Seek First God's Kingdom

For just a moment I want you to do a thing that may seem morbid.  I want you to think of your own funeral.  It may be at a cemetery or a church building.  A group of people are gathered around your casket crying and celebrating a life lived.  The pastor opens up the microphone for people to talk and they begin to tell others how you lived your life.
What would they say?  At the end of your life what do you want remembered about you?  "They were all about money and riches" might not be the thing you want to be remembered by.
You know what I want to be remembered by?  Not perfection, or the right car, or the right house.  I want people to remember me as someone who seeks first the Kingdom of God.  I want people to know without a shadow of a doubt that I was about the business of God.
Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God..."
What does that look like everyday?
-What are you focused on in your life?  What rules your thought life?
- Do you worry?  Turn your worry into prayers.
- Read your bible as a love letter from God Himself.
- When you are out in the community, live as a missionary.  Ask God what He would have you do in your community.
- Trust God with all your heart


At the end of my life I want to be remembered as someone who put Jesus first.  How about you???

Book Review of book: Thrive by Mark Hall

My favorite band is the band Casting Crowns.  The lead singer is a man named Mark Hall and when I saw that he wrote a book, I picked up a copy to read.  His book is called "Thrive: Digging deep and reaching out."
This book was the perfect book to me.  As a pastor and follower of Jesus Christ I am always on the lookout for books that help me grow in Christ and to become a better "Evangelist."  This book will help you grow in Christ and help you share Christ.
Jesus said that we are to love God and love others.  This book is a great resource for you in those two areas.
My favorite chapter was chapter 6: but God.  This chapter helped us through the book of Ephesians and helps us see God's responsibility with salvation and our response to it.  We are all sinners...but God is so rich in mercy.
I recommend this book to all who want to grow in Christ and to learn how to reach out.  Pick up a copy on amazon right now!!!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from BookLook Bloggers review program...Thanks for the copy!

Highly happy marriages

Wow!  I love this book.  Every time I get to review a book on marriage I jump on the chance to do it.  As I ripped open the package for this book, I begin to read it immediately.  Now this book is not meant to be a "pleasure book."  It is meant to instruct and challenge.  It definitely did that.  But it did not bore or put me to sleep.  Shanti Feldhahn writes in a way to keep you engaged.
Some chapter topics of this book are: Go to bed mad, keep score, boss their feelings around, have factual fantasies, get in over their heads, don't tell it like it is, and don't look to marriage to make you happy.
Obviously those titles are to get you drawn in but they are great chapters and help you think.  This book is also easy to apply to your marriage right now.  If you care about your marriage or if you want to help the marriage of a close friend get the book: Highly happy marriages by Shanti Felhahn.
I recieved this book for free in exchange to an honest review from Waterbrook Multnomah Books.  

Rick Warren's new book "The Daniel Plan" a review

First of all, I like Rick Warren.  I listen to his sermons, I have all his books.  I was excited to read this book.  I assumed it would be a diet book but I was wrong.  It definitely brings in the food part of health but it is so much more.  Warren points out 5 parts of the Daniel plan: Faith•Food•Fitness•Focus•Friends.  Warren contends these 5 things are essential to a healthy life.  I love that he begins with faith.  If this were a diet book, I wouldn't have read it but this is drenched in faith which is great.  I highly recommend this book if you are ready to get healthy in your body, mind, soul, and spirit.  This is the book for you.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and booksneeze.com

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