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💎 About
✒️ Blog
📕&🎬 Reviews
❣️ Favorites
⬇️ Downloads
📲 Contact

Book & Movie Reviews

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Book & Movie Reviews

Books & Movies I Absolutely Loved!

Book Review: Leading for Justice by Rita Sever

Book Review: “Everyday MAGIC” by Mattie James

Book Review: Decolonizing Wealth, 2nd Edition by Edgar Villanueva

Book Review: A Hole in the World by Amanda Held Opelt

Book Review: "The 1619 Project: Born on the Water" by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson

Book Review: “Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie” by William T. Lewis, Sr.

My Thank You Journal by Joyce Meyer

Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership, 2nd Edition

Must Read: "Stamped from the Beginning" by Ibram X. Kendi

Book Review: The Self-Evolved Leader by Dave McKeown

Teen to Teen Academic Planner

If you're struggling to hold on to your faith or curious about why people rely on ancient writings to inform their 21st century decisions, I'd like to recommend that you read Rachel's most recent NYT Best Seller, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again. It's well-written, easy to understand, and filled with insights that will inform your understanding of the Bible.

I knew it was going to be a good read when I laughed out loud reading the INTRODUCTION! The stories are genuinely hilarious and thought-provoking.In her first book, Laugh It Up!, Candace Payne offered us a peek at the woman behind the mask: the Chewbacca mask. The woman who belly laughed for three minutes straight on Facebook live video with such contagious joy that the world laughed with her not at her. She shared the story behind her viral video and how she grew into a woman who was not only comfortable in her own skin but also undeterred by what others thought about her.In her new book, Simple Joys, the author shares even more events from her life to demonstrate how each of us can mine for joy in our own everyday experiences. From taco sweats and taffeta to an icy driveway and hot coffee, this gifted author will have you laughing out loud one moment and deeply reflecting on complex situations in your own life the next.Candace is a masterful storyteller who recounts her experiences with such vivid detail, you feel like you were right there with her at the roadside café in Zambia squirting ketchup on her fries or sitting in the car with her family as her father walked out to the car with his hot cup of coffee on a freezing cold morning.Don’t be fooled. Simple Joys is not a book that you read, put down, and forget about. It’s a book that makes you chuckle, wince, roll your eyes, examine your own life, and mine for nuggets of joy even in difficult times.

As the author builds his case against slave-holder religion, he argues that when we accept without question the religious traditions handed down to us, we often through ignorance make things worse. In other words, there is a white American “Christian” culture that blinds us to what is happening in the world around us. When we are blinded by racism, we limit the gospel to changing individual hearts or the culture of families. Jesus came to change more than that. He came to change the world (p. 132).

"Braving the Wilderness" beckons readers back to their shared humanity with guideposts for establishing self-trust, leaning into vulnerability, and embracing curiosity..The author challenges us to "reclaim human connection and true belonging in the midst of sorting and withdrawal...to choose courage over comfort...how to become the wilderness" (p. 59)..Cultivating true belonging will require us to break out of our "ideological bunkers" and intentionally spend time with people who are different than us. We're going to have to listen hard, become curious, experience discomfort, and empathize—all without sacrificing who we are.

Movie: Paul, The Apostle

The Dream of You

Sharing Jesus {without freaking out}

Authentic Living Devotional

The Power of the Other

When Jesus Was a Green-Eyed Brunette

Joan Garry's Guide to Nonprofit Leadership

Abandoned Faith

The Parables of Jesus

Whispers of Rest

« ‹ of 2 › »

Books & Movies I Enjoyed

Book Cover: The Power of Thank You by Joyce Meyer

Book Review: All Things Lovely by Jenn Johnson

Little Women(2018 Movie)

Remarkable Faith

Joyful Inspirations

Heaven Bound (Movie)

The Coming Apostasy

How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You?

While My Child Is Away

The Light between Oceans

Books & Movies I Didn’t Much Care For

Can I Just Hide in Bed 'til Jesus Comes Back?

Last Days of Jesus (Movie)

The Bad Habits of Jesus

First Words of Jesus

Facebook Comments

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📝 RECENT POSTS

Book Review: “Leading for Justice” by Rita Sever
Book Review: “Everyday MAGIC” by Mattie James
Book Review: “Decolonizing Wealth” by Edgar Villanueva
Book Review: “A Hole in the World” by Amanda Held Opelt

✨ INSTAGRAM

lauralzielke

DAY 31 🪞 YOU We first meet {{your name here}}

DAY 31 🪞 YOU

We first meet {{your name here}} when she is on Instagram reading the final post about valiant women of the Bible. She is shocked to see her own name inserted into the "Valiant Women of the Bible" series, but she continues reading because she is curious. 🤔

Also, if you’ve been reading these posts, but identify as a man, I hope you’ve been enriched in the journey. Most of the time, in the church, we only learn about the men or subservient women. Thanks for joining me while I spotlighted women who defied the odds and did great things.

The rest of this post was sent to subscribers of the Valiant Women of the Bible: Women's History Month series. Join us next year?!

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

--

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey through the Bible during Women's History Month 2023. It’s been quite the experience, and we’ve learned a lot together.

I'd love to hear any feedback about this series, if you think I should turn it into a book, or anything else you want to share. I welcome all feedback.

Sincerely,
Laura Zielke

PS
Thanks for your patience and understanding regarding typos, send times, and falling behind when my family was sick. You rock!

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

What did Eunice and Lois say to Timothy as he pack

What did Eunice and Lois say to Timothy as he packed up and headed out with Paul on his second missionary journey?

"Don't forget to call us!"

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

DAY 30 🧬 EUNICE & LOIS When we are first intro

DAY 30 🧬 EUNICE & LOIS

When we are first introduced to Eunice and Lois, we learn they are close relatives of Timothy, a minister of the gospel at the church in Ephesus. (This is the same Timothy to whom Paul addressed two letters included in the New Testament.)

Eunice is Timothy's mother, and Lois is his grandmother. And their influence on young Timothy set him on a trajectory to have a lasting impact on the early church through his leadership and connection to the Apostle Paul.

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

What did Priscilla say to Apollos when he thanked

What did Priscilla say to Apollos when he thanked her for filling in gaps he didn't know he had in his message?

"That's what friends are for."

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

DAY 29 ⛪ PRISCILLA When we first meet Priscilla

DAY 29 ⛪ PRISCILLA

When we first meet Priscilla (or "Prisca"), she and her husband Aquila are living as refugees in Corinth following Emperor Claudius' expulsion of all Jews from Rome—so it’s likely sometime after AD 49.

Each time Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned, they are mentioned together—never one without the other—a testament to their tremendous partnership in marriage and ministry. 💞

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

What did Paul write to the Christians in Rome in o

What did Paul write to the Christians in Rome in order to help them see his letter-bearer, Deacon Phoebe, the way he did and welcome her with open arms?

"We are fa-mi-ly!" 🙌🏽

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

DAY 28 💰 PHOEBE We meet Phoebe via letter of r

DAY 28 💰 PHOEBE

We meet Phoebe via letter of recommendation from the Apostle Paul. She is included in the beginning of the end of Paul's letter to the Romans (chapter 16) where he appends an introduction of the letter bearer and extends his greetings to the church.

She's rich, generous, and a deacon in the church at Cenchreae (near Corinth). And Paul says to welcome her like a saint!

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

What did Rhoda say to the group of people gathered

What did Rhoda say to the group of people gathered in MJ's home praying for Peter's release?

"He's outside knockin' at the door.
He's outside ringin' the bell."

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

DAY 27 🚪 RHODA When we first meet Rhoda, she i

DAY 27 🚪 RHODA

When we first meet Rhoda, she is heading out of the house to greet a visitor at the outer gate. Rhoda (her name means “rose” or “from Rhodes”) is in the service of a prominent family in Jerusalem—a family committed to the teachings of Jesus.

⛓️A NOTE ABOUT SLAVERY: Before we go any further, let’s acknowledge the uncomfortable fact that this prominent Christian family, despite all their good deeds and love for Jesus, had a female slave (paidiskē)—not a “maid.”

It’s important for us to acknowledge Rhoda's social situation as a slave and not skim over that fact just because “that’s what it was like in Bible times.”

Subscribe to the @ValiantWomenoftheBible email list to learn more. Each day during Women's History Month, and I'll send you a brief bio of a woman (or three) mentioned in the Bible. You'll be amazed at how much you learn.

🔗 Tap the link in my bio
— OR —
Click here to subscribe: sendfox.com/valiantwomenofthebible

#womenshistorymonth #womenofthebible #valiantwomenofthebible

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