Out Live Your Life-Max Lucado

Out Live Your Life is a book about making a difference. These are devastating times: 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, one billion are hungry. Lonely hearts indwell our neighborhoods and attend our schools. In the midst of it all here we stand: you, me and our one of a kind lives. We are given a choice...an opportunity to make a difference during a difficult time. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope?

In 16 short chapters Lucado gives scriptural backing on why we should and are required to make a difference. Each chapter along with scipture uses real life stories and illustations on how some people are already using what they have to impact the world around them. Accompaning each chapter is a discussion and action guide that can be used to dig into the Word and see what it has to say on each subject tackled in the book, and an action section to push you out of your comfort zone and into making a difference to those around you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Lord's Prayer by R.T.Kendall

The Lord's Prayer is R.T. Kendall's attempt to "uncover the transforming truths contained within each line of this familiar prayer, including when and why to pray the Lord's Prayer and how unanswered prayer can by a sign of  God's favor".

This book starts off with glowing reviews of author Kendalls teaching and writings, maybe a few to many for my taste, but he's a very well respected teacher and it shows. The Lord's Prayer contains 5 parts with 3 chapters in each part, and each chapter focusing on a different aspect on the Lord's Prayer. Many people know the prayer and can recite it by rote but often we don't really stop to focus on what we are saying and why and when we should say it. R.T. Kendall goes in to great detail and depth to explain the who, what, when and why's of the famous prayer using lots of inspiring quotes of well respected Bible scholars.

While it starts out a little slow it picks up and is well worth the read. It will have you using The Lord's Prayer in a more intentional way in your daily private and public prayer times.

I recieved this book from Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group as a part of their book review program. All views expressed are my own.

Flight to Heaven-A Pilot's True Story by Capt. Dale Black

This is definately an edge of the seat kinda book! This is one that you can't put down long enough to go fix dinner, you just have to read one more chapter and then one more.

Flight to Heaven, written by the man who experienced it Capt. Dale Black, is the true story of the authors near brush with death in a plane crash. It cronocles the painful recovery that followed along with the later realization, due to memory loss, that during his ordeal he'd visited Heaven, and how he chose to deal with that knowledge.

The thing that endeared me to this book was the fact that the heavenly visit while beautiful and not to be underscored was not the main point of the book. Capt. Black wanted to show how his life was changed by this experience and how he's tried to help others because of it. He wants others to experience their own heavenly journey and not just focus on his. Thanks to wonderful advice from a godly grandfather he's lived his experience, not just lived to tell about it.

This book is full of drama, sadness, happiness, and as I said edge of your seat excitement. It contains pictures of the planes mentioned, and crash site photos to help you envision the story as you read. It will leaving you wanting your own 'flight to heaven'.

I recieved this book from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. All views expressed are my own.

Unburdened by Chris Tiegreen

The subtitle of this book is what caught my eye, 'the secret to letting God carry the things that weigh you down', as my family has been going through numerous things of late that have really gotten us down I thought this book would really hit the spot. And that it did!

In the introduction, author Chris Tiegreen states, "This book won't come across as a how-to manual. No, this is more like a series of personal reflections on what it's like to struggle with heavy baggage and, more important what it's like to release that baggage to someone more capable of handling it." It doesn't give you step by step instructions on handling burdens and trials, such as do this and this and then your burdens will magically disappear. But it does make you think about what your burdens are and why they are in your life and he then takes you to 'the source' for unburdening yourself.

I enjoyed this book, it didn't solve all my problems but it did remind me of who can solve all my problems, something that gets pushed aside when you are weighed down with the stresses of life. My copy of Unburdened is now colorful with lots of highlighting and underlining so I can go back when I need more reminding, and many quotes I copied in my Bible for future reference.

I recieved this book as a part of Tyndale House Publishers, book review program. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hermie & Friends DVD: Who is in Charge Anyway?

Tonight my daughter and snuggled up and watched Who's In Charge Anyway?, from Max Lucado's Hermie and Friends dvd collection. This lesson was based on Psalm 90:16, "show your servants the wonderful things you do; show your greatness to their children." It showed that God even cares about a little flea, and how He makes everything for a purpose and doesn't make mistakes. It inclueded newly animated flashbacks along with scenes from classic episodes.

I loved the story line, simply put and easy for the youngest child to understand, that God makes us all unique and special and it takes time to understand and learn to use our own special talents. My daughter loved trying to figure out what each bug was and how he was going to use his ability in each situation. Her favorite bugs were the colorful ladybugs and she loved the opening scene, but I won't spoil it.

This dvd contains several bonus features including read and sing alongs, screen savers, trivia games and more, and features the voice talents of Sam Mercurio and Tim Conway. Its a simple, colorful, fun story with a great message kids need to hear. We loved it!

I was given a copy to review from the Booksneeze Reviewers program. The opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

DVD Read and Share Bible: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles

My 5 year old daughter and I recently had the privilege of reviewing The Jesus Series, DVD Read and Share Bible, about the Life and Miracles of Jesus. This is an animated video straight from the pages of the popular Read and Share Bible by Gwen Ellis, a Bible which we love. The video is an uninterrupted half-hour presentation of Jesus' ministry along the shores of Galilee. Children see Jesus call his disciples, feed the 5,000, heal the sick, teach about God's kingdom and introduce the Lord's Supper.
This dvd uses cutting edge 3D animation, charming watercolor illustrations from the original story Bible and detailed scenery. Bonus material also included in the DVD are cd rom coloring pages of the movie scenes, complete storyboards, trailers and interviews with the writer/director. Plus in comes in an easy to use auto-start so kids can watch simply by inserting the DVD.

I loved the simple, brightly colored scenes, attractive to both kids and adults. The stories are told in an easy to understand, nononsense way that kids will clearly recognize from the Read and Share Bible. My 5 year old daughter loved the stories, she now wants to see more. She also loved the fact that with the coloring pages she could create her own bible and stories like the movie. Overall a very well done DVD and story of Jesus and his life and miracles, that would be perfect for a sunday school class viewing also
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

In The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns tells the agonizing story of how God lead him to his current position as president of World Vision as he wrestled with the decision to leave behind the worldly success he'd worked so hard for. 
The heartbreaking stories of the people and places he's encountered in his work with World Vision accompanied with a section of full color photos makes those people and places come alive and their plight much more real and close to home. Stearns ask the question What does God expect of us?, and the book is all about the answer that changed his life and might just change the world.

The Hole in our Gospel is a thought provoking book full of facts and statistics supporting the need for the work of relief organizations and what we can do to help. He uses supporting scripture throughout along with a scripture index and has included a study guide to use along with the book. Also added is a QandA with Stearns' wife Renee, and several chapters on what we can do by partnering with World Vision and additional resources to use.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”