Review: All In, by Mark Batterson

If you haven't heard of Mark Batterson by now, I'm not sure what to tell you. I guess I'll start with this: go to a library, bookstore, somewhere! and find one of his books. He is one of my all-time favorite writers. I first read his Circle Maker books and they turned my life kind of upside down, got my passion for missions stirred up again, and were really impactful. And then I found this book. All In. The tagline is "You are one decision away from a totally different life." And that's the truth. This book could really change things up for you. It'd be hard not to see huge change after reading this one.

Basically, the premise is a simple and utterly familiar one to anyone who has read much of the Bible. It's about what it means to follow Jesus. I mean to really FOLLOW Jesus. What does that take? It takes everything you've got. Batterson is strong on this: It's all or nothing, he says, and makes you believe it.

We have had enough of lukewarm Christians in this world. That doesn't do anything for the kingdom of God. It doesn't inspire. It doesn't heal. People are hurting, they are sick, they are scared and they want something. They want answers. They want a guide. They want help that works. They want something that will stick to their bones, make them feel, take away the numbness, drive away the apathy.

And we've got it. We've got what they want, we've got what they need. But it takes more than just sitting in a church pew every Sunday, pulling out a Bible for the sermon after we blow the dust off the covers. Mark Batterson says it better:

"The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn't radical. It's normal. It's time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. It's time to go all in and all out for the All in All."

This book, which I read in one day because I couldn't put it down, is about going all the way, not holding back, not holding out, not holding in. Jesus gave everything for us and Mark Batterson is using his incredible gift as a wordsmith to give us a call: Give it all, give everything, give it up, do it, be it, whatever it takes.

Because whatever it takes is what it's going to take to change this world.

Review: The Attractor Factor: Five Easy Steps For Creating Wealth (Or Anything Else) From The Inside Out

I have read this book by bestselling author Joe Vitale at least six times and each time, I learn something new. This guy is a natural writer and a born salesman and when you combine the two, you have a winning combination for sure. He has written a lot of books and I've enjoyed every one that I have read, but I keep coming back to this one. It's definitely my favorite.

He shares real life stories of how he and others have used his five steps to attract what they wanted in their lives, which could be considered old hat by now, since we have such a plethora of self-help and visualization type books on the market today, but Vitale somehow manages to make it seem new, like it's the first time you've heard of it.

I won't share his five secrets in this review. You need to get the book and check them out yourself but I will tell you this: it worked for me. I had a couple of goals when I read it the first time and met those easily. By the sixth reading of the book, I had reached about seven goals altogether. I'm a believer!

At the end of each chapter, there is an exercise to do to help you work through the concepts you've just read. I highly recommend this book if you want to attract more money into your life, a better relationship, maybe a new house, a great job that you love. Actually, even if you have zero goals, live contentedly in your mother's basement, and spend all your time losing video games with your nephew, I still highly recommend this book to you. Just be careful. It might change your life.

And then who will rent out the basement?

Review: The Complete Slow Cooker Cookbook by Wendy Louise

Omigosh! I love this book so much. I bought it about three years ago, when my daughters and I were living in South Florida, twelve hours away from my mother and sisters, who are my go-to cooks whenever I attempt to cook, which is admittedly rare, but hey? what can I say? I say this, if you don't know how to cook and you happen to have a crock pot, RUN to the store and buy this book!

Why? I am, as stated above, NOT A COOK. I need directions for boiling water. I've been known to scald milk, turn scrambled eggs into scrambled pudding. I can't make a decent piece of toast. But I love my children and I want them to be healthy so I pulled myself together one day, bought the cheapest crock pot I could find, and...stared at it for a month. I had no idea what to do with it. Because I am basically a cheapskate and didn't want to waste money that I spent on the crock pot, I went looking for a cookbook to help me and I found this awesome one by Wendy Louise. My copy is dog-eared. There are food stains on its cover and back, and it's falling apart, but that's a good thing. It means, like that old velveteen bunny we all remember, IT IS LOVED.

It's broken into seven easy to understand chapters. You get the skinny on how to create delicious goodies like soups, stews, everyday entrees, leftovers or, as she calls them, "hand-me-down" entrees. Chapter 4 gives you the down-low on dinner entrees, while chapters 5, 6 and 7 are all about the extras...parties, sides, desserts and beverages.

You are going to love, I repeat, LOVE this book. It's not just about pot roast anymore! With this handy, helpful, easy to read guide, you'll be impressing your kids (and company!) in no time.
Hint: for the easiest recipe ever, turn to page 205.

 

Toxic Men: 10 Ways to Identify, Deal with, and Heal from the Men Who Make Your Life Miserable: A Review

Lillian Glass, PhD, has done it again. Bestselling author of Toxic People, Glass has not disappointed in this book that offers clear, concrete ways of dealing with every type of Toxic Man, from the "Sneaky, Passive-Aggressive, Silent-but-Deadly Erupting Volcano" to the "Instigating, Backstabbing Meddler."

What I liked best about this book was the extreme readability factor of it. The book is not about bashing men and Glass makes that clear from the start. Her goal - to empower women not to be victims - is accomplished off the bat. She explains what a Toxic Man is, discusses how women are drawn into relationships with Toxic Men, gives pointers on how to recognize a Toxic Man early on, offers ways to deal with and heal from relationships with them.

One of the surprising parts of the book for me was learning that there are fairly easy ways to defuse and deal with a Toxic Man, simple ways of responding that seem so natural once I read about them in this book, but that I had actually not thought of when I spent some time with a Toxic Man in my own life.

Helpful, solid information that should come in handy if you happen to be, or know someone else who is in a relationship with a Toxic Man. Good read!

Launch Out Into The Deep: A Review

I first stumbled on this gem of a book when I was browsing through a church bookstore. I had heard the author, Dr. Mark Rutland, preaching and was intrigued by his ability to catch, and hold, a large congregation's attention. When I saw this book by him, I wondered if his writing was as impressive as his preaching.

It took three sentences for me to be hooked. I like his approachability. Reading his book is like shaking his hand and talking to him in person. You can almost hear his voice coming through the pages, straight up, no nonsense, friendly but with a quiet air of authority. This guy knows what he's talking about, and you know that...from the get-go.

If you are, as I am, interested in books that go beyond the entertainment sector, and reach right inside your heart to grip you with conviction and heart, you won't be disappointed in this one. Dr. Rutland's commitment to his ministry is unmistakable, but the book isn't heavy-handed. His innate humor gleams throughout, and I found myself laughing out loud several times. At the same time, by the time I was through, I also found myself on my knees, tears falling down my cheeks, as I surrendered my life to God for whatever He has for me, for whatever calling He leads me to.

One thing is sure: you won't leave this book the same way  you came to it. Dr. Rutland's story will inspire, entertain and move you. Guaranteed.

The Bait Of Satan by John Bevere: A Review

"Sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you." I heard this childish refrain throughout much of my childhood but as an adult, I have learned that it is not true. Today, the sting of offense - being wounded by someone's words, or wounding someone with your own - has damaged marriages, created rifts between parents and children, and wreaked havoc even in Christian communities. Being able to recognize it, deal with it, and move on from the ache of it is what this book is all about.

Increasingly in today's society, we are seeing the destructive effect that the problem of offense has created worldwide. Bestselling author and popular conference speaker John Bevere tackles the growing issue of how offense is troubling even committed Christians, and teaches us how to stay free from offense and the ensuing "victim"  mentality. The book includes testimonies of people whose lives have been freed from what Bevere calls the "snare" of offense, and includes a devotional supplement, discussion questions and prayers.

This book was a life-saver for me and my family. We didn't even recognize that offense was a problem until we understood what it entails, and realized that many of our problems relating and keeping the lines of communication open stemmed from this "bait of Satan."

I have recommended this book to family and friends and will continue to do so. I think every church library should keep several copies available.