Unshackled & Growing -- book review

This book was sent to me by the author Nabeel Jabbour, an Arab Christian who has become a helpful friend in recent months. I "met" him after "happening upon" his book, The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross, at a local Christian bookstore and reading the book and the e-mail addendum. Incredible stuff and was just what I needed at the time!

Unshackled & Growing is for "Muslims and Christians on the journey to freedom." There were many good things in this book, but one of my favorites was the reminder that the Gospel is Jesus Christ, no more and no less. Dr. Jabbour reminded us that often we wrap the gospel with other things whether they be rules or preferences or traditions, but the Gospel is Christ alone.

Another great thing was the reminder from Ephesians 1 that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing so instead of praying, '"Father, bless me," it is more accurate to pray, 'Father, open my eyes so I will see how you have already blessed me . . . '"

One chapter reminds us that we are strategically positioned: we are saints, ambassadors and victors in Christ.

About thanksgiving the author stated: "When we thank God and accept our circumstances, we tune into His wavelength. We become aware that He is in full control of current events in the world and in our lives. ... Giving thanks is more than what we do during our quiet times. It is an attitude we carry throughout the day."

Great book for discipling and helping people grow in their Christian walks.

Books I Read in 2008

I checked just this morning. List started in January 1999. This means for ten years now I have kept a list of books I finished throughout the year! Most years I read 99.9% fiction -- usually of the historical, Christian or mystery varieties. But this year I only read 2 fiction books and 35 non-fiction ones! Quite the change! I wrote reviews for each book throughout the year. Some are just short things, others more extensive. Click on the titles below if you are interested. Hopefully I did the links correctly. :-)

List of Books Read in 2008

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese

The Destiny of Muslims in the End Times by Faisal Malick

To My Muslim Friends by Anise Behnam

The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Nabeel Jabbour

The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

Does My Head Look Too Big in This by Randa Abdel Fattah

Meeting Islam: A Guide for Christians by George Dardess

The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun & Paul Hattaway

The New Answers Book by Ken Ham, general editor

The Shack by William P. Young

Being Arab by Samir Kassir

The Bible Exposition Commentary Vol. I by Warren Weirsbe

Scratch Beginnings: Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepherd

Victory for Us Is to See You Suffer by Philip Winslow

Too Christian Too Pagan by Dick Staub

The Faith by Charles Colson

The Attentive Life by Leighton Ford

Called to Die by Steve Estes

Mary Louise's Opus by Mary Louise Mason

Unshackled & Growing by Nabeel Jabbour

Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan

Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker

Muslims, Christians, Jesus by Carl Medearis

Standing with Israel by David Brog

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

Once an Arafat Man by Taysir Saada
& Dean Merrill

Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg

The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen Miller

Christianity Today study series on Islam

Children of Hope by Vernon Brewer & Noel Brewer Yeatts

Mission Al Jazeera by Josh Rushing

Rethinking Holy Land by Marlin Jeschke

Defining Moments by Vernon Brewer