THE GREAT SPIRITUAL MIGRATION

Monday, December 19, 2016

THE GREAT SPIRITUAL MIGRATION
How The World's Largest Religion Is 
Seeking A Better Way To Be Christian
By Brian D. McLaren

OVERVIEW: Drawing from his work as a global activist, pastor, and public theologian, McLaren challenges readers to stop worrying, waiting, and indulging in nostalgia, and instead, to embrace the powerful new understandings that are reshaping the faith. In The Great Spiritual Migration, he explores three profound shifts that define the change: Spiritually, theologically and missionally.

AUTHOR: Brian McLaren is a Christian thinker, author, and activist. A former pastor with a background in literature, McLaren is the author of more than a dozen books, an Auburn Senior Fellow, and a board chair of Convergence.

MY REVIEW: Brian McLaren is a brilliant writer. He has written more than a dozen books and I have a few of them. I read them because I want to know what he and those who think like him, believe. I have found that I disagree with much of what he thinks and writes about. And yet he says a lot of good stuff that isn't being said by anybody else. However, it isn't my job as a reviewer to write about my theology and how it differs with his.

I want to tell you what a few others think of this book, McLaren and his writing. Author, Diana Butler Bass said, "This is Brian McLaren's finest book; a beautiful exploration of a hopeful, joyful, mystical, and just faith that invites Christians to move from fear to love." Author, Richard Rohr wrote, "Anything written by Brian McLaren is always filled with insight, courage, and creative theology, refining the meaning of orthodoxy in our time." And author, Peter Enns said, "McLaren continues to have his finger on the pulse of a new kind of Christianity that challenges familiar and limiting structures of faith. A prophetic and winsome invitation for all to join the work of the Spirit in spiritual, theological, and missional transformation."

Now, what I think is that this is a book for you if you are a curious intellectual that wants to keep up with all the changes that are taking place in the religious world. This book will challenge you. Parts of it will upset you and make you angry. I liked some of it but I disagreed with much of it. McLaren thinks he has his finger on the pulse of a new kind of Christianity. If you think he does or want to investigate that kind of thinking—this is the book for you.

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

THE JOY MODEL— A Step-By-Step Guide To Peace, Purpose, and Balance

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

THE JOY MODEL
 A Step-By-Step Guide
To Peace, Purpose, and Balance
By Jeff Spadafora

OVERVIEW: In The Joy Model, Jeff Spadafora shares, step-by-step, the path he took (and had coached hundreds on) from smoldering discontent to a sense of joy and purpose in everyday life. From creating margin in our schedules that allows us to breathe easier and think more clearly, to discovering our true selves and going deeper into our relationships with God and other people. Spadafora shows how the interaction between our being and our doing provides the key to opening up a life full of joy, purpose, and fulfillment.

AUTHOR: Jeff Spadafora is the director of Global Coaching Services and Product Development for the Halftime Institute (www.halftime.org), where he trains and manages the global Halftime Coaching staff. Earlier, Spadafora was a management consultant for twenty years with a focus on executive education and development for Fortune 500 companies. He lives with his family in Evergreen, Colorado.

MY REVIEW: Most of us think about joy a lot. Especially at this time of year. We even sing about it, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come...". Thinking and singing about joy doesn't necessarily mean we are experiencing joy. At least, not in the way Spadafora talks about it."Drawing on his years as both a successful businessman and a Christian life coach, Spadafora has developed a concrete, practical model to show the path from joyless to joyful. Using his Joy Model and the steps in his M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, he clearly describes how to move from frustration and weary service to an over-arching, all-pervading joy of life in Christ.

I was especially pleased that Spadafora makes it clear that this joy he talks about is found in Christ.
However, knowing that doesn't mean that we automatically experience joy. There is much smoldering discontent and frustration in life and we all need help finding out way out of it. I promise you, these eleven chapters will provide a step-by-step guide to peace, purpose and balance. I agree with author Bob Buford, "The Joy Model maps the full route, providing a fully integrated pathway to deep and lasting joy and to greater peace and freedom, regardless of your age, gender, or income."

( I received this book from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

FIND YOUR MIRACLE

Friday, November 18, 2016

FIND YOUR MIRACLE
How The Miracles Of Jesus
Can Change Your Life Today
By Kerry & Chris Shook

OVERVIEW: In Find Your Miracle, New York Times best-selling authors Kerry and Chris Shook take a fresh look at nine of Jesus's most incredible times of healing and supernatural intervention. The Shooks unpack these moments in modern language to usher you into the pain, desperation, breakthrough, and miracle of each encounter. Plus they reveal a "miracle map" that connects that moment long ago to our needs today for revelation, transformation, and restoration.

AUTHORS: kerry Shook and his wife, Chris Shook are New York Times best-selling authors of One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life and Be the Message. They founded Woodlands Church in 1993, and it has since grown to be one of the largest churches in America. Kerry and Chris have been featured on NBC, ABC, PBS, Fox News, Life Today, and USA Today; and they have a television show that goes to more than 200 countries. The recent establishment of Woodlands Seminary came out of their desire to train the next generation to make a local and global impact. Kerry and Chris live in Woodlands, Texas.

MY REVIEW: What pastor, Mark Batterson said about this book is the main thing I like about it. He said, "As Chris and Kerry unpack the miracles of Jesus, they show us that miracles are not the focus. They are just the road signs pointing to God—to a real and personal relationship with Him." That's it! That's what this book is about. I also agree with pastor, Jack Graham who said, "Let's face it. At times we all need a miracle. Whether you are overwhelmed, feeling alone, or afraid, God is able to meet your needs. Every single one of them."

This is a good book giving an exploration of nine miracles of Jesus weaving the biblical narrative with contemporary real-life application, The sub-title is How The Miracles Of Jesus Can Change Your Life Today. I believe in miracles. I hope you do. This book will help you see HOW Jesus can change your life. I encourage you to read this book,apply the principles and watch God work in your life as maybe never before.

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

ANGELS

Thursday, November 10, 2016

ANGELS
Who They Are, What They Do,
and Why It Matters
By Jack Graham

OVERVIEW: Pastor Jack Graham walks you through Scripture, revealing the truth about angels and what they offer us: encouragement, counsel, confirmation of God's will, strength, protection, wisdom, companionship, and more. Focusing on practical application, Dr Graham separates fact from fiction and demonstrates that the main role of angels isn't to draw attention to themselves, but to point us toward Christ.

AUTHOR: Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation's largest, most dynamic congregations. He can be seen and heard across the country and throughout the world via PowerPoint Ministries, broadcast weekly on TBN, Daystar TV, and hundreds of radio stations around the country. Dr. Graham has a master of divinity degree with honors and a doctor of ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Deb, live in Frisco, Texas and have three grown children. Learn more at www.jackgraham.org.

MY REVIEW: In this book Dr. Graham chapter by chapter lays out fifteen key aspects of Christ's sufficiency made manifest by angelic dealings in the biblical account. I agree with Dave Stone, pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, "Jack Graham has done it again. His treatment of the topic of angels will move you from confusion to curiosity and on to clarity."

Graham uses stories to teach you a great deal about angels. After reading this book you will be on the lookout for angels. These stories told from a biblical worldview will help you experience a great connection to the unseen world. What attracted me to this book was the sub-title, Who They Are, What They Do, And Why It Matters. He doesn't disappoint. Believe me. After reading this book you will know much more about angels.

ANGELS is divided into four parts of equal value. My favorite or most needed is Part Two: The Protection of Angels as You Sustain Life's Blows. The chapters are: COMFORT When You Are Afraid, COURAGE When You Are in Danger, ADVOCACY When You're Excluded or Despised, SHELTER In the Midst of the Storm.

I like the words of author Christine Caine "This book is classic Jack Graham—great biblical teaching, wonderful stories, and terrific applications for readers."

(I received this books from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

ME TOO—Experience The God Who Understands

Thursday, October 20, 2016

ME TOO
Experience The God Who Understands
By Jon Weece

OVERVIEW: According to pastor Jon Weece, Christianity does not require you to smile through your pain, much less ask you to praise God for tormenting you. The truth is, God doesn't enjoy your suffering, but he does understand it—and he knows exactly how to fix it. That's what ME TOO is all about: A God who turned the ugliness of the cross into a spectacle of eternal beauty. An all-powerful Lord who will do the same with the pain of this world. An eternal Father who specializes in wiping away tears and putting you back together again. If you'll allow him.

AUTHOR: JON WEECE is the lead pastor at Southland Christian Church, a community of 14,000 Christ-followers in Lexington, Kentucky. He is the author of Jesus Prom. Prior to joining Southland, Jon was a missionary in Haiti for four years, where he met his wife, Alli. They have two children.

MY REVIEW: It's my opinion that we all need a great reminder of how wonderful God's love is for us. Jon Weece's splendid book provides that reminder. In twenty, brief, easy to read chapters Jon shows us over and over again the Father's love. He divides the book into three parts. Part 1 is The Cross—What Jesus Did. Part 2 Talks about The Church—What Jesus Is Doing. And part 3 explains The City—What Jesus Will Do.

I agree with what bestselling author, Kyle Idleman said about Jon Weece and his book, "He will help you see that you are not alone. God is with you, he understands what you are going through, and it's safe to be vulnerable and ask for his help."

We are not alone. We are all "Me too" people. "The cross is God's "me too" statement to a world saturated with suffering. And the church was designed to be a "me too" community where people could suffer together."

Get this book. You will be blessed. Read it. Share it with others. They will be blessed too.

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

TOO MUCH POWER

Friday, October 14, 2016

I'm a simple man. So my thoughts are simple.

Our central government has too much power.

"America's founders had it right---that strict limits on the power of the central government and strict protection of the individual are the keys to a genuinely free society."


The President of the United States, The Attorney General, The FBI and the list goes on are government people who no longer uphold the law but hold themselves ABOVE the law.

I have lost respect for our government because of the waste and corruption.

OUR GOVERNMENT IS TOO BIG.

If I was the only one who thought that I would just try to forget it.

But what amazes me is that almost everybody I know or hear talk about it feel the same as I do.

Here's the scary part.

The majority doesn't want to do anything to change it. And if a change is not made the government will just continue to grow larger and more corrupt.

'MY GOVERNMENT" would be "reduced to the barest essentials; an executive branch consisting only of the White House and trimmed-down departments of state, defense, justice and environmental protection; a Congress so limited in power that it meets only a few months each year; and a federal code stripped of all but a handful of regulations."

Maybe I'm dreaming the impossible dream and maybe my dream is so big that without God it is impossible. Ok. I'm counting on God. He's made other dreams of mine come true why not this.

I talk to Him about this and have for several years. I'm going to keep chasing this dream until God tells me to stop.

DREAMING AND PRAYING UNTIL THE END.

THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER IS A LIE

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Truth. I like the sound of the word. My mother taught me what it meant. I grew up with it.

Naive. I didn't know this word growing up. But I know now it is a word that describes me when I was young. Ignorant, immature, trusting. I like trusting best.

I trusted and respected all adults. Mothers, fathers, teachers, preachers, policemen (I didn't know any police women), crossing guards. I din't know any politicians but I would have trusted them.

One day the lamp flickered. I don't know when it was I only know it happened. Not suddenly. Not all at once. Slowly but surely the lamp went out and the flood lights came on.

I could see more clearly now.

But it wasn't a day for rejoicing. The joy of trust was gone. The spring time days of trust were gone.
Discernment was needed. I didn't know who to trust. I wasn't sure I could trust myself.

The newspaper was one of my favorite things that I carried from youth into adulthood. The newspaper is where I found all kinds of truth. Truth from A to Z.

It's been months since I heard the old, familiar thump of a paper plotting on the driveway in front of the house. CANCEL! STOP DELIVERY!

SAD. I almost get teary eyed thinking about it. And then I get mad.

What you read on the front page of the paper is a lie. The stories told there are not my stories. Not your stories.

The front page of the paper doesn't tell about all the husbands that kissed their wives good-bye in the morning before leaving for work and then remained faithful all day.

The front page of the paper doesn't tell about all the young people who went to school this morning, went to work in the afternoon or just went about doing what was right and good.

Read the paper with discernment. Some news is good. Some is bad. Some people are good. Some are bad.

I pray for the day when your son or daughter can pick up the paper and read it knowing that what he/she reads is as close to the truth as it can possibly be---and that it is fair to all concerned.

I pray they want to be part of that truth. I pray they grow up wanting to do the right thing.

Maybe, just maybe they will become an honest reporter.

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CHASE THE LION

CHASE THE LION
If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You,
It's Too Small
By Mark Batterson

OVERVIEW: Chase The Lion is more than a catch phrase; it's a radically different approach to life. It's only when we stop fearing failure that we can fully seize opportunity by the mane. With grit and gusto, New York Times best-selling author Mark Batterson delivers a bold message to everyone with a big dream.

AUTHOR: MARK BATTERSON is the New York times best-selling author of a dozen books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, and Wild Goose Chase. he is the lead pastor of National Community Church (NCC), one of the most innovative and influential churches in America. One church with eight campuses, NCC also owns and operates Ebenezer's Coffeehouse, the Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University. He and his wife, Lora, and their children love living on Capitol Hill.

MY REVIEW: Mark Batterson writes, "This is a wake-up call to stop living as if the purpose of life was to simply arrive safely at death. Our dreams should scare us. They should be so big that without God they would be impossible to achieve. Quit running away from what you're afraid of."

Wow! What a challenge. What a book. Yes. I like this book. I like it a lot! This is a book every young person should read. I wish I could have read a book like this when I was young. But it is not just for young people. Like Batterson said, this is a wake-up call. It's a wake-up call for all of us. His statement, that our dreams should be so big that without God they would be impossible, just blows me away. Rarely, if ever have my dreams been that big. At least I didn't know it at the time. Now that I am older I can look back and see that many of my dreams would not have come true without God.

This book is based upon 2 Samuel 23 and tells the true story of an ancient warrior named Benaiah who chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day—and then killed it. You should read his story in the Bible and then read this book. Chase The Lion is "written in a way that both challenges and encourages. This revolutionary book will help unleash the faith and courage you need to identify, chase, and catch the five-hundred-pound dreams in your life."

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

OUTLAW CHRISTIAN

Friday, August 26, 2016

OUTLAW CHRISTIAN
Finding Authentic Faith
by Breaking The Rules
By Jacqueline A. Bussie

OVERVIEW: Drawing from Scripture and real-life experience, Outlaw Christian is Bussie's rallying cry to believers who care too much to let suffering go unquestioned and doubts unanswered. She calls for a faith that laments, loves, laughs, longs, and lives, but never dies.

AUTHOR: Jacqueline A. Bussie is director of the Forum on Faith and Life and professor of religion at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. A graduate of Davidson College and Yale University. She holds a PhD in Theology, Ethics, and Culture from the University of Virginia.

MY REVIEW: Because I review so many excellent books in a year, I can't say this is the best book I have read so far this year. But I can say, without hesitation that this is ONE of the best books I have read this year. It is outstanding in so many ways. This is a life changing book.

Bussie's writing is clear, honest and written in a way that keeps you turning the pages. You really do not know what she is going to say next. This is a challenging book because it takes the average reader to places he/she has never been before. I spent forty-seven years in the Christian ministry and yet Bussie introduced me to thoughts on suffering that I had never even thought of before.

I like what author, Shane Claiborne said, "There's nothing fluffy about this book. It is raw, sassy, and from the heart. Bussie reminds us that God is not scared of our doubters, fears, and darkness—God even experienced them in Jesus. This is a fresh invitation to the faith for skeptics, doubters, seekers, and even folks who like that old-time-religion."

However, as much as I like this book, I can not recommend it to all of my friends. I have a few who will just not be able to handle it. They already have a ready answer for every suffering person and they don't want to be challenged. But I am happy to know there is a multitude of sufferers, questioners, and thinkers who will be blessed by this splendid book.

(I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

THE BRIDE(ZILLA) OF CHRIST

Friday, August 19, 2016

THE BRIDE(ZILLA) OF CHRIST
What To Do When God's People
Hurt God's People
By Ted Kluck & Ronnie Martin

OVERVIEW: The Bride(Zilla) of Christ is a verbal IV dripping with the mercy found only in Christ. Though you've been wronged, or perhaps you've wronged another, there is cause for great hope. The hurt is not the deepest thing. Grace is deeper still.

AUTHORS: Ted Kluck has authored or coauthored over a dozen books, including the bestselling Whey We're Not Emergent. Kluck's work has appeared in ESPN the Magazine, Sports Spectrum Magazine, and at ESPN.com. He is an assistant professor at Union University and lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife and sons. Ronnie Martin is an internationally known Dove Award-nominated recording artist with more than twenty album credits spanning three decades. He is lead pastor of Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

MY REVIEW: Funny, serious, revealing—scary. This book is all of that and more. Most of all, it is a much needed book. It will be helpful to many. I am glad to have it now because I can share it with other Christians, especially young ministers. I personally had a great need for it about thirty-five years ago.

You may be a little puzzled about the sub-title: What To Do When God's People Hurt God's People. Hopefully you have never experienced this kind of hurting in your own life. Therefore you might think it strange that Christians would be involved in hurting one another. IT HAPPENS! I'm sorry it happens. And it's a shame it happens. But it does.

"What do you do with that reality, a reality that sometimes hurts?" Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin aren't interested in 140 characters of tweetable comfort. They'd rather share their own stories of being both the wounded and the wounder. Plus they offer practical, yes-you-can-do-this steps to moving forward in those times when the Church hurts.

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

A DOUBTER'S GUIDE TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Saturday, July 23, 2016

A DOUBTER'S GUIDED TO THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS
How, For Better Or Worse, Our Ideas About
The Good Life Come From Moses And Jesus
By John Dickson

OVERVIEW: In A Doubter's Guide to the Ten Commandments, bestselling author John Dickson explores how these ten ancient instructions have not only changed our world but show us what the Good Life looks like as well. Whether or not one believes in the Bible, these instructions open up a window to the Western world and on our own souls.

AUTHOR: John Dickson (PhD, Ancient History) is an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University, Founding Director of the Centre for Public Christianity, and Senior Minister of  St. Andrew's Roseville. The author of more than a dozen books, he is the host of two major historical documentaries for Australian television, and is a busy public speaker, university lecturer, and media commentator.

MY REVIEW: This is a good book about an important subject. It is well written but not an "easy" read. It is practical but scholarly and therefore needs to be read slowly and meditated upon. "Skeptics and believers alike will find fresh insights and new topics of discussion, and, quite possibly, renewed bones of contention as they take a deeper look at the Ten Commandments that have helped shape our world."

Dickson explains each of the Ten Commandments in their original Hebrew context. And then he also explains how Mose's commandments were "transposed" by Jesus into a melody being sung even today. We still turn to them to discuss what constitutes the Good. This book should be of value to your whether you are a believer or a doubter. It is an interesting account of the influence of the Ten Commandments in moral decisions. The book offers inspiration for the Good life itself. Dickson wrote the book hoping to show that this most ancient of Western traditions is as current as Google and Wikipedia—more so. I think he accomplished that. I recommend this book to all who are interested in morality and genuine ethical freedom.

(I received this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

BARONS OF THE BELTWAY

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

BARONS OF THE BELTWAY
Inside The Princely World Of Our
Washington Elite—And How To 
Overthrow Them
By Michelle Fields

OVERVIEW: In Barons of the Beltway, Michelle Fields exposes the hidden perks, the freebies, and the ego stroking that define life for a political class that is out of touch and out to lunch. Put under the spotlight are figures such as Congress woman Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, and Vice President Joe Biden, who continue to abuse their power, build their personal fortunes, and climb up the Washington ladder. And, while our Founding fathers started a revolution to break away from an entrenched aristocracy, it's clear that America is beginning to have one of its own. This book reveals how to overthrow our political class in order to return to the principles the Founding Fathers originally envisioned for America—a country of greater opportunity that we can pass on to the next generations.

AUTHOR: Michelle Fields is a political reporter who has held positions at Fox News, Breitbart, PJ Media, and the Daily Caller. In addition to her reporting work, Michelle has appeared on C-SPAN, CNBC, Sky News, and various programs on the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.

MY REVIEW: Barons of the Beltway is the story of a political class that has lost its way and lost touch with the people it is supposed to serve. I am very interested in that story and it's my opinion that you should be too. So I'm recommending this good book to all Americans interested in the waste and corruption in government politics. Fields doesn't just point out the waste and corruption. She tells how everyday Americans can take the country back from those who distort its values for personal gain.

Michelle Fields is an excellent story teller. She takes you behind the scenes. She takes you where not many have dared to go. You will laugh to keep from crying. Two of my favorite chapters are, Do as We Say, Not as We Do and Narcissism: "Extreme Selfishness, with a Grandiose View of One's Own talents and a Craving for Admiration."

Fields reveals that today our public servants are chauffeured to their Capitol Hill offices by town cars even when they live only two blocks away. They enjoy their own taxpayer-subsidized Senate Hair Care Services, vacation with their families in exotic locations for free, and exempt themselves and their friends from the laws that they create.

Again, the most important part of this book is that it gives a way to overthrow the Washington elite and get rid of the corruption.

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

GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

Monday, June 27, 2016

GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE
A Devotional of Comfort as You Mourn
By Kathe Wunnenberg

OVERVIEW: As a fellow griever who has experienced the death of children, family members, and a close friend, Kathe Wunnenberg empathizes with your anguish. With Scriptures, prayers, and journaling space, her wise and tender devotions will validate your pain, comfort you and give you courage to press on.

AUTHOR: Kathe Wunnenberg is the author of Grieving the Loss of a Loved One, Grieving the Child I Never Knew, Longing for a Child, and Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope When Life Hurts. She is the founder and president of Hopelifters Unlimited and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband. They have three living sons and four children in heaven. To learn more, connect with Kathe at www.hopelifters.com, or follow her on Facebook at Hopelifters Unlimited or Twitter@hopelifters.

MY REVIEW: Splended! This is a book of wise and tender devotions. Kathe understands your pain and her book will comfort you and help you to move on through your grief.

Regardless of the circumstances the death of a loved one is one of the most painful things you can face in life. When faced with this kind of grief we all look for help and hope. This book provides that.
I feel that God has used Kathe and her losses to show us His heart. He book is filled with compassion that comes from Him. She helps those who are grieving to know that they are not alone in their grief. She points us all to God, who lost His only Son and who understands our worst pain.

This is a book you will want to read and then share with others. You will want to purchase copies to give to your friends.

(I received this book From BookLook Bloggers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

HABITS OF THE HEART---I Have A Dream

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Alexis de Tocqueville saw clearly that it was the "goodness" of the American people that made America great

I have a dream that once again this truth will be recognized and lived out in our lives.

Tocqueville recognized that the secret to America;s freedom was American virtue.

The thing that once set us apart was our behavior. He, along with men like Franklin and Adams, believed that "Liberty cannot be established without morality." He referred to these fundamental morals as "habits of the heart."

I'm eighty-one. I have a dream. A dream to see a time WHEN:

All across America children will be allowed to play outside the home without fear.

Women will be able to be alone in the city, day or night, without fear.

 Judges, lawyers, government officials and all those in authority are treated with respect----and deserve it.

Teachers truly care for the ones they teach and teach only what is right and good.

We care for the less fortunate and do unto other as we would have others do unto us.

A person is free to start a business, hire whomever he wants, pay whatever they agree on. Sell or not sell to whomever he chooses.

All churches have Sunday School, starting with the youngest to the oldest where the Bible is taught with great respect and passion.

All people, regardless of race, color or creed are treated as equal.

Every American abides by the law and is FREE to live life as he/she sees fit.

I HAVE A DREAM THAT WE ONCE AGAIN REALIZE THAT LAWS CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE TO DO RIGHT. DOING RIGHT HAS TO BE "HABITS OF THE HEART."

"Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good she will cease to be great."

(A summation of Alexis de Tocqueville.) 

UNLEASHING THE MIRACULOUS IN YOUR EVERYDAY WORLD

Thursday, June 16, 2016

THE SPIRIT CONTEMPORARY LIFE
Unleashing the Miraculous in your Everyday World
By Leon Fontaine

OVERVIEW: The Spirit Contemporary way of life involves communicating with others as Jesus would, using their language, stories, and settings. Leon draws on biblical truth and personal stories to reveal how this dynamic first-century faith can be yours when you live so in tune with God that you're guided in ways that are both natural and supernatural.

AUTHOR: LEON FONTAINE is senior pastor of Springs Church, one of the largest inter-denominational churches in Canada, with six campuses across two provinces. He is CEO of Miracle Channel, Canada's only twenty-four hour Christian family network, and host of The Leon Show, a daily interview program that airs in 150 countries. Leon and his wife, Sally, have five children who are all passionately serving in ministry.

MY REVIEW: Leon Fontaine paraphrases John 10:10 to read: "Jesus came so we could get a life." That's good. We can all understand that and I think that is what He came for. Fontaine's book will help you get that life.

The Spirit Contemporary Life points out many problems facing the church and then a solution is offered. Fontaine says that since we know the message about Jesus and the Holy Spirit's power to influence our lives is incredible, the problem has to lie with the messengers. It has to be us. We are the problem. He then says there is a simple solution. We need to learn to communicate Jesus' message in the context of our normal, everyday lives so that what we say and the way we say it doesn't send people running.

Fontaine tells many stories and that is good. Do I agree that everything he thinks was a miracle, really was a miracle? I don't know. I know he thinks they were. They may have been. I don't know. I do believe in miracles. I just don't believe everything called a miracle is a miracle of God. That's all. You will have to decide.

One problem I have with Fontaine's thinking is the title for his book and the way he thinks we should refer to the Holy Spirit. He wants Christians to stop using words like "glory," "hallelujah," and "amen in our everyday speech. I don't have a problem with that. But why use a title like The Spirit Contemporary Life? Maybe it's just me but I don't understand that title. And I am going to continue to say "The Holy Spirit" not just "Holy Spirit." I disagree with his reasoning for doing so. Most translations of the Bible read, The Holy Spirit.

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

I DON'T WAIT ANYMORE

Thursday, June 09, 2016

I DON'T WAIT ANYMORE
Letting Go of Expectations and Grasping
God's Adventure for You
By Grace Thornton

OVERVIEW: In I Don’t Wait Anymore, Grace Thornton challenges readers to find their calling and purpose from God and go after it with completely committed hearts. Have you been waiting for life to turn out the way you expected? 

You’re not alone.

There are lots of us out there who feel that way. Grace Thornton is one. She had dreams, plans, and ideas for what life should look like. For one, she thought she’d be married. She thought she’d have kids. She thought God would bring her the life she’d been waiting for because she knew He was good and she tried to be obedient.

But that’s not what happened. Not at all.

So she found herself wrestling with God. Who is He if He doesn’t bring along the life, husband, and 2.5 kids she thought He was supposed to? And where should she go from there?

When she got brutally honest with herself and asked the hard question, “Why do I think the world has more to offer than God does?” the answer was stunning. Her honesty led to the path God had for her. One that would write a story for her life that was even better than the one she had dreamed for herself.

This positive and encouraging book offers inspiration to anyone who wants to live a fulfilling life right now. Grace decided to let go of her expectations of the way life “should be” and grasp God’s hand for the adventure He had for her. You can too.

AUTHOR: Grace Thornton loves a good story. She believes that God writes the best stories, even when our lives may not look anything like what we imagined. As a storyteller and blogger, Grace has found her narrative taking her all over the world. She’s passionate about knowing God through His Word and encouraging others to discover Him and let Him write the story of their lives too. Her blog, gracefortheroad.com, received more than 2 million visits after her post “I Don’t Wait Anymore,” on living fully as a single person, went viral in 2012.

MY REVIEW: It seems like I have been waiting all my life for life to be as it "should be." This positive and encouraging book has helped me to start living a fulfilling life right now and stop waiting for something else. Grace Thornton has inspired me to grasp the adventure God has for me. I think her book will help you too.

I agree with Matt Matson, Senior Pastor of The Church at Brook Hills who said: "There's something about a story that helps truth to sink in. Grace invites us into an intimate journey of faith. Page by page, she leads the reader to the greatness and beauty of the God who is near and sovereign and satisfying. Read and let your roots sink deep into realities that will not only hold you fast when life hurts but will equip you to live for the glory of God."

I like that on the opening page she quotes Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." As a result of reading Grace's book and a recommendation found on her blog, I am now reading ten chapters of the Bible every day. I'm on an adventure with God.

(I received this book from BookLook Bloggers A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

LOVE THAT BOY

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

LOVE THAT BOY
What Two Presidents, Eight Road Trips,
And My Son Taught Me About
A Parent's Expectations
By Ron Fournier

OVERVIEW: Love That Boy is a uniquely personal story about the causes and costs of outsized parental expectations. What we want for our children—popularity, normalcy, achievement, genius—and what they truly need—grit, empathy, character—are explored by The Atlantic's Ron Fournier, who weaves his extraordinary journey to acceptance around the latest research on childhood development and stories of other loving-but-struggling parents.

AUTHOR: RON FOURNIER is a political columnist for The Atlantic and National Journal. He began his family and career in Arkansas covering then governor Bill Clinton before moving to Washington in 1993, where he reported on politics and the presidency during the administrations of Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Fournier also served as a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics, where he wrote the New York Times bestseller Applebee's America. He holds the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award for coverage of the 2000 elections, and he is a four-time winner of the prestigious White House Correspondents' Association Merriman Smith Memorial Award.

MY REVIEW: First let me say, this is not just a book for parents with Aspergers. A term I had never heard before picking up this book. "Perhaps the simplest way to understand Asperger's syndrome is to think of it as describing someone who perceives and thinks about the world differently to other people." This form of autism gets its name from Hans Asperger, the pediatrician who first identified this form of autism. Fournier's inspiring book is a blessing to parents with an autistic child but it is also has so much to teach all parents, sons, and daughters.

I agree with comedian Jim Gaffigan who said, "Love That Boy captures both the fears and gifts of fatherhood and Fournier writes about it with honest, selfless clarity. This is a joy to read and should be required for all new dads...really." I love what Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss wrote, "This illuminating and touching book gives us the great gift of letting us know and appreciate the Asperger's world of young Tyler Fournier, who steals scenes from presidents while teaching his parents and all of us what is important in life." That's it! What is important in life. This is a book about that!

I have been saying this is a book for all parents. It's more than that. You don't have to be a parent to profit from this book. Once again, this is a book about what is important in life.

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

FEISTY & FEMININE

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

FEISTY & FEMININE
A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women
By Penny Young Nance

OVERVIEW: Feisty & Feminine takes an honest and transparent look at what it means to be a conservative Christian woman, with thoughtful commentary on the real issues confronting you right now. "Today's conservative women are intelligent, well-educated, compassionate, accomplished, funny, and fearless," says Nance. The time is right for this book, and for conservative women like you to stand up, be heard, and make a difference in our nation.

AUTHOR: Penny Young Nance is the CEO and president of Concerned Women for America (CWA), the nation's largest public policy women's organization. Penny oversees more than half a million active CWA members across the country and more than four hundred CWA chapters. She is also the president of Concerned Women for America's legislative action committee and political action committee. Penny and her husband, Will, live in Fairfax, VA. with their two children.

MY REVIEW: Today's culture is desperate for the message of this book. Penny Young Nance casts the vision of women stepping forward as this generations Esthers, speaking truth in love to a troubled nation.

I love the way she makes it clear how you can be direct with your friends and family without being disrespectful, be engaging but not shallow, and be relevant to the pressing issues confronting you while still holding fast to your faith and conservative values.

In this powerful book, Nance covers it all. She writes about the devaluation of women, sexual assault and politics, marriage and true tolerance, abortion and the sanctity of life, the real war against women, the rise of Islamic extremism and the need to fight back and much more. I especially liked the way she closes the book talking about the art of balance and a vision for the future.

William J. Bennett, former secretary of education said, "Penny Nance is one of today's boldest and most outspoken conservative women of faith." Joel C. Rosenberg, New York Times bestselling author, wrote "I've known Penny Nance for twenty years, and I absolutely love her passion for Christ, her passion to advance freedom and opportunity for all Americans, and her passion to educate and empower a new generation of conservative women to help get America back on the right track."

I agree with editor, Dr. Richard G. Lee, "Often the pages of a book will reflect the personality of its author. This one fits the bill—positive, straightforward, and dynamic. A real joy to read."

(I received this book from BookLook Bloggers, A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

HOW TO LIVE IN FEAR

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

HOW TO LIVE IN FEAR
Mastering the Are of Freaking Out
By Lance Hahn

OVERVIEW: Pastor Lance Hahn knows that living with fear can be an uphill battle. As someone who has struggled with a severe anxiety disorder since childhood, Hahn explores what it means to live in fear of thing that may not happen. With the empathy and patience of a fellow sufferer, he guides you through the first steps of learning to cope with fear, panic, or anxiety from practical insights to concrete methods for fighting fear, How to Live in Fear is your primer for learning to accept your feelings—without giving in to them. Finally, Hahn explains the theology of fear, reassuring us that though we may be afraid, God will never leave us nor forsake us.

AUTHOR: LANCE HAHN  is the senior pastor of Bridgway Christian Church in Roseville, California. He is host of the Ask Pastor Lance radio show, a conference speaker, and an adjunct professor. Known as both an expository and exegetical teacher, Lance has developed an extraordinary ability to bring the Bible to life with passion and accuracy. He is married to Suzi, and they have two daughters, Jilian and Andie.

MY REVIEW: The thing I like best about this book is the raw honesty. Lance Hahn tells in his introduction how he suffers greatly from panic disorder. I don't suffer from this disorder but I have had a few panic attacks. And so although I'm not glad he has this problem I was glad to be reading a book that came to be out of his own life experience and not just out of his mind. The thoughts in this book are not just something he has studied—but lived.

After telling his story Hahn goes deeply into the word of God and brings out truth that will help in confronting this terrible problem and learning to live with it or in spite of it. Kirk Bottomly, Senior pastor at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church says so clearly what I would like to say about this book that I want to quote him here. He writes, "Lance Hahn tackles this real-life problem—paralyzing fear and anxiety—with studied insight, disarming humor, and helpful strategies that are both biblical and practical. The crippling tendency to 'freak out' for no normal reason has been Lance's own lifelong struggle, and he describes it with a transparency that is both painful and hilarious. This book will be a welcome companion and counselor to the many who are paralyzed by this same condition or who love someone else who is."

(I received this book from BookSneeze A division of Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

HONESTLY—Getting Real About Jesus And Our Messy Lives

HONESTLY
Getting Real About Jesus
And Our Messy Lives
By Daniel Fusco with D.R. Jacobsen

OVERVIEW: There are two universal truths for every person who has ever walked this planet: Life is messy. Jesus is real. In this book Daniel Fusco takes you on a wild, grace-filled journey through the book of Ephesians. He'll unpack what happens when the craziness of life meets the presence of God—and something beautiful is created. Honestly.

AUTHOR: Daniel Fusco is lead pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, Washington. He is also a three-time church planter, author, evangelist, and musician. He and his wife, Lynn, have three children.

MY REVIEW: This is a book about the mess all of us are in. That's right. The mess we are all in. Life doesn't always make sense. Daniel Fusco writes about what was happening to the church in Ephesus. He shows us that messiness is a universal concept and the church in Ephesus in the mid-first century had its fair share.And the important thing to realize is that we do too. Life is a mess! But there is good news. Life is a mess and Jesus is real. That's the gospel. "He's where everything that's healing and good and grace-filled begins and ends."

If you are not "into" jazz and have no appreciation for it, you may find it difficult to understand why Fusco moves through the Book of  Ephesians the way he does. He divides Ephesians along the lines of Coltraine's A Love Supreme. The album is designed in four movements—Acknowledgement, Resolution, Pursuance, and Psalm. It all makes sense when you get into it.

"Life is a lot like jazz: one giant mess" ..."But when we listen closely to life, we can start to hear the melodies in the midst of the mess. It takes study, and digging deep, and being patient enough to learn. And if we're lucky, or blessed, we discover something about the mess: Nothing we do is free of the mess, but sometimes in our mess we catch the tune of the master."..."Life will always be messy. But Jesus will always be our beauty in the middle of the mess. Jesus is our Love Supreme."

I recommend this book. Get a copy. Read it and pass it on.

(I received this book from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

THE ART OF PEOPLE

THE ART OF PEOPLE
11 Simple People Skills That
Will Get You Everything You Want
By Dave Kerpen

OVERVIEW: In a world where we are constantly connected, and one in which social media has become the primary way we communicate, the key to getting ahead is being the person others like, respect, and trust. Because no matter who you are or what your profession, success is contingent on not just what you can do for yourself, but on what other people are willing to do for you. Here, through 53 bite-size, easy-to-execute, and often counterintuitive tips, you'll learn to master the 11 People Skills that will get you more of what you want at work, at home, and in life.

AUTHOR: DAVE KERPEN is an entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author. He is the founder and CEO of Likeable Local, a social media software company, and the chairman and cofounder of Likeable Media, an award-winning content marketing firm for brands. He is among the most popular writers in LinkedIn's Influencer program, is one of the most read contributors for Inc.com, and has been featured by CNBC BBC, ABC. World News Tonight, CBS's The Early Show, the New York Times, and more. Dave has keynoted conferences and webinars across the globe.

MY REVIEW: This is a book I wish I had read when I was much younger. I am thrilled to read it now. I agree with Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author, who said, "This book is like How to Win Friends and Influence People—only better suited for today's world."

I looked at the following sentence, "The single most important question you can ever ask to win attention in a meeting," and knew I didn't know what that question was. And it didn't stop there. I couldn't wait to read and think about the following: *The one simple key to networking that nobody talks about, * How to remain top of mind for thousands of people every day, *Why it usually pays to be the one to give the bad news, *How to blow off the right people, *And why, when in doubt, you should buy him a bonsai.

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin called this book, "An invaluable resource full of practical, manageable tips for anyone who deals with people. Which, of course, is all of us." I think that's true.
Like any book, you're not going to agree with everything in it. But I believe if you buy a copy, read it and put these 11 skills into practice that you will get much of what you want.

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

THE SEVEN LAWS OF LOVE

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

THE SEVEN LAWS OF LOVE
Essential Principles For Building
Stronger Relationships
By Dave Willis

OVERVIEW: In our fast-paced, success-obsessed culture, we’re constantly tempted to chase after things that don’t matter. We’ve been conditioned to value possessions over people, status over relationships, and ourselves over God. But the reality is this: God created love to be the centerpiece of our lives. In The Seven Laws of Love, Dave Willis makes the case for a love revival and proves that in returning to a life of love we have no greater model than the one who is love himself. There is no higher calling on earth than to love and be loved. It’s time to learn The Seven Laws of Love, and to make loving a priority over all other pursuits. Anything else isn’t really living.

AUTHOR: Dave Willis is a pastor and the founder of www.StrongerMarriages.org. which has a total weekly reach in the millions. Dave and his wife, Ashley, partner together to create marriage-building resources and events as a part of their ministry. They have four young sons and live near Augusta, Georgia.

MY REVIEW: Dave Willis writes in a humorous, down-to-earth style. His book is about everyday relationships. He touches on the areas of life that matter most. The relationships with your spouse, your children, your friends, and your coworkers. He uses practical examples that demonstrate what a life of love looks like.

I agree with Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot, "The Seven Laws of Love is insightful, compelling, inspiring, grounded, and immeasurably practical." They said, "We love this book! Everyone needs to read it. Don't miss out on its powerful message." I can't say it any better, so I'm not going to try. I counted twelve different recommendations in the front of the book. All of them praising Dave for his life, his writing ability and this book. 

(I received this book from Book Sneeze A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review.}

FAST METABOLISM FOOD RX

Friday, April 01, 2016

FAST METABOLISM
FOOD RX
By Haylie Pomroy
With Eve Adamson

OVERVIEW: Haylie Pomroy, celebrated nutritionist, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fast Metabolism Diet, shares a food prescription for the 7 most common ways your metabolism misfires and leads to exhaustion, excess weight, and illness. With her targeted eating plans you can feed your body back to a vibrant, energetic, and thriving state. When multiple health challenges threatened the author’s life, it set her on an investigative journey that was life-changing—and lifesaving.  In this book, she shares her personal story for the first time, as well as the powerful food programs she created based on the methods and philosophies that saved her life and helped her thrive. For decades now, these same food therapies have provided profound clinical results in her clinics where she’s treated thousands of others.

AUTHOR: Haylie Pomroy is a nutritionist, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and owner of integrative health care clinics in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Irvine, and Fort Collins. She is well known in Hollywood and in the medical community for her ability to use food as metabolic medicine. Haylie has appeared on PBS, The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, Katie, Extra, and Access Hollywood and has been featured in First for Women, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, People, New Beauty, and more. Her celebrity clients include Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Robert Downey Jr. and NFL athletes. Visit her at HayliePomroy.com.

MY REVIEW: This is a book about metabolism that I can understand. I have a special interest in the chapter on diabetes. I have tried what she suggests—and it works. It works! 

Pomroy gives seven powerful prescriptions to feed your body back to health. The prescriptions are for G.I. stress, fatigue, hormones, mood, cholesterol, diabetes and autoimmunity. So if you are suffering from any of these problems this book has the solution for you. With its targeted eating plans you can feed your body back to a vibrant energetic, and thriving state.

This is not a book that I will read and then pass on to somebody else that needs it. I will just have to buy them their own copy. I need this one. I will not be putting this book on the shelf. I will read it and re-read it, mark it up and refer to it often. I love the title of chapter 12—EAT TO THRIVE. And I also found the whole-body diagnosis quiz in that chapter very helpful. This is a great book that needs to be read by most of the people I know.

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

spark joy

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

spark joy
an illustrated master class on the
art of organizing and tidying up
By marie kondo
Companion to the #1 New York times best-selling
the life-changing magic of tidying up

OVERVIEW: Japanese decluttering guru Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has revolutionized homes—and lives—across the world. Now, Kondo presents an illustrated guide to her acclaimed KonMari Method, with step-by-step folding illustrations for everything from shirts to socks, plus drawings of perfectly organized drawers ad closets. She also provides advice on frequently asked questions, such as whether to keep "necessary" items that may not bring you joy. With guidance on specific categories including kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, hobby goods, and digital photos, this comprehensive companion is sure to spark joy in anyone who wants to simplify their life.

AUTHOR: MARIE KONDO is the founder of the acclaimed KonMari Method and author of the #1 New York Times best seller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which has sold more than three million copies worldwide, has been translated into thirty-five languages, and has been turned into a Japanese television drama. She is also the author of a companion journal Life-Changing Magic: A Journal. He famed Tokyo consulting business helps clients transform their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity and inspiration. Kondo has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, the New York Times, USA Today, and the Today show, and has been named one of time magazine's 100 Most Influential People. She lives in Tokyo, Japan, with her husband and daughter.

MY REVIEW: She's done it again! Marie Kondo has written another book that will help you put your house—and your life in order. In the preface she says, "I want to help as many people as possible tidy up once and for all." Her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has sold more than three million copies and this book, Spark Joy is sparking joy and is a run away best seller. Without a doubt she has reached her goal of helping people tidy up and stay that way.

It may be that being male keeps me from getting too excited about the "cute" little drawings in this book but it doesn't keep me from recognizing their value. Knowing and SEEING how to fold a long sleeve shirt doesn't make me want to do it. However, I do know that this means a lot to a woman and will be greatly valued. Yes, this is a good book. Even for a man. I too want to tidy up. I found the section, "Advice for those who think they can't part with books" especially helpful. In fact, it's all good.

My advice, if you are serious about tidying up, is to go out and buy the first book. Read it carefully. And then go right out and get this one. You will like the books and if you follow what she says, you will like yourself better.

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

BLACK EARTH—The Holocaust As History And Warning

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

BLACK EARTH
The Holocaust As History
And Warning
By Timothy Snyder

OVERVIEW: In this epic history of extermination and survival, Timothy Snyder presents a new explanation of the great atrocity of the twentieth century, and reveals the risks that we face in the twenty-first. Based on untapped sources from eastern Europe and forgotten testimonies from Jewish survivors, Black Earth recounts the mass murder of the Jews as an event that is still close to us, more comprehensible than we would like to think, and thus all the more terrifying.

AUTHOR: TIMOTHY SNYDER is the Housum Professor of History at Yale University and a member of the Committee on Conscience of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is the author of author of Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin, which received the literature award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Hannah Arendt Prize, and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding. Snyder is a frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books and the times Literary Supplement. He is a permanent fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences, serves as the faculty adviser for the Fortunoff Archive for Holocaust testimonies, and sits on the advisory council of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut.

MY REVIEW: This was a difficult book for me to read and comprehend. In fact, I found myself reading for awhile and then having to stop, go back and re-read many pages. I felt like I was studying for a PhD. I was constantly pulling down my dictionary and looking up the meaning of words. Historians, educators, some philosophers and theologians may not find this book so difficult. I'm writing this way simply as a warning to the average reader. I agree with Deborah Lipstadt, "Black Earth is provocative, challenging, and an important addition to our understanding of the Holocaust."

Jeffrey Goldberg said, "Timothy Snyder argues, eloquently and convincingly, that the world is still susceptible to the inhuman impulses that brought about the Final Solution. This book should be read as admonition by presidents, prime ministers, and in particular by anyone who believes the the past is somehow behind us." I agree with Anne Applebaum, "In this unusual and innovative book, Timothy Snyder takes a fresh look at the intellectual origins of the Holocaust, placing Hitler's genocide firmly in the politics and diplomacy of 1930's Europe. Black Earth is required reading for anyone who cares about this difficult period of history."

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

RONALD REAGAN'S "LONG GOODBYE"

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

LAST ACT
THE FINAL YEARS AND
EMERGING LEGACY OF
RONALD REAGAN
By Craig Shirley

OVERVIEW: Cast in a grand and compelling narrative style, Last Act presents the definitive account of Ronald Reagan's life after public office. This untold story of Reagan's last years is an intimate account of the significant events in both his public and personal life—his slowly growing concern about his acuity, his "farewell address" at the 1992 Republican Convention, the onslaught of Alzheimer's, how he and Mrs. Reagan dealt with the diagnosis and progression of the disease, the planning of the state funeral, the outpouring from the nation, and the significance of the Reagan legacy.

AUTHOR: CRAIG SHIRLEY is the author of two critically praised bestselling books on President Reagan. Rendezvous with Destiny and Reagan's Revolution. His book December 1941 appeared multiple times on the New York Times bestseller list. Shirley is the chairman of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, is a widely sought-after speaker and commentator, and has written extensively for the Washington Post, the Washington Examiner, the Washington Times, the LosAngeles Times, Town Hall, the Weekly Standard, Newsmax, Breitbart, National Review, and many other publications.

MY REVIEW: I agree with Pulitzer Prize-winning author, John Meacham. He said this is "A remarkable account of Ronald Reagan's 'long goodbye,' chronicling the final years of an American original who bent history in the service of freedom." I also agree with syndicated columnist Cal Thomas who said, "A deeply moving book that will bring tears to your eyes, strengthen your political resolve, and inspire you to build on Reagan's legacy." And also author Jane Hampton Cook, who said very succinctly "Important. Essential. Bravo."

"Last Act is a meticulously researched and enlightening account that widens our understanding of American history, the presidency, and one of the most influential men who occupied the office."

I admired Ronald Reagan long before reading this splendid book. It seems impossible that I could admire him more. But I do. I also admire Craig Shirley and love the way he writes. This is a good book about a good man written by a good man. After you read this book you will want the story to keep going. It's a true story. And a good one. I visited the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California a few years ago and now I want to go again. If you traveled with Ronald Reagan over the years you will want to go with him to the end. This books enables you to do that.

(I received this book from Book Sneeze A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers iin exchange for a fair and honest review.)