Welcome to the LeValley Methodist Church Library Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
Our Church offers a very resourceful Christian library. The "Book & DVD" cart is located in the commons area before entering into the sanctuary. You are most encouraged to come and check-out the variety of books and other media materials that are here for your enjoyment and reading adventures!
The HOLY BIBLE
...it is the most valuable book to read!
LEVALLEY LIBRARY READING 2025
July/August 2025 We have two non-fiction and one fiction offerings this month.
Gaining Through Losing by Evelyn Christenson and You Can’t Do That! The Story of An Amish Deacon’s Son Who Left the Fold and Became a Doctor by Albert Miller. As the subtitle of Miller’s book states this is his memoir spanning from his childhood memories of growing up in an Old Order Amish community. He left the community in 1972 at the age of 19. Having a number of jobs in hospitals and with the encouragement of the “English” he pursued his education and was able to become a GP and an Emergency Room doctor. The ensuring story is both inspiring and informative.
Gaining Through Losing has our author speaking about how God’s Kingdom is an upside down compared to the world. How through our losses such as death, separation, divorce, sickness, suffering, financial loss—we find that God draws us/we seek God more. Our knowledge of Him—His presence, provision, comfort draw us closer and we often can experience/have a deeper/richer relationship with Him. One take away from this book is God is always with us yet when our needs for Him increases His presence increases in our lives. He is there in proportion to our need. Wonderful.
Dragonwell Dead—A Tea Shop Mystery by Laura Childs is our final selection. Theodosia Browning is the main character in this mystery series who owns the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, SC. This story opens when she is serving ice dragonwell tea at a fundraiser and one partaker suffers what appears to be a heart attack and we are off as they say. It is an enjoyable and interesting read. Included are recipes for many of the tea shop offerings.
Hope that you will find some time and the right book to enjoy during this summer season.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
JUNE 2025: As summer days are starting to surround us, it is always nice to have a good book beside us in case we have a few moments to sit, read and enjoy. Hope one of these might fill that bill.
First up is Pig Park by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez a UMW Youth book on leadership development. This story takes place in a Chicago neighborhood that was once home to the American Lard Company, hence the name Pig Park. The company has closed and a few families who own businesses are trying to survive. Masi’s parents own a little bakery and live above it. Times are getting desperate until someone from outside suggests building a pyramid to draw tourists. All is not what it appears to be. Enjoyable read showing community coming together, supporting each other and find a workable solution.
Esther—A Woman of Strength and Dignity by Charles Swindoll. The author in retelling of the Book of Esther found in Scriptures “interwinds thought provoking study of God’s invisible hand, writing silently and unseen across the pages of history through Esther, King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, and Haman.” He points out the godly attributes like courage, dignity, wisdom and strength used by Esther to bring about God’s plan to rescue the Jewish people in all 127 provinces of Persia.
Our last selection Not So Holy Living is the account of Jesse Mattix a missionary kid who grew up on Bolivia. The author relates a number of adventures he and his brother’s had growing up there. Many are such, you wonder how he survived to tell about them. Many Including motorcycling trips. It is a glimpse into a Missionary kid’s life.
Hope one of these might work for you. Many more books are available on our cart and in the Library itself. Just remember to sign the card and leave on cart or Library table.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
MAY 2025: As this is Mother’s Day month it is only fitting that we have our first selection being;
When Mother’s Pray by Cheri Fuller. Isaiah 44:3 says “For I will give you abundant water for your thirst and for your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit and my blessings on your children.” The author gives Scripture to pray for our children and grandchildren and brings us stories of how when two or more, Mom’s in particular, come together for their children, their schools, teachers, friends, or decisions can change situations and lives. Moms In Touch is discussed and briefly how to organize a one hour weekly pray group. Inspirational with good information.
Our second selection is Hidden in the Pines—a Lew Ferris Mystery by Victoria Houston. Lewellyn Ferris is the newly elected sheriff of McBride County in the Wisconsin Northwoods. When a tragic drowning of a teenage girl looks a lot like an unsolved case 30 years earlier. The characters are interesting and the relationships that evolve add to the telling of this story. Fun and fast read.
Our final highlighted selection is Unspoken by Francine Rivers. This is the fourth book in the series of women listed in Jesus’ genealogy. It relates Bathsheba’s story. It takes Scripture available and fills in with culturally and historically occurrences of the time. For example, what would it be like for Bathsheba to be in David’s harem? How the adultery would effect her life in the palace and with her own family. A brief Bible study concludes the book.
Hope one of the above books might grab your attention and might give one a go this month or in the future.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
APRIL 2025: As some of us might be trying to change our daily routines a bit this Lental season maybe some of these book offerings will help. They can possibly draw us closer to the Lord and His Perspective.
First up is Decision Making by the book—How to Choose Wisely in the Age of Options by Haddon Robinson. This little book walks us through as followers of Jesus, disciples, how do we make Godly decisions? Some decisions are very black and white, but others confront and confuse us. The author gives Biblical principles that hold true no matter how difficult the issue we may face. The Scriptural guidelines will help us make decision “by the Book.”
Second up is Irregular People by Joyce Landorf. The author defines irregular people as those who have a knack of wounding us every time we see them. Our emotions are in turmoil when around them and afterwards. They have similar traits of: “can’t reason with them; can’t depend on them; and can’t expect any real support.” An irregular person is someone we can’t escape, usually a close relative. So what are we to do with the hurt, anger, frustrations we feel? Landorf helps us realize we can’t expect the person to change but our attitude towards them can with God’s help, and we can receive healing, freedom and forgiveness ourselves and a different perspective even if nothing about the other person changes. Helpful read.
Our final selection this month is The Homeless Bishop a Novel by Joseph Girzone who is also the author of the Joshua books of which we have 2 titles. Girzone was a priest who in retirement took up writing inspirational stories. This selection introduces us to a new character Carlo Brunini an arch-bishop when the story begins but receives permission to become a homeless beggar to understand more the Scripture found in Matthew 25:35-40 of how what we do for the least of the poor has eternal consequences. Carlo is homeless for 1 1/2 years and as one would expect deeply changed by the experience. The rest of the story speaks to how this has shifted his focus more to knowing Jesus and having a relationship with Him. It is an enjoyable and inspiriting read.
As always, hope that one of these selections might be a good fit for you this month to enjoy.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
MARCH 2025: As we have entered the Lenten Season I have pulled some books and CDs you might want to check out as we all try to make time to be drawn into a closer relationship with God. I have pulled the following books by well known and trusted authors as possible reads for us this month. They can be found on the library cart in the hallway.
First are two by Oswald Chambers: If You Will Ask-Reflections on the Power of Prayer and Our Ultimate Refuge on Job and the Problem of Suffering. I remember attending a conference once where the speaker asked “How many of you read Oswald Chambers?” A few hands went up. Then he asked, “How many of you understand Oswald Chambers?” Fewer hands went up! That is not to discourage anyone from reading him, he is well worth it, but don’t beat yourself up when sometimes he leaves you with more questions than you started with.
Two selections of Phillip Keller/ K. Phillip Keller are available also. A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit and his classic, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 which is in large print format. Keller is one of those authors who can cut to the heart of the subject in a very readable fashion and add depth to what we think we already know.
Exodus: The Way Out by John Oswald takes the book of Exodus and in a very readable format explains why the plagues, the nature of the wilderness, the needs God was preparing to meet and so on. If you aren’t a big fan of the Old Testament this is a must read for you to help see its relevance.
Also we have the classic Celebration of Discipline :The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster. Some of the disciplines covered are fasting, prayer, study, solitude, submission, confession, and worship.
We have two more ‘classic’ books to choose from. The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith and a novel In His Steps : What Would Jesus Do by Charles Sheldon.
Lastly, The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll.
Finally, Family Celebrations at Easter by Ann Hubbard is available. The first part offers daily Lenten devotions that can be used with children which include hymns to sing. Part two offers Easter family celebrations—short family worship service for Easter Sunday. It includes a holy treasure hunt using items used during the daily devotional is offered and Passover celebration for Christians—from food, table set up, script to read, etc.
If you don’t know if you have the time to read at this time we also have some CDs of Sermons/ Bible Studies that have been offered through the past two decades from Eaton Rapids Camp Meeting that Rex and I attend. These don’t have sign out cards, but if you will sign the signup sheet with which year and speaker and your name, that will suffice. The sermons run from 25–50 minutes and the Bible Study sessions are one hour each. The only draw back is they have been recorded with no breaks so once you start you need to play it all at once because you can’t forward it to where you left off.
Hope that our highlighted selections this month will add to our journey through this Lenten season.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
FEBRUARY 2025: As we enter the Lenten Season we have taken that into consideration in choosing the highlighted books this month.
40 Days 40 Words by Ken and Randy Petersen is exactly what the title means. 40 short words each having connection to the 40 days of Lent with a short sections Preparing Your Heart for Easter and prayer following each entry. It can be read as a daily Lenten devotional or as a few entries at a time. In either case it draws us into what these days approaching Easter are for, a deeper awareness of our relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirt.
The Red Sea Rules by Robert J. Morgan Subtitles 10 God Given Strategies for Difficult Times and I think we can agree that we are living in difficult times. The subtitle continues The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out! The author takes the Scripture of Exodus chapter 14 through 15:2 to show how God worked then and how He still works now with many more Scripture references to back these “rules.” Red Sea Rule 1–Realize that God means for you to be where you are. Ex 14:1-2. Red Sea Rule 2 Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.
Ex 14:3-4. I hope you are interested enough to pick up this little book.
Unashamed is the second of the 5 novellas by Fran-cine Rivers of women listed in Jesus’ lineage. This historical novel takes the Scripture account of Rahab and “fleshes” it out with what is known of the culture and practices then. It delves into the possible thoughts the Hebrews might have had as they marched around Jericho not saying a word. Were the people of Jericho throwing insults at them as they did, or worse, were they insulting God? What was it like inside Rahab’s house trying to keep her family there waiting where she knew they were safe? There is a short 5 part Bible study at the end.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
JANUARY 2025 As the New Year begins we have some valuable selections that will challenge us with possibilities as well as opportunities.
First up is Trusting God is Too Small by J.B. Phillips. This is an amazing “little book” of 140 pages where the author in the first part aims at showing and destroying our small false ideas about God “Resident Policeman, Parental Hangover, Grand Old Man’ etc. These are notions many of us have as youngsters, but they fall short of who God is and what we need as we become adults. In the second part the author starts with the possibility of an ‘other’ and step by step builds on it to come to a fuller and
greater knowing of God as a Person, to accept His own planned, focusing of Himself in the human being, of Jesus Christ. This is a book best read slowly to ponder along the way. It is eye opening and one that calls us as the reader to examine our views of God.
Having a Mary Spirit—Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out by Joanna Weaver is our second non-fiction offering. If you have ever prayed “Lord, Whatever it takes, make me like You” of if you want to, this book is for you! Weaver tackles a lot of the stumbling blocks/sins that we let get in God’s way. I have to tell you that I copied pages and many quotes from this book to ponder and keep close at hand. One of my favorites is: “How I know I have forgiven someone is that he or she has harmless passage in my mind.”
Nana’s Gift by Janette Oke is our fiction selection this month. This is a little story of the true value of a gift given is in the time, effort and love from the giver to show the true worth of the recipient in the giver’s eye’s and heart. The gifts we give seldom rise to this standard but maybe we can aspire to receive gifts in this light as well, as give our gifts with this hope.
Let us join in the possibilities with God and in God this New Year.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
LVMC LIBRARY READING 2024
DECEMBER 2024 Our book cart has been switched out to contain our library’s selections of Christmas books for you to enjoy during this season. There’re are both fiction and non-fiction available for you to choose from. We have three new selections below to add to our collection..
First up is Faithful—Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph by Adam Hamilton. “God’s plan for the redemption of the world depended on one man’s willingness to raise a child not his own!” Interesting perspective and the author speaks of Joseph’s part in the Holy family and God’s plan. The author uses the Jewish traditions of the time along with the 40 Scripture verses where Joseph is mentioned to flesh out and talk of the influence Joseph might have had on Jesus as He was growing up. He also speaks to the many in the world who have/are caring for children who are not biologically theirs…step, foster, adoptive, or mentors
Tidings of Comfort and Joy by T. Davis Bunn is a story about an ill granddaughter, Marissa, left to spend Christmas season with her grandmother, Emily, who is facing her first Christmas as a widow. The two are drawn together as Emily recounts the days after WWII, involving an orphanage, a small English village, and a young Vicar. As perspectives change healing takes places and relationships become closer.
Our last highlighted selection for the month is The Santa Kraus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay. This who-done-it takes place in rural England at the Melbury family estate during the 1930s. As the entire family gather for Christmas, Sir Osmond Melbury is discovered dead by a family member dressed as Santa Kraus on Christmas Day. All family members seem to have a reason to do away with him—so who in fact did it?
Hope you will find some time to relax with some inspirational, informative, enjoyable reading during this month.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
NOVEMBER 2024 Ah...the month of thanks giving is upon us! So many things to be thankful for! Being able to read and our own little library are just a few of mine. We have two fiction books and one non-fiction this month.
First up on the fiction side is a short offering,120 pages, from the UMW section under the Education for Mission from 2008.
Shadows of Ghadames. It is about a young girl reaching the marriageable age in her Libyan Muslim community at the end of the 19th century. We view her life for a brief few weeks in which we see the traditions, customs, relationships within her family. As a stranger arrives many questions arise. Joelle Stolz has a rich writing style that immerses the reader into that place, time and lives of her characters. Good read.
The Road Home by Tommy Tenny and Mark, Olsen is a modern day retelling of the ancient story of Ruth. It is entertaining and intriguing how authors weave this retelling even including cities with Biblical names—Moab, UT; Bethlehem and Ephratha, PA. The retelling is a lot longer than the book of Ruth in our Bible but brings home the universal themes of faith, commitment, redemption and longing for home and that this road can inevitably bring us back to God. Enjoyable.
Doing Life with Mandela My Prisoner, My Friend by Christo Brand is our final selection. It is the true account of a young ‘warder’ (CO/guard) Cristo who guarded Mandela for the last 13 years of his 27 years in prison. It tells of their budding friendship. How they bridged the gap between prisoner and guard and between black and white. This friendship forged in difficult circumstances continued until Mandela’s death. Instructional and inspirational read.
These new selections will be found on the cart.
Karen Wambaugh - Librarian
OCTOBER 2024 Isn’t it a blessing that we know how to read and have a library right here in our church and live in communities that have libraries? How the right book can enrich our lives and our walk with God! Here are a few selections you might enjoy.
Lives that Inspire by Beatrice Plumb brings 13 people from different walks of life sharing their story and how sometimes a little can have an immense impact when God is involved. They truly are inspirational and you won’t regret the time it takes to read this selection.
The Miracle and Power of Blessing by Maurice Barquist is our second offering. The author, of this little gem of a book, has been a pastor for 20 years and has another 14 books among many other of his endeavors. Our author speaks of aligning ourselves with God like being a copper wire parallel to an electric lines and how blessings which are powerful than flow from God to us, through us as we bless others. He looks at how the Bible looks at cursing and blessing and uses Psalm 103 as his outline for this book. It is interesting and intriguing. Wouldn’t it be nice if each of us focused on blessing others more?
Our final selection this month is The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. Really think that this is a book we all should read. Why? The subject is the offense trap and how when we let ourselves get offended and especially stay offended, it skew and colors all the rest of what/how we experience our relationships, our thinking, our reactions, etc. Bevere deals with some tough questions: Why am I compelled to tell “my side of the story?” “How can I fight thoughts of suspicion or distrust?” “What can I do to stop rehearsing past hurts?” I think we can all find ourselves as somewhere here, but we don’t have to stay here. This edition also has a devotional supplement.
May you find something that you feel worthwhile to read this month that educates, in-spires or entertains.
Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
SEPTEMBER 2024 Happy Fall! All of our books this month are non-fiction including a memoir and an autobiography. They will be added to our cart in the hall.
Seeing God: Meet God in the Unexpected by David Roper is first up. In this one volume we have 600 short selections from the author’s other books. The book is divided into 3 sections: Calling on the Lord, Pursuing Righteousness and Faith, and Pursuing Love and Peace. I found Pastor Roper’s words, insights and perspectives Biblical, knowledgeable and encouraging. Many of his writings are focused on and for men, but I found them applicable for women as well. Definitely recommend this one for all.
Missionary Mama by Ruth Seamands is our memoir offering. In this book our author through an accumulation of letters depicting everyday life and occurrences gives us rich detail of the missionary wife’s
life in India during and after WWII. It is colorful, humorous and inspiring. Good read.
Our final highlighted book is Bonnet Strings An Amish Woman’s Ties to Two World’s by Saloma Miller Furlong. This is autobiography tells the story of Saloma Miller as she journeys through the 3 years as she struggled with whether to leave her Amish life and family in Ohio and move to Vermont leaving all behind her. It depicts well the emotional challenges that this type of choice/decision brings and in doing so allows the reader into Saloma’s personal Amish experiences. Informative and good read.
Hope you will find a book to your liking this month from one of these or from the library or library cart.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
JULY/AUGUST 2024 Our selections for these next two months should offer you some delightful choices for your reading pleasure. We will start out with our fiction choices.
What would be more summertime fun than to read about a bus tour of Ireland? The Tour by Jean Grainger is the first in a series about tours that take place in Ireland, our author’s home country. We have nine Americans under the care of Conner O’Shea their experienced driver and guide. It shows how each have changed and grown during this week because of events, personalities and new and old relationships. Enjoyable characters and story. We have the large print edition.
The Great Divide by T. Davis Bunn an author we have highlighted in the past. This novel features Marcus Glenwood a North Carolina lawyer trying to recover from a personal tragedy and divorce and taking on a most difficult court case. A young American woman investigating unfair labor practices in Factory 101 in China is kidnapped. Is New Horizons clothing company involved in it and the cover up? How to get the young local woman released? How to prevail against such a corporate giant and with China? As always Bunn is a master story teller and presents another page turner here. What is amazing in his work is that religion, church and people of faith are included here and bring a more balanced and inspiring reality.
Our nonfiction offering this month is So Long Insecurity...You Have Been a Bad Friend to Us by noted Bible study teacher Beth Moore. She believes that chronic insecurity is a cultural epidemic but not one that is addressed very much. That it is the root of many of our actions/reactions. She helps us to identify what insecurity looks like at street level and then shows how we can use Scripture to stand on and pray. Such as….. ‘We are clothed with strength and dignity. God gave it to us. It is ours. You cannot have it.” Although this book addresses mostly females in our culture, she also includes how the topic effects males and our relationships. Last few chapters about how to move into security God wants us to have, indeed gives us, are especially helpful.
So, find yourself a good book or two during the days ahead and relax and enjoy.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
JUNE 2024 We have 3 informative and inspirational books to choose from this month.
Our first selection is actually a book on CD. For the Glory—Eric Liddell’s Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton. Liddell was the son of Scottish missionary parents to China. Eric took part in the 1924 Olympics held in Paris and won a gold medal in the 400 meters not even his signature event because he refused to run on Sunday. After the Olympics he set off to China to take up missionary duties joining his parents, and brother and his wife. This book tells of both times in his life including his days in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. Fascinating account.
Our second non-fiction offering this month is The Prison Angel—Mother Antonia’s Journey From Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail. At the age of 50 this woman left her comfortable life to serve the people inside La Mesa prison in Tijuana and actually took up residence inside in a cell to minister to all—prisoners and guards alike. A remarkable account of what one woman of God can accomplish with the support of the Body of Christ.
Our last offering this month is So Much Owed—An Irish WWII Story by Jean Grainger. It is a lovely story that takes place in Ireland between WWI and WWII. The tale revolves around the Buckley family of Dunderring and a French widow Solange. Interesting to learn that a number of Irish sided with Germany during this time because they saw England as a common enemy. Once you have read this author you will look forward to reading more of her work and we have had a number of her books donated to us. This and a number of the others are in large print.
May you enjoy one of our highlighted books or another selection this month from our library shelves or cart. Happy reading!
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
MAY 2024 ~ This month we have 3 new authors to add to our Library!
Our first highlighted book is by Walt Larimore, MD, Bryson City Season. It is a memoir of Walt as a Christian doctor in a small North Carolina mountain town in the 1980’s. Reminiscent of James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small series. The situation and the people Dr. Larimore and his family meet are enlightening and enjoyable to read about.
Our second offering is Mrs. Jefferies and The Alms of the Angel by Emily Brightwell. This is a Victorian mystery that is not so much about the murder as about Inspector Witherspoon and his household staff. The entire staff set out with the help of others to form a network finding bits and pieces until they all fit together. Mrs. Jefferies, his housekeeper, unbeknownst to him, by asking questions and putting forth certain suggestions helps him solve the crime. Enjoy this read.
Our final offering this month is an audio book on CDs. The Giver by Lois Lowry is the story of 12 year old Jonah and his receiving his life assignment for his community. Some choices are Caretaker of the Old, Assistant to Director of Recreation, etc. Can he do what his assignment calls for? What is expected of him? Will his assignment help his community or not? This selection can get one thinking.
As always, enjoy one of our highlighted selections this month or something from our library shelves or the Library cart.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
APRIL 2024 ~ This month's reading highlights!
This month we highlight a third book by T. Davis Bunn, introduce an author, George MacDonald, writer and pastor from the late 1800’s new to our little library with one of a number of selections that have been donated and finally our non-fiction selection Falling to Pieces in a Crisis Was Not an Option For Me by Ellen Harbin.
Let’s begin with Falling to Pieces…The author speaks to you if you fall to pieces in a crisis there wasn’t much to you in the first place. But do not be misled to think she means you can’t cry, be frustrated, worn out, discouraged or irritated. She was all of these at times while dealing with her cancer diagnosis. She took Ps 16:5 “LORD, You assigned me my portion and my cup, You have made my lot secure.” Cancer was His assignment for her. This crisis was her assignment. And He allowed it. He allowed it so that His Son, Jesus Christ, could be glorified. He allowed it so that others might be led to Christ through her crisis. She had cancer, it did not have her. She asks us the reader to ponder this thought, she still does. This perspective made all the difference on how she walked through her crisis.
The Ultimatum by T. Davis Bunn is a follow up book to The Warning that was highlighted last month. It picks up the story of Buddy Korda, 18 months after the economic meltdown and God has another divine message for Buddy to deliver to the country. Some new character join us as well as some from the first novel. Again an engaging read. Once you start you don’t want to put it down.
Our last highlighted selection this month is The Baronet’s Song by George MacDonald. This book was originally published in 1879 and republished in 1983 that one translated from its original Scottish dialect into modern English. MacDonald once said, “I do not write for children, but for the childlike, whether five, or fifty or seventy-five.” “ This offering is a simple yet profound story of Sir Gibbie—the myth, the poetry, the fantasy, the love of Scotland, and the wonder of childhood.” Both C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton were taken with MacDonald’s writing and I believe you will as well. A delightful offering. A second book is also included in this volume. Enjoy.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
MARCH 2024 ~ We have three more highlighted books this month two of which are new to our shelves:\\
The first up is Hope Runs—An American Tourist, a Kenyon Boy, a Journey of Redemption by Claire Diaze-Ortiz and Samuel Ikua Gachagua. This is the true story of two twenty-something’s who ‘happen’ to stay at a Kenyan guest house at Imani Orphanage for a night on their around the world in a year trip. This one encounter stretches to a month, then a return for a year of volunteering and setting up a non-profit running program for the children. One child stands out and takes their hearts in particular, Sammy. With their help Sammy comes to the U.S. to complete his high school years and become part of their families. The account is written in chapters with some written from Claire and some from Sammy. The Sammy ones are especially enlightening—to see all of this unfold through his eyes.
Our second non-fiction selection is The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. Many might remember the author of this book for writing The Prayer of Jabez. This selection is in two parts, the first being a modern day parable of a Nobody named Ordinary who lives in the Land of Familiar. Ordinary has a dream though which causes him to start a journey. Sound familiar? A bit of an abbreviated Pilgrim’s Progress follows in the next 50 pages. The second part of the book is the author acting as a dream coach to explain the joys and setbacks on this journey as it would apply in our own lives. Whimsical, interesting and helpful read.
Our final selection this month is The Warning by T. Davis Bunn. This novel is fast moving story of an ordinary man, bank manager Buddy Korda in a small town when he starts experiencing a reoccurring nightmare. As days go by, he starts to think it might be a warning from God of impending financial collapse for the country. What is he to do? For this quiet man to speak, to put himself out there for ridicule? Is this truly from God? What if it isn’t ? Are we open to the idea of prophets today? Would we recognize one if there were? Would we listen? Would we step out if we were in Buddy’s shoes? Bunn is an excellent storyteller. You will enjoy this book. We have other books by this author that will be added to our shelves in the next few months.
Check out one of these selections or one of our other many choices on the cart or in the Library.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
FEBRUARY 2024 ~ Three good reads!
It is hard to believe that the Lenten season is upon us already. Ash Wednesday is the 14th of this month! Our highlighted books this month are ones that offer us words and themes that focus on God in His word and in our lives. A good thing to do and especially during Lent.
Our first offering is Paul and the World’s Most Famous Letters by Rosemary Houghton. As part of the review of this book reads: “the author writes as though she were chatting with a friend, she describes the times and the problems Paul faced, the responses he made.” The author discussed each letter Paul wrote and gives some background that can add additional information that helps when reading Paul’s letters. It is concise, only a little over 100 pages, and something you might consider to read as a secondary resource to Paul’s letters.
Our second book is My Soul Thirsts for God Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread. There are 92 meditations on 92 Psalms or parts of Psalms. One page has the Scripture and the next the meditation on that Scripture. I know that there are only 47 days in Lent, if you count the Sundays, but one can easily double up now and then. This offering gets us into God’s Word and another chance to ponder it.
Our last book this month is The Touch—A Contemporary Story of a Life Changed by Patricia Hickman based on the painting by Ron DiCianni. This is a story of a young wounded and running woman getting to the point of desperation and willingness to reach out to touch Jesus for wholeness and healing. The painting and the story is taken from Luke 8:43-48. Her pastor father is also changed through a series of events to be able to represent God in a more complete light. Well worth the time to read.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
JANUARY 2024 ~ No library news this month.
