Dug Down Deep: Building Your Life on Truths That Last by Joshua Harris

Book Description from amazon.com

Publication Date: May 17, 2011

What are you going to build your life on?

Dug Down Deep is systematic theology like you’ve never seen it before. Readable. Relevant. Powerful. As best-selling author Joshua Harris shares his own journey from apathetic church-kid to student with a burning passion to truly know God, you’ll be challenged to dig deep into the truths of God’s word.

With humor, conviction and compelling insight Dug Down Deep covers the basics of faith—God, scripture, Jesus, the cross, salvation, sanctification, the Holy Spirit and the church. Don’t settle for superficial faith, dig deep.
 
"If you're looking for ‘that one book’ that will push you farther down the road to faith than you've ever journeyed before, Dug Down Deep is it. I highly recommend it!" —Joni Eareckson Tada

My thoughts:

As a longtime follower of Christ I’ve come to realize that I don’t know as much as I thought I did.  Dug Down Deep really helped me learn who Jesus is and why he did the things he did.  One thing that I learned was why Jesus is really called the Lamb of God.  I was under the assumption it was because he was God’s only son.  When in fact the title refers to the living sacrifice that Jesus was for the sins of the world.  Calling on the living sacrifice of young lambs from eons ago.  This book really helped me to strengthen my foundation of faith.  I would definitely recommend this book to any young Christian or even those who have questions about the basis of their faith.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Happy Reading!

Radical – Taking back your faith from the American Dream by David Platt

I kept hearing about this book, Radical - by David Platt, from several friends of mine who attend Hidden Valley Community Church with me.  The story that struck me the most came from Patrick, our new Worship Leader and Director.  Patrick, his wife Megan and their 2 girls came to us, in Wisconsin, from the rather large and warm state of Texas. 

Here’s the story - When Patrick was looking for a job they confined the search to the Texas area. After reading the book Radical they decided to expand the job search and go where they felt God was calling them to.  The decision to read this book and a lot of prayer lead them to Wisconsin.  I thought that if one book can have such an impact on one family, leading them to relocate to a place where they do not know a single person.  What kind of impact will it have on my life?

So I asked my mom for her copy and was excited when she dropped it off.  The book talks about how we have adapted the Biblical church to fit our own American culture.  David Platt calls you to be Radical and do the things it takes to truly be a disciple of Jesus.  Give to the poor, live with less (lots less), trust God and spread the Gospel across the world.

Reading this book has prompted me to take a leap of faith and embark on a project to help those with less than I have.  I have been convicted to get over my nerves and spread the gospel.  I have to, no need to reach out to those around me.

Radical is another book that I am recommending to everyone I know.  I’m putting it on my husband’s reading pile tonight.  =)

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger - An Invitation Worth Considering by David Gregory

I was shocked when the book, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger - An Invitation Worth Considering by David Gregory, showed up and it was only 100 pages long.  I was however excited to dive right in.  Nick is invited to have dinner with Jesus.  In the time leading up to the dinner Nick is convinced that his friends are setting him up for some practical joke.

He arrives at the restaurant and proceeds to go along with the "joke."  Here are some of my thoughts from the book.

I grew up thinking that I had to do all these glorious deeds in order to get into heaven. That I had to obey God to a "T". But page 46 states "There's great profit in obeying God.  It just won't get you into heaven."

At one point in the book Nick is talking to Jesus about how he can prove to him that he is who he says he is. Page 74 says "I did that, too. They still didn't believe.  My Father did that at Mount Sinai with the Jews.  They turned away from him within six weeks."  How powerful is that?!  God gives us clues all the time that he exists.  Yet we still turn away from him.

All in all I enjoyed this quick read.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Know Doubt by John Ortberg

One thing I love about our Friday morning Life Group at Hidden Valley Church is that we read such great books.  Know Doubt by John Ortberg is another good one. 

As an almost 30 year old who was introduced to God and faith at a very young age I thought that by now I wouldn't have anymore doubts about my faith and God.  That isn't true and John Ortberg explains that it's normal.  Page 31 says "If Christ spent an anguished night in prayer, if he burst out from the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' then surely we are permitted doubt."

He goes on to talk about the strange silence of God.  On page 107 it says this "If you don't feel close to God anymore - who moved?"  This really struck me.  There are times in my life when I feel alone.  Then I remember that it's not God's fault.  I withdrew and God is still there waiting for me.

I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who is having doubts with their faith.

Another winner in my book.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!

The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley

We read this book in our Friday morning Life Group.  The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley is a book I think that every young person should read before they turn 18.  We all know that the choices we make today affect us tomorrow.  But do you ever stop and think that the choices you make today are going to affect you 5-10-15-20 years from now?  That is what this book causes you to do.

I like how the book made me stop and think about the choices I've made in my life.  And then he gives us a road map for getting where we would like to be.

Some highlights are:

* "To get from where we don't want to be to where we do want to be requires two things: time and a change of direction."
* "Direction-not intentions, hopes, dreams, prayers, beliefs, intellect, or education-determines destination."
* "We should break the habit of drawing a circle around individual decisions and events and dismissing them as isolated occurrences. These are steps. Steps that lead somewhere."
* "Prudent people look as far down the road as possible when making decisions."
* "Christians start talking about forgiveness as if somehow forgiveness serves as an escape hatch from the outcome of bad decisions."
* "When happiness points in one direction while wisdom, truth, integrity, and common sense point in another, that's when really smart people start doing really stupid things."
* "The choices are now. The outcomes are later. The decisions you make today have ramifications down the road."
* "One never accomplishes the will of God by breaking the law of God, violating the principles of God, or ignoring the wisdom of God."
* "I am constantly amazed at how resistant folks are to take their cues from people who are where they want to be."

This is one book I will make sure to have my girls read when they enter high school.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Reading!