The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived is chock full of “how to” advice on studying Jesus’ approach to people and situations in order to successfully accomplish all that you desire. The author, Steven Scott, does a great job of relating parables and biblical situations to current living. He is constantly encouraging the reader to pursue the principles laid out in Jesus’ life and apply them. He gives numerous personal examples of how his own study and application allowed him to succeed in business. He also honestly tells us of the many times he failed. Scott’s premise is that we all need to mentored by someone. Why not the perfect human---Jesus?

Some of the points gleaned are:

*Jesus effectively communicated because he understood his listener

*Understanding someone else’s frame of reference is key to getting a message aross

*We need to study Christ’s manner in order to have effective relationships.
Did Christ react or respond? Does your manner reflect your message?

*Creating a safe environment for open and honest discussion is necessary

*Success and positive performance comes from a secure and caring relationship

Scott writes from a background in marketing and sales. A major part of The Greatest Man Who ever Lived relates his personal experience creating television advertising. He aimed high and often used celebrities to endorse a product. Personal fortune resulted from successful campaigns.

I must admit, at this point I am only halfway through the book The only television at home is PBS. On the rare occasion that I do see cable television, I am annoyed by the repeated commercials and take the endorsements of a product with a large grain of salt. I usually rip out the ad inserts in magazines so I can enjoy the articles without the advertising. Because I am not a businessman, marketer or a salesman, I found all the marketing references rather tedious after awhile.

However, we all are salesmen of ourselves. Scott’s premise that The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived can be a mentor for us in all areas of life and relationships rings true.



Hardcover from WaterBrook Press, 2009
I have two copies to give away.
Purchases can be made from: www.randomhouse.com

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Jimmy and Kinna, childhood sweethearts, have been married for twelve years. Kinna married expecting happiness ever after to include husband, home, children. Oh, she has the husband and home, all right, but it’s the children part that eludes her. Her focus is not on her husband or their marriage, but the lack of children.

Jimmy wonders what happened to the woman he loved? He doesn’t understand the all-consuming need for a child. His construction job is difficult, with a boss who is cutting corners in order to beat a deadline. Because of his past upbringing by an alcoholic, widowed father, Jimmy is hesistant to speak up and set things straight. In fact, he is hesistant to do much of anything.

Kinna is bound and determined to have the desire of her heart. Apparently God does not want to answer her prayers, so she repeatedly takes matters into her own hands to the detriment of her marriage and relationships. Things come to a head one day when Jimmy is fired. He comes home and Kinna is not even concerned about the drawn look on his face. She is only consumed with the fact that it is again the right time to try for a baby. She is frustrated as Jimmy refuses and confronts her, for the first time, with his declaration that the word LOVE by her standards is spelled G-I-V-E M-E.

Only with the help of some “angels” does Kinna begin to recognize her destructive actions and surrender to God. The same "angels" help Jimmy to confront his shortcomings and face his own fears.

If Tomorrow Never Comes, by Marlo Schalesky, is a poignant novel of hope and redemptive love.



The author, Marlo Schalesky, writes from personal experience with infertility.

2009 Paperback from Multnomah.

I have one copy to give away.

You can also purchase it here.

Don't Let Me Go

David Pierce was a little startled when his fifteen year-old daughter, Chera, declared she wanted to climb a mountain. She'd just finished reading Into Thin Air about a failed Mt. Everest attempt. Climbers died. David wasn't so sure about her idea. But, he entertained her desire and made it a father/daughter activity.

Don't Let Me Go is his journal of sorts, a mixture of thoughts, contemplations, and reflections as he navigated this special period of his daughter's teen years. Together they faced Pike's Peak, a couple of marathons, two other Colorado mountain climbs and then attempted the ultimate, Mt. Ranier. They found their own definition of success in their trials, ultimately concluding that life is the journey you take and the perspective with which you face what comes your way. Dreaming, working, training, and focusing on a goal caused growth both spiritually and mentally, and a very special father/daughter bond formed.

Since I grew up in the western United States, I thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions of the imposing mountains, terrain, and breathtaking panoramas. I was dismayed at how unprepared they were as they attempted their runs and climbs. I could foresee disaster waiting to happen.
What they gained was a better understanding of God's majesty and grace.



Softcover by WaterBrook Press. I have one copy to give away.
Purchases can be made at www.amazon.com, www. familychristian.com, and www.christianbook.com

a Day with a Perfect Stranger

Mattie sees her business trip as a chance to get away and sort things through. Ever since her husband, Nick, came home declaring he’d had dinner with Jesus, he was a changed man. He read his Bible, prayed, participated in men’s groups, spent more time at home with her and their daughter, even did small things around the house. He was no longer the workaholic that she didn’t like. She wasn’t sure she liked him this way, either!

On her flight one of her seatmates began making small talk and Mattie found herself explaining her thoughts, frustrations, even divorce contemplations. “Jay” continued to ask her gentle, probing questions, causing her to consider things about God she never even thought about before.

A brief example:

Mattie: “You said something a minute ago. You said that if God designed people for an intimate conversation with himself, then we are incomplete without him. But don’t you think that God is just a crutch for some people?”

‘Jay’: “I suppose that depends on what you were created for,”…”If you were created for life without God, then he’s a crutch. If, on the other hand, the very reason you were created is for an intimate relationship with God, then he’s not a crutch. He’s the fulfillment of what you were created to be.” (59-60)

A Day with a Perfect Stranger is the sequel to Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, also by David Gregory. I think you will find it as delightful as I did.

Published by WaterBrook Press.

I have one copy to give away.

You can also find it online at www.randomhouse.com