Practical guide for bringing Christ into your daily life
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A very practical guide for bringing Christ into your everyday life.  It is useful to step back at times and take account of how Christian a life you are actually living.  The author enables you to reflect how you are living and how you can improve your Christian living.  I found it to be very useful and worthwhile.
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How can I live a healthy lifestyle?  How can I follow Christ faithfully in my everyday life?  Ken Shigematsu offers valuable insights.

Without question, this is the best holistic look on living a Christian life I've ever read.  Especially as it breaks down practical and diverse areas to enjoy God.  Simple and thoughtful.  I'll be reading it a second time more slowly to help (re)construct my own personal "rule of life."

It is a great read both for people exploring the faith journey, and for those who have been on the journey a while and need a fresh approach.  Shigematsu seeks to apply the best of the monastic tradition to modern-day relevance, and does so in a helpful, compelling way.

Two areas particularly drew my attention: work and play.  With regard to work: Is work to be merely tolerated or enjoyed?  Does faith enrich the work experience or take away from your career?  Is God present in our work?  With regard to play: Is the God of the Bible present in play and fun?  What does it mean to rest?  Do we need to rest?  I enjoyed the author's answers to these questions, and felt God's peace to relax and enjoy him in everything I do.

Overall a very helpful, practical guide to enjoy God, the life of faith, and the call to mission!  A winsome invitation to embrace God in everything from your sexual desires to your service to others.
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Called to Love is practical, challenging, and encouraging. Alisa takes the stories of Christ you know and her own unique stories and weaves them together into bite size applicable chunks. If you apply what you read, you will draw into a closer intimacy with Christ and your spouse. I certainly did!
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Pastor Reina Olmeda Beings an inspiring book for practical everyday questions on your journey though life. As well as spiritual long term revelation though Biblical principles for thoses who seek a deeper relationship with The Lord. This book is a must have for new believers as well as those who have been in the body of Christ for some time. I highly recommend this book for those who ask themselves "what does God want me to do for his Kingdom?"
369253
Life in the Body of Christ by Curtis C. Thomas is a wonderful book on the privileges and responsibilities in the local church from the pen of a seasoned pastor.  Upon first glance I quickly noticed how many different topics are covered in this book.  It is a highly practical and accessible manual on local Baptist church life.  This would be an excellent book to give away or work through in any new members class for a local congregation.  There is a wealth of material in Life in the Body of Christ and it would be a worthy resource book for any church.

Life in the Body of Christ is divided into 7 sections.  They are: Personal Responsibilities, Joining a Body, The Body at Work, The Leadership of the Body, Gifts ad Ministries of the Body, Problems in the Body and Miscellaneous.  Each section contains multiple chapters that cover a wide array of topics addressing life in a local body.  Each chapter begins with a quote from either a single passage of Scripture or multiple passages.  This is followed by a short section (probably averaging 3-4 pages) that describes how the church is supposed to function biblically with regards to the chapter's subject.  Many times this section will have a bullet point list that is amazingly helpful.  This is one of the features that makes it such a great reference book.  For example, the chapter titled Choosing a Pastor gives a brief description of how the church should select a Pastor and then follows this up with 27 bullet point questions to ask in regards to the pastoral candidate.  This is very helpful as it takes the qualifications set forth in Scripture and formulates them into questions.  This is done time and time again in this book and each list is very helpful in seeing how these topics work themselves out practically in the church.  The next section in each chapter is called Application.  This section contains several questions for individuals and also for group discussion.  These would be very helpful in a new members class or one on one discipleship to stimulate conversation.  Each chapter then closes with a meditation section that brings the reader's focus to a passage or two of Scripture to think about. The topics addressed are wide ranging and the book can be read cover-to-cover or more like a reference book.  This is one of the most thorough and practical books that I have seen on local church life.  It would be a great blessing to any church as it seeks to function as a biblically based and minded church.

I received a free copy of this book from Founders Press in exchange for an honest review.
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The Rose Guide to Discpleship is a great tool for anyone who wants to follow Jesus. Simple enough for new believers and rich enough for those who have long known the Lord, the Rose Guide to Discpleship provides practical devotionals and bible study that lay a foundation for basic Christian theology. The layout is user-friendly and well suited for small groups.

(Rose Publishing provided an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review)
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Thabiti Anyabwile is a former muslim.  Now he loves Jesus.  And he's also the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church Grand Cayman.

What more would you want from an author writing on how to lovingly engage and witness to Muslims?

Having been in several Muslim nations in the last few years, I was excited to see what Anyabwile had to say about sharing with them.  In the first few pages Anyabwile reveals that his book is not designed to be an apologetical guide, but a practical help for those wanting to understand a muslim's values and mind-set and how to share Christ in that place.

The book is broken up into two parts: "The Gospel" and "As You Witness."  The first section spends most of the time tracking through critical theological differences between the Christian and the muslim such as the Trinity, the Bible's validity, and Jesus' divinity.  Anyabwile brings life to these topics with stories of his own encounters and experiences.  I actually laughed a number of times thinking to myself, "How true that is!"  Anyabwile knows his stuff; you won't find a muslim who won't bring up something about the Scriptures, Jesus, or the Trinity, if not all three!  The second section focuses on things you must know for wtinessing to muslims.  I loved that he spent time talking about the necessity of being filled with the Spirit to witness here.  This is all too overlooked in books like these.  The hospitality chapter is super-helpful for those trying to lovingly engage muslims.

I especially enjoyed that at the end of each chapter, there was a "Things to Remember" list recapping the main points being communicated.  This became a great help in hammering away the heart behind what Anyabwile was saying.  I found myself underlining nearly every point in these sections.

On a funny note, Chapter 4 was not numbered in my book, but the rest were.  I'm not sure how that one slipped the system.  While the book claims to be practical rather than apologetical, it surely spends half of the book being apologetically geared.  However, Anyabwile's unifying plea is undoubtedly clear: believe in the power of the Gospel to save (Romans 1:16). Overall, the book is concise, readable, and insightful.  With it's focus on the Gospel and practicals on how to witness well, I think it will be helpful for reaching out to anyone, not merely muslims!
3100408
Building on the power and privilege of Prayer, the author takes
the next step and elaborates on Jesus's teaching of His vineyard.
To live the truly abundant Kingdom life of love, peace, joy and the fruit of the Spirit, one must be abiding in the vine of
Christ where the flow of the Holy Spirit can fill the life of
the believer.
This book makes living in the Spirit very practical and gives
powerful illustrations about cultivating and harvesting grapes
from healthy vines in the lives of those who follow Jesus' vineyard principles.
Important concepts like Planting, Pruning, Perseverence, and
Purity flesh out the secrets of the vine. When we realize our
Heavenly Father is the Gardener/Caretaker, Christ is the Vine
and we are but branches, we realize the Lord will flow the life
sap of the Spirit through us to produce abundant quality and
quantity fruit to His Glory as we remain in His Word.
Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it!
Do not be filled with spirits, but be being filled with the Spirit!
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Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton

When Jesus was on earth, He touched many lives in different ways. From healing, to giving life, to his teaching...and even today, He is changing lives, for anyone who chooses to accept His gifts.

Completely Blessed take a look at Jesus' miracles, parables, and His daily life, and will teach you how to have a meaningful life in Christ. You will learn about His amazing gifts, and find that Jesus has provided exactly what you need to live the life you long for.

Completely Blessed is the companion devotional to Completely His and in the introduction, the author recommends that the books are read together as a set, to get the most of the devotional. I didn't have the pleasure of reading Completely His, but since this is recommended, then I suggest following the author's advice.

The devotionals have titles such as:

* A gift that keeps on giving
* Power over the enemy
* A firm foundation
* A resting place for our worries
* The gift of the Holy Spirit
* A rich reward
* Plus much more.

There are thirty devotionals, one for each day of the month and there is interaction with plenty of space to fill in your thoughts. The devotionals start out with scripture reading, a brief story that fits in with the main idea and then the application, in a section apply named Holding His Hand. It then ends with a brief prayer.

This devotional won't take much time out of a busy day, but yet will give the reader a firm foundation for their daily walk with Christ. I recommend this, if you or someone you know wants to start a daily quiet time.

Armchair Interviews says: This would also be good devotionals for church ministries.
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Lots of practical lessons on cultivating a relationship with God through Christ. Knowing, trusting God and his view of me is the key to living the life he calls me to.
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David Helm has written a practical and readable guide to the basics of preaching from an expositional perspective.  His goal is to guide preachers in understanding and applying the transcendent truths of the Bible to today's culture.  He seeks preachers to develop clarity in understanding what the text says, including what it spoke it its original audience, then to see how the text points to the Good News of Jesus Christ, and lastly, how the text is relevant today.  Helm explores each of these stages of preparation, and as I said, is thoroughly practical in his approach.  Practicality and readability does not mean the preacher will find the steps to be easy or automatic, but it does mean that Helm is clear about his rationale for this approach to preparation and preaching.  Besides preaching on a regular basis Helm also serves as the executive director of the Charles Simeon Trust.  I have participated in one of the Trust's workshops and found that Helm's work here closely parallels the approach of the Trust to preaching, making this book a good tool in augmenting what is already my primary approach to preaching.  I highly commend this book to all people who would like to grow in their ability to understand and proclaim God's word.
2116066
In Organic Outreach for Families, Kevin G. Harney and Sherry Harney give very practical advice on how to "share the love, grace, and message of Jesus" in a very natural, unforced way. (p. 11) I love the definition they give of what they call 'lighthouse homes': "They will be places where Jesus is King, where his love is present, and where the Holy Spirit is at work. ... It's a place where the glow of God's light is strong and people are drawn to the Savior." (p. 14)

The book is divided into three parts: Reaching Your Own Family, Raising Children of Light in a Dark World, and Turning Your Home into a Lighthouse. In addition to the helpful information within each of the chapters, each chapter concludes with three specific ideas to put into practice in your home.

If only for the first section alone, this book is definitely worth owning. It was truly helpful not only in thinking of practical ways to talk to our children about God, but there were also many points that will carry over into parenting in general. But it doesn't just stop after the first section. The following sections were also truly informative and practical. (Did I mention this book is practical?)

I had already recommended this book to many of my friends before I finished reading it, and now that I have finished it I will continue to recommend it. Buy it. Break out your highlighter and highlight. Use a pen and underline. Write notes in it. Keep it for handy and refer back to it.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews.
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In a culture awash in psychology, Christian perspectives on the human personality have been sadly lacking. Dallas Willard has entered this void with his characteristic incisiveness, overarching vision, unique insights, and wealth of footnoted resources. The purpose of Renovation of the Heart is intensely practical - assisting Christians in becoming Christ's disciples. Willard's premise is that by better understanding ourselves, we can better participate in God's transforming work in our lives. Renovation of the Heart complements three earlier books by Willard: A Divine Conspiracy, Spirit of the Disciplines, and Hearing God. A Divine Conspiracy describes Christian discipleship and underscores its centrality and importance in Christ's own preaching. Spirit of the Disciplines outlines specific spiritual practices that are foundational and even indispensable in changing our thoughts, feelings, and actions to conform with those of Jesus. Hearing God addresses the loss of an intimate, conversational relationship with God in the contemporary church and how such a relationship can be recaptured and cultivated. Renovation of the Heart methodically explores the multiple dimensions of human personality and provides direction for participating with God in the renovation of the whole person. It is, as with all of Willard's books, dense with thought and meaning and requires careful, prayerful reading. For the diligent reader this effort will be well rewarded. In an age of stifling confusion about what it means to be human, Renovation of the Heart brings clarity, hope, and specific suggestions that will be of invaluable assistance along the journey toward likeness to Christ.
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The Jesus Way is an exciting book that presents the Christian life for readers at any stage of their spiritual lives from the novice to the mature.  Walker offers a substantive overview of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we respond and obey it faithfully.  The 12-chapter book consists of building blocks of the Christian faith divided into two main sections based on the Biblical chapters Luke 24 and Acts 2.

The Jesus Way guides readers into new life through Jesus Christ.  Walker will settle for nothing less than his readers becoming new creations in Christ and living a new life.  He writes that "We are to be an `Easter people,' bringing the resurrection light of Jesus into our local worlds--into God's world."  As Easter people, Jesus becomes the center of our lives.

The book can speak to seekers of Jesus or new believers and instruct them into the new faith and life in Christ.  Each building block of the book also serves as a step in becoming a Christian.  Walker presents the truth of Jesus Christ and confronts readers with their own sinfulness and need for forgiveness that only comes through repentance and the cross of Jesus.  He writes, "The cross of Jesus is God's answer.  It is the place where we are healed, the place where sin is dealt with once and for all, the place where the barrier between us and God is decisively removed...We can never say `goodbye' to the cross, or move on to seemingly more important things."

Walker emphasizes that the Christian, through the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is called to live a holy life.  Christians ought to be experiencing the Holy Spirit's work in and through their lives.  The Jesus Way can be a helpful resource to facilitate God's work in the believer's life.  Walker highlights Spiritual disciplines and truths of the Christian life and asserts that "If Jesus is not Lord of all, then he is not Lord at all."  In an eloquent and appropriate tone, Walker shows readers how to live with Jesus as Lord of their lives.

The Jesus Way is thoroughly Biblical and congruent with the apostolic teachings and historic voice of the church.  This is a life-changing message aimed at fulfilling the Lord's call to his body,

Throughout the book, Walker assures readers of God's generous grace by which we are saved and helped each day of our lives.  He writes, "The Christian life is truly meant to be Christ's life - Christ's life lived in and through us.  We will therefore need Jesus' grace each and every day - not just for our forgiveness but indeed for any living at all!"

This is a meaningful and helpful study for individuals or groups.  There is a companion dvd that accompanies the first six chapters that has the author and other theologians discussing the topics. Our groups appreciated those discussions and found them helpful.
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Bruce Wilkinson does a masterful job of taking the reader through the parable of the vine and the branches in John 15. I appreciate his faithfulness to the words of Jesus' parable and his insight into the true meaning of this parable. This book gives the reader some very practical steps to take in order to draw closer to Christ and to be more fruitful in the Chritian life. I highly recommend this book.

Harlan D. Betz, author of "Setting the Stage for Eternity."
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This book not only inspires you to go deeper in your Christian faith, but prompts you to live it out in your every day life. It's filled with tangible examples of real life that many of us can relate to, powerful and practical prayers, and impacting questions to take us deeper. Come With Me is one book you'll want to read more than once. It's so good!
3785219
A  great book for all Christians who desire to grow in their relationship with Christ.