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