How to Grow: Applying the Gospel to All of Your Life by Darryl Dash

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
You get a bit of here and there in Christian living books. You apply a bit of this and that, but it's not very satisfying. Dash takes us through the application of the life and principles of Jesus for all areas of life.

That makes it a book worth reading. It's simple (almost simplistic sometimes), so you can read it without having to wade a thicket of theological language. It's an encouraging manual for discipleship groups

or for those trying to figure out this life of faith without friends to bounce ideas around with. Hey, if that's you, go find some friends! This life with Jesus is meant to be lived in community, right?

Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Finally, a decluttering book that makes sense. White combines various ideas about decluttering with an honest look at what did and didn't work for her.

This book of practical how-tos, offered after looking at what makes our spaces so crazy and "full-to-the-max," will help you find ways to clear out the excess.

I highly recommend it - esp if you've gotten snarled in Japanese emptiness, business organization, or other methods that don't make sense in a Western household. Go buy it. And then rehome it when your house is in order.

Living the Life That You Are By Nic Higham

★★★☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
In various seasons of life, we may wish that parts of our lives (or even the whole thing) were different. Most of us have compared ourselves to others, felt alone, or have been confused about who we are, negotiating life.

So we suffer. We try to make life better. That's common to all of us. But how do we respond to difficulties?

If you believe each person has been created as a unique creation, you are confident that we have been set into the world for a reason. God centers us in his wholehearted love and asks us to love and serve others (Jesus: Mark 12:30-31). Therefore, life has great meaning. Christ-followers seek to understand our special personhood and our personal contribution to the world.

This book comes from a different direction. A Western Buddhist, Higham attempts to explain humanity as a vast cosmic flow moving through meaningless cycles of reincarnation. He explores human suffering and aloneness, where a cultivated mindfulness can endure suffering without strivings or passions.

In Zen Buddhism, life at its best means cultivating emptiness, where our efforts bring escape. Attaining nirvana means life's candle winks out into cosmic nothingness. But there's no great attraction for me in viewing humanity as our ultimate limitation (in contrast to viewing humans as God's ultimate and beloved creatures.)

The life and teaching of Jesus offer a radically different path. Jesus said he came to bring "life in abundance" (John 10:10). For his followers, life on earth and into eternity is a gift of utter fullness to be enjoyed by savoring the love of God and others. I'm passionate and thrilled to be alive! not trying to dampen this wonderful and sometimes-terrible life into nothingness.


I believe all truth is God's truth, so in Higham, you will find insights into how a self-centered and emptied life can seem desirable for some people. The book offers a closer look at some aspects that may be present or absent in our lives. Personally, ongoing cycles of reincarnation and escapism in order to attain nothingness make ZERO sense to me. I find nothing attractive in trying to escape from another life cycle, attempting to set aside passions and striving, and ideally gaining less and less meaning with each return. WHHHHAAAT? That's no fun and not meaningful (which is, I guess, the point.)

This book may help you may understand the pull of Westernized Buddhism for those trapped by materialism and over-the-top consumerism. I found this glimpse into a very different vantage point very interesting indeed.

Home Life around the World by Anita Martinez Beijer

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

Do you ever wonder what other peoples' houses look like inside? Have you ever wanted a peek to see the personality and surroundings that make a house a home?

Here's your chance - come along to become part of the journey to see how people personalize their spaces. These photos include people in their spaces, which helps make the rooms come alive. you'll enjoy the visits.

Portfolio: Beginning Color Mixing by Kimberly Adams

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
If you've wondered why your paint colors are not intense or muddy, this book provides a manual for choosing a basic palate to mix colors. It includes instructions for choosing tools, values, and various color schemes.

The styles demonstrated are varied and interesting. This would be a good primer for those beginning to paint or working with intermediate skills. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

Heavy Duty Sewing: Making Backpacks and Other Stuff by Anton Sandqvist

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Have you ever tried to sew canvas, leather, or thick denim? It can be a challenge - but this book explains the process with clear instructions and photos, and offers tips to make it easier.

Sandqvist includes patterns for the projects shown on the cover. This is a thoroughly enjoyable way to start designing useful containers or garments with your own heavy-duty work fabrics.

The Art of Map Illustration by James Gulliver Hancock, Hennie Haworth, Stuart Hill, Sarah King

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review
I loved this book. I wanted to grab a pen and map my childhood neighborhood right away. This is a manual for all kinds of maps. It provides directions for both manual and digital map-making in the most delightful ways. From start to finish, it was full of interesting illustrations, ideas on what to map, instructions on making significant marks, and how to choose landmarks.

Loved it. I think I already said that. Sold. Go get a copy!