Mere Christianity Paperback

Who can turn down a thought provoking book by one of the most loved authors of our time?  I have never a read a book with such strong arguments and points. It took me back to my philosophy class in college building on thoughts and getting to the point of what you know.

It is not surprising that this piece of nonfiction is C.S. Lewis’s most popular work. The book explains and defends Christianity which in turn helps reestablish and redefine beliefs.

Lewis eloquently clears up all the confusion that comes from our confusion. As people of a modern age we seem to want to turn down traditional religion simply because it is traditional.  He is logical and illustrates examples to explain his ideas. He is able to be so rational yet make you forget that you are reading and instead feel like you are enjoying the company of a friend.

There is nothing new about Christianity as Lewis explains. The thing about our religion is that it has been here for a very long time. People tend to think that what Lewis says is old and out-dated but he means to make us realize that that is exactly the point.

C.S. Lewis is pure genius. Lewis states reasons as to why there is a God. It should be taken into account that as a youth Lewis was an atheist. This is amazingly fresh for the modern reader and what is so great about this work is that it can be read by both believers and non-believers.

This is for anyone who wants the logical and simple reasons for becoming a Christian. A new light will be shed on the simplest of concepts. Lewis brings all denominations into one and institutes the root and foundation of our religion.

Mere Christianity paperback written by C.S. Lewis is definitely a permanent addition to my library.

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Don Piper 90 Minutes in Heaven

Don Piper’s 90 Minutes in Heaven is by far one of the most inspirational books I have ever read.

I must admit, I was immediately drawn in by the title. Being a Christian, I have often wondered what Heaven is truly like.

When I saw this book, I thought to myself “Wow, a book that describes a man’s journey to Heaven and his return to tell about it!”

However, as I read it, I was disappointed at first because only a small part of the book is about Heaven itself. The rest is about his struggles with depression and his recovery from his accident.

Yet after reading it, I realized that at its very heart, 90 Minutes in Heaven is an inspirational story of one man learning to depend on God to help him out of the dark times in life.

Now before I go any further, I should probably fill you in on the story.

While on the way home from a church conference, Don Piper’s was involved in a horrific accident. His car was completely crushed by a semi-trailer that crossed into his lane. According to several medical personnel, Piper died instantly.

As he lay lifeless inside his destroyed car, Piper claims that he experienced the glories of Heaven and was awed by its beauty and music.

90 minutes after the wreck, as a minister prayed for him, Piper miraculously returned to life on Earth with only the memory of his experience in heaven.

The intense pain and knowledge that he would never be the same again lead Piper to despair, depression, and frustration.

Yet God was looking out for Piper and placed several people in Piper’s life that helped him during his recovery.

Feeling fully blessed by God, Piper shares his experiences with others and his journey with God through this story.

After reading it, I feel that this book can show you that with Godly love and support, you can overcome anything that life throws your way.

Piper’s harrowing ordeal was really inspiring to me, and I would encourage anyone who is struggling with life to read this and see how God can transform you.

Don Piper 90 Minutes in Heaven offers a glimpse into the truth of God’s existence. This New York Times bestseller offers hope and promise to anyone recovering from serious injuries and those dealing with the loss of a loved one. The experience dramatically changed Piper’s life. It can change yours too.

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Tim Keller Reason for God

It is no doubt that today’s world is full of skepticism. With each passing day, there are several new scientific discoveries and we start to question and form doubts about religion.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller can help both believers and skeptics in answering several of our biggest questions, including: Has science disproven Christianity? Can we take the Bible literally? Is the Bible still relative to our life today?

Keller makes his arguments in a very peaceful and respectful way. In fact, I would refer to them more as persuasions.

Keller understands why people have their doubts about God, which helps his arguments because he can see both sides of the spectrum. I appreciate his consideration because some people have such passionate questions and this does not make them evil or wrong.

For those that already consider themselves to be believers, this book will reinforce your faith and love for God. It is also a great tool to use when you try to defend your religion. You will be able to answer the arguments of even the wittiest of skeptics.

No matter what your beliefs are, these questions will often come up in everyday conversations. Can there really be one true religion? How could a good God allow suffering and even send people to hell? Does Christianity cause injustice?

At the beginning of the book, Keller addresses all of these arguments. Then, he focuses the rest of his time making his case for God.

One of the more inspirational quotes from Keller was the following:

“I ask you to put on Christianity like a pair of spectacles and look at the world with it. See what power it has to explain what we know and see.”

Although The Reason for God is an apologetic writing and defends the existence of God, it shows that if you wear those glasses, you will see that Christians have a consistent view of a loving God.

For more inspiration like that, I encourage you to check out Tim Keller Reason for God today. It is a great resource that explains the power and importance of belief in today’s hectic world.

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Prayers that Rout Demons by John Eckhardt

In his book Prayers that Rout Demons, John Eckhardt presents a strong call to all Christians to focus on the power of prayer in ridding both their lives and the world of the evil forces that provide stumbling blocks for Christians.

Eckhardt argues that since our source of power comes from the Holy Spirit, we should “plug into” that power by prayer. He suggests that prayer energizes us and gives us the strength to overcome the evil of the world.

When first seeing this book, I was slightly skeptical of its content. However, upon reading it, I became a believer in the idea that powerful prayer is our most valuable tool in spiritual warfare.

It is no secret to Christians that there is a constant war between good and evil brewing all around us, and Eckhardt gives us a valuable resource to fend off the evil in our lives.

His book is full of prayers and decrees that promise to show readers how to accomplish a variety of spiritual warfare tasks, which include plugging into the spirit, preparing to engage the enemy, confronting the enemy’s tactics, defeating enemy forces, and experiencing deliverance and release.

Each section is specifically designed and detailed to build one’s spiritual arsenal by introducing them to new prayers and tactics to resist the evil of the world.

The reader is often encouraged to focus on the sections that affect them the most, and each prayer is backed by a Scripture reference that is designed to be meditated upon and integrated into daily life.

Prayers that Rout Demons is a valuable tool that will help readers unlock the true power of prayer in their lives and grow closer to God and His amazing power. This book isn’t for the lighthearted or fence-riding Christians.

It is designed for those who are serious about spreading the Word of God and honoring Him through continuous prayer and obedience. If you are ready to engage in serious spiritual warfare, then Prayers that Rout Demons by John Eckhardt is a must have.

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The Way of the Shepherd by Kevin Leman

The Way of the Shepherd: 7 Ancient Secrets to Managing Productive People by Kevin Leman is a great leadership handbook. It can be used by those who wish to be leaders or leaders who need to learn better methods.

Now don’t let the title alarm you. It is not saying that all of your employees are like a herd of animals that need to be treated like such.

We know Jesus as a gentle shepherd of his children and we should do the same. As a leader we need to have a higher sense of responsibility for the security, welfare, happiness, and activity of our workplace.

This book does not teach you to be the boss, but rather the leader and how to lead with your heart. Keep in mind that some people may have to work for you, but this book will make you want them to work with you.

The Way of the Shepherd is about a young leader who is working his way up the ladder as a reporter. He interviews a well-respected CEO and gains the keys to exceptional leadership. What are these keys?

• Know the Condition of Your Flock
• Discover the Shape of Your Sheep
• Help Your Sheep Identify with You
• Make Your Pasture a Safe Place
• The Staff of Direction
• The Rod of Correction
• The Heart of the Shepherd

As you can see, the titles of these 7 steps are relatable to the Bible, which is the ultimate guidebook to a successful life.

I found this book to be a quick, easy read. The story of the reporter kept me interested and made it a real page turner.

Now, who said you could not mix business with spirituality? Check out The Way of the Shepherd by Kevin Leman and find out how to manage a successful career in a Godly way.

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Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff

When I first saw this book, I knew it would be an interesting read just from the title.

However, reading it all the way through took me forever. Not because it was a horrible book, mind you.

No, it took me forever to finish the book because while reading it, I couldn’t stop laughing.

After gaining a large following on his blog of the same name, Acuff put his best observations into a gut-busting look at the Christian life in Stuff Christians Like.

As your common everyday man, Acuff has put together some of the funniest and dead-on observations about his fellow Christ followers.

Using a sarcastic and witty writing style, Acuff points out those moments that we all wish we could comment on, yet are too afraid of offending someone.

Some of his gems include: “Obligations to think about going into the full-time ministry at least once every three years” and “Saying you’re going to pray for someone…then not.”

One of my favorite subjects in Stuff Christians Like was entitled “Being not funny for the Lord.” In this essay, he points out that many suffer from SCS, also known as Serious Christian Syndrome. This is the idea that to be a good Christian, you must be serious all the time.

However, Acuff points out several verses that prove that God wants us to laugh and have fun. Seeing as how I consider myself to be somewhat sarcastic at times, I thought this essay was right on the money.

For those who may be offended by the book’s description, fear not. Acuff is not condemning Christianity or mocking it. Instead, he is bringing to light some of the more interesting facets of daily church life.

By doing this, he is showing us that God wants us to stop worrying about how we look doing something and enjoy being a Christian.

This book is a must have for anyone who wants a good, clean laugh and also makes a great gift. So pick up Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff and start seeing how many of these scenarios come up in your daily life.

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The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel

Do you believe in God? This question may be answered with a variety of responses, but most often it will be addressed with either a yes or a no.

Perhaps you believe in a God but have a hard time committing your life to him. Regardless of your religious affiliations, most believers will find the following question a little harder to answer:

Do you live your life with your faith truly invested in God?

Craig Groeschel’s book, The Christian Atheist, encourages us to live in a manner that honors God.

When I first came across this book, the title immediately caught me by surprise as I thought it was rather contradictory.

However, after reading just a few pages, I began to understand what Groeschel meant by the term “Christian atheist.”

A Christian atheist is one who believes in God, yet continues to live life according to their own terms.

I felt that this claim was rather poignant when looking at today’s society as many people claim to be Christian, yet seemingly follow their guidelines for living a successful life.

Although Groeschel is a pastor, his book reads more like a deep conversation with a close friend. I felt like I could connect with Groeschel because throughout his book, he often admits to his own failures in leading a church.

In my opinion, this heartfelt honesty made Groeschel come across as a real human being rather than an omnipresent author with all the answers.

To help readers better understand his message, Groeschel divides his thoughts in several chapters that  focus on different struggles that Christians face when it comes to trusting in God.

This allows one to zero in on particular areas that they may be struggling with, although I highly recommend reading the entire book to receive the most benefit.

I thought The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel was awesome because it challenged me to truly live with Christ in my heart. His book really teaches you to be a better Christian and put God first in everything you do. Take the challenge and read his book!

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The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg

The Me I Want to Be is written by bestselling author and pastor John Ortberg. With this book, he guides you to a uniquely created spirituality with a result ending in exactly what the title suggests.

This book is your first step to becoming God’s best version of you. By doing this, you are able to experience God more fully each day in the way that suits you best.

It is truly a great way to experience your relationship with God.

The Me I Want to Be will show how God’s perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise.

All those who trust in God ‘will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit’ (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be.

Then he provides detailed tasks and exercises to help you live in the flow of the Spirit, circumventing real-world barriers, pain and sorrow, temptations, self-doubt, and sin; to flourish even in a dark and broken world.

As you start living in the flow, you will feel: a deeper connection with God,  a growing sense of joy, an honest recognition of your brokenness, less fear and more trust, a growing sense of being ‘rooted in love,’ and a deeper sense of purpose.

This book is filled with honesty, humor, and practicality. With this, he offers Biblical, historical, and personal insights which he directs his readers to take advantage of for the use of creating the “best version” of ourselves—which is the way that God has intended for us to be.

God invites you to join Him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life and The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg shows you how to graciously accept His invitation.

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Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is written in an avant-garde style that allows the reader to become more engaged. Missionary author Sarah Young has structured her book as a daily devotional read that follows a calendar year format.

For each daily entry, you will find two paragraphs of spiritual encouragement accompanied by two or three Bible verses that correlate with Young’s motivational writing. She also writes from Jesus’ point of view.

The Bible verses listed are not included in the writing, which means the reader will have to have a Bible within reach.

At first, I wondered why the Bible verses were not integrated into the text. What I came to learn was that I thoroughly enjoyed thumbing through the Bible in search of the verses.

Young’s book got me to read the Bible and to reflect with her by really taking in and understanding what I read. What I found most rewarding about my experience with this book, was that it pushed me to focus upon my relationship with God every day for a calendar year.

In that time, Young’s book helped me to stick with this relationship and grow with it.

The book invites us to set aside the stresses and troubles that we face in everyday life. Sarah Young helps us as we make the sensible choice to set aside time each day in order to read her book and reflect among her thoughts along with additional prayer.

This book has been a number one bestseller and has changed my life.

Here is an excerpt to give you a better idea of what is included:

January 3

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence.

This Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.

Because I am your constant Companion, there should be a lightness to your step that is observable to others. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress, but don’t let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you may have confident Peace.

Psalm 31:19-20 (NASB); John 16:33 (AMP)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is one book that every Christian should have in their collection, as it will help one understand the importance of a daily walk with our Creator.

Trust me, folks. Reading this book will change your life and bring you closer to God.

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