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.)