A Review of Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

Heart of Ice is a novel by Lis Wiehl with April Henry and is based on the "Triple Threat" characters Cassidy Shaw and her best friends Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce and FBI Special Agent Nicole Hedge first introduced to Wiehl's readers in the novel Face of Betrayal.  In Heart of Ice the Triple Threat women face an intense situation in dealing with a cunningly cold-blooded murderer.

This is the second book by Lis Wiehl I have read and though I did enjoy it towards the end, I struggled to read it from the beginning to nearly halfway through the book.  The main reason for this was that I felt I was reading a modern fiction book more geared towards women than a mystery or suspense novel.  With discussions among the characters about miscarriage and one character possibly dealing with breast cancer, I simply struggled with this portion of the novel and wanted more.  More suspense, more action, a more faster pace.  Eventually I did get those things.

The other thing that was difficult for me was knowing who the antagonist was almost immediately.  I have to admit that when I read a mystery, I don't want to know who the killer is within the first few chapters.  I want to know who was murdered, but not by whom!  I want to try and match wits with the writer, attempt to try and figure out who exactly is the bad guy.  This book does not allow the reader to do this in the style it is written in.

There are a number of positive things I want to say about this book.  The characters are very well written and are not one dimensional; the reader should feel right there with them as they go about their daily lives.  The plot is well done with various sub-plots written in and delightfully intertwined together.  Dialog is well written and in most places fast paced.  Not all, but in most places.

As this is the first Triple Threat novel I have read, I will not judge the entire series based on this novel.  I will have to read at least the first novel to gain a better feel for the series.  For this novel, I am giving it three (3) stars, not because I think this is a bad novel, but it is a novel that I believe is not quite my style.  I would recommend this book to my friends, but I would have to let them know why I only gave it three stars.

(Disclosure:  I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review and made no promises as to the nature of my review.  The posted review is mine and mine alone.)

A Review of The Walk by Shaun Alexander

One of the few professional athletes who claimed to be a follower of Christ and actually lived a life that not only glorified God, but actually proved they were a follow of Christ by the way the lived was and still is Shaun Alexander.  So when I was offered a chance to read and review his book The Walk, I said yes.

I will be honest with you; I wasn't sure what to expect from reading Mr. Alexander's book.  What I did find was a man who truly loves God and does everything he can to life a life that shows Christ to the world.  

The book itself is written for the common person.  What I mean by that is that if you are looking for a grand theological discussion on Justification, Sanctification or other theological aspects of Christianity, then you will need to look elsewhere.  What you are going to find is Mr. Alexander's interpretation of how a follower of Christ grows in life.  Mr. Alexander lists five (5) stages of growth in a person's life.  These stages are:

1. Wanderer/Wonderer -- When a person is an unbeliever

2. Believer -- When a person first believes in Jesus Christ

3. Example -- When a person has been a believer and now lives it in life.

4. Teacher -- When a person begins teaching others in the faith

5. Imparter -- When a person imparts unto other people things of God.

Each of these stages are presented as a section of the book and within each section are two additional chapters besides the chapter discussing the stage.  The other two chapters are a great compliment and include a chapter  on Trials, Traps and Victories and a chapter discussing how the Apostle Peter showed the particular growth stage in his life as told by the Bible.  With all three chapters combined in each section, I thought Mr. Alexander did a good job of explaining the growth stages in his own words.

Besides the sections of the book on growth, there are other chapters giving insight to Mr. Alexander's life as a Christian and how he has gone through these growth stages.  His style of writing is warm and you feel as though you are sitting with Mr. Alexander at a coffee shop, simply discussing the life of a follower of Christ.  I do have to give a small warning though.  If you have any reservations about miracles, or what some people would call Charismatic Christianity, then you will need to read this book with more of an open mind and thoughtful prayer.  There were no "speaking in tongues" moments in the book, but there are lots of instances told by Mr. Alexander of the Holy Spirit in his life and ministry.

Overall I did enjoy this book, though it did take me a little longer to read than normal, as I decided to look up the scriptures that are quoted in Mr. Alexander's book.  I do not have any problem in recommending this book to others and I am giving it four (4) stars.

Please note that this book was presented to me by Waterbrook Press for the purpose of reviewing the book.  I did not promise, nor in any way indicate a positive or negative review to the publisher.  The review as presented is mine and mine alone.

A Review of December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World by Craig Shirley

 
When I was first saw that I had an opportunity to read and review December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World by Craig Shirley, I jumped at the chance. One of my majors in college was history, and I grew up loving history so I hope you will understand my excitement at this chance. However, after reading Mr. Shirley's book, I was very disappointed, not only with factual errors I found during reading, but also for the various typos and misspellings in his book.

The premise of Mr. Shirley's book is to describe life in America during the month of December 1941, showing America as is struggled to maintain a neutral stance in the current war, then the shock of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and other points in the Pacific, then how America began to come together as a unified people after the attacks. Mr. Shirley does this by taking each day in December and presenting them as individual chapters. In each chapter Mr. Shirley then attempts to show the reader life during this crucial month in American history by using various articles from newspapers and magazines found during that time period.

It is an interesting way to present the information to the reader; however, the information presented appears to me to have no structure to it whatsoever. The reader may be presented with life in Hollywood, then be switched to life in rural Alabama, only to read a few lines later about the war in Europe! I personally believe that Mr. Shirley should have broken the chapters down further into the various aspects of life he wished to present to the reader, instead of the jumbled array of information Mr. Shirley did present.

One of the key aspects of any book that touts itself as a history book, or a book dealing with history of any sort is facts and one of my main disappointments was error in facts presented in Mr. Shirley's book. One of the biggest or these errors, in my opinion was one I found on page 390. On that page, the reader is told that FDR directed Douglas MacArthur to rid Washington DC of the Bonus Marchers. The problem with that "fact" is that it is not a fact. FDR was not president during this moment in time: Hoover was. A glaring mistake like this should not happen in a book touted as a book on history. Another issue I had occurred on page 46. Quoting directly from Mr. Shirley's book: "It was raking in millions each week, mostly for the top four studios: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros." Mr. Shirley says the top four studios yet only three are mentioned by name. Again, these are only two examples of what I noticed as I read Mr. Shirley's book.

To simply sum up my review of Mr. Shirley's book, after reading his book, and with the mistakes found with supposed facts, typos and misspellings, I cannot recommend his book and give it only one star.

(Disclosure:  I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Thomas Nelson to review and made no promises as to the nature of my review.  The posted review is mine and mine alone.)

A Review of The 21-Day Dad's Challenge: Three Weeks To A Better Relationship With Your Kids Edited by Carey Casey

As the dad of two girls, I am always looking for good advice on how to deal with the ins and outs of how to be a better dad than I had in my life.  Besides the Bible, this is one of the best books I have ever read on this subject, and that is not something I say lightly.

The 21-Day Dad's Challenge : Three Weeks To A Better Relationship With Your Kids offers the reader 21 articles written by dads such as Carey Casey, Tony Dungy, Jim Daly, Randy Alcorn, Chip Ingram, Josh McDowell, Shaun Alexander just to name a few.  With chapter titles such as "What's in a Name", "I'm Sorry, I Was Wrong!", "No Experience Required" and "Where's Daddy?" the reader is presented not with nuggets of wisdom, but an entire avalanche of fatherly advice for those dads wanting or needing it.

The book itself is an easy read at 128 pages, but it is designed to not just be read, but one designed to be acted upon.  Each article contains a challenge relevant to the article as well as a place to help plan out the reader's actions to accomplish the challenge. To help the reader the book also utilizes QR Barcodes, readable by any QR barcode reader downloadable on most smartphones.  For those readers who do not have a QR Barcode reader, links are provided for the reader to type into any web browser.  Each of the barcodes take the reader to an online video for more information about the current challenge.

As an example, here is the QR Barcode for the introduction of the book.
                                     
                                          

I am highly recommending this book to everyone who is a dad, dad to be, or planning on being a dad.  Don't just read this book, but act upon this book.  Use it.  Your kids will thank you for it in ways you never dreamed of.

Five out of five stars!

(Disclosure:  I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Tyndale to review and made no promises as to the nature of my review.  The posted review is mine and mine alone.)

A Review of Awakening - A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom by Stovall Weems

One of the subjects I am interested in as a Follower of Christ is fasting.  Fasting is something that I do not do very often, so when I saw I had a chance to read and review Stovall Weems' book Awakening - A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom, I decided to opt for this book and see what I might be missing.

What I was missing was the feeling that I was reading the script for a 30 minute infomercial on Mr. Weems' approach to being closer to God. 

After reading through this book, and in some cases, re-reading parts of it, I am still not sure what Mr. Weems is trying to convey here.  I do not doubt Mr. Weems' faith, nor his beliefs, but there are many places I disagree with him.  I do not know if he believes in the so called "prosperity gospel" that is preached by people such as Kenneth Copeland or Creflo Dollar, but one section in particular of his book, on providing more room for God to fill in areas of your life dealt with tithing , and the prosperity message seemed to come out loud and clear.

Another aspect seemed to be weight loss.  Even though Mr. Weems stated in his book that fasting is not about weight loss, he wrote more than once about how much weight was lost after fasting.  I am not sure I can equivocate  getting closer to God with losing weight, but this is part of what I received from reading the book.

Mr. Weems does attempt to back up his writing by quoting scripture, however, anyone who actually does study the Bible will tell you that anyone can take a single scripture and make it fit their need.  It is when you read the scripture in context to the ones around it that you derive the real meaning of the quoted scripture.  I believe that Mr. Weems has taken some, not all but some scripture out of context for his book.  I am not saying that there is not any meat in this book, indeed there are some very good morsels to find, but they are few and far in between. 

I am giving this book two out of five stars, and sadly, this is one book that I am not recommending to my friends and colleagues.

Please note that this book was presented to me by Waterbrook Press for the purpose of reviewing the book.  I did not promise, nor in any way indicate a positive or negative review to the publisher.  The review as presented is mine and mine alone.

A Review of Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well by Billy Graham

There are two things a person can be sure of in this world: death and taxes.  I would like to add a third thing a person can be sure of and that is the faith Billy Graham has in Jesus Christ.

I have just finished reading Reverend Graham's latest book, Nearing Home: Life,  Faith, and Finishing Well and I can say that I am not disappointed in it.  This is not to say that there are a couple of areas in the book when I felt that the advice given by Reverend Graham seemed redundant and very basic to me as well as times that the focus of the book was more towards a more aged and elderly audience than to a general audience that included people of my age group or younger.  ( I am 43.) 

With that said however, Reverend Graham's emphasis is on Jesus Christ and the reader's relationship with Him and this is shown in every facet of his writing in this book.  Reverend Graham encourages the readers of this book to not drift away, nor fade away, but live strong as you age, passing down the accumulated knowledge and wisdom to those younger than the readers of this book.  The title of the book says it all: finishing well in life and faith. 

Reverend Graham still shows his love for everyone in this world as at least twice in this book he encourages his readers to pause and accept the free gift of salvation found in Jesus Christ.  Reverend Graham is best known as an evangelist for Jesus Christ and he is still going strong in his calling as shown in this book. 

Reading this book did feel to me like I was sitting down on the front porch with the grandfather everyone wants or needs and listening to the years of knowledge and wisdom being poured forth, and I listened to every word.  Yes, the book sometimes is a slow read, but bear with it; finishing the book will give you insight on how to best prepare for your years to come. 

I am giving this book four stars and am recommending this book to you.

Please note that this book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers for review.  I did not promise nor guarantee in any way a positive review.   This review is mine and mine alone and was not influenced by any outside party.

A Review of No Wonder They Call Him the Savior Experiencing the Truth of the Cross By Max Lucado

“I just want to know what counts.” Deep Irish brogue. Dark, deep eyes. The statement was sincere. “Don’t talk to me of religion, I’ve been down that road. And please, stay off theology. I have a degree in that. Get to the heart of it, okay? I want to know what counts.”


With that opening statement, Max Lucado voices the question that most members of the human race will ask in their life lifetime.  In writing his book No Wonder They Call Him the Savior; Experiencing the Truth of the Cross, Max Lucado tells what the answer to this question is.

Normally when I review a book, I like to remain somewhat distant and do a review based on how I believe the book will affect the reader.  With this review I can't do that.  With this book, Max Lucado details why the Cross is the answer to the question everyone asks: "I want to know what counts".  In the first section, titled The Cross: Its Words, Lucado takes the words of Jesus as he agonizes on the cross and tells the reader what those words mean in simple practical terms.

 In the second section, titled The Cross: Its Witnesses, Lucado tells the individual stories of the people who were part of the events leading up to and right after the crucifixion of Christ.  From Peter, to Pilate, Barabbas to John, the stories told by the witnesses take the reader on journeys of regret, disbelief, and grief, but then you are shown hope and joy.  Then there is the last witness.  I won't name this witness but I guarantee you that you will be surprised.

The third and last section is titled The Cross: Its Wisdom and the first chapter of this section will really surprise you by the style of writing Lucado used for it.  For the remaining chapters Lucado draws on his own life experiences and the glimpse into his life is a telling one, full of love, humor and wisdom.  The last chapter asks the reader an important question.  I know how I answered that question.  I wonder how you, the reader will.

This is a book that I read quickly, on a flight from Dallas, Texas to Seattle, Washington and it is a book whose words have stayed with me.  It is also a book that I will read and re-read time and time again.  I am recommending this book and though you may find it as quick read as I did, be sure to take your time as you continue to read it.  In its simplicity, you will find wisdom, and the answer to a question you may have asked before: "What counts?"

(Disclosure:  I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review and made no promises as to the nature of my review.  The posted review is mine and mine alone.)

A Review of The Tehran Initiative by Joel C. Rosenberg

Iran has the bomb.  The Twelfth Imam, Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ibn Ali has arrived and is in the process of establishing the Caliphate. American leadership is listening to the peace talk of the Twelfth Imam and Israel seems to stand alone against the rising tide.  Welcome to the world of The Tehran Initiative.

With the second book of the trilogy, the first being The Twelfth Imam, Joel C. Rosenberg is showing once again why he is one of the greatest writers of Christian Political Thrillers in our time.


In The Tehran Initiative Rosenberg picks up sixty seconds after the ending of The Twelfth Imam and within the first few chapters the reader is taken on a action packed car chase in Iran, the attempted assassination of the American President, the Egyptian President and the Israeli Prime Minister, and plenty of political intrigue.  If you like action and are intrigued by the inner workings of international politics, then you will love this book!

Action is not the only facet of this story however.  There are very tender moments in Rosenberg's story centering on family and friendship, and there is a healthy dose of faith thrown in.  This book is Christian fiction and as such there are plenty of references to the Christian faith.  I personally am a follower of Christ and welcome the showing of faith in such a refreshing way by Rosenberg.  There are plenty of prophecy references, not only from the Christian perspective, but also from the Muslim perspective.  After reading this book, I can firmly attest that Rosenberg does not denigrate those of the Muslim faith, but instead simply tells it like it is.

Although this book can be read on its own, it is the second book of a trilogy and should be read after reading the first book, The Twelfth Imam.  If you like Tom Clancy, you will love the writing of Joel C. Rosenberg.  I am highly recommending this book to you.

You can hear Rosenberg in his own words here about his book The Tehran Initiative.

(Disclosure:  I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Tyndale to review and made no promises as to the nature of my review.  The posted review is mine and mine alone.)

A Review of Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson

In the genres of Christian Fiction especially the Supernatural genre, I have a few writers that I read and believe to be the best of the genre.  Among those are Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.  After finishing Waking Hours I will now add Lis Wiehl to that list of writers. 

Waking Hours is book one of the East Salem Trilogy and is one of the best supernatural mysteries I have read in a very long time.  Set in the town of East Salem in Northern Westchester County, a teenage girl dies a gruesome, ritualistic death which rocks the community.  The District Attorney's office brings in Danielle "Dani" Harris, a forensic psychiatrist to aid in the investigation.  As this is her first solo involvement, Harris shows herself to be nervous, but quite capable to handle the assignment. 

Alongside Dani Harris is Tommy Gunderson, the town's hero.  A former NFL football star, Gunderson is owner of a health and fitness club in the town and an aspiring private investigator.  He is the essential All American good guy:  Christian, clean cut, and definitely the hero type.

As this is a work of Christian fiction, you will not find cursing in it, nor will you find items of a sexual nature.  However, I would not recommend this book to pre-teens as I believe that the details of the murder scene and the corresponding notes from the medical examiner as they are discussed may be too mature for those under 13. 

The book is not "preachy" in it's Christianity and I believe that to be a plus, as this book would be a good gift to friends who like this particular genre and may not be Christian.  

Overall I am rating this book a five out of five and am looking forward to the next books in the trilogy.  If you read one book from Supernatural Mystery genre, then this would be the one I recommend!

(Disclosure:  I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review and made no promises as to the nature of my review.  The posted review is mine and mine alone.)

A Review of Average Joe: God's Extraordinary Calling To Ordinary Men by Troy Meeder

After reading Average Joe: God's Extraordinary Calling To Ordinary Men by Troy Meeder, I know that I am an Average Joe and I have a lot to work on. 

Mr. Meeder is what I would consider more than an Average Joe, but I believe he would disagree with me.  Mr. Meeder is a cowboy from Oregon who has lived what most people would call an ordinary life, but has gained much wisdom in his life and that wisdom is characterized very nicely in his book.  He tells of his wisdom and the wisdom of others in the chapters of the book, ranging from Mr. Meeder's learning humility in a pit he dug that was rapidly filling with raw sewage, to  a gardener he met while attending college, to his grandfather, a soldier, and a mentor just to name a few.  

This is a book that I think every man should read, and with the study guide and questions provided in the back of the book, study.  I came across a few items while reading this book, two in particular which challenge me even now and apply directly to my life.  I firmly believe that most every man that reads this book will have the same experience and this book would be a good addition to a men's study group.

The book itself is quite short, having only 147 pages, and is a very easy read.  Mr. Meeder's style of writing is very folksy, and quite entertaining.  For me, reading this book reminded me of sitting around a campfire listening to an older, more grizzled man, wise beyond his years spill his life experiences to a captive audience of eager youth.  I think you may find it the same way.

I am highly recommending this book.

 Please note that this book was presented to me by Multnomah Books for the purpose of reviewing the book.  I did not promise, nor in any way indicate a positive or negative review to the publisher.  The review as presented is mine and mine alone.

A Review of Ascent From Darkness: How Satan's Soldier Became God's Warrior by Michael Leehan

Spiritual warfare.  Satanism. 

What do you think of when you hear these phrases?  Do you roll your eyes, or shake your head in disbelief that anyone would believe in that sort of stuff?  Sadly, many people, including a good percentage of those professing faith in Jesus Christ do exactly that when they hear the term spiritual warfare, or Satanism, or anything dealing with the unseen spirit world.

Michael Leehan's book, Ascent From Darkness: How Satan's Soldier Became God's Warrior is a book that most people will unfortunately dismiss as delusional or worse and it is very unfortunate that this will be the majority opinion.  In reading Mr. Leehan's book, which he tells upfront is the true story of his life the reader is presented with a no-nonsense, truthful  look into the real world of spiritual darkness. 

Mr. Leehan begins by telling the reader of his early years, then how he started his descent into Satanism by rejecting God outright and offering his services to Satan.  Throughout Mr. Leehan's book he speaks of his experiences, from how he was called by Satan to disrupt Christ's work on earth, from attempting to disrupt entire churches, small groups as well as  individual believers.  Mr. Leehan pulls no punches in his writing and I firmly believe that every Christian, or everyone professing Christ should read this book.  The book is a very fast paced read and will grip the reader.  The ending of the book should bring everyone who read this book to their feet, cheering God and His Grace.

To those professing Christ, be forewarned; one of the main themes I encountered from reading this book was Mr. Leehan's view of most Christians he encountered.  He viewed most he encountered as lukewarm believers, who cared more for the world than for their faith.  I had to take a very long hard look at my spiritual life and ask forgiveness after reading this book.  I believe most readers will too.

I am highly recommending this book and give it five stars. 

Please note that this book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers for review.  I did not promise nor guarantee in any way a positive review.   This review is mine and mine alone and was not influenced by any outside party.

A Review: Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free From the Four Emotions that Control You by Andy Stanley

This is the first book by Andy Stanley that I have read and after finishing it, I don't believe it will be the last.    Enemies of the Heart opens up with a very simple and basic question that most everyone never really asks themselves:  How is your heart?  Not the physical heart but the spiritual heart.  I have to admit that it was a question that I never asked myself until I started reading this book.

Andy Stanley presents to his audience the fact that out of all of the troubles we experience in life, those troubles boil down to four basic emotions, or "Monsters' as Mr. Stanley calls them: guilt, anger, greed and jealousy.  Mr. Stanley further shows how these emotions inflict their damage on us as he shows how they interact in our lives.  Guilt makes a person feel "I owe You", Anger says "You owe Me",  Greed says that "I owe Me" and finally Jealousy states that "God owes Me".  I have to admit that the further I read the more intrigued I was.

It is in part two of the book that Mr. Stanley discusses, demonstrates and delivers his point to the reader.  It was in this section that I started feeling very uncomfortable as most of what he was speaking about hit home in more than one way.  My expectations is that when you read it, you will feel the same way as I did.  In Section three of the book, Mr. Stanley shows the reader how these emotional demons can be overcome with more positive, God given ones and as a reader, I began to see how these could be had more of in my personal life. 

In Section four of the book, Mr. Stanley confronts the readers who have children in their lives, in whatever way, but specifically to parents, how to positively emphasize and encourage children to unburden their hearts of the four bad emotions and utilize the good ones explained in section three.  Also in this section is a small chapter on Lust, specifically sexual lust that I feel is a must read for both sexes.

This book's audience is geared primarily to believers in Jesus Christ, but I believe that everyone could benefit from this book if they will read it and give it a chance.  It is a short read at only 157 pages, and Mr. Stanley's style of writing is very down to earth and folksy, with sprinkles of humor intertwined.  If you feel that you or a loved one have problems in your life and those problems may be stemming from one of the four emotions Mr. Stanley writes about, then I suggest you read this book or give it to that person.

The book includes at the end helpful discussion questions, which is excellent for personal application, and small group discussion.

So, how is your heart?

Eric

 Please note that this book was presented to me by Waterbrook Press in exchange for a review.  I did not promise, nor in any way indicate a positive or negative review to the publisher.  The review as presented is mine and mine alone.

A Review of "Our Last Great Hope: Awakening the Great Commission" by Pastor Ronnie Floyd

In Matthew 28: 16 – 20, Jesus outlines the Great Commission. 

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

For most Christians today, the Great Commission represents a thing of the past, something that was fulfilled by those great men and women in the early church.  In the book Our Last Great Hope: Awakening the Great Commission by Pastor Ronnie Floyd, Pastor Floyd takes this modern perception and shatters it, showing that the Great Commission is as relevant today as it was back in the days of the apostles it was charged to.  He does this in chapter three, where he lays out the urgency of the Great Commission in aspects ranging from the spiritual, to the physical, to the personal.

While reading  Our Last Great Hope: Awakening the Great Commission, I was constantly impressed with Pastor Floyd’s passion for the Great Commission, as well as his practical advice, both for individuals and churches in helping to fulfill this call on our lives.  Pastor Floyd maintains that this charge laid on the apostles is laid on us as followers of Christ today and it is not just a duty, but a command from Jesus to us.  I have to be blunt and admit that parts of this book took me by surprise as well as provided an avenue of conviction.  I have not looked at the world in terms of living and dead as Pastor Floyd has and does, but now I see that I need to.

The advice he gives in his book is both practical and applicable in our lives.  Pastor Floyd starts off in chapter four with transforming your family, then moving on to the immediate, local, state, country and world communities.  Showing the reader how to use the resources they have available, Pastor Floyd encourages the reader to prioritize, pray, position yourself for the future, place your trust in the Lord and use your monetary resources to the best of your ability.

This is not a book for everyone; let me warn you now.  There are people who will be offended as well as disagree, but I will tell you who I believe should read this book: every living, breathing person who claims to be a Christian.  As the movie line goes: “I see dead people all the time.”  When you finish this book so will you, but you will be further equipped to help them come to life.

(Disclaimer:  I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review.  I did not promise nor was I expected to give a positive review of this book.  The review is mine in its entirety and reflects my opinion only.  The disclaimer is given in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255)

Book Review: The Strategically Small Church by Brandon J. O'Brien

There are many people in the world today, especially in America, who believe that bigger is better. In fact, bigger often equates to being the most successful. If you wanted to sell something, would you rather have that something sold in a store like Walmart, or in some mom and pop store on main street in small town USA?

But bigger is not always better, nor is it more successful when it comes to the church in Christianity and that is the premise of Brandon J. O'Brien's book The Strategically Small Church. What Mr. O'Brien does is show how smaller churches are not only biblical, but are better suited more times than not than large churches to minister to the needs of the people around them. This is not to say that the larger churches, or mega-churches do not have a place, but simply put, there are more smaller churches than larger ones.

Mr. O'Brien starts off his book by pointing out that the size of the church should not be an indicator of a ministry's success, then proceeds to show how several large churches have seen that downgrading in size has actually been a benefit to their ministries. Mr. O'Brien then goes on to point out the benefits of a smaller church: becoming inter-generational, becoming a training church, being a nimble church and becoming an equipping church to name a few.

The Strategically Small Church is a well written and well researched book, and Mr. O'Brien knows his subject well, but I have to admit that this was a book that took some time for me to read in that I am not a church leader nor a pastor. However, I did learn quite a bit from this book about more of the inner workings of these positions.

If you are a pastor, or a church leader, then this book should be one that you read. For the rest of us, if you are interested in how the church works, then read it. If not, then this isn't the book for you.


Please note that Bethany House Publishers has provided me a complimentary copy of this book for my review; however, the opinions are my own. I have not been required to publish a positive review.

Book Review: Which None Can Shut by Reema Goode

There are many times when I have wondered what it would be like, to be a missionary in a Muslim country.  After reading Reema Goode's Which None Can Shut: Remarkable True Stories Of God's Miraculous Work in the Muslim World  I feel that I have an idea of what that life might be like.  Writing under a pseudonym to protect not only her and her family, but those who have been led to Christ by them, Mrs. Goode shows us the world that she, her husband and her two children live in.

This book is not a book that instructs people how to evangelize the Muslim world, nor, is this a book that tells the world the statistics of those who were Muslim and have now come to faith in Jesus Christ.  What this book is, is a wonderful collection of experiences that Mrs. Goode and her family have lived through while sharing the love of, and the Good News of Jesus Christ.  This book is a very easy read and was one that I had a hard time putting down.  As I read this book, I felt as though I was having a cup of coffee with Mrs. Goode in my living room, listening to her tell her stories to me.

This book will encourage as well as challenge you.  If you are even remotely interested in the lives of missionaries in Muslim countries, then this book is a must read.

Please note that Tyndale House Publishers has provided me a complimentary copy of this book for my review; however, the opinions are my own. I have not been required to publish a positive review.

Book Review: A Leader's Heart 365-Day Devotional Journal By John Maxwell

At first glance, A Leader's Heart 365 Devotional Journal by John Maxwell appears to be a book that belongs in a library of vintage books, as the book itself is quite lovely to look at and hold in your hands.  After reading through this devotional however, the book deserves a place on your desk, or nightstand, or wherever you may read and meditate on what you read.

For anyone having a leadership role in life, this book dispenses 365 days of thought provoking words of wisdom that are intricately tied into that day's particular choice of Biblical scripture located at the top of each page. Each day's devotion is written so that it can be read quickly, and with the space at the bottom of the page, designed to be used as a journal to think on what was written and how it can, or does apply to the reader's life.

Classified as a gift book, whether you would purchase this as a gift for a leader you know, or for yourself, this is a book that should not just sit on a shelf, but needs to be read and written in.  This is a book that will be enjoyed, one day at a time.

Please note that Thomas Nelson Publishing has provided me a complimentary copy of this book for my review; however, the opinions are my own. I have not been required to publish a positive review.

Book Review: Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

When you die, will what you have done in life outlive you?  Are the things you are doing in life right now going to make a difference when you are gone?  If you want to make a difference in life, even if it is just in the life of a single person then the newest book by Max Lucado, Out Live Your Life   You Were Made To Make A Difference is the book that you will want to read.

Taking his cue from the Book of Acts from the Bible, Mr. Lucado, using both fictional and real life anecdotes illustrates many ways to make life count.  From simple hospitality and inviting friends and neighbors over for dinner in your home, to making eye contact and actually listening to a homeless person on the street that will come up to you for a handout, you will be shown how doing these and other actions not only emulates Jesus and his teachings, but that you are actually serving Jesus when you do them.

Reading this book is not the only thing to do with it however.  In the back of the book is a section dedicated to discussion and action.  Each chapter comes with discussion questions to be talked about, and action items to be used as a starting point to go out and simply do.  This is not only a great book to go through individually, but will be a wonderful book to use for group study.

If you want to make a difference in life and are not sure how to, then I recommend this book to you.

Please note that Thomas Nelson Publishing has provided me a complimentary copy of this book for my review; however, the opinions are my own. I have not been required to publish a positive review.

Book Review: Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World: What on Earth Should We Do Now?

In today's world everyone has been affected in one way or another by stress.  Whether losing a job, or not having enough money to pay bills, or watching in horror as another terrorist attack is portrayed on the television, everyone must choose how they deal with this stress.  In Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World, Dr. David Jeremiah shows his readers the biblical way to handle the stress of living in today's world.

I have to be honest in the fact that this is the first book by Dr. Jeremiah that I have read but it will not be the last.  I found this book to be full of practical, truthful advice on how to deal with the pressures of the world we live in with the main truth presented being grounded and centered in Jesus Christ.  This is a book that is well researched and timely and will present the reader with many opportunities to take notes in the margin.  Be warned, you will want to have a pen and a highlighter or two out as you read this book.

In this book the reader is challenged to stay compassionate, constructive, centered, and confident; living life with the guidance of God’s Word. This is a book that I will read again, and this time, I will have the highlighters and pen out to take notes.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who has issues dealing with stress in today’s world.

Eric

Please note that Thomas Nelson Publishing has provided me a complimentary copy of this book for my review; however, the opinions are my own. I have not been required to publish a positive review. 

On Becoming A Book Reviewer

I have to admit that I am excited at the opportunity that has presented itself to me.  I am now signed up with a couple of companies to receive, read and review books!  I am ecstatic about this!  The first book I will be reviewing is Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World written by Dr. David Jeremiah.  I will post the review here first as soon as I receive and read the book.

Have a great day!
Eric