HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY!

Friday, September 25, 2015

When I assemble with Christians for worship I long for and expect to feel something. That something I felt when I first gave my life to Christ. I don't know what to call it. Maybe passion. Maybe a great joy that comes from feeling bathed in the grace of God.

I want to feel Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! Not holy moly.

I don't want to struggle with slapping my hands together in time with the worship leader.

I want to be moved with passion to sing praises to God.

To feel tears of joy in the corner of my eyes as I remember the grace of God.

I want to encourage and be encouraged by others like we are reminded to do in Hebrews 10.

Isaiah 6 says, In a great chorus they sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!"

Yes, I know it was mighty seraphim, each with six wings who sang like that. And I know it was because they saw the Lord sitting on a throne. And I know I'm not a mighty seraphim---not even close. And I know I couldn't stand to look upon the Lord. I know. I know.

But worship leaders have moved me many times by leading with passion and with deep reverence  and respect for the Holy things of God.

Secular sounding music and jazzed up tunes will never move me to HOLY-----just HOLY MOLY, what's happening?

GRIT TO GREAT

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

GRIT TO GREAT
How Perseverance, Passion,

And Pluck Take You From

Ordinary To Extraordinary 

By Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval

OVERVIEW: In this splendid book Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval talk about what basketball legend Michael Jordan, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, and billionaire Michael Bloomberg have in common. Each of these extraordinary individuals was utterly ordinary growing up—no one would have ever predicted their future success. They weren't considered brilliant, talented, or destined for greatness. They failed early and often. But each one had the steadfast determination, stamina, and resilience that propelled them to excel in their field. In fact, new research shows that the secret to success isn't some rarefied "It" factor—it's the 'grit" factor, And each and every one of us can possess it. Grit to Great shows you the real secret to success—and it is something every one of us can embrace and develop, whether you're nine or ninety.

AUTHORS: LINDA KAPLAN THALER is an Advertising Hall of Fame luminary and helped create many of the industry's most iconic campaigns, including Kodak Moments and the hilarious Aflac Duck. Linda was the co-founder and CEO of the Kaplan Thaler Group. She is currently chairman of Publicis Kaplan Thaler, and the coauthor of several national bestsellers, including The Power of Nice  and The Power of Small. She lives with her family in New York City. ROBIN KOVAL is the CEO and president of the Truth Initiative, the national public health foundation dedicated to achieving a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco. Previously a leader in the world of advertising and marketing, Robin is co-founder of the Kaplan Thaler Group, creators of the Aflac Duck and many other well-known campaigns, and was CEO of Publicis Kaplan Thaler. She is the coauthor of the bestsellers The Power of Nice and The Poser of Small. Robin lives with her husband in Washington, DC.

MY REVIEW: Yesterday when I got home from the gym this excellent book, Grit To Great was waiting for me at our front gate. I started reading it that same afternoon and read until I had to put it down. I wasn't able to get back to it until this afternoon, but when I did I read until I finished it. It's good. Very good!

This is not a big book. It only has eight short chapters but they are power packed. The writers keep your interest with the dozens of illustrations and stories about how people have gone from ordinary to extraordinary. These people did this with perseverance, passion, and pluck. Thaler and Koval want you to know that you can too.

I loved the stories of success. And yes, there are many definitions of success. And although I don't admire every person held up as being an example of success or the cause for which they had passion and grit, I do see them ALL as splendid examples of  how grit can move a person to great.

I like what author, James Patterson said, "You don't need to be brilliant or incredibly talented to become hugely successful. But what you do need is to read this book. Grit To Great teaches us all how to develop our grit quotient so almost any goal is possible."

(I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.) 

7 WOMEN AND THE SECRET OF THEIR GREATNESS

Monday, September 21, 2015

7 WOMEN
AND THE SECRET OF THEIR GREATNESS
By Eric Metaxas

OVERVIEW: What makes a great woman great? Seven Women explores the question by telling the captivating stories of seven women who changed the course of history.  Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Maria Skobtsova, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks, and Mother Teresa—each of these world-changing figures followed the call placed on her life, doing so with remarkable feminine dignity. Writing in his trademark conversational and engaging style, Eric Metaxas reveals how the extraordinary women profiled here achieved their greatness, inspiring readers to lives guided by a call beyond themselves.

AUTHOR: Eric Metaxas is the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Miracles, Bonhoeffer, Seven Men, Amazing Grace, and more than thirty other books. He is the host of the Eric Metaxas Show, a nationally syndicated radio program heard in more than 120 cities around the country. ABC News has called Eric a "witty ambassador for faith." He was the keynote speaker at the 2012 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, and he speaks to tens of thousands around the United States and internationally each year. Eric is a senior fellow and lecturer-at-large at the King's College in New York City, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

MY REVIEW: I agree with author, Karen Swallow Prior who said, "This might be the best book you read this year." Author and speaker, Anne Graham Lotz says that this book offers us a plumb line by which we can measure our faith, our courage to forsake personal comfort, boldness to take great risks, sacrificial compassion for others, and convictions to live—and die—by, just to name a few.

After hearing Eric Metaxas speak on television and at our church and having read three of his books: Bonhoeffer, Miracles and Seven Men, I knew I wanted to read this book—Seven Women. I was not disappointed. Metaxas has the ability to engage readers in the lives of these women and make you want to be a better person. When my daughter heard that I was reading this book she said, "I want to read it when you are finished. I hope many women will read this book and be inspired by it.

When I got my hands on this book I read the introduction and then turned immediately to woman number seven—Mother Teresa. I don't usually begin at the back of the book but I did this time. And yes, I already knew much about Mother Teresa but I wanted to know more. After reading that splendid story I then turned back to the front of the book and read about Joan of Arc. I knew almost nothing about this young woman. I was impressed! Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Saint Maria of Paris, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa. These are women who will inspire you. No, you will not be "on the same page" with all of these women. That would be impossible. But we can learn, be encouraged and gain something from all of them. This is a book that I recommend to women, young and old but also to men. Read it. You will be glad you did.

(I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publisher (Book Sneeze) in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

WAITING FOR MORNING

Friday, September 11, 2015

WAITING FOR MORNING
By Karen Kingsbury

OVERVIEW: "Kingsbury not only entertains but goes a step further and confronts readers with situations that are all too common, even for Christians. At the same time it will remind believers of God's mercy and challenge them to pray for America. The book...reveals God's awesome love and His amazing ability to turn moments of weakness into times of strengthening." (Christian retailing, Spotlight Review.)

AUTHOR: KAREN KINGSBURY is a USA Today and New York times best-selling author, with nearly twenty million books in print. Dubbed the "Queen of Christian Fiction" by Time magazine, Karen has written more than forty Life-Changing Fiction titles. Her emotionally gripping novels include the popular Baxter Family Drama, which encompasses the Redemption, Firstborn, and Sunrise series, as well as stand-alone novels such as Like Dandelion Dust, When Joy Came to Stay, and This Side of Heaven, Karen and her husband, Don, live in Tennessee and are parents to six children, including three adopted from Haiti.

MY REVIEW: Francine Rivers says it much better than I can. She said, "This book tears at the heart and shows, in no uncertain terms, why forgiving an enemy is the call of every Christian." I agree with Gary Smalley, best-selling author who said of Karen Kingsbury, "What a talent! I love her work."

Once you start reading, you will not want to put this book down. A drunk driver. A deadly accident. A dream destroyed. The book tells the story of Hannah Ryan a woman who realizes she has everything. Then a car pulls into Hannah's driveway, bringing two police officers...and devastating news that shatters her life forever.  A drunk driver causes her to have unspeakable feelings of sorrow and rage. He took her loved ones away. In her fury, Hannah shuts the Lord out of her life. She's determined not to forgive the drunk driver or God. You will be drawn into her life and her story and you will be "forced" to continue reading to find out if Hannah can rediscover her faith before bitterness destroys her.

I recommend this book not only because it is a fascinating read but because of the great lessons it contains.

(I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.)