Constantly Craving by Marily Meberg

I agreed to read this book for Booksneeze in exchange for a review. An old co-worker stopped by one of the motels I work at last night and the conversation turned soon enough to books and recent readings. She had this book on her Kindle Fire, and was disappointed with it. She offered me her Fire and I must say, I am also disappointed. If you want to read a good self healp book on addictions and addictive behavior, I reccommend Steven Arterburn. Any of his books will help you. But this Constantly Craving book: no way would I reccommend it to anyone. She asserts that people have cravings because they are living outside of the light of God. Well, thats just nonsense. God says Hisself that He works through our weaknesses to bring Glory to Him and His greatness. We are humans, not gods. We have cravings for many reasons but to assert that cravings are brought about because of childhood issues and short comings is too far out on that nut-job limb for me to back her as a valid writer. I was especially displeased that she pulls Bible verses and tags them to support her opinions. Any part of the Bible can be taken out of context and ithink it is stupid and dangerous to try and make it look like God is backing your opinions!!! god is Master and Divine Creator: Lord above all : Father of all. The beginning and the end. And this is the end of my review: book was awful.

Great Day Everyday by Max Lucado

I was happy to read this book, as i am with ALL Lucado books; and once again, it was time well spent. My mind just stucks Lucado up like a straw.
This book is easy and fast to read; serious but not written in a way that stalls out or makes the reader pause for too long - a book written for the average Joe; the working reader who wants a good read but doesnt have 2 weeks to devote to one!
The focus of this book, to me, was for us to see every day as a gift and as an opportunity to serve. For us not tosee today as the last day we might have but to see it as the potential best day for us to serve God. By looking at everything that happens as coming from God, Lucado suggests we will better handle whatever comes our way. I think he means the average day, with traffic tickets and such, that is what I think he means.
The book is divided into 3 sectiions, basically challenging us to accept, and fill out minds and our days with looking for ways to praise God.
I have never not enjoyed a Lucado book. This one is no exception. A Gentle Thunder, is still his best book but this one, is great!

1000 Days by Jonathan Falwell

Sometimes reviewing a book for Booksneeze.com is just shooting ducks in a barrel. I knew when I saw who had written this book that I was going to love it. His dad was an awesome man of God and junior seems to be right there in his fathers footsteps.
The Rev. Jerry was one of my all time favorites, ahead of Billy Graham, and thats saying a lot. It is rare to find moral integrity anymore because everyone seems to sell out; tolerance on divorce coming right up at the front of the list.
But about the book!
Jesus did more miracles than could be recorded for there was not enough paper nor books to write down all the miracles that Jesus did while He was here, walking among us. We know this, the Bible tells us this is true. Johnathan Falwell, has written an entire book that looks at the days when Jesus was here with us, step by step.
This book has earned a permanent place on my bookcase. If you would like to know more about Johnathan Falwell, you can read it from his blog at : http://www.jonathanfalwell.com/http___www.jonathanfalwell.com/Blog/Blog.html
It is a tight, well written book. Consider that his grandparents were agnostic/athesitic people, consider that his dad founded the moral majority and imagine the quality of this book: because its there folks!
If you need a little bit of hearing that you are not the only moral cherry left on the tree you must have a copy of this book. If you feel like your life is of no value you need this book. I think everyone needs this book!!

Our Favorite Sins by Todd D Hunter

Sorry to say, but I really expected a lot more out this book. Chapter 6 should have stayed on target, which was dealing with over eating but the author jumped ship and I lost interest.

The Jesus We Missed by Patrick Reardon

I found this to be a remarkable read! People fail to see Jesus as human: as the kind of average guy, with super powers who would never use them for himself but who would walk into a pizza joint and walk upto the buffet and then sit with a bunch of folks who had never had the pleasure.
I think some people, whom I will lovingly refer to as Sanhedrin, would find the book out of color; favoring to see Jesus as God only. But that was not the point of Jesus coming here to walk among us and to BE ONE OF US.
We fail to grasp the Humanity of Christ because we fail to understand that He was a human. The author of this book really pulls that point into focus so I have to give this book 2 thumbs up. I also found it to be written on a good level of understand: felt like I was back in school again (how sweet it was).
I give this work 5 out of 5 stars.

The Exceptional Life by Stephen Arterburn

I recieved this book from Baker Publishing Group.
My life is better for having read it.

Arterburn wrote an other book earlier this year which I reviewed for Thomas Nelson titled, Healing Is A Choice. It was a good book but this most recent one, The Exceptional Life, is a better book.

This book is shorter and therefore easier to commit to read. In this book, the author goes over 8 areas of life where we can all be blind sided and miss our walk with God.

He uses stories about people he has worked with in the past or he has some people write dialog about their experiences and he then incorporates their experiences as examples.

The last chapter was the best written and dealt with addiction. The author needs to write his next book starting out with addiction and in fact, write an entire book about addictions.

I believe he has a lot of experience in counseling but I dont know that I would say I agree him on all points.
His chapter on helplessness was also a very good section of the book.

I would have to give this one 5 stars, just because I feel like I am stronger for having read it. That is a pretty strong endorsement.

Then Sings My Soul Vol3 by Robert J Morgan

I was so excited to receive this book from Booksneeze. I so love Robert J Morgans work and this series is his fines hour. I was hoping he would keep the volumes coming. In this volume he offers gospel songs and origins and information about the author or things that were happening at the time the author wrote the song, Historically.
I love his work and because of this particular volume, Robert J Morgan is starting to pull ahead of Max Lucado as my favorite author. Not the song sections that put the book over the top for me but the 2 final chapters, if you will.
One discusses how song are a form of ministry to our souls - which I have written several times as being a personal belief and then a chapter of embracing interwoven worship (musically speaking).
I agree with him 100%. His information on the songs is educational and interesting and you actually get the songs so it is more of a Hymnal with a study application that you can use for life enrichment!!
Some people need their dose of church preached to them; but I happen to think of it this way: church is the strawberry short cake of this world and the sermon is the juicy berry and the music is the whipped cream topping.
Reading Robert J Morgan is like getting to smell that short cake and imagine how good its going to taste. An example that the author feels the same way can be found in many places, but I like the way he says it on page 252 "You don't always have to even sing the hymns. Simply reading them is dipping into the richest sacred poetry of the ages....many hymns have been written for close of day, and they can serve as a veritable benediction as you fall asleep."
I just can not think of a better use of a cold evening than reading this volume 3 of the Then Sings My Soul collection.
It is inspirational, informative and a great devotional/Biblical aid.
I can not wait for volume 4 !!