A Bounty of Books

Hitler's Cross by Erwin W. Lutzer is  about the church in Germany during the rise and reign of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. It traces the historical, social, economic, and political circumstances that shaped Germany during the post WWI era and allowed Hitler to start WWII.  The church's silence and inaction during this crucial time in world history is examined in light of the aforementioned factors, as well as the spiritual climate that allowed such a shocking lack of engagement with the world.

Lutzer, a pastor and theologian, structures his book in a logical, chronological order. He examines the history of the German people and the German church which helps explain the state both were in when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came on the scene. The book is set up as a conflict between two crosses and two saviors: Christ and the cross, and Hitler and the swastika. Lutzer shows how Hitler and the swastika came to reign over Christ and the cross in Germany for a period of time. However, he makes sure to point out that God was always in control and that He was and is the ultimate victor. The swastika may have "reigned" for a bit, but Christ and the cross were never beaten. This is mainly highlighted through the life and efforts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Confessing Church.

Overall, the book was OK. I was a bit taken back by the preachiness of the commentary about modern day America and the parallels the author sees between now and Nazi Germany. I expected more of a straightforward historical account, and found the continual interjections somewhat disrupting. Other than that, Hitler's Cross contains good information, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in WWII, church history, or sociology.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review 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

The Searchers by Joseph Loconte is an examination of faith and doubt using the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus as the unifying thread of the book. Using examples from history, film, and his own life, Loconte discusses the role of doubt in faith and how the truth and power of the resurrection is the defining event of Christian faith, both then and now.

The Searchers is a good read with some well made points, but I am disappointed with it for two reasons. One is that I feel the description provided on the back cover is slightly misleading. I expected this to be more about the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus - more of an in-depth historical examination of that time, place, and circumstances. Instead, the story of the road to Emmaus serves more as a common thread that ties each chapter together, in a sometimes tenuous way.

The other disappointing aspect is that the book was somewhat redundant. The first half of each chapter was good and had good information, but the last half dragged and repeated itself. Overall, I don't know that I would recommend The Searchers, but neither would I advise someone not to read it. Perhaps having a better understanding of what it is actually about would improve the reading experience.

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

Fearless by Eric Blehm is the story of a daredevil, crack addict teen who became a member of the top special forces group in the United States military. Through God's grace, Adam Brown was able to become a husband, father, and special forces operator who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his brothers-in-arms.

Eric Blehm had unparallelled access to Adam Brown's friends and family, as well as primary source documents such as military records, court documents, and letters. This is obvious in his recounting of Brown's life, as he is able to make the reader feel as though he/she knew Brown personally. Fearless seems almost like a novel because of the easy flow with which it reads. The raw honesty of Brown's failures and struggles make it easy to relate to Adam, as well as to root for him. Knowing that his life will be cut short in an act of sacrifice for those he served with made each triumph Brown experienced that much more poignant.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Fearless and getting to peek into Adam Brown's life. Blehm treats his life with respect and balance, something I think Brown would have appreciated. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in biographies, special forces, or the power of God's grace in the life of one who is willing to surrender to Him.

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

The latest in Gary Chapman's best selling series about how to best express love to individuals in one's life, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace changes gears a bit and helps one show appreciation in a setting where the word love may be misinterpreted or not be appropriate.

For this edition, Chapman paired with workplace psychologist Dr. Paul White to discuss ways appreciation can be shown in the workplace, as well as the effect appropriately directed and received encouragement has on workers individually and the workplace as a whole. Chapman and White discuss the various ways appreciation is shown and the importance of encouraging someone in a way that is meaningful to him/her. The five love languages are quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, tangible gifts, and physical touch. Within these five languages, there are various dialects, or specific ways that are more meaningful depending on the person. For example, one worker may feel the most appreciated when receiving a private not of encouragement, while another may be more encouraged by a public word of affirmation.

Chapman and White are thorough in their treatment of each language of appreciation and how it can be expressed in the workplace.They give many helpful examples from the variety of field tests they've done with numerous companies throughout the nation, of varying sizes, services offered, and structures. The end of each chapter includes several questions under "Making it Personal" that help the reader apply the contents of each chapter to his/her life. There is also an "Appreciation Toolkit" in the back with helpful appendices on topics such as "How to Reward Volunteers" and "Acknowledging and Dealing with the 'Weirdness Factor'".

Overall I would strongly encourage any person in leadership over others in the workplace to read this book. The effects of positive and appropriate affirmation in the workplace cannot be overemphasized. Anyone from the CEO to the low man on the totem pole who simply wants to encourage those around him will benefit from reading Chapman and White's The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review 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

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

A Year with G.K. Chesterton: 365 of Wisdom, Wit, and Wonder is a collection of excerpts from Chesterton's writings edited by Kevin Belmonte. Each day there is a Bible verse and at least one excerpt, usually less than a page in length, from one of Chesterton's many published works. On many days there are notes about important events from Chesterton's life or dates of publication for his writings.

Chesterton was a fascinating man and prolific author. I'm not very familiar with much of his work, but many of the authors who have shaped my thinking the most cite him and his works as an inspiration in their lives. Therefore, when I had the opportunity to read and review this book, I jumped on it. As far as its quality as a devotional, the entry lengths are just about right for a small taste of Chesterton each morning. This isn't a devotional with a certain theme or to help one accomplish something. Instead, each day offers a glimpse into Chesterton's mind through his writings.

The design and layout of A Year with G.K. Chesterton is aesthetically pleasing. It has very clean and simple lines and font. The appendix of supplemental readings at the back with special entries for "the main festival days of the church" is a nice extra feature. The entries are selected from over fifty publications of Chesterton's work, and vary in nature from poetry, to literary review.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Chesterton; the samples of his work provided will help one decide if one wants to read more of him or not. This book is also obviously great for anyone who is already a fan of Chesterton. Also, anyone who is simply a fan of good writing will enjoy this selection of samples from one of the greatest literary minds of his time.

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