YA for the Wise

Did I mention that it's the first-of-its-kind?



And the foremost winner of a copy of Ida B. according to random.org is...



SABRINA F.


Congratulations, Sabrina (who just so happened to be the most recent comment submitter on the Ida B. post.)!

Keep an eye on the mail for your copy and enjoy!

The drawing for the next book giveaway will be announced by Tuesday.
I should have a few more book reviews posted within the next couple of days as well!

This final installment in the Twilight Saga was again a step further into the cautionary factors. I enjoy the authors writing style, I just wish that the content of the stories was not so much "darkness" dressed up as "light".

There was an increase in "soft language" (see below) and the relationship content leaned further into the disturbing realm. Having now read the entire saga, I would strongly caution any Christian away from reading them, especially younger audiences and those who are impressionable. Because the content starts out seemingly "harmless" it draws the reader into believing the ending to be a good and happy one.

With eyes fixed on eternity, it is anything but a good and happy conclusion.


Breaking Dawn (Book Four in the Twilight Saga),
By Stephenie Meyer

(2008)
754 pages


Summary: As Bella embraces her role as a wife, the decisions she makes will have far-reaching consequences. Her wedded union brings another dose of danger to her new family, old friends and her own life.

THEMES: vampires; werewolves; immortal children; prejudice; friendship and love; self-sacrifice; at-risk pregnancy; imprinting

FOUL LANGUAGE: ZERO occurrences

SOFT LANGUAGE (heard on cable TV): 25 occurrences (13 C-words, 8 uses of hell as a swear word, 4 D-words)

VIOLENCE: As is written in the prologue, Bella states, "When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give your beloved, how could you not give it?"

There are two circumstances where Bella technically "gives her life".
When the audience part of me knew that in this fictitious world Bella would- in her mind- be "happiest" with Edward, I have never so entirely wanted my heart as a reader to break from the main character making a wiser decision.

SEXUAL CONTENT: There was marital intimacy without being graphic. However there was extensive contemplation and even a proposal of sharing partners in the hopes of solving a potential problem.
Yikes, that compounds their problems, it doesn't solve them!

DRUG USE: 1 unusual occurrence.
Without getting into too many storyline-spoiling details, there are instances where a character is prescribed to drink donated human blood from a cup.
While the Cullen family calls themselves "vegetarians" because they restrict their blood-drinking to animals, let's see what the Bible has to say, even about this:
"You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats of it shall be cut off." Leviticus 17:14
"Be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life..." Deut. 12:23
If those sound too much like an Old Covenant law, let's look at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, specifically verse 20: "Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from meat of strangled animals and from blood."

BLASPHEMIES: ZERO occurrences of God's name used in vain.

REFERENCES TO AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD: They have technically cut out any need or desire for God in the removal of death's inevitability, as if they could exist apart from Christ (He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17).
If these characters stood before God today, let's see how they would measure up to God's requirements...
You shall have no other gods before Me. ======> BROKEN (The God of the Bible is not their Lord and Master)
You shall not make for yourself an idol...======> BROKEN (they idolize and worship one another)
You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. =====> No evidence of misuse.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. =======> They never set any time aside to honor God.
Honor your father and your mother... ======> BROKEN (continually deceiving Bella's parents)
You shall not murder. =====> BROKEN (by Edward in his early vampire days, and Bella's hatred reveals a murderous heart according to Jesus' words in Matthew 5:21-22)
You shall not commit adultery. ======> BROKEN (again, according to Jesus' words they have committed adultery in their hearts. See Matthew 5:28)
You shall not steal. =====> No evidence that I recall of this being broken.
You shall not lie. =====> BROKEN
You shall not covet. =======> BROKEN, BROKEN, BROKEN, and, Oh yeah, BROKEN.

Now keep in mind scripture says whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of all of it. (James 2:10)

Neither Bella nor Edward profess belief and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, therefore they are bound to stand before God as the judge of their deeds. He does not judge on a curve, He judges in comparison to the perfection of His SON. They fall dreadfully short.

Now would be a good time to examine yourself. How would you hold up in light of the requirements of God's Standard?

Are you trusting in Jesus as the Bearer of the wrath that you rightfully deserve?

Is God increasing your Christ-likeness daily?

Have you been made a new creation?

I pray that your desire is for godliness and the honor and glory of the God of the Bible.

If you are a child of God, celebrate the fact that Jesus prayed for you. He prayed this: "For You granted [the Son] authority over all flesh that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:2,3)

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That's right! I want to get wise reading materials into your hands. So, I'm starting a new drawing where if you sign up as a blog follower or you post a comment on a review you will be entered to win a book that has been rated WISE! I am starting out doing this monthly. Once I get more books with a Wise rating I hope to switch to semi-weekly.

Here's how to play…

If you've already signed up to follow this blog, then you are automatically entered in this first contest. For future contests you will have to post a comment on a review in order to be entered.

If you are visiting and haven't signed up to follow yet, doing so will enter you for a chance to win.

Also for every comment (that I moderate and approve) that you submit you will also be entered.

Finally, if you want two credits for entry into the giveaway, post a link to this blog on your site and then enter a comment on any review with your website's address. Once the link is confirmed, I'll put your name in the "hat" TWICE for this move!

The drawing will be randomly selected from the entered names on the 25^th of the month and I will post the name of the winner! (the winner must email me with their address in order to receive the book. I will not use your address for any other purpose than to send the book to you.)

This first month's Wise book drawing will be for Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan (rated for all ages).

I hope you have fun with this!