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Our Last Great Hope by Ronnie Floyd

2011-09-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

This book addresses the need to spread the gospel, which is “our last great hope”, NOW, making a compelling case that time is short. It looks at the topic broadly and narrowly, generally and specifically. The author devotes chapters to churches, families and individuals each taking the Great Commission seriously. One of the chapters on individuals is called “Talk Jesus Daily”, with nine actions given we can take: prioritize, pray for opportunities, pray by name, prepare yourself personally and practically, prime your relationships, present the gospel, provide the moment for receiving Christ, position for the future, and place your trust in the Lord.

This book was challenging and inspiring. As “The Hole in Our Gospel” addressed the need for all to be serious about clean water for the world, “Our Last Great Hope” addresses the need for all to be serious about the Great Commission. It is thought provoking, conveys biblical truth well, and deserves a wide audience.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Stumbling Into Grace by Lisa Harper

2011-08-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

The author brings the reader face to face with Jesus with regard to Real Life, Real Gifts, and Real Growth in topics concerning fear, addiction, and danger, as well as the need for forgiveness, touch, humor, community, and rest, and battling criticism, dishonesty, discontent, independence and lack of gratitude. Lisa Harper does a good job making her points while using illustrations, both funny and poignant, from her own life. Lisa’s writing style is very conversational, which makes it easy to read.

Each chapter is structured in such a way that the author shares an anecdote, illustrates her topic with a scriptural passage, elaborates in her own words, and gives an application. Included at the end of each chapter are excellent questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

This book is well written and thought provoking with Scripture used effectively.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Billy Graham in Quotes by Franklin Graham

2011-07-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

This book, almost 400 pages long, delineates Billy Graham’s thoughts in more than 100 categories, from Abortion to Young People. This is a book well worth reading, as Graham is articulate, biblically sound, and wise. Those three qualities make for a treasure trove of quotations. Billy Graham’s quotes range from the pithy to the poetic, and the majority are exceptionally thought provoking. Billy Graham’s effectiveness as a public speaker does not fade one iota when captured in print.

In the chapter on Strength, Graham’s devotion to and understanding of the Bible is captured thus: “We must learn to let the Word of God feed us and strengthen us in our faith in God its author, Christ is message, and the Holy Spirit its teacher.”

In the chapter on Preaching, Billy Graham’s deep understanding of the human condition is reflected here: “When I preach—no matter where it is in the world—I can always count on five areas of human need that affect all peoples. Emptiness, loneliness, guilt, fear of death, deep-seated insecurity.”

The words of the evangelist who has almost undoubtedly shared the gospel with more people in the last 70 years than anyone else are well worth reading. If you don’t already know the reason for his effectiveness, humanly speaking, you will understand when you read his words.

This book was interesting, challenging, and thought provoking, reflective of a man of deep understanding of God and mankind. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Voices of the Faithful, Book 2 by Beth Moore

2011-06-07T20:47:00.001-07:00

This devotional book was written by missionaries. It is a typical devotional volume, with a verse at the top of each page, a short story, and a prayer at the end. There are 365 devotionals, divided into 12 topics, one for each month. There are helpful indices at the back of the book, with a listing of devotional titles by month and by Scripture. If you like a “Daily Bread” kind of format, you will like this book.

One of the advantages of this book is that it highlights mission work around the world. It aims to increase the reader’s awareness of and concern for missions. At the end of the book are helpful articles encouraging the individual’s and the church’s roles in missions.

This book uses Scripture effectively. The stories are touching and challenging.

I received this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program.

Seeds of Turmoil by Bryant Wright

2011-01-01T17:11:00.001-08:00

This book traces back to Genesis the ever-present conflict in the Middle East, showing how the factions stem from Abraham’s two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, ancestors of Arab and Jew. Back to Abraham can be traced three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Wright takes half the book to lay out the story of Abraham, the Abrahamic covenant, Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael, Isaac and Rebekah, and Esau and Jacob. If one had no familiarity with the Genesis narrative, this almost too-careful retelling by Wright might be helpful. For those well acquainted with Genesis, this first half of the book bogs down, as the author hammers and re-hammers his points for almost a hundred pages.

The second half of the book focuses on the Jewish, Islamic and Christian perspectives of the history of the Middle East. Wright gives a clear and adequate picture of each perspective. Again, if one has little to no familiarity with each religion’s perspective, Wright’s writing is helpful.

Biblical truth was communicated clearly and well. I recommend Seeds of Turmoil as a good primer with regard to Middle East conflict; it would be interesting and enlightening reading for one who knows little or nothing about the Middle East. If one wants an in-depth analysis, this is not the book to choose.

The Way Home

2010-11-18T16:07:00.001-08:00

This movie is based on a true story about a father whose two-year-old son goes missing when his father becomes distracted. Throughout the search, the community supports the father and mother.

This is a good, but not a great, movie. It helped to know it was based on a true story. For me, who has no children, it was a good reminder of what’s really important in life and how many people will come to your aid when you’re tested.

The movie moves at a good pace and draws you into the story. It’s worth watching.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

2010-09-13T05:43:00.001-07:00

Max Lucado’s newest book exhorts believers to be intentional and bold in allowing God to use us to make a difference in the world, challenging us to consider the need (the world) and the tools (we believers). The author encourages to assess our abilities, team up with others, consider the ministry of hospitality, the ability to microfinance, do good quietly, help the poor, be humble, overcome our biases, see others through God’s eyes, and pray.

This book was a good reminder of the importance of people as ready, willing tools in God’s hands to do His work His way. The one change I would make in this book is to incorporate the suggestions in the Discussion and Action Guide into each chapter in order to help people apply practically what Max Lucado advocates.

As usual, this author’s book is well written and biblically sound. It was interesting and challenging. I recommend it to anyone.

I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com

“Let’s Do Lunch” by Roger Troy Wilson

2010-08-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

The cover of this book says, misleadingly, “Eating all the CALORIES and CARBS you want to lose weight!” The true premise of this book is to replace all simple carbohydrates with fruit, beans, corn and peas, eliminating all sugar, potatoes, rice, bread and pasta, not as a temporary diet, but as a lifestyle. The author lost 230 pounds this way. Needless to say, the author is someone to whom excess seems normal, and this diet/lifestyle he advocates is excessive. Certainly there are a few for whom this diet/lifestyle would work, but they must be prepared to be excessively disciplined to overemphasize some food groups, such as fruit, fruit, fruit, and beans, beans, beans, and underemphasize others.

Breakfast is as much fruit as you want, with a few supplemental typical breakfast foods if you cannot stand to eat only fruit. Lunch is a big meal with protein, soup, salad and/or vegetables. Dinner is as much fruit as you can eat. If you cannot be satisfied with that, you can add soup, vegetables, beans, peas or corn, but no protein. Evening snacks? You guessed it, fruit. If all these beans and fruit bother you, the author recommends Beano and Imodium. What a way (not) to live.

The author made extreme statements, such as, “. . . in your body sugar turns to pure fat . . . .” and “these foods [bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice] turn into pure fat.” Certain foods do not turn into “pure fat”. The body stores any extra calories as fat, no matter the source of those calories.

“Let’s Do Lunch” isn’t the way to lose weight unless you are firmly convinced and committed to living permanently without simple carbohydrates or complex carbohydrates from grains. If you are willing to limit your food intake to lean meat, beans, very little cheese, very few grain-based crackers, vegetables, and lots and lots of fruit, then this is for you. If not, then skip it. This strikes me as an unhealthy way to live because it is unbalanced. Portion control in conjunction with the food pyramid is a much more healthy and successful way to lose weight and to eat in general.

I would not recommend this book to anyone, as I think it would be discouraging, not to mention unhealthy. While there are apparently those for whom this eating plan works, they certainly must be few and far between.

The Edge of the Divine, Where Possibility Meets God’s Faithfulness by Sandi Patty

2010-08-04T06:58:00.001-07:00

While the title of the book may make you think it’s a theological treatise, this book actually centers around the author’s struggle with weight loss, her LapBand surgery and its effect on her life. It is really an account of why and how the author became overweight, her self-image, and how weight loss has affected how she feels about herself.
This book is for you if you love Sandi Patty, for it is a detailed account of her journey in the past couple of years. This book is not for you if you seek a book encouraging you to see God in your daily experiences, as the title seemed to imply.
If you love Sandi Patty, you will love this book, for it gives you a glimpse into the everyday life of this celebrated singer. She comes across as a person, not a performer.
This book was interesting both because of its author and its topic. It is the kind of book, though, that would or should not have been published if not written by someone well known.
The Edge of the Divine conveyed biblical truth well, as Sandi Patty discussed how her relationship with God helped in a very real way in her struggle with her weight

You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be by Max Lucado

2010-07-09T08:57:00.001-07:00

This small book is comprised of selections from the author’s Cure for the Common Life. It encourages the reader to find God’s uniqueness for his or her life by tracing interests and abilities from childhood on to see the talents, gifts, interests and abilities God built in carefully and purposefully as a design for success.

Max Lucado’s premise in this book is that God’s special plan for each person is revealed in God’s specific planting in each life. Contrary to popular belief, the author says, “You cannot be anything you want to be. But you can be everything God wants you to be.” Since no one possesses every ability or inclination, everyone cannot be everything.

The author encourages readers to know their S.T.O.R.Y, or Strengths, Topic (or passion), Optimal conditions (or motivation), Relationships (essentially, introvert or extrovert), and Yes!, or what brings God pleasure in you.

The book includes warnings against greed and ambition, which can move a person to give up their “sweet spot”, or position of maximum influence, for management or supervisory roles, summed up in the author’s thought that “In a desire to be great, one might cease being any good.” The book concludes by encouraging the reader to take great risks for God, trusting little deeds to help change the world.

This book was a good reminder that God’s ways are not man’s ways. It would particularly be good for an adolescent or young adult.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Friendship for Grown-Ups by Lisa Whelchel

2010-06-16T21:18:00.001-07:00

It would be easy to imagine that someone like Lisa Whelchel, a child actor, had everything, including ideal relationships. After all, she came from a good family, worked for years with a group of talented actresses her age, and married young. In contrast to appearances, there was a gaping hole in her life: female friendships. From her description, she has only recently intentionally pursued friendship and has had to learn lessons many, but not all, learn in adolescence. Her book is aimed at those who have some of those same blank spots.

Mixed in with the lessons she’s learned are illustrations of the relational successes and failures the author experienced along the way. She is open and honest about her journey; her questions and struggles are ones most people know. Her thoughts are informative, encouraging, and challenging, and her anecdotes are ones most will understand.

Lisa Whelchel does a good job describing how to be and how to have a friend. Some of her most helpful thoughts are in the appendices, where the author gives practical steps and even questions to help foster friendships.

If friendship has been or is a struggle for you, this would be a helpful book.

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Charts and Maps, 3rd edition

2010-04-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

In addition to charts and maps, this book contains an outline, description and summary of each book of the Bible. It is thorough and is a good companion book to introduce someone to the Bible. I was quite impressed with this book, as it is packed with information. It is well written and very organized.

Having been to Israel for the first time recently, I especially appreciated the maps, which helped explain biblical events. In addition, I found each book’s outline to be carefully written. Charts were helpful and sometimes made comparisons which were new to me.

This book was so helpful I am sure I will reach for it again and again, especially when beginning a study of a book. I highly recommend this excellent biblical reference book.

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

2010-01-24T05:54:00.000-08:00

This book is essentially an edited, abbreviated version of their earlier book, “God Will Make a Way,” outlining eight principles to help one begin again: begin your journey with God, choose your traveling companions wisely, place high value on wisdom, leave your baggage behind, own your faults and weaknesses, embrace problems as gifts, take life as it comes, and love God with all you are. Their earlier book applied these principles to 12 common dilemmas, and the recent version addresses three.

The eight principles encapsulate some of the best work of Cloud and Townsend. For example, the chapter on companions lists nine important characteristics in others: support, love, courage, feedback, wisdom, experience, modeling, values, and accountability, which to me is a deep and thoughtful look at how to evaluate potential friends.

This book is well written and easy to read. As usual, Cloud and Townsend present biblical truth effectively, citing Scripture appropriately and frequently.

If your life requires change, this little book is a great starting place. If your life requires deep, comprehensive change, I recommend “God Will Make a Way” simply because that earlier book provides more information and help.

Where is God? Finding His Presence, Purpose, and Power in Difficult Times By Dr. John Townsend

2010-01-08T20:46:00.001-08:00

This book addresses the heart’s cry—“Where is God?”-- when God’s power or presence seem absent or when the question is really a protest, exploring the question’s faulty bases in our circumstances or in our perspective.

Chapters address where God really is—suffering with me, working behind the scenes, transforming me, connecting me with others and present when there are no answers.

This book is thorough, encouraging, practical, and helpful. Townsend lives in the real world, rubbing shoulders with people who face the difficult question, “Where is God?” in trying times. He carefully addresses the question from every angle, giving encouragement and solid suggestions based on Scripture. Biblical passages are woven beautifully into the principles and suggestions.

Anyone in any circumstances would profit from reading this well-written book.

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Paul Meier, MD, and David L. Henderson, MD

2009-12-15T06:13:00.001-08:00

This book is about dealing effectively with “seven universal struggles”: injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure, and death.

Each section of the book explores the problems caused by each struggle and then provides steps and practical encouragement toward overcoming each struggle. For example, in addressing loneliness, the experience is described as both physical and emotional, with obstacles of modern comforts, limited scope, objectification, pride, segregation, and time. The reader is pointed to Jesus’ example, encouraged to relate to God, know oneself, and improve one’s relationships by avoiding complacency, removing the plank from one’s own eye, changing the face of one’s prayers, turning conflict into opportunity, look to future reward, be encouraged by what is learned, and be teachable. Each chapter is this thorough and deep, with much food for thought.

This book was very interesting and challenging, causing me to examine myself. It is written in a very readable fashion and is cohesive and appealing. Biblical truth is effectively conveyed and is an integral part of the writing.

I recommend this book

Fresh Start by Doug Fields

2009-10-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Fresh Start emphasizes timeless biblical principles, such as perseverance in the face of temptation, quickly seeking God's forgiveness when we sin, replacing pride with God-directed dreams in our life, viewing those who hurt us through God's eyes, practicing forgiveness, and gaining God's perspective in hurtful situations. This book encourages believers to depend on God's faithfulness and draw upon our Heavenly Father's grace, kindness and direction. Fields utilizes contemporary illustrations and examples from his own life to encourage the reader not to give up on God down the sometimes rocky road of discipleship and intimacy with Jesus Christ.

Notable chapters include chapter 4, “Beyond Your Past,” in which we are encouraged not to let poor choices and wrong decisions weigh down our lives, and chapter 5, “Freedom From Hurt,” which may be the book's most important chapter because it helps us prevent the poison of hate from invading our lives.

This is a relevant, biblically accurate read that will encourage the new Christian or older saint, and I highly recommend it as an aid in staying focused on the centrality of Jesus Christ in our life.