Insight Books

I read Morgan Hill's book when I was at one of the lowest points in my life--perhaps THE lowest. At first I was expecting just another self-help book. What I got was a firm insight into another way to look at life; specifically my life. I was able to grasp onto the concept of never giving up on myself. That didn't mean there wouldn't be course corrections in life, those have and will continue to come. But in spite of those changes of direction, I learned never to give up on my personal direction, embracing the personal growth gleaned from my mistakes, and the successful person I can become by making decisions without thinking less of myself if I do fail at something. This book inspired me to keep going even when nothing looked like it would ever be right again. Two years after reading it, I can attest that all the baby steps combined have led me to a very good place.

This book is thoroughly enjoyable. Make sure you have a couple of hours because you won't want to put it down. The kids quotes are VERY funny. This is a great gift book!

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (8/06)

Have you ever wondered what the writer of one of the Gospels was thinking when he authored the book? Bob Jamison takes a look at the Gospel According to John and speculates on what John was thinking. What was he thinking about when he talks about the wedding feast at Cana or when he talks about Lazarus? Could it be symbolism? What message was he attempting to convey to people in our century?

It is John's teaching intentions that Mr. Jamison wishes to discuss with the reader. Just as we today use a figurative language, he feels that John did too. "The Gospel of John contains insights not found in the other three gospels, particularly in the figures of the text. This book covers the first eleven chapters, pertaining to the miracles, travels and teachings of Jesus prior to His final week on earth."

Mr. Jamison begins chapter two by introducing us to the identities of Jesus Christ: Christ is the Lamb of God, The Baptizer, Rabbi, Messiah, and Revealer. Mr. Jamison shows us that Christ is all this and more. He continues on to tell us what the Good News is: "Jesus took away all our sin, Jesus qualifies us, Jesus accomplishes the purposes of God, He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, Jesus opened a pathway for our ascension, God's reconciliation plan, and God's covenant includes our descendants."

I was intrigued by Mr. Jamison's view of the "moneychanger's - I agree with him. Many churches leave the impression that if you "attend church, give your money, take the sacrament, do some kind of work", you'll go to heaven. Christianity is so much more than showing up, paying money and doing a good deed. Christianity is a change inside you. You can't buy your way to heaven.

The chapter discussing the harvest was one of my favorites. So often we think we can fellowship with other Christians, give a little money and we've done our part. But there are many that need to hear the gospel. "...Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest" (John 4:35). One of my favorite songs says it best. "Go into the world. Take His love into the world. The fields are white, the time is right. Go into the world. Take His love into the world." We cannot sit in our comfy pew or fellowship in our fellowship halls and expect the world to come to Christ.

This book is well written. It is easy to understand and the content is of great value. I think the cover is very enticing. The sun peeking through the clouds and reflecting on the water makes one want to delve into this book. Mr. Jamison has obviously spent much time meditating and studying the book of John.

"What Was John Thinking?" has a beautiful message. While I do not necessarily agree with all the symbolism, I do agree with the points Mr. Jamison makes. I found myself looking more closely at John. I asked myself if all these years I missed some of the meaning behind what John wrote. I have always taken the Bible literally. This book has caused me to ponder and think a little deeper. We should all think a little deeper.

Have you had the "talk" with your kids yet? Well, if you have tweens or teen girls in your midst, have I got the book for you!

Now, mom, don't freak out on me here. I am just as nervous as you are. Oh, I have had many talks with my girls, Hannah who is 12 and Sydney is 10. I have been open and honest, and thanks to some great books, I have waded in these waters as best as I can.


But I know there are so many questions and so many walls between, well, us moms and our kids when it comes to talking to them about their bodies, sex, and God's plan.


I thought I had it covered, at least for now. That was until I got a copy of What Your Daughter Isn't Telling You by Susies Shellenberger and Kathy Gowler.


Now I know I am only just beginning this journey.

I strongly encourage all you moms out there in the midst of raising tween or teen girls to get a copy of What Your Daughter Isn't Telling You.


Our work is cut out for us here, girlfriends. Let's get busy and get to work on raising girls of character and faith.

Trish Berg
Author, Speaker, Book Reviewer
www.TrishBerg.com

The Great American Supper Swap - Solving the Busy Woman's Family Dinnertime Dilemma

Rattled: Surviving Your Baby's First Year Without Losing Your Cool

I first encountered Richard Jacobs at a presentation he gave in London. Straight after his talk I bought his book "What's your Puprose?" having recently experienced a lot of personal upheaval. Richard's book struck a chord with me because it spoke of deeper spiritual truths. It provided a source of light and hope at a dark time in my life.

I loved the process by which my purpose was revealed. The words that formed by answering his 7 questions are "I serve the Purpose of inspired compassion".

My means of living my purpose are creative. I work as a designer and photographer. I am now on a mission to inspire compassion in education and corporate business.

I thank you Richard for your wisdom, integrity and guidance. You have truly helped me on my journey.

CEO of Klemmer & Assoc., Brian Klemmer gives useful advice on how to increase intimacy, sales, and production. He uses life-altering ideas to help people become more bold, sustain change, stop feeling trapped, and how to stop being a victim to your feelings. Without cliches or false views of reality, this book will not leave you the way it found you. The book gives you "ten lessons to coach yourself and others to peak performance." The first chapter, "What The Facts Really Mean", alone changed the way I approach situations. It gave me the tools to place correct meanings to past and current experiences.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God puts things on you to teach you something; or that someone's baby or young child died because God wanted more babies in heaven. Have you been taught that when your child (or someone you love) dies in a car wreck, or in a plane crash, or is murdered in their neighborhood, that no one understands why God "took" that person, so it must've been "their time", because no one understands "God's mysterious will"??? Then why does the Bible tell us that God wants us saved, healed, delivered, set free, safe from all danger? This book will prove to you with hundreds of scriptures from the Bible that horrible disasters like 9/11 were not God's perfect will for America, and that we don't need to live in fear when such things happen in our world. Read this book. Learn God's true plan for your life, and how He loves you and would never put sickness, disease or fear on you or your family. God is a loving God who only wants the best for you. If it weren't true, why did He go through such pain, torture and suffering on that cross?
This book will encourage you and introduce you to your loving Father God.

For teachers with little or no ESL training who are trying to teach content area classes to ESL students, this book is great. It's full of stuff you can use right now: activities, visuals, learning strategies. Everything has a firm basis in language acquisition theory but the format is user friendly. You'll find yourself sticking little post-it flags on every other page.

Nathan Chapman doe an excxellent job relating to nature and hiking to God's word. Each passage begins with a short scripture. Next, he incorpoates a personal story relating to the trrail and concludes with a short prayer.

I use his devotional for every hike I take on. They help me focus my time in the woods on God and his plan for my life. These passages give me encouragement and helps motivate me to keep going, on the trail and in my walk with the Lord.

I only hope his work encourages others as it has me and also, to create more Christian works related to the outdoors and nature.

I am an American working for the top Japanese executives at a Japanese-owned company in the U.S. I landed this job due to 18 years prior experience working with the Japanese.

Many things have changed in the Japanese-American working atmosphere since this book was published in 1992. The younger Japanese are much more open, pro-American and savvy. And, at least in my company, the Japanese have made a great effort to apply "when in Rome." But still, with many older Japanese (50+) expatriates working in America, there can be cultural misunderstandings. I've personally experienced several embarrassing situations that might have been avoided if I had read this book earlier.

An unexpected part of my job has been as a liaison between the Japanese and Americans, fielding questions that the Americans have about the Japanese and visa versa. So, because of this book, I can better answer these questions, and my position here has therefore been gaining in value.

Author, Robert M. March, has done a great deal to improve international relations - this book would go far to help relationships anywhere. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to work for the Japanese.