I am Second!! Now in PAPERBACK!!!

I recently received an Ebook entitled I AM SECOND by Dave Sterrett and Doug Bender and published by Thomas Nelson.

I had seen many of these videos, a very catchy websight had been set up a few years ago at www.iamsecond.com.  In fact I have one of the bracelets, plain black with the words I AM SECOND written on it; and boy can I tell you stories about the conversation that the bracelet and Shirt that I wear have started!  Chances to share why I am second since no one wants to be second, it sticks out and draws attention!

So what is the concept?  Stories of those who tried doing life on their own, or life in their own STRENGTH and failed.  The stories of their struggles with fame, fortune, drugs, sex, alcohol, marriage, divorce, porn etc…  You name it an they discuss it.

Their stories are all different, yet in the end they all come together under this one note: GOD IS #1! 

They all came to a realization that they couldn’t do it on their own.  That without God they were in a losing battle.  These are the stories of how people you know like Bethany Hamilton, Michael W. Smith, Brian “Head” Welch, and many more came to a point of utter brokenness in their lives and found God still there waiting to bring them back.

These are their stories.  The stories of Victory, Pain and continued struggles but now they are no longer on their own.  They are now SECOND following the only one who can truly lead them!

This book connects with all who read.  You can see yourself in their struggles, and pains.  Maybe you see your self in their stories and identify with one or more of them.  Then in the end you hear how these people have overcome!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gift for a seeker, a college student, and adult, a counselor… you name it!  EVERYONE will identify!

I AM SECOND!!!  Are you?

7 Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness

If you were to sit down and try to list out 7 men who you felt were influential in not only who you are as an individual but who helped to shape our world... who would they be?  Now these are not just men who made discoveries etc.. but men who showed TRUE character!

In 7 Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas he picks the 7 most influential for him.
Eric Metaxas is best known now for New York Times Best Seller Bonhoeffer.  And just like that book Eric takes you through these men's lives in a SIMPLE, Close, and profound way!

You will learn about these 7 men in a whole new way: George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson.

Each chapter will challenge you through the way he looks at their lives, their Issues, their FAILURES, and their FAITH.  While I knew about these men, I didn't KNOW these men.  Eric brings you into their personal faith and how that plays out in their lives.

For all who love history this is a great book that will challenge you in your faith!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending a free copy for my enjoyment.  In no way was I forced to write a pleasing review.  This book just earned it!

Grace by Max Lucado

I recently received a free copy of the new Max Lucado book Grace.

This was one I picked up not sure of how it would turn out. 

Max is one of the.most gifted story tellers of our age; yet sometimes the story tellers stories can begin to sound a lot alike.

So I picked this up really not sure of where this would go.
here is what the author had to say:

Grace.

We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.

But bestselling author Max Lucado says we've settled for a wimpy grace, a goldfish grace that sits in a bowl on the shelf and never causes trouble or demands a response.

There's more to grace than we've ever imagined, and in his brand new trade book Lucado shares the truths of this cornerstone message of his ministry. He challenges readers to not only receive grace but also to be changed by grace. Shaped by grace. Strengthened by grace. Emboldened by grace. Softened by grace. Snatched by the nape of their neck and shaken to their senses by grace.

This book worked on a progressionary scale. Each chapter seemed to not be a separate entity but a continuation or even a perfecting of the one before. It is as if we are seeing God's system of grace unfolding a little more on each chapter.

This is a book not on Prevenient grace, saving grace or sustaining grace but a book on all three (primarily the later two as I'll explain in a moment) 

Max does a great job taking the reader through these stages of grace without the doctrinal jargon.or rhetoric upon which denominations split. In fact my only cringe was.at.the end when two words slipped in Eternal Salvation. It made clear Max's beliefs on eternal.security while potentially alienating.those from the Wesley side of the discussion. 

Yet in it all I found a book well worth the read; captivating.  Profound.  Simple in its revealing of the.complex; yet detailed enough to not leave room for the readers personal opinions on The topic.

I.truly would recommend this to anyone as a great read and a great gift. Share the GRACE!

Love Does by Bob Goff

I love a great story. 

You know what I mean. One that takes me through every level of emotional connection that it can.
 

A story that is gripping, challenging, entertaining yet teaches you something about yourself, God or others.

So when a friend of mine told me about this book and his extreme enjoyment of it; I knew I'd need to read it.
 

 You see I already had it. In fact I'd had it for sometime having received a pre-release copy of it In Advance of it's may 1st release date. Yet it was thrown in my pile and, though in the short list of titles on hold, it never seemed to move up the list.

So I finally picked it up today to read on my flights to Michigan.
in one flight I had over 10 chapters devoured.

These are amazing stories yet each one connects to God and what these circumstances and events can teach us about God. I loved how each chapter had a short 2 line quote that gave a summary of sorts of the theme in the chapter!

 Here is what the publisher, Thomas Nelson, had to say:

As a college student he spent 16 days in the Pacific Ocean with five guys and a crate of canned meat. As a father he took his kids on a world tour to eat ice cream with heads of state. He made friends in Uganda, and they liked him so much he became the Ugandan consul. He pursued his wife for three years before she agreed to date him. His grades weren't good enough to get into law school, so he sat on a bench outside the Dean's office for seven days until they finally let him enroll. 

Bob Goff has become something of a legend, and his friends consider him the world's best-kept secret. Those same friends have long insisted he write a book. What follows are paradigm shifts, musings, and stories from one of the world's most delightfully engaging and winsome people. What fuels his impact? Love. But it's not the kind of love that stops at thoughts and feelings. Bob's love takes action. Bob believes Love Does.

When Love Does, life gets interesting. Each day turns into a hilarious, whimsical, meaningful chance that makes faith simple and real. Each chapter is a story that forms a book, a life. And this is one life you don't want to miss.

Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too.

Endorsements:

"If this book does not make your heart beat faster, book the next flight to Mayo Clinic!" --Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church, Chairman, Willow Creek Association

"Bob Goff is a one-man tsunami of grace, a hurricane of love.  He doesn't just talk about change, he really is change, as Love Does chronicles in such a vivid way. Yet, Love Does doesn't leave you feeling like you want to celebrate its author, it awakens a sense deep within that you, too, have an outrageous role to play in God's unfolding story or rescue and repair." --Louie Giglio, Passion Conferences/Passion City Church

"An interesting and compelling story (with Young Life roots) that ends with a practical challenge and punch:  'love does' and God can use you to do it!" --Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life

"Every once in a while someone like Bob Goff shows up to remind us that some things matter a lot more than others.  Love Does has a kind of 'north star' effect that will push you to refocus your life and energy on what is most significant. It doesn't just invite you to respond with your God-given potential, it invites you to become a part of what God can do beyond your potential." --Reggie Joiner, Founder and CEO of Orange

"We liked the book a lot. Mostly, the balloons on the cover. The rest was pretty good too. Lots of stories about how God helps us." --Aedan, Asher and Skye Peterson ages 13, 12 and 9

"This may look like a book. It's not. It is an invitation to enter into the greatest adventure you have ever known-your life as it was meant to be lived. Hang on!" --Michael Hyatt,  Author, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, MichaelHyatt.com

"Bob's ability to love people brings contagious hope and inspiration wherever he goes. The power of love showcased in this book will surely touch the hearts and souls of many people. Read Love Does and find a friend in one the world's best hidden secrets, a person who shows how love can create connection and make a difference-even across oceans." --George Tsereteli, Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia (former Russian Republic)

"There are some nasty rumors out there about treasure. Mostly that's it's buried and needs discovering. Or has to be mined. Or can only be located with a map and a big X. Not so, says the life of Bob Goff. Living from the center of your heart doesn't have to be complicated or elusive. Love just wakes up in the morning and gets busy loving. The treasure is sitting right there next to the pancakes. About 5 pages in, I knew my life and I were gonna have words." --Nicole Nordeman, Mother and Musician

So final thoughts. You will not only love this book but you will find these simple 5-6 page chapters to be a deep impact and challenge get to you and your faith. Love Does invade our lives and Love Does change us!

Running for my Life by Lopez Lomong

Running for my life

I received the above book free from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, to review recently.
So I decided to read it while in Haiti. 

First off here is what the publisher has to say about this title:

Running for My Life is not a story about Africa or track and field athletics. It is about outrunning the devil and achieving the impossible faith, diligence, and the desire to give back. It is the American dream come true and a stark reminder that saving one can help to save thousands more.

Lopez Lomong chronicles his inspiring ascent from a barefoot lost boy of the Sudanese Civil War to a Nike sponsored athlete on the US Olympic Team. Though most of us fall somewhere between the catastrophic lows and dizzying highs of Lomong's incredible life, every reader will find in his story the human spark to pursue dreams that might seem unthinkable, even from circumstances that might appear hopeless.

This was an amazing story. One which seems too impossible to believe.  Kidnapped, running 3 days for you life, living in a refugee village for many years, living almost as a prisoner within the UN camp. Food rations, mallaria. On and on this story goes.

This is a story of ressiliance, of determination. Of God's provision and protection.
If you are a fiction reader you will love this as it is so full of surprises that you will think it fiction.
History readers will love this true story of the Olympic athlete.
This book is amazing.

But the greatest part is how God saved him just like Joseph of the Bible. Saved for a mighty purpose.
Yet the biblical connection doesn't end there. Lopez soon is given gifts he could have never imagined.
There is a moment when he is over whelmed by the size of it all.
Going from poverty to riches in 36 hours.

How similar to that is the realization of the grace God has given us.
We were penniless and now we are royalty.
We were filthy in sin yet now we are clothed in glorious hues.
We were dead and we are made alive. 

This story is just amazing and tells event after event that God gave to Lopepe. From the flag bearing at the 2008 Olympics to meeting the Dream Team.  You will feel as if you were there with him as he feels each and every emotion.

Read this book and the try to feel sorry for yourself. As Americans we take it all for granted. The power goes out we yell at the power company. Our milk goes sour we yell at the grocery. Yet in so many countries they live on no power or generators. Living on no milk or cheeses. No yogurts. Peanuts are rare.
Yet we live in plush provisions compared to our African brothers. 

God convict us and forgive us for outer complacency.

Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

Have you ever experienced, even for just a moment, a delusion of Grander?
In other words you wanted to be remembered as an EXPERT or just plain remembered long after you had died?

When I was younger I wanted to be known as an Expert for something. I read about EVERY book you can think of on cults and other world religions and could tell you their beliefs backwards and forwards and contrast them with Christianity.

then I got older and wanted something cooler, so I became a Music Expert. If you want to know anything about 70's thru 90's Christian Music I was your guy.
I could even figure out 9 out of every 10 song that people came in asking for... "It's on the radio, song by a guy and it has the word Jesus in it.."

But I was doing it all for myself. I also went through a long period where I wanted to be known in the church. I wanted to be in the front and share my knowledge that God had given me on leadership. But it was all about me. (You can see some of my posts about that if you go back about 2 years worth on this blog.)

Now though I see so much more out there, and hopefully if you know me and are reading this blog you have come to see JESUS and not ME in my actions and lifestyle.

Well, Last night I picked up a book. OUT LIVE YOUR LIFE by Max Lucado that I received through work for free to read from Thomas Nelson. I read 10 chapters last night in a matter of 3 hours and read the final 6 this morning off and on.

The idea of the book is helping us all to see that we were MADE to Make a difference.
Not to sit back and do nothing but to become involved in one way shape or form. But we are MANDATED by scripture to look after the oppressed... What did Isaiah say about Sodom? Their sin of debauchery led to their destruction? NO!! Their ignoring the poor, the abused, the lonely... that lead to their destruction!

This is a must read for all Christians who have a heart and a passion but just don't do it. They don't live it...

I was thinking about writing about the chapters that most convicted me, but looking over the contents I realize that I would be writing about each chapter...

So I guess let me talk about a couple KEY ones that hit me. Now remember I just read through Hole in our Gospel by Richard Sterns, I have been writing a devotional for short term missions groups, reading RADICAL by David Platt... I feel OVERWHELMED with a desire to do something but not really knowing how to sell all I have, get out of the Debt from school etc that has piled up over the years, and how to make that difference...

These chapters showed me some ways:
Chapter 3: Let God unshell you. This chapter talks about how we find ourselves living inside shells. Whenever we come across someone who is hurting or poor we hide inside our shells before we start to feel compassion for them.

Chapter 10: Stand up for the Have-Nots... the title says it all!

Chapter 13: Don't write off anyone.. This chapter talks about our ability to write everyone off who is different then us. The illustration in here about Max's personal lack of compassion for a homeless man while his mentor gave the vagrant his full attention and then food. It put him in his place when the mentor said that this vagrant may have been lying but there might have been just a bit of truth to his sadness and I needed to help him.

This is a book that you need to get. Your friends need to read it, your churches need to study it. I have not been more passionate about what one book can do then this one. At the end of each chapter there is a GOLD piece...

Max ends with a verse of challenge straight from Scripture and then a PRAYER.
these prayers are possibly more well thought thru then even the chapter. They are short, straight to the point but will help to internalize the entire chapter!

All I can say is WOW!! GET IT!