Book Review: An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World by Stiller

This book is magnificent! I highly recommend it for all Christians.

First, it gives great background into the history of each country that it features. It also gives a personal, real life story from someone who has traveled there. Someone who has seen and heard and smelled the land. This is moving in and of itself. But after you are given this experience, it gives you key items to pray for the country or people and a prayer that you can read to aid you in praying for that country.

It also gives you a key Scripture to pray for each country or people it is focused on. I have been using this book as an aid to help me pray for a country or people group a day. The book divides these country or peoples up into 52 chapters so you could easily focus on one a week. It is divided for your ease and guidance.

Any way you embark on this prayer journey is good because you are helping others by praying. It is a unique way that God allows us to partner with Him in His greater work and this book just moves you, giving you the desire to pray. I think every Christian should have this book. It will only grow and challenge you while strengthening your prayer life for the nations.

 I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Curio by Denmark

This book was interesting. It depicted two creative worlds. One that is ruled by evil magical overlords called chemists and another that exists in a curio cabinet. The Curio world is filled with wind up and porcelain dolls that are alive. It was inventive and curious for one's mind exploration. And though I love the striking cover of this book; you cannot judge a book by its cover. This was not my favorite for several reasons:

1- It was listed as a book from Zondervan which is a Christian book publisher. I did not see anything Christian about this book. This fact bothers me, like it is deceptive to the reader or something. I would much rather see it published under a non Christian label. I mean what is the point of distinguishing between Christian and non Christian if this guideline is not followed.

2- This book was listed as a teen fiction book. I would not be comfortable with my teen reading this book for all of the descriptive scenes of intimacy, though not sex, there was way too much kissing and touching guiding the mind into sensuality for a YA book. I found more in this book than other non Christian books that I enjoy with my daughter. This is sad that it was included while not necessary.

3- The book did not flow well. It was not pleasurable to read. I think it was because of the switching between the two worlds too often and trying to describe two unknown worlds to the reader. It was exhausting to keep up with especially because the descriptions did not flow with ease. It was too choppy.

I appreciate the author's imagination. I however cannot, in clear conscious, recommend this book to my readers. When you browse a Christian book section you should be able to trust its appropriateness for your children. This book really opened my eyes to this failure here.

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book at Amazon.com here.