"90 Minutes in Heaven" Book Review and Giveaway

Never in my life as a book made me cry the way this one did!

"90 Minutes in Heaven" is a Don Piper's true life story of him being killed by a truck and brought back to life 90 minutes later by prayer. It chronicles his continued struggle to live and recover from his shocking injuries. Mr. Piper also tells of how God used his struggles to encourage many people who are also going through enormous trials.

I loved this book!

At first I was a bit skeptical. Was this going to be some fantastical story trying to fill my head with whimsical images of the hereafter? Not even close. While Mr. Piper does his best to describe what he experienced and saw in Heaven, it really isn't given all that much press time. "90 Minutes in Heaven" is far more focused on God's sustaining power during the torturous months that followed and on the power of prayer.

A number of passages in this book struck me in a profound way.

It moved me to read of the pastor who felt God was telling him to go and pray for the 'man in the accident'. Even though the police officer tried to discourage him, after all, the guy had been dead for 90 minutes and was mangled, he was obedient and as a result, got a first row seat to the awesome power of God. Do I have such faith? Or obedience? Plus, that Don Piper roused during the pastor singing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was almost more than I could bear. Mind you, we're told in the Psalms to 'enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and enter His courts with praise', so of course singing was involved.

It also touched my heart to hear of an 84 year old man willing to take Don to task for not letting others help him because it was stealing their chance to show love. Would I be willing to say what needs saying when the person is in mind-blowing pain if God told me to?

Thirdly, it was encouraging to see that Don struggled to share his sacred story about seeing Heaven for fear of what others would think. There have been many times when I've feared sharing a vision with others because I'm afraid of what they'd think of me. But, if God has given me a wonderful gift, why would I withhold it from the ones who need it?

I can't tell you how highly I recommend this book! I will warn you: I spent the day crying. They were tears of joy, tears of sorrow, tears from places I hadn't let myself admit were hurting. As crazy as it sounds, I'm worried about the movie version which comes out in Sept 2015 because how can a movie possibly to this story justice?

If you'd like to read this book (trust me you do) comment below to have your name entered into a draw, Aug 29th, 2015 for a free copy. Good Luck!

"Captive" Book Review and Giveaway

What an incredible story!

Imagine: Just as you're starting to get your life back on track, a man takes you hostage in your own apartment. "Captive" is Ashley Smith's true story of how God helped her earn the trust of a man, who just killed several people in an attempt to escape going to prison, in order to escape his captivity. 

As I read this book, I couldn't help but wonder how I would have handled the situation. I can definitely say, I likely wouldn't have done it as well as Ms. Smith. In the book, she talks about making it her goal to connect with the man, Brian Nichols, and to make him see her as a person - a mother and a recovering drug addict. She makes no bones about how scared she was or how her own sorry past allowed her an insider's view of how her captive must be feeling.

As far as the story goes, it was fascinating. As far as the book goes, I found it a bit repetitive. She talks a lot about her daughter Paige. She talks about how her daughter has lost a father, how her daughter has been through a lot because of her drug problems, how she's trying to get custody of her daughter back. Each of those sub topics was discussed over and over again until I started skimming. Throw in the fact that she also used her daughter as her main avenue for getting her captive to let her go free, and you start to lose me. I understand that Paige was pinnacle in her life struggles as well as instrumental in connecting with Brian Nichols but I started feeling like saying, "I get it. Move on." The same could be said for how often her late husband Mack is mentioned. It's not that he too isn't pinnacle to her story, it's just that she kept coming back to the same point.

Don't take me wrong, it wasn't so bad that I didn't want to finish the book. (something I quickly do if the book isn't great) Plus, as soon as I finished "Captive", my 12 year old daughter picked it up and was consumed by it. 

The movie version of "Captive" is coming out in September and I hope it does justice to such an incredible story.

I have no doubt that everyone would get a blessing out of reading this book. If you'd like your name entered in a draw for a free copy of "Captive", leave a comment below. The draw will be held Aug 27th, 2015. Good luck


Also, visit www.captivethemovie.com/followyourpurpose. 
Share your own story of overcoming what held you captive and how you are now following your purpose.

"The Bridge Builder" Book Review and Giveaway

May there be no mistaking it. 

I am a born again, evangelical Christian who believes that God chose the children of Israel as His chosen people to showcase His might. I believe Jesus was fully God and fully human. The human side was Jewish and because the Jews rejected Him as Messiah, salvation was opened to the Gentiles. I also believe that the Church has NOT replaced the Jews in any way. 

I also want to make clear that I have long thought of the Jews with favor because I wish to line my heart up with God's.  And if God says, in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." then my desire is to do just that. This makes me extremely Pro-Israel. I support Stephen Harper as Prime Minister of Canada for this very reason and believe that this is the sole reason Canada fared so well during the 2008 financial crisis.

Now to the actual review of the book. (You'll understand why I felt I needed to explain where I'm coming from in just a moment.)

"The Bridge Builder" by Zev Chafets is the biography of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Truthfully, I hadn't heard of Rabbi Eckstein before and had no idea why he was of importance. As it turns out he's given his life to raising funds for the Jewish people to allow them to immigrate to Israel from places such as Russia, as well as a long list of social and welfare programs. Truthfully, that is putting it mildly. Eckstein has literally fundraised 100s of millions of dollars for the Jewish people. An astounding achievement by anyone's standards. For this I applaud him.

Then it breaks down.

As it turns out, most of the money comes from people like myself - born again Protestant Christians who also cling to the promise of Genesis 12:3. Awesome! To God be the Glory! But, as I've come to learn through this book, a lot of the time, they don't want our money because they see us as idol worshippers. Fair enough. I'm actually totally okay with that and see where they're coming from. But what irks me is the way Eckstein refers to Christians. He might think he loves them but when he talks about the number of Christians in the various countries and then says "This is too much potential to be ignored." I says to me, "I love Christians like a person loves the gold in the gold mine." Not flattering.

By itself, it's a small thing but when you add it to the number of times in the book he refers to how ardently against Christian Missionaries he is, I start to scratch my head. Let me tell you something, the more I love you, the more I feel the need to tell you about Jesus. Therefore, does it not lead to the conclusion that if Christians love Jews, they want to tell them about Jesus? Don't be offended by it, see it for what it is - loving concern. (I do understand that much that has happened to the Jews in the 'name of Christ' are nothing short of the devil's work but that's for another post)

Eckstein flatly admits he does not believe Jesus is the Messiah. He also says he didn't want Jews going to Christian worship services for fear they might convert. In other passages of this book, he admits to "to being drawn to Eastern spirituality" and says "In Jewish mysticism it (Shabbat) is associated with the Shekinah, a feminine name for God. 'The days of the week are masculine,' says Eckstein, 'The Shabbat is a queen."  What?  Again, if this is what he believes so be it. I rally for religious freedom. Just don't patronize me when you want me to write a check.

The book itself was not really worth reading in my opinion. It was a list of names, what they believed about Christian - Jewish relations, how Eckstein overcame it and the amount of money he raised. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I didn't find in inspiring in anyway.

At the end of the day, "The Bridge Builder" did nothing to garner my Christian support for the Jewish people. In fact, the exact opposite was accomplished. Actually it would be true except for one quote not from the book but from THE BOOK:

 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
 Matthew 5:44-46

I do not believe I'm to love the Jews more or less than others. I'm to love period.

Would you like a copy of "The Bridge Builder"? Perhaps you feel much differently than I do about the situation. If you'd like your name added to the draw for a free copy, leave a comment below. The Draw will be made on Aug 24th, 2015. Good Luck.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”