What Difference Do It Make: A Review

// October 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Daily Life

I read this book without first reading Same Kind of Difference As Me (by the same authors). However, I still gained a lot of insights into life from the view of a homeless black man, a woman who befriended him, and her husband who had reservations about getting too close to homeless people. What Difference Do It Make? is a follow up to Same Kind of Difference As Me and it contains stories from people impacted by it and also a brief history of how the book came to be written.

The chapters are written by both Ron Hall and Denver Moore in their own words and from their hearts. Some of it is raw. The theme of forgiveness plays throughout. You’ll find letters and stories from people who were touched by the book and had a life changed as a result.

Another fascinating aspect of the story is how this book traveled through various circles of friends, impacting people in far away places. Book distribution can be somewhat random, and book publishers and distributors are always trying to figure it out.  But great books move about on their own by word of mouth and recommendations. This book is no exception.

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A review of Fearless from Max Lucado

// September 8th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog, Books, Health

Fearless tackles a subject that each of us grapples with and no one is immune to. Max Lucado takes this universal experience that we call fear and lays out the groundwork for how we can recognize fear for what it is while providing a way to deal with it.

This is classic Max Lucado. If you are Lucado fan, this book won’t let you down. He has a way of making complex issues very simple to understand. It is targeted for broad appeal and he hits the mark. Fearless breaks down our most common fears by chapter and Lucado discusses what causes our fears and how we can learn to see them for what they are and overcome them.

Fearless is also timely. Our present age is fills us with fear. An uncertain economy, terrorism, job loss… you name it, fear has a very real face in our lives. This book will help you navigate those fears you face and will help to bring about victory. Be sure to also check out www.thefearlessbook.com.

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Perspective - Simple Advice from a man named Jones

// April 27th, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Daily Life

Ever had someone see something great in you and you laughed it off, fearful of being too prideful?  Or some destructive habit you enjoy and are too stubborn to let anyone stop you from continuing (it’s your life after all)?  It’s so hard to get outside of who we think we are to see us as we were meant to be.  It’s like the difference in how you view a cornfield maze depending on whether you are walking amidst the stalks or seeing it from a view high above after getting dropped out an airplane in a tandem skydive.  It’s all about perspective.  We are our own worst enemy when it comes to seeing things about us in the way they truly are.  In fact, without some outside perspective, I would say it’s impossible.  We scratch and claw for our own way, staying on a path to limited potential, and in the quiet we wonder if we matter.

Andy Andrews, in a remarkable way, tells a modern day parable about people.  People like you and me.  Broken, bruised, prone to giving up, occasionally questioning what life’s all about, and then seeing glimmers of hope.  In The Noticer, you’ll find at least one of the characters is you.  There were several well representing me.  You’ll also find yourself wishing you had a Jones to show you who you are.  To live out who you were made to be.  But I don’t want to give it away…

The writing style flows well and weaves well-developed characters into believable storylines.  My wife picked it up as soon as I put it down. I can always tell a great story when I find myself sharing the concepts I learned with others immediately after reading it.  This was one of those books.  A classic that will be shortlived on your nightstand, but will find its way back there soon enough as you find the need to read it again.  Because, after all… Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.