Still Lolo: A Spinning Propeller, a Horrific Accident, and a Family's Journey of Hope by Lauren Scruggs and the Scruggs family with Marcus Brotherton

December 3, 2011 is a night that Lauren (Lolo) will never forget. Nor will her family. Lolo was living her dream of creating her own job through LoLo Magazine. The unthinkable happened. She was hit by a plane propeller and lost an eye, hand, and there were other serious injuries. 

I love that she shares her innermost feelings and how she dealt with the changes that came into her life. In other words, she was transparent. Her LoLo magazine website is going strong. You can read more about her magazine here:  http://lolomag.com

Still Lolo is a perfect title for the book. Lauren is the same beautiful person inside and out. All of a sudden, she was in the spotlight and it wasn’t something that she was comfortable with. But, throughout her entire journey, she leaned on God and his promises. She had a wonderful support system and the world loved her! Her parents, sister, brother-in-law, and many friends were there for the entire family!

Back - Jeff Scruggs & Shaun Morgan
Front - Lauren, Cheryl & Brittany Scruggs (Morgan)

This story is one of hope. There is always hope. She has adapted or will continue to adapt to her new life. Lolo is still strong! She's shown here doing her push-ups. What's our excuse?

I truly believe that God is using her to reach others who have lost hope.  I recommend this book to anyone that thinks all hope is gone. It’s not. Read her book and be inspired. 

No matter what happens, God has a plan for our lives as stated in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

Read the first chapter of Still Lolo here:

http://mediacenter.tyndale.com/downloads/press_kits/StillLoloCh1.pdf

I received this book free from the publisher (Tyndale Momentum). I was not required to write a positive review. 

Love, Sex, and Happily Ever After by Craig Groeschel

I have seen so many marriages fall apart. I believe much as to do with not being prepared to be married. It’s not always fun and games. The honeymoon will wear off.

Craig Groeschel makes an important point. You must find the One before you can find your Two. Jesus must be the center of your life. God first and then spouse second. This may not make you very popular but it will attract the right person into your life. Craig is able to keep your attention by sharing his personal stories along the way.

This is a must read before getting married. Subjects include: dating, sex, forgiveness, and communication. He debunks the myth that there will be no consequences if you have sex prior to marriage. Or, you can have sex without intimacy. Satan is the Father of Lies and may convince you that’s it’s ok to play house before marriage. Will you necessarily fail if you do? I do not believe so. But, there is an emotional aspect that will come into play.

I highly recommend this to anyone (no matter their age) who is currently dating and seeking a spouse one day. It’s easy to get caught up in emotions. I believe this book will help others to take a step back and realize that getting married is not a game. Do not believe that it’s no big deal if it doesn’t work out. It’s a huge deal.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher (Multnomah Books) . 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

Is the Bible Reliable? From the Creators of Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project – DVD

Did you like college? This is what this DVD series reminded me of sitting in class during a lecture. I think it’s good content and delves deep into the bible. Although the lecture series is geared toward the younger audience, I think it is more interesting for the older audience (over 30).

The series includes 10 session topics including the Footsteps of Abraham, The Exodus, Israelites, Israel’s Rise to Prominence, The Assyrian Invasion, The Babylonian Conquest of Judah, Historical Authenticity of the New Testament, Luke and Acts, and the Archaeology evidence, and finally the Trial of Jesus. Each lesson is 30 minutes long. It comes with two DVD’s and a booklet that you can fill in the blanks. Personally, I enjoy filling in the blanks because it helps me remember the core ideas of the lecture.

I would recommend the series as part of a church class. It would be great for those who like to explore the bible in a more in-depth view. It would also be a great addition to the ministry student or youth pastor. 

I was given a copy of these DVD’s through the publisher (Tyndale) and was not required to write a positive review.

Swipe by Evan Angler

For some reason, I thought this book was about the Mark of the Beast.  And I was intrigued because Logan is coming up on his 13^th birthday and it was going to be his turn. They do need the Mark for employment, shopping, and even transportation. But, the book seemed to go in a different direction than I anticipated.

There were people that were considered ‘unmarked’ and lived in a different place than the ones who were marked or had not yet reached 13. Logan’s sister was snatched on the day she was to be marked. Logan is constantly looking behind his shoulder because he fears that he will be snatched up next.

Erin is moved from her comfortable home in Beacon to Spokie. Her mom is left behind and Erin’s dad is involved in ‘government work.’ Erin finds some boxes and starts to make some discoveries and involves Logan.

I had a hard time being emotionally involved with the characters. After the first chapter, I found myself struggling to turn the pages. I don’t know if it’s because the storyline was much different than I thought it was or the genre? I think if the subject interests you, than it’s definitely worth a read. You may absolutely love it like others who have reviewed the book. Or, it may not be your cup of tea.

I received an e-book review copy from Thomas Nelson Publishers and was not required to write a positive review. 

Exciting news! Nick Vujicic is coming out with a new book called, "Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action" to be released 10-2-12!

Nick was born without arms or legs but has a fulfilled life. See more in this video:

http://youtu.be/ii4JNtDPSaA

To get a sneak peek, read the first chapter here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/98561664/Unstoppable-by-Nick-Vujicic-Chapter-1-Excerpt

inSignificant: Why You Matter in the Surprising Way God Is Changing the World by Chris Travis

Ever feel like your life doesn’t matter? If so, this book is for you. The author, Chris Travis is a former atheist. He is now a pastor of Everyday Christian Church in Manhattan. Prior to that, he felt lead to teach middle school. Not any middle school but the most dangerous one in New York. This middle school had the greatest number of student injuries per capita.

During his teaching, he spent many days keeping the students in line. He cleaned up graffiti, dealt with kids who were foul-mouthed and then tracked down the parents or whoever was their guardian to include them in the education process. In essence, it was a nightmare. He wanted to quit. And most did. But, he felt called to stay.

Ever look in the mirror? Sometimes we do not like what we see. We see the physical part of our being but not the inside. God sees the inside. God makes no mistakes. If he created you, he has a plan for your life as stated in Jeremiah 29:11. And you never know what kind of impact that you might have on someone else’s life. A simple call, text, or even a smile can make a huge impact on another person. Pastor Chris Travis gives a great example and this is what he said, “He uses the tiniest things and seemingly insignificant people to effect massive change in the world. For example, God used a hug from a little girl in Cambodia to start an organization that helps rescue dozens of women and girls from sex trafficking.” Wow, isn’t that amazing! A hug!

If you are feeling insignificant or know someone who does, pick up this book and read through the amazing experience that Pastor Chris Travis had through teaching middle school.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher (Bethany House) . 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.”

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

This is the first book in the Bailey Flanigan series. Bailey follows her dreams and auditions for Broadway. In the midst of waiting for the call, her heart yearns for Cody Coleman. But, Cody left her with no explanation. She keeps waiting for a call or text and it never comes. She becomes reconnected with Brandon Paul, her co-star of the movie Unlocked.

Bailey comes to terms of the loss of Cody and she begins to allow Brandon a part of her heart. She receives the call of the lifetime! She won the audition but something is holding her back. Brandon has assured her that they will figure out a way to make their long distance relationship work. But, it’s not Brandon. It’s Cody. She decides that it was time to find him and make sense of him leaving. When she finds him, it’s not what she expected. And New York is waiting for her.

The title is perfect because it is the story about leaving. It’s time for Bailey to move on to the next phase in her life. New York is waiting but she also has a special place in her heart for Cody but he’s disappeared. And Brandon is there for her.

In all of our lives, we are always leaving. We leave our jobs, move, have children, and the list goes on and on. I like to think of it as a new chapter in our lives. There seems to be definite chapter breaks. Chapter breaks can be good, painful or both. You can be thrilled that your son/daughter is entering college but it can also painful. It can be painful that he/she may be attending a college that may not be within driving distance. This book is a reminder to hold onto the moments. There will always be lasts. But, there will always be new beginnings. It’s how we embrace those beginnings that can make the difference in the world.

I received this book for free from the publisher (Zondervan). I was not required to write a positive review.