Soulprint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny by Mark Batterson

I was first introduced to Mark Batterson in his book In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day. It was a life changing book for me. When I received this one to review I was not disappointed.

The book is based on the story of King David’s life and relationship with God and how it applies to us. God saw more in David then he ever saw in himself. The same is true for us. Even though we might have blown it before or are now, it’s never to late to be who and do what God intended you to do. He has some great things in store for us.

The book includes a study guide in the back that would work great for a small group study or  for more depth on your own. This is a book I would recommend to my friends.

A complimentary copy of Soulprint by Mark Batterson was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Verla and I were out shopping when we heard a little girl in her most serious voice tell her brother, “I imagined it, so it really did happen.” We both laughed and went on with our day. Then I began to think about what the little girl said and was shocked at this young girl’s wisdom.

As leaders we have to be people with big imaginations. If we can’t imagine how something can look, taste and feel, how can we sell others on our vision? If we can’t create a realistic story to share with others it has no chance of happening.

When we imagine it, we need to believe that it will happen. Belief in our dream and belief in our self is crucial  Don’t sell yourself short. If you can dream it, you can do it.  When we have that mindset the details start to fall in place.

So you have your dream, you believe it can happen, now you need to pursue it. Actively go after it. Don’t wait until the conditions are perfect. That will never happen. Run after your dream! That’s the only way you will achieve it. You are either running towards it or away from it. Which way are you running?

So my challenge is IMAGINE, BELIEVE and PURSUE your dreams.

Thank you little girl for waking up this sleeping giant. I will imagine and it will happen.

The God Whom Moses KnewA Novel By J. Roger Nelson, M.D.

This was attempt to help fill in the blanks of the cultural differences that we might not understand. Nelson sites a lot of resources that he draws his conclusions from. Over all I would say he did a good job in helping us understand the culture and time frame better.

I enjoyed it because I love to place myself back into the time the scriptures were written. I wonder what the person might have thought or felt during that time. The book is an easy read and help you to understand the scriptures that it was taken from better.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

I was really excited to get this book to review until I read the back cover. It had the dreaded words that bug me down deep (no pun intended). The words: doctrine, theology and orthodoxy. These are some of the most churchy words around. I figured it was going to be so boring and churchy that I didn’t want to read it. But I reluctantly  started to read the book. The more I read it the more I enjoyed it.

Harris has a great way of putting doctrine, theology and orthodoxy into relevant easy to understand terms. He uses personal stories and great illustrations to make his points. It was not boring. In fact it was quite engaging. I usually don’t reread books but this one I am keeping on the self to read again at a later date.

Once you read it I am sure you will recommend this to your friends.

This book was given to me by Blogging For Books to do an unbiased book review.

Amazon link

Invasion is the first book in a series called C.H.A.O.S. (Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural) by Jon S. Lewis. Invasion is like a comic book coming to life. A young boy named Colt has lost his parents in an automobile accident. He moves in with his Grandpa and the story begins.

Colt is put into a position of pushing his limits and testing his courage all throughout the book. Friendships are betrayed in the way you hope yours are. There is a lot of reference to Christian ethics and beliefs, which is refreshing. The weapons used and detailed descriptions are fantastic.

I really was skeptical but it kept my interest throughout the book. The author is very descriptive in his writing and makes it easy to visualize the scene.  I would recommend this for upper elementary through young adults.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com  book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Close Enough to Hear God Breathe

The Great Story of Divine Intimacy

By Greg Paul
Published by Thomas Nelson

Greg does a great job of writing short stories and connecting them to our relationship with God and who we are in God. The chapters are really short so if you’re trying to squeeze in a little reading during your busy day it works well. I enjoyed the stories and the book was an easy read. It is really not new material that I haven’t read before it is just packaged in a different way. He has a great writing style but it just didn’t connect for me.

After completing the book I didn’t have any real revelations just a felling of “that was nice”. It’s not one I would read again or necessarily recommend to a friend. But it would be a good one to have next to the bed in the guest room.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I started off a little skeptical on this one. I have read books before on getting closer to God. They usually are full of legalistic ideas that you can do to achieve this. It was refreshing when right out of the gate Gene admits that he is not a spiritual person. It came across that this guys has been where I am and understands. It wasn’t a bunch of things that we can do to achieve the closeness we are supposed to have, it was a way to create a longing or a passion to spend time with Him.

The chapters are really short. Which helps with my short attention span. It is a very easy read that you look forward to reading. It starts off really simple and then progresses deeper. So don’t stop reading it if it seems to simple. Keep going and it will catch you where you are at. There is also a group study guide and a personal study guide in the back of the book.

This is a book I am going to recommend to a few people I know. We all long to walk a little closer with God. Get started by picking up a copy of this book.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Amazon Link

Waking Hours

By Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Published by Thomas Nelson

The story begins in a town called Salem. A teenage girl has been brutally murdered and a psychiatrist and old high school class mate that is wanting to be a private detective are on the case. The story keeps getting deeper as more evidence of spiritual battles take place. Is it her peers? Is it a psycho? Is it a demon? Is it all the above? You will just have to read it and find out.

I love detective stories so this was a great read for me. But it has a lot of detailed gore that might gross some people out. If you have a strong stomach and love detective stories give it a try. The writer’s style makes it an easy read but challenges you to really think about the details.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Worth Dying For – Love Riot Album

What an awesome battle cry!

Upon receiving this to do a review, I thought great another legalistic book on how God demands that I act like. The further I read into the book the more I was convinced that I was right. Then my heart started to change and I was wanting to change the way I act and treat others. Not because that is what I was supposed to do but because I wanted to. We get so caught up in the business of the day to day grind that we forget that we are supposed to love God and others. Not just when it’s convenient but as we through our day. By the end of the book I was pumped to do the challenge that David threw out to:

Pray for the world

Read through the Bible

Sacrifice for a purpose

Spend time in another context

Multiply community

They are such basic things that we all can do. Can you imagine what a world this would be if we all did these things because we had a huge love for God and others?

IT’S TIME TO GET RADICAL