Tag: Christian book reviews

Book Review: Let’s All Be Brave

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Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life With Everything You Have
by Annie Downs

With humor and vulnerability, Annie Downs tells us she isn’t particularly courageous, but she’s sharing how she learned to obey God despite being afraid in her book, Let’s All Be braveBrave.  She’s not a radical adventurer, a climb-Mt-Everest kind of girl.  I don’t get the sense that skydiving is on her bucket list.  But maybe the best part about this book is that someone who isn’t naturally brave is the one encouraging us to try it out. It’s not her natural personality or inclination.  It’s a God-thing.  And maybe bravery isn’t the same as bravado.  It’s just obeying God no matter what.

The book is an easy read because of Annie’s conversational, chatty style.  It felt mostly like a book of blog posts strung together all on one theme.  She tries to keep her audience broad, referencing the bravery it takes to be married, to have kids, etc., but the book felt suited best for older teen girls, college-age and young adult women.  It focuses a great deal on “getting by with the help of my friends.”  It could be a great source of encouragement and inspiration for young women learning to make their own decisions about life as they take  baby steps of adulthood.

She also writes some about her being single, which fills a real need in Christian books.  I’ve often been asked by Christian women if I knew any books for singles that weren’t all about how to date and prepare for marriage.  Annie really has a much-needed voice here.

I found the book organization more than a bit confusing.  The chapters begin with a date and location because Annie’s story involves leaving her hometown in Georgia, moving to Nashville, moving to Scotland, and then moving back to Nashville.  But, she doesn’t tell her story entirely in chronological order; it’s more thematic.  So, I found myself wondering, “Which time was this that she moved to Nashville?” and “is this the move to Scotland that she’s talking about or the short-term missions trip to Scotland?”  I got the sense that she’s an artistic, go-with-the-flow, creative type.  I’m more of a linear, logical kind of gal who kept wishing there was a timeline in the back of the book.

She also tends to touch lightly on Scripture.  This isn’t a Bible study, but there were times I wish it were.  As it was, I enjoyed the book, felt inspired by the book, but didn’t learn more about God or the Christian life or His Word after reading the book.  Again, though, I loved her style and enjoyed Let’s All Be Brave, and I think I’d have enjoyed it even more as a young college girl making those grown-up decisions about what to do with life and where to go.  I needed the reminder to be “brave” for the courageous things that ordinary life requires.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

 

Book Review: The Good News About Marriage

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The Good News About Marriage: Debunking Discouraging Myths about Marriage and Divorce
by Shaunti Feldhahn with Tally Whitehead

After hearing for years and years how 50% of all marriages end in divorce, I couldn’t be more pleased to read the truth in Shaunti Feldhahn’s book, The Good News About Marriage.  She delves into what the research and statistics actually say in order to uncover 5 myths about marriage and how the truth actually gives us hope.goodnewsmarriage

After all, if you only have a 50/50 chance of staying married or being happy in marriage, then whose to blame if your marriage fails?  It’s easier to give up and throw in the towel if you think you’re just one among many.

But when we realize that the statistic has never even been close to 50% of marriages ending in divorce, our outlook can change.  The truth is, most marriages last and most marriages are happy.

That doesn’t mean we don’t need to be concerned about marriage or helping those who are struggling.  It does mean, though, that we can stop making couples feel like their marriages will be hard and probably a failure.  Those couples, when they realize that most marriages last, may find that’s exactly the hope they need to stick it out and to work harder at making their own marriage a success.

Shaunti manages to make surveys, research and statistics easy to read . She highlights her big ideas well and summarizes points often so they don’t get lost in the numbers.  She really tries to balance verifying her data with not losing her audience.

Overall, this book scared me a bit because of how ‘facts’ seem to become an unstoppable force.  I’ve certainly heard countless sermons and marriage talks with the gloom and doom news about marriage.  I’ve read it in books and articles over and over.  But it’s wonderful to hear the truth and to look at marriage with renewed optimism and hope.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Middle School: The Inside Story, Book Review

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Middle School: The Inside Story: What Kids Tell Us, But Don’t Tell You
by Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna

I just finished school supply shopping for my oldest daughter as she preps for fourth grade and it hit me all over again how quickly our little ones grow.  It won’t be long before she is heading into middle school, so I figured I’d get a head start on parental preparation and read Middle School: The Inside Story. Those middle school years were certainly my toughest time growing up and I’d like to ease that stress on my daughter (and on me!!) as much as possible.middle-school-story

In this book, Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna share quotes from conversations they had with middle schoolers so you can hear their perspective on all things tween and teen.  They divide the chapters into sections on Changes (emotional, physical, etc.); Parenting issues (how to discipline, handling technology); Friends and Other Problems (like middle school dating); School (keeping up with homework, teaching more personal responsibility, working with teachers, and learning styles).

It’s an easy and insightful read with insider information about what middle schoolers are going through and what they wish parents knew but don’t always verbalize to us.   I sometimes wished the authors would tackle more in-depth discussions within this book.  It seemed like they were often referring us to other books as resources (For more information on this, you can read……).  Maybe a list of resources at the end would be helpful, but I’d prefer to have one go-to resource rather than one book that refers me to read several other books.

For me, though, the book reminded me of what it was like to be a middle schooler and maybe that’s what I really needed as a mom.  I need to remember so I can parent my own up-and-coming tween/teen better.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Finding Hope After Divorce, Book Review

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The Kay Arthur 40 Minute Bible Studies series was one of my favorite discoveries as a leader of women’s small groups. Years ago when I started a small group for women, we wanted to study God’s Word together and do so with some depth.  But we were busy.  We had young kids, jobs, ministries and more.  Many of us were already doing one or two other studies for Sunday School and other groups.findinghopeafterdivorce

That’s when we discovered the 40-minute Bible Study series, which now includes this book on Finding Hope After Divorce, as well as topics like worship, prayer, discipleship, contentment and more.  The books are written to be done during the group time together, not with homework prepared ahead of time.

Some of the ladies still did the homework in advance, preferring to take time for thought.  As the leader, I always prepared the lessons in advance, as well.  Yet, others were able to come to group, open up the book, read the passages with us and participate without difficulty.  The Scripture verses she references are printed on the side column of each page, saving us the time it takes to flip from book to book of the Bible.

I’ve never been a big fan of Kay Arthur’s style of having us circle this, put a red triangle around that, and a cross over every mention of “Jesus.”  This is probably a technique that some people love and others could do without.  When we found that those exercises didn’t do much for our group, we just adapted and spent more time on the questions themselves.  The studies were in depth, truly discussion-oriented and great for encouraging participation and Spiritual growth. In other words, a hit! For those who like the inductive exercises with colored pencils and special ways of marking the Bible, you can choose to do more of this than we did.

This particular book, Finding Hope After Divorce, could be an amazing resource for groups helping others through the pain of marital break-up.  Kay Arthur herself speaks with experience, having gone through her own divorce many years ago.  She covers topics with truth and grace, deep Bible study and deep compassion, including a discussion of emotional pain, feeling hopeless, struggling with emotions and fears, and what the future may hold.  Ultimately, she reminds those doing the study of God’s forgiveness, His peace, and His ability to restore and heal us.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Courageous Gentleness, Book Review

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I loved the slightly unexpected nature of the title for Mary Ann Froehlich’s new book, Courageous Gentleness.  In a modern world like ours, where we marvel at the brazen, the bold, the loud and powerful, her book encourages us to prize, treasure, and pursue the spiritual fruit of gentleness.courageousgentleness

The book is filled with Scripture and each chapter concludes with a few questions of “Personal Retreat” to guide the reader into deeper reflection and personal application.  At under 200 pages, the book is short, easy to read, but thought-provoking.

She begins with a chapter that asks, “Is Gentleness for Wimps?” Then she follows with chapters on the gentleness of God, of Jesus, and of Christians, as well as chapters on practicing aspects of gentleness such as humility, self-control, communication, patience, and more.   Biblical gentleness, she argues, isn’t being weak or wimpy.  It’s more like a powerhouse of meekness.

So often we excuse our lack of gentleness by saying, “Well, that’s just not me.  I’m outspoken.  That’s who I am.”  But the Bible is clear when it says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”  We are all to practice gentleness.  It’s a marker of our faith and a sign of the Holy Spirit at work within us.  It’s supposed to be part of our Christian testimony, drawing others to know Jesus.

I love that Mary Ann Froehlich emphasize that gentleness is a trait we practice by disciplining our tongues and taking time to craft responses to others.  It may not be our natural bent, but it’s part of our Christian calling. As she writes, ‘gentleness is not simply a quality, trait, behavior, or characteristic.  It is a choice.”

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, Book Review

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The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages
by Shaunti Feldhahn

In her new book, The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages, Shaunti Feldhahn shares what she’s discovered from her latest research on what helps marriages thrive.  She found that lots of couples focus on what they consider the “big things” like ‘communication,’ but that can’t really identify whasurprising-secrets-concept-1-v2bt that means or what it looks like.  Yet, really there are a few small habits, actions, and behaviors that the most happily married couples had in common.

Some of these little secrets might be no secret to you, like spending time together.  Others might be more surprising, like the fact that highly happy married couples sometimes leave a conflict for another day rather than trying to hash it before bed no matter how physically tired and emotionally depleted they are.

She also emphasizes at the end of the book that no one should tackle all these tips at once.  It’s too easy to get overwhelmed, forget, or just give up.  Instead, choose one or two focal points and work on those.  Even if one partner chooses to change, she argues, most marriages will benefit from these practices.

The book moves quickly and is easy to read.  Ultimately, the emphasis is on kindness and commitment, two marriage tips we might all agree on, but fail to really practice in our own homes with our own spouses.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

Spoken For, Book Review

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Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are
by Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke

Robin Jones Gunn and Alyssa Joy Bethke have tapped into one of the great needs in the heart of most women—to be loved.  They’ve written this book, Spoken For, all about the divine romance, the way God loves us, pursues us, and calls us His own.spokenfor

The book is an extremely easy read.  I read it in a quick afternoon.  Each chapter generally starts with them taking turns telling part of their own love stories (dating, engagement, wedding day) and then relates that to how God loves us with a few Scripture verses.  They conclude each chapter with about five questions for further discussion.

This is not a Bible study.  The discussions stay fairly superficial and while it may work well for a book club, I wouldn’t choose to use it for my next women’s Bible study book.  It would be a great fit however, for a high school or college small group for women or even for women who haven’t been Christians long and need to discover their identity in Christ.  The book is also a sweet encouragement of our position in Christ for any Christian woman who struggles with feeling unloved.

I’m not a particularly emotional, romance-loving, wedding-show-watching woman.  I don’t care for most ‘chick flicks’ and didn’t start planning my wedding in high school.  I didn’t dream about ‘the perfect proposal’ and I don’t read romance novels or watch the Hallmark channel.  If you do, you’ll love this book!  But it kind of emphasized emotions and tendencies that just aren’t me.  That isn’t at all meant to take away from this book’s best audience or purpose.  As a straightforward encouragement that God loves you, this book is lovely—simple and sweet and true.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”

 

God is JUST Not Fair, Book Review

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God is Just Not Fair, Finding Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
by Jennifer Rothschild

Jennifer Rothschild tackles the hard questions in her book, God is Just Not Fair, and it’s a beautifully vulnerable and powerful read.  Blind at the age of 15, she’s no stranger to struggles and the need to overcome.  But at age 40, she faced a bout of depression that challenged her faith in a new way.  So she writes about doubting God–His existence, His presence, and His love– from a personal and Scriptural perspective and tells about how God walked her through that season of a new kind of darkness.Godisnotfair

The book is divided into six main parts, each covering a different question like: Are you fair, do you err, do you hear prayer, do you care, are you aware, and are you there?  Each section is further divided into short, easy-to-read chapters.

In the tradition of David, Asaph, Job, Habakkuk and others in Scripture, she is willing to be honest about how life is hard sometimes and it’s difficult to have that faith and trust God despite the circumstances.  It’s not easy to cling to the truth of God’s Word.  But the title of the book itself is powerful.  No, God isn’t “fair,” not in the way we usually mean that.  We think that means that God has to treat us all the same.  After all, if God were “Fair,” we’d receive the punishment and judgment we really deserve instead of His amazing grace.  Instead of being “fair,” God is “Just.”  He is right and true and always brings beauty out of the dustiest pile of ashes.

She covered many of the most-beloved and well-worn Biblical accounts in this book, but even the long-term Christians will probably learn something new.  I did!

One of my favorite sections of the book was her story of being the guest speaker at a church that taught that everyone who has faith gets healed, and Christians are all blessed and happy all the time and if they aren’t, something is wrong with them.  She spoke the truth they didn’t want to hear, but that Jesus Himself told us, “In this world, you will have trouble…but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and 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.”