All To Him

Awakening

2011-10-11T18:09:00.004-04:00

Fasting is something that many people can't imagine themselves doing. Prayer?... maybe... but not eating food for days at a time?! In "Awakening," a book by Stovall Weems, fasting and prayer is a means for Christians to reignite their life commitment to God and keep it strong and enduring while strengthening it at the same time. The book contains scripture that backs up all of key points that are mentioned. It also provides stories about people who have actually experienced such awakenings discussed. There are several ways to understand and apply fasting to your life instead of just reading about it in the book. How in the world does Weems suggest you fast from food for 21 days? It isn't just about a fast from food, there are many things that you can fast and Weems talks about several examples.

If you know a Christian that doesn't understand all the elements of fasting or desires to grow deeper with God, this could be great gift. Also, if you are looking to teach a study about fasting in a small group, it is definitely a book worth using. It presents a discipline that shouldn't be forgotten in a unique way and even provides application to those reading about it. I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

You're Fired!

2011-09-28T00:57:00.003-04:00

I have not watched TheApprentice in a very long time, but I did watch an interview with Donald Trumpon CNN a few days ago that sparked the memories of the show that helped makehim famous. Even if the The Apprentice had never aired, many people wouldstill know Donald as a very wealthy man. In the interview on CNN,Trump said he truly wasn't sure how much money he possessed, but surprisingly enough,the Donald is not the richest man in the United States. It doesn't matterhow much money he has though! In the eyes of many he DOES have money andthat is all that matters. They want to do whatever that can to work forhim and make some of that money themselves.

If youaren't familiar with The Apprentice, it is a show in which peoplefrom different backgrounds work together in teams and are given businessrelated tasks to complete. The leaders of the team that doesn't have thebest results (i.e. lowest revenue) are then interrogated in a boardroom withDonald Trump himself and two of his colleagues. Eventually, one ofthese leaders is "fired," which is similar to being voted off ofSurvivor. It is crazy to see what people will do in order to get the bestresults for their task. Lying, cheating, deceit, and more are all commonfactors that play into rising to the top in the show. In the end thesepeople are doing it all to please Trump in hopes of getting hired in the seasonfinale.

Thisnever happens in our daily lives, right? We never try to please anybodyin order to get ahead of the game or get the advantage. Yeah right! Whether it’s a teacher/professor, a boss, a friend, or a family member,you may remember a time you were trying to please someone - big or small. In reality, we don't have to please these people - that is not ourmandate. You may hear someone say that the only person you have to pleaseis yourself. That is not what we are called to do either. I will be straightforward(as Paul was when he wrote his epistle to the people in Galatia) when I saythat there is absolutely nobody (including yourself) you should seek approval fromother than God. It is easier said than done, but surely something to seekafter.

VERSE TO HIGHLIGHT:
"Obviously,I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing peoplewere my goal, I would not be Christ's servant." - Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

Do you walk in the plan God has for your life?

2011-03-07T19:43:00.000-05:00

God has a destiny for every single person on the face of the planet. There is a purpose for every single person on the earth. In Soulprint, Mark Batterson writes that everyone has a unique destiny, one as unique as their fingerprints – their Soulprint. The book is not one of those self-help books; instead it talks about the destiny that can only be fulfilled if we choose to walk in it. We have the free will to walk in or deviate away from God's will for our life. The book has an excellent Biblical example through David in the Old Testament that helps give real application for people who are interested in walking in the will God has for them and allowing Him to shape their lives through failure and success. There are also some Biblical words about difficult times in this life and explains why they happen. In conclusion, this book will encourage you to start NOW and begin to prepare for the destiny God has for you NOW. If you aren't living for the Lord NOW, when are you going to start? If you are striving to walk in that destiny or want to start, I recommend you pick up this book and start reading!

Book Review: Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

2010-12-26T22:37:00.002-05:00

In a time when adult expectations of teenagers are super low, this book is a great tool to encourage higher expectations. We as an age group aren't expected to generate any type of productivity (with the exception of school and sports achievements) until during or even after college. Alex and Brett Harris are twin brothers that believe teenagers can live beyond the culturally low expectations of today to launch something that expresses our passion with a purpose. In the book they support the idea that teenagers can and should DO HARD THINGS and be successful at them. This is definitely a book that every teenager should read, but it is also a book that any age group can read and get inspiration. It is an ultra easy read and the authors don't beat around the bush and they use practical and real life examples to help illustrate what they are trying to get across. If you are a youth leader browsing new studies, this book is a great option. The final chapter is themed around the Gospel and how Jesus did the ultimate hard thing for all of us by taking on the cross and the sin of the world, so that if we believe, we can have eternal life with Him in Heaven. This is an excellent way to wrap up an good book. If this theme would have been interwoven throughout the whole book, I would have given the book five stars, but that unfortunately isn't the case. Click here to go to the twins' site where you will find upcoming conferences they host as well as a blog that encourages those that accept the challenge to DO HARD THINGS.

Click here to purchase it through the publisher.

Book Review: Radical by David Platt

2010-12-24T18:11:00.003-05:00

The first time I can remember hearing about this book was at a conference over the summer that I attended to in West Virginia. I was with my pastor and some of my friends and we were browsing the Family Christian store. There it was on the shelf, probably the most challenging book I have ever read, Radical. Now don't get me wrong challenging doesn't mean bad. As of matter of fact, I like a challenge, especially if it pertains to my walk with Christ.

If you are a person who also likes I challenge, I definitely recommend this book to you. From the very beginning of the book, David Platt lays the groundwork that encourages the American church to turn away from the insipid lifestyle we have settled for. It calls for RADICAL acts of faith including, but not limited to, relying fully on God's power and taking the Gospel globally. He also stresses that the radical lifestyle he speaks of in the book is NOT optional, it is necessary and urgent! To top it all off he gives a challenge to the reader that includes prayer, reading the Word, sacrificing your money, and more. If you enjoy a challenging word that has the potential to transform you, I would definitely recommend this book to you. It is definitely not a book you just read, think about, and lay back on the shelf. We can read any amount of books like this one, but they do us no good until we actually put what they talk about into action.

Click here to purchase it through the publisher.