What I am Reading This Week

So, I was reading Sharon's Blog, "Faith, Hope and Cherry Tea" (don't you love that name?) and came across the above button.  And, being a hopaholic, of course I have to join in.  So here's what I'm reading this week:

(Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review.)

As I'm still in the middle of reading, I can't give you my review quite yet, but probably sometime later in the week.  Here's the info from Cross-Focused Reviews:

A young boy in the confessional lies about his sin, knowing that he is choosing hell over shame and embarrassment. A young man in spiritual distress decides to become a priest so he can be sure he will go to heaven. A white leather Bible sits in a box on a shelf for years, off limits to the little girl who asks to see it, because it might get dirty. “Just do what I say,” a priest tells another boy who is full of questions about God, “and everything will be okay”.

In every one of these situations God transformed people by his word in the Bible, replaced lies with truth, and brought peace through the salvation that is only found in Jesus Christ. This is a book with not one but 11 happy endings.

The 11 individuals who share their stories of Stepping Out in Faithcould not be more different. They are men and women from different generations and from around the world. But they have in common the peace they have found in God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Table of Contents:

When everything else is gone | Alex Morbelli

Confident in God’s love | Gerard O’Brien

A wretch like me | Matt Schmucker

The ultimate fresh start | Ngaira Smith

Letting in air and light | Tony Coffey

Words of eternal life | Omar Anheluk

Authentic church | Alex Purnomo

No more fear | Eddie Piani

Learning to trust | Angelo Porcu

A retired Catholic | Gay Ross

Certainty for eternity | Mark Gilbert

Book Information:

• Publisher: Matthias Media (2013)

• ISBN: 9781921896996

• Page Count: 130

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(I am reading this book for a Folklore class.  Button and info from GoodReads.com)

Living Folklore is a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to folklore as it is lived, shared and practiced in contemporary settings. Drawing on examples from diverse American groups and experiences, this text gives the student a strong foundation—from the field’s history and major terms to theories, interpretive approaches, and fieldwork.

Many teachers of undergraduates find the available folklore textbooks too complex or unwieldy for an introductory level course. It is precisely this criticism that Living Folklore addresses; while comprehensive and rigorous, the book is specifically intended to meet the needs of those students who are just beginning their study of the discipline. Its real strength lies in how it combines carefully articulated foundational concepts with relevant examples and a student-oriented teaching philosophy.

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(I am reading this book for an Introduction to Music class.  Button and info from Goodreads.com.)

"The World of Music" is a music listening book designed for the growing number of teachers who want to focus on listening to music as it exists in the real world of their students. Expanding the traditional repertoire used for music study, this popular text begins with American folk, religious, jazz, popular, and ethnic music before introducing some world music and concluding with a thorough overview of Western classical music. The approach captures the essence of each repertoire, and equips students to recognize different styles, appreciate their different functions, and possess a solid foundation for a lifetime of musical appreciation. The text also introduces students to the many styles of music currently enjoyed by people in the United States and helps them to appreciate the diverse roots of these styles. In addition, the text encourages its readers to appreciate different cultures around the world through an encounter with their music.

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(I am reading this book for a US History from 1865 class.  Button and info from GoodReads.com.)

A sharply critical new look at Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency reveals government policies that hindered economic recovery from the Great Depression---and that are still hurting America today.

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(I am reading this book for a US History from 1865 class.  Button and info from GoodReads.com.)

Uh...the blurb on GoodReads is really long, so rather than re-post everything here, if you really want to know more, click on the button.

(Button and information from GoodReads.com.)

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