Max On Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions [Hardcover]

Max Lucado (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 2011

We have questions. Child-like inquiries. And deep, heavy ones.

In more than twenty-five years of writing and ministry, Max Lucado has received thousands of such questions. They come in letters, e-mails, even on Dunkin Donuts napkins. In Max on Life he offers thoughtful answers to more than 170 of the most pressing questions on topics ranging from hope to hurt and from home to the hereafter.

Max writes about the role of prayer, the purpose of pain, and the reason for our ultimate hope. He responds to the day-to-day questions—parenting quandaries, financial challenges, difficult relationships—as well as to the profound: Is God really listening?

A special addendum includes Max’s advice on writing and publishing.

Including topical and scriptural indexes and filled with classic Lucado encouragement and insight,Max on Life will quickly become a favorite resource for pastors and ministry leaders as well as new and mature believers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Max Lucado’s books just come alive. His lifetime ministry of writing has blessed tens of millions of people around the world, and this book promises to do the same.” 
-Rick Warren Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church Author, The Purpose Driven® Life

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

More than 100 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 19, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849948126
• ISBN-13: 978-0849948121
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.1 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (578 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In just under two decades of writing, Max Lucado has accomplished more than most writers hope for in a lifetime. Most of his books have appeared on one or more best seller lists, including those published by the "New York Times," "USA Today," "Publishers Weekly," and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). Aside from hardcover books, Lucado's writings have also been published as children's books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, music CDs, mass paperback booklets, apparel, giftware, bookmarks, calendars, study Bibles, workbooks, curricula, and plush products. In spring 2003, Hallmark/Dayspring Cards launched a new gift card line featuring excerpts from Lucado's writings--and has already sold more than one million cards.

All this success has drawn more than a little attention to a previously low-profile Texas author and minister. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including "USA Today," "Larry King Live," and "NBC Nightly News." He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. He has traveled with internationally renowned musicians as a special speaker on their music tours, such as the highly successful "Come Together & Worship Tour" (sponsored by Chevrolet) with Grammy Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day.

Journey to the Top
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

Secret to Success
From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#33 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#73 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#33 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#73 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wisdom of Years July 21, 2011

By Gayla M. Collins VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I order Max Lucado's books without the least bit of trepidation. After years of pastoring, studying and writing, his works are always insightful, comprehensive, thoughtful, and enlightening.

In this body of work Max answers some of the crucial questions Christian have asked him via mail, email, or in person. These queries hit high notes with everyone about the trustworthiness of God, His ability to understand, His compassion for the hurting, His realm on earth and to come, and other major topics. The sections of questions are broke up into these categories...."Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, and Hereafter." As a reader, I broke this book up into about 6 to 8 letters a day along with my Bible reading and mediations. It really aided me.

If you are searching, questioning your purpose, angry with God, disillusioned by life, this is a book for you. Read it all at once or as I did. Doesn't matter. It gives Divine insight and that is what all Christians long for.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Questions That Offer Great Inspiration August 5, 2011

By Ambergris TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I am a very recent convert to Max Lucado. I was pleasantly introduced to his writing through my fiancée. Although I can't honestly say that I am not a real pioneer, nor veracious reader of Christian literature, what experience I have had in the past has been totally unlike Lucado's rewarding and relaxing method of teaching and augmenting the word of our lord. My impression of Max Lucado, now some dozen or so books in the past has not changed at all, for neither has he. His approach to the love, strength, and wisdom of Christ's teachings have always brought with it a nice folksy sort of down home style that relaxes the reader, and seems to bring a genuine human quality to Christ and his life, and legacy. When I hear the words of Max Lucado, I never feel very far away from the teachings and instruction of the Christian values of my younger years. When most of what we learned was derived from the experiences of, and examples set by the very fabric of our lives simply unfolding. His instruction and interpretations of the holy book never really take on a real preaching style of fire and brimstone. Indeed, reading his word tends to give one the impression always that he is talking to you in a soft spoken casual manner that leaves an impression in its wake of just containing a whole lot of biblical common sense. Real life experiences by himself and a host of others both famous and unheard of bring a colorful commentary to his style, thus setting many examples in all of his books that most of us can well identify with, and even more importantly, understand completely. Since discovering his fireside chat style of teaching and patience, I have come to compare him to an evangelical Will Rogers. That is, emphasizing the learning and salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversation rather than ritual, that is always congenial, and often humorous in its manner. Max Lucado is the only well known holy man I have ever read and experienced that I feel I would not sense a feeling of inadequacy in the presence of for not knowing all that he has learned so wisely, and so well. For he relentlessly makes one feel that he well understands personally where you are and what you expect from him, and his sermons. A feeling of welcome whether you are a seasoned Christian well versed in the Bibles teachings, or someone that just wandered into his service, drawn by the sound of a stark silence, followed by a relaxing and sometimes tearful laugher.

Anyone that is familiar with Lucado's work well knows that most of his books carry a specific or central Christian theme of sorts. This particular one is a little different in that it subsists of a large series of very common and pertinent questions that I am sure every reader of Christian teachings of any kind should find very informative. As well as most inspiring. For make no mistake about it, despite Lucado's warm laid back style to preaching, he is well able to instill in one words that can leave the reader in a comforting spiritual euphoria. In this book as well as so many of his others, he has a way of delivering the word of Christ and the gospels in a way that is as powerful as they come, without ever raising his voice. This is a good book for anyone that still has so many questions, or just is left with a lack of real understanding when it comes to the many times our Christian souls come in full contact with the natural life and world we presently inhabit. It sometimes leaves one with a sparkling feeling of understanding, as well as at other times spurning interesting discussions and empathy. In any event, my experience with this book continues to be both most rewarding, as well as informative and inspirational. I highly recommend it and hope you will wander in on his sermon as well. And stay a while...

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Maxed Out April 18, 2011

By David P. Craig TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

In this resource, popular pastor and writer, Max Lucado responds to some of the letters he has received from people pursuing answers to some of life's more important questions. Max answers close to two hundred practical questions based on these letters. The questions along with his subsequent answers - supported by the Scriptures - are handled in the following categories:

1) Hope: God, Grace, and "Why am I here?" - pages 1-36.
2) Hurt: Conflicts, Calamities, and "Why me?" - pages 37-74.
3) Help: Prayer, Scripture, and "Why church?" - pages 75-118.
4) Him/Her: Sex, Romance, and "Any chance of a second chance?" - pages 119-150.
5) Home: Diapers, Disagreements, and "Any hope for prodigals?" - pages 151-176.
6) Haves/Have-Nots: Work, Money, and "Where's the lifeline?" - pages 177-196.
7) Hereafter: Cemeteries, Heaven, Hell, and "Who goes where?" - pages 197-230.
8) Addendum: The Write Suff - helpful and brief advice on: how to write, when to write, who can publish, who can edit. - pages 231-235.
9) Notes - pages 236-238.
10) Topical Index - a helpful index for quick access to the topics addressed in the book beginning with "abortion" and ending with "worship." - pages 239-245.

Overall, the answers to the questions are gracious, practical, clear, and concise. I'm sure I will consult his answers again as they come up in my own ministries of counseling and life coaching. I think his book is definitely worth having and consulting - especially for new believers in Christ.

I think Max does an adequate job in his answers to these questions, but Max represents what I would deem a "Generic Christianity." I would prefer to see the questions answered within the framework of a robust Biblical Theology with Christ at the center. I would love to see Tim Keller or D.A. Carson write a book answering the same questions. For those who would prefer a more Theological approach (considering Biblical and Systematic Theology) to frequently asked questions I would recommend R.C. Sproul's, "Now That's a Good Question" as a much better resource with more depth of insight into the Christo-centric emphasis of the Scriptures and their connection to life in the 21st century.

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."