Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions is written by pastor and author Max Lucado. With chapter headings like Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, and Here-After, the author answers some of the most common questions asked about God and Christianity. Addressing everything from forgiveness to angels to sex to baptism, Lucado gives biblical answers to our pressing questions. Scriptural references are given for most answers and there is a topical index and a scriptural index in the back of the book.

I’d never read anything by this author so I wasn’t sure where he stands on some topics. I had an uneasy few minutes when I read the question about how to be saved and he wrote that according to John 3:16, we only have to believe and we will be saved. Without getting into too much doctrine, I believe that the Bible calls for more than that for salvation, so I was concerned about how Lucado may interpret other passages in the Bible. However, later in the book, in answer to a question about baptism, he points out that it is indeed a requirement for Christians and that every conversion in the New Testament culminates in a baptism.

I enjoyed Lucado’s writing style and sense of humor. Life isn’t all fun and games, but it’s easier to receive a message if there is laughter involved. It’s like the spoonful of sugar. I believe God wants us to enjoy the life he has given us and humor and laughter are part of that.

My favorite quotes from the book:

On aging: "Getting old is inevitable. But are you going to hobble and groan your way to the grave or race your rickety old wheelchair downhill to your funeral? We're all going to end up the same way, but we can have fun getting there!"

On hope: "If you accomplish a possible dream, then you get all the glory. But if you accomplish an impossible dream, then God gets all the glory."

On denominations: "We are different. But if we're in the same car, being driven by the same Father, headed toward the same place, can we not accept one another?"

On fighting in the church: "If love covers a multitude of sins, can it not cover a multitude of opinions?"

On balance: "When it comes to kids and family, it is a lot easier to make money than to make up for lost time."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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This is not the first piece of work from Mr. Max Lucado that I read. As a matter of fact, I have read and enjoyed "Outlive Your Life", "You Changed My Life", "You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be", "Cast of Characters", and I watched "Who Is In Charge Anyway". I found out that this book is different. It goes deeper into his soul. On answering 172 general questions, he shows all his experience as minister and counselor.
He divides his book in seven major topics: Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots and Hereafter.
Some of those questions, like #84, are relevant to any church and his answer is based as always on the Scriptures. Simply beautiful, from the bottom of his heart.
I recommend this book to any pastor or counselor who wants to have a good book for reference when he is called to extinguish a fire. But also is good to any reader whose morale principles are solidly based on the Word of God.
This book was written by Max Lucado and it was published by Thomas Nelson and they were kind enough to send me a copy for reviewing through their Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers Program. ( )

You can find my full review at Quieted Waters.

Max Lucado serves as a pastor in San Antonio, although he is most widely known for his prolific writing. This most recent book, Max On Life, is an outgrowth of those two ministries. In Lucado’s words, “Pastors receive many letters. Writers are asked many questions. Being both a pastor and a writer, I’ve heard more than my share.” (p. XI). This book is a catalog of Lucado’s responses to 172 of those questions, and the answers are a blend of his pastoral ministry and his writing style.

For those familiar with Lucado’s writing style, you will find a familiar voice in these pages. Analogies, examples, and down-to-earth stories make Lucado’s answers accessible to the average reader. With his typical flourish, Lucado answers questions with lines like “A watched pot makes you boiling mad while you wait for it to boil.” (p. 26). Some will appreciate this approach full of metaphors and imagery, while others will find it frustratingly unintellectual.

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Max Lucado’s newest book breaks from the traditional format of all of his previous books. Lucado has selected 172 questions he has been asked over the years through letters, e-mails, church, and his radio show and broken them down into seven topics: Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Have/Have-not and Hereafter. The questions range in depth from simple questions of everyday life to deeper questions of Christianity.
This book is a great addition to any collection, Lucado has put together a book of questions, some of which being the questions you have been afraid to ask because you have grown up in the church and feel that people will judge you for not knowing the answer or even for asking it. Lucado once again gives each reader a lot to think about and consider through each question and answer. This book reads very conversationally filled with insight and humor Lucado responds to each question without putting the reader down or judging no matter how trivial a question may be.
I was provided an advanced reader copy through Thomas Nelson via booksneeze.com ( )

I do like Max Lucado, I have one of his small Grace books and enjoy reading it daily. I have also receive his emails and enjoy reading them.

His book "Max on Life" answers 172 questions sent to him via emails, letters or asked to him in person. Each question has at least one page to itself with an answer from the writer. Most answers refer to scripture.

The question themes vary from Why am I here?, Why me?, Why church?, Do we get second chances?, Who goes where? (heaven or hell), and much more.

This book is a great read and a great tool to keep around for going back to questions and rereading them. I would love to get this book on my computer (or some day a reader).

Oh, there are two indexes in the back of the book that I suggest you look at, great way to look up things quickly. Topical index, look up questions/answers on topics, and Scripture index.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. 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.” ( )