Blog Archives
Glimpses of Grace
Glimpses of Grace is a slim book of personal essays that traces Judith Bowen’s life from childhood memories, through motherhood and a long career in occupational therapy, into the tender, uncertain terrain of aging and vision loss. Each essay lingers on a moment that could easily be overlooked: a lizard in the Texas sun, an anxious night waiting for an adopted daughter to arrive at JFK, a blue parakeet chirping in a retirement home, a solo trip to Chicago when her eyesight is failing. What ties these scenes together is her search for “glimpses of grace,” small flashes of connection, courage, and meaning that show up in ordinary days, in loss, in illness, and in the simple kindness of other people. The book is both a life story and a gentle meditation on how we learn to see differently when our literal sight starts to fade.
The writing is straightforward and visual, almost like sitting in a quiet room while someone pulls out old photographs and tells you the stories behind them. Bowen keeps her language simple, and that choice works well with the material. The scenes at the orphanage and in those early days with Mary, her adopted daughter, hit me hard. They felt calm on the surface and very raw underneath, which is not easy to pull off. The essays about her dogs and neighbors could have turned cute or saccharine, but the details save them: the wet blue toddler shoes, the towel over a beloved dog’s face, the way a neighbor’s glasses slip down his nose when he is scared about his wife. The pacing is unhurried, yet that slower rhythm also gives the book its reflective, almost prayerful mood.
What I enjoyed most was how Bowen writes about losing her sight and asking for help. Those chapters could have been technical or grim. Instead, she treats each new limitation as an invitation to another kind of connection. She lets a former student teach her Tejano dance in class. She talks with a young Algerian airport escort about teaching. She trusts strangers to walk her back when she gets turned around on Chicago streets. There is faith in the book, and a sense of the sacred, but it is held lightly, through images and encounters rather than sermons. The theme of “grace” is spelled out clearly for readers. Even with that, the honesty about fear, fatigue, and grief keeps the ideas grounded. She never pretends that transformation is easy, only that it is possible.
I would recommend Glimpses of Grace to readers who like reflective, real-life stories rather than plot-driven narratives. If you are caring for aging parents, living with illness or disability, adjusting to retirement, or trying to make peace with a life that has not gone in a straight line, this book will probably feel like good company. Folks who enjoy spiritual memoirs that are gentle rather than dogmatic, and anyone who believes that small, ordinary moments can change us, will find a lot here. It is quiet, warm, and steady, and for the right reader, that will be exactly what is needed.
Pages: 123 | ASIN : B0FL6XG768
Shooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Addiction
Shooting Up is Jonathan Tepper’s memoir of growing up as a blond American missionary kid in San Blas, a rough working class neighborhood in Madrid that became one of Europe’s main heroin markets during the AIDS crisis. He moves from childhood scenes of handing out tracts to yonkis in the park to the birth and growth of Betel, his parents’ faith based rehab community, and then into the years when AIDS, overdoses, jail, and sheer bad luck tear through the people they love. The book blends family story, street life, and spiritual struggle and it slowly tracks how those experiences shape Tepper’s own sense of faith, vocation, and home.
On the surface, the voice is very calm and clear, almost plain, yet underneath I could feel grief and shock moving like a current. Tepper writes about heroin, dirty syringes, and AIDS wards with a reporter’s eye and a son’s heart, and that mix hit me hard. The early chapters, where the kids fold pamphlets at the coffee table and then walk out among needles on the ground, feel almost playful until you realize what you are actually seeing. I liked how he lets small details carry the weight, like the sound of the lifts rattling in a housing block or a junkie’s burnt fingers from falling asleep with a cigarette. The style stays very readable, but it is not simple; it keeps coming back to the same people, the same corners of San Blas, and each return adds another layer of history and hurt. I thought of them long after a chapter ended, as if they were people I knew and might meet again.
I also liked the way the book handles faith and power. Missionary stories often slide into self-congratulation; this one does not. Tepper shows the costs of his parents’ calling on everyone in the family, and he lets the contradictions sit in the open. I admired his father’s courage and stubborn love, and at the same time, I felt uneasy at how the boys had so little say in the life they were given. The book lets me feel both things at once and does not tidy it up with easy lessons. I appreciated that the addicts are never just “souls to save” or cautionary tales; they are friends, tormentors, stand in uncles, people with awful choices and a strange kind of honor. The scenes in the rehabs and hospitals, and the constant roll call of who relapses, who disappears, who dies, left me tired in a good way, like I had walked a long road with them. When the narrative jumps forward, and we see what became of Betel and of Tepper himself, it felt earned.
I came away thinking of this book as both a love letter and a lament. It is a love letter to a very broken neighborhood, to parents who were flawed and brave, and to the addicts who trusted them enough to risk change. It is a lament for the lives that burned out in the years when heroin and AIDS cut through Spain and the state and the church were slow to respond. I would recommend Shooting Up to readers who care about memoir, about addiction and recovery, about faith lived in messy real life rather than in slogans. It will suit anyone who wants a story that is gripping and easy to read but not easy to shake off, and who is willing to sit with pain, compassion, and complicated gratitude all at once.
Pages: 311 | ASIN : B0G1FFWSL9
Seek Him in Faith
Poetry to Ponder: Joy in the Morning – Hope on the Horizon is a deeply personal collection of poems that traces moments of your life through heartbreak, faith, illness, loss, and eventual hope. What first moved you to put these poems together as a collection?
Some of these poems were published in my first book, “Journey to Joy: An Inspirational Memoir”. It is a compilation of poetry and prose. A critique received from another editor was that he would like to see the poems as a stand-alone book. Because I kept writing through new experiences of pain and loss, I decided it was time for a new book. As noted, this book not only focuses on my personal crises but also on the cultural crises we are all experiencing currently. It includes many new poems as well as some previously published ones that happen to fit the overall theme. I also wanted to offer a solution to the human crises, which, I believe, is found in my faith. As I am getting older, I also did not want the poems to be left in my desk drawer. I wanted to share my message of hope with the world while I am still able.
Were there poems that felt especially difficult to write or revisit?
Yes. “Laughing Stock” reminded me of the confusion and pain of not being taken seriously when, as a teenager, my barely formed self-identity was being derailed by vision loss, and no one took me seriously. “No Voice” was also extremely hard to relive. I have forgiven but not forgotten the pain of that experience. The poems that reflect the stresses of single parenting and heartbreak, such as “Heartburn”, “Why?”, and “I Broke My Heart”, all caused me to relive the pain that gave rise to those poems. Recalling my cancer diagnosis is not so painful anymore as I am in my 30th year of survivorship. The memory of abandonment still stings when I re-read “Shattered Joy” and “Deedless Words”.
How do ordinary moments help sustain faith during extraordinary pain?
A visit or phone call from a friend, a moment of laughter, or even recalling some precious interactions with my children when they were small, reminds me that there can be joy even in the midst of tragedy. A moment of humor, even when poked at me, can momentarily alleviate pain. Above all is the knowledge that God is always accessible through prayer and that I can bring my burdens to Him at any time.
What message do you most want readers to carry with them?
Trials and hardships are part of the human condition, but our Creator is never far away and offers help to those who seek Him in faith. Endurance builds character, and our time of suffering is redeemed when we can offer hope and encouragement to others who are currently where we used to be. In God’s economy, pain is never wasted.
Despite the turmoil, division, and unrest in our world, my prayer is that the reader will embrace the grace, truth, and love Jesus offers and experience the joy and hope He promises to those who find refuge in Him.
Author Links: Publisher’s Page
The author accentuates the trauma of personal relational upheaval, as well as society’s brokenness and confusion that create misery for so many. Humanity’s rejection of our Creator’s order–intended for our flourishing–results in chaos and suffering. However, there is promise of hope in restored joy for those who take refuge in God’s solution for the human dilemma.
In the first section, Joy in Crisis, the author bares her soul as she recounts the signs of her failing vision during her early teens, how people reacted, and her embarrassment at their ridicule. She poignantly shares the trials and triumphs of adjusting to her new reality.
The poems move through the devastation of a dysfunctional marriage, divorce, and her journey as a legally blind single mom raising two young children. Her anger and pain are profound and palpable as she cries out to God for relief. When cancer shows up, shortly after divorce and her mother’s death, her agony deepens as she wonders why her prayers are not being heard.
The author’s faith is on display as she struggles through the aftermath of betrayal, the stresses of motherhood and cancer treatment. The deaths of her father and sister intensify her grief. She wrestles with God, unable to grasp all that is happening, but never loses her faith. She surrenders to the realization that God is using these trials to mature her and deepen her dependence on His love and faithfulness. Over time, she begins to comprehend that there is purpose in her suffering, and offers understanding and encouragement to others in their trials.
Several poems on friendship emphasize the importance of a compassionate community in our seasons of grief. Some point out the pain of abandonment by trusted friends who don’t show up when we need them. Others remind us that even in our hard times, we can be wounded healers for those who are grieving.
The strength of her faith is evident as the author recognizes God’s faithfulness despite unanswered questions. She acknowledges that while God has been reliable on many fronts, her finite mind can never fully grasp His plan and purpose, so she must simply trust Him when the answers don’t come.
There are moments throughout the book where humor and lightheartedness alleviate the emotional intensity—recalling funny moments with kids, the author poking fun at herself as she grows old, etc.…
Culture in Crisis highlights the moral and spiritual decline in our world as lawlessness and rebellion increase. Man’s inhumanity to man and the unraveling of our culture are emphasized. The author does not flinch from addressing controversial issues that contribute to the confusion and pain plaguing our society.
Several poems present Biblical truths regarding our Creator’s righteous demand for our allegiance and our willful estrangement from Him. They emphasize God’s love and compassion for mankind, His mercy for those who seek Him, and His just punishment for those who do not.
In Hope on the Horizon, the book culminates in the promise of a final resolution to the human condition—a Holy God’s offer of salvation through Jesus, His Son, sent to bear humanity’s sin and guilt. The message is clear for all who choose to accept it. The promise of ultimate joy and deliverance is available for all who will receive it.
The book is replete with relevant quotations from the Holy Bible, confirming the author’s Christian faith that has carried her through all these ordeals. The closing poems celebrate a joyful future, free from grief or turmoil, one for which every human heart yearns.
Poetry to Ponder: Joy in the Morning—Hope on the Horizon
Poetry to Ponder: Joy in the Morning – Hope on the Horizon is a deeply personal collection of poems that traces the author’s life through heartbreak, faith, illness, loss, and eventual hope. Across three sections, Joy in Crisis, Culture in Crisis, and Hope on the Horizon, the author shares raw moments from vision loss and divorce to cancer and grief, all anchored in her Christian faith. The poems move back and forth through decades of lived experience, showing how suffering collides with belief, and how trust in God becomes her lifeline when everything else falls apart.
What hit me first was how honest this book feels. There is no polish-for-show here. The pain is right on the page. I felt it in poems about broken relationships, motherhood, betrayal, and sitting alone with fear in the middle of the night. Some lines made my chest tight. Others made me nod quietly like, yes, I know that feeling. The writing is simple and direct, sometimes almost conversational, and that worked for me. It felt like someone sitting across the table telling me her story, not trying to impress, just trying to tell the truth.
Emotionally, this book took me on a ride. I felt sad, angry, encouraged, and strangely comforted, sometimes all in the same section. The author leans hard into her faith, especially when facing cancer, divorce, and deep family wounds, and while that may not land the same for every reader, I respected how unwavering she is. Her belief is not soft or vague. It is bold. She talks about God like someone she has wrestled with, cried with, and leaned on when she had nothing left. That kind of spiritual grit stayed with me. I also loved the moments of humor and everyday life sprinkled in, kids making messes, awkward memories, and small joys. Those lighter bits gave me room to breathe between heavier poems.
The book reminded me that suffering does not cancel purpose, and that telling your story matters, even when it hurts. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy faith-based poetry, anyone walking through grief or illness, and people who want something real, reflective, and hopeful to sit with slowly. This is not a book you rush. It is one you dip into, one poem at a time, especially on hard days. If you want heart, honesty, and a steady message of hope through pain, this one is worth your time.
Pages: 176 | ISBN 978-1-961266-25-4
Redeeming the Post-Affair Divorce: Heal Your Life, Restore Your Faith After Infidelity Breaks Up Your Marriage
Redeeming the Post-Affair Divorce by Linda J. MacDonald is a faith-forward recovery guide for people who got hit with a one-two punch. Infidelity, then an unwanted divorce. MacDonald maps a healing path in seven big steps, starting with naming the damage and shame, then digging into what drives cheating, then calling out the lies and the mental spin, then rebuilding faith, then working through anger and forgiveness, and ending with a push toward a new life with purpose.
I felt genuinely cared for as I read. The voice is tender and steady. It also feels gutsy. She puts her own story on the page as a hand on your shoulder. I respected that mix of memoir and guidance. It kept things relatable. It kept things real. I also liked her insistence on community and support, not lone wolf grit.
‘SECTION III: Revealing the Source’ resonated with me personally. It made me stop blaming myself on reflex. I have done that for too long. I kept replaying old scenes, hunting for my “part.” This section told me to look under the surface. It flat-out says infidelity rarely happens in a vacuum. I felt relief, then anger, then this weird calm. The whole ‘pull back the curtain’ idea felt true to my experience, and it helped the story make sense. The lines “You were not the cause. You were caught in the fallout” felt like someone seeing me, and removing weight from my shoulders.
The ideas land with force. Some sections were really emotional for me. The book does not play cute with the pain. It names the fallout as huge and lasting, and it refuses to shame the reader for still feeling wrecked. The forgiveness material stood out to me. It pushes forgiveness as a way to get free, not a way to fake peace or invite more harm. I found that framing both brave and sane.
I would recommend this book to Christian readers who feel spiritually rattled after betrayal and divorce, and who want guidance with both heart and backbone. It also fits helpers, pastors, and close friends who want to understand the mess without tossing out cheesy lines. It is not a light read. It is a solid companion for hard days, tearful nights, and the long slog back to yourself.
Pages: 414 | ASIN : B0FTTHJBZZ
From the Back of a Donkey, Journey of a Lifetime – Second Edition
Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor’s From the Back of a Donkey: Journey of a Lifetime reimagines one of the most familiar stories in the Christian tradition, the birth of Jesus, through the eyes of Mary. The book blends biblical retelling, creative storytelling, and devotional reflection into a narrative that feels both ancient and deeply personal. Each chapter combines Mary’s imagined thoughts and prayers with scriptural passages and reflection questions for the reader, making it part story, part meditation, and part journal. The style is warm, vivid, and grounded in faith, giving life to moments that the Gospel of Luke only hints at.
Reading this book, I found myself unexpectedly moved. Minor doesn’t just recount events; she breathes humanity into them. Her Mary isn’t distant or saintly in the untouchable sense; she’s tender, curious, even a little scared, and wholly devoted to God. The writing feels like sitting down with someone who loves to tell stories by firelight, earnest and filled with wonder. There’s something beautiful in the author’s refusal to make Mary flawless. Instead, she lets her faith shimmer through her doubts and daily tasks, through her conversations with Joseph and her cousin Elizabeth. I loved that. It made the sacred story feel reachable, even intimate.
Stylistically, the book reads with a kind of musical rhythm, almost like a prayer. At times, I caught myself pausing just to let a sentence sink in. The writing is rich with sensory detail like the smell of baked bread, the roughness of wood, the brightness of stars, and yet it never drifts into heavy language. The author’s tone feels humble and heartfelt. Occasionally, the abundance of biblical references slows the pace, but it never feels forced; rather, it roots the story in the faith that inspires it. I could tell this book was written not only with literary care but also with devotion.
From the Back of a Donkey draws the reader into reflection, not just about Mary’s journey, but about their own. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to experience the Christmas story in a fresh, contemplative way. It’s perfect for believers who enjoy devotional reading, book clubs that center on faith, or anyone who wants to feel a deeper connection to the humanity behind the divine story.
Pages: 99 | ASIN : B0CP8WMQS4
Inner Peace
Healing by His Spirit is a raw, deeply personal journey through pain, endurance, and redemption, as well as an emotional story of faith, trust, and the miracles God performed in your life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Healing by His Spirit was important to write because it not only released the burden of shame and guilt I carried, but it also allowed me to inspire others to try and overcome their hardships through spiritual healing.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
My travels across the globe helped me to find the inner peace I so desperately sought. It helped me to focus on who I truly am.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest part for me to write about was the rape scene. Because a child was conceived from it, I had to try and make the best decision about her future, and I decided it had to be me. It took two weeks to write one paragraph, because of the flashbacks I experienced.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
The one thing I hope readers will take away is God’s healing power. It saved my life.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Spiritually Homeless: Finding our way beyond religion
Spiritually Homeless is Kris Girrell’s heartfelt guide for anyone who’s ever felt unmoored from organized religion yet still deeply drawn to the sacred. Girrell explores what it means to be “spiritual but not religious,” weaving his own journey through reflection, loss, and rediscovery. The book moves from intimate personal stories to broader discussions about mysticism, spiritual development, and the hunger for community. It’s both a memoir and a map, a compassionate invitation to those wandering between faith and freedom to find meaning in their own way.
Girrell’s voice is calm, wise, and refreshingly unpretentious. He doesn’t preach, and that’s what makes his message land so well. I could feel his years of wrestling with religion, that ache of trying to make sense of old beliefs that no longer fit. There’s warmth in the way he writes about people who feel left out of traditional faith, as if he’s offering them a seat by the fire. The stories about his hikes, his tears in cathedrals, his moments of awe, they ring true. The writing is honest, the tone gentle, and the ideas, though deep, are never heavy-handed.
I felt the pacing lingered a bit, especially when the author unpacked historical or theological context. But I didn’t mind much. Those parts gave me room to catch my breath and think about my own path. What I loved most was how Girrell connects everyday moments, like walking through grass or looking at the stars, to something holy. He makes spirituality feel approachable, like it’s always been right there, waiting for us to notice. His belief that being “spiritually homeless” is actually a stage of growth struck me hard. It turned what I’d always seen as loss into possibility.
I’d recommend Spiritually Homeless to anyone feeling adrift after leaving religion, or to anyone curious about what spirituality looks like beyond dogma. It’s a great companion for those who want to rebuild their connection to the divine without returning to church walls. This isn’t a manual, it’s a conversation, and a kind one at that.
Pages: 235 | ASIN : B0FR3T9KBF
