For me most of the book was a helpful reminder of things I know, but seem to forget. However, the last chapter on learning to forgive was very helpful to me. It was one of those moments where God really used this chapter to show me an area that I needed to work on. I had just read in Matthew where it talks of leaving your sacrifice at the alter and leaving  to make amends with someone who has something against you. I picked up this book and the very next words were on what I had just read in Scripture. God used this to make me realize that I needed to forgive and not hold on to bitterness. I have had to left go of bitterness towards a biological father who left me behind and an ex-wife who I felt wronged me. I had held on to these things without ever realizing it. This chapter was a great help and guide for me. I would recommend this book.

I received this book free for review from Multnomah Books.

I have received this book free for review from Chosen Books.

While much of the book is not new material for someone with a passion for missions, it was a good reminder of many things we sometimes forget. However, there was one section in particular that made me think about things I had never really considered much. This would be the chapter about transforming our families. I was confronted with the fact, that in my home and in our churches, we are not doing a good job of training our children for the Great Commission. We are far too guilty of training them at being successful in chasing the American Dream. What if were more actively training our children to be future pastors and missionaries?  I came away from this book feeling encouraged, yet challenged. There is much work to be done, and my prayer is that this book will inspire people to the call placed before us. This is definitely a book that I would recommend.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I thought this novel was well written and interesting from beginning to end. The authors did an excellent job of including biblical history into this book. At times, I really felt taken back into the time of temple worship. The imagery and use of biblical text was great to read. So many times Christian novels have no visible trace of Christianity at all. That was not the case with this book. The faith of Dr. Chambers in this book is a central theme that is integral to the story. There were several times that I needed to put this book down, but couldn’t because the story was so intriguing at that point. There were actually times that I needed to pull out my bible to look up sections of scripture that were used. I actually learned biblical history from this novel. It has not been very often that I have found a novel that has accomplished that. This is definitely a novel that I would recommend.

I received this book free for review from Waterbrook Press.

In reading this book, I enjoyed the historical behind the scenes look at a man that I knew little about. Mr. Perry does a nice job of keeping this biography interesting, which can sometimes be hard to do. While Carvers belief in God in creation is evident, I wish the book could have shed more light on how his faith impacted other parts of his life. Carver comes off as an inspirational character, yet at times also a man whose pride would get in the way. I found this actually refreshing to see how even someone as highly thought of as Carver struggled with sin. Would recommend reading this book to all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reading this book was monumental for someone as myself who has struggled to find joy in God at times. The phrase ‘that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him’ really struck home with me. The chapter on suffering was very encouraging and informative. As someone who always put sacrifice and suffering on the opposite end of the spectrum as joy, this chapter completely changed my heart and mind on this topic.  This chapter showed me how sacrifice is not the removing of joy from my life to please God, but how suffering and joy go hand in hand. For anyone who believes like I did that seeking joy was somehow worldly or wrong, every chapter in this book will challenge that view in one way or another. I am grateful that God placed this book in my hands at the perfect time in my life. I would recommend this book to all.

This book was provided free for review from Multnomah Books.

I enjoyed many aspects of this book, but found it lacking in some areas. I agree with most of what is portrayed in this book. The United States is weaker as a nation and we have work to do to prevent  future events from happening. However, this  book was a little more political in nature than religion based. Being listed in the Christianity/Religion section, I was hoping to find more than one chapter that was dedicated to that aspect. The book is well written and is easy to read, while offering a wealth of great information. If you are looking for something from more of a political or cultural view, this book is great. If you looking for something from a religious point of view, there just isn’t much here. Overall, still a good book with many great points.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Booksneeze Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

This book is well written with alternating chapters being written by Christopher and Angela ( Christopher’s mother ). This story was very fascinating to me as it starts with the typical gay son being kicked out of the family. However, this story takes many dramatic turns as God changes hearts of stone to flesh. Just when it seemed like Christopher could go no lower, a new low would occur in his life. Yet through it all a devoted mother was always there for her son. This book really reminded me that Christians need to love those living with homosexual desires. To see how much God changes Christopher from the beginning of the book to the end is truly inspiring. It never gets old seeing the grace of God overcome the grip of sin on a life. And on the flip side God shows his sovereignty by using Christopher’s choices to draw Angela, a former atheist.I would highly recommend this book to all. There were times that I had to stop reading due to the emotions that were stirred by this book. As Christians, freedom from sin should be something none of us take for granted.

I received this book free for review from Waterbrook Press.

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Galileo by Mitch Stokes is a look into the life and faith of Galileo Galilei. Known by many already as a great scientist, Galileo was also guided by a faith that did not pit science vs. church. This book shows the relationship Galileo saw between science, mathematics and faith. Follow Galileo through his many scientific discoveries, his troubles with the Roman Catholic Church, and eventually until his death.

This biography was very interesting to read, and was very well written by the author. Biographies can tend to be very dry, but I never found that to be the case with this book. While the faith of Galileo is evident in the book, it was not expounded upon in this book as much as I would have liked to see. Much time is spent on the scientific discoveries of this great scientist, but little is shown of how his faith played a role until his troubles with the church. He was a good Roman Catholic in that he deferred to the authority of the church on matters of faith and even science when they collided with the views of the Roman Catholic church. It is interesting to look back and see areas of science that Galileo was correct about, but backed off because the church wrongly believed something else. I would recommend reading this book. It presents a picture of Galileo that you may not know. You will find a man that definitely shaped science, and what it means to be a christian scientist.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”