Day: April 7, 2022

Book Review: A Dog’s Collar

April 7, 2022

Title: A Dog’s Collar
Author: Sam Knupp 
Genre: Spiritual, Memoir
Year Published: February 16, 2022

Date finished: March 29, 2022

This book is a collection of stories throughout the author’s life as a chaplain. It’s written as a memoir of sorts where we get to experience the stories with the author, and at times, about the author.

Sam takes us through a handful of moments/instances during his time working in a hospital, a jail, and a few other places. These stories are very heartfelt and have a purpose. They allow us to see the reality of the human soul. We see the raw pain and sorrows these people go through, reminding us of how fragile we all really are, not only physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well. We get to see what Sam has to do and be to these people. Even if he wanted to walk away and hide, he couldn’t. He chose this career, or maybe it chose him, but either way, having to find the right words to say, the right prayers to pray, and doing the right thing to comfort these souls takes so much willpower, and Sam did it as though it was second nature. And because he is telling us these stories, we get to experience his true thoughts and how much he too is human.

I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. There were moments when I had to pause to wipe away tears. Sam is a true hero. He put up with so much yet received little in return. It was a wonderful read and I’d recommend it to everyone. It’s not a religious book and Sam doesn’t force any type of religion or God upon anyone. It’s lighthearted, humorous, and poignant. At times, Sam even questions his own beliefs. This was a wonderfully written book and I’m glad I was able to read it.

Who should read this book: Anyone looking for hope and spirituality.

Book Review: The Heart of Prayer

April 7, 2022

Title: The Heart of Prayer: The Essential Guide to Knowing God Through Prayer
Author: D.M. Stahlheber
Genre: Non-fiction; Spiritual
Year Published: December 7, 2021

Date finished: March 4, 2022

I’ve never read a book about how to pray so this one really piqued my interest. I wanted to know what the author had to say about praying. I was mainly curious as to whether I would be lectured or forced to believe someone else’s belief. Turns out, it was neither. This is a beautifully written book on guiding the reader towards being a better prayer for themselves.

This book provides a lot of scriptures from the bible in reference to each topic the author covers, and she covers topics about things everyone deals with, things we all struggle with, such as, loneliness, sadness, love, frustration, anger, ambitions, wants, and needs, etc. She has taken the time to research specific scriptures to help in all areas of prayer. She includes the books, chapters, and verses so that you can easily locate them in your bible and read further if you want to. If you don’t have a bible, no prob. The scriptures included are enough. This book helps you focus on prayers without telling you what to believe or who you should believe in. It has a way of putting you as ease when you are feeling turbulence in your life.

What I really love about this book is how the author shares pieces of her life and how she overcame difficulties. There were times when she struggled with her belief, but she pulled through with the guidance of prayer. I’d have to say, everyone can benefit from this book. It’s worth checking out especially if you find it difficult to focus on what to pray about and how to go about prayers that will benefit you the most. This book is very well put together. I will definitely be using it as a reference to help me become a better prayer.

Who should read this book: Anyone in need of guidance on how to pray or simply learn how to pray in a way that will benefit you.