Jesus Freaks: Revised and Updated edition

 

My son read the original version of this book and, to my knowledge, he still possesses it. I received this book from the publisher for my honest review and opinion. 

A Jesus Freak is one who is willing to for Jesus no matter what. As I read each of the stories they would lead me to reflect if I would do whatever it takes for my faith in Jesus. Would I be willing to lay down my life for Him? This is such a powerful book I believe each of the stories should be read and thought about. This makes it a book I would recommend to the highest level. 

I am so glad that this book was revised. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me this book and thank you to dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs for being willing to bring this book back.

16 Bible Studies for your Small Group by Ryan Lokkesmoe

 

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is filled with a variety of topics to cover in a small Bible study group. At the beginning of each lesson are icebreaker ideas to help focus the group and discover how things are since previous meeting. Then the lesson begins with a Bible reading, questions and commentary followed by key points to help others to connect with what has been taught. Each lesson is followed by prayer, either led by the leader or by one of the group. There are sample prayers given. All together each lesson is less than 10 pages long. 

I believe this book would be a great choice for those who want to lead a small group but are not sure where to start. It is a great resource and guide book. 

I recommend it highly.

Fascinating Bible Studies on Every Parable

 

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dr. William H. Marty has been a teacher at Moody Bible Institute for 37 years. While there he focused on the Old and the New Testament for freshmen.

This book focuses on the parables in the Bible. Dr. Marty talked about their main topic and their meaning. I knew most of the parables and found the information interesting. Some of the topics covered were the wheat and weeds, the leaven, the mustard seed, the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. He explained why Jesus used parables when he taught. Each section begins with the location of the Parable, then the author's takeaway, an in-depth telling of the parable, additional Biblical research related to the Parable, as well as optional activities and a memory verse.

I found this book to be an excellent resource for anyone that would like to read the parables and gain further understanding. I also liked the in-depth retelling of the parables with extra meaning throughout. This book would be perfect for an individual or small-group Bible study. 

I highly recommend this book . 

Searching for Certainty by Shelly Miller

 

Shelly Miller, the author of Searching for Certainty is an encourager. She is someone that can take the written word and reach the reader's heart. The rest of the title of this book, Finding God in the Disruptions of Life, is what attracted me to this work as I have felt many disruptions about the time of this book's release. 

The titles of each chapter are:

Reframing Uncertainty

Where Is God?

Shhh! Be Still

Breaking Habits

Help Me Decide

Practice Presence

Winning or Whining?

Beholding Beauty for the Big Picture

Rest When Shadowed by Worry

Named and Known

Gratitude Brings Focus to the Blur of Uncertainty

Remembering Restores Certainty.

The length of each chapter made it doable to read one a day, however, it would be possible to read more. By reading at this tempo I was able to reflect on what I had read throughout the day.

This book should remain on my bookshelf for a while, as I return to it to refresh the teachings that I have learned.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The Inner Live by Eberhard Arnold

The Inner Life: Inner Land: A Guide into the Heart of the Gospel by Eberhard Arnold is a small book that helps the reader to find some of the teachings of the author. In spite of being told to follow one leader or another, Arnold sets forth the challenge to follow Jesus.

A pastor during the 20s and 30s, Arnold became an influential man to Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His message is clear, the church, through Jesus Christ, should always be faithful to God. This is such a good message to send out to the world

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Something Needs to Change

This is a book for all believers. David Platt has used a journey of a lifetime to answers some difficult questions and to find questions he never thought he would ask. This pastor talks about his own struggles and how God is faithful through every doubt, or question we may have. It was refreshing to read a book about a person with questions instead of trying to preach answers. The answers he received were that more important for me.
I was given this book by Multnomah publishing in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

40 Verses to Ignite Your Faith

I love when a book surprises me, in a good way. This book offers 40 different verses which may be overlooked normally and they show the importance of these words to the time and to my life. As the title states, these verses can ignite a faith that may have become a little stale. Each verse has a short, maybe 1-2 page, reading to give insight to the verse. Laurie P. Short has done such a good job, I would love to see her speak sometime or perhaps meet with her.
This book would be for anyone who could use a fresh look at the scriptures. I highly recommend it.
I was given this book by Bethany House Publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

The Most Important Stories of the Bible

This thin book, only 185 pages, gives summaries of some of the most popular stories of the Bible. It does not include every story, but what the authors consider to be the most meaningful that tie the entire Bible together. There are six sections within the book:
Beginnings,
Patriarchs,
Israel's Family Becomes a Nation
Kings and Prophets
Stories of jesus
Stories of the Early Church

The summaries of the stories are only a few paragraphs long and it is easy to make it through each section at a sitting. There is also one sentence at the end that gives the main point.
I think this would be a good book to read as a family or to children to get them interested in reading the Bible. It does not go into theological study of the stories, which is what would make it ideal for families or new believers.
I received this book from Bethany House Publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions express are my own.

Listen Well Lead Better

Listen Well Lead Better is a resource book for those that desire to lead people whether in the church or in other areas of life. If a person is to be a good leader, they need to learn to listen to those around them.
This book, by Steve and Becky Harling, shares ten ideas to help develop this skill. The Harlings are a married couple who have lead people through ministry, nonprofit organization, or through speaking to groups. They take turns sharing experiences and downfalls they have experienced, as well as insights they gained throughout their lives.
Each chapter begins with a question that a leader can ask their team plus there are questions to help a person become grow in strengths and become aware of weaknesses.
I am giving this book to my husband who is a leader in his employment and a teacher at church to help him become a better leader.


I received this book from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Operating in the Power of God's Grace by Robert Henderson

Living Memento Mori by Emily M. DeArdo

This is a touching book about the author's approach to death. Emily DeArdo was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at eleven. She decided to use memento mori (remember you must die), a medieval Christian practice to help others find meaning of life and death in Christ.
This would be a great book for a small group study or to use in one's own time of meditation.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

Daniel (Everyday Bible Commentary series)

I enjoy reading these commentaries. They cover information in a way that I may not have seen before.
This commentary is written by John Whitcomb and is written in a conservative view. However, this did not sway my view one way or the other because it is written from a historical view of Daniel's time and then helped me see what is said to come.
After I review these books my husband will often take them to help him in his Bible study group that  he leads but it is also helpful to the student, such as my self.
This book takes the reader through the book of Daniel verse-by-verse. Which helps to obtain a better view than one that covers the entire book in general terms.
I was given this book by Moody Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Hearing God by Nathan Finochio

This book spoke to my heart from the first page. The author, Nathan Finochio, approaches different myths then shows us how to confront them and to look at things differently. He also tells why God speaks to us. It is not to fulfill our inconsequential needs but to help us be transformed into Jesus' image, without the barriers that keep us from hearing him.
I liked this book because it tell us to take our own responsibility for hearing God. He includes stories, humor and suggestions to help us to understand his teaching.
I was given this ARC by the publisher. All comments are my own words and thoughts. This is my honest review.

I love finding books that can help me to find a new or different way to look at the Bible. Core 52: A fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Build Your Bible IQ in a Year is that book.The format of the Bible Study keeps me going. There is an essay centered around a key verse. Then there is also scripture to memorize or read, a challenge for the overachiever and suggestions for books which fit the week's theme. This book started with The Creation and moved on to themes that include prophesy, The Holy Spirit, grace and heaven along with others. 

I enjoyed taking my time with the essay at the beginning of the week and then they idea that we can meditate on this essay and the verse in different ways throughout the rest of the week. I admit I did not read the book in the way suggested because I could not wait to share this book, in a review, with others. However, it has also inspired my husband to use the book in their Wednesday Bible Study.
I believe this book will help others to increase their IQ in Biblical ways.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Waterbrook and Multnomah in return for an honest review.

Becoming us

Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn is the first in the Haven Makers Series. It follows a small group of 5 women who join in a friendship, some willingly and some with trepidation. I loved the group, however, I felt the worry of one member, Emily. Her small family's future is uncertain, so she feels uncertainty in joining a group of women, who in other circumstances, would fill a void she feels in her life.
This book takes us through challenges that many can relate with. I felt that the characters were created with thoughtfulness and love. This helps to make each one someone that I was eager to get to know. I look forward to reading other books in this series and I highly recommend it.
I was given this book by the publisher but the review is all my own and my honest opinion.

Book Review: Fish Sandwiches: The Delight of Receiving God's Promises

I was given this book by the publisher. The following review is my honest opinion.
One of the first stories I learned in Sunday School was the Feeding of the Five Thousand. I loved how it showed how God cares about all of his people. This miracle can be found in all for Gospels.
I don't know how many times I have turned to this miracle when I was feeling unsure if God was loving me at that moment. It has always had a place in my heart.
This book, Fish Sandwiches: The Delight of Receiving god's Promises by Troy Schmidt, examines this miracle about feeding his followers from a boy's five loaves and two fish from different angles. It draws the reader's attention to how this miracle shows God's heart and how he will provide, not just physical needs but spiritual needs also. I was able to read this book quickly while taking in the different aspects. I also liked how at the end he includes a version of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, The Feeding of the Four Thousand and a list of God's promises for us.
I highly recommend this book.

Justice, Mercy, Humility

Justice, Mercy, Humility is based on Micah 6:8: 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.(NIV). Using this verse George was able to build s book on spiritual growth. In the book he helps the reader to see that following God is not overwhelming, it is simple. God wants a relationship with us.
Through stories from his own life, Rusty George is able to express this simplicity of following our heavenly Father.
I enjoy books that help me see how to have a relationship with my Lord, and which reminds me what God truly wants with us....a relationship.
I think this book should be found on each believer's bookshelf or ebook.
I was given this book by the publisher, Bethany House, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Volunteering Leith Anderson

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I have been a volunteer in our church for many years, and it amazes me how many of the things that need done there is done by volunteers. This well-written book tells about building a volunteer system in the church. It talks about identifying and using individual spiritual gifts to help the church to thrive. It also shares ways to steer clear of some of the pitfalls, or burnouts of volunteers.
I feel like this would be a good book for any of the church staff.

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Book Review: The Year without a Purchase

This book caught my attention with t he title. I opened it with doubt that the title could be true. Then the author, Scott Dannemiller offered and "Introduction to the Worst Book Ever". I like the way he approached the concept of this book with humor and insight.
To begin he decided to stop any reckless spending for a year. So he and his wife, Gabby, came up with specific rules, so they would be allowed to by the things that are necessary to live. Whenever they could they would re-use or repair their items. In fact the author gave an example where these rules were hard to follow when he forgot to pack socks on a business trip.
This couple put their faith in God that he would show them how to make alternatives when needed. However, Dannemiller never came down holier-than-thou. When their child had a birthday party to go to they had to find a fun gift that would not break the rules. It took ingenuity in places but they stuck to it.
This is a very inspiring book which challenged me to take stock and realize how little you need and how to let go of the things that you don't.

Book Review: You Are

I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a great way to share love with your child, grandchild or other. It begins with a letter to the parents about the mission of this book and how to use it. Then each page speaks words of love to the child. Some examples: "Precious child you are the start of something new" followed by the verse from Isaiah 43:18-19. I do not believe there is a more powerful book on the market to share with a child.
I most highly recommend it.