Review/Giveaway: Restoration Road

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Restoration Road:  The Master Key to a New and Satisfied Life of Authenticity
Author: Mitch Kruse with Derek Williams
Genre: Christian life/personal growth
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.

Entry deadline: May 10, 2010

Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway.  This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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Publisher: Credo House Publishers
Physical Description: 336-page hardcover
List Price: $24.99
ISBN: 978-1935391319
For More Info/To Purchase:  http://www.therestorationroad.com/

Synopsis:

Like a classic car that needs restoration, each one of us must surrender our old basket case of a life to the Restorer who desires to return us to His original design. As He disassembles and renovates the unrestored or self-restored components of our lives, piece by piece, we begin to reflect His inspiration fashioned from clay in the garden of Eden. Our greatest value is revealed when the Restorer uses us to restore authenticity to others who are lost from their original design.

Restoration Road offers a raw and honest glimpse into the unique story of Mitch Kruse. Ride along with Mitch as he drives you through a modern-day parable that began on a dirt road, reached the hallowed halls of the rich and famous, and eventually led to the forgotten alleys of the poor.

About the Author:

Dr. Mitchell Kruse is an author, speaker, and the driving force behind The Restoration Road, a ministry movement that equips believers to live authentically where culture connects with Christ. Kruse is best known for his contribution to the auction arena, especially in the area of collector cars and real estate. For seventeen years, Kruse was owner, CEO, and auctioneer of Kruse International, the world’s largest collector car sales organization.

The art of auctioning has been passed down through three generations of the Kruse family, but as Kruse followed in his father’s footsteps, he discovered that success is a fragile thing that often comes at a high price. Though Kruse had been raised in a Christian family, he had vacillated between legalism and relative lawlessness. Facing the constant pressure of his life in the fast lane and the real possibility of losing everything he had labored to build, Kruse finally reached a turning point and surrendered control of his life to God. This move radically transformed both Kruse and his business over the next several years.

He sold his company to pursue his calling to communicate God’s restoration through grace and wisdom evidenced in leadership. Kruse earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Religious Studies degrees with high distinction from Trinity Theological Seminary. He volunteered as teaching pastor at Blackhawk Ministries, a church of two thousand members.

What I Liked:  This makes a great devotional-type book.  Each chapter has stories/lessons that require a little thought and can stand alone until you've got time for the next chapter.

Mitch Kruse's story is fascinating - I love reading real testimonies of God's work in people's lives.  And the glimpse into the collectible automobile and auction industry was a definite bonus.  Now I know where "It's a Doozy!" comes from!

Being a list lover, I liked the organization of the book, with chapters such as "Restoring Our Four Desires" and "Restoring the Four Chambers of Our Hearts."

And I loved the analogies.  It's always easier for me to remember points and apply them when I have an analogy or story that I can tie them to.  This book is full of restored car analogies, along with others.  I loved the stone heart/sand heart one that appeared several times - I'd never thought of it that way before - how both states are judgemental and damaging.

What I Didn't Like:  Not a dislike as much as an observation that this is NOT an easy read biography that you can whip through on a quiet afternoon.  There's a lot contained in each chapter, and I'd really recommend taking breaks between each one so you can process what you've read.

Also, there was a lot in the book that I personally couldn't relate to.  I've never dealt with large amounts of money or the pursuit of connections and wealth that the author describes in his past.  I'm a little more laid back in my approach to life!  Perhaps it's because of this that I found his story fascinating...

Thanks to The B&B Media Group for the review copy of this book.

Posted by Jane at Mozi Esmé