Companion To The Old Testament by Ted Leach

Companion To The Old Testament by Ted Leach

 

I really enjoy books that overview the Bible. People that enjoy studying the Bible, like myself can never really get enough commentary of their favorite book. Since commentaries and overviews are essentially opinions, each one is inherently different. Companion To The Old Testament is the first Old Testament Only commentary I have read thus far. 

Ted Leach, the author begins his overview with an informative survey of the Bible and it's history. I really enjoyed this introduction. It was very concise and offered information on several different branches of Christianity and Judaism. The author  states,

   "This book helps Christians understand how the Old Testament is “community property” shared by Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is a constructive resource for interfaith discussion, particularly for people of different faiths (or no faith) who are seeking to identify some shared principles of our common humanity."

As promised, the introduction reflects this and offers the reader tidbits of data to reflect this statement. An interesting fact I learned is that Abraham is an important figure in not only Christianity and Judaism, but also the Muslim faith as well. In today's day in age, with all the fighting and acts of terror, we could all benefit from this knowledge. The things such as religion that seemingly separate humanity have more aspects in common then people are aware of. 

   The bulk of the book is the actual commentary of The Old Testament. 

The Companion To The Old Testament does not read like a traditional commentary though. The Companion is composed of 10 chapters including:

   An Approach To The Bible

   The Hebrew Bible

   Seeds Of Faith

   Freedom & Responsibility

   The Land Of Canaan

   Jerusalem 

   The Prophets

   In The Shadow Of Empires

   Judaism

   Messianic Hope

Concluding this mass is a list for further reading and section for end notes. I really appreciated the way this companion was laId out because it offers a wealth of details in an unconventional format. I found it very refreshing. 

I would give Companion To The Old Testament 4/5 stars. If you are looking for the regular old Bible survey, you may be disappointed. However, if you are in the market for something atypical, you are in luck. This book is for you! These are the people I would give my recommendations to. 

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Meet The New You by Elisa Pulliam

I just turned 30!!! Talk about a 1/3 life crisis!! Needless to say I have been exhausting all my resources to make this year count. I want to make 2016 the best year yet. Enter: Meet The New You- A 21 Day Plan For Embracing Fresh Attitudes and Focused Habits for Real Life Change. It's exactly what the Dr. ordered. 

   Elisa Pulliam isn't just an ordinary woman. She is exceptionally qualified. Her merits include: life coach, mentor, wife, mother, coach trainer, speaker and founder of moretobe.com. If anyone was going to guide me on this journey, I wanted it to be her. 

   The book is very attractive. It isn't too long and there is ample room to record your thoughts and reflections to the many exercises provided inside. The whole package is very sleek.

   The program as a whole is incredibly effective.This special program is unlike the other life plans I have came across that make you endure pages and pages of reading someone else's story and journey. Pulliam's goal is to fully engage the reader with exercises that are tailored to really get down to the nitty gritty. It makes women take a good hard look at themselves. And we all know that it takes WORK to really change. The author accomplishes her goal by helping women:

      -understand who they are

      -cultivate a vision for who they 

        want to become

      -recognize what holds them back

      -determine the steps necessary 

        to put new, practical habits

        into action

   Her course contains 5 phases. Each one is unique but fits together perfectly to create a thought provoking, reflective 21 day plan. The author leads us through the plan with awareness, assessment, obstacles, solutions and vision. These phases are progressive- each question building on the last. 

   My most favorite aspect of the program is that Pulliam empowers women to take charge of their lives by engaging in a meaningful relationship with God and His Word. After all it is He who created us and to Him we will return someday. It is natural to seek out the Lord's help when we are trying to instill lasting, positive change in our lives.

   With the Lord's blessing, Pulliam's qualifications and effort on our part -us women can expect life-long transformation. I would recommend this 21 day plan to any woman who is stagnant in her day to day life. Since Pulliam's plan uses stories, biblical application, personality assessments, thought-provoking questions and life changing principles,women of all backgrounds and situations will benefit from reading this book. I would rate this book 5/5. 

It's time to discover who you really are and how you can live life differently. It's time to meet the new you!

**I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I do not review products that I do not personally use myself.

   

The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids by Zondervan

Have a budding prayer warrior at home? Are you eager to instill a life long love of prayer into your tween or teen? Are your struggling with prayer yourself? I have the answers to your prayers ( pardon the pun please). The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids is a powerhouse in the prayer department. This is also a compact edition Bible. It can easily be carried to school, Sunday school or on over night trips. The Bible is packaged inside a durable, attractive cover- it boasts many features. These features include:

      -full NIV text

      -presentation page

      -highlighted verses for 

        memorization and meditation

      -book introductions

      -reading plans

      -topical index

      -devotions about people who

        prayed and listened to God

        such as Abraham, Hannah & 

        Job 

       -the "hand prayer" model to 

        remind kids to pray for others 

        & themselves 

       -prayer journaling pages to 

         record prayers & answers to 

         prayers.

   Prayer is hard work, especially for children. Coming from a religious education background, I know first hand how children struggle with prayer. Two of my favorite features in the NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids is the Prayer Journal and the devotion sections of the Bible. Boasting 9 pages in the back of the Bible, the prayer journal called Conversations with God gives the child ample room to see how God listens and answers their prayers. Seeing how God is in tune with their lives and cares enough about them to answer their prayers will most definitely encourage any young pray-er to keep going. 

   

   Also The Big Dreams, Big Prayers Devotions help to kick start a stagnant prayer life. The devotionals use scripture to show how God's people (sometimes imperfect) talked to God during both times of anguish and celebration. These are great models for children to follow. They also give children true-to-life examples they can relate to. 

   

   Aside from prayer, just reading the Bible is a daunting task. The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible for Kids takes the pressure off in 3 easy ways. First, throughout the text there are special highlighted verses that can be used for memorization or scriptural meditation. A child could easily locate a favorite verse and write it down to reference throughout the day. 

   Every book has an informative introduction listing who wrote the book, why the book was written, what is special about the book, when the book was written, what chapters tell you about a character's experiences and lists the important chapters in the book. 

   Lastly, the Bible offers a unique 3 step reading plan. The people over and ZonderKids really put some effort in on this one. I have never seen a reading plan quite like this and may very well adopt it for myself. The plans are broken down into "courses". 

   Course one is a 2 week time commitment and lists a basic survey of the Bible. You have 3 sub-courses to choose from. 

   Course 2 is a 6 month commitment- a birds eye view if you will. Here you will be taken through 13 sections. 

   The last course is the entire bible broken down into a 3 year reading plan. Of course- you would only have to read 1 chapter a day. There is no set plan so one could easily tailor the plan to ones needs and finish in a year. 

   The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids is another amazing Bible from Zondervan. Zondervan really knows how to pay attention to details. I enjoyed the topical index or concordence and the devotional index. These small features make navigating the Bible really easy.  

  As I stated in the beginning, I would recommend this Bible to anyone struggling with prayer. Since it is really geared towards the 9-12 age group, the NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible would be a home run for teens and Tweens. The features pack so much learning potential. I have not a bad thing I can say about it....5/5!!!!

P/S- make sure you take a look at the 10 Commandments for kids (pictured above) . This is hands down the best child appropriate rendition I've seen!!

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids by Zondervan

Have a budding prayer warrior at home? Are you eager to instill a life long love of prayer into your tween or teen? Are your struggling with prayer yourself? I have the answers to your prayers ( pardon the pun please). The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids is a powerhouse in the prayer department. This is also a compact edition Bible. It can easily be carried to school, Sunday school or on over night trips. The Bible is packaged inside a durable, attractive cover- it boasts many features. These features include:

      -full NIV text

      -presentation page

      -highlighted verses for 

        memorization and meditation

      -book introductions

      -reading plans

      -topical index

      -devotions about people who

        prayed and listened to God

        such as Abraham, Hannah & 

        Job 

       -the "hand prayer" model to 

        remind kids to pray for others 

        & themselves 

       -prayer journaling pages to 

         record prayers & answers to 

         prayers.

   Prayer is hard work, especially for children. Coming from a religious education background, I know first hand how children struggle with prayer. Two of my favorite features in the NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids is the Prayer Journal and the devotion sections of the Bible. Boasting 9 pages in the back of the Bible, the prayer journal called Conversations with God gives the child ample room to see how God listens and answers their prayers. Seeing how God is in tune with their lives and cares enough about them to answer their prayers will most definitely encourage any young pray-er to keep going. 

   

   Also The Big Dreams, Big Prayers Devotions help to kick start a stagnant prayer life. The devotionals use scripture to show how God's people (sometimes imperfect) talked to God during both times of anguish and celebration. These are great models for children to follow. They also give children true-to-life examples they can relate to. 

   

   Aside from prayer, just reading the Bible is a daunting task. The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible for Kids takes the pressure off in 3 easy ways. First, throughout the text there are special highlighted verses that can be used for memorization or scriptural meditation. A child could easily locate a favorite verse and write it down to reference throughout the day. 

   Every book has an informative introduction listing who wrote the book, why the book was written, what is special about the book, when the book was written, what chapters tell you about a character's experiences and lists the important chapters in the book. 

   Lastly, the Bible offers a unique 3 step reading plan. The people over and ZonderKids really put some effort in on this one. I have never seen a reading plan quite like this and may very well adopt it for myself. The plans are broken down into "courses". 

   Course one is a 2 week time commitment and lists a basic survey of the Bible. You have 3 sub-courses to choose from. 

   Course 2 is a 6 month commitment- a birds eye view if you will. Here you will be taken through 13 sections. 

   The last course is the entire bible broken down into a 3 year reading plan. Of course- you would only have to read 1 chapter a day. There is no set plan so one could easily tailor the plan to ones needs and finish in a year. 

   The NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible For Kids is another amazing Bible from Zondervan. Zondervan really knows how to pay attention to details. I enjoyed the topical index or concordence and the devotional index. These small features make navigating the Bible really easy.  

  As I stated in the beginning, I would recommend this Bible to anyone struggling with prayer. Since it is really geared towards the 9-12 age group, the NIV Big Dreams, Big Prayers Bible would be a home run for teens and Tweens. The features pack so much learning potential. I have not a bad thing I can say about it....5/5!!!!

P/S- make sure you take a look at the 10 Commandments for kids (pictured above) . This is hands down the best child appropriate rendition I've seen!!

**Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The NIV Beautiful Word Bible

Visually Stunning!!! Those were my first thoughts as I hurriedly ripped open the box. I saw this exquisite Bible in a catalog I receive semi-annually. I knew I had to have it the moment I saw it. And who wouldn't want it. Boasting the following features, the NIV Beautiful Word Bible by Zondervan has you at hello. Features include:

      500 full color illustrated verses

      Wide margins for your own art-

        work or journaling 

      Complete NIV text

      Extra special paper to serve as 

        the canvas for all your inspired 

        work

 

 The artwork truly is vibrant. I have been waiting now for a long time for a Bible such as this. If you are familiar with the Illustrated Faith community you understand the niche for the NIV Beautiful Word Bible. I have seen so many talented women that create these works of art in their Bibles. It's amazing to see the creativity that these talented women possess. Now, if you are like me, and are lacking a bit in the creativity department, but long to have your own faith art Bible- this is a match made in heaven for you. The beauty of it all is that accompanied  with the ready made illustrations, you also get ample space to make your own art or even poems. Some of us have been gifted with the use of our words rather than drawing or painting. And that's ok. It's ok because Zondevan has felt our need and delivered! Can I get an AMEN??!!

 

 All the artwork is indexed at the end of the Bible by artist/Illustrator. The page numbers are given to easily find a specific piece. I was happy to see this included. I just may have to look some of these talented individuals to see if they offer other works. The whole package is really inspiring. It makes you want to dive right into The Word. 

   If ordering the NIV Beautiful Word Bible from the internet you have the ability to customize some of the artwork. Also, if faith art journaling is "your thing" then by all means- join the conversation with #illustratedfaith .  The Bible comes with a dust jacket but in my opinion, the actual cover is much more handsome. A teal book mark will help you keep your place. There is ample space for notes, art or journaling- exactly like a wide margin or journaling bible. The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was the paper quality. Not that it's poor by any means. I was just expecting a little more judging from the description I was provided. Even so- this little grievance was not enough to subtract from my overall rating. And the rating is.... 5/5 of course! I would recommend the NIV Beautiful Word Bible to anyone looking to get into the Faith Art Journaling community, or to anyone who can appreciate a good work of art. The possibilities are endless.  

**FTC regulation book review post

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Design The Life You Love" by Ayse Bursel

  Who isn't trying to have their best life possible these days? At home we are all trying to juggle our husband, children, cleaning, meal preparation and recreation. Then we have our work responsibilities and trying to climb the corporate ladder. Our lives are busier than ever. Everyone wants the "ideal life". Enter the Design The Life You Love step by step guide:

   Life, just like a design problem, is full of constraints-time, money, age, location, and circumstances. You can’t have everything, so you have to be creative to make what you want and what you need co-exist. Design the Life You Love is a joyful, inspirational guide to building the life you’ve always wanted, using the principles and creative process of an award-winning product designer. Through four steps that reveal hidden skills and wisdom, anyone can design a life they love!

    I just turned 30!!! 1/3 life crisis anyone? Needless to say I have been looking for THE book on productivity and goal setting. Design The Life You Love seemed like the ideal match. The book is composed of little exercises and helpful prompts that appeal to your creative side. Bursel is a product designer who has partnered with leading brands such as GE, HP and Johnson and Johnson. She uses her experience to teach the reader how to build a meaningful future. The author uses her background in design to teach us her design process: deconstruction, point of view, reconstruction and expression. 

  Her process is unique. I have never thought of my life in terms of design before. It was a refreshing change. Although I did find the Design A Life You Love step by step guide, I was a little disappointed. I expected more space for creativity. Bursel takes us through several exercises in the book, however most were repetitive. I'm not sure if this was her focus or not. Personally, the repetitive nature of the book turned me off and didn't really get my creative juices flowing like I had hoped. Also Bursel puts a heavy emphasis on her own business and accomplishments that will either motivate the reader or leave them discouraged.  

   I would rate this book 3/5 while advising anyone looking to purchase this guide to download an excerpt before making the purchase to see if this is really what they were looking for. You can do this by clicking on the following link: 

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/252264/design-the-life-you-love-by-ayse-birsel/

**

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I do not review products that I do not personally use myself.