The 5 Money Personalities by Scott and Bethany Palmer

Genre- Family & Relationship / General / General

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 186

Age Group- Adult

Description of Book- paperback, list price $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-6478-7

Most couples argue about money at some point during their marriage.  The arguments can turn to fights and even divorce.

In this book you will read anecdotes, take a couple of quizzes, and learn how to work with your spouse to have a wonderful money relationship.

In just 90 days you will learn about:

• Your Money Personality.
• How your Money Personality works with your spouse’s.
• What financial infidelity looks like.
• How to fight fairly.

The 5 Money Personalities will help you get to the root of the problem, fix it, and be stable for years to come.

Author- Scott and Bethany Palmer live currently live in Colorado with their two young sons.  They are regulars on national TV and radio shows.  They launched “The Money Couple” to help couples bring their love and money together.

My Thoughts- I learned a lot from reading this book.  One of the most important things I learned was that although my husband and I have opposite money personalities, we can still have a very strong relationship.  We need to have a vision and work on the Huddle once a month to make our relationship stress free.

I think that every married couple should work on this book together, because we all know that money is one of the main causes of problems in a marriage.  Every church should make this book a requirement for couples planning their weddings.  We need to know about ourselves and the money relationship more than we need to know about our spouse’s.  This book will help you know yourself.

Please buy a copy of this book and do it with your spouse or spouse-to-be.  You will be better stewards of your money, because of it. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Five Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language by Scott and Bethany Palmer 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.

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett

 

Genre- Christian Living

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 244

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $14.99, ISBN 978-0-307-72992-7

So many of us have been hurt by Christians.  Is there a solution and a way to make the hurt not happen again?

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People shows ways  to help those who are hurting.  It also discusses ways to show those who have done the damage what what they shouldn’t have been doing.

Topics discussed are:

• How churches are unfriendly towards its own members.
• The use of fear to try to gain new members.
• Christians using their own languages to talk to unbelievers.
• Strength in obedience to God.
• The knowledge on how to get rid of legalism and moralism.

Excerpt from this book.

About the author- Dave Burchett and his wife live in Texas.  He began his career as a disc jockey and moved into sports broadcasting.  He is a blogger on www.Crosswalk.com and www.theFish.com.

My thoughts-  This book is needed in today’s society as so many people are leaving the church, because of the Christians within.

We need to let the sinners in.  We need to make them feel welcome.  I’m glad that I go to a church where I am welcomed for who I am.  I would like to go to different churches that are not “sinner-sensitive churches,” so I could help them from the inside out.  I want all of God’s children to feel welcome, not just the “perfect” ones.

“Fear-based Christianity” and speaking to unbelievers using the Christian language is not the way to go.  People who try to gain followers that way really make me shudder.  They really need to read this book.

All Christians and nonbelievers need to read this book, because we would understand what needs to be done and how to do it.  Please find a copy.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage by Dave Burchett 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.

Duplicate This!: Showing Your Friends How to Live Like Jesus by Andy Braner

Genre- JUVENILE/NONFICTION / Religion / Christianity / Christian Living

Series- Invert

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2008

Number of pages- 272

Age Group- Older Juvenile and Young Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $12.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-27754-5

Jesus wants us to make disciples of others.  Duplicate This! shows the reader the basics of discipleship and how to make a disciple.

There are many spiritual questions your friends may have and this book will help you be ready.  Some of the topics in the book are:

• What are the requirements for being a disciple?
• Can males and females disciple each other
• Do prayers work?
• Do we have to go to church?

Sample from the Book!

About the author- Andy Braner speaks at camps and conferences for kids all over the world and is the director of Kanakuk Colorado Kamp

My thoughts- Andy Braner did a great job of combining his stories and life with the knowledge of how to disciple to and with others.  One of the best points that he made was to basically not rant and rave Christianity at the person you are discipling to, it is better to walk the walk.

I enjoyed the chapters on prayer, finding an accountability partner, how to love others as yourself, and needing good Bible studies.  I didn’t agree with his way of giving tithes and his chapter on the Bible was too radical for me.  I think the Bible is something important to learn from and we can really use it in today’s world.

I do think this book has important ideas about discipling that everyone needs to know.  I recommend this book, because it conveys the ideas well, so check out this book and others in the Invert series.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Duplicate This! by Andy Braner 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.

The Radical Question/A Radical Idea by David Platt

Genre- Christian Living

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 126

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- hardback, list price $9.99, ISBN 978-1-60142-489-1

There are two books in one this book. 

The Radical Question  is an introduction to the challenge set forth by David Platt, “What is Jesus worth to you?”

Radical Idea is an introduction to Radical Together, which shows readers that the church is for people not performances or professionals.

Excerpt from this book.

Website for the Book

About the author- David Platt currently lives in Birmingham with his wife and their children.  He is the pastor of the Church at Brook Hills.  He is the author of Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream and Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God.

My thoughts- I have read some of David Platt’s work and I was excited to be able to read this book.  I was disappointed though, because $9.99 is an awful lot of money to pay for a snippet of Radical and Radical Together.  On the other hand, there is just enough written that I wanted to read more.  I wanted to read the whole books.

I learned a lot about how David Platt thinks about how we should minister as Jesus did and how our churches should be for the people and not the weekly performances or worship bands.

I just wish that these two books in one, had been the two whole books (including a workbook).

This book really wasn’t for me as it left me wanting the complete versions and the price is so high.  It might be the right book for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Radical Question/A Radical Idea by David Platt 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.

Call of a Coward: The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife by Marcia Moston

Genre- RELIGION/Christian Life/Spiritual Growth

Published by- Thomas Nelson

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 184

Age Group- Adult

Description of Book- paperback, list price $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8499-4730-8

Marcia Moston never wanted to go on a foreign mission.  Her husband wanted to go to Guatemala.  She fought against the trip, but she knew that God was leading them and would be there for them.

They lived in a Mayan village and later they went on a mission trip to Vermont.  Marcia Moston learned that God is the same today as he was in the times of Jonah, Gideon, and David- persistent.

Call of a Coward is both humorous and thought-provoking and will show you how God is always with us and how our attitudes can change.

Author- Marcia Moston currently lives in South Carolina with her husband.  They have five grown children.  She is a winner of the 2010 Women of Faith Writing Contest.

My Thoughts- I have often thought about what life would be like if our family were missionaries.  Marcia Moston has helped me see what life as a reluctant missionary is like.  It may be difficult, but as time goes by life gets better.

I enjoyed the detail and how much God was truly involved in the Mostons’ life.  My younger sister went on a trip to Guatemala and to some of the places the Mostons went.  It was neat seeing these places through the eyes of different people.

One thing I would really would have liked to know about in this book are the years they spent in Guatemala and Vermont.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  I feel as if I have the knowledge necessary to be a missionary whether it be in another country or in the United States.  Please find a copy today.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Call of a Coward by Marcia Moston 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.

The Blue Door by Christa Kinde

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/General

Series- Threshold Series

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 272

Age Group- 11 and up

Description of book- hardback, list price $14.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-72419-3

Fourteen-year-old Prissie is prepared for a hot, boring summer, since her friend lives far away and her brothers are always rowdy.  She is looking forward to going to the mailbox daily, where she can visit with the mailman, her friend, Milo.

One day she sees a young boy watching her as she is on the way to the mailbox.  She doesn’t know he is an angel (she’s not supposed to be able to see him). 

By being able to see Koki, she soon learns of the other angels in town.  There is a spiritual battle beginning and she will have a part in it, only she and the angels don’t know what it is.

Excerpt from the Book!

About the author- Christa Kinde currently lives in California with her family.  She has written fifteen volumes in the Women of Faith study guide series  She has also written study guides and workbooks for authors such as Max Lucado.  Her website is www.christakinde.wordpress.com. 

My thoughts- I don’t know a lot about angels and all the different kinds there are, but this book was tastefully written.  I have read several books recently about humans and angels, and they included romance and high infatuation, so this again was tastefully written.

I’m glad I started this book early in the day, because it was hard to put down.  And towards the end of the book I wanted to keep reading to learn why Prissie can see the angels and what purpose she will serve.

The only part about this book I didn’t like was the infatuation Prissie had with Milo.  I don’t think middle-grade readers need to read about characters who have feelings for older men.

I enjoyed this book and I’m sure young women will as well.  I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Blue Door by Christa Kinde for free from DJC Communications.  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.

Perfectly Unique: Praising God from Head to Foot By Annie F. Downs

Genre- Juvenile Fiction/Religious/Christian/General

Published by- Zondervan

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 240

Age Group- 13 to 18

Description of book- paperback, list price $9.99, ISBN: 978-0-310-7234-6

 

 

Are you confident with your body or are you, as many of us are, struggling with the way God made you? 

Annie F. Downs has written this book using many personal anecdotes and the experiences of friends and family.  She has taken important parts of our bodies, like eyes, ears, and knees and puts them each in their own chapter.  After a thorough discussion each chapter ends with questions, Bible verses to read, and ideas and activities to make the discussion concrete in your mind.

Excerpt from the Book!

About the author- Annie F. Downs currently lives in Tennessee and is a blogger, speaker, teacher, and writer.  She enjoys writing books for young women in high school and college.  She is on Facebook and www.AnnieBlogs.com.

 

 

 

 

My thoughts- I took a lot of notes while reading this book, because there was a lot of information which I wanted to remember.

I thought Annie F. Downs had a good idea when she described different ways to make a unique me from my head all the way down to my feet.  I never would have given much thought to thinking of what my shoulders and knees can do for God.  I also enjoyed all the personal stories.  They are written so well that young women, 13 to 18, will relate to them and understand how to be happy with what God has given them.

I loved the recipes and extras in the appendix.  The “truth and lie” cards will help all to know the truth.  This is a book I would have liked to read when I was a young woman and I will pass it on to my daughter when she is 13.  Please pick up one today.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Perfectly Unique by Annie F. Downs for free from DJC Communications. 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.