Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan

This book is about very popular hymns and a brief history on how the hymn came to be. Each hymn is displayed in the book and the following page gives a brief history of the song. By understanding how the hymn came to be, the reader can appreciate and have a better appreciation of the hymns sung in many churches each Sunday.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the history to be short but informative. I also appreciated having the song right next to the story of the song's origin. I found myself singing several of the hymns and having a deeper love for each song. This book would be a great gift to the music-lover in your family.

-I received this book via Booksneeze.com as a complimentary copy for my review. The views expressed are my own.-

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Rediscovering Your Happily Ever After by PeggieSue Wells

There are many books out there regarding how to move on with life after divorce. There are many books are dating after divorce, raising children after divorce, and financial advise after a divorce. What is rare is someone being open and raw about divorce.

What about being single again when it was the norm to associate as a couple? What about your friends viewing differently because you are not "Mrs. X"? What about your church judging you because of divorce?

That is where this book goes. Through the book, Ms. Wells gives her struggle, emotions, and heart after her divorce. She also details how she began the process of healing in various areas: emotions, friends, finances, family, and God. A very organic book on a very difficult subject.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

This is a very raw and honest book about life as seen through the eyes of the author. The roller-coaster ride of living is masterfully woven as Mrs. Niequist tells small stories about her life. Using a journal-style of writing the reader is drawn into struggle, laughter, heartache, joy, and thought as each story bares a small piece of the author's soul. I found myself stopping several times to think about what I just read. This book does just that: makes the read stop and think. A well written book and a must read. It was so good that I went out to a retail store to purchase another work by the author: Cold Tangerines. If you know me, I almost never shop retail. This book caused a very rare exception.

Monday, November 1, 2010

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

**I received this complimentary copy through Booksneeze.com. All the opinions expressed are my own.**

This was an amazing read and well worth the time spent reading it. Andy Stanley did a masterful job on communicating the grace of God. By showing how man does not deserve God's grace, how God has extended his grace a plethora of times, and why grace is a great gift of God.

Mr. Stanley does not try to persuade the reader to his understanding of grace but tries to inform the reader of what the grace of God is. By doing this, he allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. After all, grace is something not easily understood by mankind, something Mr. Stanley readily admits in this book.

Another plus for this read is the way in which Mr. Stanley weaves the story of grace exhibited. By using Biblical history, Mr. Stanley shows that some of the greatest Biblical character had much grace extended to them and how such grace is still available today. God has not changed; neither is the grace He gives.

I would highly recommend that this book be put on your "must read" list. Mr. Stanley is an amazing communicator and his style, with this subject, work wonderful in tandem. The beauty of grace was revealed with such passion and candor that I found myself stopping several to review what I had just read. A six star book when only five stars are given.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

I Lift Up My Soul by Charles Stanley

This devotional contains some of Charles Stanley's best works in a concise, potent form. The daily reads and daily thoughts are well put together. Plus, having a devotional that comes from the many years of experience that Charles Stanley has it a very huge plus.

I very much would recommend this devotional to new, and mature, Christians alike. I like how the verses to read are usually not long. This allows for a simple thought to be reinforced and meditated upon throughout the day. This is my style of thinking which makes this devotional a must-use for me.

**I received this complimentary copy from Booksneeze.com. The thoughts here are my own.**

Delicious Dating by Babe Scott

This book is about how what a man eats will manifest itself into him as a person. Men are categorized into ten different types and each type has its pros and cons. These qualities, or lack thereof, reveal themselves in different areas of life, says Babe Scott. By understanding a man's eating habits, Scott gives experiential insight into how a woman's date may be post the dinner-date.

I found this book an easy read with some humor and some interesting insight. While the concept is different, the information is relatively common. I did appreciate the next to last chapter about finding the perfect dinner date. The information contained in this chapter is more about allowing the sexes to be as they are created to be; male and female. Scott gives the advice to let the man be a man and should he not be so, let him go and find another.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

This is book, through its many chapters, is about one question: why? There is so much to be done in this world. There are many wrongs to be righted; many evils to eradicate. Yet it would seem that few champion the cause of justice and holiness. Why?

In his simple way, Lucado uses stories and Scripture to address the issue of making a difference. As Lucado shows, it does not take a Superman to change the world. The wealthy, the prodigies, and the powerful can do some good. Yet Lucado details how just helping your neighbors, your classmates, and co-workers could change the world. A person does not need to be Superman. No, they simply need to attack the lie that he/she cannot make a difference and chose to involve himself/herself.

Thus the book goes from asking the "why" question to "why not you?". It challenges the reader to step outside himself/herself and chose to be a world changer by starting as he/she opens their house door.

This is where this book challenged me the most. For some time I felt that I needed to get involved but believed that I need a degree or special training to do so. This could not be farther from the truth. I simply needed to believe that my efforts, so matter how small, would make a difference. I could be a world changer; I could outlive my life. The question becomes: will you?

**I received this book as a complimentary copy via Booksneeze. The opinions expressed are solely my own.**

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Scars and Stilettos by Harmony Dust

This book will strike at the very heart of the lie of exotic dancing: its only for fun. Mrs. Dust gives a look into the life of what is, regrettably, an all too common background of strippers and who they are. From loneliness, isolation, wanting to be loved, and trying to survive, this book gives a very powerful firsthand knowledge of the "adult" entertainment industry. Mrs. Dust shows that the "adults" are lost girls just wanting to be told they are worth something and doing everything then can to find acceptance. The passion, peppered with autobiographical stories, make this book a must read.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Chazown by Craig Groeschel

Wow! This book will revolutionize the way you think about your goals and vision; your chazown. From the beginning, Mr. Groeschel challenges the reader to maximize his/her life and embrace the passion placed in him/her by God. Starting with how to recognize your chazown, Mr. Groeschel takes the reader down the path of how your vision plays into your daily life. Your health, finances, relationships, career, and religious faith are all addressed.

What is very unique about this book is the way each topic is divided. Instead of a chapter on each subject, each topic is broken in sub-chapters lasting no more that four pages for most sections. The reason is so the reader will read each sub-chapter and think about what was written. That is the key to this book.

This book is not meant be read but rather digested over a period of time. As each spoke (think bicycle tire) is discussed, it is discussed in short segments with each segment building on the previous one until the chapter is completed. This causes a reflection that is much needed for a person's chazown to manifest itself.

Also helpful are the "take action" suggestions throughout the book. Each action item is intended to use what has been taught and to personalize it to each reader. This is what makes this book unique from other books of this nature. It does not give advice and then leaves the reader to chance. No, it gives ideas on how to find, build, experience, and grow your chazown until your chazown surpasses your life. Thus, this book is an absolute must read for those wanting to find their God-given passion and purpose.

(FYI - at the time of this review, the website mentioned throughout the book is being modified and thus may not be functioning correctly. This should be changing soon. see www.chazown.com)

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Beginning

So, I've decided to create this blog for books that I'll read and then review. I figured it would be a good idea seeing as how I love books and do read reviews on Amazon.com, Borders.com, and some reviews on CBD.com.

With that in mind, I'll try and review a plethora of genres minus works by Anne Rice, Stephanie Meyer, and anything with Fabio on the front cover. Having said that, if I really have to do a review on Stephanie Meyer or Anne Rice I guess I'll give them a one book grace allowance. I'm just not that interested in the vampire culture; too dark for my taste.

The books I would like to review will be those that are around 25 years old or newer but I'll post the occasional review on some older works. If you have any suggestions on books to review, let me know.

Oh, don't use this blog as homework for a book report because that just annoys me. :)