Obstacles Welcome...

I enjoyed reading about the career path of such a successful leader in
business.

Ralph de la Vega, a native of Cuba, became President and CEO of AT&T
Mobility and Consumer Markets in October 2008. He is responsible for
all wireline as well as wireless networks. Previously, he had been in
charge at Cingular Wireless and assumed further responsibilities when
AT&T consolidated. Before that, he was the President of Latin America
Operations, and the President of Broadband and Internet Services for
Bellsouth's operations in ten countries.

Hearing the set backs and challenges he faced was really intriguing
given the perspective of being a customer in the wireless market and
watching how it played out in the public spotlight. While he offered
'his' process and steps to success...I think the value came through in
his anecdotes and openness about the resistance he faced and failures
like AT&T's U-Verse Project. His book addressed rumors, gossip, and
drift within an organization as well as how to build a team for a
major project like his solution on on the AT&T and Cingular merger
(that alone was well worth the purchase of this book).

David

My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself

Susanna Foth Aughtmon ROCKS!
I know that's not how Book Blog Reviews are supposed to start and I don't care.
I love to read.
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Magazines, Newspapers, Blogs, Biographies, and really, I'll even read the back of a hairspray can while waiting for my kids to get out of the bathtub (I don't want book pages or my Kindle to get wet). But, as much as I love a crime novel or a sweet story, I have never experienced an author that resonates with my spirit and soul as much as Sue does. I feel like I know her; I feel like we're friends! And the truth be told, even though I know her dad, and she used to go to my church (before I did), and I read her blog faithfully, and I saw her speak once, and I met her once for like 5 minutes, and I have girlfriends that know her (and I am kinda jealous), I don't know her in person the way most people think of knowing someone. But let me tell you, Sue lets it all hang out. She is transparent in a way that most people can't imagine. She communicates about REAL life and REAL relationship with Jesus like Nobody's Business. Her writing is amazing and conversational. She's brave enough to put things on paper that the rest of us try to pretend we don't think about let alone do.
Sue's first book, All I need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans, was awesome and her newest book, My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself, is even better. As you guessed from the title, this book is about 23 of the lies we tell ourselves (and let the biggest Liar confirm for us); my favorites were 2, 15, 16, 18, 21, & 22. No I am not telling you what they are because you need to get the book. What I will say is: This book is GOOD. Good like: I laugh & cry every time I pick it up (because I am in harmony with the highs and lows), I am sucked in immediately, I can't put it down, I am letting my kids stare at the TV and eat Oreos for dinner kind of good.
If you are a woman, Christ-follower, mother, church planter, sister, daughter, teacher, volunteer, chocolate lover, jewelry lover, bargain shopper, dreamer, independent thinker, tired supergirl, or ever told a lie to yourself or someone else...I'll stop, that covers all of you, You Need To Buy and Read This Book. I guarantee you'll like it.

* Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
**This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing. ---The FCC makes me put that on here, but I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT ANYWAY!

Book Review and GIVEAWAY-- Here Burns My Candle

I have not done many blog tours/book reviews this year since having my 4th child---I wonder why?! But when the opportunity to review this book came up, I couldn't pass it up. Liz Curtis Higgs is a wonderful writer and with books like her Bad Girls of the Bible trio--she has intrigued me before. Well, let me give a resounding endorsement, Liz Curtis Higgs has done it again (written a fantastic book that is)!

I have always been drawn to the story of Ruth. And now, there is a awesome fiction book with a Scottish twist to bring this fabulous story to life in a completely new way. The story of Ruth is about love, loss, culture, family, connection, loyalty and so many other deep human emotions. Who better than an acclaimed author like Liz Curtis Harris to deepen a readers connection to those emotions (especially in a Scottish setting)?
Here Burns My Candle drew me in with it's language, characters, and the themed quotes to start each chapter. I have to admit that I was worried a bit about how I would enjoy the Old Word Scottish speak; I didn't want to feel like I was reading a high school English class assignment---and I didn't! I don't know if it is the ease with which the story flows, the connection to the characters, or my love of stories that give a picture of history, but I was glued to the pages and actually enjoyed the dialect. Liz does a great job of using history and detailed setting to support her characters and bring the story to life. The weaving of this story is amazing.

Publisher's Summary:

A mother who cannot face her future.
A daughter who cannot escape her past.

Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.
Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.
His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.
One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.
A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

GIVEAWAY: You should read this book AND I have one copy to give away free!
If you aren't the lucky winner, no worries, you can buy it here.
Leave a comment on this blog or on my FB note and I will randomly draw a winner on Thursday (April 1st).

**This was book and the giveaway copy were provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

BonBon Charms

Yesterday, my BonBon Charm and chain arrived. I LOVE it. Thanks so much to Erica, owner and creator extraordinaire! She worked with me to custom design this charm; I have four kids with long names and I wanted Psalms 127:3 reflected on the charm: "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him."
Check out her site- you'll love it.

P.S. Thanks also to Sue Foth Aughtmon, author of the book All I need is Jesus and a Good pair of Jeans and the Blog "Confessions of a Tired Supergirl." Sue is Erica's sister and introduced me to BonBon Charms.

Fearless

I keep saying that I am going to get back on my blogging kick and give a shout out to the books I have been reading. Unfortunately, I have been doing a lot of writing for work and my writing for pleasure (not that work isn't a pleasure) has diminished to non-existent...

In 2009 I had some great reads that included:

1. Fearless

2. Me, Myself, and Bob

3. Collapse of Distinction

4. Billy

5. The Shack

Some of these have been posted to the blog-O-sphere but I owe a posting to Max Lucado and his release of FEARLESS.

The book had some great thoughts and gave some insight as to what motivates people and what drives people to fear.

The biggest take away for me was how to help people work through their fear and the stories that give you practical examples of real people that needed to work out issues of fear. Whether you live in fear or are surrounded by others with fear, Max presents a book that is easy and fast to read that leaves you with great take aways.

DS

Blue Like Play Dough

Today my husband worked a short day and my in-laws are in town. This gave me the unusual opportunity to consider a nap.....I had the chance to take a LONG nap but I passed on it. WHAT???? That's crazy! Any mother of four who has the chance to take a nap (long or short) should take it. Why on earth would I pass up this chance? Because I wanted to finish the book Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer.

Now, I will confess that I read fast so I managed to get the reading in and still have time for a short nap so it wasn't all sacrifice. This book is wonderful. It hit on several parenting, spiritual, and life issues that were timely. Some of the topics I enjoyed most:

• There's no need for Excessive Self-Sufficiency.
• One of the best ways of Finding and Sharing God's Love is thru Relationship with others
• Remembering that TODAY is life, don't wait for the illusive tomorrow.
• Trust and respond to your inner voice!
• If you feel disconnected or "a little off"--- you probably are, but you can fix it. Get into the word and spend some time in prayer.
• There are no "side trips" on your journey with God, every season has a purpose. God can grow you thru it.
• Make the effort to tuck God's word in your kids hearts (ie: bible stories and memorization) and use creative ways sometimes... For instance, lights out or bedtime can be extended ANY time for reading God's word.
• The hard stuff isn't easy (like your teenager being arrested for stealing) but thru it we see God in different ways.

This book may well be the best book I have read so far this year. I plan to read it again while on vacation next week. But, better yet, I have a copy to GIVE AWAY. Comment here on the blog OR on Facebook by Aug 8 to be entered in a drawing for a free book (I'll mail it to you). If you aren't the winner, you should still get this book!

Summary: In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.

Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

Author Bio: Tricia Goyer is the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Generation NeXt Parenting and the Gold Medallion finalist Life Interrupted. Goyer writes for publications such as Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family, speaks to women’s groups nationwide and has been a presenter at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) national convention. She and her husband, John, live with their family in Montana.

Be Encouraged by: A Perfect Mess

I love reviewing books for Publishers. When it's a great fiction book, I love being drawn into the story. When it's a business or topic-specific book, I learn and learn and learn. In the case of A Perfect Mess by Lisa Harper, it's an encouragement book and Bible Study. I had already decided to make my summer devotion time focus on Psalms and Proverbs; when this book came along, I knew it would be a perfect companion to my studies. Lisa tells stories from a personal, human, and transparent viewpoint while clearly sharing scriptures from Psalms. It's awesome. There are chapters about: approval, rest, imperfections, expectations, and anger along with many others. These are the areas of "falling short" that so many people struggle with. Lisa's message is- God's grace prevails and the pressures we put on ourselves doesn't change that one bit. There are questions at the end of each chapter that can be used for personal reflection, a book club, or Bible study.

I enjoyed this book and would whole-heartedly recommend it! I think that reading a book that reminds and encourages us about God's grace thru our imperfections is a yearly necessity.

You can buy the book....OR you can win a copy here! Just post a comment on my blog or on Facebook for a chance to win a copy in a drawing. (I'll mail it to you.) Hurry, the drawing will take place on Aug 1st!

Book Summary-- Caught up in the self-imposed pressure to do and be all the things they think a Christian woman ought to do and be, countless women are working desperately to convince everyone, including God, that they have it all together. Few have any idea that the Creator of the universe looks at them with delight even when they yell at the dog, drive a minivan littered with French fries, or think bad words about that rude clerk at the store.

A Perfect Mess offers hope to every woman who yearns for a vibrant relationship with God but worries she isn’t good enough or doesn’t do enough to merit His affection. With characteristic authenticity, speaker and author Lisa Harper shares poignant stories from her own imperfect life to showcase the real-life relevancy of the Bible in the lives of modern women. As she guides readers on a story-driven journey through selected Psalms, they will be inspired to experience for themselves how God’s incomparable love transforms the messiness of life into a gorgeous work of grace.

Author Bio-- Lisa Harper is a master storyteller whose lively approach connects the dots between the Bible era and modern life. She is a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker whose upcoming appearances include the national Women of Faith Conferences. A veteran of numerous radio and television programs and the author of several books, she also is a regular columnist for Today’s Christian Woman magazine. Lisa recently completed a master’s of theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary. She makes her home outside Nashville.

Book Review-- Holy Roller by: Julie Lyons

This is a different kind of book, and I do mean different. It's not every day that you read a reporter's personal account of finding the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Awakening, and all in the course of doing her job. This book is about people's lives--the good, the bad, and the outright ugly---and also Hope. You may not believe in all, some, or any of the spiritual beliefs that Julie discusses in this book.

But, here is what it got me thinking about:

• People often act in ways that are religious and yet, look nothing like Christ's demonstration.
• Love is an action not a word.
• Some people take God seriously, Faith to them means believing and expecting that God will show up. (He may not answer their prayers the way they want, but He will comfort, He cares, and He just might answer in miraculous ways!)
• God is omnipotent, that's a pretty big deal!

This book is a sometimes slow, a bit unique in it's chronology and yet, a good read and worth it. This book will get you thinking, especially if you have been confused, apathetic, searching, stagnant, excited, content, educated, frustrated, or challenged about faith.

***So, get a copy, or BETTER YET, WIN ONE here. Leave a comment here on the blog or on Facebook to enter a drawing to win a free copy of the book. (I will mail it to you.)

Book Summary: Julie Lyons was working as a crime reporter when she followed a hunch into the South Dallas ghetto. She wasn’t hunting drug dealers, but drug addicts who had been supernaturally healed of their addictions. Was there a church in the most violent part of the city that prayed for addicts and got results.

At The Body of Christ Assembly, a rundown church on an out-of-the-way street, Lyons found the story she was looking for. The minister welcomed criminals, prostitutes, and street people–anyone who needed God. He prayed for the sick, the addicted, and the demon-possessed, and people were supernaturally healed.

Lyons’s story landed on the front page of the Dallas Times Herald. But she got much more than just a great story, she found an unlikely spiritual home. Though the parishioners at The Body of Christ Assembly are black and Pentecostal, and Lyons is white and from a traditional church background, she embraced their spirituality–that of “the Holy Ghost and fire.”

It’s all here in Holy Roller–the stories of people desperate for God’s help. And the actions of a God who doesn’t forget the people who need His power.

Author Bio: Julie Lyons is an award-winning writer, editor and investigative reporter who for more than 11 years served as editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer, an alternative weekly newspaper owned by Village Voice Media. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University. She and her husband, Larry Lyons Jr., live in Dallas with their son.

Sisterchicks In Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

I thoroughly enjoyed this book: Refreshing, realistic, and full of humor. This is a wonderful summer beach read. This is the first book by Robin Jones Gunn that I have read but I fully intend to read the rest of the Sisterchicks books. I also plan to pass on this book to one of my sisterchicks. (****see blog contest below) Another feature of this spectacular book is that it takes you on a short tour of Holland including churches, museums, and some famous Dutch people. Get the book, I promise you’ll enjoy it.

Here is the publisher’s summary and Author Bio:
Summary: When a mammogram result comes back abnormal, midlife mama Summer Finley makes a snap decision to relegate fear to the back burner and fulfill a lifelong dream. Summer heads for Holland where she meets up with tulips, wooden shoes, and her best friend, Noelle.
Pen pals since fourth grade, Summer and Noelle have never met face-to-face. Through decades of heart-level correspondence, they have sustained a deep friendship. A week of adventure helps both women trade anxiety for a renewed and deeper trust in God. When Summer confides in Noelle about the abnormal medical report, Noelle finds the freedom to share a long-held heartache, and both women discover they needed each other more than they realized.
Author Bio: Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of over seventy books, including the Glenbrooke, Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon, and Christy and Todd: The College Years teen series. The Sisterchicks® series has sold more than 300,000 units, bringing her total sales to more than 3.5 million books worldwide. A Christy Award winner, Robin is a popular speaker, both at home and abroad, and is frequently interviewed on radio and on television. http://www.robingunn.com/ http://www.sisterchicks.com/

**** To be entered in a drawing to win a free copy of the book, post a comment here on my blog or on my Facebook Note entitled “Sisterchicks in wooden shoes” before July 1.

Stealing Home -- By: Allison Pittman

Stealing Home By: Allison Pittman

I just started reading this book. Get a Copy and Enjoy!

Summary:
It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol. That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperone, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts. Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm. Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out. Four individuals, each living in haunted isolation, each harboring a secret passion. Providence brings them together. Tragedy threatens to tear them apart. Will love be enough to bring them home?

Author Bio: Allison Pittman spent seventeen years as a high school English teacher, and then shunned the advice of “experts,” quit her day job and set out to write novels that bring glory to God. She relishes inspiring other writers and leading the theater arts group at her church. She and her husband and three sons live in Universal City, Texas.

Hero-- Review and Give-Away

Book Review by: Sharon

This book by Fred and Jasen Stoeker is phenomenal.
If you are a man or if you are raising boys, this book is for you!
Our world is FULL of sexual temptation. Everywhere you look, sex sells.

Yet, most of the parents I know, live in confusion about how to combat it.
We don't know what the pitfalls are, we are not sure how to handle them, we don't even know if they can be avoided and if so, that our kids can have Victory (especially if we didn't).

Well, Victory is possible!
Get this book and read it--it's more than worth the cost and the time.
In Fact, Get an Extra Copy to Give to a friend.
I am excited about the perspective this book has given me in helping my sons!

****If you want a free copy of this book, I am giving one Away! Leave a comment here on our blog OR on my Facebook page by May 31 and you will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE copy!****

Here is the Publisher's Summary:
You already know it’s not easy being a single man in this culture today. But it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel helpless and hopeless about living by God’s high standards for singles. It’s easy to cave in to the pressures of this sex-soaked world and accept defeat—blaming the media, the culture, even girlfriends who don’t know how tough it can be.
But many men have read books like Every Young Man’s Battle and Tactics and have committed themselves to stand strong and pure in the power of God, and to go on the offensive against the onslaught of negative stereotypes. Some have suffered. Some have fallen. But many have experienced victory—and you can be among them.
What makes those committed men so desirable to women? Be Her Hero is their motto. From best-selling author Fred Stoeker, along with his son Jasen, come the straightforward insight and real-life examples you’re looking for to help you take personal purity to its logical conclusion. Here’s straight truth with irrefutable evidence of what makes an ultimate hero to women who long for men of faith—men who stand by their convictions and make their world a safer and better place.
Are you ready to accept the challenge?

Shack Attack!

I am not much for fiction...I do enjoy an occasional read to break up all the other books. So when this one was recommended to me I did not jump on it. Then I had the opportunity to hear Paul speak at Catalyst and decided to grab The Shack and find out what the 'hub bub' was all about.

What a great read. I stopped several times throughout the book to stop and really think about the ideas, concepts, and images he was describing. I loved everything about the book.

Don't read it on the plane (like I did) or you'll find yourself trying to explain how the elevation always makes your eyes water. There are some pretty rough moments in the book, "the great sadness" as the author calls it. As a parent, I found myself a little more paranoid for a while after reading parts of this.

The first 5 chapters are slow but absolutely necessary to build the background of the story line and make it all come together. I love how Paul Young stretches the readers mind to a whole new playing field.

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger

From the title of this blog, you might think that I had an interesting day, and I did, the day I read these two books.
I often review books for publishers but rarely do I get the opportunity to say, "I couldn't put this book down; I read it in one sitting!" And let me assure you that a mother of 3 kids with a fourth on the way can rarely say that about any task. These books are AMAZING!! From the content on various religions, the Bible, relationship restoration, love, humor, and the plain truth in these books, all be them fiction, I was captivated.

I can not more highly recommend a book, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, and it's sequel, a Day with a Perfect Stranger. I must say: "Buy them, Read them, and then Pass them on." I have a list of people at least 20 long that I want to get copies for.

I am including the summaries of the books below (even though they do not do justice to the books) along with a link to buy them---I was serious about the "Buy them" part.


Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth--
The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.
The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

Day with a Perfect Stranger:

What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?
When her husband comes home with a far fetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.
On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.
As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?

Enjoy Reading!

~Sharon

Absent

Totally have to apologize for not being diligent to posting on the blog lately. I have allowed life, business, and Facebook to distract me. Sang this song on Sunday morning...it never gets old and then my mother sent me this link. I would have loved to have been at the concert.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid271552717/bctid1913313052

I have three books going: The Shack - Me, Myself, and Bob - and the Collapse of Distinction. I will be posting book reviews and comments in the next week.

Again...sorry for being absent. So much to share and so much to capture as the kids are growing and life's opportunities are expanding.

~David

The Echo Within

The Echo Within by: Robert Benson is a short read but it didn't connect with me. It felt a bit "new-agey." I am not overly-structured in my opinions about how God speaks to people or even the paths that can used to finding your true calling. But, this book felt less about finding your true calling than about finding a way to feel warm and fuzzy about whatever you want...I don't know much about the author besides what can be found on his blog.

I guess my review is: I struggled to get thru the book and I wouldn't recommend it.
Here is the book summary anyway--
The Echo Within is written out Robert Benson's own lifelong search for and response to the calling voice of God, he recounts his discovery of the meaning of vocation, work, and purpose through the ups and downs inherent in family life, professional choice, and spiritual experience. With clarity and insight, and in the elegant prose for which he is known, he gently invites and encourages readers to find such deep truths for their lives as well. In particular, he illuminates the way for readers to explore:
·ways to sense the Holy in our pursuits, both in the pursuits themselves and within ourselves.
·how to fall into our vocation and chart a course toward it at the same time.
·how to love the work we do, and the process of doing it.
For anyone beginning a new career or sensing a needed change in their life or wrestling with a transition suddenly thrust upon them, Robert Benson delivers wisdom, humor, and heart in what he’s learned about listening for The Echo Within—and how it can help us discover our calling.

Never Say Diet Book Review

I occasionally review books for publishers as part of the book's release. I recently had the opportunity to review two books that I am thrilled to have received:

Title: Never Say Diet AND The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer

Author: Chantel Hobbs

Pages: 240 / 176

Publisher: WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (December 16, 2008)

Genre: Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Health / Diet

Edition: Paperback - Thanks are in order to the publisher for inviting me to review these books and providing a copy of each.

This time of year is full of resolutions about: weight loss, getting in shape, fitting into clothes, and resolving weight-related health issues.
I have in fact made a resolution for myself regarding getting in shape and weight loss following the delivery of my fourth child in April of this year. I didn't yet have any concrete plan on how I would accomplish my goals, just that it is essential to reclaim who I desire to be when I look in the mirror and try on clothes. No plan that is, until I read this book; I embraced this book immediately because I have never believed in dieting. I love food and have always believed that if I diet, I will eventually return to old habits.
So, Never Say Diet is a perfect fit for me. Chantel Hobbs has an easy to read writing style and she focuses not on what she calls the symptoms but what she identifies as the problem of weight loss and dieting. This book focuses on the lifestyle choices (physical, mental, and spiritual) we make every day. The author's message is designed in a '16-week plan' format which begins with emphasise on consistent exercise which is followed by an evaluation of eating habits. Chantel also ties in a spiritual perspective regarding the fact that God has given us each the power to accomplish what we set our minds and hearts to. Chantel includes tips, guidelines, food recommendations and exercise (with pictures you can understand) throughout the book. Chantel has the resume and results to back this book up! She has lost over 200 pounds and is a personal trainer, spinning instructor, and running coach. She is married and has four kids. She is what I would call a real woman, she has lived, learned, and wants to share her knowledge with others so that they too can have Victory in the area of health, wellness, and weight struggles.
The Never Say Diet Personal Trainer is a perfect companion to this book. It is broken into chapters that cover each week. Each chapter begins with a Bible Verse and Quote for the week, along with a space to record specific daily items; don't worry though, it is neither complicated or 'over-done.' I assure you that you will not find this recording process a burden but rather a fairly easy way to create accountability for yourself. Consistency is the name of the game in this program and Chantel has designed a great book and resource to help you remove your excuses.

Buy, Read, and Enjoy!

Billy...How the story began

I think history helps us understand how people will react, what has made them who they are today, and how things could potentially unfold. 

As part of an ongoing effort with Thomas Nelson Publishing, I am in the middle of another book review. Just wrapped up "Billy" by William Paul McKay and Ken Abraham. This fall in 2009 the movie will release...check out Billy: THE EARLY YEARS for the scoop!

I have read Preacher to the Presidents and other similar biographies that look at the impact and influence this man had on America's leaders but this is the first book that really looks at what and who had an influence on him. 

The book reveals relationships, trials, and struggles that I think we all face at different points in our life. What I found the most interesting is the roles that both Ruth Graham and Charles Templeton had on Billy Graham's journey. I also enjoyed reading more about his life in the market place as an employee and salesman prior to full time ministry. 

Great read...you won't be disappointed. 

~David 

Book Review - Me Myself, and I AM

I am not really into the whole journal craze, but I found this book to be easy to pick up and leverage it to ask some very introspective questions. It took little effort to open and dive in. It gave me things to reflect on and meditate on during quiet time in the morning and late at night. 

The book was also a great resource for finding questions to ask of friends around me and create new conversation about life journeys. The fact that I read this close to Thanksgiving also drove home how thankful I am in so many different arenas of life. 

I think the material in here would be great to use if you have a small group and you are trying to generate more conversation and discussion. 

This one is a fun and challenging book to pick up at your local bookstore or order on line and just go for it. 

Stop Doing IT!!!!

Recently I was fortunate to hear Jim Collins expound on several ideas from his book Good to Great. He also spent some time in a shorter but just as challenging book "Good to Great in the Social Sectors". He spent his time centered around the theme that greatness is not a function of our circumstances or the cards we are dealt but rather...greatness starts with a choice and then the discipline to carry out that decision.

In the follow-on study of great organizations and the differences between them, Collins made 2 statements/observations that I took to heart:

1. HUMILITY

2. STOP DOING

His point was there was one characteristic between Level 4 and 5 leaders that made all the difference. In the words of Rick Warren, "It's not about you." Humility was the game changer in taking good organizations to that next level. I have to admit that it made me stop and think about all the times I take credit for something when I could be passing it along to someone else in the organization.

The other MAJOR take away for me was the 'stop doing list'. We all have our 'To Do' lists and Collins said that great leaders take time to evaluate where and how they are being most and least effective. Based on that, they create a 'stop doing' list, These are things they will stop doing because they: can be delegated, are taking up too much time of the leadership and there by are creating inefficiency, or they are things that need to not be done at all by the organization.

Some quick thoughts...David

For Young Men Only!

I always believe in putting the bottom line up front in the military we would tell out soldiers “BLUF”.

So here goes: I am giving a copy of this book to my son (that simple). The book was short and easy read that I read on my flight from DC to Atlanta and for men, a short read is essential to make sure they get to the end. I will be using the book to drive discussion with my 5th grader over the coming months.

FYMO by authors Jeff Feldhahn & Eric Rice with Shaunti Feldhahn. When I saw the quote on the cover by Jeff Foxworthy, I was thinking, “Foxworthy? Really? What does he know or care about relative to this subject? Isn’t he just another comedian?”. The irony was that when I landed in Atlanta, Jeff was there at the conference to discuss some tough topics and help with a charity event and I had the opportunity to see his heart for helping young people all over the world.

FYMO was a great way to quickly earn a Masters Degree in ‘Girl’. Being clueless doesn’t look good on a man and when you are a young man navigating the minefield of the teen years it is even more important to get clued in. The stories and surveys shared from young women will give any young man a new perspective on what young women are looking for, what they are not, and how to win them over.

There is some great practical advice like: 5 smart moves a guy can make to get the girl. And there are some clear steps given to breaking the code about women (let’s be honest…I have been married for over 11 years and still not accomplished that).

The authors (and their wives) do a great job in gathering important information from young women and dealing with tough issues for men regarding: social networks, facebook, myspace, dating, sex, being one of the bad boys vs. a good guy, and more. My favorite quote in the book was, “Honesty is where superficiality stops and real friendship begins.”
At the end of the book there is also a short guide that will help you engage and drive discussion with your teen (or pre-teen / young man) who is starting to figure out there is in fact an opposite sex and that they don’t all have cooties.

Drawing on a fresh national survey of 600 teen girls, as well as hundreds of personal interviews, For Young Men Only reveals the real truth about what teenage girls think, what they want, and how average teen guys can build healthy friendships with high quality girls. I do recommend picking up a copy and sharing it with your son. Heck, I was even reminded of some practical things I need to do a better job of relative to my wife.