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Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan Book Review

November 17, 2011 in blogging, Books/Magazines, Review with 0 Comments

Ascent from Darkness
How Satan’s Soldier Became God’s Warrior
By:Michael Leehan

I recently got this book from the Blogging for Books program with Thomas Nelson. I did not know what to expect, but judging from it’s description I had I feeling I would be in for a wild ride. Crazy enough the day I received the book I went to the ER for a false alarm and had to sit in a bed with an IV for almost 6 hours. That is where I started the book. The next morning I woke up and neglected the things I needed to do and had it finished in 2 more hours. I could not put this book down.

I have read many books on the occult, satanists, and spiritual warfare, but something about this book was different. The way Michael told his story was riveting and also disturbing. It is a true story of a man whose life spirals into utter turmoil when he rejects Christ and literally sells his soul to Satan. Michael goes through a journey of torment from demons, satanic rituals, killings, drugs, sex and everything in-between. The devil tells him to destroy the church by infiltrating it, sleeping with the women and confusing the men. The book takes us through his whole life and how he handled those issues and that later he is instructed by Satan to kill pastor of lifechurch.tv, Craig Groeschell.

In the end there is redemption and Christ turns everything on it’s head.

At the risk of this review acting as a spoiler I don’t want to go far into describing this story. I LOVED IT. There are so many instances that really had me think harder about the spiritual realm that I had not before. The fact that when he tried to destroy churches he could not be in the room during worship really floored me because it was a testament to how powerful our praise really is.

Then his transformation…WOW! Now that was just amazing how God showed himself and the battles he could see.

I think if you can handle some disturbing “images” that everybody should read this book. We need a reminder of how great the transforming power of Christ is. We need to remember that there is another world that we don’t spend enough time thinking about. We need to be focused on the battle daily. Go read this book!

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 expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

John Mark McMillan – Economy CD Review

November 4, 2011 in cd review, CD's/DVD's, Review with 2 Comments

John Mark Mcmillan
Economy

Some might say that this is John’s second CD and followup to the Medicine. Well technically YOU ARE WRONG because he had already released music before he go signed to Integrity. John has been in the music scene for quite a while now and has carved his way into the hearts of millions through people covering his songs. Now that those covers have paved the way for him to get in front of people as well I was worried his sound might get watered down. Worried it might get stuck in the box I like to call “that sound’ with over processed and over produced drivel that we hear so much these days.

Praise God like others at Integrity (bravo to those guys again) he is creating ART as an act of worship and not as an act of trying to sell records.

This followup to “The Medicine” is brilliant! Of course he brings us wonderful lyrical content that is poet and beautiful, but at the same time striking and arresting sometimes. Like “I believe You can overcome my economy…You can dig me out of the grave” are driven at our hearts but also bring to mind the time we are living in. He truly has worked hard at his craft at pulling on heartstring and at the same time giving us hope through songs like “murdered son”. The only song I have issues with is “who is this” which is very similar to the bridge tag in “skeleton bones” and that is because I don’t expect a guy like him to repeat a phrase.

Instrumentally it is just wonderful. Great production and creativity. There are times where it seems vocally he could have stretched more for a bit more diversity. Sometimes he gets a bit too Bruce Springsteen for me, but then I remember I don’t like springsteen’s voice and I love John’s!

I absolutely love the song “Sins are Stones” which seems like John’s attempt at a modern hymn. I hope to do this someday soon in church.

The only thing I have issues with and that I have issues with half the christian CD’s and worship our there is WAY WAY too many woah’s and Oh’s. At least he didn’t add in OO’s and AH’s.

Bottom line is this is a brilliant CD that is is not better than “The Medicine”. It is different than that album and 100% equal to it. Many times the second release determines the quality of an artist and often it falls flat. This is a MUST buy album that I promise you will love just as much as “The Medicine”.

Disclosure of Material Connection: We received this CD free from Integrity Music to listen and post a review on our site. We were not required to write a positive review. The opinions we have expressed are my own. We are 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> > “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Plan B by Pete Wilson Book Review

November 3, 2011 in Books/Magazines, Review with 0 Comments

Plan B
 By: Pete Wilson

What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?…

Where do I even begin with this book. It showed up in my mailbox at just the perfect time when I was questioning what in the world God was doing. As a matter of fact I have been in that state a lot the last few years.

This book addresses frustration with God, uncertainty, fear, loss, joy and followed up with the Hope of god’s promises.

I love this book and can’t say enough about it. It got me to think out of the box and whenever I am thinking inwardly I always rethink about what I have read.

I have now read this book twice and kinda think it may be a must on my list of something I should read yearly.

If you are questioning God’s direction and are looking for a bit of a peek into His heart for your life you need to read this book.

Yes I know this may be the shortest review of all time, but the truth is there is not much more to write other than just that. GO BUY IT!

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 expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Permission to Speak Freely Book Review

November 2, 2011 in Books/Magazines, Review with 0 Comments

Permission to Speak Freely
By: Anne Jackson

I am a bit late on this review because I have had the book a LONG time. Ironically though I finished this book in a day.
The books tagline is “Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace” and it is just that. Anne is a very transparent writer as well as speaker. Anybody who follows her blog knows she bares it all. She is a broken woman and seeking after the heart of God. She posed the question of ”What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?” Hundreds responded with letters, emails and postcards.

Some of the book was inspiring and a bit of it was sad to see the oppression in the the church walls. The book is formatted much like postsecret. As a matter of fact I’m confident that was their inspiration for the style it was written.

Images and graphics are interwoven with heart-wrenching stories. There are essays and testimonies in the book that will make you want to pray harder for the state of the “Church”. The book is also sprinkled with tons of graphics and “postcard” style art with secret testimonies that will shake the brains and hearts of naive people in the church.

She does address the hope in Christ, but we also know this is an eternal journey so sometimes it seems there is not much hope on this side of death. All in all I really enjoyed reading this book and having met Anne before it just made me pray harder for her.

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

Rita Springer: the playlist Review and Formal Apology

September 20, 2011 in Review with 2 Comments

Before I write a review on this CD I want to publicly come on record with an apology to the worship community at large and Rita Springer. Rita has been one of the great worship leaders of our time and prolific writer as well. Some reason I wrote her off years ago by just not listening to her music even though people around me raved about her. Somewhere along the way I put my head under a rock prematurely.

It is interesting because a worship leader who also plays bass with me at a multi-church prayer meeting told me a month ago that he was going to new jersey to play bass for Rita. That same week Integrity sent me her new CD to review. Was it a sign? I don’t know, but I pulled it out of drop box and ignored the possible sign.

Finally my thick head said listen to that thing and I complied with it’s command.

What i heard was the first track “Come in”. A brilliant and rich call to worship. It starts off slow and then ushers in the Holy spirit with such amazing power. You can hear here screaming out… crying out for God. I was instantly hooked and at the same time kicking myself for taking so long to become a Rita fan.

The next track “in this forever” along with a few others have sonic nuances reminiscent of Jenn Johnson and Vicky Beaching. She has such beautiful vocals that are so versatile and more accomplished than most of the worship leaders out there.

“Make You Happy” reminds me so much of Christy Nockels Watermark CD’s, but amped up. It is such a well written song.

One of my favorite tracks is “I call You”. Which is so full of lyrics that glorify God. I can see using this song right away in my services.

Just when you think you have pegged Rita’s sound you are handed “Made for this” which sounds like what if Joss Stone, Kim Walker and Mellissa Etheridge had a baby. Rita just belts out from her soul and you know in your “knower” that she believes what she is singing.

The whole CD is capped off with a brilliant song “this blood” which has a johnny cash/Hymn type of feel.

Ultimately from first listen there was not a song on this CD I did not like. It is a must buy.

There is nothing better than a “believable” worship leader. Nothing better than listening to somebody who is obviously not just going through the motions and then worshiping right along side them.

I am a fan of Rita Springer and so glad to have this CD.

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