RussHutto.com

I’m a student of history. I am always eager to learn more about eras that I didn’t live through. This was actually something new for me though. A Century Turns: New Fears, New Hopes – America 1988 to 2008 By William Bennett is about an era that I lived through. It’s very recent history.

That being said, this was one of the most enlightening books I’ve ever read about the political process. William Bennett approaches his retelling of events from an obvious conservative viewpoint, but it’s not one that takes away from the accuracy of the events.

From Carter to Obama, Bennett recalls events in the past presidential administrations that set the tone for their terms, but also for the nation, and ultimately the world.

I never once felt like this was a partisan or extremely biased opinion driven retelling of history, though, I’d challenge you to read for yourself and determine your own opinions.

Each chapter is approachable and easy to read. I wish there had been more pictures, but the ones included captured the essence of the events in the book well.

I’d especially recommend this book for young people who were born in the late 80s that don’t have an understanding of the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and W. Bush years.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

This week I had the extreme pleasure (and sometimes challenging discomfort) of reading a pre-release copy of Sex, Lies & Religion by Randy Elrod. The book dives head first into the profound mystery of sexual communion and begins by dispelling lies formulated and propagated by religious and cultural thinking and then goes on to explore the beauty revealed by God to us in the created human form and all its mortal and immortal longings. According to Elrod, sex is not just a basic animal instinct. Procreation is not the ultimate goal. God has gifted us with sex as a means to fully know our spouses physically AND spiritually and to paint a wonderful portrait of His love for us, physically AND spiritually.

From the first paragraph to the last, I was challenged by this book. At times I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to race down the pathway of learning about this God-sanctioned spiritual communion shared by two lovers. And then, there were other times that I had to pause to reflect, to dig deeper into the text. I wanted to stop, go back and read again what I had just barreled into. Every word of this book was a genuine challenge to me. There are areas where I feel I already have freedom. And then there are other areas where I know that I could learn and grow in. So, I found myself continuously thinking deeply upon and storing away the wisdom and knowledge in these pages.

An interesting fact, and one in which I won’t divulge too many details, is that I immediately implemented some of the wisdom gleaned in reading this book and my wife definitely took notice (in a good way). The idea that the sexual communion between a husband and wife is sacred is not new to me, but the way Elrod approaches the topic, with a sense of reverence and freedom, is an immediate breath of fresh air to the one who is open to unreligious thinking and conversation.

I recommend this book for every adult (young and old) of dating, courting, marrying and married status and believe that even if one doesn’t agree with every principle in Sex, Lies & Religion it is definitely useful for engaging conversation.

Buy your copy of Sex, Lies & Religion by Randy Elrod today.

I received this book free from cre:ate 2.0 Publishing to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

Living Life In The Zone by Kyle Rote Jr. & Dr. Joe Pettigrew

A 40-Day Spiritual game Plan For Men

This book is a 40 day devotional written by men for men. The “Zone” is the place we live in when we put Christ first and others before us.

The book is divided into four sections: Marriage, Family, Work and Faith and uses sports stories and analogies to make great connections to spiritual growth and health.

(more…)