The Scribe's Portion

  "The Nature of Small Birds" by Susie Finkbeiner This is the second book I read from Ms. Finkbeiner. Let me just say off the bat, that I'm not a big fan of the Vietnam- hippie era in historical fiction. But the synopsis piqued my interest so I gave it a shot.  I knew a little about the Vietnam baby adoption operation prior to reading this. But Ms. Feinbiner makes the characters so realistic, I forget I was reading fiction and the characters become my friends. So the story brings history to life before my eyes.  I enjoyed reading the story of Mindy, a Vietnam woman adopted as a baby by an American couple. The story is told from 3 different points of view and 3 timelines; 2013, the 70s, and 80s. Mindy is on a quest to find her birth mother in Vietnam and this is her story.  It is a heart-warming story with a very realistic storyline and too real characters so what's not to love about this novel? I enjoyed every page and do recommend to historical fiction lovers who lo...

  "Lead Like Christ: Reflecting the Qualities and Character of Christ in Your Ministry" by A.W. Tozer Compiled & Edited by James L. Snyder In this new Tozer compilation by Snyder, the reader gets a great treatise on leadership. Using the book of Titus, Tozer outlines the characteristics and role of the Christian leader. I love how he addresses the reader whether he may be a minister or a layperson.  Tozer talks about the foundations of the leader as described in Titus, how to imitate the character of Christ as a leader, spiritual fruit, understanding and applying the Scriptures correctly, and the qualities of a good leader. There is so much to glean from this book about Christian leadership.  Whether you're a minister or a small group leader or even a blogger (like myself) this book is very helpful in understanding our development as leaders. Every Christian must be a leader, in that we lead others to Christ so even if you don't hold any church leadership this boo...

  "The Essential Andrew Murray Collection"  Three in One Volume  by Andrew Murray This is a collection of 3 of Andrew Murray's most popular books. Andrew Murray is probably one of my favorite classic Christian writers. I would liken him to Tozer in style, conviction, and topics that they cover. So if you like Tozer you'll definitely love Murray. Humility is Murray's most popular work. He discusses the importance of humility in the Christian life, Jesus' example as a humble servant, what to do when struggling with pride, and how to walk daily in humility. Though a short work, it is packed with godly wisdom, there's much to learn from.  Abiding in Christ is a 31-day devotional on the Christian life. You spend 1 month with Murray as he discusses in-depth what it means to live in and for God. This devotional will enrich your daily quiet time and give you much to meditate on throughout the day. Living a Prayerful Life is a treatise on prayer. I've gone thr...

  "Spurgeon on the Power of Scripture" (Spurgeon Speaks Vol. 2) Compiled by Jason K. Allen I absolutely love how Spurgeon speaks about the Bible! I had already read some tidbits about the Bible by Spurgeon so I knew I would enjoy this book. It is a compilation of 7 sermons on the Bible Spurgeon gave throughout his ministry.    Spurgeon talks about the infallibility of the Scriptures, our essential need for them, how the Lord speaks to us through His Word, the power of the Scripture, and so much more. When Spurgeon speaks about the Bible you get the sense that he was very familiar with it and absorbed and reabsorbed its living Word, he was a man who breathed Scripture. There is much to glean from Spurgeon's sermons on the Bible, it is great for mature and new Christians alike. No one else speaks about the Bible quite like Spurgeon.  If you want to learn more about the Scriptures, make Spurgeon your go-to; if you want to refamiliarize yourself with the Scriptures, make...