Running for my Life - A review by Brynna Hughes

“Running for my life” is the autobiography of Lopez Lemong, the Olympic track runner.  His story traces him from a small impoverished village in Sudan to the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing; a story that could have only happened by the grace of God.  God brought Lopez through Sudanese prison camp, the fields of Sudan running barefoot, and eventually to the United States to fulfill his dreams of getting an education and running in the Olympics.  He is now using his fame and partnering with World Vision provide education for Sudanese children. The story of how he had overcome obstacles to reach his dreams is nothing short of inspirational; it proves that with God there really is no such thing as impossible.  He relates his life to the life of Joseph in the Bible.  Just when it seemed like God had left him, God pulled through and blessed him, even more than he could ever imagine.  This book was great; it was a fast read and kept my attention through the entire story.  It was easy to get emotionally attached to Lopez through his journey, it definitely tugs heart strings.  I’ll be honest, for the past couple days since I finished it I’ve had dreams about the book. I definitely think it is a book that I will read again later in life when I need some encouragement.

The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant by Terry Felber

This book is a wonderful resource for those who will not be in vocational ministry. The author does a fantastic job showing us that no matter what we do vocationally, we are all in ministry and are serving the Lord no matter what our "day job" is. We should not be separating these two things. The story of the monk and the merchant is enjoyable and there are so many practical applications in it. There are many great principles to live by and I like the fact that the study guide includes scriptural basis for those principles. I can see why Dave Ramsey has all his employees read this book within 90 days of hire. This book helps those who choose not to be the "monk" to realize they have just as vital a ministry in their own workplace. It also encourages the "monk" and the "merchant" to work together, as one body. The only part of the book that had a slight "red flag" was it could possibly be viewed as "health and wealth" doctrine. Meaning, follow these principles and you'll be rich. I don't believe that is what the author is saying but I can see how some people could see it that way. God's blessing does not always involve material wealth. There are many forms of God's blessing. He does, however, provide for all your needs. That being said, I think this book is geared toward business minded people or those who already have material wealth and what the Biblical response should be to that particular blessing.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have already recommended it to several people to read.

I received this book free from booksneeze.com in exchange for my review.

Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur

This is an interesting book on "unlikely heroes" of the Bible. It was very well done and there is much to be learned from these people of the Bible. I particularly enjoyed the section on Esther. I appreciated his insights about how God is never mentioned in the book but the events that take place make one wonder about how it is possible for all that to be coincidence. I also enjoyed the reference to the story being a chess match between God and Satan. In every chapter you can see the shortcomings of man but God uses each and everyone of them for His glory. An encouraging book for any believer.

I received this book free from booksneeze.com in exchange for my review.