Book Review: A Man Called Blessed {BookSneeze}

A Man Called Blessed by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright

ISBN: 9781401688790

Paperback, 360 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Retail: $16.99

About the book: 

One man holds the key to locating the Ark of the Covenant--but he's hidden deep in the desert and no one has seen him since he was a boy.

In the explosive sequel to Blessed Child, Jewish soldier-turned-archaeologist Rebecca Solomon leads a team deep into the Ethiopian desert to find the one man who may know the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Such a discovery would bring hope back to her people. Her search brings excitement and danger--including unexpected love and a discovery far more powerful than even the holy artifact.

Meanwhile, Islamic fundamentalists dispatch Ismael, their most accomplished assassin, to pursue Rebecca and the man she's searching for. These men fear that the Ark's discovery will compel Israel to rebuild Solomon's temple--on the very site of their holy mosque in Jerusalem. But the man they seek is no ordinary man.

His name is Caleb, and he too is on a mission--to find again the love he embraced as a child and to share that love with the world.

About the author:

Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author with more than five million books in print. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between unfrogettable characters. He lives with his wife in Austin,Texas. 

My thoughts:

I believe this is my first Ted Dekker novel. It is a sequel to Blessed Child but I didn't find it necessary to have read that one first (since I haven't yet). Reading this book, A Man Called Blessed, there were a few snippets of history that I probably would have had a better idea of what was going on if I had of read the first book. 

The main characters are Rebecca Solomon and Caleb. Other characters that have a part in this book are David Ben Solomon (Rebecca's father), Avraham (a soldier on the mission with Rebecca), Zakkai (a professor and archaeologist), Ismael (the assassin and son of Abu Ismael), Abu Ismael (Syrian general, Palestinian), Jason and Leiah Marker (Caleb's adoptive parents), and Father Hadane (a 'monk' in the desert).
There were a few parts where I could feel my eyebrow go up in a "what sort of hollybaloo is this?" kind of look. But I got to thinking that really, the book is about God doing impossible things. So for me to think "That's impossible!" in a book, of fiction no less, is a little silly. After I let go of that line of thinking and just took it as it came, I really enjoyed the book. I wouldn't mind reading the first book, Blessed Child, for the background and for a good adventure read.

Book Review: Is College Worth It? {BookSneeze}

Is College Worth It? by William J. Bennett with David Wilezol
ISBN: 9781595552792
Available in print or ebook format
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Retail: $22.99

About the book (from Thomas Nelson):

Explores the answer to a critical question: Should we keep sending our kids to college?

The American system of higher education comprises some of the best universities, teachers, and students the world has ever seen. Millions of students around the globe want nothing more in their life than to attend an American university. However, many of America’s colleges and universities today have serious academic, institutional, and other performance problems, and it is quickly approaching a crisis point, if it’s not there already. Despite some excellent colleges and quality programs at many colleges, too much of higher education is wildly expensive. Students often graduate having learned little, or don’t graduate at all. They are indoctrinated with liberal politics and subjected to all types of non-academic distractions. For these reasons, many students would be better served exploring other educational alternatives.

In Is College Worth It?, William J. Bennett and David Wilezol assess the problems of American higher education at various levels, from runaway costs to inferior academics to poor graduation rates to political indoctrination, and propose serious reforms and alternative methods for improving higher education so that it better serves our students.

My thoughts:

Very good book!  It is a rather short book, or so it seems because it is written well and flows right along. I liked the tone of the book as well. Although not necessarily against college, the authors definitely give excellent reasons to not go. 

My daughter is going into her junior year this coming school year and college has long been on her mind. It was one of those societal pressures: you will go to college. But she (and I) felt that there really wasn't/isn't a need for her to do so. A quote from the book:

"With new technology and online breakthroughs, you could get a better education in a coffee shop or your parents' basement than you will get at most colleges." 

 True!

Here is a huge issue I personally had while finishing up college (I graduated with a BA in 2011 after a very long college 'career'):

"In today's colleges, much of what is taught in the humanities and social sciences is nonsense (or nonsense on stilts), politically tendentious, and worth little in the marketplace and for the enrichment of your mind or soul."

I would prefer both of my kids were able to get an apprenticeship than go to college. So perhaps I'm a bit biased when it came to reading this book. The book goes through a lot of history of college attendance in the US. Who went, why they went, how they paid for it, what jobs they were able to get afterward, etc. A large portion of the book though deals with the debt that is racked up by *everyone going to college. The debt long ago surpassed the credit card debt in the US. As a person who now has student loans to be paid back, I can relate to the debt. I definitely don't wish that for either of my kids. And we, their parents, definitely cannot pay for it.

The authors feature the government's involvement in this situation as well. An unchecked student lending program has created what Bennett and Wilezol feel is another bubble about to burst! (think of the real estate bubble in the 2000s) Bennett says "Higher education is not underfunded. It is under-accountable." They compare and contrast the government lending program with private banks and lending agencies. The difference in recovered loans for the private banks and lending agencies is quite impressive. The government's recovered loans is rather unimpressive. 

There is a section on the return on investment for different occupations compared to different colleges (I do not have a physical book or I'd reference the page numbers) and it was surprising. The authors also talk about why to go to college, and which ones to go to. I especially liked that in a book that from the outset really sounds down on college, presents the other side. The last section in the book highlights their top picks for college, based on religion, reputation, major (technical and engineering), state and private schools, even for-profit universities. 

And on one more note- they recommend the military academies in that list. The Army (West Point), Navy (Annapolis), Coast Guard and Air Force. As a mother whose son is looking at the Marines when he's out of school, I was happy to see the endorsement. 

Again, I thought this was a really good book. It has a lot of numbers and statistics- stick with it if you start to zone out at that point- it's not all numbers. They have legitimate reasons for not choosing college as well as real solutions. There is a section of Scenarios for just about any one looking at going to college and their advice in those situations. 

It's already been decided that my daughter will not be pursuing college, at least not right out of high school if ever, and this book was quite helpful in putting my mind at ease on that front. 

***Disclaimer: I received the book referenced above as an ebook free for this review from BookSneeze. No monetary compensation was given and all opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Book Review: Unexpected Love by Julie Zine Coleman {Book Sneeze}

Unexpected Love: God’s heart revealed in Jesus’ conversations with women, by Julie Zine Coleman
ISBN 9781400204243
Paperback, 233 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Retail: $15.99
From the back cover:

How would you characterize Jesus in his interactions with women? Gracious? Preachy? Aloof? Kind? Dismissive?

Unexpected Love is an essential read for anyone eager to understand Jesus Christ's true heart for women. We ache for a satisfying relationship with him and crave his healing touch. So did the women of the first century. Each approached him with something they wanted. They left with more than they could have imagined.

Writer and teacher Julie Coleman carefully walks readers through the Gospel narratives, offering evidence of a perceptive Savior deeply concerned about the women he met. Through vivid descriptions, thoughtful questions, and empowering applications, she brings a fresh perspective to these sometimes puzzling stories.

Unexpected Love offers a compelling vision of a Savior who meets us where we are and takes us where we need to go. Discover his passion for women. What you read will impact your own relationship with him. You will fall in love with the dynamic, beautiful, and unexpectedly personal Jesus.

*************************************

I was honestly drawn to the book by its cover (yellow being my favorite color). Written in a different way than I expected, this book was very enjoyable to read. Each chapter starts with the Biblical account, then with a more detailed possible story of the account. The Biblical account is straight-forward and to the point. The story afterwards gives more feeling and emotion to the account. After each account and portrayal, is a Digging Deeper section. This section gives a contextual background to the account. It puts us more in touch with the practices of the times and places the accounts are taking place. It helps us understand the word choices as well as the behaviors of the individuals in the account. After this is the section titled For Today’s Woman, where we can get a sense of application of the account in our own lives. Finally, she wraps up each chapter with two sections: Food for Thought and Journaling. The Food for Thought gives a bit more information, perhaps, and asks questions to get our minds working and thinking about what was read. The Journaling asks us to write down our thoughts, actions, feelings, etc., that deal with the account and application to our lives.

I’ll give the accounts in order of the book:

• Chapter One: John 2:1-11 (Jesus and Mary at the Wedding in Canaan)
• Chapter Two: Mark 5:21-34 (Jesus and the Hemorrhaging Woman)
• Chapter Three: Luke 7:36-50 (Jesus and the Sinful Woman)
• Chapter Four: Matthew 15:21-28 (Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman)
• Chapter Five: John 7:53-8:11 (Jesus and the Adulterous Woman)
• Chapter Six: Luke 10:38-42 (Jesus and Martha)
• Chapter Seven: John 4:4-30 (Jesus and the Samaritan Woman)
• Chapter Eight: Matthew 20:20-28 (Jesus and Salome)
• Chapter Nine: John 20:1-18 (Jesus and Mary Magdalene)

“Nine women. Nine cryptic conversations. Nine encounters with the Savior, whose carefully spoken words changed everything.” –from the Conclusion, pg 203

The stories of these women’s interaction with Jesus are ones that I honestly did not really pay much attention to. I’ve never thought that Jesus thought less of women than he did of any other person. I can understand that the wording can sound harsh in some of the conversations he had when we read them in the Bible, but I also understand that the times are not as they were –what wouldn’t fly today could then; and vice versa! I was interested to get a perspective on these accounts, that’s why I chose to review this book.

Personally, right now, I am not really using the Food for Thought or the Journaling sections but for reading them and thinking at the moment. 

I think that Coleman does a great job with her writing. She puts the accounts down accurately as she gets them from the Biblical account. What I really enjoyed though were her opening portrayals of the accounts. This could have happened like this- the emotions and the descriptions she gives make it more real to me. Whether or not they did happen as she illustrates is beside the point –she’s not saying that it is how she illustrates.

Also, I loved the contextual insight. I’ve always been fascinated by the differences time and location make on a situation. Something totally offensive to a group of people is seen as silliness to a different group. It is important to understand –or at least have an understanding that there is the possibility that what we think it means isn’t what they thought it meant –the context when reading. I truly believe 2 Timothy 3:16.

The one problem I have with this book and it is such a problem to me personally that I am hesitant to continue reading (I am currently finishing up chapter five) is Coleman’s use of various translations of the Bible. I can mostly handle her general use of NASB throughout but when she tosses in verses from the Apocrypha –I get a little untrusting (good word? I’m not sure) of her inclusion of scripture. She does this with at least a mention of an account of Susanna in the Apocyphra and chapter 13 in Daniel of the Greek version. As for the NASB, there is a verse (2 Cor. 12:9) that is misleading in the NASB as it leaves out a very important word; the second “my”. Here is her version’s rendition:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Here is my version’s rendition (KJV):

“…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…”

I will continue on with this book because I do enjoy the writing and I enjoy these more in-depth studies of these accounts. Accounts that I mentioned, I’d not really paid more attention to than reading them as I came to them. I will just have to be very cautious when she quotes verses and continue to compare them with my Bible.

My daughter is also reading this book and enjoying it. Just if you are adverse to books (Christian) including more than one translation of the Bible and especially bits from Catholicism, you might not enjoy those bits (as I’m not).

***Disclaimer: I received this book free from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given and a positive review is not mandatory. All opinions stated are my own. This post does contain affiliate link(s). See Disclosure/Policies.***

Book Review: Pershing, Commander of the Great War {BookSneeze}

Pershing: Commander of the Great War by John Perry
Format: Kindle book (hardcover here)
ASIN: B005ENBC1E
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Retail: $19.99
Description (from BookSneeze):

No other American military leader is so important and yet so little known as John J. Pershing.

He led an army of more than a million men in France, defeating the seemingly invincible German war machine with only six months of offensive action. He was an American hero, and yet, today, General Pershing has faded away to the second or third tier of America’s historical memory. His accomplishments rightly place him in the company of great generals such as MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton, all of whom he commanded and inspired, and all of whom he outranked. He shaped world events in Europe as surely as Woodrow Wilson or David Lloyd George, so why has America forgotten him?

John Perry chronicles the life of a strong, inflexible leader who was an insufferable nit-picker on the job, but a faithful friend, tender husband, and devoted father. To the small group fortunate enough to know him, Pershing was a great and wonderful man. To the rest, he was stiff, cold, impersonal, and best avoided. Remembered as a stern taskmaster, he was driven not by devotion to discipline but devotion to duty. Not only was there honor and order in his methods, there was victory. And that is the lesson this teacher leaves with us.

*************************************

My thoughts:

I have enjoyed learning more about Pershing. There is much more in this book about Pershing than is generally taught from a educational standpoint. Many people think of Pershing as a task-master, cold and strict. This book shows the side of him that most people don’t know.

With that said, it was a difficult book to finish. It is long and drawn out; it is dry; it is not well organized in places. The writing is not the best I’ve read and takes away from what could be a great book.

What I did particularly enjoy was the history of Pershing. He was a man of his environment. He began with the desire to teach, not to be in the army. But circumstances and choices put him in places with people that would affect him, and he would have a profound effect on history. The book also includes brief histories of many men (and women) that were important around the same time as Pershing.

Overall, I rate it 3.75; good subject, good overall organization; poor writing and some instances of disorganization.

**Disclaimer: I received this ebook from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.**

Three Hearts- A Review

About the film:
Graduating college senior, Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of evangelist Billy Graham, takes on an internship at Samaritan's Purse working with the Children's Heart Project. This project is dedicated to saving the lives of children by providing medical procedures that aren't available in many countries. Cissie is charged with supervising the arrival and surgeries of three Mongolian children suffering from fatal congenital heart defects. 

But the task is not easy and filled with unexpected challenges.  Cissie balances responsibilities as a newly married wife to a professional football player and her tasks with the internship.  Meanwhile the Children's Heart team turns to a Texas family who travels to Mongolia for the adventure of a lifetime to help bring the children to San Antonio for their surgeries.  In Texas, two host families make sacrifices to care for these children and their mothers, while a team of doctors and nurses volunteer their time only to stare directly into the face of life and death. How far would you go to save a life?

It's a fight for survival, a fight of faith, and a fight for a new life for these three hearts. 

Bonus Features include: trailer, deleted scenes, and video clips about the Children's Heart Project.

Here is a trailer:
 

My take: It was a good look at this program. It was a well done documentary and I appreciated learning new things. How many even know about this branch of the Samaritan’s Purse organization? I’d never heard of it (not that I am an indicator). You can see the sacrifices and challenges that are encountered (as well as the blessings!) of the families that take these three children into their homes while the children wait to have a surgery that they could not have otherwise. The surgeries give them an extension to their lives. The youngest would not have lived for many more years if left untreated. In the process they are also given the opportunity to accept Jesus (the youngest one may not understand at the time). They can go home and share this new relationship with their families also.

The documentary isn’t something you will be able to ‘just watch’ –it’ll give you a case of lump in your throat if you don’t just break down and cry. But at the same time there are many instances where you will smile along with these people –Cissie and her family as well as (and even more so perhaps) with the children and their families.

After I watched this I went looking for other reviews (because I’m like that) and found this one that you might like to read also.

If you don’t normally watch these types of documentaries (or this type of production) be aware, it’s ‘dramatic’.

***Disclaimer: I received this DVD from BookSneeze free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given. See Disclosure/Policies.***

Book Review: Surprised by Laughter

Surprised by Laughter: The Comic World of C. S. Lewis by Terry Lindvall, Ph.D
ISBN: 978-1595554789
Paperback, 496 pages (includes notes, bibliography, etc)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Retail: $16.99

From the back cover: For C. S. Lewis, merriment was serious business, and like no book before it, Surprised by Laughter explains why. Author Terry Lindvall takes readers on a highly amusing and deeply meaningful journey through the life and letters of one of the most beloved Christian thinkers and writers. As Lindvall shows, the unique magic of Lewis’s approach was his belief that explosive and infectious joy dwells deep in the heart of Christian faith. Readers can never fully understand Lewis, his life, or his legacy until they learn to laugh with him.

Personally, reading that description did not prepare me for this book. The scope of the book is somewhat touched on when it says “a highly amusing and deeply meaningful journey” but perhaps the sentence should have been in bold, italicized and perhaps in a larger font for emphasis. Lindvall mentions at the start that he hopes

“that in placing Lewis on the operating table we will not merely handle the organs, tissues, and entrails of the subject of laughter, but we will also see the risible body itself awaken and laugh and cause us to laugh with the surprise of encountering something so unexpectedly and wonderfully alive.”

The quote on the back, however, does capture quite well C. S. Lewis’s attitude toward laughter-

“[A] little comic relief in a discussion does no harm, however serious the topic may be.” –C. S. Lewis

This book was quite over my head in many places. I had to have a dictionary by my side while reading; I’m not used to that. The book is split into sections: 1) The Idea and the Legacy, 2) Joy, 3) Fun, 4) The Joke Proper, 5) Satire and Flippancy, and the 6) Conclusion: The Laughter of Love. In each of these sections Lindvall has fairly dissected the works of Lewis (and those that inspired him) and placed them into these categories. I cannot even begin to try to describe what is put into those chapters. It is something that I would suggest you read for yourself. My favorite chapter is #20 titled The Fun of Reading but I rather enjoyed the entire book (even somewhat the parts over my head).

Lindvall gives the readers a bit of Chesterton, Milton, Tolkien, Macdonald, More and many other authors, to help the reader understand the use of ‘laughter’ more in Lewis’s work and life, because all of these were influential to Lewis. Lewis commented on all of these and they can be seen in his own works. One thing that stood out to me above all else in this book is the understanding that Lewis knew that laughter “should function to reaffirm and establish what is good, right, and moral (page 311).” This is repeated in many places, albeit in different wording each time. (Such as on page 301, “One cannot keep human lungs from laughter. Yet one can seek to fill those lungs with clean, fresh comedy rather than polluted and poisonous air.”)

Like I said before, this book was way more than I expected but I’m glad I’ve read it. There were some chapters that I did not enjoy reading as much as the rest of the book; the following chapters: 22- Wit and Wordplay, 23- The Word Made Joke, 24- Comic Techniques and Topics, 28- Falling from Frauendienst, 29- Sex and Marriage, and 30-32, dealing with satire and flippancy (mostly because there were bits I just could not wrap my mind around).

I really think that someone with a literature background and possibly English could really appreciate this book. Reading it simply because it talks about C. S. Lewis may leave some readers scratching their heads, or worse, not interested to continue with the reading. It is deep; not a book for light reading.  I do not usually write in my books, not even a little tick mark, but this book now has notes in the margin and arrows throughout. It makes me want to read more of Lewis’s works as well as the other authors that he held in high esteem; especially Chesterton.

And it makes me want to see the joy and laughter in life. It also helped me to see why some people may find me amusing (when I don’t see myself as ‘amusing’ at all!) and I should think that anyone who reads this can find themselves in the cross-hairs of Lewis’s humor as well. And that isn’t a bad thing.

What I did not care for in this book is the scholarly tone (if that is the right description). Lindvall has a Ph.D and he writes like it! The inclusion of so much of Lewis’s own words helped me tremendously to understand some concepts that I would otherwise be completely lost if left to Lindvall’s words.

I end this review with words of Lewis:

“For he will read “in the same spirit that the author writ.” What is meant lightly he will take lightly; what is meant gravely, gravely. He will “laugh and shake in Rabelais’s” easy chair while he reads Chaucer’s faiblaux and respond with exquisite frivolity to The Rape of the Lock. He will enjoy a kickshaw as a kickshaw and a tragedy as a tragedy. He will never commit the error of trying to munch whipped cream as if it were venison (page 198)” –C. S. Lewis, Experiment in Criticism, pg 11

Or as Lindvall says it: “The right way to enjoy reading is not to approach it with preconceptions –particularly not solemn ones –but to see the author’s intention.” And I think Lindvall’s intentions were quite good in trying to help us see the humor, laughter, joy, and comedy of C. S. Lewis’s writings –and his life.

*I received this book free in exchange for an honest review- no compensation was given.*

Book Review: Sherman, The Ruthless Victor

Sherman, The Ruthless Victor by Agostino Von Hassell and Ed Breslin
ISBN: 978-1595551337 (hardback)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Retail: $19.99

Ruthless and downright heartless is what I learned Sherman to be in history classes. However, that was always limited to his involvement in the Civil War, specifically Sherman’s March to the Sea. Van Hasselll and Breslin try to give a glimpse into the life of Sherman before the Civil War and show how that life affected his actions and after.

The book itself was not a chore to read but there were occasions when the writing style was inconsistent. In chapter 5, long after we have been introduced to the Ewings (Sherman’s foster family) we are then given the information that many Ewings went by nicknames. At no point earlier had this information been supplied and seemed out of place. Many times in the beginning years the author(s) make comments and give information about Sherman’s life as it would be many years later, and then add that he wouldn’t come upon that for x amount of years. I felt that they could have left the ‘giveaways’ out and just continued with the story.

I did enjoy how the author incorporated the events that took place although they didn’t directly affect Sherman (because actually almost all the references did indeed affect him), or he was not directly involved with them. Names of historic individuals help me to make the biography more concrete (since I have heard many of the names before- such as Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and William Henry Harrison) and not just a ‘story’.

I am very interested to read some of the books included in the bibliography because I would like to know how conclusions were come to- such as Sherman’s aversion to being a foster child of the Ewings’ among other things. There were definitely aspects of his life that I was unaware of as well as his personality.

The book was done well enough and I am looking forward to reading more of The General Series. I have also read Patton and Lee of the series and enjoyed them. *I received this book free in exchange for an honest review- no compensation was given.*

Book Review: The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley
ISBN: 978-0849947162
Paperback, 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

None of us deserves what God offers, a life free from sin and hope for a glorious future, but unbelievably it's ours for the taking. Why? Because of God's grace. The unmerited favor, the lavish love and kindness he pours out on us, and has, since Creation.

But if it's so available then why do we live a graceless life? Why are our churches filled with disillusioned Christians, weary of religion's demands, struggling with personal defeat because of issues or behaviors?

Join pastor Andy Stanley as he traces grace through the Old and New Testaments, observing God's grace at work in the lives of some of the best—and worst—characters. He also uses personal stories from his own life to reveal how grace is not a natural response but is the most essential one. Together these stories unravel the mystery of grace and tell of its transforming power to set us free (from Booksneeze).

This is a very interesting book. It often has me stumped why God would offer us grace…and sometimes I forget that He has offered it. Being human, perhaps I forget because it is difficult to extend grace myself to others. I try to remember that God is so much more awesome than any human could ever imagine or strive to be.

This book goes through different accounts from the Bible to help show that God’s grace is extended to us, those who look to Him and try to serve Him. But it isn’t because of what we have done (or will ever do). It is because He loves us.

Each chapter is a different view of grace:

• Chosen
• Surprised
• Redeemed
• Ruled
• Rescued
• Sustained
• Puzzled
• Accepted
• Reborn
• Filled
• Saved
• Commissioned

I enjoyed this book and will reread it, I think. It touches on so much that I’d not thought of before. God doesn’t have to give us anything. And yet He does give us grace. There were definitely interjections of the author's opinion (when there isn't a specific statement in the Bible, such as about how God feels [such as boredom]) but Stanley points to the Bible's passages in every chapter of this book and dealing with the grace of God.

I received this from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Faith of Ronald Reagan

The Faith of Ronald Reagan by Mary Beth Brown

ISBN: 978-1-5955-5353-9

Retail: $15.99 (buy at Amazon for $11.51)

256 pages

Paperback

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Not everyone will be happy with a President. The President may have a high approval rate at the beginning of their term but have it fall very low by the end of their term. There are good and bad traits in all Presidents. None are perfect.

This book isn't necessarily about the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. It does have a lot of reference to the time when he was President, however, and that is because that was a large part of Ronald Reagan's life. This book is about the man that Ronald Reagan was before he was President, when he was President and afterward. This book takes readers on a different path to understanding Ronald Reagan. Mary Beth Brown strives to show readers the spiritual side of Ronald Reagan; his faith.

The book isn't difficult reading but it does jump around- a lot. If one is not aware of certain aspects of the former President's life, then some parts may not make a lot of sense. Brown doesn't detail them out for those who do not know. I think the book was written for those who know something about Ronald Reagan to start with. For those who are unsure of the man in general, this book will give some information about what he did in his life- but not a lot.

What I enjoyed about the book is the perspective. It doesn't take political sides. Brown is attempting to portray Reagan's faith and how it molded his entire life; his choices, his career, his marriages.  I really appreciated the first hand knowledge and writings we are presented with such as Reagan's own words as well as friends and family members of Reagan. It helps to see Reagan more than just a political, untouchable figure.

Growing up I was taught (and believed) that Reagan was the "Teflon President". It seemed that no matter what policies or actions he enacted/committef while in office never managed to come back to him- when it was a negative outcome, the opposite is true when it was positive. For instance, the Berlin Wall incident will forever be connected positively with Reagan but what about the poverty level and the policies that were enacted under Reagan? Not so much. (Well, of course, if one is predisposed to disliking Reagan in the first place, this might be something they think of first).

Overall, the book was okay. As mentioned, I didn't like the setup of the book but I did like the subject matter. I feel that it helped me learn a bit more about Ronald Reagan; more than simply the secular view. However, the 'feel' of the book, I didn't like. All that was bad or wrong in Reagan's life was fairly sugar-coated by Brown; as if she couldn't or wouldn't allow herself to think anything but good about Reagan. It would be nice if there were nothing bad to say about anyone but that isn't the case and I feel that it makes this book seem almost like a fairy tale, not a real biography.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What Difference Do It Make by Ron Hall, Denver Moore and Lynn Vincent (Book Review)

What difference do it make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent
is the sequel to Same Kind of Different as Me. Even if you haven’t read the first book, this one just picks up where it left off and even puts in little ‘catch ups’ to well, catch you up to speed. It is a continuation of the journey that these two men, Ron and Denver, have been on and the effects that this journey has had on them and others.

Honesty is always the best policy so I will be honest: I had a very difficult time reading this book! This book is the sequel to the book Same Difference as Me, by the same authors; a book I have never even seen. Although there are ‘catch ups’, I still felt a little lost when they talked about something that had been made clear in the first book. I did/do like the book but it is just a little bit slower than I am used to.

I am at a point in my spiritual life where I feel I am only on the ’shore’. Sometimes when I read a book meant to inspire, it makes me want to step back unto the shore because the writers are so gun ho that I feel inadequate! I didn’t feel that with this book. It is inspiring. I found myself smiling many times without realizing it at first. I would recommend this to those that are in need of a little lift up, needing some motivation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com http://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 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”