Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz

             Anyone who has spent time in a church setting for very long has probably learned that even among fellow believers, we can be hurt by their words and deeds whether intentionally or unintentionally. But, how we respond to those hurts can oftentimes be in manner that only festers the wounds, but does not provide the healing and reconciliation that is needed in our lives. Anne Graham Lotz writes of this subject in her recent book "Wounded by God's People".

             Anne has preached for decades, written several best selling books and is known as an international conference speaker. But, none of that means she is exempt from the same challenges we all deal with in the area of being wounded by others, and especially by those who profess the name of Jesus as their Lord. Through many trials in the area of being wounded and wounding others, by personal introspection and with the help of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, Anne addresses the problems believers encounter in recovering from being wounded and wounding others.

              Using the Biblical story of Hagar from the book of Genesis, each chapter is woven around a segment of Hagar's life and traumas. The lessons are laced with personal stories of hurt and rejection that the author shares which illustrate the points effectively. The subject is certainly one that most people will most likely deal with at one time or another in their Christian lives. But, rather than just reminding others of how much it hurts, she offers the scriptural solutions to heal and provides the hope needed for many that they can be made whole again.
               I received this book free from the publisher through the http://www.booksneeze.com book review program for bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The views expressed are my own. If you are in need of healing from the wounds of others, or a self professing wounder of others, you may be able to find hope and healing through the truths you apply in the pages of the book. 

              

              

The Reason For My Hope: Salvation by Dr. Billy Graham

            There is undoubtedly one thing that Dr. Billy Graham is known for and that is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the hope of salvation for all mankind. So, even though he has advanced in years, it is no shock to read through one of his most recent books and find that it centers around the very subject of salvation, and specifically the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.
            While telling the story of why Jesus came, what He did on the cross and how anyone can receive Him as the Savior of their own life, the book addresses issues that are prevalent in the day and age in which we live. From chapters entitled "Sin is in" to "There's no hope of happy hour in hell", Dr. Graham is not afraid to tackle issues that many Christian leaders would rather avoid.
             This book is also filled with many stories and illustrations. At first, I wasn't sure if it was going to contain only stories without scripture, but it quickly fills with the Biblical basis for salvation and what God's word says about hope. Jesus is our hope of salvation. And as he has done faithfully for decades, Dr. Graham explains how Jesus can be your hope too. He is not afraid to use words like sin and hell, as I mentioned earlier. And he's also not afraid to use words like judgment and repent.
             Who should read this book? Anyone who has forgotten quickly what Jesus did for them on the cross. Anyone who has lost hope in a chaotic world. Anyone who is a believer but needs to remember how good God has been to them. And, most of all, anyone who has never entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. I received this book free from the publisher through the http://BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. And I recommend it to those who fit the categories I have listed.

Godonomics by Chad Hovind

               In the current economic and political environment in America today, it could be tempting to assume that there is no other alternative to our situation and that we have to face the inevitable troubles that could result from our excessive debt, taxes and inflation. Others might, on the opposite end, assume that nothing at all is wrong and that the abundance of possessions we are able to accumulate and enjoy are proof that everything is actually ok. However, in Godonomics by Chad Hovind, we can see both by economics and history that there not only is a different way of living, but  the way things are does not always guaranteed that they will stay that way and could be the beginning of much more challenging times ahead of us.
               This book is a good look at money, American history and political thinking. It does not propose supporting any particular political party. But instead, it exhorts the readers to examine the Biblical principles of wealth and poverty to return to the foundations which God said will cause a nation to prosper. It is a look that most people may normally not take at their money and the assumptions we often make on how it is spent.
               Perhaps you have forgotten, or don't remember names is history like John Meynard Keyes, and Adam Smith. Maybe a contemporary name like Allan Greenspan might strike a memory or two. But, the thinking of these and other individuals are challenged in comparison to the Biblical models of financial stewardship and prosperity. This book will challenge you and educate you in many ways.
                I received this book for free from "Water Brook/Multnomah Publishing Group" for this review. You can learn a lot from it though at times you may get a little confused by some of the finance lessons and history you may have missed along the way. If you want a preview, Click here to download chapter one of Godonomics. - See more at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601424778#sthash.DfqADoem.dpuf.

The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition by Dave Ramsey

               

                Dave Ramsey is no stranger to multitudes around the world, and his best selling book  "The Total Money Makeover" is not unknown to the masses who have read it previously. But, just because people talk it doesn't mean anyone listens, or more specifically applies what they hear. So the newest edition of 'The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition" is now available, and even though the book is conveying the same basic truths that were taught in earlier editions, it does include more detail and more testimonies of how life transformation is possible for those who read it.
                Many people talk about principles of getting out of debt and obtaining wealth but don't have either a plan to apply these principles or a plan that has been proven to work. The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition has both of these and includes the stories of many people who have tried the plan and made it work. And for each of the sections of the book with the stories of changed lives attached to them, it is not unlikely to conceive that the author could have included hundreds more of these stories that illustrate and prove that what he is saying works in the real world.
                The book is not a get rich quick scheme or a pay off your debt tomorrow method of financial achievement. But it is layered with time proven principles that will help you achieve financial freedom. If you are expecting a bunch of sermons you won't find them here. Dave is writing to all audiences who read  the book and these principles will work for anyone. To visit a financial planner might cost you a lot of the money that you are trying to protect. But The Total Money Makeover is like having a portable financial planner you can take with you for a fraction of the cost.
                  I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 highly recommend it to anyone who has never had a financial plan, needs help with their current financial situation or simply wants to learn more about how to manage their money. I believe that you'll be glad you read it.

Praying The Attributes Of God by Ann Spangler

           

            I had only heard briefly of Ann Spangler, prior to picking up one of her newest books to review, entitled Praying The Attributes of God. I'm not sure what exactly I expected out of the book, but since I feel that the emphasis of scripture is on God, who He is, what He's done for us and how we're to respond to Him, I was intrigued enough by the title and decided to read it through. I was not disappointed with my choice and pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the selection.

            The book is devotional in style, with each section covering one attribute of God, and the five chapters included in each section are divided into a Monday through Friday format, only 3-4 pages apiece, with scripture, small thoughts to pray about and normally an illustration at the end to drive home the point. It is the simplicity of the style with a focus on the scripture that I found to be easy to grasp and meditate upon. It would be a good read for the busy person who still wants to focus on God and to communicate with Him regularly.

             This is not the first of the author's books of this type and I certainly hope it's not her last. The subject of the book was extremely relevant to any believer or unbeliever in God. I did appreciate her use of personal stories and how she tied them into her topics. However, the stories may be the only area that I wasn't quite as gripped as the rest of the book. But, Mrs. Spangler still used them to tie into her main ideas very well.

             I received this book for free as part of the book review program from the Tyndale House publishers blog network. It is a good book, with an important subject., I hope that you read it and find that it helped you to know God more and become more like him.

God of the Underdogs by Matt Keller

               
                  In your life, there probably have been moments when you have been up against difficult odds. There have probably been times where you have felt like you were the 'underdog' as you faced your opponent, whether it be a person or a problem. And it's good to know that no matter what challenge may come your way in the future and what opponent you may encounter, the God who created the heaven and the earth is on your side. And that is the subject of Pastor Matt Keller's recent book, God of the Underdogs.
                   Matt Keller is the founder and senior Pastor of Next Level Church, in Ft. Meyers, Florida. God of the Underdogs is his second book and a sizable part of it is laced with stories from his personal experiences in pioneering a church, as well as life lessons he discovered along the way. He is one of the fresh, newer faces of emerging leaders today and has a lot of valuable things to say.
                    The book tells the story of several Bible characters who faced obstacles as the underdog. Each chapter focuses on one person and lists the excuse they could have used, and sometimes actually did, as they faced their own difficult circumstances. From the Apostle Paul, who could have said 'My past is too bad' to Gideon, who might have thought "My resources are too scarce', each person paints the picture of the reasons we often use to excuse our lack of courage to attempt great things for God. And like a leader and a life coach, Pastor Matt inspires all of us to get up, drop the excuses and do something great for God.
                    I would recommend the book to anyone who struggles with thinking they can't be used by God to accomplish great things, or that He is through with them. And, though I sometimes questioned his choice of the excuses connected to some of the characters, since I felt another option might have been more appropriate, we each have probably used some of these excuses as we faced intimidating situations in our lives. This is definitely an applicable book for multitudes of people.
                    I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 think you'll find yourself in the pages of God of the Underdogs, and you may discover that what you thought disqualified you in working for God may be used as a stepping stone to greatness in the kingdom of God.

The Power of a Half Hour by Tommy Barnett

               
                 One of the excuses often heard from people in all walks of life when asked why don't they attempt to do something great is "I don't have enough time", But, in his upcoming book, The Power of a Half Hour', author Tommy Barnett examines the value of what little time we do have available, and how it can be used to do great things for God.
                 Tommy Barnett is very widely known among many Christian circles, and is especially popular for his work as Pastor of Phoenix First Assembly and for pioneering the LA Dream Center. In the book, he shares many stories connected to both churches, as  well as other periods of his life and ministry which illustrate the points of the chapters.
                 This book is thirty chapters, divided into seven sections. The main ideas revolve around using your time to affect your life, path, faith, character, dreams, relationships, and world. And the chapters themselves are very small and easy to read. The book also includes outlines, questions and a study guide at the end.
                 I enjoyed the book and like Pastor Barnett's stories, which he uses frequently throughout the pages. I would recommend it, especially to those who think a little bit of time can't accomplish a lot. Please don't take the half hour concept legalistically, as any amount of time can be utilized for the glory of God if properly handled. But a half hour is a good place to start.
                    I received this book for free from "Water Brook/Multnomah Publishing Group" for this review. Our time is actually the most valuable resource that we have available. Pastor Barnett's book will be available in December 2013, but it might be a great Christmas present for someone who wants to do great things, but is concerned they might not have enough time to do it. You may watch a video about the book at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2013/04/22/video-power-of-a-half-hour-by-tommy-barnett/