You Were Made to Make a Difference - Max Lucado

You were made to make a difference, is a book aimed at youth for around ages 11-16. Max Lucado has co-written it with his daughter Jenna to help make it it more relevant and applicable for the target audience. The book seeks to impart to the reader that God is real, and active in the world and as a result of passages such as Psalm 139, we can know that God wants to know each one of us intimately. I wish I had read this book when I was younger; it has certainly suceeded in making me think about my own personal evangelism and my motives for doing what I do.
The way it does this is by using case studies of young people from around the world who have had a small idea and changed the world in a big way. The most notable example is the boy who was raising money for charity through basketball and from there has now set up and established his own charity.
The youth camp I am involved with are planning to give this book to each camper this year, such is the impact it has had on me. If you are struggeling to convey to your young people that Jesus' love for them is real, and is more than an hour on sunday thing, this book is a must for you. In addition to this, there are bible verses scattered throughout it, space for notes in repsonse to what the reader has read, and animations and pictures to keep the readers attention. All in all, a very well thought out book.

Let Go: Live Free of the Burdens All Women Know Book Review

I have recently become a book reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishers and have just finished reading the book Let Go by Sheila Walsh. The author claims to have written this book in response to a series of events in her life that eventually led her to find freedom and sanctuary in God. She uses her life experiences coupled with some biblical insights to help women who may have stumbled upon this book and find themselves in a similar predicament.
Whilst this book is very readable and immediately engaging (although I imagine only for a specific type of reader), the authorship, I believe, lacks a certain detail and pragmatism when it comes to looking at the scriptures. This book should not be read for its exegesis of bible passages, but will certainly provide encouragement to the reader who has been or is going through similar things as the author.
It provides a good biblical basis for how christians should respond to and live their lives in response to the gospel. It does not shy awat from real issues that real women face; shame, guilt, loneliness, hopelessness etc. This book actually should serve as a reminder to Christian women that there is a real need for issues such as these to be explored in thorough and proper way with some sound and well-thought through explanations of relevant bible verses.