Review of Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

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 Thoughts:

Lucado does another fine job in this book.  Although there seems to be more fluff than most of his books, Lucado continues to make and explain legitimate points.  Included in this book are Scripture references prior to each chapter and a prayer at the end.  I especially enjoyed the prayer because it allowed the reader to actually pause and turn over the specific topic covered in the chapter to God.  At the end of the Outlive Your Life, David Drury adds a Discussion and Action Guide to supplement the book.  This is also a nice touch.  The D&A Guide allows the reader to asses themselves based on questions posed for each chapter along with specific challenges to the reader.

The meat of Lucado’s book consists of 16 chapters all designed to stir up reflection in the reader.  Chapters may or may not be applicable to the reader as we all struggle with a variety of issues and living as Christ instructs.  Although the chapters are very short, Lucado utilizes both Scriptural and real life examples of each situation discussed in the chapter.  I feel that Lucado could have gone more in depth in the chapters and eliminated a few of the real world examples.  They seem to fill up the pages more than the purpose. 

Overall, Outlive Your Life is a good read.  The book encourages the Christian reader to stay on task and put into action ways to live beyond the mundane life.  I would recommend this book as an easy but effective read for anyone who wants a refresher in Christian living.  Furthermore, if you just need a fresh perspective or some ideas to make the world a better place, pick up a copy. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of The Heavens Proclaim His Glory

Book Description:

“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”  Abraham Lincoln

Our world displays the handiwork of God all around us—in the land and sea, the animals and the plants. But in respect to the sky, the heavens, the universe…there’s a realm of beauty and creation man has not been able to witness, until now.  The Heavens Proclaim His Glory is a compilation of stunning photography taken by NASA’s Hubble^® Telescope capturing striking images of stars, galaxies, cosmic events, planets, and more. Vivid up-close photographs are paired with a romantic Psalm or quote, as well as a short description of the image. The Heavens will open up a whole new world of worship and praise for our God. 

My Thoughts:

A picture is worth a thousand words does not come close to describing The Heavens.  Picture after picture revealing God’s creation beyond our comprehension is what you will find in this book.  The pictures alone stir up praise and awe of our Creator.  You cannot possibly go through this book and not gasp at the splendor of our King.  We live on this earth and yet God created so much more.  The expanse of the solar system and galaxies beyond our comprehension are revealed to us through The Heavens.  The addition of Scripture and quotes from well known Christian authors and others are not even needed.  However, they do add another dimension to the book that tries to put it all in perspective.  This book is a must have for anyone who teaches on any level at a church.  It is sure to stir up much conversation and even help show just how big God is.  Obviously God cannot be limited to the pages I this book, but The Heavens does do Creation justice. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of A Guy's Guide to Life by Jason Boyett

Book Description:

What does society want of teen guys? To be independent, tough, and macho? To be a sensitive, caring metrosexual? To excel in school and sports and business? The challenges are many, and we haven't even mentioned the most important-and most frightening-topic of conversation: girls. The road to manhood is a perilous one.

Guys need a guidebook, one that asks and answers the questions they're reluctant to discuss. They need a book that addresses the myths of manhood with a straightforward approach teenage guys will appreciate and absorb. Author Jason Boyett understands what many fail to realize—that somewhere between the awkwardness and braggadocio, the goofiness and the developing body, there is a real person struggling to make his mark on the world.





My Thoughts:

A Guy’s Guide to Life is very soft and written as more of a “be your friend” than a “you’ll thank me later” book.  As I read the book, I kept picturing the parent who wants to be “cool” with his child’s friends so he talks the lingo, is more lenient, and brushes off the real issues.  While this book is a good basic boy-to-man book, it fails to provide strong Biblical guidance that is so needed by men to young men.  The author opts for coolness as opposed to taking the genuine opportunity to give straight from the Bible, how to deal with life, instruction.  Boyett had the audience and perfect opportunity to make the Bible relevant and “cool” to a young man and passed on it. 

As a youth leader, I would not recommend this to a student but I would suggest a parent pick it up and read first before encouraging their teen son to read it.  I will not dismiss the book entirely as the chapter on Faith is good as well as the several pointers on volunteering, serving, and loving, etc.  Additionally, Boyett covers respecting parents, others, and treating girls appropriately.  Therefore, while Boyett does not offer the sound Biblical references I was hoping for, he does give some good advice.  Boyett sometimes resorts to vulgar or crude language and dismisses values to make points that could have easily been made in good taste.  Another problem with A Guy’s Guide to Life is that it opens the door to questions or thoughts that a teenager may not have had until reading an excerpt from the book.  My fear would be a kid with a good head on his shoulders looking into something because he read it in a book recommended by a youth leader or pastor who did not take the time to read the book first himself.  Perhaps I am just old, or old fashioned, but after working with youth for over fifteen years I have not seen many that would take this book seriously. 

If I had to recommend a reader, I would say a parent who needs some ideas on breaching tough subject matter with their son or who isn’t really a “talker.”  He could steal some humor or ideas from Boyett to start the conversation rolling.  I will give Boyett credit for covering practical topics such as shaving, tying a tie, how to dress, respect, and so on.  Not a bad book, but could have been a lot better.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”