A great resource to turn to in this day and age!
580025
This is an awesome book!  I was encouraged by all of the five star reviews but now I see for myself, as I am reading it.  It is encouraging as the author truly has written a manual for spiritual warfare for serious Christians intent on defending themselves against evil.  He has organized the book into sections, reminding us that we have Jesus, our Commander, Mary, whose assent to God's will led to Jesus' crushing of Satan, the angels and saints, and our fellow comrades here on earth, all to help us in this battle, and yes, there is a battle raging.  His writing is pleasant to read, the hymns and prayers are beautiful and powerful, and the book itself is sturdy, compact, and easy to carry in purse or pocket.  I recommend this book for all Christians, Catholic and Protestant.  It is well written, accurate, and a great resource to turn to in this day and age.
2955714
This book has a series of incredibly important messages for teens and pre-teens.  Many of the concepts shared have been presented by major "thought-leaders" and authors in other books & mediums, however Evin made them easy to understand and quite relatable for anyone, particularly young people, to take on board.

There are a number of places in the book where the author shares some of his own challenges, which lends realism to the issues and credibility for the tools to help deal with them.  I enjoyed the "short stories" and found them a great illustration of key points.  Some of these I have heard previously and some were new...either way, I enjoyed reading them all.  Nice touch adding some resources on pages 80 and 81, this should be helpful to many.

I sincerely congratulate Evin for taking this approach in working towards making a difference!  This is a book that can help a great number of kids who are looking for answers and some direction, but don't know where to turn.  I've ordered 15 copies so far and will continue to pass this important book along to those whom I know will benefit.
1283465
I love this book! It is Practical and full of Scriptural truth  A much needed resource for today's tech generation!
375055
This is a GREAT tool.  I consider this to be a fantastic resource, and I use it on a daily basis!
3901353
Are you a parent looking for resources relating the Scriptures to todays issues? This book is for you. It will supply you with insight into the Hunger Games series and help you tie it back to historical events recorded in the Bible.

Bird on Fire is a call to action, focusing on challenging teens to step out of their comfort zone and think of how they can serve others. It does not share the story of how God redeems the lost. Because of that, I would recommend it be paired with lessons which remind your teen who God is, how He empowers the weak to do His will, and how His grace covers them when they fail.

As a resource tool for adults, this study provides wonderful opportunities to point out how God faithfully addressed the same issues we face today, in Biblical times. I really appreciated how the author used details from the Hunger Games series to relate back to the stories of Esther and Gideon. Its fascinating the similarities between this fantasy series and events which really took place and Wells does a great job in bringing them together. And the symbol of the bird on fire and comparing it to what the Holy Spirit does is awesome. Because Bird on Fire is so helpful for relating the Scriptures to young adults, I recommend the book.
1011013
This is a lovely book.  If you are thinking about being "present," and want a well written, easy to read resource, this is the book for you. He writes beautifully, gives you other resources and authors to check out along the way, and tells personal stories which will leave you thinking.

He does not try to impose a formal meditation practice, though tapes are available if you choose to purchase them to guide you through meditation sessions.  Instead, he talks abut " breath" and about making your "practice" an integral part of your everyday life.

So, it's about options, and your choices.  Well worth reading!

This is a book that I will read many times.

Enjoy!
2560748
The essential guide to youth ministry in the post-modern era from one of the world's experts on the topic.  This book is a must for any person attempting to guide or counsel youth in todays culture.  The youth of today are drastically different from the youth of even ten or twenty years ago, and to effectively reach out to youth today we need to adapt ouselves to meet them where they are at, and not expect them to come to where we are at.
That is a hard thing and it means our job, as youth pastors, is that much more difficult.  In the post-modern, there can no longer be a cookie cutter approch to ministry.  This diversity has to take place far beyond a regional setting, and even beyond a local setting: what works in Evergreen, Colorado might not work in Boulder or Littleton or Cherry Creek.  But even more progressively, what works with one student may very easily not work at all with another.
In the post-modern arena, Tony explains, the Bible has to go beyond providing a general moral message to our students.  The post-modern is very much about the individual and in minestering to post-modern youth, we need to be able to show each student how the message of Jesus affects them personally.
Our ministries, therefore, need to be based more on relationships and less on programs.  In todays society, young adults are more busy then they have ever been before.  At any given time they may have several different options with what they can do with there time.  I highly doubt that any of us have the budget or talent in our ministries to compete with the entertainment our students could find elsewhere, so what we have to do is integrate our ministies to be a fun and safe place for students to come to, where at the same time they have contact with an adult that truely cares about them.  It is our ability to care for and love on our students that differentiates us from other activities in school or the community.  Only once a student knows that we care for them, and when they feel comfortable enough to come to us in their darkest times, with those things they would be too scared to even talk to their parents about... once a student trusts us that much in their life, then we have earned the right to minister Christ to them.
Students today are different.  We can look at that one of two ways: we can either progressively and joyously accept and adapt to the change, or we can miss a potentially wonderful oppertunity.  I think we all owe it to the kids in our ministry to pick the former of the two.  Read this book.  Some of the ideas Tony develops can seem complex and difficult to understand, I'll admit even for myself, but I think that we, being called to minister to God's children, need to understand kids as best as we can, so that they, in return, can better understand Him.
May the love and light of God shine through each of you, my friends.
1014136
Found this a readable resource to equip us for entering into discussion. We came to the end yearning for more tangible opportunities to not only expand the arena for discussion but to move on to the next level of advocating for building this bridge. Statistics and cites were up to date and presented in a way that multiple levels of application and understanding were facilitated. Good bibliography for future studies and consciousness raising. As always, thank Jim Wallis
1354345
When I received this book, I was excited to see what it contained. After flipping through it a couple times, I am definitely impressed with this book. It is one that would be well worth adding to your bookshelf. Also, on the back of the book, it gives a website where you can download all the maps and charts that are in the book for use in PowerPoint, handouts, etc. It would definitely be a great resource for Sunday School teachers, pastors and others who reference different parts of the Bible and want to make things clearer or do a handout for a class that needs a map or chart that normally wouldn't be included in a study Bible.

There are also photos of major places in the Bible to help you visualize where events took place. I was also excited to see that some history into each book was included, information about the author(s) of each book in the Bible, the date the book was written, and information about the theme of the book. Also included is an "At a Glance" chart where the book is broken down by chapter and verse into the topics, where it was written, the dates, and it also breaks down the books into divisions so you can see what chapters and verses cover each section within the topic. I also liked the detailed outline of the book, which included chapter and verses.

The maps, charts and pictures are all in full color, which makes them easy to understand, however if you are making a handout for a Sunday School class and copying them in black and white, they might not be as easy to decipher at a glance. On the maps, the cities that pertain to the events that took place in that book are in bold for easy reference. I also like on the maps that pertain to a person's travels, the paths are marked with arrows for easy following. Also included on the travel maps are information about different stops that that person made, and where in that book you can find where the specific event took place.

I could keep going on and on about the great things that are in this book, but I'll leave the rest for you to explore!

I was not paid for writing this book review. The only compensation I received was a free copy of the book in exchange for writing a review from [...].
178843
This book is a wonderful resource for putting things in perspective in an increasingly busy world. George has a fabulous system for organizing your daily to-do list: start with ordering your priorities and then schedule them in every day. First is time with God, second is your spouse, third is your children, fourth is your home, fifth is your own personal growth, sixth is your ministries, and seventh is anything else that doesn't fall into those categories (errands, movies, etc.)

Now, I tweaked the system a bit to personalize it for my life. I don't have children, and I schedule TV time in with my husband almost daily because it's something we enjoy. And the realization that the time I spend talking to and uplifting my friends, family members, and church members is actually a ministry-it's something important to me and God-made me realize I am spending quality time on Earth doing a quality job for Heaven. Plus, it's given me the push to make sure I contact people more regularly because it's worth the time.

I've read the other reviews and realize some people think the book is archaic for stating that women are on assignment from God to help their husbands, but according to the Bible we are: we are here to help everyone we know do their best to get to heaven and do the most to further His kingdom. I don't know of a better way than to spend our time serving anyone we can, most especially our husbands.

I have read this book several times now, making notes and lists of tips to take for my own life to improve my servitude. I have felt the change. As a twenty-something, I have given this book to friends from 29 to 64 to help them make the most of organizing their own time to work for God in all facets of life.
195984
A great choice! If you want to know the latest in this category- this book has it!
2405376
This is and incredible resource for understanding the diverse religious traditions that surround us.  Despite the age of the book (first published 50 years ago), the explanations and insights into a large number of world religions is suprisingly up-to-date.  In addition to the quality of writing and the depth of understanding, it's a very enjoyable read.  I purchased the book for a class and found that I couldn't stop reading.  This comes highly recomended for anyone who desires to understand what we believe, including your own faith tradition.
662115
Not only enjoyable, but a good resource for examples in lessons, sermons, etc.
4684820
A great resource as we move into an age of uncertainty over what is fact and fiction.  Makansi's tips and tools are not only a great way to wade through the B.S., they present a path of maintaining rational thought in an increasingly irrational world.
456118
This wonderful, timely book is a quick read, but it's also a lasting resource to come back to again and again as one's career develops. Dr. Caligiuri's insights and advice apply to people at every career stage, from recent grads just entering the job market to seasoned veterans seeking more fulfillment.

In 7 well-organized chapters -- which include exercises and interactive checklists -- you will find a strategy for making your career work for you, instead of the other way around.

I'm delighted to own a copy of this book and will certainly recommend it to my colleagues.
4630882
Want to be a part of something great? Read this book to be on the same page with countless others who are getting serious about praying for our families, our churches and our country.
These pages contain the inspiration and hope that we so desperately need in our day. There are great promises from God for us.
ITS NOT TOO LATE to take hold of Gods words that will change our own attitudes and the whole course of America!
773253
This book is a great resource for anyone exploring his or her role in today's fast-moving fast-changing organizations.

McKnight's concepts and exercises illuminate how individuals respond to change in an engaging and thoughtful way.  His approach is accessible and caring which helps readers "see" how their response to change impacts their own life as well as the lives of those around them.  Ultimately, however, the power of this book lies in McKnight's ability to enable choice and support change.  As an executive coach, I find this book very useful in helping clients move towards more personally sustainable and rewarding ways to contribute to our ever-changing society.