Jesus, My Father, The CIA & Me By Ian Cron

An entertaining, touching memoir of life with an alcoholic father who secretly works with the CIA, a dark pilgrimage through the valley of depression and addiction, and finding a faith to redeem and a strength to forgive.
At the age of sixteen, Ian Morgan Cron was told that his stockbroker father actually worked with the CIA. The story of this world-rocking discovery is the stepping-off point into a fascinating exploration of one man's alternately heartbreaking and humorous journey to faith and spiritual growth.
Born into a family of privilege and power, Ian's life is populated with colorful people and stories, including the account of an alcoholic father who takes his family on a wild roller-coaster ride through wealth and poverty and back again. Includes tales of a nearly blind English nanny who teaches him what love means, a famous New York radio personality who saves his life, a simple carpenter who leads him to faith in Jesus, and his own personal journey from addiction to twenty-three years of sobriety.
Believers and seekers alike will be moved by how Ian uncovers and honors what is sacred in his story, how he discovers God in the struggle to find redemption, and how the mysterious movement and presence of God is woven throughout the adventure of his life.

 

Great true story of a boy who grew up with am alcoholic father who harboured many secrets and a Mother who tried her best to shelter him from it all. I'm not sure it's one of the best books I've read but I enjoy reading about real people and real struggles. I'm not sure I understand the authors attitude toward God or where he stands spiritually. All in all, it was a good read!

I received this book free from Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

The Christian Parenting Handbook By Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

With advice on parenting coming from several angles, what do you listen to and what do you ignore? Develop your own biblical philosophy of parenting and use it to filter the many ideas that come your way.
In this book you’ll learn how to:
Identify character qualities to address problems
Build internal motivation
Transfer responsibility for change to the child
Teach kids to be solvers instead of whiners
Use creativity to teach your kids spiritual truths
Avoid the “boxing ring”
Envision a positive future
And much more!
With these strategies you’ll be able to move from behavior modification to a heart-based approach to parenting. Instead of relying on rewards, incentives, threats, and punishment, you’ll learn how to identify heart lessons to teach your child and implement them in practical ways.
The Christian Parenting Handbook by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, founders of the National Center for Biblical Parenting, compiles fifty parenting principles that use heart-based strategies to teach you how to face daily challenges. When parents focus on the heart, kids learn to ask different questions about life. Instead of asking, “What’s in it for me?” they learn to ask, “What’s the right thing to do?” You’ll soon see how a heart-based approach to parenting looks deeper and brings about greater, lasting change.

As a Father of a toddler I'm sure I'll reference back to this book from years to come. It has some great morals and values in how to raise your children according to scripture and it has some wise words from decades of parenting.
I don;t think this is a book you would want to read all at once, it is spit up in to 50 chapters that help you draw on and focus on one particular thing at a time.
I would consider this more of a handbook that you could reference back to in your time of need to find out what to do in a particular situation, to find out what works!
Great read, great advice, great for years to come!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

Second Chances By Max Lucado

We humans are prone to failure. We’re experts at muddying, mixing, and messing up our lives. Who among us hasn’t looked up from the bottom of a pit and realized he dug it himself? Who hasn’t fallen so far, messed up so badly that she thought there was no hope? And it’s at these low points that we crave reminders that there’s hope for the broken.No reminder is quite as poignant as a story of second chances. A story of grace in action. Who couldn’t use more stories of grace like this?

 Such a great read, but then again, isn't all Lucado's books? This book is about times when you've hit rock bottom and you have nowhere to go but up, that's what God's grace does for us. We are lifted from the lowest valley to the highest mountain. Lucado again uses scripture to retell stories in modern day along with stories from others and finally his own personal experiences.
I like how this book is short stories as it left me time to read an exerpt in the bathroom, while waiting for supper to cook or at the end of a long day. It gives us reminders that no matter how low we go, no matter how much shame we feel, no matter what we have done, God's grace is there to redeem us.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

When God Makes Lemonade By Don Jacobsen

In When God Makes Lemonade, author Don Jacobson has collected real-life stories from around the world that show everyday folks discovering unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances. Some are funny, others are sobering, and more than a few will bring tears of amazement. But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope. There's no question that life gives us "lemons," like issues with health, employment, and relationships. But when those lemons become lemonade, it's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot summer day. It's true that in life "stuff" happens, but as you'll see in these stories, lemonade happens too!

This book is like a refreshing glass of lemonade! We all have issues, we all have problems, but it's how we deal with these things that are thrown at us that matters, our reaction to those things. I loved how I could read a few stories then put it down to go do something or come back to it when I was feeling a little down. A great pick me up! I would definitely recommend this book as it's true real life stories by people like you & me!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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.”

Days Like These By Rachel & Kristian Anderson

There are love stories and then there's the story of Kristian and Rachel Anderson. When Kristian wanted to show his wife Rachel how much he loved her after learning he was terminally ill, he ended up winning millions of hearts around the world, thanks to the now famous YouTube video he made for her 35th birthday. Social media is often seen as trivial and self-absorbed, but this heartfelt and moving tribute by a young Australian father of two in the midst of a battle with cancer, drew attention to a much larger story we all wanted to know more about and an ordeal so many families face alone. Like Oprah, who invited Kristian and Rachel on her show, and Hugh Jackman, who helped make one of Kristian's dreams come true by appearing on the tribute, many of us didn't know him but we were so inspired by him that we felt like we did. He touched lives, gave hope and left behind a precious legacy that will mean a longer and better quality of life for thousands of cancer sufferers. Kristian’s faith was foundational to him and he openly shared his prayers, his struggles, and the hope he found in his relationship with God. His story, told in his own words from his blog entries, with additions from his beloved Rachel, will inspire others to know that even in the darkest moments, the light can shine through.

This is a very powerful book. I started reading it when I had a few free minutes and just totally shut out the rest of the day, I had to finish. I cannot fathom struggling through such a debilitating illness, especially putting my family through it as well. Kristian was a very strong man and a fighter, as well as his wife Rachel. This book tells the story of Kristians battle with cancer and his raw emotions and what he faced, it's all in your face, no holds barred. It left me with a very heavy heart to see him struggle and for one man to be in so much pain, I guess I never really did understand what one goes through during these times. It talks about where he drew strength from many song lyrics and how it spoke to him time and time again. I'm not sure this book is for everyone as it is all put out there. But I do reccomend! Provided by Booksneeze

Unglued Devotional By Lysa TerKeurst

This companion devotional to the bestselling book Unglued provides encouragement to help readers handle emotional struggles. Including a daily opening Scripture, Thought for the Day, devotion, and closing prayer, this book helps readers begin a 60-day journey in learning to positively process raw emotions, such as fear, anger, and regret.

I just want to say, I have not quite finished the devotional yet, I'm about part way through because I want to take time and reflect on the pasages and how I can apply them to my own life. This is a 60 day devotional which I want to slow down and just focus on one chapter a day. I have not ready TerKeurst's bestseller (prequel to this devotional) Unglued. But when I saw the devotional I knew I just had to check it out. As a husband, father to a toddler, and main breadwinner I've had plenty moments where it felt like it was all coming undone, or in this case "unglued". But this devotional helps us to realize that even in the not so great moments, God is always there if we call on him to help us through.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Just Like Jesus (Devotional) By Max Lucado

God wants to give you a heart just like Jesus. Jesus felt no guilt; God wants you to feel no guilt. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to do away with yours. Jesus had no fears; God wants the same for you. Jesus had no anxiety about death; you needn't either. God's desire, his plan, his ultimate goal is to make you into the image of Christ. This is your invitation to spend thirty intimate days with the Savior learning how to become more like Jesus. Can you think of a better offer?

What a rich and rewarding experience and another chance to go deeper with God. Max Lucado has yet to disappoint. His words are always backed up by scriptural references and he gets you thinking about your life and being everything God planned for you to be. There are 30 chapters meant to be read one a day to get you thinking as well as reflecting on God's word. I think it is a devotional I can refer back to over and over again

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.