"The Noticer" by Andy Andrews

"The Noticer" is one of those books that is so simple it is profound. The main character, Jones (not Mr. Jones, just Jones) changes the lives of everyone he meets by simply helping them to see things a little differently. Jones always appears at a choice moment and then is gone before you know leaving behind a new perspective that shines a new light on a problem and illuminates a path of greater understanding that leads to a better outcome.
The book was engaging and easy to read and left me feeling hopeful, thoughtful and encouraged. From the first paragraph I was convinced that this was a book I really needed to read. I was feeling discouraged and frustrated and realized right away that a new perspective could make a difference and it did. Jones was very mysterious and the reader is left with questions about exactly who he was supposed to be. But he was very much someone I would hope to meet and be glad to know. Perhaps I could be Jones to someone I know.
The characters that Jones meets and helps with his unique perspective were easily recognizable types the reader can identify with and thus profit from Jone's message. Many elements/lessons in the book were very familiar, but were pulled together in the book for a greater impact.
I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program http://brb.thomasnelson.com/. The program provides free books in exchange for posting blogs after reading them. Check it out at Thomasnelson.com

Review of The Word of Promise Next Generation CEV New Testament

Thomas Nelson Publishing has created an excellent avenue for reaching today's tech savvy youth with their new dramatic audio version of the Children's English Version of the New Testament. Not only is the mp3 format easy to use and the text easy to understand, but they chose the actors that most young people know and love. The all-star cast includes:

• Anna Sophia Robb


• Corbin Bleu


• Emily Osment


• Cody Linley


• Sean Astin


• Jordin Sparks and


• Marshall Allman

With book introductions by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado.

The 75 minute "behind the scenes" DVD includes interviews with the stars. I found it very encouraging to hear the cast members describing their individual relationships with Christ. Each one spoke of the importance of being faithful to His Word and the value of dependence on God. Each one seemed genuinely thrilled to be working on a project with a strong spiritual value and potential to change lives. I hope that the project will have a powerful and long-lasting impact on their lives as they are in many ways the leaders and spokespersons for the next generation.

The quality of the product was excellent as well. The sound effects did not overpower the words but nicely complemented the text making it come to life and adding interest.

Community

This month I am celebrating my second anniversary at The Savior's Touch. It has been a steep learning curve dealing with ordering and accounting and operations. My life verse for this season has been "Lord, I don'tknow what to do but my eyes are on you." 2 Ch 20:12 But, the greatest lesson I have learned is that I have been missing out on knowing my brothers and sisters in Christ who don't go to my church. I have been blessed to share in the joys and struggles and lives of so many wonderful people. I love going to The Savior's Touch!

We (David and Deborah and Danny and Theresa) want our friend to get to know each other through the wonders of technology. Through our soon to launch web site, Facebook, our blog, email and a new medium called twitter we can share what is going on and pray for each other in real time! Amazing!

Are you launching a new Bible Study, having a guest speaker or musician, or putting on a special holiday program? Let us help you spread the word. Imagine having to set a capacity cap instead of hoping people will come!

You are invited to join our community by becoming a "fan" of our Facebook page. Once a "fan" you will be notified by email whenever a new item is posted. You can visit our page and post a notice about your event and our entire community will see it!

We will also use these avenues to inform you of special promtion in the store and will post coupons and special prices and sales.

I want to thank all of our wonderful customers for a blessed two years and look forward to getting to know all of you better in the years to come.

Join The Jury in Randy Singer's new Novel "The Justice Game"

Are there any Randy Singer fans out there? My Rep from Tyndale sent me the following email about his new book which will be released this summer.

• In order to create excitement for his next release, Randy has created a video that will give readers an opportunity to vote on the outcome of the trial in his book. You will have the chance to view a short 5 minute video and then act as a member of the fury. Tandy's conclusion to the book will reflect the voting.
• Please go to : www.randysinger.net, click on the button in The Justice Game banner and view the closing arguments in the case. Then render your verdict. It would be a great help if you'd be willing to forward this on to your friends and fellow book enthusiast.

I have not read any of his books yet. However, when I read his bio on the site above I was intrigued. Just for fun please respond to my blog and tell me who you think did it after you watch the video.

God Will Provide ENOUGH in 2009

The New Year got off to a great start at The Savior's Touch. On Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 we were blessed to host a book signing for "He Came With a Message" by local author Sherri Prestwood.

The book is about the young man in the picture, Chad Thomas. At seven years old his spinal cord was injured when an intern in the recovery room tried to give him a spinal block instead of an epidural to reduce his pain after surgery.

Twenty months later he was involved in a serious car accident in which his sister was killed and he was thrown from the car and skidded across the pavement on his face breaking every bone in his face.
Chad is now seventeen and has had more than forty surgeries. Through it all he and his family have survived and flourished largely because of their strong faith and trust in God. The title of the book comes from an incident that occurred during a hospitalization following the spinal cord injury. Late one night an unknown visitor and his wife came to his room and prophesied that he would be alright and that God would provide for him and use him for God's glory.

On the night before the book signing the Sherri called me to break the news that they only had 60 books available for our event. Despite the fact that they had done everything humanly possible to get their shipment of 300 books in time for the signing they would not arrive until Monday. I assured her that God was in control and that all we could do was all we could do and it would be OK. I had 3 books in stock and received 6 more in my Friday order. We decided that if we ran out we would take orders and deliver the signed books next week.

I thought that 60 books would be a gracious plenty because it far exceeded the number of books that were sold at previous book signing that we have hosted.

The signing was scheduled to begin at 10am and finish at 4. When Sherri, Chad and Chad's parents arrived at 10 am there were people already at the store waiting for them. There were people waiting buy books and to speak to them all day long. At five minutes before 4 they signed their last book!

The story brings to mind the story of Gideon in the Bible whose army was reduced from thousands to a few hundred so that it would be obvious that the victory belongs to Him.

Are You Merry This Christmas

My church has been blessed to have Dan Garrett bringing the message for the last several weeks. This week's sermon was so encouraging that I wanted to try to put it in print. This is my version of what Dan shared based on what it said to me.

The Google definition of mer·ry is...

1. Full of high-spirited gaiety; jolly.
2. Marked by or offering fun and gaiety; festive: a merry evening.
3. Delightful; entertaining.

Difficult circumstances, disappointment, loss, financial strain or fear of an uncertain future has the potential to steal the joy from the Holiday Season. These issues are not anything new. Mary and Joseph, the wisemen and the shepherds likely had issues too.

Mary was dealing with being an unwed mother, forced to take a road trip, on a donkey, at full term. Joseph was the husband of the woman taking a road trip, on a donkey, at full term (and not the father of the baby). The wise men had to admit that they couldn't explain the unusual star and leave their comfort zone, and the shepherds had to leave their flocks unattended to go see a baby.

They most likely felt helpless, vulnerable and out of control. This is a recipe for depression. According to a leading psychologist, these hopeless feelings are at the root of most situations that cause individuals to seek professional help for depression.

BUT, Jesus chose to leave heaven and became that baby in a stinky stable. He chose to come to die so that we can be forgiven and enjoy His presence in our lives forever. This is a reason for joy!!

Joy to the world does not mean that I have to be perky all the time. Life is tough! But we can choose to focus on the gift -- Emmanuel -- God with us. When we choose to shift our focus, from the difficult circumstances of life, to the God who loves us so much that He sent His Son--We choose JOY.

Once Mary, Joseph, the wisemen and the shepherds experienced the wonder of that first Christmas it is likely that they never looked at life the same again. They saw that God's plan in the difficult circumstances had a wonderful, and amazing outcome and purpose. Likely, they trusted Him to continue to be in control and work all things together for good as Romans 8:28 claims He will.

My prayer for my friends, my family and myself is that this holiday season and in the months ahead we will be filled with joy because God is with us and He is in control.

Next on my "Reading List"

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT CHRISTIANITY

by Dinesh D'Souza

From the book jacket:
Is Christianity true? Can an intelligent, college-educated person really believe the Bible? Or do the atheists have it right? Has Christianity been disproven by science, debunked as a force for good, and discredited as a guide to morality?

Bestselling author Dinesh D’Souza (What’s So Great About America) approaches Christianity with a skeptical eye, but treats the skeptics with equal skepticism. The result is a book that will challenge the assumptions of both believers and doubters and affirm that there really is, indeed, something great about Christianity.

“With scholarship and eloquence that reminds me of C. S. Lewis, Dinesh D’Souza addresses the urgent questions of our time, such as ‘Is Christianity believable in the face of the discoveries of modern science and modern scholarship?’ His answer is a resounding yes. More than a decisive refutation of atheist attacks, this is a powerful, affirming, genuinely exciting argument for Christianity. You may want to carry this one around with you.”
—Reverend Robert H. Schuller

D’Souza reveals:
Why Christianity explains the universe, and our origins, better than atheism does
Why Christianity and science are not irreconcilable, but science and atheism might be
Why the alleged sins of Christianity—the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Galileo affair—are vastly overblown
Why atheism is a demonstrably dangerous creed—and a cowardly one
Why evolution does not threaten Christian belief
Why atheists fear the Big Bang theory
Why Christianity is the ultimate defense of man’s free will
Why ultimately you can’t have Western civilization—and all we value from it—without the Christianity that gave it birth

Provocative, enlightening, a twenty-first-century successor to C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, Dinesh D’Souza’s What’s So Great About Christianity is the perfect book for the seeker, the skeptic, and the believer who wants to defend his faith.

“Responding to the current epidemic of atheist manifestos, Dinesh D’Souza applies just the right balm for the troubled soul. Assembling arguments from history, philosophy, theology, and science—yes, science!—he builds a modern and compelling case for faith in a loving God. If you’re seeking the truth about God, the universe, and the meaning of life, this is a great place to look.”
—Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Institute

Talk about a challenge!! I have to admit, I have had to rely on my dictionary regularly!! However- the information in this book is very compelling and neccesary knowledge for a Christian who wants to be able to defend his/her faith in today's society. Not light reading, but worth the effort.

If you have read this, please comment.