Book Review: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars (Paperback) by Mark Batterson

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars (Paperback) by Mark Batterson is one very inspiring read.  


The book is inspired by the Biblical character, Benaiah, who chased and killed a lion into a pit on a snowy day. This is rather crazy but eventually the author shows why it is not.


In the who course of the book, I am always drawn back to think of the author's words, "What if the life you really want, and the future God wants for you, is hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure…your greatest fear?" 


I am then able to recall many of what I called at first as problems but were actually opportunities. Some are even what are called God-ordained opportunities!


Like in The Circle Maker, the author is able to create that vivid imagery of the scenes through his words.


Truly inspiring! 


Recommended to those who have encountered many problems but too often find themselves running away.

About the author:(via Amazon.com)


Mark Batterson serves as the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C. Recognized as 'one of America's 25 most innovative churches,' NCC is one church with seven locations. Mark's blog (www.markbatterson.com) and webcast (www.theaterchurch.com) also reach a virtual congregation around the world. Mark is the author of several bestselling books, including In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. You can follow Mark on Twitter: @markbatterson


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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Book Review: The Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure by Ken Blanchard and S.Truett Cathy

The Generosity Factor: Discover the Joy of Giving Your Time, Talent, and Treasure by Ken Blanchard and S.Truett Cathy is a very good read - one of the best books I had the opportunity to read and review.In fact, I finished the book in one sitting!

I chose the book because I recognized Blanchard as the author of the One Minute Manager(TM) series and Cathy as the founder of Chic-fil-A and was very curious as to what sort of book this collaboration could produce. I was in for a surprise!

What I like best about the book is that is is very masterfully written and by the end of the book, I am encouraged to take action. 

True to Balanchard's style, the book is in the form of a parable where we see the lessons through the eye of the main character. This approach is very effective with me as I am able to imagine how the story unfolds and how the lessons are being shared. Retention is better because of this and to reinforce retention, the authors uses an acronym the keeps the lessons together.

I was pleasantly surprised the as unbelievable as the one of the characters are, the real person from who it is based, Cathy, has far greater achievements.

Truly inspiring, makes you act on making the Generosity Factor a part of your life.

Highly recommended for everyone who thinks they are 'missing out' on something.

About the author:
Few people have influenced the day-to-day management of people and companies more than Ken Blanchard. A prominent, sought-after author, speaker, and business consultant, Dr. Blanchard is universally characterized by his friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful, and compassionate individuals in business today. Ken is one of the most influential leadership experts in the world and is respected for his years of groundbreaking work in the fields of leadership and management.

Dr. Ken Blanchard is the cofounder and Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California. In addition to being a renowned speaker and consultant, Ken also spends time as a visiting lecturer at his alma mater, Cornell University, where he is a trustee emeritus of the Board of Trustees.

Ken has received many awards and honors for his contributions in the fields of management, leadership, and speaking. The National Speakers Association awarded him its highest honor, the "Council of Peers Award of Excellence." He was inducted into the HRD Hall of Fame by Training magazine and Lakewood Conferences, and he received the Golden Gavel Award from Toastmasters International. Ken also received The Thought Leadership Award for continued support of work-related learning and performance by ISA--The Association of Learning Providers. Ken has been inducted into Amazon's Hall of Fame as one of the top 25 best-selling authors of all time. The business school at Grand Canyon University bears his name. In addition, Ken teaches students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego.

Born in New Jersey and raised in New York, Ken received a master's degree from Colgate University, and a bachelor's and PhD from Cornell University. An avid golfer, Ken belongs to the Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland.

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Book Review: Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron

Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron is a very good read, one of the best books I had the opportunity to read and review.

I chose the book mostly because of its title and of my recent interest in material that tells about the lives of men in service. At one point I decided that the book should be titled Alcohol and Me but then I wouldn't think of reading it because it is not an interesting topic for me.

What I like best about the book is that is is very masterfully written and by the end of the book, I felt that I grew up with the writer. Memories from his childhood were described as if described by a child, vivid and exaggerated as a child would describe the experience.(The chapter on his first communion is so hilarious!)

As the memoir progress from childhood to adulthood, the writing style adapts to the writer's age at the time. Although this is a book on Christianity, it doesn't drown you in churchy language. Instead, the writing is honest and intimate and the writer opens up his life in areas that most would be ashamed to admit to.

I was able to see some of my own questions about life being answered. Questions as a child, even as an adult and father.  I could not forget the chapter that ended with the words, "Love stoops." God's grace described in two words! Some chapters in the book also have humorous anecdotes that carry a heavyweight lesson.

Truly amazing book and a gifted writer.

Highly recommended for men, but also for women.

About the author:
"Ian Morgan Cron writes with astonishing energy and freshness; his metaphors stick fast in the imagination. This is neither a simple memoir of hurt endured, nor a tidy story of reconciliation and resolution. It is - rather like Augustine's Confessions - a testimony to the unfinished business of grace."

- The Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams - The Archbishop of Canterbury

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Book Review: Fearless - Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado

Fearless is easily one of my favorite Lucado books. While most of Lucado books deal with one chapter in the Bible, Fearless discusses some of Jesus' statements about fear.

Lucado did a good job in identifying the most basic, if not the most paralyzing, fears any person could have. Keeping true to his writing style, he creates vivid images of the events in the Bible wherein the early Christians demonstrated fear and how Jesus dealt with the specific fear. Then goes personal and talks about similar fears in his own life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is living in fear, who faces fear on a regular basis or who wants to know what Jesus said about fears and didn't know where to look. People who deal with fearful people would also benefit from this book.

About the author:
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

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Book Review: Outlive Your Life - You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado

"None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus."

The above lines near the end of Max's book struck me. When we look at the world today, billions are in need of help and it can be very overwhelming to think about the need.

In Max's new book, he takes a look at the Book of Acts to give us a glimpse on what one person can do. It is a refreshing look about how each of us can make a difference if we just allow God to lead us. Easier said than done, yet Max provides some inspiration from the lives of the early believers.

I highly recommend the book to anyone who has a burden to help out yet feels overwhelmed by the magnitude of the need.

About the author:
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

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Book Review: The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews

The Butterfly Effect is written in the same tone as Andrew's The Boy Who Changed the World. Although it carries a similar message, The Butterfly Effect seems to be written to adults than for kids.

I particularly enjoyed the 'close-up' narrative of Chamberlain's charge at Gettysburg and in effect thought about what could have happen if he didn't.

The book is a good reminder to everyone of how each person has a specific purpose that, when fulfilled, will make an impact to succeeding generations.

I would recommend this book to everyone, who, at some point in their lives have felt a call but at the same time felt powerless and insignifant. Also recommended to people who work with young adults.

About the author:
Hailed by a New York Times reporter as "someone who has quietly become one of the most influential people in America," Andy Andrews is a best-selling novelist and in-demand speaker for the world's largest organizations. He has spoken at the request of four different United States presidents and at military bases worldwide. Zig Ziglar said, "Andy Andrews is the best speaker I have ever seen." Andy is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Noticer and The Traveler's Gift. He lives in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his wife, Polly, and their two sons.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Book Review: Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Oh, the Places You'll Go! is a significant departure from other books by Dr. Seuss

While most of his books are more like tongue twisters, this book is more of an inspirational type rather than a children's book.

Dr. Seuss fans would still see the wacky characters and still have their rhyme but the message being presented by the book is simple yet profound.

I first encountered this book as a child but on my second encounter as an adult, I find a lot of wisdom in it. I have a copy on my bookshelf that I read from time to time.

I would recommend this book for parents and those who are mostly around children. Also recommended as a gift to someone who had just graduated or is about to move into a new career.



About the author:

Dr. Seuss was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1925, he went to Oxford University, intending to acquire a doctorate in literature. At Oxford, Geisel met Helen Palmer, whom he wed in 1927. Upon his return to America later that year, Geisel published cartoons and humorous articles for Judge, the leading humor magazine in America at that time. His cartoons also appeared in major magazines such as Life, Vanity Fair, and Liberty. Geisel gained national exposure when he won an advertising contract for an insecticide called Flit. He coined the phrase, "Quick, Henry, the Flit!" which became a popular expression.

Geisel published his first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, in 1937, after 27 publishers rejected it.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and three Caldecott Honors, Geisel wrote and illustrated 44 books. While Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading.

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