Friday, December 7, 2012

"Live Second" - Doug Bender

Doug Bender's "Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First" is an awesome daily devotional that stretches over one year of profound and inspirational readings. What I absolutely love about this devotional is that each day's reading is short and easy to read, no matter how busy your day may be. Each day's devotion offers a Bible verse that sums up the overall message for the day, and includes a short explanation or message that expands on the idea of the verse. Each day also offers a suggested prayer that is also related to the overall message of the day.

I also thought it was neat that every days poses the questions, "How will you live more Second today?" and "How will you share what you have learned?" These simple questions are a daily reminder of the underlying purpose of this book - putting God first, and learning to live "Second". Once a week, the devotional also offers some discussion questions, whether you ponder them individually or work through this book in a small group setting. Either way these discussion questions give you a chance to really evaluate the passages and apply it to your own life.

I thought this book was great - a profound message of living "Second", and learning to live a life defined by putting Christ in the #1 spot in your life. I would highly recommend this for anyone - would be great for high school ages and up, in my opinion. Great tool - loved it!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. I did not receive any financial compensation for this review.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Radical Question/ A Radical Idea

David Platt's "The Radical Question/A Radical Idea" is what I would consider a follow-up to his best seller "Radical". This book is essentially two books in one, but both share the same theme of true commitment to spreading the gospel of Jesus, even when it means sacrificing and taking risk.

"The Radical Question" discusses the difficulty of complete devotion to Christ in spite of a society that puts so much emphasis on personal success. This book uses personal stories and situations to make us think about how we can use whatever God has given us to help those around us, and further His kingdom.

"A Radical Idea" discusses the need for Christian communities not only come together within the church, but in the community to extend God's word in the world. Bringing others to God should be one of the main focuses of our lives, and this commitment needs to come first for us.

Overall I thought these two books were very well written and make some really good points. Interesting, and I would recommend it.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review and did not receive financial compensation for this review.

Uncle Jesus

"Uncle Jesus" is a colorful children's book that tells the story of Jesus through memories that his young nephew has of his time with Uncle Jesus. The entire story is told through these memories, as a young Shem recalls his fondest memories of his uncle in conversation with his Grandma Mary.

The storyline of the book is cute and allows the younger reader to see Jesus as a real person who they can relate to through Shem. I would recommend this book for ages 6 and up. Some of the vocabulary choices are more appropriate for older children, as my four year old had some trouble understanding.

Overall I would give this book a 4/5. The illustrations are colorful and the story itself is an original idea to help kids relate to Jesus.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review and received no financial compensation for my review.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Purpose Driven Life

I was so excited to receive "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. This particular edition is the expanded edition, which updates the original version with interactive tools to help you get the most out of the book - for example, each day's reading includes a QR code that you can scan if you have a smartphone, and it links you to further lectures and information that correlate with the message of the day.

"The Purpose Driven Life" is a devotional style book, with one chapter to read every day. The book aims to help us understand our God given purpose in this life. Many people strive to be successful in their careers, finances, family life, and even in their spiritual life, but it is easy to overlook the fact that God has created each and every one of us for a specific God given purpose, as well. Rick Warren does a great job in putting this into perspective, and posing questions to help us find God's purpose for our lives.

What I liked about this book was that each day of the reading made me feel like I really was learning, and growing in my understanding of what God wants for my life - how I can better serve his kingdom. Rick Warren uses Bible verses to explain what God created us for, and how we can achieve his purpose. The chapters were only a few pages per day, so it was easy to pick up before bed and read that day's message.

I think this book was absolutely wonderful, and a perfect reminder that there is so much more we need to accomplish in our lives than getting that promotion, or making more money. I would highly recommend this book to any adult - it's really a very thought provoking book. I enjoyed it.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's blogging for books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Walking on Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning

Tommy Nelson and Steve Leavitt have paired up to pen a book on dealing with anxiety and depression from a Christian perspective. "Walking on Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning: Finding Hope in Life's Darkest Moments" shares personal stories and triumphs of Tommy Nelson as he faced severe anxiety and depression. This book offers a lot of valuable wisdom to those who might also be facing these problems, or those who have a family member or friend going through depression or anxiety as well. The book takes a practical approach to explaining anxiety and depression, where it comes from, and how to deal with it. The book offers helpful information to questions those struggling may have, such as whether or not to take medication, and how they can change their mindset to help them in their troubles.

I thought this book was well written, and clearly comes from someone who knows first hand what a battle anxiety and depression can be, and how overwhelming it can feel to face. I thought this book offered sound advice for those who are dealing with anxiety or depression, and really broke these problems down and offered real advice that can be used in healing.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Anger Workbook

"The Anger Workbook" by Les Carter and Frank Minirth is an interactive workbook aimed at helping us recognize and manage anger. This book is really neat, as it has so many interactive features to help you understand how anger affects your own life - questions with space to write out your own answer really helps identify anger in your life, even if you don't think it affects you. This workbook is broken up into four sections: Identifying Your Anger; Anger Thrives on Unmet Needs; How Other Emotions Can Create Anger; and Applying New Insights About Anger Reduction. The book offers a lot of valuable insights and principles to help understand and reduce anger in anyone's life. Even if you don't consider yourself to be an angry person, I think you could still benefit from the valuable tidbits in this workbook.


FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's blogging for books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

What About Heaven

"What About Heaven?" by Kathleen Long Bostrom is a book in the "Little Blessings" series that offer children answers about Heaven - what Heaven is, who goes to Heaven, and what it is like in Heaven. The book is written in a sing song tone, with a cute rhyming pattern, which helps children remember some of the things they hear. The actual explanations about Heaven are Bible based, and each page gives the Scripture where the basis for that part of the story can be found. 

The book is easy for young children to understand, and Bostrom made the clear choice to use kid-friendly words, which makes this book appropriate for ages 3 and up. Another thing that I thought was important was that this book is very uplifting and cheerful - it makes Heaven feel like an exciting and fun place to go.

The book is illustrated by Elena Kucharik, and done wonderfully. The depictions of Heaven, and Angels are bright, colorful, and perfect for young children.

I thought this book was great for young children, especially if the loss of a loved one or loss of a pet has your child questioning what happens after they are gone.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

6 Verses That Can Change Your Life

"6 Verses That Can Change Your Life" by Joe Barnett is is great Biblical companion for reinforcing essential Biblical principles. This book is a paperback cover, with 215 pages of actual reading, followed by a section devoted to individual action steps and a group discussion guide that corresponds with the chapters in the book. The book itself is broken up into six different sections, each with a major theme, such as "joy", "courage", "patience", and "trust". Each section offers five chapters that expound on the theme from a Biblical perspective, exploring, explaining, and relating to the theme. The end of each section also offers one page of summary resolutions - essentially promises that you can make to help reinforce that theme.

I thought this book was thoughtfully written, and Biblically researched. I think that nearly anyone could benefit from the principles and advice contained in these chapters. I would recommend this for any adult reader, as it covers such important topics and really uses Biblical references as well as modern day tie-ins to help the reader relate.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Gaither Homecoming Bible

"The Gaither Homecoming Bible" is an absolutely beautiful Bible that attempts to build faith not only through the word of God, but also through music and personal stories from others. Bill and Gloria Gaither and their team put together this Bible, and it is wonderful - they have added color to the pages of a traditional Bible, as well as made the connection between music and the Word. This is a hardcover, New King James Version. Throughout the Bible, they have added personal stories and insights from a variety of people, that ties in to the message of that particular passage of the Bible. Another thing they did was take a handful of popular hymns and trace back their origins, which was interesting to read.

I thought this Bible was beautifully pieced together with all the little extras that the Gaithers have added. I loved the added color on each page, and the musical features. I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone - I love it, and will definitely treasure it for many years to come.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. I did not receive any financial compensation for this review.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Men of Sunday

"Men of Sunday" by Curtis Eichelberger is the perfect book for the Christian football lover! This book profiles some of the biggest names in football - past and present, and their challenges they face not only in their career, but in their faith. Most people think that these NFL athletes are tough, no nonsense kind of guys, but this book sheds light on a side of these men that most never see. Through in person interviews, Eichelberger retells the struggles and faith of men like Tony Dungy, Ray Lewis, Aaron Rodgers, Tim Tebow, and Herb Lusk. What I loved about this book is that each chapter has a theme, and Eichelberger uses stories from these men and others tied in with Biblical references and verses and it all fits together. I thought this book was very well written, and truly interesting. I was able to find a newfound respect for many of these men by learning their personal stories of faith and challenge, and how they were able to come out on top in their spiritual lives as well as on the football field. Great book, and would highly recommend it.


FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

90 Devotions for Kids

"90 Devotions for Kids" is a cute way to start getting your child into the habit of reading a little bit of the Bible every day. The devotionals are numbered, but not dated, so it is easy to jump in whenever you pick up the book. Each devotional starts with a Bible verse for that day, and then a short story or real life application for that verse. This is followed by a made up scenario about a particular character that helps compound the lesson and make it more real life for the child reading. The devotional ends with a daily challenge, that encourages the child to dig deeper into the lesson, or read more in their Bible. The very last part of the daily devotional is a Bible Theme memory verse. At the end of each week, there is a "theme" that takes a topic and gives almost an overview of the devotionals, with a memory verse, short story or explanation, and a short prayer. These topics cover subjects like learning about Jesus, the Bible, and forgiveness. Also mixed into this book are puzzles for the child to tackle. I thought this devotional gave a lot of variety and paid attention to topics that can really help younger kids grow in their faith. I would recommend this book for children ages 5+. Wonderfully written, great applications, and easy Bible verses for children to remember.


FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

God of All Creation

"God of All Creation" by James Robison with James Randall Robison is a book dedicated to lessons that Robison has learned through observing animals. James Robison shares with us some of his memories and stories - mostly of his dog, Princess, and then he takes these examples and relates them to our relationship with God. In the same ways that Princess is obedient to her master, and the relationship between her and her owner, Robison draws parallels between our relationship with God.

This book is relatively short, and the chapters themselves are only 3-4 pages each, so this could easily be read as a devotional style book. The stories of Princess and the Robison family are entertaining, but also relevant to the message that James is sharing, and the parallel that he draws. I thought this book was well written, with thoughtful insights and great stories. I would recommend this book to the animal lover, as the stories are centered around wildlife.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Water Brook Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

The Open Bible

I have to say that I am absolutely in love with The Open Bible - This Bible is written in the New King James Version, so it maintains its traditional translation, but the resources within this Bible allow you to feel like you are gaining a deeper understanding of the Bible.

There are many "extras" that are packed into this Bible, such as a vast cyclopedic index that allows you to find literally anything you are looking for - this index exceeds 300 pages, and is so inclusive it would be hard to find a topic that isn't covered! Each book of this bible begins with an introduction to the specific time period, author of that book, survey of the book, key words, verses, and chapters, as well as a very detailed outline of the chapter. This is a huge resource, in my opinion, because it allows you to really soak in the things going on at the time, the key passages to look for, and have a better understanding of what is taking place, and why. This Bible also offers colorful maps at the back of the Bible, detailing important geographic areas as they were in Biblical times.

Another resource that I found particularly interesting is the Visual Survey that is inserted between the Old Testament and the New Testament. This gives you a visual overview of the Bible, outlining topics such as: the  history of Israel, the history of the early world, the poetic books, the prophetic books, as well as an overview of the basic information about the Old and New Testament, and key figures within them. This is really interesting and allows you to grasp a lot of information about the Bible without requiring hours of research and reading.

The back of the Bible also offers resources such as a section dedicated to archaeological discoveries that relate to the Bible, a list of the laws of the Bible, an index of Jesus' parables and where they can be found within the Bible, a guide to Christian workers, as well as a concordance. The Open Bible truly offers a great amount of resources within its pages, and I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone! I loved it!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for my honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Book of Life Recovery

Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop have joined forces to create "The Book of Life Recovery", which is a Biblical based companion to the 12 step program for recovering from addiction. This book uses personal stories of addiction and recovery, coupled with Biblical support to instill hope and restore faith in those who are recovering from addiction, or for those who have loved ones who are struggling with addiction. This book uses scriptural references and Bible stories to support the addict in creating a new lifestyle based on their faith.

I thought that "The Book of Life Recovery" is a great resource for those suffering from addiction, trying to recover from addiction, or loved ones of those who are addicted. The book offers Biblical insights, as well as Bible studies with self assessment questions for the addict to really evaluate their own choices and personal situation. Addiction is something that can really take over your life, and I thought that this book really offers a lot of information, hope, and support for those who are struggling.

I liked that each chapter represents one of the twelve steps, so that the reader can absorb each step one at a time, without feeling completely overwhelmed. The Biblical references are easy to understand, but really contribute to the content of the steps. I would give this book a 5/5.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not under any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

How To Be A Child of God

David Howell's book, "How To Be A Child of God", is a comic book style short book all about salvation. This book is very short - only 37 pages, and has a small amount of actual reading to it. The majority of the pages are filled with vivid illustrations. This book reminds me of the religious tracts that my grandmother used to leave on the table at restaurants, only more appealing. The book mainly focuses on the salvation granted to us from God, but also gives a short crash course in Christianity, and how to live as a child of God. I liked the colorful illustrations, which really helped tie it all together, and make it have more of a comic book feel - I think this would especially appeal to middle school and high school children who may be considering becoming Christians. I think this would also be a great way to introduce someone to Christianity, without overwhelming them with principles, and ideals. I would highly recommend this book - I thought it was great!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from BookCrash.com for free in exchange for an honest review. I did not have to write a positive review.

KJV Bride's Bible

The KJV Bride's Bible is a traditional King James Version Bible, trimmed in a white, decorative cover, with a few pages at the beginning of the Bible dedicated to penning your wedding day memories. The Bible is a red letter version, with an extensive concordance, as well as several colorful maps to help you understand the lands as they were during Biblical times. As a Bible, this is a traditional Bible, but much smaller - this Bible is more the size of a novel, which makes it easy to take it with you when you are on the go. The cover of this Bible is beautiful, with a white, flowery design that makes it very feminine. The type of the Bible is smaller, which is to be expected considering the significantly smaller size of the Bible. Overall, I would say this would be a great gift for any bride.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tough Guys & Drama Queens

Mark Gregston's book, "Tough Guys & Drama Queens" is a book written to help parents avoid the pitfalls of their children's teenage years. What I really enjoyed was that Gregston was in touch with today's society and culture, and really understood the pressure that is placed on teenagers to act a certain way. It becomes vital for us as parents to help our children develop a strong moral compass, in order for them to make good decisions. The book focuses on parenting techniques, and really delves into which ones work and which ones don't. I really thought this was a great book, and would highly recommend this book to anyone with kids who are approaching the teenage years.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Jackson

"Jackson : The Iron Willed Commander" by Paul Vickery is another installment in The Generals series of books. The book profiles Andrew Jackson, from early childhood through his presidency and ensuing legacy. What I love about this series of books is the focus on the early lives of these great men in our history. Nearly everyone knows some of Andrew Jackson's most important career achievements, including that he was the 7th President of the United States. But the human element of some of the facts about his earlier years are absolutely fascinating. For example, as a young man Jackson fought cocks, drank alcohol, and gambled! Who would have thought that such an upstanding man would have had such a rowdy spirit in his earlier years! I also found it very interesting that he married a woman who was divorced, believing that the divorce had been finalized, only to discover two years after he married her, that the divorce had not been finalized. I thought this book was well written, and I really enjoyed how all of the little details about Jackson's life come together to give a surprising and interesting picture of the man that is counted among the greatest Generals in our nation's history. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history or Presidential history.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com's Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Implosion

Joel C. Rosenberg's newest book is called "Implosion: Can American Recover from its Economic & Spiritual Challenges in Time?"

This book is an analysis of the current economy, spiritual disposition, and historical accounts of the United States. Rosenberg's book makes his case that we are currently living in the End Times that the Bible warned us about. By using specific situations in American history, and linking events in our timelines with Biblical prophecy and warning, Rosenberg makes a very convincing argument.

Rosenberg uses examples such as the United States' relationship with Israel, as well as the rebirth of Israel and the Biblical implications of that relationship. Rosenberg discusses life in the last days, and the need for believers to analyze the times and be aware of the signs. Rosenberg also discusses financial fallout, war, terrorism, and natural disasters linked with prophecy to prove his point.

This book was a very interesting read, that opened up my mind and linked a lot of events with Biblical warnings. What I appreciated about this book was that Rosenberg had clearly done his research - this book uses fact, coupled with Biblical Scripture to make the case that the United States is currently on the edge of a cliff, and monumental change is inevitable.

I would recommend this book for any citizen who has genuine concerns about the Biblical era that we appear to be living in.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a favorable review.

Grant

"Grant" is yet another installment in "The Generals" series of books, written by Mitchell Yockelson. What I absolutely love about this series of books is the wide angle that the writers use - examining not only the military career of the chosen general, but their personal life and accomplishments as well. "Grant" is no exception to this pattern. This book begins with the early life of Ulysses S. Grant, which really shows the reader a more personal side of someone who is so celebrated for military achievements. I loved that this book really allows you to connect with Grant in a completely different way. Nearly everyone knows of Grant's success in the United States military, but did you know that he hated to hunt in his younger years? Or that he enjoyed swimming? Creating this personal, very human element in the biography of Grant really creates a connection with the reader. I thought this book was very well written, completely accurate, and even entertaining! I would highly recommend this book to any history lover in your life - I give this read 5/5!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a favorable review.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

To Heaven and Back

Mary C. Neal's book, "To Heaven and Back" is an absolutely intriguing first hand account of a tragic accident that brought Mary to Heaven and back to her life on Earth. Mary was involved in a kayaking accident that pinned her underwater, effectively causing her to die. Mary tells us of her experience of her soul leaving her body, and entering a great hall, and her experiences with heavenly bodies. Mary tells of her sadness at learning that it was not yet her time, and being sent back to her human body. We also get to follow Mary's life after her extraordinary experience. I thought this book was really fascinating, and would highly recommend it to anyone - men, women, students, teachers. "To Heaven and Back" is inspirational and well written, and the perfect read. I loved it - would give it a 5/5.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free through the Blogging for Books blogger program. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Common Sense

I recently received a copy of "The Book of Common Sense for a Successful Life" by D.L. Dennis. I have to say that the title of the book was very true - this is a book that is nearly entirely common sense. In this book, Dennis attempts to enlighten us with spiritual, financial, and social advice. Most of the common sense tips in the book fall under the financial heading, discussing topics such as retirement, saving money, the value of money, and giving to the church and community. The problem that I had with this book was that most of the tips in this book are completely common sense, especially to those of us who have been around the block a time or two. I really didn't feel like I took much away from this book, because it was a lot of concepts that I am already very familiar with. Perhaps it would make a good gift for a college graduate or someone just starting out on their own, though.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free through the BookCrash.com blogging program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Fearless

"Fearless" by Eric Blehm is a book that details the life of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator, Adam Brown. Let me start by saying that this book was not at all what I expected - it was so much better! What I expected was all military, war, and battle stories, but this book starts at the very beginning of Adam's life, chronicling his intense love, commitment, and drive to accomplish his goals. The story of Adam Brown sees us through the full scale of emotions, but through it all we see an amazing man, driven by love for his family, friends, and God.

I have to admit, that this book sucks you in from the beginning. Even though it is essentially a biography of Adam Brown's life, it has all of the suspense, intrigue, and empathetic qualities of a good novel. This book pays amazing tribute to Adam Brown, and proves that not only was he a great father, friend, and an upstanding member of society, but that he was someone we can all look up to - he was a true hero.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone - It is an amazing book about an amazing man.


FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Press through their Blogging for Books program, in exchange for my honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Unstuck: Your Life. God's Design. Real Change

Arnie Cole and Michael Ross have created a great book entitled, "Unstuck: Your Life. God's Design. Real Change". This book attempts to help us draw closer to God in our spiritual life, through a series of chapters that delve into the heart of why we tend to "stall out" in our spiritual lives, how to overcome those setbacks, and through them, grow as Christians. What I thought was interesting about this book was the amount of statistical data that was available - numbers and percentages of people who read their Bible every day, and what situations are temptations for men vs. women. I thought it was very interesting to see this information. I think that Arnie and Michael offer up quite a bit of valuable and insightful information about keeping the wheels moving, so to speak, on our spiritual journey. Each chapter ends with a "research reveals", "encouraging nudge", and "spiritual stepping stones". The "research reveals" offers up a fact about our spiritual life, revealed through research. "Encouraging nudge" offers a short, but inspirational paragraph reiterating the message of the chapter, and encouraging you to follow through on the ideas presented. "Spiritual stepping stones" are a series of a few scriptures to memorize, and a question to meditate on related to that scripture. I thought that this book was a really good reminder of how our walk can slow to a near stop, and that it requires a daily choice, and daily effort to maintain that relationship with Christ.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review about this book.

Asher of Bethlehem

"Asher of Bethlehem" by Howard Rodney Jones is a wonderful story of the birth of Jesus. The story centers around an orphan names Asher, who is living in Bethlehem, and his best friend Medad. Medad's parents own the inn in Bethlehem, and Asher is able to spend time doing work at the inn. This story keeps the basics of the Biblical story of Jesus' birth accurate, but adds these characters and creates a story that truly draws children in and allows them to experience the birth as never before. This books is over 100 pages long, so definitely for more advanced readers - I would recommend ages 7 and up. From the crowded inn, to the magi following a star, this story has all of the Biblical fact of the nativity, but has the suspense and intrigue of a novel. This is a great book to get children interested and excited about learning about the birth of Jesus. I would highly recommend this book, and think that most children would enjoy it!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com in exchange for my review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Your Heart's Desire

Sheri Rose Shepherd's book "Your Heart's Desire" is a wonderful book for women. Whether you are married, single, or divorced/widowed, you will gain wisdom from this book. Sheri uses a series of personal stories, Biblical references, and inspirational thoughts to stir our hearts for God, and to desire his love above all else. I believe that through this understanding, we begin to have the capacity to truly love and be loved. Once we begin to understand God's love, we also begin to understand how we are called to love our husbands, or boyfriends. The chapters are a little longer than what you can read in one sitting, especially if you have young  children, but it is easy to pick up when you have the time. Each chapter has a foundation of a Bible verse to start off, followed by a personal story or Biblical story to illustrate that verse better, and help us relate to it. Sheri creates a wonderful book here, complete with a final thought at the end of each chapter, as well as love questions for a small group, and love questions online with Sheri that can be answered via a link supplied with each question. I thought this book was great, and will definitely be keeping it on my bookshelf for when I need a reminder of how to love. Great book!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishing in exchange for my review. I was not obligated to write a positive review of this book.

The Coming Revolution

Dr. Richard G. Lee's newest book, "The Coming Revolution: Signs from America's past that Signal Our Nation's Future" is a very interesting and insightful read. Dr. Lee essentially makes the argument that our country sits on the verge of a second revolution, necessitated by society's loss of faith, morals, and American spirit. We, as a nation, were founded on basic Christian principles, and our founding fathers set our nation on a course for greatness. But, as our country aged, we also pulled away from God - removing God from the public school system, rejecting monogamy in marriage, and ending our protection of all life by allowing abortion. Dr. Lee's book makes a great case for following our convictions and faith, and ushering in a "revolution" - to change our country from the ground up. I thought this book was thought provoking, and I would recommend it to anyone who believes that our country and government need a major overhaul.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review of this book.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Necessity of an Enemy

"The Necessity of an Enemy" is an awesome book written by Ron Carpenter Jr. This book focuses on turning the usual attitude of "Why is this bad stuff happening to me" into using those bad situations to create an opportunity to be used in the way that God intended. I think that it is so easy to get caught up in feeling sorry for ourselves, or being disappointed when the twists and turns of life become difficult. This book does a great job of helping us change our attitude, and understand that when the enemy attacks, we can still let God's light shine!

"The Necessity of an Enemy" has very short chapters, so you could definitely read it as a devotional if you choose. I liked how many different topics that were in this book, and they all tied back in to the main point of the book - as followers of God, we are bound to encounter resistance from all sides - especially from the devil. Carpenter uses this book to show us how to be prepared for that resistance, and how we can use those situations to fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

I thought this book was great - I liked that there was a study guide at the back of the book, so that you can really soak up all of the useful insight that is in this book. I liked that the chapters were shorter, and that each one really was useful to me. I think that this book would be appropriate for anyone - we all go through hard times, and sometimes feel like we are alone, but as Carpenter puts it: "The teacher is always silent during the test". I believe that anyone can benefit from the wisdoms in this book.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Water Brook Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

All-Pro Dad

"All-Pro Dad" is a great book written for dads by Mark Merrill. "All-Pro Dad" is basically split into eight chapters, with each one prominently featuring one particular question that develops into one of Merrill's basic ideals about fatherhood. So many men muddle through fatherhood without any particular direction or conviction, and this book brings to the surface the heart of what it is to be a father.

Each chapter is through provoking, with topics such as: Who Am I? Who Or What Am I Living For? Why Do I Do What I Do? Merrill includes so many personal accounts to tie in with each chapter, and the end of each chapter offers a few questions that you can ask your own children about to help better understand their view of you with regard to each chapter of this book. 



This book is a great resource for any dad, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is trying to be the best dad that they can be. "All-Pro Dad" is a combination of grandfatherly wisdom, Biblical principles, and insight from a friend. It offers up so much insight into fatherhood, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it for any of the dads I know. Great book.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Snuggles' Japanese Alps Adventure

"Snuggles' Japanese Alps Adventure" by Tim Ostermeyer is a breathtakingly beautiful book all about the early life of an adorable monkey named Snuggles. Ostermeyer uses a clear talent with photography to document the early life of this particular monkey, as he plays with his friend, snuggles with his mother, and travels to the hot springs before the weather gets too cold. Along the way he learns valuable lessons, guided by Bible verses.

The photography in this book is absolutely amazing. Children will absolutely love following Snuggles on his journey to the hot springs, and learning about this adorable monkey and his family. The story itself is relatively easy to understand, so I would recommend it for ages 4 and up. The only part of the book that didn't really seem to fit was the brief discussion on evolution - the wording was confusing for young children, and difficult to really understand. While this could be used to open a discussion about evolution, I think that for the age this book was created for, it just overcomplicated things.

I would give this book a 4 / 5, and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to keep their child's bookshelf wholesome, and Bible-friendly.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, April 23, 2012

A Garden of Love

"A Garden of Love" by Thomas B. Clarke is a very interesting book. This book features all of the flowers that you can find in the Gethsemane Prayer Garden in Syracuse, New York. The Gethsemane Prayer Garden (which I didn't know, until I read the author's notes) is a place where Christians are encouraged to be still and hear the Lord, among these beautiful flowers. This book creates a sort of prayer garden in your mind, allowing you to savor the beautiful flowers, and meditate on the Lord. There are about two pages devoted to each flower, featuring a beautiful photo and description. Each flower has also been assigned a Biblical characteristic, some of which are: new journey with Christ; loving your enemies, loving deeply, reconciliation, obedience to Christ; and trusting the Lord. After the flower's description, Clarke begins tying in the theme of that flower complete with Scripture. I thought this book was beautiful, and I would highly recommend it. It's something different, but completely worth spending time reading.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Being Kind and Caring

"Being Kind and Caring" is a set of animated stories for children. This DVD contains two stories - "The Hullabaloo at Hunker Hill" and "The Great Go-Kart Race". Both stories contain relevant, easy to understand storylines, featuring adorable animated characters. Each story has an underlying Biblical principle attached to it, such as forgiveness, kindness, and caring. "The Hullabaloo at Hunker Hill" has a message based on Matthew 18:21-22, and "The Great Go-Kart Race" has a message based on Matthew 6:14. I think that this DVD offers an alternative to current mainstream children's programming for parents who want their children to start understanding Christian principles while watching television. My daughter really enjoyed this DVD, and I would recommend it for children ages 3 and up.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this DVD for free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

Man Alive

"Man Alive" by Patrick Morley is a book written for men, all about living a more satisfying, and electric spiritual life. This book attempts to peel back the layers of spiritual redundancy that many men fall into, and reignite the fire for God. I think that this book offers up so many awesome insights into why men fall into a stagnant spiritual walk, even if they don't recognize it at first. Patrick Morley gives honest, real advice on how to escape the humdrum, going through the routine type of faith, and truly live an electric spiritual life - the one that we were meant to live. Morley offers a man-to-man type of conversation, backed with Biblical advice and references. I would recommend this book to men of any age who want more out of their walk with God. I think that this book offers something that any man could benefit from.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing in exchange for an honest review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

"Here's Lily"

"Here's Lily" by Nancy Rue is such a fantastic book for young girls. We live in a world where body image starts affecting children at an incredibly young age, through constant bombardment from television, magazines, and other media. "Here's Lily" is a children's book that tackles big issues. Lily is just like so many young girls, struggling to feel comfortable in their own skin, wanting to feel beautiful. This book takes on the issue of God confidence, helping these girls to really understand their own special beauty, through an entertaining and easy to read story. I found this to be an amazing book, and although my daughter is still a little young to understand it, I intend to hold onto it and use it as a tool when she is a little bit older. I absolutely would recommend this book to anyone with a daughter or granddaughter - it's such a great book!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tommy Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

He Chose the Nails

Max Lucado's newest book, "He Chose the Nails" is a book all about God's love and sacrifice for his people. The book discusses the life and death of Jesus, intertwined with personal stories to reinforce the deep love of God for each and every person. The tagline on the front of the book reads, "What God did to win your heart", and that is the foundation of the book - the amazing sacrifice of Jesus that allowed us to be close to our Creator. This book is very empowering, showing God for exactly what he is - a loving father, willing to sacrifice his own son to allow us to have a relationship with him. Lucado adds his own personal insights and stories that only add to the book's message, and allow us to connect with the reality of God's love. This book is wonderful, and I would highly recommend it.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Friday, March 30, 2012

The Creation

"The Creation" by Janice D. Green is a kid-friendly retelling of God's formation of our universe. This book is wonderful for young children, as it uses vivid illustrations to accompany the easy to read story of the Creation. I have a young child, and thought this book was perfect - simplistic in its message, language that a young child can easily understand (after all, the story starts to lose its meaning if you have to stop every few sentences and respond to, "Mommy, what does that mean?"). I thought that the story itself was true to the Bible, and was something the whole family could enjoy reading together. Each page of the story also offers up question prompts for parents to ask the children, which I thought was a great addition. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a special young child in their life, and would like for them to learn more about how our world was created.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from BookCrash.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions herein are solely my own.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Simply Grilling

“Simply Grilling” by Jennifer Chandler is an entire cookbook devoted to meals made on the grill. Chandler pulled together over one hundred of these recipes, complete with photographs of each. The recipes in this cookbook have a wide variety of flavor profiles, so there is definitely something for everyone. From appetizers, entered, side dishes, salads, sandwiches, and even desserts, there are plenty of delicious recipes to choose from. Chandler gives us recipes for the classic grilling foods, such as filet mignon, pork chops, and chicken but also includes many not so common recipes, like nachos, black bean salsa, and bananas foster - all cooked on the grill. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to spend more time outdoors while making a delicious meal, or while entertaining this summer.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free through Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Spirit Wars

"Spirit Wars" by Kris Vallotton is a very interesting book. The story centers around Vallotton's real life experiences with the battle he faced with the demonic forces of the spiritual realm. Vallotton became so fearful and experiences anxiety due to the torture he endured at the hands of the dark forces of the spiritual world. The story of his deliverance from his torturers is absolutely amazing, and offers us a rare glimpse inside his personal victory. Vallotton also gives us advice, based on his personal struggles, on winning our own spiritual battles, and how to be prepared for them. I thought this book offered up a lot of useful information and advice from someone who has experienced this spiritual battle, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the spiritual battles raging in our lives.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not under any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Kingdom Man

"Kingdom Man" by Tony Evans is a book written for men that attempts to help Christian men reclaim their role as leaders in our society, family, and businesses. This book uses both Biblical events, Scriptural references, as well as personal stories to enliven the role of the Christian man. What I liked about this book was that Tony Evans creates a sense of excitement about being a man. In a time when it is so easy to get sidetracked from our true goals in life, Tony brings the focus back to what is important. He discusses topics like making wise decisions, taking the lead, family life, making a difference, and personal life. I would highly recommend this book for any man - or as a special gift to the man in your life. Wonderfully written, completely focused, and geared toward the male gender. Great read.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review of this book. All opinions are entirely my own.

1000 Days

"1000 Days" by Jonathan Falwell is a book all about the 3 years of ministry prior to Jesus' death. The book is very interesting, and I really enjoyed Falwell's comprehensive story of the ministry of Jesus while he was on Earth. Overall, the book was well-written, and easy to follow. The only thing that I had a little trouble with was that there were a few parts of the book that didn't seem to really flow with the actual theme of Jesus' ministry - like a few extra points were thrown in, even though they were a little off topic. I would give this book a 3/5, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to explore the work that Jesus did in his ministry while on Earth. This book is interesting, and I haven't ever come across anything like it so far, so it is definitely worth a read.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, March 19, 2012

King of Glory

"King of Glory" by P.D. Bramsen, and illustrated by Arminda San Martin is an easy to read retelling of some of the most important Biblical stories. Each story is one page long, with the following page having a beautiful illustration of that story. This book includes the story of Adam and Eve, The Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, The Ten Commandments, and Jesus' birth and missionary work. This book would be ideal for older children, from ages 7 and up. The stories are easy to read, with simple language, perfect for this age group, who can start to understand the stories of the Bible, but aren't quite able to understand a more advanced Bible yet. I thought this was the perfect book, and the illustrations are beautiful, vivid, and relevant to the message. I would highly recommend this book to any parent or grandparent who has a child between the ages of 7 and 12. Wonderfully written!

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher through BookCrash.com's blogging program in exchange for an honest review of this book. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

God Gave Us Love

"God Gave Us Love" by Lisa Tawn Bergren is an adorable story written for children all about love. The basic moral of the book, told through a Grampa polar bear and his adorable grandson polar bear, is that God gave us love, in many forms. The book talks about loving siblings, God's love for his children, love between a mommy and a daddy, and loving people we may not really like. This book is perfect for young children, between ages 1 and 5. The words are simple and easy for young children to understand easily, and the illustrations are adorable. We will definitely be adding this book to the rotation for my three year old. Adorable.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Water Brook Publishers as a part of their Blogging for Books program, in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Great Day Every Day - Max Lucado

"Great Day Every Day" is an awesome book by Max Lucado that deals with finding God's grace even in disappointment and despair. Lucado addresses such issues as grief, purpose, anxiety, catastrophe, and fear within this book, combining personal stories with Biblical resources to help us find a way to rejoice in the midst of our pain/anxiety/hurt/etc. What I really liked about this book was that it offered stories from the Bible to supplement the text, showing us that even when we are hurting, God's grace is still there. I liked this book, and think it is the perfect book to help find a little inspiration for a hard day - and really who doesn't have those days once in awhile? The chapters are relatively short, and each is centered on dealing with a certain type of struggle, so if you are having an anxious day, you can skip right to the chapter titled, "Peace for Anxious Days", or if you have having a fearful day, "Faith for Fear-Filled Days" might be a good read for you. Great book - I loved it!

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review - this review is my own opinion.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Lazarus Awakening

"Lazarus Awakening" by Joanna Weaver is the third book in the Bethany trilogy, but feel free to pick up this book without reading the first two. I found this book to be very interesting, and enjoyed reading it. "Lazarus Awakening" consists of ten chapters, chronicling the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The book begins when Lazarus is very ill and near death. What I liked about this book was that it told the story, but Weaver also intertwined her own personal thoughts and stories into relevant places within the chapters. I also really liked the study guide in the back of the book - it really helps you get what Weaver is saying. I would recommend this book, and give it a 5/5. 


FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Publishers through their Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Our Favorite Sins

"Our Favorite Sins" by Todd D. Hunter is an honest and revealing book about sin. I really enjoyed this book, and found it to be a practical approach to learning how to avoid the sins that we most commonly commit. Hunter isn't accusing everyone of being sinful, but he understands that so many of us struggle with things like jealousy, selfishness, and greed. Hunter uses this book as a vehicle for helping us through our struggle, and develop the tools necessary to change our own behavior, and our way of thinking so that we can be freed from those temptations.

I really loved the reality that Hunter brings to this book. It is an honest approach to dealing with everyday struggles that we face, and I think that it offers up ancient wisdoms to help us face and defeat our temptations. I would highly recommend this book to anyone - after all, we all face temptation in one way or another! 5/5!

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Life Promises for Couples

When I requested to review "Life Promises for Couples" by Gary Chapman, I was really excited to receive the book, and read it. I own "The Five Love Languages", and was really happy to see that the "Life Promises for Couples" expands on the basis of "The Five Love Languages". The messages are relatively short, but to the point. My husband and I read it like a devotional, and it worked wonderfully. Each day has a few short bible verses related to the overall message, and then there is a very short (one page) message/devotional related to a specific marital topic. I appreciated the directness of Chapman's messages, and found that though they were short, they were extremely applicable to most marriages. I also thought that the short chapters worked well for fitting into a busy schedule, and was easy to find a few minutes each day when my husband and I could sit down together and read. I would give this book a 5/5. Wonderfully written, and a great message.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest evaluation of this book. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Founders Key

"The Founders Key" is written by Larry P. Arnin, and is a summation of Arnin's theories on two important documents - the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America. Arnin makes the argument that Americans have "divorced" these two documents as to pick and choose from an ala carte menu of freedoms and beliefs. Politicians, citizens, and businesses of all kinds have separated these two documents, rather than unite them as one, thus accepting all of the powers, rights, and beliefs of both documents as the founding principles of our country. Arnin makes a good argument for his basis of this book, and I found it to be very interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history. 


FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from the BookSneeze program from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Voice New Testament

If you are like me, and sometimes have trouble following a traditional bible, "The Voice" is for you. I am absolutely in love with this translation. This is the entire New Testament, and the verses are still very true to the original translation of the Bible, but are written in a much easier, understandable format. There is a short introduction at the beginning of each chapter, with a biography on the book, how it was named, or the person who is credited with writing it. The text of the chapters itself is written as if you are reading a play - the speaker of each statement is noted before the verse, and there are short sidenotes on the pages to help understand what is happening, or to define phrases or words that may be unfamiliar. This is a great way to better understand the traditional Bible, in a way that stays true to the Bible. I loved it. I would give this a 5/5. Awesome. 



FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

From Blah to Awe

"From Blah to Awe" by Jenna Lucado Bishop is supposed to be a book for young women, to help them strengthen their faith. The book's tagline is "shaking up a boring faith". "From Blah to Awe" incorporates scripture, commentary from Bishop, as well as true stories of other young women and examples of their faith. My favorite part of this book was the stories of other young women - I think that this book could have suvived on these relayed experiences and the scripture, honestly. I didn't really care so much for the commentary that Bishop injected into the book. While it was mostly good foundational advice, it really didn't live up to the tagline of the book - shaking up a boring faith. Bottom line: This book had good, inspiration stories of real young women; I'd give it a 3/5.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I Am A Follower

Leonard Sweet's book "I Am A Follower" is a compilation of Biblical references, pop culture tie ins, and quotes from scripture all based on two premises - first, that Jesus is the leader; second, that we are his followers. This book explores the true meaning of FOLLOWING Jesus, rather than focusing on leadership. I thought that Sweet made some really interesting points, honestly. He focuses on the importance of an intimate relationship with our churches, and how we can become more fully devoted followers of Christ. The book felt a little bit choppy, as if the chapters didn't marry well, but other than that, the material itself made a lot of sense, and has a lot of practical applications in the life of any Christian. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in being more of a follower of Christ than they currently are in their life. Would make a great gift for church officials and leaders, as well. 
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.