Fully Alive Lighten Up and Live - A Journey that Will Change Your Life

Be prepared to get up and get moving!

I first heard the name Ken Davis while listening to his daily radio spot, "Lighten Up And Live" - and his humorous stories remind us to not take life so seriously.
Now, the message he brings in Fully Alive is a real life-changer, if you decide to make that choice.
A fine speaker and author, Ken Davis, has presented a positive challenge for all of us, if you're in your 20's or your 80's, to overcome our fears, "function at the capacity we were created for in every area of life, and not squander what God has given each of us."

With that summary, let me share how this book has encouraged me with the hope that I can still accomplish the dreams I've had and that I can still explore and achieve new experiences.  At an age when many consider it time to "slow down" or "retire", I know that is not the case, especially when Ken Davis tells us he is 65 and he's going to continue climbing mountains, finishing triathlons, or building a tree house for his grandchildren.

There are more self-help books and articles on the market than I want to count,  so when Ken invites me to walk with him on a journey, along a road of heartache and adventure to a place he calls "the land of the living,"  and discover what may be missing in our lives, I promise you'll want to get up and get moving.

A poignant and entertaining storyteller, Davis points out the practical steps necessary to live this way – everything from lightening up to taking a quality of life assessment, to overcoming trials – while also revealing the power of Christ's resurrection available for each of us.

Ken offers to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually.  So many books and speakers focus on one or two of these aspects of caring for ourselves.  This book covers it all, and it reads quickly.  In fact, I need to finish this review and get going - it's time for my hour of physical care.  

One final note.  Ken's book is one to read, give as a gift, and tell others how it gets you up out of your chair and moving.   I give this a full 5 stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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."Fully AliveFully Alive

Mondays with My Old Pastor

Mondays with My Old Pastor has been a real treat to read and so my review will reflect positive thoughts.  The book is the true story of a a totally burned-out young pastor who reignites his faith and gathers wisdom for life while spending successive Mondays with an eighty-three-year-old pastor.

"Deep inside in some uncertain part of my soul persisted this strange exhaustion that was difficult to explain and hard to endure," writes pastor and author José Luis Navajo. Thinking of quitting the ministry, Navajo doesn't know where to turn until he begins meeting with a seasoned man of the cloth—his "old pastor"—who, through successive Monday visits, offers a legacy of wisdom in the form of 15 unique principles."

I believe this book will benefit anyone who questions their purpose in life, or feels the frustrations experienced daily.  It's a wonderful book to inspire and restore hope.   

With 15 Monday visits shared in this brief little book, I believe my favorite is on the 10th Monday.  His Old Pastor shares this:  Simply make room for Him in your daily life.  I like that.  When I act on that simple statement, my day  goes well.  
I'll share one more thoughtful treasure:  Sit everyday at the feet of Jesus, and then Tell the world what you have seen.  That would make the world brighter.  
I hope I've shared enough that you'll want to read this moving, beautifully written account of Navajo's journey from desperation to rejuvenation.  In lyrical prose, he shares the personal anecdotes, fables, and deep spiritual insights offered by the old pastor and his wife.   By turns funny, heartbreaking, and thought provoking, Mondays with My Old Pastor is a comfort to anyone who struggles in his or her walk with God.   
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Coming Revolution, by Dr. Richard G. Lee

With an intensity of stirring emotions, this next BookSneeze review has drawn me to a stronger degree of interest in our current American political stage.
Dr. Richard G. Lee has written "The Coming Revolution",   describing America’s powerful past and then revealing a nation of people who  are willing to stand up for the original principles of our country and how to protect our own personal and national freedom.

Using this country's rich heritage of liberty and democracy as a roadmap toward where we could be headed, Dr. Lee brings thoughtful clarity to the ever-growing probability of such a revolution in America; illuminating the important reminder that the voices of every revolution have been-and always will be-the ordinary everyman.

"A powerful reminder about why America is great and worth fighting for."

-Lt. Colonel Oliver L. North, USMC (Ret.)

"Within this book Dr. Richard Lee clearly reveals how the intolerable conditions being forced upon the American people by Washington's current administration will lead to a certain and powerful explosion of predictable consequences."

-Michael Reagan

What impressed me as I read this book, was Dr. Lee's description of our public education system's negligence and failure to teach our children the complete facts of our country's heritage.  This is a strong statement and yet I have actually witnessed it first-hand as I questioned the lack of American history taught in our public school.


Another section of the book may challenge your knowledge on how the legacy of The Great Awakening shaped the patriots of the American Revolution.  You can read the 14 principles in detail in Chapter 4, "The Birth of the American Spirit".  


Throughout the book are details of how this country began originally, what our country's current trend could be moving toward (socialism?), and finally what we can do as individuals to restore and inspire patriotism and pride in America!  The American Spirit is what makes this country so great.  I would recommend this book for anyone living in this country, whether you are an American citizen or not.


Remembering what our forefathers endured, I know this book can inspire each reader to take a positive approach and not be afraid to stand up and protect our freedom.  Reading The Coming Revolution confirms the belief that protecting our personal and national freedom comes with a price.  


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

From the Library of C. S. Lewis by James Stuart Bell.

A book worth my time - who influenced one of my very favorite authors, C.S. Lewis!  I'm eager to read this new book!

Discover great truths from C. S. Lewis’s mentors

C. S. Lewis was perhaps the greatest Christian thinker of the twentieth century. He delighted us in The Chronicles of Narnia, intrigued us in The Screwtape Letters, mystified us in The Space Trilogy, and convinced us in Mere Christianity. His influence on generations of Christians has been immeasurable. 

But who influenced C. S. Lewis? What were the sources of his inspiration? Who were his spiritual mentors? Who were his teachers?

Drawn from Lewis’s personal library, annotations, and references from his writings, the selections in this book bring us into contact with giants such as Dante, Augustine, and Chaucer, as well as introduce us to more contemporary writers such as G. K. Chesterton, Charles Williams, George MacDonald, and J. R. R. Tolkien. Over 250 selections provide a vast array of inspiration from those who have shone forth as messengers of light in Lewis’s own thinking, writing, and spiritual growth.

A rare glimpse into the intellectual, spiritual, and creative life of one of literature’s great writers, From the Library of C. S. Lewis is a treasury of insight and wisdom.

BELOVED ENEMY Battles of Destiny BULL RUN I

This captivating historical novel, written by Al Lacy, immediately snatches the reader into the war that separated a nation which divided their loyalties, but not their hearts.

Faithful to her family and the land of her birth, young Jenny Jordan covers for her father's Confederate spy missions.  But as she grows closer to handsome Union soldier Buck Brownell, Jenny finds herself torn between devotion to the South and her feelings for the man she is forbidden to love.

When I began reading the first chapter, I realized this wasn't the usual historical romance novel.  The author provides extensive detail into the first battles of the Civil War to the point that I'm now curious and want to research some of the information he provides.
Meanwhile, the heroine, Jenny Jordan, finds herself in a real dilemma when she falls in love with a Union officer while her father helps to establish a Confederate spy ring.  I would not have wanted to be in Jenny's position to face a decision of loyalty to her southern heritage or if she should follow her own feelings of love for someone she truly loves.
If you find the Civil War and it's many issues involved with this part of American history, I promise you a suspenseful book to read.

Al Lacy is an accomplished fiction author who has written over fifty historical novels and westerns.  I want to add that I found it quite interesting to learn that Mr. Lacy has upheld his standards for writing which are based on the Bible.  Since he has been writing for the Christian publisher of Questar Publishers and Multnomah Books, he has been blessed.  I'm glad to be introduced to a new author!

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review".

Chasing The Sun by Tracie Peterson

Hannah is desperate for help..
William is determined to regain his family's land...

When her father disappears in war-torn Mississippi, Hannah Dandridge finds herself responsible not only for her younger siblings but also for the Texas ranch her father recently acquired. A marriage of convenience could ease her predicament... but is it the true desire of her heart?

Wounded soldier William Barnett returns home only to find out that his family's ranch has been seized. Though angered at this turn of events, he's surprised to discover that it is a beautiful young woman with amazing fortitude who is struggling to keep the place running.

I would want Hannah as my friend.  Her determination and the commitment to her family were strong messages as I read "Chasing The Sun", the first book of a new series, Land of the Lone Star. Basing the story in Texas, near the end of the Civil War, gave this Christian romance the ingredients that made it easy to read during my weekend.  I would recommend this book for readers looking for a historical adventure with value-based themes. 

THE AUTHOR

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over eighty novels, both historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana, and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Visit Tracie's Web site atwww.traciepeterson.com and her blog atwww.writespassage.blogspot.com.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of this book by Bethany House Book Reviewers so that in return that I would give an unbiased review.

Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

My first impression of this small book was surprise.  I expected a large volume to review regarding "A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity" as I read Primal, the latest book by Mark Batterson.  


What would your faith look like if it were stripped down to the simplest elements possible? Storyteller and pastor Mark Batterson explores the four foundational principles of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion (heart), wonder (soul), curiosity (mind), and power (strength)---and supplies a new reformation beginning for your generation, your church, and your life!

Mark begins his story within the catacombs of ancient Rome while he and his wife were on vacation.  The following can quickly sum up what is the primal essence of Christianity:

    "As I tried to absorb the significance of where I was, I couldn't help but wonder if our generation has conveniently forgotten how inconvenient it can be to follow in the footsteps of Christ.  I couldn't help but wonder if we have diluted the truths of Christianity and settled for superficialities.  I couldn't help but wonder if we have accepted a form of Christianity that is more educated but less powerful, more civilized but less compassionate, more acceptable but less authentic than that which our spiritual ancestors practiced."

The four foundational principles are easily outlined and the heart, the soul, the mind and the strength are each defined with stories and scriptures.  

One of my favorite remarks in this book is, "We don't see the world as it is; we see the world as we are.  So wonder, or the lack thereof, simply reveals what is in our souls.  If our souls are full of wonder, then life is wonderful.  Why?  Because you see with your soul. And when you see with your soul, everything becomes a reflection of the glory of God."

If you are a Christian, I believe this book will renew your spirit to retain your soul.  If you are searching and questioning then I suggest reading this book.  One thing I like about Mark Batterson is his honesty and his encouragement to ask questions.

I give this book 5 stars for reminding us of the 4 basic principles of living we each need.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for sending me a free copy of this book to review.