The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

Recently I read the book, The Final Summit, by Andy Andrews. This is a work of fiction about a man named David Ponder and his journey to help save the world. David Ponder is a character we met in a previous work of the authors in which he gained extraordinary amounts of wisdom from famous historical people. In this new book, David meets and works with several of these people such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Joan of Arc, just to name a few. Here in The Final Summit, David is forced to put wisdom to good use as he and several others try to solve what two words will help save the world and get us all back on the right path.

I came into this book having previously read the novel, The Traveler’s gift, where we first meet David Ponder. Having that previous knowledge is not necessary to read The Final Summit but it is helpful. This book followed a pretty simple pattern as the setting and time were all in the same place throughout most of the entire book. Each chapter went thru a repeating cycle of motions as David and the others try to figure out the answer to the two words that can save the world. I did enjoy the conversation between the characters and enjoyed learning pieces of history along the way. I think this is a great book for history lovers since the main character is getting to converse with so many of the amazing people we read and learn about in school. Although repetitious at times, the author did succeed in making me anxious to find out the two words and along the way I was able to gain a wealth of advice and wisdom about life lessons. I felt that the message is encouraging but felt the book still lacked a “wow” factor. It is in fact a powerful positive message that could help a lot of people if they would listen. I would recommend the book to others because the wisdom found here is too good to pass up.


I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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

June Book Club Selection

Our June selection will be Under the Overpass by Michael Yankowski. This is a non-fiction story and has about 256 pages. Here is a description from the the author's website:

After meals from garbage cans and dumpsters, night after night Mike and Sam found their beds under bridges and on the streets. They were forced to depend on the generosity and kindness of strangers as they panhandled to sustain their existence. For more than five months, the pair experienced firsthand the extreme pains of hunger, the constant uncertainty and danger of living on the streets, exhaustion, depression, and social rejection—and all of this by their own choice. This is their story. Through Mike’s firsthand account, Under the Overpass provides important insight into the truths of the street and calls the younger generation of believers to take great risks of faith to bring Christ’s love to the neediest corners of the world.(end quote)

For quite some time I kept hearing about this book online and had it on my list for awhile. Finally one day I got it from the library, read it and have to say I really learned a lot because of the experiment of these two men. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Our June meeting will be Saturday June 25 at 8:30am-10:00am in Swift's new building.

Thanks so much for your participation!!! Remember I LOVE book suggestions and am here if you have any questions or need some other book ideas to read when you finish the monthly book. You can also check out the blog and see what other books I read and review as I try to find books for the club and for my own enjoyment.


Reminder the May Meeting for Heaven is for Real is THIS Saturday the 21st at 8:30-10:00AM. We are meeting early do to the Holiday weekend! Be sure to RSVP!

Happy Reading!

April Meeting Recap

Another month wrapped up this past Saturday. We discussed the book, Have a little Faith by Mitch Albom. We had 4 people in attendance. For two people, it was the first meeting of this year they have been able to attend. Don’t ever think it’s too late, show up when you can. We had some great discussion and really marveled at all the wisdom found in this book especially from “The old gray Rabbi.” Here is the link to the discussion questions in case you would like to read them. We all really liked the sermons the Reb shared with Mitch. But in a sermon by Henry, I want to share this great description of Jesus that I had never heard before. “I call him the greatest recycler I know!...Jesus…he lifts me up. He rearranges me. He repositions me. By Myself, I’m no good – But he makes all the difference.” (p. 136) Amen.

I am so glad that so many of you enjoyed the wisdom and testimony of the lives of these men. If you haven’t already, I would love for you to share your opinions of the book. If you enjoyed this book I also encourage you to listen to it on CD. You can get it from the local library. The author reads the book himself and it is a lovely thing to listen to him and hear his admiration for these men. If you still haven't read the book you can always borrow it from someone or check it out from the library. Remember our May meeting for Heaven is For Real will be Saturday May 21st. The meeting date is moved up because of the holiday. Stay tuned for the June book. Remember to send me your recommendations! Thanks for reading along.

May Book Club Selection

Our May selection will be Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. (You may remember Lynn Vincent from her assistance on the book we read, Same Kind of different as me.) This is a non-fiction story and has about 192 pages. Here is a description from the the author's website:

A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven. Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.
Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us.
Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle. (end quote)

After an overwhelming amount of friends and family recommended this book to me, I knew I had to read it. Luckily a good friend surprised me with a copy to borrow and I enjoyed it immediately and knew it would be our next book.

Kathy will let you know about a book order if needed for anyone. Our May meeting will be Saturday May 21 at 8:30am-10:00am in Swift's new building.

Thanks so much for your participation!!! Remember I LOVE book suggestions and am here if you have any questions or need some other book ideas to read when you finish the monthly book. You can also check out the blog and see what other books I read and review as I try to find books for the club and for my own enjoyment.

Reminder the April Meeting for Have a Little Faith is Saturday the 30th at 8:30-10:00AM.

Happy Reading!

March Meeting Recap

This past weekend we had our March Meeting where we discussed the book, Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. We had 5 attendees and had a great discussion about the amazing work God has done in the life of the author. I found a great discussion guide online and wanted to share in case you wanted a few questions to ponder about what you learned from this story and what you will take away.

There is a second book by Immaculee called Led by Faith which continues her story as she rebuilds her life after the genocide. You can read more about this book here on the blog. My copy is currently in the works of being passed around. If you would like to borrow it just let me know and I can pass it on to you eventually. If you still have not read this months selection I urge you to borrow someones copy or get a copy from the library as it is quite an inspiring and amazing story of God's work and presence during this tragic time.

I hope you all are looking forward to our April Selection, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. I pray you have a great month! Let me know if you are reading any goodies! Happy reading!

April Book Club Selection

Our April selection will be Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. We have read selections form this author in the past. This is a non-fiction story about two religious men with completely different backgrounds. I first told you about this book on the Blog back in Feb 2010 but have been waiting for it to come available in paperback. It only has 272 pages. Here is a description from the the author's website:



Albom’s first nonfiction book since Tuesdays with Morrie, Have a little Faith begins with an unusual request: an 82-year-old rabbi from Albom’s old hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy.


Feeling unworthy, Albom insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he’d left years ago. Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Albom becomes involved with a Detroit pastor – a reformed drug dealer and convict – who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.


Moving between their worlds, Christian and Jewish, African-American and white, impoverished and well-to-do, Mitch observes how these very different men employ faith similarly in fighting for survival: the older, suburban rabbi, embracing it as death approaches; the younger, inner-city pastor relying on it to keep himself and his church afloat.


As America struggles with hard times and people turn more to their beliefs, Mitch and the two men of God explore issues that perplex modern man: how to endure when difficult things happen; what heaven is; intermarriage; forgiveness; doubting God; and the importance of faith in trying times. Although the texts, prayers and histories are different, Albom begins to realize a striking unity between the two worlds - and indeed, between beliefs everywhere.


In the end, as the rabbi nears death and a harsh winter threatens the pastor’s wobbly church, Albom sadly fulfills the last request and writes the eulogy. And he finally understands what both men had been teaching all along: the profound comfort of believing in something bigger than yourself.


Have a Little Faith is a book about a life’s purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all. It is one man’s journey, but it is everyone’s story." (end quote)


I listened to this book on CD as well and would recommend it that way too. Albom isn't pushy on either religion but just tells these two different yet inspirational and interesting stories.



Kathy will let you know about a book order if needed for anyone. Our April meeting will be Saturday April 30th at 8:30am-10:00am in Swift's new building. Thanks so much for your participation!!! Remember I LOVE book suggestions and am here if you have any questions or need some other book ideas to read when you finish the monthly book. You can also check out the blog and see what other books I read and review as I try to find books for the club and for my own enjoyment.



**Reminder the March Meeting for Left to Tell is this upcoming Saturday the 26th at 8:30-10:00AM. Please RSVP.. Please let me know if you can come.



Happy Reading!

Practicing the Presence OF GOD

This past month when we had our meeting to discuss the February Book, The practice of the presence of God by Brother Lawrence, I did not have any set discussion questions. Instead I pulled some from a great resource that I found online that helps you to go deeper into what Brother Lawrence is teaching us in the book. You can find this great free study online by clicking here.

The women I talked to in our group enjoyed this book and found the words of wisdom very helpful in every day lives. Some admitted to having difficulty reading it at first but then later would pick it back up and it was like reading a whole different book. Sometimes this happens and certain books just don't appeal to us when we are in different seasons of our lives or even in certain moods. I know that this book shouldn't be just pushed on the shelf only to end up in the yard sale box a couple years later. But this book should be kept along side your devotionals and bible.

I have found that since I have read this book my life has taken a turn to be even busier which no doubt is God checking to see if I learned anything from Brother Lawrence....? I have found myself determined not to lead such a busy life and I am beginning to organize and prioritize my time. I don't want to look back years from now and wonder where the time went and regret things I missed out on with family and friends. I also find myself praying to God more often and thanking him before I am about to do a task as well as afterwards thank him for the opportunity and the blessing just as Brother Lawrence mentions he would do.

I hope that you have found things that you can take away from this book and that you remember to go back to it often if you find your life taking a busy turn. I thank God for Brother Lawrence and that we could share in his wisdom. Happy Reading!