Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy By Eric Metaxas

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy By Eric Metaxas is a biography about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who spoke out against Hitler and the evils of Nazism during the World War II time period. The Christian church in Germany was very patriotic and nationalistic and may not have agreed with everything Hitler did, but they did not have a whole lot of courage and boldness to stand up and say that his actions were unacceptable. Bonhoeffer was one of the leaders of the Confessing Church and the German, Christian resistance to Hitler. This book covers everything from his early childhood until the Nazis ended his life by means of execution.

I thought that this book was very interesting, especially to those people who love learning about World War II. It is rather long and took me several months to finish. Throughout the book, it is evident that Bonhoeffer really believed in Jesus and Christianity. He wasn’t about to abandon it whenever times became difficult or it became unpopular. It is also interesting to consider his reasoning behind deceiving the Nazis and even aiding an assassination plot. He realized that the Nazis were killing millions of Jews, and he felt like it was his responsibility to stay true to his faith and do whatever it took to save Jewish lives.

In conclusion, the book is very long, and it feels like it gives you way too many details than you were ever really care to know. I would prefer a shorter book that just covers the highlights. Notwithstanding, it is thought-provoking and enjoyable to read about the historical and theological aspects of his story.

Note: The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze® for writing this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero By Michael Hingson with Susy Flory

Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson is a great book about how a blind man survived the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th with the help of his always faithful guide dog. One thing you should know about this book is that it is so much more than just another 9/11 book. Throughout the book, Michael shares about his escape down the stairs of the World Trade Center and mixes in stories from his life and childhood. He describes how experiences growing up and with guide dogs helped him to be prepared and ready for that day.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It helps any person who reads it to not only understand the terror of that day almost ten years ago but also to understand what it is like to be blind. Michael is very inspirational with the way he has done his best to overcome his disability. He went to college, married, and worked in New York City. Instead of giving up on life, he worked hard and has been able to live a productive life that isn’t too different from people with sight.

Note: The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze® for writing this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Billy Graham in Quotes By Franklin Graham

Billy Graham in Quotes By Franklin Graham is a collection of excellent quotes from one of the best known American pastors from the past fifty or sixty years. This book covers everything from his views on abortion, America, the Church, the Cross, the End Times, Heaven, loneliness, grief, race, sin, truth, and the Word of God. There are quotes from him on just about any topic you can think of in this book, and I highly recommend it. It really is a great read.

I would note that this book is probably better as a reference for looking up words of wisdom about a certain subject rather than a book that you would sit down to read all of it at one time.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“We have so many battles going on in America today that we should be a people of prayer. Our government needs prayer. Our leaders need prayer. Our schools need prayer. Our youth need prayers. Our families need prayer.”

“Historians will probably call our era ‘the age of anxiety’. Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.”

“Only the Christian faith claims that its Leader died and rose again and is alive at this moment. Many gravestones carry the inscription, ‘Here lies …,’ but on Christ’s tomb are emblazoned the words, ‘He is not here.'”

Again, this is a great resource for anyone who has been touched by the messages and words of such a great pastor.

Note: The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze® for writing this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

It’s Not About Me: Rescue From the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy By Max Lucado

Copernicus started it all by pointing out that the sun, not the earth, is the center of our universe. Author Max Lucado points out how God is doing something similar each and every day by saying that His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, is the center and the most important person in the universe. It is not about us at all. God does not exist to make much out of us; we exist to make much out of Him. Just as the moon reflects the sun’s light, we should each live our lives in such a way to reflect God’s light and hope for the world. This book is divided into two sections: God-Pondering and God-Promoting. God-Pondering talks about how God is holy, eternal, and unchanging. God-Promoting discusses how we should always live each part of our lives in a way that would bring honor to Him. Our salvation, bodies, struggles, and successes are all about Him and not about us.

I really enjoyed this book. It is one of my favorites and probably the best by Max Lucado in my opinion. It isn’t very long and even though it is a quick, easy read, it still offers a lot of good reasons why we should live our lives for God’s glory and how we can do so. The part about how our struggles are all about Him was really good. When we stay positive and trust God throughout disasters and diseases like cancer, the world around us cannot help but notice. God will sustain us in the difficult times, and the world will glorify Him when they see His faithfulness.

Note: The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze® for writing this review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Be the People: A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise By Carol Swain

Be the People A Call to Reclaim America’s Faith and Promise By Carol Swain describes how our government, the media, and other influential groups and organizations are shaping the culture in America. The United States has come a long way from the Christian values that our founding fathers practiced and the media and other powerful organizations are leading us toward a secular society without any sense of absolute right and wrong. Carol Swain does a great job of explaining how the government and media are deceiving us and small steps that we can take to help America return to its Christian roots. As an African-American woman, Carol Swain offers a unique perspective on the moral issues of today such as race and abortion. Another interesting idea that Carol Swain brings up is the idea of a covenant that America’s founders established between God. So many of the nation’s founders believed in God and wanted a land where they could freely practice their religion. America needs to admit its failures and return to God if they hope to receive His blessings.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author presented the material in a cohesive manner and clearly explains her positions without sounding extremely partisan. I am inspired to support the traditional values that this nation was founded upon and continue them by passing them on to future generations.I highly recommend it.

Note: The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze® for writing this review. I was not required to write a positive review.