God & Chruchill by Jonathan Sandys & Wallace Henley

Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler.

These two men shall have their lives and destinies entwined. One wishing to stop the advancement of Nazism and the maniacal dreams of a madman; the other wishing to control all of Europe and usher in the dawn of the preferred, Aryan race. 

This book was a fasnicating read on how Sir Winston Churchill's life was seen through the eyes of the Prime Minister and how he sought to use these sense of destiny in the time for which he believed he was called.

I cannot recommend this book high enough and encourage all who read this quick review to get a copy.

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

The Daring Mission of William Tyndale by Steven Lawson

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

William Tyndale wanted his fellow Englishmen to be able to read the Bible in their own language. Sadly, to produce such a Bible was illegal and carried the sentence of death.

William Tyndale would not be stopped.

This book is about the history of Tyndale as he first develop a complete New Testament in English and later began to work on the Old Testament.

The book goes into who William Tyndale was, what he believed, and the lengths at which it took to translate a Bible into English.

I found this book to be a great read and very inspirational. How often I forget that my Bible was illegal at one time and that Tyndale gave his life so that I might be able to read my Bible today.

The Romantic Rationalist

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

I am a huge C.S. Lewis fan. I first read his books as a teenager and loved his profound, but simple approach to understanding some very difficult Christian teachings.

The Romantic Rationalist is a series of, what I will call essays, on beliefs held by C. S. Lewis on a few Biblical matters. These essays aim to give the reader a glimpse into what Lewis believed, how he thought, and how to gain from Lewis' approach to Scripture.

For example, Lewis liked to read Scripture as a literary work and less as theology. While he understood it as a work of theology he saw the literary masterpiece that it is. Couple this with his hesitation to enter the realm of the theologian. He was, after all, a literature professor and a fine one at that.

I also appreciate where the essayist makes note(s) of where he/she differs in beliefs from Lewis. This gives credence to the understanding that Lewis viewed himself as a storyteller and imagination builder. Lewis was not out to debate theological differences so much as he wanted the common man to understand the wonders that are God. As such his theology was not completely worked out in some areas; something he admitted.

Yet, this does not mean that we cannot learn from his viewpoints; the goal of this book. As each section unfolds, the reader sees more and more just how rational, but idealist, Lewis was. In this respect the book is marvelous and is a great resource for those who a deeper appreciation for Lewis' views on God, the Bible, and how things ought to be.

C.S. Lewis & Mere Christianity by Paul McCusker

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers via their Tyndale Blog Network. The review is my honest review.

This book is a look into how C.S. Lewis became the popular author that he is today. It gives account of how Lewis was asked to give radio broadcasts during World War II and how that paved the way for several of his popular books.

What the book also does is give some personal insight into who C. S. Lewis was, his home life and upbringing, his service in World War I, and ultimately how he came to be a Christian.

This allows for historical context of how the books that many Christians have come to enjoy were developed. Too often the works of an author are judged without knowing the history behind each book. McCusker has help bridge the gap between the C. S. Lewis the man and C. S. Lewis the author.

I really enjoyed seeing the struggles that Lewis had to go through even in giving his broadcasts. There were time constraints, taboo subject matter, and even schedule conflicts that could have easily diminished the potency of Lewis' talks.

Yet, Lewis pressed forward and the world was better because of it. McCusker has done a wonderful job of peeling back the life of a somewhat private man and showing the world a little more of who C. S. Lewis was.

Killing Jesus by Stephen Mansfield

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

During his holy week of 2014 many will read, watch, and listen to the story of the crucifixion. They will be reminded of what Christ did on the cross for their lost souls. Yet many, having been exposed to this recalling many times, will simply tone out the story, their minds being lost due to repetition and tradition. Perhaps they should read Killing Jesus by Stephen Mansfield.

This telling of the death of Christ, merges Biblical accounts, and historical records, to weave an exciting and insightful look into the life of Christ and those who wanted him dead. Mansfield has given vibrancy to the plot behind Christ's crucifixion, giving the characters some history and motive that might be lost just from reading Scripture.

With such excitement and intrigue, I found myself reading a story with a perspective I had not experienced. I was catapulted into the story, seeing all the plots and espionage that would culminate in the killing of Jesus. Seeing just how bad people wanted him dead has given a new appreciation for what all Christ went through for me. A great book to read.

Awakening by Ralph Reed

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

I throughly enjoyed reading this book. It starts with the history of great changes in the American society and how those changes began.

From the break from British rule, the battle over slavery, Prohibition, Roe v. Wade, and more, Reed details how men and women came to action for a cause.

His challenge in this book is that Americans must stand up for their beliefs and Christian heritage not only as a people but as a nation.

I really enjoyed reading about struggles and hardships that the founding fathers faced as they gave their all to build this wonderful country. I also was captured by how great men took action in the face of opposition for what was right. Our country needs men, RIGHT NOW, that will fight for the rights they adore. Men like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Ronald Reagan, knew the power they had as president and led with conviction and passion.

Sadly, many choices are made for popularity and tyrannical reasons. Reed realizes this and is sounding the alarm to urge Americans to turn back to what has made us a great nation: liberty, personal responsibility, and faith. An awakening can occur if America's people will but rise to the call and defend this great land. Ralph Reed is sounding the call. Will you answer it?

Mansfield's Book of Manly Men by Stephen Mansfield

I don't normally address the look of a book but the first thing I noticed about this book was its cover. One is not to judge a book by such but the look of this book gives the appearance of something from time gone past. It made me feel like I was reading a book that a refined gentleman of the later 1800's and early 1900's would entertain.

With that, the content of the book is built around four maxims and then the areas is which those maxims are exercised. The maxims are:

-Manly men do manly things

-Manly men tend their fields

-Manly men build manly men

-Manly men live to the glory of God

From these maxims, Mansfield goes into the second part of the book: how men live out these maxims. Areas such as honor, legacy, friendship, humor, and vision are some of the areas in which men need to exercise the manly maxims.

Mansfield gives examples of men in time gone past as well as the 20^th century that lived out these maxims in a particular area. Winston Churchill was used for legacy, Jabez for honor, and Rudyard Kipling for vision are but a few of the examples used. Mansfield used these great men as models to give life to each trait and challenge men to do the same. One thing that constant throughout the book is that real men act. To do otherwise is to reject the four maxims.

I particularly enjoyed the quote at each end of a chapter. Each quote summarized and solidified the preceding content and also inspired the reader to take to heart what was read. While an easy read, it was inspiring nonetheless.

In addition, Mansfield gave suggested resources via quotes, books, and movies that a manly man should use. Hopefully these, paired with the book, will cause men to be what God has created them to be: manly men. 

*I received this complimentary copy in exchange for my review from Booksneeze.com*