Tender Warrier by Stu Weber

 If you are not familiar with the author first book, “Four Pillars of a Man’s Heart”, do not worry it is brought up a few times in the Tender Warrior. The author’s first book focused four pillars in a man’s life King, Warrior, Mentor and Friend.  I read both but I have to admit that the “Tender Warrior” from a Christian man’s point of view carried a greater weight then his first book.  The author went into detail within a man’s world looking at the whole picture.  The first part of the book drills down into a man’s life the perceptions, misconceptions and vision.  From this part of the book, it goes into the typical masculine strengths followed by our weaker points to balance things out.  The best part of the book was the two chapters dedicated to the man in fathering his children and the two chapters about a man’s wife.  As you progress through the book, the author explores the area of a man’s friend, meaning of a true friend, not just someone to have a few drinks with but one that will be there when you need him the most.  The last chapter goes into the relationship of a man to his church, Jesus and God.  If you only have, time to read only one of Stu Weber’s books about men let it be “Tender Warrior”. 

I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review of the book.

A Shot of Faith to the Head by MItch Stokes

Are you tired of listening to the know-it-all atheist who drones on and on about religion but you’re not quite sure how to retaliate? Well, now you have the ammunition to fight back. The author invests a great detail of time looking at the argument from the atheist point of view so we understand both sides of the debate. Then he provides a method of realistic verbal self –defense. I have a few people I know that when we meet they go straight to beating down my religion. When we meet for lunch I wanted until they brought up the subject. Everything they brought I countered with exactly how the book described and explained. Within several minutes, they were speechless and wanted to change the topic.

If you only read, one religious based book this year let it be “A Shot of Faith to the Head. It not only helps you to understand religion from a Christian point of view but also from others who are not Christians. Most important it will help on those times when you know your right but don’t know how to defend your faith.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review of the book.

The Gospel of Yes by Mike Glenn

The “Gospel of Yes” by Mike Glenn, very rarely have I had to say this regarding a book review but I really struggled reading this book. The author is also a pastor, which brings to mind a certain morality and ethic that we hope to see in all clergy. Early on in the book, the author tells an experience he had while sitting at a lake screaming and threatening God. I understand a pastor is human but basic Christian teaching covered in the Apocrypha, “Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for God is not like man, to be threatened” Judith 8:16. After the author had a lengthy sit down, threatening God that he was not going to get up from his chair until something happened. He claims God talked to him and said more or less why don’t you let the church and you be who I made you to be? I don’t know about you but sitting in a chair by the lake and not moving for a long period of time would make me tried and delusional. While the message is basic and simple, it also a message that is commonly shared “Just be yourself”.

The remaining part of the book repeatedly the Yes and No of what author interprets what God says. May of the passages I was familiar with and ended up looking them up again. I found a familiar pattern; many of the passages reference a certain person, time and point not a common message to all. In most examples, it does not apply but is taken as a fragmented part of scripture to fit a certain key topic or point the author was trying to convince reader about.

I received a free advanced reading copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review of the book.

The Ministry of Christ 1000 Days by Jonathan Falwell

The Ministry of Christ 1000 days by Jonathan Falwell, based on the title I was hoping it would be an in depth study of the short period of time that Jesus was doing his ministry. If you attend, church on a semi-regular bases and/or have read or studies the bible you will find nothing new here. However, if you are someone looking for a solid understanding about the bases of Christianity or Jesus Christ then this book should help greatly. For the person exploring the meaning or history behind Christianity the author takes the short time period, approximately three and a half years, of time that Christ walked the earth providing his ministry to others.

The book reviews many of Jesus’ undertakings that occur throughout the bible. The author also take a great deal of time explaining the how the English translation from Greek occurred and the relationship between the words. I found this interesting in a few of the events in Jesus’ life but this occurred with great frequency. This is good information for someone looking to understand some of the basics of Christianity.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review of the book.

The Founders' Key by Larry P. Arnn

The Founders’ Key by Larry P. Arnn is totally dedicated to explaining the divine and natural connection between the declaration and the constitution and what we risk by losing it. While the author is a president of a college and I have no doubt he is an expert in this field. The book is rather repetitive and rather hard to follow his thought patterns. While the subject matter did peak my interest, it was quickly lost in the written presentation.

This historical portion of the book is very interesting but that was quickly lost in long drawn out explanations that were most likely missed the mark with the majority of his readers. If this is your field of study in school, the book might keep your interested longer than it did me. I did finish the book but I found that I could only read a few pages maybe a chapter a night.
I believe the subject matter could be very interesting and would even raise a few eyebrows. The author’s style of writing made it a struggle to understand and comprehend. What
the message he was really trying to deliver is unclear.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review of the book.

The Scroll, by Grant R. Jeffry and Alton L. Gansky

The Scroll, by Grant R. Jeffry and Alton L. Gansky was an intriguing book. The primary character is a biblical archaeologist that many years ago and experience that has a direct negative reaction to his faith. Because of this experience, he has made the decision to abandon his faith. A cherished friend and mentor historian is able to contact him again. With a great deal of persuasion is old mentor is able to talk him in to one more dig, the dig of a lifetime. The dig is his specialty, digging in tunnels underneath ancient Jerusalem. As the story progresses Chambers runs into mental and spiritual dilemmas that bring to the surface his failures in his faith, academic discipline and his previous personal relationships. He is driven, right or wrong, with the possibility of finding treasures far more precious than gold or money, to be able to prove the truth of the scriptures in the bible.

Though there was part of the book that seemed to drag on, as a whole the book was entertaining. If you are a biblical scholar, you may see the flaw in some of the interpretation but it is a fictional story so let us not get too carried away.

I received a free copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review of the book.

The Jesus We Missed by Patrick Henry Reardon

The Jesus We Missed by Patrick Henry Reardon immediately caught my attention. The topic about searching for more details behind Jesus and his mission is one that has many historical gaps. While the author has a strong understanding of the bible, some of his findings and assumptions seem to elude support for his hypotheses based on lack of evidence. He does bring up interesting insights to some of the bible’s scriptures, mainly focusing on the New Testament.

While the book lacks in data to support some of the assumptions it can be used as a good bible group topic of discussion. The book brings up many stories that would trigger group discussions about Jesus and how he would react or say in certain situations. There are also the topics regarding what was his true message or mission in certain scriptures. I found myself several time having to stop reading to ponder the implications the author was trying to bring across. I did not agree with all of them but it does make you think.

While the book did not have all the factual data I was hoping for I did find it very useful in triggering excellent discussion points within a bible study group. Keep an open mind; this can be a useful book.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review of the book.