Joel Osteen’s ‘Become a Better You’

Back Cover:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, YOU CAN BE BETTER!

“God is preparing you for greater things. He’s going to take you further than you thought was possible, so don’t be surprised when He asks you to think better of yourself and to act accordingly” - Joel Osteen

In this, his second book, Pastor Joel Osteen highlights 7 key principles designed to improve and better our lives, viz:

* Keep pressing forward
* Be positive toward yourself
* Develop better relationships
* Form better habits
* Embrace the place where you are
* Develop your inner life
* Stay passionate about life

It is a great tool for all those who want to better themselves in any way big or small. It is about accepting that while God will do His bit to make us grow, we also have a part to play in improving ourselves.

Written in the same easy & simple way that Pastor Joel Osteen preaches (in fact if you’ve heard him enough, it’s almost like reading transcribed sermons of his) it is nevertheless filled with great truths that if practiced, can change your life.

Most of it wasn’t new to me (and won’t be to most people who read self help books) but it not only served as a great reminder of these points, but was filled with real life examples & stories which drove his points home excellently.

This is not a book you can’t live without, but I’m sure you’ll love it anyway.

3 Christian Fiction Book Reviews

These three books I read had common authors, all of them written by Deborah Bedford & two of them co-authored by Joyce Meyer, so I decided to review them together. Another thing I think they all had in common, is that they’ll make for good gifts - especially for people who’re not “into” the whole Christian scene & you’re trying to reach out to.

Deborah Bedford’s ‘When You Believe’ had an excellent plot that moved at quite a fast pace - It’s a story about a teacher Lydia Porter, who for professional reasons has kept her engagement to a fellow teacher, Charlie Stains, a secret. Right in the beginning of the book, a student confides in her, that Staines has sexually molested her. The book follows Porter’s subsequent conflict about doing “the right thing” and what exactly that entails.

‘The Penny’ by Joyce Meyer & Deborah Bedford - sees Meyer (author of over 70 Christian non fiction books) foray into Christian fiction. The protagonist of the book is a sexually abused African American girl living in the racially charged mid-1950s America - and how a simple chance action (of her stoping to pick up a penny dropped on a sidewalk) set a whole new set of things in motion. The book is well written & the plot well developed. Definitely worth reading.

Any Minute by Joyce Meyer & Deborah Bedford - The plot had the potential to be a good read - a story of a workaholic woman’s near-death experience, which brings her to appreciate the actual good things of life. It is a tad slow in the first half  (I found myself wishing the protagonist had her near-death experience already & was done with it!) though it picks up pace a little afterwards. Not as good as the first two books reviewed here - but could be gift option to a workaholic family member or colleague, otherwise worth the miss.

Joel Osteen’s Daily Readings from “Your Best Life Now”

Instead of picking up the whole book, I got the ‘Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now’ – with 90 Devotions, all bite sized and packaged for the reader to do one daily.

This book is especially good for everyone who complains about the lack of time – reading a “chapter” should take you a few minutes.

Yet even in those few minutes, you will get handfuls of encouragement, edification and ample good advice – everything Pastor Joel Osteen has become synonymous with.

I was especially happy with the book for two reasons:

The first was that it’s easily available in India – Hachette India sells the same for Rs. 525/- I had earlier bought Osteen’s other book ‘Become a Better You’ at three times the price off the internet (of course, that was the entire book and a hard cover as compared to this book’s soft cover).

The second is because its reading’s size makes it a good gift option for most people: I gifted it to my mother who loves it so much that she’s bought copies to gift too. And it’s always a great feeling when you gift someone a book & they love it!

DaNae Hagelberg’s ‘The Book of Unhidden Secrets. Task One: Forgiveness’

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“‘Mindy, they are sending me to Iraq, and you will be going to stay with your grandparents in Oklahoma. I’ll be gone for a year. I have already talked to them, and you’ll be flying out tomorrow.’

Fourteen-year-old Mindy Hanson isn’t thrilled with the idea of moving to Oklahoma. But from the moment she leaves her father’s side at the airport, strange things begin to happen. Not only is she having extraordinary dreams, but her Bible, the last gift from her mother before she died, starts glowing whenever it’s opened. Soon Mindy and her two new friends, Billy and Tommy, are plunged into an ancient world full of danger and adventure, where they’ll need all their courage and knowledge to survive. In The Book of Unhidden Secrets, DaNae Hagelberg brings historical Jerusalem back to life through the eyes of three unlikely heroes as Mindy and her friends set off on a journey to find King David and complete their task before time runs out. Will they ever be able to return home? Take a look into The Book of Unhidden Secrets to unveil the truth and find a treasure of your own.”

Even before I start the review of this first book in a new series for tweens, let me say, I *loved* the concept of taking the protagonists & her friends back into the Bible into historical Jerusalem to meet King David! From the time I read the back cover I was totally floored and wondered what it would be like if I too could go back into time & visit the Bible greats like David!

I was also a tad worried that the book wouldn’t live upto my expectations and that it wouldn’t be as fun as I hoped - I needn’t have bothered; the book was a fun read.

Not only is it decently paced throughout the book, but the characters are all believable and easy to relate to in today’s world - especially the fourteen year old protagonist Mindy. She’s not a holy joe, in fact far from it. She’s given up her faith post her mother’s death & strange signs or not, she finds it hard to accept God again. The going back to Jerusalem is also well written & interesting from a historical point of view.

My only possible negative critique of the book, was that it was too small & got over way too fast. I would have ideally liked to read more adventure in Jerusalem before the task was completed. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to wait for book 2.

T. J. Smith’s ‘The Harrowing Escape’ (The Quest of Dan Clay, Book 2)

‘The Harrowing Escape’, is Book Two in a Trilogy by T. J. Smith.
(Book One, ‘A World Away’ is reviewed here.)

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Within the hexed walls of the fortress, Dan and his companions are plagued with unsettling questions… questions whose answers will demand a deeper infiltration into the secret recesses of the centuries-old castle, answers which will involve confrontations with the citadel’s animate and inanimate residents, and answers which will entail encounters with the savage beasts of the forest.

Is Dan’s brother, William, alive and a prisoner of the Reclaimers? Will the travelers survive the spellbinding powers of the half-man and half-serpent creatures? Will the rescuers breach the spatial boundaries of the parallel world and return home?

In this second installment, we see the gang of 4: Dan, Sam, Jimmy & Cindy reach the demonic castle and instantly there is a whole host of new characters we’re introduced to. Some helpful, most lethal - but all other worldly in some way or the other.

Though T. J. Smith managed to keep my attention the whole book, I didn’t love this one as much as the first one and found myself wishing there was more action in the castle and less in the forest on the way back. The book has a very satisfactory end, when suddenly a new twist makes way for the third book in the trilogy, which irked me a little.

I however would definetely recommend buying the book (all three at one shot if possible) especially for young adults, as there is plenty of creative imagery, action & understanding of the Catholic faith mixed in the book.

Another great feature I loved, is the e|LIVE code that you get with the book, that allows yous to download your free audio book digital download! Good value for your money spent. Now waiting for the final book in the series.

T. J. Smith’s ‘A World Away’ (The Quest of Dan Clay, Book 1)

‘A World Away’, is Book one in a Trilogy by T. J. Smith.

Back Cover:

“To avert a potential underworld mutiny of horrific proportions, these fifty insurrectionists were relocated through a portal from the pit of hell to the dark Eldritch Forest of another world, parallel to our own. Upon their banishment, the condemned were transformed into half-man and half-serpent creatures.

Thirteen years ago, William Clay—then a mere child—disappeared from a nearby forest, never to be seen again. Only recently, his younger brother, Dan, acquired information on the forest fables from a questionable source. After analyzing fact and legend, Dan suspects that his brother may have fallen through the portal into the parallel world and is being held captive by the fifty fiends. Join Dan and three friends as they embark on an out-of-this-world journey where they are hunted by savage beasts along the footpath to a demonic castle.

The protagonist, Dan Clay is everything a hero shouldn’t be. He’s picked on and mercilessly bullied and publicly harassed in school. However we find out that Dan always wasn’t this way - this retreat into a shell was caused by the mysterious disappearance of his elder brother Willian thirteen years prior.

A faithful Catholic family, the Clays haven’t really recovered from the loss of William. Then suddenly Dan lands himself in a place where he seems to discover the truth of the matter - a parallel world; full of fiends so ruthless that hell wasn’t enough to hold them.

It is to this world that Dan to must journey & we see him and his three friends battle mystical and evil creatures in the dark forest in their quest to reach the castle where William is suspected to be help captive by the fiends.

It’s a dangerous and life threatening journey and it makes for an interesting ride for the reader.

T. J. Smith does a great job in bringing the parallel world alive and skillfully weaving a story of faith, morals & character - and all in a very refreshingly Catholic light.

If you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas for young adults or lovers of sci-fi action, this may well be an excellent choice!

[Will review 'The Harrowing Escape'; the second book in the trilogy shortly. Book three is scheduled for release early 2010.]

Review: “The Clown of God” by Tomie dePaol

Suffer children to come to me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child shall not enter into it. - Luke 18: 16-17

“Many, many years ago, in Sorrento, there lived a small boy named Giovanni who had no mother and no father. He dressed in rags and begged his bread and slept in doorways.

But he was happy, and he could do something wonderful…

He could juggle.”

So begins the beautiful tale of the boy who escapes poverty through his God-given gift; a gift that propels him to unlikely fame, has him traveling the land, and sought-after by dukes and princes. The highlight of his performance is always the same: a rainbow of colored balls, crowned by a golden one he calls the “Sun in the Heavens.” For years, he leads a life of ease and comfort.

Eventually though, Giovanni finds that he has grown old, and his skills have diminished. He has become poor again. Alone. But this time, he lacks the thing that sustained him in his youth - happiness. He decides to return to the home of his childhood. And it is in the monastery in his Sorrento that he returns to God the only thing that he had left - his gift. And in doing so, he becomes like a child again. Giovanni shows us that it’s not what we give, it’s the love with which we give it that counts.

“For You, sweet Child, for You!” he cries in the dramatic finale.

After thirty years, this simple retelling of an old French miracle story still leaves me choking back tears as I read it to my own children. Sometimes as adults living in a hostile and jaded world, it’s easy to forget that God loves each and every one of us, and especially so the lowly, the bankrupt and defeated. Overtly mimicking “Le Jongleur de Dieu,” with its message of the naively-genius spirituality of Saint Francis, you’ll also find this story engulfed in the theology of Saint Therese’s “Little Way.”

Simply written, and lovingly illustrated with sensually soft watercolors, The Clown of God is Tomie dePaola’s own gift to us that should be a treasured part of every child’s library. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself returning to its pages even more often than your child.

The Clown of God (ISBN 978-0156181921), first published in 1978, is still in print and available through many outlets, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Books Worth a Second Look: “The Secret Archives of the Vatican” by Maria Luisa Ambrosini

“Secret”: From the Latin, sēcrētus; meaning something that is kept hidden.

This little word inspires more distrust – and mischief – than similar or more forceful words like “prohibited” or “private” or “confidential.” It’s ambiguous. “A secret?” we ask ourselves, “what could that mean? What are they trying to hide, anyway?” What is it about our human nature that refuses to leave any stone unturned?

And using the word as an adjective only deepens our wonder. Secret message. Secret agent. Secret hideout. The mystery of the unknown. It’s romantic. It’s alluring. Tempting.

But when the word is used in combination with “Vatican Archives,” the proverbial goo begins to fly. Conspiracy aficionados appear out of nowhere to enlighten us on all the knowledge that is being suppressed. All the horrible truths that will one day come out to reveal the masters and movers of the earth. The truth behind UFO’s and alien visitations. The damning evidence about Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Rumors grow into legends and legends into lies. There is apparently no limit to what the Pope has been concealing from the world for two thousand years.

Happily, some sanity prevails.

Shortly after the Second Vatican Council, in which Pope John XXIII “threw open the windows of the Church,” a young woman wandered into the Secret Vatican Archives hoping to find information on some statuary in the Italian countryside. What she found instead, over the course of several years, was a world of wonder contained in 85 kilometers of dusty shelves and bookcases. Every subsequent visit took her deeper and deeper into an epic adventure which she turned into one of the most compelling books to have been written about the Church.

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Joyce Meyer’s ‘The Secret to True Happiness’

I have just completed reading Joyce Meyer’s latest book - the Secret to True Happiness.

I say “reading”, but the truth is that I took my time studying the book. I devoured every page of this book slowly and meticulously - underlining, highlighting and making notes - each page was a goldmine of ideas and facts written in Joyce’s straight talk and humouress way.

I think the best thing about the book, is that it is Simple and Practical. Each of the 28 chapters bring out truths which Joyce explains so simply, yet so powerfully, that I guarantee it will change your life if you truly follow them.

I have recently ordered Joyce’s Battlefield of the Mind, which I’ve been told by tons of people is also worth it’s weight in gold. Will review when I’m done.

Meanwhile, I’m placing this book in my top 3 Christian books (the other two being Fulton J. Sheen’s ‘Life of Christ’ & Merlin Carothers’s ‘Power in Praise’) that you MUST read - and re-read regularly - in order to fully absorb the wealth of information and truth and in order for them to change your life for the better.

More information on the book here.

Scott & Kimberly Hahn’s ‘Rome Sweet Home’

A Book about a Christian Pastor & his wife’s journey to Catholicism, this book was life changing for me. For one thing, it changed my view on contraceptives - I never understood why the Catholic Church did not allow it and agreed with the Christians on this point, till I read this book.

Most Catholics I know do not bother to find out why the Catholic Church has certain viewpoints on issues. I was one of those Catholics. This book, though not comprehensive, at least whet my appetite for research on NFP. Starting reading the CCC because of this book.

Absolutely worth reading for many other reasons which every person who reads will undoubtedly find. I could not put it down until I finished it & it also had me in tears quite a bit.

And at the end of the day - It’s a excellent testimony!!

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