Love, Sex, and Happily Aver After

  When I first signed up to read this book, I was unaware that it was: A.) a reprint and B.) a book for newly-weds or almost-marrieds.  Needless to say, I was sad at finding these two things, yet I am glad to have read this book.

  I am a huge fan of Craig Groeschell and lifechurch.tv, I think God is using him and the church to do great things in this country for the Name and Glory of Jesus.

  This book follows along those same lines.  Craig's style is very upfront, authentic and in your face.  He doesn't peter around hot topics, nor does he give room for the reader to interpret his main intent...he just spits it out there and asks the reader to chew on it for awhile.

  This book is written in that mode of thinking.  Craig goes through many of the myths newly-weds or almost marrieds go through, such as sexual myths and the idea of "playing house before married".  He attacks culturally upheld views of cohabitation before marriage as "OK" and breaks down how it can be dangerous for not only the marriage relationship as a whole but for the sexuality of the couple as well.

  Craig then, after dismantling widely held, non-Biblical views about love, sex and marriage goes to reassemble the marriage story using the Bible as his main driving text.  He asks the reader to rethink terms like "husband" and "wife" and to place a Biblical view over their eyes to see how God views those things and how we as the American culture have distorted a beautiful thing.

  Lastly, he reminds the reader that this marriage thing is much more than saying the words "I do" but actually living out a covenant for life.  Marriage is not a "legal contract" that a couple can someday (if they choose) get out of.  It is a life covenant where you are physically, spiritually and emotionally lining your life with another.

  This is a great book to hand engaged couples.  I believe it will cause some people to rethink if they are fit for marriage and will also cause most to strengthen their marriage either before it begins or in the midst of it.  It is a challenging read and much encouraged to any married person.  It will remind us married folks what the covenant is all about and will help the engaged or single folks to see what marriage should be, not what is has been defined as by our culture.

  Take time to read this one..it's worth it!

Radical Together- Book Review

After reading Radical by David Platt, I was excited for the chance to review Radical Together as well.

   This book is a good book.  It has great content and a great heart behind it, but I feel it was severely rushed.  I wanted more meat, not a rehashing of things said in Radical, which I think happened a lot in this book.  Granted it is a companion to the first book and so overlap is clearly expected, but something struck me as disingenuous.  Look, I am a writer, so I am getting to know how the publishing world works.  David's first book was a skyrocket success, unexpectedly so. 

 I fear that he was pushed to write a companion soon so the sales could ride on the coat tails of the previous work.  Because, let's face it publishing is a business and in business you ride on the coat tails of your successes and leave the newbies (who may have a great thing or two to say) by the wayside.  It becomes more about the bottom line than not.

  With all of that said, I did enjoy this book.  David speaks with a raw authenticity rarely seen in Pastors of his status.  He is honest, forthright and very open about who he sees himself as, as well as how he sees the church he leads.  In this book, he takes the main thrust of Radical and puts it into a format the whole church can grasp and follow.  In Radical it was more of an individual call, here it is more of a corporate call.

  In my mind, if you have read Radical you don't really need this book, but if you haven't read Radical this book has great insights in it that will challenge and call you to a deeper community like way of living within your church body.  However, after you read it and you have not read Radical I strongly recommend reading Radical because it is even more profound and even more in depth on how to break the American Mold and be the Christian God has called you to be.

  In the front of the book Radical Together is a quick overview of the whole book, which I feel captures the ethos of the entire book.  Here it is.

1. Tyranny of the Good
      One of the worst enemies of Christians can be the good

2. The Gospel Misunderstood
      The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work

3. God is Saying Something
      The Word does the work

4. The Genius of Wrong
      Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people

5. Our Unmistakable Task
      We are living and longing for the end of the world

6. The God Who Exalts God
      We are selfless followers of a self-centered God


  That is the whole book summed up.  Good stuff, but there could have been more.  I hope the publisher didn't push for this before David was done gestating over it because if they did, we missed out on more.  If not, it is a good little book to spend a couple hours reading and wrestling with.

The Next Christians

I recently read a new book titled "The Next Christians- How a New Generation Is Restoring the Faith" by Gabe Lyons. In this book, Gabe shares about how he has seen a new group of Christians rising up to take the place of their ancestors and setting a new goal for the Church as a whole. Gabe contends that the current flow of Christendom is over and this new generation is changing the tide for the future of the Church. He likens this shift to the Protestant Reformation and is adamant that this new wave of "the next Christians" will restore the Church to what God intended it to be in America.
Gabe talks about the need for the church to change and he discusses how these next Christians are labeled "Restorers". After he gives the title and theme of Restoration, he talks about what attributes these "restorers" take on. Below are those attributes


1. They are Provoked, not offended- He says that the "Next Christians" shouldn't be offended by the world, rather provoked to engage it and change it back to God's original design. I think this is right on. We as Christians should be people who are compassionately provoked to take the world back from Satan by the Power of Jesus

2. Creators, not Critics- He says that the "Next Christians" have stopped criticizing the bad that’s going on in Church and the world and begin to create new functional realities to work within. We can't sit back and say: "that's bad, that's bad" and offer no creative alternatives....this makes the world look at us as jokes who condemn but don't move to change.

3. Called, Not Employed- Here Gabe talks how the "Next Christians" see whatever job they find themselves in as a calling rather than a job. He says these next Christians see every act as something unto the Lord. I think this is where we need to be, but here I think he gives the "Next Christians" too much credit.


4. Grounded, Not Distracted- Here Gabe states that the "Next Christians" are more aware of the distractions of the world and are more aware of how to avoid being trapped by them.


5. In Community, Not Alone- Gabe describes the "Next Christians" as a people of community and I have seen this over and over again with people my age and younger. We are a people that desire to go to the store together, eat together and talk together. Being alone and doing work alone is tiresome and hard.


6. Countercultural, Not "relevant"- Gabe's sixth attribute is an interesting ending to the list. He claims that church after church has been seeking to be relevant to the World around us and has in fact simply become a mirror to the culture, rather than a countercultural movement. Out of all the attributes he lists, this one I disagree with most. I think this is what the "Next Christians" need to become, but I think they have a long way to actually getting there. My generation has a lot of growing up to do in the area of counterculturalism, so I will wait and see if we do!


All in all, this book is helpful to see some new trends in the younger Christians. I think the Next Generation of Christians has a lot to say about the church and in the next 15-20 years will be in positions to change some things they feel needs changed. I think God is going to use us younger folks in mighty ways to reach the world for Jesus. I encourage you to read it and engage with the conversations!

Soul Print--A Book Review

 As part of the Blogging for Books from Waterbrook/Multnomah I was lucky enough to receive Mark Batterson's new book Soul Print for review.

  I have read all of Mark's other works and have never walked away upset that I spent time reading his stuff.  This book is no different.  Mark writes the way he preaches and teaches which is a very matter-of-fact type of communication.  I enjoy this type of writing because it is more raw, real and untamed.

  In this book Soul Print Mark tackles the idea of Identity and Purpose from the storyline of David.  Mark opens with the Goliath scene and takes the reader on a personal journey through David's life, which also exposes their own life along the way.  Mark takes David's lie frame by frame and shares where God is printing your (my) unique soul print within David's narrative.

  Mark is real and honest as he authentically shares his heart and the junk he himself has dealt with in order for him to fully see the Soul Print in which God has placed on his life.  I love his authentic approach to this topic and felt very relieved to read such honest discussion from his own life experience.

  This book is very well written, very well thought out and impactful.  I recommend this book to anyone because no matter where you are at in your Spiritual walk, I think there are some good nuggets you can grab out of this book.

  One of the funny things about this book is that I was reading echoes of what I wrote about in my own book.  This was not to say anything except that God ministered to me about how my writing is on track with what his Spirit is saying.  We need to know our True Identity (or our Soul Print) and we need to be real with God, others and ourselves in order for us to come to the place of deep inner-healing that we desperately need.  This book brings those issues to the table and I was pleased to see and hear someone else saying what I've been saying for years!

Love and War (Devotional)--A Book Review

  Early last year, I received the opportunity from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing group to blog for books and I chose John and Stasi Eldredge's new book Love and War. So, when I heard there was a devotional companion to the book, I had to sign up and get it for my wife and I.

  This book does the same thing the original book does: Hits you in the gut when it comes to marriage.  John and Stasi have been married a long time and they are not shy to open this devotional with the concept that marriage is hard...because it can be.

  John and Stasi have put together a great 8-week devotional for couples in this book integrating Scripture and real-life marital issues, this devotional is helpful, insightful and deeply impacting.  As in the original book, John and Stasi highlight the importance of inviting God into your marriage and expelling Satan and his lies from your marriage as well.

John and Stasi  delve into the deep rooted lies we believe about our spouses, those things they do that grate us, those things we end up mumbling: "There they go again, he/she is ALWAYS doing that". We let these lies go deep into our hearts, we become bitter and our marriage has been compromised.


Lastly, John and Stasi go deep into the importance of God as the center of your marriage. How often do you pray together? How often do you pray for each other? How often do you encourage one another in the name of Jesus? How often do you ask Jesus for your next steps together? These issues get addressed and worked on in this devotional.

  I am so excited to promote this Devotional because I think it will be a great start for hurting marriages to get healthy, a good place to continue a deepening marriage and an amazing eye-opener to those who are recently married.  Basically, no matter where you are in the spectrum of marriage, God can and will use this devotional in your life.

  I not only recommend this devotional, but the original book as well.  You can read my thoughts on that book here: http://youthmaster.blogspot.com/2010/02/love-and-war-book-review.html

  Lastly, let me give you a glimpse of the 8-week Devotional by sharing with you the titles of the weeks:

Week One: Remembering What We Wanted

Week Two: The Two Shall Become One

Week Three: The Journey

Week Four: Companionship

Week Five: Your Spouse Is Not Your Enemy

Week Six: The Little Foxes

Week Seven: Increasing Intimacy

Week Eight: The Most Excellent Way

  Each week is full of challenges, prayers and great insight.  Allow God to draw you closer to Himself and your Spouse.  Take the plunge and enjoy a good devotional...your Marriage needs it, your marriage deserves it!

Love and War--A Book Review

I must be honest, I am a HUGE John Eldridge fan and have found his books on masculinity integrated with faith to be both eye-opening and convicting. I didn't expect the same from this book. I went into the reading expecting to hear everything I've heard before with marriage books similar to: "Guys are blue and speak blue; while Girls are red and speak red, we must learn how to speak 'purple'"

I wasn't expecting revelation, new thoughts or advice that was new. Yet, that is precisely what I received! This book has challenged me more than any other book on marriage I have ever read. Here is the reason: John and Stasi really delve deep into the fact that Satan hates your marriage and Satan hates your marriage more if you as a couple desire to do God's will.

This shouldn't be a "revelation" but sadly it is. This component of spiritual warfare has been oddly missing from books on marriage. Not that it's not "mentioned" per se but in Love and War it is exposed, not merely mentioned.

When we fight with our spouses, Satan is laughing and seeing where he can make the boom a KABOOM. Let's not be naive enough to think that when fighting situations occur they weren't planned by the enemy...because most of the time it's been a set-up all along.

John and Stasi also delve into the deep rooted lies we believe about our spouses, those things they do that grate us, those things we end up mumbling: "There they go again, he/she is ALWAYS doing that". We let these lies go deep into our hearts, we become bitter and our marriage has been compromised.

Lastly, John and Stasi go deep into the importance of God as the center of your marriage. How often do you pray together? How often do you pray for each other? How often do you encourage one another in the name of Jesus? How often do you ask Jesus for your next steps together? These and many more questions are brought to the forefront in this book.

For most of us, these ideas aren't foreign in marriage books, so some may say: "I've read that before, this is nothing new" to which I would agree...however there is something fresh about the approach John and Stasi take. Mostly it is a book that is permeated by the raw authenticity of their own struggles in life and marriage. Authenticity always makes me love something and so I loved this book because they were honest about their crap (and their jewels) that they both stirred up over the years.

If you are married, I HIGHLY recommend this book. For a glimpse about what is inside, on pages 125 and 126 they together recap most of the book, here's what they say:

"- You and your spouse live in a love story that is set in the midst of a very real war.
- God gave us marriage, both as a picture of his love to the world, and because we are going to need each other. We are not playing house--we are living in an epic love story.
- Your marriage is a perfect storm because your brokenness and sin collide in devastating precision with your spouse's. Yet God is in that, because he is using your marriage to transform you.
- When it comes to love and happiness, we are broken cups. We will put untold amounts of pressure on our marriage until we realize that God is the waterfall; he is the love we are looking for. The greatest gift you can give your spouse (and everyone else in your life) is to have a real relationship with God.
- You have an enemy, and it is not your spouse. The sooner you come to terms with the fact, the better."

This of course is not the totality of the book, but it is a GREAT overview of some of the main points you will encounter! Read on!


This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Primal- Mark Batterson

I was one of a lucky few to receive a FREE copy of Mark Batterson's new book titled: Primal.

I had previously read Mark's other two books: In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase, so I jumped at the chance to get a free copy of this book.

Mark's premise is that we have lost the Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength of Christianity. We've gone far off of what Christ intended and we need to go down the corridors of our faith and get to the most authentic, the most real and the most Primal parts of our faith.

He then sections his book off into Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength, taking Christ's "primal description" of our faith ("Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength") and pointing out key ways in which we can discover (or rediscover) the Primal pieces of our faith.

Some key points:

Heart:
1. We are not lovers of God or people in the way we should be
2. We must have hearts that are broken by what breaks God's heart
3. Our hearts determine what we do

Soul
1. We must be in awe of God and what he's done
2. Being connected to God's soul will help us see what god has for us (and the world)
3. Our soul's ears must be in tune with God's voice

Mind
1. We must stay curiously and constantly learning and seeking to learn
2. We need to realize we will never "arrive"
3. Reading is essential to learning. Keeping a healthy reading regimen is good
4. Being a person of the Word will transform you and the way you connect to Jesus

Strength
1. Sweat equity (working and sweating for Jesus) is a GREAT way to minister
2. Giving God all of us, even our physicality is an amazing way to connect to Him
3. Do you Love your dreams or God more? Who are you willing to work harder for?


These are just a few of my own personal take-aways. This book is a great book and I highly recommend it. However, I enjoyed his other two books more as a whole. There were some great sections for me that spoke to my heart for sure as well as convicted the heck out of me (i.e. "Do you love your dreams or God more" hit quite the Strong cord with me).

I am glad to have been able to read this book and would've bought it whether or not I received it for free.

Lastly, let me say that this book is not a book about lists and "ought to's".  Primal is highly engaging and begins with story and ends with story.  Mark Batterson is a wordsmith and engages his readers with stories that he weaves in and out of the plot.

  The begining of this book starts with Mark taking the reader down into the bowels of a church, deeper and deeper finding the very root of where it all began.  He weaves this "decending" narrative all throughout the book, pointing out that we must decend back into the real, raw and authentic roots of the Church so we can discover what it means to be "Primal"!

Sisterchicks In Wooden Shoes (Review)

Robin Jones Gunn has done it again! She continuously and consistently puts outs great "Christian Chick Lit". My wife, who is a HUGE fan of Jones Gunn has been reading her books since she was in the 7th grade! She says that this book is a definite win in terms of hitting the "Robin Jones Gunn" mark. A true Sisterchicks book, complete with the travel and touching stories that come along with every installment on the series.

One of Robin Jones Gunn's best ideas (in my opinion) is tying in some of her other literature by placing characters from those books into her newer books! Its fun to find the "hidden person" in every book! (I'm not into giving things away, so you'll have to wait and find "Wooden Shoes" hidden person on your own.

Below is the publisher's summary of the book. If you enjoy any other Jones Gunn book, these Sisterchicks books are for you. If you enjoy any other "Christian Chick Lit" for that matter, this book is a must read!


When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.


Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.

Happy Reading! Click HERE to purchase this book!

Hero---Book Review

Category: Religion - Christian Life
Format: Trade Paperback, 240 pages
On Sale: April 14, 2009
Price: $13.99
ISBN: 978-1-4000-7109-8 (1-4000-7109-7)
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (Water Brook Press)

This book is about men being pure and remaining pure for the future woman in their lives. It is a book geared towards High School and College age young men. It asks the question: "What do women really want?" and attempts to answer that question. It is a challenge that hails itself as: "..straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith...men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place".

Purity is definitely a needed topic for today's young men. They are inundated with media that is jam packed with sexual lessons that are not in-line with the gospel. This book seeks to hit this point and draw men into purity. However, as a young man and a youth pastor alike, this book misses it's point. This is a works-based manual as to how a man can become a hero for God and for his future woman. It is littered with how "you can make yourself God's hero by doing this, this this and this". It is a book that forgets the role of the Holy Spirit in purity and doesn't lead young men towards God working through them, but rather God working alongside them as "they become God's hero". Here is an example of what I mean: "Just as the Jewish exiles needed Daniel to stand up early for God, the Lord needs you to stand up before your Babylonians" (page 55). God doesn't NEED us to do anything...we NEED GOD to do it THROUGH US!

I will not be giving this book to my teens, although I agree FULLY with the premise, the execution of this book has poor theology when it comes to the Holy Spirit and His work through the believer. Do we need to be willing? Yes! Do we do the work ourselves? NO! Do we allow God to work through us? Yes! Is it us doing it? NO!

I know for sure that this book has a GREAT heart behind it, but it will surely miss it's targeted audience.

If you want to check this book out for yourself, or maybe buy go here: Hero--Becoming the Man She Desires

Experiencing the Spirit

This is a great, easy to read book with a very well articulated doctrine on the Holy Spirit.

The authors (Mel and Henry Blackaby) are dedicated to calling the church back into a Holy Spirit filled life. This book is their third book in a three part series and in my opinion the most vital.

Experiencing the Spirit takes the reader into a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit as a whole. Not just about gifts and Pentecost, but also about the deep rooted work of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament all the way to the end which Revelation talks about. It is a working doctrinal view of the Holy Spirit, his role in the Church and the meaning behind allowing Him to be in your life.

The authors rightly say: "If you don't know the Spirit, you don't know God" because He is the essential piece to being connected to Heaven. Having the Holy Spirit is allowing God to take over your life. Giving Him control is saying: "I want you as my Lord".

The Spirit is shown throughout this book as the piece of Heaven that the Father and Jesus sent of themselves to connect relationally to us, His creation! He (the Holy Spirit) is our Helper, Counselor and gift giver!

If you desire a deeper view and understanding I recommend this book. It's been pretty intriguing to read alongside Millard Erickson's Christian Doctrine as well...for me, it gave a richly deeper understanding to read them alongside one another.

Below is the books summary as well as a link to the page where you can purchase this book.

Serve God as never before


The first Christians “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) shaking the gates of hell even in the face of severe persecution. The result: People all around “were filled with wonder and amazement” (Acts 3:10).What can give Christians today the same impact?

God’s Holy Spirit is ready to answer that for us in an awesome way, as Henry Blackaby and his son Mel Blackaby make clear in Experiencing the Spirit. You’ll see how the proof of the Spirit’s presence is our awareness of God’s personal assignments for us, plus our supernatural enablement to carry out those assignments. You’ll find essential clarification on the difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. You’ll explore the dynamics of being filled with the Spirit through intimate relationship with Him, committed obedience, and radical departure from sin.

Instead of considering what you can do for God with your abilities and talents, you’ll be encouraged here to seek what God wants to do through you supernaturally by His Spirit, empowering you beyond your personal competence and capacities. Release the Holy Spirit’s work at the very core of your experience of the Christian life.


BUY THE BOOK

Clutter Free Christianity by Robert Jeffress

Clutter Free Christianity

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400070929
ISBN-13: 978-1400070923

Summary:

"It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you" (Back Cover)

He describes six fundamental areas where we need to have a change in heart in order to become more Christlike: We need to learn to (1) forgive, (2) obey, (3) trust, (4) be content, (5) serve others and (6) pray. This process is a lifelong journey toward transformation.

This book is the type of book I love to read. This book is why I got into book reviewing! I was so moved by Dr. Jefress' authenticity, as well as frank speech. Each sub-text for the chapters spoke deep into my heart and made me desire a deeper, more Christ-centered life.

I'm not blowing smoke when I say you should read this book! Buy it, borrow it or take it out of the library, I don't care...just READ IT! This book is about a spiritual heart surgery, where you allow God to give you a: FORGIVING; OBEDIENT; TRUSTING; CONTENT; SERVING and PRAYERFUL heart. As I said before, each chapter brought me to my knees. Last night as I finished this book, I was on my face before God, asking him to allow the truth of His word to be washed over my heart. I asked Him to give me a spiritual heart surgery.

God used Dr. Robert Jefress through this book for me. To be honest, I was skeptical about this book. I thought it was going to be another legalistic diatribe about how bad I am and how I need to fix myself. It was nothing of the sort. It was a book in which God did indeed convict me, but also showed how dependent upon Him I need to be, rather than depending on myself. We can't change our hearts Jefress says, but we do have the choice to allow Christ to do so as well as the choice to continue to choose into living this life alongside His Holy Spirit.


I received a free copy of this book as well. I was going to give it away for free on my blog, but it was such a good book that I had to give it to my brother!

To order your own copy, go here: CLUTTER FREE CHRISTIANITY

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

In The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, Scott guides readers in a step-by-step application of the life-changing principles, skills, and methods that Jesus used throughout his earthly life. Although believers may spend a lifetime learning from Jesus’ teachings, it’s easy to overlook the powerful lessons demonstrated in His life. But when these incomparable lessons are learned and put to use, they enable ordinary people to achieve extraordinary success and happiness.

From Jesus’ earthly life readers will learn:

• How to break through the barriers that prevent them from achieving extraordinary success at work and relational success at home.


• How to experience a level of happiness and fulfillment that nothing the world offers can duplicate.


• 
  How t o use adversity and opposition as a springboard for greater success.
  


• How to love others in a way that increases their love as well.

No matter what a person’s area of expertise and in what setting a person influences others, living by the principles of Jesus’ life on earth produces extraordinary success, unprecedented achievements, personal fulfillment, and blessings for others.

Author Bio:

Steven K. Scott is the best-selling author of The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, The Greatest Words Ever Spoken, and Mentored by a Millionaire. After failing in nine jobs, he started reading a chapter of Proverbs every day—and the wisdom of Scripture changed his life. Scott and his business partners have built more than a dozen multimillion-dollar companies from scratch, achieving billions of dollars in sales. He is the co-founder of Max International, Total Gym Fitness, and The American Telecast Corporation. He is a popular international speaker on the subjects of personal and professional achievement and the application of biblical wisdom to every area of life.

To Buy this book, check out this site: THE GREATEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED

The Echo Within- Book Review

• 
  Hardcover: 192 pages


• 
  Publisher: WaterBrook Press (January 6, 2009)


• 
  Language: English


• 
  ISBN-10: 1400074347


• 
  ISBN-13: 978-1400074341

This was a book that took me by surprise. I was amazed at how candid, how authentic and how well done this book was. I was expecting something less and what I got was something more.

The Echo Within was Benson's way of sharing how he came upon his calling, His echo of the Word God had whispered into him from the beginning of his life. He shares his mistakes along the way, his triumphs and his surprises. His premise is that God has whispered a Word into each and everyone of us, a calling that is who we truly are and what we are made to do. Benson shares how his Word is and was to be a writer. He shares how he now, in hindsight sees the moments he felt the echo of that Word, but didn't realize it at the time.

Robert Benson takes the reader on a journey of his finding his Echo Within and shares how the reader too can enter into this deep understanding of the Echo Within that God has whispered into us.

For me, the most memorable moment in the book was Benson's discussion of his time at a Spiritual Retreat. He shares how this was a HUGE turning point in his life's journey and this resonates with me because I too went on a Spiritual Retreat and had a GREAT moment with the Lord.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. It is such an open, honest look into our souls, our callings and of course, the Echo Within in which God has whispered into all of us.

Following Benson's story will help the reader to get to know about their own Echo and their own calling.


To Purchase this book, go here: The Echo Within By Robert Benson

Outlaw Marshal: Book Review

• 
  Paperback: 304 pages


• 
  Publisher: Multnomah Books (January 6, 2009)


• 
  Language: English


• 
  ISBN-10: 1601420544


• 
  ISBN-13: 978-1601420541


• 
  Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches

This was not my normal genre to read. The story was very intriguing as well catchy. The characters were believable for the most part, as was the setting. The authors obviously took extreme care at keeping the integrity of the historical atmosphere of the Old West. The themes, robberies, attitudes, killings and law system were all true to form as the Old West goes. My only qualm with this book was the seemed "forced" Jesus. Jesus was a definite presence within the text, real to the characters and the transformer of Whip. However, there are spots that I felt the authors said: "Oh no, Jesus wasn't in this sentence...lets plug him in!" This observation could only be the way I read it, but this is how I felt. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the presence, reality and saving grace of Jesus within the story...but the way he was plugged sometimes made the characters seem unrealistic.

The beauty of Jesus in this story is the reality that he transforms our lives! John Brockman "The Stranger" goes out on a hunt for a bad guy when he runs into another outlaw: Whip Langford. He tries to get Whip to see Jesus is the only way, but Whip doesn't want to hear it. Shortly, Whip sees Jesus and how he makes Brockman who he is. When Whip is accused of murder, he realises some things...mainly how important Christ is! Christ transforms this former outlaw and makes him a new creation!

Here is the "official" summary of the story:

A good deed grants outlaw Whipley Langford early release from prison and a friendship with Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Another good deed (stopping thieves from robbing a train) gets Whip framed for murder and looking at life through a hangman’s noose. John arrives just in time to reveal the true murderers and lead Whip to Christ.

A new man and a fast draw, Whip becomes Brockman’s deputy. Life is still fast and dangerous, and there’s a pretty lady Whip would like to get to know better too. Before he admits his love, Whip is shot in a bank robbery. Survival looks slim until he awakens to hear his lady confess her love. Weeks later, they are married. (This is a beautiful piece of romance that should be read!)

Readers who are familiar with the Journeys of the Stranger and Angel of Mercy series reunite with well-loved characters John and Breanna Brockman. Western history buffs will enjoy a wholesome, fast-paced story where the Gospel is presented clearly. Christian readers will learn how to lean on the Lord in times of trial and non-Christians will have the opportunity to make Christ their Savior.

All in all this is a good book for people who enjoy this genre. Check it out for purchase here:

OUTLAW MARSHAL

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Paperback: 560 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307446433
ISBN-13: 978-0307446435


The Christian Writers' Market Guide is indeed the Essential reference tool for the Christian writer. I know this, because I am myself an aspiring author who has been helped tremendously by this work. This book is full of resources that have been compiled for the past 24 years. Sally Stuart has been writing these guides for 24 years and has only gotten better with each year. This book is more comprehensive, more detailed and better laid out than the past years. It includes 1,000 markets for written word, 416 book publishers and 98 literary agents among other things. The amazing thing about these guides is that not only does Sally do all the leg work of finding out who the current agent is for each an every publisher, she also lays out which publishers are accepting or not accepting unsolicited manuscripts. This is key for especially for those who are like me, new first time authors. I've never been contracted, and publishers who are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts would simply throw my manuscript in the trash. This book helps me NOT waste time.

Also, this book has a great advantage in its development of a CD that perfectly compliments the text. At the end of the book is an exhaustive index with everything in the book as well as what is on the CD. It is well laid out, easy to find and better than last years edition.

Last year was my first year of delving into Publishing. I contacted a few people, one being Terry Whalin who told me I needed to buy this book (2008 edition). I did just that, I studied it, I used it and am now currently awaiting a publisher to answer my query while hoping I get a contract! SO when I say this edition is better, it's because I know it is.

I haven't even begun to mention how helpful this book is. There are numerous helps for authors, from freelancing to blogging alliances. Whether you are a first time author or an old guy in the game this book will help you again and again. It is a must buy for all authors, it helps you hone your skills as well as gives you the contacts of the very people you want to hire you!

On the back cover of the book, here is what is outlined:
- 1,000 markets for the written word
- 416 book publishers (33 new for '09)
- 654 periodicals (52 new for '09)
- 98 literary agents
-121 new listings in Resources for Writers
-226 poetry markets
-316 photography markets
-25 African American Markets, and
- 166 contests (29 new for '09)

Trust me when I say this book is a must have for any writer and even photographers in the Christian Market. If you have a great idea for a book...don't let it go by, get the tools you need starting with this book, get out there and write your book, because only you can!

Below is a link to purchase this book. You could also click on the picture of the book for the same link.

http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Writers-Market-Guide-2009/dp/0307446433/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232947687&sr=8-1