Parenting Unchained by Dr. James D. Dempsey {A Review}

As a part of the launch team, I have had the great privilege of reviewing a wonderful new Christian parenting book called Parenting Unchained: Overcoming the Ten Deceptions That Shackle Christian Parents by Dr. James D. Dempsey. Dr. Dempsey has written this book from his heart as these are lies that have affected his parenting in the past. He wrote this book because he wants to make sure other Christian parents avoid falling into the trap of these lies.

Dr. Dempsey and his wife are the parents of 3 daughters and he is a pastor with a doctorate in Early Childhood Education. He is also a presenter and Family Minister Consultant for the National Center for Biblical Parenting. He understands the importance of the Christian family and the fact that Satan is attacking the family. Dr. Dempsey wants to make sure parents are aware of these destructive lies of Satan, so we can wake up to the deception and follow the truth that God has given us. As stated in the introduction, "God's truths about parenting help us stay on track. They help us raise godly children. And godly children are a threat to Satan!"

In the 191 pages of Parenting Unchained, Dr. Dempsey shares these ten deceptions and then looks at God's truths. He shares personal stories, Biblical examples, and practical applications to make his book come alive and make an impact in the lives of Christian parents.

Before I go any further, let me share the 10 deceptions that Satan has been trapping Christian parents with:

1. It's All About Your Kids; Your Character Doesn't Matter
2. You're Capable; You Can Do This
3. God Only Cares About Rules
4. You Can Be a Parent Without Investing Much Time
5. Teaching the Right Information is Enough
6. Why and How You Discipline Don't Matter - Just Make Them Obey
7. You Don't Need to Talk About Your Faith
8. Children Should Choose Their Life Course (You Don't Need to Help Them)
9. It's All About Consistency (You Don't Need to Adapt)
10. Life Should Be Easy

Have you found yourself believing any of these lies? I know I have. 

Each of these sections has 1-3 chapters that explains the deception and shares the truth God wants us to know. You will read about the foundation for parenting and be reminded that you should not be relying on yourself, but in Christ. With Biblical examples, Dr. Dempsey shares the importance of relationship verses the rules and what God really wants from us. You will see how God's presence in the lives of the Israelites and Jesus's relationship with his disciples is a model of how parents should be invested in their children. The importance of modeling is emphasized, as is the right reason for discipline and practical advice in how to discipline. You will also read about the importance of teaching through direct instruction. Additionally, the author discusses the dangers of personal freedom and focus on oneself. You will discover the problems with consistency and the benefits of being able to adapt. Finally, Dr. Dempsey discusses the importance of preparing our children to be sent out into the world instead of being sheltered. 

At the end of each section, you will find activities for making these truths a part of your family's life.  There are also 2 appendices in the back of the book. Appendix A is called - Secular Research: The Primacy of Relationship. Appendix B is a Catalog of Jesus's Teaching in His Later Ministry. 

This book has words of wisdom whether you are a new parent, a parent of young children, or a parent with children ready to leave the nest (and everywhere in between of course). I love the way Dr. Dempsey equates God's relationship with Israel, His chosen people with the parents' relationship with their children. Infancy, childhood, and teen years are discussed. It isn't just God's relationship with His people that help to illustrate how we should be parenting. Jesus and the disciples are used as examples as well, along with other parent/child relationships seen in the Bible. I am learning much about how God expects me to parent. 

I highly recommend Parenting Unchained for Christian parents who are ready to rid their lives of the deceptions of Satan. You can purchase the book for $14.99 and through tomorrow, you can get the Kindle version for just 99 cents! 

Weeding Out Wheat: A Review

*This post contains my affiliate link*

Luke and Trisha Gilkerson are the husband/wife team who authored the book Weeding Out Wheat: A Simple, Scientific, Faith-Based Guide. They have "a passion for truth in all aspects of life" and desire to share that with their readers over at Intoxicated On Life, their blog which they describe as "a one-stop-shop for learning about living a healthy home life."

Weeding Out Wheat is a wonderful book on the topic of eating wheat-free. I had been thinking of trying a wheat-free diet because of the way my health has been. I know people who have to eat gluten-free diets because of Celiac disease and wheat sensitivities. However, I wasn't sure if this was truly something that would be causing me my discomfort. I am so glad I took the time to read this book. The authors spent quite a bit of time studying and reading up on what some probably consider a new fad and they are sharing it with us in this resource.

I think one of the most important things they share in the book is why modern wheat is so different from ancient wheat. I know I had questioned why, if wheat has been around since the beginning of creation, so many people are finding themselves sensitive to wheat in modern times. And if I am questioning why, I am sure there are many others that are confused by this as well. As I was reading I was constantly stopping to reread important points to my husband. The authors start with a short discussion of how ancient wheat, called einkorn wheat, became emmer wheat which naturally mixed with Triticum tauschii, and created Triticum aestivum, the bread wheat family from Biblical times through the beginning of the 20th century. Then they share how wheat has been manipulated during the last half of the 20th century into something that is so different the reader can see how consumption of it can be questioned. The thing is, these changes took place with good intentions, increasing the yield to feed people; however, because the scientists didn't realize the changes were so huge they never tested the effect on human beings' health.

In the sub-section called Glutenstein's Monster the authors share that, "one experiment found fourteen new gluten proteins in the offspring that were not found in parent wheat plants." To me, this shows very simply how sensitivities to gluten could have sprung up in recent times and definitely raises a red flag. In fact, they share how there has been a 400% increase in Celiac Disease in the last 50 years.

In addition to seemingly innocent things like the hybridization (which changed the wheat so drastically) and the way it the wheat is now processed, I was appalled to discover that our wheat is being treated with toxic pesticides and irradiation.  So many concerns over something as simple and seemingly necessary as bread.

After explaining the problems with the wheat itself, the authors start digging in to all the problems that may be associated with modern wheat, and it is not just the intestinal problems that people have come to link with Celiac Disease. In the section called "Wheat Gone Wild: Understanding Wheat's Connection to Deteriorating Health" you will find the following chapters:

• Some Necessary Definitions where the authors discuss the difference between wheat allergies, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease.
• Is Wheat-Free Right For You where the authors share some indications to help you decide whether you should consider a wheat-free diet. By the way, because of all the different conditions that are discussed in this chapter as being possibly linked to wheat and gluten, the authors actually suggest that everyone should at least try a wheat-free diet. However, they also admit that going wheat-free is not a "cure-all."
• Delete the Wheat where the authors share 7 reasons to go wheat-free based on a slew of problems that can be found due to the three anti-nutrients found in wheat (gluten, lectins, and phytates).
• Wheat's The Problem? where the authors share different tests that can be used to determine wheat-sensitivity. However, with all those tests, I chose to use the last one suggested, Give up Wheat. A minimum of 2 months is suggested as that is how long it may take for the toxins to leave your body so a difference can be seen.
• FAQ where you will find answers to frequently asked questions about wheat.

Another thing that I appreciate about this book is that they do not just focus on the scientific aspects of giving up wheat. Twenty-five pages (about 1/4 of the book) are focused on the Biblical concerns with going wheat-free. This section is called "Is Wheat-Free Biblical: Reconciling a Wheat-Free Diet With a Bread-Filled Faith" and in it you will find the following chapters:

• Wheat and Bread in the Bible where the authors discuss the references to wheat in the Bible, as a staple of life, used in worship, in the life of Jesus and how it is not always associated with abundance.
• Wheat is a Provision, Not an Obligation where the authors ask, not whether God endorses eating wheat, but whether God obligates us to eat wheat.
• Does God Have a Diet Plan where they discuss health and the kosher diet. They discuss whether God in the Bible states that physical health is the reason for a kosher diet and whether or not there is a biblically nutritional diet.
• The Bread of Life where the concerns of having communion with wheat-free bread are addressed.
• In Conclusion: What Does Wheat Free Living Have to Do With Our Faith? brings this section to a conclusion.

The book concludes with the section "Moving Forward: Making the Wheat-Free Transition." In this section you will discover the importance of choosing the right foods and making nutritionally sound choices in what to place in your body. There are guidelines on what to eat once one gives up wheat. The focus is on eating healthy and not substituting junk for the wheat that has been given up. They have included a list of books and other resources on their Weeding Out Wheat Resources Page to help readers along on their journey.  They also invite those who are embarking on a wheat-free journey to join them at their Weeding Out Wheat: Encouragement and Support Facebook Group.

I have truly enjoyed having the opportunity to be on this launch team and to get a chance to read this book. They have done a wonderful job describing in simple terms the importance of a wheat-free diet. They have convinced me of the problems with modern-day wheat and reassured me that living wheat-free is not anti-Biblical. The authors shared many different conditions that can be linked to wheat consumption. I know my oldest daughter has suffered migraines for a while and to find out they can be possibly linked to wheat was something that had never been mentioned. It is definitely something I want her father to look into. Additionally, who would have thought that skin problems could be linked to eating wheat. With my skin rashes and Amelia's itchy's I am so curious to see whether eliminating the wheat will help. 

It is my goal to purge the house of wheat, but for now I have gone wheat-free myself and have been restricting it in Amelia's diet. I have to tell you I could tell a difference in my health within a week of going wheat-free. My tummy was feeling better (let's leave it at that, shall we?) and I had more energy and less "brain fog." And if that was not enough proof for me, I boo-booed during the holidays and ate some foods that had wheat in them. I did NOT feel well at all. I was curled up on the love seat Thanksgiving night. However, I didn't learn my lesson and gave in again at Christmas time. Again, the tummy aches came back, along with more gas and diarrhea. I am hoping to be able to stick with this new lifestyle in the new year and once the holidays roll around I will have some great gluten-free recipes in my recipe drawer.

You don't have to believe just my testimony. I love that the authors included testimonies throughout the book. People shared how they saw vast improvements in their health, from stomach aches going away, to skin problems disappearing, to "brain fog" being lifted. So many benefits seem to be linked to following a wheat-free lifestyle.

You can also check out my fellow launch team members' reviews of the book by going here. 

Right now you can purchase the book at the special Launch Price. You can purchase the Kindle version for just $1.99 from Amazon from now through January 1st. The paperback version can be purchased for $9.95 from here, through January 1st. After that time the price will revert to the normal price, $9.95 for Kindle and $14.95 for paperback.

And stay tuned for this great giveaway going live soon. A great package to win to help in your healthy living lifestyle.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book Weeding Out Wheat as a part of the Launch Team to facilitate my review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. This post contains my affiliate link.

Celebrate Jesus: Light of the World Christmas Copywork Review

*This post contains my affiliate link

We have been enjoying Amy Blevin's Advent ebook, Celebrate Jesus: Light of the World-An Advent Journey for Families, during our Bible time this year. It is very important to my husband and myself that we focus on Jesus and the reason for Christmas during this time of year and that is what this book does. This book started as Amy's attempt to make an Advent schedule that would work for her family. They have been using and tweaking it for the past 10 years and she has made it available for other families to enhance their Advent celebrations. This book is available with either ESV or KJV Bible verses.

She has included Bible readings along with Bible Study Preparation questions for the parents and older children. Each day we light our candle(s) and pray, then we sing the song J-O-Y, which is not a part of this plan, but it is something we have done in the past and the children were anticipating it so we have included it. We then gather in the living room so I can read the Bible verses and we can listen to/sing the chosen song. Amy has included clickable links, one of which is to a site that shares most of the songs. We actually have been using YouTube for the songs, mainly because I forgot about the link, but we also enjoy finding a version of the song and watching the video. 

Now, the above is what we do during our Bible time, but Amy has also included craft ideas for each day, plus some recipes and copy work at the back of the book. There is also a master supply list so you can know in advance what materials you will need for the activities. The copy work is selected from the Bible readings for each day, so there are 24 copywork pages, 1 for each day in December leading up to Christmas. 

She has selected one or two verses from the day's reading for the children to focus on. The entire verse is printed on top of the lined and bordered page and it also includes a relevant picture to color. 

I was a little concerned at first that the lines would be too small for Tabitha as she had been writing a bit bigger. Then I remembered she had been using the smaller lines in her cursive workbook, so I decided to let her give it a shot. Even though this first page was only one verse it was a bit long for her age so I allowed her to write in in two sittings (thus the different colored pencils). She did get a bit frustrated the first day, but the second day I decided to set a timer for 10 minutes. Not only did she work until the timer went off, she teased me by saying she was trying to finish one word after the timer went off, but then brought me the finished work you see pictured above. 

Amelia also wanted to try out the copy work, but I do believe it is a little too advanced for her.

I believe what caused her to struggle the most was the fact that it is in paragraph form. If she could see one line, write it, then move on to the next I think she might do better. She is also still working on spacing between words and remembering to use lowercase letters. I thought it would be helpful to have the same verse with picture available in dotted letters so younger children could just trace. I was thrilled when Amy said dotted pages may be available for next year! For now I took part of the verse (because it was a bit long for her as well) and generated a worksheet on a site I use so she could work on the verse while Tabitha does. However, I still print out the page for her because she enjoys coloring the picture.

I have plans to finish all the verses and staple them together into a book. I figured that would make a nice keepsake for the girls. We may finish the pages after Christmas as they are taking longer to do them, but we will finish them. 

Here is the great part. If you already have an Advent book you use, or if you don't really observe Advent, you could still use the copy work with your child(ren). Copy work is a great way to help children internalize what they are learning, what could be better than copying from God's word. In addition to the Celebrate Jesus: Light of the World Advent Book, Amy has created books of just the copy work. You can purchase the ESV or the KJV in manuscript and the ESV in cursive. She is currently working on the KJV in cursive. 

Comparing Manuscript and Cursive

You can purchase the Christmas Copywork For Children over at Homeschool Encouragement for $1.99. While there I would encourage you to check out Amy's other ebooks:

• Listening to Learn-$5.99
• Thanksgiving Copywork in both manuscript and cursive-$1.99
• Christmas Copywork for children in manuscript and cursive (ESV) and manuscript (KJV)-$1.99
• Celebrate Jesus: Light of the World-An Advent Resource for Families (ESV and KJV)- $4.99

Disclosure: I received a copy of the books to facilitate my review. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. This post contains my affiliate link.

Putting on the Spirit Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms Review

Are you like me, knowing how important it is to spend time each day in the Word, focusing on God and renewing your spirit, but struggling to find time to do so?  Do you rush about each day trying to get stuff done for your family, but neglect your time with the Lord? I would love to introduce you to Katie Hornor's new 28-Day devotional, Putting On The Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms available for Kindle.

Katie's focus in this study is the Fruit of the Spirit and taking off our "Super Mom" capes to put on the Spirit, because in our own strength we will fail. She does this in short devotions that take approximately ten minutes, figuring that all moms have ten minutes they can find in the day to spend with the Lord. Personally, I like to fit my devotions in before the children wake up in the morning, but everyone is encouraged to find a time that works for them. 

This devotional is 25 short pages but it sure packs a whole lot of punch for your spiritual life. Each Fruit of the Spirit is focused on for 2-5 days, with the average being 3 days. Three days to really look at each Fruit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (or kindness), goodness, faith, meekness and temperance) and how to let it shine in our busy lives. 

Each day we read and pray over different verses that are relevant to the Fruit we are focusing on. Sometimes we are writing out verses word for word, sometimes we are paraphrasing, other times we are picking out a verse from a passage to summarize the message. But each day we reflect in some way to internalize what we are learning. I love that Katie uses various ways to really dig into God's word and into our hearts. I do have to admit there were a couple of times it took me more than ten minutes to finish the devotion because there was more reading and writing than on other days. This, however, was not a huge deal. Each day there was encouragement and challenge. Challenge in answering some questions while digging deep into my heart, and the challenge of remembering to live out what I was learning. 

I love that I am learning so much about each aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit. Additionally, Katie shared something I have never thought about. For the last day of the devotional she puts the whole fruit together. She makes the point of showing that we are not looking at a fruit basket of different kinds of fruit, but different sections of the same fruit, likening it to a fruit such as an orange where it is not whole without all the pieces being together. We can't pick and choose which part of the Fruit of the Spirit should be in our lives. It definitely gave me something to think about.

As a member of the Launch Team I was given a pdf copy of this book. I downloaded the devotional, printed it out and made it into a little booklet because I really don't like reading it from a computer screen.  I was able to sit with my book and enjoy my time with the Lord. Additionally, we are given the choice to answer the questions in a notebook or to download the FREE workbook, available at Paradise Praises, Katie's blog where she shares about marriage, motherhood and ministry. In this workbook, Katie has given us plenty of room to answer questions, write out verses, lists and/or prayers depending on the day.

So, if you would like to lay down your Super Mom cape and put on the Spirit I would really recommend Putting On the Spirit. You can really get a lot out of a little time in your busy life. 

Find out more about the book, its availability and read some more reviews over at Paradise Praises. You can connect with Katie on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. She also blogs about homeschooling over at Educando En El Hogar in Spanish. Not only can you get Putting on the Spirit in English, but it is also available in Spanish. 

And here is the best news. It is free for Kindle today!! After that it will be 99 cents through Friday December 13th, after which it will be available for its regular price of $4.99. The companion workbook will remain free though. 

Would you like get to know Katie a bit better. Here is some information from the back of the book:

"Katie and her husband Tap have been missionaries in Mexico since 2007. They homeschool their four children and minister through church planting, Bible training, bookstore ministry, and homeschool curriculum development.

Katie is a teacher at heart, and by trade, and loves to encourage women in their God-given roles through speaking, writing and blogging. She is the author of this and two other ebooks (at the date of this printing) as well as the Lemonhass homeschool curriculum for Spanish Speaking families."

Disclosure: I received a pdf copy of Putting on the Spirit: Ten-Minute Devotions for Busy Moms as a member of the Launch Team. I received no further compensation and this in no way influenced my review. 

The Force by Alexandra and Joyce Swann- A Review

I have enjoyed being a part of the Launch Team for the new book by Alexandra and Joyce Swann called The Force. The Force is the second book in The Kingdom Chronicles Series. 

Like The Fourth Kingdom, The Force did not disappoint me. There is again suspense, good vs. evil,  end times forces at play, and more cloning. However, in this story it is Josef Helmick creating the clones for profit and self-gratification. There is more murder, lots of intrigue and more twists and turns. The Sinclair twins, Jarrod and Joshua, play a smaller role than I assumed they would play. After they are called in to consult with the FBI on some murders they suspect Josef Helmick. Instead of the story focusing on them, however, they hire retired detective Fred Kowalski and send him off to find out what is going on. He has to travel to Dubai to investigate these murders of famous women who have been discovered murdered again and again. 

There is so much more going on than just the murders of these women. Not only is Josef trying to gain control of the world, there is an evil Force that is in danger of being resurrected in the process. The murdering of the women actually plays a small role in the story as we see many other characters being introduced. As Josef gains power we again see how ruthless and evil he is, yet he is no match for the Force that is about to be resurrected. 

I enjoyed The Force almost as much as I enjoyed The Fourth Kingdom. While The Force wasn't as predictable, there were so many different characters introduced it was hard to keep them straight. It seemed we were jumping story lines a bit, though at the end I could see how everything was fitting together. As I mentioned, I really did think that the Sinclair twins were going to play a bigger role as they were adversaries to Josef in The Fourth Kingdom and I was seeing them as the characters behind the power of good while Josef was being influenced by the force of evil. I also didn't expect the story to take such a sharp turn away from the Nazi storyline of the first book. 

I still highly recommend The Force, but I would warn that it is not for the younger audience as there is quite a bit of murder, some of it graphic, plus talk of torture and some mention of sexual encounters. I am under the understanding that there will be another book in this series from the way the story left off and I am definitely curious as to where this is going, because I am seeing some end time story lines being possible.

The Fourth Kingdom by Alexandra and Joyce Swann- A Review

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to bring you the Book Lover's Group Giveaway featuring The Fourth Kingdom and The Force by mother/daughter team Alexandra and Joyce Swann. These are the first two books in The Kingdom Chronicles Series.  I stated that if you were a fan of Suspenseful Christian fiction you should give these books a try. When I was contemplating joining the launch team for The Force we were told that if we were fans of The Left Behind series or Frank Peretti we would enjoy these books. When I think of The Left Behind series I am focusing on the end times and with the Frank Peretti books I think about how battles in the spiritual realm impact our mortal lives. But more than that, I am thinking of good verses evil. 

Not only were we given the opportunity to read The Force, we received paperback copies of both books. The Fourth Kingdom and The Force did not disappoint me. There is suspense, good vs. evil, a hint of some end times forces at play, cloning and so much more. Cloning is not something I ever really thought I would be interested in, but it was very intriguing to read, not ultra-scientific, but with enough information to pique my interest and keep me informed. 

In The Fourth Kingdom we are introduced to Dr. Alexander Sinclair and Dr. Karl Helmick, both involved in cloning, but living in completely different worlds with completely different belief systems, yet they become close acquaintances who need each other. Dr. Sinclair is a Christian who desires to help others, while Dr. Helmick is focused on himself, monetary gain and a desire to live forever. The Sinclairs have twin sons who are born at the beginning of the book in the year 2000 and Dr. Helmick is guardian to Josef, who is "born" around the same time. 

As the book progresses the authors alternate between The Sinclairs and Dr. Helmick over at Doppelganger Genetic Cloning Facility. Their children are introduced to each other, but there is no friendship involved. From the start Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair can sense the evil surrounding Josef, who is also seen as a spoiled brat who gets everything he wants. Josef on the other hand sees the twins as weak because they care about others. As Josef gets older he is taken under the wing of Dr. Helmick unlike any of the other boys at Doppelganger who have been "adopted" by Helmick. 

While the basic premise of the book is obvious, there is cloning going on at Doppleganger though not just of cattle, there is so much more that we find out as the story unfolds. Why is Helmick cloning and who is he cloning and how is Josef really related to Helmick? Nazi Germany plays a big roll in the story and Dr. Sinclairs wife is very educated in the history of the Nazi's and World War II. 

It is easy to tell where the book is going from the beginning, though there is still enough suspense plus twists and turns to keep it interesting. There were times I wanted to yell at the characters to have them open their eyes as to what was going on in Helmick's cloning facility. As much as I thought I knew what was going to happen in the book, the ending still caught me by surprise. The Fourth Kingdom was quite a wonderful read, one I had a hard time putting down. The only concern I had was how fast it jumped forward in time. In just 360 pages we travel 21 years. 

I would highly recommend The Fourth Kingdom to anyone who enjoys Christian Suspense. 

Disclosure: I received a copy of The Fourth Kingdom as a member of the Launch Team for The Force. I did not receive any other compensation. Receiving these books did not influence my review and I was not required to write a positive review. 

The War on Christmas-a Review

The holidays are upon us, that festive time of year that some love and some actually seem to hate. Christmas is such a joyful time of year to celebrate our Saviors birth, God's gift to mankind. These days, however, there is such a war on this beloved holiday. It wasn't until just recently that I realized that there are two extremes. There are those (such as atheists) who want nothing to do with the holiday because it is focused on Jesus, but there are Christians who think it is wrong to celebrate because they feel it is from a pagan background. I have even seen someone post that if you celebrate Christmas you are breaking 8 of the 10 commandments (or more). To tell you the truth, I knew there was a war on Christmas, I just didn't realize Christmas was getting battered from both sides so much.

I had the opportunity of being on the launch team for the book The War on Christmas edited by Bodie Hodge and I have been reminded of the importance of keeping our focus on Jesus at Christmas time.

This paperback book is full of wonderful, informative articles presented with eye-catching images including maps, charts and photographs.  In this book you will "Find the truth about Christmas and the Christian's response to a culture that seems to be declaring war on traditions and the Bible!" 

The book is divided into 5 sections in addition to the introduction and conclusion, they are:

• What About Christmas? (Which covers such topics as what Christmas is about, whether it is a pagan holiday, when Jesus was born and a helpful timeline of events surrounding Christ's birth.)
• Confusion and Misconceptions (Which covers such topics as the X is Xmas, the three kings and whether the angels would have sang.)
• It's All Baby Jesus (Which covers such topics as the creator in a manger, why we need the babe and the significance of his name.)
• How Christmas Came to Be (Which covers such topics as the what that Christmas star was, the importance of the virgin birth and whether Mary remained a virgin, plus some very informative information on what the real nativity would have looked like.)
• The War on Christmas (Which covers why creation is important to Christmas, the problems with bringing Santa into our celebrations, the significance of why Jesus came to our world starting at Genesis and understanding the reason why Christ is being taken out of Christmas.)

There are those who want to be able to celebrate the holiday without reference to Christ. They are fine with Santa Claus and trees and for a reason to party and exchange gifts, but they don't want to hear about Christ, the reason for the season. They don't want to be reminded of him through Christmas carols or Nativity scenes or even the name Christmas. I love that the book brings up the fact that even by using the term "Happy Holidays" we can turn this back to God as the word "holiday" means "holy day."  

This book does a wonderful job explaining the importance of keeping Jesus in Christmas.  Additionally, the case is made for sharing the truth of the Bible from the very first verse. Jesus coming was foretold in the very first book of the Bible and the entire Old Testament points to Him. Not only has the culture turned hostile to Jesus, but the church itself has fallen away from taking the truth of the Bible literally. 

 When I first started reading the book I didn't realize it was comprised of articles written by different authors. I couldn't understand why there seemed to be an overlapping of information, but when I realized it was a compilation I was able to enjoy it more.

The book confronts the question as to whether Christmas is a pagan holiday. I definitely learned some things I didn't know in chapter 4 "The Origin of Christmas: Isn't Christmas a Pagan Holiday?" The main point they bring up is that "There is nothing inherently wrong with celebrating a Christian holiday at the same time the pagans celebrate." We need to make sure our focus is on Jesus and the reason why he came. It is so important not to leave Jesus as a babe in a manger, but to remember that he came as Savior of the world.

Some of the information contained in this book was already known to me, such as the fact that Jesus was probably not born on December 25th. The book gives some different scenarios of when he may have been conceived and born, but admits that we can't know for sure. Some feel if we don't know the date we shouldn't be celebrating on a date that was chosen to pacify pagans in the early church. I have to admit, this is something I still struggle with, and I am not sure this book has sufficiently answered this question for me. It is definitely something I want to continue researching.

Whether or not it is right to celebrate Christmas on December 25th is still up in the air for me, however, I did love that the book delved into explaining how traditions we think we know as Biblical may not even be accurate. Here are a few little tidbits that you may think you know the answer to; however, when you actually delve into the Bible and know the culture from Biblical times you will discover that the traditions have been based on inaccuracies.

• True or False: The Bible says that Mary and Joseph spent the night in a stable.
• True or False: The innkeeper told Mary and Joseph there was no room for them in the inn.
• True or False: The Bible says there were three wise men.

and one last one

• True or False: Mary was in labor when she got into town, so Joseph had to take whatever lodging he could get.

The answer to all of these questions, as explained in the book, is "false."
These are not the only "facts" that are addressed, but it opened my mind to the fact that we focus too much on tradition around Christmas and not enough on Biblical truth. There are so many of the trapping of modern Christmas that are based on pagan traditions. In our family we try to stay away from these blatantly pagan symbols, such as the Christmas tree and Santa. I was a little disturbed that the book stated, "Why not take the distorted pagan elements of Christmas and change them to biblical elements to honor Christ?"  I would rather make sure we are honoring Christ without adding pagan elements. Maybe others will feel comfortable adding in such things, but I feel if we are truly going to celebrate Christ in Christmas we should focus on Him and the fact that he came as God's gift to the world. 

As you read this book this holiday season you can discover important truths about Christmas that will help to enhance your celebration of our Savior's birth if you so choose to celebrate. 

You can purchase the book from the New Leaf Publishing Group for $17.99 by going here.

Disclosure: I received a copy of The War on Christmas in exchange for my honest review. I received no further compensation. This did not in any way influence my review. I only recommend products I use personally and feel will be a good products for my readers.

The Fourth Kingdom: FREE on Kindle (5 days only)

It has been awhile since I have posted about books I am reading on this blog. I used to have time for book challenges and reading for pleasure, but I just haven't been finding the time lately, which really stinks seeing as I have always been quite the bookworm. In order to rectify this I have decided that reading books for reviews may help me to get into a better reading habit. 

I have had the opportunity to be a part of another launch team and there is a wonderful opportunity that I would like to share with you.

There is a new book coming out this month called The Force by Joyce and Alexandra Swann. Though I had never heard of the authors before I loved the sound of the book, similar in some respects to other books I have read in the past. Now, I can't wait to read the book and share it with you. While waiting for The Force, I have had the opportunity to start reading The Fourth Kingdom, which is a prequel to The Force. So far I have really been enjoying it. Here is a little summary of the book.

"On a warm September afternoon in the year 2000, Dr. Alexander Sinclair travels to the Doppelganger Genetic Cloning Facility near Santa Fe, New Mexico, to meet with its brilliant but mysterious director, Dr. Karl Helmick. Over the next 21 years, the two scientists collaborate on incredible scientific breakthroughs, as Karl becomes friend, mentor, and father-figure to Alexander. But the longer Alexander knows Karl, the more aware he becomes of how little he knows about him. As the years go by, Alexander becomes increasingly suspicious that his colleague is not who he appears to be. And as Karl prepares to implement his plans for the future, each of the men discovers just how far he is willing to go to live forever. "

If this sounds like a book you would be even remotely interested in you have the opportunity to get it for free starting today through October 19th. All you need to do is click here or on the image above.