The Noticer

Andy Andrews, author of The Traveler’s Gift, has created another beautiful and challenging story.  The Noticer is the story of a town that becomes influenced and changed by the wisdom of an older man named Jones.  Jones is a drifter with perspective, a person who can offer insight to those around him and influence them for the better.  Whether it’s a down and out homeless man living under a bridge, or a suburban couple on the brink of divorce, Jones enables them to look at their circumstances from a different angle.

I read this book in one night.  I literally couldn’t put it down.  The Noticer challenged me, inspired me and spoke to my heart in a way that was refreshing and hopeful.  It’s one of those special books that rip at your gut and make you a better person for reading it.

The Noticer covers issues we all deal with in some fashion.  It is a thought-provoking, special read.

At the back of the book there is a reader’s guide with discussion questions to accompany each chapter.  Beyond that, there is a project associated with the book that can only produce good results.  At http://www.thenoticerproject.com/ you can view project information and participate in the project by “noticing” the people in your life your life who have encouraged you or made you a better person.

We all have a Jones in our lives who says the right words at the right times and points us in the direction we need to go.  These special people inspire us and open our eyes to our full potential. Without them our lives would have taken a turn for the worst.  They are miracles and we owe them our gratitude.

The Noticer is a lesson in perspective, but it’s also a lesson in gratitude.  It teaches people to notice the value of those around them and praise them for their impact on our lives.  If we all lived with this mindset our world would be so wonderful.

I highly recommend this book.  Be sure to check out The  Noticer Project too. 

You can learn more about this great book and its wonderful author here.

The Noticer is available for $17.99 at the Thomas Nelson Site.

It’s also available here for $13.99.

Please do not miss this excellent book!

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of Thomas Nelson, April 2009 

Uncompromised Faith

S. Michael Craven is an author who identifies himself as a speaker who “works to challenge the spiritual apathy and cultural indifference of the church. . .”  In his book, Uncompromised Faith Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity, He does exactly that through his intense look at our cultural decline that has lead us progressively farther away from God.

Readers will be convinced of the need to step up and be the people of God above being people of religion.  They will learn through Craven’s research and statistics the severe state that the American church is in.  They’ll be stirred up and angry, and different as a result.

Craven addresses issues in a thorough manner.  His book is an excellent call to action among Christians to produce true faith that isn’t laced with idolatry, post modernistic polluted views of God, or sin-tolerant complacency.  He encourages Christians to be the real deal.

Craven doesn’t just encourage Christians to stand against sin, but to reach out in love and compassion to the sinner.  This is such a refreshing view.  Craven in no way bends to the culture, but he loves the people as Christ did and doesn’t shut the door to their potential salvation with a jaded hypocrisy that can turn a heart away from God quickly.  Christians can learn and grow from his Godly example of balance as he hates sin and lovesthe sinner.  This book will challenge you to represent God intelligently, and in a way that is true and pleasing to God.

You can find Uncompromised Faith here.

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of NavPress, April 2009