The10 Best Decisions a Single Can Make

Bill and Pam Farrel, bestselling authors of Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 260,000 copies sold) and The 10 Best Decisions a Couple Can Make, now lead single men and women through the ten most influential decisions they can make to embrace faith, fulfillment, and purpose.



With candor and humor, the Farrels present ten decisions that will help singles


•live a full life instead of a “life on hold”


•choose celibacy for the purpose of ultimate fulfillment


•choose community and activity over isolation or self-focus


•wake up to the significance of their life and the opportunities ahead


•give their dreams, relationships, careers, and decisions to God


Biblical insights and life examples offer spiritual encouragement and practical guidance for those desiring a complete life as a single and as a person who is open to God’s plan for their future.

My review:
(I just reviewed The 10 Best Things a Man Can Do, which is similar to this book, but also different. Hopefully I can do both books justice and not do too much of a similar review.)
 I'm single, and there are not very many books out there for singles that aren't all about dating, marriage, and getting ready for that whole scene. This book is not all about dating and marriage, and even addresses how to live a full life instead of a "life on hold."


As with the 10 Best Decisions a Man Can Make that I already reviewed, this book also has 10 chapters with each chapter being about one of the decisions:

1) Decide to be decisive
2) Decide to follow Jesus
3) Decide to celebrate
4) Decide to live in peace
5) Decide to wait
6) Decide to define relationships
7) Decide to live the good life
8) Decide to be an influencer
9) Decide to be a communicator
10) Decide to be a competitor

The authors, Bill and Pam Farrel are a married couple, but they talked with several singles and had them contribute to the book, so this is not a case of married people giving advice to singles - they got a lot of input from singles. That said, this is a terrific book for singles. I really like the fact that it isn't a "preparing for marriage book", but is more for preparing for life.

The subject of dating and marriage is discussed in the book, but that is not the central theme. It is about becoming what God wants, living a full life whether married or not, setting goals, making friends, and other things singles need to work at and do.

Being single is rough, and yes we need to depend on God, but its also good to read a book like this with advice for singles and stories from other singles going down the same road.

About the authors:

Bill and Pam Farrel are co-founders and co-directors of Masterful Living, an organization that provides practical insights for personal relationships. The Farrels are also regular relationship columnists. As coauthors their books include Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti, The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make, and Red-Hot Monogamy. In addition Pam has written Fantastic After 40! and The 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make. The Farrels have been married more than 30 years and have three children and a daughter-in-law.


 
Their website link is here.
 
Read a sample chapter here.

The 10 Best Decisions a Man Can Make

Men today have important decisions to make about family, career, and ministry. Sometimes the choices can seem overwhelming, and men end up making decisions by default—by doing what comes naturally rather than by carefully thought-out principles. In The 10 Best Decisions a Man Can Make, popular author and speaker Bill Farrel gives men the hands-on decision-making tools they need to make the kinds of choices they won’t regret. Farrel encourages men to discover the joy of finding their place in God’s plan as they

•explore the positive benefits of making healthy decisions

•discover their personal pace in life and make decisions in keeping with that pace

•develop a plan for godliness that relieves the burden of self-effort

•learn to make decisions based on personal character rather than what feels right at the moment

My review:
I don't review many non-fiction books, so when I see one that interests me, I get it to review for something different. Titled The Best 10 Decisions a Man Can Make, the book is self-titled The Adventure of Living in God's Plan


This is a great book for guys. Each decision is a chapter:

1) Decide to be decisive
2) Decide to seek an adventure
3) Decide to be competitive
4) Decide to set goals
5) Decide to be busy
6) Decide to be better
7) Decide to love
8) Decide to be a friend of God
9) Decide to be a man of principle
10) Decide to be a role model

I don't think I have ever read any of Bill Farrel's books, but I was not disappointed. Not only is this an interesting book, he also has a lot of good advice and ideas he presents in each chapter. This is the kind of book that I wish I had read earlier in life, yet it is never too late to make some changes and work at some areas.

At the end of each chapter is a section titled "your turn" where the reader is encouraged to do some sort of exercise that has to do with the decision that was discussed in that chapter. At the very end of the chapter is a "just for fun" section, which is some humorous story that fits in.

This is sort of a self-help book, but Biblically-based and it does have good advice. I myself needed help on pretty much every topic discussed and plan on re-reading some parts of the book.

The book would also make a great tool for a men's group to go through together and study.

I typically attribute my "read in one sitting" status to suspense fiction books, but this book would fall into that. I didn't read it in one day, but it is interesting and relevant enough that I could have. Great book, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to review it.


About the author:

Bill Farrel and his wife, Pam, are the co-founders and co-directors of Masterful Living, an organization that provides practical insights for personal relationships. The Farrels are also regular relationship columnists. As coauthors their books include Men Are Like Waffles—Women Are Like Spaghetti, The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make, and Red-Hot Monogamy. They have been married more than 30 years and have three children and a daughter-in-law.


Visit their website here.

Sample chapter here.

The 10 Best Decisions a Man Can Make  is available from Harvest House Publishers.

Thanks to Harvest House for the review copy.

Curiosities of the Civil War by Webb Garrison

Instead of offering another look at the most significant military and political events, Curiosities of the Civil War focuses on relatively unknown and obscure aspects of the war.


It is estimated that 623,000 soldiers died during the Civil War. If the June 1865 surrender of Kirby-Smith’s forces is taken as the last hurrah of the Confederacy, then the war lasted almost fifty months. Fighting took place on each of the war’s approximately 1,396 days from 1861 to 1865; as tabulated by Frederick H. Dyer, 10,455 military “events” took place during the war. Millions of men and thousands of encounters produced a multitude of extraordinary things.


Numerous chapters in Curiosities of the Civil War focus upon events or emphases that have been neglected—maybe because they’re hard to locate. It is all but impossible to find more than an occasional reference to banishment or deportation, and major multi-volume works seldom include an index entry dealing with “hostages.” Subjects such as “atrocities” and “appraisals by contemporaries,” to say nothing of “Lincoln’s appearance,” are not found in standard Civil War encyclopedias and dictionaries.


Even seasoned readers are likely to discover much that is new and fresh here. Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast or just beginning to get acquainted with the Civil War, you’ll find a trove of conversation-starters here.

My review:I'm not what you'd call a Civil War buff or enthusiast, but do enjoy studying and reading about it. I've been on some of the battlefields, and it is an interesting time in our nation's history to read and study about, so I decided to review this book when I had the opportunity to do so.

This book was previously published back in the 90's as two separate volumes, but has been put into one book of a considerable size, numbering 549 pages which includes an index.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which is why the book has been republished in this form.

It is an enjoyable read. It is set up into nine parts totaling forty-four chapters. Each chapter has short anecdote  and stories, making it a great book to read through slowly and not having to find an ideal stopping place.

There is a lot of information in this book, and I learned a lot. I was actually surprised there was so much trivia and unknown or little known facts out there. I feel the author did a lot of research and put it down in an interesting and easy to read book. It is not a dull, boring book, but very interesting.

I would highly recommend this book to Civil War buffs and enthusiasts, or for anyone wanting to learn more about the Civil War.

About the author:

Webb Garrison, formerly associate dean of Emory University and president of McKendree College, wrote more than 55 books, including Civil War Curiosities and Civil War Trivia and Fact Book. Before his death in 2000, Garrison lived in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.



Curiosities of the Civil War is available from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy.

Book of Days by Jim Rubart

"… in Your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being." —Psalm 139:16



Young Cameron Vaux’s mind is slipping. Memories of his wife, killed two years earlier in a car accident, are vanishing just as his dad predicted they would. Memories he knows he has to remember.


His father tells Cameron that to save his mind he must find "the book with all days in it" —the past and future record of every soul on earth.


When an obscure clue leads Cameron to a small central Oregon town, he meets enigmatic Taylor Stone, a possible guide to finding the book who seems to carry secrets far deeper than anyone imagines. Local hotshot TV personality Ann Bannister thinks the legend of the book is a farce, but she has her reasons to join Cameron’s search anyway. Finally, there is fanatical New Age guru Jason Judah, who will stop at nothing to find the book of days before Cameron does.

My review:
I reviewed Jim Rubart's first book, Rooms, a while back (here), and loved it. It is one of the best books I have ever read, and I have read a lot. I won't go into it, as I am reviewing his newest, Book of Days.

Book of Days is totally different, and I wouldn't say it is as good as Rooms, but I wouldn't say it isn't either. Sounds contradictory, I know. The theme and plot of Rooms was just so hard-hitting, convicting, that it stands all by itself. And there I go talking about it......

Book of Days is about Cameron, a young man who loses his father to Alzheimer's at the early age of forty-nine. Before his father dies, he tells Cameron that it will happen to him also, and he must find "the book of days" to stop it. Six years later, Cameron's wife dies. As she breathes her last breaths, she urges him to "find the book." He assumes she is talking about the same book his father talked about.

Now, two years after his wife's death, and eight years after his father's death, it is happening. He is slowly losing his memories, his mind. So he sets out to find a book that may not exist: The Book Of Days. A book that has the memories, the past, the future of everyone who has ever lived and will ever live.

This is an awesome book. Yes, different from Rooms, but awesome in its own way. It covers Alzheimer's, and the idea of our memories and where they go when we lose them. Through Cameron's eyes, we see what it is like to start losing those memories, to know that you likely have the early onset of Alzheimer's.

Book of Days is also a journey of faith. Cameron is an agnostic. His father and wife were Christians, but he has never had the faith to believe that God exists, which is ironic since he is searching for a book that God wrote.

There are unique and colorful characters in the book. Good and bad. Those who want the book for devious purposes, and those who want it for good. I have said it in other book reviews, but one sign of a really great novel is when the reader is pulled into the story and you can see in your mind the places in the book and you want to step into the story yourself. That was the case with this book.

I started reading this book last night around 9:30. I chatted on the phone with my best friend around 11, and was only 139 pages into it at that point, with around 260 to go. I had no intentions of finishing the book last night, but that is exactly what I did. At 1:15, I came to the end of the story. What a great read. It was entertaining and enjoyable, yet gave me something to think about.

Rubart has only written two books so far, but they are both masterpieces. Different from your average fiction book, and yet gripping and moving. I very much recommend his books. Very much.

Check out the videos I have put at the very end of the review. There is one that is a book trailer for Book of Days, another where the author talks about the book, and two more about his upcoming book, The Chair. As with the first two videos, one is a book trailer for The Chair, and one is the author talking about it.

About the author:

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in Seattle, Washington.


Visit his website at jimrubart.com.
 
Book of Days is available from Broadman and Holman Publishers.
 
Thanks to Broadman and Holman for the review copy.
 
Book of Days trailer:



Jim talking about Book of Days:



The Chair book trailer:



Jim talking about the upcoming book, The Chair:

Petra, City In Stone by T.L. Higley

Petra, the wondrous ancient city carved from the mountains of modern Jordan, is at the height of its glory in this gripping historical novel by T. L. Higley. A young widow, Cassia, and her son, Alexander, have arrived there seeking protection with her late husband's estranged family. But when Cassia discovers the man she married was heir to the throne, the power-hungry Queen Hagiru plots to murder Alexander so that her own child will someday rule. The queen, priestess of the sun-god, Dushrat, calls on demonic powers in her quest, but Cassia is prepared for the fierce spiritual battle to save her son, joining a Roman named Julian and his community of believers in the Jewish Messiah. Together they seek a mighty movement of God far stronger than any dark heart or city made of stone.

My review:
This is the third book I have read by this author, and as with the other two, I was not disappointed. And as with the other two, she has written an historical novel set in a period and involving events that one does not normally read.

I enjoyed the historical aspect, of learning more about Petra, a city I didn't really know much about. And though this isn't a mystery/suspense novel, there was still suspense in the book.

At the heart of the story is a battle between good and evil. How the early Christians kept their faith in the face of major resistance from men and spiritual forces.

Higley does a great job with her characters. I was quickly pulled into the life of Cassia as she serves the true God, and fights to prevent evil in her own family.

A novel like this brings home the reality of what the early church went through, and what we could go through if evil continues to take over this world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.

About the author:



T.L. Higley holds a degree in English Literature and has written three previous novels and more than fifty drama productions for church ministry. She is especially passionate about "breaking down emotional and philosophical barriers that people have put up between themselves and Christ."



Petra, City In Stone is available from Broadman and Holman Publishing.

Thanks to Broadman and Holman for the review copy.

The Resurrection by Mike Duran

When Ruby Case raises a boy from the dead, she creates uproar in the quiet coastal town of Stonetree. Some brand her a witch; others, a godsend. But the controversy is just the beginning. For this resurrection has awakened more than just a dead boy…

Reverend Ian Clark does not believe in miracles. Haunted by demons, both past and present, he is resigning from the ministry and has no interest in the city's spiritual climate, much less its urban legends. But he is about to get a wake-up call…

As Ruby and Reverend Clark are thrust into a desperate search for answers, they quickly realize that the forces unleashed by Ruby now threaten to destroy them. Can they overcome their own brokenness before they—and the entire town—become victims of this insidious evil?

My review:
This book is similar in some ways to the one I just posted a review for yesterday, The Strange Man, yet the books are also totally different. The Strange Man involved a town being taken over by evil. This book involves a town that is being ruled by evil. Both books involve spiritual warfare.

The Resurrection was a very interesting and enjoyable read. At the heart of the story is a young pastor on the verge of walking away from his faith and embracing the idea that Christianity is no different and no better than other religions. Lukewarmness plays a big part in the book and through fiction, the author shows what can be the results of that. Of churches fighting each other instead of sin and evil, of Christians set in their ways and dragging their feet at the idea of getting involved.

The story also is a bit creepy. Human sacrifice, occult shops, etc. But it shows what can happen when people fight against what is right and pure, and of the depths they can go when they surrender to the devil. Also brought out in the book is what people can do who give up on God and decide to go another way.

Even though the occult is dealt with in the book, I feel the author did a great job of dealing with it. Not too intense, not too much information.

And of course the book shows what God can do when His people wake up, pray, and live as they should.

We all need to read books like this occasionally. Books that cause us to think outside of the box, books that will stir us, and yes, even scare us a bit as we are reminded of how much evil there is in this world, and how hard Satan is fighting.

And again, a book I would recommend to Frank Peretti readers.

About the author:

I normally post an author bio here, but could not locate one, or a way to contact the author, so other than the fact that this is his first book, I have no other information here.





The Resurrection is available from Realms Publishing, an imprint of Charisma Media.



Thanks to Anna at Charisma for the review copy.



Read the first chapter here.

The Strange Man by Greg Mitchell

Dras Weldon lives in a world of horror movies and comic books. Twenty-two and unemployed, he is content to hide in the shadow of adolescence with a faith that he professes but rarely puts into action.

But when a demonic stranger arrives and begins threatening his friends, Dras is drawn into a battle that forces him to choose which side he is on. In a race against the clock, he must not only fight these evil forces but also somehow convince his best friend, Rosalyn, to join him—before she is lost forever.

Engaging and darkly humorous, The Strange Man is the first act of a trilogy that depicts a world where monsters are real and simple men and women must overcome their doubts and fears in order to stand against the unspeakable creatures of the night.

My review:
This book reminds me of Frank Peretti's first couple of books, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. Spiritual warfare, demons, good and bad battling for the souls of men.

There is a fairly new genre' of Christian fiction: horror. The two don't seem to go together, Christian and horror, but Greg Mitchell joins a few authors who are braving this new genre', and so far I like the results.

The Strange Man is a little more creepy than Peretti's books, but in a good way. In this book, the demons actually appear to people and attack and chase them. The story is both suspenseful and humorous. The main character is a twenty-two year old young man who is nothing more than a drunk and an immature guy who still collects comic books and action figures. He becomes the central figure in the battle for his town.

I liked the author's writing style. He wrote very likable and believable characters into his story, and I was caught up quickly in their stories and battles. This was one of those books that once I started, I did not want to put it down.

One thing that really stood out to me in the book was the idea of evil being held back from the town for a hundred years because of the faithful in the town. As the number of the faithful dwindled, the evil ceased to be held back. I can't help but wonder how much of that is going on in real life today. Scary idea.

The only issue I had with the book was with theology. The main character, Dras, became a Christian at the age of nine. As an adult, he is a drunk, a lazy bum, and and more, yet is supposedly a Christian because of a conversion at the age of nine. This belief gives the idea that once you become a Christian, you can live however you want, do whatever you want, live like the devil, and go to Heaven in the end - a dangerous theology. And I am not saying the author came up with the idea, or is trying to say that, but the status of Dras falls under Calvinism, which I do not ascribe to for several reasons. Other than that, I did thoroughly enjoy the book and recommend it, especially for those who enjoy Peretti's books.

Update:
Thought I should update this after the author read my review. He was extremely gracious about my criticism, so I am pasting below what he said:

Hey, thanks for the review. And no problem at all. It's funny, Dras' salvation experience at age nine is totally "up for grabs". It wasn't my intention to say he WAS saved--just that he always believed he was. Whether he was all this time and just "back slidden" or just deceived until the moment he comes to God in this book is intentionally left open to reader interpretation.



For the record, I'm not a Calvinist or suggesting that a Christian can act however they like after they "get saved" :p


Good review. Thanks very much :)


About the author:

Greg Mitchell is a screenwriter and novelist. Two of his horror short stories have appeared in two editions of Coach’s Midnight Diner. He has also contributed to the Star Wars franchise with a short fiction piece published on the Official Star Wars site, and wrote online tie-in material in conjunction with Devil’s Due Publishing for their line of Halloween comics based on the original film by John Carpenter. He is currently working with Cloud Ten Pictures and writing the fifth installment in their popular Apocalypse film franchise. The Strange Man is his first novel, and the first part of The Coming Evil Trilogy. He lives in Northeast Arkansas with his wife and their two daughters."


Read the first chapter here.

The blog for the series is here.
The Strange Man is available from Realms Publishing, an imprint of Charisma Media.

Thanks to Anna from Charisma for the review copy.