‘Falling in Love With the Bible’ by Mike Macintosh

Falling in Love with the Bible by Mike MacIntosh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just trust Him, just love him. He loves you.

Why not plunge ahead and believe?

No, this isn’t a romance novel I’m reviewing, although I love sappy stories. I am talking about Macintosh’s book on loving what the bible has to offer. I suppose God’s way of romancing us…

Once I cracked open the pages and dived right in, I closed the book and thought, “Let me think like an unbeliever so I can see this with fresh eyes”
And that’s what I did.

Mike Macintosh’s book is refreshing and deeply spiritual. He may talk about the bible, but it all goes back to the Author who inspired it: God. He tells us that as a young man he sought many gurus and mystics and other “enlightened” teachers and it was only when he came across his old pal the Bible that he realized what was missing.

The Bible is not a book that only “old people read” and a person can’t call themselves a literary scholar, or a scholar at all without including the bible in his or her studies. This means the bible is such an important reference tool for living and I was amazed, even after so many years, to discover that most women and men in the Bible suffered and went through the same trials I/we face today.

So what other refreshing points caught my eye while reading?
• Reading and studying the bible is important for cultivating a relationship with God(pg. 203)

• God is not silent, he does speak(pg. 204)

• If you have not read the bible for yourself and in its entirety, suspend judgment of it.

• “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.-Mark Twain
• Our pride keeps us from seeking God’s Word as counsel.

• The Scriptures tell dozens of stories on the importance of community and fellowship, studying the Word together with other saints and friends strengthens us daily.

• Having a problem? Identity crisis? Seek the bible. There’s a person in there you may identify with who was scared and lonely too, or just as confused about life as you are.

• When you read the bible, pray, seek the Holy Spirit, and keep dictionaries and commentaries handy- just in case.

Book Details:
Falling in Love With the Bible
Mike Macintosh
Published: Victor, a Cook Communications Ministries(2005)
ISBN: 0-7814-4136-6

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Two different books, one tells the story, marketing uses story

Daughters of Africa by Margaret Busby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I chose plenty of narratives and stories to read while curled up on the couch. The words were so inspiring and so real, it punches the soul and takes you to the place in Africa country, or African hearts in America.

The slave narratives, although gritty and real, provided words of encouragement for today. Words by Maria Stewart and “Old Elizabeth”

“I mourned sore like a dove and chattered forth my sorrow, moaning in the corners of the field, and under the fences.”

From Elizabeth(“Old Elizabeth”)[1863]- spent first thirty years in bondage in Maryland and at the age of forty-two began preaching career.

This is just a piece of the intelligent, soulful writing from women in the past. This is why the book received five stars from me and I hope others sample more from this book of biblical proportions.

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StoryBranding: Creating Stand-Out Brands Through The Power of Story by Jim Signorelli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As someone who writes stories and is interested in how to market brands for others, Jim Signorelli’s book, StoryBranding is right on time and because there was just so much information, I decided to focus on a couple of real key items which unlocked my perspective some on the brand marketing idea.

First, Jim Signorelli’s definition of a story goes like this: “A narrative about a character dealing with some obstacle to achieve some important goal” (p.31) With this in mind he tells us that both prospects and brands have an obstacle to cross and the barrier can only be broken down once we know the prospect’s inner and outer layer and the brand’s inner and outer layers. He brings on a bus load of examples of how to’s and what not to dos using McDonald’s, Denny’s, Oldsmobile and Old Spice as brands to study.

Second, Signorelli offers a review of basic principles at the end of each chapter so it sort of clarifies things for you if you’re feeling overwhelmed or just a simple study guide.
The downside could be the simple misspellings found in the book, but then again, it was an uncorrected proof and is probably fixed at this time.

If you’re looking for a book which cajoles you to think outside of the box and if you are reading to try your creative minds in learning how to tell a story, the marketing communications way, the this book is definitely for you.

Book Details:
StoryBranding
Author: Jim Signorelli
Published: Greenleaf Book Group Press(2012)
ISBN: 978-1-60832-145-2
228p

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Book Review: ‘A Woman’s Guide to Fasting’-Gutly Real, Honest Talk For Women

When you think of fasting, you probably think of denying yourself of something, cramps, or not feeling spiritual enough after your fast. Lisa E. Nelson has provided us with a candid, gutly real picture of what fasting should look like.

As someone who is sincerely interested in fasting and how I can draw much closer to where God wants me to be, I was surprised with the wealth of health information Nelson gives us and some of the humorous, quirky, and all too real effects of fasting.

For instance, fasting is a discipline, such as prayer, bible study, and worship, however some people make it legalistic and accuse folks who do not fast of being “ill spiritual”(my word, not Nelson’s). Again, fasting is a discipline and it is to help draw us more to God and His needs and less about our needs.

Second, there are many kinds of fasts and you can choose which fast works for you…as long as its according to God’s will. For example, did you know there was a Daniel fast where you abstain from sweets, treats, and meat? Or that you can drink liquids on longer fasts? Nelson even goes on to say it may be unwise to plan fasts around the holidays…hmmmm, I smell that turkey cooking right now!

Lastly, Nelson equips us with how to prepare for a fast, how to endure th efast, and how to gracefully end the fast. this is probably the most important section of the book as many of God’s people can make silly blunders that can send them to the hosipital- not cool.

My overal impression of this book is that it is sincere and can actually be labeled as The only guide for women interested in fasting. It is a small book and concise. That’s what I like…plain and simple talk.

Visit Lisa E. Nelson at: www.awomansguide.com

5 Stars

Book Details:

A Woman’s Guide to Fasting, Lisa E. Nelson

Published by Bethany House(2011)

ISBN: 978-0-764209024

Price: US $12.99

160p

 

Book Review: ‘Why Men Hate Going to Church’-A Book After This Woman’s Heart

Thomas Nelson(Book Sneeze)

Before giving the spill by spill review of this book, I’d like to say I personally do not believe a person has to go to church to receive God in the first place(I have my own reasons for this), however I wanted to really hate this book. I truly did, but I’ll break down the review into parts similar to the framework of the book’s contents so you can judge for yourself.

David Murrow broke the book into three parts: Where Are the Men? Church Culture vs. Man Culture, and Calling the Church Back to Men.

In Where Are the Men, Murrow states, “When a lion roams free, a  bit of chaos is inevitable-and it is the only way to capture the hearts of men”(Murrow, 2011, p. 52). It is little wonder that on a Sunday morning most men prefer to golf, fish, or go to the bar. This isn’t wrong in my eyes and I am a woman. He wants freedom! Women, mothers, and wives typically participate in the worship services, talking with each other and enjoy the long sermons. Men do not. Murrow has dug into some research and compared this complex to the mars vs. venus psychological dynamic: Women are more relational, nurturing, and sensitive…these are not mars/men’s traits at all. However there are some men who defy this and are excellent communicators, nurturers, musicians, etc. Murrow isn’t after them though.

In Man Culture Vs. Church Culture, Murrow uses nail biting wit(I laughed a few times!) to illustrate how churches these days violate the “man laws”. These man laws include using words like: “personal intimacy with Christ, “let’s hug”, or going into churches filled with frilly flowers and “women decor…” Men do not like this. In a nutshell, the church has to fit into man’s culture. No long, drone out sermons or frilly dolled up communion tables, keep it short and sweet and please don’t ask men to hug each other(the author gives tips on appropriate hugs).

In the final piece “Calling Church Back to Men” Murrow offers funny but brilliant ways to help infuse men back into the church and even has a testimony of how a leading woman pastor has increased church attendance of men and women. She began by removing “feminine words…” these seems to help a lot as we get caught up using words like Fall in Love with Jesus and men are singing this and little boys/teenagers are turned off by this. No matter how we color it, a man singing that he’s faling in love with another man is not cool and he will NOT attend church anymore.

As for my opinion? I enjoyed the book so much I shared some insight with my own husband and I kind of think like a man already when it comes to church so he and I are usually n the same page(!). We worship locally and fellowship with others without the actual church attendance and we do not attend “church” religiously. My husband did however point out that “flower arrangements show God’s creative side. He made the flowers so there shouldn’t be too much to hark about”

I agreed and said, “Let’s vote for more earthtones for men and leave flowers for heaven.”

Oh well.

This book was received from Thomas Nelson Publishers(Booksneeze) for my unbiased review

*Book Details and Ordering Links:

Why Men Hate Going to Church, David Murrow

Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers(2011)

ISBN: 978-0-7852-3215-5

Price: $15.99

237p

Book Review Alert: Why God Won’t Go Away

Received for an unbiased review from Thomas Nelson Publishers

Alister McGrath decided to write this book based off of the New Atheist Movement of people who deny God. Before getting into the specifics of the book, one must understand exactly what the New Atheist Movement is all about. McGrath defines it by saying that the “term was coined around 2006 by Gary Wolf, a writer for Wired, a british magazine” The four leaders or as McGrath calls the Four Horsemen of the movement are Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens.

Their goal?

To wipe out the belief in any and all religion. Oh and God too.

Atheism, is the denial that there is a God. So what is essentially new about the New Atheist Movement?

The New Atheist Movement, according to Alister McGrath seems to be embodied by atheists shying away from all kinds of religions because religons breeds violence. Some of the examples from websites that Alister uses is despicable. Atheists claiming that believing in God is a ‘meme’ and straying away from those who believe in God is like avoiding believers as if they literally have the plague.

Debates, debates, and more debates between Christian philosphers and atheists and the Christian philosophers have such a tightly wound argument each and every time that one person supposedly said, “let’s just shout theat they are all idiots and morons!”(130).

What I enjoyed about this book is the sincerity and humbleness Alister employed while using sharp wit, extensive research and the decency of putting it all together in a short, neat little book. it isn’t long and drawn out and it actually would educate any person no matter what background on how to be really prepared before publishing books and speaking on your subject matter.

Well done, Alister!

5/5 Stars!

Book Details:

Title: Why God Won’t Go Away

Publisher: Thomas Nelson(2010)

ISBN: 978-0-8499-4645-5

Price: $15.99

‘Now I Walk on Death Row’, Recinella Takes Us With Him in His New Book

Bethany House Publishers

Dale S. Recinella was a big time Finance lawyer on Wall Street until he heard the call of God to minister to the people. It seems this would be a hard task for someone used to making big time money and hanging out with the cream of the crop, but it was uncomfortable and took Recinella years of prayer and vigorous exploration of God’s Word to know if this was the right thing to do.

Now I Walk on Death Row begins with the Chapter from “Times Square to Time Square”. He’s speaking of the Florida State Prison in which he is currently a Chaplain to the Death Row inmates. Quickly the pages pushes you back to the year 1985 when he has a huge deal to close for the Miami Dolphins Studio and his eloquent writing details the emotion and the atmosphere of that night. He captures the flowing wine, the entertainment, the big names in the industry. Who would want to leave a life such as that?

However, you are immediately thrust further back in time to when he grew up and he mentions his younger sister Jan’s debilitating illness and how his family worked hard with eight children in tow and how he passed all the academic exams to make into the law field. Finally we are catapulted to dramatic life changes which makes your jaw hang open-especially when Recinella begins to describe the inmates, how hot and smelly the prisons are in Florida(or anywhere I’d imagine) and the brutal executions of the men who could have actually been innocent.

My reaction to this book was stronger than I was prepared for. The inside flap has readers quoting that the book was excellent and uncomfortable. The book is uncomfortable because those who claim to follow God use their fear and “comfort zones” as an excuse to not talk to the lowly, help the depraved, and the hungry. Recinella in his book reminds us to look on a few key scriptures in case we forget what Jesus said:

Acts 2:42-45-the Apostles’ devotion to one another and community, selling their possessions to each other and the poor.

Matthew 6:19-34-The eye is the lamp of the body, seek first God’s kingdom. Don’t worry about things the pagans worry over.

All in all, an excellent book that held my attention all week!

Favorite Quote: “So long as there are people who lack necessities, a person who has more than he needs is holding the goods of another”-Francis of Assisi quoted by a nun( Now I Walk on Death Row: Dale S. Recinella, 2011, pg. 127)

Book Details:

Title: Now I Walk on Death Row

Author: Dale S. Recinella

Publisher:Bethany House(2011)

ISBN: 978-0-8007-9505-4

Price: U.S. $14.99

Book Review Alert! ‘The Strategically Small Church’ offers big ideas

Image courtesy of Bethany House

The idea is not to think “small” but think while you’re a part of a close knit, small congregation.

‘The Strategically Small Church’ is not a manual on how to “purposely” make your church even smaller. Instead, Brandon J. O’Brien suggests we think outside of our traditional boxes. For instance, many pastors today are tending to think of the church as a place to draw consumers. What that usually entails are gimmicks designed to draw in various categories of people just to build up the physical numbers within the church. This is not to be so. We are all a part of the kingdom and should just be on a mission to win souls for God. Not people to the church.

O’Brien realizes that this may offend some people who are a part or who lead the mega churches. This is truly not his intent. There are humble pastors to be found in every church from big to small. Smaller churches, however have the advantage of family, they are missions driven, and have opportunities to link up with other churches for the greater good of the kingdom. Chapters included are:

1. See for Yourself: Reimagining Ministry Success

2. Downward Mobility: Four ministries Shrink for the Kingdom’s sake

 3. Keeping it Real: The Authentic church

 4. Keeping it Lean: The Nimble Church

5. The Work of the People: The Equipping Church

6. New Focus on the Family: The Intergenerational Church

7. Filling the Leadership Gap: The Training Church

8. Catch the Vision

In a nutshell, the book encourages laymen, pastors, and leaders to think of downsizing as an opportunity for greater outreach. This book will heal those souls who feel they have to have a large church in order to implement programs and be seen on television, yet the small churches such as those who meet in their homes and other places have no mortgages to pay on a church building, overhead, or have to hire cleaning services. The focus of the ‘strategically small church’ is the people.

Visit Bethany House Publishers for more purchasing options.

To learn more about Brandon J. O’Brien, visit: www.brandonjobrien.com

*Book provided for review by Bethany House Publishers