Firsthand: Ditching Secondhand Religion for a Faith of Your Own by Ryan & Josh Shook

Firsthand encourages readers to move beyond the religion that was passed on to them and enter into a personal relationship with Christ. Ideal for a late teen to mid-twenty year old, this book is refreshing in the aim to return to a true relationship with God, not just religious practices. Many young people are disillusioned with the church because they need a fresh encounter with God. The Shooks encourage people to wrestle and question, not to pretend like they have all the answers. It’s a raw, firsthand faith that will make a lasting impact.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians

This certainly isn’t a “fun read” … but it’s the brutal reality faced by Christians throughout the world. Broken down by region, this book considers the history and culture of countries while giving examples of the types of persecution that takes place against Believers. It’s difficult to think about, especially considering the way such events are not discussed in mainstream media. That being said, we are no better off claiming ignorance. After reading this book you will be aware of what’s going on and may very well be stirred to pray harder for those facing such brutalities.

 

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.”

Altared by Claire & Eli

Need a fresh look at relationships and love? Heard all the trite advice before and feel like something is missing? This just might be a good book for you to read. In Altared, Claire and Eli oscillate between sharing their experiences and story and challenging readers to view dating and marriage differently. Marriage and getting there as fast as possible is often pushed in today’s Christian culture. Without disputing the value of marriage, the authors consider whether as a whole we are too worked up about “we.” Admittedly, I found it a bit hard to follow the authors at some points as they seemed to bounce around quite a bit. All in all, the book challenged me to think beyond the norm and I would recommend it to a friend.

 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live and Die for Bigger Things

This book was good for the most part. Not the best I’ve ever read related to justice, but it definitely contained some good ideas. I found it to be a little “heavy” at the beginning and I had to push through that part. Before long, however, it turned a corner and I found reading it to be much more enjoyable. We live in a broken world and this book addresses how followers of Christ should respond. It was a challenging read and did not solely focus on one particular issue that needs restoration. I would recommend this book to a friend who is contemplating the purpose of their life and desiring to be a part of a bigger story than themselves.

 

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.”

I Am Not But I Know I Am

 

The catchy title immediately caught my attention. Through engaging stories, Louie Giglio captures the reader and continually reminds them that though they are small, they have a part to play in the bigger story of God’s work. The fact that smallness compared to God does not equate to insignificance was a recurring theme throughout this book. I found I Am Not But I Know I Am to be an easy, enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it. Whether you are stressed out or feeling insignificant, this book will speak truth to your heart and remind you of the big God you serve.

 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

 

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

As an introvert, I was eager to read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations. If you’re looking for an easy read, this isn’t it. The content is good, but it’s a deep, heavy read. I am normally a fast reader, but I could not plow through this book quickly. The book is divided into four parts: 1) the extrovert ideal which focuses on how our society prefers extroverts to introverts, 2) your biology, your self? which considers if temperament is a product of nature or nurture, 3) do all cultures have an extrovert ideal? which looks beyond the American landscape, and 4) how to love, how to work which addresses interacting with the opposite type and helpful tips for raising quiet kids. All in all, I found this book to be a decent read but not one I would heartily recommend to a friend.

 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

5 Money Personalities

I definitely enjoyed reading this book! Personal finance is an interest of mine, so I was eager to select this book to review in the BookSneeze program. The authors take a different approach to money. Instead of focusing on the usual topics of savings, retirement plans, mortgages, etc., they consider the underlying motivation for money decisions – a person’s money personality. They define five personalities: saver, spender, security seeker, risk taker, and flyer. After guiding the reader through the discovery process of their individual money personality, they consider the money personality of the spouse and how opposites generally attract. With this understanding in place, they offer suggestions on how married couples can work together and move forward, as opposed to arguing about money all the time. This was a unique approach that definitely kept my interest. The book was an easy read and I finished it in two nights.

 

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.”