Monday, July 18, 2011

You Can't Keep Jesus In A Box

Untamed by Lisa Harper

This is the first book I have read by Lisa Harper.  This is a refreshingly unorthodox Bible study.  Lisa takes Jesus out of the tight, comfy little box that so many of us have put him in by looking at several passages of Scripture in a new way.
The book is super simple to read and understand.  This study would be very good to do with young believers or those whose only understanding of Jesus is very limited; a meek and mild God kind of view.  The author’s take on Biblical events can be pretty funny but is also accompanied by the actual verses of Scripture she is paraphrasing.  I learned several new things from the historical facts are sprinkled throughout each chapter.

 This is a very good book to read whether you are doing a formal Bible study group, with a few friends, or by yourself.   I definitely recommend picking this one up.
This book was provided by Waterbrook Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Read this book soon!


The Blessing   The Blessing   by John Trent, PH.D. and Gary Smalley
What a wonderful book!  This is an updated version on a book first released in the mid-80’s.  I have no idea how I have missed this book all these years.  I guess I have finally grown up enough for this kind of book to appeal to me.
This is not a book about being a blessing.  This book is all about how to give a blessing to your child, or to anyone else within your sphere of influence.  As in Old Testament patriarchs blessing their children; we are called to do the same.
The authors explain why the blessing is so important and what people, real life examples, who grow up with or without the blessing, turn out like.  Like me, I am sure you will recognize many of the characteristics of those who grow up without the blessing in friends, family, and within yourself. 
There are five elements that make up the blessing, a formula of sorts, to guide you in giving the blessing to your loved ones.  There are questions and suggestions in asides throughout the book to help you think about what you have read and apply it.  There is also a website, www.theblessing.com that has extra info and short videos that go along with the book.  Also through the website, the authors are trying to gather a million people to join the Blessing Challenge.  Go to their site to check it out.
I have learned a lot from this book and will be reading it over again soon and will be passing along ideas to those I minister to.  If we all took the time to really give a real blessing to our family members we could change the world!
Also check out www.strongfamilies.com
This book was provided by BookSneeze from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.