I was happy to get my advanced reader’s copy of Real Marriage by Mark and Grace Driscoll. I only have a little bit of knowledge of what they’ve been doing at MarsHill Church in Seattle, so I really didn’t know what they were going to say.

I appreciate the “principles-not-method” approach they consistently remind the reader of. I appreciate the candid-ness of their story. I appreciate their reliance on the word of God. Here’s a bit about my experience reading the book…
 

The video trailer for the book is here…

Do I recommend the book? I’ve seen a lot of critics say it’s a return to the 1950′s marriage. Dude, it’s a return to 3050′s BC marriage. I’m reminded of an Emerson quote “All my best ideas were stolen by the ancients.” It’s certainly true for marriage.

Trevor

“Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson”.

Trevor Lund of http://revtrev.com reviews “The Mammoth Book of Mindblowing SF” an anthology of 21 Science Fiction stories

Trevor Lund of http://revtrev.com reviews “The Eagles’ Brood” by Jack Whyte – Book Three in A Dream of Eagles Series

Trevor Lund of http://revtrev.com reviews “The Singing Sword” By Jack Whyte It’s the second book in A Dream of Eagles.

Trevor Lund of http://revtrev.com reviews Jack Whyte’s “The Sky Stone” Book one in the Camuloud Chronicles.

Trevor Lund of http://revtrev.com reviews the second of the Bright Empire Novels by Stephen R. Lawhead called “The Bone House”. (click the image to find it on Amazon)

I was intrigued with the idea of Alexa Adena’s book “Signs and Wonders“. That was even before I read the concept for the story.

Alex has written a novella. It’s intentionally short so people can make the 2 or 3 hours to read it all. With ebook sales overtaking printed books sales and iPods growing in popularity I think this format of book can really take off.

Unfortunately I didn’t have the 2 or 3 hours to sit and read and reading ebooks in my iPhone leaves me distracted.

Still, since I’ve written a 100 page novel in 3 days, as I writer I can see me turning some of my fiction projects into shorter versions.

Now onto the story…

 Most children are told they can be doctors, lawyers — even astronauts. Not Annie Grace. Since childhood she’s been raised to be a miracle worker, capable of healing all that ails the followers of her father’s faith-healing crusade. Fame and riches flowed.

Now 20 years later and unable to remember any miracles, Annie goes through the motions of running her late father’s ministry.

As Annie’s faith fades, the ministry is threatened by the district attorney, a congressional subpoena and a pesky television reporter. In the midst of this chaos, strange and unexplained healings begin to happen around Annie. Has a lifelong charlatan suddenly become a miracle worker?

Annie’s journey to answer that question forces her to look inside her soul for the first time, searching for the meaning of these Signs and Wonders.

The first part of the book shows how hypocritical Annie Grace has become. I’ve had too much experience with people who are gifted supernaturally and who chose to act in similar ways, so it was a little disturbing. God’s gifts and calls are irrevocable. We need character to steward them, not to receive them. When we don’t have the character to steward them well, all kinds of evil can be done.

So I wasn’t really endeared to the character of Annie Grace. The author uses flashbacks to show how she became the way she was and having those story lines made her more sympathetic.  Still I was sort of cheering for the ones out to get her.

An area that didn’t really ring true to my experience was what Annie Grace felt when miracles started to happen. Sure sometimes it happens that way. I’ve learned when I feel the hairs on my arms and neck and back start to stand up I need to be looking for a miracle because they almost always happen then. But some of the most amazing miracles I’ve seen are when I’ve felt absolutely nothing. Those are the cools ones. I wondered about the author’s experience with the supernatural. I’m not saying it needs to be the same as mine…I just wondered.

When the change happened for Annie Grace I started to cheer for her. Hey, if God didn’t give me second chances I’d be in a really, really bad spot.

All in all Signs and Wonders is a good read. If you’re looking for a two hour escape that gives you hope that people can and do change check it out.

Church Diversity: Sunday the Most Segregated Day of the Week by Scott Williams is a book every pastor should read.

Like attracts like. Do you like what God likes?

Find out more about the book at http://churchdiversity.com/

Here are my thoughts on it. Click on the picture to order the book for yourself.

BTW, I forgot to mention how much I liked the online videos that accompanied the book. I think I may need a new edition for Hope In Transition and possibly Life Above the Negativity…although I have a lot more to add to the Life Above anyways…

Choose a Better Life – Common Sense for Uncommon Living by Stephanie Hester is an encouraging book for people to rethink how they think. We all need to do it. It’s what Paul calls “the renewing of our mind” which is our “spiritual act of worship”.

Find out more about Stephanie at http://stephanieupfront.com/

Here’s my thoughts on the book (sorry again Stephanie for taking so long to review this

The Skin Map – A Novel by Stephen Lawhead

It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intereing realities. To unravel the future of the future.

Kit Livingston’s great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.

One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard, and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code–a roadmap of symbols–that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.

But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.

The Bright Empires series–from acclaimed author Stephen Lawhead–is a unique blending of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, fantastical adventure like no other.

A Novel by Rick Acker

I was surprised when I picked up this book from the library that I enjoyed it so much. I’ve done a little research since I’ve shot this video and see Rick’s written a number of kid’s and adult novels. I’ll need to check them out for myself and my kids.

IE: GREEN: Book Zero: The Beginning and the End

Here’s my thoughts on some of Ted Dekker’s books as of late. I still haven’t picked up his latest ones, but most likely will soon enough.

The Pastor as Minor Poet: Texts and Subtexts in the Ministerial Life by M. Craig Barnes is a great read to contemplate with and over. Here are some more of my thoughts on it.

I’ve been following Terry Whalin’s Blog for a number of years. He has amazing resources for emerging writers. I really enjoyed his Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams

Here’s a trailer for the book:

Here are some of my thoughts on it:

I’d also recommend his Book Proposals That Sell

Here’s my thoughts on Jeff Strueker’s Certain Jeopardy….

Can You Hear Me?: Tuning In to the God Who Speaks

Brad Jersak’s book is one that you’ll want to pick up if you don’t think you can hear God’s voice. I’ve reviewed it more in the video below.

I’ve really come to appreciate the vision, skill and passion of Jeff Gerke. Here’s my thoughts of his book The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction

Grace Is for Sinners is a book (and website) by Serena Woods. It’s the story of an insider’s firsthand account of the misguided use of church disciple and the devastating effects on the people it’s supposed to serve.

I’ve decided to give video reviews of books because of the stack I’ve read and haven’t had time to review. I’d also love for people who get advanced copies of Hope in Transition to share their thoughts of my book on video sites, so I thought I’d show you how easy it is to do.

You can check out Serena’s blog www.GraceIsForSinners.com or purchase her book below. It really is one we all need to read.

I don’t know how I get myself into some things. I was minding my own business on Twitter, trying to answer questions people posed and be an encouragement where I can, and a tweet caught my eye. Strang Communications was looking for people to comment on their latest book by Brian Zahnd called “What to Do On the Worst Day of your Life”. Since I was in the middle of encouraging people to live Life Above the Negativity and what I saw of his thoughts coincided with many of mine that I share in “Life Above the Negativty – from 10 minutes a day” and also in our daily emails for 40DaysFromNegativity.com I volunteered to have a look at the book, interested to see more of what it says.

Here’s a video explaining the story…

So, after getting to read a pre-published version (how cool is that?) here’s what I wrote them about my thoughts about Brian Zahnd’s What to Do On the Worst Day of Your Life

Brian has captured a timely and effective message that is timeless as we will always have trouble in the world. Trouble is going to come. Jesus predicted it. Paul promises it for people who marry.

We need to know how to deal with with. Pastor Zahnd provides proven strategy that recognizes the devastation without being defined by it. Tracing the worst day in David’s life, he gives us strategies, tools and permission that make it possible for us to enter into our destiny.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, because all of us have people we can encourage and all of us will one day need the encouragement this message provides.

I realized I’ve been purchasing DVD’s that will help me motivate people to positive change. Hey, using clips in a message is like quoting a book. It gives credit to the right person, and encourages people to support the artists.

Now Mark Gungor’s Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage, is not something you want to use clips from. When you buy the DVD’s there is a note telling you how to get the rights to show it in a church. Do this pastors – it’s easy enough to do, and it helps to support more projects like this that are a valuable resource to followers of Christ.

Now there are clips all over the web, so I thought it would be fun to show you one of my favorites so you’d get a feel for the tone and style of most of the DVD’s.

Kaz and I took the time to watch the DVD’s over a couple of weeks. It opens up discussion beautifully. It’s couple time to invest in your relationship… and trust me, the investment is worth it.

It’s not a systematic approach to counseling. Sometimes your laughing so much you need to think hard to remember the point. There were moments I wish he gave a 10 step plan – especially explaining how he “slow roasts” his wife, since he’s “the initiator. But what you glean is powerful and it’s best feature is opening up discussion points between partners.

That’s easy to do when your laughing.

Kaz and I are both excited to try his Flag Page Test to help us define what we truly love about life. I want to know Kaz’s 5 love statements. Maybe I’ll write about it after we try it out. I’m intrigued with his assertion that what is wrong about counselling is that we try to fix what’s wrong, instead of building on what is right. He’s on to something there.

So, as you can tell, I highly recommend Mark Gungor’s Laugh Your Way to A Better Marriage. The book looks great as well. Pastor’s show it in your churches. Couples, get a copy to enjoy in your own home… OK I’ll leave you with another video clip from it… enjoy.