A Glimpse Into the Inner Workings of My God by Michael L. Watson

Book Description:  Like no other book in history A Glimpse Into the Inner Workings of My God is humanity's first reality-based step in understanding the mind of God! 

On September 9, 2010, during an on air segment of Good Morning America, Nick Watts interviewed Steven Hawking. Steven Hawking unveiled his new book, co-authored by Leonard Mlodinow, called The Grand Design. In the much-taunted book, Hawking makes the bold statement, "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going" and "the laws of physics can explain the universe without the need for a creator." This departure from Steven Hawking's original open-ended query of God's existence is in parity with my introducing to the world the antithesis to his book A Glimpse Into the Inner Workings of My God.

God, Allah, Yahweh, or whatever reverent name is used to represent the Omnipotent in other cultures and other lands is the wondrous God of all that is seen and unseen in the universe. Each day's new discoveries collide with humanity's struggle to find its moral conscience. Natural disasters with tragic consequences are adding insult to injury as powerful drug resistant diseases serve as constant reminders of just how fragile creatures God intended us to be. With so much cruelty, hatefulness, insanely driven violence, and greed in the world, today's true believers in God are discovering that organized religions are ill-equipped to serve humanity's insatiable need to better understand the "whys" of God's nature. Believers and non-believers in God want to know why endless struggles create more pain and suffering than transitory joy? Did God create evolution or did evolution create God? Are there reasons other than blind faith to believe in an afterlife?

A Glimpse Into the Inner Workings of My God is guaranteed to incite your thinking, introspection, discussions, and debate. Incorporated throughout the book, I expose my human frailties, that when used with reason, intuitive knowledge, and humility, will point the way for better understanding God's purpose for you in this life. By the end of the book, your new personal relationship with God will yield the inner peace that only comes from knowing that God is truly real!

My Review: This read begins with "What organized religions don't know about your God?"  This brings an interesting and somewhat enlightening view to religion.

The author discusses creationism as the way God intended the world to be, "The big bang was created by a God who predetermined the amount of violent and explosive energy and matter required to create life forms who could perpetuate with parity the awesome, violent energy and matter required to expand the universe."  I believe in creationism.  God did speak the world into existence and He didn't need anyone's help.

The author presents his view in a way that makes the reader think about what he believes.  This is an in depth and scientific read.  

My one complaint about this read are the words the author uses.  Great words, just not words the everyday person/reader may be use to using.  I consider myself fairly educated and I needed to look up quite a few words to make sure I was getting the "gist of the whole sentence."  But don't let this keep you from reading this book.  Especially if you want answers about your beliefs in God.

I found this to be a technical read about the beliefs of God.  There are many truths in this book but sometimes I wonder why we, as people, can't just read God's Book, The Bible, and forget religion and serve a true, living and loving God.

If you have questions about religion and you want to examine your religion and what you believe then you may enjoy this book.

*This book was provided for review by Reader's Favorites*

EIN STEIN The Chipmunk Who Became an Engineer by Uncle Andy

Book Description:  Ein Stein, a most inquisitive chipmunk, is also a very frustrated chipmunk. He loves peanuts and there just happens to be a peanut farm just across the river from his home! Nuts! How can he get to it? The little chipmunk tries several different ways to cross the river. Ein uses a boat and a lily pad, but all of his attempts end in failure. Discouraged, he is about to give up, when his father tells him the story of Robert The Bruce, a Scottish king who watched a spider try and fail six times before it could weave its web. Encouraged by the story, Ein tries again. He engineers an overhead wire, similar to the one he uses to cross his busy street, as a bridge. But how can he get the wire bridge across the river? Ein is stumped. But just like Robert The Bruce, Ein decides to never give up. He too watches a spider spin its web, and is inspired by nature’s finest engineer. It is then that The Chipmunk Who Became an Engineer produces a step-by-step plan to cross the river. Will Project Peanuts succeed?

My Review:  One day, Ein Stein tells his parents why stones sink. They come with the name Ein Stein for this intelligent chipmunk.  Ein Stein's parents tell him that he is now named for the famous scientist.   Ein Stein is a cute play on words for a chipmunk's name.  Ein is determined to find a way across the busy road to the peanut farm. 

First, he decides that the road is too busy so he thinks of the gently flowing river that runs along the property.  He then draws plans for a grand boat that will carry him to the peanut farm.  But the current is too fast for the small boat and he must head home before he loses his life and his boat.  The next day he tries paddling closer to the stream's edge but again no go.  Then his father tells him a story about a knight who was hiding in a small hut and watched a spider build its nest over and over until it was just right.

So, Ein doesn't give up. The next day he decides to build a bridge.  He draws a plan but after trying to build the sticks break.  He goes home.

But the next day he tries again.  Ein doesn't give up on his dream.  And his father doesn't give ip on his son but continues to help Ein and encourage him in his endeavors.

A great 4 star book for children who love to think and build and a fantastic lesson in never giving up.  Keep trying and don't let go of your dreams!

*This book was provided for review by for Reader's Favorites.com*

Becoming Your Husband's Best Friend by Lisa & David Frisbie

Book Description: Would you like to help your husband become more attentive, loving, and helpful around the house? Do you long for a new level of partnership and fun in your marriage? You can make a tremendous difference in your relationship all by yourself by inviting God to begin the change in you. Discover how wives like you have transformed their homes by…

• recognizing the role unspoken expectations play in every marriage
• releasing their unresolved emotions to allow for greater intimacy
• choosing the right words and actions to encourage their husbands

Whether your husband is a prince or a pain in the neck, the best way to empower him to grow is to experience God’s life-giving touch in your own heart. These inspiring stories and biblical insights demonstrate how that happens and how you can become a better friend than your husband ever imagined.

Questions for reflection and ideas for journaling make this a perfect tool for a woman’s personal healing as well as group study.

My Review:  I like the way the introduction to this book begins...pretend we are close friends and we are meeting for coffee.  We sit at an outdoor cafe and visit all the while with a closeness that comes with knowing a friend's heart.

Then in chapter 1 we go on to find out who are we "fixing?"  Me or him?  Interesting!  As wives we sometimes feel that we know best (well, we are cooking, cleaning, working, answering all the questions, keeping the home front run like a well oiled machine).  We tend to forgot that the wonderful man we chose as our life mate is also working, answering questions and trying to keep us happy <smile>

This book produces those questions:  Why does a woman react the way she does, should she always say everything she feels concerning her husbands habits and insecurities?  Of course, he was once a single man who could make decisions without you...are we allowing too much dependence?

The second part of this book focuses on seeing how other couples worked through their marriage problems.  This part of the book made me laugh (because I've been there!) and cry (because I've been there!). 

What are you feeding in your marriage? Are you making a conscientious effort to feed your love, and commitment to your spouse, or are you feeding your doubts, dissatisfaction and self-absorption? If you don’t make a point of feeding your love and commitment, then it’s easy for doubts and dissatisfaction to slide into your way of perceiving your spouse without even realizing it.
 The authors/counselors, Lisa & David then offer comforting words to all of us wives.  Encouraging us to be women of God who have loved and need to uplift our husbands.  This encouraging read is a must have for women of all walks of life.  A thought provoking and riveting read that will help us all in our martial relationship.  A great gift for that soon to be married woman or that woman who struggles with the "why" of married life!

A wonderful book for all women!

*This book was provided for review by Reader's Favorites*

About the Authors:

"America's Remarriage Experts"
Family counselors Dr. David and Lisa Frisbie are the authors of fourteen published books with four publishers, mostly on topics of marriage and family life. David and Lisa jointly serve as executive directors of The Center for Marriage and Family Studies in Del Mar, California. They are nationally and globally recognized experts on marriage studies, with particular emphasis on the post-divorce family type, including blended families and stepfamilies.
Dr. David Frisbie teaches family studies and gerontology at Southern Nazarene University. He has lectured on numerous topics, including premarital counseling and pre-remarriage counseling, at colleges and seminaries literally around the globe. Together, David and Lisa jointly serve as Coordinators of Marriage and Family Life for the Nazarene denomination, based in Kansas City. Further information is available at The Center for Marriage & Family Studies. (http://www.MarriageStudies.com)
David and Lisa are frequent contributors to magazines and journals; their articles can be found in "Thriving Family" magazine (Focus on the Family), "Grace & Peace" magazine (Nazarene) and their features and articles are often included in both "ParentLife" and "BabyLife" magazines (Lifeway, Southern Baptist Convention). They have written for "Rev!" and "Outreach" magazines for persons in ministry, and for "Holiness Today" magazine. Their blog posts occur across a broad spectrum of internet media. They have been interviewed and quoted in "USA Today" and "The New York Times" among many other print media; and have been interviewed and featured on ABC-TV and on CBS radio, among other broadcast venues.
Dr. and Mrs. Frisbie travel constantly to teach, train, speak and counsel, with a particular focus on education and resources for the post-divorce family type, including divorced adults, single parents, remarried couples, blended families and stepfamilies.
To date the Frisbies have traveled to all 50 United States, 9 provinces and 2 territories of Canada, and more than 40 world nations. Recently the Frisbies have traveled to central and eastern Europe to train family counselors and marriage therapists in emerging nations.
Best-selling titles by the Frisbies include "Moving Forward After Divorce" and "Raising Great Kids On Your Own: A Guide and Companion for Every Single Parent." Both of these books won awards from publishing organizations; both of these books are in multiple printings. In addition, David and Lisa's book "Happily Remarried" has gone to a fourth printing after receiving numerous endorsements from dozens of family counselors, marriage therapists, and ministry leaders.
The Frisbies developed teaching and training resources related to the movie "FireProof" and their resources are featured on the website of the movie and related materials. In particular Dr. and Mrs. Frisbie wrote their recent book "The Soul-Mate Marriage" while working on the "FireProof" materials. "The Soul-Mate Marriage" sold out its first printing in less than 60 days on the market and has already been endorsed by more than 30 family counselors, marriage therapists, and experts in the field.
Among their upcoming releases is a two-book series for premarital counseling, one book for couples and the companion book for counselors and ministers. Both books are headlined "Right from the Start" and are released from Beacon Hill Press. Their most recent release is "Becoming Your Husband's Best Friend" from Harvest House Publishers of Eugene, Oregon.
Further information is available via LinkedIn at this location:
http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/davidandlisafrisbie

Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series & Giveaway~Day 2~

Welcome to Pearl Girls™Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. 

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visitwww.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

3 DIY Mother’s Day Gifts that Celebrate Family By Beth Engelman 

This Mother’s Day, celebrate family with this crafty games the whole family can enjoy.  

Block Photo Puzzle 

Not only does this 6-sided photo puzzle provide hours of family fun, but it’s also a great way to reuse favorite family photos.

Materials:

•    9 - Wooden Blocks (Use old alphabet blocks)

•    6 - 8 x 10 Photograph Prints or Colored Copies

•    Ruler

•    Scissors 

•    Mod Podge and Paintbrush

Directions: 

1.  Arrange blocks in a square and measure the length and width of the square.

2. Measure and cut print to the exact same size as the 9-block square. 

3. Place blocks in a square on top of print. Position blocks so they’re lined up neatly and as close together as possible.

4. Trace and cut the outline of each block.

5. Glue print pieces to blocks using Mod Podge. Set aside to dry and then seal with 1-2 top layers of Mod Podge.

6. Repeat process until all 6 sides of the blocks are covered with different photographs.

Thank you to the creative folks at www.photojojo.com for sharing this idea! 

 “Go Fish with the Family” Card Game

This gift is perfect for Moms who like card games. Another bonus?  There’s always room to “grow” the deck.

Materials:

•    Camera

•    Double stick tape, or a glue stick

•    Several pieces of cardstock (one color)

•    Scissors

Directions:

1.    Take pictures of each family member and develop the pictures in duplicates (3x5 or 4x6 is fine, just make sure all the pictures are the same size).

2.    Turn the pictures into playing cards by gluing or taping a piece of card-stock to the backside of each picture. 

3.    Game ideas include “Go Fishing with the Family” which is similar to “Go Fish” but, instead of matching numbers, the object is to collect matching pairs of photos. “Memory” is another fun game to play.  Place the cards face down in a grid and try to find matching pairs of photos. 

Family Bingo 

In my house, Bingo is always a big hit because regardless of age or skill level, everyone has the same chance to win.  However this version is extra special because the playing boards are populated with pictures of family members.

Materials: 

•    Color Coordinated Game Boards (download here) 

•    Images of Family Members (use photographs, drawings or clip art)

•    Bingo Markers (pennies, pebbles or buttons)

•    Glue and Scissors

Directions:

1.    Create the game boards:  Download and print desired number of game-boards. Remember each player gets a different game board. 

2.    Color-copy and paste images of family members onto each game board.  Remember to paste one person per square and make each board slightly different. 

3.    Make “call-out cards” by writing the name of each family member in yellow, green, blue, purple and pink (which coordinates with the colors on the board)

4.    To Play: Game play is similar to traditional Bingo except the caller will randomly select a call-out card and then read the color and person.  For example, “Blue, Grandma Mary” means there is a picture of Grandma Mary in a blue square.  Just like Bingo, the first person to get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) wins!

Beth Engelman is a columnist for the Sun Times News Group’s Pioneer Press. Her column “Mommy on a Shoestring,” appears in over 30 local papers around Chicago area as well as on the Sun-times website where you can also view her Mommy on a Shoestring video series. She is also a regular on “You and Me this Morning” on WCIU and is frequent contributor for WGN America’s Midday News at Noon.  Recently, Beth was chosen by a celebrity panel from NBC Universal and iVillage to become one of 15 national  “mom” correspondents for NBC’s popular website,www.ivillage.com (over 3 million visitors a day) where she reports on issues that affect moms, families and communities such as bullying, divorce and weight loss.  For more information visit Beth at www.mommyonashoestring.com

Dakota: A Work In Progress by Bill Rosencrans

I read this book to my ten year old son and we both wanted a dog like Dakota!  This a one of those inspirational, sweet books about animals who can truly grip at your heart strings!

Here today is Bill Rosencrans on his book DAKOTA:  A Work In Progress:

What inspired you to write this book?

This is a book that wasn't meant to be a book initially. At four months of age, I could see that Dakota was not your average dog. He was far from it. He was peculiar, but funny. So, I began jotting down all of the crazy things that he was doing that were too good to forget. I knew, that in time those memories would fade, and I didn't want that to happen. What I was writing were notes to myself, that later became short stories or essays 1-4 pages in length. My wife, Rita, was laughing out-loud when she read them, and said to me "This should be a book."  

How did you come up with the title?

Dakota is a work in progress, still, five years later.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 

Yes, to love your dog, and enjoy him as much as I enjoy Dakota. We're inseparable. There's not a day that goes by that he doesn't leave me laughing. It can be something as simple as the look on his face.

How much of this book is realistic?

All of it. These are all true stories.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

These stories are based on events in my own life - and Dakota's of course. It's a glimpse into the every day life I share with with. Readers have said that it's the way in which these stories told that makes this book so much fun to read.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 

No. Not a thing. I couldn't believe the response I got with Dakota's book. I always have people asking me "When is Dakota's next book coming out?" His audience continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Do you recall how your interst in writing originated? 

It is just something that I love to do, and have always done it in one form or another. It began with poetry, then I moved on to writing screenplays and was able to acquire a WGA agent in Hollywood, California. Then Dakota came into my life. He gives me plenty to write about.

Is there anything you found particularly challenging in writing this book?  

No. Writing this book was a joy. It came easy to me.

Who designed the cover?

The cover is a photo of Dakota in his raincoat. There's a story in the book about that whole process. Amy, the editor-in-chief at Diversion Press Inc. thought his photo set the tone of the book, and she was right. 

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? 

I discovered that Dakota is loved by everyone who read this book about him, and that they want to learn more about him. I am currently in the process of rewriting Dakota: Still a Work in Progress.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?.

Yes. Read Dakota: A Work in Progress published by Diversion Press Inc.. You'll be glad you did. I guarantee it.  

Bill Rosencrans

*This book was provided by for review by Diversion Press*

Buy this book HERE!

Mother of Pearl,Day 1: Pearl Pins by Margaret McSweeney

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of PearlMother's Day blog series. The series is week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Megan Alexander, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Beth Engelman, Holley Gerth, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/1-5/8 and the winner will on 5/11. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. 

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy ofPearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there! Happy Mother's Day!

PEARL PINS by Margaret McSweeney

At age 49, I am a mom without a mom. This deep longing for my mother continues to surprise me. During milestone moments, I imagine phone conversations with her. 

“Can you believe that Melissa is graduating from high school in June? I’m so glad you will be flying to Chicago to be here with us.”  

“Wasn’t that a fun family dinner we all had last weekend to celebrate Katie’s ‘sweet sixteen?’ I am so glad you could join us.”

“Isn’t this exciting? I just got a new book contract. Will you please edit my manuscript before I send it in?”

Sadly, this will be my eighth Mother’s Day to spend without my mother. She has missed some poignant milestones in my life and in the lives of my daughters. Both Melissa and Katie were very young when she died so they don’t have a full reservoir of memories about Grandmommy Rhea. However, they do have the legacy of faith that she helped instill in them as toddlers. She loved to send Veggie Tales tapes, Children’s Bibles and devotional books.  

Melissa and Katie were blessed to have Nana, (Dave’s mother) around for much longer. Nana passed away two years ago. A few years before Nana died, she gave me a beautiful necklace with a diamond pendant made from her wedding ring along with a pair of diamond earrings. She asked me to give these special gifts to Melissa and Katie for their sixteenth birthdays. Even though Nana wasn’t around to celebrate, my daughters were so happy to receive such special keepsakes from her. Hugs from heaven.

Last week on Katie’s 16th birthday, I discovered an unexpected blessing that had been tucked away in a cardboard container of my mother’s things. A jewelry box with three pearl pins! I gave one to Melissa as a belated 16th birthday gift, and I presented one to Katie for her 16th birthday. This Mother’s Day, I will wear my mother’s pearl pin as a tangible reminder that a mother’s love (and a grandmother’s love) is an everlasting gift from God.   

Finding these gifts made me think about what I might leave for my own daughters someday. It isn’t the external value of the gift that matters, but rather the love that it represents.

Is there a special gift or letter that you would like to leave your children?

Margaret McSweeney lives with her husband, David and two teenage daughters in the Chicago suburbs.  After earning a master’s degree in international business from the University of South Carolina, Margaret moved to New York City to work at a large bank where she met David.  Margaret is the editor of Pearl Girls, author of A Mother’s Heart Knows and co-author of Go Back and Be Happy. Charity and community involvement are very important to Margaret. She has served on the board of directors for WINGS (Women in Need Growing Stronger) for over eight years. For more information, find Margaret at www.pearlgirls.info andwww.kitchenchat.info.  

COTT: Clash Of The Titles

Title: COTT: Exciting News, Poll Results, plus...Fish in a Barrel?

*****

When it comes to books, how easy are you to reel in? Do you swim against the current, requiring a strong line to tug you along? Or do you flow right in to a story's net? I admit I can be a stubborn swimmer. I've become a more critical connoisseur of fiction. Occasionally I'll abandon ship, but I'll usually still swallow a tepid plot even while making a face. It just takes more to make my knees go weak from the complex flavors of a novel. Writing chops get me baited. Strong plotline pulls me in. It's a magical moment when everything comes together perfectly and I'm happy to leap into the boat without resistance.
A couple weeks ago COTT put up a survey asking how long you give a book to reel you in. We received 54 responses! So today we're going to share those results and many of the comments that came in:

     11.1% of responders said one page

     35.2% said one chapter
     46.3% said until they lose interest
     7.4% said they finish every book they start, regardless of interest. (God bless 'em)

What do you think? Here are some of the comments we received: 

• I know some stress the first paragraph and even the first line, but I don't want my reading to become fast food. Don't bore me with bad writing, but give me something to savor, something to enjoy for a while. Hopefully, my own writing will do the same.
• I always try to give the author a chance, as some great books have slow beginnings.
• I am the eternal optimist! I keep thinking, "I know its gonna get better. I just know it." So I trudge along, supporting the author the best I can until finally...I can't go any further. I have noticed that I have a much more critical eye than I used to, though. So maybe my patience isn't quite as long as it used to be. I just hate to give up on ANYBODY!
• I love it when I'm hooked in the first few pages. Definitely must be in first chapter. I no longer feel obligated to finish a book I can't get into. Twice this year I've chosen not to finish books that failed to hook me.

Thank you to those who participated in the survey--we love giving readers a voice! Throughout the week we will be interviewing our competing authors and collecting your names for our book giveaway so be sure and join us.
And now an exciting announcement:

We all knew it was coming...We at Clash of the Titles have had such fun getting to know new authors we decided to dive deeper into their novels. Join us in June when we launch a Clash of the Titles Book Club! Our first selection will be COTT Conqueror Karen Witemeyer's A Tailor-Made Bride, available for free Kindle download in the month of May. Which means...no reason why absolutely everyone can't join, right?  (To download the free Kindle for PC, click here)

Keep up to date on Book Club News right here

Make it a great week, everybody!

bio: Michelle Massaro is a homeschooling mom and aspiring novelist, as well as Assistant Editor for the literary website Clash of the Titles . Connect with her on twitter @MLMassaro, facebook, and her blog Adventures in Writing