This book addresses many of the types of fears that we encounter in our lives, drawing from the stories in the New Testament where Jesus was addressing the fear and anxiety he saw in the people around him. It was encouraging to be reminded that Jesus really does care about the things we dread and get anxious about and that He is concerned about delivering us from those fears.

Some examples of fears Lucado addressed are the fear of disappointing God, the fear of not having enough (time, money, intelligence, acceptance, health, etc.) and the fear of worst-case scenarios. And while each chapter held meaningful pieces of Biblical advice on how to counteract these fears, I found that I enjoyed the last chapter most of all, "The One Healthy Terror", which spoke on the fear of the Lord. After reading about all the areas where the enemy seeks to strike our hearts with fear, I really appreciated how Lucado reminded us that there is really only One that we should fear - and that is the One who holds our very life in His hands! I was reminded that it is vital to my battle against fear to have an accurate view of God and to see Jesus for the awesomely terrifying and powerful God-man that He is! To quote Lucado…

"As awe of Jesus expands, fears of life diminish. A big God translates into big courage. A small view of God generates no courage. A limp, puny, fireless Jesus has no power over [your fears]…Stare long and longingly at the Bonfire, the Holy One, the Highest One, the Only One. As you do, all your fears, save the fear of Christ himself, will melt…" (pg. 169, 170)

I found "Fearless" to be challenging, inspiring, and thought-provoking. Lucado's imaginative story-telling and insight into the Scripture makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend this book to anyone, without hesitation.

Whenever I watch the Wimbledon Championships, I want to grab my tennis racket, go out on a court and hit tennis balls. I want to volley like the pros do, I want to serve at incredible speeds and I want to be part of strong baseline ralleys. Watching the professionals play tennis makes me want to play tennis.

Reading Max Lucado's latest book "Fearless" made me want to grab my computer (or a notebook and pen) and write. Journeying with Lucado on the back of his words made me want to be a better writer. Obviously he's a true professional.

I honestly haven't read many of Lucado's books (we have most of the children's books and in my defense, I am kind of from another planet), but "Fearless" brought me to a place of great respect for Max Lucado as a writer. He is a great writer. (And then, I'm probably preaching to the choir here.) Still, I learned lots and was inspired.

Sadly, I might not have bought the book if it weren't for the Thomas Nelson Publishers blogger review team I am a part of. Why not? Likely because of the blurb on the back combined with my lack of Lucado history. The marketing language just seemed a little too dramatic. I couldn't identify with the fear scenarios set up in the blurb. Unfortunately that would have meant missing out on a great and inspiring reading experience. I'm glad I didn't miss out.

On a personal note, I find it ironic that "Fearless" is released on the day we will walk our five-year-old daughter-our eldest-to elementary school for the first time. She is going to Grade One today and will start off a whole new era in our family. It is understandable that in this season of my life, chapter 5, entitled, "My Child is in Danger: fear of not protecting my kids" spoke to me on a deep level.

"The semitruck of parenting comes loaded with fears," writes Lucado. "We fear failing the child, forgetting the child. Will we have enough money? Enough answers? Enough diapers? Enough drawer space? Vaccinations. Educations. Homework. Homecoming. It's enough to keep a parent awake at night."

I am releasing my daughter into the world today. It comes with its unique set of fears and questions. Lucado reminds me to be fearless, because I have prayed and I will continue to pray for her and our other children. He writes: "Prayer is the saucer into which parental fears are poured to cool … Each time a parent prays, Christ responds. His big message to moms and dads? Bring your children to me. Raise them in a greenhouse of prayer."

I would recommend "Fearless" for the inspiring journey it is. Lucado does not disappoint.

Fearless by Max Lucado (www.TheFearlesBook.com)
Most likely the most challenging book I've read this summer! Everyday each one of us are faced with choices. A choice to confidenly live the life God created us for or a choice to step back with hesistation and fear and perhaps follow a different path.

In this book Max touches many areas of life, which at some point we all may face. At first I was tempted to skip the section regarding our children, but I pushed though and gained some insight I've found applicable to other life areas.

This book was definately a timely book in my life. It has given me an opportunity to view the reasons I do or say things. It has challenged me to step up in my faith and to dig further in the Word of God than before. This book coupled with the messages I've heard at a camp, have reminded me to pick up a few dreams, I'd let fall by the way side.

This is one of those books that I will read again and share with friends.

Max Lucado's newest book, Fearless, is a short easy read of 180 pages (not including the discussion guide) covering the topics that tend to breed fear in many of us: uncertainty about the future, our children and their safety, violence, finances and more. I was encouraged and especially loved how Lucado always returned to the Bible as the antidote to our fear.

My favorite chapter was "Scared to Death" on death and dying. He says death might be "less a curse and more a passageway; not a crisis to be avoided, but a corner to be turned." I loved the parallel he made between our prenatal life and this life. What makes no sense in this life will make perfect sense in the next. Just as the womb suited us for this life, so this life is suiting us for the next. Some prenatal features served no purpose and were actually useless in the womb; we had eyes but couldn't see; noses but couldn't smell; tongues but couldn't taste or talk. Those same features serve distinct purposes in this life. Might this life's challenges prepare and equip us for the next life?, Lucado asks.

Lucado says, "The promise of Christ and the contention of this book are simple: we can fear less tomorrow than we do today." He continually encourages the reader to pursue God, get better acquainted with the Master. "God chooses to be known to us so we will stop being afraid of the wrong thing." I was encouraged by the reminder that loving God is the solution to the fear I experience. Relationship with Him is the source of my peace, the antithesis of my fear.

"Gem's in the Last Chapter"

Book Review - Fearless
Author: Max Lucado
Reviewer: Conrade Yap
Date: 8 September 2009
Lucado weaves together another tapestry of hope. Using stories and vivid images, he makes the words come alive in our minds as he deals with the topic of fear. As Lucado knits each fear, we are led to confront the many types of worries that can alarm us and render ourselves powerless or helpless. He turns over many stones that hide our innermost trepidations. Things like lack of self-worth, not meeting up to God's expectations, unable to be a good parent, afraid of physical harm, overly concerned about the future and so on. While the reader may think that the way ahead is to flush fears off our system, Lucado gently leads us to something far better than spiritual machete. After shining a light to reveal the different kinds of fears we face in the world, he exposes our heart's deepest need: Christ.

"This is the fear of the Lord. Most of our fears are poisonous. They steal sleep and pillage peace. But this fear is different. 'From a biblical perspective, there is nothing neurotic about fearing God. The neurotic thing is not to be afraid, or to be afraid of the wrong thing. That is why God chooses to be known to us, so that we may stop being afraid of the wrong thing. When God is fully revealed to us and we 'get it,' then we experience the conversion of our fear. . . 'Fear of the Lord' is the deeply sane recognition that we are not God.'" (169)

Truly, chapter 14 is worth the price of the book. Upon reading this portion of the book, I am even more convinced that the way to fight fear is not with guns or therapy, physical or psychological weapons. Remember the Apostle Paul's reminder that our enemies are 'spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm?' Lucado drives home the way to fight fear, not in terms of decreasing our paranoia over created things or thoughts, but to increase our faith in God, who is love.

"The longer we live in him, the greater he becomes in us." (170)

There are two irritations I have with the book. Firstly, the book presupposes that the fears described in the book exist in our lives. I understand that Lucado writes for a general audience. Yet, is it not possible that for some, such fears are irrelevant? I know that for cancer patients, some of the worries mentioned in the book are of the least concern. At some point, I feel like someone receiving a box of anti-fear gadgets, to fight even the non-existent fears. Secondly, Lucado takes too long to come to this important point. For instance, his PEACEFUL plan to rid fear appears like another self-help book. If readers stop here, the author may even be accused of using God like aspirin to banish fear, like using Christ as a means to our own ends. That is not what this book is about.

In conclusion, we need to read the whole book to discover Lucado's important point. It is not the fleeing or fighting of fear that render us fearless. It is in embracing Christ, that fears will flee from us instead.

A Thomas Nelson Book Reviewer

Conrade Yap

My very favourite books by Max Lucado are the ones where he takes a very specific passage of scripture and breaks it down passage by passage. I must admit, I was hoping he was carrying on with that pattern. Not the case, but, I was not disappointed.

The new book - releasing today - is "Fearless". It's a sad reality in America (and here, north of the border) that many people are living in fear. Fear of the unknown, of having to live with not enough resources, of not knowing how to care for loved ones who are sick, of the evil that is throughout our society...

Each chapter names the very things that cause us to live in fear, and then, as only Max does, he presents personal examples of how he faces the very same thing. His stories are touching, some times funny, sometimes heart wreching, but always making him 'real' to each of us. Then, he beautifully brings the Truth of scripture into the equation. Using examples of God's own penmen for His Word, among them being Jeremiah and Paul, we see that even those chosen to bring us the very Breath of God, faced fears.

Through their words, and examples, we see how to face those fears - and walk more closely to the One who calmed the sea, and carried the culmination of all that we fear (say "Sin") to the cross. I love the way he summarizes this at the end of chapter 7 - " He's the commander of every storm. Are you scared in yours? Then stare at him. This may be your first flight, but it's certainly not his. Your pilot has a call sign too: I Am Here."

Fearless will not disappoint. If you or someone you care about is facing great fear - this is the book for them.

Fear. It's something we live with every day. It's something that affects every person. Fear of the worst case scenario, fear of violence, fear of death, or the fear of not mattering. In any situation, fear could sneak in and place itself as an obstacle to the goals in your life, to the optimal life you want to live. In this book, Fearless, Max Lucado details our fears and debunks their power. Without ever having read a book by this author before, I was impressed by his literary skill. He uses writing tools that are obvious (e.g., alliteration) but some that are not so obvious (e.g., allegory). He uses the Scriptures to decipher fear and Jesus' response to our fears. Beyond all the writing tools, though, is an ability to communicate to the depth of one's soul. I have read this book and loved it. But I must read it again to absorb it's powerful view on living a life fearless. You will want to read it. You will want to read it again. The only way to pry fear's fingers from our the neck of our lives is to use new found knowledge and trust in God that we are worth more than the sparrows to Him. When we are firm in that knowledge, fear slinks away, looking for a new home. Use this resource to release fear from your life. You won't regret it.

We are surrounded by events that might cause fear in our lives. But is it worth it. Fear can indeed severe our trust and faith if we are not careful. Do you have worries that take control on your life? Then the latest book from Max Lucado, Fearless - Imagine Your Life Without Fear, is for you.
This book approaches many fears that people could sense in their lives - fear of not mattering, fear of disappointing God, fear of running out, fear of not protecting my kids, fear of overwhelming challenges, fear of worst-case scenarios, fear of violence, fear of the coming winter, fear of life's final moments, fear of what's next, fear that God is not real, fear of global calamity, and fear of God getting out of my box. Really, by fearing so much I wonder how people live sometimes!
Some chapters talked to me more than other ones in this book. You can easily see it from the notes I took in the margins and the underlining you will find on the pages. But I was able to take something out from each chapter no matter what. Even when we think God is not there - He is. He cares for us and He is ever present in good times and bad times. Fear the Lord not what is surrounding you.
Max brings hypothetic situations and writes about the fear related to them. He brings up scriptures in each chapter to make us realize that fear should not stop us in any shape or form. Yes we will experience hard times and scary times but then it's time to fully trust our Father in Heaven who cares deeply for us. When we persevere then we grow in our relationship with Him.
In these days, a lot is going on from recession, markets going down, loosing a job, terrorism, pandemic that is threatening us… But we need to keep our eyes on the One who knows everything. He knows which means we should trust Him and pursue without fear what He wants us to do - whatever that is.
I remember when in 2001 the planes hit the World Trade Centre. My son, Alexandre, was 2 ½ months old. You know what someone told me? Maybe it wasn't the right time for having children. I disagreed with this. An event like this sometimes flip people so much that they make drastic decision because of fear. From what I know of history - every once in a while a drastic event comes and shake the world… think about the Black Plague or the wars especially the 2nd World War with the concentration camps and so on. Ouch!
We can learn from past events and persevere. The Bible does tell us that a reward is there for those of you who will persevere. Will you trust God or die in fear?
Check out what a little boy of 7 years old, whose missionary family was posted in Africa, has written while his house was burning to the ground… http://www.pioneerbible.org/cms/tiki-view_blog_post.php/?blogld=2&postId=9 . Honestly if a little boy can see God in a tragic event, we can surely do the same don't you think? We should learn from the kids when they exemplify a strong faith and trust in the Lord.
Finally, the reader will find a wonderful discussion guide at the end of the book. This book can be used in a book club setting or as a small group study.

Can you imagine a life without fear?

That's the question posed by Max Lucado's latest, Fearless.

It was with some trepidation that I dug into Fearless. The last time I read one of his books, it was painfully squishy-big on feelings, light on content. And I honestly expected another squishy book about how we're all snowflakes and God loves us with a love not unlike sappy teen romance (this does show up-once-when Lucado writes about how "[God] can't stop thinking about you!" in chapter 2).

What I got instead was a book that actually provides the answer to overcoming our biggest fears: Jesus. Over the course of 14 chapters, Lucado emphatically states that it's only when we take our eyes off of Christ that fear overcomes us, and it's only as we focus on Him that we have the ability to overcome fear.

I was impressed by Lucado's boldness in the final two chapters. He (rightly) names someone as a false prophet, and he gives a great definition of false teacher: One who fails to direct his or her listeners to Jesus, maximizing the role of humanity at His expense.

That's a huge deal, and a much needed reminder for all of us today to be, in his words, "doctrinally diligent" (p. 155).

He also boldly asserts that there is one healthy terror that we need: The Fear of the Lord. Many of us lack this, and instead have created a god-of-our-own-imagining, who won't call us out for our sin, who will only pat our heads and tell us things will be okay, but has no power. Instead, we need to embrace the God of the Bible, our fears are less powerful. Because "[w]hen Christ is great, our fears are not" (p. 169).

Bravo, sir.

So, the real question: Would I recommend Fearless?

Particularly on the strength of the final two chapters, I would. It's a book that, ultimately, directs people to Christ as the true answer to overcoming fear. It's not a perfect book (none of our books are, after all), but it's one that I believe many will find profitable.

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This book was reviewed as part of Thomas Nelson's Blogger Review Program: http://brb.thomasnelson.com

The default emotion in response to the world we live in could far too naturally and easily be fear. From the dark, looming cloud of the current economic crisis to the ever-present threat of violence in homes, schools and the world at large, it seems that there is always something to be afraid of lurking just around the corner.

In 'Fearless', Max Lucado dares to present us with the concept that regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, a life without fear can be more than just a dream. Lucado tackles not only some of the more common fears, like death, or the unknown factor of the future, but he also brings to light fears that are less commonly talked about, like the fear that we don't matter, or that we will be a disappointment to God.

Admittedly, Max Lucado's writing style is not my favorite. But any style differences took a back seat to the solid content, ideas and inspiration to live by faith rather than fear. I not only enjoyed the book, but it caused me to look at the many situations that I too naturally default to fear in, and has challenged me to move beyond the fear, to a place of faith.

My favorite part, however, is one of the last chapters, entitled, 'The One Healthy Terror', where Lucado takes his book to another level, discussing the one fear that actually has the power to transform our lives in a positive way. In my estimation, it is brilliant.

The focus of this book is fear…or rather, freedom from fear.
With many examples and illustrations, Max Lucado demonstrates for us the inevitability of humans feeling fear and the harm it does a human to feel fear. Max Lucado uses his signature gift with words to demonstrate for us the need for humans to live fearlessly.

Of course, you mustn't take all of his illustrations literally, Max is the kind of writer who imagines and exaggerates in order to share a deeper truth. For example, on page 167 he doesn't really mean that Moses and Elijah's portraits are really hung in the entry wall to the Hebrew Hall of Fame, he is merely illustrating for us just how important those prophets are to the Hebrews, and just how awestruck Peter, James and John would have been to see them in their day and age.

My favourite example of fear taken to devastating lengths is the quote Max includes on page 9 regarding the perception Martin Niemoller had of Adolf Hitler in 1933: "I discovered that Herr Hitler is a terribly frightened man." Max uses this quote as an illustration of how fear releases the tyrant within.

This was an enjoyable book with an excellent message. It really is important for us to learn how to live our lives without fear, while remaining aware of the risks and dangers being fully alive proposes.

Swine flu, terrorism alerts, economic downturns, and job loss. Those are just a few of the things you'll hear about after watching just ten minutes of the news (and that's not counting the bits of news that scroll across the bottom of the screen). It seems as if there's something for everyone to worry about, just take your pick - there's plenty to go around. Is worry a necessary evil? A part of life? Do we even have a choice? Max Lucado's newest book, "Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear," brushes the dust away and uncovers our deepest fears, whatever they may be. At the same time, it offers us a hope - that Someone greater is in charge and taking care of us - Someone greater than the situations we may face.

In classic Lucado style, the author walks us through various scenarios by using thought-provoking illustrations. Along the way we are reintroduced to Jesus' disciples in their toughest moments, discover the importance of Dean Martin's cigarette, learn about the ball that Noble Doss dropped, and reveal the man that influenced Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Of course Lucado uses plenty of quotes from the Bible, mentioning the 21 Christ-issued imperatives that "… urge us to 'not be afraid' or 'not fear' or 'have courage' or 'take heart' or 'be of good cheer.'" Following these 21 directives, Jesus' second most common command, to love God and our neighbor, only appears 8 times. I'd say that Jesus understands our worry and or fear. Think he realized we'd have a bit of a struggle in that department?

In the end, the author traces our fears back to our own understanding of Christ. Is He tucked safely in a box of our own design? How long has it been since "a fresh understanding of Christ buckled your knees and emptied your lungs? Since a glimpse of him left you speechless and breathless? If it's been a while, that explains your fears. When Christ is great, our fears are not."