Purpose Driven Life

Purpose Driven Life is designed to help you fulfill your God-given purpose. The book was written by Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, one of America's largest. In this best-selling book, Rick Warren shows you how to obtain purpose in a unique way. Often, self-help books suggest that you can discover purpose in life by looking within yourself. Not so in Purpose Driven Life! Warren's thesis is that you must begin with God, who created you for a purpose. It is only when you understand that you were made by God and for God that you can unlock your purpose on this earth.

Purpose Driven Life is divided into 40 days of reading in six easy-to-read sections. In the first section, Warren answers the fundamental question every human has, "What on earth am I here for?" He does this by talking about our origin with God and the fact that our life is not an accident. Warren writes that although life is temporary, we can have an eternal impact as we discover our true purpose. In the second section, Rick Warren unveils the first purpose of humans: we were planned for God's pleasure. In this section, he writes about discovering true worship and friendship with God.

In the third section, the second purpose of human life is unveiled: we were formed for God's family. Warren expounds that we are to experience life together in the church. In the next section, Warren unveils the third purpose of human life: we were created to become like Christ. We are transformed by trouble and truth as we grow through temptation. In section five, purpose four is revealed: we were shaped for serving God. If we accept this assignment, we will think like servants and discover God's equipping power to assist us in fulfilling the Purpose Driven Life of service. In the final section, the fifth purpose is covered: we were made for a mission. Warren writes about living a missionary life every day.

In summary, Purpose Driven Life is a must read! It is an easy read, but contains powerful advice. It is great for small discussion study groups. In addition, it provides excellent sermon material. If you still want more information, there are many reviews online. To assist you in reading this book, you can purchase a Purpose Drive Life Study Guide.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain.

With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them.

Mysterious Benedict Society

A title I found in galley the Mysterious Benedict Society has dwelt on my mind since I first read it last summer. It is a difficult read for my 3rd and 4th graders but I do intend to purchase multiple copies. The concepts of different intelligences and different ways to a solution run through this title. It does have all the classic elements. Sometimes I wish I taught middle school instead of elementary so I could spend more time with the depth of quality literature. Here is a review one of my favorite blogs Pixie Stix Kids Pix. Somebody let me know when the next title by this author is available.

Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window

People recommended this one for our in-person book group; we've been passing her two copies around since the library doesn't have one. And it was my turn to have the great pleasure of reading Tetsuko Kuroyangai's wonderful little memoir.

It's the most unusual memoir I've read recently. It's in the third person and reads more like a work of fiction than a collection of personal recollections. That, and it's so simply, so cheerfully written that it's not just an easy read, but an entertaining one as well.

The story is about Totto-Chan, Kuroyanagi's childhood name, and her experiences at the Tomoe (to-mo-e) Gakuen school, an alternative elementary school outside of Tokyo designed and run by Sosaku Kobayashi from 1937 to 1945. He believed in a whole education -- and this book is as much a portrait of an ideal school as it is a memoir -- and letting the child determine his or her place in school. He taught music, believed in exploring nature, used everyday experiences (like lunch) as teaching tool, and created a wholesome environment so that the children attending developed confidence and self-esteem. It was truly remarkable to read about.

I'm sure much could be said about the educational value of the book, and the critique it indirectly gives of modern education. I, however, preferred enjoying it on a simpler level: as a series of sweet reflections of a woman about her idyllic childhood. Either way, it's a wonderful little book.

Source: http://www.thebooknut.com/2008/03/totto-chan-little-girl-at-window.html