The Jesus I Never Knew

by Philip Yancey

The Jesus we were told about as a kid in Sunday School is quite different than the one in the gospels.  That is how Philip Yancey begins this wonderful and though provoking book.  He goes through the whole life of Jesus and dissects it one piece at a time for a better understanding of who Jesus is and why Jesus's life played out the way it did.  From the time of his birth to his ascension Philip Yancey gives insights on all of it.
After reading this book you realize that Mr. Yancey has read a multitude of books in his lifetime.  In The Jesus I Never Knew he uses the gospels as his main resource while using his knowledge he gained from these other books to support and understand better the who, the what, and the why.

As Humans we have questions.  In know I had questions about the life of Jesus.  I have people ask me questions at work about God, Jesus, and the Bible.  A lot of them I honestly can't answer.  Philip Yancey questions a plethora of things too.  That is why, in my opinion, he is such a good writer.  After reading this book quite a few of my questions were answered or at least better understood.

Questions like:

• Why was Jesus born at that time?
• Why did Satan tempt Jesus the way he did?
• Why doesn't God come down and show his power to make people believe in him?
• Why did Jesus pick such sub par disciples?
• Why did Jesus leave so soon after his resurrection?
• What do the beatitudes and sermon on the mount mean?

All these questions and more may be answered or at least more understood after reading The Jesus I Never Knew.  So if you want to know more about Jesus and why he lived the life he did and have a better understanding of his teachings, read this book.  I loved it so much I'm putting it at my #2 spot on my favorite non-story books.

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

Most of you have heard of this book series since it started becoming a series of movies.  It has become so because these books are really really good.

At the heart of The Hunger Games is some wonderful characters.  Katniss is an introverted strong-willed young lady who is a marksman bow hunter.  Peeta is an extroverted son of a baker who always knows what to say to win a crowd.  Haymitch is a drunken carefree man  who has to coach these two to win the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games is an annual event where two adolescents from each district in society are chosen in a drawing so they can be thrown into an arena to fight to the last person alive.  An exhibition the president holds to demoralize the population so they won't try to rebel against the government.  That is the beginning plot in a nutshell.  These books are rated teen, but a word of caution is in the third book it does get quite gory in a couple places.  I'm not sure what they will do in the movies to make these sections PG-13.  The rest of the books are no more gory than Lord of the Rings.

All in all The Hunger Games is a great series of books with a good message of don't let the government have too much power.  It is a great science fiction read.

Unbroken

 by Laura Hillenbrand

Unbroken is a historical non-fiction book of the life of Louie Zamperini.  It's quite a story to read.  From becoming an Olympian to being a bombardier in World War II Pacific side to life after war.

It took Laura Hillenbrand seven year to accumulate and compile the information to write this book.  In my opinion that says a lot on how good this book is and how much you can learn from the story and the surrounding history that goes on during the story.  I learned quite a bit about the pacific war with Japan and what soldiers had to go through in that war.  Enough to know I don't want to go through it myself.

Plot - A lot happens in this book.  It does have some repetitive areas, but I believe this is needed to make you feel what it was like for Louie. - A
Characters - They are described very well and they are real people - A
Writing Style - Very good writing through most of it, some words I didn't know(thank you dictionary) - A
Emotions - lots of emotions throughout the book - A
Overall - It doesn't get much better than this book.  It's taking over my #2 spot on favorite non-fiction books - A

Gideon's Gift

by Karen Kingsbury

     Do you believe in Christmas miracles?  Well Gideon sure does she has one this year she really wants.  She wants Earl, a man down at the homeless shelter to smile.  Earl is a grumpy homeless man who just wants to be left alone.
    Gideon's Gift is a short book about a girl with a big heart.  Gideon has leukemia, but that doesn't stop her from spreading some love around.  Even though it is nowhere near Christmas time right now it was still fun reading this book.  It will make you smile from ear to ear.

Plot - Not too much happens in this book, but it is a short book - B
Characters - Very well done characters - A
Writing Style - Easy to read - A
Emotions - Not too many emotions, but the ones you do feel are high - A
Overall - Short sweet book, makes me want to try another Karen Kingsbury book - A

House

by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

     If you don't know I'm a big Frank Peretti fan and I'm not a big Ted Dekker fan, but they co-authored a book together.  Since it is still partially written by Frank Peretti I still wanted to read it.  I'm still torn on whether I like it or not.  It leans more toward horror genre than what I'm used to reading Frank Peretti, but it made me think of myself in a different way.  It made me realize how ugly my sin is to God.  After I finished the book it took me three days to process the story and process how it applied to my life.  I'm a sponge when it comes to outside influence.  I soak up emotions in stories, movies, and from other people.  I was quite depressed those three days.  I'm still glad I read the book even though I didn't like how it made me feel afterwards.  I feel it helped me in life.
     This story starts out with a bickering married couple going to counseling.  Through some interaction with a police officer they are given directions to the town they need to get to which takes them down a scary dirt road.  They have some car trouble and seek help from a nearby inn that is run by some no so courteous hillbillies.  After they have some dinner the tin man shows up and closes all exits from the inn and makes them play his game.
     There are eight main characters in this story.  The first couple you meet is Jack and Stephanie.  Jack is a introvert who keeps things to himself and writes novels for a living.  Stephanie is an aspiring country singer who isn't afraid to give her opinion.  The second couple you meet is Randy and Leslie.  Randy is self-centered egomaniac who gets a little gun happy at times.  He also runs a chain of hotels and restaurants.  Leslie is an analytical psychologist who suppresses her emotions.  Then there is Stewart, Betty, and their son Pete who are the hillbillies who run the inn.    Lastly there is the tin man who just wants everyone dead at the end of the game.

Plot - Good plot overall, in some places it had more terror than other Frank Peretti books,  probably due to Ted Dekker co-authoring - A
Characters - Good characters, but I felt character development wasn't great,  I didn't get attached to the characters as much as some other books I've read. - B
Writing Style - Good writing style, easy enough to read for just about anyone - A
Emotions - Terror is not really an emotion I want to feel.  I can see why they wrote the book they way they did, but I didn't feel "good" after reading it.  I didn't feel much of any other emotion other than relief at times. - C
Overall - The book was good but not great.  I don't think they could have made it much better other than maybe a epilogue at the end of how the characters are doing down the road.  Like I said before, It took me three days to sort this book out in my head.  - B

Finding God in Unexpected Places

by Philip Yancey

     So where do you expect to find God in this sinful world of ours?  First answers that I would think of is at church, bible study, wilderness, or on facebook with my christian friends and family.  At least I would think that until I read this book.  Now I know the places that God shows up are the places you would least likely think of.  Places like Russia, China,  and prison.
     In this book Philip Yancey takes you through 49 short chapters on where you can find God in this big world of ours.  Some chapters are about countries who have or used to have oppressive governments.  Some chapters are on places we are familiar with like workout gyms.  Some are on letters Philip receives from people around the world who have read his books and been changed by them.  And some of the chapters are on moments in history where people have taken a stand in peaceful demonstrations against their governments and have won their freedom.
    The chapter on prison fellowship really moved me.   At the end of this chapter Philip writes about a maximum security prison in Zambia that has the worst living conditions you can think of.  The prisoners though have a heart for God even though some of them will be executed soon.
    Philip has a very good writing style.  It is easy to understand, but he does use quite a few words I don't know so I would read this one with a dictionary close by.  He also refers to other books quite a lot.  Most of these are classics that I haven't read.  If I have read them it might give more meaning to some parts of the book.  He does quote from the books the parts he is talking about though.  Definitely not the last book I will read of his.

Plot - Good plots overall,  most he didn't make up but was written well - A
Characters - You get to know some people in this book and makes you want to meet them - A
Writing Style - It is written well, but keep a dictionary nearby - B
Emotions - Lots of emotions are brought out in this book - A
Overall - Great book worth reading and referring to.  I borrowed it from the library, but I am planning on buying it - A

A Husband After God's Own Heart

A Husband After God's Own Heart
12 Things That Really Matter in Your Marriage
by Jim George
   







     Jim George takes us through 12 Chapters that will guide you into being a better husband.  These 12 chapters are:
1. Growing in the Lord - Why it's important to spend time with God every day.
2. Working as a Team - Why and how to work as a team with your wife.
3. Learning to Communicate - How to talk to your wife verbally and non-verbally.
4. Enjoying Intimacy - You already know what this chapter is about.
5. Managing Your Money - Why and how to be involved financially.
6. Keeping Up Your Home - Why it's important to keep up your home and property.
7. Raising Your Children - Why it's important to be involved with your children's lives.
8. Extending Love to Family - Why it's important to get to know and be involved with your own and your       wife's family.
9. Tending Your Career - How to have a good work ethic and why it is good to work but not work too much.
10. Making Time For Fun - Everybody needs a little down time.
11. Serving the Lord - Why we should help others out.
12. Reaching Out to Others - Share your faith.

     Every Chapter in this book challenged  me in some way.  I wasn't spending time with God each day, was focused just on my hobbies, and was just depressed a lot of the time.  Now I do my devotions just about every day and I don't wasted so much time on my hobbies.  I feel depressed only every so often compared to half of the time before.  Every one of these 12 things is a christian aspect of our lives.  They are things we do when we put our selfish thoughts aside and live for God.
     Jim George writes in a very practical writing style.  He doesn't use words that most people would need a dictionary for.  This is the first book I've read by Jim George and it won't be the last.

Plot - No plot other than your own life you apply to what you read - NA
Character Development - Your the character - NA
Writing Style - Practical, perfect for this type of book - A
Emotions - Change of lifestyle and more love for your wife - A
Overall - Excellent book for any man who is or plans to get married - A