Loved the book and recommended it to my husband, who doesn't read many books. He was captivated by it - read parts of it several times - and has shared the book with several friends.

This was a very powerful book about the impact one life can have and about the power of faith in God. I am not a football fan, but found so many great lessons in this book. I would highly recommend it to others.

The Sacred Acre: The Ed Thomas Story is written by Mark Tabb with the Ed Thomas Family. Ed Thomas was a man who love the Lord Jesus Christ and his family. Ed was a man who lived what he believed and made an incredibly impact on his family, his community and in his career as both an athletic director and high school football coach. Early one morning while helping out his football team with weight training Ed was gunned down by one of his former players who had mental issues and who apparently had issues with Ed.

As I read this story I was struck with the forthrightness of the authors about Ed's life and the impact his life made on authors. Many people wonder why bad things happen to good people, and what purpose they serve. The Ed Thomas story does not seek to answer these questions but to demonstrate what a life lived well on mission for God looks like, and the impact such a life can have on others.

As I finished the book, I prayed the Lord would raise up more men like Ed. Sacred Acre is a story that will pull at your heart strings. It is the story not only of a man who loved God, but also loved Christ's Church. Ed faithfully served as an elder at his local church for thirty plus years. The key to Ed making an impact in his community was his being grounded in the Word of God and prayer, which the family notes he did everyday. Ed modeled what he believed in and proclaimed it without fear or trembling.

The message of Ed's life should be the message of every believer's life that adversity in life reveals our character. Adversity Ed taught gives us the opportunity like nothing else to show what kind of person we are. I believe Ed's story will resonate with many as it did with me. Everyone goes through hard times but it is how we face those hard times that reveal who we are and what we stand for. I encourage you to pick up Sacred Acre and be challenged by the life of Ed Thomas who lived his life on mission, for God, His kingdom, and His Gospel.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their Blogger Review 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

This true story was inspirational and meaninful. Being a woman with little interest in football, I purchased the book because it was a true story from the Midwest. I was not disappointed. I read it in three sessions, as it was quite a well- written page turner.

I'm from Iowa, so I was somewhat familiar with the story, but this well-written book was interesting and inspiring! It's definitely worth reading!