God in My Everything by Ken Shigematsu

            How best to tell about this book? It appears to be a book built around  a journey to

get to know God better. The suggestion is given by the author that we need to set up our

lives as a journey.. In this journey he should see our life in a pattern or framework.

            The author, being of Japanese background, refers to the monks of Glendalough, a monastic community, and the Samurai warriors for the discipline needed to sustain this journey. The point he tries to suggest is we need to live a ecosystem type existence.  In this system we are to be aware of the inter-connection of  all of life.

            He sections the presentation into five areas. First-The rules we need to govern our life  Second-the roots we need such as Sabbath observance, prayer and Bible reading Third- The need to relate to other people. Fourth- The need to refresh ourselves through sleep and play Fifth-The need to reach out to others.

            At the end of the book he has included an appendix of what rules look like.

I see this book as needed for study groups on Christian growth. Shigematsu writes with a pastor’s heart seeking to help fellow Christians go deeper in their spiritual journey. For those who want to do the study , this is a book for them. .

Francis, Man of Prayer by Mario Escobar

        

  He took over from Pope Benedict XVI when  Benedict stepped down. So we wonder. Just what type of person is he and is he going to make a good Pope? Just how is he going to be different?

            These questions remain to be answered. The man has only been in office a short while. He has not been there long enough to make a definite mark or change.

            Escobar presents us a public relations look at the man called Pope Francis, - Jorge Mario Bergoglio.. Someone had to write the introduction to the man.

            Pope Francis is facing an institution rifled with problems. Only time will tell if he is the right man for the solution needed.

            Escobar has sectioned his report in three parts. The first part covers the early upbringing of Bergoglio , a peaceful  family life, a good education, a call to the priesthood.

            The second part covers the order he joined and the journey taken to get to the conclave of 2013. It details the  interfacing with previous Popes that kept him in the loop. He never put himself forward but blended.

            Part three  presents five challenges he will be facing as Pope.

            This small book200 pages including the notes and bibliography  is a good introduction to this new Pope. It is recommended for the general public.

            I received this book  free through the book review blog program of  BookSneeze and was not obligated to give a positive review. Any viewpoint expressed is that of the book reviewer and not that of the publisher.

           

Heaven's Lessons by Steve Sjogren

This small  160 page soft cover book put out by Thomas Nelson Publishers has as its theme ‘knowing God.’ The subtitle of this book is ten things I learned about God when I died.

            I wasn’t comfortable  reviewing a book that purports to be an after death experience. But this is not the jest of the book. I allowed this book to be sent to me as a complimentary copy  as part of the  BookSneeze book reviews program. I was not required to give a positive review.

            The premise Sjogren gives to the book is that he learned a few things about God when he suffered a near death experience. There are some things that are beyond our understanding as fallen creatures, and one of them is a so called near death experience. So I won’t comment on that aspect of the book.

            It is a hard book to pin down. He spends time on his experience and at the same time attempts to teach spiritual truths.

How did he do?

            The information conveyed was  interesting but not earth shaking.. I was interested but not inspired.. It did not cause me to think deeper thoughts about God.

            I would  not recommend this book to others if they are looking to know more about God. It seemed to be another attempt to justify experience over truth.

            As I said above I received this book complimentary from BookSneeze to review on my blog and I was not required to give it a positive review. The views expressed are those of the book reviewer and not those of the publisher.

Quiet by Susan Cain

    

It is not easy being an introvert living in a world geared to extroverts.  Introvert get the bad end of the stick when it comes to opportunities. They are thought of as slow and somewhat uninterested in events around them

 That is not a fair estimate. One third to one half of the people we know fall under the umbrella of introvert, according to Cain..

 What Cain has done is give us a gentle study of the issue. In her  first  part of the book  she surveys the extrovert universe. In the next three parts she examines the introvert and the ways he can navigate in the world surrounding him.

 This is a psychological study using the behavioral lens.

This is a very interesting book .Psychology is one of my interests. People and the ways they behave help display the image of the Almighty God to the world. How we react and blend is very important. 

 Each part held together as the introvert and the extrovert were examined  in a very understandable manner. It is a book for the thinker and for the college student

I would recommend this  to the college class room.
I have received this book free from the publisher as a online blogger for WaterBrook Multinonah Publishing Group . I was not required to give a positive review. The views expressed are mine and do not reflect those of the publisher. 

Superman By Larry Tye

          Every generation needs a hero. Every child needs someone who can handle the bullies of life and come out a winner. It was just this desire that pushed a young man during the depression of the thirties named Jerry Siegel to envision and put on paper a super character that could handle problems.

                It wasn’t easy being Jewish and a puny kid during the depression. He was often overlooked by his peers. He couldn’t get the girl. He was often beat up. If anyone needed someone to believe in who could make things right, it was Jerry. So he invented one.  Jerry had an idea of a supreme being who would do right and make things right.

Comics were not well received or even conceived of when Siegel started. But he was had an imagination and a desire to create a character who could handle whatever was thrown at him. In the beginning it wasn’t a super character.  He just needed a character who could conquer our fears and dread.

                Superman wasn’t original. Jerry Siegel was steeped in Science Fiction so he subconsciously adapted from what was available in 1932. There was Doc Savage and John Carter. Doc had brute strength. John was invulnerable and traveled n space.

                The DNA of Superman can be traced back to the Hebrew Bible and the person of Samson.

                Larry Tye, the writer of this book, is very detailed in tracing the genesis and growth of Superman.

A lot has happened to Superman since that day he was created..

                Superman was tinkered with as time went on. He developed traits and weaknesses according to the time in which he was published. First a comic book character, than a radio character, moving on to television and movies. There were years he was not in the public eye, but he was never forgotten.

                Today he is still available to be seen in moves. He started out a loner and today he works with a group of superheroes. But he has never completely disappeared. You may not like what they have done to Superman. He has been remade so many times he may not even be recognizable if our grandparents who grew up on him were to try to recapture their youth.

Every Halloween there are still Superman costumes being sold. Children are still wearing Superman pajamas. There are still people who remember him. And the new legends of Superman put on film are around.

This is a great addition to the story of the development of American pop culture.

The Best Question Ever by Andy Stanley

           This book by Andy Stanley, the son of Charles Stanley, is a much needed book for decision making time. It doesn’t matter what your belief system is. This book puts forth a question that if asked and acted upon can chance your understanding of life.

            Well. Maybe not life. But at least your personal activities.

            Stanley wants you to ask “What is the wise thing to do?”

            This book is subtitled “A revolutionary Approach To Decision Making.”

            Simple. And it is not as  easy as it sounds. We are talking here about decision making. Most of us don’t want anyone to interfere with our decisions.

            Should I buy this item with no cash down? Will this hair cream make me look sexy? Should I be alone with that good looking guy? I have a credit card. I can pay it off in installments, so what is the harm?

            Stanley zeros in on three area we all have to deal with: Our time, our finances and our morality. Three areas that we all have.

            I found this book convicting. These are the areas that I have often looked back and said, “If only…”  Now I have to live with the consequences.. For example, in the area of finances there is the payments. In the area of morality there is the memories..

            The scripture passages Stanley gives are the type that you should hide in your heart. This book I would recommend.

            It was sent  to me free from WaterBrook Multinomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to give a positive review. Any opinions expressed are the reviewers and do not reflect the views of the publisher.

Lifted by Angels by Joel J. Miller

           There is a realm surrounding us of which we are not aware. From time to time there is an overlap and occupants of that realm around us visit not to influence but to act as messengers from the heavenly realm. This has been the experience in the past of many people recorded in the Bible. Mystics have reported visits. Artists have tried to depict their concept of angels.

This is a good attempt to inform us and keep us from wrongfully speculating about these creatures.. Miller has presented us with a small  7 chapter history on the concept of angels throughout  time.

He looks both at the saved and the fallen angels using writers in the early church  along with sacred scripture to fill out the story. He covers the purpose of angels when it cones to service.

His style of writing comes across as one of a person in awe. He is successful in bring the reader along on the journey. He acts like a tour guide and the reader is the  passenger viewing the landscape.  His attempt to record the early conception of angels and their service to man is well done.

            I found the book an interesting addition to the discussion of angels and their purpose. It broadened my study of angels without majoring in a minor doctrine. I would recommend this small book as a discussion guide.

   BookSneeze has provided me with a free copy of this book to review as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I expressed were my own.

The Gospel Of Yes by Mike Glenn

             Our view of God determines our reaction to events in the world. Do we see God as a party spoiler and killjoy? Or do we see God as a caring deity? Have there been times when you feel God has considered what you were doing and decided to turn His back on you?

            What type of picture of God do you have?  Is He out to cramp your lifestyle?

            In this book Glenn  presents the reader with a God who is always reaching out trying to restore a relationship with his people.

            “Christianity begins with the unexpected and then keeps surprising us,” Glenn says. “One day Jesus appears to you. Jesus is alive, and you have to make a choice Is Jesus the real deal or not?”

Our view of God determines our reaction to events in the world. Do we see God as a party spoiler and killjoy? Or do we see God as a caring deity? Have there been times when you feel God has considered what you were doing and decided to turn His back on you?

            What type of picture of God do you have?  Is He out to cramp your lifestyle?

            In this book Glenn  presents the reader with a God who is always reaching out trying to restore a relationship with his people.

            “Christianity begins with the unexpected and then keeps surprising us,” Glenn says. “One day Jesus appears to you. Jesus is alive, and you have to make a choice Is Jesus the real deal or not?”

            In another place Glenn writes, “God in His mercy gives us limits for our own good. God says “:no” to us but the “no” of God is always positive.”

            Glenn presents this as a journey we are on to discover a God who is for us.

            This book seems to be written for small discussion groups who are asking themselves how does God relate to what I am doing. Is he a limiter or a liberator? Just what is God’s “yes”. For me?

            I would recommend it for such groups.

            I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to give a positive review . The opinions offer are mine alone and not the opinions of the publishing group.

Once Upon A Secret By Mimi Alford

            Secrets when kept have a habit of destroying other relationships.

She was naive thinking that she could be alone with the president and he would not have sex on his mind.  She was only nineteen at the time and had no experience. It was 1962 and sex was not spoken of .She was able to hide it. deep in herself but it cost her dearly.

            This isn't just another tell all book. In fact I feel that  Alford would not be telling this today if she didn’t feel it was better to let the secret out.

            It overshadowed her first marriage and she admits that the secret hurt her marriage. “Tony was never able to trust me completely after that day”

It was while watching the funeral procession of Kennedy at Tony’s parents house that she broke down and told Tony of her affair. He told her to keep it a secret. She obeyed. Tony.

            It changed the way she acted toward her self and circumstances. It did not leave her happy. She had to learn how to hide her secret behind a placid façade.

            The style of this book is easy to read. Alford leads you gently through the incident with Kennedy and the aftermath of the affair. This book is published  2012. From 1963 to 2012 she only let a few people know. It remained a secret. It continued to effect her life.

This book is a book for people who need to know what keeping a secret can do to a person. Alford is brave in finally sharing it..

           

50 Things Liberals Love To Hate

   How is your blood pressure? It doesn't matter if you love or hate what Gallagher stands for, you have to be fair and allow him to speak out his belief. It is the right thing to do.

   It is thought provoking For too long the individual has been put down. 1984. What do you think when I say that?. Mind control?. Think speech? A book that you are not going to read?
  I know. You are saying, here is a book review by one of them. Hey, calm down and let your blood pressure settle.
    Written in a count down style, from 50 to 1 it is well done. I feel it is a book that must be read if only to see what it is the liberal thinking person is being said to be against. Some of the targets are right on. Others you aren't so sure about but with further thought it makes sense.
     Gallagher has his own radio program and is doing well. This book gets his message out in a more permanent way than just the program. What you can hold in your hand and read is more powerful
    .

Match Day by Brian Eule

  This book follows three new doctors as they  do their first year as interns.
   Subtitled One day and One Dramatic Year In The Lives Of Three New Doctors, this bllook is a must read for everyone who wants to know what goes on that first year after the new medical student graduates and is sent to start their new life as a doctor.
   They do get a choice of where to do their training. Maybe they won't get the first choice, they can list three.
    This is a true story and the names have not been charged for the most part.. The reason is explained in the author's note at the end..
    It is hard being a doctor and it takes time away from persoanl life. In fact, the hospital becomes your home and your life is centered around your home. Eule makes no excuse for the choices they have to make. He realizes that it costs and not many can pay that cost.  But for those who stick it out it is worth it. At least that is the message I got from the book.
    It gets three stars from me. I don't give out stars on everything. Three stars is a must read.

Miraculous by Kevin Belmonte

Do you need to have your eyes opened to God’s working in the world? Are you  so jaded that you feel God is no longer involved in events?   Then you need to read this book. It traces God’s work known as miracles as seen in periods of time . What makes this so good is the book is not written as a theological explanation of God’s involvement in the world but as a historical  look at what God is doing. It starts with the biggest miracle of all, the creation of man.. It moves quickly through Abraham,. Moses, Elisha, into the incarnation, the resurrection. Then it moves into historical periods and people, most are well known.

  Belmonte  looks at miracles as consisting of five types. He sees confirmatory miracles where God is showing his choice  and support of certain individuals or groups. Then there is the judgmental miracle. These can be seen in the plagues. Thirdly there are miracles of mercy or miraculous healings. Fourth we have miracles of deliverance as seen  with Daniel and the friends in the fiery furnace.  And last of all he uses the lens of the miracle of divine vision

 As I read this book I found myself marveling  at what God has done and is still doing.    The point is God is not finished doing miracles. We still live in a world of  wonder. I found myself looking at things around  me differently.

I would recommend this book for those who need to have their vision of signs, wonders and miracles refreshed.

This  book was received free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of the publsiher.

Dough, a Memoir by Mort Zachter

This is a delightful memoir of Zachter as he details his life as what he thought was a lower middle class Jewish child. It concerns his uncles and his family .

The title can be seen on two levels. Dough as in the bakery he grew up in or dough being the money he discovered his Uncle Harry had in stocks and bonds. Over a million dollars was invested But when  Mort finds out about the money Uncle Harry is suffering from Alzheimer’s and there is no way to ask why he was never told.

Then there was Uncle Joe who ran the bakery . By the time Mort learns of the money  Uncle Joe is dead.

          Mort grew up thinking he had to be careful with each penny he received. His life centered around the family bakery and all he knew growing up was hard work and  long hours, struggling to make it in America.. There never seemed time to do anything outside the shop.

          It was a good childhood. He wanted for nothing. He didn’t starve. Money was doled out for special occasions. It was a tight knit family. It was a hard life. One time the bakery was robbed but the robber was forgiven and charges never pressed. 

          This was the family he grew up in. All life centered around the bakery. The uncles never ventured out. They lived and breathed the bakery. Deliveries were made on time to customers regardless of the weather. Snow never stopped the delivery.

          It is a story of forgiveness and acceptance of the family you are born in. And of secrets that are kept. In the end there was nothing that could be done but accept the fact that what matters most is family.

The Reason By William Sirls

In this fiction book of about 400 pages we are presented  with a story of faith and belief. A stranger comes to town, a carpenter, and where ever he is things start to happen. The question to ask is it believable?

 I got to thinking about the title of this book. Each author likes to title their books for a reason ( no pun intended.). What was the author trying to tell us by naming it thusly?. What is the purpose or reason for this book?

 The story concerns a group of people in a small town. A stranger shows up and things miraculous start to happen. The phrase “only Believe” is thrown  around.

 Are the characters believable? I mean, are they real or  merely stick figures?. I found the characters  to be subordinate to a message. The question thus is what is the message of this book?

 As I read it the feeling I got is that I can’t share this with my non-Christian friend.  The area of suspension of unbelief necessary in a work of fiction is handled well, but for a  person who is seeking answers, this is not that book they need.

 The message seems to be miracles happen when God is present.. The plot driven story is just too difficult to believe as possible.

The book as a whole was interesting.

This book was sent to me free from the publisher as part of the book review bloggers program of BookSneeze.com . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.                                                                                                      

Spark by Jason Jaggard

     If it were possible to impact your world step by step by taking small risks would you do it? If you could change your life by making one choice would you make that choice?

     Jaggard says that it is possible.  He states it will be stepping out of your comfort zone yet it will change you also. In this   212 page book called “Spark” Jaggard presents “a road map that leads to a more meaningful life and to challenge you top take the risks required to get there.”

    The world needs to be changed and set right. But nothing will happen if there are not people to risk things. Not big  things. Small things like talking to your neighbor about eternal things. Or helping out at the food bank.

    Jaggard wants individuals to know they can make a difference by being creative. It is so easy to sit back and let others do the work when all this time maybe the world is waiting for you to take that first step and they will respond.

    This book is an interesting charge to do something. It is not a typical self help book but when one reads and considers what is being suggested, it makes one eager to go out and make a choice and risk comfort. It makes me want to reach out and touch someone..

    I felt this book to be just the nudge I needed to risk stretching myself. I would recommend this for those who need  to transform their lives creatively.

  The video trailer that goes with this book can be found here..

  This book was  sent to me free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to give a positive review and the opinions expressed are mine and not the publishers..

           

One Big Thing by Phil Cooke

            Have you ever wondered why you were created? Have you ever wondered  what you are here to accomplish? Do you wish to know what you  would do if you could be the best in the world at doing it?

            A whole new stream of thought is opened by Cooke in this book when it comes to life planning. Knowing and discovering your one big thing is important but only the first thing. Adding value to your purpose is also important.

            In twelve chapters and an epilogue Cooke presents a challenge to the reader to explore and discover the purpose that only they have that can influence the world around them. With influence will also come passion. With passion comes credibility.

            I found this book to be quite interesting. It covers an area in life that very few of us want to think about. We accept things as they are not realizing that maybe there is a greater purpose for us being here.

            It presents a challenge for the reader to do something about his present state. Cooke wants a person to be active not passive in life.

            The information was presented in a digestible manner. I would recommend this book for everyone who wants to explore the possibility that there is a purpose for existence.

 That means everyone.

 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 views expressed are my own and do not reflect those of the publisher.

Great Book Site

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

   All of us need to have personal boundaries. None of us should be left with a sense of no limits.
When  a person is allowed to touch  you in a way that he or she shouldn't, a boundary has been broken or was never set in place. Everyone has the right to say no. When it comes to your skin, for example, no one but you and those who you allow to touch you has the right to do so.
   A boundary is how far you let a person go, A boundary is a limit.
   In this book Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend help you see and set up boundaries. Boundaries also limit our actions. You have to know when to say yes and when to say no and take control of your life. Boundaries help in this process.
    Boundaries are not just physical. They are also emotional and  spiritual. The complete person.
    The problem is that we are afraid of hurting someone if we say no. That should be the most distant thing from our mind. We must see ourselves as being important and also an individual. It is our right to be on one hand free and on the other hand to have limits to our action. Just as we are an individual so is the other person.
     I recommend this book for everyone.

Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey

     I stated as the purpose of this blog that I was going to look at books that I thought were important. I didn't state that they were all going to have the copyright of the present year.
    This is a book worth revisiting. In fact, Dave Ramsey even has now put his seminars on video tape for organizations that want to buy the program and go through the nine weeks, now it is nine weeks, it used to be thirteen.
    The essence of the program is here.
     Ramsey takes you through the program in twenty two chapters and an appendix. The appendix has the paper work you will need to do to follow the program.
     You start with the budget. You should be aware of where your money is going. You need to know where you are to start with and just how much you are going to allocate to each area. He also suggests you use an envelope system where you label each envelope (Food, Gas, Education, etc) and put money in each. When you need food money look in the food envelope. When it is all gone you can spend no more on food.
     When he takes about savings I wonder what he is looking at. He seems to think you can put away money in an account giving you 12% return. I don't know of any bank that is giving 12% interest on my savings. Maybe .01%
      He does that in his seminars also.. saying if you put away money in a saving account that yields 12% over time you can make x amount over time. In this I feel he is a bit out of touch. But if he is using exaggeration to make a point, than that is different.
      Ramsey wants to help people and I think this is a good addition to the genre of financial planning. I would recommend this for all.

Reunited by Pamela Slaton with Samantha Marshall

  Have you ever wondered just what a person who is looking for their birthparents is going through?

  Pamela Slaton is the person to ask. She is an adoptee as well as one of the people who makes a living looking and locating the birthparents.
   They first must want to be found. Some of the stories in here  are just that way. Some birthparents don't want to be found. Others are looking but don't know what to do.  Slaton tells both stories.
    I found this book to be very informative. There is a lot you don't know about the process. Some adoptees want to keep it quiet. Others actively seek. Some hide it because it is a family secret. Some just want to forget it happened. But for those who seek and find there is a form of completeness achieved.
    I recommend this book for everyone.

Jackson-The Iron Willed Commander by Paul Vickery

          For people who like history, especially history that covers the early days of our nation , this study of one of our great leaders should satisfy.

            Andrew Jackson was truly a man of the land. He could be said to be a self-made man. That term is overused, I realize, yet Jackson did build upon his reputation. He was a strong military leader, known as Old Hickory , a superior court judge, and Indian fighter, a congressman, a senator and finally our seventh president. All through life he carried two bullets in his body.

            He was a mans’ man. He could be rough but fair. Compassionate but not a  milk toast. People wanted to follow him. He was  a leader.

            I enjoy history especially American history. I found this to be an interesting study of a man who molded the America we have today. The emphasize is on the journey of Andrew Jackson more than on the destination. Only one chapter is on the presidency. Then rest is on the formation of the man.

Vickery does a good job of research and has an easy to read style of writing. I would recommend this book for collateral reading in middle school.

 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 expressed are my own and don’t reflect the views of the publisher. I am disclosing this in accordance with  the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR  Part 255. .