Review for "The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant" by Terry Felber

When I saw that Dave Ramsey wrote the forward for this book, I knew it would be good - and I was not disappointed! This great little story is a quick read packed with truths about building wealth, using marketplace skills for God's kingdom, and being a businessperson of integrity. The twelve truths are couched in a believable little story about a merchant and his grandson several hundred years ago, when Venice was a center of world trade and the grandiose cathedral St. Peter's was being built at the Vatican. The engaging backdrop is the setting for the transferring of wisdom from one generation to the next. The monk represents those in the ministry vocation, and the merchant those in business. The merchant explains how he learned that his role in the marketplace is no less a calling than the full-time minister's calling. The idea that wealth is bad is refuted. Instead, those God has gifted with the ability to innovate in business and generate wealth have the privilege and responsibility of doing their best in the marketplace and in turn supporting kingdom work. The principles of the merchant and his wealth apply to everyday, middle class people too; people who want to do their best with their income and want to honor God. The study guide at the end of the book is great. I can easily see myself doing this with a small group or discussing with a friend. For anyone in business or who is interested in the topic of wealth-building and integrity, this is a great edition! 5 stars out of 5 stars. I was provided with a complimentary copy for purposes of review by BookSneeze of Thomas Nelson Publishers, and am not required to give a positive review.

Review for "Sent" by Hilary Alan

The subtitle, "How One Ordinary Family Traded the American Dream for God's Greater Purpose" sums up this book. Hilary Alan describes the journey she and her family took in following God's leading to uproot and relocate in Southeast Asia to do missionary and relief work following the tsunami. Alan speaks with honesty about the struggles she had in reaching this decision, implementing the decision, and living in a foreign country. First, what I liked about this book was the challenge of a personal story from an ordinary American family. If God could use them, then He can use me! Many times I found myself asking, "Would I be willing to do that?" and hungering for the sense of purpose that the Alan family found. The story is told with honest detail from a relational perspective. I could identify with Hilary as a mom and a wife. Some things that I thought could have been improved on in the book were the organization and the style. There were too many chapters and they were too short for me. Each one dealt with one specific aspect of the decision/journey, and I would have like to see them combined into more broad themes. Also, the style was a little casual and the sentences short. This makes the book an easy read... I however would have enjoyed a little more literary meat. All in all, it is a great story worth telling, and also worth reading. 3 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for purposes of review, and am not required to give a positive review.

Review for "The Fantasy Fallacy" by Shannon Ethridge

I have enjoyed Shannon Ethridge's refreshing honesty and direct handling of tough topics for women in the Every Woman's Battle series, and she delivers great writing and counsel in this book as well! The Fantasy Fallacy is a response, in part, to the bestselling book "Fifty Shades of Grey." Ethridge takes this opportunity of the exposed erotica in a woman's mind to explore where these thoughts arise from and how a Christian woman can allow the Holy Spirit to guide her through them. True to her compassionate style, Ethridge is honest but never judgmental. Christian women likely have no place they feel comfortable asking questions about sexual thoughts and fantasies, so to read her sensible, God-honoring advice is even comforting. Some of the topics covered by the book are retraining our mental focus, the fascination with pornography, multiple partners, gay and lesbian desires, BDSM (bondage, domination, and sadomasochism. There is no prescription in the book as to how to behave. Rather, Ethridge encourages the reader to look deeper into the sexual desires in order to understand the root causes and needs, then allow God to meet those needs and help us along a more healthy path. I believe every woman deals at some level with sexual fantasies. Whether the reader is simply curious, knows someone dealing with sexual issues, or is herself involved some of the sexual fantasies described, this book will be informative, sensitive, and helpful. 4.5 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of the book for purposes of review from BookSneeze (Thomas Nelson Publishers) and am not required to give a positive review.

Review for "When Bad Christians Happen to Good People" by Dave Burchett

The title draws you in, doesn't it? Who hasn't been hurt by someone claiming to be a Christian? In this revised edition, Dave Burchett adds chapters that reveal God has continued to work at healing his own wounded heart. I had not read the 2002 version, and am glad I started with the 2011 version. The best chapters were the last, and the latest. The byline of the title is "Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage." I would argue that most of the book is spent on the "where we have failed each other" category. It is not hard to catalog a list of dumb, obnoxious, ignorant, and hurtful things Christians have done to each other and non-Christians. Burchett seems to vent a lot of his own pent-up steam in writing these chapters. While admitting frequently that he realizes now that he used to be one of the very people he rails against, Burchett still comes across as angry, cocky, and condescending. Still, he writes with honesty about the problems of legalism, moralism, and generally being "insider-minded" about our faith, and I am sure many readers have found catharsis in reading someone else's rantings about the things that also bother them. I had hoped the book would contain more information about "how to reverse the damage" - more about forgiveness, grace, healing for those who are hurt. The last couple of chapters detail Burchett's own journey in discovering grace, after publishing the original version of the book. The chapters are the most honest and most helpful, in my opinion. The book does contain some food for thought and good ideas for ways sincere Christians can be genuine in sharing their faith and avoid being obnoxious or even hurtful. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for purposes of review, and am not required to give a positive opinion. 3 out of 5 stars.

Review for "The River" by Michael Neale

After reading some great reviews of this book I was eager to begin. However, I finished with disappointment. It was a nice story, but it didn't touch me. It was entertaining and easy to read but was predictable and lacked profundity. It is what it is - a novel for mass consumption with a clean and appealing story. The story relates the experiences of young Gabriel Clarke, who must overcome his fears which stem from a tragic incident as a young child. Leaving "the River," which was the scene of the incident, Gabe's life takees a 90 degree turn as he moves to Kansas and lives out his childhood struggling to gain his confidence and get past his fears. Through a summer camp kind of experience, Gabe returns to "the River," meets a girl (of course), faces his fears, and hears the call to a life of more scope and confidence. It is a story of forgiveness as well as overcoming fear. I found the characters one-dimensional, with the exception of Gabe himself. They served their purpose in the plot, that is all. They were a little "too good to be believed" - the attractive girl who picked the shy boy and brought him out of his shell, putting up with all his behavior; the older mentor who happens to also be a great cook, play Gabe's favorite game, know Gabe's family, never get angry, appears at just the right times. There were several elements of the story that I thought were never fully developed: the mysterious stranger who sold marbles, the red-tailed hawk, the marble he bought and kept losing. The most disappointing aspect of the book was that I felt the end was rushed and the most significant conflict was fully solved within the span of a few hours. After taking the whole book to describe Gabe's complex and deep issues, this ending felt unrealistic and trite. Still, all in all, it was not a bad read - just not great literature. Enjoy it for what it is. I received this book on a complimentary basis for purposes of review from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of the BookSneeze program.

Review for "Running For My Life" by Lopez Lemong

Lopez Lemong has had to endure things no human should ever have to face, let alone as an innocent child. This is his story, from his time as a Lost Boy in the civil war of Sudan to U.S. Olympic athlete. Far from the angry, bitter life one would expect of someone who faced such horrific circumstances, Lopez's life is one of gratitude, hope, and perseverance. He tells his story matter-of-factly as he remembers it, and even the retelling of it is full of Lopez's optimism and faith. As a reader, I felt myself journey with him. My heart broke for him. Sometimes I laughed with him. I felt it a profound privilege to partake in this small way in his remarkable life. I came away with a deeper appreciation for my own country, the USA, and how God has blessed my life. I also was inspired by Lopez's perseverance and desire to give back and help others. This is the kind of story that, while exposing man at his worst, also rekindles hope in man redeemed by God and at his best. I read it in two sittings, it was so captivating and an easy read. 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book on a complimentary basis from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of the BookSneeze program for purposes of review. I am not required to give a favorable rating.

Review for "Dug Down Deep" by Joshua HarrisT

Theology. Orthodoxy. Doctrine. These words conjure up images of stale, stuffy books and academic study. But Joshua Harris, in "Dug Down Deep," speaks with passion and life about these topics which lift us out of superficiality. The Christian life is a rich and deep journey, one that confronts us with the need to think intellectually about what we believe about God and His Word if we are to grow past spiritual infancy. Harris writes from his own personal testimony, the journey of moving past being a self-proclaimed "apathetic church-kid" to a passionate student of God's word. He treats lofty concepts such as salvation, justification, sanctification, incarnation, redemption, and the work of the Holy Spirit in a very readable, accessible way. Coming to understand the richness of what these words mean to a Christian is not just for a Bible scholar, but for every follower of Jesus. The more we know and understand God, the more we love Him. And the way we think about Him is of utmost importance. "Dug Down Deep" is a great read for someone who is serious about growing in their faith. 4 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy from Waterbrook Multnomah Press for purposes of review and am not required to give a favorable review.