Strength, Courage and Faith Found in Sidelined by Chuck Pagano

 

 

Sidelined by Chuck Pagano is Coach Chuck Pagano’s story of his battle to beat leukemia. This book, like in life and football, is about digging deep and fighting with all the strength, courage, and perseverance you can muster then add in the most important ingredient Faith and you have Chuck Pagano’s fight to concur his battle with leukemia.  You do not have to be a football fan or even know anything about football to read this book. The lessons about believing and having faith in God’s plan for what is happening in your life is the most important thing to take away from this book and that is for everyone football fanatic or not.

Coach Pagano had everything going for him, a great family, a wonderful wife and the dream job he had always wanted when he was blindsided by this disease.  He didn’t give up and with the help of family, friends and his Faith in God he found strength to win his battle with leukemia. This book is an excellent encourager and really a guide to how to face adversity. It shows that if you believe God loves you and wants to use you in all situations than half the battle is won. I recommend this book not just for reading an amazing story about a famous football coach who overcame the odds but also to those who might be going through a struggle of some kind. Just remember to have Kleenex close by when reading this.

I know what it is like to be in a good place and then out of nowhere you are hit with a disease that changes everything. I always said and believed God was trusting me to use me through my illness to help others and that is what Chuck Pagano’s friend Kevin Elko tells him in one of my favorite lines from the book. Kevin Elko is telling Chuck that God is preparing to use him through this illness, “Chuck, you are going to come out of this battle—and you will come out of it victorious—and when you do, you will be closer to God. You will be drawn to helping people more than you have ever been . “ pg 100 “ Later he tells him “ The tree will be pruned, and when it is pruned, it will bear fruit. You were selected to be pruned. And you are going to be different than you ever were.” Pg 101

I hope you will read this book it will encourage you I am sure.

If you would like to learn more about this book go to

http://www.familychristian.com/catalog/product/view/id/269224/

 

I received this book from Family Christian to review and give my honest opinion.

Reminder of God's Redeeming Love and Forgiveness in The Fight by Luke Wordley

I am so thankful that we have a loving, forgiving God who is always right there for us even when we sometimes put other things ahead of Him. It is so easy sometimes to slip back into putting God on a back burner and not focusing on Him. I am so glad He doesn't do us that way. His redeeming grace and forgiveness is right there for when we turn to Him. The Holy Spirit will prompt us and remind us and watch over us. I recently read a book that reminded me of these things. It is a good book and I would recommend it to everyone where male or female even though it is a story that is also about boxing. I hope you will pick it up and read it .
Here is my review:


Powerful, Moving Story of Redemption and Forgiveness The Fight By Luke Wordley My Review

The Fight by Luke Wordley is one of the most powerful, moving excellent books I have read in awhile.


Sam is a boy that is full of hate and anger. His father is dead and his mother is an alcoholic. Sam is always getting in fights and his anger is out of control. Jerry is a boxing trainer and he has demons of his own to overcome. When Sam gets into a fight with some skinheads and Robbie rescues him he takes Sam to his gym where he is a boxer and Jerry his trainer. Jerry, is a believer but when he starts training Sam some of his old emotions, anger, and demons come out and his faith his shaken. Sam and Jerry both think they will find what they really wan t through boxing but the peace, contentment and happiness they seek is not in boxing but in God. Will they come to realize this before it is to late for either one of them?

When I first started to read this book I didn't think I would like it because I know nothing whatsoever about boxing. I just knew it would be a book I would struggle to get through so I could review but boy was I wrong. This book is about so much more than boxing. It is about redemption, forgiveness, finding true peace and love. Sam struggles with his anger and hatred that is turning him into a mean, destructive killer if he doesn't get it under control. His hatred is what drives him and he is never happy. Even though you don't want to, you find your heart going out to him and hoping that he will find a way to control himself and to be happy. Whether you think you would or not you find yourself in Sam's  corner willing him to win over his anger and hatred and to find the peace and love he needs and deserves.

Jerry finds himself questioning his faith after he loses control of his temper like old times at one of the boxing matches. He questions whether God really changed him or not and struggles again with his anger and depression. He wants to be the top in the boxing world and wants to achieve this through Sam because he thinks he will be happy and his family will be happier and financially secure. He wants to achieve what he couldn't when he was boxing. He thinks fame and fortune will bring peace and happiness. He puts God on a a back burner. You find yourself, or at least I did, identifying with Jerry in letting his past come back to haunt him and slipping by putting other things before God. This book shows the downfall of doing this but also how God waits on us to find our way back to him and how the Holy Spirit speaks to us and helps guide Jerry, and us, back onto the right path.

I was amazed at all the side stories that added depth to this book like Sam's mothers and her struggle. Her's is a story of desperation and then forgiveness. Also Gloria, Jerry's wife, and her past come into the story to help show God can forgive anything which is what Sam's mother needed to know.

I will now admit that I am so glad I didn't pass this book up thinking it was a guy's book because of the boxing theme. Yes it is about boxing, yes it is a great book to give to the men in your life and yes every woman should not pass it up because it is a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness, love and finding yourself, along with true peace, happiness and God's unconditional love.

I loved the book and hope that you will give it a shot, you will be glad you did. Make sure you have time to read it because you might not want to put it down and also have Kleenex close by. Another plus to the book is the discussion questions at the end that would be great for book clubs, small groups or families.

If you would like to learn more about the book and author check out

http://www.lukewordley.com

http://www.tyndale.com/The-Fight/9781414389493#.U5s_4PldV8E

I was given this book for free from Tyndale Publishing for my true and honest review

No Walking but Reading and Crocheting

I haven't talk about my getting ready to walk in the Walk for MG but that is because I wasn't able to get to the walk. My walking to get ready for it was stopped due to having trouble with my hip. I did make a little over a mile walk before I had to stop but then for last few weeks I haven't been able to so there is always next year or another walk for a cause to do. I am not going to get discouraged in fact I was happy to get to do the walking that I could before it start slipping out of place and causing me pain. It will get better again and I can get back to walking and exercising. Until then I hope to get a lot of reading and crocheting done. I am crocheting small items so that the heat from the yarn isn't to bad. I have many projects to try and so it is exciting to do the patterns and try new designs of my own. I am also trying to catch up on some of the reading I want to get done and I have just about finished two more books and started 3 more. Always have a book on hand to read.


I have just finished a review of a cookbook that I am so glad to have. I love cooking and baking but nothing to adventurous but more than that I love to collect cookbooks and recipes. I have just started collecting family recipes that have memories as well as good food to put together into a book with pictures and stories on each recipe to give to my kids and grandkids. This has been a fun adventure and one that will be an on going work even after I give them the book. I hope that they will add to it and make their own memories and put their own stories in with recipes too.  I hope it will be a treasured book that they will enjoy for years.


Last this weekend is Memorial day and my husband and I will be going to the cemeteries. This year I want to not only put flowers on the graves but once again I want to take pictures of the headstones, make a map of the resting place and  cemetery and then put it into a cemetery book for my genealogy. I will tackle one cemetery at a time and make sure I get all family in that cemetery. I will let you know how this goes. Hopefully it won't rain but then again it is Memorial Day.


This is going to be a busy week and I am looking forward to getting some things done so hope you have a great week too. Please leave me a comment when you read this so 1. I know someone is reading this and 2. Let me know what you plan to do for Memorial Day this year or what you have done in the past.


Here is my review of the cookbook.


Kitchen Confidence by Kelsey Nixon A Yummy Addition To Your Cookbook Collection

 I loved this cookbook. I would give it 5 Stars for the recipes as well as the pictures and hints it includes.


The recipes included in this book are both elegant enough for a party and yet easy enough that you can do them for just the family dinner. I am impressed with the variety of recipes that are included in this book. Kelsey takes you on a mouth watering ride through her different recipes with beautifully done pictures of the dishes. She has included helpful  hints like pantry essentials and technique essentials that is very helpful to the seasoned cook as well as the beginner. Throughout the book is explains how to do different techniques in cooking such as stir fry and roasting that for those learning to cook will find really helpful. They are included by a recipe that is for using those techniques on a page by themselves so that if you know how to do these you can skip over that page and if you don't know how to say stir fry you have the instructions handy right with the recipe you might be wanting to try. This cookbook would be a great addition to any one's kitchen and cookbook collection but would be especially nice and helpful to the new cook or someone that is not as comfortable in a kitchen as others.


I have several recipes already picked out to try like her fried homemade pickles and charred corn salad. These both sound like a great addition to my memorial day picnic. The recipes range from breakfast to desserts and everything in between you might be wanting. If I could find anything that I would change it would be maybe add pictures of all the completed recipes but other than that I wouldn't change a thing. I have gotten so hungry just looking at the recipes and marking the ones I want to try, funny thing is I think I have marked almost everyone of her recipes.


This is a great cookbook and I loved reading in the beginning about Kelsey Nixon's passion for sharing her love of cooking to others. She is on a mission to help us all feel more comfortable in the kitchen through her cookbook and I think she has hit the mark with this one. I think I could pick anyone of the recipes, try it and be successful following her directions and guidance with little or no stress. I highly recommend you get a copy of Kitchen Confidence by Kelsey Nixon and start enjoying some good recipes.


If you want more information about Kelsey Nixon and her cookbook you should check out these:


 More Info

Author Bio

 "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

Book Review 5 + Stars to Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick

Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick is a must read for anyone, but especially for everyone that has ever doubted themselves, questioned if they are worthy, wondered if God really had a purpose for them, or had problems with low self esteem. Steven Furtick takes us through steps to overcome these feelings and how to quiet the voice or as he calls it the chatterbox in our head that tells us we can't or we aren't good enough and not worthy. This book looks at scriptures and leads us in ways to crash the chatterbox in our minds.


I loved this book. It is a book that really can change your life. I would recommend this book to everyone. I think it is a must read for everyone that has had these doubts but also for those who know someone who deals with low self esteem and doubts. I think everyone at one time or another had thought these things about I can't, I am not good enough, I am not worthy, ect. its normal at one time or another to feel this way but Steven Furtick in this book helps us look at how we don't have to believe or even listen to these thoughts and feelings. He doesn't just tell us to stop listening but shows us how to. He uses some of his own experiences to demonstrate how he too has dealt with these thoughts and feelings and shares what God has shown him to help him to realize these thoughts are not true. He gives us Bible verses to use to help us too but more than that he assures us that these thoughts of unworthiness are untrue. I can not say enough good things about this book and can not stress enough how it can help you in your daily life as well as your walk with God. I plan on reading this one over and over again and share it with others.


One of the quotes from the book that really spoke to me was, " But insecurity is much more than an extreme lack of confidence. In some ways insecurity is the ultimate insult to God. Because when we allow insecurity to override God's purpose in our lives, we're implying that He didn't quit get the job done when He put us together."pg 23 Ouch that really hit home for me to think every time I think I can't or I am not good enough I am insulting God.


"Condemnation reminds us of our wrongs by showing us our shame, but the Spirit convicts us of our sin by reminding us of our righteousness in Christ". pg 153 Wow
 
Last one that really struck home though the whole book did, "If you are a believer who hopes to accomplish the will of God for your live- and go to the next level spiritually- you have to defy the inertia of internal discouragement to get there.
you cant let the chatter stop you. You have to keep rolling . And God says you can." pg 168-169
Awesome Keep rolling God says you can says it all if God believes in me then I should too.


This book is great for a Bible Study or Small Group and Steven Furtick has included questions in the back to help in your study.


I hope you will go and read this book and us it to learn to listen to God's voice over all others, it will help you in your Christian walk and life.


If you would like to learn more about the book and author here are some sites to check out:
Website

Twitter

Elevation Church Website

More Info

Read Chapter One

Author Bio

 "I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review."

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack Review

  The Fourth Fisherman: How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage by Joe Kissack


     This is the story of Joe, he has money, a great job in the entertainment business, a wife and family and yet he is on a downward spiral into a dark hole. He had tried to fill this hole with things and prestige, but nothing was working. In the book Joe says, " I kept searching for more. More of what? I really didn't know. Something I couldn't put my finger on it, but it felt like it was out there, just around the corner. Something to fill the emptiness inside me." pg 41 This book is Joe's story of his struggles, searching, redemption, forgiveness, love and learning to rely on God and God's plan.

    This is also the story of the three fisherman from Mexico that get stranded at sea for 9 months with nothing put their faith in God and a Bible to sustain them. They were drifting aimless at sea and  they had God with them through the whole 9 months. This tells their story of struggle and rescue, hope and faith. It is a remarkable true story of strength that comes from God,  faith and  how they survived for those 9 months. It tells us how God would provide what they needed just in time and how He never left them. Just like He does for us in our lives.

      The book tells us  how God sends Joe to meet the fisherman after they are rescued to help them tell their story and in so doing Joe grows in his faith and reliance on God. You find that he has the same doubts and fears that we have when it comes to knowing if we are reallying doing what God wants us to or not. As Joe goes through the jungles  and obstacles in Mexico trying to meet the fisherman you see how God nudges him along and reassures him, as well as protects him, just as God does us in our lives. 


    When I first started to read this book I had already decided that it was just going to be another feel sorry for me book, but boy was I wrong. The more I read the book the more I realized this is a book of brokenness and faith. A book of hopelessness and hope. It is a true story of how one man has everything, but really has nothing, and three men who have nothing, but they have everything because they have God. It is a powerful, insightful, encouraging book that I think everyone should read once or twice.

This book is all this an more. As it says in the book, "And then my eyes were fully opened: God was present in all of it, speaking to me about what the story really was. No, this isn't my story. But it isn't the fishermen's story either. It is God's story, and all of what He has done needs to be told." pg 189
This book tells us that story and I hope everyone will take the time to read it.

For more information:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/author-spotlight.php?authorid=150186
You can follow Joe Kissack on twitter at
https://twitter.com/jkissack
http://www.thefourthfisherman.com/
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307956279
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2011/08/22/video-the-fourth-fisherman/
Here is the link to read the first chapter of the book
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2011/11/15/sneak-peek-the-fourth-fisherman-by-joe-kissack/

"I received this book from WaterBrook Multomah for free in exchange for an honest review."

     

Book Review

I was given an ARC copy of this book and was asked to read and give a honest review of the book
Lock, Stock, and Over A Barrel A Dear Daphne Novel by Melody Carlson.


This book and characters are easy to connect with, you feel like you can just step into this small hometown and be friends with all the characters. It is a book that you just want to keep reading to see what is next.

Daphne had a dream to be a writer and after college she lands a job as a writer for the New York Times, but after years in the city she wonders if this is what she really wants. She is like we are when we think we know what we want and then when we get it we wonder is this really that great or what is going to make us happy.

Daphne's Aunt dies and she goes home for the funeral, but to her surprise Daphne's Aunt has left Daphne her house with some strings attached. The reader gets caught up in Daphne trying to decide what she wants, whether she can meet her Aunts strings for her inheritance and what will really make her happy.

This book, I think, is somewhat of a quest for Daphne to find out what she really wants out of life, about being happy, and about trusting God to help her make the right decisions and believing in the plan God has for her. It is a very good book that is very enjoyable. It has a good story and at the end of the book it leaves you wanting more. An excellent book. Melody Carlson has another good book that will connect with the readers.

I would highly recommend this book. This book will be out June 2013. check out Melody Carlson's website for more about her and her books at www.melodycarlson.com

If you would like a chance to win the ARC copy of this book head over to my other blog debsbooksgalore.blogspot.com

Wk 2 of Challenge New Verses and Book Review

This is week two of the memorizing the Word Challenge. Week one went well for me. Week one's verses were
Ps. 119:11
Matt. 22:37
I hope you are memorizing these with me. If you have any suggestions of verses to memorize let me know in the comments.

This weeks verses are ones that some might already know but are imporant to remember in our walk with God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV 5" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
John 3:16-18 KJV "16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."



These verses explain how much God loves us and has made away to Him through His son Jesus Christ. Then we also see that if God walks with us daily and all we have to do is trust Him and lean on Him and he will direct our way. He makes a promise that if we trust and lean on Him then he will direct us in our walk through life. Simple right. Well it is simple but we being who we are don't always do this. Trust is easy when everything is going good, but we stumble sometimes when life gets hard. We try to say we are trusting but also try to figure things out on our own. We need to memorize this verse so that when things come up and we stumble we can recall this verse and follow it. God knows we are human and will fail sometimes and the other verses tell us how He has already made away to be forgiven through Jesus all we have to do is believe and give our hearts to Him.

I hope you will continue the challenge this week and memorize these verses with me.

I wanted to include a book review of a book that I love and think is great for studying.

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
The book talks about how awesome it is that God who made everything loves us and loves us enough to give up his precious Son for us. He helps us to understand more about God and his love.  You need to read this book it will change you in a positive way. I recommend that everyone read and study this book, it brings you closer to God and helps you grow in your faith.

Leave a comment and let me know if you are memorizing the verses and how it is going. Also leave a comment on what you think of this book. If you have any suggestions of books let me know also.

Book Review

I am an avid reader so I thought I would share with you some of the books I am reading. Hope you will get them and read them too. The first books I reviewed on my other blog mysteryreadingnook.blogspot.com and here is that post.
I was asked to read and review A Plain Scandal An Appleseed Creek Mystery by Amanda Flower. I was given a ARC for this purpose.
A Plain Scandal An Appleseed Creek Mystery by Amanda Flower is book 2 of the series.

Chloe Humphrey lives in Appleseed Creek Ohio which includes the usually quiet Amish Community also. The Amish community is being rocked by someone who is attacking them and cutting the hair of the girls and beards of the men. Chloe gets involved to help find who is behind the attacks and she happens to stumble on the body of Ezekiel Young who has been murdered and his beard has been cut off also. Are these attacks and murder related? Why is the Amish being targeted? Who could possibly be behind these attacks and is Chloe in danger now too?

This book keeps you guessing with many possibilities of suspects so that you want to keep reading, because you want to find out just who it is behind the murder and attacks. It is a book you do not want to put down and that will be a surprise at the end. I have spent time in the Ohio Amish country and can just picture myself there with Chloe and this community. I would highly recommend this book to the mystery buffs and cozy mystery fans that want a good read with a good plot, murder, romance, friendship and throws in the unique Amish Community, what more could you want.

The author Amanda Flower has another hit on her hands. This book has characters that you can see yourself being friends with. Find out more about this author and her books at http://amandaflower.com/Appleseed_Creek_Series.html