Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Wrecked by Jeff Goins

Are you comfortable? If you have traveled on a plane at some point a flight attendant may ask this question. Why? Why is being comfortable so important?

In his book Wrecked, Jeff Goins shares stories of how his life was altered--wrecked--by the world around him. Seeing other people suffering, hurting, needy, and desperate caused him to reflect on his own life, his worldview, and his calling.

This was not an easy book to read as it challenged me to live outside myself and not become self-absorbed. I was spurred to live for more than just me and make a difference in the lives of others. I was wrecked reading this book and I am sure others will as well.

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

NKJV Study Bible, Paperback


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

When I saw that I had the opportunity to review this Bible I jumped at the chance. Having a copy of the hardback, I wanted to see how the paperback fared.

First, the colors are magnificent. They are vibrant, detailed, and not grainy at all. I found myself starring at them a lot. However, they were not so distracting that I lost my place while reading.

Another positive is the location of the notes. They are at the bottom which allows the text to flow with minimal interruption. The same goes for the word study notes which are mostly at the bottom as well. Both the text and study notes were in a great font type. This allowed for reading without straining.

What did surprise me as another positive was the introduction to each book. It really helps setup a great read for the upcoming texts and places the proper mindset into the reader.

The only drawback that I can see is the weight. This is a heavy study Bible, especially for a paperback. This should not pose a problem for study on a table or a desk. It will probably pose a problem for handheld reading.

Thus, I give this Bible a 4.5 star rating and suggest that if you are looking for a new study Bible and favor the New King James Version consider this Bible as a great option.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

What Successful People Know About Leadership by John C. Maxwell

I am a big fan of leadership. I believe everybody can learn and grow from having good leadership resources in their library. One such resource is: What Successful People Know About Leadership by John Maxwell. I am an avid fan of John Maxwell's books, videos, and live teachings.

This little book is a condensed version of Good Leaders Ask Great Questions. One of the reasons why I appreciate this book versus the larger book is that because it is distilled, it is easier to soak in the information. Of particular the chapter that spoke to me the most is chapter number 5: How to Succeed Working Under Poor Leadership. I'm not saying that I'm under poor leadership. However, I do know that there are times that every leader has flaws and the information in this chapter gives great advice on how address the flaws of any leader with character and integrity.

I also appreciate chapter number seven: How to Develop leaders. This is a great chapter for anybody who is looking to develop their leadership abilities and skills.

I highly recommend that you get this little book for the graduate in your life who was looking to go into college or maybe even graduate school. It will be a great investment and it'll be something that I believe will be used more than once by anybody who has it. 

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

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Born for This by Chris Guillebeau


Born for This Book

What were you meant to do?

Growing up, people have dreams of becoming something. Firefighters, teachers, dancers, athletes, business owners, etc. are just a few of the careers people have expressed over their lives of what they want to be when they grow up.

Yet, what if they are not meant to do those things?

In his book, Born for This, Chris Guillebeau instructs the reader that he/she may not know what they are meant to do and that is okay. In fact, it can be a great time if it is leverage right. By learning different skills, these "non-dream" jobs can develop a person so that when the "dream job" arrives he/she is prepared for it.

I really enjoyed this book and found its content to be inspiring and insightful. I am curious now to read Guillebeau's book $100 Startup and may have to get a copy soon.

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

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

NKJV, The Chronological Study Bible

My of the time when I read a yearly Bible it goes through the books as they are placed in the Bible. This Bible is different. Instead of reading books, this Bible organizes passage by date. By doing this the reader has a more as-they-would-have-happened approach. That being said, here is my review of this Bible.

What I Liked

This Bible has a lot of nice aids. The one that I appreciated the most was the time capsule notes. Each note gave a brief timeline of what was happening during that time and allows the reader to have a better understanding of chronological events.

There are also great maps in the back and a read the Bible in a year schedule. The binding is solid and the Bible can lay flat for ease of note-taking. The typeface is also ideal for reading and not too small.

As to what I did not like: nothing. This is a great Bible for those who want to read the events of Scripture in a timeline format and want a Bible that will last a long time to do such.

*I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. 

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Guys Slimline Bible NLT, TuTone

I really enjoy reviewing Bibles. Seeing as how it is the most important book on the planet, I really want people to find a Bible that fits their needs. That said, let me give my thoughts on the Guys Slimline Bible by Tyndale.

What I Liked

The Bible is a nice size that is easy to transport but does not sacrifice typeface for a lighter weight. It also takes a minimal approach to aids. They are a few maps in the back and a decent dictionary. It also has a nice feel to it and it easy to leave open for writing notes while reading.

What I Did Not Like

Because I was written for guys I was really hoping for a page or two of topics relevant for guys. I feel this would have been a nice add for a Bible targeted to a specific demographic.

All said, this is a nice Bible for those that just want to read without being distracted by maps and notes.

*I received this Bible in exchange for my honest review from Tyndale