What's on My Bookshelf?: Jesus for President

I am starting a new blog series called "What's on Your Bookshelf?" 


When I post a "Bookshelf" blog post, I will share what I am currently reading.  It might be

Fiction or Non-fiction
Art related or Not

Whatever currently inspires me or I am enjoying...

I will give an honest review of my thoughts.

I will invite you to create your own blog post revealing what's on your bookshelf.  Tell us what novel you are reading, what you think about it... give us a glimpse into the book... in a few sentences, or in a longer post.  Pictures are always nice too!  Maybe we will all find new books to add to our "to read" list.  Add your link here. If you are reading from a blog reader, you may need to go to the actual post to add your link.


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What's on My Bookshelf?

Currently I am reading In Her Shoes, by Jennifer Weiner.  It is a "chick lit" book and an easy read.  I am almost finished with it, and while it is not my favorite book ever it was enjoyable.

 I just finished Jesus for President.  I loved it.  With the upcoming election, I would encourage all who are interested/believe in Christianity to read this book.


Words and images are woven to tell the history of Jesus and the Christian church.  Approximately the first half of the book is about Jesus and the church history.  The second half (approximately) continues with current applications and ideas.

What is the way of Jesus?
from page 100, " But Jesus' revolutionary patience claimed that another kingdom is coming-- one that you can participate in, but not cannot build, a see you can plant and water but cannot make grow.  You can't drag the kingdom of God into the world.  But you can't stop sowing the seed either.  Sow them everywhere!"

from page 290, " .. But we are convinced that Jesus came not to prepare us to die, but to teach us how to live.  The kingdom of God is not just something we hope for when we die but something we live "on earth as it is in heaven."  And we're not willing simply to promise the world that there is life after death when the world is asking, "Is there life before death?"  We are thankful for heaven, but we are not willing to stand by and watch people live through hell to get there."... page 291... "Hell is not just something that comes after death but is something many are living in this very moment:  1.2 billion people groan for a drop of water each day; more than thirty thousand kids starve to death each day..."
Can war ever be "just"?  Is there another way?  I found myself nodding along in agreement on nearly every page.

Can or should Christians be patriotic?  As Christians, shouldn't we break down the borders and raise every countries' flag because we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ?

I love all the illustrations the authors chose to accompany their pages.


Republican?  Democrat?  Does it matter?  How should I vote?  Should I even vote?  

The authors remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and this book reaffirmed my anti-war viewpoint.

from page 178, "The US arsenal is the largest stockpile of nuclear weaponry in the world, equivalent to over 150,000 Hiroshima bomb (www.warresisters.org). The US military budget is over 450 billion per year, and it would take the combined budgets of the next 15 countries to equal that of the US (Russia is the next biggest spender at around 70 billion, China at 50 billion and the the entire "Axis of Evil" is less than 10 billion (truemajority.com). 


So there you have it, my first entry in a new blog series (monthly?  every other week?) titled "What's on My/Your Bookshelf?".  Please join me and create a blog post sharing what you are reading!

4 comments

Katie Morris said...

I've heard a couple people mention Jesus for President but I haven't read it myself. I'm hoping to read the Hunger Games books before school starts up again... but I may not make it since I have a pretty long list of things I want to accomplish! I love to read, it's just not happened a lot since my son was born. When he gets a little older, we can read more together. (More than board books, anyway.)

Marcia Beckett said...

The Hunger Games were really good. highly recommend it. The first two in the series were awesome and then I felt like the third one was dragging, I just wasn't as in to it. I try to read a little bit every night before bed.

Phyl said...

Just came across your blog post. What am I reading? Hmmm - our book club just finished Mary: Mrs A. Lincoln. This is historical fiction, and I didn't expect to like it, but I was wrong. It is written in the voice of Mary Todd Lincoln, during her confinement in an insane asylum 10 years after the murder of her husband. Really intriguing! And I also just finished State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Her Bel Canto is a top favorite book of all time, and so I was excited when State of Wonder came out in paperback. I'm curious as the the opinion of others on this book - it was certainly different. Also on my bookshelf (or actually the night table): The Dovekeepers, Moby Duck, The Fall of the House of Walworth (I don't recommend this one), and an oldie but charming goodie - The Abortion by Richard Brautigan. And our book club is also embarking on a classic - The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway.

Looking forward to seeing your other book choices. I've read the first Hunger Games but haven't gotten to the others.

enthusiastically, dawn said...

I am perusing your book list and this one looks great- Jesus For President! How did I miss this first time around...Thanks for sharing! Love the art Her and Now today as well! I am all over your place today, my friend! Have a great day!