Discipleship

Discipleship
Living for Christ in the Daily Grind
By J. Heinrich Arnold
Published by Plough Publishing House

A quiet conversation with an old wise companion. That’s how I felt reading Discipleship. I look forward to going back to this book time and again. It’s a perfect blend of devotional and reference.

Discipleship is a compilation of the author’s writings gleaned from years of collected letters, sermons and articles. As the introduction explains, “The excerpts in this book were compiled and edited over several years by people who knew Arnold personally.” Organized by topic and visually divided into brief sections of thought, relevant scriptural references are also included alongside in the margins.

Discipleship is a thoughtful read, but not a quick one. I found myself stopping to mull over many passages. Passages where I did not agree completely with the author, as well as passages of total agreement. Many times I found myself thinking how the author explains my thoughts completely. Then I would read other passages where I had to pencil in huge question marks beside. These places where I did not agree with the author’s theology at least caused me to deeply consider the reasons and examine scripture for myself. I would recommend this book, but only for a reader who holds a firm biblical foundation, from which wise discernment prevails.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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.”

Kidnapped by the Taliban

Kidnapped by the Taliban

A Story of Terror, Hope, and Rescue by SEAL Team Six
By Dilip Joseph with James Lund
Published by Thomas Nelson – W Publishing

“The AK-47s were the elephants in the room—we all knew they were there. In most cultures it wouldn’t be considered polite to bring assault rifles into a home. Security concerns apparently trumped manners on this night.” -Dilip Joseph, M.D., Kidnapped By The Taliban.
Slow start to what turned out to be an inspiring read, once I waded through the obligatory backstory.  As the title suggests, Kidnapped By The Taliban begins in the midst of author and medical doctor Dilip Joseph’s captivity by Taliban terrorists in Afganistan.  The story then moves into the history of Joseph’s work in Afganistan, including his introduction to Morning Star, the affiliated NGO.  Predictably, the story turns immediately back to the beginning of Joseph’s capture, and continues through his violent release.  
From the title alone, I did not initially expect this to be an inspiring book. However, when all was said and read, Kidnapped By The Taliban left me feeling encouraged by the selfless huminatarian work being initiated by Christians around the world, not solely for the country of Afganistan. Doctor Dilip Joseph describes his work with the people of Afganastan, and how that work led to his captivity by Taliban terrorists. He details the personality of his captors, giving the reader unique insight into the lives of those we generally only hear portrayed as animals.  The reader is left to feel the emotional hurts of these people, although Joseph is unapologetically condemning of their violent actions. He strikes a nice balance between an empathetic connection to these terrorists as real people, and the unjustifiable evil in the actions they choose to follow.
Even though his Christianity is not the central theme of this book, Joseph is not shy about voicing his Christian beliefs. And though it is clearly a safety concern, Jospeh makes it known, even to his Muslim captors, that he believes in the One True God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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.”

Vision Map

Vision Map

Charting a Step-by-Step Course for Your Biggest Hopes and Dreams

By Joel Malm
Published by Moody Publishers

“There is a problem that God has placed you on this earth to solve. You have a unique message to share with the world that will bring God glory.” (Joel Malm, Vision Map)

Highly recommend! Take the first step in clarifying your calling by picking up a copy of this quick-reading, powerful book. Vision Map is written as a how-to for anyone with a God-led, God-sized vision. With strong Biblical advice woven throughout the book, author Joel Malm points the reader to God’s Word time and again, grounding his ideas in scripture.

Malm describes how he stumbled upon the idea of designing a “vision map” while in the early stages of developing an outdoor adventure company. He uses this “map” to order his plan and keep his focus on the original vision behind his newly formed organization. Malm openly shares the pitfalls as well as successes of his own journey.  Whether you are first implementing or continuing to work your vision, Malm will not only inspire you to greater success, but give you step-by-step instructions for your path.  If God is calling you to do SOMETHING, Vision Map is a must read for successful implementation of that something!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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.”

CONTEST: BOOK GIVEAWAY

This week I am giving away one copy of
Matt Mikalatos’ newest book:
Night of the Living Dead Christian
Winner chosen at random will be announced at 10:00PM, Sunday.

Here’s the deal ….
CONTEST:   YOU write the story …
Each comment will be the next line in the story!

To enter:
1)  Read the comments below – specifically the most recent comment.
** I will open the story with the first comment which will be the first few lines from chapter 1 of Night of the Living Dead Christian, by Matt Mikalatos.
2)  Add your ONE SENTENCE comment as your version of what the next line in the story should be. *Please continue the story from the previous comment only.
3)  Share a link to this contest/post on your Facebook or Twitter (use buttons below).
Note: I will remove any comments I see as inappropriate.

Have fun.     Ready …. Set … WRITE!

Night of the Living Dead Christian

Night of the Living Dead Christian
By Matt Mikalatos
Published By Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

What an entertaining read!  Just made me smile.

Related links:
Author Video
Author Website (Matt Mikalatos)
Publisher Website (Tyndale)

I didn’t really know what to expect. Night of the Living Dead Christian is the first book by Mikalatos I have read. Though it took me a few chapters to get a grip on his unique style of writing, I am very glad I stuck with it.

The story-line is centered around Mikalatos and his interesting, to put it mildly, neighbors.  Making his rounds one evening to assure the security of his neighborhood, Mikalatos accidentally stumbles into the midst of a unique experiment by a couple of mad-scientist type characters.  These “characters” turn out to be a neighbor and his robot creation. As Mikalatos is unintentionally, and very much reluctantly, pulled into their scheme, he begins to see many of his neighbors in a completely different way.  The humor of the plot keeps the read light, while the theology woven throughout is sound.

Written with comic book style humor, light mystery, and sprinkled with biblical theology, Night of the Living Dead Christian will appeal primarily to teen and young adult readers. Which is a good thing. Without getting too “preachy” while presenting thought provoking doctrine, I can see this book serving as an evangelical outreach to a usually somewhat overlooked group of readers.

Recommend? Absolutely.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, through the Tyndale Blog Network 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.”

Book Giveway Starts Tomorrow!

Watch tomorrow for a new BOOK GIVEAWAY!
(subscribe here so you don’t miss it)

Night of the Living Dead Christian
by Matt Mikalatos, author of My Imaginary Jesus

You’re gonna LOVE it!!

Invasion

Invasion

By Jon Lewis
Published by Thomas Nelson

Ok.

I just couldn’t get into this book.

I mean really?  Are you ready for an alien invasion of earth? …

“Think of it this way. The membrane that separates our world from others is getting thin in spots, and if our teams don’t catch where they rip, things slip through.”
“I thought that’s been happening forever. I mean, that’s how stuff like the Loch Ness monster got here, right?”
“Yeah, except it’s been happening more often. There’re so many weak spots we can’t keep up.”
“Is there going to be an invasion?” Colt asked. From the way Oz looked at him, Colt thought he must have said something wrong.
“It’s already started,” Oz said.  (excerpt from Chapter 27)

The storyline centers around the life of teenager Colt McAlister.  A number of truly unbelievable things happen that begin to dramatically change his life.  After the death of both his parents, Colt begins to discover family secrets, that are extremely unrealistic. Colt soon finds himself in the midst of an even more unrealistic situation, a war on aliens – specifically an alien invasion of earth.

Invasion is a very clean read.  Unfortunately, I did not pick up on any references to Christian themes.  It might be good for young readers.  But with descriptions of “thin” areas in the membrane that separates alien worlds from our earthly world, monsters with multiple arms and heads, and (the most absurd) a alien conspiracy theory including alien collaboration with the Nazis, Invasion comes across as a silly, childish read.  Invasion is written very unrealistically.  My thoughts were basically – is the reader really expected to buy into this theme?  This reader did not.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

See a preview of this book here.

Love & Respect Experience

The Love & Respect Experience
A Husband-Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love

By Emerson Eggerichs
Published by Thomas Nelson

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs did not originate the idea of love and respect in marriage. Marriage, as well as love and respect within marriage are God’s ideas. Specifically, God, through the apostle Paul wrote in the book of Ephesians: “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33 NIV)

Eggerichs has taken the intertwined, God ordained concepts of love and respect and developed an entire study series for married couples. The study series includes books, videos and conferences based on love and respect within marriage as described in Ephesians 5:33.

In The Love & Respect Experience, Eggerichs focuses on fifty-two practical devotions that husbands and wives can use to help apply the love and respect concepts to their own marriages. Eggerichs states in his introduction to the book that he was aiming specifically for “husband friendly” devotions. Personally, as my husband has not yet read these devotions, I cannot speak from that viewpoint. Though I would love to see us discuss the devotions together in the future.

For those who have not read the more extensive book Love & Respect before delving into this book of devotions, a brief synopsis of the basic concepts is included. The initial devotions are also laid out so that the reader can grasp a basic understanding of the Love & Respect concepts early on. Helpful discussion questions and marriage resources are included at the back of the book as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

See a preview of this book here.

A Most Unsuitable Match

A Most Unsuitable Match

By Stephanie Grace Whitson
Published by Bethany House Publishers

Nice relaxing read.  I thoroughly enjoyed being swept away in time and place from sophisticated St. Charles, Missouri, into the wild Montana Territory, late 1800’s.

The story opens as free-spirited, eighteen-year-old Fannie Rousseau grapples with making her own way out of her sheltered world with only her lifelong handmaid and friend left at her side.  As Fannie uncovers a bundle of letters written to her recently deceased mother, topped with an unfamiliar photograph, she embarks on an adventure that proves to be the journey of her life.

The beginning did start out just a bit slow, switching back and forth between the characters of Fannie Rousseau and Samuel Beck.  However, it did not take long to pick up the pace.  As soon as these two characters’ paths cross, I was completely immersed into their journey.  The twists and turns of the storyline are anything but predictable. It was only a few pages before the ending was revealed that I started to guess it was even a possibility.  
 Each chapter is prefaced with a relevant Bible Scripture.  How that Scripture applies becomes obvious as the chapter unfolds.  From a Christian view, the truths applied are very biblically solid.

A Most Unsuitable Match is very well written, well developed and very much enjoyed by this reader.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers for review. 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.”

Three Cups

Three Cups

By Tony Townsley with Mark St. Germain
Published by Thomas Nelson

Through a story of a little boy receiving three nondescript cups for his birthday, authors Tony Townsley and Mark St. Germain teach the principles of financial stewardship to young and not-so-young readers alike.

Told in first person from the perspective of a five-year-old boy, who is none too excited to open his birthday gift only finding three cups that he recognized from his family’s own cupboard. When his mother shows him the accompanying envelope of money, she explains he will now be receiving a weekly allowance.  She continues to explain how he is to divide his allowance each week among the three cups and watch as they take him on exciting adventures. One cup for savings, one for spending and one for giving. The story continues through the boys’ growing-up years and ends with his own five-year-old son opening a birthday gift … of three cups.

A very helpful parent’s guide is included at the back of the book to explain how the reader can start their own “three-cup” progam at home. We started a similar thing with our children when they were small to teach them the value of money and good stewardship.

The only thing I would like to see added to this book would be scripture to reinforce the biblical principles of being good stewards of all God has blessings.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

See a preview of this book here.