Love That Lasts

 

Summary:

Ally Yost may be a Christian podcaster now, but it was a journey to get there. Here, Ally tells you her testimony and lessons she learned along the way. 

My youngest daughter is the one who showed me Ally's Coffee With Christ on Ice podcast. It didn't take long to see why so many love her. But I was more curious about her story. How did she find God? What was her life like? So when I learned about this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. I didn't know what she would share, but I knew I wanted to read it.

Ally's family knew of God. They went to church on Christmas & Easter, the prayed at the table. However, it would be many years, and a bit of life lessons, before "knowing" became "a relationship". Once she moved out on her own, she found more than independence. Readers, Ally found drinking. She did what so many others her age did- party it up! But little changes were afoot in our girl's life. 

Like the rest of the world, the pandemic changed how life was done on the day to day. Such life changes led her to making videos on TikTok. One of her videos went viral overnight. Eventually, she started to mention Christ and would pray in her videos. What she didn't know then, God set the ball in motion for a new life. 

Her life would move her to LA, Tennessee and back to LA again. During these times, God became more active and more of a focus in her life. An encounter with the Holy Spirit led to the Bible she owned to come alive as she read it. 

On follower demand, Ally made a podcast. What it originally started out as began to evolve. As her faith became stronger, she created another one to discuss it. It didn't take long to learn she didn't want to do both. So, Coffee With Christ On Ice became her sole focus. Since then, she's been on fire for Christ. 

If you watch her podcast, you'll love her story. She's honest with it all- and some of it isn't pretty. She tells you what she learned through the ups and downs. She'll tell you the people God placed in her life and the ones who didn't stay. She tells you it all with grace and humility as a believer of Christ should. I often felt like we were at lunch and she was just sharing her story. It was very conversational. I enjoyed reading it.

Elf Unwrapped

Elf Unwrapped

By: Andy Richter & Aaron Karo

Genre: Music/Television

Summary:

Within these pages you will learn what it was like to create and film the legendary movie we all know and love.

Before Elf was ever the movie families gather around to watch yearly, it was the product of David Bernbaum's imagination. Ever wonder how the movie went from his head to the screen? Well, now you can know. As you read the book, countless behind the scenes info is going to take the shape of the movie we all now know and love. Read funny stories shared amongst the cast. Learn how many rewrites the original script went through before it became what you know. What famous lines and scenes were improv or scripted. Did Will actually eat the spaghetti concoction you see? And just who was originally slated to play Buddy? And who is responsible for getting the movie made?

Fans of the movie will love reading the story of how it all came to be. Some things weren't knew to me, but many things were. I had no idea Vince Vaughn had any connection to the movie, but he did. Nor did I know that the elves costumes would cause such a ruckus lawyers got involved. And just wait until you find out where many of the interior scenes were filmed! (HINT: it wasn't a movie studio)

Curl up and enjoy reading the book that takes you behind the scenes of a beloved Christmas movie watched yearly by millions.  

 

Looking For Terry

 

Most people know Terry Bradshaw from his football career. I knew him, mostly, from his reality show, The Bradshaw Bunch. I knew he played football, but couldn't tell you for which team. I just knew him as the goofy guy from a movie or two and his reality show. So, I was excited to read this book and get to know the m an behind the goofy laughs. 

As a child, Terry had ADHD- but no one knew. That diagnosis would be decades into the future. And while he wasn't a natural athlete, he did well in football. He even was recruited to a college for it. Unfortunately, his fear of letting people down and not being liked, went to college with him. It didn't take long for him to act as if the jokes made at his expense weren't fueling his insecurities. Those jokes would follow him into his NFL career. While playing for 14 seasons, he made many laugh playing up the dumb boy act. His early seasons were a struggle so many wrote him off. But, he stuck it out and made a good name for himself.

However, his off season time was no less of a struggle. As he tells you, he had a hard time when life wasn't busy. He would make poor decisions that were made rashly. Often, biting him in the butt later. This would occur once he no longer played football. Marriages led to divorces. Lessons learned the hard way eventually led him to key diagnoses: ADHD and Clinical Depression. Once he got the right medicines, life started to look differently. 

I have to admit that I grew bored of all the football stories, though many readers won't. I really got hooked into the book when he talked about his mental health and ADHD. Like I said earlier, I really knew him from his reality show, so I was more interested in the second half of the book. I loved reading how his wife, Tammy, was the Godsend he needed. I loved how she was different than anyone else he'd met and didn't pander to his ego. I loved how she didn't need Terry to have a complete life, she just loved him. I loved reading how they built the life they have now. And how they were partners in both of his cancer treatments. 

Within the pages of the book you'll see the humble side of Terry Bradshaw. With honesty and humility he reflects on his past with the wisdom he has now. He owns up to his faults and flaws. I enjoyed learning more about him.

Theology For The Rest of Us

 

Theology For The Rest of Us

By: Lisa Harper

Genre: Christian Resources

As Lisa Harper was studying for her Doctoral degree, she came across a whole lot of words that many of us don't know about. So, she had the brilliant idea to compile these words that are relevant to the Christian faith. This book is that compilation. It's literally a dictionary of the words she felt we should know about. Each word comes with it's origins, examples from the Bible- and sometimes her own life. 

If you are studying the Bible History or just wanting to know more about words you hear, this book is a great resource for you. She puts each explanation in easy to understand words. She breaks each word down to show you where it came from and how it came to be in the Bible. Each word also comes with a reasoning for why it's important to know and how it plays into out faith now. 

Some words I knew, but most I didn't. For example, I knew of Advent. But I didn't know there was a wreath involved along with candles to represent important concepts. That was a new revelation for me. Now I want to do this each year! Thank you, Lisa, for informing me of this.

This newest addition to her catalog is a departure from all of her previous books, but no less useful. Like I said, this is a great resource to use when you come across a term you aren't familiar with. You still get her humorous explanations we've all come to love, as well as the knowledge she's known for.  

The Munich Affair

 

The Munich Affair

By: James Patterson & David Ellis

Genre: Fiction/ Historical Fiction

Summary:

We all know of Hitler's World War 2 atrocities. History has those events well documented with the information easy for anyone to access. What if Hitler killed people who were close to him- namely young girls who were in a warped relationship with him? 

History has more than enough evidence to support the depravity of Adolf Hitler. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would argue this fact. But within the pages of The Munich Affair, a whole new layer of depravity and disgust is brought to light. 

Geli Raubal was known as Hitler's niece. She was a young girl in her twenties who had been living in his house and in a relationship with the dictator before he ever became a dictator. According to the book, she was finished with their sick and twisted relationship. She no longer wanted to participate in the sexual activities he wanted. Instead, Geli wanted to move to Vienna to marry her music teacher with whom she was having a baby. What is factually known is that she was found with a fatal gunshot to the head. The official conclusion was suicide, but there were those who questioned that theory. And they became vocal about it.

Fritz Gerlich was a journalist. He was a vocal opponent of Hitler and was vocal in his questioning of Geli's death. Both of which landed him on Hitler's hate list. After repeated threats (passioned visits) by Hitler's henchmen didn't stop Fritz, more drastic measures were taken. 

Thomas Bauer is the investigator who responds when Geli's death is called in. Right away, Thomas doubts the story of events he's told. Things don't add up. He and Fritz pair up to learn the true nature of her death. However, Thomas's wife and children have enough Jewish blood in them to be a target for Hitler's plans. Hitler's men have no problem using this weak point to their advantage. But, they underestimated who they were dealing with.

The Munich Affair is a hefty book- both page wise and in subject matter. While I enjoyed the sarcastic attitude of Thomas, it doesn't make the book easier to digest. Knowing most of these events may not have happened to these characters is a small consolation because these things did happen to people at the time. 

I did feel there were parts of the book that could've been taken out since they did nothing to move the plot around. For the most part, I liked the book. It wasn't always an easy read for me- most WW2 books aren't easy for me to read. Yes, I did have to take breaks to step away from the senseless hatred and cruelty. 

The book is full of tense moments and action. One of my favorites was the scene where Thomas breaks his wife out of jail. She's a feisty character I loved reading about. 

Loyal Patterson fans, and suspense readers, will be glued to this latest writing partnership how the story unfolds and to see what happens next. Not to mention how it will all play out in the end. It would be a good book to read on a road trip or flight. It really will take you out of your current life and plop you down amongst hell, though. I recommend having plenty of chocolate on hand when you read it.  

My Battlefield

 

Summary:

 Millions of people recognize her name. They've bought the books, attending a conference, watched her show. Here, Joyce tells you her story in her own words. How she built her business, her vile childhood, the losses, the heartbreaks, the betrayals. The lessons, the victories the love. And the God of it all.

I have to say that I have only read a few of her books. I've seen clips of her tv show teachings. I'm more aware of her name than the woman behind it. Which is why I wanted to read her story. I've heard the controversy involving her in the Christian community. So, here was my chance to read what she had to say. How did she become the world wide known teacher she became? Is she really a name it and claim it leader? I had questions, so I let her answer them.

Let me tell you now, reading about her childhood is not easy. Disturbed doesn't cover it. Heartbreaking doesn't do it justice, either. Joyce was betrayed by the very people she should have been able to trust the most. No one stopped what should have never been allowed to happen. No one helped her out of the pit of hell they put her in, or kept her in. But, God had a plan for all of it.

Once Joyce graduated high school, she left home vowing to never come back. At 19, she got married to a man who lied, cheated and abandoned her. By the time the 4 year union was over, her husband had stolen from her and declared to his new woman the child Joyce was pregnant with wasn't his. Joyce was back to taking care of herself by herself. However, mere months after she was divorced, God sent a man who would forever alter her life. Dave Meyer had no idea what he was stepping into when he prayed for God to send him a woman he could help fix. 

Not only did Dave stand by Joyce's side as she lived with the side effects of her childhood and ill-fated marriage, he did so as he brought God to her life. After immersing herself in learning the teachings of God, she begun teaching a Bible Study for her coworkers. The grassroots of her legacy began to grow. With Dave's help, she grew in her faith-and in her healing. Bible Study led to teaching at the church they attended. From there, they took to the radio. Conferences and books weren't far off. What started in their basement continued to grow.

As Joyce shares the evolution of her company, she also shares all it took to get there. There were betrayals, heartbreaks and losses. But there was also a firm foundation built to house the love, help and victories. She was no stranger to criticism- mostly from the Christian community. There were many who took issue with her being a female Pastor when the Bible talks against it. I've always heard her lumped in with the "name it and claim it" pastors. Having read the book, I understand her side of it more. She prayed needs that came to be after praying. Every step of her business was done through prayer. 

I don't know if I'll read more of her books, or not. I'm glad I read this one. My Battlefield gave me a chance to get to know someone I didn't know much about. Learning about what she's been through and had to overcome, I have a newfound respect for her. It's undeniable that she's helped millions in the span of her career and I don't know how different her life would have been had she not endured all she did. 

Making Peace With What I Can't Control

 

Making Peace With What I Can't Control

By: Lysa Terkeurst

Genre: Christian Living

 

Summary: It's not that we want to be controlling people; it's just that we want to prevent bad things from happening and bring stability to the chaos. Especially when we are afraid of what God seems to be allowing. So we come up with plans and get very intentional about trying to make everyone around us line up with what we really think is best.

We don't have bad motives. We're just desperate to prevent another hardship, more heartbreak, and all the emotional turmoil that feels so unnecessary. But this only leads to a counterfeit version of control where we believe everything depends on us- a crushing weight we were never meant to bear.--- bn.com

One of my favorite Bible Study teachers is back with, yet another, gem I felt was aimed right at me. I struggle with the whole "crossing that bridge when we get to it" thing. I'm more of an "I want to know what is on the bridge so I can be prepared for it" kind of gal. I don't like the unknown. I don't like surprises that aren't good ones. So trusting God has been a journey He has taken me on. So this book hit the bullseye with me.

If you've been through painful, shocking, unforeseeable things this book is for you. Once life has taught you to always be on your guard and to have your defenses ready to go, it's very difficult to stop living that way. Life has taught you not to. Your body has learned not to relax because another tidal wave of stuff is just around the corner you seem to be rapidly approaching.

Within these pages of, Making Peace With What I Can't Control, Lysa addresses the variations of control- what they mean and how they look in daily life. She's going to distinguish the difference between responsible and controlling mindsets. As you uncover all this, she includes examples from her own life. She walks you through the pitfalls of when control crosses over into negative territory. 

Many of us have had someone in our lives who's behavior dictated our own behavior. This hit home for me because I had a friendship like this. While it started out healthy and with boundaries, over the years I was worn down to the point of my own choices and actions participated in the unhealthy control cycle it morphed into. This person's unhealthy need for control became the main influence on what I said and did- to my utter detriment. I became someone I no longer recognized. 

Learning to trade my will for God's will has been a long, long process. I've repeatedly thought I had a given situation only to make a mess of things in the end. Had I just let God drive the bus, we wouldn't have hit so many trees along the way. I had to learn that He knows what He's doing. He sees the puzzle fully done, where I only have a few pieces of it. I exhausted myself trying to make everything go the way I felt it was best only to lose it all anyway. I fell on my face countless times because I was trying to force something to happen that wasn't meant to happen. 

I strongly recommend this book! Making Peace With What I Can't Control is a great tool to help you re-evaluate your life. It helps you see what is on your plate that shouldn't be. Lysa is phenomenal at hitting you with the hard lessons through love. Every chapter has a QR code that sends you to a bonus video. it may be a craft or further discussion on what you were reading about, but helpful nonetheless.

You deserve to live with less stress on your shoulders. I encourage you to allow Lysa help teach you a way to do this. She's an amazing teacher who brings her vulnerability to the table, but also backed up expertise with professionals.