Book Review: Max on Life

Do you ever have those days where you wish you can sit down with a person whose love for Jesus completely leaves you wanting to draw yourself closer to Him? I have had such thoughts and there a several people on my list.

Author Max Lucado is on that list.  I have never met him. I have never gone to his church. And yet, I feel like he has pastored me in pivotal moments of my life.

His kind, gentle demeanor that is reflected in his style of writing has made him a mentor to many. Kind of like the wise, old grandfather everyone wants.

It is inevitable that someone like Max Lucado receives thousands of questions on life, God, Christianity, spirituality, the Bible and on writing. If I had the time, I would have probably sent him a couple.

His newest book "Max on Life" takes on these questions. There are 171 questions all in all. Each are numbered and answered accordingly.

Here is what I feel this book is. It can be used as a bathroom or bedside devotional. You will see many frequently-asked questions (especially if you are in ministry). Reading a question or two every day can help you discern God's answers to your own burning ones. This is the kind of book that can be used as a reference material when needed. It also makes a great gift.

Here is what I feel this book is not. It is not a substitute to looking in the Bible and studying the Word in order to seek answers to your questions. It is not trying to be one to begin with. Lucado merely guides the readers to what the Bible says. In fact, some of the answers to the hardest questions lack depth because the author tried to keep answers to about a page or two.

Even though this is not the kind of book you will read from cover to cover, it is very easy to do so. As I reached the very last page, I feel like I have spent time with a man whose love for Jesus is very evident in his writing style.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: The Power-Based Life

A book by a former football player is generally not the kind of book that I am drawn to. I was never an athlete and did not go to a school that put importance into sports programs for girls.

However, it was these very reasons that encouraged me to read "The Power-Based Life" by Mike Flynt. Flynt played football for Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. The football team's winning tradition helped inspire a now popular inspirational television series called "Friday Night Lights."

I knew that I was missing out on a lot of personal discipline lessons by not growing up playing sports. Having watched athletes train and perform affirmed the fact that it takes a lot of character-building to take on a mindset of being able to compete with grace, determination and dignity.

While the title of the book is accurate, it can be misleading. I expected a lot of canned motivational quotes that totally mean nothing to me.

(How many times should I remind myself not to make any assumptions about anything?)

In fact, it is nothing what I assumed it would be. Flynt's testimony on how he became the oldest member of a college football team in NCAA history is something worth reading about.

It is an unusual and impressive achievement. But what is more admirable is how Flynt gives all of the credit to God and none of his own.

Flynt is very bold in sharing how God has enabled him to succeed in his journey -- as a player, as a coach, and as an entrepreneur. He holds nothing back in sharing his faith.

Most of the book gives notable lessons on determining your personal "power bases" which are the sources of our strengths. Once these are discovered, we can live out a lives in the way God designed it to be.

Flynt's principles become more achievable when he explains them through personal, first-hand experiences and Biblical teachings. I personally found these principles relevant and empowering -- even to a non-athlete like myself.

The second quarter of this year just started. If you feel that there is a need for you to re-group. re-focus on your goals for 2011, I recommend that you give this book a shot. It might just be the 'push' that you need to get things going.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: START! The Bible for New Believers

In a recently written entry called "Books to Help You Jump-Start a Relationship with Jesus," I highly recommended THEMESSAGE//REMIX Bible as your starting point in getting to know God's Word. Today, I have another Bible recommendation that I have seen to be very good for anyone who wants to start reading the Word.

START! The Bible for New Believers (Edited by Greg Laurie) in the New King James Version serves as a great tool for people who have never read or studied the Bible before but really has the heart to get it started.

One of the great things about this Bible is that it has two preliminary sections before you start on your first chapter. The first is "The Plan of Salvation" and the second is "The Secrets of Spiritual Success." Both are great articles that you can read before immersing yourself in the Word -- it was a great source of encouragement for me and I am certain it will do the same for you!

The next helpful thing about reading through this Bible is that it has several features that provide assistance in helping you know more about the basics of spiritual growth that is Biblical. What features am I talking about?

1) Bible Book Introductions -- All of us can use an overview of a book so that we know what we are reading about, right? This helped me out a lot!

2) Live -- I found little articles all throughout the Bible that reminded me on what it means to live for Jesus Christ.

3) Grow -- There was an abundance of key tips and principles on how to live a faith-filled life.

4) Know -- Ever wish you had a Faith 101 class? These sections help you strengthen spiritual foundations.

5) Learn -- Ever wondered what certain Bible verses mean? You will find a lot of commentaries on important passages to help you comprehend important lessons in God's Word.

If you would like to grab a new Bible to read to help you start the new year, START! is really a great tool to implement this goal. It's very effective for new believers and also very easy to read for those who have always stayed away from the King James Version because of intimidation of the language. This is, in my opinion, a new, improved, and very readable version!

A free download of the entire Gospel of John from Start! The Bible for New Believers and additional details are available by visiting http://www.thestartbible.com.

Start! The Bible for New Believers is available in paperback, jacketed hardcover, or Leathersoft cover options. A Start! The Bible for New Believers New Testament Edition is also available in paperback.

Hardcover: $24.99, Leathersoft: $59.99, New Testament Edition: $7.99

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of their Blogger Review 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Heaven is for Real

I was not planning on reading a second book on an account of experiencing heaven. Don't get me wrong, I love stories like these. I enjoyed reading Don Piper's account of 90 Minutes in Heaven. I just wanted a lot of variety with the books that I review.

But there was something so endearing seeing little Colton Burpo's joyful face on the bright, yellow cover of "Heaven is for Real." I immediately took up the offer of Booksneeze to review this book. Written in his father, Todd Burpo's voice, Lynn Vincent describes a 4-year-old boy's account of his trip to heaven during an emergency apendectomy.

I understand that it is easy to doubt the truthfulness of the story. But there was no way a 4-year-old can grasp with such innocence the image of heaven that was so faithful in Scripture.

I also saw the father took very great care in avoiding any kind of manipulation to sway Colton's story. With that kind of heart being very evident in the book, my heart chooses to believe the boy's trip to heaven did take place.

Is heaven real? Absolutely. A book like this helps me keep my focus on living with eternity in mind. But honestly, heaven had me at Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth...”

*DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing and Booksneeze. 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: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

When I got this book in the mail (thank you BookSneeze!), I was more excited than the usual because what it is all about is not what I usually review.

While I will always love books on Christian life, theology and even fiction, I can always use a book that will help me become a better homemaker and money manager. Something that's practical and can be easily applied to the very unique household Robert and I are accustomed to.

"Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half" by "America's Cheapest Family" Steve and Anne Economides (yes -- it's really their last name) just does that.

This book is not intimidating. Admittedly, I was concerned that the lessons shared might be unrealistic to my household and the third-world culture that I call my permanent residence.

Each lesson / money-saving tip is placed in one chapter. This means that I can choose to apply one tip and completely ignore the other.

There is no requirement to do all the recommendations in order to make an impact on our budget. Every single tip will do make some changes!

Running a home and staying on top of family finances is a beautiful calling from God. I take this privilege seriously.

While I am not expert at it (I am learning daily and sometimes the hard way!), I am glad that I have access to resources that teach me to grow in my role. This book is one of them! For any family who needs to save more (which is pretty much everyone), I highly recommend getting a copy of this book.

Book Review: The Boy Who Changed The World

"The Boy Who Changed The World" is a follow-up review to "The Butterfly Effect." Both books are authored by Andy Andrews. The former is a children's book version of the latter.

I am no children's book expert but I do know beautiful artwork when I see one. Credit goes to Philip Hurst's magical hands and extraordinary vision. The illustrations are breathtaking and just looking at them made me decide that I will use this book for my coffee table.

If you are a parent, I highly recommend that you grab a copy of "The Butterfly Effect" and get "The Boy Who Changed the World" for your child. Allow these books to remind your family of the profound truth that every little thing you do matters. The acceptance of God's decision to create you for a reason is important as you would want this lesson to be taught to your child.

One of the most powerful gifts a parent can give to a child is to let them know that they have the power to change the world and transform other people's lives. I challenge everyone to get a hold of this book and spend time with a child close to your heart. You will tear up as you read Andy Andrews' beautiful words.

Book Review: The Butterfly Effect

I had the pleasure of reviewing another book by Andy Andrews called "The Butterfly Effect." I am grateful for Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program -- bloggers like myself get opportunities to get nourished by today's brilliant Christian authors and thought leaders.

My husband and I are active in ministry. I frequently engage with people (mostly women my age) who feel like their life has little impact on anyone or anything.

The book is terrific for both big readers like myself and for those who barely have little time to sit down. It can be read in fifteen minutes.

The short reading time does not mean the impact of the content is compromised. The book talks about the following questions.

How significant is my life?

Do I make a difference?

When I move ...

When I act ...

When I do something ...

... does the universe notice?

Do I really matter?

Let me tell you about amazing people whose actions made an impact on my life today. They have probably wrestled with the questions above and hope that the following statements give a clear answer.

1) In sixth grade, I had an English teacher who made me write essays all the time. I had a couple of ones that were read in front of the class.
2) From the time I was ten years old until I was twelve, I was part of a church choir. Our music teacher rehearsed us after school every day and asked us to sing in church every Sunday.
3) My mother taught me how to read at 3 years old. I clearly remember the little chalkboard we had in our home and being coached on how to properly pronounce each letter.
4) In my junior year in high school, I had a teacher who personally coached me on grammar and linguistics and stayed in touch with me even after the school year. We are still connected to this day.
5) When I was a freshman in college, I had a close girlfriend who loved Jesus. At that time, I loved her but I couldn't imagine living the "clean" life that she had. She expressed how brokenhearted she was when she saw me light a cigarette. But she never ceased to pray for me and was there for me on days I hit rock bottom. It's almost crazy to think I how I have evolved since that time.

"The Butterfly Effect" shares specific stories on how seemingly tiny gestures of kindness dramatically affects someone's life and perhaps, even the entire universe. All of us does something that matters. We all have been created by our Father for a purpose that will make a difference. We all have a God-given power to change the world.  If you need a heartfelt reminder of this fact, I strongly recommend that you spare 15 minutes of your time today and read this book.

Book Review: Permission to Speak Freely

I love Anne Jackson. I do not know her personally (but I have a feeling I will soon!) but I do feel that connectedness with her when I read her blog: FlowerDust.net.

I knew she was about to release a book called "Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace." To my delight, it was available for review on Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program. *

The birth of the book began when she posted this question on her blog:

"What is one thing you feel you can't say in church?"

When she posted this question, I wasn't one of her readers at that time but this week, I got a glimpse on how this one question generated a plethora of responses way beyond what the author had anticipated. I wholeheartedly believe that God opened an opportunity for her to be the voice who will stir the hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions) of members of Christ's body to finally be openly authentic about the true condition of their hearts.

A first impression of the book might come across as a PostSecret type of publication. A lot of Jackson's readers sent in artwork with sobering confessions -- stuff that they cannot say out loud in church.

That in itself is interesting enough. I like looking at truth even if it is painful. Getting a chance to see the wounded hearts of my brothers and sisters allows me to appreciate over and over again the kind of grace God has lovingly given to me and to them.

The author's revelations about her addictions and continued healing is a gift to anyone who gets to read this book. All of us have been broken at one point in our lives, and probably still are.

The saddest part in the midst of this brokenness is having to keep it all inside for fear of being judged by the church -- which is either assumed or because of a valid experience with spiritual leadership that wants everything to look "perfect."

Jackson's disclosure of her journey has given me encouragement and that extra push to be more comfortable with the habit of confession among people I am accountable with. While I have no problem letting God know what's on my mind at any time, I sometimes feel a certain amount of discomfort (my reasons shall be discussed in a future blog post) in being transparent with people I am closely walking this journey with. I think I have gotten better at it, but I still have a long way to go.

One thing I know for sure as I finished reading the book: victory and healing over our souls' darkness begin with confession to God and to other believers who will listen with Christ-like compassion. And I am certain that my Daddy gives that opportunity to me every single day.

*I would have bought it anyway even if it wasn't ;-)

Book Review: Mystically Wired

I just got done reading Ken Wilson's book "Mystically Wired: Exploring New Realms in Prayer." My gratitude goes out to Thomas Nelson's review program for allowing me to enjoy a copy of this book.

The author's central message in this publication states that our brain is designed to instinctively tell our body that we need prayer in order to function better. While this was a fascinating perspective to me, I found myself stumbling through the first few chapters with a lot of difficulty.

It was not because I had problems with what Wilson was trying to say. At that point, there was just too much analysis of neuroscience. I could not connect with the language being used.

As I read further, I clearly knew this was not one of those "prayer books" I have come to expect from most Christian authors who talk about this subject. There is nothing wrong with that. A fresh perspective on the function of prayer is always something I look forward to.

The author makes compelling statements that prove that a brain's activity is to induce a person into a state of prayer because it is good for his physical self. The discomfort that I feel with this method of "exploring new realms in prayer" is that I am not that excited at the thought of manipulating the functions of my brain in order to produce stellar results in my prayer life. I am keeping an open mind on some of the recommended activities on being still and developing focused attention. However, I will also continue to enjoy my frequent moments of connecting with the Lord in the its most organic manner.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

"The Noticer" written by Andy Andrews is really a tough one for me to review. To those who have been following this blog, I am part of the Bloggers' Review Program of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

A reader's reaction to the book will generally be categorized into two: it is either you really love it or you really didn't care much for it.

Those who end up loving it are those who find it refreshing to read a light, inspirational Christian fiction after a series of heavy reading.

Those who end up not liking it probably has read something similar in the recent times and might find the story a little bit cliched and probably very reminiscent of Tuesdays With Morrie.

I consider myself more of the latter. However, I have a deep appreciation on the heart behind the book.

"Sometimes, All A Person Needs Is A Little Perspective" -- a reminder that we all need often. I know I do. The main character -- Jones -- is used as the messenger of wisdom-filled statements that catapult another character into a life-changing discovery. He challenges us to start noticing the little things we usually miss. These things usually do a lot in changing our approach to situations and problems.

Did I enjoy the book? I cannot say I did. I found a lot of the statements recycled. Example is an attempt to re-tell Dr. Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages."

Is it a nice, light, easy read? Absolutely. I guess I was just not looking for one at this time.

If there is one statement from the book I must share with all of you it is this wonderful definition of WISDOM:

”The ability to see, into the future, the consequences of your choices in the present.”

One thing I am about to check out and probably participate in:
“The Noticer Project: A Movement to “Notice” the Five Most Important People in Your Life.”

Anything that will encourage me to show love and appreciation to people is something I am always up for!

The Strong Life Test for Women

I just took the Strong Life Test for Women. This test was designed by strengths expert Marcus Buckingham for women the LEAD ROLE and the SUPPORTING ROLE they were born to play.

Here are the results of the Strong Life Test I took yesterday.

My Lead Role: EQUALIZER

I begin by asking:
'What’s the right thing to do?'

I am sensitive to how everything in the world is connected, how movement in one part of the world causes everything else to move as well. Alive to this inter-connectedness, I feel compelled to keep everything aligned.

My best quality:
Your innate sense for what is right

I must always:
Lead with my values

I must be careful about:
Becoming too obviously defensive when my values are challenged

My smartest career move:
Any job where I'm paid to speak up for people who’ve been wronged.


My Supporting Role: INFLUENCER

I begin by asking:
'How can I move you to act?'

In virtually every situation, my eye goes to the outcome.

My best quality:
Your ability to outwit others

I must always:
Keep my eye on the specific outcome I want

I must be careful about:
Wasting my time with people who can’t make things happen

My smartest career move:
Any job where I'm paid to persuade others to act


I am, to this day, completely amazed how "strength strategist" Marcus Buckingham can formulate test questions and accurately define people's strengths.  My Equalizer Lead Role wonderfully describes my moments in my past where I felt were my strongest ones.  I have had several incidents in my past where I stood up for misunderstood people (usually my friends) or people who are victims of bullying (living in a city where there is a distinct and obvious social stratification, this has happened a lot).

However, I am still not convinced (or maybe I am still in denial!) that I am an Influencer.  Do I love outwitting others (never liked it)?  Do I find satisfaction in closing a sale?  Yuck.  But I will give it a chance and see if Buckingham's test results are true.

What I learned from the book "Find Your Strongest Life" by Marcus Buckingham and will apply right away: start listing down my "strong" moments.  Bring a notepad and pen right away.  Will start focusing my energies on my strong moments instead of attempting to live a perfectly balanced life.

Ladies, here is what I recommend that you do:

Take the Strong Life Test.  It's free.  No access codes necessary.

Evaluate your Lead and Supporting Roles.

Grab a copy of the book.  I strongly recommend it because you will get fantastic tips on how to maximize your roles. And when you know where you are strong, your life becomes more purposeful.  And when it is more purposeful, you experience freedom from engaging in tasks that you feel weak in.  And there is nothing like freedom from having to do the things that you don't like!

Fearless by Max Lucado

The world we live in today puts us in battles we are not typically prepared for: life-threatening diseases, child endangerment, loss of financial security, lay-offs, premature deaths, and home foreclosures. These problems aren't the kind we see on the usual exaggerated story-telling on television anymore.

All of these scenarios are real -- and most of them may knocking on our doors.

This reality puts us in a position where fear understandably shakes us and suddenly the faith in God that we claim to have gets tested and tried. Max Lucado's newest book, Fearless, puts into perspective on how these situations measure up in an eternal standpoint.

When we attempt to understand the point of view from above, we can truly ask ourselves -- can we live life without fear?

I am known to be scared of the silliest things. Rats. Water slides. Driving in Metro Manila. But fear of the big stuff? Death. Parenting. Job loss. Not knowing what's next. Nah -- I can cope well with those.

If I die soon (and my husband hates it every time I say this) -- I say, "Great. Earth -- peace out! It was a great life. Now I am off to see my Father and I am excited." I know how detached I might sound but I have really come to terms that my life here is temporary. I am going to make the most out of it. But when it's time -- then it's TIME.

Now let me change it up a bit. Let me talk about my biggest heart issue. What if a family member forgets to call and check on me? Or a good friend gets caught up with his/her own life and just doesn't bother to spend time with me anymore? Or when I bring up ideas and it gets brushed off? Guess what -- that hurts me deeply. And it creates wounds in my spirit that I cannot even put into words.

The book drove me into a deeper understanding that YES -- I may not be fearful of the obvious scary stuff but I am scared of a lot other things that cripples me just as much.

Why do I grieve when I am taken for granted by people I love? Because I fear that at the end of the day, I do not matter. And that, my friend, also brings death to a life of victory Jesus Christ has bought for me.

I am grateful that through this book, I was once again reminded that I do not need to strive for fear of insignificance. I am His -- and if I matter that much to Him, I am in a good place. A great place.

I can't wait to sit down with my life group next week and go through Lucado's list of fears (which is dealt with chapter by chapter). What I talked about was just the one of many. I am excited to see breakthroughs in their lives as they understand that faith, not fear, is the best default reaction to life's storms.