Summer Reading

Ok so I know summer is almost over (I still follow the school calender since all my friends are teachers and will soon be working again, sad) but that doesn't mean summer reading has to stop.

I have not been doing very well this year but I have read a few good books. One of my favorite authors is Francine Rivers. She wrote the bestselling novel "Redeeming Love". It is on of my absolute favorite books. Every time I read it I go through the same emotions and can't put it down until I'm finished. It tells the amazing story of a prostitute rescued by a farmer and how she has to learn to be loved, not only by him but by God who is calling her out of her old life and into a new one. She keeps running back to what she knows but eventually hears God's voice and is rescued forever.

This summer I have read a couple other of Francine's books. The first one I borrowed from a friend and was called "The Atonement Child". It was such an emotional story that several times reading it I literally had tears in my eyes. It tells the story of a girl who had been raped, got pregnant, and decided to keep the baby against her family, friends, and boyfriend's wishes. Her decision ends up bringing her family together in a way she could not have predicted as she learns several others also dealt with abortion and are now offered a chance for healing and reconciliation. As you're reading it your heart goes out to this girl and her family because this is a real life situation that probably occurs more then we think about.

And finally I just finished a new Francine Rivers book entitled "and the Shofar Blew". I have to admit though that this one was a little different and I didn't like it as much. Of course, I need to read it again and again before I make a final opinion but it just seemed a little different. This one tells the story of a new pastor and his wife who move to central California to pastor a small but dying church. They want to bring new life into the community and have good intentions but the pastor gets carried away and it becomes more about his accomplishments then God's will. He gets out of control and eventually commits adultery. It was a good, emotional story but the part I didn't like was that only the last couple of chapters deal with his turning and redemption - I guess it felt rushed and I wanted to know more about his life after turning it back over to God. But it was a good read and a stunning comparison to how easy it is to get caught up in our accomplishments and forget the reason for those accomplishments.

So what have you read this summer?