Friday, May 29, 2015

Giveaway: The Action Study Bible

It's giveaway time!

I have a hardback copy of The Action Bible: Study Bible (ESV) version. If you are not familiar with the Action Bible, check it out here.

The giveaway rules are simple. All you have to do is answer this question: does adding anime to the Bible add distractions or bring characters to life? Please comment on this post with your response.

The giveaway will start on May 29, 2015 at 12pm Eastern. It will end on June 4th, 11:59pm Eastern. The answer I like the best will win. One entry per person. Please be honest and don't enter multiple times with various emails.

Got it? Great! Now...enter the giveaway.

Update: This giveaway has ended. 

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Experiencing the New Birth By Martyn Lloyd-Jones

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crossway in exchange for my honest review.

What does it mean to become a Christian? What does it look like? Are the evidences that should be present to validate that one is a Christian?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in this study on John 3, answers those questions with such depth, detail, and power that I found myself so very grateful he did so.

With candor and grace, Dr. Lloyd-Jones weaves a wonderful message about all that new birth has and all that should be experienced on this earth.

Sadly, many Christians have been brought under the "thou shall" and "thou shalt nots" that they have misdirected from the life that the new birth offers. Dr. Lloyd-Jones, in this book, helps to remove the misdirection and get the Christian focused on what truly matters. 

Monday, May 25, 2015

While My Soldier Serves by Edie Melson

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a collection of prayers that Edie Melson has written for those who have loved ones in the military. Ranging from asking for guidance, wisdom to make the proper decisions, and also protection for the soldier(s), this book could be a great resource for those who struggle with how to prayer for their loved one(s).

I really enjoyed the honesty and heart of this book. The prayers are segmented into topics which also allow for ease of finding a prayer or finding several prayers for a specific topic. As someone who enjoys prayer books this book is a nice addition with a military bent.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Praying Over God's Promises by Thomas R. Yeakley

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House in exchange for my honest review.

How should I pray? That is a question that many a Christian has asked and most likely will continue to be one.

In his book Praying Over God's Promises, Thomas R. Yeakley teaches that one way to pray is by praying the promises of God. By taking God at His Word, a Christian can have the wonderful experience of seeing God work.

One thing that I enjoyed about this book is that Yeakley discusses the misuse and abuse of promises for personal gain and for selfish reasons. I do not often find this taught and was grateful that it was discussed.

This little book is a nice addition to my library and should be considered for anyone wanting to study a life of prayer and how to pray.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Be the Message Devotional by Kerry & Chris Shook

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Most devotionals that I read are usually composed of a thought, some Scripture, and some sort of action at the end like reflection or prayer.

This devotional is quite different in that it had those elements but also has a place to write the thoughts that the reader has during the devotional; not at the end.

What this does is allow the reader to go back and see what was written so that he/she can remember what he/she was experiencing and learning. By doing this, the reader grows to become the change that this world so desperately needs.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Sex Matters by Jonathan McKee

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Sex Matters is a companion book to More Than Just a Talk also by Jonathan McKee. The purpose is to answers questions that may have arisen from his More Than Just a Talk book and expound more what was discussed in More Than Just a Talk.

I found this book to be very helpful in light of his first book on the subject. It is a really short book but answers the most popular questions and gives Biblical answers to those questions.

While intended for parents, I feel that anyone can benefit from the information in this book and its companion book.

Monday, May 18, 2015

The Three Heavens by John Hagee

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. " I Corinthians 12:2 (ESV)

That verse is where the title of this book originates. John Hagee expounds on what the three heavens are in his new book The Three Heavens: Angels, Demons and What Lies Ahead.

The first heaven is what we call the sky and space (think stars, sun, moon, etc). It was what we can see with our eyes and telescopes.

The second heaven, of which Hagee spends a majority discussing in this book, is the domain of angels, devils, and is the location of heavenly battles.

Hagee gives personal stories of his dealing with evil and how the power of God always prevails. He tells of how devils would possess people through various channels and he came to appreciate the teachings of Derek Prince. He then goes into what possession might look like and how those who are possessed can be delivered by the power of God.

The third heaven is the dwelling of God. Hagee does not discuss this much as Scripture does not reveal much on the third heaven. What little it does mention indicates a place of wonder, awe, beauty, and power. Hagee then invites the reader to know for sure that they will experience God is all His wonder upon death by accepting Christ as his/her Savior.

This is a great book for those who would like more foundational knowledge of the spiritual realm in which we live. Nothing too deep or heady is discussed and a decent amount of Biblical references are used. All-in-all a good book.

Dare to Answer by John Busacker

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Worthy Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

John Busacker, in his newest book Dare to Answer, challenges his readers to answer eight questions that Jesus to those who were around him. These questions, while simple to ask, have such a profound impact that the answer to each may reveal more than expected.

For example, one questioned asked was "Why are you so afraid?" which was addressed to His disciples while on the Sea of Galilee during a storm.

Think about that: Jesus was right there. The disciples were still afraid. Jesus is right here with those who believe Him yet we still fear. Is our faith in Christ so small that we fear when troubles arise?

That is one of the eight questions that Busacker wants his readers ponder in his book. His goal is to have the faith of Christians to be alive and awakened, not dead and asleep.

This book is a great devotional to really force one to ask: what kind of faith do I have? Busacker has done a great job letting the questions of Jesus provoke us to be more like Him.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism by Joel Beeke

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reformation Trust in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoy theology. I know that theology is not one of the subjects that many flock to study. It can be deep, heady, and at times combative.

Having said that, I have run into Calvinism on more than one occasion while studying. I had to admit to myself that my understanding of John Calvin and his teachings was rather elementary.

Outside of T.U.L.I.P. and the disagreements between Calvinists and of his most popular opponent Jakob Hermanszoon (aka Jacobus Arminius) I knew very little of Calvinism.

Living for God's Glory by Joel R. Beeke has done a marvelous job of educating me on the teachigns of Calvinism. This book has not only cleared up some matters for me by way of explanation but also expounded on the teachings of John Calvin and how they played out in the life of Christian.

The book is divided into four sections: the mind, the heart, the family life, and the church. Understanding that Calvinism is about bring God glory and that doing so is not relegated to the church only was profound and challenging. I found myself appreciating the depth of respect Calvin had for God and His glory.

This is a book I hope to read again and perhaps use as a devotional to really inspire me to live for God's glory as Calvin hoped his teaching would bring to fruition.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Facing the Blitz by Jeff Kemp

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

The Blitz. In football, a blitz occurs when the defense sends as many men as possible to disrupt the offensive play of their opponent. It is designed to confuse, breakdown, and eventually send the opponent into a scramble so that they do not execute their intended goal.

In life, blitzes happen as well. In his book Facing the Blitz, Jeff Kemp give three strategies for turning life "blitzes" into opportunities to succeed. The three strategies are: Take the Long View, Be Willing to Change, and Reach Out to Others.

These three strategies are then look at more in depth as Kemp shows how they affect all of life. From working from a small vision to a large vision, working on personal growth, to living outside one's self, Kemp show how life's "blitzes" will come and that by taking the right approach what could be a setback can be turned into a celebration. 


The Book of Proverbs: KJV & The Message Transalations

I picked up this book from Tyndale Rewards.com because I wanted to take up the challenge of reading the book of Proverbs daily.

What I like about this book is that it is simple to read. No footnotes, columnar references, or study helps. It is just the book of Proverbs with side-by-side readings of two translations of Scripture.

It is a great devotional book and an excellent source of reading of the most popular books of the Bible.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Scripture Cannot Be Broken, Edited by John MacArthur

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crossway in exchange for my honest review.

The doctrine of inerrancy is not something that you will find discussed often in a "coffee house" Christianity setting. Most likely conversations will revolve around love, living a life of purpose, and forgiveness.

However, inerrancy is so important when it comes to Scripture that it should be discussed and understood as much as possible.

From the very beginning, "Did God say...?" has been used for centuries to try and get Christians to neglect the Word of God or water it down for a more soul-calming teaching.

Sadly, this has caused many to accept teachings that not Biblical or godly. This book goes into the historical and present-day value of why inerrancy is so critical to one's theology.

If the very foundation of Christianity is chipped away at piece by piece eventually it was fail. By minimizing the value of inerrancy many churches have stripped away the power of the Word of God. By affirming over and over that the historical position of Christianity is that the Bible is God's words in written form, Christian can have confidence that they are obeying and living what God would have them do.

This book will be a great buttress for those who want solid help in knowing that Scripture is God-breathed and that ALL of Scripture is thus.

The Complete 101 Collection What Every Leader Needs to Know By John C. Maxwell

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

I am a HUGE John Maxwell reader. Every time a new book of his is published it goes onto my wishlist. Having the opportunity to review this book was an easy decision for me.

Having stated that, this book is a compilation of eight of John Maxwell's 101 series of book. This compilation consists of:
  • Attitude 101
  • Self-Improvement 101
  • Leadership 101
  • Relationships 101
  • Success 101
  • Teamwork 101
  • Equipping 101
  • Mentoring 101
Each of these 101 books is short but direct in each of their respective topics. By being short it also for a quick read in each topic. However, a quick read does not mean an easy read. It may be easy to read the words but what is read has the potential to really challenge the reader. 

What I appreciate is the heart behind the 101 series. I heard John Maxwell state that the series is for the busy professional who wants to continue to be better but whose time is limited. Mr. Maxwell wants women and men to be the best they can be and that requires being led. It also requires leaders to recognize that they need to continue their leadership development so they can lead correctly and with influence.

This book is a great place to start and I HIGHLY encourage leaders to get a copy. Maybe get two copies, one for home and one for abroad. It will be well worth it in my opinion.

PTSD: A Spouse's Perspective How to Survive in A World of PTSD By Erica David

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from West Bow Press in exchange for my honest review.

PTSD.

For some, those four letters invoke feelings of depression, anger, fear, anxiety, and other emotions. For others, it stirs up memories of a loved one who suffers(ed) from it.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a disorder that affects someone who has experienced something that caused injury to their psyche. It can also affect those who care for someone suffering from this disorder. Erica David is the latter.

Her book PTSD: A Spouse's Perspective How to Survive in A World of PTSD is her sharing how she has been confronted with this disorder, her struggles in trying help a loved one who suffers from it, and what she has learned through the process. 

Having never been near someone who has PTSD, this book was an eye-opener for me. To read of struggles of how to handle a spouse with PTSD, explain it to her children, and how to find support really gave me a new understanding of what PTSD can do. 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Blind Spots by Collin Hansen

 I was asked to review this book from Crossway to help get promote it. I was curious about it partly due to Tim Keller writing the forward and partly due its message.

I found the message to be very powerful but not complex. Hansen has done well to show that the church needs to be courageous, compassionate, and commissioned.

However, churches seem to lose sight of the fact that they must be all three. Hansen points this out and shows that Jesus was all three which is why He was received by those who needed Him.

Hansen also shows that churches who strongly favor one attribute often have blind spots that cause issues in their churches and potentially issues with other churches. It was for this reason that Hansen has called the churches to recognize that blinds spots exist and how to address them.

Grab a copy of this little book and see if you can recognize where you are. Also take the quiz (on the right) and see where you rank. I did and it was very telling.While you're at it, checkout the video from the authors https://vimeo.com/125490898