Recently, Booksneeze.com provided me the opportunity to read Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado in advance if I would offer my opinion on it. So, here it goes.
It seems like lately the trend in Christian writing has been on the theme about making a difference, not settling for good enough, etc. This book is no exception. It calls us to be authentic; to live what we believe. Although, the concept may be similiar to other books I have read, its delivery is not. What I loved about Lucado's recent book is I could hand it to anyone, regardless of age or spiritual maturity, and they could walk away with something. Lucado gives a profound thought delivered in a simple way.
He uses the book of Acts as his launching point and central theme. He uses it to challenge us with chapters, such as, Let God Unshell You and Open Your Door; Open Your Heart. He begins by reminding us that the early church was started by people who were little more than average. Before Jesus, they were ordinary people doing ordinary things. He reminds us, "truth be told, they had nothing more than this: a fire in the belly to change the world."
That is what his book is about. It is a call to get past ourselves, our fears, inadequacies, selfishness and begin to change the world.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Everyone Matters
I have just finished reading The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews which I was provided by Book Sneeze to review. It is a short inspirational book that deals with the question we all ask at some point in our life, " do I really matter." Normally, I wouldn't have picked up a gift book, but this one effected me in ways I didn't expect.
Honestly, I'm not sure I would have appreciated this book had I not read it at this specific time in my life. Lately, I have been contemplating how much impact one person can make and if my choices are really important. This book hits that topic head on, starting out with explaining the butterfly effect. Basically, the idea is the flap of a butterfly's wings on one side of the world can start a chain reaction leading to a hurricane on the other side of the world. One small action can lead to a world changing reaction.
He then goes on the tell the story of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. A former professor, now turned Colonel in the Union Army did something made a choice that established a course of history that may have been very different had he chosen differently. In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain had to choose between retreat or facing the enemy head on. His man had held on through many attacks. The logical reaction would have been to retreat, instead Chamberlain chose what to some may have looked like a suicidal charge. Without that choice, our nation may have looked very differently today.
When I received this book in the mail, I never would have expected the outcome. The ideas in this small gift book have kept me up at night. I think about the choices I'm making and what the outcome of those choices might be. I am beginning to see that every life matters.
Honestly, I'm not sure I would have appreciated this book had I not read it at this specific time in my life. Lately, I have been contemplating how much impact one person can make and if my choices are really important. This book hits that topic head on, starting out with explaining the butterfly effect. Basically, the idea is the flap of a butterfly's wings on one side of the world can start a chain reaction leading to a hurricane on the other side of the world. One small action can lead to a world changing reaction.
He then goes on the tell the story of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. A former professor, now turned Colonel in the Union Army did something made a choice that established a course of history that may have been very different had he chosen differently. In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain had to choose between retreat or facing the enemy head on. His man had held on through many attacks. The logical reaction would have been to retreat, instead Chamberlain chose what to some may have looked like a suicidal charge. Without that choice, our nation may have looked very differently today.
When I received this book in the mail, I never would have expected the outcome. The ideas in this small gift book have kept me up at night. I think about the choices I'm making and what the outcome of those choices might be. I am beginning to see that every life matters.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Sweet By and By
The Sweet By and By was like looking in a mirror and seeing the lives of my friends and families. Its a story about needing forgiveness and giving it. The characters are real and relatable. They are people we see everyday in our lives, hiding pain and secrets, while on the surface they seem sucessful and happy.
Jade is just like us all, hanging on to the past while at the same time trying to let it go. She's rebelling against her family, but still longing for their acceptance. Her story is filled with emotion and intensity, yet practicality and strength.
The story, although anti-climatic at times, ends with redemption and reconciliation and leaves a desire for the reader to find the same kind of grace in their own lives.
Jade is just like us all, hanging on to the past while at the same time trying to let it go. She's rebelling against her family, but still longing for their acceptance. Her story is filled with emotion and intensity, yet practicality and strength.
The story, although anti-climatic at times, ends with redemption and reconciliation and leaves a desire for the reader to find the same kind of grace in their own lives.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Fearless - Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Being able to take risks. Facing the challenge with a smirk. Walking with complete confidence. All of those things can be accomplished when we can live without fear. It seems impossible, a goal that can never be reached.
Max Lucado's new book stretches our belief that we can actually live fearlessly. Each chapter stands by itself, addressing a particular fear. Some were directed toward someone else, parents, worriers, etc., but some were speaking directly to my fears. Fears that an independent, stubborn woman like myself didn't want to own up to. Fears like the fear of not mattering or the fear of what's next.
Lucado delivers his message in a simple, yet profound way. He reminded me that, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours (1 Chronicles 29:11)," which includes me. Realizing he strength and power allows me to walk without fear, acknowledging his control in all things.
Being able to take risks. Facing the challenge with a smirk. Walking with complete confidence. All of those things can be accomplished when we can live without fear. It seems impossible, a goal that can never be reached.
Max Lucado's new book stretches our belief that we can actually live fearlessly. Each chapter stands by itself, addressing a particular fear. Some were directed toward someone else, parents, worriers, etc., but some were speaking directly to my fears. Fears that an independent, stubborn woman like myself didn't want to own up to. Fears like the fear of not mattering or the fear of what's next.
Lucado delivers his message in a simple, yet profound way. He reminded me that, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours (1 Chronicles 29:11)," which includes me. Realizing he strength and power allows me to walk without fear, acknowledging his control in all things.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
So...it's been a long while. Summer craziness hit, which meant a lack of reading and a lack of writing. No justification to it, just a simple truth. My latest review is over Faith and Pop Culture, a study series by Christianity Today.
This is unlike any study I have done recently. It is for the movie buffs, the art lovers, and anyone that loves to be entertained. There are 8 lessons, each covering a different topic over a separate art form, each lesson asking if "we can find Jesus in popular entertainment." It challenges its participants to examine what they are watching, reading, and playing and to truly seek Jesus in it.
Being a literature buff, the article "The Good News According to Twain, Steinbeck, and Dicken," caught my attention. In the discussion section of the lesson, they share a quote from this article:
Tolkien, Lewis, Frost, and even more contemporary authors like David Guterson, Charles
Frasier, Annie Dillard, and Anne Lamont are what led me back to the Bible and to Christ.
In their writings is the constant search, and an acceptance of sorts that, while we all sin and
fall short of the glory of God, we must strive toward that glory while giving love and
compassion to those around us. This is not an epiphany or a moment of clarity. This is a
lifetime of struggling with answers that belie their questions. It is a terrible honesty and,
finally, a hope that God will indeed dwell within us. What a dreadful and wonderful lesson to
learn.
This not only challenged me to start looking at literature in a different way, but to also share these insights with friends, colleagues, etc.
Every book I pick up, I look at in a new light. Every movie I watch, I find a lesson to share. I recommended this to anyone who feels like they are caught in the middle between their Christian faith and appreciating art. It puts ideas into perspective and shows that you don't have to sacrifice one for the other.
This is unlike any study I have done recently. It is for the movie buffs, the art lovers, and anyone that loves to be entertained. There are 8 lessons, each covering a different topic over a separate art form, each lesson asking if "we can find Jesus in popular entertainment." It challenges its participants to examine what they are watching, reading, and playing and to truly seek Jesus in it.
Being a literature buff, the article "The Good News According to Twain, Steinbeck, and Dicken," caught my attention. In the discussion section of the lesson, they share a quote from this article:
Tolkien, Lewis, Frost, and even more contemporary authors like David Guterson, Charles
Frasier, Annie Dillard, and Anne Lamont are what led me back to the Bible and to Christ.
In their writings is the constant search, and an acceptance of sorts that, while we all sin and
fall short of the glory of God, we must strive toward that glory while giving love and
compassion to those around us. This is not an epiphany or a moment of clarity. This is a
lifetime of struggling with answers that belie their questions. It is a terrible honesty and,
finally, a hope that God will indeed dwell within us. What a dreadful and wonderful lesson to
learn.
This not only challenged me to start looking at literature in a different way, but to also share these insights with friends, colleagues, etc.
Every book I pick up, I look at in a new light. Every movie I watch, I find a lesson to share. I recommended this to anyone who feels like they are caught in the middle between their Christian faith and appreciating art. It puts ideas into perspective and shows that you don't have to sacrifice one for the other.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Helping Those Who Hurt
This book is exactly what it claims to be...a handbook for caring and crisis. It is literally small enough to fit in my purse and is filled with practical advice to handle every situation a minister could experience. It is a reminder of what to do and what not to do.
It is divided into 10 sections and covers everything from hospital visits, to crisis, to helping rape victims. It is written almost like a checklist, so that in those moments of panic or shock, anyone could pull it out, skim it, and have a starting point for handling the situation.
What I love about this book is that it is clearly written by an expert, but you don't have to be an expert to follow the steps. Regardless of who you are, there is something simple you can do to bring comfort to the situation, whether it is meeting physical needs, encouraging words, or offering Scripture.
This book is exactly what it claims to be...a handbook for caring and crisis. It is literally small enough to fit in my purse and is filled with practical advice to handle every situation a minister could experience. It is a reminder of what to do and what not to do.
It is divided into 10 sections and covers everything from hospital visits, to crisis, to helping rape victims. It is written almost like a checklist, so that in those moments of panic or shock, anyone could pull it out, skim it, and have a starting point for handling the situation.
What I love about this book is that it is clearly written by an expert, but you don't have to be an expert to follow the steps. Regardless of who you are, there is something simple you can do to bring comfort to the situation, whether it is meeting physical needs, encouraging words, or offering Scripture.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Principle of the Path - Andy Stanley
To borrow a line that I always hate reading - Andy Stanley does it again! There is really no other way to say it. Every time I pick up one of his books, it meets me exactly where I am and caused me to retrain my thoughts and ideas.
The concept of this book is simple...direction determines destination. It is something that we all know but few actually think about and put it into practice. This book is a reminder that our everyday choices guides our paths. To reach a destination, we must make choices that are aligned with that path.
If you are living with regrets or are ready to break those bad habits that are holding you back, this is a definite read. Stanley gives practical steps to overcome these things and then reinforces the ideas with biblical stories and Scripture.
To borrow a line that I always hate reading - Andy Stanley does it again! There is really no other way to say it. Every time I pick up one of his books, it meets me exactly where I am and caused me to retrain my thoughts and ideas.
The concept of this book is simple...direction determines destination. It is something that we all know but few actually think about and put it into practice. This book is a reminder that our everyday choices guides our paths. To reach a destination, we must make choices that are aligned with that path.
If you are living with regrets or are ready to break those bad habits that are holding you back, this is a definite read. Stanley gives practical steps to overcome these things and then reinforces the ideas with biblical stories and Scripture.
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