Many may remember Ken Davis from the Bananas Christian Comedy DVDs and he has branched out into speaking and now is president of Dynamic Communications International and has a daily radio show titled "Lighten Up!" He is a great story-teller and uses his humor to get his point across. He states"
Ï hope that sharing this story will help you recognize the staked God has driven in your life that can lead you to be Fully Alive." The book begins with a frightening story of how his granddaughter was lost in the woods for several hours as told from his perspective.
His transformation started with physical changes when he saw a picture of himself with his grandson, and led to the other areas of his life as well. A lot of other issues are covered in this book, such as spiritual and social.. There is a great analogy of looking through binoculars backwards. Everything looks faraway and impossible. We need to replace distant negative thinking with aggressive close up strategy. There are quotes from the book "Younger Next Year" by Crowley and Lodge, which had a profound influence on his thinking. This is not an exercise or diet book, but Ken does spend several chapters on the physical aspect and taking care of your body. Live comedy available from kendavis.com\fullyalive.
Some great quotes "What makes you feel complete, satisfied, and convinced that you are doing what God put you here to do?" and "We were created to find the greatest joy and fulfillment by serving God and others with whatever gift God has given us."
In a chapter titled Finding your Sweet Spot, related his own personal history of how he came to realize his gifts. In a section titled Get rid Of Guilt, "Hanging on to guilt is like staying in jail after you have been pardoned."
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live fully alive, and needs to be loosed of the chains of guilt, fear, and self image.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The Gospel of Yes - Mike Glenn
We have missed the most important thing about God. Finding it changes everything. God would like a word with you. The word is Yes. This opens ours eyes to everything He does. The author has a blog truthfulconversations.com. God has said yes to creation and a salvation plan to save us from our sinful nature. The word is Yes. This opens our eyes to everything He does.
With chapters like The Problem of living with No, The Yes of forgiving Others, and God says Yes a Lot, the author explains that God has said Yes so many times in salvation and continues to. There are Discussion questions for each chapter that can be used for individual or group study. Mike Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. Under the chapter titled The Yes of Simplicity, there is a section titled Finding Margin that explains the church can send a mixed message that there is away to earn eternal life, and there isn't. It also mentions a book by Richard Swenson titled Margin that defines the term. Through personal stories, the author helps us all to understand that "When you live in God's Yes you find your identity, your true value, and your unique purpose on earth.."
I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks the Christian life is full of "No's" and things you can't do, when in reality it is full of Yes's.
With chapters like The Problem of living with No, The Yes of forgiving Others, and God says Yes a Lot, the author explains that God has said Yes so many times in salvation and continues to. There are Discussion questions for each chapter that can be used for individual or group study. Mike Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. Under the chapter titled The Yes of Simplicity, there is a section titled Finding Margin that explains the church can send a mixed message that there is away to earn eternal life, and there isn't. It also mentions a book by Richard Swenson titled Margin that defines the term. Through personal stories, the author helps us all to understand that "When you live in God's Yes you find your identity, your true value, and your unique purpose on earth.."
I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks the Christian life is full of "No's" and things you can't do, when in reality it is full of Yes's.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Unashamed to Bear His Name - R.T. Kendall
Embracing the stigma of being a Christian. "In our increasingly secular society, being a Christian carries a cost." The author recommends "welcoming the stigma with both hands." The begins with the author's personal background which will help the reader understand perspective. The book comes with recommendations from none other than Dr. James Dobson. Reviews how the Gospel can be offensive and how others in the Bible have suffered this stigma. I was glad to see a strong argument for eternal salvation in Chapter 8 titled Out on a Limb. Chapter 9, The Reason the Jews missed their Messiah, will be interesting reading especially for those of Jewish descent. The author is a graduate of Southern Baptist Seminary and was the Senior Minister of Westminster Chapel in London for 25 years. Dr. Michael Youssef who wrote the forward calls this "a book that every serious Christina must read."
I would agree that this is good reading for anyone who thinks they are the only one that is attached the stigma of Christianinty. The world can be offended by the gospel, but to take heart and have faith, persevere and be strong.
This book is published by Chosen, a division of Baker publishing.
I would agree that this is good reading for anyone who thinks they are the only one that is attached the stigma of Christianinty. The world can be offended by the gospel, but to take heart and have faith, persevere and be strong.
This book is published by Chosen, a division of Baker publishing.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Re-Focus - Jim Daly
A Powerful Call to a Gentler Action.
The author is president of Focus on the Family, taking over when James Dobson left the organization.
According to the author, "This book isn't about what's going badly in the culture, but rather one about how Christians should respond to it." And the author makes a lot of good suggestions to follow in doing this. One of them is how to refocus our efforts to live for God.
There has always been a "culture clash" , always been "two kingdoms", for Christians in every time throughout history. In the section on politics, I do agree with the statement "I believe government is God-given, and that the aim of government is to restrain evil." that the author makes. There is also a few interesting paragraphs on the interactions of Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan.
Also a story about Bishop John Hughes and his one man influence that was instrumental in changing Irish immigrants behavior in the 1840's and 1850's in New York City, and probably influencing the image of America that we have today, demonstrates how one man can change a culture. Mr. Daly suggests a willingness to have a conversation, active and respectful listening, thinking before we speak and praying before we think, as tools he has used to influence our culture. Several examples of his time with Focus on the Family, both good and bad, are given as how to, or not to, use these skills. It is refreshing to hear him admit his own weakness in some areas. Growing us in a broken home the author says "did nothing to prepare me for my role as leader of the world's largest family-based Christian ministry in the world, yet it did everything." It has given him a unique background and perspective on understanding the importance of the role of the family in our culture. With chapters with titles such as The Clash of Two Worlds, Don't Be a Miserable Christian, and No One is Beyond the Reach of God, the author is giving us many practical applications.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Focus on the Family in general and the President of the organization in particular. On the internet at www.focusonthefamily.org and www.zondervan.com.
I have been provided a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of review.
The author is president of Focus on the Family, taking over when James Dobson left the organization.
According to the author, "This book isn't about what's going badly in the culture, but rather one about how Christians should respond to it." And the author makes a lot of good suggestions to follow in doing this. One of them is how to refocus our efforts to live for God.
There has always been a "culture clash" , always been "two kingdoms", for Christians in every time throughout history. In the section on politics, I do agree with the statement "I believe government is God-given, and that the aim of government is to restrain evil." that the author makes. There is also a few interesting paragraphs on the interactions of Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan.
Also a story about Bishop John Hughes and his one man influence that was instrumental in changing Irish immigrants behavior in the 1840's and 1850's in New York City, and probably influencing the image of America that we have today, demonstrates how one man can change a culture. Mr. Daly suggests a willingness to have a conversation, active and respectful listening, thinking before we speak and praying before we think, as tools he has used to influence our culture. Several examples of his time with Focus on the Family, both good and bad, are given as how to, or not to, use these skills. It is refreshing to hear him admit his own weakness in some areas. Growing us in a broken home the author says "did nothing to prepare me for my role as leader of the world's largest family-based Christian ministry in the world, yet it did everything." It has given him a unique background and perspective on understanding the importance of the role of the family in our culture. With chapters with titles such as The Clash of Two Worlds, Don't Be a Miserable Christian, and No One is Beyond the Reach of God, the author is giving us many practical applications.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Focus on the Family in general and the President of the organization in particular. On the internet at www.focusonthefamily.org and www.zondervan.com.
I have been provided a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of review.
Twelve Unlikely Heroes - John MacArthur
How God commissioned unexpected people in the Bible and what He wants to do with you.
Introduction explains what a hero is to our culture, in contrast to what the Bible says is a hero. In this book, the author devotes each hero to a chapter, 12 in all. Some will be familiar people, and some will not. He mentions Old Testament and New Testament figures such as Enoch, Joseph, Mariam, Jonah, Esther, and James. These were men and women who were not perfect, but were used by God. We all tend at times to think that the people in the Bible were larger than life extra special people, but the truth is they were regular people who faltered, struggled, and sometimes failed. Some of these heroes are mentioned in Hebrews 11 "Hall of Faith" list. He goes deep into history on the background and context of each person and how they fit into the history of God's plan.
What kind of people does God use to accomplish His work? People like these 12 unlikely heroes, and people like you and me if we are willing to be used by Him.
The author is pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA since 1969, and has a media ministry called Grace to You. It can be found on the web at www.gty.org or 800-55-GRACE.
I have received this book at no cost from Booksneeze for the purpose of review.
Introduction explains what a hero is to our culture, in contrast to what the Bible says is a hero. In this book, the author devotes each hero to a chapter, 12 in all. Some will be familiar people, and some will not. He mentions Old Testament and New Testament figures such as Enoch, Joseph, Mariam, Jonah, Esther, and James. These were men and women who were not perfect, but were used by God. We all tend at times to think that the people in the Bible were larger than life extra special people, but the truth is they were regular people who faltered, struggled, and sometimes failed. Some of these heroes are mentioned in Hebrews 11 "Hall of Faith" list. He goes deep into history on the background and context of each person and how they fit into the history of God's plan.
What kind of people does God use to accomplish His work? People like these 12 unlikely heroes, and people like you and me if we are willing to be used by Him.
The author is pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA since 1969, and has a media ministry called Grace to You. It can be found on the web at www.gty.org or 800-55-GRACE.
I have received this book at no cost from Booksneeze for the purpose of review.
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