Blogging for Books Review: Unstoppable

   I was really excited to read Nick Vujicic newest book, "Unstoppable (The Incredible Power of Faith in Action)".  I requested this book to review because I thought reading about Nick's experiences would be an encouragement to my children, and myself as well.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group and I in turn am writing this review.  I am so glad I requested this book as it was so encouraging and left me feeling challenged to grow in my faith as a Christian. 

  For those who do not know who Nick Vujicic is, he is a motivational speaker, evangelist, author and director of the nonprofit organization;" Life Without Limbs" (visit this link to learn more).  Nick was born without arms and legs with no known cause and although he had a difficult time when he was young, Nick went onto to embrace the way God made him and now he preaches the Gospel around the world to millions.  Nick physical disability has given him a platform to share the good news of Jesus and to encourage so many who are hurting around the world.  Please click on link above to see more of Nick's story.

  Nick's book "Unstoppable" was wonderful!!! It is an easy read, and not only does Nick share many of his own personal stories, but he shares those of many of the people that he knows personally and those who have been affected by Nick's ministry.  One of things I love best about Nick's book is that you can totally see Jesus working in the life of Nick and those he has come in contact with.  One story Nick shared had me thinking how wonderful our God is because He is in control of every circumstance in our life, even in the tragic events.  God is present and He loves us so much. 

   As a Christian this book encouraged and challenged me in my faith, but I believe this book would be appreciated by anyone.  Nick took time to address some challenging topics in his book such as; bullying, persecution, addictions,  and many more.  I would read this book for those topics alone. 

  This book is a definite read for everyone.  Thanks to WaterBrook Multomah for sending me this book. 

Blogging for Books Review: Breaking Free from Fear

   I review books/resources for the website "Blogging For Books", and when I saw the title of my most recent review "Breaking Free from Fear" I couldn't request the book fast enough.  Plus the fact that the author of this book was Kay Arthur I knew that this resource would be a great one for me and others.

 "Breaking Free from Fear" is actually more of a Bible Study than a book.  It is one of the books in Kay's 40 Minute Bible Studies from Precept Ministries International.  It is set up as a 6 week, no homework Bible Study.  For this reason alone I think this would be a great resource for someone who doesn't have a lot of time, but who still wants to get into God's Word and learn what It has to say.  It is a Bible Study to work through in a group, but I made my way through it alone.  Alone or in a group, the format of the Bible Study will work well.

  One other thing I do like about this study is that all the selected topical Bible verses (word for word)  are written in the book.  This study is set up as an inductive Bible study so you will go verse by verse and Kay will ask you to underline, circle, or draw symbols that represent certain words.  If you prefer you can write in the book instead of your Bible, although you may want to write in your Bible too. 

  Lastly, Kay does discuss the Bible verses in the study and she will ask questions about the verses, but she leaves most of the discovery to you in hopes that you will delve into God's Word for yourself.  The best way to use this resource is to take time to pray before you complete each week.  Ask God to reveal to you what He wants to show you through His Word.  Kay's study is set up to help those new to Bible study and also to guide those who have been in God's Word for years. I definitely recommend this book for your personal study or as a group study.

  I received this book complimentary from "Blogging for Books" and in return I am writing this review. 

Blogging For Books Review-When Work and Family Collide

  I received a complimentary copy of Andy Stanley's new book, "When Work and Family Collide" from the Blogging for Books website.  In turn I have to write a review.   For this book, I let my husband read and write the review because he enjoys Andy Stanley's work. 

Before I go into reviewing this book, I should start by saying that I am a very large proponent of faith in God first, then family, then work.  It was while I was on a very long business trip that I heard a message by Andy Stanley in regards to this exact subject which had a profound impact on my life at that time.  It was that impact that led me to read and review this book.

In reading this book, I thought that it reinforced a biblical principal that has been lost in our society, namely the love for, affirmation of and prioritization of family.  This book will challenge the reader to take a real honest view of where they are currently at and where they could and maybe should go.  With that being said, the theology is rock solid, which is to be expected given the background of Andy Stanley.

The pros of this reading this is that it does not cut corners.  It spells out plainly why our family breakdown has occurred so prevalently, where our commitments are truly skewed, and how we’ve fallen off course and continue with the downward spiral.  It gives practical advice on how to approach a strained work/family life balance, and what must be done to correct it.  It also offers hope to the reader through real life examples and how nothing is impossible with God in it.  Finally, it also paints a real picture of while the hope is available, there will be considerable sacrifice that will need to be made to correct it.

The cons from my perspective were few, but some do exist.  While it easy to say that one wants to get to a point of balance and the book offers points on how to get there, it fails to address enough topical information on how to best handle the trials that will surely come once the changes are made (speaking from personal experience).  Next, this book offers sound biblical truth on where we should prioritize our time, but for most people who do not have deep rooted faith, a lot of the challenges listed may prove not only discouraging, but impossible, and could leave the reader feeling more lost after reading this than from when they first started.  Finally, while well written, it tends to belabor a lot of points over the course of the book as a whole when the information could have been easily disseminated over a select few chapters.

In conclusion, this book is well written and has sound advice for what is clearly a lost generation(s) as it pertains to work and family balance.  It offers true hope for so many that are caught in the worlds view of success, namely as it is viewed in the workplace.  While the encouragement is real, it will take a strong individual and a family communicating together and being on the same page to incorporate the change.  I would recommend it as a strong reading, but I believe the reader will have to have at minimum an advancing faith to truly incorporate the challenges that lie within the pages.

Book Review: Love Food & Live Well

How could I not want to review a book with the title "Love Food & Live Well"? I have struggled with food issues since I was a teenager and sadly most of the books I have read that have dealt with food addiction have not really helped me in the long run. Why? Because food addiction goes much deeper than simple dieting, and I know that from personal experience. Chantel Hobbs also knows this truth from personal experience and that is one reason she chose to write the book "Love Food & Live Well".

This is Chantel's third book that addresses and deals with food related issues. I actually read her first book "Never Say Diet" several years ago and I loved it. It was real eye opening and very encouraging. Her first book told about her experience of losing two hundred pounds and keeping it off. Chantel now is a fitness expert and she travels around sharing the good news about how to become a more healthy person through eating right and exercising.

One of the things that I liked about Chantel's first book was that she talked about being a woman of faith (a Christian). In her new book, "Love Food & Live Well" she goes more into detail about her relationship with Jesus and how He changed her life. As a Christian I can totally relate to how Jesus is really the key to lifelong freedom from food addiction, and Chantel lets her readers know the same thing.

Now I realize that not everyone who picks up this book will be a Christian and I believe that even if you are not a person of faith you can glean wonderful practical information about how to live a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and exercise. Chantel has included a whole section in the book with picture demonstrations of how to complete several different exercises. Also included in the book is a detailed account of the 80:20 ratio when it comes to eating. I truly believe if you follow the 80:20 plan that you can live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight.

I highly recommend this book as it is loaded with practical helpful information on nutrition and exercise. As a Christian I love it because Chantel reminded me that if I ever am going to be truly free from food addiction it will be because I surrender control to God, and then allow Him to set me free.

Thank you Waterbrook Multanomah for this opportunity to review this book. I loved it!
(Waterbrook Multanomah provided me a complimentary copy of this book in return for this review...opinions expressed are mine).