Tried With Fire

I've written a review of  Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia Through a Mother's Eyes by   Simonetta Carr. It's a powerful book that the church needs because Christians can have serious mental illness, too. Read the review here .

Irenaeus of Lyon by Simonetta Carr, illustrations by Max Abraxas, Reformation Heritage Books, 2017,  64 pages. Simonetta Carr has written another biography in the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. Her latest subject is Irenaeus of Lyons, the early church father and author of Against Heresies . Irenaeus lived around 130-200 A.D. He was a disciple of Polycarp who was discipled by the apostle John. The Roman Empire was still the dominant force in the world, and their polytheism and emperor worship were stark contrasts to Christianity. Thus the Christians' refusal to take part in pagan religion led to widespread persecution. Irenaeus' mentor, Polycarp, was one of the many martyrs for the faith. This time was also marked by the rise of false teachers who were distorting the gospel and leading people astray. With a desire to strengthen the church in biblical truth, Irenaeus began his work Against Heresies , which is still read today. He set about refuting the ...

Martin Luther   by   Simonetta Carr, illustrations by Troy Howell, Reformation Heritage Books, 2016, 32 pages. For ages 7-12. I was wondering if Simonetta Carr would write a children's biography on Martin Luther, and she has! And it's just in time for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation next year. This book traces Luther's life from his student days to becoming a monk, his pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation, and the subsequent years until his death. The author demonstrates her skill, once again, in being able to take a well-known figure in church history and condense his story so that it is appealing and understandable to the target audience. Beautiful illustrations and photographs augment the text and add visual interest. The book also includes a "Did You Know?" section containing interesting facts, a timeline of Luther's life, and excerpts from his small catechism. I've reviewed some of the biographies in the  Christian Bi...

Marie Durand by Simonetta Carr, Reformation Heritage Books , June 2015, 64 pages. There are many well-known figures in church history, and it is good that we know their stories. However, God has also worked through many ordinary believers we may never know this side of glory. Thanks to this biography by Simonetta Carr, we are able to learn about the life of one ordinary believer who showed extraordinary perseverance in the midst of persecution. Marie Durand was born in 1711 in France. During this period, it was against the law to be Protestant. If you were caught the penalties were very severe, even death. Because of her family's refusal to compromise their beliefs, Marie was imprisoned at the age of 19. There were opportunities for release, but only if the prisoners would recant their faith, take the mass, and embrace Roman Catholicism.  Marie refused and became a rallying point for the other women detainees. As she was literate, she wrote letters requesting aid and advocat...

Jonathan Edwards by Simonetta Carr, illustrations by Matt Abraxas, Reformation Heritage Books, 2014, 64 pages, for ages 7-12. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was one of America's greatest theologians and thinkers. Unfortunately, many know him of him only as the author of the sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." But there is much more to his life. In this biography by Simonetta Carr, you will learn about Edwards' childhood, his love of learning, and his love for God. He eventually became a pastor who was instrumental in the First Great Awakening. However, he was removed by his own congregation for taking a stand that the Lord's Supper was only for believers. Edwards pondered over the scriptures and wrote on such topics as original sin, freedom of the will, and religious affections, which are theological classics to this day. Carr's writing makes Edwards' life accessible and interesting, pulling out tidbits of his life that would appeal to c...

John Knox by Simonetta Carr, illustrated by Matt Abraxos, Reformation Heritage Books, 2014, 64 pages. John Knox is the newest addition to the Christian Biographies for Young Reader s series written by Simonetta Carr. Before reading this, I knew very little about Knox's life other than "Give me Scotland, or I die!", his rather controversial pamphlet about women rulers, and the caricatures of this fiery Scottish reformer. Well my lack of knowledge has been well remedied. Having lived in a time of religious persecution and political upheaval, Knox's story is quite exciting. He acted as bodyguard for a minister who was eventually martyred for his faith. Knox then reluctantly agreed to take on the weighty task of preaching the Word of God after his gift became evident. He was imprisoned and forced to be a galley slave for the French, and eventually rose to prominence, preaching before kings and queens. After the successful Scottish revolution against France, Knox wa...

Anselm of Canterbury by Simonetta Carr (author), Matt Abraxos (illustrator), Reformation Heritage Books, 2013, 64 pages. Anselm (1033-1109) is the latest subject in the  Christian Biographies For Young Readers  series written by  Simonetta Carr.  Born near the border of France and Italy, Anselm wanted to serve God by becoming a monk but faced family opposition. Eventually he took orders at a Benedictine monastery in Normandy where he studied the Word, wrote, and taught. He was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by William II, the son of William the Conqueror. He did not seek this position, which was very difficult due to the lack of clearly defined boundaries between church and state. Anselm died in Canterbury at the age of 76. Anselm is known for his work, Cur Deus Homo ( Why God-Man? ) which sought to clarifying the issues of sin, the atonement and its application. Written during a time when the ransom theory was the primary teaching on the a...

My friend Christina has interviewed Simonetta Carr, author of a series of Christian biographies for children. Her subjects have included Calvin, Augustine, and Athanasius to name a few. Visit Heavenly Springs  to meet Mrs. Carr and a chance to win a book!