Chase the Lion - Mark Batterson

Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson is based on the Old Testament story in 2 Samuel 23 about a warrior in the army of King David named Benaiah. Those who read Batterson's 2006 best seller are familiar with Benaiah---who chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day—and then killed it.

But there is more that is known of Benaiah, and a bigger lesson to be learned from his action with the lion. Most people would run from a lion, but Benaiah chased it. He overcame his fear and went after the personification of it.

This is what Batterson is saying in his sequel to In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day. Benaiah chased his fear, faced his fear, and used it as an opportunity to move forward. For Benaiah, becoming King David’s bodyguard and eventually the Commander-in-Chief of Israel’s army under David's son, King Solomon. Batterson says that your dreams should be so big they scare you. He says that 'Chase the Lion' is not just a catch phrase, but a radical approach to life. The fear of failure prevents one from seizing opportunity by the mane and conquering all fear.  You cannot succeed if you are afraid of failure, but you have to accept that you may fail several times.

Do I agree? Yes and no...but my opinion does not really matter for a book review. I know many people who have huge dreams that may feel overwhelming. For those, this book can be a huge inspiration to never give up "chasing the lion" until ultimate success. For others, like myself, there are no grandiose dreams and we are quite content. I do, however, love to cheer on others, and I recommend this book. Not only is it great for those who feel God has called them to greater things, but I enjoyed reading it and felt inspired. Even the smaller dreams and dreamers need encouragement. I admit that I did prefer 'In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day' but 'Chase The Lion' did engage my attention and was well-written.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook-Multnomah "Blogging For Books" program at no cost to myself. However, I was not required to write a positive review.


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A Heart Like His by Beth Moore

We all go through times when we feel insignificant or times when we feel certain that we have experienced a degree of failure from which there is no return. This is not a reality we experience alone, but is one that a man after God’s heart experienced as well.

In “A Heart Like His,” Beth Moore looks at this bond of mutual love and admiration between a man who was not unlike any of us and the one true God who is all good and all powerful. The book is an exploration of David’s incredible life, drawing spiritual insights from a man who boldly fulfilled his divine destiny not merely by what he did, but who he loved and served.

Bringing lessons from David’s life to bear on your own, this picture of a man who loved and followed God will help you to serve with a heart focused on Him no matter the circumstance. (from the publisher)

I've never read a Beth Moore book I did not love, and this one is no exception. A Heart Like His follows the life of David from a teenaged shepherd to his final breath as the king of Israel. Using 9 different Psalms David wrote, Beth provides the history of what David was going through during that time. It is so easy to place his story into a few Sunday School stories that often gloss over certain details of his life, and forget that he was a man who had great victories, but also made many mistakes. I have never fought a giant, but I wept with David for his loss (and in remembrance of my own) when his infant son died. Reading of his many failures, mistakes, and sins is such a clear message that God can and will forgive when we seek His forgiveness. I laughed, I cried, I sympathized, I was appalled, but I learned new truths or was at least reminded of lessons I had forgotten.

This was written in a format that allows a straight read through but, it is encouraged that you read the Scripture in your own Bible for a deeper understanding. My complaint with the book is that it left me wanting to go even more indepth on the life of David. However, at the back of the book is an excerpt from Beth's 11 session dvd study on the life of David. Hopefully, I will have a chance to go through it soon. In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially anyone who feels that they have failed God, family, and friends too many times. 

Vitals:

Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
ISBN: 9781433677168
Page count: 336 Pages

USD: $14.99
Publication date: May 2012
Genre: NON-FICTION/Christian

 I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."