Arms Wide Open

I love books. I like books that make me feel good, inspire me and match my thought process. I like books that teach me new things, see things from a different perspective and strengthen my beliefs. Every now and then, a book comes a long that walks across the room and gets directly in your face. It grabs you around the collar, lifts you out of your seat and tells you like it really is. It calls you out. It challenges you. It makes you uncomfortable for all of the right reasons. Enter the book “Free Book*” by Brain Tome.

Brian Tome is the Senior Pastor of Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. While I don’t mean this to sound creepy or weird, I would like to meet this guy. I don’t want to meet him in a fanatical sort of way, I want to shake his hand. I want to personally thank him for writing the best book I have ever read. Period. Thanks to facebook, I was able to send him a note to thank him, but I’d really like to sit down and talk about this one. I can’t believe the timing and I can’t believe how this book hit me right where I needed to hear it…on many levels.

I am going to tell you right now that this isn’t your average, everyday “Jesus Loves You” kind of book. This is an in your face reminder that we are FREE in Christ. There are things that you will read that might make you a bit uncomfortable. Before you put the book down, ask yourself why this makes you uncomfortable. I’m not sure if I speak for you, but I know I don’t like someone being brutally honest with me. I certainly don’t like reading it in a book from a guy I have never met. I kept reading and realized that I need honest. I need someone reminding me of the freedom I have often missed while being in bondage to strongholds in my life. I’ve missed freedom by forgiving but not forgetting. I’ve allowed bitterness and a past I regret to be chains that hold me down.

I cannot say enough about the impact that “Free Book*” has had on me in the days since I began reading it. One night I read chapters regarding bitterness and strongholds. I took some time to identify the ones in my life and pray over each on specifically. I literally awoke the next morning with the hymn “Blessed Assurance” on my mind. You can ask my wife, I was singing it all morning. I’m not a guy that walks around singing hymns so this was not normal activity for me. It was, however, a reminder of the covenant I had made through prayer the night before.

Will you wake up singing hymns just because you read “Free Book*”? I doubt it. That’s not what I am going for in this review. What I will promise you is that you will be challenged. You will be asked to take a hard, tough look at your life and your journey. You will be reminded that we are FREE in Christ. For this and many other reasons, I say that “Free Book*” is the best book I have ever read. I encourage you to get a copy for yourself and see the freedom that you are missing.

I give “Free Book*” a 5 out of 5!

Note: Thomas Nelson sent me the above book for review purposes. It will allow me to keep the book. I have received no other compensation from Thomas Nelson.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. 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.”

When I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to work in “Corporate America”. There is something about the business world that just drives me. It was with that in mind that I decided to review the book “De-Railed : Five Lessons Learned From Catastrophic Failures Of Leadership” by Dr. Tim Irwin. This book really hits a point with me on two fronts. First, I am responsible for an entire division within our organization. It was created from scratch 5 years ago, and I took the wheel of a newly created position 3 years ago. Leadership of something so critical to our organizations success is something I take very seriously. Second, I report directly to our CEO. Due to that, I have intimate knowledge of the challenges that he faces to produce, succeed and grow our organization.

“De-Railed” is a breakdown of five very public and critical failures from CEO’s in the last 5 to 10 years. Each one had a different form in which they became De-Railed. From failures of ego to questions regarding moral behavior and conduct, Dr. Tim Irwin does a very good job of describing their failures while not demeaning their character. He actually closes most of the chapters with a positive word about “where they are now” and how they can avoid those same mistakes in the future.

The rest of the book is dedicated to outlining the key character traits that will prevent all of us from becoming de-railed. There are assessments and suggestions as to how to analyze your “Character Quotient”. It is an excellent resource for anyone in leadership. With the current challenges of the economy and continued pressures that accompany expectations, it is a good reminder that we must stay on track and character matters.

As I read “De-Railed“, I found myself very appreciative of our CEO. So much so that my internal alarm prompted me to email him with a note of appreciation. In my experience, CEO’s are often the guy that, no matter how quality they are, have to make a tough decision. I have also seen that even when the decisions are the right thing to do, the field never sees it that way. No matter how it’s presented, the CEO can often be the loneliest position in the organization. Our CEO responded and asked he could read the book as well. I ordered him a copy last week.

While not the typical kind of book I review here, “De-Railed” is a very good read for anyone in leadership or Corporate America. It will give you perspective on the man or woman that is sitting in the CEO chair of your organization. It might also give you some ideas as to how to support or approach that same individual.

I give De-Railed a 4 out of 5.

*I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me to review this book for free on this blog.

I can’t think of a better way to return from a 40 Day Blog Fast than to kick it all off with a contest! Thanks to my friends at EMI Music, I am honored to both review the new TobyMac CD and offer a free copy to 2 lucky commenters!  First off, here’s my review:

If you have followed the blog much, you probably note that I am a sideline fan of TobyMac. I was a much bigger fan of DC Talk and have enjoyed some of the music that Toby has produced since he went solo. I’ve even had the privilege to see Toby in concert. While extremely loud, it was entertaining (man, I am getting old..did I really just say it was too loud?). I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my friend Jeff’s obsession with TobyMac has led him to purchase front row tickets to see him in concert in Seattle (we live in Ohio) and pay to run with him in the Nashville 1/2 Marathon on April 24th. So I am literally not the biggest TobyMac fan. I think Jeff takes that prize.

All that being said, when I received “Tonight” in the mail and popped it into iTunes, I was hooked after the first two songs. I later used my 5 mile run to really listen to the CD and friends, it is SLAMMIN! If you are a fan of TobyMac he doesn’t disappoint with this latest release. If you are more of a casual listener, I think you might find that this is his best work. His previous CD “Portable Sounds” didn’t catch on with me at first. It took me some time and it eventually really grew on me. Not so with “Tonight”. I have liked it from the first time through to now my third or 4th listen.

Either way, you will want to add “Tonight” to your collection…and iPod.

There isn’t a bad track on the entire CD. One thing I have always admired (even when he was with DC Talk) is Toby’s ability to stay current and change his sound to match the popular sounds of culture (like “Jesus Freak” sounded a lot like Seattle grunge). For this reason, “Tonight” will fit nicely on your playlists along with whatever you are listening to. Head over to iTunes and pick up a copy for yourself or someone you know.

“Tonight” is a 5 out of 5!

On that note, let me give a few two copies of the CD away. Of all the songs that TobyMac has released, there are two that I include in my half-marathon playlists. One has been on every single one I have ever created (hint: I usually post my playlists on this blog when I create them). I will send one copy of the new CD to the first two commenters that can accurately guess which two songs I have on my playlists. There are several combinations so give it your best shot! Leave a comment below. I’ll update when I have my two winners.

UPDATE!!! Congratulations to Dave and Jess for their correct answers! They will each receive a copy of the new CD.

*Thanks again to my friends at EMI for the free copies of “Tonight” and allowing me to review it.

About this time each year I try to wrap up the year that was with some “Best O’ The Year” awards. I’m pretty sure the music industry doesn’t line up to read my reviews or the results of a years worth of listening, but I post it anyway. I actually post it for those readers that might have some last minute shopping or missed my first review. This year, there was NO QUESTION as to the best CD I heard all year. Quite honestly, this one is easily in my Top 5 all-time and possibly is the best ever. In some strange way, Steven Curtis Chapman’s darkest days may have delivered a CD full of the kind of honesty that we need to hear. My unanimous choice for Album of the Year is “Beauty Will Rise” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

The day that I first listened to “Beauty Will Rise”, song after song, I was pulled into the range of emotions of a Dad that lost his daughter in an unthinkable tragedy. I was moved by the expressions of a man of great faith as he wrestles with the questions that each one of us would have. I was inspired by the way that, through the raw and real emotion of each song he arrives at the same conclusion. God is in control and He asks us to trust him. From Steven’s web site:

Beauty Will Rise is a collection of 12 new and profound songs from Steven Curtis Chapman. Created in the past 18 months in the walk through the darkness of the loss of his daughter Maria, and while God continues to meet him there on the journey. Part lament, part praise, part grief, part hope, part wrestling, part pondering; these tracks resonate as Steven’s personal Psalms. It is a desperately hopeful, ram, personal, and honest recording that is likely the most important of his already incredible 20 plus year ministry.

If you have a spot left on your list for one more item this year, add “Beauty Will Rise“. If you know someone that is wrestling between faith and doubt, has experienced a tragedy or is in the process of healing, this CD will be one of the best gifts you can give this year. There is tremendous healing in sharing the 12 song journey with a man that has walked where none of us would ever want to go. As in life, we find strength in sharing the road with another. Their courage becomes our courage. Their faith inspires and challenges us to aspire to go deeper in our own. For this and many, many more reasons, my choice for Album of the Year is “Beauty Will Rise” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Anyone else exhausted each time you watch the news (Fox, MSNBC, CNN or otherwise)? I know I am. All we need to know about the world and it’s pains right now can be found on the Drudge Report. We all know the stories, the headlines and the insanity that is going on right now. It can beat down even the most optimistic of people when it’s all around you. Enter the book “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” by Dr. David Jeremiah.

I have not read the book “What In The World Is Going On” by the same author (yet), “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” is the blueprint on how believers can find an anchor for these times and those yet to come. Reading and interpreting prophecy can be a scary thing. So many of the messages regarding the future are cryptic and keep the best scholars on their toes. However scripture does give us clear understand and direction on how we are to live. Dr. David Jeremiah introduces many of these instructions through this book. He does so in the following way:

1.Stay Calm

2. Stay Compassionate

3.Stay Constructive

4. Stay Challenged

5. Stay Connected

6. Stay Centered

7. Stay Confident

8. Stay Consistent

9. Stay Committed

10. Stay Convinced

“Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” is a great reminder of our role and our calling in these times. While none of us knows “the hour or the day”, we can live with confidence in our Savior. I give “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” a 4 out of 5.

I spent the day with Steven Curtis Chapman today….

Well, okay so I didn’t actually sit down with a man I have an ultimate respect for, but I sure feel like I did. One of the first things I did this morning was download his new CD called “Beauty Will Rise“. On that tragic day in May of 2008, all who are familiar with the Chapman family were stunned by the news. Our hearts broke with theirs and I don’t know that most of us can begin to imagine the pain. I would guess that many have watched from a distance wondering how such a Godly family would deal with such tragedy. We saw the interviews. We read the stories. But I don’t know that we could grasp their pain.

The CD “Beauty Will Rise” is one of the most powerful CD’s I have ever heard. I hate to compare it to reading the book of Job, but there are elements of it that feel that way. After listening to it today, I honestly feel like I have sat with Steven Curtis Chapman and just listened to him share his heart, his pain, his faith and his healing. Song after song, we are pulled into their story and draw hope from their strength. This is not a CD that will get you up and dancing, but in a way, it shouldn’t be. Each of us has dealt with loss, pain, fear, discouragement and questions we feel we cannot answer. Yet from our pain comes a trust in our creator and the maker of this universe.

You will want to download the entire CD. Each song tells a story. I honestly cannot highlight just one. All 12 are worthy of a post all their own. For example, the song “February 20th” tells the story of the day his daughter excepted Jesus into her heart. From the joy of knowing she is in heaven to the reality that she is there all too soon.

The point of this post is to HIGHLY recommend this CD. If you are hurting. If you know someone that is hurting. If you have lost someone or know those that have lost someone and are wrestling with understanding it all. “Beauty Will Rise” will bring a healing. It will give pause to openly state what our human side can only feel. It is a reminder to trust in God through all times and that through it all, beauty will rise.