Max on Life

I recently had the opportunity to read Max on Life by Max Lucado. Different from his many other books, this book tackled many questions about God, prayer, faith, Heaven, and even day to day topics like parenting and relationships. Some of the content is quoted from his previous works, and some is new to this book. Divided into sections (Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, Hereafter), each page listed the question as well as Lucado’s response.

As a Christian of nearly 20 years, many of the questions were familiar ones to me. I’ve heard them asked in the church, in small group settings, and in casual conversations. However, some of these questions have no simple answer, and entire books have been written on the topic. If you are looking for in-depth answers to your tough questions, this is not the book for you. I certainly don’t feel that Lucado’s page-long attempt and scripture reference or two will suffice. On the other hand, if you want a great reference book that might provide a starting point (with scripture to back up his response in most cases), this will be a great resource. This book would also provide a great overview of what the Bible has to say about a range of topics for those that are new to Christianity or even exploring their faith.

If you’ve read Lucado before, you know that he’s a very readable writer. His book is full of clever stories and illustrations, not a bunch of religious jargon. I also appreciated the large amount of scripture used to support his responses. And, perhaps most helpful in this book is a topical index as well as a scripture index.

Overall, I’m not sure this was the book for me. I’d recommend it for a new believer or one seeking Christ if you want to read it cover to cover. For more mature Christians, it might be a great reference book to keep on the shelf.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Did You Know....?

Did you know that you can shop directly from my Facebook page? So easy. Click on the cards you like, add them to your cart, and pay with Paypal. Try it out here.

Did you know that ALL my Easter cards are on sale right now for only $1.50 each? What a deal! Plus, I have some adorable Easter tags that would be perfect to tie onto an Easter basket or little gift.

Did you know that I do custom orders? A personalized baby card- done! Notecards with your favorite colors- done! Thank you notes for your business- done! Tags for products you sell- done! A wedding card with the couple's monogram- done! What can I make for YOU?

Did you know that I offer special sales to Facebook fans? Be sure to "like" me on Facebook as well so you don't miss anything!

Did you know that I'm always open to suggestions? Is there something you'd love to see me carry? Have an idea for me to try? Feel free to email me at cardsbyjessica@gmail.com with your suggestions.

Did you know I'm thankful for all those that have supported me and shared my products with their loved ones? :)

Easter!

Since the sun is shining and I can see the tips of my daffodils blooming, it's time to think spring! Here are a few Easter cards for you to get you in the mood...

I hope to have more to post after Friday. I have a few more embellishments that just need created into cards. :) I'm also thinking about some Easter tags that could be tied onto baskets or little gifts. We'll see what some time to create on Friday brings!

To order, visit my facebook page. (www.facebook.com/cardsbyjessica) You can order all of these directly from my page. Look for the little shopping cart on the left. (PS- You get a nice little discount if you're a fan!)

Book Review: Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren

Side note: Another hobby! Reading! :)

I hope to post some Easter cards for you soon!

While this was not a book I would have normally chosen off the shelf, it turned out to be a very interesting read. As the introductory book to a series on spiritual practices, Brian McLaren speaks to how “we must rediscover our faith as a way of life, not simply as a system of belief.” He looks at how even ancient spiritual practices have a place today in modern religions as we seek to regain our focus and strengthen our faith. I was expecting a sort of summary of the practices, which it was not. He focused mainly on the need for these practices as a whole in our daily lives and what it means to be growing in our faith (and “finding our way again”).

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I am neither a religious scholar nor a history buff, but his explanations of Christian history were (mostly) clear enough that I was able to follow and have a very basic understanding of where he was coming from.

The one issue that I had with the book was that while McLaren clearly stated that he was a Christian and was writing from a Christian perspective, the book was written for “unreligious people as well as adherents of all three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.” I did appreciate his explanations of the similarities among these faiths, but I also believe they are different enough to warrant not including them all in one book. For that reason, there were times that I felt he wasn’t as clear in making his statements as he would have been if it simply was directed toward a Christian audience.

I plan to keep this book on my bookshelf to refer back to at another time. I also hope to perhaps think through some of the spiritual exercises and study guide questions more thoroughly.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Babies!

One of the things I love to do is to make personalized cards for new babies. I actually just made a few this past week, but I gave them away before I remembered to take pictures. So, I had to dig into the photo archives to find a few examples:

Another one of my favorite "new mom" gifts is a set of thank you notes she can use for baby gifts or meals. Here are a few recent examples: Want some of your own to give? Custom baby cards (with name) are only $2 each! And, I can do simple baby thank you cards for just $1 each! Email me at cardsbyjessica@gmail.com with your request.

Be Mine!

A quick peek at some of my Valentine's Day cards. Some have already been snatched up, but if you want to see what I have in stock, click here.

Fun things!

A few weeks before Christmas, I saw an ad somewhere for this. I love the look of stitching on cards, but I don't have a sewing maching, nor did I really want to make that big of an investment for a few cards. So, on to my Christmas wish list went the Sew Easy. And, down to Archiver's went my hubby to get one. (He follows directions well!) The problem: they were out of stock. I had to wait an entire month after Christmas to get one! But, I am now the proud owner of a Sew Easy. And, I'm having fun playing with it. It does take some practice, but I'm getting better. And, here's my first card made with it- And, I saw these fun flowers yesterday and had to try them out as well. My hubby says "How does that fit in an envelope?" I was definitely thinking about cute over practical. It doesn't fit in an envelope, but who cares! It's still very cute. :) Both of these cards (and lots more!) are available here.