Book Review: The Heart of the Old Testament By John R Sampey

The Heart of the Old Testament

By John R Sampey

 

John R. Sampey was an Old Testament professor with the Southern Baptist Convention many years ago.  He wrote The Heart of the Old Testament to help Bible students better understand what they were reading in the Bible.

This book was written back when writing was a craft.  Sampey teaches the Bible very well and this book is very well-written.  It is easy to understand, even today when reading is a lost art.  

It would be wonderful if Broadman/The Southern Baptist Convention were to reprint The Heart of the Old Testament.

The Heart of the Old Testament is part of our personal library.  We do not recall how we obtained this book.  Most likely we obtained it through a Friends of the Library sale.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Book Review: How the Spirit Shapes Prayer: Research findings for Traditional Christians By David S. Luecke

How the Spirit Shapes Prayer: Research findings for Traditional Christians

By David S. Luecke

 

This is a short book that takes a while to read.  The reason it takes a while to read is because it is both a report on an academic research project and a commentary on how effective prayer is.

How the Spirit Shapes Prayer: Research findings for Traditional Christians was written by a Lutheran Clergyman, David S. Luecke.  So, all the findings are from the Lutheran point of view.  

Almost all Holiness denominations have no question that prayer actually changes things.  The author seeks to provide the results of his research, along with his personal findings, regarding answered prayer, starting from the point of no preconceived notion one way or the other, regarding whether God still answers prayer or not.

The book is very well-written.  From the point of view that the author wanted to find out what Lutherans felt regarding prayer, the book was very well-researched. We give How the Spirit Shapes Prayer all five stars.

It would be interesting if Luecke were to continue his research and include other denominations.  This book would make a great gift for any Christian scholar on your list.

We were sent a complimentary copy of How the Spirit Shapes Prayer.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Take the Lid Off by Smokie Norful

Take the Lid Off

By Smokie Norful

 

Wow! What a powerful book. Smokie Norful has knocked the ball out of the park with Take the Lid Off.

We were sent an advanced copy of the book by his publicist so that we might have a review ready by the anticipated September 5, 2017 rollout date.  This is significant because as we were reading it, Hurricane Harvey was approaching the Gulf Coast of Texas, where we live.  

The amount of comfort felt while reading Take the Lid Off is indescribable.

Norful tells his readers about how he had it all, in the view of the world, but felt led by God to do something else: start a church.

The often funny accounts of what Norful has gone through throughout his life are very entertaining and each one has a lesson to learn.

Take the Lid Off was designed in such a logical way that it can be used as both a personal journey, as well as being used as a text for a small group study in your church.

We give Take the Lid Off all five stars on our scale of zero to five stars.  We think you will like your copy and you will want to buy an extra copy or two for your church library.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Jesus in the Courtroom: How Believers Can Engage the Legal System for the Good of His World by John W. Mauck

Jesus in the Courtroom: How Believers Can Engage the Legal System for the Good of His World

by John W. Mauck

There is no question by anyone who has paid attention to the news lately that Christians are under attack. Jesus in the Courtroom: How Believers Can Engage the Legal System for the Good of His World by John W. Mauck discusses these attacks in detail.

The author, John W. Mauck, gives examples of how municipalities have tried to use zoning laws to prevent churches from servicing an area.  He also speaks of how the government muzzles Christians, preventing them from saying what is Biblical.

Jesus in the Courtroom is well-written.  Readers hear stories of how Christians have used the legal system to spread the word of God. We give it all five stars.

Mauck challenges Christians to pick up the standard and fight for God however we can.  Pray, send cards, encourage, vote, and speak out.

We think all Christians should make Jesus in the Courtroom a part of their library.  

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Christlike: The Pursuit of Uncomplicated Obedience by Bill Hull

Christlike: The Pursuit of Uncomplicated Obedience

by Bill Hull

 

Have you ever read something profound and thought, “This should be obvious?”  That is what Christlike: The Pursuit of Uncomplicated Obedience by Bill Hull is like.

What should be obvious, isn’t always. Hull points out many things like that in the life of a Christian.  

Christlike is sort of like the Christian equivalent to In Search of Excellence.  In that book, readers are given what is referred to as “A Blinding Flash of The Obvious”.

Most of what Hull shares with his readers are things that we should already be familiar with and practicing. Unfortunately, it is too easy to fall into bad habits in any part of our life.  The spiritual aspect of our life is much like the other parts.  We often know what we should be doing, but don’t remember to do it.

We think you will enjoy your copy of Christlike. We think that churches will want to create a small class to read and discuss this book as a great small group project.  It might very well help revive your church, no matter what state it is in.

We found Christlike to be an excellent read.  It is very well-written and very readable.  This means that the average reader won’t be struggling to understand where Hull is coming from. We give it all five stars.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Spiritual Widowhood By Andy Mendonsa

Spiritual Widowhood

By Andy Mendonsa

 

Spiritual Widowhood is a unique take on ministry. Not only does the author Andy Mendonsa discuss our role as Christians in the church regarding widows, it discusses widowhood in a much deeper way.

Mendonsa takes the opportunity to discuss several different passages in detail. He also uses those passages to remind Christians their role in the church and what it means to serve.

We think Spiritual Widowhood is deserving of all five stars.  It is well-researched and well-written.  There are times, however, where Mendonsa is difficult to follow.  If readers take time to understand in full what the author is trying to say, there is a wealth of information to be found.

This is a moderate read.  That is, it is not a very simple, easy, fast read.  At the same time, it is not one that is incredibly difficult to grasp.  We feel that it is a read that should be taken over time with prayer and reflection.  

One should get out their favorite translation of the Holy Bible and actually read all the passages mentioned in Spiritual Widowhood.

We feel that any church would benefit from having a class read this book and discuss it and reflect on it as a good, in-depth study of the subject of the church as it deals with widowhood, but also how the church is dealing with all of its ministries to the community.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: A Home For The Redeemed By Sue Behnke

A Home For The Redeemed

By Sue Behnke

A Home for the Redeemed by Sue Behnke reads a good deal like the Left Behind series.  We don’t mean that it is about the end of times. We mean that it is an entertaining book that draws the reader into the story.

This book is very well-written and very well-researched.  It is a fictional account of the struggle a modern day church faces in its everyday existence.

A Home for the Redeemed is deserving of all five stars. We think it would lead into a series very well.  We feel this would make a great lead into a series of discussions within a church.  Churches may well wish to start a reading circle to read and discuss this book.

We think you will enjoy A Home for the Redeemed. It is one you should add to your “to read” list today.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

 


Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Simon Peter: A Rock Moved By God By Bill Crowder

Simon Peter: A Rock Moved By God

By Bill Crowder

Our Daily Bread publishes a wonderful series of devotions by that same name.  Bill Crowder is one of the contributing authors to it. In Simon Peter: A Rock Moved By God, Bill Crowder discusses many of the passages in the Bible about Peter.

This little book is filled with discussions about the life of Peter and how Jesus used him.  Crowder also reminds us of how unlikely a candidate Peter was to lead anyone, much less an early church.

This book is well-written and well-researched. We give it all five stars and think you will learn a great deal from it.

The only real problem we have with this book is in the discussion questions. The author references himself by saying “Bill Crowder says…” This is confusing and just plain weird.

We got Simon Peter: A Rock Moved by God free through Our Daily Bread ministries.  

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Remarkable Faith: When Jesus Marveled at the Faith of Unremarkable People By Shauna Letellier

Remarkable Faith: When Jesus Marveled at the Faith of Unremarkable People

By Shauna Letellier

 

If you want what would certainly be a different look at some of the miracles Jesus performed in the gospels, Remarkable Faith: When Jesus Marveled at the Faith of Unremarkable People written by Shauna Letellier would certainly be it.

Letellier attempts to give some back story of the lives of some of the unnamed people in the Bible who received miracles from Jesus.

Remarkable Faith is not meant to be an accurate account of what happened in these people’s lives, but what could have been the back story.

We have trouble with people adding to the Bible; however, this is not what the author intends to do. Instead, these stories are meant to help the reader see the pure faith shown by these people. Remarkable Faith attempts to illustrate these Biblical truths in a new way.

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing By Jeff Goins

The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing

By Jeff Goins

Wow! The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing by Jeff Goins is a powerful book.

This book is very entertaining and emotion packed.  Mr. Goins takes us from a time he was a young boy, upset with his mother, through his life as a college student and on to the very dramatic birth of his son.

There is a triple tear drop warning in The In-Between.  We are taken to amazing wonderful highs and three very sad lows due to loss of people, some family, some not.

The book has a powerful Christian message without really attempting to do so.  The general idea is that some of the best parts of life happen while we wait for other things.

We give The In-Between all five stars.  It is very well-written, very entertaining, and a wild emotional ride.  We think you will love to get your own copy today.

We received complimentary copy of this book through a free Kindle Book Program.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: My Journal: Remembering and Growing | A Biblical context to life’s journey, Edition 1, By Dan L. Bragg Ed-D

My Journal: Remembering and Growing | A Biblical context to life’s journey,  Edition 1

By Dan L. Bragg Ed-D

If you are struggling trying to find your purpose, you may want to take a one year journey with My Journal: Remembering and Growing| A Biblical context to life’s journey, Edition 1 by Dan L. Bragg Ed-D.

Bragg takes fellow travelers on a journey of discovery and growth by giving his readers inspiration to journal about their spiritual journey. Mr. Bragg is our tour guide as he challenges us to think and grow in our faith.

We think that churches may want to create a small Bible study class to come together once a week to discuss their journaling and uplift one another in prayer.

Whether you take this journey alone or with a group of fellow Christian friends, you will enjoy the devotions and learn much as you read and ponder the scriptures.

We found this devotional to be well-written and well-thought out.  We give My Journal: Remembering and Growing all five stars. Please be sure to visit Dan L. Bragg over at his blog Biblical Leadership Enterprise.

We were sent a complimentary  copy of My Journal: Remembering and Growing.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Whispers of Rest: 40 Days of God’s Love to Revitalize Your Soul By Bonnie Gray

Whispers of Rest: 40 Days of God’s Love to Revitalize Your Soul

By Bonnie Gray

If you are seeking a way to draw closer to Heavenly Father in prayer, Whispers of Rest might just be the right book for you.

The author, Bonnie Gray, takes you on a 40-day quest to draw closer to God through a series of simple prayers.  She gives scripture references, hymns, poems, and a few stories to illustrate her points.

Nowhere in any of the information about the book did we see that the book is intended primarily for women.  The book cover says nothing about being a devotional geared towards women.  The voice of the book assumes the reader is an adult female.

Regardless of the voice of the book, males will be able to take great inspiration from the book.

We feel this book is well-written and researched.  We think it should have all five stars.

Whispers of Rest helps readers see that prayers do not have to be complex or scriptural in form, they can even be only one word.

This book would make a great book for a prayer group to read through together.  They could meet once per week to discuss their prayer journeys. Churches might want to purchase several copies to pass out to such a prayer group. There is a small group guide, as well as printables, available free on their website.

Taking this 40-day journey will refresh the reader and help him or her draw closer to God.

When you buy your copy, you will want to buy two since you will want to share this with at least one friend while you take your Whispers of Rest journey.  

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

 


Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Seed to Vision

Seed to Vision: How God-Inspired Ideas Become Reality

By Steve Finn with Trey Dunham

Seed to Vision: How God-Inspired Ideas Become Reality is an inspirational book. It shows the attempts of the author and his wife to start a ranch for troubled boys.

Seed to Vision is full of fun and interesting stories. We think these stories are great and are well-told.  It would be nice to see the author expand on these entertaining stories while building up the information he seeks to share with his readers regarding the care and feeding of a ministry.

There are also several stories that show Mr. Finn’s frustrations with all the setbacks and obstacles he and his staff have faced while trying to get his ministry off the ground.

We wish Mr. Finn all the best and hope this boys’ ranch will prosper and provide a safe place for many boys for hundreds of years to come.

We were given a prepublication version of Seed to Vision in the Kindle format for the purpose of writing this review. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Update Disclosure:  This review has been updated to reflect the fact that issues with the book were indeed corrected before it went to print.




Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Street Smarts From Proverbs: How to Navigate Through Conflict to Community By Mitch Kruse with D. J. Williams

Street Smarts From Proverbs: How to Navigate Through Conflict to Community

By Mitch Kruse with D. J. Williams

One book we recently read that we were intrigued with is Street Smarts From Proverbs: How to Navigate Through Conflict to Community by Mitch Kruse with D. J. Williams. 

This is one of those rare books that fits the genre of several of our blogs.  It is a Christian book, no doubt. It is chock full of Biblical references from many different chapters in the Bible.

It is also a business book.  It was written by the former owner of the world’s largest classic car auction company.

Street Smarts From Proverbs is very well-written and entertaining.  It is chock full of anecdotes about religion, business, sports, education, family life, and others.

One thing this book is not is a manual on boating. You will have to read it to find out what we mean by that.

We give this book all five stars on our scale of zero to five stars with no reservations.

It had to be a very agonizing decision to sell a family business of at least three generations. But, Mitch Kruse made the right decision to follow God’s calling.

Street Smarts From Proverbs would make a great companion text for a small group Bible study that was seeking to study Proverbs.  The group might want to find an additional text that covers a verse-by-verse or chapter-by-chapter summary.

Grab your favorite Bible and a cup of coffee. Then sit back and enjoy your copy of Street Smarts From Proverbs.

We were sent a complimentary Advance Reading copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Book Review: Making Money from Home By Donna Partow

Making Money from Home

By Donna Partow

Making Money from Home is a great book geared toward women desiring to start a home-based business. It is full of encouragement and ideas on how to achieve balance between your home life and your business.

It offers pros and cons for including your children in your business and offers suggestions to avoid your children resenting you and your business.

Pros and cons for working with your spouse are also included.  Topics are suggested for couples to discuss before going into business at home. Partow stresses honoring your spouse’s wishes and keeping their needs in mind. It is important to keep the lines of communication open so that the business doesn’t rule or ruin your life and marriage.

There are many links sprinkled throughout this book for sites to help you research your business idea, to link your website, and other things.  This book was published in 2010, so some of the links are no longer working.  An Internet search should help you to find the information that you need for doing the suggested research.

Partow’s Making Money with Donna website does not appear to have been updated since 2013, but still contains posts that would be of value to someone starting a business at home.

We received Making Money from Home through the Tyndale Rewards Program.  Sign up, earn points, and get free books. What could be better than free books? If you click my link and join, we both get points - we both win!

Notice: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may financially benefit from your transaction, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.