Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible

"The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible" is edited by Phil and Al Robertson of the hit TV show, "Duck Dynasty". The Bible itself is a traditional NKJV translation, so it is easy to read and written in, what I consider to be, the most plain English version of the Bible. What sets this Bible apart from other NKJV Bibles on the market is the articles that Phil and Al included.

One of the unique features of this Bible is the periodic appearance of a "Set Your Sights" article in this Bible. These appear frequently, and focus on faith, family, fellowship, forgiveness, and freedom. These articles offer Phil and Al's experience, views, and insight, in conjunction with Biblical reference and principles. Each article is signed by either Al or Phil so that you can know which Robertson wrote which articles. These articles also include a section at the end called, "On the Hunt", which gives the verses from the Scripture that are relevant and support the specific article.

Another feature of this Bible that is unique from other NKJV Bibles is a topical index that is based on the five principles that appear in the "Set Your Sights" articles. The index is organized in relation to core values, so for example, children and parenting are sorted under the "faith" topic.

Overall I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone. I thought that the frequent articles that Phil and Al Robertson added to it were helpful and insightful. I am a fan of the "Duck Dynasty" show, and loved that Phil and Al put this together. If you are a fan of the show, you will definitely love this NKJV Bible.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this Bible through the BookLook Blogging program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Having a Mary Heart in A Martha World

"Having a Mary Heart in A Martha World" by Joanna Weaver is a book that is dedicated to finding a close and intimate relationship with God, even through the crazy grind of daily life. I was intrigued by the title of this book, as only a few months ago our pastor preached a sermon on this same topic. I remembered the emphasis that our pastor put on the Lord's words to Martha, "You are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed". Simple, to the point, and a little poetic. I was excited and intrigued to learn more about having a Mary heart in a Martha world!

What I love about this book is that it goes verse by verse through the interaction between Mary, Martha, and Jesus in the book of Luke. Seven of these chapters go in order through the verses in Luke that deal with Mary, Martha, and Jesus. Five of the chapters give solid Biblical advice for developing an intimate relationship with Jesus, as Martha did. Each chapter focuses in on a short Bible verse, followed by an in depth look at the verse, explanation of the circumstances/events of the verse, and then a healthy dose of practical advice for how to apply that principle in our own lives. Each chapter also offers up a small gray box that has personal experiences/advice from Weaver that coincides with the chapter.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. As a busy mom of two little kids, sometimes I find that the chaos of daily life overwhelms to the point where I don't feel like I am walking side by side with God, but rather running ahead of him, chasing a screaming toddler. This book has helped me slow down, and allow for the time to build that relationship with God.

I would highly recommend this book for any busy mom or grandma. It's a wonderful reminder of how our relationship with our Creator was designed to be, and with a wonderful example of that relationship in Mary and Jesus.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BloggingforBooks.org in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.