Great Books/Videos for Personal & Spiritual Growth

Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer--And How to Prevent Getting It in the First Place

As a cancer survivor myself, I wish I had had this book a few years ago. I went the traditional surgury-chemo-radiation route and have the scars to show for it. It gives me great hope to see that some doctors are willing to think outside the box and find things that really work instead of eating from the hand of Big Pharma, which profits tremendously from cancer patients. In fact, the cancer industry doesn't want you to know these things because they make so much money from the business of cancer that it's doubtful they really want to find a cure.

Heaven

Music in the Air : The Golden Age of Gospel Radio
by Mark Ward

I really enjoyed this book! I am fascinated by people of the past who accomplished great things, but who we know little of today. Those are the people I like to read about -- the now-forgotten heroes. This book is full of men and women from the 1920s to the 1960s who had a significant impact (sometimes a major impact) on evangelism in America, and who ought to be well remembered today. But we are a "now" culture and we forget our heritage so easily. This is an exciting and fascinating book, one that everyone should read.

A History of the American People
by Paul Johnson

I wish this could be required reading for every high school senior! Paul Johnson is an Englishman who has some surprising insights into our history. It is often difficult for us to step back and take an objective view at some of our national figures or historical events. He is able to do that as an outsider, and it was thoroughly refreshing and informative. It is a large book (976 pages), but it is so interesting that you just have to keep turning pages. I learned many things about our system of government and our presidents that I had never seen in an American textbook. It was a very inspiring book because it still portrays America, regardless of her faults, as the greatest country in the world, and as Abraham Lincoln said, the last best hope for the world.

The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands
by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

You've probably heard this, that a marriage license is the only license you can get without any training?! This book needs to be required reading for all married women. Buy this for Christmas presents or anniversaries for every woman you know (young and old)! I'm sure this book has already saved many marriages from breaking up. Basically, Dr. Laura discusses the difference between the way men and women think. She outlines the needs of men and how their women treat their husbands all the wrong ways. Her theme is that if a woman will take care of her man in the right way, she will also get from him what she needs and wants.

God and Ronald Reagan: A Spiritual Life
by Paul Kengor

Wow!! This is a fantastic book! I learned so much about how Reagan came to have his values and character (his early years), and what motivated him; the things behind the scenes that the news media never tells you about, the surprising effect that he had on the Russian people. You will enjoy knowing what made him the great man that he was.

Sacred Marriage
by Gary Thomas

Not your ordinary marriage book! There have been lots of books written about HOW to have a good marriage. This isn't one of them! The goal of this book is for you to see your marriage as a means to develop you into a stronger, more caring person, and more like God wants you to be. In other words, don't blame your spouse, you be the one to grow! Challenging, thought-provoking and just plain terrific!! Good for personal study, couples study, or a group study.

The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church

by Reggie McNeal

McNeal really puts his finger on the present condition of the church and how we are not really preparing for the future. I was very challenged by this book, especially about what is wrong with how we do church and what we need to do to fix it. Every minister desperately needs to read this book!

The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun

There is nothing that challenges you more than reading great biographies. This story is about a Christian man in China, a pastor in the underground church, who was persecuted and imprisoned by the communists. How he survived and let God use him wherever he was is a fascinating story.

Amazing Grace

I have seen this DVD several times, but after the first time I bought a copy. I loved it so much that I show to every visitor in my home who will take the time to see it. It is a very moving and powerful example of how the Gospel impacts society if we allow God to use us to defeat evil. One of my favorite parts is the rendition of Amazing Grace at the end with bagpipes. I cry every time I hear it!

His Needs - Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage

This book is great! We've given this book to many people. I don't know how many times I have bought it again because we keep giving our copy to someone who needs to read it. It tells the 4 things a man needs and 4 things a woman needs. It will really help you understand your spouse.

Beyond the Next Mountain

This is a DVD. It is an awesome true story about how the Gospel was taken to the Hmar tribe in northern India. Very moving! It is an example of the power of the Gospel to change lives and whole societies -- and without money or big churches or educated clergy. It's interesting how God can bypass everything that we think is so important and do His work His own way.

If you have and account at Netflix.com, you can view it with Instant Play on your computer.

There are also several books written about or by the main character, Rochunga Pudiate.

What the Bible Says about Healthy Living

by Dr. Rex Russell

This was a terrific book. It really opened my eyes to how God wants us to live--physically. We have rejected God's instructions (with whatever modern excuses sound good) and have adopted the eating habits of the unhealthly world around us. One of the most powerful statements to me was the scripture that says -- if you obey my word, none of these diseases will be put on you. I was fascinated by the kinds of diseases that the Egyptians had (like we have today: cancer, infections, heart disease), and God promised His people they could be free of these things if they would eat like He commanded them to.

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26