Complete with 31 days of devotional readings followed by a few thought provoking questions, Days With Jesus by Jim Jackson could easily be mistaken for a run of the mill Bible study about Jesus from the book of John.  

But Jackson has worked hard to set his writing apart from the “Oh, another one of those” studies by first presenting his work as a “docuvotional” (Get it?  Half documentary, half devotional?).  So, not only do you get a book to hold in your hands, or an e-book to have and to hold, but you can head off to an accompanying website to check out a real time looks of the people, places and things being featured in whatever daily story you are reading at the time. (*Note, not all 31 days have a video corresponding to the teaching but don’t let that distract you from the intent and purpose of them.)

Since I am such a fan of reading, I didn’t really think that looking at the videos would add that much to the reading experience, but I like to think of myself as having a cooperative spirit, so I read the chapters, watched an accompanying video if it was available, and then returned to the reading.

As I sat transfixed watching scene after scene that somehow paralleled through my Savior’s lifetime here on earth, I can assure you that these simple, clear-cut documentary clips are magnificently moving, putting you into the scene being discussed and written about. 

While the video aspect of the book is definitely something to be applauded, simply put, from the very first word of this book, to the very last word of this book, you are presented with a direct and unabashed look at Jesus Christ as “God con carne”, to quote the author directly.  As you follow each day, you are presented with basic foundational truths about His deity, His humanness, and learn that He is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This book will astound you.  Teach you.  Make you laugh.  Make you cry. Challenge you to move into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

First, buy yourself a copy of this book and read it, drinking in the anointed truths you will find there.

Next, THINK:  If you have ever, ever or never, never wanted to be a missionary in your lifetime, I would encourage you to buy this book TODAY to give it away to those you know, and to those you will soon meet.

I would say to you that this book should be handed to every person at each altar across the churches in America who have just completed the sinner’s prayer of redemption.  It should be handed out in outreach meetings, revivals, and given to those you love who give you reasons not to believe in Jesus. 

Days with Jesus by Jim Jackson should be the book that you read this year; that you encourage your loved ones to read this year, and along with a copy of the Bible, God’s Holy Word, it should be THE book that you put in the hands of anyone who does not know Him as Lord and Savior.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author, Jim Jackson.   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.”    
   

This book had me confused from the beginning.  It starts with a few paragraphs out of the middle of nowhere talking about some bloody, beat up guy who's going to tell you about the stupidest thing he's ever done, and then it heads off to "Part One" and pages of a crazy girl hearing conversations from every nook and cranny of her room, and well, even the way she speaks is aggravating. Ok,  then a Chapter One appears and we're back to a guy running like a nut away from scary guys.  (Basically, I would have liked an old fashioned prologue to pull it together for me, but the author's way does keep you reading to try and figure out what's happening.)

Yeah, I know the title is 'Crazy Dangerous' but I didn't really think it would live up to it's name within the first four pages.  

But it does.

The reading gets easier, the characters start to form full faces, who they are and what they're doing there start to fall into place...and as soon as they do, you're thrown into an insane asylum, a murder mystery and all kinds of other craziness involving beat downs, drag outs and still the crazy girl rhyming and chiming in when you least expect it.

I don't know, I have to say, this is one of the wildest rides I've ever turned pages on.  I hated it, I loved it, I hated it and I loved it all over again.  

The really good thing about his book is that just when you think you know it all, that you got it down, then the storyline smacks you right in the face with something so unheard of, and something you would never think of as a twist in the story, that you can't help but stay glued to the pages.

I struggled with each and every page of this book with that "love-hate" relationship with the characters and the story;  if you like suspense/thrillers with a little bit of mystery and crazy, dangerous people running around your story --all read in the context of important Biblical inferences thrown out there, you will adore this book.

And I do.  


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.”  

First of all let me say that I love books with plenty of history in them.  I love details of the whys and wherefores of people, places, and things, right down to the year of when, and the reasons for why.  

When I began reading A Jamaican’s Journey to Time and Peace, A Memoir by Derrick Garland Coy  I felt that I had hit the detail-loving reader’s jackpot.  Thoroughly presenting facts that appear to be extensively researched about all of the people, places and things that involve the very beginnings of Jamaica, it began as an interesting challenge to get through all of the particulars from a book that could have qualified as a required reading book for a college class.

I don’t think I’ve ever put down a book as often as I did this one.  Written with single spacing and no breaks between paragraphs, it seems to get “thick” early on.  I had to take a break more often than I wanted to from reading this book because the information provided non-stop got to be simply overwhelming.  I almost felt like I had an addiction I was trying to kick, wanting so bad to read the story and yet finding myself unable to continue on the information overload.

After wading through the most minute details of the birthing pains of his beloved birthplace, Coy then presents his life as he remembers it with the same painstaking approach to minutiae that one can only imagine comes from him peeking back to journals written in his younger years.  

Simply put, this story went on and on and on in painstaking details that were magnificent but just overpowering at times.  Personally, I enjoyed the lessons in history I was presented, found the author’s family history interesting and brought them into my heart when I could wade through the waters of detail and find the personalities waiting for discovery.

This is a good read for someone who has a lot of time and absolutely insists on knowing every single aspect of a family’s ancestral struggle from beginning to the current date.  

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.”  

Did you know you only have about 25,000 Mornings to wake up to throughout your lifetime?  At least one of those mornings should include reading of the newest offering from author Faye Rowe.

25,000 Mornings by word artist Faye Rowe is an invitation to enjoy a pleasant afternoon walk through her everyday life, thoughts and deeds.  

With a down-to-earth, homespun style of sharing her thoughtful tidbits about life, family, books, events, and all kinds of stuff, Rowe has written a book that is close to perfection for the people of this microwave generation.

Each story is short and to the point.  Each story is packed with a common sense wisdom that is sometimes an element lacking now a days.   After each sweet morsel of offering from this author, she adds icing to the cake by finishing up each thought with a scripture perfectly presented as the ‘pièce de résistance’.   So, can you tell, I’m a fan?  I really enjoyed reading through this book.  When I was in a hurry, I’d catch one or two pages and feel uplifted for my day’s journey.  At other times, I luxuriated in reading page after page, bringing memories to mind that soothed my soul.   I plan to buy this book as a gift for some people I know and love and honestly hope that they open it’s pages to find all the delightful kindness waiting inside just for them.

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.”