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  • Book Review: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

    The Noticer by Andy Andrews

    Need a little perspective in your life? Come spend a little time with Jones. With a length of only 156 pages, one might think of The Noticer as a ‘quick read’ – and certainly can be if one so chooses because it is hard to put down – but this story should be read in small doses with time spent savoring and reflecting upon each encounter. This talented writer is able to transport you to this gulf coast town in Alabama in a way that you almost feel personally affected by each of the characters and their situations. You will find yourself pulling for their success; you may even find yourself – and gain a perspective that surprises you too.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book 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

  • Book Review: Living Life in The Zone

    Being a big tough man might be the single biggest call to action from our peers growing up. It is painful to think what irreversible damage has been done in marriages, friendships and fatherhood by the macho attitudes. The inability to overcome this worldview could be a major roadblock to achieving excellence in life.

    What if we told these young men that in order to be a real man, one has but to turn to God’s word and see the plan He has laid out for us? How many would respond positively and turn their lives around in the next few weeks because they sat down with a Bible and learned the truth? All things considered, I would guess the response to be limited to the very exceptional few.

    We need a plan then. We need people that men can trust and look up to, to tell their stories. We need to build some new habits.

    Living Life in the Zone takes this approach with a forty day exploration into the issues men face. Lots of sports lingo and an informal tone gives the book warmth that feels just right for a men’s devotional group. The layout is structured and easy to follow whether reading alone or in group study. Each day the same structure mostly repeats itself, so we have an easy to follow plan.

    The Zone sets the tone for each day’s lesson by following a respected sportsman’s life through a difficult journey or situation and allows the reader to see how they allowed God to take them through the test. Emphasis is placed on consulting God first in difficult times, not as a last resort. Getting a glimpse of some of these men’s lives gives us the examples we need of trusted men.

    The Zone uses forty days as its timeframe for change. When God took forty days to do something, it was important and changes of great magnitude happened, and the forty day schedule in this book pays tribute to that. Forty days is a reasonable time to devote to an effort to improve ourselves.

    The Zone references lots of Bible passages in the New King James Version and each day points out Scripture that relates to the day’s topic in the form of “God wants you to…” The most excellent part of this book is that it doesn’t attempt to replace the Bible in the reader’s new daily devotional habit but points him towards it to verify what God says. I did not find any out of context use of Scripture. The Scriptures referenced were easily verified to mean what the Bible intended them to mean.

    Overall this was an excellent book and I highly recommend its use for new Christians and mature ones alike as a means of centering their lives, developing devotional habits and growing their spirit.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book 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

  • 13 more Spiritual Vitamins

    13 more Spiritual Vitamins

    This is part two see the first 13 spiritual vitamins

    Nervous? Take Vitamin N
    I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

    Overwhelmed? Take Vitamin O
    Overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

    Perplexed or puzzled? Take Vitamin P
    Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

    Quitting? Take Vitamin Q
    Quit ye like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

    Restless? Take Vitamin R
    Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:7)

    Scared? Take Vitamin S
    Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard. (1 Samuel 22:23)

    Tired? Take Vitamin T
    But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

    Uncertain? Take Vitamin U
    Understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:10b)

    Vain? Take Vitamin V
    Vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (Acts 5:16b)

    Wondering what to do? Take Vitamin W
    What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8b)

    Exhausted? Take Vitamin X
    Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7b)

    Yearning for hope? Take Vitamin Y
    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

    Zapped? Take Vitamin Z
    Zealous of good work. (Titus 2:14)

  • 13 Spiritual Vitamins

    13 Spiritual Vitamins

    Anxious? Take Vitamin A
    All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

    Blue? Take Vitamin B
    Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (Psalm 103:1)

    Crushed? Take Vitamin C
    Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

    Depressed? Take Vitamin D
    Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8)

    Empty? Take Vitamin E
    Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalm 100:4)

    Fearful? Take Vitamin F
    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

    Greedy? Take Vitamin G
    Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)

    Hesitant? Take Vitamin H
    How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. (Romans 10:15)

    Insecure? Take Vitamin I
    I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. (Philippians 4:13)

    Jittery? Take Vitamin J
    Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

    Know nothing? Take Vitamin K
    Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)

    Lonely? Take Vitamin L
    Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20)

    Mortgaged? Take Vitamin M
    My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

    See thirteen more spiritual vitamins