Sounds Just Like Queen!

Wow. I can't believe I never realized this before! Marc Martel, the lead singer of Christian band Downhere, sounds so much like Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen.

What? Don't believe me? Take a listen! :)



Blessings,

Mad Harmonica Skills!

Blessings,

Your Love Is a Mystery!

This song is so my life right now! Love, love, love!

"God I know that you exist
I've been told a thousand times
But my friends they all insist
That the truth is just a lie
You see the lives that they all live
Seems like a party all the time
The temptations I resist
Because it's You I glorify!"

 Hawk Nelson's "Your Love Is a Mystery" Enjoy!



Blessings,

Review of Deadly Pursuit

Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon is the second book in the Guardians of Justice series, which is the suspenseful romance trilogy that follows the Taylor siblings. Alison Taylor has been receiving strange prank calls for some time. As a social worker with brothers in law enforcement, she knows that there's a potential of people disliking her, but when the calls turn into something more sinister, her brother Cole and his ex-Navy SEAL police partner Mitch come to the rescue. Alison's stalker begins to reveal more and more of what he intends to do to Alison, and Mitch begins to fight for Alison's safety. Because the safety of his future and heart depend on it.

Irene Hannon does a great job of character development in this book with the villain. It doesn't justify what the stalker does, but it shows that sometimes a person's life choices and circumstances can lead to awful acts. Also, the two main characters have a meaningful conversation about God's will and why bad things happen, and that was probably my favorite part of the book. My favorite character? Cole, Alison's brother. I can't wait to see how things go in the next book for him.

I didn't really connect with the main characters in this book. I'm a big fan of Irene Hannon, and I enjoyed her other series and the first book of this series. However, the romance was really strange between the two. Usually a relationship progresses, but in this one, the connection is immediate and it seemed like the story would move a little then brake, move then brake. It was a little too sickly sweet at times. The other plot line, the stalker, was interesting, but I wasn't as captivated as I have been with the author's other books. Some things to be aware of: the stalker frightens a character by inappropriate touching and meth is used by some characters.

All in all I rate this book three out of four stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 352 pages
~ Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2011)
~ Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

  

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Katy's Decision!

Katy's Decision by Kim Vogel Sawyer is the fourth and final book in the YA Christian Katy Lambright series. Katy is looking forward to a great summer vacation spent with her best friend, Shelby, at Katy's farm in the Mennonite community. However, their plans are soon cut short when Katy's aunt discovers she has a serious illness. The girls sacrifice their time and efforts to run Katy's aunt's fabric store. Seems boring, right? Think again!

A new Mennonite boy from another community is also spending the summer in Katy's community, complicating things. There are already two guys crushing on Katy, and the newcomer is beginning to confuse Katy about where her heart belongs. Katy is faced with several important dilemmas. Who is the guy for her? Will she give up her education to help out at home or continue following her dreams and disappoint her family? It's not an easy decision.

It was great seeing how the series would end. I've been reading the Katy Lambright series from book one, and it was good to get some closure. I like how the male characters were (for the most part) strong yet sensitive enough to help out and care. There was a feeling of strong family unity in this book, and I really appreciated that.

I wish this series could have ended more significantly. I felt as if this book was more boring than the rest of the series. I had closure, but it wasn't very exciting. Also, a lot of the book was about who Katy would choose instead of whether she would chose to stay in the Mennonite community or not. There really wasn't any big, drastic decision.

All in all, I rate this book three out of five stars. Clean read, a little dry. Recommended to girls 10 and up.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 208 pages
~ Publisher: Zondervan (April 26, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

The Manslater!

Haha! This video totally cracks me up. It's so true!



Blessings,

Review of Worlds Collide

Worlds Collide by Alison Strobel is the emotional, gripping story of a famous couple's past. There's always a story that others never see. When a Hollywood star marries a normal gal, it seems like a fairytale. However, in reality, the lives Jack Harrington and Grace Winslow were both filled with heartache, sadness, and a feeling of being lost before their "storybook ending". Jack Harrington is suffering through the abandonment of his girlfriend and a death, Grace moves to California to start over. The two inevitably meet, and their lives and changed forever. The attraction and tension builds, as does their awareness of the difference between their lives and values.

Biographer Jada Eastman is determined to get their whole story, but will her life be changed in the process by this strong pair? As the book puts it, "As the three of them examine the couple’s bittersweet story, it becomes clear that everyday decisions can carry lifetime consequences when individual worlds collide."

Amazing narrative. The book flowed smoothly, even though the book was split between Jack's past, Grace's past, and the present. I love how their story also caused Jada to reexamine her own life and values. Also, I found it intriguing and great that the author worked backwards, so to speak, with the story. The reader already knew that the famous couple was together, but the mystery of how they got that way was yet to be solved. The journey of the two characters is so beautifully written, and a reader will find an immediate connection to the two.

This is an adult Christian fiction book, so I probably wouldn't highly recommend it to teens like myself. There are drugs, alcohol, and physical relationships aplenty before Jack and Grace find each other. Yes, I enjoyed the story, but some of the stuff I skipped over.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars. Well-written and emotionally involving.

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 384 pages
~Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 15, 2005)

Blessings,

PCR

Okay, time for Prism to show her nerdy side... and people, it's really nerdy.

So in class this week I'm learning about a little contraption known as a PCR. It's short for Polymerase Chain Reaction, but I'm not here to make y'all snooze. (C'mon Prism! I'm done with school for the day... yeah, I know, I know...) It's a great science tool to replicate DNA so that a scientist can tell what the DNA belongs to. Anyone ever used one of these? It's pretty lengthy, but fun.

Anyways, there have been some pretty funny songs/commercials made about the PCR... enjoy!


Like the "We Are the World" song


(G-T C-A are the components of DNA! :))

Blessings,

Review of Veiled Rose!

Veiled Rose by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is the sequel to the YA Christian fantasy book Heartless. Rose Red is a girl who has always been in hiding. She stays in a small house with her nanny goat, a man who she calls father, and her secrets beneath numerous veils. Her world is drastically changed when she meets a boy her age named Leo. Leo is a headstrong boy who is determined to find a monster who terrorized the area,  and the two soon become friends, to the horror of Leo's household. But their childhood games soon become real when a monster so great begins to terrorize the kingdom. Leo is determined to stop it, but at what cost? And what is Rose Red hiding beneath all of her veils?

Excellent. Absolutely excellent. This book is even better than the first book, which is saying a lot. The characters are gripping, and I loved how what seemed like a minor character in the last book totally makes sense in this book. A hated character became an understandable person. This book fleshes out Heartless and its characters while strongly conveying a new, different story. This is absolutely one of my favorite fantasy books ever. I loved how the author progressed the friendship of Leo and Rosie in a way that had the reader loving them both. The story is so sweet, and I loved how the story of Rose with all of her veils shows that beauty is beyond the outside appearance. Rose's gentleness, inner strength, and courage shines through in her actions, and she is one of my favorite characters in all of the books I have read. Also, the ending is a great suspenseful build to the next book, Moonblood, which will be released April 2012. Oh, and isn't the cover just amazing?

All in all I rate this book five out of five stars. Truly a great read. I highly, highly recommend it! 

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 394 pages
~Publisher: Bethany House (July 1, 2011)

Note: Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux is the story of a brave little mouse who changes the whole kingdom of Dor. Dor is famous for its soups; it even has a day dedicated just to soup. One tragic Soup Day, a rat disembarks from a ship seeking adventure. Roscuro, the rat, follows the enchanting smell of soup right to the palace, where the royal family is about to enjoy their specially made soup. Unfortunately, Roscuro tumbles into the Queen's soup, causing her to panic, faint, and drown in her soup. The whole castle is suddenly in upheaval. Roscuro is chased by the king's knights, but he gets away.

The king, in grief and anger, bans soup and rats from the Kingdom of Dor. Roscuro is taken away from light, food, and happiness as he is forced to live in Ratworld, an underground town of terrible rats.

In enters Despereaux, a little mouse, even in mice standards, who refuses to be afraid, much to the people of Mouseworld's dismay. Unlike other mice, he isn't timid and loves to read books instead of eating them. When reading a book, he decides he will become a hero and save a princess. Thus, the adventure begins...

I enjoyed how different this movie is. The voice actors were excellent (Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, and Dustin Hoffman are all part of the cast) The plot is very detailed, with numerous subplots. The use of a narrator (Sigourney Weaver) adds beautifully to the story with moral tidbits. The animation is really well done.

This movie is unlike anything I've ever seen. For a children's movie, it seems a bit too deep. The morals are strong, and I appreciate that. Such themes include forgiveness, value of other people, and the error of dark ways. I did watch the movie with a small child who actually enjoys the movie very much, but it seemed to have some elements that may be hard for a little one to understand. A secondary character "dies", which absolutely made me, yes, me sad. In short, the thematic elements may be too scary or too much to handle.

Overall, I was absolutely enchanted by this movie. I'd say it's a great movie for kids at heart. 

I rate this movie four out of five stars.

Blessings,

Be My Magnificent Obsession!

This song is an oldie, but a goodie. It's rare that a song gives me the chills, but this is such as song. "Magnificent Obsession" Steven Curtis Chapman! Mr.Chapman recently released his latest album Re:creation, which includes a remake of "Magnificent Obsession".



Blessings,

Review of The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo is the historical fiction story of a girl who wants to follow her dreams of becoming a business woman and getting married, in that order. Charlotte has always wanted to grow up. Even as a child, she put all of her effort into convincing her father that she was a woman, but to no avail. In fact, she tends to build a reputation of just the opposite everywhere she goes, much to her father's dismay. When Charlotte meets the dashing, yet insufferable astronomer Alex Hambly, their first encounter is anything but pleasant. However, their paths continue crossing until Charlottes father has a revelation- the two should marry! He pressures and pressures both. Charlotte longs to go to college and head up her father's company. Alex wants save his family from financial disaster. Charlotte's father proposes a simple plan- he'll solve both problems if the two marry.

Although very reluctant, the pair agrees, but they secretly plan to annul the ridiculous contract after their inconvenient marriage. But when Alex wants to honor his commitment, how will Charlotte get out? Does she even want to?

Charlotte's is very unique. Never have I seen such a spirited and turbulent female main character, and I like how Alex sort of balanced that out with his levelheadedness. The first half of the book was great, and it seemed really promising! Charlotte is an unconventional young woman who is very familiar with Buffalo Bill and his shows, and she shocked the English society when she acts like them. The relationship between Alex and Charlotte also starts off great.

As I said before, Charlotte is unique, but perhaps she's too unique. To put it mildy, for about 4/5 of the book, she's very much like a spoiled child. I came to somewhat pity Alex for having to put up with her. Also, the story was really predictable, and I never really got closure on what had happened to Charlotte's mother or Alex's twin brother. There didn't seem to be any standout scenes in this book. The behavior of Charlotte's father seemed too extreme, and I didn't quite like how he was so pushy. In addition, when the two decide they're ready to really be married, it is strongly, strongly implied that they do.

This was not my kind of book. It was very promising in the beginning, but in the end, it just didn't deliver. I rate this book two out of five stars.

Note: The publisher provided me with a free electronic copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Review of Gray Matter!

What happens when a neurosurgeon decides to pray with his patients prior to surgery? The autobiography Gray Matter by Dr. David Levy recounts his experiences as he discovers the power of prayer in his life and in the life of his patients. His journey of building up courage to ask patients to pray, being unashamed when his colleagues discover what he is doing, and keeping his faith strong when procedures do not go well all show how faith may be brought into the workplace while being careful to be mindful of others and the regulations in place. The vivid medical details and amazing stories of faith allow readers to see the power of God and explore their own methods of sharing Christianity.

                 

Dr. Levy begins his career as a cocky medical student who believes the power is in his hands, but as he discovers the true Physician, he discovers that God is ultimately in control. When he feels led to pray with his patients, Dr. Levy is concerned about the possible responses; he could be mocked or rejected. However, he finally builds up the courage to pray with a patient who is eventually healed both physically and spiritually. While helping his patients, he also discovers that the experience is changing him and strengthening his faith. He proposes that science and faith are not incompatible but acknowledges that doctors can face ridicule or discipline if they decide to share their faith. “The role of prayer in health care is itself a gray matter,” he comments.

                 

This book is written with detailed descriptions of the field of neurology. The aspects of faith and medicine are balanced in a manner that both medical professionals and average readers will find enlightening. His ideas and his journey of discovering the power of prayer is shared with honesty. The stories do not only include successes. Some stories do not end well, but they show that even disasters can result in growth and forgiveness. This book is an excellent reminder of the power of prayer and how Christians can reach out to others, regardless of their position. 

                The debate still continues about whether or not prayer and religion is appropriate in the health care setting, but Dr. Levy shows how it can be helpful, even life-changing. Readers will find Gray Matter an engaging read that causes them to rethink their ability to reach out to unbelievers and be more open about their faith. Above all, they will consider the power of God and how he is the ultimate Healer.

Faith Under Fire

Note: This is not my image

It never ceases to amaze me how Christianity has stood the tests of time. From the Roman's persecution of Christians to the countries today who kill Christians, still the faith keeps strong. From the apostles of Christ to His followers today, God has been faithful to His own, even in the midst of intense persecution in hostile countries.

Today, my church hosted a pastor and his family from such a country. They're faced everyday with the possibility of jail time by the government or harsh treatment of the citizens. Yet their faith astounded me at how clear it was. Their focus was on Him, when I'm usually focused on trivial matters, like food, movies, popularity, ect. In the end, it doesn't matter. I know that. But it's amazing how often we forget and do what we like to do. All that matters is God. After all, what's the point of living? We were put in this earth to glorify God and lead others to His love and forgiveness. Who cares about the things that won't last?

One of the other things that struck me is my own inability to really share what I believe with the people I love. The people I'm around don't really talk about what they believe, and the topic of God almost never comes up. Sadly, when it does, it's in vain. Even in the church, I haven't been able to find a true friend who puts God first. Why can't I open my mouth and start talking? We often put too much stock in what other people will think. What if they think I'm crazy? What if they never talk to me again? What if? What if? What if? These questions have always been subconsciously haunting me. But people around the world do talk about it when they know they are risking their lives.

Why?

Because God is real, and the only way a person can get to Him and eternal life is through accepting Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior. Without Him is eternal separation from God and the other horrors of a terrible punishment that we truly deserve for the things we have done. The love we have should be for others, even enemies, to show them the truth. 

This is what I believe. We all face some sort of persecution. After all, Jesus himself told us that we'd be hated for what we believe. People will even think we're crazy.  The question is, how will you respond?

How will I respond? I'll be thinking on this for a long time... It's easier said than done, but if they have the courage to stand up and face such terrible horrors, can I not share what I know is true?

Blessings,