Darla Reviews

Someone to Blame by C.S. Lakin

2011-06-16T20:42:00.001-07:00

A Christian story that tugs at your heart. A family suffers a loss to which most of us would be devastated. Matt, Irene and their daughter, Casey, try to leave behind their heartbreak by moving to a new town hoping for a fresh start, only to discover instead of forgetting the past, situations force the past into the light starting a healing process. The truth shall set you free. Someone to Blame is hard to put down. Just when you think you know what's happening, there is a corner turned. This is a story of fear, blame, guilt an then --restoration. A family reconciled.

Thank you C. S. Lakin for a great novel- I am personally inspired to be mindful of my words, body language and parenting style! God loves us all, He is indiscriminate. All it takes is one good example, like Irene, to be the spark that starts the fire! A+++++

Book Review "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo

2011-03-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

There is something exciting and believable about a four-year old's description of meeting Jesus. This book is a story about Colton Burpo's experience for "3 minutes" in heaven while on the operating table fighting for his life. Told by his father (a pastor in a small town in the Midwest), the facts as Colton presents them are believable and credible!!

Colton answers questions such as:

What does Jesus look like?
What do Angels look like?
How is Jesus dressed?
What do people look like?
Who sits on the throne of God?
Who else is in Heaven with you?

If you want to be inspired by a story of what Heaven is like, what Jesus is like, and who and what we encounter after we leave our bodies (backed by scriptual text), read this book. It's startling to me how a 4-year old can have such accuracy in his descriptions!

"Heaven is for Real" is a book you won't put down until you finish! A+++++++++

2009-10-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

There is no way to watch this Documentary without coming away from it a changed person!

The cinematography, the heart wrenching true stories of these former child soldiers journey of healing via traditional Uganda dancing and music is truly so inspirational.

Every living person (child included!) would enjoy this documentary eventhough parts are difficult to wrap your mind around - in the end you will feel their victory and come away feeling inspired!! :) BRAVO!!! A++++++++++

Movie Review - "Taking Chance"

2009-08-09T09:36:00.001-07:00

I have ONE thing to say about this move - WATCH IT (it will touch your heart forever!!!!!)
It didn't get enough publicity and every American should watch it!

Book Review - "The Shack" by William P. Young

2009-08-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

What an emotional roller coaster this book was. This book was hard to put down. It is about a man who is overcome with grief at the loss of his 6-year old daughter.

Let me just interject, after reading about the abduction of his daughter , I found myself wondering how in the WORLD this author was going to make this book have a happy ending...it is after all a Christian book, so I expected a message of hope. My curiosity of how he was going to 'turn this around' motivated me to keep reading albeit some parts were pretty tough to read.

So, anyway, he gets a note in the mailbox from God that says meet me at "The Shack". What he finds is the physical manifestation of Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit waiting for him. The dialogue between them all is easy to understand and definately worth reading.

Thru the dialogue he has different encounters and emotions with dealing with his grief, understanding Gods part in all of it and also dealing with buried issues of his childhood. At one point in the book, I started to well up because I was overcome with JOY!!!! I had to close the book to regain composure. This author actually found a way to turn this story into a story of redemption, forgiveness, hope and mercy!! I felt good again.

I do plan on returning to the dialogue and contemplating further the talks they had (God, Jesus, Mack and the Holy Spirit). I immediately gave this book to a friend of mine who had recently lost a close friend to a brutal murder because I thought it would bring comfort.

This book is riveting and would be a good read for yourself or as a gift. I believe it will bring peace and comfort to their spirit and soul.

The added bonus for me is that I'm from the Portland, OR area living in AZ so it was familiarly 'territory' where it takes place. The author's use of adjectives very definitely describes the Oregon scenery to a T.

I recommend it to anyone who wants to be moved emotionally and spiritually!!!

I think this book is worth supporting to be made into a movie. Not all books are good for movies, this one is.

A++++++

Book Review - "A New Illustrated History of World War II: Rare and Unseen Photographs 1939-1945"

2009-08-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

What a great find this book was and definately worth the money!!!

I purchased this book for my 12-year old son because he was interested in real war stories. This book breaks down World War II with real stories and genuinely professional pictures. He loves the book! They say "a picture paints a thousand words" - that describes this book although it is written carefully with full explanations and many commentaries. Nothing is lacking in this book. I can pick up this book any day and read something new.

VERY IMPRESSED. I am a history buff and it's a great HISTORY LESSON!!

Documentary Review: "The War of 1812" by History Channel

2009-08-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to understand the War of 1812 and want to know the intricate details - this is an excellent documentary to watch. I recommend it for all teachers/professors out there who want to give a visual perspective to their students!! The actors playing important rolees are believable and it excited me to want to visit Fort McHenry in Maryland to see where Francis Scott Key wrote the poem "The Star Spangled Banner".

I have sang that song countless times but after watching this movie I will be compelled visually to replay certain scenes of this documentary while I'm singing only to add more heartfelt emotion to the moment!

The History Channel did a professional and thorough production and I hope all of you interested in our American History will buy this documentary (DVD) or at least rent it!

A great movie for parents who have school aged children!!!

Book Review - "The Veritas Conflict" by Shaunti Feldhahn

2009-08-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is a great fictional book that was written carefully and with obvious historical research. It impressed me for many reasons because I love books that paint the spiritual battle going on at the same time telling the human story. It opens your mind to what you can't see but is still real. (Frank Peretti is an expert at this) Shaunti did an outstanding job with it!! Bravo!!!

The book had great historical references regarding Harvard University.

I felt like I got a history lesson, philosophy and a theology lesson all rolled into one!! I personally feel much better equipped regarding defending or presenting my faith to others thanks to the well written, well thought out dialogue between classmates. Thank you Shaunti! These are the adjectives that come to mind when describing my experience as a reader: riveting, suspensful, educational, inspirational, uplifting and full of TRUTH indicated by the name of the book.

Great job Shaunti, your non-fiction books are equally as impressive!!

This book would make a GREAT movie!!!

Book Review - "One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd" by Jim Fergus

2009-08-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

This book is written as a diary so it's very easy to read. The events as described are believable and keep you on the edge. I picked up this book to read and did not put it down until I finished. The historical aspect of this book is researched well and will have an emotional affect on you. It's a very well thought out perspective from a historical sense!

The synopsis is that Mary Dodd escaped a mental institution by agreeing to be a part of a Government program which was to unite the Cheyenne Indian Nation with the American white people. The deal was the Cheyenne's were given 1000 women in exchange for 1000 horses. The Cheyenne Nation's culture believed that babies were raised with the mother's tribe, so they felt their only chance to survive the migration of white people was to integrate by marriage. This diary was her adventure out west into the frontier and untamed land. The chief himself chose her to be his wife.

Fergus writes this piece masterfully. There were times I could of easily felt like the story was true. With so much detail into the traditions and the times of American people and Native people. As the reader, I really felt connected to Mary Dodd and her adventure.

Bravo!!!

Book Review: "Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War" by Nathaniel Philbrick

2009-08-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

If you want a complete understanding of the first 50 years of our American history, this is the book to read.

It covers the motivation for the pilgrims move to the new world, the beginning days, how the colony was orginized, the relationship with the native indians, namely Massasoit, who without his cooperation and loyalty their likelihood of making it in the beginning years would of been slim or none. It covers every detail of the first 50 years and how the next generation spawned a spoiled set of settlers with new attitudes which inevitably led to King Philips war.

Being a history buff, I had a pretty good understanding of this story to begin with, but this book completely puts it all together. It is written in a manner that is easy to assimilate and emphathize with the events. This allows me to remember names, places and important dates when discussing the events of our pilgrim ancestors. It doesn't glamourize anything and quotes directly from historic journals and maps.

Anyone interested in early American history needs to read this book. After reading this book, I have a completely different perspective on Thanksgiving, the pilgrims and our ancestors. An interesting fact I recieved from this book is that one of ten people are descended from those 102 pilgrims. I happen to know my ancestors include 3 of them, most notably John Alden, who was my 9th great grandfather.

If you REALLY want to know what life was like, what was the relationships like with the Indians, how they cooperated with other colonies and how religion played into to things, read this book!!!
Well written. A great read. A great story!

Book Review - "Who Switched Off My Brain: Controlling toxic thoughts and emotions" by Dr. Caroline Leaf

2009-08-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

Excellent book for understanding how thoughts can effect your body! Bravo to Dr. Leaf! This book explains "how research has shown that 87% of illnesses can be attributed to our thought life, and approximately 13% to diet, genetics and enviornment" (Leaf, 2008. p.5).

If our thoughtlife is responsible for our illnesses then that puts us in direct control of being healthier. This book explains in a very simple way how to reverse your aging and develop healthier THINKING in order to change the chemistry in your body in a positive way. This book is science and christianity on the same page.

The bible states:

---"Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." [Romans 12:2]

---"As he thinks in his heart so is he." [Proverbs 23:7]

This book shows the link (on a practical level) between our thoughts and how it manifests into our bodies. If we cause 87% of our illnesses with our negative thinking, we can improve our health with positive thoughts and controlling the toxic thoughts that can enter into our minds! Leaf explains "Every thought has a corresponding electrochemical reaction in your brain" (Leaf, 2008, p.3). If this is true then it's very important what we are putting into our brains are GOOD THINGS. Excellent book that explains in SIMPLE language how we can change our thinking and improve our lives all the way around.

It's also a short read: There are only 6 chapters, they are as follows:

1. The Anatomy of a Thought

2. The Growth of a Thought

3. Thoughts Gone Wrong

4. A Toxic Pathway

5. Toxic Thoughts and Children

6. Detox Your Brain!

Excellent READ!

Book Review - "The Search for Signifigance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God's Eyes" by Robert S. McGee

2009-08-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have to say that second to the Bible, this book changed my life forever. The author defines in a way that is easy to understand and grasp how much Jesus loves us and the truth about who we are to Him. This book sheds light on the lie that satan wants us to believe that self esteem = performance + other people's opinion.

Have you heard the saying "The truth shall set you free"? Well, this book tells you the truth and the outcome of that truth is you WILL be set free from the negative programming and lies that the devil wants us to believe and that has kept you from your full potential. In addition, the book gives you prayers to memorize in times when the enemy is challenging your thinking and behavior. How to overcome fear of rejection and not meeting people's approval.

Everyone has something to gain by putting your worth in God's perspective not people's perspective. Integrated into the text are study guides and places to reflect and put notes, it's very helpful when you are sorting out the truth.

I recommend this book to anyone who is ready to get this burden off their back. The burden of having everyone else's expectations rule your life. Get your freedom back by really understanding, in depth, how much God loves you and get back a peace in your life that you've been missing.

I love this book!!!!!

Documentary Review - "God Grew Tired of Us"

2009-08-07T12:48:00.001-07:00

I was introduced to this documentary in a college class and I've watched it 3x since then. Each time I watch it I see something else in the story I missed the first time. This story will shock you, make you cry, make you laugh and mostly (I hope) move you to action.

It's the story about the Sudanese (Lost) boys who walked thousands of miles to Kenya because in the early 1980's there was an order by the government to kill all boys no matter what their age. These 1000's of boys walked with the shirt (and sometimes no shirt) on their back, barefoot, starving, emanicipated and emotionally wiped out to a Kenya refugee camp. The things they experienced and witnessed are hard to imagine. It's a story where their is proof that suffering really brings strength to a person's spirit. The docementary focuses on 3 of them (Panther, John & Daniel) who get selected to go to the USA after spending 15 years in the refugee camp. It's their story of struggles, their adaptation to American culture and their hopes and dreams. They are truly inspirational.

If you are a professor teaching a multicultural or international cultures class, this documentary would fit into your curriculm easily. It examines the culture of the Sudanese and then explores the culture of America from the perspective of the Sudanese culture.

Thank you to the producers of this story for bringing the complete atrocity of Sudan to the light! Today, Sudan's president has been accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. I can't help but think this documentary aided in getting the publicity of this injustice! Watch the movie...it will change you (for the good) forever!

I guarantee this story will touch your heart!

Watch it - you won't be sorry!!!

Book Review - What's He Really Thinking by Paula Rinehart

2009-08-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Do you want to know what is important to the man in your life?

Do you want to know the deepest desires of his heart?

Do you want to understand how God uses you to influence the men in your life?

If you answered "YES!" to any of those questions then you need to read Paula Rinehart's book "What's He Really Thinking. How to be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life".

This book is an excellent resource for understanding the male's perspective. Whether you want to know your son better, your father, your brother or the man in your life - we all stand to gain peace for understanding how they think and interpret our words/actions and attitudes.

Paula Rinehart gives a FRESH perspective in 199 pages and 9 chapters. She gives you scriptural verses to use for prayer and a comprehensive study guide at the end of the book for helping you pursue even further understanding.

Paula writes, "Insight shapes perspective. And perspective influences the quality of your relationship" (pg.53). Paula's book is filled with perspective and insight and I'm positive this insight will definately improve my relationships with the men in my life! Thank you Paula!

This book is easy to read, insightful, encouraging and keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting more!

HAPPY READING!!

5 out of 5 stars for me!!!

http://brb.thomasnelson.com/