Book Review: Love Does by Bob Goff
A couple of months ago, I gave away Love Does to a lucky reader on my blog. I hadn’t read the book at that point, but I had heard some good things. Now that I finished the book for myself, I can see why Love Does deserves all the attention.
Love Does is a collection of stories from the ordinary life of author, lawyer, and big thinker, Bob Goff. In Love Does, Bob takes readers into an extraordinary world by matching up things that we might consider ordinary with thoughts and actions that go beyond normal. I love this! It’s part of my goal for my own blog – to see God’s love through the ins and outs and ups and downs of daily life. I think Bob does a wonderful job seeing God’s love in the things that happen in and around is life.
Love Does inspires readers to quit studying and talking about love. It inspires readers to put love into action. Love becomes an action word – a verb – when we open our eyes to see love lived out in every opportunity and moment. Bob challenges readers to put down the books about love and to stop all the theoretical talk about what love means. He challenges readers to go out an put love into action.
Bob’s stories are meant to be shared, are meant to inspire, are meant to encourage action. Love Does is a book that I will come back to from time to time for reminders and inspiration. And I recommend Love Does to anyone who desires to discover an incredible life in an ordinary world.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Book Review: Wrecked by Jeff Goins
I find it incredible that I would be selected to be part of a launch team for this new book by Jeff Goins right before I head to Guatemala where I’ll be working with a team in conjunction with Adventures in Missions, the organization that Jeff works for when he’s not writing books and blog posts.
Wrecked will disturb you.
Wrecked will give you the splash of cold water on your face or the slug to the shoulder necessary to wake you up.
Wrecked will challenge you to consider how God might be calling you to a new, wrecked adventure. It will challenge you to process experiences differently. And the book will challenge you to bring others along with you to help them become wrecked along with you.
I really appreciated Jeff’s new book. Throughout Wrecked, he weaves stories from his own wrecked past in with truths he has learned along the way. He writes in a style that draws you in from the first page all the way to his personal story on the last pages of the book.
Jeff makes you think differently about your own experiences. I have had several stories of wreckage from my past floating through my head as I’ve read through Wrecked. I’ve also been praying that God will wake me up and wreck me – as I head to Guatemala later this week, as I return home from the trip, and as I go on with my life. I’m also praying that God will use the Guatemala trip to wreck the lives of those going on the trip (32 including 25 teenagers). And I’m praying that you’d consider picking up a copy of Wrecked and that it would be catalyst for wrecking your life as well.
Here’s the deal: You can get the first part of the book for FREE. Just hit this link. At the bottom of the page, there are directions for getting the first part absolutely free. Secondly, I want you to buy the book, BUT WAIT! Don’t buy it until, you read some information on the book’s website. If you wait until the first week it comes out (which is supposed to be next week), Jeff will send you over $150 worth of additional Wrecked related items at no charge. Please go to the website for the book. Plan to buy Wrecked. And get ready to discover what happens when a broken world slams into your comfortable life.
Do you plan to read Wrecked? What’s a good book that you’ve read recently? How have you been challenged in your reading lately?
Ice Breaker – Wrecked
It’s Friday which means it’s time for an ice breaker question here on The Stretched Blog. As you read below and recall my post from yesterday, you may see a common word used in both posts. The word WRECKED is bringing new meeting into my life these days as I read through Jeff Goins‘ soon to be released book, WRECKED. I’ll share a teaser video at the end of today’s post and a review post in the coming days. In the meantime, it’s time for today’s ice breaker question.
(For those of you who are new around here, each week I ask a question – an ice breaker – designed to help us get to know a little bit about each other. I answer the question in the post, and you get to answer the question by leaving a comment.)
Question: Describe a time when you wrecked a car (or bicycle…or something else).
My answer: If memory serves me correctly, I’ve had two car accidents in my life. Neither of them were fun, but the first one was an especially memorable crash. Two weeks before my wedding day, I was traveling into Philadelphia to meet up with my soon-to-be bride (Leanne). I had just spent the night with my college roommate (and best man) at my new apartment, and I was traveling down a busy stretch of highway known in our area as The Roosevelt Boulevard. I was driving my mint green Ford Taurus which I had recently purchased in an effort to get out of a lease situation on my previous vehicle. Even though I purchased the car used, I think it only had 5 or 6 thousand miles on it at the time of the accident.
I noticed that traffic coming the other way was stopped as I approached a hill. You think I would have slowed down, but I didn’t. As I came up over the crest of the hill, there was a car parked in the left lane. I tried to stop, but there wasn’t enough time to slow my car. I was probably doing 50-60 miles an hour when I plowed into the back of this parked car. My airbags went off, my hood flew open, my car immediately stopped, and I went into shock. Through the smell of the airbags and the floating smoke that lingered in my car, I emerged from my smashed up Taurus only to discover that the car I had hit was gone. Yes, it someone drove away and left the scene of the accident.
The police, ambulance, and tow truck showed up. There weren’t many cell phones at the time, so I had no way of contacting my fiance to explain why I was late. Eventually, I showed up at our rendezvous location in the front seat of the tow truck. It was an interesting ride home and an interesting introduction into the two-week period that led up to our wedding. My car ended up being fixed despite over $11,000 worth of damage. I’m still not sure why they didn’t total the car. It was never the same again. It was WRECKED!
Now, it’s your turn to answer today’s question. But before you leave your answer in the comments, check out this video about a new book that I’m very excited to share with The Stretched Community:
Book Review: By Faith, Not By Sight by Scott MacIntyre
Over the weekend, I finished reading By Faith, Not By Sight
As an American Idol fan, it was interesting to get the inside scoop from one of the contestants I followed a few years ago. I also appreciated learning the back story of how much Scott has overcome to achieve his dreams and to share his gift with the world.
Whether you follow American Idol or not, I recommend By Faith, Not By Sight as an inspiring story of how God works in amazing ways despite the struggles we all face. The book was also a great follow-up to my recent thoughts on taking Leaps of Faith. Stories like this confirm the importance of learning to live by faith.
Who has inspired you recently? Do you watch American Idol?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
(Please note: There are affiliate links in this post. Should you purchase The By Faith, Not By Sight by clicking one of these links, I receive a small percentage of the purchase. These funds are used to support The Stretched Blog and to extend ministry and missions to Guatemala. Thank you!)
eBook Review: You Are A Writer (So Start ACTING Like One) by Jeff Goins
Today, I’m excited to share about a new eBook resource for writers that will be available in the next couple of days from Jeff Goins. In You Are A Writer (So Start ACTING Like One), Jeff shares tips and encouragement for writers.
First, Jeff who blogs regularly at goinswriter.com challenges readers to change their attitude about writing. He encourages readers to take on the title of “writer.” I have always considered myself to be an engineer, a father, a husband, and a leader, but thanks to Jeff I now consider myself to be a writer.
You Are A Writer provides key advice for finding your voice as a writer. Jeff explains how to build a platform, how to establish a brand, and how to utilize channels of connection. As a blogger for the past four or five years, I came away from You are A Writer with valuable information that will help me grow in my writing.
Finally, Jeff shares his insights in how newer writers and take the next step towards publication. You Are A Writer provides step by step essentials for progressing from a closet writer to becoming published in magazines and on-line to writing your own book. This eBook is an excellent resource that I will come back to again and again in my pursuit of becoming a better writer. You Are A Writer has my recommendation.
Thanks, Jeff, for sharing your writing experience and knowledge with us!
Are you a writer? What’s your next step in your writing journey?
Update 5/2/2012 from Jeff Goins: The website http://youareawriter.
eBook Review: An Idiot’s Guide To The Galaxy by Kevin Haggerty
Today, I’m honored to be included on a list of select people who picked up a preliminary copy of a new eBook that is being released today. In An Idiot’s Guide To The Galaxy, Kevin Haggerty utilizes his wit and humor to pull the reader into his take on the everyday idiot.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I agreed to read Kevin’s eBook. I mean I don’t consider myself an idiot, and I’m not one to call others on the carpet for their idiotic behavior. But I learned right off the bat in Chapter 1 (An Idiot’s Guide to Driving) that I might actually be more of an idiot that I first imagined. Oh well. As I read through the remaining chapters, I realized that in one way or another we’re all idiots. While An Idiot’s Guide To The Galaxy brings this fact to light, it also encourages the readers to hold each other accountable to overcoming the idiotic things in our lives. You have to check out Kevin’s new eBook. Click here to get more info. By the way it’s FREE – how can you go wrong!
I could have added a chapter titled “An Idiot’s Guide to Yard Work and Home Improvement”. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shocked myself, inflicted myself with poison ivy, run over things with the lawn mower, and damaged formally perfect drywall, piping, etc. Just this weekend, I decided to prune my raspberries wearing short sleeves and shorts. You should see the scratches up and down my arms and legs today. I must be an idiot too!
What have you done recently that qualifies you to be an idiot?
Book Review: Raising A Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis
Two months ago, I picked up a copy of Raising a Modern-Day Knight: A Father’s Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood by Robert Lewis at the Weekend to Remember FamilyLife marriage conference that Leanne and I attended in Hershey, PA. During my vacation to Texas, I had a chance to finish reading the book, so I thought I would share my thoughts.
If you are a dad, you need to read this book!
How’s that for a statement? The book is written as a guide and encouragement for fathers to help guide their son’s and son-in-law’s into authentic manhood. In today’s world of gender equality, the title and subject matter of this book may seem old-fashioned and out of touch with the culture. But when you open up the pages of this book and begin to uncover the teachings and truths developed by Lewis, you’ll discover a father who takes his role as a father seriously.
In Raising A Modern-Day Knight, Lewis shares his own journey of defining manhood with two other fathers. He describes the method they used to ceremonially transform their boys to men. Lewis gives practical tips and shows how dads like you and me can do the same thing for our boys. He also gives hope and encouragement to fathers who may feel like it’s too late for them.
I finished reading this book encouraged, inspired, and motivated to take my role as a father more seriously. I’m excited to return home this week where I can begin to develop my own strategy for being more intentional in working with other fathers to transform our boys into modern-day knights.
I highly recommend this book! (This book gets 5 Stretch Marks out of 5.)
How are you being intentional in your parenting these days? How were your parents intentional in raising you? Give us some examples in the comments.
Book Review: Interviewing Your Daughter’s Date by Dennis Rainey
Last month, Leanne and I attended a FamilyLife Weekend to Remember event in Hershey, PA. As you may recall from a few of my posts, this was a memorable and special weekend for us. While we were there, we picked up several books to help us in our marriage and in our parenting. One such resource was Interviewing Your Daughter’s Date (8 Steps To No Regrets) by FamilyLife co-founder and president Dennis Rainey.
Interviewing Your Daughter’s Date is a short book designed for father’s with daughters. In this book, Rainey offers his perspective on how to approach the whole dating thing with your daughter and her potential dates. Rainey recommends a process of interviewing each young man prior to permitting his daughter to go out with him. This may sound old-fashioned and intimidating, but I think that Rainey is on to something.
Not only does this method protect the daughter from guy’s who might not match up with the family expectations for moral perspective, work ethic, and boundaries, Rainey’s interviewing process provides an opportunity to shape the lives of young men. As part of the interview, Dennis Rainey asks each young man to use this method if and when their own daughter’s start to date.
Interviewing Your Daughter’s Date comes at a good time in my parenting path. My daughter, Hannah, hasn’t started dating yet; however, at age 14, the whole dating thing isn’t too far off. As a dad, I want to be prepared to protect my daughter and to help her find the right man. Rainey’s book definitely gives me a lot to think about as I prepare for this time in my parenting journey.
I would recommend Interviewing Your Daughter’s Date to any parent with daughters. You’ll find the book educational, encouraging, and thought-provoking.
When was your last interview?
Do you have any daughters? If so, how have you handled the dating process or how do you plan to handle the dating process?
Book Review: Beyond Opinion (edited by Ravi Zacharias)
Beyond Opinion: Living The Faith We Defend is a collection of writings on the subject of Christian Apologetics from the Ravi Zacharias think tank. I picked up this book through the BookSneeze bloggers program over a year ago, and it’s taken me this long to get through the book and to jot down my thoughts.
Beyond Opinion is very deep.
I’ll be honest it’s not the type of book that I would normally pick up for “fun” reading. The book dissects various challenges to the Christian faith and offers thoughts and ideas on how to approach our friends, neighbors, and co-workers who bring other religious perspectives and thinking to the table. Beyond Opinion opens our minds to understand the thinking of those who don’t follow Christianity, and it provides some springboards for launching into worthwhile conversation with others.
Beyond Opinion is not an easy read; however, this book is an important work and resource for Christians who are serious about sharing their faith and about intelligently talking with non-Christians. I’m sure I’ll come back to this book in year’s to come as a valuable resource in my library.
I would recommend Beyond Opinion if you’re up for the challenge of some deep thinking.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Book Review: How Do You Kill 11 Million People?
Saturday, I opened the mail to discover a copy of Andy Andrews‘ new book, How Do You Kill 11 Million People? Why The Truth Matters More Than You Think. I read through this short book in an hour or so.
My first thought when I opened the package was “Who titles their book this way?” I mean, I’m not at all interested in killing anyone much less 11 million people. My next thought, “What a small book. This should take me long.” There are only fifty pages to this book, and many of the pages have pictures or large text.
I had never read anything by Andy Andrews, but I had heard of his name before. He’s written several novels including The Noticer and The Traveler’s Gift which both made the New York Times bestseller list. Andrews is also a well-known speaker.
So what is his new book about? How Do You Kill 11 Million People? relates the story of the Holocaust (where over 11 million people died) and the deception of the German government led by Adolf Hitler to the potential abuse of power that could lie in government left unchecked. Andrews’ doesn’t take on a political side in his book (at least not from my standpoint), but he does encourage readers to be informed, to investigate the facts, to discover the truth, and to be involved with the political process by holding our leaders accountable through the voting process.
“Did you know that during the past quarter century, no presidential election has been won by more than ten million ballots cast? Yet every federal election during the same time period had at least one hundred million people of voting age who did not bother to vote!” – Andy Andrews in How Do You Kill 11 Million People?
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect when I opened this book. I’m not normally outspoken when it comes to the political arena. I was suspicious about Andrews’ motives and message as I read the first few pages. But as I continued through the book, I was surprised. Andrews’ message is for everyone whether you lean left or right, whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican.
I would definitely recommend this book especially if you are turned off by the current political climate or if you’re thinking of skipping the next election.
Did you vote in the last election? Are you planning to vote in the upcoming election? Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?