Christian Book Reviews, Books For The Rest Of Us...

With our Christian book reviews, we hope to let you know about the few well known releases each year. We also hope to let you know about many of the other quality Christian books that you normally wouldn't hear about.

If you have not read THE SHACK by Wm. Paul Young, you need to. Although it is fiction, you cannot read it and not come away wondering if it is real or not. It is a sad and happy story of love and forgiveness that will change your perception of what it means to know God. If you have broken relationships in your life, this could help you to find the way to repair them.

50 DAYS OF HEAVEN by Randy Alcorn is a truly great daily devotional. The only problem is that you will want to read more and more every day. Randy takes us on a tour of the Bible where we examine the truth about what it will be like in the New Heaven and New Earth. This can be an eye opening look at scripture and an inspiration to dig deeper into the very Word of God.

DRY AS RAIN from Gina Holmes is a fictional story about adultery and its effects. It is a good account of how it is possible to forgive and it uses regular people that many of us can relate to. It would even be a great book for christian couples to read together.

3:16 THE NUMBERS OF HOPE by Max Lucado is an older book but it still can be an inspiring look at the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. The book breaks down each part of the verse and can truly deepen your understanding of that hope. The book also contains a 40 day devotional looking at the life and teachings of Jesus which can help you to grow in your daily walk with the Lord.

STORM WARNING by Billy Graham has been updated from its original (1992) first release. One of the greatest evangelists of all time walks us through the four horsemen of the apocalypse and their relation to the times we find ourselves in. It can be very scary for those that do not accept Christ but, for those of us who do, it also offers hope.

A MESSAGE FROM GOD by Retha and Aldo McPherson takes us through the struggles of a family after a terrible accident. When Aldo returns from a visit in Heaven, he comes back with a simple message and this book will inspire you to grow in your walk with Christ.

IMPRESS FAITH ON YOUR KIDS by Mark Holmen is a book with practical advice on raising your kids. The book is based applying Deuteronomy chapter six to our lives. Mark asks us to examine our own walk with Christ to find answers in teaching our children to come to faith in Him and to walk the talk. This book is highly recommended for all parents.

I STILL BELIEVE is the true story of Christian recording artist Jeremy Camp and the challenges and triumphs in his life. It is a wonderful example of still believing that God is in control even when we don't understand. If you know of someone who is dealing with cancer or another terminal disease, the book can be very inspiring for them as well as for you.

ERASING HELL by Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle looks at what God said about hell and what we have come to believe. The book is jam packed with scripture references and shows us how we have attempted to minimize the teaching about this important subject. The book can help you to settle some nagging questions about hell and leave you even more grateful of what God has done to save you from going there.

THE LEGACY PATH by Brian Haynes is a wonderful guide to spiritual parenting. The book takes us through the various stages of the lives of our children and gives us practical biblical advice on how to raise them. This book is highly recommended for anyone who has children and would like to see them grow into godly men and women of faith.

NOW I WALK ON DEATH ROW by Dale S. Recinella is an inspiring true story of a family learning to walk in the way of Jesus Christ. It is a gripping account of a Roman Catholic family learning to take Jesus Christ at his word. It is the story of how a Wall Street finance lawyer's life was changed and helearned to love and serve others. This book is highly recommended as a family project of reading and discussion.

GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD by J. Cameron Fraser & Sonya M. Taekema is an inspiring book that can serve to remind us of the truth in the title. The book is a mother's diary of the struggles her family faces with a very sick daughter and a very long hospital stay.

THE RED SCORPION by Rami Kivisalo and Marko Joensuu is the true story of how God stepped in and redeemed a Russian mob boss. The book takes you through the downward spiral of a man dealing with demons and the occult powers. Just as all seems hopeless, we get to see how God showed His grace and mercy. We then follow Rami's struggles as a newborn Christian. It is an inspiring read that reminds us that Jesus died for all of us even a crime boss.

Have you ever asked yourself what Jesus would say about the "war on terror"? THREE CUPS OF TEA by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is the true life story of a missionary's son and his efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a thrilling account of the dangers as well as the blessings of serving others just as Jesus did.

TIMBER, A Call To Personal And Corporate Renewal by Reg Andrews takes a look at what is necessary to rebuild the temple that is our personal relationship with God. Reg takes us through the mountains of the Bible and we look at the significance of each and learn how to apply the principles to our daily walk. This is a good read/study for those who truly want a revival in their life.

SINS OF THEIR FATHERS by Jennifer Fitch is a work of fiction but it also tells the wonderful story of forgiveness. It is a real page-turner if you like crime/action/adventure stories. It tells the story of how God can redeem people from whatever is in their past and use them to tell others about Jesus. It is also a reminder that sins have their consequences but through it all God is for us therefore who can stand against us.

TOUCHED BY HIS STAFF by Linda Hostelley is a refershing, inspiring book that demonstrates God in action. The book is basically a testimony of how God redeemed a young woman and began to use her for his glory. It is a collection of short stories (testimonies) of how God worked in the life of her and her family. The stories are short and to the point which makes it a good tool even for those that do not like to read. You will be blessed and inspired while reading this book!

THE WINDOW,A REFLECTION OF HOPE by Olga J. Walker is an inspiring story of God at work in the life of a woman struggling with health issues. The story reminds us that our faith can grow through adverse circumstances. We are reminded that when we are weak, then we are strong.

THE DOOR IS OPEN by Debra Fieguth is a celebration of the tradition of hospitality in Christianity. The book tells of how the early church showed hospitality and how it grew as well as shares modern stories from Canada. The stories of how people are showing the love of Jesus to those around them is very touching and can inspire us all to do the same.

THE JOURNAL OF A TEENAGE PREGNANCY by Erin Elias takes us inside the mind of a young girl that gets pregnant outside of marriage. The book is her diary entries over the span of her pregnancy and gives us a candid look at what goes on inside her mind and the struggles she faces. This book is a good read for all teenage girls.

BEHIND THE VEIL OF RADICAL ISLAM:THE COMING WAR by Bruce W. Assaf can be a tool to help us to understand the world events of our day. Bruce takes a look at Islam and it's hatred of Israel as described in end time prophecy. From the events of 9/11 to the partnership of Russia and Islamic countries, the book can be quite an eye opening experience. If you have watched world news and wondered how many of the events on tv affect you, this book can help you and also give you a renewed sense of urgency in sharing God's word.

THE PREGNANCY COMPANION by Jessica Wolstenholm and Dr. Heather Rupe is a wonderful blend of medical knowledge and faith. The book can be a great tool for Christian women as well as a tool to bring non-Christian pregnant women to faith in Jesus Christ. The book is loaded with scripture as well as explanations of what is going on through each step of the pregnancy. We strongly recommend giving this book to anyone you know who wants to be a mother.

HOW THE CHURCH LOST THE WAY by Steve Maltz is a wonderful book that helps to explain the history of the Christian church. He takes you back to the days where Jesus walked the earth and shortly after his ascending to heaven. Here we find what happened to the church and why it is not the church described in the Book of Acts. A word of warning though as when you read this book you will never see things the same again. Steve connects the dots between the Jews and the Gentiles and gives us some creative ideas on how to get the "church" back on track. This would be an excellent study aid for small group studies and lively discussions.

Although THE KITE RUNNER, by Khaled Hosseini, is not a "christian book", it is a good read for mature Christians that would like a peak inside the world of radical Islam. At times, some of the content is shocking but it does give you a glimpse of life in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule. It is a work of fiction but it can help you to understand the culture and to see the need for Christ to be declared among the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

COUNTERFEIT GODS, by Timothy Keller, is a sobering look at the false gods that can take over our lives. Like a surgeon, Timothy gets to the heart of the problem and tells us of the cure. At first glance, many of us will probably say that we do not have any "counterfeit gods" in our lives but this book can be a tool to help us to truly examine our hearts. In the end, he gives us practical advice to root out these gods and how to replace them with God.

A PLACE OF HEALING, by Joni Eareckson Tada, takes a look at physical healing and why some are healed of terrible diseases and others are not. For those of us living with chronic pain or other physical infirmities, the book can be inspiring and comforting. For those who are healthy, it can help them to understand those that deal with health problems every day.

RESPECTABLE SINS by Jerry Bridges is a book that will probably cause you to examine your walk with the Lord. It is an honest look at the sins they we, as Christians, ignore or minimize in our own lives. The book is very sound biblically and is a good read for those who are more mature in their faith. It can serve to humble us and to help us to acknowledge areas in our lives that we need to concentrate on to draw nearer to God.

HALFWAY HERBERT written by Francis Chan is a children's book with a great message. The illustrations by Matt Daniels are a hit with the children as he helps to bring the story alive. The message is about telling lies and how to overcome the habit and also helps to give the kids a basic knowledge of the Holy Spirit.

THE COMING ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON, from Faith Words, by Dr. David Jeremiah is a sobering look at the state of the world today and future events. I found it to be a very biblically solid look at end times prophecy. It is a book that is best to be read slowly and carefully to understand all the information it contains. It is highly recommended for adults that are more mature in their faith.

FEARLESS by Max Lucado is a great look at fear from a Biblical standpoint. The book breaks down all the things we fear in this life and looks at them according to the word of God. It is a very solid Biblical teaching on fear and can help you to realize the freeom we have through Jesus Christ.

UNLOCKED is the latest inspirational fiction book by Karen Kingsbury. It is a moving story of prayer and how God can use the least expected people. The book will have you crying, laughing, and cheering and you won't want to put it down. Once you read it you will have more compassion for those that deal with autism. It is especially recommended for teenagers as it deals with the topic of bullying which is so common these days.

A MAN'S HEART written by Lori Copeland and published by Zondervan is a gripping story of forgiveness. We are along for the ride as a woman learns to trust in God instead of herself. It is a reminder that faith in God begins when it is all that you have left. It is also the story of hope in the midst of struggles and a realistic look at the doubts that can enter the mind late on a sleepless night. It is a wonderful read!

MARY'S FIRST THANKSGIVING from Zonderkidz publishing by Kathy-Jo Wargin is a wonderful book for kids that may help them to understand more about Thanksgiving. The book has beautiful full-page illustrations by Robert Papp that the kids will love to see. The book can help kids (and adults too) to see that no matter how much or little you have there is still room to be thankful. A father tells his young daughter a story of the first Thanksgiving and the year that followed.

CHOOSING TO SEE by Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn is truly a book that will help you to stretch and grow in your faith. This story of how a family handles a tragedy is really an inspiration as Mary Beth just puts all of the questions, doubts, emotions, etc. out there and watches God work. There are lessons in this book for all of us and the quote "we can do hard" just sticks in the mind. Although, at first, it may seem like this is another book for women, the truth is that the message is for us all. We recommend it for anyone from the teenager to the elderly.

DO YOU WANNA BE MADE WHOLE? is a fictional look at some of the problems men face in life. The book was written by Bernard Boulton, a pastor from Virginia. It tells the story of real struggles that men have and how God can change those situations. The book gives us a good example of accountability in action and you will probably shed a few tears before you reach the end.

EXTREME DEVOTION is a book about some of our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world who pay a price for following Jesus. If you are from a country where you are free to worship God, this book will inspire you to share your faith. This will open your eyes to see how blessed we are but be careful because, after you read this book, you will never be the same.

A WHITE STONE by Jim and Merry Corbett was updated and reprinted in 2005. It is an amazing book that is made up of fictional characters but is very close to actual events that are happening in our time. The book tells the story of people becoming on fire for the Lord. We are taken through the transformation of those who do not know Jesus as well as the effect on those that are comfortable with where they are in their walk with the Lord. The book also looks into the coming days when it will be harder and harder to openly be a follower of Christ. We are also shown how the Church is not a beautiful building but a beautiful group of people that are sold out to the Lord Jesus Christ.

23 MINUTES IN HELL by Bill Wiese was released in 2006 and was a NEW YORK TIMES best seller. Bill shares how he was taken to hell and how it changed his life. Although the story is hard to believe, we have to accept the fact that we do not fully understand God. The book is loaded with scripture and even if you are skeptical about Bill's account, it should show us how important it is to carry out the Great Commission.

90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey is a wonderful book about the power of prayer. This is a true life story of a man that was killed in a car wreck and got a small taste of what heaven is like. After his short time in heaven, he was returned to earth and the book tells us of his physical struggles to get back to a somewhat "normal" life. He also lets us in on the mental struggles and his wrestling with trying to understand God's purpose. I was skeptical when I saw the book and it's title. I tried to find something that was not biblical in the story but (I'm glad to say) I could not. The story also is a good lesson about how God is in control of everything. We see that, even when we don't understand, God has His purpose for each of us and when we stay within His will great things happen. This is truly an inspirational story and is a good read.

TORTURED FOR CHRIST by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand is the true story of life as a Christian behind the Iron Curtain. The book is still as relevant as when it was written thirty years ago. The stories of men and women standing for their faith are truly inspirational. Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian, endured fourteen years of imprisonment for his faith under the Communists. He was a leader in the underground church and finally started the Voice Of The Martyrs. They are dedicated to spreading the word about and encouraging people who are suffering for their faith.