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Thoughts on the Christian life in a fallen world

Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Real Win - Colt McCoy and Matt Carter

Pursuing God's Plan for Authentic Success.  What does it mean to have success, to be a winner? This book will help reveal God's plan for a man to be a winner.  This is a unique book with two authors with different perspectives, different walk of life, but very similar in that they are both pursuing God's plan for their lives.
They also had a mentor relationship that is mentioned and personal examples throughout the book of conversations they have had.
 Colt McCoy is an NFL quarterback that has experienced his own ups and downs, wins and loses on and off the field.  Matt Carter is founding pastor of Austin Stone Community Church, and shares his ups and downs that just bout any man can relate to.  I found this to be a very readable book, even if you are not a football fan.  They talk a lot about who who trust, who you serve, and how to be  leader in your family, church and community. These are all things men can relate to, being a sports fan or not.
At one point there is a transcript of a championship game that his team had lost and still Colt gave God the glory. Reading the transcript is good, but seeing the clip is even better.. See it here -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpcxY3clriE                  
A subject I found interesting was the idea that every husband and father is really the pastor of his family. I have always heard the man is the spiritual leader, but I never really heard it called that before.  It really makes sense if you are going to be a spiritual leader to be called a pastor.
I enjoyed the different perspectives of the tow authors, back and forth, but it still had a good flow. Probably because of the collaborative writer, Marcus Brotherton, who tied both author's thoughts together.
The book also includes a bonus section on mentoring, and a small-group study guide.
I would recommend this book to any man who wants to experience the Real Win.

Monday, June 2, 2014

The Solomon Seduction - Mark Atteberry

What you can learn from the wisest fool in the Bible.  The author is the Preaching minister at Poinciana Christian Church in Kissimmee, Florida and the author of 11 other books, including the Samson Syndrome.  The premise is made that even a smart guy, in fact the wisest man who ever lived, was seduced by Satan's lies, and wound up making poor choices.  He shows how you and I can avoid a similar fate with "humor and grace."  The author states "Never has a man with so much potential to soar so high, sunk so low."  in the Historical Perspective to begin the book.
The book is divided into 10 chapters, each one addressing a wake up call that can be related to our life today.  Some of the titles are, When sin seems like a good idea, When God's commands seem out of touch, and When sin management seems like a better choice.  He talks about what he calls the O.I.M. (short for the Otherwise Intelligent Male) that often makes poor decisions despite all the warnings issued.  You may know someone like that, or it may be you.  Subjects such as discernment and ego are addressed.
Rather that just a study of Ecclesiastes, this book uses practical applications directly from the life of Solomon.  In trying to find meaning to his life, he tried everything under the sun, only to find it all meaningless.  A lot of the time, Solomon knew the right thing to do, but didn't do it.  We all have our own downward paths that can be avoided.  This book's purpose is to heed life's wake up calls and avoid that path that leads to destruction.
There is a study guide that includes questions for personal or group study.  I could see this book being used for a mens Bible study.  This book is written for men who want to learn from the life of Solomon and avoid the pitfalls and see the warning signs.  The author writes a blog at alittlestrongereveryday.com.
This quote from the book sums it up:
"Solomon was better equipped to see through Satan's deceptions than any man who has ever lived, other than Jesus, but in the end, he became just as blind to them as everyone else."