Some of my Favorite Books

Well, I am long overdue for some book reviews.  I guess I have been doing a lot of reading.  I wanted to share about these books, because I am in the middle of several more and will want to review them as well.

First I want to mention this book:

Like Breath and Water: Praying with Africa by Ciona D. Rouse

The first thing that caught my eye with this book are the pictures!  If nothing else, I wanted it as a coffee table book.  But it is much more.  This book is about the journey of the author to Africa.  She and her friends visit several countries to learn about the stories of the people there and pray with them.  The author states, if you want to know more about prayer, pray with Africa, a place where prayer runs beneath it all.  She says, "Prayer, for the people I met, does not simply petition God for the latest iGadget or beg for a quick fix to a real problem.  For all of us prayer is a life force, like breath and water.  Our ability to communicate with God is one way to know that we are alive."  I think you will be touched by the stories and even more so by the beautiful photography in this book.  I plan to read it again and again, and it will be a mainstay in my home.

Next is the book,

 

Life After Violence: a People's Story of Burundi by Peter Uvin

I loved this book!  Okay, this is not like a fiction romance novel or anything, but I just couldn't put it down.  What I love about this book is that the author spent a lot of time in Burundi interviewing actual people, and how they see their lives after the civil wars that Burundi has faced.  I believe it is a very unbiased viewpoint from the different people groups in Burundi.  There are many quotes from Burundians.  The book really opened my eyes to understanding conflict in Africa (I don't mean to say that what Burundi experienced is the same as all conflicts in Africa, but there are many similarities).  It looked at the causes for violence, the effects of the violence, the economic pressures, the social pressures, the gender differences, the resiliency of the people, and more.  For me it helped answer the question, "How can thousands of people kill each other just because they are of a different 'people group'?  How does this happen?"  I also came away from the book with a deep respect, love, understanding, and compassion for the Burundian people.  I couldn't wait to go see these beautiful people in their beautiful country.  Maybe someday.  Unfortunately we cannot adopt from Burundi at this time.

I just finished reading this book

 

Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living by Tom Davis

Also a great book!  This book directs your focus to those who are the most needy in our world, specifically the orphan, the widow, the poor, and the foreigner.  Not only are we commanded to care for these, but God also gives us joy in doing so.  The book reminds me of how much we have in this world, how rich we are.  There are over 143 million orphans in the world right now!  Every 5 seconds a child dies because they are hungry!  Yet, we go on living in our comfortable lifestyles and think that it will bring us the most joy and satisfaction.  What joy awaits us, if we step out in faith to protect and care for the needy!  Anyway, I don't want to write a long preachy blog on just this one book review.  It's a good book to start opening your eyes to the needs around you, and also gives some ideas of how you can be involved to help.

So, these books get my recommendations if you are looking for something new to read.  I'll just share with you what I'm in the middle of reading right now, so you can look forward to more book reviews!

I just received John Piper's new book, Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian.  It's going to be good!

 

I am also starting Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa by Jason Stearns, and I am looking forward to learning more about what has gone on in the Congo, where we are adopting from.

 

I am also on my way to finishing a book I had started a while ago, Blood, Sweat, and Treason: My Story by Henry Olonga, a cricket player from Zimbabwe.  I have to say that it not a quick read, but I would like to at least offer a review when I am done.

 

At least I have something to do while I wait.  I have been checking the mail non-stop for the past week and a half hoping to receive our homestudies.  They should be here any day now!  I still haven't heard any news from Uganda, but at least I can work on getting these homestudies turned in to USCIS (United States Citizen and Immigration Services). 

I have also started on a fundraiser project, but we'll see how the first prototype turns out and if it will be a viable option to help fund raise.   I will bring more info on that later, but I just have to say that I am excited about it!  Keep praying for things to move along quickly, and for patience in the process.  Thanks!