Book Review - Live To Give by Austin Gutwein

An amazing message to live by!

Our pastor just spoke this last Sunday about how one man can change a nation.  He was referring to Elijah.  Yet, his challenge was to everyone listening - including me.

Austin Gutwein is a young man who has chosen to live the life as one who can change his world. In his second book, Live to Give, he inspires an entire generation to do the same.  Through his books and his own dream, Hoops For Hope, Austin is making a difference.

"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."

Live to Give is a powerful book for people of all ages to read and be challenged to give more of themselves to the world around them.  Like the boy in scripture who gave his small lunch, we too can give a small amount and let God make it profound.  The writing of this book is definitely intended for young people but its message is timeless.

There are countless scripture references to back Austin's life philosophy as well as the proof that he walks what he talks.  He actually got up off his butt, left his ninetendo behind and started to change the world ... by giving of himself.  He learned that God is waiting for our willingness; He will supply the rest.  No more excuses.

My favourite part was Gutwein's challenge to push through the hard parts, the "smoky" parts because ...

"God is always right beside us, ready to help us out and hand us the oxygen.  The oxygen for us is His word."

Read it.  Be inspired.  Then go change the world.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".