Title: The Bhagavad-Gita
Classification: Religion & Philosophy
Author: Translated by R.C. Zaehner
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Copyright: 1965
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: The Bhagavad-Gita is one of the most sacred texts of the Hindu religion. As a religious text, the book is not a particularly easy read, but it is fascinating and spiritually satisfying.

Title: Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christianity
Author: Donald Miller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Copyright: June 2003
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This was the best book I have read in months. It was very encouraging to hear Miller's story of being honest with himself and others about doubts, feelings, and passion for who Jesus Christ is. He has a refreshing view and talks about the struggles he has had throughout life with himself, friends, and God.

Title: Confessions From An Honest Wife
Author: Sarah Zacharias Davis
Publisher: Revell/Baker
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This book is well suited for use in stimulating discussion in premarital counseling or marriage studies. Anyone planning on getting married or those already married would benefit from reading it, although it is all from a woman's point of view so it will probably hold more appeal for women to pick up. The author is the daughter of Ravi Zacharias, in case you are familiar with his books. This book is put together from interviews with several anonymous Christian women. Each chapter is a different woman's voice candidly expressing what she has struggled with and learned in her own marriage. The only thing I really didn't care for was one of the last chapters in which a woman justified what sounded to me like an unjustifiable divorce. Of course, I don't have the full story to know for sure, and one of the things she complains about are how hard Christians frequently are on those who are going through the pain of divorce. Hmmm...I better think about that one. So even though I don't agree with her viewpoints on this issue, the book is still good; the point of the book is not to necessarily find agreement with everything you read, but to stir up discussion in groups so people can learn from listening to other perspectives.

Title: Experiental Worship: Encountering God With Heart, Soul, Mind, And Strength
Author: Bob Rognlien
Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group
Copyright: January 2005
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This was a very insightful look into worship. Rognlien writes about incorporating various aspects into worship including engaging our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. I found this very practical in thinking of ways to make worship more memorable and meaningful. I would recommend this book to anyone involved in planning worship for their church or group.

Title: Faith is Not a Feeling: Choosing to Take God at His Word
Author: Ney Bailey
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Told in first person, the author provides her own real life examples of how to apply the Bible in a world that often doesn't make sense. In the first chapter she relates how, although she herself and some others survived, seven of her friends died in a flood that hit while they were attending a Christian women's retreat. She is very honest about her struggles and mistakes. This book is encouraging, informative, and thought-provoking. A twelve week Bible study guide is included in the back of the book.

Title: Good Faeries Bad Faeries
Author: Brian Froud
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Editions
Copyright: 1998
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A cult classic for all Faerie lovers. Froud's work has continued to inspire and intrigue all New Age readers. His works include "The Goblins of Labyrinth" and "Rune of Elfland". He also had collaborated with Jim Hensen on the movies "Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth".

Title: The Healing Quilt
Author: Lauraine Snelling
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Copyright: 2002
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This was a moving story of various women who have been through various things. Kit just lost her daughter to cancer, Teza isn't getting any younger, Elaine has a husband that's married to the hospital, and Beth can hardly get out of bed in the morning because her past haunts her. What brings these women together is the idea to make a quilt to raise money for a new mammogram unit. While too emotional at times, this was a good story of how God can work in and through people.

Title: The Hiding Place
Author: Corrie Ten Boom
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Written in 1971, this religious biography is a very compelling account of the author's and her family's WWII holocaust experience.

Title: The Holy Place
Author: Henry Lincoln
Publisher: Arcade/Time Warner
Copyright: 1991
Reviewer: Marilyn
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Subtitled Sauniere and the Decoding of the Mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau, I had thought this might be another book exploring one of the topics found in The Da Vinci Code. It is not and instead concerns natural and man-made phenomena of the area. Filed with charts and graphs which become tiresome after a while, it nevertheless is interesting in its own way.

Title: Home to Harmony
Author: Phillip Gulley
Publisher: Harper
Copyright: 2000
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This religious fiction novel is the first of the "Harmony" series. If you liked the "Mitford" books you might like this series, although it lacks "Father Tim's" warm humor.

Title: Hope for the Flowers
Author: Trina Paulus
Publisher: Paulist Press
Copyright: 1972
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a picture book for adults which depicts the lives of 2 caterpillars on their way to becoming butterflies. A nonreligious, inspirational story about there being more to life than climbing to the top of the heap no matter what the cost, and about learning to value the beauty in oneself and others.

Title: "Me and My Big Mouth!" Your Answer is Right Under Your Nose
Author: Joyce Meyer
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is an excellent Christian book about the importance of our words from a spiritual perspective. Filled with practical advice. Worth re-reading on a regular basis.

Title: Not Easily Broken
Author: T. D. Jakes
Publisher: Warner Books, Incorporated
Copyright: October 2006
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: After a car accident that leaves Clarice Johnson recovering physically, her and her husband Dave realize that they have more than the accident to work through. This was a feel good story about a relationship that came back from being on the verge of a breakup.

Title: The Power of a Praying Wife
Author: Stormie Omartian
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Copyright: April 1998
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: I love this book because each chapter is relevant and it really does start to make a difference. I would recommend this as a gift for newlywed couples as they start to learn those different quirks about each other.

Title: Safely Home
Author: Randy Alcorn
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Copyright: July 2001
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a novel written about two college friends who meet up after years of being graduated. The story takes place in China when Ben comes over with a business proposition and stays with his friend Li Quan while he's in the country. Ben learns about Christian persecution in China in a very personal way as he goes with Li Quan to meetings in underground churches and witnessed other ways Li Quan reaches out to people. The authorities hear of what Li Quan has been doing and throws Li Quan in jail. Ben then begins to realize that he's learned much more than business during his stay.

Title: The Sandwich Club
Author: Lisa Samson
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Copyright: June 2005
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a feel good story about Ivy Schneider who's life seems to keep piling up on her day after day. Her husband is a traveling musician and is rarely home. Ivy cares for her three children and dysfunctional family, not to mention that she helps run the family diner and is slowly worn down to her last ounce of strength. Taking care of her mother and children has placed her in what she calls the "Sandwich Generation". She helps start a group that brings together women in similar situations so they can draw on each other for support. I felt for Ivy as I read about some of the struggles that she went through. She begins to question her marriage and how to best relate with her troubled brother and sister. A predictable story, but a nice one none-the-less.

Title: Searching for God Knows What
Author: Donald Miller
Publisher: Nelson Books
Copyright: 2004
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: I loved Miller’s Blue Like Jazz. In this book, he continues to examine faith without the trappings of organized religion by writing essays as if he is keeping a journal. He is an amazing writer; vulnerable and honest in presenting his thoughts on spiritual living.

Title: Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings
Author: L.B. Cowman; edited by James Reimann
Publisher: Zondervan
Copyright: original 1925; updated 1997
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is my favorite Christian daily devotional, excellent especially for encouragement during times of suffering. I recommend the "Updated Edition in Today's Language" edited by James Reimann, who did an excellent job in making this classic clearer and more understandable for the modern reader. The isbn for the edition I have is 0-310-21006-2. Get one for yourself and one to give away.

Title: "Tell Them I Love Them": A Message Bringing Revelation of God's Love For You
Author: Joyce Meyer
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This Christian booklet expounds on the personal love of God for every person, including you. A simple and profound message about the basis for spiritual growth: a personal, ever deepening understanding of God's love.

Title: When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Choices Today
Author: Harvey Cox
Publisher: Houghton Mufflin Co.
Copyright: 2004
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: In response to Harvard realizing that most of their graduates were ethically deviant; the faculty introduced in the early 1980’s the requirement that all undergraduates must complete course work in moral reasoning. Cox was brought on board to teach a course examining the role Jesus of Nazareth had as rabbi regarding moral responsibility. This book is his memoir reflecting on twenty years of teaching this extremely effective and always packed class set in a theater forum. The book is informative, contemporary, and challenges readers to consider how ethics and morality is developed.

Title: World Religions
Author: John Bowker
Publisher: DK Publishing Inc.
Copyright: 2003
Reviewer: Beth
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A beautifully illustrated guide to the religions and faiths of the world. Each religion is deeply explored and explained.