Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life by: Bob Goff

Most people want to live incredible lives. We want to make an impact and change the world. Bob Goff is one of those people. He wants to make an impact on the world, and, in fact, he is making an impact in the world. In his book Love Does, he wants to show the reader how to be incredible. Even though the subtitle of the book is "Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World," this book does not offer the reader five easy steps or some other formula for success. Instead, Bob shares stories from his life. Some of the stories are humorous, some exciting, and others very moving. Each story relates to one main theme: Love Does. Bob writes this story to motivate his readers to take action. He wants you to go out and do something. So much so that he even includes his phone number at the end so that you can call him and talk about the ideas in the book. Love doesn't just plan things out, love is acted out. He writes, "Secretly incredible people just do things." Bob doesn't plan much. He knows what he wants to do and does it, and he doesn't let any worry or doubt stand in his way.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Bob writes in a very personal way like he wants you to be his friend. In fact, it becomes apparent that he knows no strangers, so much so, I've chosen not to refer to him as "Goff" even though that is proper for authors you don't know. It was certainly a very moving book and different than the typical inspirational Christian book that I have read. He doesn't lay out a plan or steps. He just tells stories. He wants us to live. Bob believes that God wants Christians to do something. I suggest that you go and read this book. It's not a complicated read or even a deep read, but it's a good read. It straightforward and has a simple message: Do something. Through stories of his own life, Bob shows us that living an incredible life starts with doing something. In addition, simply by buying the book you will be on your way to doing something since all the proceeds go to Restore International's Leadership Academy in Gulu, Uganda and the Mentoring Project. Go buy the book, read it, and then do something.

Radical Together By: David Platt

After reading David Platt's book "Radical", I was super excited to have the opportunity to read "Radical Together" as well.  In Radical, David Platt’s plea for Christians to take back their faith from the American Dream resonated with readers everywhere and quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Now in Radical Together, the author broadens his call, challenging us to unite around a gospel-centered vision.

While the goal of this book is to teach you to how to take what you learned by reading Platt's first book, "Radical" and actually live those principles out in our everyday lives.  I have to admit, a large portion of this book was just more details about what I had read in Radical.  Not that it was a bad thing, it just made for quite a bit of repetitive reading.  It did offer more details and insights in these places but I was not a huge fan of the large amount of repetition found throughout this book. 

The book did have some wonderful key points though despite the repetition and I was again challenged by Platt's writings. I loved his challenge to our churches today to get rid of the "mega-church" mentality and go back to the grass roots foundations of small home church type settings that provide more intimate discipleship settings.  A large portion of the writing in this book is geared toward churches today and I love how Platt points out that one or two believers in a church are not much of a threat to Satan and his schemes but that an entire church of believers that are committed to joining together to take the Word of God and the glory of God to every person on the planet IS a serious threat!  Through Radical Together, Platt is teaching us to be a church of believers that are drawn into a Biblical gospel that is measured more by self-denial than self-fulfillment.  I would still highly encourage anyone to read both Radical and Radical Together as both of these books speak powerful words that will revolutionize and transform your thinking, your view of life and ultimately how you are fulfilling the Great Commission.   

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

The Coming Revolution By: Dr. Richard G. Lee

The Coming Revolution: Signs from America’s Past that Signal Our Nation’s Future by Dr. Richard G. Lee

      The first portion of the book is an educational review of the history of our founding fathers. The author goes into great detail, annotating specific quotes and sources, of the social outrage against the King of England, and political fervor, that caused the separate colonies to forget their differences and unite to revolt again the tyranny of the King. Dr. Richard Lee argues his theory that today’s social, economic, and political breakdown can be attributed to three major causes: the lack of religious spirit, the lack of patriotism taught in schools, and the breakdown of the traditional family unit.

     The author quotes from the Pledge of Allegiance, “One nation under God, indivisible …” and ponders if we ARE still one nation under God. It is currently politically correct to advocate freedom of religion by suppressing Christians’ ability to worship as they choose. There are several instances where people have sued their neighbors for having a Virgin Mary statue displayed in their garden or yard. Similar cases would never have made it to court if it concerned a statue of Buddha or the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi. Dr. Lee cites many quotes where the founding fathers, even Benjamin Franklin who was not a deeply religious man, expressed the opinion that it was through their faith in God that colonists drew their strength, dignity, and sense of morals. The author also questions IF this nation IS still indivisible as society has seem to become more of an “Us vs. Them” mentality that is split between classes, races, and/or influential corporations.

     Dr. Lee states that children today are no longer taught pride in our nation. History of our forefathers and what they sacrificed for our freedoms is gleaned over and barely touched upon anymore. While many citizens know the basic gist of the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, how many have not only read them, but understand them? I admit that I haven’t. There are many times where my twelve-year-old daughter has interrupted a conversation, asking who it was that we were discussing. We’ve been baffled that she had never heard of John Adams, Paul Revere, FDR, or even Hitler. I had thought it curious that such topics hadn’t been covered yet in her history classes and worried that maybe she wasn’t paying much attention in class. Dr. Richard Lee’s reasearch of history textbooks currently in use in assorted school districts makes me seriously wonder if she was just never taught these important lessons.

     This book would make an excellent group read as it evokes plenty of debatable discussions.

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.”

SOUL PRINT by: Mark Batterson

The classic Christian statement of faith asserts that “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”   Jesus’ Great Commission calls Christians to spread Jesus’ gospel by making disciples of Jesus whose transformed lives are used by God to make an impact for time and eternity.  The display of that glory and the potential impact that results comes through Christ-followers who live their unique lives for those purposes.  And that is often the struggle, because there is such pressure for Christians to be carbon copies of one another, as if there is only one way to live a God-honoring life.

Mark Batterson’s new book, Soulprint (Multnomah, 2011) is a kind and gracious encouragement for Christ-followers to courageously embrace and live their unique, God-designed life with passion.  He makes a case that no one can worship (glorify) God like you can because no one else is designed to live the life He designed you to live.  But many don’t know what that life is to be because “we are strangers to ourselves.”  So Batterson provides a guide to self- discovery and understanding that has the goal of unleashing a life that is not about the self at all, but about displaying God and serving His purposes.

Batterson, writing in his distinctive and inviting conversational style, uses the life of David as the framework for self-examination. He outlines five key defining moments in David’s life that every Christ-follower will also encounter.  Each defining moment provides a sometimes-hidden principle to reflect on and several practical disciplines to engage.   Holy Confidence encourages us to lean into our perceived disadvantages as a means of experiencing God’s strength. Lifesymbols notes that the well-considered memories of our life experiences can be the footprints of where we have been and the map to where we are headed. So Batterson notes, “My life is a story…God is writing through me.  It is His-story.  I need to identify the story lines that the Author of my faith is scripting for me…the inciting incidents, the places where the plot thickens, the defining moments, and the beginning of new scenes….The past is not circumstantial. The past is providential. ”

The Crags of the Wild Goats calls a Christian to live with “epic integrity” choosing to live under God’s authority and not compromise our priority commitment to Him in any circumstance.  Alter Ego is a fascinating exploration of settling our identity as God’s person and then the willingness to risk failure, vulnerability and even humiliation for the sake of spreading His glory. Batterson confesses, “.…I crave awkwardness….Why? Because it means I’m not settling for what is comfortable, what is acceptable….Comfort impedes spiritual growth. Our attempts to create comfortable environments often produce immature disciples.”  Finally, The Devil’s Workshop reminds us that it’s crucial to have people and processes in our lives to both guard against the blind spots of sin that can change the course of a life, and also to notice the joyous possibilities of what God may want to be doing in (and through) our lives.

In addition to exploring the Bible’s narrative, Batterson engages the reader with truths drawn from history, psychology and the arts.  He tells his own story with a transparent honesty that is compelling and invites the reader to bring their own stuff to the table as well.  The discussion questions at the end are a helpful reminder that this book would work exceptionally well in a small-group setting, especially with some people who know you and with whom you feel comfortable sharing the journey of your soul. In other words, this is not an entry-level small group choice.

Mark Batterson has provided a creative and helpful guide for spiritual formation.  Finding your Soulprint is a way to live the life that will bring a Christ-follower the most joy, bring God the most glory and the world the most blessing.

Nearing Home by Billy Graham

“All my life I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how to live in the years before I die. I wish they had because I am an old man now, and believe me, it’s not easy,” so starts Billy Graham in his new book, Nearing Home. Lily Tomlin says, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” In some ways, Billy would agree and even more shows us how.
With his authentic transparency about the impact of aging and grief, with a solid Biblical foundation, and the integrity to not only run the race well, but finish well, Billy Graham provides a tremendous gift for all adults, young and old alike in Nearing Home.

Graham lays out a path for the young to follow in navigating the challenges of aging and provides continued purpose and hope for those in advance years and wondering why I am still here? He’s forthright with his pains from physical limitations to processing the grief of the death of his wife Ruth 4 years ago.
By opening the Scriptures up with a commitment to Christ and the perspective of living 93 years, Billy provides great wisdom to navigate life’s changes. Throughout he keeps his focus on heaven, but provides direction for daily life.
He challenges the elderly to not retire from life, but to find new ways to use their gifts. He writes of the impact a “retired” CEO could have had on providing leadership in local non-profits, but instead lamented the pain of being of no use. For Graham’s greatest gift in this book is providing honest hope for dealing with the progression of aging in one’s life.
Such honesty is reflected in understanding how physical strength can fade, mental capabilities be distorted, but the roots of a solid faith in Christ and pursuing the will God has for one’s life runs until God calls one home.
Billy Graham throughout the book, says that he never expected to live this long. He thought he would precede Ruth in death. Yet in his book, he practices what he writes — he contributes, he shares, he builds lives of all ages.
I highly recommend Nearing Home by Billy Graham. Not only was it uplifting to read, he taught me how to live in the years before I die and how to share that message with others.
What have you learned from watching others finish well as they were “nearing home”?

Book Review: Desiring God (Revised Edition)

Book Review: Desiring God, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Revised Edition) by John Piper

Following on the heels of a successful publishing the past 25 years, John Piper has again revisited one of his most popular works, Desiring God, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Originally published in 1986, this book has been the go-to manual of what John Piper defines as Christian Hedonism.

Having only completed one of Piper's books, I was not surprised to see it read like he speaks. Piper's book touches on many critical issues effecting the Christian in today's context. He has appropriately revised this entry to accommodate the advent of modern technology, the new ails of our age, and added an additional chapter to include, "Suffering: The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism." Concisely, academically, and scholastically, he defends his thesis, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" throughout the entire text. Piper also sufficiently demonstrates the story behind his passion for Christian Hedonism, and propagating it amongst brothers and sisters everywhere.

I had a difficult time engaging the book and being motivated to read it. It was not so much that the material or topic nature was not engaging itself, it is that I just found it a bit dry. I suppose Piper may be able to level the accusation of anti-hedonist toward me at this point. Even though the premise of the book, and "Christian Hedonism" is to find joy in God, and thus draw God's satisfaction in you, it challenges some of the paradigms of the modern Christians faith.

Piper demonstrates that the Christian life is easily seen as sacrificial in  many regards. He also challenges the adage that finding joy in the "less-than" lifestyle Christ calls his disciples to lead is not itself as controversial as one might find. After all, having true joy in Christ is dying for him, storing up for yourself treasure in heaven. Knowing that there is reward for your temporal loss is at the center of Piper's Christian Hedonism.

I enjoyed the book, but I am not sure I have been converted to Christian Hedonism just yet! Nor am I ready to call myself a Christian Hedonist. There is plenty of sound advice and good strong scriptural support for Piper's Christian Hedonism. I also have now been afforded a glimpse into the "Desiring God" battle cry Piper is so well known for. With the addition of another chapter, and a group study guide, this book is worth the purchase for those who have never experienced it, and for those who have previous versions. A refreshing updated Desiring God will not disappoint!

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

More Lost Than Found by Jared Herd

Book Review: More Lost Than Found by Jared Herd

Finding a way back to faith. Jared Herd’s book More Lost Than Found is an explanation and different side of the Christian faith that isn’t very well communicated and sometimes neglected in the Church today. He looks to answer many issues of the Christian faith that the majority of young adults that have left the church are feeling today.
He covers topics such as what is pain, is it okay to question our faith, technology, embracing our Christian heritage and past, our bodies, why God gave us imaginations, and several other topics. This issues and insights that he shares are extremely culturally relevant.
This is a book geared towards young adults who are struggling, questioning, or have lost their faith entirely.
Jared’s book is enlightening and has a fresh look at a faith that many young adults and college students have found to be stale and irrelevant.
He is an extremely gifted communicator, using vivid stories and illustrations from his past that really bring home the point that he is trying to make in each individual chapter.
My one complaint and I feel was a shortcoming about the book was that it is lacking an overall direction. I had a hard time discovering what Jared’s overall vision and main point for the book was. Covering a wide variety of topics, I discovered that he had a very broad vision and I felt it was never brought back around full circle. I didn’t feel that the book was closed out very well. I needed a conclusion or challenge from Jared. I really missed that.
But overall, I highly recommend this book to any young adult, high school or college student that is struggling with their faith or is longing for a deeper faith and a broader understanding into how our faith and today’s culture intertwines.
This book should also be read by any Christian who is longing to reach a generation that has almost abandoned their faith entirely. It will give you a better sense of how to minister to those young adults, and better equip you to answer some of their deep burning questions.
Jared Herd has a lot of valuable insights to share, and you do not want to miss this fantastic read!
4 out of 5.

Blog readers: I hope that you find these book reviews helpful. I’m sorry that they come in bulk at times and then are sparse later on. But please don’t feel overwhelmed that you need to read every single book I review. I only post these as a ministry tool for those that are longing to broaden their knowledge and faith. Thanks for reading!

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.”