Book Review: Pastoring Men, by Patrick Morley

What is pastoring supposed to look like? Specifically the pastoring of men. Men are supposed to be the leaders of Christianity in this world, yet often we slack off and don't even lead our homes, let alone in our local churches. In the award winning book Pastoring Men, Patrick Morley presents strategies and helps for discipling men into a more vibrant relationship with their church, their family, their community, and most importantly, their Savior.

I found this book to not only be spot on, but also very practical. Morley didn't just analyze men and leave it at that. He took the next step and gave helps for pastors to engage the men in their church and disciple them into the leaders that the church so desperately needs. 5 stars out of 5 for an award winning book that hits the nail on the head. 

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:
https://www.amazon.com/Pastoring-Men-Works-Doesnt-Matters/dp/0802475531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545498434&sr=8-1&keywords=pastoring+men

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Morley, Patrick. Pastoring Men: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why Men's Discipleship Matters Now More Than Ever. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016.

FTC DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: A. W. Tozer: Three Spiritual Classics in One Volume

Weird title for a book, huh? Not really though. This book is a compilation of some of A.W. Tozer's greatest works: The Knowledge of the Holy, The Pursuit of God, and God's Pursuit of Man.

There cannot be enough said about the quality of the works that Tozer has written. These classic books have stood the tests of time, still being relevant and profitable reads after over half a century since their original publishing dates.

I don't think that much needs to be reviewed about the books themselves. If you have any background in Christianity, Tozer's work has most likely crossed your path at one time or another. If you have not had any opportunities to encounter his works, I encourage you-- read it! It will honestly be a life-changing experience. Now what needs to be reviewed is the format of the book itself. 

The book is hardcover with a very well designed dust jacket. The book uses a standard font for easy reading, and a plus side is the font isn't too small either. The book is a convenient size for any backpack, purse, or even to just keep in the glove compartment of the car. 

I do not hesitate to give this book 5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:
https://www.amazon.com/W-Tozer-Spiritual-Classics-Knowledge/dp/0802418619/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534340582&sr=8-1&keywords=A.+W.+Tozer%3A+Three+Spiritual+Classics+in+One+Volume

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
See inside cover of the book for the bibliography on all 3 volumes.

FTC DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Passion in the Pulpit

Here we are again, back to the "Pulpit" series. Dr. Jerry Vines wrote the first two books along with Dr. Jim Shaddix. In this book, Dr. Vines turns to Dr. Adam Dooley to teach preachers about the use of emotion in preaching and in the study of the Bible. I would consider Dr. Dooley an expert on the topic, having written his doctoral dissertation on Biblical persuasion, one of the main uses of emotion in preaching.

The authors call the emotions of the Biblical text the "missing exegetical link." I would tend to agree with them. They clearly show that most preachers do not understand the emotions that we use. We should be striving to have our emotion in the pulpit line up with the original intent behind the text. If there is a desperate plea, our emotion should show that desperation. If the author is overjoyed, then our face, our tone, and our body language should show that. 

I have been blown away with the quality of the two previous books of this series and have once again seen my expectations exceeded. This series is an instant classic and should be a primary part of every preacher's collection. A strong 5 stars out of 5. 

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:
https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Pulpit-Exegete-Emotion-Scripture/dp/0802418384/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1533566340&sr=8-2&keywords=passion+in+the+pulpit&dpID=51FtOJJ5AHL&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Vines, Jerry and Adam B. Dooley. Passion in the Pulpit: How to Exegete the Emotion of Scripture. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2018.

FTC DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Screens and Teens, by Dr. Kathy Koch

As you read this post, you are most assuredly using a screen, unless for some reason you print my blog whenever I post. And Dr. Kathy Koch deals with our exposure to screens, specifically, as the title suggests, teenagers with screens. 

For starters, Dr. Kathy's book is so full of practical truth and knowledge. When someone reads this book, he is going to learn something. It naturally happens. Each chapter provides a new lesson for the person who is willing to study and learn more about technology from a Biblical perspective.

However, for being such a practical book, it is written in a way that is very academic. Each chapter is written as more of a continued essay than a book that parents should be teaching their children with. I would have liked to see this book be a bit more personal rather than essay-ish. 

Despite my disagreement with how the author chose to write this book stylistically, there is no denying that it is a great resource for Christians and the church today. I do recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who have teenagers in their life. 4 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:
https://www.amazon.com/Screens-Teens-Connecting-Wireless-World/dp/0802412696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531138543&sr=8-1&keywords=screens+and+teens

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Koch, Dr. Kathy, Ph.D. Screens and Teens: Connecting with Our Kids in a Wireless World. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015.

FTC DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: Discerning Your Call To Ministry, by Jason K. Allen

When it comes to the ministry, perhaps no question is asked more than this: "Am I actually called to the ministry?" In this book, Jason Allen endeavors to answer this one difficult question with ten simple, Biblical questions. 

As I read this book, I reflected on my own call that God has placed on my life. Each of these questions reflected what I believe God has called me to do: preach His Word as a vocational minister and evangelize the lost. This book confirmed what I believed, but also helped me to see that I can help those who may be struggling with this call themselves. It is something that I will be challenged to do. 5 stars out of 5. 

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:
https://www.amazon.com/Discerning-Your-Call-Ministry-About/dp/0802414664

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Allen, Jason K. Discerning Your Call To Ministry. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016.

FTC DISCLOSURE:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Martyrdom and Mission-- A Life-Changing Sermon (Preached by David Platt)

There may not be a more needed subject to talk about among our Christian faith in the world today than our dedication to the cause of Christ. When we think of the most dedicated Christians, I firmly believe that our minds should go to those who have given their lives for their faith. In this sermon, David Platt goes into why the martyrs of our Christian heritage were willing to give their lives for their faith, then asks us the question: How should we live in light of their example? I hope and pray that this sermon touches your heart as much as it has mine both the first time I heard it and every time I have heard it after.

For discussion questions on this sermon, go to--
http://s3.amazonaws.com/radical-net-assets/images/20180521155323/Martyrdom-and-Mission-Why-Reformers-Died-In-Their-Day-How-We-Must-Live-In-Ours-Discussion-Questions.pdf

For more by David Platt, go to-- 
http://radical.net/

Control Freak on a Roller Coaster

My ministry journey began at a young age. At age 3, I told my grandmother that I would take over our church when my grandfather, my pastor, retired. As the years have gone on, God confirmed in my heart His call on my life to the ministry. And yet. . . 

There have still been changes in my life. Twists and turns as I have prayed about what God would have me to do with my life. For a time, I thought missions. Then it was career youth pastor before becoming a youth evangelist. Then it was back to missions again. I constantly look at my life and see a roller coaster effect that has engulfed me. If you've known me for any length of time, you know that I absolutely detest roller coasters. I can't get on them at all. I hate the feeling of not being in control of how my body is moving—that some outside force could take my body and move it in a way that would destroy it. That's how my mind has felt about my future. 

I have thought that I want to plan everything that I do in my ministry. That I will have a plan and trust God to help me bring that plan to pass.  But that's not the way God works. He has His plan that He wants to work in my life. He wants to make my control freak mind and take over the controls.  

There have been times where I have let Him take control, and He has blessed me for it. There have been other times that I have kept control, and He has used me in spite of myself. Yet I have found that through following His plan and surrendering to His will, God is able to use me and bless me so much more than following my own plans. 

So where have I come from? I used to be a guy who said that I will be an assistant and youth pastor only. I used to be the guy who said that I'll be the number two man in a church. You know where God has me now? He's changed my heart and wants me to be involved as much as I can in church planting, one of the biggest roller coaster rides of ministry. 

I may never get on a roller coaster again. I have no desire to do so. My control freak body can't get past the fears that come with it. But my control freak mind and heart have been learning and will continue to learn to submit to the God whose will is better than mine and whose plan is more detailed than mine. He controls the roller coaster better than I can control my body.

1 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wl-Ap2yUjYQ/maxresdefault.jpg

Book Review: Student Ministry Essentials, by Steve Vandegriff & Richard Brown

Youth ministry is a unique part of the church's mission. There are so many angles that can be taken to reach teens, but only a few are very effective. Vandegriff and Brown lay out their philosophy for doing this here in Student Ministry Essentials.

The philosophy that these men take looks at three different parts of youth ministry: 1) leadership, 2) nurturing, and 3) reaching. In leadership, they talk about the developing of leaders in the church to help with the youth ministry, which includes the pastor, youth workers, volunteers, and especially the parents. Nurturing looks at understanding and developing the youths of today-- helping them grow to new heights. Reaching involves anything outside of your own services-- youth activities, partnership with other churches, and outreach into the community.

Each of these areas is a necessary one. There are so many charts, figures, and images to help one understand the concepts that are given in the book. I felt that the book was very basic at times, but that comes from giving the bare essentials of the message. For these reasons, I give 4.5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Student-Ministry-Essentials-Reaching-Nurturing/dp/0802412653/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524677458&sr=8-1&keywords=student+ministry+essentials

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Vandegriff, Steve, and Richard Brown. Student Ministry Essentials: Reaching. Leading. Nurturing. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the MP Newsroom book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: When We Say Father

This is the final manuscript work of the great preacher Adrian Rogers before he died in 2005. Since he wrote it, his son Steve took it, edited it, and got it published. This book has been a great encouragement to me in growing my prayer life.

Rogers beautifully points out the significant elements of the Lord's prayer that we see today. The person, priority, provision, pardon, protection, praise, and promise of prayer are all present here in this book, as it is organized almost like a long alliterated sermon. This, for me, increases the readability of it because I can remember the previous points of the book better.

I love this book. Its principles are simple and yet still very much challenging as it digs into the model prayer set for us by the person who has the best relationship with God of any man-- Jesus Christ. 5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Say-Father-Unlocking/dp/1462771300/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522269100&sr=8-1&keywords=when+we+say+father

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Rogers, Adrian, and Steve. When We Say Father: Unlocking the Power of the Lord's Prayer. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the BH Bloggers book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Kingdom Collaborators, by Reggie McNeal

Another book on leadership. Some new concepts, but relatively average.

Many books have been and will continue to be written on leadership. This book, Kingdom Collaborators by Reggie McNeal, is another such book. McNeal's desire in this book is to truly see leaders who will take the world by the reins and collaborate with God to bring about revival and show people how to follow the ultimate leader-- God himself.

McNeal does a good job of relaying leadership principles, but if you have read any Christian books on leadership in the past, then you have no doubt seen them before. McNeal adapts some of them so there are good things that anyone can learn from this book. Ultimately, it is a good book with good principles, but we have heard this all before. 3 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Collaborators-Signature-Practices-Leaders/dp/0830841431/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522175604&sr=8-2&keywords=kingdom+collaborators

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

McNeal, Reggie. Kingdom Collaborators: Eight Signature Practices of Leaders Who Turn the World Upside Down. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book from InterVarsity Press, in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical Studies

Good, short resource

This dictionary is not necessarily a dictionary of the Bible. Rather, it is a dictionary of Bible doctrines, extra-Biblical terms and events, and Bible scholars. This makes it a bit different than other Bible dictionaries that you will find, but it is a good resource because of it.

This small dictionary gives some good definitions of what are often some terms that do not have definitions found in other places. It's easy to keep in a pocket of a bag to go along with your Bible, especially if you're going to be taking Bible classes and don't understand some of the terms used. 4 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Baker-Compact-Dictionary-Biblical-Studies/dp/0801019079/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522089454&sr=8-1&keywords=the+baker+compact+dictionary+of+biblical+studies

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Longman III, Tremper, and Mark L. Strauss. The Baker Compact Dictionary of Biblical  Studies. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Baker Book Bloggers book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: 8 Hours or Less, by Ryan Huguley

Need more time? Here's some help finding it!

Having prepared sermons now for a couple years, I know how time-consuming this process can be. And yet it can seem impossible to cut down on the quantity of time without sacrificing the quality of the sermon. In this book, Ryan Huguley suggests a week-long preparation process that can help the pastor "redeem the time" on a daily basis and still have strong, faithful sermons.

For each day, Huguley has set aside 1 or 2 hours at the most to be devoted to a specific area of sermon preparation:

• Monday: 2 hours or less to develop a clear and concise frame for the sermon (strong, yet rough outline).
• Tuesday: 1 hour or less to meet with trusted people to receive feedback on the sermon frame.
• Wednesday: 1 hour or less to develop an attention-getting introduction.
• Thursday: 1 hour or less to develop a purposeful conclusion.
• Friday: 2 hours or less to fill the frame developed earlier in the week and finalize sermon notes.

What I really enjoyed about this book was Huguley's emphasis, not on being new, but on being efficient. He does not seek to completely change how one writes a sermon, but to take the process that is currently in place and refine it, so one can, as Paul wrote to Timothy, make full proof of their ministry. The only element of this process that I do not currently do in another form is meeting with people to discuss the sermon frame, yet I can see the value in this and will seek to do this going forward. Huguley's book, while not new, is certainly revolutionary in its efficiency. 5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Hours-Less-Writing-faithful-sermons/dp/0802415083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521944082&sr=8-1&keywords=8+hours+or+less

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Huguley, Ryan. 8 Hours or Less: Writing Faithful Sermons Faster. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2017.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the MP Newsroom book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Together on God's Mission, by D. Scott Hildreth

I have never had the opportunity to read much on the Southern Baptist Convention, so this book was a first for me. This book presents the history of the convention and a proposal to continue and grow the cooperation in the convention today. 

For me, I felt that this book was informative, but that was about it. It really did nothing to challenge me as a believer. It is a good resource to be sure, but I was kind of disappointed in the application portion of the book. 3 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

https://www.amazon.com/Together-Gods-Mission-Cooperate-Commission/dp/1433643944/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521822727&sr=8-1&keywords=together+on+god%27s+mission

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Hildreth, D. Scott. Together on God's Mission: How Southern Baptists Cooperate to Fulfill the Great Commission. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the BH Bloggers book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Everyman's Bible Commentary--Revelation, by Charles C. Ryrie

My study of the book of Revelation has spanned a good part of my life. I am a total Bible prophecy nerd. So when I was given the opportunity to review a commentary on the book of Revelation, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. 

I think that Ryrie did an excellent job at outlining and commenting on the book of Revelation. The main purpose I put into my reading was to find areas that are often problems in studying Bible prophecy and to see how he handled those issues. Ryrie did an excellent job of covering those problem passages, most notably the idea of salvation in the Tribulation, often a highly debated issue. This commentary did a good job of fulfilling its purpose: making the teachings of the Bible understandable for people of all different backgrounds, not just the pastors of the world. 

I look forward to seeing the new cover that will be coming out for this commentary series. It will, I am sure, bring new life to a very good commentary. 5 stars out of 5.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Ryrie, Charles C. Everyman's Bible Commentary--Revelation. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1996.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the MP Newsroom book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: 8 Great Smarts, by Dr. Kathy Koch, Ph.D.

A Smart Resource

"You smarty pants!" "You smart cookie!!" Parents use these names rather loosely with their children. Whenever a child brings home an "A" test or paper, parents will often reward their child for being smart. But what about other kids who never bring home an A? Kathy Koch here presents 8 different ways that a child may be smart. She also attempts to show how parents can help their children grow in all the different smarts and thrive in them.

The 8 smarts that Dr. Koch lists here are:

• Word Smart (thinking with words)
• Logic Smart (thinking with questions)
• Picture Smart (thinking with pictures)
• Music Smart (thinking with rhythm/melodies)
• Body Smart (thinking with movement/touch)
• Nature Smart (thinking with patterns)
• People Smart (thinking with people)
• Self-Smart (thinking with reflection)

When going through this list, there are so many different things to consider that I don't have the time to list them out for each of these. But this book does an excellent job at what it set out to do: it provides parents and teachers with ways to help their children and students grow in all the different kinds of smarts. The biggest thing that this book does well is teaching how to encourage children to grow in smarts that are not their primary smarts. It's an excellent tool to assist parents in helping their children grow. For these reasons, I give this book 5 stars out of 5. 

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Smarts-Discover-Nurture-Intelligences/dp/0802413595/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520960450&sr=8-1&keywords=8+great+smarts+kathy+koch

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Koch, Kathy, Ph.D. 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the MP Newsroom book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Resurrecting Religion, by Greg Paul

Resurrecting Religion-- almost alive, but still searching.

What has happened to religion today? True religion that is pure before God? Do we practice a true religion that honors Him or is our religion dead? In this book Resurrecting Religion, Greg Paul attempts to make different cases for doing just that-- resurrecting true religion.

Unfortunately, this book did not live up to its billing for me. While I was expecting the book to be a bit more practical, it turned more factual. It presented some good points, but overall it failed in reaching its ultimate goal of resurrecting true religion. I would still recommend this book for more factual purposes, but as far as a practical resource, it missed the mark. For these reasons, I give this book 2.5 stars out of 5. 

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK: 
https://www.amazon.com/Resurrecting-Religion-Finding-Back-Good/dp/1631466666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520880143&sr=8-1&keywords=resurrecting+religion+greg+paul

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK: 
Paul, Greg. Resurrecting Religion: Finding Our Way Back to the Good News. Nashville, TN: NavPress, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot, by Mo Isom

Convicting Conversations for All

When I requested this book to review, I had no idea what to expect. I hoped that I was not getting an average look at an issue that has become so commonplace for pastors, youth pastors, and Bible teachers to deal with. I was not disappointed!! This book by Mo Isom is one of the most comprehensive, open, and revealing resources that I have ever read on the issue of sexual purity.

The reason why Isom's book is so good is that it recognizes God's design for sex. She recognizes that "We are sexual beings because sex is a deep and instructed desire in our hearts. God placed it there (24)." BUT furthermore, Isom's book is great because it recognizes God's desire for us to live our lives with purity at the front of our minds, not necessarily virginity. To be sure, virginity is the standard of the Bible, but it can be lost, to never be restored. "But spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional purity can (50)." Purity is a matter of the heart (Matthew 5:8). If we strive for purity, then virginity will follow.

Mo Isom presents us with an eye-opening book that is a must-read for pastors, youth pastors, and parents alike as we seek to educate the church and the future generations on God's designs for sex. Sex is a good, God-given thing. We must realize this. This book easily gets 5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Jesus-Conversations-Church-Forgot/dp/0801019052/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520457388&sr=8-1&keywords=sex+jesus+and+the+conversations+the+church+forgot

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Isom, Mo. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Baker Book Bloggers book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Daring to Hope, by Katie Davis Majors

Daring to Hope-- Dares to do so, and gives that hope

I have not yet been privileged to read the first book by Katie Davis Majors, but I was greatly impressed by her writing in this book. Her story is incredible, bringing many girls into her home as a missionary in Africa is truly commendable and an act that follows exactly what Christ was intending for us to do. Each of us will have a different role in the plan of God. Not all of us will be called to do what Katie did, in moving to Uganda and adopting many children. But each of us has been called to be a shining light to all who we have the opportunity to impact.

I really enjoyed reading the stories that are featured here. I really enjoy missionary biographies and this one was no exception. Each of the stories presents a deeper perspective on life in Uganda as a missionary than the last. I am going to look for the original book to gain a full perspective of the ministry that Katie has had in Uganda, but greatly enjoyed the perspective that I have already received. I cannot wait to read more. For these reasons, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Hope-Finding-Goodness-Beautiful/dp/0735290512/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520192538&sr=8-2&keywords=daring+to+hope+katie+davis+majors

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Ford, Adam and Kyle Mann. How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living. New York: Multnomah, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Blogging for Books book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Always Fall Forward, by Todd Gerelds

Always Fall Forward-- Helping Christians Move Forward.

Many of us have learned lessons from great men. Todd Gerelds learned from his father, former coach of Woodlawn High School. In this book, he features these lessons in a weekly devotional format-- 52 "coachisms" that feature special lessons from a man very special to Gerelds.

What I really enjoyed about this book was that it gave practical phrases that are easy to remember-- things that a person can easily put into practice. The other thing that this book did a good job of was putting in good scripture passages to read that followed the application of the "coachism." Finally, good application questions to put some reflection in the reader's mind are also good helps to the reader.

Gerelds did a good job of creating a devotional here. I would have liked to have seen a schedule for Bible reading for each week, to make this a stronger devotional book. But otherwise, it is a good book. For these reasons, I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

https://www.amazon.com/Always-Fall-Forward-Lessons-Forget/dp/1496424808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520192299&sr=8-1&keywords=always+fall+forward+todd+gerelds

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Gerelds, Todd. Always Fall Forward: Life Lessons I'll Never Forget from "The Coach." Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Being a Christian, by Jason K. Allen

Being a Christian-- all about the Gospel

This book by Jason Allen, Being a Christian, is a book that I was looking forward to reviewing. It's a very good book. So many resources out there talk about the Christian life. There's a whole genre of literature that is dedicated to "Christian Living." But this book takes a different approach than many of these books. It gets back to the basics.

The very basic foundation of our Christian life is the Gospel. Each chapter of this book focuses on how the gospel impacts a different part of our life, beginning with how the gospel affects us personally and dealing with other parts of our life, such as marriage, family, money, and the church.

It's a shorter and simpler book than some "Christian Living" books, but that made me enjoy it more. It put principles right where anyone could reach it. This is low-hanging fruit, as some would call it, a basic help to any Christian on living out the gospel in different aspects of their lives. I would have liked more issues dealt with, but that can be done in other books. For these reasons, I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

https://www.amazon.com/Being-Christian-Jesus-Redeems-Life/dp/1462761933/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519928007&sr=8-1&keywords=being+a+christian+jason+allen

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Allen, Jason K. Being a Christian: How Jesus Redeems All of Life. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the BH Bloggers book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: The Assist, by Brian Smith

The Assist-- a game-changer.

Those who know me know that I love sports. If you are reading this review on the site of The Sunday Morning Quarterback, you obviously can recognize this too. One question that I have been asked often through the years is this: how can someone glorify God through sports? In this book, Brian Smith of Athletes in Action endeavors to answer this question on many different levels, from winning and losing to the gray areas that are often prevalent in sports.

This book provides an excellent Biblical perspective on sports. It is able to do this for one reason-- its foundation is in the right place. By putting the issues of "Glory" and "God" first, this book is able to keep the rest of the Christian outlook on sports in perspective.

It is critical for any Christian athlete, coach, official, and fan to have a Biblical basis for sports. This book, specifically addressed to athletes, provides a good Biblical basis for a Christian's sports worldview. I know that the author's ministry is primarily to athletes, but I would fully support future books directed to other sports participants-- the coaches, officials, and fans. A very good book, and for me, is worth 5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Assist-Gospel-Centered-Glorifying-through-Sports/dp/1632961814/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519832054&sr=8-1&keywords=the+assist+brian+smith

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Smith, Brian. The Assist: A Gospel-Centered Guide to Glorifying God Through Sports. Houston, TX: Lucid Books, 2017.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lucid Books, in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Men Who Love Fierce Women

Powerful and insightful. Highly Recommended.

I'm going to shoot straight here: I loved this book. When I first requested to review this book, there was something about it that drew me to it. I received the book and realized why:

This book is about me.

Yes, I know the Wagner's wrote this book about their marriage. Yes, I know that I am still not engaged (sorry about that Kaitlin!). Yes, I know that our relationship is still strong. But for me, I need to change some aspects of my life. The author's talk about fear, ingratitude, and pride: I exhibit all 3. This book really made me look inside my heart and see what I need to do going forward. This is one of the easiest ratings I have ever given: 5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Men-Who-Love-Fierce-Women/dp/0802414656/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519744115&sr=8-1&keywords=men+who+love+fierce+women

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Wagner, Leroy and Kimberly. Men Who Love Fierce Women: The Power of Servant Leadership in Your Marriage. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2016.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the MP Newsroom book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Brand Fans, by Aaron C.T. Smith, Constantino Stavros, and Kate Westberg

Perhaps nothing excites members of our society more than sports. Many of us love sports and have our own favorite teams. These teams have found ways of marketing to individuals that have succeeded. This book seeks to investigate these secrets and shed light on them for anyone in business or another consumer generated part of culture. 

Chapter 1 introduces us to the brand “game” that is played by sports teams all over the world and how this branding moves people from emotion toward their team to engagement with their team. Chapter 2 looks at the players in this brand game—specifically, us as the fans of these teams. Chapter 3 details how the brand game has changed with the fans more involved and how these fans really do control what the marketing departments put into play. Chapter 4 looks at how each team becomes a community with its fans, almost to the point of being a tribe. Chapter 5 delves into the longevity of fandom, and how many take this fandom of one team throughout their entire lives. Chapter 6 repackages the brand game in the digital age, showing how the different sports brands use the digital market to their advantage. Chapter 7 gives even more details on bringing in fans and how to continue to enhance a team’s market. Chapter 8 concludes with some remarks about how the future of brands and fans will play out.

As a Christian and a sports fanatic, I read this book from 2 different perspectives. From the Christian side—there are ways that we can bring people into our church and do a better job of “marketing” Christianity. But that does not mean that we should sacrifice our beliefs and most importantly the Gospel. From the sports side, I appreciated this look at the different marketing techniques that teams use and will be looking for the different principles used as I watch sports and view sports teams going forward. For these reasons, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. 

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319488530

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Smith, Aaron C.T., Constantino Stavros, and Kate Westberg. Brand Fans: Lessons from the World's Greatest Sporting Brands. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International, 2017.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Springer book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Devotional Fitness, by Martin Radermacher

When it comes to society today, one of the things that we value above all is physical fitness. Many websites and books are dedicated to this very topic. This book, while about fitness, also explores the religious side of physical fitness and the role that religion plays in people exercising in their daily lives.

Chapter 1 of this book is merely the introduction to the book itself. Part 1 gives the background to the research with chapter 2 covering previous works on the topic and chapter 3 giving the goal, theory, and method of this specific work. Part 2 dives into the research material, with chapter 4 looking at how the ideal body has been shaped through the years and chapter 5 detailing a history of how evangelicals have viewed and used the physical body through history. Part 3 is an analysis of all that has been mentioned previously. Chapter 6 gives practical resources to implement better practices of devotional fitness. Chapter 7 looks at the environments that this devotional fitness exists in. Part 4 gives some concluding remarks in two chapters, with chapter 8 reconsidering the results that have been found and chapter 9 giving the final word of the book.

This book presents some interesting thoughts. I feel that the church should do different physical things to help reach out to their community and to improve the health and well-being of the church itself. This book will present me with some things to think about as I venture into full-time ministry. For these reasons, I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319498218

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Radermacher, Martin. Devotional Fitness: An Analysis of Contemporary Christian Dieting and Fitness Programs. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International, 2017.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Springer book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Dickens, Religion, and Society, by Robert Butterworth

Charles Dickens was one of the most prolific authors of his time. Many of his stories are still read today. Here’s the kicker though—many of his stories also had religious undertones. This book explores Dickens’ takes on religion as well as society.

Chapter 1 specifically looks at Dickens and religion. Chapter 2 looks at his responses to the Christian social attitudes of his day. After these introductory chapters on Dickens and religion, the next 5 chapters are spent covering individual books on this topic:

• Chapter 3—Oliver Twist
• Chapter 4 introduces the next three books.
• Chapter 5—Bleak House
• Chapter 6—Hard Times
• Chapter 7—Little Dorrit

Chapter 8 transitions from religion to society, with a specific look at Dickens and politics. 2 more books are covered in this section:

• Chapter 9—Barnaby Rudge
• Chapter 10—A Tale of Two Cities

Chapter 11 concludes the book with Dickens and sentimentality and what it really meant to him.

I felt that this book was an interesting perspective on Dickens. The religion of authors often plays a huge role in their writing, and this did not change for Dickens. Societal perspectives also contribute to writings and Dickens was a master of using and abusing society in his writings. For these reasons, I give this book 4 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

http://www.springer.com/us/book/9781137558701 

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Butterworth, Robert. Dickens, Religion, and Society. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International, 2016.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Springer book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Thanks for Asking, by Mike Larsen

Questions Asked, Questions Answered

We live in an age of questions. If there is a topic to discuss and a question to ask, we tend to ask that question. Things of God are no exception to this. Mike Larsen, the pastor of Encounter Christian Church in Bellflower, California, allowed the people of his church to ask him and his staff questions. These questions turned into a sermon series and eventually this book.

This book seems to be written directly from the sermons that were given. The style is very sermonic, and thus, very conversational. Rather than becoming a high and mighty discussion of certain topics, Larsen brings the topics discussed right to where the layman can understand.

The topics discussed are:

• Evil

• Alcohol
• Divorce
• Homosexuality
• God's will
• Religions
• God's judgment
• Suffering

Questions are often asked about all of these topics, and through Biblical study, Larsen does a good job of answering these questions. He is very thorough in his analysis of each issue and presents very good illustrations to show how the principles can be applied.

Personally, I found this book to be a very good resource for me as a future pastor. It's not because I could take each of these chapters and preach it straight as a good sermon, although that could probably be true (NOTE: I never plan to do that and plagiarize this great work). But for me as a future pastor, this great book is an example of how to handle very difficult questions. For these reasons, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Thanks-Asking-Equipping-answers-questions/dp/1632961792/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518723217&sr=8-1&keywords=thanks+for+asking+larsen

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thanks-for-asking-mike-larsen/1127695624?ean=9781632961792

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Larsen, Mike. Thanks for Asking: Equipping God's People with Answers to Life's Tough Questions. Houston, TX: Lucid Books, 2018.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lucid Books, in exchange for an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Book Review: Can God Defeat Terrorism?, by Scott Solana

A legitimate question with Biblical answers

When we consider our world, we often think about the constant terrorist threats that arise. We fear ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other groups that have threatened our country and our military. It is only natural to then ask the question, "Can God defeat terrorism?" Through examples from the books of Jonah and Nahum, Scott Solana finds that God has defeated terrorism and can do it again.

In these 2 books, the nation of Assyria is the Biblical terrorists. Their rule and conquest were characterized by turmoil and torture. What we would consider terrorism now, was what they did on a daily basis to Israel, Ammon, Moab, and any other nation that was living in the Middle East. But God, through His great grace in Jonah and His great power in Nahum, was able to defeat that terrorism.

This book was a new look for me. I had never considered that Assyria was truly a terrorist nation. But this provides a new perspective for me on what God wants to do with those people. He wants to show them His grace, just as He did for Nineveh. For these reasons, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:

https://www.amazon.com/Can-Defeat-Terrorism-Scott-Solana/dp/1633570576/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518722738&sr=8-1&keywords=can+god+defeat+terrorism

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Solana, Scott. Can God Defeat Terrorism?. Colorado Springs, CO: CrossLink, 2017.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Book Crash book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Air I Breathe, by Louie Giglio

When I think of my life, I truly believe that the one word that must describe it in everything I do is worship. Louie Giglio feels the same way. As the founder of the Passion movement, he has seen worship grow and change for years. Yet here in this book he defines what worship truly is.

This book makes worship into a lifestyle, as it should be. Every person on the planet is programmed to worship. What we choose to worship is up to us. Giglio does a good job in teaching about putting our focus on Christ in our worship. While this is not the best book on worship that I have ever read, it is a good one. Giglio's book poses good questions to us in worship (literally, with group discussion questions at the end). For these reasons, I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

https://www.amazon.com/Air-Breathe-Worship-Way-Life/dp/0735290717/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518721516&sr=8-1&keywords=the+air+i+breathe+louie+giglio

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:

Giglio, Louie. The Air I Breathe: Worship As a Way of Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2017.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Blogging for Books book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.