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Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

How many books about Jesus can we possibly need? According to authors Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola there are more biographies of Jesus than there are of anyone else. This being the case, I was somewhat reluctant to pick up their new addition to this crowded category. Now that I have read “Jesus: A Theography,” I believe this work does more than earn its place among books about Jesus, it comes close to creating an entirely new genre.
Sweet and Viola do much more than re-tell the story of Jesus’ life. They trace Jesus actions and explore His character as they are revealed from the first words of Genesis at the beginning of the Bible all the way to the last words of the Revelation. Having grown up as a Christian, I have read through the Bible several times. I have read through the gospels in the New Testament even more often. I was delighted to find that this book helped open my eyes to see Jesus at work in portions of the Bible where I had not previously noticed Him. This book helped me to read the Bible with fresh eyes and to love and appreciate Jesus much more as a truly divine person than as merely an idea or a doctrine.
Anyone with an interest in Jesus will find more than a little of value in Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola’s “Jesus: A Theography.”

Fully Alive by Ken Davis

In Fully Alive author Ken Davis shares his journey from being overweight and in poor health to running a triathlon while in his sixties. This  is not a diet or fitness book though. Davis shares how he made the shift from existing to living fully alive. What makes this book very compelling is that it is not a rags to riches story. That is, the author was very successful professionally before making the changes he describes in this book. This is the story of someone who refused to accept a good average life and instead fought for a life of excellence and joy.

In a market flooded with self-help and improvement books I was reluctant to dig into another one. What could I read that has not already be said? I was in for a big surprise! The author grabbed my attention and my imagination from the opening story. Through stories drawn from his own life and a lot of self-deprecating humour Davis shares his journey to living fully alive. What makes this book so valuable is that instead of sharing a few tips or techniques to improving your life, Davis imparts the desire to live fully alive. His passion for living is contagious.

Fully Alive will shake you up, wake you up and challenge you to start not just existing but living life to the fullest.