Sunday, December 12, 2010

Start! The Bible for new believers - Booksneeze

General editor Greg Laurie. This is a New King James version of the Bible for new believers or those wanting a 'refresher'. It starts off with a plan of salvation and then continues with secrets to spiritual success. This section goes in-depth as to the meaning of various Christian topics (secrets) such as why the Bible is important for spiritual growth and success (gives direction, gives spiritual food, gives us wisdom...) or that we need to have an active prayer life.
Then you get to the Bible itself and each book starts off with an introduction telling a bit about the book and its background. Most pages have know or grow section at the bottom that gives a bit more detail into certain verses that will help you learn and grow. Gen. 1:1 is a know section and starts off "In the beginning God." If you eliminate God, you have a big problem. And goes on to discuss this idea a bit further. Each of these sections also point you to other pages for more information on this idea. Intermingled on some of the pages is a small, grey box that says learn and this section points out a bit of factual info for you to learn such as Gen. 1:27-28 Man was created uniquely in the image of God, with a combination of that which is low and that which is high. And then it develops this idea further and points to another page for more info.
All in all, its like a study Bible geared toward leading new Christians to information that will help them grow spiritually.

Got my copy thru the Book-Sneeze program of Thomas Nelson.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

#24

It has to be said GOOOO DAWGS GOOO!!!!! Ranked #24 and 5-2!! Dare I say it?? We have a chance to be bowl bound this season!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Noxubee Refuge video I created

Outlive your life - Max Lucado

If you haven't already guessed, I love Max Lucado's books! I have found no reason to disagree with what he says and this book is no exception! This book is based on various portions of the book of Acts.
God can use anyone, anytime, anywhere to do great things! One example of this is His disciples: they started out as lowly fishermen and God called them to be Fishers of men, proclaiming Him to the peoples! "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." He doesn't just use ministers to preach to others, He uses average people. You don't only preach by standing in front of a group reading some notes about a scripture passage. As St. Francis of Assisi said "Preach the gospel always and if necessary, use words." Also, remember that He doesn't give us what we deserve (punishment/eternity in Hell) but that He sent His Son to die for us on the cross. That alone should make us want to tell everyone about Him!
Remember to that no one can do everything but together, everyone can do something. That's what makes a church, not 1 person preaching but everyone together worshipping and praying and ministering to each other. Show compassion to everyone, in church and out. Take time to remember who is control of it all - NOT US!!!
Don't just know people by name, really know each other intimately. Change begins with a genuine look, not just a quick glance, but really look at someone. Seeing the surface isn't always truthful - you might have to dig a bit to find out what's really troubling someone or what they need/desire.
"Imitate the disciples - devour God's word and get to know Him and talk to Him". The courage to stand for Christ comes from knowing Him and thinking/trusting on His words. If you face adversity, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING! CLING TO HIS PROMISES! What was one of the last things Jesus did before dying on the cross? He prayed and begged that if it was the will of His Father, the cup of death would be taken from Him. Jesus PRAYED and so should we!
At the end of the book is a discussion and action guide prepared by David Drury. Each chapter of the guide includes discussion questions and ideas for action to make a difference.
I got the ebook free as part of the BookSneeze program - Thomas Nelson publishers

The King's Christmas list - Booksneeze Blogger Review

King's Christmas list by Eldon Johnson and illustrated by Bonnie Leick. This kids book will help teach little ones about giving to others. The story starts off with Emma being invited to a Christmas celebration of the King's birthday and she decides she must take a gift with her. As the story progresses, she helps out people she meets along the way, such sharing her toys or her coat with strangers in need. In the end, she learns that Jesus wants us to give from our heart and not out of Do I have to?? Whatever we do to the least of these, we do unto Him! After the story, is a short blurb about giving and encouraging us to visit thekingsadventure.com to give gifts through various charties (such as World Vision).
I got this book free thru the Booksneeze Review program, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Fun at the Noxubee Refuge





Love going out to the Refuge and take pics - sometimes, I get some good ones! :-)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Max Lucado - One hand, two hands

Oh, the ways we can help with our hands! This book is illustrated by Gaby Hansen and in a way that young kids will enjoy with lots of bright colors. Lucado describes hands and ways in which kids use them: holding a cup, petting a pup. The fun things you can do like making a mud pie, picking flowers, dig in the dirt... Ways kids can help using their hands: wipe tears, give hugs, wash dishes with mommy, clean, pray - thank God for your hands. In the story, Lucado uses lots of rhyming words in ways that kids understand and can interact with. This is a good book for pre-school and younger, although those a bit older might enjoy it as well.
I got this book thru the booksneeze.com program of Thomas Nelson.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Same kind of different as me

This book is written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.
Denver is a man who grew up virtually a slave in modern times. As a youngster, his family share-cropped for the Man. He soon tired of his life and decided to hop a train and find a better life for himself. What he found instead was life on the streets in Fort Worth, Tx. He was a hard man who others on the street feared/respected. Who knew he would make friends with a rich, white guy and his wife. And eventually he learned "you got to get the devil out the house 'fore you can clean it up!"
How do two men from opposite ends of the spectrum form a tight and long-lasting friendship? First and foremost, God! And a little prodding from Ron's wife, Debbie. Ron and Debbie served at a local mission to help the homeless and she told Ron that in a dream, God showed her a man who would make big changes and that the man was Denver Moore, a local homeless man who visited the mission. She encouraged Ron to get to know him and over time, they slowly built a close friendship.
Throughout this book, you can see threads woven by God leading them to each other. The central theme of the book is to show God is in control of everything and nothing just happens, He has a plan for it all.
You'll have to read the book to really see what events unfolded and how they all led to one conclusion: pain and love.
I got this book as part of Thomas Nelson's book- sneeze blogger (http://booksneeze.com)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, May 03, 2010

You can be everything God wants you to be

Max Lucado writes a book showing how we can be everything God wants us to be. Everything comes from God - everything we do exhibits God. We should live so that He gets the credit. Honor God in everything you do!
Society tells us that we can be anything we want to be if we work hard enough but we can only truly be everything God wants us to be. Study yourself to find out what skills God gave you, those are like clues as to what you should be.
Romans 12: 3-8 Everyone has different skills and contributes to the whole - no one has the exact skills and capacity to do what you are best at.
Lucado uses an acronym to describe how to find out who you are/where you belong.
S strengths T topics O optimal conditions R relationships Y yes!
What are your strengths? What is your topic - your verbs, nouns, objects you enjoy working with. What are your optimal conditions - what motivates you? What sort of relationships do you have? When you can answer those questions, you get to the feeling of Yes! I know who I am and what God wants me to do!
I got this book thru the Thomas Nelson Book-Sneeze Program.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Winston Churchill - John Perry

Published by Thomas Nelson, Winston Churchill is a bio of the great statesman.
I started out critizing this book for it's many editorial errors but ended up finding it a good read. I still find the lack of good editing disturbing as there are many errors and missing words but it's a good book when you overlook them.
I had not read much on Churchill's early years, just his war years, and find it interesting to see how much of a leader and showman he was as a youngster. He was not a good student unless it was a subject that interested him, such as horse riding. He also loved attention and used his family's connections to keep himself at the center of action as much as possible. A quote from the book that demonstrates this is when Prime Minister Herbert Asquith remarked that Churchill "would make a drum out of the skin of his own mother in order to sound out his praises".
Throughout the book, we can see Churchill struggle with religious beliefs and how he viewed the hand of God in the events of his life. His nanny, Elizabeth Everest or Woomany, as he called her, was the driving force behind much of his religious beliefs. She was the one that took him and his brother to church as often as possible and taught them her views on religion. Her viewpoint (as discussed on pg. 9) was Low church and anti-Catholic. One example of his wrestling with what he really believed in - at the age of 21, he was pondering what rules man's life. Was it luck, fortune, individual decisions? He didn't see it as Christianity or any religion but he sensed something was there. (pg. 43) Another interesting comparison of Churchill's beliefs - on pg. 112 he's speaking of an accident that occured to him while in the US before WWII and says "Nature is merciful and does not try her children, man or beast, beyond their compass. It is only where the cruelty of man intervenes that hellish torments appear." That has some similarity to I Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (ESV) This is an example of him knowing something is there but not quite sure what to call it, so he calls it nature but the Bible calls it God but you can see the similarity between the two statements. Overall, he was a very religious man in the English sense. He knew his Bible well and quoted it often but generally quotes a God that helps those who helps themselves (pg.135)
Throughout the book, no matter how much Churchill show-boated, you can see he's a leadership genius and was perfectly suited for the task as Prime Minister of England during WWII. There is more I could say about the book, but if I continue, I may as well write a book myself. :-) I'll end with his personal motto: KBO (keep buggering on).
I got this book thru the Thomas Nelson Book-Sneeze Program.

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Super Bowl

Who dat? Who are you pulling for? I have to root for the Saints - its their first trip to the Big Dance and I think they'll win the game! Normally, I'm a Steelers fan but between the Colts and Saints...Geaux Saints!!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger now Booksneeze

Still not sure what I think about the name change but I do enjoy being part of this program so they still get my support!


I review for BookSneeze