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.

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. 

Born for This by Chris Guillebeau

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.

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. 

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

A.D. 33 by Ted Dekker

Wow!

First, let me state that I am a HUGE Ted Dekker reader. If Dekker wrote it, I want to read it. This was no exception when given the opportunity to review his latest book A.D. 33.

From the very first page I was captured by the story of Maviah, the Bedouin queen. Her desire to follow the teachings of Yeshua but also not abandon her heritage and people was a powerful struggle throughout. Such drama was riveting and had my attention on every page.

Take a journey with Dekker and Maviah in the ancient Middle East in this thriller of a story. You may just come away changed.

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

Rooted by Banning Liebscher

Roots are the source of life for all plants. The roots spread through the earth for nutrients on which to survive. The stronger the roots, the stronger the plant. Remove the roots and the plant will die. Such is a great metaphor for those being rooted in God and Jesus Christ.

In his book Rooted, Liebscher gives three soils where God may plant a person for growth. Those three are:

1. Intimacy
2. Serving
3. Community

These three are requirements for the full development of anyone whom God chooses to develop and a man/woman must understand this so as to not fight back where God's plants them.

I found this book to be a great encouragement  in this phase of my life, with special attention to the first soil: intimacy. This section really focused my thoughts on finding God as He calls to me and how to develop intimacy with him.I recommend this book to just about any Christian who may feel uprooted from God and purpose and suggest they take time to allow the words of this book to penetrate deep.

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

NIV, Life Connect Study Bible by Wayne Cordeiro

Most Bibles that I have come across that mentioned growing deeper usually have a devotional element to them. While this can be a good attribute, I find that some of the thinking has been done already for the reader. This can take away from the available riches that may be deeper if the reader were only to dig further.

The NIV Life Connect Study Bible is a bit different.

This Bible has sections where the reader can write down what impacted him/her. By doing this, the depth of understanding is enhanced as the reader is given the option to reflect and meditate. In my opinion, this is how someone grows deeper in their spiritual life.

However, this Bible is not an ideal devotional Bible as its weight is a bit heavy. If a reader would like a more easily transportable Bible for devotional reading, look elsewhere. Also, the sections for writing are not on every page and have more of a summary affect as they are placed at the back of books or in strategic locations.

That said, this Bible may be a great resource for those who have time to meditate on what they read but do not wish to carry another book like a journal or notepad. I prefer a journal or notepad which makes this Bible unattractive for my devotional reading. The choice, as always, is up to you.

*I received this Bible from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review.

Man, Myth, Messiah by Rice Broocks

For those familiar with God’s Not Dead, a new book by Rice Broocks titled Man, Myth, Messiah goes into the historical foundation for belief in Jesus. In this book, Broocks details how many non-Christians agree that Jesus existed and that he had a following. While not adhering to the teachings of the New Testament, these secular historians agree that to deny the existence of Jesus is academic fallacy.

Using this as his foundation, Broocks then goes into more of the historical Jesus by observing his teachings and miracles. Broocks proves that Jesus is who He says He is. He leaves the reader with the option: accept Him or reject Him.

I found this book to aid me in my personal understanding of Jesus. I enjoyed the section of dispelling the correlations between Jesus and other “gods” of other religions. I often heard that Jesus is just one story of many that use the same narrative to propagate their teachings. Broocks shows that this is false and that Jesus is the only one who is God. 

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