Since I write very brief reviews, I have been waiting to do a review post until I had several to pass along. Here is the latest batch. ————————- The Mystery of God’s Will Charles Swindoll Thomas Nelson, 1999 (222 pages) It is rare that a writer admits from the outset that he does not know the topic very well, but Swindoll clearly makes that claim at the beginning of this volume. Gaining a true and full understanding of the will of God is a nearly impossible topic to cover, but Swindoll’s effort in this book is commendable. Obviously, there are some things Swindoll writes in this book with which I…

Four reviews today, and I like all four books. Enjoy! ——————————- Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters Meg Meeker Ballantine Books, 2006 (267 pages) Simply put, this is one of the best (if not, “the” best) book on parenting I have ever read. Obviously, as a dad with a daughter, this book appealed to me, but I found some principles here, too, that will help in raising my son. Meeker is able in this book to share very blunt truths with us fathers. Her approach is clear, concise and, at times, downright “in your face.” However, she backs up all her statements with almost countless references to research and also with life…

Living in the Zone walks men through 40 days of Bible study and self-evaluation. The book is designed for those who love sports, and each chapter contains a story of someone associated with the world of athletics who models a specific and needed trait. The 40-day approach has been all the rage lately, probably due to the success of Fireproof and its 40-day Love Dare. “Zone” is a book that is challenging, and will really cause men to think. The 40 days are divided into 6 “zones” in which men need to evaluate their success and maturity against what God has to say in His Word. Maybe the most challenging…

When God Builds a Church Bob Russell Howard Publishing, 2000 (292 pages) I read this book as I prepared some ideas for sermons for 2011. I had read this book several years ago, but thought it needed to be read again. Russell, the “senior pastor” of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, wrote this book as a way to show that growing a congregation isn’t just about some gimmicky method or the latest fad. At the time this book was written, Southeast had about 13,000 in weekly attendance. The book features 10 principles that are as simple as “worship,” “evangelism,” and “fellowship.” While these are old principles, they still work. To…