Rev. Denny Bellesi preached an ordinary stewardship sermon to his congregation at the Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo, Calif. But he followed the sermon with an extraordinary call to action: he handed 100 members of the congregation $100 each. Bellesi told these volunteers that the money was not theirs, but God’s, and that they needed to “invest” it in some way that would build God’s kingdom. In February, the volunteers reported back to a standing-room-only church (and, via a Dateline NBC segment, to millions of viewers), describing how the money had been spent to transform lives, build churches, feed the hungry and comfort the sick. More than anything, this book hammers home the message that the volunteers saw their $100 bills being multiplied into thousands as total strangers offered more money to help them undertake their charity projects. As in the film Pay It Forward (which is what gave Bellesi the idea in the first place), one good turn generated another and another. The book, a collaboration with his wife, Leesa, is not elegantly written, but then it doesn’t need to be; the story itself is front and center here. These invigorating real-life stories offer excellent examples of Christian faith in action, as church members were forced to leave their comfort zones and search for ways to bless others in the community.

I can’t say enough about this book.  The first time I read it I was so inspired by the trust and, no that isn’t the right word, the FAITH, Denny Bellesi put in to his congregations hands.  He gave it all to God and the result is this book of amazing testimonies.

I would not look at this book as a “look at me, look what I did” style of read.  For me, this book was a fine example of faith and what God can do.  The stories that fill these pages are of what happened as the result of this faith – and even in some cases, lack there of.  What really touches me heart is how many went out with the $100 and by sharing with others their Kingdom Assignment, how many wanted in… wanted to be a part of something bigger.  This book is the result of a Kingdom movement that has always effected me like someone pushing an ON button.  I feel charged up and get a little teary eyed when I imagine the possibilities of what could happen, what would happen, if each of us looked at the world this way.

This book has crossed my path several times now in my life.   Many years ago while researching information on the movie Pay It Forward I came across this book.  I ordered it, read it – and loved it.  LOVED IT.  Raved about it and passed my copy on to a friend at work to read.

Flash forward several years and it is 2005 and my Pastor had read about this on line and does this at out church.  I seriously got chills as he handed out envelopes with $50 in them to go out and build the Kingdom.  I came home so excited to look at the book, but couldn’t find my copy.  When I remembered that I had loaned it out I called the co-worker (who no longer worked with me) only to find out that she has passed it on to someone else.

*Sigh*

I ordered two copies that day, one for me, and one for my Pastor.  He loved it,  and after I read the book again I loaned out my copy to someone who also was excited to read it.

Flash Forward again. I read The Power Of Half recently and the book reminded me of The Kingdom Assignment.  I go through my books looking for my copy ad then remember – oh yeah, I loaned it out.  But to who?  I don’t remember… and so – I order two books again.  Why two?  We will get to that.

Both The Power of Half and The Kingdom assignment get my heart pumping a little faster with the possibilities.   I wanted to review this book now, because I love this book and because I have an idea brewing….. an idea that I will reveal on April 1st.

I purchased my copies through third parties through Amazon

Who returns your calls faster than a speeding bullet? Who will leap to your side in a single bound? Your mother…your dog…your hairdresser? No! It’s your girlfriend! Artist Monica Sheehan knows this and created Girlfriends: From Campfires To Crow’s Feet as the perfect tribute to the women in every female’s life. Through this collection of pithy anecdotes and too-funny illustrations, Sheehan reminds women young and old that: Girlfriend’s share their M&M’s, magazine’s and Xanax; Girlfriends know the best things in life are “flea.”; Girlfriends lie to your mother for you.

♦          ♦          ♦         ♦          ♦           ♦

This was such a fun read! I bought this book to share with those friends in my life that fall into this category. These are the friends I can call up at 2 am to cry if I need to, stay up at all night eating junk food and watching chick flicks, they go on ridiculously long bike rides with me, go to haunted hay rides, dress up in formal wear and go to mansions for sleep overs…..  and – AND when I say I want to go to New York in May to go to the book expo but hate driving in the cities to get to the airport….. they look at me without skipping a beat and say, “we’ll drive you.”

This book reminded me of those friendships and is one I hope to share around a campfire this year and read out loud as we laugh and remember those times – all the while creating new memories.

I highly recommend this read to share with the girlfriend (s) in your life!

I bought this book at bookcloseouts.com

It all started when 14-year old Hannah Salwen, idealistic but troubled by a growing sense of injustice in the world, had a eureka moment when a homeless man in her neighborhood was juxtaposed against a glistening Mercedes coupe. “You know, Dad,” she said, pointing, “If that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal.”

This glaring disparity led the Salwen family of four, caught up like so many other Americans in this age of consumption and waste, to follow Hannah’s urge to do something, to finally just do something. And so they embarked on an incredible journey together from which there would be no turning back. They decided to sell their Atlanta mansion, downsize to a house half its size, and give half of their profits to a worthy charity. At first it was an outlandish scheme. “What, are you crazy? No way!” Then it was a challenge. “We are TOTALLY doing this.” Each week they met over dinner to discuss their plan. It would transport them across the globe and well out of their comfort zone. Along the way they would inspire so many others wrestling with the same questions: Do I give enough? How much is enough? How can I make an impact in the world? In the end the Salwens’ journey would bring them closer as a family, as they discovered, together, that half could be so much more.

Ξ      Ξ     Ξ     Ξ     Ξ     Ξ     Ξ     Ξ     Ξ

This is a story that makes you think of all the excess we have around us. The Salwen’s made a decision to work together to downsize their home and their lives and in doing so – they gave much to others.

You may read this book and about the Salwen’s life and think, “well, they had a lot to begin with.  A great home, vehicles, not really wanting for anything….”  I will admit as I started this story that is what I was thinking… yet as I read on I came to realize that what this book is really about is not so much about the Salwen family – as is it about the changes we can make in our own lives big or small that can help others.  The Salwens story is an example of what one family can do.

I love how this was not a one persons vision – but an effort that not only brought great joy to those with less, but also brought the Salwen’s closer as a family.  While there are some parts of this books that felt a little to “look what I did”, I felt overall the book gives a good message of how we can all make  changes.

This book was an inspiration and in light of reading this I plan to offer a challenge starting April 1 where I encourage each of us to think about something we can give up (or cut back on) for a month and instead put that money that we would be spending (on that cup of coffee, ice cream, movie nights, out to dinners…) and put it away to be given to a cause dear to your heart at the end of April.

More details to come.

For every book sold  $1 will be donated to Rebuilding Together, serving American’s low-income home-owners.  In addition, the Salwen family is investing in the Hunger Project.

I received my review copy from FSB Associates

This book reminded me a little of a book I read quite a while ago and RAVED about.  It was called the Kingdom Assignment and it will be part of what I am planning for April 1.