As I was prepping for marriage, I wanted to make sure that I was prepared as I could be. In order to be prepared, I read numerous books over marriage, relationships and families. As a result, the thing I was encouraged to do was to put the books away and begin to ‘study my wife to be’. I decided to take the advice to ‘study my wife to be’, but I still wanted to learn from other experiences. The book I enjoyed most was by Mark and Grace Driscoll entitled ‘Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship & Life Together.
The part that separated this book from a number of others that I had read was the flat out honesty of the areas in their marriage that they had failed. I felt as if I were peering into the private journal of two people that loved each other, but were each holding back a piece of themselves. Mark and Grace share their struggles with communication, sex, work and numerous other areas of their lives. They shared the experiences of a marriage that in today’s society would typically crumble, but walked through the process of how they redeemed their marriage. It was humbling to read how they journeyed with each other through the years where the marriage was dry to now where it’s the best it has been.
As a 2.5 week newly wed, I was blessed to read this book before I was married to catch a glimpse of the different areas that I indeed need to study my wife. I think Andy Stanley said it best when asked about this book ‘Whether engaged, newlywed, or veteran, Real Marriage will serve as an invaluable resource.’

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.”

Joel Beeke makes very clear that this book is intended for Christian’s parents who find their dependence in God and not their own abilities in raising children. Doesn’t mean non-christian parents shouldn’t read this book, I would actually strongly encourage them to. I believe anyone who reads this book will find some timeless truths. Due to the fact he writes this book using timeless Truth (the Bible) to support his claims. This book isn’t like most parenting books one might read. Even though the book stresses the parents need to depend on God is raising children, it does not excuse them from being active parents and playing a significant role in their child’s development.
Beeke divides his book into 4 main sections. The first section focuses on the theological foundations of parenting found in the Scriptures, and how parents should raise their children in the covenant of grace. It is clear Beeke holds to a reformed view in his writing of these chapters. The second section examines the role the parents have in child rearing as prophets, priests, and kings in the homes. I would say the second section (Chapters 6-14) provide the basic framework for parenting. The 3rd section Beeke does an excellent job of communicating some practical ways on how to teach, train, and rear children. In the final section he shifts the discussion towards raising teenagers. Overall a book I believe every parent should read. Will we ever be perfect parents? No. But that isn’t an excuse to not become better parents. Read this book, I promise it will encourage you to become a better parent.

Throughout my walk with Christ I have heard people tell me that the Christian life is a marathon not a sprint. But I always had a little kickback when I heard such statements, because even in a marathon you eventually stop running. Well I believe Billy Graham is a man who never stopped running, and will continue to run right into the gates of heaven. He ran for the Cross his entire life, it was more than a marathon to him. And in his latest book, “Nearing Home” we see proof of just that. The one thing I loved about this book is Billy realizes he is nearing home, but just like a young boy nearing home for a feast he is running all the way. Some men impart wisdom from countless books and knowledge they have attained, others from a life full of experiences, and every once in awhile we come across rare men who have wisdom to impart from us from both arenas, and in this book nearing home, Billy Graham offers us just that!

Love & Respect

If you are looking for a devotional to grow closer with your husband or wife this is the book grab. While I have not gotten the opportunity to go through this devotional with my significant other, I’m looking forward to when I’m married. The Love & Respect book series is built on a simple premise. The wife needs the husband to love her and the husband needs the wife to respect him. Using this formula, Dr. Eggerichs has put together a 52 week devo that husbands and wives to do together! Covering topics that Eggerich has developed in the main book and tackling other issues that could hinder the most sacred relationship. With Forgiveness, Trust, Fighting, Anger and Money it is a wonderful tool to in your marriage. I would encourage all married couples to grab this devotional and begin to walk through it together!

From Visioneering to Next Generation Leader, and now Enemies of the Heart and everything in between Andy Stanley can write. Or at least put his sermon series into great book form. Regardless of how he does it, he hits home runs, and he did it again with his latest book.
In the Enemies of the Heart Stanley kicks it off with heart checking the reader right away by asking, “How is your heart?” He then explores the deeper things, and perhaps the potential dangers that could arise by allowing things to remain unresolved in our heart.
He attacks 4 key emotions in this book that we all deal with, offers great discussions about how we should deal with it, and causes us to reflect on how we could navigate difficult waters in the future.
Those four emotions are guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy. In this book Stanley gives practical advice on how we might deal with these four emotions in a healthy manner. And perhaps the most beneficial approach to tackling these emotions is to do so Biblically, and he does just that! To take Stanley’s advice given in this book would only equip the reader to be more effective in handling the enemies of the heart, result in living in functional and healthy relationships, and perhaps even restoring those relationships that are unhealthy and dysfunctional. Bottom line, if you, or someone you are in any type of relationship with struggle with guilt, anger, greed, or jealousy than this book is for you.

Content was great. Attention holding power of the book not so great. I was bored. At the same time I agreed with several points Bennett addresses throughout the book. Great read for a young man. Not horrible, just not going to be a New York Best Seller either. He did do an excellent job of shaping the book into 6 main categories, and I felt he did a quality job on elaborating those categories. The first category was Men at War. The battles we all face as men. The second category was Men at Work, this was probably my favorite, and to me I felt the most applicable to the working man for sure or the aspiring working man for that matter. The third category was Men at Leisure, or he also included play and competition here. I definitely see several young men identifying with this chapter. The fourth category was Men in the Polis (Greek word for community). Which I think several of young men struggle with being involved with the community. The fifth category was Men with Women and Children. If you don’t read the whole book, and you are aspiring to be a married man or already married, please at least read this chapter. The final category was Men in Prayer and Reflection. I found irony that this is the last topic Bennett addressed because this is usually the last category we as men focus on, unfortunately. All in all I think you should at least read Chapter 2 and 5.  I really enjoyed the way he used stories to tie his points together, Great conversations were had as a result of some of the content in this book. I will say this, I think his book on Virtues was much richer.

As I read through several of these quotes I couldn’t stop but wonder how timeless they are. How priceless they’ve become. Although several things in this Country of ours have changed since Rev. Billy Graham first started his ministry, God’s Word hasn’t. It remains timeless, unchanging, faithful, and true. That is why these quotes are so powerful, they are words spoken from a man that has spent a lifetime in the Bible. These quotes are evidence of that. Every book he wrote, everything he said, and every message he preached was an overflow of His relationship with Jesus. These are the type of men I want to listen to. Here is a list of some of my favorite Billy Graham quotes, “We do not need a new moral order; the world needs the tried moral order that God handed down at Sinai.” “There are things which money cannot buy; which no music can bring; which no social position can claim; which no personal influence can assure, and which no eloquence can command.” “How can you keep your min wandering when you pray? Remember what you are doing: talking to God. If you had the opportunity to talk to the president, I doubt if your mind would wander. We have the privilege of talking to someone far greater: the King of Kings.” The book is absolutely packed full with great nuggets. Thank you Lord for a man who has showed us what it look like to live well, and even more importantly to finish well!

Out of a Far Country is a phenomenal true story of God’s grace. A modern day story of the prodigal son, and the return of this prodigal son seems to be an answered request from a Mother who devoted herself to being a prayer warrior for her son. But this Mother at one time was a prodigal son herself. I honestly could not put this book down. I literally read it in one sitting. This story is all about two people who at one point in their life struggled, were hurting, and only found hope in the grip of God’s grace. From a mother who struggled in her marriage and  had suicidal thoughts to a homosexual drug dealer, this story is all about how God rescues them both from bondage and it is gripping! I mean you couldn’t write stories this well, Hollywood couldn’t even script this. I guess that goes to show how creative our Creator is and what happens when we allow Him to write the stories of our lives. He is a Divine Author, and it is evident He has amazing plans for the Yuan’s. This book is living proof that God answers prayer and that miracles still exist today.  The fact that Christopher and his mother are where they are today can not be credited to anything except the hand of God.

“I received this book for free through Waterbrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.”

Ian Cron’s “Jesus, The Cia, My Father and Me: A Memoir of Sorts” will emotionally grip you! He navigates the reader through his life’s adventure. Beginning with his childhood, which to my amazement he recalls with great clarity. He then takes the reader through his teenage years on into adulthood. Cron does an amazing job with being descriptive in his writing, making the reader feel as if they were reliving these moments with him. The book is laced with humor, hurt, and honesty. The painful past of his relationship with his father, the redeeming hope found in a savior, and the story of his life that was clearly not written by himself, makes this book well worth the read.

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

For years I was one that chose the safe path through life. Taking risks was something that I didn’t really think I needed to do in my life. Over time I have started to realize that not taking risks was actually holding me back from a life that is worth living! Erwin McManus takes us on a journey that he calls the Barbarian way. He describes that a life following Jesus is anything but the safe path. As he walks you through portions of his life and portions of the bible he shows you firsthand what a life following christ looks like. It is anything but safe, it’s about unleashing yourself into a life and a faith that we are all meant to live!

As I read through this book I was challenged with how taking the safe path at times has let me to not be as bold as I need to be in certain areas. To love Christ and to follow him is not the safe path. At times in the US being a christian might seen like it’s the safe path, because everyone is a ‘Christian’. But to truly follow Christ you have to be willing to ‘Not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind’. To say that is one thing, but to actually live that out is taking a huge risk. You risk looking like a fool in front of friends, co-workers, fellow students and for some family. Unleashed showed me a few areas that I was taking risks in, but it also challenged me to not be one of those christians that was simply a talker, but one who actually followed through with his beliefs. There have been numerous times in my life where I have simply talked the talk, but haven’t walked the walk. I was reminded of the complacency that I had once found myself in and was a great reminder of what I needed to look out for.

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