Mere Churchianity - Michael Spencer

The book is told by the author, Michael Spencer of how in today's world the church has become a place of what the people want, not what GOD wants. He explains chapter by chapter of certain situations that are occurring in all churches across the America. Each chapter is the story of how churches are becoming more of a club or organization then a place to worship GOD. He does a great job of getting you to realize that church is a place to worship and GOD is all about a relationship with him. His whole morale to the book is to get people to stop and look at your life and ask yourself is my church running my life or is my life running by a Jesus-shaped spirituality?

This book is about your relationship with Jesus, the way the church teaches and how you can determine what is right for you. I think alot of people are negative or defensive to the author is because he hits home and he hits you hard with the truth. This book makes you take a look at the church life and if you are really going to church for the right reasons or you think you are there for the right reasons. It makes people think about everything the church does and if you are in a club setting or a true christian setting. GOD is not about church, he is about you and how you feel towards him and if you are really doing what Jesus would do. I enjoyed this book and it made me smile and think long and hard about alot of things that churches have talked about, events they have sponsored, programs they run, attitude of the church members and the sermons they preached... was GOD in all these times or was it the way the people wanted.

I would recommend this book to pastors, church members and all those that have left a church and not going back. It makes sense and gives the other side of the coin to think about. When you read this book and get upset about something (thinking it is negative) you need to stop and look at what it is.... is GOD speaking to you?..... is this why you are having these feelings?.... this book speaks to everyone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah 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.”

Divine Appointment - Book 2 in Series ~ Charlene Ann Baumbich

This is a story about many characters that all have many situations and their lives are being intertwined together by divine appointments. The books main character is Josie a 47 yr old, single, business women that her job is to downsize companies in today's economy. As she takes on her new job in Chicago, she recommends for many positions to be terminated due to a new computer system being put in place. The company takes her recommendations and does a massive lay off. That is when you meet all the other characters in the story and how they handle being laid off in today's world. The story is tied around snowglobes that were purchased at a flee market and keep the story going around the characters with how the globes are effecting them.

I found this story to be very slow for my reading. I found it a chore for me to keep reading. I don't think I would recommend this to all my friends. I could recommend the book to friends that just read slowly for passing time, but for avid readers, I would let them know this is a very slow pace book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah 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.”

An Unlikely Blessing, Forever Hilltop Series # 1 - Judy Baer

I loved this story of Alex Armstrong a young pastor that is from the big city and moves to the country to pastor a small town church. He has to adjust to everyday living in a small town and where everyone knows everyone and all share each others business. Alex is not used to people who will cook for each other, help each other, and know what is going on with everyone. It has many different characters and gets you very involved with their lives and story. This is the first book in a series and I really look forward to the continuing story of Alex.

About the book: An Unlikely Blessing is a heartfelt story about a new pastorand life-long city dweller Alex Armstrong, who reluctantly accepts his first assignment, a two-point parish in the wilds of North Dakota. HilltopTownship, a farming community, blooms from the prairie like a wild pinkrose-lovely and prickly all at once, much like the people who live there. Unlikely Alex quickly finds that this lovely place is in quiet peril. Farmers are struggling to make ends meet: Jonas Owens, a faithful member of Hilltop parish, is on the brink of losing the farm. Alex believes that part of why God called him to Hilltop was to help turn things around, and steps in with ideas for saving the Owens' land. But can even God's minister help save this rural community? There are a lot of firsts for the new pastor-the annual Hunter's Breakfast, jule bukking (also called Christmas fooling), King Oscar's fish balls, and the melody of the musical saw. And the new, single pastor creates remarkable excitement among the unmarried women in the community. If you could die of hot dish overdose, Alex would be a dead man. Whether performing weddings, counseling his flock, or herding cattle by snowmobile, Alex soon discovers that his new church home has as much to teach him as he will teach them. Day by day, he falls more in love with the people of Hilltop Church. People may leave Hilltop, but Hilltop never leaves them.

Link to Buy the book:http://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Blessing-Forever-Hilltop/dp/0824948149/ref=sp

About Author: Judy Baer is the author of over seventy-five books for adultsand teens. She has won the Romance Writer of America Bronze Medallion and has been a RITA finalist twice. She lives in Elk River, Minnesota with her husband. Follow the Hilltop characters on Judy's blog and find out more about Judy and her books at http://www.judykbaer.com/

About the Unlikely Blessings Giveaway In celebration of the release of An Unlikely Blessing, Judy is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.

One lucky winner will receive: * Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi* A $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com
To enter just click HERE (http://litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/an-unlikely-blessing-by-judy-baer.html) and then tell your friends!

Winner will be announced on February 21st onJudy's blog, http://www.judykbaer.com/wordpress


Blog Tour Schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/an-unlikely-blessing-by-judy-baer.html )

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the liteuse group 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.”

Gray Matter: A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer ~ David Levy, MD

Dr. Levy has but together a great book on a man having great faith and willing to stand by his faith and share with others. This book tells the story of how he has used his daily work as a doctor to witness to others. It has true stories of patients and how he touched their lives while treating them. (all names have been changed to hide identity.) The stories of each patient is different by the way he approaches patients and how they accept him. Dr. Levy shows how going out of the box and following what GOD wants you to do can change your life. I was very impressed by this book and it showed both sides of the story, either by a good or bad outcome.

If you would like a good and very different book then pick this book up. I would recommend this story to anyone. It would be a great book for a book group and even better for people that are so scared to speak their faith and witness to others.

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.

Voice of Faithful (book 2) ~ By Beth Moore, Kim P. Davis, International Mission Board

This is a daily devotional book with true and encouraging stories about missionaries all over the world. You can read a story everyday or skim through and pick a story to read, it is up to you. The book is divided into many different subjects (very easy for picking up and reading or praying for certain areas). Each day starts out with a date, bible verse, story of a missionary and ends with a quick prayer for the day. Each day can be read in less then 10 minutes or you may spend 30 minutes, it is up to you, that is the blessing in this book. This book is what you want it to be, and you can put as much or little into it.

I have book 1, and loved it !! Book 2 is in the more of the same!! My book 1 is hardcover and my book 2 is soft cover. I found the softcover is much easier to travel with and more flexible to carry. I would recommend both books.

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.”

The Pirate Queen ~ Patricia Hickman

Sophora is a very educated and rich woman, she is married to Bender who is a doctor and a very unfaithful husband. Fed up with life and feeling depressed she decides she is going to run off to their Orient home on the river. As she has her stuff packed and ready to walk out the door, Bender appears at home and tells her he is dying of brain cancer. He says he wants to die at the Orient home and they are moving there. Sophora and Bender move to Orient. Their children make several visits with the grandkids and try to keep Bender comfortable. The story has other characters: one neighbor that digs holes in his backyard every night after dark and the kid next door (who is HIV positive) starts to hang out at the cottage with the family. The story is about learning to forgive, pray for everything, be very humble in every situation and the biggest lesson is love everyone no matter what they do to you because God is always with you and has a purpose for everything that happens.

The title of this book, is the true meaning of the story as you will have to read it to understand what I mean. (I can't tell you everything and I don't want to spoil it for anyone.) I would recommend this book to everyone, as it has the true meaning of how to show your love, how to give unconditional love and how God is in control of everything. It makes you realize it all belongs to God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah 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.”

Then Sings My Soul Special Edition ~ Robert Morgan

This book is a devotional, educational and a great reference book all in one. It contains 150 Hymns that we have all loved and sung at one time in our lives. Covering the Holidays such as: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Patriotic, and many other hymns. Each hymn has the lyrics on one page and then the testimonies / history of the hymn on the other side. It contains the hymn number and the bible verse the hymn comes from.

You can use this as a devotional and read each one per day. I couldn’t put the book down and read it cover to cover and now plan to go back through and take it all in slowly. The history of each hymn is so well written that is makes you stop and think about what you are singing in a new and inspirational way. The testimonies are so easy to follow that you will be able to use this as a teaching tool or a great conversation piece. I would suggest this book as a great gift book, especially if the person is a music lover, but I really think anyone will enjoy this book and all it has to offer. This edition has a wonderful French flap soft cover, special ivy paper, jagged edge paper and much more.

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.”