Maxwell Leadership Bible

John Maxwell is one of my favorite authors when it comes to leadership principles, so I was interested in The Maxwell Study Bible.  Throughout the Bible there are references and various leadership principles and nuggets for the reader.  They are cross referenced so you can so other links which relate to that principle as well.

The Bible comes in a hardcover and is very nicely put together.  I especially appreciated the font size as it is very readable, unlike many other newer Bibles.

Now, this Bible does not have a concordance and maps, etc. as most Bibles do, however, I do not see that as the purpose of this Bible.  This is a more specialized Bible for the person who is looking to grow as a leader and find leadership principles as they read the Bible. 

Overall, this is well done!

I received this Bible from booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

A Bride's Bible

The NKJV Bride's Bible is very elegantly done.  It is small, and easily fits into someone's purse or bag.  In many respects, while it is elegant, it is also a no frills Bible.  I don't say that in a negative way.  There are no introductions to books of the Bible, no maps, etc.  There is a 1 year reading plan and a section called 30 Days with Jesus.

The font is small, at 6.5.  So, it was difficult for me to read, but for others, maybe not as difficult.

There is a very well done leather look a like cover in white.  The words of Jesus are in red as well.  There is also a section in the beginning for recording important dates.

This is a very nice looking Bible, one which can be given to a bride on her wedding day as part of a present.

I received this Bible from booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Devotional for Young Kids!

The Stop and Go Devotional: 52 Devotions for Busy Families is a fun and quick devotional for families with younger children.  There are 52 Devotions for a short weekly devotion to be completed as a family.

This is a hardcover book with glossy pages which are well constructed.  Each devotional follows the same format, in the same color scheme - 

Stop and Read - tells the Bible story in about 1-2 pages.
Think and Talk - gives some discussion and questions to talk about as a family.
Green Means Go! is the section which gives an example of a way to put the lesson into action.

As you can see, the colors are red, yellow and green.  

The green means go section is age appropriate, as this book is designed for 

Age Range: 4 - 8 years

• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
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• Once again, this is a nice devotional for young families.

I received this book from booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Eat Live Thrive Diet Book

While I am a man, I was interested in reading this book about diet, because I try to make healthy decisions about what I eat and there's always something to learn.  I was impressed with this book, Eat Live Thrive Diet: A Lifestyle Plan to Rev Up Your Midlife Metabolism, by Danne Demetre and Robyn Thomson.

I found that the book is really easy to read and follow.  So many diet book are not, and that was important to me.  They have a great deal of simple information which should help a person who is trying to eat healthier.  It's design is for those who are at the midlife point.

There were a number of tasty sounding recipes in the back of the book which appear interesting.

They do discuss the spiritual aspects, but this really is not a Christian self help diet book.  It's really a plan on how to better manage what you eat and honoring Christ.

I received this book from WaterBrook Press in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Study Bible

I was really thrilled to receive THE WIERSBE STUDY BIBLE (NKJV).  This is definitely a study Bible.  As there are study notes on every page.  They are filled with the scholarship you would expect from Warren Wiersbe, author of the "BE-commentaries."

There are 2,176 pages in this Bible, so it is thick and not always easy to carry around if you have lots of other books.  But this is a must have Bible.

There is a great concordance in the back of the Bible, about 300 pages worth, along with maps.  Each book has a short introduction to help the reader become acquainted with the book of the Bible. 

One other thing that really sold me on this Bible was the font size.  Some Bibles have really small fonts, but this one was very readable, and I didn't need my glasses to read.  Obviously, the study notes are smaller in size, but still readable.

Overall, this is an excellent Bible.  One I would highly recommend purchasing.

I received this Bible from booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Faith and Trees!!

In the book Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach us About the Nature of God and His Love for us, by Matthew Sleeth, was a fascinating book.  I really was not sure what to expect when I was asked about reviewing this book.  Matthew Sleeth was an atheist, a man who had no need for God, but ultimately came to faith and his love for nature, especially trees led to this study and book.

Sleeth uncovers the hidden language of trees as we learn more about the nature of trees and their relation to biblical characters and our lives.  He reminds us that the Bible speaks of trees from the first chapter of the Bible to the last chapter of the Bible.  Sleeth explains why the Bible mentions them more than any other creation except people.  He shares his love for trees and their meaning and how that should make a difference in our lives as well.

Overall, this was a very good and interesting book.

I received this book from Waterbrook / Multnomah books in exchange for an honest review.

Christian Devotional!

The devotion, 365 Devotions to Love God and Love Others Well was a very nice devotional.  It is a hard copy with a ribbon to mark your page.  There is a devotion for each day and they are all one page in length, and take about 2-3 minutes to read.

Because the devotionals are short enough, they are a great way to start the day, or even a good way to end the day.

There is a presentation at the beginning of the devotional and a few pages in the back for notes.  It is small enough that it will fit into a purse or bag rather easily.

Overall, it was a very nice devotional and would make a great gift for Mother's day.

I received this book from Booklook bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Christian Sci-Fi!!

American Omens is a Christian Science Fiction thriller.  It is based in the year 2038, not far from now, but in a very different looking world.  Christianity is a crime.  There is hatred, hiding, sabotage, a secret church and more.  The book is filled with usage of technology, which seemed pretty realistic with all of the progress made in our world. 

I never heard of Travis Thrasher, but he seems an up and comer in the science fiction realm.  If you are into science fiction, especially a Christian sci-fi book, then I highly recommend this book. 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Multnomah Press.

Celebrate Friendships

I was intrigued by this book, Better Together: Life is Best with a Friend Like You.  This is a great gift book given from a friend to a friend.  This book is a celebration of friendships which are different.  This is a picture book, with poignant saying on each page as well.

Every two pages contains pictures of two different animals who are together.  The theme is that our differences make us "Better Together."

There are quotes from the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, C.S. Lewis, George Washington, Bono and many more.

This is a hard cover, sturdy book, which would make a great gift from friend to friend.

I received this book from booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Reclaiming Your Heritage

Because of my background, I was really interested to read the book, Reclaiming Our Forgotten Heritage: How Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity Can Transform Your Faith by Curt Landry.  My hope is that he would help lead me a little further back into my personal roots.

The book is based on Curt's life, his upbringing and finally his discovery of his roots being given up for adoption, by a Jewish mother and Catholic father.  This helped him better identify who he was and ultimately who he was to become.

As a Christina, he now began to understand how his faith was rooted in  Judaism.  This led to many changes in his life, in which he believes God has called him to help bridge the gap between the church (Christianity and the nation of Israel and a Jewish faith).

He ultimately concludes that if the church would return to their Jewish roots, they would gain a greater relationship with God, experience greater blessings and a sense of passion and purpose.  

I expected something a little different in the book, so I was disappointed, but that is because my preconceived expectations were not met.

This is a good book and intriguing story.

I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

The Power of God's Song

I was not sure what to expect with this book, The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament.  I found this book to be very insightful and very deep.  Author, Aubrey Sampson speaks out of her grief and lamentation in order to help those who are struggling as well. 

This book as a great deal of power as she addresses an area which seems to be somewhat ignored. 

We all want answers when we are suffering and grieving, yet the answers do not come as quickly and wrapped neatly for us.  We end up vulnerable and raw before God.  It is during these times that Aubrey seeks to help the reader to find purpose and balance through the power of redemption through God.

Ultimately, she reminds us that God's song is louder than our own song, and we need to be able to listen to God's song which brings renewal, redemption and restoration.

This is an excellent book, which also has an Appendix with questions for each chapter, so this book can be used in a group setting as well.

I received this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Restoration Year Devotional!

For the past 20 years, I have been a fan of John Eldredge.  I helped at one of his early conferences and appreciate the way he approaches scripture and ways for men and women to find redemption and power through Christ.  In this devotional, Restoration Year, John has helped open the eyes of our hearts as we seek to be restored and empowered by God.

While John has taken much criticism because his approach is not always conventional, and some feel his theology is weak, I believe John wants each person, men and women, to fight for their empowerment.  A life in Christ is not easy, it takes work, but that's what makes it worthwhile.

John is about living a life of more than survival, it's thriving and experiencing the joy and passion of a relationship with Christ.  I believe that is what this devotional is about.  Each page has a scripture and questions at the bottom of the page to help push the reader deeper into their journey towards God.

This is a hard cover, which is sturdy and the pages are sturdy as well.  This is an excellent book and would be great for a couple, or any person to read as they seek to grow closer to Christ.

I received this book from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Morning and Evening Prayers

 I was looking forward to receiving "A Morning and Evening Prayerbook."  I thought it would be a great way to start the year having a guided prayer to lead me.  This book has prayers for the morning and evening, written by people from the early church through modern times. 

The prayers are short and each is very different.  Some really speak to me, while others did not, but that is okay.  For me the purpose was to lead me into prayer.  Prayer to start the day and to end the day.  This book certainly does this. 

This is an excellent prayerbook and would also serve well sitting on a coffee table.  It is hard bound and would make a nice present as well.

Overall, this is an excellent resource for someone to use, and even for someone who struggles with prayer.  This may open up some avenues to better connect with God.

I received this book from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Study Bible

I was really excited to be able to review the NEW NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, with D.A. Carson as the General Editor.  This is a wonderful, powerful study Bible.  There are many helpful additions to this.

Included in this Bible are the following ~ 

Helpful introductions to books and sections of the Bible combined with 20,000 verse-by-verse study notes will guide you to a clearer understanding of every portion of Scripture.

• Previously published as NIV Zondervan Study Bible
• The full text of the New International Version (NIV), the most widely read Bible translation in contemporary English, trusted for its combination of accuracy, readability, and beauty
• 28 theologically rich articles by authors such as Tim Keller and Kevin DeYoung
• 20,000 verse-by-verse study notes
• Hundreds of full-color photos, more than 90 maps, and over 60 charts
• Comprehensive book introductions
• Over 60 trusted contributors
• Cross-references and the NIV Comprehensive Concordance
• Single-column, black letter edition
• Two ribbon markers
• Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface
• 9.1-point print size

The Bible is beautifully illustrated with charts and maps galore.

The only negative was the font size.  At 9.1 point size, it was difficult to read.  Anyone with eye issues will struggle with this Bible.  yet, it's huge and this helped keep the pages down.  This may be a minor issue, but someone who struggles with small print may not find this Bible user friendly.

If not for the font size, this is a great Bible.

I received this Bible from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Becoming a Warrior

I was excited to receive the book, The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace by Erwin McManus.  I was intrigued by the title, as I appreciate the warrior mentality.  Yet, this was not what I expected.  McManus’ thesis is that one must become a warrior to attain inner peace.  Without this peace, we are devoid of real spiritual power.

Peace does not come naturally, but is something one must fight for.  As Paul states, he fought the good fight . . . which is life.  It is a fight for peace.  McManus believes without inner peace, we will never have world peace.  And so many are struggling with the attainment of peace within themselves.

A warrior, then is one who becomes a servant, as Jesus was a servant.  A servant, a warrior, a person at peace within themselves does not seek attention, but works / fights for the ability to draw closer and have a tight connection to God.

The book was an encouraging book.  At times a how to book, and at times it was a book encouraging to be the person God has uniquely called me to become.

He encourages the reader ~
“Never forget who you are.
You are a warrior of light.  Do not fear the darkness.
You are a warrior of hope.  Do not fear despair.
You are a warrior of faith.  Do not fear uncertainty.
You are a warrior of love.  Do not fear hate.
You are a warrior of peace.  Do not fear the war within.
This is the fight of your life.  This is the fight for your life.  This is the way of the warrior.”

I would recommend this book.  It is easy to read, yet filled with great nuggets of encouragement.

I received this book from Waterbrook Press in exchange for a honest review.

Simple Discipleship

In his book, Simple Discipleship: Grow Your Faith, Transform Your Community, by Dana Allin obviously focuses on discipleship.  Discipleship is not necessarily easy, since its road is one that takes us on a journey with many ups and downs.  Without discipleship we are lost.  And in many respects that’s where the state of the church is at the present time.

I appreciated that in each book there is an assessment tool, a test you take on line which helps you to better understand yourself.  There is a hidden code on the back cover of the book.  I believe this helps each person better understand themselves and how they relate to Christ and which areas they need to focus on so they can be a better disciple of Christ. 

We make this process way too complicated.  It should not be, but because of the unknown, we tend to shy away from growing in discipleship, which is simply growing in Christ as a follower.  Allin attempts to lay out goals for each person, with 3 separate appendicies at the end of the book.

The book was easy to read and follow, which is helpful.  The book is designed for followers of all shapes, sizes and varieties.  Overall, this would be a good book for a group to work through together.

I received this book from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review.

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible!

The Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible is sure to be a hit with girls! This fabulous material is on everything from pillows to T-shirts. The "mermaid" sequins change color right before your eyes. Girls will love the design and will want to carry the Sparkle and Change Bibles with them everywhere!

This Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible features rainbow sequins that change color depending on which way your child swipes. It’s double the fun! It’s perfect for kids ages 6 to 10 to take to Sunday school, read with the family, or study on their own.

The ICB, the first Bible translation created specifically for children, is easy for children to read and understand with a third-grade reading level and is typeset in a large, readable font.  The Bible text is set in ten-point type, with bold in-text subject heads that help kids easily find the passages they are looking for. Also included are boldface words that correspond with a dictionary and concordance entry to explain word definitions. A great new feature in this updated setting is more than 300 key verses that are highlighted throughout the Bible for kids to read and learn. The beautifully illustrated insert pages are in a style that children love and will delight their imaginations, including topics such as:

• A Bible timeline
• A presentation page
• A place to keep favorite Bible verses
• Bible maps
• Articles on topics such as how Jesus loves them, knowing Jesus better, and how to pray, etc.

Your young girls will love this Bible.  If they are into rainbows or coloring and want to read a Bible which seems "fully alive" and shouldn't a Bible appear that way!!  Since the Bible is fully alive?!  It really is easy to read and the font is a good size as well at just under a 9 point font, but seems bigger than that.

Your girl will love her Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible!

Details about this Bible are ~ 

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 1 - 5
• Hardcover: 1312 pages

I received this Bible from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Non-Traditional Catholic Bible

This Bible is amazing!  Yes, I'm a Baptist Pastor, but this is a Bible I would read, or would be great for presents for Christmas for someone who wants to read the Bible and is creative.  There is a great deal of richness to this Bible.  While the NLT is not my preferred Bible, it still is rich with meaning for who God is, and the story about Jesus.

Introducing Tyndale’s newest addition to the bestselling
Inspire line, and the first ― and only ― Catholic coloring Bible. The Inspire Catholic Bible features over 450 beautiful Scripture line-art illustrations to color plus two-inch-wide lightly ruled margins with extra space to write notes and reflections or to draw and create original art. Inspire’s generous 8.65-point font is larger and more readable than most other journaling Bible fonts, and the high-quality white Bible paper is great for colorers and creative Bible journalers of all skill levels.

Inspire Catholic Bible’s New Living Translation text has been approved by the Catholic Church for personal reading and features the official Imprimatur. The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, communicates God’s Word powerfully to all who read it, and Inspire is a wonderful legacy Bible for readers to record their faith journey.

This Bible is amazing!  Yes, I'm a Baptist Pastor, but this is a Bible I would read, or would be great for presents for Christmas for someone who wants to read the Bible and is creative.  There is a great deal of richness to this Bible.  While the NLT is not my preferred Bible, it still is rich with meaning for who God is, and the story about Jesus.

I would highly recommend this Bible for all this interested in a nontraditional Catholic Bible.

I received this Bible from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

Spiritual Friendships

Becoming Gertrude: How our Friendships Shape Our Faith, is written by Janice Peterson.  When I received this book, I did not realize Janice is the spouse of Eugene Peterson.  He greatly influenced me as a pastor, and I greatly appreciated reading this book. 

Becoming Gertrude focuses on how we can develop spiritual friendships.  For Janice it started with her neighbor, Gertrude Floyd, who invited her over for some lemonade, and a great friendship developed.  This book is filled with easy to do, practical ideas for reaching out in order to become spiritual friends. 

There are only 5 chapters in this book ~
Caring: Choosing to See Others
Acceptance: Receiving What Is Offered
Service: Caring in Action
Hospitality: Reaching Out and Bringing In
Encouragement: Building Others Up

The actual book is only 119 pages, but is filled with great wisdom, passed on with gentleness and power!

I received this book from Tyndale Press in exchange for an honest review.

Maxwell Leadership Bible!

The NKJV - The Maxwell Leadership Bible: Lessons in Leadership from the Word of God by John Maxwell is an excellent resource tool.  I have the first edition of the Leadership Bible and find this edition to be an excellent update.

Features include ~ 

• Now available in Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Comfort Print® typeface
• Over 120 “Profiles in Leadership” lessons drawn from the people of the Bible
• Hundreds of compelling short articles and notes on mentoring and influence
• A complete reference index to the 21 Laws of Leadership and the 21 Qualities of a Leader
• Easy-to-read 10-point print size

I enjoy reviewing Bibles because I want to see what is out there which can help Christ followers better grow in Christ.  I have been a long time fan of Maxwell's writings.  And in this Bible there are many nuggets of leadership truth available to the reader.

Maxwell takes the "21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader", another of his best-selling leadership concepts and partners it with some of the well known, and not so well known characters throughout Scripture.

Hundreds of compelling short articles and notes on mentoring and influence, and there are over 120 “Profiles in Leadership” lessons drawn from the people of the Bible.

Not only are there positive ways we can do leadership, but he looks at some of the shortcomings we find ourselves in, areas such as pride, envy and a me-only attitude are some examples. 

Overall, this is an excellent Bible.  Do remember, this is not a study Bible.

I received this Bible from Booklookbloggers in exchange for an honest opinion.