Deadline by Randy Alcorn

Deadline is one of the most thought provoking works of Christian fiction I have read in a long time. The author’s vision of afterlife in Heaven and Hell are based on Biblical readings but brought to the reader in a manner that is easy to visualize. The author paints a mental picture to help the reader to see why anyone would want to go to heaven.  The subject of eternity is done in a manner that is sensitive and most important believable.  I am a first time reader of this author and would recommend this book and look forward to more of his novels. People who wonder about Heaven should read this book to help them visualize the possibilities of our spiritual afterlife and not only how it impacts us but the ones we love and the other that have a impact in our lives.

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

Live Second 365 Ways to Make Jesus First by Doug Bender

Overall, the book is segmented into 12 sessions, each session containing material for 4 to 5 weeks.  Each week focuses on a different topic.  For example session 1: Discover God focuses on the topics of perfect ruin, Abraham, coming hero, firstborn and death and life.  Each page contains something most people will enjoy and learn something new but also the overall book is great for Bible studies that can be done years round.

The best part of this book is it provides the reader a practical method to live out what is being taught.  The book is not designed to be followed on a specific day but can be picked up time.  If you miss a day, no big deal you can pick up where you left off.

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

When Your Parent Becomes Your Child

A must book for everyone with aging parents.  I hope that his journey and description of the dementia will trigger signs that can be detected early.  Having a parent with dementia is a physical, mental and spiritual challenge.  Every ounce of you wants to deny that this is happening to their loved ones.  Many of the situations the author describes are not unique or uncommon.  I saw the same signs with my parent but at slightly different stages.  Luckily, the author had a supporting and faith based family.  What the author did not cover is dementia will drive a spike straight through your family.  Some members see the early signs and want to take every advantage they can with support, medication if possible and placing them in a safe environment.  Part of the family will deny the issue no matter what and fight any change others make.  The remaining family members will simply avoid or ignore the entire situation.  The stress of a parent with dementia is high but the dysfunction of a family exasperates the whole situation.  Use the example the author has provided, make sure before the dementia takes your parent mentally and physically that you have family fully understands, cooperates and communicates.  Without the positive support of your family, the journey will drain you physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.  Most important never, never stop praying!      

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

Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic

Some whine on and on about life that it is just not fair. You would think Nick Vujicic would fall into this pattern, having no arms or legs but when you read his book, you will be inspired how a young man never accepted the excuse that he could not do something. No matter what the goal, task or challenge he kept trying. In some cases, it took him many times or years to accomplish what he wanted but the end goal was to keep a positive upbeat attitude and drive forward no matter what.  Much like his previous book “Life without Limits” this book also discusses what we perceive as limitations, accepting who we are, the importance of attitude and not accepting what others tell you cannot do. Nick goes into the next stage of his life were it was ended in the last book.  Through his inspirational book and personal speeches he is able to reach out developing trust with others, provide practical advice for a life of fulfillment, building stronger connections within our relationships and the understanding none of us are perfect but everyone has a gift you just need to look within to find out what yours is.

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

Jesus A Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

Finally, a book that incorporates the theology and biography of Jesus into one book.  The authors state how the whole Bible refers to Jesus.  This includes both New and Old Testament.  The authors go into great detail to cover the pre-existence and many key aspects of Jesus’s life.  They even go into an area not cover well in other books, Jesus childhood before the age of twelve.  This was an area of great interest since the research and information is limited at best.  There are many connections in several sections and verses of the Bible; you might not have made the connection before.  The book covers Christ before time, Christ in Creation, his birth and boyhood, his preparation for ministry, baptism, how he chooses his disciples, his mission statement, being a healer and miracle worker, teacher and preacher, the human Jesus, trial and crucifixion, plus many more key topics related to Jesus.  If you are looking for better understand, answers that have escaped you in the past and book that will make a good reference tool about Jesus, then this is a must read book.

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

The Radical Question A Radical Idea by David Platt

Don’t judge a book by its cover or by its size.  This book is a quick read but it does contain a question all churches in America should ponder.  Are we so comfortable in our worship that we have lost the meaning of what being a Christian is?  The author describes a common church setting were we drive up in our cars, sit on padded seats, while sitting in the comfort of conditioned or heated buildings.  On the other side of the world people or sneaking into homes that are make shift gathering places for worship but it is illegal in that country.  They gather, pray and hope for salvation, not to mention survival if they are caught.  Do we need all the fancy buildings, audio video equipment and high paying speakers?  No, we don’t.  What the book does so well is bring us back to reality.  What many of the churches today miss is the ability to prepare their congregation.  The preparation the author refers to is in how to reach out to others about Jesus, about their faith and about what it is to be a Christian.  Most of us sit and listen to the sermon, most not able to recall what it was about, and then we go home.  The book does not give you clear cut answers but it does give you the basic understanding that we need to make changes.

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

Miraculous by Kevin Belmont

Based on the title of the book I assumed the examples provided would all be examples from the bible.  The first third of the book does go into the miracles within the bible and does a good job explaining the details behind each of the examples that were selected.  The author could have easily filled the whole book up in this manner but he did not.  Instead, the author pulled examples of people from all walks of life to show the miracle that occurred and how that one event made a major difference in that person life.  The examples he used were people like St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, and George Washington, just to name a few.  Each chapter is dedicated to a different person in the later part of the book.  Each one is a mini biographical snap shot of that person and the miracle that changed their life.  I found the book interesting because not only did the author select examples form the bible but the background he provided on the others crossed several different life styles and geographical locations.

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