Look and Live by Matt Papa

Matt Papa is a really popular Christian.  Reading his book, Look and Live, was like no other Christian book that I have ever read.  His transparency from the very beginning proved that this book wasn't about blaming the reader for what "he or she" is doing wrong in your life, but it was dedicated to showing you how to enhance your life as a Christian.

Papa dedicated this book to examining the Glory of God.  He began by defining exactly what the Glory of God was and helped the reader fully grasp the essence of it.  I know this review is rather short because I really think everyone should read this book and pass it on to others.

Look & Live: Behold the Soul-Thrilling, Sin-Destroying Glory of Christby Matt Papa, a pastor, worship leader and recording artist in Raleigh, North Carolina

Matt Papa was a “professional Christian” in full-time ministry, ready and determined to change the world. All the while, he was depressed, addicted to the approval of others and enslaved to sin. But everything changed when he encountered the glory of God.

All of us live in the tension between where we are and where we feel like we ought to be. We try our best to bully our desires into submission. And it’s not only an exercise in futility, it’s exhausting.

The book is for those who feel tired and stuck. It’s for those who’ve been battling the same sin, year after year. It calls us not to work harder or to strive, but to lift our eyes. We don’t need more willpower, Papa says. We need a vision of greatness that sweeps us off our feet. We need to see glory. When we do this, when we look upon the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, we can truly live.

“[Papa] writes meditatively and reflectively. His joy and delight is contagious. He may be at his best in chapter 4, ‘The Blazing Center,’ where what he writes is deep and beautiful and brilliant. It covers familiar territory but in a fresh and free way. It may be one of the best chapters of any book I’ve read this year and it will bear repeated readings.” —Tim Challies

WHY IS IT RELEVANT?

• Millions of people are tired, stuck, battling depression
• Many people battle the same sin, year after year. Some, for a lifetime.
• Many are addicted to the approval of others and attach their value to it. The dominance of social media has thrown gasoline on this flame, particularly among the younger generation

AUTHOR BIO

Matt Papa is a pastor, worship leader and recording artist in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Lauren and their three daughters.

For over a decade, Matt has been writing and recording songs that are saturated with God’s Truth. To Papa, a song is more than just lyrics and melody—it’s ‘a sermon that people remember.’ His latest studio release, “Look & Live” (2013), is a loud and liberating call to people everywhere to break the chains of boredom, addiction, and idolatry…not by trying harder, but by experiencing a greater thrill—the beauty and glory of God. At the heart of his ministry is a vision to see the nations worship the One True God.  To that end, Matt radically leverages his life, his ministry and his music.

Now here is what you can do since you have read thus far!!! You can click on the link and order the book I have just shared with you. If you really enjoyed reading about this book, share this post on Twitter or Facebook. Don't forget to share you thoughts and comments below.

Look and Live by Matt Papa

I decided to update my progress. I really am going to enjoy this book. 

"Faith is a looking." #mattpapa #lookandlive #msbookwormdiva #reviewcopy #christianbooks 

First Review Copy of the Year 2015

I received my copy of Look and Live by Matt Papa today. This book is the first review copy of the year. I'm really excited about reading this book. What are you currently reading? 

Recent Book Purchases

This past Friday I visited my parents. My trip home is not complete without a visit to Square Books and Off Square Books in Oxford, Ms. This trip was successful! I found these three books. Plus, I now have a coupon for $17.00 off my next book. I don't know what I want yet, but I am excited about my upcoming book purchase. 

Challenges

I am trying hard to achieve my goal of reading 15 books in 2014. What was your reading challenge this year? How many books did you read this year? 

Guest Post: Financial Book Review: The Bank On Yourself Revolution by Pamela Yellen By Teresa Kuhn

Financial Book Review: The Bank On Yourself Revolution by Pamela Yellen
By Teresa Kuhn 

"The Bank On Yourself strategy gives you a rare combination of guarantees, safety, liquidity, and control. Your money grows by a guaranteed and predictable amount every year, and that growth gets better every year you have it," Pamela Yellen- "The Bank on Yourself Revolution"

Several years have passed since the publication of "Bank On Yourself," Pamela Yellen's first attempt at articulating for a wide audience the benefits of using specially-designed whole life insurance in financial planning. Since that time, the ever-fluid, ever- chimerical world of personal finance has grown even more unfathomable and unpredictable.

As a Bank On Yourself authorized advisor, I believe that a sequel to the original Bank On Yourself book was long overdue. This is why I was so pleased to learn of the publication of this second, more comprehensive discussion of a truly unique cash management system.

In the sequel, The Bank On Yourself Revolution, Yellen has gone to considerable effort to deconstruct the Bank On Yourself method in a way that makes it even more accessible and understandable to the average person. She lays out a concise, solid, yet still passionate case for using specially-designed, dividend-paying whole life insurance policies as vehicles for preserving and growing wealth. When put together correctly, she says, these policies build up cash value as quickly as possible and provide unparalleled safety and security.

Yellen explains that a person can make tax-free withdrawals and loans from the accumulated cash value in the policy to finance large purchases, such as college tuition, automobiles, and cash-producing real estate. You use your policy and are able to pay yourself back, with the loan secured by the death benefit. This idea, which has been around in various forms for well over 150 years, is referred to by some as "becoming your own finance company." Yellen does a good job of explaining the ideas behind Bank On Yourself without losing the reader in a fog of insurance-speak or marketing hype.

Implicit in her explanations is the understanding that anyone wanting to use the system laid out in BOYR should do their own due diligence. It is definitely not for everyone.

In The Bank On Yourself Revolution it is evident that Yellen has put a lot more thought and effort into the content and layout of the book, making navigation from topic to topic easier and keeping her commentary focused and free of anything that could be perceived as excessive verbiage.  She does an admirable job of making the ideas presented clear and easy to understand, even for those who have little financial education.

The Bank On Yourself Revolution introduces us to some old school financial concepts that Yellen admits aren't "sexy," but which work, such as the "10-10-10" money management method and the common sense idea of not having much debt.  She makes a strong case for designer whole life polices over both term insurance and the always trendy indexed universal life (IUL) policies

Nice additions to this volume are the "takeaways" at the end of chapters which give the reader nuggets of information designed to be easy to grasp, retain and implement. Yellen also includes stories of real-life users of the system ranging from housewives to entrepreneurs to former professional athletes. Such anecdotes obviously have value, especially to financial professionals who are introducing the concept to their clients for the first time.

People feel better knowing that "real people" just like themselves are finding success with Bank On Yourself.

The Bank On Yourself Revolution makes for an entertaining read and is a worthy contribution to a growing body of evidence supporting the wisdom of using permanent life insurance in financial planning. If you are someone who is looking for alternatives to banks, Wall Street, and finance companies, this book will help you understand one such alternative- Bank On Yourself.

For more in-depth discussion of the topics explored in The Bank on Yourself Revolution, please visit the [http://www.livingwealthyfinancial.com]Living Wealthy Financial site.

File under: Yellen, Pamela. "The Bank On Yourself Revolution" published February, 2014 by Benbella Books.

Learn more about financial topics that are important to you and your family. Visit http://www.livingwealthyradio.com or call us toll free to receive free information.

(800) 382-0830 (USA ONLY)

Article Source: Financial Book Review: The Bank On Yourself Revolution by Pamela Yellen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! <3 Cassandra AKA Mississippi's Bookworm Diva :)