Disguised as a Book

Charles E. John's book: No Small Change was recommended to me from a friend. I was excited as I sent for it through the Book Crash program. Imagine my excitement when that book arrived in the mail.

I read the introduction and then the first story. I was absolutely confused. As I scanned through the whole book, reading one story at a time, I was dually disappointed in the content.

I was surprised that the book's synopsis did not match the book's content. I'm overwhelmingly disappointed by the author.

It was more like reading a rant about his life and his stories and his thoughts. I don't have to be famous like him to write a book about the things that happen in my life either.

But I do not recommend this book to anyone else.

the description on the back of the book reads:
we often act as if God hides so well that signs of the divine presence are reserved for Hallelujah moments: burning bushes, transcendent music, sunsets, benign test results or rescue of one kind or another. this book contains tales of people, places and things that can either pass unnoticed or can become elemental moments to change the way we experience God. each of the stories illustrates a way in which the ordinary can open the door to an engagement with the divine. No Small Change is an invitation to pay attention to the grace that envelops us, God's persistent presence which longs to be embraced.

 ***I received this book from the publisher through BookCrash in exchange for an honest review***

The Power of the Hungry

While former Marine lieutenant Robin Duncan is no stranger to corruption or conspiracy, she has always been able to tell the good guys from the bad, and the Congo jungle at first seems no different. But as her security team tries to track down an insurgent killer, Robin has to face a man who broke her trust years ago, and she discovers the gray areas extend farther in this jungle wilderness than she anticipated.

A ruthless global conspiracy begins to surface, run by powerful men who can’t afford to leave any witnesses. Her life at stake, Robin doesn’t know who to trust and wonders how she can help protect innocent people. Why is God silent amid all the pain and injustice? And how do these people of faith continue to rejoice in their suffering?

Oftentimes, we ask God WHY. Why did this happen? How did the drunk driver walk away from that terrible accident?

Even though we don't know His plans for everything, we do know that God created things for good and even though the devil twists His good intentions around, God can still make things good out of bad for His glory.

Through a Child's Eyes

A hug, a compliment, a word of praise . . . such things may seem inconsequential, but to a child they can make a difference! Whether you want to reach out to kids across the globe or in your own backyard, Stafford shows how building self-worth, discovering latent talent, breaking emotional barriers, and more can transform little ones' lives.

How long does it take to make a difference in the life of a child?

For good or for ill, individual moments in a young person's life can make all the difference in their future. It may be something said or done by an adult who hardly thinks about it: a hug, a compliment, an intriguing question, a sincere applause. But in that moment, the child discovers who they are, what is important to them, why they matter, and sometimes even what their destiny will be. Most of us want to help encourage and build into this next generation, most of us see the need all around, but we just have no idea where to begin.

Now, with this book, you know where to begin and you know that it only takes Just a Minute. Follow along as Dr. Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International, shares stories and experiences to introduce you to the difference you can actually make anywhere on the spectrum of child development.

A Ray of Sunshine

If Molly Hatfield's purple attire doesn't blind you, her dazzling smile will.  She doesn't just sing to the cattle, she puts on a whole show. If only she wasn't so stubborn about her brother's care.  Or so distrustful of a certain handsome doctor...

There is nothing Molly wouldn't do for her teenaged brother, Donny. Blaming herself for the accident that left him wheel-chair bound, Molly has dedicated her life to his care. But in 1896, gainful employment for a woman is hard to come by. So when Molly learns that an eccentric rancher in Cactus Patch, Arizona, is looking for an heiress--someone to take over management of the ranch in exchange for future ownership--she jumps at the chance to provide a real home for her brother.

If she proves to have a knack for ranching and agrees to remain single for life, the ranch can be hers. Neither stipulation worries Molly. She's resourceful and hardworking. And she gave up dreams of marriage long ago when she dedicated her life to her brother's well-being.

However, Molly didn't bank on meeting Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, the town's handsome and charismatic young doctor, whose backfiring automobile almost gets him killed when Molly thinks she's being shot at and fires back.

But it's how he is with her brother that really alarms her. Caleb sees past the wheelchair and genuinely likes Donny, but Molly fears he's putting unrealistic ideas into her brother's head. Falling in love with Caleb would threaten everything she's worked for, even her brother's future happiness.   It'll take an act of congress to convince her otherwise--and maybe even a little help from above. 

God Says: Jump!

From the moment her motorcycle pulled up outside Kris Vallotton's small country church years ago, Tracy Evans has been impacting lives. Mentored by Kris, Bill Johnson, and Heidi Baker, Tracy has never been afraid of putting her life on the line repeatedly for Jesus--and God has used her repeatedly to do amazing things for him around the world.

This is her story, as recounted to her closest friends. From treating rebel guerillas while captive on an Asian island, to having tea in a Mozambican hut with bullets whistling by, to caring for 900 HIV-positive orphans, Tracy's story will entrance readers, inspire in them adventurous faith, and challenge them to be radically obedient.

"Every story in this book is true and unembellished," says Kris. "We hope and pray that Tracy will have the kind of impact on you that she has had on all of us. Put on your seatbelt and let the journey begin!"

As I finished reading the last few pages of the book, my heart and mind was on fire for God. I want to also do the same thing, but on a lesser scale. Instead of risking my life with bullets whizzing by, I wanted to make an impact in the education field around the world, helping those less fortunate.

I was awed by the way that she always said yes to God and jumped at the chance. When I compared her with me, I have found that oftentimes, I have said maybe, but dug in my heels. From now on, when God says jump, I will jump even if my life is on the line.

Discovering Your Purpose in Life

For those who want to know how they can help further God's kingdom with their God-given gifts, this book is for you. Drawn on her own hard-earned experiences, Susie Larson shows readers how to overcome insecurities, busyness, and other obstacles in order to focus their gifts and passions on their unique God-assignment. With biblical insights and inspiring stories from a variety of women, this action-oriented guide will speak to every woman who has felt a nudge from God--from the visionary who wants to end poverty to the empty-nest mom who feels called to help the young single mother next door.

This book was very helpful in giving me insight into how God calls people into His ministry and how I can help through the gifts that He gave me. I can now recognize what God's assignments look like and I can overcome obstacles better now. Instead of despairing over my mountains, I have learned to climb over them with God's strength.

Facts Over Faith

Piper McKenna couldn't be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-lived when Reef appears at her house covered in blood. A fellow snowboarder has been killed--but despite the evidence, Reef swears he's innocent. And Piper believes him.

Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. Piper is frustrated with his need for facts over faith, but he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth may mean risking Landon's career.

Oftentimes, we as human beings trust hard facts before trusting in God. Trusting in God is more dangerous because He sometimes asks us to jump off a cliff into the unknown. For most of us, if the edge of the cliff was foggy or uncertain, we would worry about the height of the cliff, worry about what we would fall into or wonder if we would die trying.

But when we finally jump over the cliff, we actually discover that the cliff is really a small hill and the other side was protected by grass and soft moss.

Just as Deputy Landon couldn't trust faith over facts, he discovered at the end that trusting in faith actually brings you closer to the truth. 
This book put me on the edge of the seat. This series should be praised. From the first page on, I did not want to put down this book because I wanted to know what would happen at the end.