Pujols: More than the Game

Pujols: More than the Game

By Scott Lamb and Time Ellsworth

Albert Pujols is a Saint Louis Cardinal Baseball player and one of the greatest hitters in baseball history.  The title lets you know that this book is about Pujols life and not only about baseball but also his Christian faith. It lets us know about his life on and off the field.

Pujols: More Than the Game is definitely great to baseball fans who want to know statistics, season history, etc. All of this is included, in fact, more than I cared to read about.  Lamb and Ellsworth bring in Pujols strong faith, but I thought they could have included more about how Albert and DeeDee had shared their faith and how they had helped so many people. A little bit would be told and then it would turn back to baseball and more statistics.

It was very rewarding to read about a sport athletic who is an amazing baseball player and a man of faith who isn’t afraid to let us know what he believes.

I rated this book with 3 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Shelter of God’s Promises - Sheila Walsh

Where do you turn for shelter in the storms of your life?

We know God’s promises, but we wonder are they for me, are they for today, and are they for this storm in my life? We like to look at life on our own. When we do it looks as if God has forgotten us, turned His back on us or deserted us. But God won’t forget you or turn His back on you or leave you. The promises God makes He keeps.

In this book, Sheila Walsh has studied Scripture for God’s promises and their meaning. Sheila talks about ten of God’s promises, from provider, peace, love, grace, hope to a future.

A wonderful in-depth Bible study is included for each chapter at the end of the book. This is such a great addition. It has you searching through Scripture, answering questions, so you can see how these promises relate to you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reviews posted on http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.cbd.com/ .



God Is In The Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I realize this is January but I wanted to let you know about a book I read during Advent and Christmas.  I have been looking for a good Advent book for a long time and I have found it.



God Is In the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Translated by O.C. Dean Jr.

Compiled and Edited by Jana Riess

Westminster John Knox Press 2010

ISBN: 0664234291
ISBN-13: 9780664234294

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45) was a Christian minister, seminary professor, and theologian who became one of the leading voices of opposition against Nazism during World War II. He was a founding member of Germany's Confessing Church and was executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Hitler. His theological views have become highly influential in the years since his death.

This little book is divided into 5 parts:

·         Advent Week One—Waiting

·         Advent Week Two— Mystery

·         Advent Week Three—Redemption

·         Advent Week Four— Incarnation

·         The Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany

"There are only two places where the powerful and great in this world lose their courage, tremble in the depths of their souls, and become truly afraid. These are the manger and the cross of Jesus Christ."  -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"No priest, no theologian stood at the cradle of Bethlehem. And yet, all Christian theology finds its beginnings in the miracle of miracles, that God became human." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

As you can see from the above quotes, reading devotional literature by Dietrich Bonhoeffer can be challenging. But God is in the Manger opens up the gospel and will take you to the heart of the Christmas story.

Most of these devotions are taken from writings during the time Bonhoeffer was being held in a Nazi prison cell. Also included with each day’s reading are short excerpt from Bonhoeffer’s letters and passages from his Christmas sermons.

I plan to read this again before Advent 2011. We need to be reminded about the real reason for Christmas—Christ.  



Voices of the Faithful - Book 2

Voices of the Faithful - Book 2

This exciting new devotional published by Thomas Nelson, compiled by Kim P. Davis has a year’s worth of awesome stories from missionaries that are serving the Lord in a foreign country. Beth Moore – the series creator – has also written an introduction to the second book of this series. Kim P. Davis has compiled letters from the missionaries and written an Introduction to each month. Some of the topics are January - Prayer, the Priority; February – God, Our Loving Father; and ends with November – Be Encouraged; December – Hope for the World. You will see how God’s truth is received by different people. Some accept it so willingly, but others don’t approve of it. Still others are persecuted and others are afraid.

These missionaries are so like us in some ways because they get discouraged, want to give up but you will see God work. When they keep on doing what they feel the Lord is leading them, He comes through in what has seen impossible to them and also to us.

I encourage you to buy this book. Just because January is half over doesn’t mean you can’t start reading at the beginning or start with the day you get the book. You can still read it in a year.

I give this book a 5 star rating.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson as part of their Book Sneeze Blogging for Books Program. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are strictly my own.

Christmas Books I Have Been Reading

In the past several weeks, I have been reading or re-reading several Christmas books.

The best one was a new one for me, “A Bethlehem Christmas” by Charles R. Swindoll. Chuck takes the very familiar Christmas story and writes it as if he were the personality in the events. He starts with Mary, then moves to Joseph and finishes with the angel, Gabriel. The way he does it opened my eyes and led my imagination in a way that I saw this story in such a different way. It made me see things and make them even more unforgettable. If you have time, I’d advise you to read this different take on the Christmas story.

I also re-read “The 12 Ways of Christmas” by David Jeremiah. I think this made my 3^rd time to read this book. We all need to be reminded of the 12 truths of Christmas that we get so busy preparing for the event that we forget what the event is really about.  David reminds us about things like wonder, giving, humility, simplicity, reflection, and even traditions. The candor and wisdom, David, reflects God’s ways of Christmas into our own hearts and makes us become closer to the true reason of this special time of year.

Finally, I re-read Rick Warren’s “The Purpose of Christmas”. This was a 2^nd time to read this book, but I was reminded so much of why I need to be celebrating now. God sent His Son to come to earth to grow and lead the people until His death on a cross where He shed His blood to save me from death. This book is well worth taking the time to read.

Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

This is a wonderful book. I am reading it for the second time. I borrowed it from our county library and have to return it Monday. I am thinking it is one I want for myself, so I can mark things and make notes in it.

Out Live Your Life: You Were Made to Make A Difference
This book makes you really think. Our culture has messed with our minds so much that we think we are doing what God wants, but we are far from that. God can use you and me. Look at what Jesus used--tax-collector, fishermen, women, etc. There was nothing special about the disciples. They were blue collar workers, ditch diggers, housewives, people like you and me. We also need to get away from I, me, mine. It is all, us, ours.

Max talks about us getting back to the church as it was in the first twelve chapters of Acts. In Acts 1:8, Jesus calls all of us to be His witness. Not just Peter, or John, or Mary, He calls all of us. We all have to do our part. There are no personal pronouns used.

Max tells us in simple terms. God take ordinary people and uses them in extraordinary ways. He did it in the past and He can do it today. Max show us a way to use our God-given talents that can change us forever.

Please read this book. You will be glad you did.