Tag Archive - BookSneeze

Devotional Transformation

January 5, 2011 in Book Review, Inspiration with 0 Comments

What a perfect time to begin a new devotional at the dawning of a new year.  ”Unto The Hills“, by Billy Graham, is 365 very short readings divided by months and days that begin with a scripture. The unchanging Word of our Living God is what sets this devotional apart from others that I’ve encountered. All too often devotional books are just inspiring stories without the power to change us.  There is nothing else written that can literally be absorbed into our soul with the promise of accomplishing what God has purposed for it:

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

“Unto The Hills” is capable of devotional transformation! After the scripture there is the treat of a paragraph or two written by our nation’s most beloved evangelist himself, Billy Graham.

This book was originally published nearly 25 years ago and has been re- released to inspire a new generation of readers.

I’m looking forward to reading Unto the Hills each day and being devotionally transformed.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson.Inc. for giving me a copy of this book for review and not requiring that I post a positive review.  I love your “booksneeze” book blogger’s program and your philosophy that all discussion positive or negative is publicity!

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Gorgeous illustrations keep Granddaughter listening

September 7, 2010 in Book Review with 0 Comments


I was anxious to share my latest book from Thomas Nelson Publisher’s with our 7-year-old Granddaughter. Philip Hurst so beautifully illustrates “The Boy Who changed the World” by Andy Andrews that I was sure she would love the story.

However I lost her attention fairly early in the story. My guess is that Andrews book requires a depth of comprehension and retention that 7 year olds just don’t yet have. She became bored and this kept her from “getting” the point of the story.

So I later read the story to my husband who also found himself somewhat bored with the details.

Andrews makes a case for the importance of our decisions and the effect they will have on not only our lives but also the lives of others in future generations. So after reading the book to our Grand daughter I re-told it in my own words just emphasizing how our own decisions and actions can change the whole world.

It was the gorgeous illustrations that kept us reading the book even after the details became a bit more than our attention would hold onto.

I’m honored to be a part of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program. They offer me books at no charge with the obligation of posting a review on my blog. They want honest reviews negative or positive.

Jesus wasn’t politically correct

August 19, 2010 in Book Review, discernment with 0 Comments

"The Jesus You Can't Ignore book image"

Jesus wasn’t politically correct

Wow I’ve just finished reading John Macarthur’s book “The Jesus You Can’t Ignore / What you must learn from the BOLD Confrontations of Christ” Thanks to the book review blogger’s program “booksneeze” that Thomas Nelson Publisher’s offers.

This book was more of a Bible study than just an interesting read.  The author takes the readers on an in depth study of the gospel’s and how Jesus responded to the religious leaders of His day.

This information is so timely and so radically different from how Christians are responding today.

The notion of avoiding conflict for the sake of unity sure isn’t the way our example handled those who were speaking heresy and misleading people.  Jesus didn’t seek common ground so that He could engage in conversation instead of conflict.

Seems many Christians today are loosing their zeal when it comes to taking a stand for truth.  The worldview today is biased against any kind of certitude.

Have we been called to abandon truth so we don’t offend or seem spiritually superior?

MacArthur’s book is a valuable study for believers. I highly recommend taking the time to do the study presented in this book.  You will see an important side of Jesus and as the title states, this is a side of Jesus you can’t ignore.

For further information see Thomas Nelson’s Product Page

Overwhelming Account promotes thankfulness

February 3, 2010 in Book Review with 0 Comments

I’ve just finished reading “Buried Alive” by Roy Hallums and found his account of being kidnapped and held hostage for 311 days by ransom-starved captors in Iraq to be overwhelmingly difficult to read. Yet I am so glad I did as my admiration was very much increased for those who endure the absolute worst of situations while remaining sane and hopeful.

Hallmus has told his story in heart wrenching detail. Gripping accounts of how he was treated made the book difficult to read while on the other hand difficult to put down.

Because this book is published by Thomas Nelson I had expected more detail of how Hallmus dealt with all of this spiritually. The lack of depth regarding his relationship with our Lord and how he was ministered to during these horrific days was my only regret. No doubt Hallums is a man of faith. And without the grace and protection of the Lord Jesus I doubt he could have survived.

Reading this book made me even more thankful to be an American and proud of our military as they worked to dramatically rescue Hallmus.

Here is the product page for “Buried Alive”

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Do we really need to be afraid? My review of “Fearless” by Max Lucado

September 6, 2009 in Book Review, Inspiration with 0 Comments

Max Lucado’s newest book “Fearless” is timely, encouraging and exceptionally easy to read.

Some of the chapter subtitles are as follows:

Fear of Not Mattering

Fear of Disappointing God

Fear of Running Out

Fear of Not protecting our children

Fear of Dying

Fear that God is Not Real

Max takes these all too common fears and shares the scripture verses to give the

reader the spiritual tools to over come and live in trust and assurance of God’s love and promises.

I love how Max can simplify complex topics by breaking them down to easy to grasp pieces.

No new revelations to be found in this book. Just a re-examine of the truths that
give us the assurance to live in peace even in the midst of life’s storms.

This would be a good book to share with a small group for the encouragement it
provides. Included is a discussion guide to facilitate small group study and discussion.

Previously I’d not read many of Max Lucado’s books; That is about to change!

Additional content and information about Fearless are available at The Fearless Book Site, and readers are invited to share their stories, pictures and words of encouragement there.

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The Jesus Book

August 27, 2009 in Book Review, Church Related, Inspiration, Scripture, Video with 2 Comments

The Jesus Book TNP product page

Preview Flip Book

Wisdom for the Church Today

May 4, 2009 in Book Review, Inspiration, Scripture with 1 Comment

I was thrilled to see that Thomas Nelson Publishing was offering Christianity in Crisis 21st Century for their book bloggers review program.


Wow discernment for those who will listen!

The church today desperately needs this book! There are so few bold “watchmen on the wall”, and Hank Hanegraaff is indeed one of these discerning ministers. Hanegraaff says in the preface “ the Biblical model of faith has given away to an increasingly bizarre array of fads and formulas.”

Two decades ago “Christianity in Crisis” was published. This new book expands on the information in the original. The “Crisis” is only intensifying as we are nearing the fulfillment of all prophecy.

Hanegraff, who is President of the Christian Research Institute is not afraid to name names as he exposes the heretical doctrines taught by leaders of the “faith movement.” From Kenneth Hagan to Todd Bentley. I thank God for your boldness Hank!

Ultimately man is taught to believe that “the face of faith is so powerful that even God (however you define him) is bound by its irrevocable reality.” The power lies not in the sovereignty of God; but in the words we speak.

Is this not exalting man and his thoughts above God?”

I was glad to see that Hanegraaff takes time to distinguish the charismatic renewal movement from the deceptions found in the Word of faith movement. “ The Crisis within Christianity is not the fault of the charismatic renewal movement. It is focused on a life and death struggle between orthodoxy and heresy; between the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the cults.”

Such depth of detail revealed within this book; I counted 157 pages of Appendixes and Indexes, Bibliography and Notes. This kind of research comes from an Institute whose focus is indeed researching these topics. This book is filled with scripture, quotations and references.

Those of you who have the original “Christianity in Crisis” need to know that the Crisis continues to grow deceive many. I encourage you to get this book. I again thank Thomas Nelson Publishing for making this book available for review.

Check out ThomasNelsonProductPage for more information.

A Fairy Tale with Great Value

April 27, 2009 in Book Review, Inspiration with 0 Comments

The Noticer
By Andy Andrews

Fairy Tale with Great Value

I’ve just finished “The Noticer”. And thoroughly enjoyed Andy’s writing style, which made “The Noticer” an extremely quick yet compelling read.

The Noticer is a fairy tale about a little town where folks are discouraged by many of life’s issues and difficulties. Much like those faced by many of us today. Yet each of these people encounter an odd little old fellow (only referred to as Jones), who steps into their lives mysteriously and shares his observations after Noticing them and helps each of these people see their circumstances from a different perspective.

There are plenty of life lessons to be learned from this sweet and compelling book. And most are based on Biblical truths. Yet I refer to this book as a fairy tale because although sweet and moving. The only absolute source for faith and life change is the Word of God. “The Noticer” does not refer to scriptures yet underneath the story is the idea that this mysterious Jones is indeed Jesus. If you are reading the book for gospel truth you will be disappointed. Because this book does not present the gospel nor does “The Noticer proclaim to be presenting gospel truth.

None the less Andrews weaves a beautiful story of folks very relevant to today with ideas that encourage people to “have a broader view … and it allows them to regroup, take a breath, and begin their lives again.”

With so much heartache in our world today, I feel that an extremely well written fairy tale is indeed a refreshing distraction. Your thoughts will be deeper after reading “The Noticer”. You will likely be thinking of the implications of your actions long after finishing this thought provoking book.

Click here for the Thomas Nelson product page: www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=0785229213

I’ll take my Psalms Plain

March 27, 2009 in Book Review, Inspiration, Scripture, SwitchingGranny's Stuff with 0 Comments

It was exciting to receive ” The Word of Promise The Gift of Psalms” from Thomas Nelson Publisher’s to review for the Book Review Blogger program I’ve enrolled in.

The book is a beautifully bound book that looks and feels like an expensive gift edition. Pages are embossed with gold. And tucked in the back of the book are 3 cds that are dramatic audio renditions with background music of 30 of the Psalms and devotionals from the book read by professional actors

Yet the actual read of the book was difficult for me. I am a lover of the book of Psalms. And each of the 50 selected Psalm excerpts are laid out nicely (NKJV) on the left page with the right page being the devotional. Something just did not feel right about the devotional aspect of the book. It was like the Psalms alone weren’t complete enough to minister to the reader. As if there is a deeper explanation needed for us to understand the intent of God.

The same being true of the included cd’s. If the cds were only readings of the actual Psalms I’d be listening to them over and over. Yet with the devotionals read after each Psalm I won’t care to listen again.

I doubt I’ll be recommending this book, mostly because of the added content beyond the Psalms. I’d love this exact format for the entire book of Psalms without the added content. I find the book of Psalms alone to be a devotional fully complete in themselves

What I will be glad to do is to “re-gift” this book. Because of it’s beauty. I’m sure anyone who gets this book will be initially very impressed as I was.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishing for encouraging your book review bloggers to fairly review the books received either negatively or positively.

I’m happily awaiting my next book to review.