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John Ortberg’s The Me I Want To Be Review

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

The Me I Want to Be is written by bestselling author and pastor John Ortberg. With this book, he helps guide you to a unique spirituality with a result ending in exactly what the title suggests.

This book is a great first step to becoming God’s best version of yourself. By doing this, you are able to experience God more fully each day in the way that suits you best.

It is truly a great way to experience your relationship with God.

The Me I Want to Be will show how God’s perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise.

For those who trust in God they will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it’s roots by the stream. It doesn’t fear when heat comes; it leaves are always green. It doesn’t have worry in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit ( Jeremiah 17:7-8 ).

Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be.

He even provides detailed tasks and things you can do to help you live in the Spirit, circumventing real-world barriers, pain, temptations, self-doubt, sin; to flourish even in a broken and dark world.

As you start living in the flow, you will feel: a deeper connection with God,  a growing sense of joy, an honest recognition of your brokenness, less fear and more trust, a growing sense of being ‘rooted in love,’ and a deeper sense of purpose.

This book is filled with honesty, humor, and practicality. With this, he offers Biblical, historical, and personal insights which he directs his readers to take advantage of for the use of creating the “best version” of ourselves—which is the way that God has intended for us to be.

God invites you to join Him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life and The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg shows you how to graciously accept His invitation.

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Kerry And Chris Shook’s One Month To Live Review

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

In their first book Kerry and Chris Shook ask the question: What would you do if you have one month to live??

The book, appropriately titled One Month to Live, is a 30 day challenge to readers who want to stop waiting for tomorrow and start living for today.

These are amazing chapter filled with words to motivate and encourage readers to begin to focus on living a life of adventure and excitement.

This book is a combination daily devotional and self help guide, yet doesn’t condemn the reader for his or her own failures.

Instead, the authors encourage the reader to forget living in the past and worring about tomorrow and instead focus on diving head first into today.

One Month to Live is broken up into four principles: living passionately, loving completely, learning humbly, and leaving boldly. Each section builds on the next one and gives readers something to think about in regard to changing their lives.

Each day features Make It Count Moments and activities to help people redifine their own very lives. This book is a great challenge to readers to let go of the ” someday syndrome ” which is the habit of saying ” someday I will do this or that ” instead of doing it now.

One Month to Live is an uplifting and challenging collection of inspirational quotes and true stories designed to motivate readers to live the life they have always wanted.

The book encourages us to live like we were dying, because it is during that time that we truly understand how valuable each second of our life truly is. This book is an exceptionally well written and life changing resource that is great for personal use as well as in small study groups.

One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook is a challenge that can be shared with anyone you know and is a great tool for not only living life to the fullest, but also for connecting with those around you.

If you’ve ever felt like you were wasting time in life, get this book and start living the life that God has given to you.

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Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Betsy’s Return Review

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

I found Betsy’s Return by Wanda E. Brunstetter to be a sweet sweet Christian romance.

I enjoyed this development of Betsy’s character as she left her New York home to return to her Pennsylvanian hometown. On her reluctant revisit to Walnutport she meets the remnants of her negative attitude- enemies.

She knows what she is obligated to do now that her father has fallen into poor health. She wants to take care of her dad and the community that doesn’t seem to think highly of her.

Betsy has infact matured and thinks that she’ll never find love and will remain an old maid. This state of mind is what stunts her romance into actually taking off.

Upon her arrival she meets her father’s replacement Revered William Covington of Buffalo.

“She had noticed how handsome the pastor was, and if she were still the old flirtatious Betsy, she might be tempted to let her interest in the man be known. But she has infact changed and wouldn’t throw herself at any man, no matter how much he might be interested in her. If God ever decided that she should have a husband, then He would have to cause that man to make the first move.”

The new reverend’s first move shows difficulty because he is dealing with his own personal struggles. William’s family does not understand why he is not a ministering a wealthier community.

They don’t understand how emotionally hurt he is after being abandoned at the altar by his fiancée. He just wants to find a place where he can be comfortable and keep his heart free from vulnerability.

As you can guess, Betsy and William fall in love and find an understanding in order to help the townspeople of Walnutport. I really enjoyed having these two characters come together in both of their loneliness. It goes to show you, even when you feel like less than nothing, someone can see you as being everything to them.

If you are into heartwarming romance novels, pick up Betsy’s Return by Wanda E. Brunstetter today. If you have already read it, let me know what you thought!

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Tony Dungy’s Uncommon Review

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Former NFL head coach Tony Dungy’s newest book, Uncommon, is a follow-up to his critically acclaimed first work, Quiet Strength.

Having played and coached in the NFL for many many years, DUngy is often held in high regard among his peers. This book is his outlet to help people on how to live a more successful life and to become a man of great character.

Geared mostly towards younger men, Uncommon presents Tony’s thoughts on what it means to be a man of significance, especially in today’s culture where there are seemingly few positive role models.

He has divided it into sections that focus upon certain themes that men deal with throughout their lives. Dungy counsels us– with stories from his own life– in aspects regarding our relationship with Christ, friends, family, and our careers.

While I was reading this book I believe that one of Coach Dungy’s strengths is his ability to speak to the common man. He doesn’t come across as a know it all type, but he is a very soft spoken mentor focused on providing readers with a new outlook on life rather than to condemn them on their past behaviors.

I found this book to be an easy, and Dungy does a great job using his spiritual beliefs to support his ideas but doesn’t sound too ” preachy “. Football fans will also enjoy the occasional references to the sport, which are often used to further illustrate Dungy’s message.

Tony Dungy provides a great example of what it means to be a man of success, though as he often points out, true success is uncommon.

As his former college coach said , ” Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man. I’m looking for uncommon people.”

After reading this book, I have started to apply Tony’s ideas into my life and have already seen a positive change. If you are struggling to see your true potential, pick up Uncommon by Tony Dungy today and become an uncommon man.

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Tim Keller’s Counterfeit Gods

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

In his newest book Counterfeit Gods, Timothy Keller discusses the idol worship that takes Christians away from God.

If you think similar to me , the mention of worshipping false idols immediately brings the Ten Commandments to my mind. While most people have worshipped other gods and symbols for centuries and centuries, Kelleer brings up a brilliant point of how the idols that affect us in today’s world are those of money, sex, and power.

After reading this book, I gained a whole new understanding of the things that we allow to take the place of God in our lives.

As Keller described, an idol is “anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”

It is no secret that our society is driven by the need for more money, more power, and the feelings of love and acceptance.

Yet as Keller explains, these are the very things that keep us from loving God totally. One of the most convincing arguments he made was concerning the issue of lofe.

While Keller encourages us to love one another and find true love he also suggests that if love becomes and idol that it is dangerous when we place our love for other people above our love for God.

In addition to the previously mentioned subjects, Keller also hits spot on the issue of politics in controlling one’s life. Without taking political sides, Keller points out that for humans to place faith in government institutions and people in office to provide a good life, they are rejecting the notion that God is the one in control.

No, he isn’t calling for overthrowing the government. He is just pointing out that people should be less consumed with political issues and more focused on turning to God to steer our world in the right direction.

If you are looking for an eye-opening and truth revealing book, look no further than Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller. This book will show you the things that we put before God in our daily lives and will help you to start putting God first in everything.

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Jesus Calling Book

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is written in an avant-garde style that allows the reader to become more engaged. Sarah Young, a missionary as well as author, has structured her book as a daily devotional read that follows a calendar year format.

For each daily entry, you will find two paragraphs of spiritual encouragement accompanied by two or three Bible verses that correlate with Young’s motivational writing. She also writes very much from Jesus’ viewpoint.

The Bible verses are not included in the book, which means the reader will have to have a Bible within reach.

At first, I did wonder why the Bible verses were not integrated into the text. What I came to learn was that I thoroughly enjoyed thumbing through the Bible in search of the verses.

Sarah’s book helped me to read the Bible and reflect, and truly understand what I was reading. What was great about this book, is that it pushes me everyday to focus on my relationship with God.

During that time, Sarah’s book helped me to stick with this relationship and grow it.

The book instructs us to set aside the stresses and troubles that come our way in everyday life. Sarah Young helps us as we make the sensible choice to set aside time each day in order to read her book and reflect among her thoughts along with additional prayer.

This book is a besteller, and has continued to change my life.

Here is an excerpt to give you a better idea of what is included:

January 3

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence.

Peace for every day life. Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I have gone ahead of you, to open up the way, but I am also walking alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.

Because i am your continual Companion, there should be lightness to your step that others notice. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. Throughout life, there will be trials and despair, but we should not let them get us down. The world has been defeated and its power to harm you has been removed. In Me you may have confident Peace.

Psalm 31:19-20 (NASB); John 16:33 (AMP)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is one book that every Christian should have in their collection, as it will help one understand the importance of a daily walk with our Creator.

Folks, trust me. Reading this book will change your life and bring you closer to God.

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The Power Of A Praying Wife

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Stormie Omartian’s Power of a Praying Wife will show a wife how to positively change her marriage..

In Power of a Praying Wife, Omartian provides women with several tools needed to become a deeply spiritual and supportive wife, as well as ways to increase one’s connection to their husband.

One of Omartian’s strengths is that she does not lessen the role of a wife in a marriage.

Instead, she uses life experiences to show women how to positively affect their marriages..

Throughout this book, Stormie notes that men are sometimes irrational and impossible.. Rather than condemn them, Omartian urges us to see our husbands through God’s eyes..

God still loves all of us unconditionally, even when we come up short, and expects us to do the same with others.

Using this idea, Omartian urges wives to continually pray for their husband’s decision making and personal health..

The Power Of A Praying Wife discusses questions that women regularly come up agains in their marriages and offers various example prayers to help us begin to understand how to pray for our husbands.

Omartian also makes available to readers several challenges that will strengthen their marriages. One particularly powerful challenge calls for women to pray for their husbands for one month. She suggests that if women are willing to pray over each of the 30 areas discussed in her book, they will see a change in their relationship.

The Power of a Praying Wife is a must have for any woman, regardless of whether you are a newlywed or have been married for years. Despite being originally published over 10 years ago, the book has constantly remained on bestseller lists and has sold over 2 million copies.

There is also a 16 week study guyide to help readers apply what you learn through the Power Of A Praying Wife.. Whether reading this book alone or in a small group, The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian is essential for a strong and loving marriage.

With this book, you can become the wife God intended you to be.!

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Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps To Living At Your Full Potential By Joel Osteen

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

A lot of people share identical opinions when it comes to Joel Osteen’s talent in his book Your Best Life Now. They all say that his ability to inspire is far more than just his trademark smiling face. But of course, since Your Best Life Now claims to be effective in changing the way people look at the world in order to live their lives to the fullest.

Osteen writes Your Best Life Now by laying out seven steps, including Enlarge Your Vision, Discover the Power of Your Thoughts, Find Strength Through Adversity, and Choose to be Happy. The opening of the book kicks off by Osteen telling a quick story of a discussion that took place between him and his friend about a place in Hawaii. His friend states that he could not think of himself being able to live in such a good place. Which then, Osteen counteracts by saying that the most important way to start things in life is by having a vision of them happening.

It was a neat way for Osteen to introduce his book at the same time immediately opening the minds of the readers. By telling readers that opening their thoughts is the key for all things to be possible, he shares a quick ideal for his readers and he also preps them to be ready for all the things he would talk about later on. The following chapters are stated with the same inspiring flow of messages. But, in one certain portion of the book, Osteen talks about entrusting all we have to God and His plans. Although he meant well, many readers will definitely get the wrong idea that we should completely rely on God about everything and not do our part. But aside from this, Your Best Life Now is written with utmost grace and inspiration.

But then, the massive support that this book has received could obviously be traced from the very large population of followers that Osteen has. Not to mention, some of them are famous personalities as well. For example, there is Rudy Tomjanovich, the coach of NBA team Los Angeles Lakers. And then there is also Chuck Norris, one of the most admired actors by the present generation.

Osteen has had a lot of media exposure through his talks and sermons, which certainly have been loved by a lot of people in different places. So it is only natural that his loyal group of audience who have bought a copy of his book will easily understand his style and methodology. Then again, what if you’ve never witnesses Osteen in TV before? What if this is the only time you come across his name? Do you believe you’ll have the same reaction that Osteen’s followers have for his book? Well, there is only way to find out, might as well get yourself a copy of Your Best Life Now.

Article written by Joseph, checkout Amplified Bibles and Christian Pendants.

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Stephen And Alex Kendrick’s The Love Dare

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

A gift! That is what I have to say about the Love Dare by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. This New York Times best seller has sold over 3 million copes and it is no surprise to me.

If you are unfamiliar with the Love Dare books, let me fill you in. The Love Dare originated in the movie Fireproof where a husband uses the book to understand and practice unconditional love with his spouse. It’s a 40-day challenge, but now readers like you can take it up.

At first I was hesitant about taking on the Love Dare. I was sure that I would feel crazy for following what a book told me I should do each day for 40 days.

I know what to do in my marriage!…right?

When I finally chose to get this book I skimmed through the pages just to get some advice. A few days later, my husband decided to take on the dare.

What we thought would be a few days turned into weeks. We may have not done it every day, but we followed the book a lot!

As time went by, I felt like we were growing closer. The Love Dare was our little thing to do. When we began, it was just for fun. I would hold back a negative comment and he would smile.

If one of us slipped up the other would exclaim “I won”. Childish I know, but it brought us close.

Our relationship has changed over the course of the time we took on the dare. But the things we have learned are stuck in our minds. We share with each other, listen to each other, and showed our love for each other more than before.

Even though the readings were inspirational, I find that when we actively did the tasks that it changed our marriage.

Everything in this book is common sense, but it was a great reminder to you of what it means to be in a relationship. It’s so very important to practice your vows that you took on your wedding day and place them in your everyday life.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to make their marriage better…or simply great!

Would you ever take on the Love Dare Kendrick?

Your perspective is appriciated!

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Barney Stinson’s Bro Code

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

The Bro Code Book can be seen as a living document, much like the Constitution. Besides that instead of setting out a government, or the Bill of Rights, or nearly anything even resembling laws and regulations, The Bro Code Book provides guys with all the guidelines they have to understand in order to grow to be a real bro and act appropriately among other bros.

Dating from the U.S. Revolution, The Bro Code Book has never been published before. Few actually know of its publication, and the document, until today, has been vocally conveyed amongst those in the bro. Containing around 150 unspoken rules, this code of conduct for all bros can vary from the basic (bros before hoes) to the complicated (the hot-to-crazy ratio for example, comprehensive with bar graphs and charts). With valuable bros The Bro Code Book will certainly help any regular male turn into the greatest bro he can be. Let great bro and writer B. Stinson along with his book, The Bro Code reveal their perception, lest you be found making eye contact in a devil’s three-way (two lads).

Sample Rules from the Bro Code: Article One: Regardless of veracity, a Bro never admits familiarity with a Broadway show or even musical. Article fifty-three: A Bro will, when possible, offer his best Bro with prophylactic protection. Article 57: A Bro may not theorize about the predicted Bro / chick relation of a party or even venue without first unveiling the present-time witnessed proportion. Article seventy-seven: A Bro in no way yowls.

B. Stinson works at a NY firm, and regularly suits up to help his lovelorn and altogether pathetic bro T. Mosby. Essentially the neatest man ever, B. Stinson has been opposed to the Fonz – but Barney is much much more brilliant. Stinson lives in NYC, NY – and appears every week on the hit CBS show How I Met Your Mother together with his friends Ted, Robin, Lily and also Marshall.

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