Books – Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick

Books – Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick

by | May 22, 2014 | Uncategorized

As of this moment I have 71 Post-It tabs sticking out of the side of this book. Those tabs are my way of tagging what I call GoldenNuggets of information that give me pause, cause me to ponder, give me a lightbulb, or force a loud “Oh Em Gee YOU TOO?!” to slide out of my face. 

Humorous one-liners to be sure, Steven Furtick is a master craftsman of the GoldenNugget. This book is Furtick’s way of giving you the support, knowledge, and momentum you need to learn how to silence negative Enemy chatter, which he refers to as the Chatterbox,  and draw in to God to hear His voice above all others. 
My brain is my greatest asset and my greatest challenge. I have often battled with discernment as to who’s voice I’m hearing, if I’m understanding correctly, and how to correctly identify the lies from the truth of who God says I am. This book is not a “read this and be cured”, but it is definitely a useful weapon in the fight.
What I appreciate most about this book perhaps is Furtick’s posture as a brother in Christ, fighting it out with the Chatterbox just like the rest of us. 

“I’m learning how to overpower the shouts of the Enemy by bending my ear to the whisper of God’s supernatural truths about my identity in Him and His strength in me.” 

Furtick’s writing offers no delusion that this is somehow a skill we can learn one time and never encounter again. Explaining it as a lifetime battle that gets tougher as we climb higher, Furtick offers strategies for pushing through as we move through the levels of our faith. 
Read the first chapter of Crash the Chatterbox, here.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for a review. I was not required to post a positive review.
Books – Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider

Books – Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider

by | May 22, 2014 | Uncategorized


What a breath of fresh air Tsh Oxenreider brings with Notes from a Blue Bike. As a 30-something who cringes at the idea of doing things because “culture says so”, this book was a sigh of relief for me to know that there are people who do things in ways that breathe life into them and that work for their families even though it may be just left of convention.


Told in a series of short chapters that read like fond memories of Tsh, the book alternates between flashing back to her time living abroad in Turkey to life in Bend, Oregon and other places in the U.S. The book is divided into seven parts {Awakening, Food, Work, Education, Travel, Entertainment, and Revival} throughout which Tsh draws a picture of the life she and her family have chosen: one of unhurried simplicity. Tsh is not preachy or otherwise coming from a position that would alienate the reader into believing they are inferior if they do not live the way she has chosen to live. Her words are light and her tone is approachable. She invites readers to dig into to the depths of their souls and truly live out life the way that works best for them. She is authentic and honest about challenges that might arise through the art of cultivating a life that is moving in contrast with the majority of the world around you. Tsh is clear that this is an intentional practice that will take time to master, but the resulting joys are never ceasing.


If you’re the type of person who desires a slower life, a life that allows you to pour into your family the things that matter to you, then Tsh’s book is a must-read. It is not a practical “how to” but rather a journal of sorts of how Tsh’s family accomplished it for themselves. Her invitation to you will remove the intimidation and allow you to exhale as you start creating the life you want in order to focus on what matters. 

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review.