GRANDE AMORE—A GREAT LOVE!

Tuesday, May 30, 2017


THE MEDITERRANEAN LOVE PLAN
7 Secrets To Lifelong Passion In Marriage
By Stephen & Misty Arterburn
with Becky Johnson

OVERVIEW: In The Mediterranean Love Plan, New York Times bestselling author Steve Arterburn, and his wife, coauthor, and ministry partner, Misty, uncover seven mysteries of passion from the world's most romantic countries: Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and Israel. These seven secrets nourish intimacy that will only grow richer with time. The Mediterranean Love Plan will transform your marriage into a romantic adventure for two.

AUTHORS: STEVEN ARTERBURN is a New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author with more than 10 million books in print. In addition to founding the New Life organization and hosting the live call-in talk show New Life Live. Steve is best known for creating the Women of Faith conferences, attended by more than 5 million women. Steve and his family live near Indianapolis, where he is the teaching pastor at Northview Church. MISTY ARTERBURN is the author of books and devotionals in the Life Recovery Resources and Lose It for Life series. She is the general editor of both The Five Minute New Testament for Busy Moms and The Five Minute New Testament for Busy Dads. In addition to working as a writing partner with her husband, Steve, she is a women's Life Recovery group facilitator at Northview Church in Carmel, Indiana. Misty's videos and other materials for women in recovery can be found on her organization's website, recoverygirls.com. She and her husband are proud parents to their five children. BECKY JOHNNSON  is the author, coauthor, or collaborator of more than forty books.

MY REVIEW: Who doesn't want more joie de vivre, more la dolce vita in their marriage? In this book the Arterburns write about this: the joy of living and the sweet life. Is it attainable? They say, "Yes"! I agree with them. Read this book and you will be on your way to experiencing a truly grande amore or a great love.

Steve and Misty uncover seven mysteries of passion from five of the most romantic countries in the Mediterranean: Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and Israel. These countries are known for romance and all that goes with it: great food, amazing art, beautiful scenery, creative conditions for vibrant, all-encompassing passion—and you don't even need your passport to get there. Through research, insight, and personal stories, Steve and Misty share easy, practical ways to apply these secrets to your own relationship. The Mediterranean Love plan will help every couple—just married or married for decades—to discover and nourish the great adventure of love.

When I read the first secret—the secret of attunement, I thought this must be the best one. Yes, this is it. And then I read the second secret—the secret of playfulness and I thought maybe this was the best. And then as I read on through the book I realized there is no best one. They all are important. Put them together and you have a great love. That's good. That's very good!

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

CHAZOWN—Discover and Pursue God's Purpose For Your Life

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

CHAZOWN
Discover and Pursue God's
Purpose For Your Life
By Craig Groeschel

OVERVIEW: In this practical energizing guide, pastor and author Craig Groeschel shows how to live life fully by finding, naming, and achieving your unique God-given goal. The secret: knowing your chazown, a Hebrew word for "vision," "dream," or "revelation." You'll see how to identify your own chazown by taking a fresh look at your own core values, spiritual gifts, and experiences. You'll understand the big picture—and the vital details.

AUTHOR: Craig Groeschel is the New York Times best-selling author of The Christian Atheist, Weird, and #Struggles. He is also founding pastor of Life Church, one of America's largest and most innovative multicampus congregations. Craig is a well-known speaker at major conferences like Catalyst and the Global Leadership Summit. He and his wife, Amy, have six children and share a passion for leading people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

MY REVIEW: This is a revised and updated edition with a brand new introduction from the author. Goeschel gives step-by-step instructions to uncover your chazown which is your vision or dream. He is a splendid story teller and gives personal stories that show how to live life fully. This book is a lively, thought-provoking study guide for individuals or groups

I agree with pastor Robert Lewis who wrote: "Need help hitting the bull's-eye of life? A better life? A more meaningful and purposeful life? Help is here...Craig Groeschel is a master at opening up life and letting light in. So if you want a clearer, sharper sightline, Chazown is the book for you."

This splendid book is divided into five parts and a concluding end matter: PART 1: SEEING CLEAR TO THE END‑Why you need a new kind of vision. PART 2: CIRCLING THE TRUTH–Where to look for your own Chazown. PART 3: A DREAM IN DEED–How to name your Chazown and where to start. PART 4: THE FIVE SPOKES OF CHAZOWN–Where you need to succeed "small" so you can succeed big. PART 5: FROM HERE TO ETERNITY–Why you can't realize your Chazown alone. I like that under each part there are several great ideas or challenges that are only one or two pages long. It makes for easy reading and easy retention.

This is a good book and one that I would recommend to all—especially young people.

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