Review: Max on Life by Max Lucado

Product Details
Format: Jacketed Hardcover
Trim Size: 6.40 x 9.40 x 1.30
Page Count: 256
Retail Price: $24.99
ISBN: 9780849948121

Book Description
We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.

In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has been the receiving line for thousands of such questions. The questions come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life, he offers thoughtful answers to more than 150 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt, from home to the hereafter.

Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions—parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships—as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?

A special addendum includes Max’s advice on writing and publishing.

Including topical and scriptural indexes and filled with classic Lucado encouragement and insight, Max on Life will quickly become a favorite resource for pastors and ministry leaders as well as new and mature believers.

MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
Max on Life is a Q & A book: Max Lucado's answers and insights to important questions in life. Being a pastor and a well-known writer, Mr. Lucado has received all sorts of questions from all sorts of people. He includes 172 questions in this book. Some of the questions seem to be redundant. Some are excellent questions, especially for new believers. The questions and answers are divided into seven sections: Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Have/Have-Nots, and Hereafter. The book covers various topics from faith, heaven, hell, prayer to parenting, relationship, money, fear, and more.

I didn't really learn anything new from this book and I don't agree with all of Mr. Lucado's answers. For example, on Page 19, Mr. Lucado said, "He (Jesus) paid the price for sin by becoming a sinner." Jesus paid the price for sin by becoming the sinless sacrifice for sinners. He is God; He can never be a sinner! Anyway, I still enjoyed reading this book. Max Lucado is so good with words that the content and style hold my attention. He often uses analogies to help readers think. I also love his sense of humor. I appreciate that Mr. Lucado bases his answers on the Scriptures and presents them with grace and gentleness. He gives Biblically sound advice. This book is easy to read. Each question and answer is usually only a page long. Concise and Christ-centered!

"When grace moves in, guilt moves out. God has forgiven us. There is no reason to hold on to guilt." Max Lucado (p.2)

~ I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

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Book Review: 40 Loaves

Book: 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day
Author: C.D. Baker
Summary:
Why don’t I have more faith?
Why does God seem silent in my life?
Why don’t I feel safe at church?

These are the types of questions the religious establishment often makes it uncomfortable, if not impossible, to ask. And by asking them, C. David Baker, author of 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day hopes to start a conversation in people’s hearts, then with others, and ultimately with God. Many circles of Christianity have led us to believe that certainty and confidence are the proof of true spirituality; questions are discouraged.

But Jesus offered His followers an ongoing conversation—a relationship built around a free, open-ended discussion. Questions were encouraged. They were often impertinent, sometimes alarming, and the religious establishment was distinctly uncomfortable with them … just as it is today.

“40 Loaves is something of a collection of the kinds of questions I felt finally free to ask of myself and of my relationship with Christ,” says Baker. “It’s my belief that these questions are shared by many others who long for the freedom to simply ask them out loud. I hope this book becomes a platform that frees others to search their hearts more deeply and be fed with the Bread of life.”

Each “loaf” here is a big question that stimulates discussion, investigation, and contemplation; it will take hours—or days—to digest. Conversational, inviting, disarming, and real, 40 Loaves nourishes self-examination and offers validation for those who feel discouraged, guilty, or even shamed when the realities of their lives don’t match up with the ideals of the Christian establishment.

Author Bio:
C. David Baker founded an award-winning business before redirecting his career to write full-time from his small farm in Bucks County , Pennsylvania . He is the author of eight books, including six novels, one of which was nominated for a Christy Award. He has contributed articles to the Christian History Institute’s international publication Glimpses, and to Christian Singles magazine. Baker has a Master’s degree in theological studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland .

My Review: I like asking questions. I encourage my kids to ask questions. Questions lead us to search for answers and dig deep for understanding. However, when it comes to faith-related questions, some people are afraid or ashamed to ask. This book addresses 40 questions that some Christians may be struggling with. Questions like: Why do I so easily lose self-control?, Why am I so confused about finding God's will?, Why do I always feel exhausted?, Why are my feelings so easily hurt?, Why do I fear unbelief?, Why do I care so much about my reputation?, and more. I truly appreciate Mr. Baker’s transparency, humility, & honesty and his reliance on the Scriptures for answers. Each question in the book will help draw you closer to God and His Word. Each "loaf" ends with food for thought and a prayer. This book is small but is packed with valuable insights and Biblical wisdom. It's easy to read and it is nourishing to the soul. 40 Loaves is definitely delicious and healthy to feast upon!

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.


You can read Chapter 1 here.

~This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.