Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Consider Your 100 Day Prayer

Your100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God by John I. Snyder

Author John Snyder’s book is designed to help the Christian reader commit to a structured journey of prayer. The season is to last 100 days and the goal is to move beyond self-reliance and into a deeper, trusting relationship with God. Day by day, page by page Dr Snyder provides a scripture based program that isn’t “… overly involved or impossible to sustain – only a few minutes of prayer every day. It’s striving more for consistency than length of time in prayer.” There is room for journaling.

“For everyone who asks; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be open” (Matt. 7:7-8). Apparently, this sustained, stubborn, never-give-up spirit of prayer is not so much to persuade God to give us what we want but, rather, to transform us in the process.” The theme of the book is to show the Christian how to make prayer a daily part of life, how to regularly share thoughts and desires, yet always ending with “Your will be done.”

Dr. John Snyder is a pastor, author, and conference speaker. He has taught New Testament Studies at New College Berkeley, California, and has pastured and planted churches in California, New York, and Switzerland. He received his Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Theology from the University of Basel, Switzerland. He is the founder of community321.com, an online faith community discussing God, church, religion, and everything in between. Currently, John is organizing church planting in Europe with his wife, Shirin, and two daughters, Sarah and Stephanie.

There is Wisdom in Reading This Book!

“Finally, and most important, the Bible contains a most wonderful promise from God: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be give to him.” (James 1:5 NKJV) Author quote, page 11.

Mark DeMoss spends his life seeking God’s wisdom, he prays for wisdom in handling his relationships, to manage and advise his business clients, to make him a better husband and father. Before meetings he silently asks for God’s help. The author is a “student of the greatest wisdom textbook of all time, the Old Testament book of Proverbs….” This is a revised edition, the first was written in 2007, and Mr. DeMoss has updated the statistics, numerous illustrations, and some details. Looking back he acknowledges the same principles that prepare us for “skill in living” both personally and professionally have not changed.

Gaining wisdom is remarkably simple and the prescription is easy to digest … “read a Proverb everyday, listen more than you speak, write more letters, tell the truth always.” Chapter headings make simple work of dipping into the helpful book again and again. Need advice on “finding and keeping your focus in life” then read chapter two. Worried about money? Read: “money isn’t everything, good people are.” Thinking about what you have to be grateful? There’s a chapter on “appreciating how you got where you are.” Looking for a good book? Read Proverbs … “wisdom for every aspect in your life, in one short book.” And before it’s too late: “Take steps now to avoid regrets later in life.

Finally, the “wisest decision anyone can make … answering the “and then what” question based on the passage from Mark chapter eight: What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul.” The ultimate answer is the decision each of us will make … “is whether or not to hand over your life to God, through his Son, Jesus Christ. Or accept the alternative….

Mark DeMoss is president of the DeMoss Group, a public relations firm he founded in 1991 specifically to serve Christian organizations and causes. Mark wrote this book to thank his father and to prepare his own children for life in the same way his father prepared him.

Thank you Mark for giving us this well-written, thought-provoking book that is a pleasure to read.

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes, the comments and thoughts are my own.

The Book of Man by W J. Bennett - A Book Review

Boys need heroes if they are to become good men … they need to know about men who have lived good and noble lives; working, staying sober, keeping their word, not taking advantage of women, and supporting their children. New York Times Best-Selling author William J. Bennett has written a big book of inspiration detailing the lives of men (both ancient and modern) who are worth knowing. And why they matter.

This is an important book, one that I highly recommend to parents, grandparents, family members, and teachers and to those of us in the community who care about what we are teaching our young men. Selections are taken from literature and history; men at work and at play; men whom the author admires … imperfect men who nonetheless have lived admirable lives.

Keep this book handy, read it often, and share the words within whenever possible. The Book of Man goes on my list of the top ten books I have read recently. Thank you Mr. Bennett.

Note: A copy of this book was provided to me for review, the thoughts contained here are my own.

Happy Halloween & The Making of Psycho

Psycho, both the book (by Robert Bloch) and the movie (directed by Alfred Hitchcock), once consumed are hard to forget.

Writers who want to write lasting dark, and macre stories are encouraged to read Stephen Rebello's Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. Pay attention to chapter two, The Novel, Robert Bloch's account of how he came to fashion his Freudian inspired novel based on the real life crime(s) of Ed Gein. Psycho was published by Simon & Shuster in the summer of 1959.

"The movie released in June 1960, altered the landscape of horror films forever. But just as compelling as the movie itself is the story behind it.
Author Stephen Rebello brings to life the creation of one of Hollywood's most iconic films, from the story of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, the real-life inspiration for the character of Norman Bates, to Hitchcock's groundbreaking achievements in cinematography, sound, editing, and promotion. Packed with captivating insights from the film's stars, writers, and crewmembers, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho is a riveting and definitive history of a signature Hitchcock cinematic masterpiece.


Stephen Rebello is a screenwriter, journalist, and the author of such books as Reel Art: Great Posters from the Golden Age of the Silver Screen,which was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in1999. Based in Los Angeles, he has contributed feature stories to such magazines as Cosmopolitan, GQ, More, and The Advocate, and currently serves as a Playboy contributing editor. Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psychohas been bought by Paramount Pictures and The Montecito Picture Companyfor production as a dramatic feature film. The producers are Alan Barnette and Tom Thayer.

Brenda Warner's "One Call Away" - A Book Review

The author is just twenty-two when she receives a telephone call from her then husband Neil – their son Zack ’s breathing doesn’t sound quite right and he is concerned. Rushing home she finds her four-month-old son in distress, the healthy, happy baby that she had kissed good-bye just hours before is in trouble. Serious trouble. This isn’t the first time in her young life however, that an unexpected telephone call contained bad news … nor would it be the last.

One Call Away is the inspiring life story by Brenda Warner. At times it seems impossible that one woman could face a seemingly endless supply of gut-wrenching tragedies. And there have been many, many losses. But this isn’t a story of despair and retreat nor one of self-pity. Instead, readers are given an opportunity to walk beside this courageous Christian mother as she finds the strength to face first one challenge and then another.

There are perhaps three types of people who suffer significant losses. The first group never seems quite able to move past the loss, instead choosing to define their lives by the loss. Then there are those who seem to recover, only to embrace their old ways as if nothing has happened. Those in the third groups however, are the survivors. Not only to they bounce back, but manage to come back as better people.

Brenda Warner is a survivor. Her story will resonate with those who have suffered disappointment, despair, and lost. Her secret? She knows that God is simply one call away. Her story is riveting, honest and easy to read, her words will make you look at your own life in a different way.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Surprised by Oxford, A Memoir by Carolyn Weber

The author’s “Acknowledgement” page begins with the following thoughts: “It takes a village to write a book. And, it would seem, a city to publish it.”

Can this statement be any less true of the journey one travels to complete faith in God and the Trinity? Especially, if one comes from a place that has “… no polite need of a Savior.”

Dr Carolyn Weber has written the story of her spiritual journey that begins at the oldest surviving university in the English-speaking world, Oxford University. It is her first year of graduate school and she uses the University’s three term calendar which coincides with the Christian liturgical calendar to frame her account.

As a young woman, Ms. Weber believed in reason, intellect, and education. God, if she thought about Him at all did not lurk “… among families like mine – loving enough to get by without Him, but broken enough not to deserve his attention.” It is during this year that her unbelief is challenged and her reason and intellect tested. Using an abundance of literary quotes, and poetry Dr Weber tells the story of her conversion.

In the end, she is able to acknowledge God’s real presence in her life because of the love and support of the community, including TDH* and her own unique village of faithful friends and colleagues.



*TDH is the very handsome, tall and dark American student.

A copy of this memoir was supplied by Thomas Nelson in exchange for a published review. This review is based solely on my own opinion.