I Don't Usually Tell People to Buy a Specific Bible, But Buy This One!

     Disclaimer at the beginning: I did not read this book cover to cover nor every single page of all supplemental materials, as there is A LOT of stuff in here. I read the Bible in the NLT front to back last year, so I will stand by it as a great dynamic translation. What I did do, however, was read through the resources that this study Bible includes, and I must say that I am proud to have this as my main study Bible now.
     The New Spirit-Filled Life Bible takes various key passages throughout the books of the Bible and explains why they matter, especially in a post-Pentecost time period. The many editors and contributors provide a diverse and dynamic perspective both to the Bible's contents, and why it matters to us today. One of my favorite characteristics of The New Spirit-Filled Life Bible is that it provides Strong's Concordance definitions for Hebrew and Greek words throughout the text. As an English teacher, I find plenty of enjoyment in that alone. When you buy a copy of this, flip to the back and find Reinhard Bhanke's feature; such great insights!
     Do not hesitate to buy this study Bible. It will be a great resource for in-depth study of the Word and its modern implications.

I received my copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to review favorably; the opinions expressed are my own.

    

     The Lamb's Agenda is the type of book that will either frustrate you from the beginning because it is challenging, or because it seems to simple. Reading the title and description of the book, I knew from the beginning that this book would either challenge me in reading it, or to want to read it. From the very beginning, Samuel Rodriguez draws a clear-cut line and sticks to it. His line is in the shape of a cross and it concerns our connection to righteousness in Christ, and justice as our connection to man. I agree with his this position; what I disagree with is how he voices his opinion, seemingly cutting off any person who would want to either engage him in debate or dialogue over any of his more fundamentalist points.

     Rodriguez's basic battle cries are that we need fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and to renew our focus on the Scripture; yes and amen! Where he goes off-track is when he identifies the person who does not take a vociferous position against practices that contradict models set in the Bible in exchange for love and grace as spiritually indifferent and apathetic. As a moderate who wants to love my enemies at all costs, I take positions like his with a level of indignation. Throughout the book, Rodriguez's points for righteousness and justice are repeated again and again; the reader who doesn't catch on by the end apparently did not read it closely enough.

     The Lamb's Agenda is a book that will leave the active reader wanting to engage the author in conversation; unfortunately, without the author present this becomes impossible. Anyone with an enjoyment for current events and the Church will enjoy this book.

I received my copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to write a positive review; my opinions are my own.

Is Your View of God "Distorted?"

            Our childhood, adolescence, and young adult years are the foundation for how we will view everything in life.  Even into middle age, youth perspective still influences.  This seems like a no-brainer statement, until we begin to analyze the implications.  One area that is impacted by our growing up is how we view the person-hood and identity of God, or how we view him incorrectly.  John Bishop addresses this notion in his new book God Distorted.  Through solid biblical foundation and illustrations, as well as plenty of support and perspective from other authors makes this an ideal read for anyone struggling to understand how a God referred to as "father," could even possibly be considered good.
            This book is okay.  I would have been more eager to read it if I had chosen this book because I was looking to address an internal conflict instead of choosing it because it seemed the most interesting out of a list of books to read and review.  Nonetheless, the points raised in this book will challenge a reader of any relational level to at least reflect on his or her own thoughts and opinions of God.
            God Distorted by John Bishop is a prime read for a small group; the discussion guide in the back of the book provides plenty of opportunity for delving deeper in the material.  If you struggle with what you think God's identity is, or need a way to break out of what it isn't, read this book.

I received my copy of the book for free in exchange for writing a review on it.  I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions contained within are my own.

gods at war

            Everyone knows or knows of the Ten Commandments.  The first two commandments in particular, you know...the ones about not having any other gods ahead of God or making any graven images, seem to be the ones that most people believe are two of the easiest to follow.  It turns out that not only are they two of the hardest ones to follow now, but they were also two of the hardest to follow back in the times of the Old Testament as well.  gods at war by Kyle Idleman breaks down common idols into simple categories and helps the reader realize how idle they truly are.
            I work in a profession where a college education and additional licensing are required; I take pride in what I do.  This book challenged me in how I view what I do for a living to ensure that it is not an idol or false god in my life.  I may be in a profession that brings status, but it is only because of God's favor that I'm there in the first place.
            Kyle Idleman's gods at war is a powerful expository book that brings a whole new perspective on the concept of the false god and how easily it can make a subtle part in a person's life.  I recommend this book to anyone looking for a challenge to personal growth in his or her Walk.

I received my copy of the book for free from the publisher in exchange for reviewing it.  I was not obligated to post a positive review; my opinions are my own.

i am not.

            Every man has made the mistake at some point in his life of either believing himself more important than he is, or devaluing himself that he sells himself short.  The problems of pride and stress are things that unite all of mankind.  In his book, I Am Not, But I Know I AM, Louie Giglio uses Scripture and personal anecdotes to weave together an effective teaching that addresses both of these issues and how to overcome them.

            By being transparent enough to reveal his own personal struggles, Giglio uses his life as a backdrop for how to effectively apply the teachings in I Am Not.  My favorite anecdote from the book is one where Giglio shares about being the keynote preacher at a Dove Awards Banquet who delivered a message about our more or less insignificance when compared against God's greatness to a room of multi-platinum recording artists.

            The reader should be aware, however, that while the teaching in this book is great and passionate, Giglio does a better job teaching through speaking.  A reader picking this book up and expecting the same dynamic teaching like one would encounter at a Passion conference will be let down, but only a little.

            Ultimately, I Am Not, But I Know I AM is the perfect read for the Christian who wants a good read to remind them of how much they are loved.  

I received my copy of the book free from the publisher in exchange for writing a review.  The opinions contained are my own; I was not required to post a positive review.

Persecuted by Marshall, Gilbert and Shea

            I live a sheltered life, religiously speaking.  By this, I do not mean that my contact with people is minimal nor that I encounter circumstances and perspectives that perpetually challenge my beliefs.  What I mean is that I am able to practice my faith without fear of death and persecution.  I knew that in reality I was in a minority to find myself like this, but Persecuted opened my eyes to an even darker reality about Christian persecution than what I had thought existed.  Any (Christian) reader who hears the word "persecution" and isn't instantly stirred needs to pick this book up, as it will change everything.
             With an even-handed, academic approach the writers of Persecuted tackle the global issue of Christian persecution and the social injustices that accompany it with a level of emotional appeal that one would not assume to find in a book this loaded with research.  At times, the writing seems a little dry and repetitive, and it can feel easy at times throughout the book to let the gravity of the situations diminish in the mind simply for the fact that it happens so much and is discussed endlessly throughout the book.  If there are any critiques over this book, that is the main and only one for me.
            Persecuted is an accurate, current expository look at the issue of Christian persecution across the planet and persuasive critique of why we need to be aware of it.  Any reader who has picked up Fox's Book of Martyrs would find this a good next step for reading.

I received my copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for a review of the book.  The opinions in this post are my own; I was not obligated to give a positive review.

Do You Want to Read Something Relentless?

            The writer states in Ecclesiastes that, "Finishing is better than starting" (7:8).  This is an ironic verse to begin a book on persevering through trials because while they are better to finish than start, Relentless by John Bevere got better and better as I read it to the point that finishing it was better than starting it.  The title is also ironic, as Bevere is relentless in driving home a message of doing everything possible for the Kingdom and not giving up.
            Relentless is full of Scripture references, with 237 pages and at least one per page on average, it is safe to say that this book is based on Bible, no debate.  But it also contains personal anecdotes, life application examples, and is all done through the heart of a man who cares about people.
            I am hard-pressed to find anything I didn't like about this book, as it is well written and I couldn't put it down.  This book could easily be used in any small-group setting as the center of study.  Read Relentless and thank me later.

I received my copy of the book for free from the publisher in exchange for reviewing it.  I was not obligated to give a positive review; the opinions expressed are mine solely.

Who Do You Think YOU Are?

             Who are you?  What things about yourself do you consider when preparing to answer this question?  In Who Do You Think You Are?, Mark Driscoll has the answer to that question without ever having met you, and that answer is connected to two of the most powerful words in all of Scripture: "in Christ."  Using the book of Ephesians as a backdrop, Driscoll uses these words and their contexts to paint a picture that man, needing only to be found in Christ, is more than he could ever truly fathom.
             Who Do You Think You Are? is full of what Driscoll does best.  If you have ever heard him teach, then this book will not surprise you, and you will not be let down.  This book is chock full of Scripture references to cross-link to the portion of Scripture he is teaching on, applicable examples from the lives of people he knows, and practical advice that the reader can easily apply to his or her life.
            As a person studying to be a credentialed pastor, and as a teacher, I found this book loaded with examples of Bible-centered promises that I can remind people of when talking with them about their problems and their identity.  Who Do You Think You Are? could easily find its place next to anything written by John Ortberg, John Piper, or even Josh McDowell.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wrestles with the fact being in Christ brings rewards through grace and not works.

I received my copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for writing a review.  I was not obligated to write a positive review; my opinions are my own.