The Plain Choice Book Review

A True Story of Choosing 

to Live an Amish Life

SUMMARY:  Sometimes Faith Is the Greatest Surprise of All

     As a young adult, Sherry Gore dreamed of a radio career, but instead, a series of terrible mistakes left her wrecked and alone.  Then one morning she walked into a church and the truth of Jesus' forgiving love shattered her world - and put it back together again.  She began to rid her life of anything that might keep her from God, but still she wanted a deeper faith.  Something more.

     Soon the life Sherry remade for herself and her children featured head coverings, simple dress, and a focus on Jesus Christ.  Only then did she realize that there were others like her:  the Amish/

She Left Everything to Find All She Needed

     The Plain Choice is the fascinating story of one woman's journey toward God through the Amish community.  After making the rare transition into Amish life, Sherry learned how to live off the land and make it, grow it, or do without it.  She learned the adventure of the horse-and-buggy life and began to thrive on faith, family and pie.  And when her teenage daughter was diagnosed with a devastating illness, she learned again how bright God's light can shine when everything else seems dark.

     This unusual memoir offers a riveting look at the choices we make toward or away from God - and how God pursues us in the most unexpected ways.

REVIEW:  For the past few years, I've been following Sherry Gore on Facebook.  I'm not sure how I found her but love her insights, humor and pictures of the pies she makes.  Her autobiography is just an extension of her FB page, just more in depth and personal.  Sherry did not grow up Amish but, after her conversion to Christianity, found their lifestyle was more like the life she felt she needed to live.  Details of her growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s were raw but real.  She does not hold back any punches but shows her readers where she came from and where God has her now.  Sherry's life has not been easy but God has walked with her every step of the way.  After she decided to become Amish, Sherry's relationship with God grew stronger and helped prepare her for the difficult road her family would face after her daughter's devastating diagnosis.  This book is a wonderful story of God's pursuit and how He prepares His children for life on this earth and, eventually, heaven.  This book is difficult but awe-inspiring.  Check it out, then follow her on Facebook.

This book was provided by BookLook Bloggers and Zondervan 

for review without compensation.

Sherry Gore is the author of two cookbooks, Simply Delicious Amish Cooking and Me, Myself, and Pie, and co-author of the novel Made with Love.  She is also a weekly scribe for the national edition of the Amish newspaper, The Budget, established in 1890.  The National Geographic Channel featured Sherry prominently in their documentary series, Amish: Out of Order.  Sherry's culinary adventures have been seen on NBC Daytime, The Today Show, Mr. Food Test Kitchen, and more.  Sherry is a year-round resident of beautiful, sun-kissed Sarasota, Florida, the vacation paradise of the Plain People.  She has three children and is a member of a Beachy Amish Mennonite church.  When not spending time with her family, writing, or eating, Sherry is a cooking-show host and an official pie-contest judge. 

Halo Found Hope Book Review

A Memoir

A portion of author proceeds will go to the
National Brain Tumor Society.

SUMMARY:  Machines beeping, the blur of medical staff running, a crash cart whizzing into an ICU room, was there any hope?

     A young woman lay, packed in ice, as doctors attempted to somehow stop the swelling in her brain that threatened to take her life . . . and her family waited.

     Six days turned into eight weeks.  She awoke to discover that she was not the same.  She saw two of everything, couldn't feel half of her face, couldn't hear from one ear, and could not speak.  She couldn't even tell anyone that she felt hopeless . . . or could she?

     Halo Found Hope is the story of a beautiful, busy wife, and mother of three whose life changes instantly with the diagnosis of a rare brain tumor.  An exceptional ENT, a brilliant neurosurgeon and a dedicated medical team tackle the tumor, setting off a series of unbelievable miracles.

     Helo's story is not one of survival, or of salvaging a life through a broken body.  It is not about endurance through pain, but victory because of it.  While the family heard her silence, God heard her prayer.  Helo's story is simply this:  Wherever you are and whatever you are going through, God is right there.  He doesn't need to be recognized by you, to be there for you.  He can replace fear with courage and discouragement with determination, if you let Him.  Helo did, and that is how she found hope.

REVIEW:  Helo (pronounced Halo) tells of her journey of being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor and how it has changed her life.  It not only impacted her life physically but also spiritually and has helped her see everyone around her in a different light.  She writes about how even though on the outside she looks fine, the tumor and its removal has affected her physical stamina, thinking abilities and some physical abilities.  She takes advantage of any and every situation to help others and spread the Good News of Jesus. 
     The story starts out in the typical fashion with her life before the diagnosis and some information on her family history.  After telling the details of surgery and the touch-and-go events afterwards, the information jumps around going back and forth between current events, rehabilitation and stories about people she has helped.  While the back and forth took some getting used to, it helped me see how life has changed for Helo.  Things that used to be important are not so much anymore.  Her focus now is on telling others how Jesus has been there for her and helping her fellow man, even if it is just a kind word or paying for a birthday cake, just because.
     Helo's story is inspirational.  This is one book everyone needs to read and to be motivated to do more with what God has given us.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Dog Ear Publishing for review without compensation.

Helo Matzelle is a happily married and devoted mother of three children.  She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Washington in 1986.  She is a dedicated advocate of the National Brain Tumor Society.  Helo remains passionate about inspiring others to seek the One in whom true hope is always found.  Helo and her family live in Redmond, Washington.

National Brain Tumor Society is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the brain tumor community in the United States.  They are fiercely committed to finding better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for people living with a brain tumor today and those who will be diagnosed tomorrow. To learn more visit www.braintumor.org. 

90 Minutes in Heaven-10th Anniversary Edition Book Review

A True Story of Death and Life

SUMMARY:  In the ten years since 90 Minutes in Heaven was first published, millions of people worldwide have read the incredible true story of Don Piper's experience with death and life - and in reading have found their own lives changed.

     Now you can experience the continuing story of 90 Minutes in Heaven with this special anniversary edition.  Along with the story of his accident, death, return to life, and painful recovery, Don offers personal reflections on the impact the book has had on him, his family, and the millions who have heard his story.  Also included are true stories from readers about the effect 90 Minutes in Heaven has had on their own lives, favorite Scriptures and quotations on heaven from Don, a photo insert, and a publisher's note on the book that started the heaven publishing phenomenon.

     Discover for yourself the book that everyone has been talking about - and watch your life change for the better.

REVIEW:  I remember seeing this book everywhere ten years ago but had no desire to read it.  When it came across my radar again, I decided to see what all the hype was about.  Don Piper doesn't hold anything back about his accident, his recovery and life afterwards.  The accident was horrific and he was declared legally dead by four different people.  He was dead for ninety minutes before he awoke to the chaos of his situation.  His descriptions of what life was like for him while in the hospital, surgeries he had, and his very long recovery shows the miracle he is and how God answers our prayers.  He discusses his severe depression from wanting to be back in heaven and not wanting to talk about what he experienced.  While the story seemed to me to drag while he discussed his treatments and his severe depression, once Don started talking about how God used him to reach others: from helping people who had the Ilizarov device understand that they were not alone to comforting those whose loved ones had passed, the story really picked up.  I liked the personal stories from people who have been touched by Don's story.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

 

Don Piper is a New York Times bestselling author and has been an ordained minister since 1985.  He has appeared on Today, The 700 Club, James Robinson's Life Today and many other television and radio programs, and teaches across the United States and around the world.  He and his wife, Eva, live in Texas.  Learn more at www.donpiperministries.com.

Cecil Murphey has written or cowritten more than one hundred books, including Gifted Hands The Ben Carson Story.  Cecil can be contacted at www.cecilmurphey.com.

Atlas Girl Book Review

 Finding Home in the Last Place 

I Thought to Look

SUMMARY:  Emily Wierenga left home at age eighteen with no intention of ever returning.

     Broken down by organized religion, a childhood battle with anorexia, and her parents' rigidity, she set out to find God somewhere else - anywhere else.  Her travels took her across three continents in buses, cars and planes, across mountains and over deep blue seas.

     What she hadn't realized was that her faith was waiting for her the whole time - in the place she least expected it.

      Poignant and passionate, Atlas Girl is a deeply personal story of the yearning we all share to be truly known, entirely forgiven, and utterly loved.

REVIEW:  Emily's story is one every girl should read.  She has been in the shoes of  many of us: struggling with body image, feeling loved by her parents, and struggling with her faith.  She is quick to give God the glory and admit when she feels like God has left her alone.  She acknowledges when she sees Him at work throughout her life.  I thought it was admirable when she returns home to take care of her ailing mother, which helps strengthen her relationship with both her parents.  She also gets to watch as her parents' relationship is strengthen and grow in adversity.  

     Really, the only thing I had a problem with was how the story would jump around.  It would start out with the author at her parents' house taking care of her mother, the jump into stories of her youth or in the past.  After reading a few chapters, it all started to make better sense.  It could be confusing at times but I could see why she wrote it this way.  

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Emily T. Wierenga is an award-winning journalist, columnist, artist, author and blogger at www.emilywierenga.com.  She speaks regularly about her journey with anorexia and lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband, Trenton, and their two sons.

Face to Face with Jesus Book Review

A Former Muslim's Extraordinary 

Journey to Heaven 

and Encounter with the God of Love

SUMMARY:  It starts as a story ripped from the headlines of the war-torn Middle East.

     An extremist faction of Islam bombs a church during a service.  The one door in the back isn't big enough for five hundred people trying to escape.

Some are killed.

But after the chaos and fire and smoke,

One young woman comes back to life.

     In this thrilling true tale, death does not have the final word.  From the first time Samaa heard the Lord Jesus calling her out of Islam into faith in Him, till she met Him face to face in heaven, her life is marked by God's supernatural love and power.  Full of hope and encouragement, and overflowing with Jesus' love, her riveting account reveals the power of God to break through any circumstance - and is a moving reminder that, in a place beyond what we can imagine, we have a Savior waiting to welcome us face to face.

REVIEW:  When this book first came to my attention, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it.  But, once I opened it, I was amazed at Samaa's story and her experiences.  If you are discouraged with the modern-day American church, struggling with your own faith, or just wondering about all the violence in the Middle East and think there is no hope, I suggest you pick this novel up.  

     Samaa shows how God is working all over the world and how Jesus is reaching the masses.  Once a strict Muslim whose father was a Mullah, she came to a saving knowledge of Jesus and, through much prayer and over many years, eventually helped her entire family do the same.  The stories of how God is working through prayer is amazing and sounds like the early church in the book of Acts.  

     Samaa and her sisters were at church when it was bombed.  Samaa was standing in front of one of the bombs when it detonated where she died and saw Jesus face to face.  Jesus gives her the choice to stay in Heaven or return to her life and shows her snapshots of her life.   Seeing how she had lived her life for her own agenda, Samaa asked to be returned and be given an opportunity to tell others about Him.  From the moment she returned, she was a walking miracle, determined to tell others about her Savior.  Samaa, along with the other family members that were believers and members of their church, often prayed for miracles - healing, protection, deliverance, salvation, food, finances, whatever the need may be - which were answered over and above what was expected.

     This is an excellent book, full of inspiration and insight of what the church in the United States, or anywhere else in the world, could be like if we would take our eyes off ourselves and let the Lord work in and through us.

This book was provided by Chosen Books for review without compensation.

 

Samaa Habib grew up in an Islamic family in the Middle East.  From an early age she had a desire to know God and become a dedicated Muslim as a child.  Her life was radically transformed when she encountered the love of Jesus through a dream and a vision in her teenage years.  After her baptism as a Christian believe, she faced persecution on a regular basis, culminating in a terrifying bomb attack on her church fellowship where she had a death experience.  The heavenly face-to-face encounter she had with Jesus during her death experience has left an indelible mark on her life.  It ended with Jesus commissioning her to come back and tell the world He is real and coming again soon.  Since that time, Samaa has traveled the world, sharing her incredible testimony of converting from Islam to Christianity.  Her inspirational story of God's love, radical forgiveness, reconciliation and the power of the Holy Spirit is a powerful reminder that we do not serve the god of hatred; we serve the God of love!  Her life calling is to encourage the Church to be an ambassador of Christ's love, to prepare the Bride of Christ for the return of the Lord and to remind us all to live for eternity with heaven's view.

Bodie Thoene has written over sixty-five works of historical fiction with her husband, Brock, which have sold more than thirty-five million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.  She and her husband have four grown children and eight grandchildren.  They divide their time between Hawaii, London, and Nevada.