Why Men Hate Going to Church

I received Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow by mistake from Booksneeze. They were nice enough to let me keep this book and send me the correct book I requested. The book is written in a way to help men realize the excuses they're making for not attending church, while helping women realize they contribute to the shortage of men in churches. Murrow goes on to explain how the churches have become 'feminized' and tailored towards women. He goes as far as to say churches have been 'softened'.

Murrow explores why men make up less than 40% of those who attend church and what it is that drives men away from attending. He brings up many issues that churches of all denominations face, including failed leadership, churches that place themselves up on pillars and become ignorant of today's culture and lack of opportunities for male fellowshipwithin the church community.

This was an interesting book on an interesting topic.

Night with a Perfect Stranger

I received a copy of Night with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory from Net Galley for an honest review. Six years ago, businessman Nick Cominsky encountered Jesus the old-fashion way - in a face-to-face meeting. And the Christian life seemed a breeze...for a while. But now, having done everything he knows how to grow spiritually, he wonders his closeness with Jesus has gone. Burned out and hopeless, Nick wails his complaints to God during a late-night interstate trip. Then suddenly he runs out of gas - and finds Jesus along the roadside carrying a gas can. Jesus hops in the truck and offers answers Nick never heard in church....and a nighttime of adventures ensues beyond anything Nick could have imagined.

This is an easy read that keeps you hooked until the last page. It makes you think about what you've learned about Jesus and what you haven't.

Life In Spite of Me

I recently read Life In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After A Fatal Choice by Kristen Jane Anderson. She wanted to die. God had other plans. Overwhelmed by wave after wave of emotional trauma, Kristen Anderson no longer wanted to live. One January night, determined to end her pain once and for all, the seventeen-year-old lay across train tracks not far from her home and waited to die.
Instead of peace, she found herself immersed in a whole new nightmare.
Before the engineer could bring the train to a stop, thirty-three freight cars passed over her at fifty-five miles per hour. After the train stopped and Kristen realized she was still alive, she looked around and saw her legs ten feet away.
Surviving her suicide attempt but losing her legs launched Kristen into an even deeper battle with depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as unrelenting physical pain all from the seat of a wheelchair. But in the midst of her darkest days, Kristen discovered the way to real life and a purpose for living.
If you think your problems are bad this book will help put things into prospective. Nothing is so bad that it can't be worked through. I think Kristen shows this well in her book.
I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books.

Work Love Pray

I recently received a copy of Work Love Pray by Diane Paddison from Net Galley for an honest book review. The number of Christian women in todays professional workforce is increasing, and they are hungry for practical mentoring. They yearn to learn from someone who has climbed the ladder of success without sacrificing family or faith - something author Diane Paddison has done with excellence and grace.

The stories Paddison shares about her corporate, personal, and spiritual life, as well as the lives of other women like her, are both insiring and instructive, providing on-target advice and concrete examples of how to succed without feeling overwhelmed or compromised.

Full of practical, proven guidance that is both professionally viable and bibically sound, each chapter includes sidebars featuring pertinent facts from current research, resources relevant to the chapters topic, action-oriented "to do" lists, and other interactive material. Chapters also include questions suitable for discussion, making it an excellent resource for use in small groups.

This book gives great advice from someone who has 'been there done that'. She gives examples from her life and how she handled the situation - even when she didn't handle it the way she should. Paddison hopes that you can learn from her mistakes like she has. There are many stories of other women who have made it to the top while never compromising the values they hold dear. This is a great read for any women who works outside the home.

Heroes and Villains of the Bilbe

Heroes and Villains of the Bible: Real Stories, acutal Bible Text compiled by Tama Fortner is a collection of well-known Biblical events. The majority of the text is tacken directly from The International Children's Bible. This is a different kind of book than I was expecting. There are 50 well known figures presented by a short selection of Bible text to read, followed by a short lesson from the story. This book has great illustrations for young readers. Included in the book are 16 Old Testament heroes, 9 Old Testament villains, 17 New Testament heroes and 8 New Testament villains. Overall the book is a good choice for use at home.

Lead...For God's Sake!

I received a copy of Lead...For God's Sake! by Todd Gongwer via Net Galley. Steve Rocker, one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Kentucky's history, is about to enter into the most difficult season of his career. With expectations at an all-time high, his players have lost their will to win and their passion for the game; none of Coach Rocker's tried and true motivational methods are working, and he doesn't know why.

As the season continues to spiral downward and his home life begins to mirror the problems he's facing on the court, Coach Rocker stumbles upon a most unlikely mentor - Joe Taylor, the school's janitor, who seems to have the answers to all of Coach's problems.

Joe helps the Coach turn his season around and reconnect not only with his players, but his wife and children as well. He ultimately helps him realize that his true purpose in life is not to win games, set records, or achieve personal acclaim, but rather to influence others by leading from the heart.

This is a wonderful book that opened my eyes to what it truely means to live. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered why an I doing what I'm doing?

Game on

Game On: Find Your Purpose - Pursue Your Dream by Emmitt Smith is a great book! Emmitt is a true person of inspiration. If only we could all be as goal focused as he is. He is living proof that if you set your mind to something you can accomplish anything. His story is a rags to riches in true form. In his book he gives examples of how he made his dreams come true and you can too. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs some inspiration to get going. You don't have to be a football fan to enjoy the book by the way. I know very little about football and still enjoyed the book. I received this book from Tyndale Publishers for an honest review.

Ascent from Darkness

In Ascent from Darkness How Satan's Soldier Became God's Warrior by Michael Leehan the author tells about his twenty years of service to Satan. As a young adult, feeling abandoned by God and people, he turned to Satan for power and fulfillment. God was able to intervene and provide Michael the hope and light he needed in his darkest hours. Since the book is about a true story it makes it that much more intense. This is a book every Christian should read.

Hook, Line & Sinker

I received an electronic copy of Hook, Line & Sinker by Susan May Warren from Tyndale House Publishers for an honest review. In Hook, Line & Sinker, the annual Deep Haven fishing contest draws professional and amateur anglers from across the country, but this year, Ross Springer is determined to win the top cash prize. In fact, he has no choice. It's his last chance to leave a lasting legacy at Bethel College. He just never imagined his fundraising scheme would hook Abigail Cushman, the grad student who reminds him of all they'd had - and lost - every time she glances his way. Abigail Cushman may not know the difference between a bass and a trout, but how hard can it be to catch a fish? She's a quick learner, and she's certain her smarts can net her a win over Ross, the handsome charmer she's tried to forget since grief tore them apart. This book is very easy to get into and relate to. And it has the desired outcome I was looking for.