Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

Title: Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
Author: John Eldredge
Rating: Good
Reason for Reading:  This book was recommended by one of my favorite authors, Dave Ramsey, and has been on my book list for some time.  When Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program made the Revised and Expanded edition available, I jumped at the chance to get the book.

Summary: Wild at Heart is an in-depth study and commentary on Christian masculinity, both in biblical and modern context.  Eldredge describes much in the Bible that describes man as an image bearer of God in the world, but not just the parts of God that people are often most comfortable with.  He challenges the skin deep, nice guy depiction of the Creator that can be found too easily.  He describes God as a warrior, fighting to free his chosen people from bondage in Egypt, fighting demons and rebellious angels jealous of His power and authority, and fighting to return the hearts of his children to His ways. 
Eldredge describes how the fall of man has robbed him of this glorious role to play in the universe, this drama between the forces of good and evil, right and wrong.  Despite failure and rejection, the soul of man still bears the image of the warrior God, hungry for a battle to fight, and beauty to rescue, and an adventure to have.  Eldredge rejects the call from society for men to be de-clawed or disarmed from the spiritual battle taking place in the world today.  He describes how Christ was crucified for challenging earthly power and authority, fighting the injustice present in the world, and men are called to continue this struggle in order to follow him.
Review:  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Wild at Heart, and would not be surprised if I find this in a regular rotation on my book list, reading it annually.  It is not often that one finds an author who can both describe the failure of men and the praise the spiritual masculinity God has created man to represent.  For any man struggling with doubts about his masculinity or questions about how to be what he was built to be, I strongly recommend Wild at Heart.  For the women who love these men, who wonder why Christian men are often torn between their nature and what society expects of them, or between their capacity to demonstrate the glory of God with their flawed, failing, and sinful nature, I would recommend this book as well.
Devon
Other resources:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be by Max Lucado

Title: You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be
Author: Max Lucado
Rating: Good

Reason for Reading:  I acquired this book through Thomas Nelson Publishers' BookSneeze program in exchange for a review of it.  The publisher has in no way influenced the content of this review, and the views expressed are solely my own.
Summary:  You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be is a representation of the material in Max's 2005 book Cure For The Common Life, which I have also read and reviewed.  YCBEGWYTB includes most of the stories, inspirational material, and principles covered in Cure.  What is excluded is the detailed appendix at the back of Cure that lists Bible versus to read and questions about your past to answer.
Review: The sticker on my copy of YCBEGWYTB describes the book as the "perfect gift for the graduate".  Why that might be a bit of publisher hyperbole, I find that it would be an excellent gift for a recent high school or college graduate.  As the book describes, most formal educations do little to help the individual find their "sweet spot", that place Max describes as where one's strengths, one's everyday life, and God's glory all overlap.  Many graduates find them selves looking ahead at the next stage of their life wondering what's next.  A diploma or degree doesn't guarantee a job, much less a personally-satisfying one.  This book will help the recipient take a new look at themselves, their future, and what their life has prepared them for.  I recommend it for graduates, and anyone looking at their life ahead wondering what God has planned for them.
Devon
Other resources: www.thomasnelson.com

Hermie and Friends "Who Is In Charge Anyway?" by Max Lucado

Rating: Good

Link to the DVD at Amazon.com: Who Is in Charge Anyway?

Reason for Watching: We received this as a part of the BookSneeze program from Thomas Nelson Publishers. We received this DVD for free in exchange for an honest review. Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by receiving the DVD for free.

Summary: "Who Is In Charge Anyway" is about growing up with God.  Freddie the Flea hears his friends wondering what is special about fleas.  So, Freddie starts to wonder himself, all about what God has planned for him.  Freddie asks God why he is the way he is.  God reveals to Freddie that He has worked in his friends' lives to make them they way they are.  Flashbacks take the viewer along to see the other Hermie and Friends characters in childhood.  Freddie learns that God has made each of them with special gifts.  And that God has something special planned for him as well.  After Freddie learns more about how God is working in his life, he works with other fleas to tell people about God.  Freddie's special talent of evangelism is shown at the end, providing young viewers a great example of how they can share their faith through their words and actions.

Review:  Our little one (age 8) found that "Who Is In Charge Anyway" was a great DVD.  He really enjoyed the flashbacks into the previously unseen childhoods of the Hermie characters.  This is a new look at the same Hermie characters he's grown to love.  He highly recommends this for kids of all ages.  Grownups will find that the DVD teaches a great lesson about God has made everyone with special gifts that they can share with others, and that everyone grows into who God has made them to be over time.  This DVD is everything you could want: funny, clean, and with a deep and powerful meaning.

Devon