Are you making the difference you should?

You Matter More Than You Think: What A Woman Needs To Know About The Difference She Makes by Les Parrott III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We are using this book as part of our Bible study materials at our church. What peaked my interest most was how did the author process and deal with the traumatic news: her father, a pastor, had been having an affair and was leaving them for the other woman. While this is what I was curious about, the book focuses on how we make a difference—whether those differences are big, small, or even cause a domino effect. But it isn't just a pep talk reminding us that we do indeed make a difference, she also reminds us not to get so caught up in making a difference for others that we neglect ourselves.

The only thing I didn't like is the way she seemed to devote two chapters to gender differences. I agree men and women are different, but I don't think making an impact should be analyzed according to whether you're a man or woman.

This book shouldn't just be read by someone who is questioning why they are on this earth or what they can do with their life. I think this book is also for the woman who knows what her gifts and talents are and believes she is using them to God's glory. It definitely made me take a second look at how I'm serving where and if there are any changes I should make.

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Spiders, spaceships and the color pink

Escape from the Drooling Octopod! by Robert West
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This time the adventures for Beamer, Scilla, and Ghoulie start when they are asked by their school teachers to deliver some school supplies to a house in the neighborhood. Of course this is no ordinary house. It's pink—everything around the house, everything inside the house—except the things made of glass. When they drop off the school things, they thought they saw a girl in pink in the shadows; so they make it their mission to discover why this girl is prisoner in a pink palace.

The tree-ship takes them on another adventure—though like this others I'm not sure where or why. The mystery of Molgotha the giant spider with the glowing web is kind of resolved, but then again, not really. For me some things were wrapped up in too neat of a bow, while others seemed to be left dangling.

I would still recommend this book and the rest of the trilogy for upper elementary looking for a Christian sci-fi adventure.

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This isn't your mom's Christian "how to"

Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus by Mary E. DeMuth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having grown up in church, I have been handed many a “How to be a better Christian” type books. I’ve read a few. However, this is not a step-by-step book. DeMuth does not try to be THE expert. She writes from her personal experience—what has worked for her and what hasn’t. She writes from observations of Christians she has admired through her life.

It is a relatively short book, yet even as a voracious reader, DeMuth’s words made me read slowly and think. I wouldn’t say this book completely transformed my life, but it was definitely worth the time to read and gave me some things to noodle.


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