Book Review: Love Does by Bob Goff



Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff is a compilation of stories and essays that have a common theme about living an extra-ordinary life.  I heard about Bob a couple of years ago through the writings of Donald Miller.  When you hear some of the stories about Bob, you really wonder if this guy is even real.  Bob has accomplished so many incredible things in his life which is more than the average person will ever accomplish in their own life.  An that's the thing, Bob is no different than the average person.  The difference is that he views life differently and he takes advantage of the many opportunities that come his way.  He is not a spectator in life, he is a participant. 

In Love Does, Bob tells about how he got into law school (after sitting outside the dean's office for a week until the dean finally admitted him), how he let a young man propose on his's back porch (which included dinner, servers, and a boat ride), how he took his kids on a muilt-country trip to eat cookies with princes and diplomats and talk about what gives them hope.  He accepted an appointment as counsul to Uganda all the while thinking it was a practical joke which led him to making a huge impact on helping free imprisoned children.  This is just a few of the many stories about Bob's life. 

Bob's book reminds us that we all can live this type of life.  How we live our life is a choice we make everyday.  We all have the opportunity to live a life of adventure and whimsy.  If you feel like you were created to accomplish more, give more, and love more then this is a book you definitely will want to read.  Bob has a way to telling his stories that inspire you to live a better story for your life.  It insprires you to not just dream about an exciting life to but actually live an extra-ordinary life. 

"I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does....It's the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day."  ~ Bob Goff


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have express are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement and TEstimonials in Advertising."

Amish Prayers by Beverly Lewis

Amish Prayers: Heartfelt Expressions of Humility, Gratitude and Devotion by Beverly Lewis is a compilation of prayers that have been used by the Amish for generations. What makes this book unique is that the prayers are translated from German to English, so that it is now available for all to enjoy. The prayers are organized in categories so it is very easy to turn to specific types of prayers, such as Prayers for Strength, Prayers for Praise, or Prayers for Humility. I really enjoyed this book. I used it as an addition to my daily devotional. There were some days that were rather stressful and it was nice to turn to one of the Prayers for Strength and just read and then pray.

Voices of The Faithful devotional book compiled by Beth Moore

"Voices of The Faithful" is a 365 day devotional book by Beth Moore that tells encouraging stories from Christians serving on the mission field around the world. Each month has a theme (Prayer, God's Grace, Persecution, Contentment are a few of the monthly themes) with the daily devotional revolving around that theme. Each daily devotion is written by a missionary and it also includes a scripture to read and a short prayer at the end. I really, really enjoyed reading through this book. It made me so much more aware of the struggles of being a missionary. It also gave me an opportunity each day to stop and pray for the specific missionary.

I have a close friend that is currently serving as a missionary in Canada. There is so much joy in the work that she is doing, but every day she has to walk on faith. Sometimes she never knows if there will be enough money at the end of the month to cover her expenses, but every month the Lord provides. I am really glad that Beth Moore put together this devotional book because it really opens the eyes of the readers to what missionaries really have to go through, especially those serving in high-risk areas.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.

Book Review: "The Final Summit" by Andy Andrews

"The Final Summit" is the newest book by Andy Andrews. While it is a sequel to his book "The Traveler's Gift", it can easily be read and enjoyed without having read the first book.

In the first book "The Traveler's Gift", you would have met David Ponder at the lowest point in his life. He lost his job and his drive and desire to live. He gets an opportunity to travel in time (after he is unconscious after a traffic accident) to meet with 7 historical figures (King Soloman, Harry Truman, Anne Frank, Abraham Lincoln, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, Christopher Columbus, and the archangel Gabriel) who give him seven decisions that are the key to personal success. He would then use those seven decisions to rebuild his wealth and become a very successful businessman. This basic idea of the story is that God, at different points in history, would allow selected people, called travelers, to travel back in time to learn secrets of success from important and influential people in history.

In "The Final Summit" we continue the story of David Ponder, 28 years later. We meet David again at a low point in his life. He has recently lost his wife and is questioning his will to live. The archangel Gabriel returns to David to take him to the upcoming traveler summit conference. This is to be the final summit conference and David is to be the leader. The summit is being convened to determine the fate of the world. The members of the summit must answer this question: "What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?"

The book's cover describes it best:

"This is humanity's last chance. Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent mankind hurtling toward disaster, and far from its original purpose. There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship--and that answer is only two words. With time running out, it is up to David Ponder and a cast of history's best and brightest minds to uncover this solution before it is too late. The catch? They are allowed only five tries to solve the ominous challenge."

David Ponder has the brightest minds available to help him discover the answer. Is the answer hope, wisdom, or something else? Will David and his team be able to solve this question and save the world? The two word answer might surprise you.

The author draws you in the summit conference as the characters race to find the right answer. Some of the most influential people in history are available to David Ponder and every answer they present sounds like it is the answer. But is it? This book is a page turner as you continue to read and try to answer this question yourself.

I'm not going to give away the answer--you'll have to read the book yourself! I will say that while you might think it will be some ultra spiritual answer it is a really practical answer that can and should be applied to anyone's life. I will admit that while I was surprised that I could not figure out the answer until the end of the book, the answer itself did not surprise me.

I really enjoyed reading "The Final Summit". While it was a sequel (I had not read the first book), I found that the author weaved enough of the first book in so a reader starting with "The Final Summit" would be able to enjoy the book . One thing I like about Andy Andrews is his gift of weaving a fictional story with a thought provoking message. His stories are interesting and enjoyable to read and you also finish the book inspired to live a better life.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.

Book Review: "Max On Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions" by Max Lucado

"Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions" is Max Lucado's newest book. The book was written to answer the many different questions that Max Lucado has received through the years. "Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions--parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships--as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?" There are 172 questions organized in seven sections (Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, and Hereafter). "Max on Life" is definitely different from the other Lucado books I have read. His books typically cover just one topic in which he is very thorough. This book ranges in topics and each answer is about a page to a page and a half. It is written in a way that you can read a few questions at a time and even read them out of order.

I really like Max's honesty on a lot of the questions. He does a great job of answering each question fairly specifically while still leaving the answer to apply broadly to a larger group of people. The majority of the questions have to deal with faith and Christianity as well as family issues. Some of the questions are answered with Max's opinion and from his experience as a pastor while others, specifically dealing with faith issues, are backed up with scriptural references. I really liked the topical index included in the back of the book. It really makes looking up a specific type of question really easy. This is more like a reference book and would be a great resource for individuals as well as ministers and counselors. It is definitely worth having in your home library and will be a valuable resource for families.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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 Rush of Wings by Kristen Heizmann

Noelle St. Clair is running for her life. Fragamented images keep coming to her mind and causing her to have panic attacks. All she knows to do is to keep running. She is leaving behind a life of wealth and luxury in order to feel safe. Her running ends when she comes to a small tourist town in the Rocky Mountains. Looking for a place to stay, she comes to a ranch owned by Rick Spencer. The beauty and quietness of the area makes her want to stay there forever. If only the fragmented images would stop, she could really be safe and start a new life.

Noelle starts her new life being entertained, and wooed, by Rick's playboy brother, Morgan. She starts to paint again and even starts to sell some of her work. She also spends her time with the horses, riding the land, and really beginning to enjoy her new life. That is until her past begins to catch up with her. Who can she trust? Where should she go? All she wants is to be safe. How can she confront her past and save her life?

The author keeps you on pins and needles as she slowly gives you glimpses of Noelles past. While you might be able to piece parts of the story together and you think you have it all figured out, the author gives you another twist. Also, when you think you have discovered the truth about Noelle's past, you realize that Noelle is still putting together the pieces and you continue reading to see how she is going to figure things out. And the best part, with all the difficulties in Noelle's past, you watch as she begins to trust again. Not only in people, but in God.

My only warning is to make sure you have plenty to time to read this book in one sitting. It is so suspenful and good, you will not want to put it down!!


This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Hatteras Girl By Alice Wisler

Jackie is a writer for a local magazine that highlights local buisnesses but has dreams of owning her own bed and breakfast. Not just any B&B, but the Bailey House. Jackie, and her best friend Minnie, grew up visiting the Bailey House and spending time with the owners. It became their favorite place to visit, of course the lemon cookies and raspberry soda was a bonus that was served by Mrs. Bailey and made their visit even more special.

The characters in this book became so real. They struggled with the same problems that many people struggle with. While Jackie has her heart set on owning the Bailey house, her family has other plans. They want her to get married. This leads to lots of blind dates for Jackie. Minnie lost her husband in a tragic boating accident and is left to raise their little boy, Zane, by himself. Minnie also had to put her mother in a nursing home. Her mother is confined to a wheel chair and can barely speak.

This leads to an interesting story of Jackie finally finding a way to accomplish her dreams (and maybe her family's too!). We also watch as Minnie grieves the loss of her husband, but slowly begins to heal. This is a very endearing story that makes you love the characters and has you cheering them on along the way.



This book was sent to me by Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review program. I was sent a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed are my own.