Conquer Your Fears: Live to Give

Thomas Nelson Author and Hoops of Hope founder, Austin Gutwein, to host September 6 online event to focusing on themes his latest release, Live to Give.

On September 6 at 8 PM EDT, Austin Gutwein will be hosting a live Facebook web event to encourage participants to conquer their fears and use their talents to help others. The webcast will center on the themes Gutwein writes about in his latest release “Live to Give: Letting God Turn Your Talents into Miracles” (Thomas Nelson/August, 2012). At the conclusion of the webcast, the winners of a month-long social media fueled “Get and Give” contest will be announced, including the winner of a Kindle Fire and $250 donated to the winner’s charity of choice.

Join Austin on the evening of Thursday, September 6th as he shares about his own experiences and encourages others to conquers their fears and “live to give”. Austin will also be taking audience questions and interacting with participants. PLUS – there will be several “Live to Give” giveaways – books, gift certificates and much more! RSVP today and tell your friends.

Based on the John 6 story of Jesus feeding the 5000, in “Live to Give” Gutwein challenges his readers that regardless of age and talent, God can use them to make a difference. Even though God could take care of everything Himself and doesn’t really need our help, He desperately WANTS us to help Him care for others. Gutwein walks young people through discovering and embracing their unique God-given strengths and abilities, then figuring out how to use those talents to help others. Sometimes doing that takes a leap of faith on our part, and often becoming fearless in the process.

More about Austin: At eighteen years old, Gutwein speaks with wisdom and has the experience to reinforce his message. When Austin was just nine years old, he watched a video that showed children in Africa who had lost their parents to AIDS. Gutwein realized these kids weren’t any different from him—except they were suffering. Feeling called to help, he took his love of basketball and decided to shoot free throws to raise money for orphans in Zambia. On World AIDS Day in 2004, he shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. Through sponsorship from parents and friends, Gutwein raised over $3,000 that day to give hope to eight orphans in Zambia. Over the past eight years, Gutwein’s efforts have created Hoops of Hope, the largest free throw marathon in the world. With an estimated 40,000 people in more than 25 countries participating, Hoops of Hope has raised more than $2.5 million to build schools, medical clinics, dormitories for orphanages, and the only computer lab in Zambia.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire and have $250 donated to your favorite charity. Click for the banner for details and entry or visit http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13528976/livetogive.


Learn more about Austin and Hoops of Hope at www.AustinGutwein.com and www.HoopsOfHope.org.

Live To Give

Recently I’ve been meeting with a young man, and we’ve been talking about how God uses us, our gifts, and even our finances to help others for His glory.  I gave him a copy of the book the God Pocket by Bruce Wilkinson that has an extremely practical way that we can purposively live this out, which I wrote about here: The God Pocket.

And then I received a copy of Austin Gutwein’s Live to Give.  Wow! 

Gutwein is the exact same age as the young man I’ve been meeting with, 18, and the author has wisdom far beyond his years. It’s amazing that God chose this young man when he was only nine to change the lives of thousands in Africa through a ministry he formed called Hoops for Hope.  And he’s been building clinics, schools, and feeding the hungry there ever since. 

Live to Give is all about how God uses what we have to help others.  One of the biggest things I took away from the book was Gutwein’s illustration of the young boy who brought the loaves and fishes that Jesus used to feed the five thousand.  The disciples went all through the crowd to see what food was available, and this was the only person who remembered to bring his lunch, and he gave it up to Jesus.

Likewise we might be the only person in the crowd who has what God wants to use to help the multitude.  Are we willing to give it up to Him? 

I’d highly recommend this book.  Be sure to check out the information below for your chance to win the book and some other neat prizes. I received a copy of this book free from the publisher for review.

Giveaway: 

About the Book: 

Want to do something for God but don’t know what? Want to help others but don’t know who? Want to know what it is you’re really good at doing? Your gifts may feel small and insignificant. But God can use them to work a miracle!

Inspired by the biblical story of the feeding of the 5,000, "Live to Give" delivers a message of hope that we all have something to give. Written in the down-to-earth, candid voice of the gifted young man who as a kid founded a relief ministry that has saved and improved countless lives in Africa, "Live to Give" is the message that every teen needs to hear: You are more special than you know, and you can do big things.

Jesus proved that no gift is too small when He used five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of thousands. And if no gift is too small, too ordinary, or too random, there is no limit to what the youth of today can accomplish!

A teenage philanthropist who has built a high school, two medical clinics, and a dormitory in Africa—all before the age of 16—Austin Gutwein shares how to take what may seem like the simplest of talents, gifts, and interests and use them for something Jesus can use to move mountains.


Meet Austin: 

As founder of Hoops of Hope, Austin started what is now known as the worlds largest Free-Throw marathon. Austin's Hoops of Hope has raised more than $2.5M to help orphan children in Africa. Austin also serves as Co-Chair of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's Youth Council. As a highly sought after speaker, Austin has spoken and shared his heart in venues around the world. In 2009, Austin was selected into the Caring Hall of Fame as one of the top 10 most caring Americans.

Austin's first book, "Take Your Best Shot" shared stories that captured readers hearts and won a Moonbeam Award. For information on booking Austin or general inquiries, please visit austingutwein.com.


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200th Post/Rebirth day Giveaway

It’s been a wild and crazy year on Manifest Blog.  I hit and miss several goals, and some are still in process, but my overall goal of growing in relationship with Christ and sharing what I learn along the way is still moving forward.  In fact today is my six-year rebirth day. 

Six years ago, I bent the knee and surrendered my life as a follower of Jesus Christ.  God audibly told me to “give up everything you love and follow Me”.  I sold everything I had and gave away what wouldn’t sell, and I haven’t looked back.

It’s funny because one of the things I loved that I got rid of was a large collection of books.  I had thousands of the things.  I love to read, but they had to go.  As a Christian I wasn’t really sure how to approach the issue of books.  In fact over the past 6 years, I can think of about 7 books (not including textbooks) that I actually purchased.  But my fellow believers have showered books on me over the years, which I have in turn tried to be faithful and give away when I finished reading them.

Now thanks to this blog, I have publishers shipping me tons of books all the time, and my little three-shelf bookshelf is starting to fill up.

So in honor of my commitment to give up everything I love and follow Christ, I’m giving away a few of my more recent reads:

Mornings With Jesus by Judy Baer et al

The NIV Boys Bible

1000 Days by Jonathan Falwell

Seal of God by Chad Williams

The Mission Minded Family by Ann Dunagan

The Gospel For Real Life by Jerry Bridges

The Christian Zombie Killers Handbook by Jeff Kinley

Radical by David Platt

Just go through the Form below, enter by whatever means you want, and remember "Man casts the lot in his lap, but God determines the outcome" (Proverbs 16:33).  Good Luck!

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An Uncommon Giveaway

I just finished reading through Tony Dungy’s new book: The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge.  For those of you who don’t know, Tony Dungy was a NFL coach who is known for his uncommon exemplary Christian character. 

I am not much of a football fan, so when I read Tony Dungy’s original book, The Uncommon Life, I found myself not being all that excited or impressed.  There were a lot of really good principles on how to be a good person, but not a lot about how you can’t be that good person without Christ in your life.

However, the Daily Challenge expounds on the principles of Dungy’s first book and grounds them solidly in scripture and a relationship with Jesus, the feature most lacking in the previous book.  The Daily Challenge is basically a daily devotional with some stories from Dungy’s football career.  It’s obviously geared more toward the Christian male, but he does try to throw in some stuff for the ladies too.

I don’t think there were many things that were uncommon in terms of common sense for those who follow Christ if we’re really trying to follow His commandments, but it is always good to be reminded of those commandments for life on a daily basis, and I’d probably recommend this book over some of the less practical devotionals out there—you know the ones I’m talking about.  The ones that start out like this “Day One: Give Jesus a Big Hug Today.”

Overall, I’d recommend skipping the first book and just going with this one.

Buy this book for $10.87.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.  All opinions are my own.

Giveaway

A special thanks goes out to Tony Dungy and Tyndale Publishing for including a certificate for a free book to be redeemed in your local Christian Bookstore or via mail order to be given away to one lucky reader.

The Giveaway period starts today (01/18/12) and lasts for two weeks (02/01/12).

Head to the Giveaway page for more details on how to enter for your chance to get a free copy of The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge.

102 Posts Giveaway

Congratulations Jason Hess!  You are the winner!

Entry Period Begins:  September 24, 2011
Entry Period Ends:    October 7, 2011

Since I’ve been writing this blog over the past four years, I have posted 102 times.  Maybe I should have put together this giveaway for post number 100, but the God’s Glory Alone post reflected why I’m writing this blog, not a promotional giveaway.

And because I’m writing this blog for God’s glory alone, I’m going to give away the three most life-changing, point-you-to-God books I’ve read recently: You Were Born For This, Not a Fan, and Erasing Hell. (I’m actually buying a copy of Not a Fan for the giveaway because my wife is reading ours right now, but I think it’s the best of the three, so I want to include it.)

To enter the giveaway, click the Giveaways tab in the menu, read the rules, and fill out the form. I’ve included snippets from my reviews of the three books below: if you want to read the whole reviews, just follow the links:

Erasing Hell

Does hell exist?  Are biblical references to it just metaphoric?  And if it does exist, what are the implications for our everyday life?

Francis Chan addresses these issues in his new book: Erasing Hell.  He co-wrote the book with Dr. Preston Sprinkle (best name ever!)  I love Francis Chan’s writing mostly because of the zeal that He has for God, not just in the things he says, but in the way that he lives his life.  He is not afraid to live out the things he teaches; in fact I dare say, he is afraid not to . . . Read More

You Were Born For This

Bruce Wilkinson, the author of the bestselling book The Prayer of Jabez, presents a follow up to that book all about miracles.

When the publisher sent me the book and I first read the description, I braced myself for a super-charismatic-fire-from-heaven how-to book all about how to make God do crazy miraculous things in your life just by knowing the right spiritual buttons to push.  But I was pleasantly surprised, and somewhat relieved, to find that this is not what Wilkinson is encouraging in You Were Born For This . . . Read More

Not A Fan

Jesus isn’t interested in having fans and fan clubs; He wants truly committed followers who will give everything for His sake. That’s the message of Kyle Idleman’s new book: Not a Fan.

Idleman writes one of the most serious books about what it means to follow Christ I think I’ve ever read.  In fact, much like Jesus, the author doesn’t pull his punches and cuts to the heart of the matter.  In following Christ, there are no “halfways”, “most of the times”, or “excepts”.  It’s all or nothing . . . Read More

Giveaway: Perished by R. Frederick Riddle

Entry Period Begins:  July 6, 2011
Entry Period Ends:    July 13, 2011

Head to the Giveaways Page on Manifest Blog for your chance to win a copy of R. Frederick Riddle's new book: Perished signed by the author.  Read my recent review of the book here.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

When God creates the heavens, and earth, the archangel Lucifer refuses to believe and, with the creation of man, he rebels. Adam and Woman (Eve) enjoy sweet fellowship with God, but Satan makes war against God. Using Serpent, he tricks Woman into eating the forbidden fruit, which Adam knowingly eats; thus bringing sin unto all mankind. In holy anger He drives them out of Eden, while at the same time extending His grace and promising a Redeemer.

Adam and Eve start a family, but tragedy strikes as Cain slays Abel and God drives him from their home. He goes to land of Nod and starts a new civilization, thus beginning a struggle between good and evil. While conflicts grow, faith in God also grows and is demonstrated in the lives of Adam, Methuselah, Noah, and others. As society makes marvelous advances immorality rises, bringing upon them the judgment of God.
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Product Details:

List Price: $29.95 Amazon.com
Paperback: 344 pages
Publisher: PublishAmerica (December 17, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1456036823
ISBN-13: 978-1456036829

Rules:

1. Become a follower of Manifest Blog if you're not already.

2.  Enter you name and email in the linky on the Giveaways page.

3. Throw in your blog address if you want, and I'll follow you back.

4. Finally, stay tuned for the announcement of the winner July 14.

Details

Giveaway item: 1 autographed copy of R. Frederick Riddle's new book: Perished.   Only one recipient will be drawn at random from all available entries.  Obviously no purchase is needed to enter; just fill out the linky and cross your fingers.  Only U.S. residents please, only because of the price of shipping, not because I don't love my international readers. Finally, remember "Man casts the lot in his lap, but God determines the outcome" (Proverbs 16:33).