Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel

This book has been on my reading list for awhile. I work as a science teacher and I felt like this was one of those books that I should read. It gave me scientific facts for why evolution is not really possible, especially in the way that Darwin had described it.

Strobel examined six areas of science to come to the conclusion that our world and "selves" could only have been a product of intelligent design and not just a happenstance of nature. Here are a couple of highlights.

From Physics: The chance that all the constants in Physics would (gravity, friction, size of the earth, speed of light and sound, etc.) exist in such a way that we would not be crushed or hurt. About 30 of these exist - and for them to randomly to occur is mathematically impossible.

From Biochemistry: No real explanation for what is called the Cambrian Explosion - where suddenly (in geological time) many complex organisms appeared. There are still not transition organisms found before this time. There is also a great explanation about how complex machines - many located in a simple cell - could not have "evolved" into being. The machine was designed for a particular function. To take away one of the pieces would make it not function - it was not modified from something else but was created for one specific purpose.

From Biology: DNA. Every strand has millions of combinations and each has a purpose. It is hard to think that this just happened by chance - to get just the right atoms to combine. Strobel does a great job of presenting the science that shows how this would be impossible without a designer organizing the information of our DNA.

From Psychology: It has been thought that the brain and our consciousness are one and the same thing. Do we have a "self" apart from our physical brain? So we have a soul? If we do, then we are more then just a bunch of chemicals and have eternal consequences.

This is a very detailed book. Lots of facts. Strobel does a good job of finding examples that make sense to the not science person. I really helped solidify my view of a creator and will help me defend (as if He needs that) my view if needed.

Thanks for reading!

Cyndee

Forgiven by Karen Kingsbury

The second book in the firstborn series. Neither Dayne or Katy can keep from thinking about each other, but neither of them will contact each other. Katy is in the middle of casting her next show with the Christian kids theater and Dayne is coming to her hometown to shoot his next movie that was suppose to star Katy.

Tragedy strikes when a drunk driver kills two of the kids in the production and Katy works through the forgiveness process with them. Kingsbury writes about the emotion and struggle it is to see people through the eyes of God.

Dayne makes plans to see Katy as they spend some time together away from the limelight of Hollywood - hiking and enjoying their time together - even if it is not going to last. Dayne also meets his sister, Ashley, for the first time, but cannot share that they are related.

The ending is wonderful as Katy reaches out to Dayne to share about Jesus and the bible. It seems to fail at first, but God gets a hold of Dayne and won't let go until he comes back to Him. This is not the end of the story, but it gives hope for the future now that Dayne has found the forgiveness that he has so needed.

Great Read.

Cyndee

Fame by Karen Kingsbury

This book is the first in the Firstborn series and is actually a continuation of the Baxter family story. As always, Kingsbury does a great job of making her characters real.

Dayne Matthews, the firstborn, is introduced again. Many of the chapters are written from him point of view. Fame is not all that fun. Kingsbury describes the hassle of just living with fame - continually following by paparazzi.

Katy Hart is also introduced in this book. Once an aspiring actress, she was turned away by the death of her then boyfriend due to the party scene in Hollywood. She turned away from her dream and became the director of a Christian Theater group. Her heart and first love is Christ.

Their two lives meet as Dayne requests Katy for an audition for his upcoming romantic comedy. Katy auditions and slowly falls for Dayne but knows that Dayne is not a believer. Kingsbury adds in the perspective of Ashley Baxter as she works on the sets for the theater group. Dayne knows that if Katy takes the part that her life will forever be changed as people stalk her for autographs and pictures. The book ends with Katy following God's lead and saying no to Hollywood.

I totally enjoy reading Kingsbury. The characters struggle with following God and finding the will for their lives - just like we do. She uses those wonderful passages of scripture that remind us of who He is and how much He loves us. It is always an encouragement - even if the book does not quite end the way you think it will.

Happy reading!

Even Now by Karen Kingsbury

I so enjoy the honest response by Kingsbury. She sees life as messy and writes about it being messy. Her characters are real and respond the way we think they would, not always in the best "christian" way. She includes the consequences of sin and the peace of forgiveness when we turn back to God. I also experience a joy when her characters make that discovery.

Even now is about the choices of two families when they find out about their teenage children's pregnancy. It tears at your heartstrings when the parents force the teenager's apart when you can tell that they dearly love each other and wish they could turn back the clock. Lauren, the teenage girl, and Shane, the teenage boy, can't imagine loving anyone else, ever. Their parents lie and manipulate to keep them apart. Lauren has the child. Emily, the baby, becomes sick and by a lack of communication, Lauren believes that her child has died at the hospital. Lauren runs to find Shane.

This story centers around bringing these three people, Shane, Lauren and Emily, back together as a family. The end is less then storybook, but if leaves you with hope that God can do all things when you believe.

Thanks for reading!

Cyndee