So many of us struggle with the age-old battle of person versus self. There are so many places in our hearts and minds that seem as impossible to redeem as outer space itself. We long to be happy and feel fulfilled, but it seems elusive when these dark corners of our inner selves rear their ugly head. Many of us are unsure if we will ever find happiness or if our inner self can ever be conquered. It makes us ask the question: how are we supposed to conquer our inner space?

​In his book The Last Supper on the Moon, Levi Lusko helps his readers discover how to conquer their inner space using surprising but insightful parallels between outer space and the moon landing in 1969. Starting with the story of astronaut Buzz Aldrin taking Holy Communion on the moon, Lusko creatively weaves a powerful connection between the mission to the moon, Christ’s death on the cross, and how Christ’s death impacts our ability to overcome our most personal struggles. Through a book of over 400 pages, Lusko takes his time driving deep into the details surrounding the moon landing, including the challenge from President Kennedy to get the moon before the end of the decade and the previous Apollo missions that enabled Apollo 11 to make its historic lunar landing. But beyond just sharing NASA history, he also takes time to examine the seven statements that Jesus made while he was on the cross as well as the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation and some of the Psalms. Tying all of it together with some powerful biblical truths and some personal illustrations from his life and family, this book provides inspiration from an unexpected source. While the trip to get to the “moon and back” is lengthier than it is for most books of this type, it is certainly a trip worth taking. If you allow yourself to take these truths to heart, you will never look at the moon the same way again.

​I also used the audiobook book while reading the print book of this title and have to say that I really enjoyed it. There are a few aspects of the audiobook that make it unique. First, they inserted actual audio recordings from different space missions as well as a few of President Kennedy’s speeches. Second, Levi Lusko’s wife Jennie reads some parts of the book, such as the “Conquer Your Inner Space” sections as well as the letters to the churches in Revelation. Lastly, there are a few places in which Lusko himself adds additional stories or context that is not seen in the print book. Although there were sections of the audiobook that didn’t match with the print book, all of the unique aspects made for a great listening experience. If you like audiobooks, this one I highly recommend.

​I was excited to hear that Levi was coming out with another book. I loved his first two books and was looking forward to reading another book by him, even though I didn’t really know much of what it was about. I pre-ordered it, but it took me a while to get around to reading it. When I finally got around to reading it, I was not disappointed. Levi’s ability to explain concepts is so easy to relate to, regardless of your season of life. I read it at a time that I really needed its message and I will always be grateful for it. Although I believe Through the Eyes of a Lion will always be my favorite book from Levi, this one is not too far behind. Like his first book, I think I will continue to refer back to this one for years to come. If you haven’t checked it out, you should ~ Bethel

So many of us today are at war with ourselves, even if we don’t realize it. We often get so stuck in our own minds and our habits, we have a hard time getting past ourselves so that we can live the lives that God intends for us to live. So many of us throw in the towel before we even acknowledge that there is a war to be fought in our hearts and minds. Some of us think that we don’t have the strength to make it through everything that we are facing. Others know that have the strength somewhere inside of them, but they are unsure of how to tap into that strength or how to direct it to win their personal battles. It makes us ask the question: how do I win the battle within myself?
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​In his book, I Declare War, author Levi Lusko uses the model of the card game War to share four keys to winning the battle within yourselves and encouraging you to allow the wolf to rise up inside of you. The first card, declaring war on what you think, helps us takes our thoughts captive so we can become a better versions of ourselves. The second card, declaring war on what you say, encourages us to talk in the victory we should be striving for. The third card, declaring war on what you do, reminds us that we need to acting in the belief that we can shape the direction of our lives by acting on what we know we should do. But the fourth card, just like in the game of War, is the most important card of all, and that is the power of the gospel at work within us. The first three card are only effective if the fourth card is in place. And once it is, you can finally unleash the wolf, the strength and courage you never knew you had, inside of you. All of this is explained with stories and insights from the author’s own life. Both practical and relevant, this book is written in an easy-to-understand tone that the audience can easily identify with, even teenagers. There is also study guide and a study DVD available for those that want to do use this book as a Bible study. This book is a great resource that I would recommend to practically anyone. Get your copy today!

​Our culture’s view of sex and romance is totally messed up, but most of us don’t realize it. We come into relationships (or lack thereof) primarily concerned about our rights and our needs. We are more concerned about being “in love” than we are about pursuing those feelings in a God-honoring way. We get caught up the conveniences of this digital day and age, even when it comes to relationships. Apps like Tinder make it possible to you to start a relationship with someone you only seen in the app with a simple swipe left of your finger. It makes it hard for us to understand and pursue a biblical understanding of sex and romance when the culture around us pretends to have the answers. It makes us ask the question: How can I prepare for the relationship I want tomorrow?

​In Levi Lusko’s book, Swipe Right, he brings a fresh biblically grounded perspective on sex and romance that can help anyone prepare for the relationships they want tomorrow, regardless of what stage of life you are currently in. With the premise of desiring to help prepare you for the relationship you are not yet in, Levi walks through many profound truths about God’s design for sexuality and how we can navigate in a society that treats sex as something digital or disposable. With relevant stories from his own life and marriage, he shares about how God’s desire to us to wait for marriage and keep sex within marriage is about wait for God best for us. He shares many familiar stories from Scripture and presents them in a modern light that is engaging and enlightening. So much truth is packed in bits and pieces throughout this book, in a style that is somewhat similar to that of author Bob Goff (author of the bestseller, Love Does).

​As a single young woman, I found this book to be extremely valuable to me, and I personally believe that this book could be of great value to anyone that is single, dating, or married. I recommend this to teens about 15 or older, as well as parents that want to find ways to explain sexuality to their children in a way that honors the Lord and helps them avoid the pitfalls of our culture. I also recommend it for anyone that read and was moved by Levi’s first book, Through the Eyes of a Lion. Although this book was written on a different topic, I believe that is an excellent companion. Get your copy today!

​Pain. Most of us think of this as an ugly word with bad connotations. No matter what type of pain (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.), we will do anything we can to avoid it. Then, when the situation comes that we are forced to face pain, we have a difficult time coping. Many will use their pain as an excuse to shut others out, especially God. Some allow the pain to consume their hearts and lives until they lose themselves to it. But no matter what type of pain or how severe it is, most everyone will face some sort of pain. The real question is how we will respond to it. The way that most people respond often leaves them in worst shape than when they started. It makes us look at the pain and suffering and ask “How am I supposed to face unbearable pain? Is there a better way to deal with it?”

​In his first book, Through the Eyes of a Lion, author Levi Lusko takes us on a powerful personal journey, and invites you to glean from the lessons he learned through his own personal tragedy – losing his 5 year old daughter Lenya to an asthma attack 5 days before Christmas in 2012. But he goes beyond just recounting the story of that horrible night or reliving the painful days that followed. He chose to use the difficulties and the pain as an opportunity to draw closer to God and find incredible power through his pain. Most people would not think of pain as having a positive power, but that is the choice Lusko has made. He refers to it as “running toward the roar.” He also helps give us a perspective that is anchored in hope, and is more focused on the things of eternity, not the problems of this world. These approaches to the concepts of pain and suffering are fresh and much needed, as everyone will inevitably face suffering at some point in their lifetime, probably several things throughout their lives.

​The honesty and vulnerability with which Lusko writes makes this one the best books I’ve read, especially on this particular subject. This book can be a powerful tool, whether you are currently facing a trial in your life, or if you want to better prepare yourself for when you do. I know that you will find inspiration and encouragement in this book if you take the opportunity to read it, so get your hands on a copy today!