My List of Christian Social Work Books to Read

This is a list of books that are supposed to be great for Christian social workers.  I plan on reading these over my summer break.  These are all books that have been highly recommended.  I have read one of them before but it was good enough to read again.

1) Orphanology by: Tony Meriday, Rick Morton, and David Platt
2) Orphan Justice by: Johnny Carr
3) Crazy Love by: Francis Chan
4) Kisses for Katie by: Katie J. Davis
5) Adopted for Life by: Russell D. Moore and C. J. Mahaney
6) Irresistible Revolution by: Shane Claiborne and Jim Wallis
7) Radical by: David Platt
8) When Helping Hurts by: Steve Corbett, Brian Fikkert, and David Platt
9) Hole in our Gospel by: Richard Stearns

My Current Favorite Song: Shawn McDonald "What Are You Waiting For?"

This song is really good.  I do not listen to songs that aren't very upbeat.  However, if the lyrics are really good, I love to listen to the song.  This song has awesome lyrics.  I especially like the theme for teenage girls and young adults.  So many times when you are young you just want to say well I'm still young so I can do something or try something later.  Why not try it now?  Why wait until later?

"What Are You Waiting For?"  points that out.  It points out that you only get one life to make a difference.  1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV) says, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."  You can make a difference NOW.  If you say you are too young now won't you have excuses for later?  There is always something you can use an excuse.  Go ahead and make a difference.  Be an example of a Christian.  Help lead others to Christ or become a Christian (don't say you have time because you never know when your time will be up).  There are so many young people being an example and making a difference - join them.  This song could be an anthem for that.  It is a great song with great meaning.

Current Favorite Book: The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson

My current favorite book is The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson.  It is the first book in her Land of Shining Water series.  I have ready many of Tracie's books and I have to say that this may be my favorite.  The story is about a young woman named Merrill whose mother has died at a young age and she was raised by her father.  Of course, you can't forget to mention all of the brothers she has to.  Yes, she is the sole female in a house full of men.  This has made her a strong, independent woman who has no needs for feminine fripperies.  However she would love to be courted.  Is there anyone strong enough to stand up to all her brothers and her father in his desire to win her affections? 

This first book in Land of Shining Waters promises a great new series by Tracie Peterson.  It was refreshing to find a lead female character that is not weak and dainty.  Merrill stands up for herself and who she is - without being dainty and weak.  The whole way the story plays out is classic Tracie Peterson at her best.  She always has a great story with amazingly accurate details for the time the book is set in.  I loved her detail on the Germans of the time period.  This book definitely gets a 5/5.  You can buy it at your local Christian bookstore or on Amazon.  Go out and buy it ASAP!  You will not be able to put it down.

Introduction to Me

This blog is going to be a blog about my life, thoughts on social work, and reviews of the different books I read.  There are also going to be the occasional reviews of really great movies, television shows and songs that I have seen or heard.  I am pretty new to blogging but am very excited about doing it.  I love Christian books and music and am very excited about showing people how many wonderful Christian fiction books are out there.

I am a first year grad school student in a MSW program at a small Christian university in the south.  I also work part time at a residential treatment center for at risk pregnant or parenting teenage girls.  I love my job!  Pro - life advocacy and pregnancy counseling are my passions.  My goal is to open a Christian non - profit organization with a residential treatment center for parenting or pregnant teenage girls, a crisis pregnancy counseling component, and a domestic and international adoption component.  I am positive that I will learn so many new things during my experiences and I will share them here on the blog.  My eyes are already being opened to new viewpoints and I will share them on this blog.

Living in the south has been a dream of mine.  I am going to share all the things I get to do while I am down here.  I hope to get to go horseback riding soon.  I would also like to go floating down the river in Cherokee, North Carolina.  I am going to have a lot of adventures!