One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land

Author: Priscilla Shirer
Publisher: B&H Books
Price: $14.99

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

The Bible says abundant life can be ours. However, many of us don't understand what exactly that means and are confused about how to obtain it.

Author Priscilla Shirer wants us to break out of the ordinary, to have the confidence to face life with “spiritual stamina” and grab hold of the fullness and prosperity that God offers and receive blessings that really matter.

In using the example of the Israelites' trek through the desert to the Promised Land, Shirer draws on the parallels between their journey and the journey of every Christian ever since. Broken up into three parts – Deliverance, Development and Destiny – One in a Million is written in a conversational tone that is both explanatory and illustrative.

No matter the path, we can follow God with bold faith because He is there every step of the way. Good living ultimately opens the door to fulfillment and God moving on our behalf in miraculous and unexpected ways.

Selected Passage: “That's why I'm glad God didn't promise the Israelites a land flowing with nothing but milk – just as I'm glad Jesus didn't stop short in John 10:10 by merely saying, 'I came that they may have life.' Life is good, just like milk is good. But the life Jesus came to give is a whole lot more than good. It's not just the good life; it's the great life, the kind of life He intends for us to experience 'abundantly'.”

A Remarkable Marriage

Author: David J. Whitcomb
Publisher: BJU Press
Price: $19.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

“God gave His guidelines so that His people would demonstrate proper relationships in the home. Therefore, it should be especially true that God's people demonstrate successful relationships.” (5)

More than ever, families and marriages are falling apart in the modern world. Author, pastor and experienced marriage counselor David J. Whitcomb wants to give you the guidance you need to protect these institutions and thrive in your relationships.

Through straightforward principles, demonstrated with relatable contemporary examples and simple-to-understand Biblical instructions, Whitcomb is effective in getting his message across. His style of writing flows seamlessly and the divided chapters (into 30 different principles) makes reading easily digestible, as well as specific categories plainly accessible.

“Without rules, we will all do what we want to do, which results in hurting or neglecting others.” (3)

A Remarkable Marriage is an excellent guidebook for those preparing for marriage and those who are already married. It is highly recommended.

A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility: Understanding Your Type and Finding Love

by Liz Lalor (2004)
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Price: $18.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Although we see the effects of illness physically, there are mental and emotional factors that run alongside it. Homeopathy takes into account the simultaneous forces at work within us.

Lalor not only looks into the underlying emotional component that affects one's health and well-being, but even goes further by linking self-knowledge to finding your ideal partner (unlike previous uses and methods of homeopathy). There is a stronger connection than you may think.

“Homeopathic constitutional analysis is based on the assumption that when you know who are you are, you also know what fulfills you emotionally,” she says.

Studying movies as examples, from The African Queen to American Splendor, Lalor looks at character and emotional personalities, as well as relationship types. By observing individualized and custom approaches to life, the author is able to categorize a number of constitutions. By seeing where you match up, the result is self-understanding and finding what makes you feel fulfilled in a relationship.

“A constitutional analysis encompasses who you are, how you operate in the world, how you interact with people, and, most important for this book, what you are like in your relationships.”

A truly unique application backed up by research and experience, Lalor's book takes self-knowledge and compatibility to a whole new level.

Happy Days, Healthy Living: From Sit-Com Teen to the Health-Food Scene

by Cathy Silver
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Price: $18.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Cathy Silvers is most known to audiences as “Jenny Piccolo” on television's Happy Days, but now she is doing something to make sure our days stay happy by speaking on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Her book is divided into distinguishing parts of her life.

i) There are passages on growing up, with plenty of stories on Cathy's father (Phil Silvers, the famous entertainer and comedy actor), along with how the influence of show business, the experience of public speaking in school competitions, and her talent led her to win a role on Happy Days, becoming a successful actress in Hollywood right off the bat.

ii) There is Cathy's adult life: going to college, getting married, projects she took on (such as helping the homeless in form of fundraising when she was living in Washington, D.C.), having kids, a health scare, and how she was led from being a “fast food mom” to changing her lifestyle for the better.

iii) The end features insight from leaders in healthy living – from the fields of nutrition, beauty, health, and environment.

Forewards by Garry Marshall (creator and executive producer of Happy Days) and Ron Howard (Happy Days, now a famous Hollywood director), and other passages by former co-stars (Erin Moran, Marion Ross, and Henry Winkler), give a nice inside perspective of their experiences with Cathy. All mention her unrelenting energy and charisma.

We always hear about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. This book takes it even further, revealing facts that most individuals aren't aware of and would be shocked to hear. It shakes the reader out of their reverie to realize their lifestyle and diet is not good for them. Even more importantly, it inspires thinking for the better – helping to conduce real change.

Noah and the Ark

by K.W. McCardell and Antonella Chirco

Publisher: Bible Rhymes Publishing

Price: Become a member on BibleRhymes.com

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

This animated Biblical story comes alive with delightfully illustrated scenes of friendly-looking animals. The story is even expanded on with fun details.

The movement of the characters and animals, with sound effects and background music, adds a lot of dimension to this story, making it more tangible and real.

All in all, a very warm and uplifting read.

“The good Lord had said that he’d make it through

His family and animals, they’d make it too” (23)

Love’s First Light

by Jamie Carie (2009)

Publisher: B&H Publishing

Price: $14.99

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Love, hope, and forgiveness are the main themes in this novel that takes place during the French revolution. Christophe, the Count of St. Laurent, and Scarlett, a young widow carrying her deceased husband’s child, are the protagonists whose lives interweave as they move between Paris and Carcassonne, France in the story. Christophe flees to Carcassonne to live in exile from society while being haunted by his past. It is there where he meets Scarlett and her mother and sister. An unlikely connection Scarlett has with someone of Christophe’s past threatens their deepening relationship.

The supporting characters add substance, warmth, and humour to otherwise complex situations. The descriptions of society provide a very clear depiction of what life was like back at that time, a time that has shaped history. Moreover, Christophe’s fascination of science reflects his journey of faith from darkness to light.

Everything comes to a head when Scarlett’s family must find a way to survive their barely-getting-by circumstances, and when Christophe is determined to confront his past once and for all.

Living in the Moment: A Prescription for the Soul

by Gary Null (2008)

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Price: $23.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Gary Null, PhD, has been on the radio for over two decades in addition to his work of documentary films and investigative reporting. Foremost, Null is an author who has written a number of books on self-improvement, with the frequent focus being on health and self-empowerment. He has also conquered The New York Times bestseller list and has extensively been featured in magazines.

Living in the Moment is about showing individuals that we can live our best life possible - and we all have the power to do so, says Null. Many times, we place limitations on what we can or should do with ourselves. Outside voices have placed expectations and conditioning on how we live. We start to make excuses for why can not do something or achieve our dreams. Ultimately, this heavily impacts the choices we make. By not being in tune with ourselves, we waste our time on things that don’t really matter to us because of the belief system that we are inclined to follow.

This book would be excellent for anyone looking for an educated perspective. Null gives sound advice to help individuals break free of distractions that are detrimental to our true potential.

Adventures of Faith: On Learning to Walk on Water

by Faith Annette Sand (2009)

Publisher: Hope Publishing House

Price: $15.00

Reviewed by: Margaret Reid

...beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord save me" (Matthew 14:30).

Our lives are often dominated by worries and fears - whether they be health fears, money worries, marital problems, etc. - and we want to cry out "Lord save me".

This author, a mother of ten children, four stepchildren and seventeen grandchildren, spent many years living in Brazil before returning to the U.S.

In spite of her experiences, and because of her walk with the Lord, she is able to give the reader some insight into the faith needed to shun fears and learn to "walk on water".

The List: Figuring Out Prince Charming, The Corner Office, and Happily Ever After

by Marian Jordan (2009)

Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

Price: $11.99

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Marian Jordan writes in a style relatable to young females of this generation. In The List, she explores what every girl is after: checking off self-made goals that must be done in a chronological and definitive way. Jordan is witty and insightful, giving perspective on this concept.

Some interesting points and topics include:

-Beauty: how we often focus on exterior instead of the interior, but this is an empty way of living

-What we put our hope in: this world does not provide the security and acceptance we crave

-Our agenda vs. God’s agenda: we all have a custom personality with special gifts that we are meant to use

-Our God-given niche: there are certain passions built into us that will bring fulfilment

The author also incorporates her own experience in trying to fill a void with what the world claims is an exciting way to live. In the end, it only left her hungrier than before.

It is only when we encounter Jesus that we truly feel beautiful and at peace.

Featured quote: “Anything, and I mean anything, we place at the center of our lives except him [Jesus] will crumble. If we choose to seek first a husband or career or a perfect body, then we are putting THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES SOMETHING UNFIT TO REIGN THERE. Anything we devote ourselves to other than him will ultimately disappoint and leave us wanting and searching for another person, experience, or possession” (93-94).

A Path of Colored Leaves

by Rachel Carr Klippenstein (2000)

Publisher: Fountain Publishing

Price: $7.25

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

As the title implies, this book is about the seasons of life - more specifically, the journey of Klippenstein and her husband. As they deal with a painful lost reality, the author discovers a new dream and her ultimate destiny to write.

The seasons of the year and the places that the couple settles in seem to reflect their present state of prosperity. In South Dakota, it was dry. In Florida, the sunshine was an indication of a promise about to be fulfilled. In Oregon, the rainy weather was almost a cleansing and healing of the past. As spring broke through, so did a new life.

In addition, there is reflection on Klippenstein’s college education experience and stories of the ranch.

We deal with crisis and situations in our own way and in our own time: a theme that resounds throughout the book. It is also in the most difficult times that we find ourselves.

Featured quote: “The intensity of pain corresponds to the intensity of what is loved” (30).

Fear Not!: Meditations to Overcome Fear, Worry and Discouragement

by Rand Hummel (2008)

Publisher: BJU Press

Price: $9.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

The book is broken up into manageable segments with meditations targeting a specific truth. As the back cover explains, the author gives “strategic help” through simple instructions as revealed inside: “This is what God says” / “Now think about it” / “How can it affect me?”

Part One is God’s Fear Applied to Fear, Worry, and Discouragement; Part Two is God’s Word Applies to Ten Common Fears. In the latter, there is a kind of duality between the human perspective and the fact of God. For example, “The fear of rejection vs. the fact of God’s acceptance” is one chapter that demonstrates this.

The more we focus on God and his word, the clearer our mind will be and the more happy and content we will be because we understand who God is, says Hummel.

When Trouble Comes

by Jim Berg (2002)

Publisher: BJU Press

Price: $11.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

The author uses the Bible as a foundational base for giving wisdom and examples of getting through trouble in our life. For example, even in the most dire situation, it is all about attitude and looking to God, as well as shaking off selfishness because our flesh gets us in trouble.

Some messages include: It’s about our response to the situation. We can only control what we will do, and then the situation can only get better – not worse, if we were to react or act out the wrong way. If God can give us salvation and rescue our souls, then of course he can help us with the early crises.

The book is concise, yet provides enough detail to get the message across effectively.