Nelson Books

great investment for a daily pick me up and encouraging word. It is the size of the book that is the seller. It is prefect and fits every occasion making it easy to read and convinent.

I have purchased many of these books to give young adults. The books are inspirational. The book builds positive attitude...keeps the inside strong...

Lucado is the best. This is as good as Vol 1. These devotions give me grace for every day.

I really like this book due to it's size. It's small enough to put into my bag, and God knows how to ues each days message in my life. They are short, one page, messages-- but for a busy mom of 3 little boys-- that's all the time I have.

I'm not much of a reviewer, but I must say that I love this little devotional. I'm a long time reader of Max Lucado's books and this one has short passages from all of his previous books in devotional form. each one is appropriate and encourages reflection. This book has literally changed me life.

The author posits that most Christians abandon their faith through a series of small compromises with the world, rather than through one spectacular sin. He details some of those compomises, as well as some of the ways the devil undermines us, and what we can do about it.

The author discusses at length Lot and the cities of the plain, but I am unsure how he arrives at some of his conclusions. I am no biblical scholar, so they may be perfectly valid conclusions, but I wish he had explained his reasoning. For example, the author says Abraham and Lot went their separate ways because Lot was a spiritual drag on Abraham, and relied too much on him, instead of cultivating his own relationship with God. As I read it in Genesis 18 & 19, they split up because of a scarcity of pasture for their kine. Again, the author says that Lot was attracted by the glamorous civilization of Egypt, which he preferred to rural life, and that he chose to go to Sodom because it reminded him of Egypt. I understood it was because there was much greenery in the direction of Sodom and Lot thought it would be good pasturage.

In the prologue, the author uses the example of a man going out for a beer with his non-Christian friends as a compromise. I could not tell if the author was advocating teetotalism or warning against the dangers of excessive drinking. Alternately, he could have been warning against the dangers of bad company, if the friends were inclined to bawdiness or making disparaging remarks about religion.

Finally, although this is very subjective, I felt the author spent too much time on the "larger" sexual sins, and hardly any time on the truly insidious and gradual sins such as pride, envy, bad company, anger.

In brief, while there was some good stuff here, I got much more out of The Screwtape Letters, which also discusses the nature of temptation but in a more balanced way.

I received a free copy from BGEA and have purchased 2 copies since then. This is a great book that absolutely outlines how easy it is to fall into the trap of compromise. It is a must read for teenagers and adults alike. I wish I had read this when I was a young woman. I have given all my copies away and am really interested in obtaining another written copy.

I read this book a few years ago and til today I still remember the impact that it made in my life. I recommended it to 2 other friends then and we all felt that this is a good book to read. And I am still looking around to buy more copies of it to share with my other friends now !

Sometimes we may not even be aware that we have landed ourselves into compromising situations and this book brings up these examples that you would be familar with and how to deal with it when you are placed in the same compromising position. If you can identify yourself being caught in compromising situations, then perhaps this book can help provide you with the insights from the way the bible will teach us to handle it.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions or at least with thousands of tiny compromises. Not too long ago in a church not too far away from where I live, a pastor was forced to resign and was eventually arrested for embezeling church funds. I know of people who are Christians, but are constantly swearing, getting into trouble, bickering, brawling, etc. How many times do you do something you know is wrong then look back afterwards and wonder, how could I have fallen so low? These are some of the troubling issues that Greg Laurie examines in THE GREAT COMPROMISE.

The thesis is quite simple. People don't fall out of a relationship with God all at once. It happens slowly over time; week by week, day by day, moment by moment. Each day we are faced with hundreds, perhaps even thousands of decisions. In each one of those decisions we can choose to press out the best of that decision and give our utmost for His highest or we can choose less than the best and compromise. Oh, it won't hurt if I travel twenty-five miles over the speed limit, everyone else is going thiry miles over. I really feel terrible today, but I'm going to act like everything is dandy. This one little lie won't hurt, after all I'm not hurting anyone. The scenarios are endless, but the consequences are the same. Slowly but surely we make little compromises that end up leading us to fall away from God. Laurie explores some of those decisions and scenarios and gives Biblically-based advice on what we can do to keep from making the Great Compromise.

Greg Laurie is a person who delivers the message of the gospel, and the word of God, straight from the Bible. He does it with humor, with compassion, and as a true servant of God, not misrepresenting scripture in any way. I could barely put this great book down, in spite of the fact I found myself convicted up one side and down the other from time to time. But then, as Christians, this is one way we grow. I recommend this book to anyone who has a desire to strengthen their Christian walk, an excellent guide for all of us.

What a wonderful book! I have the privilege of knowing the author, and I can say that Dr. Aikman has not only unveiled six great souls for our benefit, but has exposed the greatness of his own.

I really want to thank Mr. Aikman for this book. It illustrates the way a pure soul can be used by God to accomplish things beyond anyone's expectations. The author masterfully weaves anecdotes, interviews and biographical information to connect us in a unique way to these great people. I came away inspired to try and carry away remnants of each of these wonderful people. Thank you for such a masterful work. It is profound in so many ways.

Great Souls: Six Who Changed the Century is undoubtedly one of the best collections of biographies I have read in years. In an era where celebrities are designated "heroes" and fifty or so men in New Orleans are called "Saints", it is refreshing - no it's inspiring - to read about five men and a woman whose attitudes and actions had a profound and positive effect on this century. David Aikman, a talented foreign correspondent for Time Magazine turned writer, has done a superb job capturing, in a few pages, the extraordinary lives and accomplishments of Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Pope John Paul II, Elie Wiesel and Nelson Mandela. If you are looking for perfect people, you won't find them in Aikman's book. What you will find, however, are six individuals who again and again, rose above their times and circumstances to change, if only for a brief time, the course of human events. Aikman's astute observations into the worldly and spiritual lives of these great souls hold important lessons for all of us today. Mother Teresa's inexhaustible compassion for the poorest of the poor, Nelson Mandela's amazing capacity to forgive, Billy Graham's urgent quest for salvation for the human soul, Solzhenitsyn's implacable pursuit of the truth, Pope John Paul's passion for human dignity and Eli Wiesel's constant reminders of the profound wickedness that lurks in the hearts of men, these are some of the lessons in store for those who read this enjoyable and inspirational book. Perhaps the best chapter is the last. Here Aikman uses Eli Wiesel's compelling and tragic story to inquire into the nature of evil. Was Adolph Hitler a charismatic but misguided despot or Satan incarnate? Was the Holocaust "a mutation on a cosmic scale" or "merely the natural shoots watered by Europe's longtime subterranean lake of anti-Semitism"? As we move from this millennium to the next, hopefully the brilliant lights of these great souls will illuminate the answers to these questions and be a lamp unto the uncertain path that lies before us.

rlrodriguez@ucdavis.edu

It was truly wonderful to read David's biographies of these great souls. There is quite a warts-and-all documentary style to this, but I really felt that I got into the lives of the people. For instance, I felt like I got a better picture of Billy Graham from the one chapter on him here than I did from the whole of Graham's autobiography.

Full disclosure: I know David a little, we go to church together. But it's STILL a great book. I hope you can still find it around.

I really want to thank Mr. Aikman for this book. It illustrates the way a pure soul can be used by God to accomplish things beyond anyone's expectations. The author masterfully weaves anecdotes, interviews and biographical information to connect us in a unique way to these great people. I came away inspired to try and carry away remnants of each of these wonderful people. Thank you for such a masterful work. It is profound in so many ways.

We recently bought this book for our daughter for her fifth birthday. She is just beginning to read and she is able to read most of these devotions herself. The devotions are very practical and easy for children to understand. My two year old also enjoys the book.

Andy Holmes' devotional book, "Growing with Jesus" has been such a blessing to our family! My 4 year old daughter runs down the hall each night and yells, "Devotion Time." My husband, 8 yr. old son, daughter, and I all pile on the bed and read a devotion together. The Bible Verse, Thoughts to Grow On, Daily Action, and Amazing Facts are interesting, helpful, and fun to read.
The book has helped us grow closer as a family and to Christ. We love our nightly devotion and prayer time. Thanks Andy for such a wonderful book! We are going to start this one all over again until you write another one! :)

The Johnson's
Midlothian, Virginia

This devotional is exactly what I had hoped it would be for our five year old. Each topic is a simple, two-page spread with easy to understand explanations. It even includes a "child-sized" application for each day. This is a very age-appropriate devotional for young children. The authors have helped me as a parent to bring simplified biblical truths to my young child in a way she can understand and relate to.

I have been reading this devotional with my 5 year old daughter every morning. It is wonderful for her. She understands it and it's not a lot for her to take in. Highly recommend this book. When we are done I will probably start over at the beginning again.

These devotionals make sense to kids, without talking down to them. They include a bible verse, a devotional message for the day, an affirmation/exercise, and a neat trivia fact. The topics are religious in nature, but very real world, day-to-day stuff... like being a good friend, taking care of yourself, being aware of your thoughts, managing your emotions, respecting other people... stuff even us adults could benefit from reading on a daily basis!

This is an excellent book for boys when they are facing the tough issues of the teen years. It is written by a guy who has been there and can really understand where they are coming from and seems to be able to write in a way that boys will find interesting and relatable.

I bought this book for my son two years ago as he was entering Middle School. As a single mom, I wanted to be able to open up the lines of communication regarding "guy stuff". This book has been wonderful! It covers everything from good grooming (thank goodness) to puberty, peer pressure to dating, and everything in between. It has been the source of many great conversations and is chocked full of real life information. Three years later and now a Freshman in High School, my son still refers to this book and its well worn pages. Highly recommend for middle school and high school boys.

I picked up my brother's book out of curiosity just to flip through it and I ended up reading most of it. Everything it said was truthful and had the influence of christian practices, but was so practical and honest. It feels great, as a christian teenage girl to know that there are guys out there who want to become better for God and for others, and they are willing to have morals and good values. I recommend this for every guy out there, the son, the brother, and the friend. Read it!

I gave this to my almost 15-year old with some anxiety, wondering how he would accept it. He pretty much read it cover to cover without putting it down, commenting regularly on Jason Boyett's style of humor. I thought he'd shy away from mentioning what he was reading (especially the section on the three-letter-word)but he did well at telling dad what he was thinking. What more could one ask of a book aimed at a teen-age boy?

I feel a bit uncomfortable when religious agendas are offered in a book's content and not disclosed before purchase. I'm fine with this book's ideology, but I wish the description had been more up-front with the fact that this is a book of religious instruction; I don't want non-religious readers (or people buying this book for a school or treatment setting where religious instruction is inappropriate) to feel "tricked" by this omission.

If you want to study the Bible and need a little extra help understanding the words this is a FANTASTIC handbook. This has been so helpful to me! I love it and am filled after reading it and having a better understanding!!! Love IT!

I just received my book today and love it! It is exactly what I was looking for. It will be the perfect guide to assist me in my Bible reading for the upcoming year and will help to give me a greater understanding of each book of the Bible and what they are saying to me.

This is a great Bible handbook. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because- at least for me- the layout can be distracting at times. I'm not sure what to read first.

When reading the Bible I can sometimes feel like I have thick glasses on, all smudged up, that prevent me from seeing some of the beauty, the telling insights, and the promises that are mine to claim as a believer. Jack Hayford's Bible Handbook is like "windex" for my eyes. It is an amazingly useful tool for opening up the context, the meaning, the vision, power, and relevancy of the Bible. It is jammed pack with tools and keys to open up understanding and point you to application in your life. I cannot stop reading it! It makes me want to get into the Word more and more. And, that is not a bad thing at all!

Along with Sidlow Baxter's EXPLORE THE BOOK, this is my favorite Bible handbook. I use my Thompson Chain Reference Bible (in depth study)and my ESV Bible (devotion/personal reading).

Even if you are not a Charismatic Believer, do not hesitate to check out this book. I have never known Pastor Hayford to be "heavy-handed" in his Charismatic theology. I own a copy, and it is positively outstanding! There is so much excellent information, very well organized and effectively presented. I would strongly recommend this as a resource for any Christian who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and who desires to apply these truths in his daily walk.

"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" is currently my son's favorite song; he sings it nearly every day, so as soon as I saw this book, I had to buy it. I'm so glad I did.

The lyrics to this spiritual-turned-favorite-hymn provide all the text. Written music is also provided on the last page. The illustrations are what truly make this book exceptional. Award-winning artist Kadir Nelson chose San Francisco as his setting. The illustrations feature a multiethnic family living in and engaging the world from a child's perspective.

What I Like: Everything! The colors, the size, the diversity, the message of faith and community. The illustations are magnificent! The entire book is quite striking. I love it! Better yet my kids do too. :)

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

A wonderful addition to my Granddaughter's library. The pictures are bright and eye catching ~ the words are identical to the song. A fun book to read and sing together with a little one. A great addition to build your multi-cultural collection of books.

I purchased this book for my son before his arrival. I love the song, and I was absolutely captivated by the beautiful illustration of the child on the front cover. I've subsequently given it as a gift several times! The illustrations are magnificent, and of course, the song is a classic. My son, now 20 months, loves books I can sing, and I pulled this out for him last week. He now finds it himself and brings it to me repeatedly. He is as captivated by the gorgeous illustrations as I am. The choice of subject-matter is simple and deeply moving. We send out a big "Thank you!" to Kadir Nelson for creating this warm and touching work of art! I am sure it will remain one of my favorite books to give as a gift!

This book is sweet and to the point, and we loved that it has an Malawian/African-looking boy on the cover, and featured inside, because my wife and I are adopting from Ethiopia. We're very glad for the purchase.
Loyal Frisbie & Julie Knudsen
Orlando, FL

Kadir Nelson's illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. That is to be expected of this talented and unique artist. Although I've heard the song a hundred times through my life, hearing them in the middle of the night recently was life-changing. After a c-section birth I was feeling that warm but worrisome, awed but aware, content but concerned high emotion stress that most new Moms feel. In the middle of the night I awakened to hear the words of this story being read to my one week old daughter by her Daddy, my husband. Although he was reading to HER, it was a lullaby to me and it restored my usual assuredness and happiness. It was a wonderful reminder that "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." I look forward to sharing this story as my girl grows and hope she learns to trust the sentiment as well as appreciate the beautiful things in life, like Kadir Nelson's lovely pictures.

I recently finished reading this book (devouring it is more of an apt description). My husband is, as I write, "going through hell", and I am clinging tenaciously to my God, because He is my only hope. All around me, I am being persuaded to "let him go", " get rid of him", etc, - the world's answers to all problems - discard & recycle. Jesus very graciously led me to Connie Neal's book. At last, here in written form was the feelings of my heart - what about all the promises I made to You, Lord, & the promises You made to me? I loved this book and have re-read it now several times over these past couple of months. I am doing all that Connie suggests that she and the others she wrote about who have experienced first hand the anguish of storms and trials in their marriages did when there was nothing they could do other than turn to God. I am so grateful for the honesty and obedience of all these christians who have exposed the most awful times of their lives for the encouragement of ME. Watch this space to see how God triumphs!!!

I saw this book in the store, and it kept calling my name, for many reasons ... but it seemed a reasonable choice, at the time I was looking for ways to help my husband through some difficult times

Once i began reading the book, I found it to be a help to me spiritually . It covered all the bases of my relationship with God and my spouse. I knew I was being ministered to through this book.

I look at things so differently now... not just because of the author's practical applications of God's Word,(which was truly enlighting) , but the sheer ability to motivate me to change and place myself in a position to seek God more in regards to my marriage, and His total purpose for marriage.

This book has given me hope. Please tell Connie Neal that I really appreciate her writing this book. Even though sometimes I feel like giving up on my marriage, I am trusting God for our future. Thanks again for a real inspirational book!

Connie Neal is one of the best artists I have had the privilege of reading! Her work on this book, and research into the lives of real people in real situations is filled with honesty. Makes me know the feelings, thoughts I had as I journeyed with my husband through cancer were normal, and that I was not a flegling Christian because of my weakness.

Keep Writing Connie!!!!!!

This book made God's plan for marriage so clear. It provided a much needed contrast to what the world says marriage is.

Every time someone sees my Bible, they want one! Finally, my spiritual guide admired it and I gave up my tattered copy to him. Now I'm replacing it with the exact same one. This Bible has MANY useful study features. "Word Wealth" (for key words) discusses the root of the Hebrew or Greek word and the word's various uses throughout the Bible. There are extensive footnotes on nearly every page giving additional information and background on key verses; the section on God's covenant with Abraham, alone is worth the price of the book. In addition, there are maps, timelines, comparisons of the four Gospels---all in an easy to read format (NKJ version). Each NT book is preceded by a discussion of the authorship---my only complaint is that these discussions don't go deeply enough into this topic. Also, it's a good size: by no means small, but compact enough to haul with you to church. Several scholars teamed on this Bible, which is written to match Hayford's beliefs (I would say that it supports a conserative, not fundamentalist, viewpoint). To better benefit from all the information packed into this Bible, take the time to read the keys and symbols at the front of the book. This Bible is sturdy and well-bound: after several years of regular use, it had experienced no binding problems whatsoever. Overall, a fabulous Bible that you will use for years to come, with study aids that will enlighten and enrich. Strangely, Amazon.com offers seemingly the same hardcover version at 3 different price points, so look for the least expensive (around $27).

You will love this product. It is awesome. This bible has the extra
s to help you study effeciently. Easy to read, and understand. Great for teens.

This Bible has wonderful resources - origins of words, commentaries, kingdom dynamics, historical notes, timelines, truth-in-action notes .... everything about this Bible makes my Bible study experience more in-depth, and it has definitely opened me up to insights in the Word that I may have missed otherwise. I would highly recommend it, and I am unsure why more people do not use it. Hayford is an amazing Bible teacher, and his input in this Bible is truly a gift to the body of Christ. Highly recommended!!!

Every time someone sees my Bible, they want one! Finally, my spiritual guide admired it and I gave up my tattered copy to him. Now I'm replacing it with the exact same one. This Bible has MANY useful study features. "Word Wealth" (for key words) discusses the root of the Hebrew or Greek word and the word's various uses throughout the Bible. There are extensive footnotes on nearly every page giving additional information and background on key verses; the section on God's covenant with Abraham, alone is worth the price of the book. In addition, there are maps, timelines, comparisons of the four Gospels---all in an easy to read format (NKJ version). Each NT book is preceded by a discussion of the authorship---my only complaint is that these discussions don't go deeply enough into this topic. Also, it's a good size: by no means small, but compact enough to haul with you to church. Several scholars teamed on this Bible, which is written to match Hayford's beliefs (I would say that it supports a conserative, not fundamentalist, viewpoint). To better benefit from all the information packed into this Bible, take the time to read the keys and symbols at the front of the book. This Bible is sturdy and well-bound: after several years of regular use, it had experienced no binding problems whatsoever. Overall, a fabulous Bible that you will use for years to come, with study aids that will enlighten and enrich. ...

This has become my favorite Bible. It has study notes written by several present day scholars that present both present knowledge and the opinions of ancient scholars. The New King James Bible is easy to read. The study notes allow the reader to follow up on both a subject and word. In addition through out the text are notes on Hebrew and Greek words and Kingdom dynamics that relate the text to present conditions. I would rate it as the best study bible available today.

If you're looking for a classic translation of ALL the Sacred Scriptures, this one is worth your consideration. The Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha is still the closest thing we have to a translation universally accepted by Roman Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox scholars alike. Whenever, for example, the Vatican cites the Bible in its official English publications, it cites the RSV -- not the NRSV, the NIV, the NASB, or any other recent translation. Moreover, the inclusion of the Apocryphal books in this 50th Anniversary Edition will appeal not only to Roman Catholic and Orthodox readers, but also to numerous Lutherans and Anglicans. Don't hesitate to add this very well-made volume to your library.

The RSV is the Bible I grew up reading... i like how the language flows and it's been said (by friends who were in PhD religion programs) that it is by far one of the closest translations from the Hebrew and Greek texts.

I never understood why the publishing companies did away with this Bible and allowed the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) to take its place.

I'm glad to have found this Bible on line... and hope that perhaps one day the RSV will have a resurgence. Thanks to the small book company who was willing to sell this now antiquated version of the Bible.

I love reading this Revised Standard Version, it breaks the words down simply and beautifully.

The very first version of the King James Bible was in 1611 it included the Apocrypha texts which were texts that appeared in the Greek bible but not the Hebrew version. The KJV included them as a seperate part of the bible and treated them in contempt very badly translating them as they were considered undivine. In 1883 the KJV was updated and the Apocrypha texts were taken out and only special KJV bibles have them today and they're expensive.

The KJV was a masterpiece and had become the standard version of the bible but even so it was old and it was showing signs of that age. Oxford University Press released a revised version of the 1611 KJV known as the Revised Standard Version (RSV) maintaining the same structure and format of the original KJV. It didn't eliminate the use of thy, thine, thou but mainly cut it back to mainly quotes and it went back to the original texts and corrected many of the errors in the KJV. After 50 years the exceptional job they have done in updating the KJV is clearly visible and its a shame they've spoiled this in their politically correct version the NRSV.

I would definately recommend this bible to anyone it maintains the same majestic wording of the KJV as well as the same structure and even includes the Apocrypha at a fraction of the price it would cost to get a 1611 KJV with Apocrypha today. The pages are very thin and the print of the previous page can be seen through but this is a minor drawback to a very good bible. I'd recommend this bible to anyone after an accurate reading bible.

My review is the only review here that specifically refers to the Stampley Family Bible rendition of the RSV. The other reviews are referring to the RSV translation only.

The RSV Catholic Version is my translation of choice. The RSV was the only bible being used in English speaking universities the world over (until the politically correct NRSV flopped onto the scene). All the best academic authors use it in their works, it is a true classic.

The Stampley Family Bible is amazing value at $50 and thus I give it 5 stars . If I'd paid the full list price of $89.95 I'd be less happy as the quality is good-medium not brilliant. The font size is excellent. I don't know the exact size but my ESV Large print is 12.75 point and this is much bigger. The bible is beautiful with its many prints of the old masters, bible dictionary / concordance, etc.

Fantastic value!!!!!!!!