Men of Sunday by Curtis Eichelberger

Curtis Eichelberger's book, Men of Sunday, revealed a different dimension to NFL football players and their families that I had ever considered. Eichelberger developed a comprehensive profile of the role of faith and interpersonal Christian support that is cultivated in the lives of NFL players, their wives, their coaches, and their chaplains, by dedicating a chapter to each role in the social network that surrounds the NFL players.

I had expected to read merely anecdotes from players, wives, and coaches, but was pleasantly surprised how the chapters were organized by theme and grounded in scripture. This book could easily be used as the basis for small group study, particularly among sports fans or to draw new Christians into a Bible study community.

Chapters included such topics as the violence affiliated with the game; how players are counseled to deal with groupies to protect their marriages; how Bible study communities have helped players and their families cope with injuries and other adversity; and seeking God's plan in any circumstances.

**Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending me a copy of this book for review.**

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

This book was an excellent sequel to Andrews book The Traveler's Gift, in which he suffered an injury and was allowed, during his coma, to travel through time, meeting various influential people and is presented with the "Seven Decisions for Success." He then used these principles or "decisions" as the guiding focus for his life and taught them to others. Now David Ponder is downcast, wondering what he should do with the rest of his life since he is "of a certain age" and his wife passed away. David is chosen to lead all Travelers in an upcoming summit to decide humanity's fate. The quest begins to find the answer to the question: "What does humanity need to do individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?"

Andrews crafts robust characters and ceonversations between the greatest minds of our history, including Anne Frank, Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, Ben Franklin, Joan of Arc, George Washington Carver, and many others. He is an absorbing storyteller, truly conversational in his phrasing and sense of immediacy. Like Moses, however, Ponder was given an important mission from God to accomplish and needed the persistence, patience, and wisdom to learn from others, and dependance on God that are insights and traits of living a long, full life. I especially enjoy the historical mining that Andrews showcases through his storytelling. he has clearly read many biographies and autobiographies to capture the personas of the historical figures who converse in this book.

This book will not only entertain, but will challenge you to assess your attitude and the activities of your own days. Each other the leaders featured in the book had the same twenty-four hours a day as you do. How are you going to be blessing to others with them?

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.

Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

I like having a devotional book at my bedside and this is the best one that has every occupied that location! Each day has a Bible verse, a reflection that expounds on the key point from the Bible passage, and a prayer. Graham’s writing style is magical; he manages to write in a conversational style that both reaches the reader with its friendly tone and yet challenges for a deeper walk with the Lord.

One of the gifts that Graham brought to this devotional is his God-given gift of helping someone see the invitation to Christ in every passage from the Bible. I highly recommend this book for anyone- new Christian or mature Christian alike. As believers, we are all called to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have. Sometimes, Christians think we need fancy vocabulary or lots of theological training to reach someone for Him, but this devotional is a great training tool to teach every Christian that just speaking in plain, daily language with everyday examples becomes profound with the Holy Spirit blessing the listener’s mind & heart.

**Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending this copy for review.**

Jesus Calling: A Devotional for Kids

This devotional book for kids is filled with a year's worth of daily devotions! Each devotion begins with a verse followed by commentary written in first person, as if Jesus were speaking directly to the child.
Scripture references for further study are also included each day, which is perfect for older children and teens. As an adult, I also really appreciated the messages and often found God speaking to my heart through them!

The habit of spending time with the Lord on a daily basis cannot be formed too early. For children who need a good place to start, Tama Fortner's adaptation of Sarah Young's Jesus Calling may be the perfect book. Young's writings are comforting, full of practical help, and promote worship. Jesus is often presented as a friend--"I am your best Friend--pour out your heart to Me,"--but He is also presented as the Sovereign King. This book, therefore, is a perfect supplement for parents who are teaching their children to have both a personal relationship with God and also to worship Him as Lord.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program.

Cast of Characters

Max Lucado is a masterful Bible study author. Each chapter includes a scripture passage, an explanation of a Biblical principle we learn from that person’s life, and a series of questions for reflection and discussion. If you are seeking a text for a Bible study, this is perfect: someone can jump into any chapter and still participate fully. Lucado does a masterful job demonstrating that the same God who transformed people’s lives hundreds of years ago is still seeking the opportunity to change our lives today.

One of the finest qualities of this book is Lucado’s treatment of Biblical characters. Some people are tempted to represent these characters as perfect people, but they were people just like us, with a mixture of wonderful qualities and flaws. Despite their imperfections, God used them to accomplish great things for His Kingdom, just as He plans to use believers today. For example, Moses spent years hiding in the desert after murdering someone until God called him to lead His people into the Promised Land. Peter turned his back on Jesus when he was being led to His death, yet he was used to spread the gospel to many nations. Lastly, Paul was a vociferous enemy of Christianity who became an evangelist after a close encounter with God on a road in Damascus.

Contents:
Joseph - Joseph's Prayer; Matthew - Friends of Flops; Woman Who Washed Jesus' Feet - The 7:47 Principle; Mephibosheth - The Privilege of Paupers; Samaritan Woman - Two Tombstones; Mary, Martha, and Lazarus - Your Place in God's Band; Abigail - Barbaric Behavior; Paralyzed Man - Bright Lights on Dark Nights; John - I Can Turn Your Tradegy into Triumph; Paul - Hidden Heroes; Two Criminals - I Will Let You Choose; Moses - The Voice from the Mop Bucket; Joseph - When Crickets Make You Cranky; David - Facing Your Giants; Esther - Touching the King's Heart; Job - Where Man Covers His Mouth; Nicodemus - The Most Famous Conversion in the Bible; Jairus - The Sparkle from Eternity; Rich Young Ruler - The Affluent Poor; Sarah, Peter, and Paul - The Kingdom of the Absurd; Lazarus - The Final Witness; Peter - The Gospel of the Second Chance; Conclusion - Cast of Characters; Notes; Sources

Mind Your Mortgage

When I bought my first car, I made the novice's mistake of telling the salesman what I wanted my monthly payment to be, rather than focusing on getting the best cost of the car first. Needless to say, I got those low monthly payments, but at a high interest rate and higher total vehicle cost than was necessary. This mistake is repeated daily in the housing market -- with far more disastrous results.

Although this type of book is rather far outside my comfortable, mystery genre, I'm so glad I read it. In Mind Your Mortgage, Mr. Bernabe outlines the right process for making financial decisions surrounding your most expensive asset (or liability): your home. For example, he demonstrates the massive 417% return on investment for paying an extra $1,200 on your mortgage in lieu of buying that big screen TV that sparkles so invitingly. The text is filled with common sense guidelines, excellent examples of why those rules exist, and gimmicks to recognize and avoid. Like Crown Ministries, this book underlines an appropriate relationship with money, so we don't become slaves to debt. Moreover, the book offers suggestions to gain your freedom if you have already sunken into financial difficulty.

Whether you are about to buy your first home or your fifth, this handy guide demystifies the process of home-buying. Vocabulary is well-defined, steps in the process of obtaining a good loan are well-documented, and tactics to prepare you for all-important conversations with loan personnel are provided. Keep this book right on the living room bookcase, so it is close at hand.

The Heart Mender

The Heart Mender: A Story of Second Chances was one of the best books I’ve ever read. From the very first page, I was absorbed in the fascinating story and barely able to put down the book. Andy Andrews masterfully weaves the historical tale of love, intrigue, and forgiveness.

While cutting down a tree on his property, Mr. Andrews discovers an old can that contains eight antique buttons, three photographs, a ring, and a medal. His quest to discover the origin of these items uncovers little-known World War II history as well as a story of the many kinds of love, including the forgiveness that one can only learn from knowing and loving God.

During World War II, German U-boats patrolled the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, sinking ships and intercepting Allied supplies. Far from their homeland, the German submariners obtained food and fuel from money-hungry American traitors and, sometimes, even came ashore to see movies. One submariner, wounded by a member of his own crew, washed ashore and was found by an angry young woman whose husband had already been killed in the war. The unlikely friendship between these two people leads them both to forgiveness and healing through faith in God.

Mr. Andrews provided a helpful Reader’s Guide to spur group discussion or invite further self-reflection on concepts such as symbolic imagery, the nature of decisions, the idea that “No Man is an Island”, the course of civilizations, and the power of forgiveness. Lastly, the author provided a “Where Are They Now” summary at the very end of the volume.

This book is an excellent transition for mystery or historical fiction readers who are ready to take a step toward reading for self-improvement and personal growth. One cannot read this book and be unchanged. Much like faith itself, it requires a decision and action. In this case, one is confronted with the following questions that demand a response: What does it mean to be a Christian? Who do I need to forgive? What people has God placed in my path for me to mentor and love? And, finally, what legacy do I want to leave behind?