I didn’t read as many books in August as I did in July, because I used my half
hour each day this month to write instead of read. Still, I’m thankful for
everything I did finish, and here are my thoughts on those books!
Back when Ryan worked
at Love INC, we often visited area churches to give updates on the ministry and
share about financial needs. One of the churches we visited had a library in
the area where we set up our table, so I spent a long time looking at books.
They had a series called “Secrets of Wayfarers Inn” published by Guideposts,
and I really wanted to read them. So when I found them in our library, I was so
excited!
At the end of July, I
finished the first book, Family Secrets, written by Becky Melby. (I’m a
bit nervous that each book is written by a different author. I’m not sure how I
feel about that. Actually, I am sure how I feel about it, so I hope I am
proven wrong.)
In Family Secrets,
we meet a trio of best friends: LuAnn, Tessa, and Janice. Two are recently
widowed, one has never married, and all three are recently retired and looking
for a life adventure. They find a historic building for sale in their home area
of Marietta, Ohio, and while touring it, they learn it was a stop on the
Underground Railroad.
They immediately see
the potential in the old building and craft a plan to turn it into a bed and
breakfast and soup café. They’ve been warned the building is haunted, and while
they don’t believe in haunted buildings or ghosts, they can’t deny the strange
happenings. Screaming sounds, unusual items that seem planted for them to find,
and warnings written on mirrors.
They also find an old
journal written by someone active on the Underground Railroad back in the day.
The three friends work to figure out missing pieces of the puzzle from years
gone by – and some present-day mysteries, too.
I loved it that while
this was an easy read, it wasn’t super cheesy. I also loved the notes at the
end of the book about the real building in Marietta, Ohio, that inspired this
book. Too bad that Marietta is four hours away and too far for a day trip, but
it’s not SO far that we couldn’t visit one day!
**
Right
after I read Family Secrets, I read the second book in the series: River of Life. In this book, the three ladies who purchased Wayfarer’s Inn are
knee deep in the extensive renovations necessary to make the building ready to
receive guests. While they plan and shop for decorations for the Inn, they
uncover another mystery surrounding the building and its historic past as a
stop on the Underground Railroad.
This
time the questions surround an antique quilt, named The River of Life.
Historians said the quilt was stitched to hold clues about the Underground
Railroad and those saved through it – but it’s missing. And then the ladies
have reason to believe it is actually in the Inn!
Trying
to solve a mystery that is handed over to the FBI is not something any of the
ladies ever saw happening in their lives, but it is, in fact, happening.
Woven
throughout the story are additional journal entries from the young lady who
lived and worked at this stop on the Underground Railroad, and the end of the
book contains additional pieces of factual history that tie into the fiction in
the story. (And there’s a recipe at the end, too!)
I
was nervous about this book having a different author than the first one (this
one written by Kathleen Y’Barbo) but I felt like the flow worked well between
the two books, and had I not known they had different authors, I would not have
known from the writing itself.
I
plan to pause and read some other types of books but I’ll soon be back to this
series for sure!
**
When
my parents downsized their house, they let go of many books that had been part
of their home library. I snagged their copy of Holiness for Ordinary People
by Keith Drury. I’ve written about Keith a few times lately. He passed away
earlier this year – very unexpectedly. He was my New Testament Survey professor
in college and oh my goodness, reading this book was like being right back in
his class. I could see the excitement in his eyes and hear his voice saying the
words I was reading!
This
book isn’t new at all, but it’s the first time I read it and it won’t be the
last. (I saw in a Facebook tribute written about Keith by one of my college
classmates that he regularly returns to this book to learn a little more at a
time.) I get it now. This book is rich in information, and while I am
glad I have read through it once, once is most certainly NOT enough.
One
of my favorite things about this book was reading the highlighted version my
parents owned and seeing the thoughts that stuck out to them as they read. I
underlined some of the same things they highlighted, and in other instances,
completely different passages stuck out to me as quite important.
Keith
was such a wise and gifted teacher, but this book isn’t so academic that it’s
beyond understanding. He takes tons of “churchy” words and ideas and makes them
understandable to anyone who picks up the book to read. He explains the deep
commitment that God asks of us in living a holy life, but he also explains how
even the most ordinary person can live that holy life. He uses storytelling,
Q&A, and simple explanations on a loop throughout the book to teach this
concept, and it’s rich in so many ways.
This
month has been a month of deep learning for me. Lots of extra in-depth Bible
study. Lots of wrestling. And I am glad that this study on holiness was in the
mix of what I’ve been learning. I will absolutely be coming back to this book
multiple times in the future to learn more and more from Keith’s wisdom – in
bite-sized pieces. I’m so glad this book is now part of my library!
**
This
month I finished an eleven-week Bible study that I started earlier this summer.
I’ve mentioned it in passing on here before, but now that I am done with it, I
want to tell you more! It’s called Jacob and is written by Darlene
Schacht of The Time Warp Wife. She has written several Bible studies
that are available for purchase online, but if you aren’t in a place to afford
them, you can also subscribe to her newsletter and have access to the chapters
for free. Jacob is her newest study, and I did it independently this
summer.
Loved.
It.
Darlene’s
studies are similar in layout to what you might expect from Beth Moore or other
study writers. They are workbook-style with blanks to fill in, although hers
are more essay style than fill-in-the-blank word-for-word.
I
really like her writing style because she’s meaty and thought-provoking, but
she doesn’t write over your head, which I also love. If some Bible studies are
too intense or academic for you, I don’t think you’ll find her to be this way.
Her
study on Jacob walked through Jacob’s life from birth until he moved back to
his home country and reconciled with Esau. The study looks at Jacob’s
maturation in faith, his relationship with both God and family, and so much
more. I learned a TON about the wells he dug (and redug), the blessings,
birthrights, dreams, brokenness, and restoration. I’ve studied Jacob before and
know quite a bit about his life and STILL took a ton of notes and wrote many
details in my Bible.
I
am so glad I did this study and will be picking out a new one of hers to do
next!
**
Ryan
came home from work one day with a book one of his coworkers had shared with
him for me to read. It’s one probably many of you have heard of, because it’s
newer and the author is well known, but it was all new to me! He said he was
nervous I might not like it, because it was historical fiction and a secular
author, but I told him I’d give it a try. And I’m so glad I did!
The
book (not a tiny one AT ALL – over 400 pages) is The Women by Kristin
Hannah. The book is about the Vietnam War, which is new territory for me. I did
not learn much about it in school, unfortunately. It tells the story of Frances
(Frankie) McGrath, a young nurse from an affluent who chooses to join the army
so she can do her part to help her country and be viewed as a hero in her
father’s eyes.
The
story part of the book is captivating. The history part of the book is hard on
the heart. I don’t know that I’ve ever had to take breaks from a book because
the content was so heavy. I’ve read many reviews about this book and a lot of
readers who served or are close to those who did say the description of combat
is well done. It’s raw, graphic (though I am sure still much more subtle than
reality), and heartbreaking.
I
think one of the things that surprised me most were the chapters about post-war
life. Again, because I didn’t learn much about this war in school, I did not
know what life was like for soldiers coming home, about the general view of
this war from the American public, and especially what it was like for women
who came back and were not perceived as those who had spent time in the thick
of the fighting.
Reading
this book helped me make sense of the hard inner battles fought by those who
served in war battles. The nightmares, the drinking, drugs, and broken
relationships. The families and friendships torn apart. The two worlds – here
and there.
I
know from this book that I could have learned history so much better using a
living book style of learning vs. a textbook style. I’m glad I read it – even
though it was a hard one for the heart. If you can handle the rawness and
roughness of the life it portrays, I recommend reading it. I know I came away
with a new sense of gratitude for both the military and the medical personnel!
**
This
book wasn’t a first-time read for me, but I enjoyed it just as much as the
first round! Back when we lived in Kokomo, I spent a year slowly combing
through the Gospels, and I read a commentary to accompany each book. This month
I reread the Gospel of Matthew – completing it all this month – and as I read
and studied, I reread The Commentary on Matthew: The Gospel of the Kingdom by
C.H. Spurgeon.
I
loved this book and underlined so much in it when I read it the first time, and
I still found new nuggets to love this time.
Spurgeon
lived many years ago, so he writes using the King James Version – and he also
has a big of an archaic (aka beautiful) manner of writing. His words are deep
and meaty, and I wish more books about Scripture were just that way.
I
appreciate all I learn in insights about the parables, the life of Christ, and
the references to the Old Testament. If you’re trying to better understand Matthew,
and you’re willing to put in the time to read and understand, I think you can
learn a lot from Spurgeon! (I know he isn’t everyone’s favorite, and I can’t
say I fully agree with all his words, but I do learn a lot from him and think he
is overall wise and insightful!
I’ll
put this one back on the shelf and probably read it again in a few years as I
go back through this Gospel again!
