongside her reader as a friend who understands. Infused with biblical truths, stories of hope from other survivors, and practical wisdom, this book leads women to discover the life of wholeness God has for them.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/25CIk1C

About the author:

Crystal M. Sutherland is a writer, speaker, ministry leader, and mentor for survivors of sexual abuse. She has fifteen years of experience in ministry, including women's ministry, youth ministry, worship, and Bible teaching. She has also written and led a women's Bible study for female survivors of sexual abuse. Her work can also be seen on her active blog.

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Read what others are saying:

 

 Naming Our Abuse: http://litfusegroup.com/author/SchmutzerGorskiCarlson

Journey to Heal: http://litfusegroup.com/author/CSutherland

It’s Okay You’re With My Father: A Child Abuse Investigator’s Call to the Church By William “Chris” Shelton Book Review

 

It’s Okay You’re With My Father is written to encourage churches to respond to the crisis of fatherless homes and to reach out in love especially to children who were brutally abused. Chris Shelton has a degree in Sociology, has served in the Army as an infantry squad leader, and eventually was asked to become a U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his faithfulness and his outstanding integrity. For about eight years, he has been an investigator in child protective services. His job required that he had to travel a lot and he realized that he couldn’t be the husband and father that he felt God was calling him to be. He has recently decided to become a pastor and he founded Reach Out Christ’s Kingdom (R.O.C.K.) Ministries. His ministry is committed to inspiring churches in creating an environment where everyone is accepted and loved regardless of their past or background. The church is christened by the blood of Jesus and we’re to love others for who they are. He has a vision for every church to support foster care children and parents and to reach out in love and be the true Kingdom of God. Chris Shelton has written this book as a way to influence churches, pastors, and believers to be the church and he wants to wake people up over the issues that the church needs to address.

 

Chris Shelton shared a number of case stories throughout the book that will incite readers into recognizing the dangers that our children are facing. He begins the book by stating that many homes don’t have the fathers in the homes and most of our children are being raised by shows like, “Jerry Springer”, “MTV Spring Break”, and “Girls Gone Wild”. Some of the upsetting cases, he has worked was a 14 year old raping a 9 year old, a 21 year old raping a 14 year old, and a 11 year old virgin getting pregnant the very first time in a back seat of a friend’s borrowed car. He has questioned innumerable 13 and 14 year olds girls who admitted to have had six or seven sexual partner since they were 11 years old. He has experienced cases where fathers had raped their own daughters, one step-father even traded his own step daughter to a drug dealer and exchanged sex for drugs and then the step-father raped her and made her perform on him regularly, and a man who was full blown in occult practices and fondled one of the women’s daughter that he was seeing. He has also had to work cases where children lived in poverty and the family had low incomes. Most of the cases that he has worked child services was called in because of drugs in the home. The book contained so many more heartbreaking stories but it will inspire churches to reach out in love to a world who is in desperate need of love. The book title also came from a special hidden spiritual message that Chris Shelton explained. Towards the end of the book, he revealed that when he initiated his ministry the enemy tried to take his son, Adam’s life.

 

One of the stories that stood out to me was a case that Chris Shelton had to trust the Holy Spirit completely in order to solve the case and he believed that God would show in where the critical evidence was located at. A twenty-two year old man used to be a big popular kid at a local high school. After he graduated he began flirting with and hitting on underage young girls. He would use a tactic and a master plan in order to obtain what he was truly after. He would offer to take young girls who were out alone out for a drive. He would provide the girls with beer and then he preceded to have sex with them. Chris Shelton pointed out that many of the young girls are enticed with the fact that an adult man was showing them interest and affection. One day he targeted and picked out a 14 year old virgin. He tried to get her drunk but she didn’t like the taste of beer. She took a few sips in order to please him and where she would look like an adult. He was highly wasted and he raped her. When she arrived home she was crying and she told her mother what happened. The medical examiner stated that she was still bleeding and her tears were pretty bad. Chris knew that they no one saw her being picked up and they were no witnesses around. The twenty-two year old also used a condom and they couldn’t find it. Chris decided to use a method that they taught their special agents and he rode with the young girl back to where the incident happened. He guided her in picturing that she was watching a movie. She told him where to stop the car and Chris walked alongside the road and found the condom that was used. At first he denied having sex with an underage girl but when the condom was found he changed his answer and said it was consensual. He ultimately was convicted of the crime. This story displayed the power and the prompting that the Holy Spirit can assist us in our everyday lives in only we will listen.  

I would immensely recommend this magnificent resource to anybody in leadership positions, every pastor, deacon, believers, and even non-believers. The book will benefit readers in learning about child abuse and the viral need to take action and connect with people who are hurting and who are needing love and acceptance. The church is the leading catalyst for change and if churches would reach out to fatherless children, abused children, and foster care we could significantly impact our future generations for the better. I exceedingly liked all of the cases Chris Shelton shared in this book even though a lot of them were difficult to read because of the distressing content presented in the book. I liked how Chris relied on God and he prayed for God’s assistance during all of the terrible child abuse cases he had to encounter. I immeasurably valued the story about the vampire like occult and the very real facet that spiritual warfare is very existent. It reinforced that they are angels protecting us from the schemes of satan and his demons. The biggest lessons that I learned from the book was the importance of protecting our children from predators, watching what our children watch, and paying attention to who our children are talking to online. I also learned the hidden danger of viewing pornography and how that has affected a majority of the child abuse cases. I loved the appendix and the helpful steps to help people who were abused and how to distinguish the signs and symptoms. I also liked the stance Chris took in encouraging churches to help foster children and I whole heartily believe this is imperative. Chris did an astonishing job at convincing me that some churches must do more in helping, accepting, and loving abused children and children in foster care. This book will massively influence the body of Christ and this is a book that every church leader and member needs to get a copy and read!

 

“I received this copy of It’s Okay You’re My Father for free from the author for this review”.

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of the It’s Okay You’re My Father, check it out on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Okay-Youre-Father-Investigators/dp/1449720781

 

Check out Reach Out Christ’s Kingdom website:  

http://www.calltohonor.org/index.php/home

 

Like Reach Out Christ’s Kingdom Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ROCK-Ministries/163934951311

 

Like It’s Okay You’re With My Father Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Its-Okay-Youre-With-My-Father/260115984024693

 

Like A Call to Honor Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Call-To-Honor/249140488546259?fref=ts

 

 

 William Chris Shelton discussing his new book on Homekeepers:

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngODM86BjLY

 

 

The Return of Cassandra Todd: A Novel By Darrel Nelson Book Review

 

Turner Caldwell lives in Lakewood, Colorado and works as a handyman for a local motel and he is a college student. One day, a former high school classmate, Cassandra Todd arrived at the motel where he works. Cassandra was an attractive cheerleader in high school who Turner secretly liked. Turner Caldwell’s childhood pain is tempting to resurface and he will have to deal with the past before he can attain a better future. Turner like most kids had to endure getting tormented by bullies in high school. The main bully, Brad Duncan tripped Turner in the cafeteria and caused Turner to do a face drive into his pancakes and syrup. Brad then gave him the nickname, Pancake Turner and the name stuck throughout high school. Turner felt so embarrassed by this incidence and he hated how everyone made fun of him and pitied him. All he wanted was acceptance and instead he was criticized. Cassandra Todd also saw the entire scene unfold.

 

Cassandra Todd is married to an abusive controlling husband, Brad. He worked in the construction industry and he built houses until in 2008, the economy crashed. Shortly after, Cassandra got pregnant with their first child, Justin. Brad slowly started changing and his tempter was getting out of control. Brad eventually started to get to rough and began pushing and shoving her, then it escalated to him hitting her and leaving bruises. Brad enjoyed being in charge and he checked their bank account regularly to keep an eye on his wife’s spending. He lost his cool and pushed her when she bought a cheap outfit for their son. The bruises and the beating were getting worst and she said she was going to leave him. He instigated and threatened to have their son taken away from her. One of her biggest fears was that Brad was going to hurt Justin. Finally, she left him in the middle of the night with her son and arrived at the motel and reconnected with Turner.

 

Turner is torn in helping her and is struggling to deal and heal from the old wounds of bullying. Brad has hired two thugs to find his wife whereabouts and he is desperate to find their son. Turner stepped up to the plate and is determined to protect Cassandra and Justin. Will they make it out alive? Or will they be captured or worst killed?

 

I would recommend this suspense filled novel to anyone who is looking for a book that will capture your attention. As I was reading the book, I felt like I was living the country adventure alongside Turner, Cassandra, and Justin. Darrel Nelson did an excellence job at writing the chapters in thrilling details. I immensely loved the plot and storyline because it covered real life everyday problems that some people having to face tough things like spouse abuse and bullying. The book showed the importance of protecting our children from harm and I believe it can offer encouragement to people who are facing abuse and bullying right now. The book showed how the love of Christ can make an impact on someone’s life. Cassandra believed in God and prayed with her son throughout the book. Turner had trouble praying to God when he still blamed God for letting his mother die from cancer. The book at times made me very upset and I wanted to jump in the novel and shield Justin and Cassandra from the physical and emotional abuse from Brad myself. The father and husband almost came out of me (and I’m not a dad or a husband yet) and it’s hard for me to understand how someone could hurt an innocent child and their wife who they said their vows to. But I know it happens every single day. The book is raw and real for today’s times and readers will be able to relate to the characters and the storyline. If you’re looking for a new novel to read, then read this one! This is the best fiction novel, I have read in a while it kept me engaged and I didn’t want the novel to end. I wish the author would make the novel into a series.

 

“I received this book for free from Charisma House/ Realms for this review”.

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Return of Cassandra Todd, then check it out on Amazon.com or Christian Book.com:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Return-Cassandra-Todd-Darrel-Nelson/dp/1621360210  

 

http://www.christianbook.com/the-return-of-cassandra-todd/darrel-nelson/9781621360216/pd/360212