Book Review: What Matters Most

What Matters Most by Leonard Sweet 2012. Soft cover, 244 pages. 
Published by WaterBrook Press. I received through the Blogging for Books reading program.
I was encouraged to express my honest opinion, whether negative or positive!

This book had a bad start with me since I was not attracted to the cover, size of book, layout or style of writing. However, obviously I could ignore those factors, if the content of the book proved to be Biblically sound!

The point of this book is relationships. The author comes from the viewpoint that Christians follow rules, but have forgotten how to cultivate relationships. While I agree that relationships just don't seem to be successful now-a-days, I don't believe this author was qualified to address the subject. I know of a score of better books and messages, and even blog posts which cover the subject wisely and Biblically. 

I suspected something was wrong with this book when I saw at a glance that there were hardly any Bible verses quoted in the book, but many quotes by people like Dominican friars, Mystics, Dostoyevsky, Aristotle, Richard Cranshaw, Mystic Nicholas of Cusa, James Hillman, HOmer Simpson, Lily Tomlin, Emily Dickinson, etc. while only a few quotes from Charles Spurgeon, hymns and the Bible.  

The book turned out to be almost blasphemous as the author constantly stated wild beliefs and un-Biblical thoughts. 
For example, I quote the author: The center of gravity of global Christianity is shifting from the North to the West to the South and East. Western Christianity was tutored by Greece and Rome. It will now learn from Asia. 
What Christianity learned from Greco-Roman culture (Stoicism, neo-Platonism) was how to express itself in rhetoric and reason. When we start learning from Asia, and the cultures of India, Tibet, and China, we will move beyond the rational to the mystical...God is a mystery, not a master's thesis...Jesus was not a Greek, nor was he a classical thinker. He was a Hebrew, Eastern in thought and culture, relational in practice, and mystical in spirituality. 

See what I mean? The author is almost....New Age? Later in the book, he mentions relationships with his ancestors, and favorite famous (not all Christian) people from the past. Bad, bad, bad.

Lastly, chapter 3 was terrible as the author totally twisted the meaning of Abraham's relationship with God. This chapter states that ''God never wanted Abraham to kill Isaac and was hoping (yuck) that Abraham would argue with God and ultimately refuse to carry out the directive.''

The author also quotes a favorite paragraph from Conrad Gempf which is so blasphemous I hardly dare share it, but which says that God is interested when we argue with Him, and He likes losing the arguments even more than He likes winning them. Excuse me? The conscientious reader will now slam this book and send it to it's death via the recycling bin!

So, I simply close with the warning to beware of this author, Leonard Sweet's writings. Usually Blogging For Books offers Christian material, but I guess I need to be more careful, and not just hastily choose a book to review based on the title! I hope these thoughts helped you.

Free books for bloggers!

Do you love to read? And love to write reviews? Well...here are several great ways to get entirely FREE books for yourself! (of course writing a 200 word review isn't work!)

Books I received for FREE from January to March 2012!!!

The first program which I signed up for-BookSneeze, has proved to be the easiest and best still:

(BOOKSNEEZE)

Christian books published by Thomas Nelson pub.

Bloggers get free books- signing up is very easy, and you give your blog address where you will be posting the reviews. This is the easiest site to request books on, as well as to send in your review since you just post the links to your review....and they have had a large variety of even print books available in the past!

(BLOGGING FOR BOOKS)
Another site of Christian books. Set up is simple, as well. As is the process of entering your review links, and requesting your next book.

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Christian books from small companies- I have received  two books through them, so it's safe, although it's not as professional as the other companies.  When you sign up, you have to wait for an email, and to request a book you request a book, just visit their page of available books (link provided in an email they send you) and click on the request button under the book you desire to review: this will open up an email to send to them; make sure you include your mailing address. 

(click on icon above)
TYNDALE PUBLISHERS (Christian books- system works through your email: you sign up, they decide if you qualify, then they send you names of books available through email. Pretty good, although there aren't many books available.)

BETHANY HOUSE BOOK REVIEWERS program
My least favorite program, this one is pretty simple as well, although I haven't cared much for their books. They always notify through emails....so make sure you check your email if you want to know about books! They will also send you an email when you request a book, and they will tell you where to send your review....

New Leaf publishing
Books from Answers In Genesis, and more, this program looks exciting to me. But I only just signed up. The company has to make the decision before letting you join.....But it's worth a try!

LASTLY....what do you do with these books if you DON'T want to keep them after reading them? Why....SWAP them, of course! :) You are not allowed to sell the books you received in exchange for a review, but definitely suggest swapping through this fantastic program:
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You simply join, just start listing books you have which are in good condition, and when a book is requested from you, you package the book and pay for its shipping. When the book is received by the other member, you will get a credit (1 credit per book!) to use to request any book off the site for YOURSELF! :) Oh- when you list 10 books, the company automatically gives you 2 credits as a gift. :) And the referral system gives you 1 credit every time a friend lists 10 books. It's much simpler than it sounds! ENJOY. I have, so far, received 4 great books in like-new condition! Very exciting.

Book Review: Primal

PRIMAL by Mark Batterson
paperback 2012

Are you living your Christian life to the fullest? How much do you love God? How much wonder do you have for our Creator, Lord and King? How much love do you have for those around you? How much love do you have for God, for that matter?

In this his second book, Mark Batterson encourage, challenges and beseeches Christians to examine their life..and to go a step furthur, or rather, in his own words, a step deeper in your walk as a believer! And while you're at it, to go MORE than a step deeper. Rather, MILES deeper, back to the true meaning of following Christ! In Him is ultimate life, ultimate peace, ultimate fulfillment.

This book's contents are divided between five chapters: The Heart of Christianity, The Soul of Christianity, The Mind of Christianity, The Strength of Christianity, and Discussion Questions. Within each chapter are several topics, each packed with old and new revelations of wisdom and truth. Sure to inspire you!

I include my favorite quotes from the book:

''Does your heart break for the things that break the heart of God?''

''Our country needs a reality check.''

''Just as you are responsible for your actions, you are responsible for your re-actions! Compassion is always the right reaction.''

"It's easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one. Anyone can put on an act. But your reactions reveal what is really in your heart. And if you love God with all your heart, you won't just act like it. You'll react like it too.''

Although there were moments in the book which made me cringe (such as weak descriptions of God's humor, Jesus' ''wild side'', and references to God thinking His children are funny....as well as the author's statement that ''joking can be a form of praying''. Excuse me? I don't think so!), the book is worth the read! I recommend it. A refreshing point about this book is that the author writes with much knowledge- this is not just another easy reading book, even though it is passing simple to read through.

Read the first chapter of the book here
Read about author here
I received this book free from WaterbrookMultnomah publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.

Or, buy from here!