JeffRandleman.com | The Randleman Review: passionately pursuing the Creator… one day at a time.

Book Review: 4 Days To A Forever Marriage by Gary & Norma Smalley

January 26, 2012 in The Randleman Review 4

When New Leaf Press sent me a copy of Dr. Gary Smalley’s newest book, 4 Days To A Forever Marriage, I was pretty excited.

I had read a few reviews of the book already, and was looking forward to getting a copy of my own to read.

I was not disappointed.

While the idea of improving your marriage in four days seems overly optimistic, the principles found here are priceless. These four steps are essential to creating a marriage environment that will succeed. However, in my experience, it will take a lot longer than four days to implement them fully. It may take me closer to 40 days.

That being said, I loved the book for it’s excellent material, and it’s easy readability. Crafted in such a fashion that you can read each chapter quickly and easily, each chapter contains input and material from both Gary and Norma. And the publishers have taken key statements and phrases and made them tweetable.

Subtitled Choosing Love Or Anger, the Smalleys have developed four action steps that will help build any marriage: Loving Words and Actions, Communication and Resolving Anger, Affection and Intimacy, and Trials and Treasures.

While each of these four areas are excellent in and of themselves, there are treasure troves of information and resources included in the back of the book; everything from rules for fighting to romance on a tight budget.

4 Days To A Forever Marriage is excellent! It will definitely be one of my go-to books on marriage.

I recommend that you pick up a copy today. It will be an excellent resource for any marriage relationship, whether just starting off, or seasoned by time. Grab a copy and read it. You won’t be sorry!

What is the best book on marriage you’ve ever read? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

If you are interested in reading 4 Days To A Forever Marriage, by Dr. Gary & Norma Smalley, you can purchase it at Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from New Leaf Press/Master Books as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links”. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.“

Using Scripture Stickies To Memorize The Word, And A Chance To Win A Set

January 25, 2012 in Resources 0

One of the most prominent features of JeffRandleman.com is the weekly scripture memorization post.

I try to memorize God’s Word on a regular basis, placing key passages into my heart and mind so that I can draw on them when I need them.

In 2011, I worked to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. This year, I’m memorizing several selected passages that have impacted me throughout the years.

Recently, Julie Alvarez, of ScriptureStickies.com, contacted me. She asked if I would be willing to use and review her Scripture Stickies, and give away a few sets.

Scripture Stickies

I was more than happy to give them a look. And I’m pretty impressed.

Sometimes, the most innovate inventions are the most simple. And simplicity is exactly what Julie Alvarez has implemented in Scripture Stickies.

Scripture Stickies are nothing more than Post-It Notes, imprinted with passages of Scripture, that are easily placed just about anywhere you can think of. By strategically placing God’s Word all around you, where you can see and read it often, you can easily memorize dozens of passages in no time at all. Check out their video:

Memorize Scripture – Week 3

January 22, 2012 in Memorize 4

Have you ever spent much time digging into Psalm 119?

Most people seem to dread it because it is so long.

But it is one of my favorite Psalms. It’s all about God’s Word. Completely. In fact, I counted 178 references to God’s Word in 176 verses. That’s pretty incredible to me.

This week’s passage is one of the more well known parts of this Psalm. Take look for yourself. It’s Psalm 119:9-11:

Psalm 119:9-11

What keeps us on the path that God desires for us? Following his Word.

How do we seek to stay pure? By living according to God’s Word.

What prevents sin from gaining a foothold in our lives? By hiding God’s Word in our hearts.

That would be memorization. And that’s why I do this every week.

I can see God’s Word as very active in my life? Can you?

What is your favorite passage that you’ve committed to memory? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Trying A New Bible Reading System

January 18, 2012 in Bible 2

One of the things I am most passionate about is the need to spend time with God on a daily basis. I’ve compiled tips to help you be more consistent. I’ve shared my “Gold Nugget” method of Bible study. And I’ve recently made available a PDF booklet that helps you to read through the entire Bible in a year, in a variety of different ways. Subscribe via email, and it’s yours for free.

This is one of the most important aspects of my life, and since I know it’s value, I can’t help but speak about it often.

Bible with Coffee

This year, however, I’m stepping up the intensity a notch, at least for me personally.

I’ve decided to try Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System. The goal is to read ten chapters a day, totaling 3660 chapters of the Bible throughout 2012.

It’s a bit audacious, I know.

I first heard about this method of Bible reading over at TimChallies.com. But I’ve tweaked it a bit to suit my own tastes.

Here’s the basic idea:

Memorize Scripture – Week 2

January 15, 2012 in Memorize 0

One of my favorite book in the Old Testament is Jeremiah. Some people think I’m crazy for that.

God makes some incredible promises to the Israelites through Jeremiah.

I understand that these promises were made to the ancient Israelites contextually. But God is a God who does not change. And many of the promises found here apply, or at least relate, to us today.

This week’s verse is no exception. You can find it in Jeremiah 24:7:

Jeremiah 24:7

Just like last week, the Bible continually tells us that the heart is key.

And I love the reference, which is completely cooincidental… or is it? We are to love God 24/7. I love it!

My prayer for myself and my family in 2012, at least in part, is that we may have a heart to know God more fully, more completely.

May you know Him this way as well.

How’s your heart for God? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Book Review: In The Aerie Of The Wolf by Leonora Pruner

January 14, 2012 in The Randleman Review 0

I’m not a big fan of romance novels, so when a friend of mine with Nordskog Publishing asked me to read and review In The Aerie Of The Wolf, I was skeptical. This is simply a genre I do not like, nor am I very interested in even trying to like it.

But I hesitantly agreed to read it, thinking it may be something my daughter would like to read.

I have to admit, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. Taking place in Victorian England, the story is about a young woman, anxious to be a godly woman like the one described in Proverbs 31, who is taken away from her family and the man she loves to be married to Lord Wolverton. Being torn from one she loves, can she learn to love another?

There were several positive elements to Pruner’s story:

In The Aerie Of The Wolf does a great job portraying what love is. The main character, Anne Crofton, leaves her childhood home, and her childhood, behind as she travels to be wed to a man she does not know, leaving behind the one she has loved since childhood. But, as she discovers what love is, her perspective is changed.

As a parallel, as you read In The Aerie Of The Wolf, you can easily see Christ’s love for his Bride, and how that is reflected within human marriage. Pruner even quotes extensively from the Song of Solomon, reinforcing the idea that human love and marriage is only but a reflection of God’s love for mankind and for the Church.

The story is well thought out. There are several plot twists that I didn’t expect. But since I don’t normally read this type of novel, maybe I’m just clueless in that regard. Whatever the case, the story line was intriguing.

Pruner also did an excellent job of defining and describing the allure of temptation and sin. Flirting with the forbidden is very dangerous, and Pruner’s description hits the nail on the head, uncomfortably well.

But there were a few things in the book that I didn’t like: