Andrew Smith's Blog

My name is Andrew. Come and have a look inside my life and watch me share what is on my heart.

North of Hope: A Daughter’s Arctic Journey By Shannon Huffman Polson Book Review



In North of Hope, Shannon Huffman Polson shared her journey in grieving for her father and stepmother’s death. One day, she was with her brother and his wife at an open air market and she received the dreaded phone call that nobody ever wants to hear. There has been a terrible tragedy that forever changed her life. Her stepmother and her father lived in Alaska. They were travelling and exploring the wilderness when a bear came upon their campsite and the bear brutally killed them. Shannon Huffman Polson found their notebooks and journals which in details described their actual whereabouts and which route they took. A year later, she gather up her adopted brother, Ned and his work colleague, Sally and they travelled the exact route. She discovered that the bear that killed her father and stepmother was a barren-ground grizzly and they are very aggressive creatures. The book described in full descriptions what Shannon experienced and saw along the way. The book also covered the relationship and memories of her father and stepmother.
 

She revealed her disappointments and her feelings of always trying to please her father. All she wanted was her father to be proud of her and she struggled with living for herself. For example, she shared that she went to Airborne School and when she came home for a visit. Her stepmother removed all of the pictures of the children and had a random friend’s child photo on the kitchen counter. Her dad reassured her that he remembered each of his children being born and he has the memories. I can definably understand how that would make anybody feel unwanted or unloved. I would have most likely reacted the same precise way. That pointed out to me that children see everything that you do and they look to their parents for their value and worth. 
 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is undergoing grief and they are looking for encourage from someone who has been there. Shannon Huffman Polson story will inspire you to enjoy every moment with the ones you love deeply. Her journey in Alaska wasn’t an easy ride, at times it was extremely painful. I loved how Shannon Huffman Polson was very real and transparent about the grief she experienced along the journey. She elucidated that she hated getting asked, “Are you over it yet?”and “Have you moved on?” These questions are the type of questions people shouldn’t ask when you lose a loved one. How are you supposed to answer that? Does that bring you any comfort? You don’t ever get over people you care about and love. The memories you shared together still lives inside you. If you’re looking for a book from an author that has suffered tremendous lost and is willingly to help others through the pain, then read this one!


 

"I received this book for free from Handlebar Marketing/ Zondervan for this review".

 

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

 


 

Book Trailer:

Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices By Chris Brauns Book Review


 

In Bound Together, Chris Brauns explored the concept of how everyone is connected together and we’re bound together. What one of us does, affects everyone else. We’re not lone rangers and we’re created for community. Adam was commanded by God to be fruitful and multiply and to have dominion over all creatures. They could have any fruit they wanted expect from one tree. Satan tempted Eve into eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil and she talked Adam into it. Everything changed! Chris Brauns used the principle of the rope to elucidate that Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden has profoundly impacted all generations. Since then, sin has consumed every generation and we’re all guilty of sinning. Because we’re all a part of Adam’s descendants. He used the term “solidary” to describe the principle of the rope. Solidary, denotes “a union of interests, purposes, or sympathies among members of a group. It speaks to the ties that bind a group together” Page 26). The book also goes on to say that Christ has died for our sins and when we received salvation we become a portion of His body. Christ is the ultimate head of the Church and the body. His death allows us a chance at repentance and forgiveness from our numerous sins. 

 

Chris Brauns shared the example that if he leaves his wife and children it will negatively hurt everyone not just himself. We can’t assume that our choices that we make only effect ourselves. Chris Brauns also stated that divorce is like an amputation and it should only be done when it’s the last choice. Divorce brings deep emotional pain to everyone involved. He also discussed the significance of marriage and how God compared marriage to our union with Christ. Marriage bonds and ties us emotional, physically, and spiritually to another forever. Scriptures remind us that wives are supposed to submit to their husbands. And the man is the head of the wife like Christ is the head of the church. This doesn’t mean that if the husband is abusing the wife then you should submit. The scriptures also tell husbands to love their wife like Christ loves us. Basically this means we’re both called to love each other when we made the vow before the Lord to care for another person until the everlasting.
 

I would recommend this splendid book to anyone who has ever wondered why we have to pay for Adam’s and Eve’s sin and to people who feel believe their choices doesn’t harm anyone but themselves. This book goes into vast detail on the how each person’s life affects another whether we realize it or not. I loved the story of Rehab that Chris Brauns clarified. Rehab was a prostitute in Jericho and she hide the spies of Israel in her home. She asked the spies if God could spare her and her family from the destruction of Jericho. God answered her and they were the only family freed from the annihilation of Jericho. The grace of God forgave her for her sinful past and she became a huge follower of Jesus Christ. I cherished how Chris Brauns used this point to remind readers that the grace of God can cover them and He can forgive you for your sins. Even if your family has a history of generational sins, it can be broken completely with Christ’s assistance. I immeasurably loved the chapter devoted entirely to marriage and it helped me to see the importance of marriage in God’s eyes. Even though I haven’t met my wife yet, it gave me a much needed reminder on what my roles of a husband are intended to be. The book was an enormous reminder that our actions and behaviors doesn’t just impact us, they influence the next generations for good or for bad! It’s up to us to make a wise decision on which one we will ultimately choose. If you’re looking for a book that you reveal to the truth about why people suffer and how our choices affects others, then this book is for you!
 
 

 “I received this book for free from Cross Focused Reviews / Zondervan for this review”.
 
 


If you would like to purchase a copy of Bound Together, then check it out on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or Christian Book.com:
 
 
 
 

Stress Test By Richard L. Mabry, M.D. Book Review


 
Stress Test is a fiction novel that contains loads of suspense for the reader to enjoy. This is the first book that I have read by Richard L. Mabry. I can truly declare that he knows how to write an intricate plot that will engage readers into the very last page. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read medical, mystery, suspense, romance, and adventure filled novels. I deeply connected to Matt’s, who is a likeable doctor and he is exceedingly determined to save the patients’ lives. He has a dilemma and is being framed for a murder that he didn’t commit. I extremely don’t like when the innocent are being set up and injustice is taking place. Sandra is a lawyer that is struggling to find love and she prays to God one day to guide her in finding her husband if he even exists. God heard her prayer and throughout the book you will see if God does indeed have a husband for her. She also represents Matt and she tries to prove that he truly is innocent of the murders.
 
I immensely loved the Faith aspect of the novel, Matt wasn’t trusting God and didn’t really understand God’s love for him. But when circumstances began occurring and he has no one else but God to turn to. He starts praying again for the first time in years to be set free from the murder charge. Sandra on the other hand was a professing believer and has trouble dating doctors because of her last bad relationship with a doctor. Both of these characters have a lot they must overcome and deal with. The novel gave me encouragement that I should continue seeking God in finding my wife and the book displays that God can turn anything around. The book also had massive amount of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. If you’re looking for a new exciting fiction novel to read, then this one will definably influence that God is in ultimate control and he can turn everything bad to good. The novel left me with a sense that God is directing our paths if we don’t see how everything is going to work out.  
 
 

 

“I received this book for free from Litfuse Publicity Group/ Thomas Nelson for this review”.
 
About Stress Test:
 
They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.


Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans-they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt's only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he's being charged with murder.


Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can't walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.


Matt's career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he's a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth-and the faith to keep going-will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.
 
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/jJaEd 



Meet Richard:  
 
 
A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Learn more about Richard at: http://www.rmabry.com

 

Read what others are saying:

Richard Mabry is celebrating the release of Stress Test with a Nook HD Giveaway! Enter today.


Stress-Test-giveaway300
One winner will receive:
  • A brand new Nook HD
  • A $15 gift certificate to BarnesandNoble.com
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 27th. Winner will be announced on 4/29/13 at Richard's blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions: 90 Faith-Building Ideas Your Kids Will Eat Up! By John Avery Whittake, Crystal Bowman, and Tricia Goyer Book Review and Giveaway

 
 


Focus on the Family presents Adventures in Odyssey, Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions is written for parents to sit down and bring back family mealtimes and to make memories that their children will remember for a lifetime. Some parents struggle with having enough time to sit down and have a whole meal with the family. We tend to get so busy that some nights, we’re running around in a flurry to get one child to the baseball game, another child has basketball practice, another has choir practice, and making sure our children finish their homework and study. Meanwhile settling for fast food or a quick meal on the couch just seems flat out easier and quicker. Taking the extra effort to have a conversation as a family could hugely benefit families, if we would be proactive in seeking a deeper connection with our loved ones starting with our mealtimes.

 

The book is themed in five course mealtimes that help children to learn more about God. Each day starts out with a “mealtime prayer”, “appetizers”, “main course”, “table talk”, and “vitamins and minerals”.  The book consists of an area to guide you in praying before the meal and some days contain a scripture to pray. Some days encompass games and activities to do with your children and other days have trivia or riddles. Each day has questions to begin an in depth conversation with your children that relate to the Bible. The book has a total of ninety days’ worth of family devotions. The book also has some special devotions for Holidays and themes including, Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Bible Riddles, Let’s Bake, Search for Treasure, and many more.

 

I would recommend this remarkable family devotions to parents who have younger aged children. Older children and teenagers wouldn’t be as willing to engage in some of these activities. If you can get teenagers to participate, all the more power to you! Let me begin by saying, I’m only twenty-two and I don’t have any children yet. So I couldn’t personally converse and complete the activities in this book. But I am planning on using this family devotional whenever I have children. My parents also raised me with eating meals together every night growing up. This is one thing I am passing down. I truly trust that this book will influence and help your children in learning about Christ. I loved the concept of praying before the meals and the different ideas the authors had on who to pray for. On one day, they suggested that you have your children identify missionaries that they personally know and lead your children in praying for their safety and family. I also enjoyed how the author wanted to make sure we taught our kids gratitude and being thankful for what God has blessed us with. The authors used Luke 17:12-19 to illustrate this point. Jesus healed 10 people who had leprosy and only one thanked Him. They wanted us to convey to our children to be hands-on in saying thanks and telling people how they have impacted us and we appreciate them. The authors encouraged to as a family to write a thank you note to someone and share with them. I personally believe that this could easily help our generation, if we voiced more encouragement and gratitude on the things we have been blessed with instead of always wanting more.

 

The devotional has some funny activities that such as, “King of the Mountain”. This one is geared towards teaching your children the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. This activity allows your children to come up with ten new rules for your family and I can only imagine what some children would say. I especially loved the different games the book had. One of the days had a game called Truth or Consequences and it recommended dividing the family into two teams and playing a game of true and false about anything. And it also discusses excuses or lies you have heard and the importance of honesty. This book would aid and clarify our children’s values and it lets us have a glimpse in their world. I immensely loved the different Biblical questions, trivia, games, scriptures, and prayers presented in this book. I really believe that mealtimes is extremely significant in relating and connecting with our children. This small act can plant a small seed in their heart that will support our children in learning about Christ from an early age. The theme section devotions will require parents to plan ahead of time for the special activity. One of the days had a treasure theme and it encouraged parents to hide a Bible, memory verses, a picture of your family, a new cross or Bible verse necklace or bracelet, and anything else you can think of to impact your child on their spiritual journey. You can also design a treasure map to discover the hidden treasure. This activity seemed like it will be a fun filled day that would create memories and assist you in bonding with your children. I wish my parents would have thought of doing this neat activity when I was a child. These devotions will plant the starting foundation of a relationship with Christ and I highly recommend it!

 

“I received this book for free from Tyndale House for this review”.

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions, check it out on Amazon.com or Christian Book.com:

 


 

 

Tyndale House has also graciously provided me with a free copy to give away to a lucky reader. Giveaway is open to residents living in the United States only.
 
 

 
 
For a chance to win a copy please fill out the Rafflecopter Widget.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

Read a sample:

 
http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-58997-676-4.pdf

Lead Your Family Like Jesus: Powerful Parenting Principles from the Creator of Families By Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer Book Review and Blog Tour



In Lead Your Family Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer have collaborated on the principles of how to lead and parent your family. The book covered 12 important principles to impact your family for the glory of God. For example, some of these included, “Saying No to EGO”, “An Audience of One”, “Family Values”, “For a Limited Time Only”, “Teaching to the Test”, and much more. Leading your family requires serving one another, providing unconditional love to each family member, teaching children in the way they are supposed to go, and how they are expected to behave.

 

The book was divided into four sections, “Heart”, “Head”, “Hands”, and “Habits”.

The heart consisted of focusing on the internal issues and not letting your pride and ego drive how you raise your children. It’s critical that we don’t overly push our children to succeed to make us feel like we’re better parents than other parents. We have to identify why we really want our children to get good grades. Is it because we’re comparing ourselves to other parents to inflate our pride? If so, we have to change and stop comparing our kids to other kids.

 

The head section was about writing down a vision, your core values, and goals for your family.

 

The hands covered the significance of being hands on in your parenting. It’s viral to keep in mind that we have our children only for a small amount of time. This segment will teach parents to set goals for your children. Then coach them throughout the different stages of their life where they can learn responsibility and become effective adults.

 

The habits involved having alone time with the Creator, praying for your spouse and children, studying scriptures, and forgiving and extending grace.

 

I really loved the idea of having family values and writing down a mission statement for the direction you want your family to follow. My values are thankfulness, uniqueness, unity, sharing, responsibility, respect, love, justice, integrity, and making a difference. Ken Blanchard recommended to pick four values to describe your family’s values. If I had to choose only four mine would be: thankfulness, love, respect, and integrity. My first value is thankfulness- I stand for being grateful for all the things God has blessed our family with. I want to instill in my kids the importance of praising God for everything He has provided for us. My second value is love- I want to pass down the unconditionally love God has shown me to my kids where my grandkids will one day continue passing down the legacy and they will give away their love to others. My third value is respect- I want to teach my kids to respect their parents and to use their manners. My four value is integrity- I want to exhibit honesty and keeping their word. I noticed that it is also truly difficult in keeping the values to just four values.

 

Ken Blanchard also stated, “What’s the purpose of your family? What’s your picture of the future? What values will guide your journey? What goals do you want your family members to focus on today?” (Page 56). The purpose of my family is to show my wife and our children the unconditional love of Christ in each and every day. I want to pray over my children lives and pray for their future spouses and I want to begin whenever we know we’re expecting and continue praying for them until I die. I want to instill the importance of studying God’s Word and I want to teach them to pray to their Heavenly Father about their concerns and desires. My picture of my family is to teach them to use manners and responsibility. I want them to make their beds, take turns taking out the trash, mowing the grass, setting the table, and cooking meals to where they are able to become better adults. My goals for my children is to make at least a B letter grade where they can do well in school.

 

I would recommend this magnificent Focus on the Family book to all parents and people who are wanting to have children at some point in their lives. This book is for men and women and it will be a great resource to read together as a couple. Grandparents could also read and benefit from reading this book. This book will outstandingly influence you and your family in your parenting tactics. I immensely enjoyed reading and learning firsthand about some of the issues the parents have to face and deal with. I also loved the extra everyday people they surveyed and asked about parenting and what they have learned. I also liked what Tricia Goyer emphasized how important prayer is and how she prays for her children by using a neat technique, “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”. She picked out a scripture for each body part and prayed it over their lives. This book has benefited me in learning about parenthood and how to lead my family like Jesus desires me to. I’m not in the target audience for this book. But when the opportunity came for me to join Tricia Goyer’s book launch team, I’m sure glad I did! I’m only twenty-two and not married and I don’t have any children yet. If you could go ahead and pray that I find my wife and we would be bless with having children. I would greatly appreciate it. I choose to review this book because I’m a firm believer in learning from others, who have what you one day are hoping to experience. This book has helped me to see other parent’s success and failures in parenting and how to handle managing a family. This book has changed my life and cause me to discover my values and my vision for my family. I know I will be rereading this book before I have children and making my wife join me in the process. I also realize that my wife and I will have to discuss our values and vision for our family. If you’re looking for a wonderful parenting book, then this book will massively change your life and your family life will be forever improved and impacted for the Kingdom of God!

 

“I received this book for free from Tricia Goyer Launch Group/ Litfuse Publicity Group/ Tyndale House for this review”.

 

 

Book Info:

  
 
(Focus on the Family/Tyndale) - Does your family need a five-star general at the helm? A psychologist? A referee? Ken Blanchard, best-selling co-author of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus, points to a better role model: the Son of God. Joined by veteran parents and authors Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer, renowned business mentor Blanchard shows how every family member benefits when parents take the reins as servant-leaders. Moms and dads will see themselves in a whole new light-as life-changers who get their example, strength, and joy from following Jesus at home. This user-friendly book's practical principles and personal stories mark the path to a truly Christ-centered family, where integrity, love, grace, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness make all the difference.
 
Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/jizhQ
 
Meet the Authors:
 
Tricia: 

 
Bestselling author of more than 30 novels, nine nonfiction books, and more than three hundred articles for national publications; 2003 "Writer of the Year" at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference; popular blog writer, speaker, and radio host. 
 
Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com
 
Ken: 

 
Leadership expert and author of over 50 books, including the New York Times bestseller, The One-Minute Manager; cofounder of Lead Like Jesus; and coauthor of Lead Like Jesus; Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time. 
 
Learn more about Ken at www.kenblanchard.com
 
Phil: 

 
A human resource and industrial relations manager in corporate America for 36 years with Xerox Corporation and U.S. Steel, co- founder of Lead Like Jesus; co-author of five books, including The Servant Leader and Leadership by the Book with Bill Hybels.
 
Learn more about Phil at www.leadlikejesus.com

 

Download Lead Your Family Like Jesus Booklet:

 


 

Download Lead Your Family Like Jesus Activity Worksheet:      

 

Celebrate the release of Lead Your Family Like Jesus with Tricia by entering her iPad Mini Giveaway and RSVPing for the Lead, Momma Lead LIVE Webcast Event (with MomLife Today's Tracey Eyster) on April 16th.


LYFLJiPadGiveaway300

  One winner will receive:
  • An iPad Mini
  • A Tricia Goyer library 
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 15th. Winner will be announced at the "Lead, Momma Lead" Live Webcast Event on April 16th. Connect with authors and everyday moms, Tricia Goyer and Tracey Eyster, for an evening of sharing and perspective-changing encouragement for leading your family. Tricia and Tracey will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Lead Your Family Like Jesus and join Tricia and Tracey on the evening of April 16th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 16th!

Angel Guard: Not All Spirits Are Good By Ian Acheson Book Review



Book Summary:
Within a period of weeks, three horrific bomb blasts devastate areas of London, Los Angeles, and Sydney. No explanation is offered, no victory claimed for these acts of terror. Yet behind the scenes a Machiavellian European businessman, aided by the dark forces to whom he has sold his soul, is planning to bring the richest nations to their knees for his own evil purposes.
 
Jack Haines, an Australian academic, is grieving the loss of wife and children in the Sydney blast. Against his will, he finds himself thrown into a war that transcends the physical world, a conflict in which angelic guards have a special mission for him. But how will Jack respond when angels turn out to be more than precious porcelain statues? And will he accept that he has been chosen to fight for the future of mankind?
 
This fast-paced supernatural thriller by debut novelist Ian Acheson mixes faith and nonstop action to spin an unforgettable tale.
 
My Thoughts:
I would recommend Angel Guard to anyone who enjoys reading spiritual fiction. Men and women would both enjoy this novel. The book covered a wide range of action occurring between the demons and angels fighting over the humans. I immensely loved how Ian Acheson described the battle scenes in vast details. I felt like I was living the scenes along with the characters. The book was written to where people could connect to the storyline and plot. It touched on the raw emotions of losing a spouse and children in a deadly blast. The angels and demons were portrayed in a very genuine approach to showcase that it could really be happening this actual way in real life. The novel left me with a feeling that angels are really around us at every second protecting us from evil spirits. I loved the thrilling sensation that the novel gave me to the last page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
 
"I received this book free from the publisher from Lion Hudson/ K book review bloggers program."
 
 
Read the Excerpt:
Book Trailer:

I Know, Lord. I Need to Change. Help Me. By James MacDonald Book Review




In I Know, Lord. I Need to Change. Help Me, James MacDonald explored the transformation of changing that is only possible with admitting the areas in which you need to change. Next we have to repent and turn from them. Then we have to rely on the assistance of letting God change our hearts. The book had a whole list of areas readers might need to change. Some of these included: addiction, bitterness, fear, envy, negativism, low self-esteem, loner, sexual lust, worry, depression, anger, and many more. James MacDonald shared his own struggles and areas he needed to change, his anger and frustrations in his home life and business. He pointed out was the faulty methods of change and why people say they want to change and then why don’t follow through.

 

The book is divided into three sections, “The Preparation of Change”, “The Process of Change”, “The Power to Change”.

 

I would recommend this superb book on changing from the areas that are deeply effecting you to anyone who knows that their current life is heading in the direction that isn’t where God wants them to be. This isn’t a relaxed read because it’s not an easy topic. This book will require you to put in the work to learn how to change. This book immensely helped me to realize the areas that I needed to change with God’s assistance. Some of the areas were low self-esteem, being a loner, and letting fear to regulate my life. I had to confess my sins and admit my fears and concerns to God. I benefited from James MacDonald encouraging readers to declare out loud that they are dead to that sin. Satan enjoys people to believe that they are going to forever in bondage and they will never be free. But this is a complete lie from the enemy. I loved the suggestion that James gave on asking the Lord to fill you with His spirit and let Him began to work in your life. If you’re looking for a book to influence your life and to guide you on how to finally change, then this one is for you! It could massively contribute in the process of setting people free from addictions and negative attitudes.

 

"I received this book free from the publisher through the Moody Publishers book review bloggers program."

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of I Know, Lord. I Need to Change. Help Me check it out on Amazon.com or ChristianBook.com: