Stepping Heavenward
May 16, 2012
This book ranks very near, if not at the top, of my favorite books list. It was so realistically written that it was not until I reached the saddest part – that being the saddest part of every book, THE END – that I realized this book was not actually excerpts from an actual girl’s diary. Much to my surprise, it was authored by Mrs. E. Prentiss, not the Katherine “Katy” Elliot of the story. Yet it was written in such a style that it had me convinced I was reading straight from someone’s everyday life.
Stepping Heavenward is the story of ‘one woman’s journey to Godliness’, one woman being the aforementioned Katy. It chronicles her life from that dreadful moment of turning 16; takes you straight through her daily struggles, emotional rollercoasters, inner battles; and into her joyful yet turbulent wife- and motherhood. Katy wrestles with issues current even today: Who am I? What does it mean to be a Christian? and How does one bring glory to God in everyday life? She loves music and drawing, but wonders whether being wholly devoted to God demands giving up such things so she knows no worldly pleasure. She wants to be good and please her mother, but finds herself continually making resolutions in her bedroom each morning and breaking them immediately afterwards at the breakfast table!
Trials in her life are common: the death of her beloved father, the breaking off of an engagement (which she later comes to see as a very wise decision), extended family moving in shortly after Katy gets married, misunderstanding between her and her husband, lengthy sicknesses, loss of children, and the list goes on. Yet once Katy discovers she can lean on and keep her trust in her unchanging Savior, she finds more peace in surrender, and more surety in the promise of eternal life.
Katy’s life is easy to read through either one day at a time or in one sitting; hers is a life we can all identify in some part; and hers is a journey we all make one step at a time, on our path Heavenward.
Additionally: “This book is a treasure of both Godly and womanly wisdom told with disarming candor and humility, yet revealing a deep heart’s desire to know God,” says noted Christian speaker Elisabeth Elliot. “I do not hesitate to recommend it to men, who need to understand the wives they live with, and to any woman who wants to walk with God.”
“Coin”-incidence?
December 8, 2011
Did one misshaped penny really have such an effect on the lives of intertwined characters? 
Jack, the ex-detective, has a painful past with his police job – he’s still harboring regret over his partner’s death, a mishap which occurred while they were out making an arrest. He’s now a mailman and a caring husband and dad – although his wife’s health is failing and he can’t seem to reach his daughter, Kate. Kate is struggling with influence coming from friends at school - along with the feeling that her dad cares more about spending time with her little brothers than herself.
Darrel the detective is grasping at anything to get leads on a new murder case. He’s already messed up a few times and his boss has ordered him to stay out of the case until he has evidence, but the desire to get out on the case has got the better of him. Dan, who owns a gas station that is financially unstable, is trying to go through a divorce with his wife, who is at fault but is trying to make amends. Rick and Curt are roommates, both with pasts of their own, but are trying to get back on the right track. Rick gets pulled into doing one last job for an old gang he has ties with, and Curt gets reluctantly sucked in as they are both threatened for their lives if they don’t get the job done in time.
It all boils down to one night in Dan’s gas station – “suddenly these strangers are thrust together by what some would call luck, chance, fate, coincidence, or even destiny. But is it something even bigger than that?”[1]
This very well filmed and acted Christian movie gets you thinking… about Providence, everyday happenings, and taking life for granted. (There’s even a few surprise twists at the end.) Yes, we’ve all seen those types of Christian movies with horrible film-quality and lousy actors, but this one is truly making progress to reclaim the film industry. A suspenseful action, thriller, and drama for highschool-ages and up.[2]
[1] http://thepennyfilm.com/about-the-penny-movie
[2] Some intense scenes (guns, alley shootings, gangs) but nothing graphic. There are scenes at a bar and drinking hang-out; Dan has a shot of something, but Kate declines to participate in partying and drinking.
King of the Wind
October 24, 2011
This is simply one of my favorite books. For that matter, Marguerite Henry is simply one of my favorite authors. 
I’ve always loved horses, and I love the way she makes her characters and animals come alive. Add Wesley Dennis’ superb illustrations and you have the captured feelings and expressions as well!
King of the Wind is the fictionalized story of the Godolphin Arabian’s journey to greatness. Beginning in Morocco, a colt is born just as the fast of Ramadan comes to a close. Agba, a mute horse-boy who has charge of merely ten of the twelve thousand horses in the Sultan’s stables, names the colt Sham because he was born at the rising of the sun. Sham has the mark of the wheat ear on his chest: a sign of misfortune, or ‘bad luck’… but on his hind heel he has a white spot, promising swiftness.
The head horse-keeper, Signor Achmet, promises Sham’s mother will die and believes Sham should die as well because of the bad luck of the wheat ear. As he said, the dam does die; but this could be easily explained as the outcome from having limited eating supply during the last month of pregnancy. Sham, however, thrives on the camel’s milk Agba feeds him – and bonds to the boy who is both a father and mother to him - as he grows strong and swift to live up to the promise of the white spot.
Throughout this book the ‘powers’ of the wheat ear and white spot weigh in on the scales, commonly explained as the luck and chance of one or the other. Agba and Sham, along with seven other horse-boys and their charges, are chosen to be sent as a gift to King Louis XV. The unexpected happens on their journey and when they reach the king’s court they are considered nothing but laughingstock (“Nothing but skin and bones, and a crest so high you can hang your hat upon it!”). Agba and Sham are chosen to stay and work for the chief cook, but the cook takes a strong dislike to Sham because Agba is the only one who can handle the spirited horse. Without Agba’s knowledge, the cook sells Sham off to a nasty carter who works him very hard. Agba and Sham’s paths cross again though, and after a time of working for the monstrous carter and acquiring a faithful cat named Grimalkin (not to be confused with the black cat with green eyes from Henry’s other masterpiece, Benjamin West and his cat Grimalkin 
), they find happiness for a time with Quaker Jethro Coke and his cheery housekeeper, Mistress Cockburn.
Yet again, misfortune strikes, and Sham becomes a horse for hire at The Red Lion Tavern. Agba is allowed to stay with him as a groom for a while, but the owner’s wife hates him distinctly, and Agba is thrown out to the streets again… then deposited in Newgate Prison and labeled a ‘horse thief’ after going back and trying to spirit Sham away from The Red Lion. Mistress Cockburn comes to see him (after what I would call an extremely providential run-in with the Duchess), and Agba is released and given a job as a groom at the Earl of Godolphin’s stables. While there, Sham’s health begins to improve and he meets Lady Roxana, a filly imported to be bred to the pride of Gog Magog, Hobgoblin. In a fight between the two stallions, Hobgoblin is injured, and the angry Earl sends the threesome (Agba, Sham, and Grimalkin) into the gloomy Wicken Fen. You’ll have to read this book to find out what happens in the end! (Don’t you just love it when reviews leave you in suspense?)
A truly captivating book of the touching friendship between “the King of the Wind and the slim brown horseboy who loved him.”
Lifechanger
October 22, 2011
Meet Jackie Pullinger. She’s a small town English girl who felt called to serve as a missionary in Hong Kong. 
Unsupported by any missionary organization and with no financial backing, 22-year-old Jackie boards a slow boat to China. Upon her arrival, she finds her niche – with a stiff upper lip and a resolve most of us don’t have, Jackie walks into the back alleys of the infamous Walled City, destined to change thousands of lives.
As Jackie speaks Christ into the hearts of drug lords, heroin addicts, brutal killers, junkies, and those in the human trafficking industry, the Walled City is transformed. Not to say that this doesn’t come without struggles, though. When gang members break in and beat up her Christian club, Jackie describes sweeping up the mess in tears, trying to praise God through her troubles. But then there are amazing victories – like when God shows Jackie the way to save a young kidnapped girl, and oh! You just have to read it yourself. There is also quite a bit of good humor peppered throughout that will keep you smiling through your tears.
I encourage you to read this sobering yet inspiring book! You’ll find yourself reading it over and over again, musing over the amazing, very true, story.
***This book is not recommended for those under age 14 – seek a parent’s advice first***
“Is it the flywheel, Dad?”
October 19, 2011
This heartwarming family film is great for anyone: a chronicle of the life of Jay Austin, a used car salesman that is just learning the ‘tricks’ of the trade. Literally.
Meanwhile, on the home front, his wife Judy and son Todd feel privileged to walk on the carpet beneath their feet as they delicately try to avoid stepping on Jay’s toes. Judy is frustrated at the way her husband has been selling cars dishonestly, and Todd feels unimportant to his father.
One day, Jay’s pastor comes to visit the lot and purchases a car for his daughter. As the minister leaves, he pauses to pray a prayer of blessing over Jay. The only thing is, for Jay it’s a blessing with a catch. After some serious thinking about his actions, Jay starts to turn in a new direction - but consequences come as he makes important changes in his life. Will Jay stick to his word?
You will find yourself both laughing hysterically and crying joyfully (not at the same time, of course) as you watch this great film. As Stephen and Alex Kendrick have noted, this first movie from Sherwood Baptist Church doesn’t necessarily have the same film quality as their more recent projects… yet this is one movie you won’t want to miss.
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Vince: “Oh, yeah, like I need to get on the ball.”
Bernie: “What you need to do is get on the treadmill.”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Katie: “Don’t you talk back to me. I’m tired of the lies, the deceit, the confection, and everything else.”
Jay Austin: “The confection???”
On a personal note, our family was able to drive by Sherwood Baptist Church and “Jay Austin Motors” (Mac George Motorcars) on a roadtrip last year
Night in the (Metropolitan) Museum
October 18, 2011
This is a humorous look into the life of Claudia Kincaid; the average public-schooled kid from the 1960’s. 
Claudia is tired with the monotony of life and the unfairness of it all (“Perhaps it was because she had to both empty the dishwasher and set the table on the same night while her brothers got out of everything”). Though this may seem a silly reason to recruit her most trustworthy (and not to mention rich) brother, Jamie, and run away to New York City; Claudia nonetheless follows through with her plan, right down to the last detail.
During their time spent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they meet ‘Angel’, as they affectionately call her, a statue that was possibly carved by Michelangelo. When Claudia becomes determined to find out more about Angel and her past, the hunt takes them from spending hours doing research at the library, to spending their literal last cent to get to a mansion – where they meet Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
Although there are some problems with this book – such as the carved statue being a feminine angel (we believe, in accordance with our belief in the Bible, that there is no such thing as a ‘girl angel’ – the only angels mentioned in the Bible are men); there is one illustration that is inappropriate; and there are mentions of gambling and cheating throughout the book. For our family, these were minor problems, but it is something to watch out for.
Overall, this is a timeless classic recommended for ages 8 through 81. Enjoy!
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Janitor: “Where did you come from?”
Jamie Kincaid: “Mother always says that I came from Heaven.”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Claudia Kincaid: “I’ll bet she knows for sure if Michelangelo did it.”
Jamie Kincaid:“Sure she does… Every morning when she got up, Mrs. Frankweiler would throw her arms about the statue, peer into its eyes, and say, ‘Speak to me, baby.’ One morning the statue answered…”
“You can’t take it with you, Mr. Kirby.”
October 17, 2011
Meet lovable old Mr. Vanderhof (a.k.a. – dad, grandpa) and his colorful array of characters. Mr. Vanderhof lives in a little old house with… his daughter Mrs. Sycamore, who types plays on a typewriter (“just because it got delivered accidentally; if it had been a plow, she would have taken up farming”); son-in-law; 2 granddaughters, Essie Carmichael and Alice Sycamore, one who wants to be a ballerina and dances around the house making candies which she calls something like ”love-dreams”, and the other who is a stenographer, and the only “sensible” one in the family. Also included are: grandson-in-law Ed Carmichael, who was a football player and now plays the xylophone and runs a printing press from home; an enthusiastic inventor who spends all day in the basement, making fireworks with the afore-mentioned son-in-law; Reba the maid, and her fiancé who lives on relief (“Reba put the forks on the left, forks on the left, forks on the left…”); Mr. Kolenkhov, the Russian ballet teacher (“Confidentially, she stinks”); and soon to come, an eccentric toy-maker, to join the others in the basement.
Enter Tony Kirby, the famed rich banker Anthony P. Kirby’s son, soon to inherit his father’s business, and move up in the ranks of the family bank… “The Kirby’s have been bankers for nine-thousand years…” When Tony falls in love with Alice, the two families are bound to clash. And clash they do. The climax comes when Tony brings his parents to visit the Sycamores and various extended relations on the wrong night… and what happens is history. Well, not really. But Kolenkhov was sure that it was the beginning of the second Russian Revolution, or something like that.
A good ol’ black-and-white film for all to enjoy.
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Kolenkhov: “Ah, life is running around inside of me like a squirrel!”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Penny: “I don’t feel guilty. Do you feel guilty?”
The educational qualities include lessons on government, taxes, and Socialism. The Christian qualities include 2 really heartwarming dinner prayers.
Light Force
October 17, 2011
The warm sun was beating down upon the weathered flagstones of the sidewalk in Jerusalem. In search for a birthday present for my turning-12 sister, Kelsey, my dad and I ducked into a dusty little bookstore. We spent a while looking around. My dad found a book on A.W. Tozer and while I was looking for something interesting to read, I suddenly exclaimed, “Brother Andrew!”
Wedged between two other books was a copy of Light Force. I said, “Can we get this?” and my dad replied, “Sure!” Our family had just finished reading Brother Andrew’s biography by Janet and Geoff Benge and were eager to learn more about him. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that I actually read the book. My parents had not let me read the book while we were visiting Israel, and with good reason.
You see, when I started reading Light Force later, I saw in the first chapter it talked about a bombing on Ben Yehuda Street in 2001… I gasped. Ben Yehuda Street! That was a street we had frequented while staying two streets over in Jerusalem. As I kept reading, it was amazing to think how many places mentioned in the book we had visited while in Israel, what had happened in the past at those very locations, and the current story of the Christians caught in the Arab-Israeli crossfire.
Grab this book, a comfortable chair, and something to snack on because you will not get out of your seat for several hours. Brother Andrew relates his journeys into the Middle East, and gives us an insightful peek into Christian believer’s struggles in the Middle East. From meetings with the Hamas to visiting Christians in tough places, this book is a thrilling true story that you won’t want to put down.
*For students and younger readers I might recommend reading Operation Desert Light, now selling on Christian Book Distributor for an epic price of $1.99.
The Saturdays
October 17, 2011
The Saturdaysis a lovely read about the four Melendy siblings, their father, and their housekeeper, Cuffy. Oliver, Randy, Rush, and Mona range in age from 7 to 12, with Randy (short for Miranda) being the star of the story.
It makes perfect sense for the rambunctious, twirling, dancing, and art-loving 10-year old to take center stage – after all, it was Randy’s idea which led to the forming of the Saturday Club – officially named I.S.A.A.C.; which led to Rush, the eldest brother, finding a lost dog after seeing the opera on his Saturday; which ultimately leads to the pup (now also named Isaac) rescuing the Melendy family from death by coal poisoning! Not to mention Randy meeting the true Mrs. Oliphant on her Saturday outing, which not only avowedly changes the siblings from calling Mrs. Oliphant “The Elephant”, but ends up sending them somewhere they would’ve never before dreamed of spending the whole summer…
Enjoy all this and more with a delightful dip into the life of The Saturdays!
Kelsey’s favorite quote:
Randy: “Not just the Elephant. She’s swell, she’s a friend of mine now, and I’m going to see her. She was kidnapped by gypsies and lived with them for weeks.”
Rush, startled: “Recently?”
Randy: “No, no. Years ago when she was a little girl in France…”
Cory’s favorite quote:
Cory’s favorite quote consists of the entire book.
And please be sure to read the three sequels!
Through all trials, Persevere
December 7, 2010
The Basket of Flowers… Yes, that is how it all started. Mary, a gardene
r’s daughter, delivers flowers to the local landowner’s property. There she meets Amelia, the landowner’s daughter, and despite their different upbringings they form a friendship.
Mary’s father has taught her all about God, purity, character, and morals through the beautiful flowers he grows. Amelia has been raised in a home that is “better-off” and has not learned all the same things Mary has. After Amelia gives Mary one of her gorgeous dresses, an unexpected turn of events takes place, and father and daughter find themselves exiled from the land, home, and beautiful garden they love. Mary’s innocent, child-like faith is tested as she experiences hardships and imprisonment.
What happens in the end? Well, I can’t give it all away, but there was this one certain jealous maid named Juliette involved…
