Fearless by Max Lucado

Courage is fear with running shoes. Or something like that. Fearless is a book written in our time, for us, by someone that walks among us. It is actually relevant to your Christian walk and helps answer a lot of soul-searching questions, most of us have or will have at one time or another. I found reading this book was at a very appropriate time in my life, and that this book helped me through a very difficult, heart-wrenching time of loss and sadness. When I began to read this book, I thought it would be more entertaining, since a lot of Max Lucado’s books weave a story that you can relate to via a life lesson. What I found was that the biblical answers and examples given enabled me to look at Christ in a modern-day world. How would Christ react to the recession, job losses, or foreclosures? Well, he says, “Fear not. “ Max Lucado shows how Christ reacted in many real situations and then criss-crosses the generations, to show how Christ is alive today in our lives. Fearless is a book for Christians to read and remember that we have a God-given right to be fearless.

Think and Make It Happen by Augusto Cury

Think and Make It Happen by Dr. Augusto Cury is a book about gaining control of your thoughts, emotion, and life via the holy scripture and actually using your brain scientifically. This very interesting book took me by surprise. I was half-expecting two hundred plus pages of “Oprah” new-age theory. This book would actually be very helpful to those who question their faith, God, and the marriage of science in the religious field. Using modern day medical psychological theories, the author draws upon Jesus Christ as an example to each theory. Further, the book is designed for use in private and “small group” sessions.

Usually, I would pass at the opportunity to read anything psychiatric related because it is never biblically based. It is usually “man’s theory based.” Giving scripture references, this “self-help” book helps the individual really question their thoughts, relinquish control, and scientifically points one back to their Creator, God. The author explains 12 principles, or theories, and then explains each on in exact detail, for example, “Be the author of your own story, Principle #1.” He then goes into how, why, where, and then shows how Jesus Christ did the exact same thing.

I can easily remember the principles and put them in practice within my everyday life.

Book Review - The Noticer

The Noticer is a very wonderful story that brings you into the life story of life lessons. What is the definition of wisdom? “The ability to see into the future the consequences of your choices in the present.” If only I read this book when I was fifteen and made different choices just by using wisdom. Andy Andrews proves to be a methodical story-teller interweaving spiritual beliefs, moral beliefs, and good judgment in real life experiences that make the reader wonder whether this is an actual story or a non-fiction book. “Jones,” the book’s main character, is a grandfather who has a great sense of humor, mixed with just the right of sarcasm, and the ability to draw someone’s attention by knowing exactly what to say. Each chapter of the book has a unique life lesson and the book as a whole would be the equivalent of ready thirteen separate personal development books. I rarely laugh out loud, or shed a tear when reading stories, but this story had me really pondering where the character would show up next. I think the ending ties the entire book into a lovely package. This book will become a gift to our children and many friends in the future.