Book Review: Unleashed

Are you deeply entrenched in civilized Christianity? Are you content in and with your faith? Is your faith caged inside you like a trapped tiger? What would your life be like if you unleashed your faith? How would you answer these questions? They were brought to my mind as I read the book "Unleashed, Release the Untamed Faith Within" by Erwin Raphael McManus.


"Unleashed" was previously released as "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin Raphael McManus. I must admit I was stunned by the words barbarian, barbaric, and mystical. A barbarian is, well, a savage person. Right? Hence being barbaric would mean being savage. Right? The word mystical conjures up images of wizardry. Right?


I had to look up the definition of barbaric. Yes, it is a characteristic of a barbarian. Barbaric is a characteristic more complex than primitive savagery but less sophisticated than advanced civilization. The definition gets more interesting. Barbaric is a characteristic marked by a lack of restraint, a wild, bizarre, unsophisticated quality. Have you read the first few chapters of the book of the Acts of the Apostles lately?


Erwin Raphael McManus jumps directly into making a case for a faith in Christ which is both barbaric and mystical. He makes the case for an untamed, unrestrained, and less sophisticated faith. He makes the case for true spiritual faith being in the realm of something mystical. We are talking about the spiritual. God is a Spirit. Those who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth.


I found "Unleashed" very difficult to put down once I started reading it. I found myself going back and reading some portions again. I found myself saying "Oh my" and "Wow" over and over. My conclusion is this: I have been challenged. I am weary of "safe" civilized religion. I am weary of "normal" religion. I am ready to step outside the normal and be unrestrained in my faith in Jesus Christ. I accept the challenge, even if it makes me barbaric. How about you? I recommend "Unleashed" by Erwin Raphael McManus to any and all, to both the mature and the new Christian.


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: Love Written In Stone

I must admit I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to reading books written by medical doctors about Christianity and God's amazing grace. The full title, "Love Written In Stone, Finding God's Grace In The Boundaries He Sets," caught my attention. As you can see in the picture of the book, the author is a medical doctor, Philip Carlson, MD. However he is also the senior pastor of Bethany Church of Sierra Madre, California.


The opening sentence of the introduction reads, "I think most of us have a hard time wrapping our heads, much more our hearts, around how much God loves us." I wasn't sure what I expected to get from this book. This opening immediately made me think, "Wow!" The main focus of the book is our relationship with God.


"Love Written In Stone" is divided into four parts.

• PART 1: Guidance for Our Relationship With God.
• PART 2: Instructions for Our Relationships With others.
• PART 3: Directions for a Healthier Self.
• PART 4: Insight for Our Relationship With Creation.

The author writes in chapter one, "Something is wrong with the world and we know it." He then proceeds to deal with forgiveness, both of God's forgiveness and our forgiving of each other in the question, "why forgive?" Dr. Philip Carlson deals with various aspects of life from a perspective of God being the center of life and of us being in a relationship with God. 

I found myself stating, "Wow!' over and over again as I read this book. I found it to be interesting and quite fascinating as it is written by a pastor with a background in medical science. Though no deep, hidden mysteries are revealed, I found the writing to be refreshing and encouraging as I too struggle with everyday life. There's no pointing to theological dogma or doctrinal differences in this book. I feel this quote from the conclusion of the book sums it nicely:

"What has been described within these pages is intended in part to help us to understand the reasonableness of what Jesus asks of us. In the end he asks for everything, our whole life, all that we are. And it is the most loving thing he can do. Why is this foundational choice to follow so important?"

Dr. Philip Carlson answers, "Because it is the only way that leads to life."

I recommend reading "Love Written In Stone". It's one of those books which belongs on my bookshelf, and it's one I know I'll read more than a few times.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers as a part of their reviewers 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 16CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: Max On Life

Life is filled with many questions. The questions we bombard our minds with on an almost daily basis stem from our doubts, our fears, our pain, or from our desire to know. Max Lucado, in the book, "Max On Life, Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions", gives replies to some of the questions of life in his own unique style.


One-hundred and seventy-two questions are compiled into seven categories. The categories are Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, and Hereafter. The replies are "bite-size". Most of them take up less than a page. 


Max Lucado presents sincere compassion for the one asking the questions. Even when we think we already know the answer to a particular question, we may find ourselves asking the same question again. Life hits us hard. I found his replies to some of life's toughest questions encouraging.


The replies to the questions are simple. There's no deep theology to wrap your mind around. The replies speak directly to the heart in words which are easy to comprehend. They will inspire you, encourage you, comfort you, and they will make you think.


You may notice I keep using the word replies instead of answers. There are questions presented in the book to which the author admits he can't give a direct answer to. I was impressed that instead of trying to speak for God, Max Lucado directs the questioner to seek the answer from God. Time after time, reply after reply, he instructs the reader to seek God, to pray, and to search the Scriptures.


What I like most about this book by Max Lucado is he continually points the one with the questions to the Bible and to God, for God is the answer to all of the questions of life. "Max On Life, Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions" is an easy and enjoyable book to read. I recommend it highly, especially to those who are facing the questions of the struggles of daily life.


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."