7 Hours: Escapement by Rene Gutteridge

In each installment of 7 Hours, a character is visited by the enigmatic Thomas Constant, who makes a heart-stopping statement: “You are about to die. But you may choose from one of three options: Live seven more hours, travel back in time and relive seven hours, or accept the inevitable and die now.” 
The clock is ticking.

What will you do with the time you have left? 

It's difficult to be the second book in a multiple author saga. It's almost impossible when the first book is Rearview. Rene Gutteridge pulls back the curtain on a character she's been thinking about for some time. By the end of this read you'll have figured out that Mattie is incredibly overweight and has serious issues.

When presented with Thomas Constant's proposal, he decides to use his seven hours to murder a man who gave him grief in school. This could be an interesting dialogue as to whether bullying can actually curse you later in life.

As with most hair-brained murder plots, Mattie is due for some unexpected hiccups.

The ending was abrupt but I guess this is what happens when you are given only seven hours of additional life.

It was hard for me to get the first story out of my head so I was, unfairly, comparing the two. Gutteridge weaves an excellent tale in short story format. It might not be worth it as a stand alone but it is a fine addition to the 7 Hours world.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale House Publishing

7 Hours: Rearview by Mike Dellosso

In each installment of 7 Hours, a character is visited by the enigmatic Thomas Constant, who makes a heart-stopping statement: “You are about to die. But you may choose from one of three options: Live seven more hours, travel back in time and relive seven hours, or accept the inevitable and die now.”
The clock is ticking.

What will you do with the time you have left?



Rearview is the first installment of a seven-book series called 7 Hours. Each of the seven stories is written by a different author that revolves around Thomas Constant.

Dellosso tells of Professor Dan Blakely - an upstanding man who has been falsely accused by a female student. This accusation sends his life and career in a tailspin.

Contemplating the horrific life he will now lead, Dan decides to end his own life. This is when he's visited by Thomas Constant who offers him the choice.

I was incredibly impressed by this first story. It sets the perfect tone for what to expect from this 7 Hour endeavor. Dellosso provides an outlet for every emotion without it feeling cliched or forced. I actually found my eyes watering at the end of this book. A fully satisfying end to an excellent 88-page read.

Jump into the 7 Hour experience with this inaugural short tale that will have you thinking long after it's over.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale House Publishing.

How God Became King by N.T. Wright

N.T. Wright wrote about something that, I must admit, I didn't see as deficient in Western churches.

In How God Became King, Mr. Wright unveils what the four gospels collectively say: in and through Jesus, God became King of the world. 

His argument is that many people have forgotten this story and decided to rely on the church creeds of antiquity. As I said, I have never ran into this problem. For the churches that I've been part of, it's always been about Jesus and the Kingdom of God that he inaugurated.

Having said that, this is still Wright directly on target. His books never fail to connect with me.

Like his previous book, Simply Jesus, this one reads like a slimmed-down version of his longer books from the past. (see Christian Origins and the History of God books) He actually says the same thing he's been saying for the past few books.

You'll read four parts in how we need to readjust the volume of the four points found within the story of the gospels: The Climactic Story of Israel, The Story of Jesus as the Story of Israel's God, The Launching of God's Renewed People and the Clash of the Kingdoms.

Wright explains that the church has lowered some levels and raised other levels to the point where we don't recognize the themes. He claims we're simply a group of Christians who read the Bible as God providing a way for us to escape this wicked world.

But the Gospels are much much more.

Classic Wright with his typical lines, "There isn't enough space to write about that here" and "see this other book that I've read to continue with the idea".

One can never go wrong with Wright.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by HarperOne Publishing.

A Shot of Faith to the Head by Mitch Stokes, PhD

Oh my word. Dr Mitch Stokes has written a book in response to the "cranky atheists" that will expand your brain.

If you have ever sat through a Philosophy 101 class, you may get just a taste of what's in store for you when you read this book.

Stokes gives us three parts in which he lays out his arguments for the existence of God and how you can confidently discuss/argue your point with atheists.

You get seven chapters on why belief in God is rational. This is in direct conflict with the Neo-Atheists who say  belief in God is irrational.

Part two discusses the use of science in explaining your beliefs. Here you'll find eight chapters of ammunition.

Finally you will read Stokes' views on evil and suffering and how the atheists have a serious problem when they bring this line of thinking into their debates.

After each chapter Stokes provides, "For Your Arsenal". These are quick bullet points to help you remember and apply the information to your memory.

This is a thick book in that Stokes is a doctor of philosophy. You may need to reread portions of this book just to fully comprehend the ideas but he does provide easy-to-understand illustrations to prove his point.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Real Steel

Take the story from Rocky, add giant robots, an annoying kid and some rock 'n roll and you'll experience Real Steel.

Hugh Jackman used to be a boxer before the sport was outlawed. Now he operates a giant robot in the new boxing ring. Unfortunately, he's a lousy human being. He's fathered a kid but cares nothing for his offspring. His main concern is making money with the bots.

When he's called to court for a custody hearing, Jackman makes a deal in order to "watch" his son for the summer for a large sum of money. (He's the cliched low-life.)

During the summer, father and son find and update an old sparring robot in order for it to fight in the arenas. This bot was created to take a beating and in this way is very much the robotic version of the Italian Stallion.

The film tries very hard to get you to believe this robot is alive, having it stare into a mirror and shadow box with the boy, but we're lucky in that they kept it lifeless. It's just a robot but people still cringe when the punches are delivered.

Young boys will love the boxing robots and the high-octane music while their moms will enjoy seeing Hugh Jackman become a better man.

Seriously, Jackman is the reason this movie is so good. He has the ability to take a less than so-so movie and turn it into a fairly successful flick.

Outside of the incredibly annoying kid and a few bad examples of foul language, Real Steel is a decent movie.

My Big Bottom Blessing by Teasi Cannon

This is the perfect book to give to women who hate their image.

Teasi (Tee See) Cannon combines her own story of battling her self-confidence with inspirational words to comfort and energize people to embrace God's best.

This combination of gut-wrenching honesty and grace opens the door to what many of us need. A freedom from the cliched Christian responses. "Let go and let God" (I hate that one).

After reading through the ten chapters, you'll find a nice resource page for further reading and assistance with whatever "issues" you may be dealing with.

Each chapter ends with a fill-in-the-blank worksheet for you to continue your reaction to what you just read. This includes the easy questions with more thought-provoking things and Scripture references.

You'll find humor and incredible pain through Cannon's journey. You'll even see a little of yourself as you identify with her inner-dialogue with "trainer" and other "well intentioned" friends.

Click here to read the first chapter of My Big Bottom Blessing.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Worthy Publishings

Go + Do by Jay Milbrandt

What do you imagine a book will be about if the author's the director of the Global Justice Program?

Jay Milbrandt serves the global community as a human rights lawyer. He took his MBA and left a possible posh living for the hard work of serving God.

Within these fourteen chapters, you will be challenged to advance against your fears and take steps away from your comfort level. This challenge will come alongside personal anecdotes from Milbrandt's experiences in Asia, Africa and other continents.

Milbrandt wants us to change those around us as we are changed more like Christ. He promotes a lifestyle process instead of the typical strategic CEO style. Think relational evangelism instead of bullhorn "turn-or-burn".

This isn't a book intending to make you feel good about your church attendance or how your worship tastes are so much closer to the heavenly style. Instead, you will read how you need to be equipped from your church and then leave to practice it.

In this postmodern society, story trumps facts and this book is all about promoting your stories. Boiled down: this book is the call to leave your comfort zone and practice Christlike ministry away from the burbs.
 
This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale Publishing.