Stuck – Jennie Allen

We are often so stuck in invisible struggles in our hearts and minds, we barely have space for God. These deep struggles, these stuck places, are familiar to every one of us: brokenness, anger, discontentment, fear, and sadness. Stuck takes on these struggles within us so that we can encounter God. Because until we recognize that we are stuck and in need of God, we will miss what He has for us.

Jennie Allen's Bible studies are designed to draw women close to God and to each other. These shorter studies dig deep quickly, creating experiential conversations and allowing women to wrestle with Scripture in a deep and authentic way throughout the week.

This set includes 8 DVD’s, a study Guide with story-driven teaching, scripture study, and short five-day-per-week lessons.  Also Leader's Guide for facilitating group study, conversation cards help to facilitate more spontaneous and authentic conversation and promotional resources for churchwide campaign.

This set was truly amazing and helpful.  The DVD’s are both thought provoking and inspirational.  This set has really helped me to make more time in my days for God and to praise His glory.  I have truly been able to pay more attention and see more clearly the great gifts that God has in store for me each day.

Ascent from Darkness – Michael Leehan

A life of difficulty and disappointment set 33-three year old Michael Leehan up for the worst decision of his life-to make a deal with the Devil to follow and serve him. Practicing the dark arts that include ritualistic cuttings and blood sacrifices, while fine tuning his manipulation and control skills, Michael launched into a twenty year downward spiral that included job loss and detachment from loved ones, and even jail time.

But God had another plan that included a group of Christian men to love him and pray for him-even when it became evident his assignment from Satan was to kill their pastor, Craig Groeschel.

The life Michael Leehan lives today is an incredible testimony of the transforming power of God's mercy and grace, but is also a wakeup call to the church to be fully aware of the spiritual war that is going on all around them, and to the ultimate battle for their souls.

"I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts 26:18

Ascent from Darkness is a great testimony into the amazing work of God, and how everyone, even those most far from God can see his light and be accepted into his Kingdom.  This book is a reminder to anyone who is struggling with any issue, how amazing God is and how much he loves his creation.

why god wont go away

The rise of the new atheism, which includes the manifestos of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, has created a public willingness in today's marketplace to talk about God and religion. Yet the debate up to this point has focused largely on rebutting the new atheist critique of Christianity. Why God Won't God Away moves into new territory by challenging the new atheism on its own grounds. Chapters include discussion on: What is the new atheism, the problem of religion, The problem of human nature, Believing only what can be proved, Dealing with imagined worlds and myths, The new humanism and the new enlightenment, Violence and dogmatism.  This book is written by a theology professor and Christian apologist who not only has a best-selling book rebutting the new atheist critique of Christianity but has debated Richard Dawkins in Oxford, Christopher Hitchens in Washington, and Daniel Dennett in London.

This was a great book, with many challenging thoughts.  If you are a reader who enjoys being challenged by ideas and thought than, Why God Won’t Go Away is the book.  I highly recommend it, and wish you happy ready as you struggle with the ideas and critiques that Alistair McGrath presents.

Surviving Your Serengeti- Stefan Swanepoel

As a brutal business environment meets a soft economy, business leaders and managers are looking for sources of both inspiration and survival. This compelling new fable offers a riveting tale of life in Africa's Serengeti and what lessons it holds for today's beleaguered business people and struggling society.
            The 1.5 million wildebeest rely on stubborn endurance and support from the herd to survive; the alligator is opportunistic; the cheetah ruthlessly effective; the giraffe embodies grace, the lion a master strategist, the mongoose is a risk-taker, the elephant is an excellent communicator.

This book was truly an amazing and quick read.  It arrived in the mail around 3pm and I just opened to cover to read the introduction to get a feel for a book.  3 and half hours later, I was done and seriously reflecting on the lessons taught in the book. 

We all have things in our lives we need to work on and this book can open your eyes to some of your strengths and weaknesses.  It has given me a lot of think about and to work on in my own life.  I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in better themselves as a person and wishes to have better interacts with people around them.

the seraph seal

The Seraph Seal- Leonard Sweet

An epic tale of good and evil based on the four horsemen of the Apocalypse found in the book of Revelation.

Using the four horsemen of the Apocalypse to symbolize the four Gospels, four transcendentals, and four forces of the universe (air, water, earth, and fire), Sweet and Wagner weave a fast-paced, end-times tale of good vs. evil and the promise of a new dawn for humanity.

Set in 2048, when planet Earth is suffering from the damaging effects of years of misuse and abuse, cultural history professor Paul Binder receives a mysterious letter that leads him to examine a lost 2nd-century Diatessaron manuscript. Ancient prophecies, cryptic letters, and strange events set him on a course to uncover the missing clues that could lead humanity into a new age. Each character embodies elements of the four horsemen in a race to save the world from total destruction. Layered with forgotten symbolism from the ancient, Jewish, and Christian traditions, the novel is a type of engaged fiction in which the main character's lost journal serves as a guide to the reader in interpreting clues and understanding the novel's conclusion.

            The Seraph Seal was an enjoyable book.  I would recommend it to Christian fiction fan, who also have an interest in symbolism and hidden meaning.  Great book. Great read.

Max on Life- Max Lucado

We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.  In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has been the receiving line for thousands of such questions. The questions come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life he offers thoughtful answers to more than 150 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt, from home to the hereafter.  Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions-parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships-as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?  A special addendum includes Max's advice on writing and publishing.  Including topical and scriptural indexes and filled with classic Lucado encouragement and insight, Max on Life will quickly become a favorite resource for pastors and ministry leaders as well as new and mature believers.

            On the whole Max’s answers to the question covered seem logical and are clearly stated.  I am sure this is a resource I will refer to time and again over the course of my life.  I would recommend this book to everyone, and would hope that everyone read this book at some point in their life.  This would also be a great book to buy any new believer in Christ, to provide a framework of living a Christian life.

No Place like Holmes

When Griffin Sharpe is sent to stay with his uncle at 221 Baker Street, he is convinced he is going to stay with the famous Sherlock Holmes, which is perfect since he plans to use his ability to notice every tiny detail to become a detective one day. When he arrives at the home, he is saddened to learn that his uncle is really a cooky man with a strange knack for inventing astounding devices who lives in 221A while Sherlock Holmes lives in 221B. When Holmes is not available to take a case, Griffin and his uncle must step in and take the case, which takes them on an exciting journey for truth: both about the crime and their family. Will the two unlikely heroes save the day?

            This is a great book for young readers.  It is quick paced and filled with action and adventure.  At times Griffin seems a little whiney but he is a likeable character and eventually hero.  On the other hand, his uncle, who is rough around the ends and grumpy in the beginning, really turns into a soft hearted and likeable hero as well.  The underlying messages of the book also prove to be useful for young readers who are still developing their own identities. This will truly be a great fantasy series for kids to dive into and anticipate the next installments.