Fearless

Max Lucado has done it again! Fearless is a masterfully written journey through the fears that humans face. In the course of the book, Max shows his readers the only way to be truly fearless. There are so many things that people fear. The economy is bad, things like swine flu are sweeping the nation, carrying its fear with it. In each situation, Max shows that those who believe in God need fear nothing but Him. He likens fear and this life to the laboring pains of a woman giving birth. The pain is great, but the reward is better. This life is hard, but heaven is worth it all (2 Cor 4:17).

The "secret" to being fearless actually fear of Jesus Christ. The story of Jesus' transfiguration is paramount to the solution of our fearfulness. Jesus' three closest disciples put Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah by suggesting that they build three tabernacles. God the Father corrected them by telling them that Jesus and only Jesus was worthy of worship and adoration. Jesus is in a league all His own. When they saw Jesus shining like the sun, the feared him. They trembled and fell on their faces. After they learned to fear Jesus as they should, the disciples faced indescribably fearful things, yet they faced those things with the courage and fearlessness that fearing Jesus alone brings. Max advocates this kind of fear so that we can be fearless of the things in this world.

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World

Dr. David Jeremiah is one of the best speakers and authors in the evangelical world. Through rightly dividing the Word of Truth, his messages and books help to steer the church in the right direction. , Dr. Jeremiah follows up on his book, "What on Earth Should we Do Now?"with Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World. Dr. Jeremiah does what many sermons and books have not, and that is both recognizing the quickly changing world in which we live, and reminding his readers that this comes as no surprise to God.

In ten chapters, Dr. Jeremiah tells Christians what their response should be to these changing times and how to live with confidence in this chaotic world. The book starts out by showing how to know the signs of change. If you didn't think the world was chaotic before picking up the book, the reader will certainly be freaked after reading the introduction. The response is to:

1. Stay Calm (In the face of chaos, God in in control)

2. Stay Compassionate (to other people, be Jesus to them for you're the only Jesus they may every see)

3. Stay Constructive (Continue to do the work God has called you to, don't give in to despair and do nothing)

4. Stay Challenged (and diligent so that you can have the life God wants you to have)

5. Stay Connected (To God's Body, the church)

6. Stay Centered (On Christ, be single minded to follow Him)

7. Stay Confident (That God is in control)

8. Stay Consistent (and don't be tossed around by every wave of doctrine)

9. Stay Committed (to your family, friends, and God)

10 Stay Convinced (of your faith)

All in all, Dr. Jeremiah speaks on very timely subjects with vivid illustrations and stories to help the reader to remember his points.

This is Your Brain on Joy

This is Your Brain on Joy is a fascinating, but not too technical look at how spiritual elements as well as physical ones effect a person’s behavior and mood. Dr. Earl Henslin advocates doing individual SPECT brain scans to determine what the makeup of the brain is and to see if something in the person’s past (ie, a concussion in childhood) or something in the physical makeup of the bring could be partially responsible for clinical depression, or some other issue. The author than shows how medicine or other treatments can be prescribed because of specific problems found in the scan instead of treating symptoms by trial and error.

This book focuses more on physical aspects of a problem, and a little less on personal behavioral responsibility than I myself do. However the author has many valid things to say. This is a book worth reading for anyone interested in counseling, or in just interested in knowing a little bit more about the human brain.

A Nice Basic Audio and Text Devotional of the Psalms

The Word of Promise’s The Gift of Psalms is a beautiful devotional book derived from 50 different Psalms. The cover and pages are high quality and lovely. Three CDs with an audio edition of the book is included, so this makes the devotional practical for someone who wants to switch back and forth between commuting while listening, and sitting down to read. Each devotional has the text (or reading) from the day’s Psalm, with a facing page containing a brief interpretation and application of the Psalm with a short prayer at the end. The content from the Bible is excellent. The New King James Version is used in this book-a very accurate and reliable translation. The NKJV keeps some of the english poetry in the Psalms made popular by the original King James Version. The devotionals written by Lori Jones themselves are not deep, but line up well with Protestant evangelical doctrine. The audio is well done, and read by actors such as Sean Astin, Jesse McCartney, Jason Alexander, and Stacy Keach. At the end of the book there are five pages for note taking. As a whole, this is a good gift book, or book for a short encouraging break from your regular devotions.

Never received

Dear Tommy Nelson Publisher,

I never received the book "Think and Make It Happen" to review. I would be happy to write the review if it is still needed. I could find no other way to contact the company as a blogger except through this avenue. I will go ahead and request another book to review, since I never received this one. Thanks for your understanding.

~B Jorden