Message to self: An OK read

3 Stars

REVIEW: Be the Message by Kerry & Chris Shook

What is your life message?

Be the Message is meant to help you discover your God-given “message” and direct you how to live it out.

The book is divided into four parts: 1) Transforming your words into a life message, 2) Discovering your unique life message, 3) Understanding the message that confounds the world, and 4) Taking your life message to the world around you. And at the end of each chapter are three to four questions that ask you to reflect on the chapter, as well as ideas to help you live out what you just read.

As a pastor who gives a “message” every week, I loved the title and concept of the book. But overall it was just okay for me—nothing truly sensational. A few nice concepts I took away from the book, however, included how we as Christians are the living Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, how we should have a “holy disturbance” for something in which we are willing to stand up and fight for the Lord, and how we need to reach out and touch life instead of just watching it pass by.

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

Sweet, Sincere, Scriptural

4 STARS

REVIEW: My Princesses Book: Learn to Be Brave by Stephanie Rische and Heather Heyworth and My Princesses Book: Learn to Share by Amie Carlson and Heather Heyworth

Both of My Princesses books—Learn to Be Brave and Learn to Share are darling! They are sweet, sincere, and Scriptural. These are books I want to read to my precious nieces.

My Princesses: Learn to Be Brave uses the Scripture story of Esther to practically teach children about standing up for what is right as two girls deal with a bully.

My Princesses: Learn to Share uses the Scripture story of the fishes and loaves to practically teach children about sharing as two little girls argue over a dress.

As a pastor, I love the practical application of the Scripture lessons in these storybooks, and hope to incorporate these into children’s messages at my church!

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of these books for my unbiased review.

Hard hike

2 STARS

REVIEW: The Trail: A Tale about Discovering God’s Will by Ed Underwood

The premise of this book drew me to want to read it, but unfortunately I found The Trail too much of a hike for me.

It is about a pastor who leads a couple on a trail into the wilderness to help discover God’s will. Some of the lessons they learn along the way include trust in the Lord, intimacy with Jesus, God’s timing, signs of encouragement, and grace.

Again, while the concept of the book—following God’s path—is appealing, I was unappetized.

I felt the writing style was not conducive to following along. I often found myself confused with who was saying what, and was especially confused between the dialogue of characters Matt and Sam, often swapping them. Overall, this book was a bit of a struggle for me.

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my unbiased review.

An Essential read

5 Stars

REVIEW: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

This book is about how less is better. It is about making the wisest possible investments of your time and energy doing only what is essential.

While this book isn’t necessarily written for or marketed to pastors, as a pastor myself, I believe this book is a must read for everyone in ministry. Because, Christian ministry really is about one central thing, one essential thing: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This book is a helpful reminder that in life and ministry only a few things really matter, and because of that, we have permission to be selective and to say no to everything except the essential. That is a discipline most of us do not have.  

Thus, this book is an essential read, especially for anyone too busy to read it—because that means you really need it! This book will teach you how to understand what is essential in your life and eliminate all else, bringing forth life-giving clarity and focus!

You can actually see how much of an “essentialist” you currently are by taking the quiz at http://gregmckeown.com/quiz/

Also check out a video from the author at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9x6D09AKBU.

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

“A Short Walk to the Edge of Life” was too long

1 Star

REVIEW: A Short Walk to the Edge of Life: How My Simple Adventure Became a Dance with Death – and Taught Me What Really Matters by Scott Hubbartt

I hate to be pessimistic…

I mean the premise of this book sounded really good—a lost man finds his way home.

But unfortunately, I could not connect with the author (and I fully admit I am not a hiker), nor his writing style. I had to force my way through reading this book. Now if you are an outdoor lover and like a good hiking story, this book may be for you, but for me, I was ready to turn back as soon as I started up the hill. The hike through it was too hard and long. 

*I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this unbiased review.

Don't wait to read "The Waiting"

FIVE STARS

REVIEW: The Waiting: The True Story of a Lost Child, a Lifetime of Longing, and a Miracle for a Mother Who Never Gave Up by Cathy LaGrow

Precious, beautiful, touching!

This is one of the best books I've read so far this year, and it has become one of my all-time favorites. Don't wait to read The Waiting—read it now!

I finished this book while on vacation (by the way, it is a great vacation read!) and everywhere I turned, I felt I saw Minka and Ruth, whom the book is about. For me, that demonstrates how wonderfully the book was written with exceptional character development.

The Waiting is a true story of love, adoption, waiting, and restoration. And the thread through it all is faith. Having been in the long process of adoption for years with much waiting, this book was particularly griping.

This is a highly recommended book to read, and again, don't wait to read The Waiting—read it now!

*Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my unbiased review.