You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be - Max Lucado (Review)

“Perfect Gift For the Graduate.”

So says the circular sticker on the cover Max Lucado’s You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be. A book to inspire our youth as they enter the “real world.”

What, at first, reads as another trite, sugary, book with pretty and uplifting words grows into an insightful, yes inspiring, and even challenging book that would be a great gift “for all.”

As the titled hints at, this book isn’t about striving and achieving all your hopes and dreams. Rather, it goes one better. Max reminds us that God has “packed us” with a specific set of skills for a “specific purpose.”

While many of us may say that we believe that, so few of us actually put in the time and make the effort to discover what that purpose is. Therein lies the challenge.

Don’t let the size of the book fool you. Unlike other self-help, motivational type books, Max cuts the fat and other fluffy extras and gets to the meat of the matter quickly.

God designed each and every one of us specifically and uniquely - as Max puts it, “You-nique.” We are not mass produced. No one has our complete set of skills, likes, and passions. Those are our and ours alone.

But what to do with these gifts?

Ah, another challenge set forth by God that Max reminds us.

In short: change the world.

How?

By being the best “us” we can be.

By sowing a seed and trusting God.

As Max puts it, “God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed.”

So, no Suzie, no Billy you can’t be ANYTHING you want to be, but you can be EVERYTHING God wants you to be.

Max Lucado reminds us how.
 
 
(as always, I have received a free copy of this book for review through Booksneeze.com.  This review is honest and my own, and was in no way influenced by anyone for any reason)

Jesus Manifesto - by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

With most books you read you get, at least, an idea or notion of what the books is going to be about.  What the author or authors wish to accomplish with the book.

This wasn't exactly the case with Jesus Manifesto.  Which isn't to say that it's  a bad thing...it's just different.  I read through the book twice and even during the second time around I wasn't sure where the book was going the first 1/3rd of it.

The second third of the book was much clearer and truly is what the book is about: Jesus.

Plain and simple the book is about Jesus Christ.  And maybe that's where I got confused.  I was looking for something more complicated...deep.  But as the authors put it, "you can't get deeper than Christ."

Unlike other books about Jesus, Sweet and Viola, don't give you hope of what Jesus can do for you, rather they provide the hope of following Jesus and discovering what he will do, and is doing, through you.

Sweet and Viola contend that the church today, and Christianity for that matter, has taken the eye off the mark: Christ.  Christ is not the center, the main point, the reason, etc.  They argue the Gospel, and Christ, have been reduced to that of a vending machine in the current "Youniverse" culture.

I would have to agree.

The authors give a compelling argument for putting Christ back into Christianity.  How Christ IS the point, IS the Truth, the light, and the Way.  Nothing else matters and yet, everything matters when you are focused on Christ.

The Christ they write about in Jesus Manifesto is one that you'd be hard pressed to find in church today, or anywhere "Christianity" is claimed.  And despite the flowery-sugar coated-goody-goody language (that you'll find in many Christian rock songs today) they use to describe Christ, their point (God's point perhaps) is well made.

Perhaps Christ has been forgotten when it comes to Christianity.  Perhaps we have deviated from God's true will for us all: to follow Him.

I wouldn't recommend this book for a new believer, new follower, or newly converted, but if your view of Jesus hasn't been challenged for awhile, this book might be just what you need.  You may not change your heart and mind, but you will think about it.

And really, in the end, that's all the authors can do...and they do it well.

(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 is accordance with the FTC's 16 CRF Part 255)

Friendship With God - Done.

I finished Friendship with God yesterday.

A few thoughts: an interesting read. "God" said quite a bit of thought provoking things. I am going to go through it one more time. I have found by reading a book that is thought provoking at least twice through (back to back) the information gels together better and a clearer understanding of the author's intent is attained.

That said, perhaps I can address (in part) the issue of whether or not Walsch's book is actually God speaking to him, through him, as Walsch claims and "believes." (I do not know the man, so I have no idea about what he truly believes or not.)

For now, this is what I will say.

Walsch is either:
1. Telling the truth - God really did speak to him and have him write these books.
2. Lying - God never spoke to him, these are just his writings and thoughts only, there was no divine involvement.
3. Crazy - Walsch believes God is talking to him, but it's really the voice in his head that he interprets as God.
4. Mistaken - It isn't God that's talking to him, but Satan posing as God.

Maybe there's more, but those are the four I can come up with now.

I can, with certainty, address number 3.

No. Walsch isn't "crazy" or mentally ill - at least not in respects to the books. Folks with mental illness that "hear" God's voice (or other voices for that matter) don't do so in such an organized manner. I could get into further description here, but you'll have to take my word for it. The thought process (that is evident in the book) is not a reflection of mental illness. Without divulging too much - yes, I do have experience working with people with mental illnesses. While I am not a doctor, I am very familiar with the behaviors of folks with mental illness. Especially on a day-to-day basis and daily living.

So, that leaves us with: God is talking to Walsch, Satan is talked to Walsch, or Walsch is lying.

I will reserve my own judgement until I am finished reading the book the second time through.

As always, thoughts are welcome...

"Friendship with God"

If you are not familiar with this book, it is one of Neale Donald Walsch's book - he's better known for the "Conversations with God" series.

(it's a book where he has a conversation with God, basically...there's a movie too)

Out of curiosity, I picked up "FWG" at 1/2 Price books.

Why not?

If at the very least it should be an interesting read. I'll let you know.

Any thoughts are welcome...

What's your donkey?

First off - apologies to Max Lucado. I really haven't given him much credit. Of the few books I had read of him, they weren't "deep" thinkers, and because of that I wrote them off. It came to pass, that a couple weeks ago I happened upon a vast collection of his books at the thrift store and they were...well, VERY cheap. So I snagged them up.

I'm glad I did, they have been good reads.

So, as for the donkey.

I'm reading: And The Angels Were Silent.

In one of his chapters he talked about the man with the donkey (the one that Jesus "borrowed" to ride in on). Max went on to ask: what's your donkey? What do YOU have that the Lord could use/needs/wants...

I like that - What's Your Donkey?

It can be anything, any talent, any dream, and object, any action...and I believe that we actually have MANY MANY donkeys in our stable, at our disposal.

Might not be a bad idea if we listed our donkeys...I'm guessing we'll discover that we have a lot more to offer than we give ourselves credit for.

Are you a Grinch?

How The Grinch Stole Christmas
by Dr. Suess

Every Who Down in Who-villeLiked Christmas a lot...
But the Grinch,Who lived just North of Who-ville,Did NOT!

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

But,Whatever the reason,His heart or his shoes,
He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Whos,
Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown
At the warm lighted windows below in their town.
For he knew every Who down in Who-ville beneath
Was busy now, hanging a mistleoe wreath.

"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer.
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his grinch fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"

For, tomorrow, he knew...

...All the Who girls and boys
would wake up bright and early. They'd rush for their toys!
And then! Oh, the noise!
Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!
That's one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!


Who doesn't love this story?

While I bet that few of us would claim, or admit that we are a Grinch, I know at times I can be "Grinchy."

Yesterday I was a bit Grinchy, saying Grinchy things at the other drivers: as clearly their minds weren't on driving.

It's during this time, that I usually refrain from going to malls. I used to love going to the malls because they were all decorated up and music was piped in and there was a feeling of Christmas. I didn't care if I was buying something or not, there was a just a feeling to GIVE that came over me, to make others happy.

Now? Now, there are moments, I just want to hole up and wait for this thing to blow over.
Where has that feeling gone?

As we get older physically do we need to get older mentally?

Jesus didn't think so.
In Matthew 18:3 he tells us we should stay like children spiritually.

Yes, things can be overbearing. NOISE NOISE NOISE!

But it isn't the NOISE that's getting to us, it's that we are an "adult." I would argue that being an adult during Christmas is the same as being The Grinch.

When Faith Takes Flight

Thanks to Mom, I have been reading our new friends books "When Faith Takes Flight."

Jim's, rather Mr. Walter's, book is not so much theology or theory as just some good practical teaching. I would say, it's a great book for new believers especially, but there are some good points for believers or all levels!

I am going through it a second time as is my new found habit for these types of readings.

But I must say, it would be worth picking up a copy (link to the right) as a gift or for yourself...no I have not found it at Half Price Books yet...need to get more readers on this one!

Jim, er Mr. Walters, has a nice writing style too. Easy, not all high and mighty, you kind of feel like he's just sitting there talking to you...I like that type of style. I'm not one for fancy words, or a lot of words to say a little - this post a perfect example!

Way of the Master: book review...

Way of the Master – book review

Quickly, if you don’t know Way of the Master (Now known as Wretched Radio) it’s the deal that Kirk Cameron made famous by signing onto it – though the brainchild behind it is Ray Comfort. (He kind of lucked out with the name, didn’t he?)

Truly, I thought that I would be…angry and upset at what they were “preaching” but I wasn’t.

Oh, I didn’t agree with everything in the book, I did agree with more than I thought I would.

For one, they too are a concerned about the “health and wealth” preaching that has been going on…at the time this book was published (my copy) was the beginning of Osteen and others rise…though they are never mentioned by name.

They too, believe that to truly understand Christ’s death on the cross, we must understand the Law…I agree there – but from there we separate, as they are part of the “you suck” camp.

By “You suck” I mean that they teach that we are all filthy, rotten, wretched people…in essence “we suck.” Even more, they believe THAT is how God sees us as well.

So, they teach the Law, in how suck we are and then the Grace given to us.

I used to disagree with their methodology, but then as the Better Half pointed out, perhaps some people need to hear THAT message…so, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense…some people need to hear that THEY SUCK…that is what is going to resonate with them.

I have other issues with them, but that might be for another time…one thing that did stick out to me, and I notice this about A LOT of books, was the lack of reference to Satan.

Yeah, I know, one feels weird even saying the name…I do, I like “the enemy” better. Satan sounds soooo…childish.

Oh, they talked about Satan trying to “sabotage” some of their efforts to preach, but not once did they talk about Satan and his trying to sabotage us into sinning (just like he did in the garden.) Sadly, that message escapes the pulpit too.

Anyway, not completely a tough book to read…certainly a thinker. I wouldn’t pay full price for it.

Ortberg's (not Ortenberg) "Everybody's Normal..."

I highly recommend this book.

It's not a secret that I like this man's writing. He is clever, and thought provoking. What I like too, is that he has great insight into how we, as humans, as "children of God", act, think, and behave.

This book is about our want of community, of belonging. About how, even now, if someone is "different" in any way from our so-called "group" that we usually don't let them in.

Also, that as individuals, we strive to be apart of something, something bigger than ourselves.

What I really liked was that he too, like Eldredge, talked about "fellowships." Especially that fellowships need not be big. But it does need to be transparent, and open, and patient, and loving...

To this day, we still believe BIGGER is BETTER. (same as we believe complicated is better too)

Funny, though, that some of his thoughts come from his, as he is a teaching pastor at Willow Creek - a church much like Eaglebrook.

Anyway, if you happen across it, read it. It's a quick read and well worth the small amount of time it will take - there are worse books out there, my shelf can attest to it.

Our Economic Stimulus Plan...

This past weekend, Half Price Books had a HUGE book sale. No, not just a huge book for sale, but a huge sale of books.

Actually, it was books, dvd’s, cd’s, LP’s etc.

NOTHING was over $3.00! Three is almost Free!

There were rows upon rows upon rows of everything…

Of course we picked up quite a bit of stuff:

Among some of our purchases included cookbooks, craft books, and gifts for others.

One thing I picked up was Billy Graham's Autobiography: Just as I am.

It's a hefty book.

I just started it last night...so far it's pretty interesting.

Even when he "recommitted" to God, he didn't FEEL much of anything...of course, he got ribbed at school about it - there was even a joke made about "here comes our Pastor Graham".

I honestly do not know much about the man. I was aware of him - you'd have to live under a rock not to - but I can't say I ever heard a sermon of his, and if I did, I don't remember it.

If I come across anything else I'll be sure to pass it along!

If you’ve heard a message from him, or learned something about/from him, pass it along!