Tag Archive - Andy Andrews

Book Review: “How Do You Kill 11 Million People?” by Andy Andrews

February 21, 2012 in Odds & Ends with 11 Comments

“Why the truth matters more than you think.” Andy takes us on an educational journey of how a leader misleads a whole bunch of folks into the gas chamber. Pretty sick thought. But true story. Then he takes this logic a step further… and encourages us to make wise choices when we select our leaders… and how we should accept nothing less than the truth from them.

Andy says… “Have you  ever noticed how we judge the “bad guys” by their actions, and the “good guys” by their intentions?” He then illustrates Andy Stanley’s Principle of the Path, which states “it is direction, not intention, that determines destination” … how good choices lead to good results… and how bad choices lead to… you know.

Andrews says, “The only way we have to know a person who aspires to lead us is to listen to what he says and watch what he does.” Good advice Andy. Another excellent book from a favorite author!

What qualities do you look for when trying to evaluate a leader that you may follow?

Book Review: “The Final Summit” by Andy Andrews

April 11, 2011 in Odds & Ends with 0 Comments

Click here to purchase The Final Summit

Yep, another Andy Andrews book… out for release TODAY. Just when you think they can’t get any better, Andy does it again!! An absolute masterpiece.

This book continues the story of David Ponder, the time traveler from Andy’s “The Traveler’s Gift.” Please read my previous review on The Traveler’s Gift. This time, Ponder is commissioned by the archangel Gabriel to lead the other Traveler’s in “examining the accumulated wisdom of the past in order to determine the future of humanity. Or if there is even to be a future on this earth–”

You see, God has decided that man has once again gone too far… as Gabriel says: “For many years, you have progressively turned away from the real truth and in its stead have attempted to create your own version of a ‘truth’ that your intellect can comprehend. In so doing, you have become increasingly hungry for the attributes of destruction – an unquenchable thirst for riches, a disdain for your fellow man, and power for its own sake.”

Ponder was chosen to lead this group of Traveler’s in making a choice… a decision of how to proceed… indeed, Ponder was chosen because “he was the ideal example of the human race… uncertain of life’s purpose, inconsistent in his actions and attitudes, and angry about it all…”

David Ponder leads us to doing the ONE THING we must do when we don’t know what to do…

The incredible story unfolds from there, a remarkable work by Andy Andrews. Andy inspired us with normal, everyday language that is engaging and keeps you coming back for more.

The Final Summit is surely heading for the top!

Any guesses on the ONE THING that we must do??

I received this book for free from the publisher, and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Forgiveness Prayer

August 6, 2010 in Soul Food with 4 Comments

I few weeks ago I wrote “Having A Heart,” inspired after reading Andy Andrews “The Heart Mender.” The jist of it was to try and provide help forgiving someone after they have hurt you. Remember, forgiving is for YOU and doesn’t have anything to do with the person who offended you (unless you would like to restore a broken relationship, then by all means ask for forgiveness!). It is through the power of God’s loving acceptance for us that we can have the peace of true forgiveness. At the time I wrote “Having A Heart” I couldn’t put my hands on The Forgiveness Prayer. I originally found it in the sidebar of the Transformations handout for LifeGroups at Chets Creek Church last fall (when I really needed it, I repeated it over 100 times, and for months.) After following up with Glenn (I love that dude!!) Reese at Chets this week I was able to come up with the following prayer which is very similar to the missing forgiveness prayer…

Father God, I choose, as an act of my will, to forgive (name)____________ for

_______(specific offense.) Father, I ask that you forgive them as well; and not

hold these charges against him/her on my account.

Father God, if there are any more stored up negative feelings in me toward

_________, I ask that you cleanse me.  I will be open to replace these negative

emotions with the fruit of your Holy Spirit.

Father, Your Holy Word tells us that we overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb,

Jesus Christ, and the word of our testimony. I now plead the blood of Jesus over

this offense and over my unforgiveness. Lord, do not allow Satan to interfere with

my testimony. 

Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me regain the ground that I gave up when I

held onto these offenses.  I ask that you take back this ground and no longer allow

Satan to operate there.  Give me wisdom to deal with this situation in the future.

Father, I ask that you heal now the wounded places in my soul.  Heal my memory of

those offenses so that I can look back on them realistically, knowing that You have

healed me.  Now Father, I ask that you bless ____(name) with Your abundant mercy.

Prosper him/her in every way: body, soul, and spirit. AMEN.

Again from Andy Andrews’ book…

“If you’re mad at someone you have to forgive them for you. You have a choice to make, either think about them all day long and let them keep hurting you inside… or give them to God. We are products of our past but we don’t have to be prisoners to it. Practicing forgiveness is less an act than a determined way of living. True forgiveness only comes at the conclusion of an inner struggle.”

Keep on Smiling, Loving and Living :-)

By Your Hand… The Lost Choice?

July 24, 2010 in Odds & Ends with 0 Comments

Another thought-provoking book by Andy Andrews, I just finished The Lost Choice. I have one more to go to be caught up with Andy’s collection of inspiring works.

The book centers on the history of an ancient relict, and how it has inspired the great achievements of many admired people through time – including Joan of Arc, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington Carver, Oskar Schindler and Alfred Vanderbilt.

The relict, divided into four parts early in history, empowers those who possess it. And reinforces that we all have a choice to make.

From the book…

“The Lord always provides me with life-changing ideas. Not that I am special. The Lord provides everyone with life-changing ideas. These ideas are quite literally a treasure map from the Almighty. It is up to each of us, however, to choose to dig for the treasure. Every man and woman on the planet contains within them the power to change the world, but this power is only manifested when one makes a conscious choice to use it.” George Washington Carver speaking.

The Lost Choice was very helpful to me. Sometimes I just need to take action (indeed, the dreaded indecision again!) … along with making good choices, another central theme of the book.

For me, this book was right up there with The Heart Mender and The Travelers Gift. Aside from The Bible, these three books more than any others I’ve read over the past year have helped me to be a better person and to help others as well.

What choices have you not made that you would consider “lost?”

Are there any “What If’s” in your life that you may loose due to inaction?

Having a Heart

June 9, 2010 in Odds & Ends with 1 Comment

Just blazed through Andy Andrews’ new book, The Heart Mender. In less than a day during my spare time. I’ve never been one to do this, but this one is truly a masterpiece that I couldn’t put down.

The subtitle, a story of second chances, shines the light on this true story of war, faith… and forgiveness. Here’s the jist of it… Andy uncovers artifacts from the second world war in his own back yard, along the coast of Southern Alabama. Through some research, he’s able to piece together an incredible story of two people reconciling their pasts and hatred to move forward with their lives. I can’t really say much more without spoiling this tale.

From the book…

“If you’re mad at someone you have to forgive them for you. You have a choice to make, either think about them all day long and let them keep hurting you inside… or give them to God. We are products of our past but we don’t have to be prisoners to it. Practicing forgiveness is less an act than a determined way of living. True forgiveness only comes at the conclusion of an inner struggle.”

I found a forgiveness prayer not too long ago, and have experienced that forgiving someone that has really hurt you badly takes time. A lot of prayer (I’ve prayed my forgiveness prayer over 100 times!!!). And a whole lot of God’s love. And this alone frees the human spirit.

Thank you Andy once again for sharing this amazing story. I can’t wait for the next!!!

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