"Muscular Faith" by Ben Patterson

There is a plethora of advice for readers in this slim book. From trusting God to praying to reading Scripture to generally drawing close to God, this book has it all. Bible verses are quoted, and the commentary given by the author is indeed insightful. Personal stories are not the highlight of the book, but some ones are included for your leisure. While one could argue the point that faith is a spiritual gift and thus can't be "worked on," I'm sure everyone can agree that we must acknowledge God and that it is our job to love Him, which goes back to Him anyway with 1 john 4:19. Either way, this book is a great resource for those that want "faith" verses and examples from the Bible. It would also make a nice gift. For those that want a more muscular faith, maybe some benchpressing is in order. After all, some hardcover Bibles are quite hefty. God bless!

"A Faith of Leap" by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch

This book can be summed up in Hebrews 10:35. Essentially, the authors are trying to motivate readers to be more "on fire," so to speak, for the Lord. There is the sophistication and methodology for preachers to follow with big theological words and charts fully equip with arrows...juxtaposed with the clever nomenclature and spitfire of contemporary colloquialism. Did I mention that there are many Bible quotations in addition to those from Bible commentators? Sometimes the book reads very casually, and other times the authors whip out their numbers and bullet points to direct readers in how to act. This piece of literature is very well written and I did not find any parts that were overly blasphemous and I sometimes do with other books. It seems to me like the authors simply want readers to man up like in 1 Cor 2:2 and really live.

"Amish Values for Your Family" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Let's face it. There's just something about the way of the Amish that captivates us. Maybe it's their radically simple lifestyle, or maybe it's their bonnets. Either way, something draws us in. In Fisher's book, she dives deep into how Amish families operate and how you can emulate them. Fisher has written other books on the Amish, and she knows her stuff. While this book is aimed at family life, the tips given can assist relationships of all kinds. With each chapter being just a few pages, this makes for a quick read or easy reference book. While intriguing, one has to admit that the "lessons" learned are nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9). Still, there's just something about how the book is written that makes it a staple to the bookshelf, if you will. What is different is the fact that Fisher doesn't just keep on yakking about what we should be doing to cultivate the ways of the Amish. Instead, she inserts real stories from Amish, real quotes, and real proverbs that make the book come alive.

Available August 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

"Stumbling into Grace" by Lisa Harper

Truth be told, I wanted to review this book first because I thought the cover was cute. I'm in my early twenties, refuse to let go of my girly tendencies, and occasionally dress like the youngster on the cover...but I digress. You know you see a good movie when--before you know it--it is over. You realize it held your attention to the end. The same is true with this book. As a women's speaker, it is no surprise that Harper's prose comes off comical and gregarious. There are even some facetious anecdotes included in the book. Readers will laugh at them guilt free because they will feel entitled to. Why? Because they'll feel like Harper's friend. What I like about this book is that it isn't a theological treatise on grace. That would most likely intimidate too many people. It's a simple book about Harper's life with grace wound in. Also great is the fact that Harper incorporates relevant (I know the whole Book is relevant, but you know what I mean) Scripture. At the end of each chapter, there is a small section with questions for the reader, prayers / short letters, journal prompts, and Bible verses to look up. Cute book.

"Kissing Fish" by Roger Wolsey

Advertised as a book on Christianity for those that do not like Christianity, my interest was piqued. The Jesus fish icon kissing the Darwin fish also made my eyebrows shoot up. Diving into the book, I read at the beginning that the book is for everybody but is more geared towards young adults. The way the book is laid out with the text going near to the edges of the pages, this colossal read may intimidate youngsters. Luckily, the beginning of the book tells readers that they may skim the chapters--something that permission need not be given for. Anyway, written by somewhat of a theologian, this book tackles plenty of huge topics from death, heaven, hell, communion, the Gospel, love, the Bible, and more. I'd be tempted to call this book a bit heretical if not for the fact that Wolsey presents different sides of each position. What do I mean by that? For topics, he gives progressive, fundamentalists, and everything in between in terms of standpoints / paradigms. I don't agree with everything in this book, but I think Wolsey's intentions were genuine in wanting people to come to the Faith. However, the way I see it, if people don't want Jesus, no amount of progressive "hip" sugarcoating and complacent denials of essential dogma will make nonbelievers truly love Jesus. Philemon 1:14.

"I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris

With a title as controversial as this, I knew I was in for a doozy of a read. Jumping into the book, I soon realized that Harris' focus wasn't on never getting into relationships. Rather, he was trying to tell readers not to date for the sake of dating. To him, relationships must be pure and done out of love and service to the other person. To have no interest in marriage or commitment is just wasting the other person's time and emotions. Fascinatingly, at the end of the book, he alluded to his sequel where he accounts for how he met and courted--yes, I just used that word--his wife. Bible is quoted, and the pages fly by in this captivating book. What striked me the most was how Harris said we can grow in God's love in our singleness (something I've even seen in other relationships people have). The point of being selfless and not selfish will really hit home with readers. To truly stare at Christ is not to be worked up over members of the opposite sex, sizing them up and fantasizing about potential mates. No. Harris tells us to love our neighbors, pursue holy righteousness, be selfless, and trust God to work out his plan. Splendid.

"A Sea in Flames" by Carl Safina

Before I even dived into this book, the words that stood out to me were that Safina was a great conversationalist. Now, as a book reviewer, when I read this, I figured this author is either incredibly talented or just full of himself. On his writing style, I must say he delivered. Sentences flowed quite well, and the book progressed in an orderly fashion. There are a few "bad words" in the book, so I wouldn't recommend this to young readers. For the BP oil spill itself, Safina provides scientific facts in a language that most people can understand. Sure, you may have to look up some words now and then, but, for the most part, this is a book that doesn't just have to be read by academics. What I liked was a part in the book that paralleled similar oil spills in the past. There is even a small section with full color photos in the middle of the book. While most of the books I review tend to be faith-based, this one most certainly is not. God is mentioned a couple of times. However, on these few instances, the attitude towards Him is perplexing. It's part complaining, part anger, part mesmerising. I can't speak for everyone, but I will say this is not a faith-based book as a whole. It is more of a research-based book. Interviews with various experts and eye-witnesses are given, which provide facetiously frank perspectives. The tone jumps around from scholarly to sarcastic to just plain adamant. Many facts are given in this book. It's a thick read but does include an index for those that just want to use this book as a reference tool.

"King's Cross" by Timothy Keller

This shall be a unique review because this book was not from a publicist or author seeking a review. It was merely a gift from a nice Christian friend who wanted my opinion on a book that he happened to have an extra copy of.

With a cover white enough to blind yet not bright enough to merit Isaiah 62:2, the title's 3D etching leaps off the front and onto one's psyche. The fantastic notion that a king--no, THE King--would take on the humility and pain of a Cross is the fundamental piece of Christianity that tends to drift into believers' subconsciousness. Sure, everyone likes a good Christian self-help book or pretty devotional with room for journaling on delicate pages, but few pick up good theology books that are too intense for meager Bible studies and too humble to be called dogma.

So, what do we have? We have a look at what grace really is without saying it out loud. Almost like supernovae that announce light without ever uttering a word. The book of Mark is gone through in this book. The entire Gospel is not quoted, and other parts of Scripture wade in. However, the focus is on Peter's documenter who wrote the "concise" history of Jesus. The book is divided into two sections. The first details Jesus' Kingship, and the second highlights Calvalry. Some chapters read like sermons and are not exactly page-turners, but the insights that Keller throws in are marvelous.

I can not do the lessons in this book justice. Sure, I could go on about how Keller emphasizes dependence on Christ, death to a works mentality, embracing weaknesses, awaiting the New Creation, delighting in Christ's glory, and so much more. However, those seem like staples to regular Christian diets that believers ought to already know. The way they are presented is beautiful, though. Imagine a hamburger. That is ordinary in America; but picture it presented on polished China and expensive cutlery. The burger is still a burger, but something catches our attention and makes us appreciate our meal again.

All I can hope is that readers of "King's Cross" smile every time Jesus' name appears with pride similar to a parent at a ballgame who points to the field and says, "That One's mine."

"Money Secrets of the Amish" by Lorilee Craker

While the stories and characters mentioned in this book are unique, the tips most certainly are not. Frugal advice such as recycling, saving, avoiding debt, and thrifting are not new concepts. Still, Craker writes with a unmistakable voice. Her work as an editor makes the words flow across the pages; and her work as a journalist makes you feel as if you are getting some sort of inside scoop. All that being said, this book is best as a reference book but reads lightning fast as if it were a letter from a parsimonious friend. The Amish values are told with much respect, and readers get a taste of the culture.

"Set Free to Live Free" by Saundra Dalton-Smith MD

With a cover like this, I strapped myself in for what I knew to be another Christian self-help book. Granted, I was a bit taken aback by the talk of "energies," as I thought the author was going all new-age on me. However, as the book progressed, I saw Biblical attitudes and perspectives with quotations and saw that the author truly did have good intentions and kept the stress / focus on God's way. While I can get addled by books that promise blessings and happiness from God, I remember that God promises us life everlasting for free. Each "lie" has a story from women, followed by Bible verses and the author's advice. The topics are typical and discuss perfection, envy, limitations, emotions, and the like. While step-by-step instructions on how to be a happy woman of God are good for the spiritually young, I think women and men alike need to just stare at the Savior until all problems fade into the background. Read Psalm 63. :)

"The Upside" by Bradley Wright

Wright is known for his surveys and analytical statistics. His last book on Christians and their--get this--altruistic tendencies was a big hit (I also reviewed his "Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites and Other Lies You've Been Told"). Anyway, like his other book, this is more of a helpful reference for when you want to look something up. Relationships, the environment, finances, you name it. While the writing is well, and the comments are fun (there is a section in each chapter where Wright documents good things that Christians are doing to make the world a better place), this does not read like a novel unless you are a history buff that is infatuated with numbers and charts.

"Surprised by Oxford" by Carolyn Weber

As anyone can find from a simple Google search, this book is about a woman's journey of finding God at Oxford. Now, as a young person in a collegiate setting, this got my attention, and I eagerly suggested the book. The book came in the male like a brick. Don't let the paperback cover fool you. This 400+ book packs a whollop. When I read the "author info" printed, I saw Weber was a student of literature. After getting through the first chapter, I was not blown away. Thus, I thought this was the work of a well-meaning woman who was simply trying too hard to be brilliant. So, I confess, I skimmed the second chapter. However, after skimming it, key words and phrases popped out at me and made me re-read the second chapter. I was hooked and actually began to like her style of writing. The rest of the book flew by. As a professional book reviewer, I must say I do speed read when time gets the best of me, but rarely am I compelled to re-read what I thought was skimmable. This is saying something. Anyway, for the plot, it is real. After all, this is a memoir of sorts. What I enjoyed was Weber's candid honesty--even if she confessed to changing some characters' names for privacy issues. What was also interesting was how she viewed men both before and after her conversion. This book is a splendid tale of love that knows no bounds. Read it.

"Connecting in Communities" by Eddie Mosley

From the snazzy cover to the concise title, you guess it--this is a book on small groups...or so it would seem. The foreword got my attention as I was promised great insights with impeccable writing. Now, don't get me wrong, Mosley is a great author who both writes well and knows what he's talking about. However, the more I looked at this book, the more I felt it relating less and less to me. Granted, there are tips for small group leaders and helpers, as well as advice any Christian could use for discipling others. Still, the book felt like it was geared towards pastors who are training other leaders and how to effectively grow a church (the author's church was mentioned several times as if parts of the book were from some sort of church leadership manual). All in all, this book is real insightful and flows well, but it is more of a reference book than a concrete book on how to lead small groups of all ages (this one focuses primarily on working adults).

"Perfectly Invisible" by Kristin Billerbeck

When I realized this book is a sequel to "Perfectly Dateless"--which I also reviewed--I was pleasantly surprised. I greatly enjoyed Billerbeck's previous book, and this one did not let me down. The details from the first book are interspersed throughout this book so that the reader does not feel out of the loop (so to speak) if they didn't read the first book or simply forget details [as in my case]. In this book, the protagonist Daisy feels underappreciated and--you guessed it--invisible. Her boyfriend ignores her, and there is trouble with her so-called best friend. I know that this review makes the book sound like some teeny drama, but that's exactly what it is. However, the author manages to keep the flow so the pages keep turning. The plot is very modern, and with the exception of certain phrases that the average teen would not consider cool, Billerbeck does a good job of infiltrating teen culture to get them to listen to her story. Many important lessons are meshed into this book, like humility, gratitude, trust, and what to do in dangerous situations. While there is some romance, none of it is graphic, and I'd go as far to say that pre-teens could read this book. The ending is a bit out of the ordinary, but the book is anything but predictable and will leave readers smiling.

Available July 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

"An Expose on Teen Sex and Dating" by Andy Braner

With a headline as shocking as this one, readers are expecting a tongue-in-cheek read. However, Braner provides a sound set of arguments and observations on teenage relationships without too much information. While he is brutally honest about what is doing on, he does not provide explicit diagrams of explanations. The emphasis in this book is that, while purity rallies are well intentioned, they do not work. Braner suggests talking to kids about sex and explaining how God made it to be in marriage for joy and how relationships relate to Jesus and the Church (comparing physical wholeness to spiritual wholeness). Much advice is written as if for a parental audience, but any reader can learn from this book. Adults will learn how to navigate the wishy-washy psyches of adolescents, and teens will learn that pre-marital sex is more than just whoredom. While educational and rooted in Biblical principles, I'd suggest very young readers only go through this book with adult supervision.

"Seeing the Unseen" by TW Hunt

The captivating water scene captured my attention (I confess to being a fluid dynamicist at times) as did the simple yet captivating title. Who doesn't want to know more about seeing God? Anyway, I read and picked up on Hunt's theological arguments, which were both sound and not very controversial. I looked up Scripture he quoted from time to time, which was unique. Clever Christian authors will paraphrase Bible verses so that readers recall it or get the gist for some verses but be more vague for other verses to get readers to crack open their Bibles for themselves. Whether or not this was intention--well done. Also, by the time I was nearing the end of the book, I realized I had not learned anything new about seeing God in terms of steps to take or how to be more mystical / holy. Then, I realized that I instead came to learn how to draw closer to God and be more in tune with His Spirit. Seeing the unseen. This book is short and ingenious.

"Dressing with Dignity" by Colleen Hammond

When I picked this book up, I had high hopes and expectations. Modesty isn't always written about in Christian circles, and the back cover doted information about the author that listed her as an image consultant and beauty queen. I open the book and on the dedication page, guess who the book is dedicated to? Not Jesus but Mary--who she claims is born without sin even though this is nowhere in the Bible and directly contradicts Romans 3:23. Anyway, I kept on reading. Discussions about fashion were informative but no pictures were given. What was interesting was the results of psychology tests that showed that men's eyes went right to the crotch when women wore pants. Also fascinating was how the author quoted the Freemasonry occult in having a hand in the decline of women's modesty. I did not like the suggestions of praying with saints / angels (Bible says do not communicate with God and to pray only to Him). Also, the author referenced that appearances of the Virgin Mary were always modest. Need I quote 2 Cor 11:14-15? If the real Mary came for a visit, I highly doubt she would instill prayer beads (pagan origin) with repetitious prayer that the Lord does not prefer (Matthew 6:7). For readers that want a book on Christian modesty, I recommend "Fashioned by Faith" that I reviewed in the past.

"Earthen Vessels" by Matthew Lee Anderson

This book is very well written and highly intellectual. It dives deep into the theology of the body, quoting both from Scripture and theologians. It discusses the mortality of the body, why homosexuality is not meant to be, why caring for the body is important, and the importance of how Jesus came to earth in a body like ours. With all of this, my only criticism is that the book can read like a textbook at times with highly philosophical language that does not flow very easily to the modern reader. I have no doubt in my mind that the author is very smart (grammar is impeccable), but suffice to say, this book is not a page-turner.

"Don't Check Your Brains at the Door" by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler

Although this book is aimed at children, it seems like an excellent resource for all ages. It is essentially a simplified apologetics book that juxtaposes quick humor with deep insight. The chapters are tremendously short and to the point. This makes it easy for young readers to stay connected and for older readers for make time to read it. Various "myths" are dispelled about Jesus, the Bible, the resurrection, life, and more. Books written by two authors sometimes seem choppy, but this book flows very nicely with creative ideas. At the end of each chapter, there is an exercise section that involves questions, prompts, and puzzle-like activities that directly correlate to the Bible, oftentimes having the reader look up very specific verses. Bible verses are also quoted in the actual chapters, although those tend to be written out and not just cited. Overall, this book may not be a treatise on apologetics, but it will give Christians quick answers to those pesky questions both from the world and their doubting minds. The notes section includes great resources, including books on archaeology of the Bible that the authors cleverly yet succinctly summarize.

"It Couldn't JUST Happen" by Lawrence O. Richards

This spectacular book is a gem for children of all ages. It dives deep into science (earth science, physics, biology, chemistry, and more) to showcase to readers that there is indeed evidence for a Creator. The book starts off talking about galaxies and Earth, transitions into living creatures, highlights humans, and wraps up with how we know the Bible / Christianity is both true and historically accurate. At the end of each chapter are "just for fun" sections that both kids and adults will enjoy. They are not so much the fill-in-the-blank or journaling type but are more of just initiated prompts for the reader to learn more. Bible is quoted at times, which is nice. The pages are nice and glossy with excellent pictures. My only criticism is that I'd like for the book to be hardcover!