Book Review: The Resolution for Men by Stephen and Alex Kendrick

Excerpt: Whether you are married or not, or have children or not, we invite you to take on the challenge. Apply the Resolution to your situation, and join us in embracing God's call to become godly men who are stepping up as spiritual leaders in this generation.

Signing this resolution will be easy and take seconds. But fully living it out and being true to its principles will be difficult and take the rest of our lives. We are aware of this. This is why it is good to do this with other men and to maintain accountability. In fact, we're added discussion questions at the end of the book, as well as a memory verse and specific challenge at the end of each chapter, to help you get the most out of this experience.

But be sure of this: whatever way you choose to go about it, every chapter in this book is a strategic investment in you to help you win. We are inviting you to be courageous - to learn what it means to become a man of firm resolution. We fully intend to give ourselves to this and are asking God to help us intentionally pursue the kind of lives that are found faithful to Him in the end. And we are asking you to join us on this incredible journey.

As men, we are called to this! We were made for this!

And by God's grace we can do this! It's time to man up! The Resolution for Men, pg 7.

Back Cover: While most men will die with deep regrets, others will resolve to live for what matters most.

From the New York Times best-selling authors of The Love Dare comes a strong resolution of faith, family, and fatherhood that sets men on a course toward long-term success - the kind that breaks the chains of your past, earns the loving trust of your wife, winds the hearts of your children, and prepares a legacy beyond what your father could leave for you. With a clear resolution, you'll be able to see exactly where you're going. Straight ahead into a life marked by renewed faithfulness.

My Review: If you're a man, you need to read this book! We all need this challenge to live our lives in a God-honoring way, each and every day. This book excites me and challenges me at the same time. I can't help but wonder how God is going to use this powerful tool. I want Him to use it in my family. My husband hasn't had a chance to read this book yet, but he wants to. Someday, when my son is older, I want him to read this as well. I want the men in my family to be ones who honor God in their daily lives. This book isn't just a bunch of nice stories that help us feel better about ourselves, but a challenge to higher living. This book isn't for the faint at heart. You really have to be courageous to dedicate yourself to the resolution presented in this book. I pray that many men in our generation will read this book and be changed. God can do anything with a man (or woman) who is resolved to live their lives for him. Are you courageous enough to sign the resolution?

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to men of all ages.

Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group.

Book Review: The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer

Excerpt: My hope is that you'll read this book slowly and purposefully - not with the intention of finishing but of engaging with each segment. So at the end of each little section or chapter, you'll find some questions or concepts to consider, perhaps a suggested, practical application for you to implement. I encourage you to take your time, maybe even a full day between segments so you can put into practice what you're reading within the rhythms of our own life. Again, resist the urge to "just finish." Choose instead to consider carefully where you stand with each suggestion and biblical principle, and then spend time practicing what you're resolving to implement into your life. These same questions could also be adapted for use in a small group or a regular gathering of friends, enabling you to work through these points with some sisters who can keep you accountable. That's how a resolution becomes revolutionary. Life changing. The Resolution for Women, pg 5.

Back Cover: With everything you have to do, have you taken the time to decide who you want to be?

From best-selling author Priscilla Shirer, in partnership with the creators of The Love Dare, comes a resolution that challenges you to realign your daily decisions in a way that glorifies God and fulfills who He created you to be. Layered with biblical truth and seasoned with encouragement, The Resolution for Women will inspire the woman you see in the mirror to trust God's perfect plan for her life, resolving to become "purposefully feminine, surprisingly satisfied, and faithfully His."

My Review: Prepare to be changed. I needed this book. I've not stopped to think about who I wanted to be in a long time. I like to make resolutions, but I have a hard time with the follow through most of the time. This book, changed the way I looked at the resolutions that I was making, and caused me to take a closer look at who I am and how I live my daily life. I really appreciated the illustrations and examples in the book, and the challenge that it presented to me as a woman who wants to honor God. I will be reading this book again!

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to women of all ages.

Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group.

Book Review: Courageous Living by Michael Catt

Excerpt: We need men to match our mountains. In these pages I explore the examples of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when playing it safe would have been easier. They challenge us to keep moving forward. They cause us to examine our priorities and deal with anything that brings fear to our hearts. Courageous Living, pg 3.

Back Cover: Catch a fresh wind of bravery through the bold biblical accounts of Abraham, Joshua, Ruth, and many others in Courageous Living by Michael Catt, pastor and executive producer of the unforgettable film COURAGEOUS.

In the movie, four police officers are focused and confident when it comes to facing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in a God-honoring way? That takes courage.

Because we are called to take a faithful, fearless stand in all that matters, Catt sheds new light on the stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe. They challenge and inspire us now to keep moving forward, to examine our priorities, and to deal with anything that brings fear to our heart.

My Review: I found Courageous Living a motivating and inspiring book. Michael Catt presents the familiar stories of the heroes of the faith in a practical and challenging way. After reading these pages, you can't help but want to be courageous in every aspect of your life. I was encouraged, challenged and changed as I read the pages of this book. I'm sure you will be too.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book.

Book has been provided courtesy of David C Cook and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from B&H Publishing Group.

Book Review: The Book of Man by William J. Bennett

Excerpt: Every community, even Sodom and Gomorrah, has one individual in it who might be identified to students as worth admiring. This could be done even as students are taught to engage in the now honored practice of suspecting the motives of everyone else. I think the time taken for this exercise will be worth it. And it's possible that if we don't take the time, our children, taught as they have been to doubt, will live the consequences of not knowing what they may safely believe. The Book of Man, pg xxix.

Back Cover: What it means to be a man

Raising up men has never been easy, but today it seems particularly tough. The young and old need heroes to embody the eternal qualities of manhood: honor, duty, valor, and integrity. In The Book of Man, William J. Bennett points the way, offering a positive, encouraging, uplifting, realizable idea of manhood, redolent of history and human nature, and practical for contemporary life.

Using profiles, stories, letters, poems, essays, historical vignettes, and myths to bring his subject to life, The Book of Man defines what a man should be, how he should live, and to what he should aspire in several key areas of life: war, work, leisure, and more. "Whether we take up the sword, the plow, the ball, the gavel, our children, or our Bibles," says Bennett, "we must always do it like the men we were called to be." The Book of Man shows how.

My Review: It seems that our society is full of negative examples of what it is to be a man, or a woman. We've lost sight of the character traits and virtues that allow us to honor God in our lives. I am a new mother, and I long for my son to grow up to be a man of character. I want him to be a man after God's own heart like King David. It is the parent's responsibility to train their children in the way they should go. I believe that The Book of Man will help parents in this endeavor. Filled with examples of men, both contemporary and historical, The Book of Man gives clear meaning and a framework of what it means to be a man. My husband and I have enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading it with our son as he grows. It is a welcome addition to our library.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to parents of boys and young men.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)

Book Review: My Life and Lesser Catastrophes by Christina Schofild

Excerpt: I'm convinced that at least once in life, every person finds himself or herself staring eyeball-to-eyeball with that one big question, "Am I right about God?" I was born and raised in church. I was Bible college-trained and had spent years in ministry. Yet here I was, back at the very foundation of it all, praying, "Please be real!" Even though I was utterly, desperately dependent on God more now than ever before, doubts still nagged at me as Allen began what would be a three-week stay in the ICU. My Life and Lesser Catastrophes, pg 21.

Back Cover: For Christina Schofield, the difference between life as she'd always known it and a life of fear and uncertainty was a matter of a few pebbles.

As the motorcycle she and her husband were riding hit a patch of loose gravel, the bubble around her smooth Christian life popped. The safety nets she thought she had - based on unquestioning obedience to God, unyielding faith, a ministry-focused life - broke as their bodies were hurled from the bike.

What began that very moment was an emotional search for the God she thought she knew. With warmth and transparency, Christina describes facing her deepest questions of faith - and God's painful silence - with honesty, sincerity and humor, showing that even in our darkest hours, God's goodness shines through.

My Review: I was drawn to this book because of the description on the back. I have lived in that safe Christian bubble, and I know what it is like to suddenly have it pop and wonder if God is still in control. I wanted to read about another woman's journey through tough times. I do appreciate the voice and tone of this book. Christina lays her heart bear as she tells about her struggles after the accident, especially in regard to her husband's physical condition. I loved the lessons that she learns about God through being a mother to her daughter. We are so like children in the way that we expect things from God. My only problem with this book is the huge focus on miraculous physical healing. I'm not saying that God can't heal in this day and age, I just wish that the book wasn't so focused on the quest for that physical healing. Christina isn't going to answer the big questions for you, but she will give you a look into how she dealt with the big question of suffering in her life, and came away stronger for it.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I recommend this book to those who wonder why Christians suffer.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Book Review: Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

Excerpt: Jim Wallis took some scissors to his Bible. He was a seminary student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School when he and some classmates decided to eliminate a few verses. They preformed surgery on all sixty-six books, beginning with Genesis and not stopping until Revelation. Each time a verse spoke to the topic of poverty, wealth, justice, or oppression, they cut it out. They wanted to see what a compassionless Bible looked like. But the time they finished, nearly two thousand verses lay on the floor, and a book of tattered pages remained. Out Live Your Life, pg 99.

Book Description: These are difficult days in our world's history. 1.75 billion people are desperately poor, natural disasters are gouging entire nations, and economic uncertainty still reigns across the globe. But you and I have been given an opportunity to make a big difference. What if we did? What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God's love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth. Let's live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did.

My Review: You can't read this book without being challenged, and changed. Max Lucado's personable writing style, and pastor's heart shines through each page. This book hits on something that we all want - to make a difference. Max shows some real ways that we can make a difference in our world and leave a lasting impression for the cause of Christ.

As always, Max's style makes this book an enjoyable read. I enjoy his mix of humor, information, and application.While reading the book, I became aware of how many ways I could impact the world. I find that I'm too often comfortable in my protective shell. I don't always like to get my hands dirty doing the work of Christ. Shame on me! I'm seeking to change that.

I believe that Max made some extremely relevant points in this book. He showed how we are so busy fighting among ourselves, that we are not reaching those in need. He reminded me that 80% of the world's wealth is owned by 20% of the world's population. He gave examples how I, an average citizen, can impact the world, and spread the compassion of Christ.

If you read this book with an open mind, it will likely change you.

My Rating:


My Recommendation: I recommend this book to any Christian who wants to make a difference with their life. Warning: This book will break the shell that protects your sensitivities from the poor and needy of our world.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)

DVD Review: Does God Exist? Building the Scientific Case

Excerpt from Booklet: Once upon a time, in a universe far, far away... Wait, this isn't a fairy tale; we're talking about reality. If you and I could go back far enough in time, we would come to a point when the universe did not exist. But if the universe truly had a distinct beginning, then what caused the cosmos to come into existence? Does God Exist? pg 21.


Product Description: In this first DVD set of the TrueU series, Dr. Stephen Meyer plays a “philosophical survival game,” pitting four worldviews against one another in the quest to decide which one gives the best answers. Dr. Meyer examines the evidence and provides the tools needed for students to defend their faith and make it their own. This is the perfect resource for students preparing to enter college and a culture that may be hostile to their faith.


My Review: This isn't your typical youth curriculum. Focus on the Family has done a great job helping teens think more clearly about what they believe and why. The arguments and apologetics used in the curriculum will help teens stand up in the real world, outside of the safe sphere of our homes and churches.


I was a Christian going to a public school. I can clearly see how a curriculum like this could help teens who are living in that environment. It would be specifically helpful to teens that are looking to attend a secular university. 


My husband, who is a scientist, and I enjoyed watching these ten lessons together. It was fuel for many conversations, and I found the experience enlightening. I wish that something like this had been presented in my teen years. 


My Rating: 


My Recommendation: I would highly recommend this TrueU curriculum to youth leaders and/or parents of teenagers.


(I received a complimentary copy of this kit from Tyndale for the purpose of review.)

Book Review and Giveaway: Crave by Chris Tomlinson

"I am staring at a chubby kid eating ice cream, and the experience is deeply profound.

Before you think ill of me, you should know that this boy is actually on my television, or more specifically, on a picture that is taped to my television. With his brow furrowed and his right hand tightly gripping a spoon, he is sitting in front of a large carton of ice cream, the spoon buried deep below its surface. His eyes reveal the intensity of deep desire; in that moment, all that exists in the world is his mouth, a spoon and the ice cream. As if his expression didn't convey it clearly enough, the creators of this image have named his desire in large white letters spread across the scene: CRAVE." Crave: wanting so much more of God, pg. 11.

We all crave something, and most of us (if we were really honest with ourselves) would say that we crave something more in our relationship with God. Crave: wanting so much more of God follows Chris Tomlinson's search for more in his own relationship with God. Using and easy to read, humorous style, Chris shows us what is in his heart, and leads us to question our own cravings and desires.

I devoured Chris' book. I could really identify with his pursuit of getting more out of his relationship with God. Something that really stuck with me was his chapter on Extras.

He told a story about going to the movies with his wife, and having this guy stare at them. The guy then got up and excitedly told them that the he was an extra in the movie. He couldn't contain his excitement. He wasn't the star, just a guy that walked across the screen once, but he was beside himself because he was actually in the movie. Chris then relates this to the Christian life.

I could identify. I've caught myself believing that I'm the star of the story. I want my own dressing room, and I want everyone to listen to me. But the truth is, I'm just an extra. Christ is the star of the show, and I only have a moment on screen. Still, being an extra isn't something to feel bad about. In fact, I should act like the man at the movies, unable to contain my excitement because I get a few moments of screen time in the greatest story ever told.

Yes, the book left me Craving more of God. I would recommend Chris' book to any Christian who longs for something deeper in their walk, something that can satisfy.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harvest House for the purpose of review.)

You can find more about Chris Tomlinson at his website, Twitter and Facebook.

Crave: Wanting So Much More of God (First 3 Chapters)

I want to give away a copy of Chris' book. To be entered in this randomized book drawing, please answer the following question in the comments section of this post. Don't forget to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win the drawing. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 15th.

And now for the question:What do you want to get out of your relationship with God?

Book Review: Fearless by Max Lucado

"Fear, it seems, has taken a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversize and rude, fear is unwilling to share the heart with happiness. Happiness complies and leaves. Do you ever see the two together? Can one be happy and afraid at the same time? Clear thinking and afraid? Confident and afraid? Merciful and afraid? No. Fear is the big bully in the high school hallway: brash, loud, and unproductive. For all the noise fear makes and room it takes, fear does little good." Fearless, pg 5.

The world is a fear-filled place. Everywhere we look, we have reason for fear. Max Lucado takes us on a journey through the common fears of man and helps us put those fears back into perspective. Max shows us the disciples, and the fears that they had in the presence of the Savior. He talks about the fear of violence, death, worst-case scenarios, global calamity and many others. Finally, he takes us to the fear the causes all other fear to fall away – the fear of the Lord. Max’s conversational style, humorous stories, and dynamic word pictures make this book a wonderful read.

I, like every other human being, have had my moments of extreme fear. I worry what others will think about me. I fear that I will do the wrong thing in social settings. I feared that I would never get married. I feared that I would not be able to pay my bills. I was afraid that I would have to quit college because I couldn’t afford the bill. Yes, I too have been afraid. Reading this book helped put some of those fears back in perspective. I would highly recommend this for anyone who is living and who has ever feared anything. The good news is…we’re not alone!