Managing God's Money by Randy Alcorn

If you are looking for one book to answer all your money questions, “Managing God’s Money,” by Randy Alcorn is the book you must add to your library. When I say this book answers all your money questions I am not exaggerating. Rightly so, he starts off with what the Bible actually says about money and stewardship then jumps into everyone’s first misconception about money, “Does the Bible say money is evil?”

This book contains a lot of information. I will admit when I first received it and flipped through the pages I thought it was too much information in one book. But the format of the book is what makes it easier to approach. The book is broke down by sections, each section is broke down by chapters then each chapter is written as if it were the FAQ section of a pamphlet. Some of the questions included in the book are: Is it possible to follow God and money? Why does God prosper us sometimes? What does it mean to store up treasures in Heaven? Should reward be our only motivation? Isn’t tithing legalism? Should we tithe on our gross or net? Are we to blame for people’s poverty? Is gambling okay? The list goes on and on.

This would be an excellent resource for recent college graduates that are potentially going to be at their first full-time job making their own money decisions or a newlywed couple that will be making those decisions together. If this book would have been given to me for either of those occasions I probably wouldn’t read it straight through but instead I would read the Table of Contents and look up the questions I had first and get those answered and keep the book around when I approach different phases of life and need a refresher.

Thanks to Tyndale Publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Pure Pleasure, by Gary Thomas

In February I had the opportunity to hear Gary Thomas at a marriage conference that was held at our church. I had never heard him speak and I had only read portions of his books. But I did follow him on Twitter. Does that count for anything? While speaking he referred to the book, “Pure Pleasure.” I couldn’t wait to go home and see if it was possible for me to review it. I could review it! I did review it! It did not disappoint.

The subtitle to this book is, “Why do Christians feel so bad about feeling good?” In typical Gary Thomas fashion he jumps right into answering that question in the very first chapter where he said, “We can build lives of true, lasting pleasure and so fortify ourselves against evil because evil has lost much of its allure—or we can try, with an iron will to “scare” ourselves away from evil while still, deep in our hearts, truly longing for it.” I wonder sometimes if we enjoyed our lives more if more people would come to Christ as a result of that rather than constantly condemning ourselves and others. Asking myself that question I moved on to chapter two where he says, “…our self-imposed misery doesn’t erase someone else’s misery; on the contrary, it may simply increase God’s displeasure.” I could go on and on with quotes from this book but I will let you answer your own questions by reading it.

This book is an easy read while some of the chapters are a little longer than others. It is not an easy book to read if you have a toddler and an infant. But while they are napping it is pretty easy to get a chapter in. I’m always a sucker for books that have discussion questions at the end. Of course, this one does. It could be quite effective in a small group setting for a six week study given you read one chapter a week.

Thank you to Zondervan publishing for allowing me to review a complimentary copy of this book.

To read a sample chapter of this book visit their website here. 

Dug Down Deep, by Joshua Harris

The perfect sentence to describe, “Dug Down Deep,” by Joshua Harris was written in the introduction by the author himself.  He said, “I’ve tried to keep things very simple in the hope that people who never paid attention to theology will find it accessible (and also because simple is the only way I understand things).”  I would be one of the people that preferred not to pay attention to theology.  I knew what I believed but if someone ever doubted me on it I probably wouldn’t know what to say. 

Like most believers the word, “theology,” brings to mind seminary professors and preachers.  But in the first chapter the author starts off with why theology and doctrine are important to him and why it should be important to everyone.  He states, “We’re either building our lives on the reality of what God is truly like and what he’s about, or we’re basing our lives on our own imagination and misconceptions.”  Simply put the remainder of the book builds from that idea.  Each chapter focuses on one aspect of Christian doctrine:  the Bible, Sanctification, the Holy Spirit, God, Redemption, etc. 

Unlike most books on Christian doctrine and theology I didn’t once have to pull out a dictionary.  But I also didn’t feel as if Harris was “dumbing down” the gospel either.   To make the book even more memorable there is a discussion guide in the back that is perfect for discipleship or small groups. 

Thanks to Blogging for Books for a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.  

To read the first chapter click here.  

To watch a video summary click here.  

The Principle of the Path, by Andy Stanley

I originally volunteered to review, “The Principle of the Path,” because it was written by Andy Stanley and I wanted an easy read. I suppose if I felt I was wandering aimlessly in life I might have gotten more out of this book. The fact that it took me about three months to read it should be some indication of my interest in the book. The reason it took so long was not because I was so engrossed I read it several times but more because it did not catch my interest immediately therefore, it went on the back burner. I was pretty much reading the book just to turn in a review so I could get another book to review.


After slowly reading the book my conclusion is if you feel as if you are wandering around with no purpose or meaning to your life perhaps you should pick up this book (and your Bible). But if you are just going to read it because it’s an Andy Stanley book and you’ve never read it before I suggest you re-read another one.

Thank you to Booksneeze for the complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

I am not normally a fan of short, one page devotionals because they often just scratch the surface and some don't even reference the Bible.  They are occasionally motivational one liners under a Christian title.  The only reason I was even intrigued by, "Jesus Calling," was because in one week three different people in three different social circles had talked about how great this book was.  Clearly, this was something I needed to know about.  However, my local Christian bookstore did not have it in stock so I was unable to preview the book before purchasing it off Amazon. 

I have to say, as far as one page devotional books go this one is right up there with, "My Utmost for His Highest," and "Streams in the Desert."  Granted, they are only one page long but they are insightful, honest devotionals with scripture references.  For this mom with two kids under two it is sometimes just what I need to keep my head above water until I have time for a legitimate study which has to wait until nap time.

The Scent of Water, by Naomi Zacharias

Being a stay at home mom and hanging out with other stay at home moms I often find myself in a very safe Christian bubble consumed with nap schedules, feedings, and development milestones. “The Scent of Water,” by Naomi Zacharias will bring you out of that bubble or whatever bubble you are in. I am not naïve enough to thing injustices do not happen in our world. But Naomi Zacharias has a way of vividly describing her surroundings so you feel you are there with her while she’s walking in the red light district or entering a brothel.


She tells the story of several women and the brokenness in their lives and how they are trying to get out of their brokenness and live new lives. At first glance you might feel this book could be depressing as you read about the horrid lives these young women have lived and the pits they end up in. But again, Zacharias has a way of bringing it full circle so you see them now and how God’s mercy has shown down on them. Each woman’s story recognizes God’s grace and mercy and they all thank Him for it.

Towards the end of the book Zacharias says, “Life is about fighting through what is painful, what is downright wrong, for the sake of what is right.” You may not have survived life in the red light district or had a husband that turned out to be a pimp but we all have pain in our past that has shaped who we are in our present and, more than likely, will shape our future. The question we must all ask ourselves is if we are going to let God use our past for His future or are we going to attempt to hide it from everyone and pretend it never happened never allowing it to be used for God’s glory.

Thanks to Zondervan publishing for a complementary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.  If you are interested in reading a sample chapter or purchasing this book please follow this link.

Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst

If you are wanting to dive deep inside a person’s life regarding their honest struggle with food you must read, “Made to Crave,” by Lysa Terkeurst. Just as she did in, “Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl,” she writes with honesty and candor. If you are tired of lying to yourself and others about your food struggles you need some honesty and candor in your life.


Gleaning from Terkeurst’s honesty let me be honest with you. I have read several reviews on this book and even thought for myself, “Do we really need another person’s opinion on eating?” Well, yes, we do. Clearly Americans are comfortable with food and sometimes too comfortable. Terkeurst takes a hard look at herself and basically lets you see all the dirty laundry regarding this struggle in her life. It is very refreshing. However, at times I felt like I was reading her diary and needed to apologize for it.


Aside from stepping on your toes and challenging you to change this book is an easy read. Meaning, the chapters are short so if you have kids running around or you are squeezing it in on your coffee break you can read this book. Each chapter ends with questions for you to reflect on. A friend of mine read this book while keeping a journal and answered the questions in her journal so she could go back and see what changes had taken place. This book is also filled with scripture. It is not simply Terkeurst’s opinions but it includes what verses and passages spoke to her and prayerfully will speak to you too.


Lastly, individuals that have never struggled with food will scoff at the idea of this book. Terkeurst makes this statement in the introduction that could sum it up for you, “I’m a simple Jesus girl on a journey to finding deeper motivation than just a number on a scale for getting and staying healthy.”

Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

If you are interested in purchasing or downloading this book please visit Zondervan's website.

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

“Little Star,” is actually a Christmas book but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to review it because I love books that have little boys as the main characters because I have a little boy. Anthony DeStefano starts off his children’s book with a boy asking a question and his father spends the rest of the book answering his question, “Dad, which one is the Christmas star?”


I don’t want to say too much about the actual story because it is really good and you need to buy it for your kids. “Little Star,” is the story of the little star’s ultimate gift for Jesus the night He was born. I’m not usually a fan of books covering up the Christmas story to make it something cute and marketable. I don’t feel this book does that. It still tells the Christmas story but it is bookended by the story of the little star’s gift as well.

Might I also add the illustrations in this book are wonderful. Mark Elliott did a great job illustrating this story without it looking like a cartoon or comic book. This book needs to be added to your Christmas book library.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for the complementary copy of this book to review.

Sequin Bible Review

When I saw the opportunity to review a Bible with sequins I jumped on it! Something about God’s Word with sequins on it made me wish I was 8 years old again and beg my parents for this Bible because it looked so pretty. This was also my first Bible to review so I was pretty excited about that also.


Let me start by telling you what I like about this Bible. First, the International Children’s Bible (ICB) version is very child friendly. I reviewed several types of verses and all would be easy for a child to understand. In the back of the Bible is a simple Bible dictionary. It is not, by any means, a complex dictionary but if your daughter is interested in certain characters but doesn’t know where they are in the Bible, they are listed in this dictionary and also several nouns that are throughout the Old and New Testaments (altar, apostle, fellowship, etc). There is also a section entitled, “Where Do I Find It?” that includes: Advice to Children, The Last Supper, The Ten Commandments, etc. This section simply tells the girl the Biblical reference and page number, there is no definition or explanation. The last two sections include verses that are specifically targeted towards areas such as: Doing Good, My Happiness, Salvation, Scripture Memory, etc.

As much as I liked this Bible I feel Tommy Nelson Publishing missed a huge opportunity to get girls excited about reading their Bibles. This type of Bible would be perfect if it included some heavy weight, glossy pages that had some tidbits of information about young girls in the Bible and perhaps even a devotional or two wouldn’t hurt either. It was also unclear to me what age group they were targeting with this Bible. The cover would imply any girl with good taste but the language would imply it is for a much younger girl. After doing some research online I found that this version is primarily for a high third grade level reader.

In our home we have plenty of Bibles in tons of versions. I don’t agree with giving a child a version that is too complex to understand but I also don’t think a child should have a version that doesn’t really get to the meat of scripture either. I think this Bible would be perfect for an elementary age girl but once they approach middle school and older I think a different version is needed.

Thanks to Booksneeze for the complementary copy of this Bible for reviewing purposes.

The Next Christians Webcast

A couple of months ago I reviewed a book titled, "The Next Christians," by Gabe Lyons.  In an effort to get the word out to churches about this book he will be participating in a webcast with Tim Keller about this book and movement.  If you have time today at 1:00 CST watch this conversation between these two men!

WaterBrookMultnomah on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Additional Resources:
Gabe Lyon's Website
Blogging for Books

Lioness Arising, by Lisa Bevere

I’ll be honest; this book had been on a list of potential book reviews for awhile. I never chose to review it because the title, “Lioness Arising,” just sounded like such a cheesy title. I still feel that way. Even the women on the back of the book that endorsed it did not make me want to read this book. But what caught my attention on the back cover was, “God did not save you to tame you.” My current stage in life allows me to meet with several college students and occasionally I come across girls that feel as Christian females they are to be doormats--doormats for their future husbands, doormats for their roommates, and even doormats for their church.


Lisa Bevere’s, “Lioness Arising,” starts off with her awakening while raising children and wondering if there was more for her and the comparison of the lioness begins. In chapter one she states, “I would just smile, content that I was no longer a frightened, timid, domestic cat.” Later on in chapter one you almost get on board with the lioness comparison when she says, “More than any other creature, the lioness makes me proud to be a female. There is no doubting her strength. I also imagine there is no creature that makes a man prouder to be a male than the lion. The lion is the king of the jungle, and there is no question about who is the queen.”

Chapter three is where Bevere addresses the reason I chose to review the book in the first place. Referring to Luke 4:18-19 she states, “ If the Spirit of God was placed on Jesus to do all these things, and if we are born of this same Spirit, then we are to do as he did—preach the good news to the poor, set the burdened and battered free… In light of this charge, God does not need a band of domesticated daughters who spend their days baking and behaving well.” Then she goes on to give biblical examples of women God chose to change history, Deborah, Jael, Tamar, Esther, etc.

Bevere concludes her book a reminder that the lion we are following is Jesus. We are not to fear our future because the author of life is leading us. The last chapter begins appropriately with a quote by Winston Churchill, “I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion’s roar.”

Thanks to Blogging for Books for a complementary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

The Faith by Charles Colson

A while back I was in the mood to read something with a little substance. I wanted to read something that left me feeling smarter when I finished it. While scrolling through Zondervan’s books I came across, “The Faith,” by Charles Colson. Since I had never read any Colson books I decided to give it a try. When it arrived my husband decided he wanted to read it first.


Reader, be warned, there is a lot of information in this book. I did not finish it near as quickly as I normally finish books. The three main questions the book answers are: what do Christians believe, why do they believe it, and why does it matter. Even though there is a lot of information in the book it is not overwhelming. It is broken into two parts, and then chapters and even the chapters are broken down into sections. Therefore, if you are like me and can’t get through an entire chapter in one sitting you can, at least, get through a section in a chapter.

Colson starts his book off with “God and The Faith,” and draws from personal travels with his wife to discuss church history. Don’t get lost in this section. Keep going. His first chapter ends with the question, “How can a Christianity that is not understood be practiced?” He follows up that question with chapter two discussing who exactly God is. He continues throughout the book discussing the Canon, truth, the Trinity, and the cross. Part II of the book has more application discussing holiness in everyday life, the sanctity of life, justice, and of course the joy of orthodoxy. While reading this book I was reminded of John Piper’s, “Desiring God,” in the way it was written, briefly covering a multitude of topics every Christian needs to be familiar with.

If you are interested in purchasing this book or downloading the free study guide that accompanies it please visit Zondervan.com.

Special thanks to Zondervan for the complementary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

A Billion Reasons Why, by Kristin Billerbeck

If you are looking to escape the bitter winter with some Christian romance fantasy Kristin Billerbeck's latest book as your name all over it.  "A Billion Reasons Why," follows your typical Christian chick-lit genre:  good Christian girl with sketchy past must decide between two Christian guys while getting advice from her good Christian friend.  And of course, let us not forget she must choose between a billionaire and an engineer. 

What makes this book a little different is the main characters spend most of their time in New Orleans, which always makes for interesting stories in any genre.  Billerbeck does a good job of making her characters likable so, at some level, you do feel sorry for the guy she rejects.  But not so sympathic you can’t be happy for the choice she makes in the end.  Occasionally, I did find it annoying that the main character did appear to be a push-over at times but what would chick-lit be without at least one push-over in the character mix.     

I read/review mostly non-fiction books but every once in a while a fiction makes it way into the mix simply for entertainment.  This book is not life changing; it did not make me want to better my life in any way what so ever.  However, it was a good, quick read on a winter day when I didn’t want to leave the house.

Thanks to Booksneeze for the complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

The Next Christians, by Gabe Lyons

If you listen to certain circles of the media you would believe that Christians are fading into the background and young adults are leaving the Christian faith in droves. As pessimistic as that all sounds Gabe Lyons has written a book that is full of research and interviews that might surprise you.


In “The Next Christians,” Gabe Lyons summarizes research, interviews, and studies to make the case that the next Christians are not necessarily leaving their faith but they want something different. Right off the bat, in chapter one he tells a story of when he met the great Billy Graham and even he said, “Back when we did these big crusades in football stadiums and arenas, the Holy Spirit was really moving—and people were coming to Christ…But today, I sense something different is happening…They are demonstrating God’s love to those around them, not just with words, but in deed.”

Lyons does an excellent job of stating the facts but also remaining optimistic about Christianity’s future. His book is separated into three parts: The World is Changing, The Restorers, and A New Era. The first part seems to be mainly statistics, but the second and third parts seem to be the meat of the book. They explain what is making this new generation different. Not only do they want to learn about the faith and theology but they want to actively participate and “get their hands dirty,” helping other people groups.

Finally, in the last chapter, Lyons ends by optimistically saying, “Ready for tomorrow’s challenges, they turn toward the twenty-first century horizon with grace in their hands and the Gospel as their calling. They are restoring confidence in their faith and turning “Christian” into a label worthy of the one who has called them to restore.”

Reading this book should make you want to join them. Help your local college ministry by choosing to disciple, mentor, and walk alongside these the next Christians.

Thank you to Blogging for Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

On This Day in Christian History, by Robert Morgan

For the history buff in everyone Robert Morgan has written a daily dose of Christian history in, “On This Day in Christian History.” Reading this book everyday is like uncovering a hidden gem in Christian history. Some days will be repeated stories that tend to be more popular than others, such as Martin Luther’s “disputation on the power and efficacy of indulgences,” on October 31st. However, some may not know the story of William Carey on March 12th or Hugh MacKail on November 28th.


Each day is only one page long so there is time to read and enjoy that morning cup of coffee without feeling rushed. However, you might find yourself wanting to read more so give yourself a little time. Each day is written is such a way Morgan gives some background before diving into the day’s history so you won’t feel completely blindsided by empty information.

Thank you to Booksneeze for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask, by Mark Mittelberg

“How could a good God allow so much suffering?” “Why are Christians so judgmental?” “Why trust the Bible? It’s full of myths?” Those are only three of the nine questions asked and answered in, “The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask,” by Mark Mittelberg. All nine questions addressed in this book are questions most Christians have heard either directly from someone they know or indirectly on television or in news articles. Sadly, most Christians have no idea how to answer these questions or they will answer using a cliché, canned phrase they heard someone else say, leaving the seeker still seeking for a real answer.


Enter Mittelberg’s book. The author has taken nine questions and answered each one with biblical truth, real life examples, and hard facts. Each chapter also ends with a summary and tips when talking to the person that asked the question. Several books in this genre do an excellent job of explaining the answers but very few give you actual tips and application points.

The final chapter of the book is titled, “The questions our friends need us to ask them.” Mittelberg ends his book with an evangelical message reminding the readers why it is important to have answers for these sticky questions. “I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16).”

Thanks to Tyndale Publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Surprised by Worship by Travis Cottrell

Reading worship books written by worship leaders is like getting inside the mind of a brain surgeon. They have the “simple” task of leading God’s people to perfect communion with Him…no pressure. Reading, “Surprised by Worship,” by Travis Cottrell (worship leader for Living Proof Ministries) seemed like a backstage pass into his soul.


The beginning of every chapter starts by Cottrell defining a term, such as “surprise,” or “joy,” etc. It only seems fitting that “surprise” is the word defined in chapter one. Cottrell ends chapter one by saying, “Sometimes the most breathtaking surprises are mysteriously sublime, like the beauty of worship in the most unexpected of places.” That sentence seems to set the tone for the remainder of the book.

Throughout the book the reader is reminded of Cottrell’s respect of worship. Some chapters you can hear his voice saying the words and you might even hear a crack in his voice because, by his own admission, he cries a lot. The reader will sense his emotions about the words he defines in each chapter. His emotions ring clear in this book and crystal clear in his last chapter. He ends the book perfectly by defining, “surrender,” and saying, “When we surrender, we might just find ourselves surprised that our offering has brought us where we belonged all along…worshiping at the feet of Jesus.”

Thank you Zondervan publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

“The Grace of God,” is Andy Stanley’s fifth book and some say his best book. Unlike his previous publications, “The Grace of God,“ is for everyone, not necessarily pastors or church leaders. The topic of God’s grace can sometimes be very complicated to explain but, like he does most things, Stanley takes the complicated and makes it uncomplicated.

While making the topic of grace easier for the everyday person Stanley starts at the very beginning—creation. In chapter one Stanley easily states, “We see from the very beginning of creation that God desires what is good for us. That’s grace.” He follows up grace during creation with how we are chosen, surprised, redeemed and finally saved by God’s grace.

The reader might finish chapter 13 and wonder, “What do I do now?” Stanley answers that question in the chapter he calls, “How Sweet the Sound.” He starts by discussing the tensions between laws and grace, justice and grace, and fairness and grace and recaps the story of the Prodigal Son from three view points: the lost son, the son at home, and the father. Stanley finishes off this book explaining grace is a gift. “You were lost and have been found. You were dead, and now you are alive. You were blind, and now you see. You said yes to his offer of grace. That’s the best news God will ever receive about you,” simply put.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson publishing for providing a completmentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes through Booksneeze.

God and Football by Chad Gibbs

“God and Football,” by Chad Gibbs is a humorous yet thought provoking book for anyone that enjoys the odd mix of God and SEC football.  Gibbs starts the book off with, what he calls, “Preseason,” giving the reader the low down on how football, SEC football in particular, has shaped his life.  He gives the reader a glimpse of his love affair with Alabama and/or Auburn football. 

The book continues as he travels each week during the 2009 football season to a different SEC school for a home game.  He is able to realize first hand he is not the only one obsessed with SEC football.  Each week he attempts to meet a local minister in each college town and discuss the implications football has on their church.  Several times in the book he mentions many churches don’t plan events on game weekends because they know attendance will not be good.

In Gibbs’ Postseason of the book he has the opportunity to meet with David Nasser, a die-hard Alabama fan, and Nasser ends their conversation by saying, “You know who I pray for?  I’m praying for those fans who woke up the morning after the bowl game and realized despite the win, they still lack peace.  Football is a great hobby, but a horrible god.”   

As funny as this book is it is also a gentle reminder of the idols we all have whether it be Auburn, football, or the SEC. 

Thanks Zondervan publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

One Hand, Two Hands, by Max Lucado

"One Hand, Two Hands," by Max Lucado is a wonderful addition to any child's library. As only the preacher/author Max Lucado can do, this book not only introduces your child to their hands but also has application points for children of all ages. Lucado seamlessly transitions from hand introductions, to things a child does with their hands, to what their hands can do for others such as pick flowers, wipe tears, wash dishes, or pick up toys.


The reader will realize the concept seems a bit simplistic but even adults need a small reminder of things they can easily do for others. The best part of this children’s book is the list of practical tasks your child can do with their hands and the statement Lucado is poses to children and adults alike, “Think of ways your hands can be helping hands.”

Visually speaking, this book is great for kids. There are happy images on every page and even the page that suggests using hands to wipe tears shows a happy little girl hugging an elderly woman. The book was delivered with a dust jacket that, more than likely, will be removed for its own protection.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.