The Books I read in 2013

I love to read and I read alot. I was trying to read 50 books this year but I only made it to 48 :( I try to read more non fiction than fiction which i was succesful with thanks to alot of school reading :) Here is a list of all the books I read last year in the order I finished them.

1. Boy Colonel by John Horn
2. Brothers at Arms by John Horn
3. The Ringmasters Secret by Carolyne Keene
4. The Whispering Statue by Carolyne Keene
5. The Secret at Shadow Ranch by Carolyne Keene
6. Alec Forbes and His Friend Annie by George MacDonald (This is one of my favorite books)
7. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke
8. Loves Enduring Promise by Janette Oke
9. Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris (I think every young person has to read this book)
10. Daughters of Destiny by Noelle Wheeler
11. Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
12. Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leniger
13. Isle of Swords by Wayne Batson
14. Isle of Fire by Wayne Batson
15. Biblical Philosophy of History by R.J. Rushdooney
16. Health for Godly Generations by Renee Degroot
17. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
18. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
19. Letters of Presidents and Their Daughters by Gerrard and Ann Gewalt
20. My Heart's in the Lowlands by Liz Curtis Higgs (I learned alot about Scotland in this book and it made me want to go there even more!!!)
21. The Wars of the Jew book 4 by Josephus 
22. A Night to Remember by Walter Lord
23. Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybery 
24. The Wars of the Jews book 5 by Josephus
25. Eat More Chicken; Inspire More People by S. Truett Cathy (This is one of my favorite biographies ever)
26. The Lee Girls by Mary Collins
27. What Was Life Like Among the Druids and High Kings by National Geographic
28. A Queen for all Seasons by Linda Cobb
29. The Last Seven Months of Anne Frank by Lindy L (this was the most depressing book I have ever read. The Hiding Place is WAY better)
30. Sovereignty of God by A. W. Pink (This is a good book. It answers alot of questions)
31. Biblical Economics by R.C. Sproul Jr (This and Whatever Happened to Penny Candy are the easiest to understand economic books. Everyone should read them!!)
32. Hymns by William Cowper
33. A Handbook of Etiquette for Ladies by Anonymous
34. The Law by Fredric Bastiat
35. Adam Smith by E.G. West
36. My Father's World by Michael Phillips 
37. A Guide to Elegance by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux
38. Foundations of Social Order by R.J. Rushdooney
39. Move to Loose by Chris Feyteg
40. Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow (this is another one of my favorite biographies ever!!)
41. The Secret of the Lost Settlement by John Horn
42. A Ladies Handbook of Etiquette by Florence Hartely
43. Black Heels and Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond
44. Trim Healthy Mama by Serene and Pearl Allison
45. Walter Sherwoods Probation by Horatio Alger
46. The Mystery of the Haunted Bridge by Carolyne Keene
47. Kisses for Katie by Katie Davis
48. The Bible by God

Foundations of Social Order

     "I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible."

     This phrase is probably very familiar to many of us. 

Perhaps you read it regularly in your church. This is the opening affirmation of the Nicene creed. The Nicene Creed was penned at the council of Nicea in 325 A.D. The council was called to decide the theological conflict between orthodox, trinitarian Christianity, which held that Christ was "one essence" with God; and semi-arianism, which held that Christ was of "like essence" with God. The Nicene creed is a summary of the council's conclusion. While the Nicene creed, as well as the Apostle's Creed are the most well known and widely used creeds; there were many creeds and councils in early church history.

     The Foundations of Social Order by R. J. Rushdoony walks the reader through the ecumenical councils of the early church. Starting with the Apostles Creed on to the 3rd Council of Constantinople, Rushdoony explains the battles the early church fathers waged against the errors which threatened to destroy the historical, apostolic faith. From the earliest days of the church, Greek humanism  found inroads into the church through corrupt heterodox leaders. Yet the true "most holy" faith prevailed by the providential power of God and the faithful labors of godly men, "taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ".  God used these early councils to establish "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" . This book is a readable and is very helpful in understanding early church history.

10 Best Books I read in 2012

In 2012 I read somewhere around 50 books; I wanted to share with you my ten favorites but narrowing it down was really hard. :) On this post I only put five of the books on my list because it takes me a really long time to write book summaries so I will finish this post later.

Bruchko by Bruce Olson:  My all time favorite books are missionary biographies and Bruchko is no exception. It is the story of 19 year old Bruce Olson who went to be a missionary to the Motilone Indians in South America. Rejected by the missionary organizations he started his work almost penniless but God richly rewarded his efforts. This book is full of his adventures; some hilarious and others, well, (to use Hannah's word) disturbing. : )

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss: I read this book every year. It is such a good book. (obviously otherwise I wouldn't be writing about it. ) It is the journal of a fictional girl starting on her 16th birthday and going on until her death. You read about her troubles being a daughter and her confusion over a suitor and then her joyful marriage (though I do not like the guy she married) But this story is more than just that it is also the story of a christian going through life with all it's joys, sorrows, trials and triumphs. This is a very insightful and entertaining book and I highly recommend it.

Joyfully at Home by Jasmine Baucham: If I could only have one book about being a daughter at home I would pick this one and I have read 6 or 7 different books on this subject so that is saying something. It is the hand book for living at home. Jasmine addresses many issues and questions daughters face everything from how to serve each member in your family, making a schedule to how to deal with the guys in your life. She answers the questions with scriptural insight and humor. This is the practical companion to So Much More and every daughter at home should read it.

Brothers at Arms by John Horn: This book definitely gets the prize for the funniest book I read this year. Brothers at Arms is a story about two twin brothers who are polar opposites. Which one of the things that I think is so funny about this book is that these two boys are the extremes of my twin brothers. Lawrence is the philosopher, book worm who cant shoot a barn door from ten feet. The other one, Chester,  Is the all out outdoors man who wants to be a knight in shining armor to some damsel in distress and yet does not know how many eggs are in four dozen. Despite these boys differences they both end up as body guards for a Spanish family and escort them to Peru. Through their many adventures the twins learn important lessons about brotherly love and cooperation. (Also to recommend this book is he fact that my brother, who does

                                        not read hardly at all bought the book, read it and finished it. If you

                                        know my brother that is a high commendation. :)

 Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom: This is another book I read every year. It is the amazing story of a seemingly normal ladies life and how God used her in his kingdom plan. But I probably do not need to tell you the story because most have you have probably read it since this book has been a bestseller for many years. Anyway if you need an inspiring, challenging, sad, happy book to read this would be the one I recommend, Also Focus on the Family made this book into an audio drama which is excellent.

Ten P's In a Pod

     My family loves to travel around the country. All nine of us fit into our fifteen passenger van, with our utility trailer attached to the back. Inside we cram everything we need for our five or six weeks of travel. Oh yes, we get funny looks when we pull into a gas station or rest stop and our van seems to explode, children, books, shoes, water bottles and pillows tumble out. But we have lots of fun. 

     

     In the book, Ten P's In a Pod  by Arnold Pent III, you meet one of "America's first modern homeschool families." This family of ten traveled around the country in the 1950's, before the days of fifteen passenger vans and trailers. They traveled in two station wagons and a beat up pick up truck, sharing the gospel through music and reciting scripture. Arnold Pent II led his family in family devotions three times a day, thus many of the children had most of the Bible memorized. This family performed at hundreds of churches all over the U.S. and they were broadcast on the radio and television. In their travels the Pents had many faith testing and often hilarious adventures. There were times when they simply had no more money to go on. Then there was the time they were snowed in and had nothing to eat but beans. The Pents were a godly family, full of life, who are an example to many christian, homeschool families today. Your faith will be strengthened as you read this humorous yet insightful story.

    
      Ten P's In a Pod is published and sold by Vision Forum.