Book Review: 7 men

Seven Men and the Secret of their greatness by Eric Metaxas include seven short biographies of great Christian men in history.  The men included in the book were George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson.  All of them led amazing Impactful lives for the greater good of God’s kingdom.

These men’s stories are amazing.  I am moved by their faith what God was able to do with them (and in spite of them).  All of these men made huge impacts on human history just by following God and their convictions.  It makes me think what amazing things God has in store in our lives if we only listen and obey.

This book is meant for anyone who wants to know what it truly means to be a man/woman of God.  These men were not perfect but they believe God had a purpose for everything and did not waiver.  Some of them died for their faith.  Some were imprisoned.  All of them had enemies who did not understand them.  But they all had a deep relationship for God and that was all that mattered.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book free from www.booksneeze.com to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: 4 Abundant Life

4 Abundant Life by Drs. Eric and Joanna Oestmann is a book about examining your life and looking at the true questions of how is God trying to bless you and you are getting in the way?   These blessing can be in every area of our life.

Spiritual- Are you trying to earn salvation instead of accepting his gift that is already paid?

Self-Image- Can you accept God made you in the image of him and you are beautiful or do you use the world’s thoughts on beauty to define how you feel?

Are we all really the Israelite recently freed from slavery, moving towards the land of milk and honey but all we can do is look around at the very temporary present and say “This isn’t fun. I was better off in Egypt.”

One of my favorite quotes in the book is “To love is to forgive.  To forgive is to love.”  I had never thought of forgiveness as an act of love but is completely is.  Even towards our greatest enemy forgiveness is required and an act of love. 

Overall I enjoyed this book.  There are a few times where I felt like the authors detoured to a topic that technically related but seem disconnected.  There were a few chapters I skipped after reading about 1/3 of it because I didn’t see how it related. I got the point but it did not specifically relate to me.

  It’s meant to be a quick read (they say 4 hours).  Although it is a quick read this book could have a huge impact on your life and the way you allow yourself to look at things if you let it.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free from www.booksneeze.com to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review

I was supposed to read and review What’s Your Mark by Jeremy Cowart but I never received the book.  Usually when you receive a paperback book it takes 1-2 weeks to arrive at my house. Currently I am 23 days in with no book.  More frustrating is that I have emailed the company multiple times and have never gotten a response.  Usually I get a response in 24 hours (as the website states).

At this time, I am no longer willing to wait on the book.  I shall post my review like this.  If I finally do get a copy of the book in the mail I will revise my review.  For those of you who are interested in the book the editors describe it as this

“Who was Jesus? What was his story? What mark did he leave? What's your story? What will be your mark? Join celebrity photographer and social artist Jeremy Cowart as he presents 16 compelling stories of people who are making their mark today. Their stories are just a sampling of the stories that all followers of Jesus can tell - stories from those in all walks of life whose inspiration is rooted in the truths found in the Gospel of Mark. And you’ll be inspired to make your mark---whether through your occupation, your talents or your selfless love and giving to others. Your mark may be teaching children at a school or at home, helping the homeless, or providing food to the hungry. Your mark might be an accidental mark, a reluctant mark, or an intentional mark. Whatever your mark, you’ll be inspired by the stories inside this new book, What’s Your Mark? Become a mark-maker today, and make every moment of your life count.

This book includes:

·   112 full-color pages of Scripture, stories, and photography by renowned photographer Jeremy Cowart

·   16 photos and stories of people---some names you’ll recognize, others not so well known---making their mark

·   Scripture text of the Gospel of Mark from the bestselling New International Version (NIV) Bible”

Copied from http://www.booksneeze.com/blogger/resources/9780310411093

Sounds good right? 

Book Review: Invisible

Invisible by Ginny Yttrup is a story about how interaction between friends can turn into friendships, love, and much more.


Ellyn is a thirty something single female chef living in a small town. Although she loves her restaurant and the food she creates, she feels there is something missing in her life and in her. As she starts building new friendships with people in the town she starts to look at herself and her relationship with God in a much different way.

Twilla is still young and trying to figure out what causes all the issues she has in her life. Although she has come to recognize her demon “ED” she still struggles everyday and tries to find the cause and God’s love to make it go away forever.

Sabina was a professional psychologist with an amazing family and career until that day…. Now she is running away from life and her practice and hiding in a small town for a year to grieve. Long ago she has given up on God and the relationship her friends and family have with Him. If He loved them all so much how could he allow such things to happen?

Miles is a local doctor who grieves the loss of his wife two years earlier. Now he has the last promise made to his wife to fulfill. Try and find someone new to make you happy. His wife suggests “What about Ellyn?” As he starts learning what God’s plan is in he and Ellyn’s life is plagued with fear in starting to date all over again.

As these four characters interweave a beautiful story and true friendship, love, and God’s love unfolds. I truly enjoyed this book. It is a long book (~350 pages) but it read so fast and easy I had it completed in 2-3 days.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. This book is not only entertaining but has a great message in always seeing God in you. You are his creation and Jesus lives in you (all you have to do is ask). One of my favorite parts is when Ellyn is told to look around at all God’s beauty in natures and all his creation. Why don’t you see that also in you? Are you not more important than the trees and river? So true. We over look the beauty in ourselves inside and out because we get caught up in the things we see as flaws.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free from Handlebar publishing. The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Persecuted

I recently had the opportunity to read Persecuted; the global assault on Christians by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea.  This is a heart wrenching book of real stories of people all over the world who are being persecuted for their religious beliefs in Christ.  It is a reminder that Christian persecution didn’t occur just two thousand years ago or will occur some day in the future.  It is occurring right now, every day, every minute to millions of Christians.  Their proclamation as Christ as their Lord and Savior is truly a death sentence to many.  And yet they still make it.

The authors did a wonderful job with presenting the reader with all the details without getting too gory graphic.  This book made weep, my soul ache for fellow Christians, be disgusted in my intolerance to minor injustices that occur in our everyday lives, and be eternally grateful that I could drive to church on Sunday without the worry of imprisonment or physical harm to me and my family. 

This book is a wonderful reminder to many of us how fortunate out lives are.  We have freedoms of faith that many do not and yet we take them for granted.  I for one have been changed by this book and its message. 

 

Lord, help that my eyes stay open to this injustice of Your people.  Give me the courage to stand up for them and pray for them daily.  Lord, please grant them peace. Amen.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free from www.booksneeze.com to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Bathsheba bathed in Grace

Bathsheba bathed in Grace by Carol Cook is 8 stories of women in the bible from their view. Carol eloquently retells the stories of Bathsheba, Rachel, Leah, Sara, Hagar, Tamar, and Eve.

I loved this book. Ill repeat it, Loved this book.  Carol Cook did an amazing job at retelling these well-known stories in a way that made me rethink my old perception.  Why had I always assumed Bathsheba was giddy when David called her to the castle?  I had always heard it like a bad romance novel where an old high school crush sees her and she runs to him with abandon for one nights bliss.  In reality she was ordered by the king and had no choice.  And if anyone would have found out she could have been stoned to death for his decision.

I also enjoyed the author telling the same story from two perspectives.  Although we know more about Sara’s side of the story from the bible I loved her take on Hagar’s side.  A slave ordered to bear her mistress a child and then was thrown into the drama of the house. 

I think the most amazing thing about this book is just to see how much God can use us and our situation in spite of us. God grew his people and lineage in spite of all eight women.  I love the real questioning and faith of these women and their relationship to God. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  It’s not only entertaining but it strengthened by faith seeing parts of my life in theirs.  We all have doubts, jealousy, and fears but God loves us and will make our lives great if we only believe in him.

 Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free from www.booksneeze.com to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Moon Over Edisto

The book Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart is about Julia, an artist living in NYC who does everything in life to not look into the past. But when her ex best friend/stepmother comes to see her, her life is turned upside down.  Her old friend has lung cancer and asks her to watch her three children while she is in the hospital recovering.

From this she is thrown back into her past hurt and anger towards her deceased father and friend who betrayed her. She is also confronted with how this incident not only affected her life but how it still affects her mother and sisters life. 

This story line would have been enough for a great book but it’s always better when a guy shows up to keep her spinning. Her first kiss/crush shows up and helps her while staying in Edisto. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book.  It seemed a little long to me at times but that could have just been me wanting to hurry up and find out what was going to happen.
I think the author did a great job creating characters with good stories and texture to them.  I can’t wait for another book by her.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book to read and review from www.booksneeze.com.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.