Book Tour: The Friends We Keep/40 Minute Bible Study PLUS Giveaway!

Summary for The Friends We Keep

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

Summary for 40 Minute Bible Studies

The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.

Titles Include:

•The Essentials of Effective Prayer •Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost

•Building a Marriage That Really Works •Discovering What the Future Holds

•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past •Having a Real Relationship with God

•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk? •Living a Life of Real Worship

•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret •Living Victoriously in Difficult Times

•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment •Rising to the Call of Leadership

•How Do You Know God’s Your Father? •Key Principles of Biblical Fasting

•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation •What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

Author Bios:

Sarah Zacharias Davis is a senior advancement officer at Pepperdine University, having joined the university after working as vice president of marketing and development for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and in strategic marketing for CNN. The daughter of best-selling writer Ravi Zacharias, Davis is the author of the critically-acclaimed Confessions from an Honest Wife and Transparent: Getting Honest About Who We are and Who We Want to Be. She graduated from Covenant College with a degree in education and lives in Los Angeles, California.

Kay Arthur, executive vice president and cofounder of Precept Ministries International has worked with her teaching staff to create the powerful 40-Minute Bible Studies series. Kay is known around the world as a Bible teacher, author, conference speaker, and host of national radio and television programs.

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Did I read them? Well, yes and no. I'm not a huge fan of nonfiction books as a general rule. I just find them difficult to read. I'm not sure why. Can I blame my education on that one? Having said that, I did attempt to read The Friends We Keep and while it was somewhat interesting, I couldn't get past the author's writing style. She uses lots of questions to get her point across....paragraph after paragraph. It just bugged me.

Having said that, what I did read made me think of all the friendships I've had over the years. I've had some that have lasted a year or two & then slowly died due to various reasons but typically due to a move of some sort (mine or theirs) & we'd loose touch. Sometimes that has been very hard for me to accept and other times it was a blessing in disguise.

It also made me think of those lasting friendships...the ones that have survived years and years. I have only a few but of those few, it's interesting to think back to "once upon a time." I have known one friend since we were 9 & 10 years old. We talk 1-2 times a year but we're now on Facebook together so keep up a bit more often these days. One good friend I met as sort of a "oh-by-the-way" moment.

I do feel women need friends and that it's sometimes very hard to find those "bosom friends" - to quote my favorite character - Anne of Green Gables. But when you do, hang on tight - it certainly makes life a lot easier.

I did not get a chance to do the Bible studies but they are by Kay Arthur - one of the leading Bible study teachers in my opinion. I truly trust anything put out by her and plan to add them to my day very soon.

You can find more information about The Friends We Keep at Random House as well as more info on the 40 Minute Bible Study series by Kay Arthur.

Giveaway!!!!!!

I have one copy of The Friends We Keep to give away. Simply leave a comment that you'd like to be entered. I will draw a name next Thursday, August 20th. Make sure I have a way to contact you. Facebook friends and local friends...just let me know you want to be entered and I'll add your name!