The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren, et all

I was very unhappy with this book. It provides a great plan for a healthy lifestyle but in no way shape or form is it a book about the 10 day diet Daniel and his friends went on when they were first taken to Babylon. Daniel went a 10 day raw food, veggie and water diet. Rick Warren writes in this book about a 40 day diet that is half non starchy veggies, a quarter lean protein and a quarters starchy veggies with a bit of fruit on the side. He also pushes exercise. It is a big disappointment to see a preacher call something the Daniel diet when it does not even remotely compare. I would give this book a 5 star review if it was called anything else; but I have to say its a no star book because it does not advocate for the name sake. I received this book free through the Booksneeze program in exchange for writing a review. There are some good recipes in the book for COOKED foods and there is a section on exercise and how it benefits our health. There was also a section which speaks to the value of friends and how integrations reflect on our health. But again, the book was not at all about the Daniel diet! If Pastor Warren had called it any other kind of diet book, I would have as I said, enjoyed it. But the diet in Daniel was a ten day raw diet of veggies and pulse or unleaved breads. no wine or meats or any foods from the Kings table. This book however, does not support that diet. It instead encourages from a more Dr Oz formula of eating a balanced diet. Again, I am not saying its a bad book but it is not on topic and I was very disappointed in Rick Warren. Millions will read the book just because he wrote in it but he should know the Daniel diet better than any lay person - so I am sadly unhappy with his work right now. Physically the book is well put together and hard copy with a dust jacket. It is thick and large print makes it easy to read. A better title could have been, ' A Modern Day Twist On the Daniel Diet' as it is a book that combines the SAD (Standard American Diet) with healthy choices. The book will likely increase the readers health as any effort to eat batter and exercise will but the book is not about the diet that Daniel and his friends went on for 10 days when they taken to Babylon. As I said, I received the book free from the publisher and I can say I am very thankful for that; as I would have asked for a refund from the publisher if I had paid money for it. It could have been called anything else and I would have enjoyed it; it does contain good advice but again; it is not the Daniel Diet. It is not even advocating a vegetarian diet!!

The reason for my hope by Billy Graham

You can never go wrong with Billy Graham. This book is a better read than his previous book, Nearing Home. This book speaks to how he came to know Jesus. It speaks of how salvation is our reason for hope and he continues to tell stories about his journeys and travels around the world and he tells specific stories that helped him to walk nearer to God. He talks more to the reader and directly than in his previous book. This book will make a great Christmas present. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing a review. If you think that gives a book a good review then you read to some of my other reviews as I can be very brutal when the situation calls for it. I simply can find no fault with the good reverend. Billy Graham always produces excellent work and I am always inspired by his words and his work is no different. I enjoyed reading about the ways he came to walk with God as he shared his life he also recounts his struggles along the way. Among my favorite of all of Mr Grahams recounts is when he talked one time about how he had not been able to tithe and then he promised God that the next week he would tithe then his son Franklin, became very sick and he had to take his son to the doctor - and he found out that his son needed some shots but he could not pay because he did not have any money any except his money that he had already promised to God so he was struggling with how he was going to pay the doctor because he didn't have any money but his son was sick so he had to take him to the doctor - and as he was just going to explain to the doctor that he had no money that was when the doctor explained to the reverend that his son was going to have to have several shots over time and that the bill was best to be settled when the shots wer3e finished. Mr Graham said that was the moment in his life that he knew for certain that God would take of him if he did what God wanted his to do; the things that he knew he was supposed to do in order to be a good Christian. I have never been disappointed with anything by Billy Graham. This book as I said, would make a wonderful Christmas gift especially to an older family member or friend who grew up with Mr Graham.

Unspoken by Dee Henderson

If you are the kind of reader who enjoys a bit of romance with your suspense, this is the author for you. I am not a big fan of fiction but her writing is full and she ties off her loose ends and leaves no dangling bits to take away from the story line. The main character suffers from PTSD due to having been kidnapped almost 20 years ago but the focus of the story is the development of romance in the hear and now time line. A bit too much detail was spent on old coins and the details of the coins, but as I like old money I thought that was an expectable tarry of time. it is a long book and took me 3 days to read. It is hard to review it without giving away the plot or outcome of the story. It is well written and a good story line that is strong in details with well rounded solid characters.

The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado

Let me start by saying that Lucado is my favorite author. But now let me also add; but not for his fiction. Lucado is top notch at non fiction inspirational writing and that is his forte. As a fiction writer, I find him less than the best. There are times when it is hard to tell who is talking. The characters are full but the story line is not as well developed as it could be. Susan Boyles starred in the movie version made in the UK. The setting does come to life and it does have a happy ending. I did enjoy the book but felt it could have been better and that is not up to par with Max's normal delivery of awesomness. In a nut shell, every 25 years an angel touches a candle and the candle maker must decide whom to gift that candle to as their prayers offered over the candle will be answered. I understood that the idea was that God answers the prayers, I just did not appreciate the idea that once every 25 years an angel touches a candle to make that candle special. The story line is a little loose in other places as well. The character of the new preacher is a little flat. The candle takes on powers in the end when it lights up an area very large to shine on a young girl and her baby. I did not care for the supernatural element. I can see how many people would really enjoy the story. To be honest, I am not a fan of fiction and that greys my review right off the bat. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the Booksneeze in exchange for writing a review. If you think that got the book a favorite review then I would encourage you to read several other reviews as I tend to be brutally honest.

The Compass Bible available at Walmart for 20 dollars with a life time guarantee!!

First off, the bible comes with a life time guarantee!! It looks and feels like soft tooled leather so it rests comfortably in your hands while you read or on your lap without trying to slide off. It is a new translation and is wonderful for those who struggle to understand what the bible is saying; it also includes notes that include cultural, historical, theological, and devotional thoughts about the life during the time the book was written. The maps are wonderful and there is a guide to plan out how to read the bible in a year. The format reminds me of Tim Lahaya's format in his book about how to study the bible. This bible also has introductions to each book, which gives you a good feel for the upcoming book so you go into the book with a better understanding of what to expect that book to be saying. There is an old saying; offer a man a turnip and you feed him once. Teach a man how to garden and he can feed himself for a lifetime. Consider that nothing is more important that bringing someone to Jesus. Many people want to make the journey but find that the bible is too hard to understand and the confusion keeps them from getting to trust God. This bible is literally designed to breach that barrier. If you want to help someone get to know God, this bible is a great place to start. Give them a copy of it because this is a bible that they can read and understand.

The Daniel Cure

This is the disappointing book of the year!! SAVE YOUR MONEY!! Instead try the Hallelujah Diet by Malkmus and The China Study by Dr. Campbell. This book, falls short all the way around, advocating vegetarian only eating, but no raw! Save your money!! The recipe section is some what enticing, for cooked veggies; nothing on the raw side!! I used to work for Indians, all of them were life long vegetarians; one was extremely diabetic...so what does it really cure to eat all veggies? they ate healthy, cooked all from scratch, olive oil only, etc. I cannot express how disappointed I was in this book, it had so much potiential, and I was really looking forward to reading it.

Forgiveness by Matthew West

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing a review. However, that does not in anyway ensure a positive review as I tend to be brutal in my assessments of works of literature especially where hope is involved. A poorly written book is somewhat like a beautiful sucker that tastes like paper. Its a false hope so I am more critical of hopeful works than I am of fiction. That being said, West is a wonderful singer and talented song writer. It is no surprise that his book was somewhat thin or short as he gets to his point and moves to the next point of interest. West includes stories from real people and recounts moments of faith in their lives when they stepped out on faith and was rewarded by God for believing and calling upon God to help them through out their struggles. How people have made it past the bitterness of disappointment when others treated them wrong and how god made things better for them. West also accounts stories from his own life that inspired his songs and lifted the crushing spirit of doubt that we all encounter at some point in our lives. He talks about some songs in particular and what he was going through when he wrote those songs, what aspects of his life were impacted by struggles and how his faith pulled his out a slump and how he used his faith to write the songs that propelled his career forward. West always gives God the glory and credit for his success and encourages the reader to focus on God during hard times and keep in prayer and devotion and God will see them through. It is this point in the work when West starts talking about the lives and events of some real people and how they reached up to god for new direction and to guide them and West talks about how well things turned out for them. It is a book about hope and positive results when we are faithful through the fire and floods of life. I felt like I would enjoy this book because I have several of his albums. He writes from stories of real people shared with him and this is also his source of song lyrics in many instances. A lot of people will enjoy this book, it is small, brief and steps on 3 aspects of forgiveness. It is a descent book and if you are a fan of his you will likely enjoy this little book which is a collection of stories of sharing about how others have forgiven. I could see how some people might like the book.