A Bounty of Books

Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God's Voice Above All Others by Steve Furtick is a fantastic look at strategies Christians can use to drown out the voice of the enemy and listen solely to God, the Voice of Truth. Using scripture and many personal examples, Furtick explores four main areas Christians most face the incessant nagging of the enemy: insecurity, fear, condemnation, and discouragement.

I found many gems scattered throughout Crash the Chatterbox. It may be that I appreciated it more at this point in my life than I would have in others, because the topic is something I've been actively dealing with over the last year. However, there are plenty of helpful truths and strategies for anyone in this book, because we all face one of the big four in various areas of our lives. Furtick's writing is extremely accessible and relatable, as he is quite honest about his own struggles and victories in this arena. This is one of the best books I've read on the topic of controlling the thoughts we allow to influence our life. The truths are simple, yet profoundly life changing if applied.

Furtick includes a section by section discussion guide at the end that the reader can use to dig deeper into the subject in his/her own life, or that can be used in a group setting. The overall appearance of the book is aesthetically pleasing. Also, it is broken into very manageable sections which helps if one only has a few minutes at a time to read. The key thought of each chapter is displayed at the end in a giant, eye grabbing chat bubble. I'd recommend this book to every Christian, and even non-Christians who are interested in seeing the difference the power of Christ in one's life can make.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books 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

Ascent from Darkness by Micahel Leehan, is an autobiographical story of Leehan's journey from deep inside satanism to Christianity. Leehan leaves nothing to the imagination as he recounts everything from his initial exposure to satanism, to the various pacts and agreements he made with Satan, as well as the rituals and sacrifices involved in his worship of Satan. Throughout this period of his life, which spanned decades, his exposure to Christianity and the Church played a key role, both in his practice of Satanism, as well as in his eventual deliverance from that and his redemption by Christ.

This was my first exposure to satanism beyond simply being aware that it exists. Leehan's straightforward explanation of his rituals, practices, and interaction with Satan and his demons can be pretty terrifying; you can almost feel the darkness emanating from the pages. I read the first hundred pages in one sitting and then had to put it down for a few days to kind of take a breath, pray, and dwell on Christ. Leehan's writing style flows very quickly, and the story itself is so intriguing, that overall its an enjoyable read as far as the act of reading goes. The content however, is pretty disturbing, which will effect the overall reading experience.

Thankfully, Christ is more powerful than Satan, and Leehan's story doesn't end mired in darkness and hopelessness. Instead, it ends with another astounding story of God's amazing grace and power. After years of His pursuit, with the support of some wonderful men of God, Leehan surrendered his life to Christ. The story of Leehan's journey and deliverance is ultimately full of hope, as it shows that no one can go so far that God's love and grace can't reach them.

I'd recommend Ascent From Darkness to those who may currently be involved in some form of devil worship, but want out. I'd also recommend it to a believer who may be dealing with someone in that situation, because Leehan is very honest about how it feels and what goes on. Those who may be contemplating becoming involved in some form of devil worship will also benefit from this book, and hopefully be steered away from this lifestyle as a result.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze 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