Review: The Leading Brain: Powerful Science-Based Strategies for Achieving Peak Performance

The Leading Brain: Powerful Science-Based Strategies for Achieving Peak Performance by Friederike Fabritius
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely phenomenal book! I got the recommendation to read it and was able to borrow it from my brother-in-law, and I'm sure glad I listened! First of all, yes, this book has research, reports, and all of that fun stuff in it, however it's presented in a SUPER readable and enjoyable format. I enjoyed this book SO much that I'm definitely going to get myself my own copy and even recommend our staff read it at some point.

It was refreshing to read about the science and research being explored on our brains and what all they do. In fact, there was so many helpful pieces of information in this book that I found myself writing notes on what I was reading so I wouldn't forget and I'd be able to share with others whenever opportunities arise.

I would certainly recommend this book for anyone looking to read a 'leadership' book, but also to anyone just looking to read something that will help you live a healthier life. This book will help you understand why your brain (and body) react they way they do to certain things around, as well as provide practical suggestions on how to the improve and overcome the situations and factors you can control around you.

Do yourself a favor and grab a copy to read! It's certainly informative, entertaining, and it reads fast!

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Review: Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this book to read by a student of mine, who had to read it as a textbook for a class. It's not a long read and overall is pretty engaging! I appreciate what Wesley brings to the table with this little, but important, book. One of the biggest weaknesses recently in the church as a whole in balancing grace with truth when it comes to people with same-sex attraction, is that we don't do a good job of providing people who are same-sex attracted with the kind of community, compassion, and relationship that EVERY person needs, regardless of their sexual attraction. In other words, we have two sides at hand: 1) the side that everyone who even is mildly sexually attracted to others of same sex deserve judgment and are condemned already; and 2) the side that everyone is welcome to live and do whatever they want because Jesus has freed them from any kind of standard by which they should live. I consider myself a member of the sojourners in the middle of this spectrum. Yet it's in this middle camp, that people who are same-sex attracted feel excluded, ignored, and down right lonely. Wesley writes from the perspective of the same-sex attracted who understand and live their lives in active submission, as a living sacrifice, slaying the desires that surround them on an altar in exchange for something much better, the lordship of Jesus. Though they are sexually attracted to those of the same sex, they do not act on these desires. Wesley describes the loneliness he has felt (and quotes a number of other people in the same boat) due to the fact that though people like him agree with the historical Biblical position regarding homosexuality, the church doesn't know what to do with them and how to include them in as a genuine part of the family. I had hoped to gain a better sense of empathy by reading this book, and because of Wesley's great writing style and humble heart, I believe I have the workings of just that! I truly hope I'll be able to continue on this journey, growing in a way that will help me to see people beyond what 'sin' they wrestle with, to the inner drive/pain that they are so deeply enduring all alone. By God's grace I hope to become more and more like the hands and feet of Jesus that He desires all of us to be! Thank you Wesley for helping and contributing to the greater furtherment of His kingdom!

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Review: Rise of the Servant Kings: What the Bible Says about Being a Man

Rise of the Servant Kings: What the Bible Says about Being a Man by Ken Harrison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ken Harrison did a very nice job at writing this book! I found myself eagerly looking forward to the next time I would have some space to sit and read! That being said, I don't think this is the PERFECT book on "biblical manhood"... yet it's still one that I still recommend. There were certainly quite a few places where I question the exegetical process used and the conclusions that were derived, but even with this as the case, I still believe this is one of the better (if not best) books for men to read in regards to becoming who God is calling us to be and living that out daily. I thought the manner in how Harrison set up and executed the flow of his thoughts and arguments were excellently constructed and executed. It was also a major bonus to read personal stories from all throughout his life.

In further terms of content, I think you'd be pretty safe even just skipping the 2nd half of chapter 16 'The Judge'. The chapter starts off well, but the interpretations and applications Revelation 2-3 within the second half of the chapter I believe will actually cause more harm than good. Let me explain. I understand the importance of trying to help men step up and take more assertiveness in their lives and their faith (it's a lesson American Christians in general could probably learn more of in general). However to make some of these claims (which I'm guessing are from the works of J. Vernon McGee since he quotes him a few times in the book) in what Revelation is 'clearly' saying and the applications that follow, is to hand 'a freshly sharpened blade' to a person who has no idea how to use it. Someone's going to hurt themselves. For example, to identify a woman, who may be filling and flourishing in a leadership position of some sort (and in a CHRIST exalting way), as a 'Jezebel' simply because of her gender and NOT because of or in relation to the theology/allegiance to Christ or someone else that she teaches, is a bit immature and misguided.  In Revelation, the woman is called Jezebel because of her false teachings and leading people AWAY from Jesus. Yet it came across in this book that it was a mixture of this AND the fact she was a woman, and there's no solid Scriptural basis here for that conclusion by any means! I can easily see (and in fact have already seen this in my life) where people dismiss what God is doing around them, simply because it's through a 'vessel' of whom they personally don't approve. (By the way, this isn't a new phenomenon by any stretch. It's all over the place. For example, there was Cyrus in Isaiah. God was using Cyrus to accomplish what He wished, much to the shock, surprise, and even horror of Israel. This idea also surfaces in another form in Romans 9 when Paul explains that not all of the 'physical' nation of Israel is part of the true Israel. They had the misunderstanding that they were 'guaranteed' a spot simply because they were part of the nation of Israel (you can see this addressed time and again in the New Testament... see for example Matthew 3.1-12). In other words, they cringed at the fact that God wasn't doing what they thought He should be doing, the way they think He should be doing it. I digress.) It's awfully dangerous to say things in ways like this, and 'arm' men to go out and potentially work AGAINST the Holy Spirit, simply because 'one of them' isn't the one doing it.

I'm not trying to discredit the book. Like I said, overall, I really enjoyed the book and thought it was written very well. Just skip the unnecessary 'conjecture' in chapter 16 and you'll still glean an incredible amount of encouragement and challenge! I, for one, feel like I've grown from reading this book!

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Review: Between Two Trees: Our Transformation from Death to Life

Between Two Trees: Our Transformation from Death to Life by Shane J Wood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a pheromonal read! Shane has an uncanny ability to guide a reader into theological depths that usually have the tendency of swallowing unsuspecting ventures in the vastness that is theology. I've had the opportunity to hear Shane teach a couple of times in person, and I'm an avid listener to a lot of his work that he has available via his website, and one of the biggest qualities that stands out in his teaching (that you'll notice immediately in this book) is a humble heart passionately pursuing Jesus, along with the selfless pursuit of bringing others along on the journey.

In this book, Wood takes us back to place with which we are all oh so familiar with, the garden of Eden, and has us sit a while to take notice of the reality that maybe what happened there was MUCH worse than we ever thought. Not letting us sit for TOO long in this despairing revelation, Wood quickly follows with the encouragement that if this is true, then what God has done is SO MUCH GREATER than we ever thought as well! From this foundational element, Wood guides us along on a journey to rediscover the true depths of the gospel, and what it demands when we engage with it. Beyond simply a 'one and done' interaction, the gospel follows us, infuses us, and calls us to live out the scandalous reality we so willingly and gratefully embrace in terms of being saved by Jesus, within our own lives.

I am personally indebted to the scholarship and discipling work that Wood has produced over the years. He is known (and RIGHTFULLY so) for his amazing work that he's done with the book of Revelation. He shares that when he sat down to begin writing this book, he set out to write a book on how to read the book of Revelation. However as he prayerfully wrote and wrestled with the Scriptures, it morphed into a book on how the book of Revelation (and the rest of Scripture as a whole) reads us! This book is a MUST read about the glorious and powerful reality of transformation, from dead to alive, death to life, and lost sinner to embraced child of God! I highly recommend this book!

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Review: A Week in the Life of Rome

A Week in the Life of Rome by James L. Papandrea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was fantastic! I was introduced to this 'series' about 7 years ago or so when I saw Ben Witherington's "A Week in the Life of Corinth" and got it as a gift (not surprisingly... I haven't read it yet, haha). I saw that this one was releasing this year, and since I like to study and research everything to do with the book of Romans, this quickly became a book on my to read this. I found out that I could get a digital copy to read for an honest review and gladly jumped on the opportunity.

What Papandrea does with this book, is take real historical practices, conditions, and other elements and creates a fictional story of what a week in Rome might have looked like (his specific time period for this book was around 50 A.D.). The whole book takes place over the length of a week, with each chapter telling the events of a day. The story is certainly attention grabbing and will help you learn/remember historical insights from the Roman Empire, circa 50 A.D. As you encounter references to specific historical facts/elements, there are 'breaks' in the story where you can read a quick blurb about the actual history from Rome. All in all, this is a fantastic book and it has certainly motivated me to pick up my copy of "A Week in the Life of Corinth" sooner than later to read it as well! I highly recommend this book as a great way to learn some history that will help you understand a little more background for our New Testament texts, AND as an entertaining story that will leave you wishing it were longer! You won't be disappointed!

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.


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Review: Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us

Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us by Matthew Sleeth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a book! I'll admit that when I first saw this book, I just passed on by it because it wasn't something that REALLY interested me as much as other things. Yet as the days passed, I saw people talking about it and about how enriching it was. So I changed my mind and decided to request a copy so I could read it and interact with it. I'm certainly glad I did!

Matthew Sleeth has an interesting background, ranging from being an E.R. doctor to apprenticing as a carpenter, yet through it all he's had a grand fascination with one of God's most amazing creations, trees. I'm am truly indebted to the man for reawakening my eyes to the beauty, purpose, and love our creator shows through His trees. Since reading this book, I've made a more purposeful effort to stop and appreciate the trees around me. I also LOVE how he guides us on a nature walk through Scripture, pointing out trees in places we normally just cruise on by! It was fascinating to have things pointed out that I've missed, especially in areas in which I believed I was relatively familiar! On a responsive level, I've even began to look into finding some to plant around my yard at home because of the refreshing and enlightening message Matthew Sleeth writes about in regards to God and His trees around us. No, I'm not an extremist that's going to tell everyone to sell everything and live in a tree, but I am going to encourage you to take a week or two, grab this book, and sit down to read it with creation in view. It's truly an enriching and spiritually deepening experience. I hope you'll take the opportunity and do it! =)

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace

The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace by Erwin Raphael McManus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book took me a lot longer to read than I had hoped, mainly because McManus wrote in such an 'artistic' way that I couldn't read as fast through the book as I do with others. That being said, I appreciate this work in it's own unique way. It wasn't one of my favorite books, yet it is certainly one which I will reference and ponder in the years to come. Blending personal stories, stories of people he knows, and just a hint of what I might call 'philosophical daydreaming', McManus writes a compelling work calling us all to stand our ground and fight the inner fight many of us flee from most of our lives, the battle within ourselves. There are quite a few things I've already pulled out and used in teachings/trainings that I do, and I look forward to continuing to use them. However I'm not entirely sure I'm going to add this to my re-read stack of books (or at least not in the immediate future). If you're someone who likes a book that's 'artistically' written (abstract thoughts rather than more linear reasoning), then you'll probably enjoy this book even more that I did. If you struggle with reading writing like that, just be warned that this will take a little longer to read. Overall it's certainly worth reading for people, though there are many that I would recommend first (including one of McManus' earlier/shorter works, 'The Barbarian Way').

Thank you to WaterBrook & Multnomah Launch Team, I received a copy of this book for free, in exchange for and honest review.

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