Category: Book Reviews

Book Review: The Shepherd, The Overseer, and The Soul

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Author: Funmi Adebayo
Pages: 150
Publisher: The Christ A Poet Concepts, Nigeria.
Reviewer: Adeleye Olaoye, Ubamara Ezenobi, Zoe Ziva, Ebubechi, Clement Victor

Funmi Adebayo, the author of this book, gives us this gem of a book through the light of the Spirit of God penetrating into 1 Peter 2:25 and Ezekiel 18:4. The Shepherd, Overseer and the Soul is a book aimed at building foundational knowledge on the role that the soul of a man plays in the life of a believer. The Author has broken this book down into 7 Chapters to help relate his message.

The author started by making clear that the human soul is eternal. It cannot be dissolved by death, unlike the human physical body. The soul is the representation of a man in the spirit realm. Therefore, what becomes of the soul of man is the reality of that man

He then further compared the mind as a signal analyzer. An example of a signal analyzer is an Oscilloscope,  it’s a device that analyzes signals of different forms and has a wide application in different fields and professions today. From the author’s analysis, the mind acts as the signal analyzer while the heart takes the final decision.

If man wasn’t already dead spiritually then God wouldn’t have bothered about giving him a new spirit and a new heart.

Funmi presents a compelling argument by clearly stating that it is not enough to just claim you believe in Jesus Christ. You must also prove that by obediently following Him. If you truly believe in Him, you will hear Him and do His sayings. God’s desire for His children to be tamable and coachable just like the sheep because hardly deviate from the path channeled by the shepherd and are much sensitive of intruders or strangers.

We are not of the world. Yet at the same, that does not mean we are not meant to be in charge. This is quite a salient point made in the book reminding us that we are the light of the world and while we remain here we are to be in charge by and for our Lord Jesus Christ and make known the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers among the celestial ones.

Talking about God as Shepherd, Funmi posits that God is completely charismatic in his leadership; strong communicator, empathetic and relatable, confident, motivational. This in return gives us joy, loveliness and makes resources available. His final words were “As we have returned to the Shepherd of our soul, let us trust Him for the best in life. Remember He is the good Shepherd, Who gave His life, His soul, for us His sheep. (John 10:11.)”

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BOOK REVIEW: PICTURE PERFECT – An Artwork of Grace

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Author: Ijeoma Obi
Pages: 69
Reviewer: Favour Omeje, Ajegbomogun Olufunke

Have you ever had one of such days when it seems the entire universe was working against you, when the weight of challenges come crumbling down so heavily on you that you ask yourself this question inwardly “Why me?” well I have and I have no doubt you have too. On such days, when the journey of our lives gets so tough, we often wonder if God has abandoned us.

A few months ago, I publicly stripped myself of all items of clothing for the first time and went about in the glory of my plain nakedness. Guess what happened to me next; The author, Ijeoma Obi contacted me! She offered me a read of what she called her vulnerable book.

How does the tough get going when the going gets tough? The author in this book, illuminates us on this by sharing her life experience to help us understand how to view such moments of our lives that we are not so proud of as Christians. She gives us a new perspective to how failures, limitations, challenges help shape our purpose. From her story, we also see the indispensable role that grace plays in helping us become who God has created us to be. This book gives us an explanation for all the big stories of transformation chronicled in the scriptures: GRACE.

Have you experienced some failures that has cast so much gloom on your perception of the goodness of God? What limitations do you perceive you have that may hinder God’s promises you to have received via his word? This book gives us a new perspective of our failures and disappointments helping us shift our gaze away from ourselves to God.

Do your care too much? Or do you want to be happy? Then I think you might want to join the bandwagon of people who know how to be naked and unashamed; tell your story just the way it is. Ijeoma Obi says “when we don’t tell our story completely; the good, the bad, or even the ugly, we deny all that grace has accomplished in our lives”.

She offers in her debut the need to be grateful to God while we embrace our vulnerabilities and human limitations. ‘Vulnerable’ is the new confident, I must say. Shameless nakedness is picture perfect. Go for it!

I recommend it to everyone who is tired of depending on his human abilities and needs something more divine. The length of the book allows for a quick read.

You can download a free copy of Picture Perfect here.

BOOK REVIEW: REVERSED

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Author: The Christ A Poet Team
Publisher: Christ A Poet Concepts
Reviewer: Olufunke Ajegbomogun

When I began the review of this book, I made a decision to use a few days to go through the poems but as I started reading, I was gripped and couldn’t let go of this anthology. That is exactly the experience you are likely to get when you open Reversed to read!


Reversed is a collection of poems that takes us on a journey reminiscent of the times of Jesus and other biblical characters. The messages are woven around biblical stories which help us relate to scriptures in the most simplified way we could ever imagine. We see the experiences of ordinary men like us play out right before us as if we were there. Even animals and inanimate objects echo their stories, leaving them entrenched in our minds.


Through the pages of Reversed, we see Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Most of the poems are short and freestyled although some use traditional rhyme schemes and poetic sound effects. Each poem’s unique style plays a role in relaying its message. Some poems also contain graphic images that paint a picture in the reader’s mind. “Cock Coo Roo Coo” reminds us of how God can use an animal to remind us that none of His words that come forth from His mouth dies without fulfilling its purpose. The poet alludes to the experience of Peter to remind us of the importance of having a voice even if it’s that of an animal to caution us when we derail from the path of life.


We also see beyond the agony and pain that took place on the cross when Christ died as we read “I Saw Evil”. This poem helps us to see that there is more to the death of a sinless man by revealing to us what took place on the cross that had otherwise been invisible to the eyes of an ordinary man. “Evil died when Jesus was crucified! That line is explosive. Time and space will not permit me to talk about the other poems’ deep and inspiring messages that words alone may not be able to capture.


If you are the kind of person who reads scriptures with a sense of detachment, get hold of Reversed and see how you’ll get a new perspective from reading scriptures.


So, let me leave you with this: Reversed is an anthology you got to read yourself, let no man tell you the stories, go get a copy and be part of the journey.

You can download a free copy of Reversed here.

Book Review: Beauty from Ashes

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Author: Hope Stansberry
Pages: 280
Reviewer: Beatrice Ani and Godswill Ezeonyeka
Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/beauty-from-ashes-hope-stansberry

Trauma has a way of lingering. Letting go of the pain is what we want most but, in most cases, it is this need that makes us stow away our pain and give it life for longer than is required. Hope Stansberry presents us with an intense story of triumph over trauma and its bewildering effects. It is a story of love and discovery that surely would give the reader the much-needed healing and entertainment they might be in search for.

Just like every other romance novel, this Christian romance fiction will make one lose track of time until the last page is read. It’s an absolute page-turner. Stansberry captures a vivid picture of love in the very familiar and endearing pursuit of Cameron for Natalie’s friendship. Friendship blossoms into romance but in the most unlikely way and this journey delivers to the reader a relatable story of redemption, trust, faith, recovery and how our suffering produces perseverance.

This is not the ideal sappy romance fictions, but it does tug at one’s heart. However, for those looking for a story that portrays the bitter and beautiful parts of healing, this is an ideal read. The pain that Natalie and Cameron have had to deal with and will go through is very well portrayed and this makes their characters stand as perfect mirrors for anyone going through pain. Christian readers will find the focus on how God heals to be very familiar and endearing however, non-Christians can also relate to how we all react to love regardless of what we believe. Hence, I would definitely regard this book as a good read for anyone that is willing to. It is not preachy and definitely gets the message across. My only critique would be the length, possibly Stansberry may want to give us a sequel?

Beauty From Ashes is a book I will recommend for any person above childhood (however that is calculated these days) because it speaks to one of our primal needs which is healing from pain. It is a beautiful balance between reality, faith and romance. As earlier said it is quite a quick read but it is sure to leave you reeling and loving every moment, every word and wanting more.

BOOK REVIEW: Spiritual Make Up

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Author: Uchenna Okwara Hillprieston
Publisher: Writer’sHouseHQ
Pages: 40
Reviewer: Abokhai Osione

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After reading this book I literally felt a wave of relief rush through out my body… I guess that’s what true freedom feels like.

Growing up in a Christian familiy, you get to hear the “holy” requirement of the gospel from allot of perspectives, I believe the most popular we all grew up with is that “if you do what is bad you will go to hell fire!”.  For me, that explanation was as close to home as getting whooped by my parents for breaking a ceramic plate or leaving the house dirty to go and play games outside on a Saturday morning.

However, the difference  between those perspectives and this one is that

 “There is Life in these pages“. 

Spiritual Make Up :  The Believers Beauty Kit brings the Truth of this victorious life we can live above sin and shame, closer to home. In fact it is so close that it actually begins to feel personal. 

Today, many believers with a hunger for God, a burning desire to do His will and please Him are often downcast because of the weight of besetting sins. This often gets them wondering how?! 

How do all these awesome spiritual promises about my salvation and victory and new life in Christ even relate to my personal, “real” life?

Trust me I know the struggle, I was there too. But cheer up brethren! There is hope here!

The beauty of this book is that you can hear your mothers voice teaching you in the simplest way how walking in righteousness and purity is as easy as brushing your teeth or taking a shower, or dressing decently. Spiritual Make up is funny yet so True, I often caught myself vigorously nodding in agreement to the simple truths the author so easily gisted out in text as I laughed because of how relatable it is.  

The Life of Holiness and purity we the Born Again in Christ are to live is not a tedious one.. Nothing makes that fact clearer like this book. Living victorious and bearing the fruit of the spirit in our everyday life is as fluid as the air we breathe in and out daily without permission or any explanation. 

This is by far the most refreshing book for anyone who desires to clear the airways of doubt, confusion and misunderstanding and just have a wonderful and unhindered relationship with Our Heavenly Father, our maker and Husband who loves us so much. 

So sit back, grab a cup of tea and try to read this book where people are because I can assure you first hand that from the second page you’d be looking for someone to read aloud to as is the habit of those who love to share true stories that are good. 

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Book Review: The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

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Title: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coelho

Pages: 241

Reviewers: Beatrice Ani and Imani Dokubo

The Alchemist tells the story of a young shepherd named Santiago who finds out from a king about his treasure lying in the basement of the faraway Egyptian pyramids. Along the way, he learns to listen to his heart and more importantly realizes that his dreams/Personal Legend are not just his but part of the Soul of the Universe. The novel is both entertaining and educational.

The author’s portrayal of real-life principles in simple terms that are easy to recognize and connect with is a highlight.

Just like the young shepherd, most of us are on a journey to find our ‘personal legend’, some of us have, and some are already depositing our unique legend to the world.

Where ever you are on your journey, the lessons from this book are beneficial to you.

Some notable eye-opening lessons the book captures are:

1.The power of courage: Fear is a bigger obstacle than the obstacle itself

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself and that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is an encounter with God and the universe.”

The power of truth: “Truth cannot be veiled by smoke and mirrors — it will always stand firm. When you’re searching for the ‘right’ decision, it will be the one that withstands the tests of time and the weight of scrutiny”

The power of gratitude: “Gratitude is the practice of finding the good in each day. Life can easily become stagnant, mundane, and monotonous, but that changes depending on what we choose to see. There’s always a silver lining if you look for it.”

The power of decision: “When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he never dreamed of when he first made the decision.”

The power of focus: “It’s easy to be influenced by others, but you’ll be miserable if you end up living someone else’s life. There’s nothing wrong with taking advice and learning from others, but make sure it aligns with your desires and passions.”

The power of action: “There is only one way to learn. It’s through action.”

(You can study, read, and listen until you turn blue in the face, but the full experience is when you take action and let the rubber meet the road… Once you’re done aiming, pull the trigger.)

Here’s what the book suggests: when you seek to create something, things will eventually fall in place to enable you to bring it to life.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. It’s just crucial that we undertake the journey to making the most of the life that God gives us. Or, as Jesus’s parable says, to use our talents to the fullest.

What phase of life’s journey are you on?

We recommend this book to everyone in search of a formula for reaching their goals, discover, and realize their potential.

 

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Review: The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield

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Reviewer: Ubamara Ezenobi

“The Writer will take on any job when he is running away from writing”.

The War of Art focuses on the enemy of the writer, and how to tackle him. This enemy is resistance.

Steven Pressfield displays mastery in this book particularly in the simplicity with which he conveys his message. He uses movies and well-known creatives to enhance his descriptions. A victim of Resistance for a good number of years – has been able to master the phenomenon. He is quick to point out, however, that Resistance is an enemy that turns up daily, it is internal, one that never goes away.

By Resistance, Pressfield means the force that makes us put away our work, our calling, to a later date. Procrastination is only a part of it. Fear of failure and even fear of success are also legitimate concerns for the creative. Pressfield goes in-depth.

He also distinguishes between the amateur and the professional. The amateur creative doesn’t know there’s an enemy trying to stop her from becoming all that she really is. Or perhaps she knows Resistance but underrates him. The professional, on the other hand, does not underrate Resistance. She keeps a watch on him. She knows that Resistance has the power to cripple her career, her calling, her life.

The pro shows up every day and on time, unlike the amateur who treats it as a hobby. The pro treats her work as a business, unlike the amateur who treats it as a passion. The pro is in it for the money, but she’s also in it for the sake of the art itself; who better to write what has been handed down to her by the heavens, if not her?

So in everything Pressfield says, he says one thing in particular: Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.

“There’s a secret that real writers know that the wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write.

What keeps us from sitting down is Resistance.”

BOOK REVIEW: NORTH by BUSAYO KEHINDE

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Reviewer: Ubamara Ezenobi.

Life happens to everyone. It’s inevitable. The things that you never imagine would ever happen to you could take place in the blink of an eye. You could become a person you never imagined you would be in the space of a few days. In these times we are thrown off balance, left to decide who or what to hold onto as anchor. In this book, North, Busayo Kehinde tells us in the best way possible, the best direction to follow.

North is the story of a young woman, Laura, who goes through much distress in life despite her love for God. First, she loses her younger brother to leukaemia. Next is her dad who walks out on them. And then, as though she has not lost enough, she loses her fiancé who loved God so much, to a lifestyle of drugs and women. Eventually, he dies. These tragedies turn her south, and she decides she doesn’t believe in God anymore.

Busola helps us realize that it’s not really about the many challenges you face, but about what you choose at the end of the day: life, or not. By placing special characters like little Ire who battles with sickle cell anaemia yet has unwavering faith in God, and other people who constantly remind her of God’s love, especially for her, the author shows us that God knows us inside out, and knows how best to proceed with healing us, and blessing us beyond our wildest dreams.

For Busola Kehinde, North is the direction that leads us above, and to choose north, is to choose life. In the epilogue, she shares from her personal experience how she has had to choose north at different points in her life, just like her key character. She enjoins us to choose life, to keep choosing life no matter what, and to never lose trust in God.

North is a book to read now. No matter where you are, it’s going to meet you right there and bless you tremendously.

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© Ubamara Ezenobi, 2019