Dying to grow book review

Nathan Lorick has written a great book on evangelism.  the subtitle on the cover says it all "Reclaiming the heart for evangelism in the church.  As a pastor I am on the look out for resources to motivate my people to go out and make disciples of all nations.  I found the right resource right here.
This book is all about the heart of the local church to go out and evangelize the lost.  This is not a book on the latest fad or strategy.
The church has lost its way and has been ingrown for too long, but authors like Lorick has a heart for evangelism and it shows in his writing.  You will cheer out loud as you read this book and with the help of God your heart will beat faster for evangelism and your love for God.
You can pick up a copy of this book at http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Reclaiming-Heart-Evangelism-Church-ebook/dp/B00ESIUKDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387772887&sr=8-1&keywords=dying+to+grow
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review from bookcrash.  I thank them for this book and I highly recommend Dying to Grow by Nathan Lorick

How God makes men (book review)

Patrick Morley has written a great resource for men.  I have read tons of books for men, about men, and I have to say that "How God makes men" is one of the best out there for men.
What the author does is take each chapter to talk about one guy from the bible and he draws a principle from the bible character.  My favorite was the chapter on Nehemiah:  the principle of the passionate calling.  I love this topic because my passionate calling is to reach others so they can become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  This chapter is a great resource to fan into flames my passionate calling.
That chapter is only one of ten great chapters.  I highly recommend buying this book.  You can buy it at http://www.amazon.com/How-God-Makes-Men-Principles/dp/1601424620/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387771904&sr=8-1&keywords=how+god+makes+men
I received this book for free in exchange with an honest review from Waterbrook Multnomah publishers.  thank you for your book!

The Prodigal: A book review

Rarely do I say a book is perfect but this book I just finished is perfect.  It was written by Brennan Manning, author of 'The Ragamuffin Gospel.'
The Ragamuffin Gospel is a Christian classic book on God's grace for screw-ups.  I highly recommend that book.
The Prodigal is Brennan Manning's final book.  He passed away before it's publication.
The Prodigal is a fictional account of a Pastoral Superstar who had a moral failure and his steps of redemption back to God and His church.  This book really is a retelling of the story of the Prodigal son.  It is very well written and it brings tears to your eyes as you root for God as God extends His grace to a man who doesn't deserve it (do any of us?).
I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs some encouragement, but I do recommend reading Manning's classic book The Ragamuffin Gospel also.  I give this book 10 stars out of 5.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from booksneeze.com

A great book for the underdog!

Matt Keller has written a classic book.  Everyone of us is an underdog.  People have told us that we will amount to nothing, we are not good enough, we will accomplish nothing.  If this is you, you will fit right in with the Kingdom of God.  The bible is filled with underdogs.  From King David, to Samson, even to Jesus, all were underdogs that God used in mighty ways.
This book will bring you the encouragement you need to do mighty things for God.  We all need encouragement.  Matt Keller uses each chapter to talk about a biblical underdog and tells their story and applies it to today.
I highly recommend this book if you feel like you are not good enough, talented enough, or you feel like your past is too bad to be used by God.
I recieved this book for free in exchange for an honest review by booksneeze.com

Discovering the Real Jesus: Introduction

The nail pierced His hands and feet.  Six hours after being put up on the cross, He was dead.  Crucifixion is the most painful way to go and Jesus died that way for us. 

          After they took Jesus’ body off the cross, they put him in a borrowed tomb and sealed the tomb up. 

          As a follower of Jesus Christ, you had every right to be disillusioned, confused, upset, and even angry.  You just spent three great years with the most incredible man in history and now He is gone.  No funeral, just a burial in a borrowed tomb.

          Three days later, Jesus’ body was missing and He appeared to His followers.  In fact, the Apostle Paul claims that He showed Himself to more than 500 people at one time. 

This is the most incredible story to happen to us and we get to reap the benefits of this risen Christ.

This series of writings will help us discover who the real Jesus is.  Who is He?  What is He like?  Did He in fact really exist in history?  Can He really change your life?

As you read these writings, I challenge you to give your life over to Christ.  During these no-so-stable times that we live in, Jesus will not only give you stability, but He will also give you true joy and an abundant life; a life to the full.

Jesus has changed my life and He can change yours too.

In the next blog post, we will turn to the topic of Jesus before He was sent to earth.  I mean, before Jesus was Jesus, what was He? Who was He? And what did He do for all eternity?  Read on to find out!!!

Book Review: Secrets of Dynamic Communication

One of my favorite communicators of all time has written a book called 'Secrets of Dynamic Communication.'  His name is Ken Davis.  this man is funny and knows what he is talking about when it comes to speaking in public.  

As a Pastor i speak in public every week and when I saw this book, i wanted it, so I decided to review it.  What i love about this book is that he takes us on a journey that most people have to go through his SCORRE Conference to get the material.  Not anymore, now you can learn how to be an effective communicator in the pages of this relatively  short book.

My favorite chapter was chapter 12: how to use humor.  This was a very practical chapter that i put in use right away.

I highly recommend this book to pastors, teachers, public speakers.  You will love how practical and user-friendly it is.

I recieved this book for free in exchange with an honest review from Thomas Nelson at booksneeze.com

book review: go and Do by Jay Milbrandt

I had never heard of Jay Milbrandt when i picked up go and do.  I picked it up on a whim and i loved it.  Mr. Milbrandt talks about how we are to take God's command to go and make disciples.  We all ask the question, why am i here and this book (along with the bible) helps answer that question.
Milbrandt helps us discover our giftings and talents and callings and he challenges us to go and do God's will to the helpless and sinful.
I recommend it to anyone struggling to find their calling.  this book will help you find where God has called you.  i highly recommend it.
I recieved this book for free in exchange with an honest review from Tyndal Publishers.  Thank you for a free copy.

Book review: All in by Mark Batterson

     I just finished Mark Batterson’s new book called ‘All in.’  I have read every single one of  Batterson’s books and I have to say, he just gets better. 

     The cover says it all: All in- You are one decision away from a totally different life.  Batterson mixes bible truth with personal examples and it is easy to see how the bible interacts with real life. 

     My favorite chapter was chapter 7: ‘Crash the party.’  It is about the woman who crashes the party and anoints Jesus.  While everyone thinks it is a waste of money, Jesus thinks of it as worship.  Batterson says to break our alabaster jars which he says I repentance.  As a pastor I have to say that repentance isn’t only biblical it is the way to bring about revival in any church.

     I challenge you to buy this book and learn some biblical truth and put all your life into the Jesus life.  Put your chips ‘All in’ the middle of the table and bet your life on God.  You will be blessed as you read this.  I highly recommend this and rate it 5 out of 5.

     I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review from booksneeze.com

Anomaly by Krista McGee

I am a sucker for science fiction.  When I chose to review Anomaly by Krista McGee published by Thomas Nelson Books, I didn’t know what I was getting into except it was a scientific, dystopian world type novel.  Anomaly is the first book in a trilogy.

This book is very, very well written.  It is written for a young adult/teenager reader in mind so you will find short sentences and short chapters (I’ll be honest , I like short chapters).

In this book we see a world that has been destroyed by nuclear war.  10 people survived and created an underground world. 

Generations after the 10 people create an underground world, we find Thalli, a young girl who was taught to never feel anything.  They tell her that she is an anomaly because she is beginning to feel things, experience things and they want to annihilate her because of it.

This book goes though many twists and turns and you never know what is real and what is in the mind of Thalli.  You even find a little romance for all you romance fans out there.

I can’t go through everything without giving away the plot.  It is a very good book, where the gospel is shown throughout in a very creative way.

I recommend it highly for any reader and for fiction fans, and especially for all who like science fiction.  If you are a young adult/teenager who loves to read or you know a young person who likes to read, buy them this book.  They will fall in love with it.

After reading it they will not wait to read book 2 and book 3. 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from booksneeze.com

Book Reivew "When Mockingbirds Sing" by Billy Coffey

I rarely read fiction. But I picked up a book from an author I have never heard of.  This book is great.
In This book, a little girl has a gift of drawing.  in the drawing is picture that comes true.  So to me she has the gift of prophecy.  The girl is asked, 'How did you know?"  She responds that it was not her but a man that no one can see that she calls the 'Rainbow man.'  I understand this to be God in this book.  very few people believe her and what we learn throughout this book is that God is always there whether you can see him or not.
I love that Billy Coffey can write a beautifully written novel and bring truth from it: those are my favorite fiction books.  He has a way of writing that is beautiful and is very descriptive but not too much.  As I was reading this book, i actually saw what was going on in my mind.  That to me is a sign of a great book.

I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of 'When Mockingbirds Sing' by Billy Coffey.  it is a great read.

I received a free copy from booksneeze.com for an honest review, Thanks to them!

insourcing by Randy Pope

I love discipleship books.  This comes from Randy Pope.  This guy has a proven discipleship success story.  I want to read that and here is the book.  This book is a practical hands-on book for every Christian who wants to grow in Christ in the context of relationships.  This is the best book on discipleship i have ever read.  If you want to read a great book on discipleship, look no further than insourcing by randy pope.
I received this for free in exchange for an honest review from booksneeze.com

Chasing Francis: a book review

Hey all, I have just finished a great book by Ian Morgan Cron called, "Chasing Francis."
I read Cron's other book and was pleased to read this one.  I have to admit it is a reprint of his older book from another publisher.
This book is a journey of a pastor from a mega church that is more than burned out.  he has lost his faith in the local church and his faith in God.
As a pastor i have seen this scenario played out in others lives time and again.  even in my own journey of faith and doubt.  what is so fascinating from this book is you get a historical fiction.  you get a man whose journey is the same as St. Francis of Assisi.  What a wonderful trip around the world to find a man losing faith and finding it again by the end.
If you are human and you struggle in the faith  department i suggest you read this book and find your faith in God again.
I received this book  for free in exchange from Zondervan through booksneeze.com for an honest review.

Great book for men everywhere!!!

I have read "Clean" by Douglas Weiss.  The Subtitle says it all: "A proven plan for men committed to sexual integrity."
I'll be honest, this was a tough book because Weiss tackles a tough subject that many men are unwilling to tackle: sexual integrity.
If men are honest, we all are tempted sexually.  Many men deal with pornography and lust on a daily basis.  This book will help we men deal with this serious issue in a "grace-filled" way.
God wants us to live a life clean of sexual sin.  He wants us to enjoy sex under His authority and in the context of marriage.
This book will help men of all ages and from a faith background or not.  I want to buy this for all the men in my church and go through it together.
The best part of this book is the biblical foundation.  Weiss sites scripture all the way through to prove his point.  this is not just one man's opinion.  This is God's opinion!
Another thing i like is Weiss comes from a expert perspective.  He knows what he is talking about.
I highly recommend this book for you and your church!
I received this book for free from booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: God's not Dead by Rice Broocks

I love books on apologetics (defending the faith).  This book is probably the best book on apologetics i have ever read.  I would buy this book for a non-believer to read and a believer to study for themselves.
This book uses the usual arguments proving God exists: science, the complexity of the universe, the bible, etc.
I would read this book many times again.  it is informative and entertaining.  Buy it for yourself and a friend.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Neighbors and Wise Men by Tony Kriz

Neighbors and Wise Men is a great book about finding God in unexpected places.  Tony Kriz (the author) was unknown to me when i got this book.  but i found out from the cover that He was mentioned in blue like jazz, which i have read and like very much.
This book is not priciples or or facts, it is in story form.  I like that.  i learn from story as all of us do.
I believe some might be offended by this book.  He talks about finding God in the middle of a pub and among muslim people.  i understand.  but i like it because God can show up in our lives no matter where we are.  God doesnt live in a church building, he lives where we go.
We are called to make disciples and most times it will happen in the market place.
this book helps to illustrate how to live that life where God can be found and shared with others.
I highly recommend it for all of you who want to find God in your own story.
I received this book for free from booksneeze.com