Monday, March 25, 2013

Lead Your Family Like Jesus

Lead Your Family Like Jesus
by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer

Enter to win an ipad mini -- see info at the bottom of this post!

My Thoughts:
This book is perfect for any parents who still have children at home!

It is divided into four components -- Heart, Head, Hands, and Habits. In each section, each of the authors discusses the component based on his or her background and position in life.  They each open up their hearts to share stories pertinent to the section, and their examples are wonderful opportunities to learn and reflect.

Each component is Biblically strong and includes examples of how Jesus used these components in his ministry. Additional examples are provided from parents who have been there and have learned from the principles shared in the book. Their stories add a great deal of heart and insight to the book.

In addition, each chapter includes actionable exercises, suggestions, or tips for becoming the best possible parent with Jesus as a role model. One of my favorite items is Tricia Goyer's method of praying for her children. She prays for their:

Head - that they will always lift their heads to look to the Lord and that they will allow God to life their heads when they are hurt or discouraged,
Shoulders - so they will learn to let God carry their burdens,
Knees - that they will get on their knees before God regularly, and
Toes - that a community of believers will surround them and keep them on their toes!

This can be easily remembered by thinking of the song "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and is a great reminder of how to pray for each child.

This book will be my gift of choice at all future baby showers!

Booklet

Click here to download the Lead Your Family Like Jesus Booklet!

Worksheet

Click here to download the Lead Your Family Like Jesus Family Activity Worksheet!


Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/jizhQ
About the Book:

Does your family need a five-star general at the helm? A psychologist? A referee? Ken Blanchard, best-selling co-author of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus, points to a better role model: the Son of God. Joined by veteran parents and authors Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer, renowned business mentor Blanchard shows how every family member benefits when parents take the reins as servant-leaders. Moms and dads will see themselves in a whole new light-as life-changers who get their example, strength, and joy from following Jesus at home. This user-friendly book's practical principles and personal stories mark the path to a truly Christ-centered family, where integrity, love, grace, self-sacrifice, and forgiveness make all the difference.

Learn more at http://litfusegroup.com/author/tgoyer

About the Authors
Tricia: 
Bestselling author of more than 30 novels, nine nonfiction books, and more than three hundred articles for national publications; 2003 "Writer of the Year" at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference; popular blog writer, speaker, and radio host 
Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com
Ken: 
Leadership expert and author of over 50 books, including the New York Times bestseller, The One-Minute Manager; cofounder of Lead Like Jesus; and coauthor of Lead Like Jesus; Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time 
Learn more about Ken at www.kenblanchard.com

Phil: 

A human resource and industrial relations manager in corporate America for 36 years with Xerox Corporation and U.S. Steel, co- founder of Lead Like Jesus; co-author of five books, including The Servant Leader and Leadership by the Book with Bill Hybels.

Learn more about Phil at www.leadlikejesus.com



Now the Contest!
Celebrate the release of Lead Your Family Like Jesus with Tricia by entering her iPad Mini Giveaway and RSVPing for the Lead, Momma Lead LIVE Webcast Event (with MomLife Today's Tracey Eyster) on April 16th.


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  One winner will receive:
  • An iPad Mini
  • A Tricia Goyer library 
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 15th. Winner will be announced at the "Lead, Momma Lead" Live Webcast Event on April 16th. Connect with authors and everyday moms, Tricia Goyer and Tracey Eyster, for an evening of sharing and perspective-changing encouragement for leading your family. Tricia and Tracey will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Lead Your Family Like Jesus and join Tricia and Tracey on the evening of April 16th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 16th!

 

Thank you to Focus on the Family and Litfuse Publicity for providing a free copy of this book for review. They did not influence my perspective on this book.

Friday, March 08, 2013

Strands of Deception

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Strands of Deception
B&H Books (March 1, 2013)
by
Robin Caroll
MY THOUGHTS:
Love, love, love this book! I have read most of Robin Carroll's books, but somehow missed the first two in this series. That didn't cause any problems in reading this one, but I have to say those two books are now on my must read list.

Strands of Deception is one of the most intriguing suspenseful romance stories I've read in a long time. It incorporates all my favorite CSI and NCIS elements in a murder mystery that has more twists and turns than a roller coaster. Just when you think you have the perpetrator nailed, another twist comes at you. I never would have guessed the end! Only thing that disappointed me about this book was that it ended....I was ready for lots more fun with these characters. I hope this isn't the last book in the series. I'd love to read a book about Eva (hint, hint).

This book kept me on the edge of my airplane seat for three subsequent flights! I didn't even realize there was enough turbulence to terrify my seat partner because of all the turbulence in this book. Another winner by Robin Caroll.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?



ABOUT THE BOOK

When Gina Ford, the daughter of a prominent Tennessee politician, goes missing from the University of Memphis a week after another girl was murdered on the same campus, police call in the FBI. Nick Hagar, married to his job as Special Agent in Charge, is assigned to the case, and when Gina’s body is found, her father demands justice.

Maddie Baxter is the forensic expert running DNA tests from the crime scene. When they come back without a match, Nick asks her to do a familial DNA run that yields a shocking result: the prime suspect is Adam Alexander, the very same guy who broke Maddie’s heart when she was in college.

But do scientific advancements tell the whole story? Strand of Deception offers romance, suspense, and a lively debate about the impact of DNA testing, for better or worse, on the United States justice system.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Strands of Deception, go HERE.

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

After Life -- What You Need to Know About Heaven...

After Life -- What You Need To Know About Heaven, The Hereafter, and Near-Death Experiences
by
Hank Hanegraaff

My Thoughts:
I've been a follower of Hank Hanegraaff for many years, and I respect the amount of research he puts into his work. Recently I've read a couple of books about near-death experiences, and while I was skeptical, I was curious about the validity of them. Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly where we are headed after death?

So I was very excited when I saw that Mr. Hanegraaff had completed his research on this topic and had published this book.

After Life is divided into three sections -- Life After Life: The Eternal Heaven and Earth, The Transitional Heaven, and Life: What You Do Now Counts for All Eternity. Within each section are Biblical answers to those burning questions we all have. Are near-death experiences real? Is there a Hell? Where is Heaven and what is it like? And even Do pets go to Heaven?

As is typical of Hanegraaff, he doesn't mince words and he doesn't deal in opinions. He clearly shows Biblical justification for his answers, and he is always sure to keep the referenced verses in context. He is highly intellectual, and the style of his writing reflects that. It's pretty straight-forward, but is definitely more complex than most novels or best-selling non-fiction books. But I like that -- he presumes his audience is serious about the topic and doesn't want fluff.

In addition to clearing up some misperceptions and some wishful thinking that I had, After Life has caused me to greater appreciate life here on Earth and to look forward to eternity with new excitement and energy. This is a much needed book of truth in a world of opinion and personal experience.

You can purchase this book HERE.

About the Book

If there was ever a need-to-know book, AfterLife is it. On his daily call-in radio show, the most common questions Hanegraaff fields are about the hereafter.For instance, millions are voraciously reading about the near-death experiences of young children. Consumers are desperate for knowledge and reassurance about what comes after life on this earth. Hank Hanegraaff, one of the most remarkable theological minds of the 21st century, explains the marvelous way this physical life connects our past to our eternal future. AfterLife gives readers a clear and concrete understanding about what happens after death to us and to those we love.

About the Author
Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and just back from delivering a lecture series in Iran and Russia, is heard daily in the top 100 radio markets in the United States and Canada. He's the author of the runaway bestsellers The Prayer of Jesus and The Complete Bible Answer Book.

Thank you to Glass Road Media and Management and Worthy Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review. They in no way influenced this review.