The Lucado Life Applications Study Bible

“The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible” is a different kind of study Bible then I have seen before. While most study bibles are mainly focused on the background information or word studies, this study bible focuses on life lessons that are included along with the passages. There are more than 1000 of these insightful lessons according to the publisher’s website for this bible.
Overall I really liked this bible and would highly recommend it as a companion to other study materials. The two color design makes this an easier read. The text is a bit small but not unreadable. This is a hard cover bible and has a dust cover for protection. This study bible is the New King James Version. Two things that are missing that you would normally find in a study bible are maps and a concordance. I don’t know that those are necessary for this study bible as it is more focused on life application as previously stated.
If you want to have a different kind of study bible that will help you to apply what you are reading to your life then this is the bible for you. I will keep this bible close by as I study the Word of God and it will take its place alongside my regular study materials.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://booksneeze.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Way Home (DVD)

Not worth of an academy award but a must see movie for guys! The Way Home, staring Dean Cain is a good movie for any men’s ministry. Now, I must put a disclaimer on this review before I get all the way into it, the acting is not the best I have seen, but the story and themes that show us we must rely on God, and that where we spend our time really does matter make this into one any man should watch.
As a guy I know that things can get busy, now I am not married so I cannot and will not speak from that dynamic but I do have many friends that are married and I have seen how they spend their time and how it influences the whole family.
The story of the Simpkin family, based on real life events, starts as Randy (the father) is asked to watch their two year old son for a little bit. He goes in to check his email and his son disappears. The search allows the family to reconnect and overcome many obstacles as they rely on their faith to guide them through this harrowing search. Randy realizes while he had good intentions, he wasn’t always doing the things his family needed most.
I recommend this movie to every man I know. It helps to put things in perspective, either married or single. Get the guys together and enjoy this movie with a little discussion to follow!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Transforming Church in Rural America

I recently received a copy of the book Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O’Dell. At first I was kind of excited to read this book, but as I read it that excitement quickly faded. There are lots of good points in the book; however there are a few things that I have issue with when reading this book. I literally had to force myself to finish the book.
The first thing I have is that there is really no talk of the Holy Spirit at all in the book. There is talk of fleeces and congregational votes but not the Holy Spirit. I believe that it is extremely important in the time we live to let the Holy Spirit shine. The Holy Spirit is missed in so many books and it is leading to people not believing it is important. We cannot suppress the Holy Spirit in our books about leading or growing a church. When the whole congregation is allowed to vote on everything, you are also looking for trouble. That is for a whole other article however.
The other major issue I have is with this book is that it generalizes many of the statements in the book. Not all of them will apply and many of them may be overstated a bit.
I would recommend the book as an ok, tough read but it might help some people. I would have liked to know more about the Holy Spirit however. The writing style is a bit hard for the normal lay reader. There is a lot of information to push through.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Prophecy Answer Book

Have you ever wondered about the prophecies of the Bible? Do you know if they have come to pass or not yet? Would you like some answers when it comes to these prophecies? Dr. David Jeremiah has put together a book called, “The Prophecy Answer Book” and it contains answers to questions about such topics as: Current Events, The Rapture, The Tribulation, The Antichrist, The Second Coming, The Millennium, The New Heaven and New Earth, and some in conclusion.
Overall, I would recommend this little book but not as a fact book, but as a man’s attempt to answer some of the toughest questions that are out there. Since there are different view points on when things will happen, the book can hold lots of agreeable or disagreeable beliefs. The book is easily read and it does not have to be read from cover to cover, you can skip around and read about the specific prophecies or questions that you may have.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Grace of God

God’s grace, we hear about it all the time but what is it really? In his book “The Grace of God” Andy Stanley tries to break down and explain in more simple ways what the grace of God really is, not a bunch of rules and regulations to follow but an immeasurable love that we can get just simply by asking for it.
Many people think that God wants us to follow a bunch of rules and that he extends His grace only when He wants too. This is simply not true; God’s grace is surrounding every person every day. The Bible, from beginning to ending is all about the grace of God.
This book gives scriptures to help you learn more and more about the grace of God. The book will come alive in some spots with the background and details that come with the story. The book can be a bit sluggish in a few areas but overall I believe that everyone can learn more about God’s grace. I recommend this book to anyone struggling to find the grace of God in their everyday life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Out Live Your LIfe

When you make a difference in someone’s life it changes you on the inside. Your life will affect many people, how you affect them is the big question. “Out Live Your Life” is Max Lucado’s newest book. Now I know what many people think when they read the title of this book. How can I be put front and center and make a name for myself. This book is in no way close to that description.
Using stories of from people around the world Max Lucado show that even you can make a difference where you are today. On page 172 there is a quote that I believe we, as the church, need to listen to over and over again.

“None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus.”

It is time for us to reach those within our reach and stop looking for only the next big thing as a church. When we come together to make a difference in people’s lives, the very people that we see each day, then we can change the world in the manner in which Jesus did.
I recommend this book to anyone who feel insignificant, worthless, or that they cannot make a difference to people. This is also a great book for small groups to go through together. In the end what will you leave behind, other then what you have done for people around you. Think about it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

“The Heavens Proclaim His Glory” is a book that shows pictures of the universe taken with the Hubble telescope. They start off with a quote from Abraham Lincoln, “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
When you think about how intricate everything is around us it can only lead you to believe that is was the deliberate work of a creator. Each picture is accompanied by a biblical quote or saying from people such as Max Lucado, Mike Huckabee, Kirk Cameron and many more.
I really enjoyed looking through this book and reading what was with each page. Although some of the pictures seem to be put together in a photo program, I highly recommend this book. You can place this on your coffee table for others to read when they visit.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Boy Who Changed the World

Have you had difficulties teaching your children that what they do now can change the world? Or that it really does and can make a difference? “The Boy Who Changed the World” by Andy Andrews is a book that can help you show your kids that they can make a difference by what they do now.
This book is a children’s version of “The Butterfly Effect” that shows that when you do something, you may feel that it is minor in significance, however it can change the world on the back end. Going through the stories of a few men, Andy Andrews shows how people can do one thing in their lives that lead to major accomplishments.
I would not recommend this book for younger children, but more for those that are around eight years old and older. There are some bigger words that may be confusing to those younger. The storyline works backwards and can be a little confusing at times.
Overall the illustrations are good, and the story has a great meaning to it, other than the stated issues above the book is a nice addition to any collection.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Butterfly Effect

Have you ever wondered if you could change the world? Do you realize that even the small things you do can lead to big changes in the future? “The Butterfly Effect” by Andy Andrews chronicles several stories going backwards to show that one small thing that was done, can change the world.
The story can be a little confusing at times due to it going backwards, however you can read the whole book in less than thirty minutes. The layout is nice and the book is small, making it a great book to place on a coffee table or in the bathroom for your guests to read.
As you read this book you will see how one small conversation you have, or one small gesture you do can have an effect on many people. This can be a good or bad thing depending on the situation and how it is presented. This is a good read for anyone who has ever felt that their life did not matter.
I would recommend this book as it helps to show you that you can make a difference, even in your small world of influence.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cast of Characters

Have you ever wondered about the people that God has worked through? Do you wonder what happened to them after their brief mention in the Bible? If so, then you need to read Cast of Characters by Max Lucado.
I was so anxious to read this book; I borrowed a copy while I waited for the book to arrive in the mail. I am glad that I didn’t wait. This book takes a look at the ordinary people that God uses to do His work on earth.
This is a book that you do not need to read one chapter at a time. You can flip through and read about the people that you are interested in, or that you want to know more about. Each chapter focuses on a single person and their story. At the end of each chapter you will find study questions that you can look over by yourself or even in a small group setting.
I really enjoyed reading this book as it opened up more of God’s Word to me as I learned more about the people that He has chosen to use. The subtitle tells it all: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Portable Patriot

The Portable Patriot: Documents, Speeches, and Sermons that Compose the American Soul brings into print a collection of documents that were written by those who founded out Nation and shows the values and principles that they held so dear.

The history of our great nation was held in those values and principles and put forth in the writings of the times. This book brings together a lot of these writings. From the Mayflower Compact through the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, The Portable Patriot makes this history accessible.

This is a book that I will place on my living room table so that others can read and enjoy the treasure that it represents. You do not need to read this book cover to cover as you can just read the documents one at a time. Other then the book being a bit smallish, I had no problems with the formatting of this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes early American history. This is also a great resource book for those that are studying American history as it holds in its pages many important documents in their entirety.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Plan B

What do you do when a shattered dream or an unmet expectation causes you to turn to Plan B? Have you ever been put in that position, where the things you thought were going to happen didn’t and you had to go into a completely other direction. “Plan B” by Pete Wilson uses real life stories as well as biblical stories to help us learn how to surrender our plans and to receive His plans.
Pastor Wilson really opens up the scriptures and shows that there are ways to make it through when things don’t go as planned. This book will meet you where you are and help you out in your current situation. If you have never had to switch to a plan B then you will at some point in your walk as a Christian.
There is no map that leads you down a straight and narrow path. Pete goes through different ways that people have tried to handle those situations that you don’t always see coming. No matter where you are in life, this book is one you will want to read over and over again. Not only has this helped me to see that God can and will be in the Plan B, but that when things go rough and I want to ask “God, where are you?” I know the answer already, He is there and that He is in control. Once you realize that you do not have control and God does then you will realize that all things are possible.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Money Answer Book

“The Money Answer Book” By Dave Ramsey is an easy to read guide on getting your finances in order. If you have ever asked the question, “Where does all my money go?” Or if you have ever wondered where all your money went when you look at how much you made in a year, then this book is the one for you.
Finances are a huge distraction to living freely each and every day. Finances are also the one subject that people are the most unwilling to talk about. They are considered taboo to most people. You can ask me anything except about my money.
Now this book is not as in depth as the others from Dave Ramsey, however this is a good book to leave on your living room table where guests can read it, or browse through it. Each chapter stands alone so that you don’t have to read the whole book at once.
There are worksheets that you can fill out to help get a better understanding of where YOUR money is going and how you can better have control of your finances.
Having gone through Financial Peace University, this book just serves as a reminder to the principles taught in the class. I would recommend this book to anyone who would a better understanding of their finances.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be

What is it your enjoy doing? What is it you do well? Believe it or not, there is a reason you have a passion for something. “God made only one version of you. He custom designed you for a one-of-a-kind assignment.”
In Max Lucado’s new book “You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be” Max explains that there is a reason that we have passion for things in life. There is also a reason that not everyone has the same passion. If we all liked the same things, then we would all do the same things.
This book is smaller and easy to read but it packs a powerful message. A great gift book for those who are graduating, or those who think God cannot use them. We can all be used by God to reach out and fulfill the mission of God.
My favorite quote from the book is: "The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others." Enough of this self-deprecating "I can't do anything." And enough of its arrogant opposite: "I have to do everything." No, you don't! You're not God's solution to society, but a solution in society. Imitate Paul, who said, "Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God's plan for us" (2 Cor. 10:13 NLT). “
There are three types of people whom I will recommend this book too. Those who ask what God wants them to do, those that say they cannot be used by God and those who think they have to do it all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How Should a Christian Live?

How Should a Christian Live is a devotional that is geared towards the pre-teen to young teenager. There is an audio CD that starts with 1st Corinthians and goes through Philemon. Each track on the CD is a different section of the Bible and they are read by teen actors.

There are twelve lessons in all and each lesson is broken up into five areas, Get It, Grab It, Hold It, Live it, and Give it. There are games interspersed throughout the lesson that helps with retaining what you are learning and with the verses that you are studying. One of the things I liked most about this devotional is the blank pages that are left at the end of each lesson for the student to journal their thoughts. This gives an opportunity for the student to write down the things they are learning and helps as a way to retain that information as they can come back to it at a later date.
The length of the lessons and the audio tracks isn’t long and therefore will fit in with the student’s schedule. A great resource is the Define it sections that define the words that can sometimes be difficult to understand.

Overall this is a good devotional and is easy to understand and work your way through. The look of the pages and the overall flow of the book is smooth. I will definitely recommend this to those I know who will benefit from the teachings it has to offer.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Hand of Fate

Have you ever had a book that you just didn’t want to put down until you knew how it ended? If you like that type of book then Hand of Fate is just the one for you. Hand of Fate is a murder mystery by Lis Wiehl and April Henry that leads you on the journey to find out who killed Jim Fate. This is the second book in the Triple threat club series. The Triple threat club is a group of three women, Nicole is an FBI Agent, Cassidy is a TV Crime Reporter and Allison is a Federal Prosecutor.

The beginning of the novel jumps around a bit if you are not familiar with the triple threat club, as you need to learn who each lady is and what they do. Once you get your bearings straight on the characters, you start to weave your way through the tale, trying to find the murderer. The ladies in this novel face real dilemmas and that alone makes you feel as if they are real people that you can relate too.

I definitely would recommend Hand of Fate to anyone who likes murder mystery novels. I read the whole book in one weekend and it would have been a lot faster if not for work and sleep getting in the way. It should be pointed out that this is a book written from a Christian perspective but is more of a general fiction novel.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://booksneeze.com/ book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub

When I received Rick and Bubba’s Big Honkin’ Book of Grub I expected it to be a cookbook. What I received was something completely different. This is a book that tells the story of two men who like to eat! They don’t care about diets and the latest fad that is out there. They give a few simple suggestions when it comes to dieting.

This book entertained me as I read through it. You can read a chapter and put the book down for a bit. When you come back you have lost nothing and pick right up. As a cook book, which is what I thought this was, I was really disappointed. There are a few recipe’s scattered throughout the book and at the back, however the book is really a good read.

I would recommend this book for those who are out for a funny look at eating and dieting. I spent time laughing throughout the book. I might even try one or two of the recipe’s that are listed in the book. The only issue that I have with this book is the chapter on Spam! That is not cool that they like spam so much, although I suppose someone has too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Chronological Guide to the Bible

Have you ever wondered how the Bible stacks up in historical order or have you wondered about a specific era that a book or set of books was written? Then The Chronological Guide to the Bible is an extremely good resource if you don’t have a Chronological Bible. The guide is split into nine epoch’s that span from creation to the end of time.
The epochs contain information about the time period with an overview of the time period that is covered (Epoch 1 covers creation through 2000 B.C.). This guide is not a Bible however it is set up to work with whatever translation you may use.
There are many tools and maps that make this a great resource for anyone who studies the Bible. The full color pages help to bring out the maps and the blocking of the text helps to separate the sections. There is even a reading plan that will guide you through your Bible in chronological order. The cultural and archeological information has helped me to understand more about the times that the Bible was written, this will lead to a new understanding to the context for which each book was written.
I would recommend this guide to all who want to learn more about the time periods that each book of the Bible was written. If you get a chance to read the Bible in chronological order it will help you get a new understanding of how things happened.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

66 Love Letters Book Review

I received Dr. Larry Crabb’s book 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God that invites You into His story because it sounded interesting when I read the overview. 66 love letters from God to me, I mean who wouldn’t want to read that and even though Dr. Crabb explains that he is writing in the first person as though God were writing speaking to him, I found this to not be an easy read.
Dr. Crabb says he is writing what God wants us to hear in each book of the Bible and this caused me to step back a bit. I did not enjoy the dialogue parts between the author and God at all, as they seemed to distract from the overall message. Some of the questions that were asked and answered seemed off to me while others were right in line with what I would have asked.
This book is not to be read straight through in my opinion. If you can take the time to read one chapter/love letter at a time with the Bible, then I can see where this would be a more helpful tool. In fact the only way I would recommend this book is if you read it as a companion to the Bible, you might also be inclined to skip over the parts of each letter that are from the author.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear

Fear, we are driven by it every day of our lives. We fear we might lose our jobs, or that the economy is failing. We fear we might get sick or a loved one might get sick. There are many more things that we fear. What do you do when you are caught up in fear? Do you turn to God for your answers?
Fearless by Max Lucado asks: What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? Can you imagine your life without fear? As you read this book, Max shows you biblically how to walk in faith and not fear.
There has always been fear in my life and through reading Fearless I was shown a reaction in faith is much easier than a reaction in fear. Max teaches the difference between a Fear of the Lord and fear in this world that we live.
So what is it you fear? If you are struggling with fear I recommend reading this book. You will take a journey as you release your fear and replace it with Faith in Jesus and that He is in control of your life. We are not meant to live our lives in fear and Max Lucado shows us how not too, in his book, Fearless.

Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, 3rd Edition

Nelson’s Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, 3^rd Edition is a great resource for anyone who is studying the Bible. The layout is easy to follow and the book is an easy read.

Have you ever wondered who wrote a book in the Bible? Or when it was written? The Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts is the resource for you. This book is split up by testaments, historical sections (Pentateuch, Gospels, etc.), and individual books giving you an easy way to find the information you are after. There is a brief synopsis of the book you are reading, notes about the author and any variations, and a look at the time that the book was written.

After you are introduced to the book, there are timelines, charts, maps and an outline of the book you are studying. There is also a website where the maps can be downloaded to help in presentations or in personal study.

Overall, this is an excellent resource for anyone studying the Bible. You can learn more about the book you are reading and the charts, maps, and other aids are right there. I will recommend this book every chance that I get.

Facing Your Giants

What is it you are facing in your life? What struggles do you have? Are there generational sins that you are in your family line?

We all have things in our lives that will pull our focus from God. We let our “giants” get in the way of our relationship with God. Facing Your Giants, by Max Lucado is a book that shows how David dealt with his “giants.” By following the examples of David, you will find that you are able to not only face your “giants” but also to defeat them.

I have heard it said that God doesn’t call the equipped, but he equips the called. So you, no matter what you have done or who you have been can answer that call. The evidence is in the Bible in the life of David and is shown in this book. Max shows you that when you focus on God, your “giants” do not seem so large and they can be managed. With clear Bible references you can see how God is in control; you just need to focus on Him.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling in their walk with Christ. God is waiting to help you face your “giants.”

“Focus on giants—you stumble.Focus on God—your giants tumble.”
Facing Your Giants, Max Lucado

The Word of Promise, New Testament Audio Bible Review

Have you ever found yourself singing along to the radio in the car and then you realize you are singing a new song that you haven’t sung before? When we hear things over and over again, we tend to remember them. So when I saw an opportunity to order The Word of Promise, New Testament, I jumped and ordered it as quickly as possible.

The Word of Promise, New Testament is a new way to hear the Word of God and will leave you wanting to listen to it more and more. Whether you listen to it in your car, at the house, or at work you will hear the Word of God from over 120 different actors. Enhanced with sound effects and music, you can begin to imagine what things were like as the events were happening. The scenes come alive in your mind and it brings you closer to what is being said. I know for me it drew me in and I didn’t want to stop listening.

I highly recommend The Word of Promise, New Testament, to anyone who is in the market for an audio bible. The audio is read in the New King Kames Version and comes to life where ever you are listening to it. I will continue to listen for years to come.

Rediscovering God in America

A walk through history that will capture your attention and leave you with a “rebuttal to those who seek to write God out of American History” as we move forward as a country. Newt Gingrich writes Rediscovering God in America, which includes beautiful pictures of our Nations monuments by his wife, in order to show that God has always been in America from the beginning.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I received this book however it was well written and an easy read. As you are taking a “walking tour” around Washington D C and you are learning about how our Nation was founded on Christian principles and knowledge of God, the pictures are beautifully done and add to the journey you are taking through history. You will see a pattern from the beginning of or nation to now and how religion has been an essential component that spans from our forefathers to many of our recent Presidents.

This book is one that I will leave out on my coffee table for people to browse through when they are visiting. It is an extremely easy read and if you have any interest in God, America, or U.S. History you will enjoy this book.

The Sweet By and By

I am not normally a reader of the books some would call touchy-feely books. When I saw that Sara Evans had written, The Sweet By and By, I decided I would give it a shot. Having left the pain of her past, Jade looks to move on when she heads to college. We catch up with Jade as she is in the midst of her wedding and a new step forward. Jade eventually sends an invitation to her mother, who shows up for her eldest daughter’s wedding.
Jade’s mom has her own issues with a hidden illness and a need to have a relationship with her eldest daughter. Her presence brings back the past the Jade has tried to leave behind. We read along as Jade searches through her past in order to find what she seeks most, a relationship with her father and reconciliation with her mother.

This was a different read for me as I stated but I would recommend this book to those who would like to read about love, hurt, anger, reconciliation and how a family can truly live together and not seem like a perfect family. I was captured by the changing twists that I didn’t see coming and had thought it was going another way. All in all, I would recommend this novel to many of the people I know. If you aren’t into the touchy-feely novels this one might still grab you as it grabbed me.