Personal Topics
Crayons in the Dryer by Cheryl Kirking
Publisher: Life Journey. Cook Communications Ministries
- Comments: Writes about her life in her world with triplets. A Christian mom who finds the humor in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Refreshing and rejuvenating.
Doctrinally: Beginning each story with Scripture, and ending each one with prayer. NIV and ESV are used. While it's been a while since I've read this book, I don't remember any prevalent incorrect doctrine. Yet, there may be some decision theology to read with a discerning mind.
Review by Paula Sulzle
A Positive Plan for Creating More Calm, Less Stress by Karol Ladd
- Karol Ladd has a number of "Positive" books and I have read a couple. I picked this one up because I have one son who struggles wtih anger issues.
I really appreciated this book. It started with me of course, and I needed that. The review and encouragement of how to control anger and create a calmer environment in our home was a great chance for me to evaluate our home. And then the ways to "wire" your home and family for less stress were great.
Doctrinally: Nothing to report.
Review by Valerie Johnson
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
- This book discusses all three times that Mary and Martha are mentioned in the Bible. So, in essence, it takes the reader through as much of the life of these two sisters as we are told.
An excellent book! It has a Bible study incorporated in it at the end of the book, which makes it a great book to use for a Bible study or to be read individually and do the study on your own. There are many great quotes in this book, but this one which is at the end of the book pretty much sums up what women need to realize, "The secret of blancing worship and work, devotion and service, love of God and love of people is maintaining our connection to Jesus Christ. Our relationship with him is the fulcrum, the anchor, the steadying point that makes balance possible in the first place. And the deeper that relationship goes, the more stable the balance will be."
Doctrinally: There are a couple of reformed references, but not enough to throw out the entire book.
Review by Kathy Fredrich
Come Walk With Me; A Woman's Personal Guide to Knowing God & Mentoring Others by Carole Mayhall
- Come Walk With Me encourages women to become mentors; with chapters on the various aspects of knowing God in your life and living as an example toward beginning to mentor another Christian woman. Every chapter ends with guides for doing a variety of Bible studies: personal topical studies, verse studies, utilizing a prayer journal and suggested topics.
I really enjoyed how Carole shared her personal story and how she learned each "lesson" as she grew in her faith. There is a strong encouragement for being in the Word and studying regularly and in a variety of ways. She has a light humor that is very encouraging as she addresses the mistakes we all make and how we can mature and grow in our faith with God's help.
This book would also work well for a book club that meets and follows up with the studies at the end of each chapter.
Doctrinally: Very solid. Carole stays focused on Scripture an constantly points the reader to Bible passages to support her statements and direction.
Review by Valerie Johnson