Walking on Water––A Review

I received this book from Tyndale Publishing for review purposes and found it very interesting. Tommy Nelson and Steve Leavitt have a great deal of experience dealing with people who find themselves in the hole of depression. The advantage this book has is that its authors have both experienced depression. They have been where the reader may have been or is at the moment.

The back cover states that the authors are seeking to bring a "biblical approach to healing" and focuses on the integration of "the mind, body and spirit." I found that comforting. Many books seek to help and leave out one of those three. Rather than spend time on just the mind or just the body, they seek to pull all of those together and include the spirit.

I am pleased at how they both are able to pull in the scripture to help with the topic of depression. God really has a lot to say to those who are "downcast." Sometimes it's hard to see how God's word meets every day life. These authors have truly helped me to see how it does meet needs of people today.

One of my favorite parts of the book is where they share some common lies and follow them up with truth from God's word. That was very helpful and can be to any who find themselves in a pothole of life.

I'd suggest if you find yourself in a hole, pick up this book and glean some truth from God's word that can help you out of that hole.

Brought thoughts to my mind...

I received this book as a review copy from Tyndale. I usually don't read books like this and consider them "alarming" in nature. I have enough to worry about in this world and don't need one more thing. Ah, but as I began to read I found this book very balanced in views and, although alarming in nature, a good, thought provoking read. He handles the subject of the state of our country very well. After stepping through the situation our nation is in, he very carefully lines out a path of action for the church and individuals.

As I wrote, there are many alarmist books out there which I choose to ignore because they are very biased in one direction or another. This one is an exception to what has become the rule and I enjoyed it.

If you want a well thought out book dealing with the state of our country and how things can change for the better, read this book.

The Miracle of Jen

Wow. What a book! This book, a complimentary copy which I obtained from Tyndale publishing for review, was great. It tells the moving story of Jennifer Barrick and her recover after a horrible automobile accident. The book focuses on Jen and her recovery, but you do get a grasp at how the entire family dealt with her recovery. I was concerned we would not get a true picture of how everything went after the accident. In some Christian books, there is a lot of fluff and no real evidence of struggle with the reality of the pain and suffering. I was relieved to find that Linda shares all in this book. She is up front with her readers and does not hide any of the difficulties of recovery. Recovering from a horrible accident is not a walk in the park and Linda does not paint it as such. For that I am glad. I have read too many books and seen too many Christian movies where the reality of pain and suffering are not dealt with in a realistic way. Overall, this book will bring you into the hospital room and put you right alongside Jen as she recovers. Great writing and a wonderful true story of triumph and personal growth for the mother, Linda, and for the reader. For more information you can go here http://www.miracleforjen.com/ 


By the way, exciting news! I have a certificate to get a copy of this book for free if you can name my favorite Star Wars character. The first one to answer correctly gets the certificate. You take the certificate and redeem it at your nearest Christian bookstore.

The Search Committee, by Tim Owens: A review

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House. The book, in short, is a hilarious, but serious look at a seven member committee charged with finding a new pastor for their small church. It has a "Jan Karon Mitford series" kind of ring to it. That brought a smile to my face. Tim is not copying Jan, but his book falls in the same vein and is much appreciated by those looking for such a ride that this book takes you on. 

Having only been on the Pastor end of such a situation I do feel that this book truly "tells it like it is" when a committee heads to a church to hear a prospective candidate. 

The characters are well developed and truly human. One gets the feeling one knows them. There were some unexpected incidents that truly made the story believable. I highly encourage all church members to read this book, even if you haven't served on a search committee. It's a light and easy read, but has enough depth to make you want to look for another book by Tim Owens. I certainly hope he is working on another.

Book Review: We Shall See God: Charles Spurgeon's classic devotional thoughts on Heaven

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House. The book, in short, is a compilation of Spurgeon's thoughts and views on Heaven. The most meaningful thoughts, according to Alcorn, are collected here in a useful devotional format. Alcorn also includes his own thoughts on Spurgeon's writings, which follow after each devotional. This was a mammoth task to take on and Alcorn has done and excellent job. 

If you like Spurgeon, you'll love having his thoughts on the topic of Heaven in such an easy to digest format. I find it helps keep one Heavenly minded, but not to the point where one would find himself to be of no earthly good. Alcorn has updated a bit of the language, thankfully, so that the meaning is not lost in, what is now, archaic language to many. I am pleased with Alcorn's effort. It stands out because it's not been done before, as far as this blogger is aware of, and for the fact that Alcorn has become recognized as one who is familiar with the subject of Heaven. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to delve into Spurgeon.

Tyndale books

From time to time you'll see a book reviewed here. I am part of a review program with Tyndale Publisher's. The first book I'll review is a recent one by Randy Alcorn. Keep looking here for the review.