Heaven Is for Real by Todd, Sonya, and Colton Burpo with Lynn Vincent

Subtitle is A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. Colton Burpo, at age three, had a ruptured appendix and almost died in surgery. In fact, he says that he was dead for three minutes. His parents, Todd and Sonya, subsequently realized that their son had what most people call a near death experience.

I literally could not tear myself away from this story once I started reading. The father tells the story of events leading up to Colton's surgery. Besides the detail of the events, he shares the anguish that he and his wife went through while Colton was in surgery and during his recovery. Because Colton was so young, he had few preconceived notions of what heaven is like. Therefore, the bits and pieces of information that he offered over the years finally convinced his parents that he had actually seen heaven. Since the father is a pastor, he was able to match Colton's experiences with Bible accounts in a very effective way.

I was reminded of Don Pipers' 90 Minutes in Heaven, but there is a major difference. Piper was telling of his own experience. He is an adult and a pastor. The Burpos held my attention because they had to be detectives to piece together what had happened to Colton. And, they didn't run right out and write a book. They waited until they felt they had the whole, accurate story and are now telling it in a calm and thoughtful way.

I predict that this book will be a "runaway best-seller." I certainly recommend it.

Buy it on Amazon in Kindle or paper format.

Note: Although I get free books for the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program, I actually purchased this book in Kindle format.

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The Voice of the Psalms

Subtitle:
Psalms Retold by Friend of the Ecclesia Bible Society. With Reflections from the Psalms by Karen Moore and James F. Couch, Jr.
Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Who doesn’t love the Book of Psalms? It’s the original praise and worship script, the first Judaeo-Christian hymnal. Since I first learned the Psalms in King James Version, I have had difficulty accepting newer translations. I was not familiar with The Voice project or the Ecclesia Bible Society, so I chose this for review to sample this translation.

To be blunt, I just don’t care for it. The first thing that bothered me was the term used for God…The Eternal One. In most scholarly translations, God is referred to as God or the LORD. The term “Eternal One” reminds me of Eastern mysticism. It does not properly convey the power and authority of the Judaeo-Christian God, to my mind.

For example, here is Psalm 19:14, one of my favorite verses in NIV: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” The Voice reads like this: “May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with your gracious approval, O Eternal One, my Rock, O Eternal One, my Redeemer.”

The study helps are fine. A list of Advent and Lenten readings are included in the front of the book, plus special readings for praise and for those seeking God’s help. “Practical and insightful comments” appear interspersed with the Psalms. I had mixed feelings about these, partly because the writer’s name was not given. The title page names Karen Moore and James F. Couch, Jr. I assume that means they were the writers of the reflections, but their names are not listed on the Contributing Writers list on the following page.

I found the green parchment-paper background hard on the eyes. I read through the book slowly, although I knew early on that it wasn’t to my liking. I recommend it to those who want to learn about various translations, but I don’t recommend it for serious Bible study. I think you’d be better off with one of the more widely recognized tried-and-true translations like NIV or NRSV.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book at no charge through BookSneeze.com, the site for the Thomas Nelson book review blogger program. This fact in no way influenced my review.

Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham

Subtitle is What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently.

Author Marcus Buckingham starts out by revealing that modern women, although they have more choices than their mothers and grandmothers, are not happy. In fact, the older they get, the less happy they are. He says it’s because women try to do everything well, and that’s just not possible. Buckingham's Strong Life plan emphasizes playing to your strengths rather than spending so much energy trying to fix your weaknesses. There’s an associated test to help you identify your “strong” role in life. It's not so much "put yourself first" approach as it is a tool to help women find fulfillment and not just "busyness" in their lives.

At first, I thought, “Oh, no. Not another personality test.” But it’s not like that at all. You don’t get pigeon-holed as a certain type. You might be strong in more than one role. It is a fresh approach to discovering your gifts and maximizing them.

What a refreshing message! Women don’t have to, or rather shouldn’t, expect to excel at everything. I’ve often objected to the idea that a woman can “have it all.” Something has to give, either the career, the family, or the social life.

Visit the Thomas Nelson product page here. Look over a portion of the book here. See introductory video on YouTube.

I’m going to do something I rarely do. I’m going to read it again. And, after that, I want to share it with every woman I know. Borrow it, buy it---just be sure you read it and take the information to heart.

Let Go by Sheila Walsh

Subtitle: Live Free of the Burdens All Women Know
Thomas Nelson, $19.99

Buy		Read

-->I don’t ordinarily read “help” books for women, but I chose to review this one for Thomas Nelson because I was intrigued by the title, Let Go. Because most of the women I know take emotional responsibility for many things that should be shared with others or “let go of” entirely, I was curious as to how the author would treat the subject. She chose to use the theme "deliverance," getting rid of those burdens.
First of all, I did not know that the author because I rarely watch the 700 Club, and I was not aware of her role as a speaker with Women of Faith. Fans of hers will probably like the book. So many books these days are published because the author is famous and has a following that will buy books.

I liked parts of it, but, for the most part, it was a chore for me to read. Each chapter begins with quotes and Bible verses followed by an anecdote. The remainder of each chapter dealt with the biblical basis for the chapter topic. The anecdotes drew me in, but I found myself yawning in mid-chapter in almost every case. So much of it I had heard before, and there was no new angle. The last few chapters seemed to hold more interest for me than the rest. Perhaps the book is just too long, or maybe the chapters themselves are too long.

Use the link above to go to the Thomas Nelson site, and take a look at the sample chapters. Perhaps it will appeal more to you than it did to me.

Faith and Pop Culture: Christianity Today Study Series

“Can we find Jesus in popular entertainment?” That’s the question that this study attempts to answer. In a culture that values entertainment above all, Christians often just withdraw by turning off their TVs, home-schooling their children, or forbidding their families to participate in certain cultural activities that violate their moral standards.

Faith and Pop Culture, from Thomas Nelson Publishers, offers the opportunity for Christians to examine entertainment and evaluate it in light of scripture. Each of the eight chapters opens with an article from Christianity Today which deals with a single aspect of popular culture. The lessons include options for group discussion, a statement of the issue, and study questions. The “Let’s Explore” section provides Bible verses and discussion questions on what the Bible says about the chapter topic.

The study covers the visual arts, literature, sports, television, “family friendly” entertainment, violence, the Hollywood culture, and the role of entertainment in society. It is a good study to do on your own, but I think the real value would be in the discussion of these topics with others.

I recommend this study for anyone concerned about the effect of modern culture on society, but I think it would be especially valuable for parents attempting to make good decisions about raising their children in today’s culture. The cover price is $9.99, a reasonable price for a group study book.

Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century by Hank Hanegraaff

Have you listened to TV preachers and wondered where in the world they were coming from? Hank Hanegraaff’s earlier book, Christianity in Crisis warned about a cultic movement within Christianity that would reject the very fundamentals of the Christian faith. This book is an update, providing follow-up on the people who initiated the movement as well as those who joined the movement since then.

The cult he seeks to expose is the Faith movement (or prosperity gospel), espoused by many well-known TV evangelists like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Doll and many others. It is a hard book to read because it includes so much detail on the belief system of the “prosperity preachers.” He provides detail as to how their preaching and writing goes against even the most fundamental beliefs of historical Christianity. Hanegraaff is thorough in his documentation. The book has a scripture index, a subject index, a bibliography, and notes.

For me, the reading was as interesting as it was difficult. I don’t watch the “religious” channels regularly, nor do I read the books and study material put out by them. However, I have run across some of their services as I channel-surfed. I always felt that something wasn’t exactly right with their approach, but I did not realize that many of them follow the tenets of the so-called Faith movement and are in agreement among themselves on many points. Since I’m no theologian, I won’t try to describe their beliefs to you. However, the one common thread is the belief that you can, by cultivating positive thoughts and speaking positive words, you can create for yourself the life that you want. Put simply, God is at your beck and call. I suggest that you read this book, especially if you are under the influence of one of these “faith” preachers. It is a real eye-opener.

Order the book direct from Thomas Nelson.

This Is Your Brain on Joy by Dr. Earl Henslin

This is the second book I've reviewed for the Thomas Nelson book review blogger program.

Subtitle is "A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health, and Nurturing Spiritual Growth." Dr. Daniel G. Amen, who developed the medical tests and treatments described in the book, wrote the foreword.

Do you know someone with ADD, ADHD, PTSD, or any other learning or emotional disorder? If so, you have to tell them about this book. The techniques and treatments described in the book have led to breakthroughs for many people suffering from a wide spectrum of brain disorders, from brain injuries to chemical imbalances. Unfortunately, the treatment is currently available only on the West Coast and in the D. C. area. However, if it is as promising as it appears to be, it shouldn’t be long before it becomes available in other areas.

I’ve read several books written by health professionals, and this is the first one that wasn’t a struggle to read. Although there is plenty of scientific information, Dr. Henslin manages to impart his knowledge without resorting to medical-speak. He mixes anecdotes with information in a manner that holds your attention. He also includes plenty of sources of additional information. And---he communicates his message with a thoroughly Christian worldview. He relates stories of Christian people struggling with emotional and behavioral problems who thought they had spiritual problems. What a relief to know that their struggles were caused by abnormalities in their brains!

I chose to review this book because I was attracted by the title, This Is Your Brain on Joy. It reminded me of the award-winning TV commercial: “This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?” In addition, who isn’t attracted to the word “joy?”

The book lives up to its title. The doctor is so happy to be able to help people with their seemingly insurmountable problems that he just exudes joy as he presents the material. My favorite story was that of one of the research subjects in the appendix, “The Day I Had My Head Examined.” She describes her experience candidly and with humor.

You can preview the book on Amazon with the “Look Inside” feature. Also, see more about the book on Thomas Nelson Publishers site.

What's Age Got to Do With It?

What's Age Got to Do with It?: Living Your Healthiest and Happiest Life is by Robin McGraw, wife of TV personality, Dr. Phil. I'm reviewing the book as a book review blogger for Thomas Nelson Publishing. For more information on this program, check out the Web site.

I chose this book based on the title and author alone. I thought I would get advice on how to feel good about myself or find ways to add meaning to my life as I pass in the senior citizen age group. Surprise! It’ about looking your best, taking care of your health, and not feeling guilty about it.

Honestly, I doubt if this book would have ever been published if not for her role in her husband's show. She says that people don’t believe she is 55 years old and that they always want to know how she maintains her youthful appearance. She also insists that women should not feel guilty about spending time and resources on themselves since they devote so much of their lives to taking care of others.

This book tells us in great detail about McGraw’s fitness, nutrition, skin care, hormone, hair, makeup, and fashion regimens. It’s more than I want to know! She provides brand names of products and names of experts who help her develop her regimens. She states often that there is significant cost involved but that there are ways to do it without spending so much.

And, yes, in the last chapter she tells “what’s faith got to do with it.” She includes far less detail in the faith chapter than in the others, a great disappointment to me, especially since the book is published by Christian publisher, Thomas Nelson.

You may have heard most of this before from other sources, but it is useful to have so much detailed information in one volume. I recommend the book for those looking for practical advice on how to look and feel younger.

FYI---Thomas Nelson product page: http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/custom/top_titles/Whats_Age_Got_To_Do_With_It_Robin_McGraw.asp .