Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris

Genre- Christian Living/Spiritual Growth

Why Church Matters: Discovering Your Place in the Family of God by Joshua Harris

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2004, 2011

Number of pages- 140

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $13.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-384-9

Church is an important place for Christians, to help us grow and use our gifts.  In this book Joshua Harris shows us how to find the right church and how to worship when we are in church.

This book includes:

• How to get the most from the our day of worship
• Ten questions to ask when choosing a church
• Why we need a local church

About the author-  Joshua Harris has written books on dating, marriage and other topics.  He is a senior pastor in Maryland at Covenant Life where he lives with his wife and children.

My thoughts- I have read several of Joshua Harris’s books before and enjoyed them, so I was eager to read this one as well.

This is such a short book that it doesn’t take very long to read.  I enjoyed reading Chapter Five, “Choosing Your Church.”  We shouldn’t be going from church to church each week and this chapter lists and explains ten questions we can ask to help us choose the best church for us.

The problem I had was in Chapter Six, “Rescuing Sunday.”  Right away in this chapter Joshua Harris mentions that he thinks Christians need not keep the Old Testament Laws about the Sabbath.  I thought we were supposed to keep all ten commandments.  Does this mean that we shouldn’t follow the other nine commandments?  I sincerely hope not.  Our world would not be the same.

I would recommend this book as a guide for picking a church, but beyond that I would keep what you know about the Bible and believe in mind as you read this book.   

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Why Church Matters by Joshua Harris for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” 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.

The Voice New Testament: Step into the Story of Scripture

Genre- Bible/Other Translation/Study

The Voice New Testament by Ecclesia Bible Society

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 413

Age Group- For those who can read

Description of Book- paperback, list price $6.99, ISBN 978-1-4185-5076-9

The Voice is a result of 27 Bible scholars, 51 writers and 36 other contributors getting together to bring us a work of literature.  This version has song, poetry, truth and wisdom to bring you to God with your whole being.

Included is:

• Four different reading plans for Advent, Lent and Ester, in 24 weeks, and daily readings for personal growth
• Notes with a topical index
• Screenplay format to identify speaker and dialogue

and more.

My Thoughts- I was very excited to receive this book.  It is important to me to try different versions of the Bible, so I can find the version that helps me learn and understand the most.  And I believe I have found a version that I am proud to have on my bookshelf and to share with others when they ask me for a good version of the Bible.

What makes this version so good is the use of today’s language, identification of who is speaking, and extra information which gives the reader more.  This Bible is one that I can sit down with and read without becoming disinterested.

Sometimes I feel this version reads too much like a novel, but then as I read on I am awed and inspired and I want to continue reading.

I highly recommend this Bible for everyone.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Voice New Testament by Ecclesia Bible Society for free from the publisher through the BookSneeze 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.

Diviner by Bryan Davis

Genre- Christian Fantasy

Diviner by Brian Davis

Series- Dragons of Starlight, Book 3

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 427

Age Group- Young Adult, 13-16

Description of book- softcover, list price $9.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-7183-3

The suspense is growing as Koren, the latest Starlighter, decides to decides to use the Exodus star to help her people and become free from the dragon king, Taushin.  Will Koren become free from Taushin and help her people or will she jeopardize all the humans on Starlight?

Jason and Elyssa are learning more about Taushin’s plans and how the humans might need to have an alliance with the other dragons to be saved.  Elyssa learns that her diviner powers are linked with the Exodus star.  Will they be able join with the dragons to save the humans or will the dragons stick together?     

Please go here to see my review of Starlight, the first book in the series.

Please go here to see my review of Starlighter, the second book in the series.

About the author- Bryan Davis lives in western Tennessee where he lives with his wife and seven children.  He has written the series, Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, and Echoes from the Edge.

 

My thoughts- This has been by far the best book in the series.  The only negative which I can find (which is a really big one), is that a day after I finished the book I couldn’t remember what I had read and I don’t have much of a desire to read it again.  It is really too bad, because I really did enjoy reading and learning about how Koren, Elyssa, Jason and the dragons worked together to work against the dragon, King Taushin, and other dragons.

 

I do wonder if there is going to be another book, this one ended with loose ends.  I want to learn what happens between Koren and King Taushin, Elyssa and Jason, and the dragons in the humans world.

 

I recommend this book, because it is the next one in the series and it is good as it is being read.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Diviner by Bryan Davis for free from Zondervan.  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.  All links were current when posted.

Culture Shift by R. Albert Mohler JR.

Genre- Christian Living/Practical Life/Contemporary Issues

Culture Shift: The Battle for the Moral Heart of America by R. Albert Mohler JR

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2008, 2011

Number of pages- 185

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $12.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-381-8

In this revised and expanded edition Dr. Mohler shows us how our world is changing culturally. 

He talks about:

• politics
• terrorism
• education
• dishonesty
• abortion
• technology
• atheism

and more with clarity and passion by using the Bible and other sources.

This book will help the reader understand how our culture is transforming into faithlessness, increased immorality, and rejection of the absolute truth.  

About the author- Dr. R Albert Mohler JR. writes regularly on AlbertMohler.com and is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He has been quoted in many newspapers and has been on different news shows.  He lives in Kentucky with his wife and children.

My thoughts- Once I got passed the first five chapters on politics (not something I’m into), this book was very interesting.

Chapter ten was the best chapter.  Being called, “Are We Raising a Nation of Wimps?” this chapter was all about how parents are over protecting their children.  As a parent, I can see how easy it would be to constantly protect children, but I know that I need to trust my children to God and let their lives progress with me looking on.

The chapter on dishonesty was eye opening.  It has become so easy for us as a society to lie outright or stretch the truth.  It reminds me of the father in the Swiss Family Robinson who talked about telling the truth even when joking.  I am making sure we use that philosophy in our lives.

All in all I would recommend this book.  It has a little bit of everything for everyone from politics to education to technologies.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Culture Shift by R. Albert Mohler JR for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” 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.