Spiritual Warfare by Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura (Review)

Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical & Balanced Perspective

By Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion / Christian Life / Spiritual Warfare

Published by- Reformation Heritage Books

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of pages- 124

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback (ISBN: 978-1-60178-284-7, $13.00)

Are you prepared to face and fight the battles you will have with the principalities and powers? 

Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura will help you prepare for the battle in Spiritual Warfare.  Their plans are based on Ephesians 6:10-20, which discusses the armor of God and how to use it.  Borgman and Venture use quotes from the Bible, commentaries from well known Christians, and their own views on how and why we should put on the full armor of God.

About the Authors-

Rob Ventura is currently a pastor in Rhode Island.

Brian Borgman is a pastor in Nevada.

My thoughts- I really enjoyed learning about how and why it is so important to wear the armor of God in Spiritual Warfare, by Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura.  I have read Ephesians 6:10-20 to learn about the armor of God.  I have also read other books, such as the fictional book, The Sword, the Garden, and the King, by Michael Phillips, which discussed God’s armor.  I have not however read a book that covered it in enough detail for me to truly understand why I really need to wear it and how to wear it.  This book was exactly what I needed, so I can grow into a strong Christian.

Usually when I read a book I don’t like reading a lot of long quotes from outside sources.  I did like it in this book, because it helped me to understand the importance of each piece of armor from different perspectives.  Part of the quote from Martin Lloyd-Jones about the spiritual world not taking holidays struck me as very important.  I am sure that many times I begin to let down my guard, because I think I have everything under control.  That is when the ever present spiritual world decides to zoom in and catch me off guard.  I know now that I always need to be on guard and I need to focus on God’s armor.

I enjoyed reading the parts about prayer, because I have seen how important it is to pray.  The part that encouraged parishioners to pray for their pastors was extremely important.  As I read it I realized that I often forget to pray for the pastors that I know.  It is something I need to remember to do.

I really enjoyed read and learning from Spiritual Warfare.  I highly recommend that you read it too.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective, by Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  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.

One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul (Review)

One Realm Beyond (Book One of the Realm Walkers)

by Donita K. Paul

(I received this book for review purposes.)

 

Genre- Teen Fiction

Publisher- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2014

Number of Pages- 416

Age Group- Young Adult and Adult 

Description of Book- paperback, $12.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-73580-9 

In One Realm Beyond, by Donita K. Paul, Cantor D’Ahma is ready to become a realm walker.  He leaves his mentor and goes through the portal to the realm where he will find the dragon who will help him on his adventures.

A mor dragon named Bridger finds Cantor and is determined to stay with him.  Cantor wants to find a different dragon.  They find that the realm is unlike what his mentor taught him.  It is a lot more dangerous and most of the Walkers Guild had become corrupt. 

He makes friends with Bixby and Dukmee, but will they be able to help Cantor?  Are they to be trusted?

About the Author- Donita K. Paul currently lives in Colorado.  She is a former teacher and has won multiple awards.

My Thoughts- One Realm Beyond, by Donita K. Paul, was an awesome book!  I could not stop reading it.  The dialogue were very well done.  I was able to laugh and cry with them.  With the seriousness of their various situations, it was great to have a comedian like Bridger. 

Bridger was not only an extremely talented shape shifting mor dragon, but he was very funny.  He would use his humor to diffuse situations and draw people to him, especially Cantor.  Cantor did not want Bridger as his constant.

Paul did a wonderful job of including the idea of God and the spiritual world as C.S. Lewis and Chuck Black did in their series.  There were many times that I would come across phrases about character and strength that really struck me.  They made me want to be stronger in the Lord, read His word, and be more like Him.  Paul has written a book which will be a classic for many generations.  The Lord has blessed her with a gift that she has fortunately shared with us, the readers.

I highly recommend that both teens and adults read One Realm Beyond, Book One in the Realm Walkers.  You won’t be disappointed.

Informational and Purchasing Links-

• One Realm Beyond -  http://www.amazon.com/One-Realm-Beyond-Walkers/dp/0310735807/
• Author Website - http://www.donitakpaul.com/

Participants’ links:

• Julie Bihn
• Keanan Brand
• Beckie Burnham
• Mike Coville
• Pauline Creeden
• Vicky DealSharingAunt
• Carol Gehringer
• Rebekah Gyger
• Janeen Ippolito
• Jason Joyner
• Carol Keen
• Krystine Kercher
• Emileigh Latham
• Jennette Mbewe
• Shannon McDermott
• Meagan @ Blooming with Books
• Melanie @ Christian Bookshelf Reviews
• Rebecca LuElla Miller
• Joan Nienhuis
• Nissa
• Donita K. Paul
• Audrey Sauble
• Chawna Schroeder
• James Somers
• Jojo Sutis
• Jessica Thomas
• Steve Trower
• Shane Werlinger
• Jill Williamson
• Deborah Wilson

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received a free copy of One Realm Beyond, by Donita K. Paul, to review from Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour and Zondervan.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.  I am part of CSFF Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.

Prophet on the Run by Baruch Maoz (Review)

Prophet on the Run: A Devotional Commentary on the Book of Jonah

By Baruch Maoz

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion / Christian  / Jonah

Published by- Shepherd Press

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 96

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback (ISBN: 978-1-936908-844, $5.99)

Can anyone escape God?  No.  Jonah is a perfect example of a person who tried to escape and failed, because God caught up to him. 

Prophet on the Run, by Baruch Maoz, was written as a devotional commentary for Christen who want to apply the lessons learned in the book of Jonah.  This book has seven chapters which contain Bible verses, information, a summary, prayer, and discussion questions.

My thoughts- I thought Prophet on the Run, by Baruch Maoz was a thought provoking book and I learned how important it is to listen when God speaks to me.  There were many times when God spoke to Jonah and he failed to listen.  It was only when he listened that God was able to help him learn and see the errors of his ways. 

There were many great parts to Prophet on the Run.  The ones I liked the best were the very involved summaries and thought provoking questions.  The summaries were so helpful when when I came to the end of each chapter.  I could really take away the most important parts of the chapter and spend time thinking about how they applied to my life.  After I spent time on the summaries, I could then answer the questions.  There were prayers in each chapter as well, so I spent time on them after I finished everything else in the chapter.  I learned that I should never turn down what God asks of me.

This is an important book for everyone to read and learn from.  I highly recommend it. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Prophet on the Run: A Devotional Commentary on the Book of Jonah, by Baruch Maoz, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  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.