Heaven is for Real--for kids as told by Colton Burpo

MY REVIEW

This is a story that you truly need to read to your kids. It ultimately answers all those questions asked by children when someone dies in the family or the favorite pets dies. Those questions we dread to answer because it is so difficult to form words that will bring peace to our children. A person is there, and then the body remains but there is no life. Where does the life go?

Colton Burpo knows beyond any doubt what happens when you die and he remembered to tell his folks who wrote it down and then Thomas Nelson published the story. Buy the CDs, buy the book for adults first and then buy this one to read to your children. It is worthy, and I know it is true, for I know there is Heaven because God says it is so.

If you do not believe there is Heaven, then read it first. If you do not believe after reading this, then I'm sorry I won't see you when we all get to Heaven on that glorious day.


Heaven is for real, and you are going to like it!
Colton Burpo came back from his trip to heaven with a very important message: Jesus really, really loves children. In effort to reach even more families with this eternally significant story, this runaway bestseller is now told from Colton—kid to kids! Children will receive the same comfort and assurance that so many adults have received from the trade book.

Beautifully illustrated, under Colton's direction, this book is uniquely written from a child for a child. Colton tells of his experiences in first person and comments on things that will be important to kids. A letter to parents is included to guide them in talking to their children about heaven. Scripture along with Q&A section with answers from the Bible are also included in the book.

Branding Obamessiah by Dr. Mark E. Taylor

An amazing book.

I first thought this book would be extolling all the unique qualities and so-called perfectness of Obama. Nothing could be further from the truth of this insightful book.

Taylor has concisely boiled down all the elements of the political arena such as American culture and advertising, and he helps the Average Joe to understand all the subtle nuance of this man-created, supposed savior of America. Taylor exposes some of the lies with simple eyewitness accounts such as someone from Obama's high school having  a completely different set of memories than offered by Obama in his writings. (Several classmates remember he actually did not take part in discussions of racial prejudice in high school.)

"Obama's criticism of 'white folks' did not seem justified by his own personal experience. The irony is palpable" (p. 99) points out Taylor. The man and the message do not make a whole truth, but variations and subtle colorings of truth (pun intended).

If you take a hard look at the photo on the cover, you'll see the kind of subliminal messages the campaign presented to unsuspecting voters. The whole message designed by Obama and the Democrats was so ingenious that even conservative radio host Mark Levin noted, "I can't help but observe that even some conservatives are caught in the moment as their attempts at explaining their support for Barack Obama are unpersuasive and even illogical" (p. 166). Taylor, through intensive research exposes all the tricks and idiosyncrasies of a political campaign that is filled to over flowing, shaken and packed down with religious fervor of the wrong kind.

If you weren't watching, Obama's rallies were organized like ole-timey tent revivals complete with the greeting, "Hello, Believers!" and the Q & A type of motivational, preaching. "You hear what I'm saying?" "Oh, yeah, brother, oh yeah!" There were even some who were "slain in the Obama-spirit", fainting as if on cue for the cameras. Taylor doesn't stop an one documented example but gives the reader ten accounts then asks the question were these eyewitness reports of "slain" devotees legitimate? Excellent question.

This isn't necessarily an expose' of Obama or Democrat tactics, but more an expose' of how the religion of politics has evolved. (Another excellent book which exposes this kind of political/media shuffle is Sarah Palin's Going Rogue.)

This book receives five of five stars. I highly recommend it, and beg you to read it before this presidential election proceeds any farther.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Edward Taylor (PhD, Northwestern University Graduate School; ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a native Chicagoan who has long followed Windy City politics, culture, and religion. While teaching college courses on communication and culture, he discovered that Barack Obama’s US presidential campaign was becoming a dramatic story of quasi-religious persuasion and belief. Mark immersed himself in the unfolding political drama. Using his skills in theology and rhetorical criticism, Mark dedicated five years to capturing the story behind Obama’s ascension from backroom Chicago politics to the heavenly realm of a presidential American idol—Obamessiah.

Read more about Mark, including why he wrote the book, in the online author Q&A and in the introduction to the book.

God, Am I A Nobody? by Sheryl Young

MY REVIEW

I had the opportunity to read this wonderful devotional by Sheryl Young. You might have read my review of her last book, What Every Christian Should Know About The Jewish People. If not, click on the link because it is a great book.

Sheryl is offering something a bit different in that you have a daily dose of Christ-like wisdom about things we face as we work for the Lord:

In today’s world, personal accomplishment gets all the accolades. Economic stability seems elusive or unsatisfying. It’s hard for us to put God’s will before worldly success. Sometimes:

-God doesn’t let us do something, so we try to do it ourselves.

-There’s a mountaintop experience when we least expect it.

-And sometimes we “labor in obscurity… while He lets others get the credit.”

This last quoted statement is from nineteenth century missionary Hudson Taylor’s sermonette, A Higher Calling. Taylor, an Englishman, devoted his life to serving the people of China and challenging other Christians to put the Lord first.

While everyone has these moments, not everyone has the wisdom to overcome Satan's tug toward worldly desires and fleshly appetites. I have often written about the ability we Christians have to make idols of church, church work, our families and other Church Lady things. Take for instance Chapter Thirteen...

O God, Behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand (Psalm 84:9-10a).

How often have we used church work as an excuse for not meeting with God? If you are honest, you'll look back and note at least once this has happened. If you haven't done this, then you will so don't be so smug :)

Sheryl points out the story of Martha always in the kitchen while Mary sits at Jesus' feet. Jesus does chide Martha just a bit, and we can see why for Jesus wasn't long on this earth in His physical body. Mary certainly chose the thing I crave the most, sitting at His feet and learning from His own lips. As the priest told Romeo, "There shalt thou be happy."

You can purchase this book...

“God, Am I Nobody” at the publisher in paperback or e-book:

God, Am I Nobody -- publisher

or at Amazon Kindle 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Sheryl Young has been freelance writing for magazines, newspapers and the internet since 1997. Her special interests are Politics, U.S. Government, Society and Education as they intersect with biblical faith. Her articles and stories have been seen in such venues as: Yahoo News, The Christian Post, Chicken Soup for the Soul, the Florida Baptist Witness Newspaper, VISTA National Sunday School Curriculum; Light & Life Magazine and Better Nutrition Magazine. She’s been a Community Columnist for the Tampa Tribune Newspaper, Florida Spokesperson for Concerned Women for America, and the recipient of a First Place “Roaring Lambs” National Writing Award from the Amy Foundation.

In connection with being a Jewish believer in Jesus, Sheryl wrote the previous book, “What Every Christian Should Know about the Jewish People” (2008, Pleasant Word/Wine Press). (here: https://www.winepressbooks.com/product.asp?pid=1852&search=sheryl+young&select=Keywords&ss=1, or at Amazon and most online booksellers).

You can see her blogsite at http://20-20faithsight.blogspot.com, where she posts some of her articles and also spotlights other Christian small-press and self-published authors.

The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley

I admire Andy Stanley as much as I admire his dad. What an amazing understanding he has of godly principles.

The major problem I had with this book is the "getting to where you want to be" factor. Stanley words this in such a way that I'm arguing with him, "But what about trust? What about faith? What about wanting what God wants instead of what I wanted when I was sixteen?"

As he slowly explains what this discovery is all about and that it includes much more than a little trust in God (think David cutting Saul's prayer shawl zit zit), I finally understand the bottom line of this principle is letting go and letting God do His thing in your life and you will ultimately be exactly where God intended you to be all along. Embracing the principle helps you to avoid wrong turns and dead ends.

The trouble with this principle is that is makes perfect sense to mature Christians, but to the newbie Christians, or the immature Christians probably won't get it because trusting God is not as easy as it sounds.

I give it four out of five stars. A worthy read for teens and adults. Great life principles study.

Lies The Government Told You by Judge A.P. Napolitano

I wrote an essay back in 2005 about how much America's chosen path resembles Ancient Roman Empire's destructive path. I am surprised at how closely this book follows that line of thinking. (Glenn Beck is going down that thought process, too.)

I recommend this book if for no other reason that you will see exactly how much we have been deceived by our government (by far not it is not a partisan deception, but full fledged political deception, nonetheless).

I was not surprised at all with the contents. My eyes have been wide open, but I do wonder at how many of the citizens of the United States will be surprised at the economic lies we've been fed.

Something that I've noticed, but had not put to print on my blog is that we citizens are no longer presumed innocent. Nixon signed a bill into law that judges should consider "danger to community" when setting bail. It is an undoubted law that the presumption of innocence gives the defendant the "unhampered ability to prepare for trial", yet the bill now takes away the presumption and inserts "presumed guilty until trial".

We sit in our living rooms and say, "Yeah! That crook isn't on the streets any longer," never realizing that each and every citizen has the right to an excellent defense as well as the presumption of innocence. When did we lose sight of that?

ABOUT THE BOOK
What new crisis will the federal government manufacture in order to acquire more power over individuals? What new lies will it tell?
Throughout our history, the federal government has lied to send our children off to war, lied to take our money, lied to steal our property, lied to gain our trust, and lied to enhance its power over us. Not only does the government lie to us, we lie to ourselves. We won’t admit that each time we let the government get away with misleading us, we are allowing it to increase in size and power and decrease our personal liberty.
In acquiescing to the government’s continuous fraudulent behavior, we bear partial responsibility for the erosion of our individual liberties and the ever-expanding federal regulation of private behavior. This book attacks the culture in government that facilitates lying, and it challenges readers to recognize that culture, to confront it, and to be rid of it.

Escaping the Cauldron by Kristine McGuire

The last half of this book is much better than the first because there are some extremely wonderful personal experiences and insights  which would help anyone who is mistakenly taking the same path Kristine McGuire took. 

I think this could have been a much more powerful read if McGuire had delved more into her thought processes when she made the decision to dabble in the occult, and then she fell head over heels into being a medium. It would have been  so very beneficial to others who may be tempted in doing the same thing… OR who are in the middle of the same thing. ALSO… walking readers through the reasons she felt compelled to turn her  back on God and embrace the “spirit guides” would help people to grasp the lesson driven home here,  and help them to identify their own thought processes. It was a deliberate decision on her part, but I know beyond any shadow of doubt that God never turned His back on her! I know there was a God-sized hole in her soul that she was trying desperately to fill. She was saved but not satisfied. Too many Christians today think that once saved, always satisfied, and that just isn't so. This book proves the point.

I see a tremendous potential for God to reach thousands of people and draw them back to His side away from the dark abyss… not that they will lose their salvation, but they certainly can be taken home early.

I also believe there is a huge potential to give hope to some Christians who have dabbled in Wicca and who have invited demons into their homes to oppress and to destroy, by McGuire's  assurances that while she may have gone down a dark path for a season, God never, ever let go of her. That is shining a light on Satan’s lies that people lose their salvation and can never hope for God to forgive them for turning their backs on Him.

While this is good, it could be gripping and life changing. While trying to balance on the fence between the impersonal and personal, she did not give the punch that it could have had.

There are also several grammatical mistakes and typos. They are not necessarily storyline stopping, but are a little distracting.

Please understand that I believe Christians need to read this book. I think that Christians today are filled with warm fuzzies and have this adroitness to either ignore there is a Devil or to completely disbelieve our battle is not with flesh and blood but against the dark principalities. I'm not sure when this will hit the book shelves, but be watching for it. It is already available for purchase at: Kristine McGuire's website It would be an excellent study group book.

Holy Spirit Made Me Do It by Laurie Webb

In my group on LinkedIn called Christian Authors, Editors, Publishers, and Bloggers, I met a lovely lady named Laurie Webb. She has always been upbeat and has stimulated some pretty good discussions. The purpose of our group is to help motivate excellent Christian writing and to encourage each other in our writing.

Laurie gave me this book to review and it is a hum-dinger. Who ever thought we as Christians would need to be taught Spiriual Etiquette? In these latter days' daze we need it more than ever.

Recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit, understanding who He really is, and then utilizing the gifts manifested by the Holy Spirit  are essential to the Christian lifestyle. Without those critical factors, we do not have what it takes to survive this sojourn.

I have been preaching for years that unity of the body is essential for our Spiritual health. Regardless of our views on doctrine issues, we must be unified in minds with one Spirit, not uniformity of souls and thoughts. Laurie tells us in her book that this is a picture of harmony within the body. Yes! That is so true. She also notes that the Holy Spirit told her that a picture of harmony is a well-oiled machine, a smooth transference, working together as one such as a fluid relay team. It takes the whole team to get the job done. What excellent word pictures.

This is not a book you can skim through in an afternoon. There are lots of hard kernels and lots of profound thoughts. There are some excellent points to discuss, too. This book is small but it packs a punch that the Body of Christ should take on the chin as a timely wake up call to perfection. We should all want as much of the Holy Spirit as we can hold, and to never quench His holy work within and around us.

This would be an excellent study book for discipleship training, or for a Sunday School class. Frankly, I do not agree with everything I read, but that does not mean that we should throw out the baby with the bath water. We should glean all the good stuff and study the things that we don’t agree with to see how those things can be understood with godly understanding, and reconciled with what we understand of scripture.

There are great truths in this little bombshell. It is well worth the money and I do recommend it.

**** four stars for worth of study.

About the author - Laurie L Webb is Director/Instructor at Spirit Life School of Ministry  Spirit Life School in Macon, Georgia. She began attending church at the age of six and accepted Jesus as her personal Savior as a pre-teen but did not become serious about her relationship with God until her early twenties. Since then, she has attended Family Bible Institute and become an Ordained Minister. Along with her husband, Buddy, she was a youth minister for several years and taught Bible studies in her local church and community. Presently she teaches and is Director of SLSM in Macon. She and Buddy have been married for 24 years and have two beautiful daughters, Lindsay and Katie.