Here are the highlights of what I have read including fiction, non-fiction, and around the internet for the month. I am reading this Chronological Bible reading plan six days a week and the kindle version is on sale right now for $2.99. It is always a great day to start reading your Bible and highly recommend this plan by George Guthrie.

Apple Investors Urge Action on iPhone Addiction Among Kids

“These creators-turned-critics say the software is programmed to trigger rushes of dopamine in the brain that keep users coming back over and over again, with little consideration, beyond profit, of the long-term consequences of that behavior scaled across billions of users.”

Parents, Please Don’t Let Your Kids Watch Logan and Jake Paul

If your kids have access to YouTube you must read this article! “He leveraged a suicide for content. For attention. For views. What Logan Paul did was messed up, no doubt, but what Logan Paul did is simply a single strain of a much larger, multi-faceted disease. Logan Paul’s suicide video stunt exposed the world to a major problem with YouTube and a major problem with social media entertainment in general.”

Millennials Can Leave Evangelicalism. But Not Its Pop Culture.

Brio and Adventures in Odyssey sum up my childhood and I am so thankful for the biblical truths these resources planted in me.

How to Read Through the Bible in a Year with Your Kids

This is hands down one of my favorite articles I have read this year, and I will still be saying that in December too! I am so appreciative when other parents share how they are engaging their children in scripture. Josh and I both loved this example and will be offering this challenge up to our kids when they turn 10 years old.

Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design (By: Tad Thompson)

If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be convicting. So so convicting. I am thankful for this book and how much it made evaluate my own spiritual growth. I highlighted so much of this book below are just a few! I would recommend it for anyone, not just parents.

Taken (By: L.N. Cronk and Jenn Faulk)

Ugggg. This book. I was so sad for it to end. I was completely surprised by the direction this story went and could not put it down. I might have stayed up until 1am reading it when Josh was on shift. This never happens because I value my sleep so much but I seriously could not stop reading. This is a stand alone book but also is part of the Chop Chop Series by L.N. Cronk. You can read my review on those books HERE. I have read every book these authors have written and love that they are combining their talents! You don’t have to read the series to enjoy this book there is just a crossover storyline.

Happy New Years Eve! I hope your Christmas season was fun and healthy. Ours was fun but our entire family was sick with the longest colds ever. We made so many fun memories with our family despite being sick. This month I am sharing five books I have read because there were so many good ones and two share worthy articles.

PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker (By: John Wigger)

This book was phenomenal. I couldn’t put it down and it was so informative without seeming like a bad tabloid. I learned so much about televangelism and the pentecostal movement. A few of the highlights was learning the reference to the term “holy roller”. This was actually coined when people would be slain by the spirit and literally roll across the floor of the church. I also was fascinated learning about the start of the 700 Club. The name of that show was created because Jim Bakker needed 700 people to make a monthly pledge of $10 for the show to be broadcast. I had never heard anything about Heritage USA before this book. This book truly shows that even those with the best of intentions are still sinners and accountability is vital in ministry.

Here Burns My Candle and Mine is the Night (By: Liz Curtis Higgs)

Here Burns My Candle is the first book in this two book series. I was surprised that I had never read these before because I really do like other books I have read by Liz Curtis Higgs. Both books are based on the Old Testament book of Ruth. Obviously there is much fictional liberty taken here but the books are so good.

The Green Ember and Ember Falls (By: S.D. Smith)

I feel a little late to the party with these books. They are so good! I cant wait to read them aloud to our kids! If you liked the Narnia series you will love these.

How This Rock Star And His Televangelist Wife Influence The White House

I am sure I found this interesting because of the book I was reading on the PTL and the Bakker family. This article is about Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain who met controversial pastor Paula White by chance. Now the rock star applauds his wife’s role as chaplain to President Trump.

Angels in the Bible: What Do We Actually Know About Them?

14 facts about angels in the Bible, what they are, why God made created them , and how their hierarchy works, and much more.

I feel like I read so much more this month! And it could be because Josh bought me a Kindle Fire for my birthday. I briefly mentioned how I thought an e-reader would be nice to have and was totally shocked and surprised when I opened my gift. It isn’t something I would have bought myself but I am loving it!

How Masturbation Almost Ruined Our Honeymoon

“Masturbation is a grey area in the Christian world. It brings out the fire in people. I’ve wavered in my opinion over the years, but this new stage of life has confirmed to me, that regular masturbation can really mess with your future.”

‘Our Minds Can Be Hijacked’: the tech insiders who fear a smartphone dystopia

An interesting and thought provoking read about Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make this technology so addictive why they are disconnecting themselves from the internet.

Joyfully Lifting Malformed Hands in Worship

This post got me. Beautifully written and an amazing testimony of how God alone can give us strength and comfort even at the most tender and heartbreaking moments.

These Actors Found Fame But Risk Losing Their Childhood

For those of you who watch Stranger Things (I haven’t seen the show but thought this article was worth sharing).

Three Adoption Misconceptions

This is perfect! “If you’ve never seen these correlations between Christianity and adoption then I pray God will speak these truths into your heart. God want’s families rescuing children, not just Christian families, but any family who will pour out grace and love, because all human life is precious.”

Don’t Just Read Alone

This is something Josh and I have been talking about lately. We read from the Bible to our kids during the week and plan to incorporate this into our small group during the Christmas season by reading Luke 1-2 together.

Don’t Leave Your Husband for Her

Rosaria Butterfield’s book Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert is on my reading list for next year. Here is an article she wrote recently that has great points for anyone thinking about committing adultery.

The Lasts of the Iron Lung

This article was fascinating and also heartbreaking. Having had Guillain Barre Syndrome I can relate to only fraction on what these polio survivors mention, but wow. It breaks my heart and I am appalled that the company who holds the technology for the Iron Lung won’t service or maintain their equipment.

What Student Ministry Really Needs? Homework.

Yes, yes, yes. I love this. I think as parents we can often underestimate what our children can understand. I thoroughly enjoy reading the Bible to my kids and teaching them theology. It is a discipline and it is worth it. If my little preschoolers can sit and listen to the Bible being read and answer questions now I know this will serve them well later in life.

The Confessions of April Grace Series by KD McCrite

I read all of these and LOVED them! The take place in the 80’s so there is no internet and reminded me what my childhood was like growing up in that way. These books are written from an 11 year olds perspective and I would recommend them to adults as well as to pre-teens! Fantastic and really loved this series!

The Most Misused Stories in the Bible: Surprising Ways Popular Bible Stories Are Misunderstood by Eric J. Bargerhuff

This was really good and also humorous at times too. A overall well written book for those who are new or very familiar with the Bible. I highlighted many sections in this book.

Eight Women of Faith by Michael A. G. Haykin

This is not a book I would normally read. But I really enjoyed it and liked learning about these different women who changed the course of history. It was fascinating reading about their lives.