‘The Grandfathers’ – DVD Review

One of the most famous examples of Christian love in the Twentieth Century was Operation Auca in the rainforest of Ecuador. That effort resulted in the martyrdom of all five of the American missionaries - Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian. They were attacked and speared by a group of Huaorani warriors on January 8, 1956. You can read more about it here. Despite their losses, several of the surviving family members continued to minister to the Huaorani tribe, and the tribe was transformed by the love of Jesus Christ.

A new documentary entitled ‘The Grandfathers’ chronicles the life of the Nate Saint’s grandson, Jesse Saint.

Here is the synopsis of this film:

A young man, deep in the Amazon jungle, searches for his identity while living with the primitive tribe that murdered his grandfather. The Grandfathers is a motion-graphics documentary by writer/director Jim Hanon and producer Mart Green. It completes the inspiring trilogy that began with Beyond the Gates of Splendor and was followed by End of the Spear. Jesse Saint struggles to find his place in a world dominated by the memory of a famous grandfather he never knew and a heroic father he cannot understand. Years spent among the Waodani and his friendship with the three men who took part in his grandfather’s murder teach him the healing power of dignity, respect and forgiveness. In the heart of the jungle, Jesse must confront his family’s past as he determines his own future. This documentary is a moving tribute to a young man’s quest for significance and purpose – and his remarkable impact on the three tribal elders who, unwittingly, are on a quest of their own.

Here is the film trailer:

Here is some more information on this interesting and poignant documentary:

From Sacrifice to Reconciliation, a Young Man Discovers His Heritage in The Grandfathers.

The Grandfathers showcases both the burden and benefit of the Saint family’s legacy. Jesse Saint, Steve’s oldest son and Nate’s grandson, was not raised among the tribe like his father. He struggles to find his place under the weight of the memory of a famous grandfather he never knew and a heroic father he does not fully understand. This will all change after Jesse travels to the jungles of Ecuador with his family and gradually forms a special bond with Mincaye, one of the tribesmen who took part in his grandfather’s murder. Only then will he confront his family’s past and come to terms with his own destiny. And there he will find his place in this story.

The Grandfathers chronicles the personal quest for greater connectedness and significance. It is also a moving tribute to ordinary people living extraordinary lives in extreme situations. Jim Hanon, the film’s director, states, “Forgiveness is an awe-inspiring virtue that seems to have been passed on by the Saint family and is shared by many among the Waodani tribe—both demonstrate a profound capacity for forgiveness and healthy self-healing.”

Steve Saint consulted with Jim Hanon and Mart Green, EGM’s producer, to help bring the story of his father, Nate, to screen through the feature film End of the Spear and the companion documentary film Beyond the Gates of Splendor. These films trace events leading up to and including the deaths of these men. More than that, they show the impact these events played on the lives of both their survivors and their killers. When the widows and their children went to live among the Waodani—a tribe regarded as the most violent on earth—they became an integral part of an incredible redemptive journey.

The Grandfathers, completes a trilogy produced by EthnoGraphic Media (EGM) that includes End of the Spear and Beyond the Gates of Splendor. These first two films, also from award-winning director Jim Hanon and producer Mart Green, tell the unforgettable and inspiring story of the killing of five missionaries by a stone-age tribe deep in the Amazon jungle. The impact of this tragic event lives on today in families of these slain men as well as among those responsible for their deaths.

I really enjoyed this documentary. It was interesting to see the aftermath of the missionary death from the perspective of the third generation. It was also interesting to see the relationship between Jesse and ‘The Grandfathers.’ I was especially taken by the comment that Jesse made that he would not exchange the death of his grandfather if he had to forfeit his relationship with these gentlemen (the photo at right is of Jesse with Mincaye, the man who killed his grandfather).  I highly encourage anyone who has seen ‘End of the Spear’ and ‘Beyond the Gates of Splendor’ to see this last movie in the trilogy. It is not to be missed!

You can order this DVD here.

This DVD was produced by Ethnographic Media and provided by The B & B Media Group for review purposes. 

‘The Final Summit: The Quest to Find the One Principle That Will Save Humanity’ by Andy Andrews – Book Review

One of the most talented writers of our day is Andrew Andrews. I recently finished reading his latest release, ‘The Final Summit: The Quest to Find the One Principle That Will Save Humanity.’

Here is the synopsis of this profound and insightful novel:

David Ponder is back – and this time, the fate of mankind may be in his hands. This is humanity’s last chance. Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent mankind hurtling toward disaster, and far from its original purpose. There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship – and that answer is only two words.

With time running out, it is up to David Ponder and a cast of history’s best and brightest minds (from Winston Churchill and George Washington Carver to Joan of Arc) to uncover this solution before it’s too late. The catch? There are allowed only five tries to solve the ominous challenge.

Readers first encountered David Ponder in the New York Times bestseller The Traveler’s Gift. Now, in The Final Summit, Andrews combines a riveting narrative with astounding history in order to show us the one thing we must do when we don’t know what to do.

Here is the biography of the author:

Hailed by a New York Times reporter as “someone who has quietly become one of the most influential people in America,” Andy Andrews is a best-selling novelist and in-demand speaker for the world’s largest organizations. Zig Ziglar says, “Andy Andrews is the best speaker I have ever seen.” He has spoken at the request of four different United State presidents and at military bases worldwide, being called upon by the Department of Defense to speak about the principles contained in his books. Andy appears frequently on CNN, Fox News, and ABC’s Good Morning America. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Noticer and The Traveler’s Gift. Arguably, there is no single person on the planet better at weaving subtle yet life-changing lessons into riveting tales of adventure and intrigue – both on paper and onstage. He lives in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his wife, Polly, and their two sons.

I was awed by this ringing endorsement:

Every generation or so, God produces a person who can communicate like no one else. His words are like cool water to a thirsty civilization. Andy Andrews is one of the best I have ever seen.

--- Zig Ziglar, America’s #1 Motivator and Best-Selling author

Here is the book trailer for this interesting book:

And here is the story behind ‘The Final Summit’ – including some entertaining older footage of the author!:

The book recaps David Ponder’s first encounter as a Traveler, as shared in ‘The Traveler’s Gift:’

He knew that his time travel had been real. It was not a dream or hallucination as a result of coma from the automobile accident. The Seven Decisions he had gathered from the lives of the other Travelers had changed everything. Not just for David and Ellen, but for hundreds of thousands of others with whom he had gone to share the decisions. (p. 10)

A primary character in this novel is the Archangel Gabriel. Here is David’s 

description of this amazing creature:

In contrast to his own changes that Gabriel had mentioned, David saw that the archangel’s physical appearance was exactly as he’d remembered. He was well over six feet tall and muscular, with clear blue eyes and relatively short, curly blond hair that brushed his ears and eyebrows. (p. 29)   

David met many of the most remarkable people that have ever lived during this Final Summit. I have admired many of them for a very long time. It would hard for me to pick my favorite, but I really admire Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, and Anne Frank.

One of the solutions they decided upon that was impactful to me was ‘restore hope.’ Our church is involved in an outreach campaign knows by its acronym, EACH – Everyone A Chance to Hear. Hope is an important word for me with regard to that campaign. So I really appreciated Joan of Arc’s explanation why this is the correct solution:

“Don’t you see? If the most important part of your life is in the future, then it doesn’t matter how old you are or how sick you are. It doesn’t matter how fearful or depressed you might feel or how penniless you might be. By the virtue of the fact that you still draw breath, there is more to come. There is more laughter and learning…more victories. There is more. This is proof of hope, monsieur.” (p. 87)

I enjoyed the story, but I do have an issue with this book. My main bone of contention – and it is a big one – is that this book is published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher. I am not sure if Andy Andrews professes to be a Christian, but it would seem that books published by a Christian publisher should point its readers to the real solution to our world’s problems – Jesus Christ. This is a self-help book; that is even how it’s categorized on the back cover. I just think Mr. Andrews, if he indeed is a Christ follower, lost a great opportunity to point his readers to the real solution – Jesus. From my reading of that book, Jesus is only mentioned once in this book, and not even by name. Abraham Lincoln shared this tidbit with Winston Churchill when they admired the table that they sat around:

“It was handmade,” Lincoln said with a twinkle in his eye. “Of course, you know the Boss’s Son is a carpenter.” (p. 166)

Perhaps I am being overly picky, but I really think Mr. Andrews missed a golden opportunity to give Jesus the glory He deserves when it comes to Him being the Salvation of the world. Don’t get me wrong – I was really inspired by and motivated by the process that the Travelers went through to get to their answer, and I don’t disagree with any of them. I think it just falls short in its answer. I do think it’s a worthwhile read, but one needs to read it with a discerning spirit and a discriminating eye. The Bible makes it clear that humanity will not save itself. That does not mean that we can’t live better lives by living out the principles in this book

I’ve had the opportunity to read two of Andy’s previous books – ‘The Boy Who Changed the World’ (you can read my review here) and ‘The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters’ (you can read my review here). The first book is geared to children, and is based on the principle elaborated upon in the second book, which is a lovely gift book.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Thomas Nelson and provided by them for review purposes.

‘Coach Wooden: The 7 Principles That Shaped His Life and Will Change Yours’ by Pat Williams and Jim Denney – Book Review

I am a pretty big sports fan. One of the legends in that realm is Coach John Wooden, legendary coach of the UCLA basketball teams from 1948 to 1975 (he passed away on June 4, 2010 at age 99). Pat Williams and Jim Denney have written a new book entitled ‘Coach Wooden: The 7 Principles That Shaped His Life and Will Change Yours.’

Here is a synopsis of this inspirational book:

Legends aren’t born. They’re made. When John Wooden graduated from eight grade, his father gave him a handwritten card and said, “Son, try to live up to this.” On the card, his father had written seven simple yet profound life principles:

Be true to yourself

Help others

Make friendship a fine art

Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible

Make every day your masterpiece

Build a shelter against a rainy day by the life you live

Give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day

These principles were the key to Coach Wooden’s greatness – and his goodness. Through powerful stories and advice, this book shares the wisdom that made Wooden happy and successful, not just in his career but in his life. This inspiration and conversational book will encourage, challenge, and motivate you to build these principles into your own life so that you can impact the lives of others.

Here are the biographies of the authors:

Pat Williams is senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. He has almost fifty years of professional sports experience, has written seventy books, and is one of America’s most sought-after motivational speakers. He lives in Winter Park, Florida.

Jim Denney is a writer with more than eighty published books to his credit. His collaborative titles include Reggie White in the Trenches: The Autobiography, with the Super Bowl champion; Undefeated, with father-son Super Bowl/Rose Bowl champs Bob and Brian Griese; A Model for a Better Future with Kim Alexis and numerous books with Pat Williams, including Go For the Magic.

I had the great good fortune to read another title by Pat Williams (co-written with his wife, Ruth) – ‘Happy Spouse Happy House: The BEST Game Plan for a Winning Marriage’ (you can read my review – one of my first - here).

Here is a clip of Mr. William in the Green Room at the ‘700 Club.’ He correctly predicted the winner of this year’s NCAA Basketball tournament; he also gave some wise advise to Tiger Woods:

Here is a video of Coach Wooden from 2001 as posted by TED
(a remarkable organization; I encourage you to check it out!). It’s lengthy, but well worth your time:

Coach Wooden was profoundly and positively influenced by his father, Joshua Wooden:

Joshua Wooden used those tough times to impress life lessons on his four sons. “Blaming, cursing, hating doesn’t help you,” he told them. “It hurts you.” It was also during this time that he taught his four sons what he called “the two sets of threes”: “Never lie, never cheat, never steal,” and, “Don’t whine, don’t complain, don’t make excuses.” (p. 33)

One of the seven life principles that Coach Wooden was taught by his father is ‘Be True to Yourself’:

What does it mean to be true to yourself? This is not a command to be selfish or self-absorbed. It’s a command to be faithful to your highest self, to your values, your honor, your integrity, the reputation you wish to maintain. Be faithful to your commitment to be a person of character, courage, commitment, devotion, perseverance, and diligence. Refuse to compromise yourself. Never sacrifice your principles. Refuse to betray your values. If you remain true to the best that is within you, you will never be false or disloyal to any other person. (p. 45)

Coach Wooden’s faith was strong. His life reflected his love of the Lord:

Fred Hessler, UCLA radio announcer, said, “John Wooden tried harder than any man I have ever met to be like Jesus Christ.” And Los Angeles sportswriter Bud Furillo observed, “John Wooden proves that Christian ideals must work. They do in his life.” And longtime UCLA golf coach Eddie Merrins said, “Coach doesn’t wear his faith on his sleeve, but everything he does in life is designed to please God.” (p. 160)

This book includes two appendices. The first one details Coach Wooden’s Legendary Record; it is truly remarkable, and unmatched by any coach in any sport. In fact, on July 29, 2009, the Sporting News named Coach Wooden the Greatest Coach of All Time in any sport, college or professional. Appendix 2 highlighted ‘Woodenisms,’ words of wisdom (most Biblically based) that he shared with people throughout his long and distinguished life. Here are a few:

ACCOMPLISHMENT (ACHIEVEMENT)

Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. (p. 177)

ATTITUDE

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. (p. 178)

Coach Wooden left a remarkable legacy! And this is a wonderful book! My husband, Fred, has been an admirer of Coach Wooden for many years; I will be passing this book along to him to read. This hardcover would make a terrific book for a high school or university graduate (of either gender!); it would also make a great Father’s Day gift for the fathers and husbands in your lives. I plan on making some changes in my life to exemplify the life of a man who impacted a multitude of people to live better lives.

You can order this book here.

Available February 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This book was published by Revell and provided by them for review purposes.

‘Money & Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples’ by Matt Bell – Book Information and Article

Being a fairly newly married couple (our wedding date was June 10, 2005), I can attest to the fact that money is the most contentious issue in our marriage. In his newest book, ‘Money & Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples,’ Matt Bell provides wise and Godly counsel to young (and older!) couples.

Here is the synopsis of this book:

For Richer or Poorer. Newlywed couples quickly discover that money is a big deal in their new lives together. Conversations about money can all too easily turn into arguments about spending habits, credit card debt, and when to make major purchases. Getting on the same financial page is essential because research has shown that the more frequently a couple fights about finances, the more likely they are to divorce. So how do you as an engaged or newly married couple work as a team when dealing with money?

Financial expert Matt Bell shows you the way. This book will help you to make the most of each other’s financial strengths, teaching you how to work together to build a solid financial future. Through a ten-step action plan, you’ll learn how to prioritize goals, get out of debt, build savings, invest wisely, buy a house, and much more -  all in a way that minimizes stress and maximizes unity. With this essential guide, you’ll avoid the pitfalls and place yourselves on the path to financial success.

Here is the biography of this author:

Matt Bell is a personal finance expert whose previous books include Money, Purpose, Joy and Money Strategies for Tough Times. He leads workshops throughout the country; has been featured in major media such as USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, and WGN-TV; and writes the MattAboutMoney.com blog.

Matt shares with his readers a Ten-Step Action Plan for Financial Success:

1.        Plan to Succeed

2.        Work Wisely

3.        Give Some Away

4.        Put Some Away

5.        Ruthlessly Avoid Debt

6.        Manage Your Credit Score

7.        Patiently Pursue Interest

8.        Build Walls of Protection

9.        Spend Smart on Housing

10. Spend Smart on All Other Expenses

To be perfectly honest, my husband, Fred, is much wiser when it comes to money than I have been. I have cajoled (coerced?) him to make some unwise financial decisions (such as purchasing a brand new vehicle) since we have been married – a decision which I came to regret (despite the fact that I love our Kia Sportage). In retrospect, if I had been more frugal/practical with the resources God gave us, we would be in a better financial position than we are right now…

I found this book to be very valuable – even for an older newly married couple! I have a friend who will be getting married at the end of May; I plan on passing ‘Money & Marriage’ along to her so she can avoid some of the mistakes we have made.

I also want to share an article that Matt wrote; I pray it will be of value to you!

___________________________________________

Money and Marriage: Living With Financial Freedom

By Matt Bell

For many couples, money is a tough topic. But there’s one financial issue that, like no other, causes financial discomfort among couples and raises the chances for financial fights: debt.


Take Off the Shackles


The Bible says, “The borrower is servant to the lender.” Living as a servant to a lender isn’t wise for any of us, but it’s especially problematic in marriage.
Researcher Jeffrey Dew at Utah State University has found that not only does consumer debt (credit card debt and other installment loans) fuel a sense of financial unease among couples and increase the likelihood that they will argue about money, but “this financial unease casts a pall over marriages in general, raising the likelihood that couples will argue over issues other than money and decreasing the time they spend with one another.”


Dew’s research shows that newlyweds that take on substantial consumer debt become less happy in their marriages over time. On the other hand, newly married couples that pay off their consumer debt within their first five years of marriage are more satisfied with their marriage. Those findings held up no matter whether couples were rich or poor.


Whose Debt Is It?


How couples approach their debt is important as well.
When Scott and Karen got married, Karen brought $50,000 of non-mortgage debt into the marriage.  Scott jokingly referred to it as a reverse dowry.
One of the things I love about their story is that from the earliest days of their marriage, whenever Karen would talk about “my” debt, Scott would correct her by saying is was “our” debt. Now there’s a guy who is committed to financial oneness.


One other notable part of their story is that their faith-based convictions motivated them to give away 10 percent of their income throughout their journey of getting out of debt. Karen remembered seeing their year-end giving statement, and thinking, ‘Gee, we could have gotten out of debt so much faster if we had put that money toward our debts.” And she remembers hearing other people’s stories of unexpected blessings they felt came about because of their giving. “I started wondering where’s my cool story?” she said.


Six-and-a-half years after getting married, Scott and Karen made their last debt payment. It was a day neither one of them will ever forget. “It was amazing,” Karen says. “We felt like it was a hard road we had traveled, but we did it, and we did it in a God-honoring way. We are 100 percent debt-free.”
Scott will soon be able to retire with a full pension at a much younger age than most people, having put in over twenty years as a Chicago firefighter. They’re thinking about getting an RV and spending a year traveling the country.


Sounds pretty cool to me.


Be Done With Debt ASAP


If you are engaged or newly married, make it one of your highest financial priorities to get out of debt and then live the rest of your lives with no debt other than a reasonable mortgage (One that requires no more than 25% of monthly household gross income to pay for the combination of your mortgage, taxes, and insurance).


Put together a spending plan that enables you to maximize debt repayment.  You may find it helpful to use the recommended spending plans found in the “Money, Purpose, Joy,” workbook, which contains detailed plans for four different size households across nine different annual incomes.


Very often, when couples get married they get excited about all that they’ll be able to afford with two incomes. But I encourage all newly married couples to base their lifestyle mostly on one income. It’s the single most helpful step you can take to prepare for children since it makes it much easier for one spouse to choose to step out of the paid workforce if that’s their desire. 


If you have debt, it’s especially important to live mostly on one income so you can use the other income to get out of debt. Doing so will make all the difference in helping you build a solid financial foundation and live with financial freedom.

______________________________

You can order ‘Money & Marriage’ here.

This book was published by NavPress. I am pleased to be participating in the Litfuse Publicity Group’s blog tour with these other bloggers.

‘Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women’ by Carolyn Custis James – Book Review and Giveaway

A topic that has been of great interest to me for a long time is the place that women should hold in the church. Carolyn Custis James addresses this issue very well in her latest book, ‘Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women.’

Here’s the synopsis of this thought-provoking book:

        No Woman Left Behind.

News stories that ran in early 2008 highlighted how throughout the world women today are living in a world of extremes. On the one hand Hillary Rodham Clinton nearly captured the Democratic nomination for U.S. president. At the same time, the media reported the brutal honor killings of five women in Pakistan – three young girls buried alive for planning to choose their own husbands, plus a mother and an aunt shot to death as they pled with their husbands, sons, and brothers to spare the girls’ lives.

Into this world of breathtaking opportunities and shocking atrocities, the church attempts to speak with relevance to women. But the message often fails to address the opportunities, changes, and contingencies of life in a fallen world. It is not far-reaching enough to encompass every woman’s whole life within this multicultural, rapidly changing world. Instead, the message too often focuses mainly on marriage and motherhood important as they are, and overlooks all the other seasons or circumstances of life. It fails to capitalize on God’s positive, life-affirming, vision for women. The church is being drowned out by other conflicting voices and falls short of conveying the empowering mobilizing gospel message for women that is clearly embedded in God’s Word.

Women comprise at least half the world, and usually more than half the church, but so often Christian teaching to women either fails to move beyond a discussion of roles or assumes a particular economic situation or stage of life. This all but shuts women out from contributing to God’s kingdom as they were designed to do. Furthermore, the plight of women in the Majority World demands a Christian response, a holistic embrace of all that God calls women and men to be in his world.

Carolyn Custis James unpacks three transformative biblical themes, showing how God gives women a new identity that frees them to embrace the life he gives, and so that no woman or girl is left behind.

Half the Church embodies a positive, kingdom approach to the changes, challenges, and opportunities facing women throughout the world today.

Here’s the biography of this author:

Carolyn Custis James (MA, Biblical Studies) travels extensively as a popular speaker for women’s conferences, churches, colleges, seminaries, and other Christian organizations. Her ministry organization, WhitbyForum, promotes thoughtful biblical discussion to help men and women serve God together. Carolyn founded and is president of the Synergy Women’s Network. The books she has written include The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules, Lost Women of the Bible: Finding Strength & Significance through Their Stories, When Life and Beliefs Collide, and Understanding Purpose: Women of Faith Study Guide Series. She is a consulting editor for Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament. Carolyn and her husband live in Boxford, Massachusetts.

Here’s the book trailer for this provocative book:

Mrs. James shares that the Lord has had her on a journey of discovery over the last many years:

The thrill of each new discovery has been tempered every time by a weight of grief that to this day hasn’t lifted. I grieve over the opportunities and blessings I have wasted because I didn’t know about God’s vision for his daughters – I didn’t realize God expected so much of me. I grieve the loss to the church when so many Christian women believe it’s possible to subsist on an anorexic spiritual diet. I grieve that far too many women and girls are living with small visions of themselves and of their purpose. I grieve the loss to our brothers who are shouldering burdens we were created to share and are doing kingdom work without them when God means for us to build his kingdom together. (p. 19)

Mrs. James makes the important point that we need to see all of the women in the world, not just in our small circle. Here is her rationale:

We need a global conversation because the Bible itself is global. God’s Word has never been the exclusive property of the elite. God’s Word is for the world. If anything, the Bible gives priority to the weak, the oppressed, and the poor and is tougher on privileged people who hold the reins of wealth and power but refuse to wield their advantages for the good of others. Jesus had little tolerance for self-centered individuals who indulged themselves and hoarded the comforts of this earthly life. His heart was with the suffering and oppressed, and we can be sure the Bible’s message reflects the same commitment. (p. 38)

Mrs. James did an interesting study in the Bible on the word ezer, which appears over twenty times in the Old Testament, including its use twice to describe Eve. She determined its definition is ‘strong helper.’ She reached this conclusion:

Description of the woman as dependent, needy, vulnerable, deferential, helpless, leaderless, or weak are – to put it simply – wrong. Such definitions betray cultural biases and I fear a deep-seated misogyny. The ezer is a warrior. Like the man, she is also God’s creative masterpiece – a work of genius and a marvel to behold – for she is fearfully and wonderfully made. The ezer never sheds her image-bearer identity. Not here. Not ever. God defines who she is and how she is to live in his world. That never changes. The image-bearer responsibilities to reflect God to the world and to rule and subdue on his behalf still rest on her shoulders too. (p. 114)

That is not taught very often in the church, is it?

Jesus went against the norm of His day by giving ample time and attention to women:

Women on Jesus’ A-list of potential friends and recruits included prostitutes, adulteresses, a shunned Samaritan, insignificant widows, a ceremonially unclean woman, a dead twelve-year-old girl, and demon-possessed women. Jesus regarded them with unheard-of respect and gave them undivided attention, even (and perhaps deliberately) when men were around. He engaged women publicly in deep theological conversation in a culture where respectable men avoided public conversation with women. He entered their grief by weeping openly with them. He included women among his disciples, welcomed their friendship, forged strong bonds with them, was blessed and fortified by their spiritual ministries, and recruited them as leaders and kingdom builders. (p. 167)

Mrs. James ends her book this way:

One hundred years from now may it never be said of this generation of ezers that we folded our hands and God’s kingdom work to others. May it never be said that we ignored the cries of the helpless and focused on ourselves. Let it instead be said that God used those cries to awaken a sleeping giantess and filled her with a terrible resolve – half the church, angered and outraged at the unchecked forces of evil in God’s world. That we made up our minds to do something, that our efforts forced the darkness to recede, and that we left the world better off that we found it. May we be remembered as a generation who caught God’s vision, faced our fears, and rose up to serve his cause. (p. 193)

That last paragraph seems as though it was written directly to me! I wonder how many other women will feel the same way?!

I really was changed by this book; I can’t say that about every book I read! But this book turned me to the Scriptures and what they say about what God says about women, and not what the church (and perhaps men) say about women. Truth be told, I have always had an issue with the secondary role that women are allowed to hold in most churches. I have always felt that they’ve been interpreting Scripture to suit their purposes – and it has never rung true with me. I thank Mrs. James for showing us what the Bible – and God – really say about women’s place in the church and in the world.

This book has Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter. I think it would be a perfect book to read with your spouse, or with a friend. I give it my highest recommendation.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Zondervan and provided by them for review and giveaway purposes.

___________________________________________________

I have one copy of this book to give along; many thanks to Jesse at Zondervan for generously providing the copy! 

There are several ways to gain entry:           

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, sharing your thoughts on how this book would be a helpful resource to you or to another. Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com. 

2) Add my blog button to your blog or website. You can grab the HTML code on the right hand side of the blog. Please leave a comment (with your email address) letting me know your URL where the blog button has been placed. Thanks!

3) Follow me on Twitter; if you are already a follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a separate comment to that effect.

4) Send a tweet on Twitter. Please feel free to use this one:

Win a copy of ‘Half the Church’ by @carolynezer and @ZonderAcademic from @andrealschultz. http://bit.ly/grKHjb Please RT!

Please leave a comment with the link to your tweet. You can tweet up to once per day. Please add a new comment for each tweet.

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So there are many, many chances to enter and therefore win! Please limit one entry per option (except for the Twitter option), and don’t forget to include your email address, or, sad to say, the Random Number Generator will have to choose a different winner.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only. The deadline for entry is Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST. One winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 and will be contacted via email. The best to all of you!