Counsel From The Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson

Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ by Elyse Fitzpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This wonderful, gospel-centered book is all about how God's love impacts our broken lives. While the title leads one to think that it is about counseling others, there is much in this book that will resonate within the heart of the reader.

I enjoyed the entire book, but especially appreciated the chapters on how the gospel applies directly with our sanctification, emotions, and relationships. After reading other books on the topic of the daily transforming grace of the gospel, these 3 chapters offered new perspective and a fresh look at these areas where I struggle to apply God's grace. The idea that our emotions are a good gift from God is almost mind blowing to me!

Counsel From The Cross is very similar to Because He Loves Me but comes from more of a "counseling" approach. However, while it repeats some of the same material, it also works through it in a different way that I found to be very helpful as I continue in understanding and applying the gospel to my everyday living. It certainly stands alone as a single book, but I would highly suggest reading Because He Loves Me first, especially if you have never read another book on the daily application of the gospel.

This is a deep book, but not so deep that it takes a degree to read it. I highly recommend it to anyone - teen and up - who desires to understand the gospel more and is willing to take the time and effort to study it out using the book as a guide.

Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke

Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

I never thought I would enjoy reading a book about reading as much as I just did.

About a month ago I had the opportunity to review this book and I turned it down. Then just two weeks ago I began seeing some posts on Crossways' blog about this book and it looked more and more intriguing with each post. So curiosity got the best of me and I bought the book for my Kindle and now here I sit typing my review after having just finished this great read.

Lit! is not a book about other good books. It's not a recommendation list, nor a break down of good genres to read. Instead Lit! is about reading and how to make wise decisions in your reading. Reinke takes us back to the The Book of All Books - the Bible - to understand why we should read, how we should read, and to help us pour a solid foundation built on Scripture for our reading habits. Then in section two he breaks out the practical application and tips for better reading practices.

I really like this book overall and would highly recommend it to anyone - teens to adults. I appreciated Reinke setting a solid base in section one of the book, but personally I found it a little hard to get through. However, in all fairness, I believe it was due to the fact that so much of what he wrote was just reiterating what I already know and believe. For those who have never given any thought about to the reasons why they read the first section will be of great benefit. The second section was very helpful and I liked the wide variety of suggestions and ideas that were presented. No matter what kind of a reader you consider yourself to be you will find something to challenge you within these pages.

Lit! is a short read, making it easy to read in just a few hours, and sums up the authors opinions in thorough but to-the-point chapters. It truly renewed my desire to read, kindled the passion to pursue reading in a way that glorifies God, and breathed new purpose into developing sound reading patterns. Whether you are old, young, new to reading, don't like to read, or read like you breath...this book is for you. Enjoy!

For a sample of what this book holds, read this post and watch this interview with the author.

Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life by Elyse Fitzpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

If anyone - anyone! - would ask me what the number one book is that I would recommend, this book would be my answer. There are not enough words to describe this book!

Elyse is a great communicator, but beyond that is what she shares. In this book she takes you back to the basics that we so easily and quickly gloss over, and in some cases, we never pay attention to in the first place. In twelve chapters you are either are reminded or discover for the first time how the gospel applies to your daily life not just to a one-time decision. Reading this book is like putting together a puzzle and while you may first be confused, by the time you reach the end you will be very encouraged and on some things be quite convicted.

I personally love this book because for it was the first book I had read that really explained how what I knew should actually change my moment by moment life. It is deep enough to make you re-read some portions as you allow the meaning to really sink in, but easy enough for any person to read who is willing to give it their attention. For me, this has been the one book that has helped my dig into the Bible with excitement and passion as I understand more and more how it really applies to my life on a daily basis.

While the cover of this fabulous book showcases some pretty flowers and a butterfly, it's intended audience is for anyone, including men. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and quickly encourage you to put it at the top of your list to read. If you are a guy, then cut up a brown paper bag to make a book cover...but read it! It will change your thinking!

BOOK OVERVIEW:

God’s love has the power to change lives. Christians, then, should exhibit the greatest transformation of all because, rightly understood and cherished, God’s love makes them increasingly more like the One who has lavished his love on them.

So why do we so often struggle to exhibit God’s love? Biblical counselor Elyse M. Fitzpatrick asks one simple question: “In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?” We need to be rescued from our “identity amnesia” and pointed to our true identity as God’s beloved children—adopted by the Father, united with the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Fitzpatrick shows how a genuine transformation of identity leads to a transformation of our daily lives. Those who struggle with either legalism or lawlessness will find encouragement to return to God’s love, the source of authentic and lasting change. Study questions and invitations to further discovery conclude each chapter. Now available in paperback.

Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley

Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Convicting. Encouraging. Challenging.

I always approach books on this topic with a bit of anxiety - wondering if I will walk away with more questions than when I begun. However, this book ranks first in the several I have read on this topic because it not only answered all my questions, but did so with great clarity. McKinley does not beat around the bush and present pages of lengthy explanation, rather he takes you back to Scripture for the answers. This book is a 140 page handbook for those who are willing to ask themselves the hard question of: "Am I really a Christian?".

Despite the sober subject and deep content, Mike helps ease the tension with his sprinkling of humor throughout the book. At first this may seem out of place, but as you read you feel as if you are having a personal conversation with a trusted mentor. He also provides great word pictures that take some difficult concepts and make them so much easier to understand. The book is also hands-on and interactive due to the "How To Respond" section at the end of each chapter. It is a good blend of book and Bible study combined into one cover and is suitable for individual or group use as well as appropriate for both teens and adults.

I was convicted and encouraged by this book. It helped me see some weak areas of my life and direct me to passages in the Bible that helped me determine my answer to the question: Am I Really a Christian? Whether you can answer that question without thinking about it or not, I highly recommend this book. Anyone who reads it will walk away benefiting from it...it's just that they may not benefit from it as they first expected. It's short, it's easy to read, founded on the Bible, and Christ centered. It is a great stand-alone read or a fabulous follow-up read to Because He Loves my, or Living the Cross Centered Life, or books of like kind.

Am I Really a Christian? is more than what meets the eye at first glance. This is a "really should read" book that packs quite a punch.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Wheaton IL¬—Some stats indicate that nearly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Mike McKinley has noticed a concerning trend: There are far too many people who think that they are Christians, but aren’t actually in Christ. He likens it to people who claim to be “huge Yankees fans” but don’t watch games, don’t know the lineup, or the stats, and only ride the team’s glory around playoff time for the exciting World Series victory.
In Am I Really a Christian?, McKinley argues that there is much at stake in the decision to follow Christ, and it is crucial to know where you stand and what it means for your life.
McKinley writes with a genuine love and concern for those in the church. He asks tough questions in order to plead with readers who may not be running the race marked out in God’s Word to change course. Emphasizing the importance that Jesus and Paul placed on this issue, McKinley guides readers through Scripture to show what the Bible says about genuine faith.

* * * * *

The review copies were courtesy of Crossway and Amazon.com. The opinion expressed is strictly my own.

Choosing A Bible: Understanding Translation Differences by Leland Ryken

Choosing a Bible: Understanding Bible Translation Differences by Leland Ryken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Whether you are curious about the various Bible translations or not you should read this book. It is very short - all of 30 pages - and extremely informative and helpful in both learning and making a choice on what version of the Bible you want to use for your personal study.

I appreciated the way Ryken succinctly shares the facts in a book that can be easily read in one sitting. It is a book that is to the point and nothing but the point versus a thick "flowery" book that one never quite manages to read from cover to cover. While this is not a comprehensive book - as I am sure there is more that could be said - it says enough to help one know the appropriate settings in which to use the various types of versions.

My only disappointment in this book was that Ryken uses a lot of big words which make it a little hard to wade through at times. However, if you're willing to either look up words a few times or read what you can, you will enjoy it and benefit greatly from it. And the fact is, it's so short it's not that bad to work through - even if you don't know a word or two. Overall this is a must read for teens to adults of any age. If nothing else you will walk away with a basic understanding of Essentially Literal and Dynamic Equivalent translations.