Say Goodbye to Regret by Bob Santos

      I have reviewed books written by Bob Santos previously and it has always been a good experience. Mr. Santos has written three previous books and "Say Goodbye to Regret - Discovering the Secret to a Blessed Life" is his latest work. But don't let the title confuse you, for while it does address regret that we have had in the past, to some degree, the focus centers mainly around the key to avoiding regret in the future, which is the wisdom of God.

      The first chapter "If I Only Knew Then..." should hit close to the home of all those who reads it, as he writes about a theme all too common for multitudes, if not everyone. The remaining chapters expound on the subject of regret, and center around avoiding it in the future through the use of wisdom. Yes, there is a chapter on putting past regrets to rest. But, wouldn't all of us like to avoid having regrets in the future by making wise decisions? This is where the author's greatest contributions to the subject come into play.

      A couple of things I have liked about all of the books I have read by Bob Santos include the following. First, the subjects he has chosen to write about thus far have been very relevant to everyone, including the topics of grace, Bible study and regret (Champions in the Wilderness is a compilation of several topics). Second, having been a college campus minister for many years prior to his writing career, he is in touch with not just the issues but the thought process some will use in 'mentally responding' to each thesis he proposes and this gives him an ability to anticipate the reactions of others before they have even voiced their complaints.

     I admit I was a little disappointed that the book did not focus more on past regret and perhaps the title through me a little bit. So, for that aspect I do not consider it his best work of the four subjects but it is still worth a read. If you have ever found yourself thinking from time to time 'why do I keep making the same dumb decisions' then this is probably a place you may want to start. And, ALL of us can use a little more wisdom for the future. I look forward to the next contribution the author makes to the literature world, though I can't imagine what relevant topic he will choose to tackle next. Pray for him for the wisdom of God for his future.

The Touchpoint by Bob Santos

       

       We live in the most technologically advanced age in history. And, for the person who desires to learn about the Bible, resources abound everywhere that can help in this endeavor. But, sometimes finding a starting point can be overwhelming, especially for the person who is new to the Bible and wants to know where to begin. And, Bob Santos' new book "The Touchpoint" helps to ease the complications for those who are desiring to learn about the Bible, with one major difference from  other Bible study books...the author desires to teach you how the Bible is our touchpoint for connecting with God, who inspired the writers who penned the scriptures.

       One of the things I liked about this book is the emphasis in the first few chapters, on connecting with God. Though that  is the focus of chapter one, it is elaborated throughout the book in a way that is unique to most Bible study. Most Bible study centers around the tools and methods of actual Bible study. "The Touchpoint" does cover some of the common ways the study of scripture is approached, but it also emphasizes our heart's preparation in knowing God through the Bible, the authority of the scriptures and some basics you will need to know before you delve into the Bible in depth.

      The book is not meant to be a "one stop shop" for every subject. The point is to help you know God, who He is, what He said and what He desires. "The Touchpoint" does talk about Bible translations, context of scripture and other basic topics for Bible studies. But, it is only to give some basic overview so that you have a point of reference to study further. And, the author does talk about issues with subjects like science, but tries to avoid some of the debate which inevitably ensues when bringing up the "creation" word. 

    In spite of being basic, there is a lot of information in the pages of "The Touchpoint". I think it would work great for someone if the book is studied within a group setting, one chapter at a time, to maximize the material it discusses. This also could facilitate discussion for those just beginning to learn about the Bible, and Pastors or small group leaders should consider this as a book for study in their groups.
    This is the third work Bob Santos has written and he has so far chosen to address relevant and Biblical material. I hope that he will continue to write more in the future, to better equip future generations with knowledge of Bible truths. You can order "The Touchpoint" and other books and resources by Bob Santos at Search for Me Ministries (www.sfme.org) and for today only (April 17, 2016) "The Touchpoint" is available for free at www.amazon.com.

The Divine Progression of Grace by Bob Santos

         Author Bob Santos writes in the first chapter of his new book "The Divine Progression of Grace" the question "Is there is a Biblical topic surrounded by more confusion than grace?" Perhaps one could try and debate his point, but he may be very accurate to a large degree on this issue, since most Christian believers struggle in their journey through life to both understand and appropriate the grace of God in their everyday lives. It is to the end of 'Blazing a Trail to Fruitful Living' as the subtitle indicates that the author has penned his newest work, helping equip others to walk more intimately with God and to bring forth abundant spiritual fruit for his kingdom.

         I have reviewed Bob Santos' previous work "Champions in the Wilderness" on the Refuge blog before. So when the author provided me with a free copy of the book, compliments of 'Search For Me' ministries with no obligation, I was looking forward to reading and sharing my thoughts on the new book. The views entailed reflect my own opinions and I was not required to write a positive review.

         First, if there is one topic I have encountered many people struggle with, grace has to be near the top of the list. One of the reasons for this struggle, as is detailed in the pages of the book, is that most people do not understand the 'multi-faceted nature of grace'. The book walks the reader through the progression, starting with relaying the foundations that we have been taught. To give you a better understanding of the process, page 50 offers a chart with definitions that follow on the ensuing pages to help readers form an understanding of how much more there is to grace than simply being born-again in Christ. He continues through the work, touching on the law, Christ's sufficiency, pride, unity and even includes the subject of sex towards the end. What does sex have to do with grace? Plenty, but you'll need to read to find out more.

         Do I recommend this book? Yes, but with a few things in mind. First, the book is long, and by that I mean it packs a lot of material. It is not something to sit down and read in one setting. Second, connected to my first point, if you want to get the most out of the material, you need to stop and meditate on the concepts proposed and how they apply to your life. Fortunately, each chapter ends with a "Blazing a Trail to Fruitful Living" post that gives suggestions and sometimes summaries to help you achieve the most from that chapter. Search for Me Ministries also provides additional resources on their website www.sfme.org which will help you along this path. Read, grow, be fruitful. As I said when I read Bob's previous book "Champions in the Wilderness", I'm looking forward to reading any works you may have to offer in the future.