Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal

Back Cover:
"This message of God-defined sexuality is one every woman needs."--Dannah Gresh, author of And the Bride Wore White

For the modern Christian woman, embracing God's design for sexuality can often feel like an impossible pursuit. As the culture around us seeks to normalize things such as lust, pornography, erotica, and casual sex, you may be feeling immense pressure to conform. In this relatable and encouraging book, Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal share honestly about their own struggles and victories and dig into topics such as

· how your longings for intimacy point to a deeper need
· why God's original design for love, passion, and sex is good
· how to deal with secret sexual struggles
· and much more

Kristen and Bethany invite you on a personal journey to discover and reclaim a biblical vision for your sexuality--one that is good and relevant and will lead you toward true hope and lasting freedom.

"In a world riddled with sexual confusion, brokenness, and pain, I rejoice that voices like Kristen's and Bethany's are helping young women find their way--His way--and pointing them to the redeeming love and grace of Christ."--Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author; teacher/host of Revive Our Hearts

This is Kristen and Bethany's newest (and third) book. Their first book, Girl Defined, dealt with God's design for women and topics such as beauty, self-worth, and femininity. I haven't read their second book, Love Defined, yet, but I hope to soon! I remember seeing the contents page from a couple people who were on this books release team and wondering how Kristen and Bethany would tackle these topics. I also remember hearing a few people shocked just from reading the table of contents. However, fear not. There is nothing too explicit or too detailed, and younger to older teens can safely read this. 

I appreciated the beginning chapters on our broken sexuality and our design especially. Both girls write honestly about their childhood upbringing and how that influenced their thought processes. They begin with the foundation that we are all sexually broken and discuss how they first began to understand the longings of their own hearts. They describe why they wrote this book and how we need to embrace sexuality as it is given by God with passion and purity. 

Society, and especially Christian circles, it seems, tend to view lust as a guy's problem. But it's not just that. Women also struggle with it just as much. It's just not talked about. But Kristen and Bethany bring that to light and share testimonies of women who decided to break that stronghold sin pattern in their life and seek help. They also bring to light what sex is, who it's meant for, and how it's a beautiful picture of what God intends for a husband and wife to enjoy. 

While this book is detailed regarding the biblical ways that sex should be viewed, I did find that it didn't define many of the struggles that girls face. There were topics discussed that I felt should have been defined rather than assuming that everyone knows what they are. However, Kristen and Bethany also provide many quotes from well-known speakers and authors which I found helpful and beautiful to read. Sometimes paraphrasing and citing just doesn't convey the same thought as another's words. 

This book includes discussion questions, helpful thoughts for singles, and an appendix regarding healing from sexual abuse. I believe this book is a gentle introduction to topics that need to be discussed, but not completely helpful in that many terms and issues aren't defined, but just generally talked about. It's a book of encouragement and testimony to those who have found victory over sin and healing in the present. Kristen and Bethany present the glory of our sexuality as our Creator intends it to be. 

*I was given this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. 

Assured by Greg Gilbert

From Amazon:

Despite our professions of belief, our baptisms, and our membership in the church, many of us secretly wonder, Am I truly saved? We worry that our love for Jesus isn't fervent enough (or isn't as fervent as someone else's). We worry that our faith isn't strong enough. We struggle through the continuing presence of sin in our lives. All this steals the joy of our salvation and can lead us into a life characterized by legalism, perfectionism, and works righteousness--the very life Jesus freed us from at the cross!

But Greg Gilbert has a message for the anxious believer--be assured. Assured that your salvation experience was real. Assured that your sins--past, present, and future--are forgiven. Assured that everyone stumbles. Assured that Jesus is not your judge but your advocate. With deep compassion, Gilbert comforts readers, encouraging them to release their guilt, shame, and anxiety to rejoice in and follow hard after the One who set them free.

Most believers will struggle with assurance during their journey as a Christian. Whether that doubt is self-inflicted or forced on them by circumstances or others' opinions, it's important that we know how to combat that doubt with the words of Scripture. Gilbert subtitles this book "Discover grace, let go of guilt, and rest in your salvation", and his first three chapters deal with the three main sources of assurance. These three sources don't save us, but if we are trusting in the cross of Christ, then we will find confidence in our salvation or conviction of our sin (if we are not saved).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the first source: because of Jesus, we have assurance and confidence that we are permitted to stand before God's throne. Because of a works' based society and mindset, we tend to believe that we must prove our righteousness or make ourselves sinless for the moment that we enter God's presence. But not so..."our confidence that we belong in the presence of God is not self-confidence; it's Christ-confidence." Interestingly, Gilbert also notes that we must understand the complete bleakness and hopelessness of our own lives because of our sin. Knowing this leads us to realize that there is absolutely nothing we could do to even pretend to be righteous for a small amount of time and "earn" entrance to God. However, in Jesus, we have complete, unhindered, unlimited, access to the throne of God because He never failed. That is where our assurance and rest comes from. "...what the Bible actually teaches is that true assurance grows from an abject realization of our hopelessness. Why? Because that hopelessness drives us to Jesus, who is infinitely trustworthy and therefore a solid foundation for assurance."

The second driving source of assurance is the promises of Christ. Sometimes we tend to make salvation and belief something harder than what Jesus offers to us. We believe our faith isn't strong enough, or our doubt is too strong. But that ends up turning faith into something that we muster up on our own, something that we ultimately make and provide. That's not the faith God gives. His promises of assurance in His word span eternity past and future. We will never have faith that is good enough or worthy enough. We will never bring something to the table that is more than what God expects, and despite the fact that we're broken people, God promises rest to the unfailing, unfaithful, and hurting and holds His promises as sure and steadfast because of His perfect Son.

The third supernatural assurance of salvation is that of the Spirit's witness in us. I appreciate how Gilbert talks about this. Sometimes people can mention the Spirit and His work in us as something abstract or something we can't grasp. Or just something silly altogether. But Gilbert takes us to Scripture, showing us that during our silent whispers of fear and dread, the Spirit inside us flashes the "Abba! Father!" into our hearts taking hold and reminding us that He stands before God and claims us as a child of God. Gilbert mentions that the Spirit isn't something special given more to some than others at the time of salvation. It's something each Christian has at the moment of salvation, and you have it all. Every bit and completely whole. If you don't have His Spirit, you are not of the kingdom of God. I loved how Gilbert also mentioned the times when it seems like the Spirit is silent or gone, and in those times it should spur us to seek the promises of God in Scripture for purposeful gospel study. He also says that these three sources of assurance, are on an equal level. They work together to provide an unconditional foundation for the believer.

Gilbert uses the last half of this book to discuss the lies of assurance, fruits of obedience, good works (and how people misuse them), besetting sins, and the perseverance of the saints in seeking assurance. I found the chapters on obedience and good works most helpful because people tend to teach and believe that our good works demonstrate our salvation. They do, but not in the sense that they keep us saved (or save us in, the first place). Our good works flow from a grateful heart for salvation. He also talks about the passages in Scripture which lists many grievous sins and how those are meant to assure us that we are not continually walking in them which confirms our salvation. His explanation of 1 John and how to read that book with the eyes of a believer was very encouraging as well. It is not meant to make Christians doubt their salvation. It is meant to help us know that we are already saved--that was John's purpose in writing.

"Besides, the very mark of a Christian with regard to sin is that they will keep fighting, keep wrestling and striving, keep running the race set before them. And that's exactly what you're doing. Listen, your battle with sin will not last forever, and the Bible's promise is that you will outlast your sin. You will live to see it pulled from your heart by the roots and vanquished. It will take its last breath as you take your first in the bright air of eternity. Live and fight and trust Christ for that day." -Greg Gilbert, Assured, pg. 135

*I was given this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review. 

It's Okay Not to Be Okay by Sheila Walsh

From Amazon: 
We've all experienced that moment where we wish we could start all over again. Failed marriages, lost friends, addictions, lost jobs. This is not the life we imagined. Yesterday can sometimes leave us stuck, sad, shamed, scared, and searching. Sheila Walsh encourages readers to face the pain head on and then start again, from right where they are. She shares that when she discovered "I'm not good enough and I'm good with that," everything started to change.

In It's Okay Not to Be Okay, Walsh helps women overcome the same old rut of struggles and pain by changing the way they think about God, themselves, and their everyday lives. She shares practical, doable, daily strategies that will help women move forward one step at a time knowing God will never let them down.

The term "self-help" isn't one I like to use. While I understand the label and what it's meant to imply, I think it gives a wrong approach when Christians use it. Not everything in life is about "self"; in fact, our lives were meant to point to a Creator, and when the term "self-help" is used, it points to us instead. So when I saw the first line on the back of Sheila Walsh's book I was happy. Not self-help. God help.* God is help and He gives that help to us. 

This is probably the latest book review I've ever done. I try to be on time, but this wasn't a book I could just sit down and read through--even when I wanted to catch up. Walsh's words make you think and each chapter has several quotes pulled out from her writing and made into a page of their own. Each chapter also has questions and ideas for reflection at the end. 

Chapter one starts out by showing us that while it's okay for us not to be okay, we never should stop there. There are steps to moving forward and sometimes we need motivation and a reason to take that first step. Usually that means being willing to admit the truth about yourself, your situation, and God. She talks about the questions that consume our mind during struggles and how we can change the way we think, but first we have to know that we're stuck and needing help. God is in the business of changing lives and creating something beautiful out of brokenness, but we have to be willing to admit our hurt and understand that change happens through God's strength. One of the reasons that it's okay not to be okay, is that Jesus has made us right with God no matter what goes on around us. 

Only an internal transformation will truly change external behavior. Every battle begins in our minds, not with our behavior. We can behave a certain way and remain unchanged. If we want to change how we act, we have to change how we think. 

Sheila Walsh talks about the "what ifs" that plague our minds and tells us to do things afraid, even when you don't have all the answers. Sometimes you just don't know until you do something. And sometimes even when we step out in faith it seems like God doesn't meet us there. But it's when we reach the end of ourselves that God is able to transform our hearts and minds and allow His truth to be louder than our fears.

Walsh uses the life example of Joseph for chapter five when she discusses that we have to let go of what we can't control. We (often) perceive things in different ways than God does, so then we end up not seeing the complete picture as God plans our lives. While man may create devastation around us, God intends all things to be used for our good, and resting in that fact can give us the grace to rise above our disappointments. When we can understand fully that we are completely not enough in any way for anything, Jesus takes what we can give, and provides the rest through grace in the moment. Even when dreams are deferred, the hope we have in God will ultimately not disappoint us.

Sheila talks about how we view the scars that this world gives us. Some are invisible; others are obvious. But through obedience and the grace of Jesus, we can face the past and go on with grace, choosing to view those scars in light of God's mercy and our willingness to get up again and go on one more time. We are free in Christ, and we don't need to hide who we are or how God fashioned us. We aren't supposed to be bound by the labels that society gives us. We are real, but we're all broken, and understanding that Christ is the hero of our stories allows us to be human.

We can't be perfect. We shouldn't stay where we are. We are broken, and we will need healing again and again, but Jesus is our redemption and He makes us whole again. When we can set aside the judgment of the people around us and realize that in Christ we are justified, then we are free to love with abandon. Nothing separates us from that love, and that gives us the strength and courage to get up over and over and move forward--even when we're not okay.

You are not what happened to you. You are a child of God.

*italicized words are quoted from It's Okay Not to Be Okay
*This book was provided free from Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.

The Return by Lacey Sturm

Back Cover: 
Have you ever asked yourself, "What's the point?" of this life. Of the same everydayness that can weigh on us. Is life really a gift from a loving God? If so, shouldn't our souls burn to love him back with our lives? What does that look like? 

In The Return, bestselling author Lacey Sturm offers a collection of thoughts on how Jesus helps us see the world with new eyes and makes the mundane things in life beautiful. It's a guidebook from a fellow traveler on how grace helps us--to overcome darkness, to release our empty rituals, to shine with his light. Not so God will love us more but because we long to love him back. And a life lived loving God back is a life that shines with heaven's glory. 

Are you striving to make life happen? Waiting to get to the real purpose of it all? Coasting in limbo or heading down the wrong path? Then may this openhearted take on responding to God's love give you hope and direction. 

This book is a mixture of art, stories, journaling, song-writing, poems, and thoughts. As one who journals frequently, I loved reading through Lacey's prayers, songs, and thoughts as she grew in her responses to God's love for her. Throughout the book's chapters you'll find two pages alongside one another that record a short personal Bible study, a prayer, a to-do list (or RAK: random acts of kindness), a new song, a recipe, and the evening Bible reading.

I love the practical way Lacey writes and records her thoughts. They stem from a solid foundation of Scripture and thought-patterns, so I would only recommend this to a mature believer. She doesn't necessarily include Scripture references for all her thoughts, and if taken too far, one could reach conclusions that she never meant.

Her past is a story of redemption, and she references it here and there throughout her mental and written journey. She has learned to live in worship, and she was born to sing and worship through it. Some find their strength in prayer or Scripture reading or meditation, but it seems like Lacey finds it through singing and composing music.

Lacey's chapters cover all parts of life including plans, opportunities, sacrifices, works, judgments, hospitality, and her body (to name a few). Each of these she writes about whether song, story, poem, or diary form and gently shares her personal thoughts and journey as she returns each of these parts of life to the Lord. It's a book about surrender really. How to return our bodies, thoughts, emotions, and actions to the Lord instead of hoping for the best or following rules to achieve what we want. It's about dealing with sin in the love of Jesus--not lingering in it because of the passion and communion we share in the Lord. It's about seeing grace and mercy--because it was first shown us at the cross. It's about making our lives shine with the glory of the Trinity.

While I thought some parts were more emotional and leaned toward the charismatic side of our faith, I could not find error in it, though I may not have the same practical lifestyle. I love Lacey's heart for the Lord and if we could all be in her place in her journey, perhaps we would love the Lord more and fellowship better.

The Girls' Guide to Conquering Life by Erica and Jonathan Catherman

From Amazon: 
There's a lot a girl needs to know as she grows up and makes her way in the world. Having a reference guide of practical how-to life skills and character traits can empower her to become a confident and capable woman. Coauthors Erica and Jonathan Catherman offer this collection of step-by-step instructions on 100 things girls need to succeed, including how to
- introduce yourself
- change a flat tire
- respectfully break up with a guy
- leave a tip
- apply for a job
- ask for a promotion
- behave during a police stop
- create a personal budget
- calculate square footage
- wash your face
- clear a clogged drain
- iron a shirt
- wear a scarf
- shoot a basketball
- sharpen kitchen knives
- and much more

In fact, if it's in here, it's an important skill or character trait practiced by capable and confident women. With great illustrations and sidebars of advice from world-class experts, this all-in-one reference tool for young women in the making is the perfect gift for birthdays, graduations, or any occasion.

I remember requesting this book while waiting in the barn at the farm where I work. I thought it would be neat to see how an author would break down different life skills into smaller steps. The Catherman husband and wife team cover many aspects of life in their chapters. Each chapter begins with a page long introduction on the topic. The authors are straight-forward and encouraging in their approaches to varying life skills, and while I loved their honesty, I was a bit bothered by the fact that their guidelines and points of view were merely backed by the idea of "being a strong woman". While I am completely for the equality of value in men and woman as humans created in the image of God, I can't seem to find a biblical backing for some of the statements Erica and Jonathan present. I love how they desire to instill leadership skills and empower the next generation to live well, but they do seem to root much of their thinking in feminism. (While I understand that non-Christian authors will write from a non-biblical point of view, I was quite surprised to see it published under a typically Christian publisher. I do not necessarily takes issues with reading specifically non-Christian material in and of itself.)

Some of their relationship styles may not be to everyone's taste, but I believe the underlying principles are generally helpful. Whether or not you'd invite a guy on a "date" or choose to use a credit card or decide to swing a golf club in your free time is up to you. Either way the basic instructions for a variety of life skills is laid out step by step. Some of these instructions could have greatly benefited from picture illustrations (ie: gift wrapping, budgeting, ironing a shirt, etc.). While detailed writing instructions are good, there were times when the task itself was quite a bit easier than attempting to understand the picture-less directions.

All that said, I think this book would be helpful for pre-teens and young teenagers. I think most of the topics in this book are covered by many families when raising their children (and most are simply common sense), but it's always good to hear a review of them and have a list of directions nearby. Plus you might learn a couple new things as well.


*I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. 

Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom

Back of Book:
Sex. In a world overwhelmingly obsessed with it, why is the church so silent about it? While our secular culture twists, perverts, cheapens, and idolizes sex, there are gaping holes in the church's guidance of young people. The result is generations of sexually illiterate people drowning in the repercussions of overwhelming sin struggles.

Enough is enough, says Mo Isom. With raw vulnerability and a bold spirit, she shares her own sexual testimony, opening up the conversation about misguided rule-following, virginity, temptation, porn, promiscuity, false sex-pectations, sex in marriage, and more and calling readers back to God's original design for sex--a way to worship and glorify him. This book is for the young person tangled up in an addiction to pornography, for the girlfriend feeling pressured to go further, for the "good girl" who followed the rules and saved herself for marriage and then was confused and disappointed, for the married couple who use sex as a bargaining tool, for every person who casually watches sex play out in TV and movies and wonders why they're dissatisfied with the real thing, and for every confused or hurting person in-between.

Sex was God's idea. It's time we invited him back into the bedroom.

Sometimes I request books for review simply because I know they're written on controversial topics and I want to see where the author is coming from. This author writes from deep personal experiences, past and present. It's an easy-to-read style, and while the material is thoughtful and challenging, it's not difficult to understand.

Mo Isom introduces the book by discussing that sex isn't a topic discussed much in churches. While the culture around us revels in sexual immorality and makes cheap sexual comments every other sentence, the church is largely silent on the issue. Not because we want to live like society around us, but because leaders don't know how to preach guidelines without preaching legalism, or because they don't know that boundaries can be set without harming the hurting or guilty.

Isom wants to speak up for those who are struggling sexually, but also to point out to believers world-wide that sex is a God-glorifying act without the sanctity of marriage. Not something to be shunned or embarrassed by just because our culture desecrates it. Isom willingly admits that she doesn't have all the answers, but from experiences she is able to trace the pathway to godly sexual identity and share her testimony as it led her from perversion and pain to purpose and purity.

Because of the details and topics addressed, I would recommend this for mature thinkers, and not for children. Isom begins at the root of what sex is and what God meant it to be while including personal stories and moments, as well as statistics and data where helpful. She helps us to understand that purity isn't simply virginity, and that even those who are not sexually pure can find their purity in Christ. She discusses the downfalls of her upbringing in that many churches and families assume that covering the basics and laying the foundation for purity is enough and that once you're married everything will fall into place perfectly. However, they didn't cover topics for those who have "messed up" or for those who are married and continually feel guilty for the intimacy they rightly share with a spouse when all their life they've been taught to hold back those feelings.

Isom covers pornography and it's addiction and results in our personal lives as well as sharing her experiences when she finally understood purity and the mercy of God. She realized her identity was in Christ and that the satisfaction she received from sex was temporary and cheap.

It was interesting to see the connections between the foundation for this book and a book I recently finished Beloved Mess. Kimm Crandell (author of Beloved Mess) and Mo Isom continually lace their words with where our identity and purpose are found. That we are known, seen, purposed, loved, and designed by a King. This is where our identity comes from, and once we have grasped this knowledge we begin to live in the grace of God and the purposefulness of our sexuality and spirituality. Isom also covers topics just as healing from sexual sin, her personal story of fasting from intimacy, and unrealistic expectations in the married life. She ends the book once again focusing on the Scriptural fact that sex is not a sin (though people use it to sin), but rather an act of worship when expressed in the right context. It's something we should learn to delight in and see as a gift from God. It requires self-control and surrender and submission to one another, but it's powerful, purposeful, and pure in its design.

Whether or not you've been trapped by the lies of sex, this book is a refreshing testimony of redemption through intimacy. Ultimately though we may have suffered from the hands of our church, family, or society, sexual struggles result from within. Mo Isom shows how even the deepest, most secret sins can find light, purity, and redemption when laid at Jesus' feet.



*I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

On Pills and Needles by Rick Van Warner

Back Cover:

How could this have happened? How could this sixteen-year-old, who less than a week earlier had left home on a typical Friday morning for school, now be flirting with death by overdose?

When Rick Van Warner found himself searching abandoned buildings for his missing son, he had no idea that the synthetic, pill-form heroin that had snared his teen was already killing so many. In the years of pain and heartache that followed as he tried to save his son from addiction, Van Warner discovered what the public has just recently become aware of: prescription opioids are so addictive that even short-term use can create dependency, igniting an epidemic that now claims nearly 100 American lives each day.

On Pills and Needles is one family's story, but it is also a wake-up call and crash course in opioid addiction. Through his harrowing personal journey, Van Warner exposes the common causes of opioid addiction, effective and ineffective ways it has been treated, and how families can walk alongside loved ones who are dealing with the daily agony of addiction.

I took a course on Substance Abuse for my BA, and my counseling courses also dealt a bit with drug abuse as well. But I never got the chance to see inside a family life that was plagued by the recurrence of drugs. We hear of the fatality rate from drugs. We see statistics and rehab programs. Maybe we even see the victims on the sidewalks. 

But until we enter their world, we don't know. 

Rick Van Warner writes honestly through the struggles of drug abuse in his son, Tommy. He recognizes his failings, but learns not to succumb to guilt of them. He learns boundaries, and sees the wisdom of his younger children. He hears wisdom and opinions, and because of or in spite of them he doesn't give up on his child. 

I learned a little more about opioids than I thought I would. How national death statistics can be the result of Big Pharma and marketing skills. How rehab fails. How each victim's rehab may be different than the last person. How parents and siblings cope. How mental breakdowns can cause physical addictions. How it's not always the person's fault for addiction, but also that they choose to fight it or not. How sometimes family relationships can be the only cause of healing. 

I don't agree with all their family lifestyle choices, and I would have liked to hear about church involvement or support for Rick, Tommy, and their family if there was any. They do profess to be Christians, and Rick does mention that Tommy seemed to lack the awareness and stability of knowing there was a high spiritual power, but I didn't see their faith playing a main role in their challenges. 

I loved reading the scenes where family members specifically chose to reach out to one another. This broke through Tommy's mental instability and gave him encouragement and a reason to keep on fighting. His dad begins to approach him in a way that he was lacking and needing before and Tommy ultimately finds freedom because his dad doesn't give up. There were many let downs and set backs. Never knowing if the ninth rehab program would work. Never knowing if you could trust Tommy. Never knowing if he was coming back in a couple hours or a couple days. Never knowing if you were seeing him for the last time. But they fought and helped Tommy fight. They took risks and decided that they were worth it if unconditional love was the basis for their actions. 

If you want something to read about, or another world to enter, or if you need a reason to be passionate or show compassion for the victims of drug use and abuse, then read this book. (Recommended for 18 and older.)

*I was given a free copy of this book from Baker Books Publishing. This review is my honest opinion and I was not required to write a positive review. 

The Trust Protocol by Mac Richard

From Amazon:
Trust makes everything better. It's the glue that binds people together. From our families and friendships to our companies and communities, we know that trust is the fuel that drives long-term success and impact. But we also know what betrayal feels like. We know that trust is a fragile, vulnerable gift that can be abused, broken, and exploited with devastating consequences.

In The Trust Protocol, Mac Richard challenges conventional wisdom with biblical insights, humor, and passion as he explains how to

· process the pain of betrayal
· prioritize relationships and work
· discern who to trust
· decide when and how to move on
· deploy trust in even the harshest environments
· develop active integrity

The Trust Protocol provides a clear path not just to manage these tensions but to embrace them in order to experience the genuine connectedness and effectiveness we're created for.

Before I started this review I scanned the last two chapters and the table of contents again to refresh my memory. I was surprised to find that I could remember at least one example or story from each of the chapters just by reading the title again. Mac Richard writes in a compelling informal lecture style, as if you were sitting there at a coffee table with him and he's sharing his passion with you. The Trust Protocol opens with a catching Forward and a heart-warming Acknowledgements. In contrast, the Introduction recaps a mind-blowing account of deceit and lies...all in preparation for chapter one. The trust protocol can't be defined in one single definition (which is why a whole book was written ;), but Richard tells us three things right off the bat: it works, it's hard work, and it will get messy. Oh, and a fourth, it's "absolutely worth it".

He takes us in the next few chapters through his own life examples or accounts of friends, coworkers, or other acquaintances, and shows us how relationships and trust go together. How a specific set of behaviors, actions, and thoughts, lead to a certain result. "The more trust you build, the more influence you have." Many people have asked "why" regarding some situation in their life, and Richard shows us how our blind spots and Scripture and counsel lead us to a place where we come to our knees in worship.

He talks about accountability, pain, (the gift of) betrayal, and responsibility. One section I found most helpful was the latter on responsibility. Some of us tend to take responsibility for things we shouldn't: all of the problem, blame for things we didn't say (or could have said), and other people's choices. Speaking the truth, along with the section on grace and truth at the end of the book were also helpful in clarifying concepts that society in general and Christian circles like to redefine subconsciously, leading us to wrong ways of dealing with people. The chapter "How Many Can You Do When You're Tired?" reinforces the principle of grit, tenacity, and perseverance when relationships get tough. Richard uses Daniel as an example of his GRIT acronym (God-honoring, relentless, intentional, tenacity). And Richard also brings us the sense of community in chapter ten, while he exhorts us to unswervingly hold to the hope we possess--"no matter what".

He concludes this book with a chapter on Staying Power. Not the power to stay, but the power that comes from staying. It's powerful enough to survive suffering, pain, betrayal, and anything else that the real world might throw at you. The Trust Protocol works because it's a part of God's nature, and when we live life the way God intended us to, it works.

"The power of the Trust Protocol--credibility forged through integrity and action--grows through struggle. Rather than being stifled or stymied in challenging situations and environments, relationships grow deeper and get stronger when they're tested and survive to thrive. Every time."




*I received this book free from Baker Books Publishing. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman

Back Cover:
No sin is so great, no bitterness so deep that God's grace cannot transform the heart and rewrite the story. But grace is so hard for us to understand.

It doesn't make sense.
It's not fair.
It can't possibly cover over what I've done.

Perhaps nothing is as difficult to explain as God's grace. The best way--perhaps the only real way--to understand it is to experience it.

In Grace is Greater, bestselling author and pastor Kyle Idleman leads us past our hang-ups toward an understanding of grace that is bigger than our mistakes, our faiulures, our desire for revenge, and our seemingly impossible situations. Through powerful stories of grace experience, this book will help you truly grasp God's grace...even if the Christians around you have failed to live it.

I requested this book back in February when it was being released, but it ended up somewhere in the mailing system and I didn't receive it. I requested it again because I really wanted to read it and to make a longer story short, I ended up with two copies. Needless to say, one will be a gift for someone. ;)

The news of the bestselling author of Not a Fan spread widely when it was released, and I read and heard smatterings of people's opinions of the book. Other than that, Kyle Idleman was an unknown author to me. And because I sense that the concept of grace (after salvation) is an infrequent one among conservative Christian circles, I needed another reminder of it.

As the subtitle suggests, Idleman writes on "God's plan to overcome your past, redeem your pain, and rewrite your story". This is a big topic, and while not exhaustive, his Biblical details and experiences demonstrate that he has been shown how grace works through his own life. I love his chapter titles and how they contrast two character traits "More Forgiving Than Your Guilt" and "More Beautiful Than Your Brokenness", being the first two. Idleman writes in an informal lecture style and sets apart important quotes every couple of pages.

My favorite chapters dealt with grace and mistakes, brokenness, and regrets. Reading this book reminded me of when I read through Future Grace by John Piper, and while not as extensive, the content was encouraging. Idleman deals with other such topics as remorse, repentance, communities (of grace), forgiveness, obedience, repression, vengeance, gratefulness, and so much more. All backed by Scripture, personal examples, or testimonies of others who have lived, given, and received grace.

Idleman shows us how grace is greater, and how we all need it. He defines grace, explains its purpose, demonstrates its necessity, and gives grace through his writing. Grace isn't something we pay for, earn, hold back from others, or just forget about. We may not ever see examples of it around us, but we have a God of grace who daily showers us with it. We receive grace without asking, but for it to truly be grace received, it must be grace shared.

Favorite Quotes

Grace is only grace if it goes both ways. Receiving it from God but refusing to give it to others isn't an option.

//

People who repress resentment over hurts they've received tend to see everything through a negative lens.

//

...ultimately what matters most, what people need most, is God's forgiveness, not ours.

//

God's power is attracted to weakness. His grace comes running to those in need.

//

When a story has been spoiled, it's easier to follow and understand. We lose some of the suspense, but perhaps knowing how it will end allows us to not just endure the journey, but actually enjoy it.

//

God is good. Grace is greater. 

*I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Between Heaven and the Real World

Back Cover:
For decades, Steven Curtis Chapman's music and message have brought hope and inspiration to millions . Now, for the first time, Steven openly shares the experiences that have shaped him, his faith, his family, and his music in a life that has included incredible highs and faith-shaking lows.

Discover the stories behind some of his best-loved songs. Walk with him as he and his wife, Mary Beth, navigate the joys and trials of marriage and family. Cheer for his return to the stage after doubting that he culd ever sing again. and SEE God in the aftermath of the tragic death of their five-year-old daughter Maria.

Poignant, gut-wrenchingly honest, yet always hopeful, Steven offers no sugary solutions to life's toughest questions. Yet out of the brokenness, he continues to trust God to one day fix what is unfixable in the space between heaven and the real world.

I don't remember the first time that I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's music, but I remember that one of the first few songs I heard was "Glorious Unfolding". I remember that the words rang deeply with what ever Christian hopes for--a "happily ever after" ending. And while no one ever experiences that completely, there is a taste of it here on earth.  Chapman sung that while our story is important, it's only a shadow of the glory that is to come. He gives hope for the current "story" we're living, but points to the future hope of a new heaven and new earth. Listening now to his music, I recall that there wasn't anything specifically impressive about his voice, but it was the message of truth in each line of his songs that remained with me. "Take Another Step" and "Finish What He Started" were two others I remember because of the biblical truth and relevance to life's paths. God's promises in keeping us secure and giving us strength, but also our responsibility to keep going even when we feel like we can't. 

So after knowing that Chapman produced theologically rich songs, I checked out his book to review after it was published. I didn't know much about his or his family's life, but reading through his story, I think I know a little more. ;) He begins with his own childhood family setting and allows us to enter in to his home, his family, his insecurities, and his character. I appreciated his honesty and willingness to share the influence of the good and bad teachings from his parents. I firmly believe that how we view God often relates back to how our parents related to us, and a little of that was shown in his book as well. Chapman has struggled with his voice all of his life; sometimes to the point of not knowing if he could continue. He wasn't blessed with the audience captivating voice, as some are. Rather his gifting was in quickly producing songs that related to his audiences and often times resulted from his own life struggles and joys. And this music is what gives healing to his family and his audiences. 

His journey into recording and entering the music realm was also one of great difficulty, but he did not give up. He sought God and his family's opinions in order to know if he should continue to pursue his calling. This book may be emotionally hard for some to read. It's deep, but it's a rich deep. I loved the counseling aspects to it. After the death of their little girl, Curtis and Mary Beth (his wife) chose to be open about their pain and confusion to those around them. They struggled with anger and chronic depression but chose to seek out healing and help consistently. He highlights some of the questions, the arguments, and counseling sessions that they go through, and how it brought them closer to God, and closer to understanding one another.  And how it resulted (for Chapman) in several songs and albums that still reach to the public today. 

While I'm not in the challenge of the music spotlight, and while I may not participate in all their lifestyle choices, I was challenged to see a man and his family who were humble enough to live vulnerably through their weaknesses. He interacted with hundreds of music professionals and top recording artists. He collaborated with other singers and spoke to the thousands who listen to his music. He didn't hide his pain or joys from his audiences, and he continually cried out to God when life brought challenges. One of his most recent songs was written for the movie "War Room", and it's called "Warrior". His words are powerful, and they have inspired people to live strong, but weak, lives in Jesus--ever pressing on to know Christ more while we live between heaven and the real world.

*Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The Real God by Chip Ingram

From Amazon
See God for Who He Is, Not What You Think He Ought To Be

Anyone who has tried to describe God to someone else, especially an unbeliever, knows that it is easy to find yourself at a loss for words. It seems that this part of our lives, which we claim is central, is often difficult to put into words. But if you know God, shouldn't you be able to describe him? What is he like? How can we put his eternal attributes into words?

Join Chip Ingram in this fascinating study of seven attributes of God: his goodness, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, justice, love, and faithfulness. Readers will see God in a whole new light and discover that our view of God impacts every decision in our lives. It will change the way we pray, the way we live, and the way we think about the world around us.

God longs for us to know him as he really is. Get ready to meet God again for the first time.

I haven't previously read any books by Chip Ingram before, but I decided to try out this book when it came up for review. I'm glad I did. Ingram writes in a clear, personal style which I think connects well with the reader. The beginning chapter starts out with a few of the misconceptions people hold about God. Research* shows that many (if not most) people view God as they view their parents or other authority figures, and when we base our thoughts about God in this way, we end up with a distorted picture of who God really is and what He has in store for our lives. 

I love how Ingram goes through seven attributes of God and tears down the lies we automatically believe based on our circumstances and situations. Ingram's definitions and thoughts are centered around much of A.W. Tozer's teachings as well, which provides depth and insight from a great author of the past. Ingram's chapters are divided into sub-sections and further sub-sections when necessary, and I appreciated the titles and outlines of his thought process. Each chapter ends with a study guide, furthering the reader's study with questions, definitions, and verses to meditate on with the use of the BIO acronym: 1) Come BEFORE God daily, 2) Do life IN COMMUNITY weekly, and 3) ON MISSION 24/7. Chip Ingram also recounts personal experiences with the attributes of God and willingly shares his victories and failures centered on his foundation in Christ. 

I had few (if any) issues with his theology, for which I was grateful. It's refreshing to read a sound interpretation of Scripture while yet being encouraged on in the faith. Pick up a copy and you'll find conviction and encouragement about who God is and how He longs for you to see Him.

Favorite Quotes 

The Goodness of God

[God's goodness] implies a sense of delight in the one giving and the gift given. God's goodness is pleasant, desirable, fair, and generous.

You are the object of his affection, and because of his unique and divine nature, all that he expresses comes in an expansive, overwhelming, God-sized generosity toward you.

God is divinely and positively disposed toward you. He takes holy pleasure in your happieness. He is not down on you because you live in a fallen world; he is for you in the midst of it.

The Sovereignty of God

[God] is not just another "ism" out there to be considered. He is infinite and eternal, over all and worthy above all. I worship him because he is sovereign.

He will bring history to a close. Instead of being the suffering servant who died in your place on the cross, he will then be the ruling warrior on a white horse, and he will bring about justice. He wants his people living in anticipation of the day of his return.

The Holiness of God

An upward, accurate view of God, high and holy, leads to an inward, accurate view of yourself as falled short and desperately needing God's forgiveness, which in turn leads to an outward view of your life being about God's agenda instead of yours, and your life being about the needs of other people instead of you and your little world.

We learned that the highway to holiness is never traveled alone. We need each other.

The Wisdom of God

It's easier for us to define God's wisdom than to willingly live under it.

Learning to take God at his word (James 1:5) and pray specifically for wisdom in each situation was a major turning point in my life. The hard part was being willing to do whatever he said, but as I learned to trust, I gradualyl saw God make his will clearer and easier to understand than I ever imagined. 

The Justice of God

Justice is not a standard God follows; he is the standard. He is not accountable to justice because justice flows from him. It's part of who he is.

What God's justice demanded, his love provided.

Seeing God as he longs for us to see him will always involve the cross. 

When someone asks, "What's going to happen when you die?" you can answer, "I'm going to start fully enjoying the eternal life I already have!"

Trusting a just God with [vengeance] is a powerful way to worship him in a fallen world.

The Love of God

We don't provoke, trick, convince, earn, or win God's loves. He doesn't love us because of who we are but because of who he is. His nature and character compel him to express unconditional affection toward us.

Even if you had never done anything since you were born, God would take pleasure in you simply because of who you are...That's how God feels about you. He feels that way when you're obedience, godly, disciplined, and righteous, and he feels that way about you when you're irritable, sarcastic, selfish, and evil.

It's time to stop coming up with ways to deserve his love and learn to respond to the love he has already clearly shown us.

The Faithfulness of God

His faithfulness is clearly seen in Israel, and it carries seamlessly over into the church.

When God's Word makes an impact on our lives, we become part of the demonstration of his faithfulness.

We don't need to forgive ourselves. We need to trust what has already happened. 

*God Attachment by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Joshua Straub



**I received this book free from the publishers. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Speaking of Homosexuality by Joe Dallas

From Amazon:
Homosexuality and gay marriage stand among perhaps the greatest defining cultural battles of our age. There's no escaping the inevitable conversations--so how does a Christian respond with love and biblical truth without adding fuel to the fire?

Drawing on nearly thirty years of counseling people struggling with homosexuality, former gay activist Joe Dallas takes readers through virtually every argument they are likely to hear in favor of normalizing homosexuality. He helps readers understand the views of LGBT people they may know and respond with clarity, confidence, and compassion. He shows the most effective ways to engage the subject on social media and in everyday encounters with guidelines for talking points, dialogue, approach, and tone, and even provides sample dialogue.

Anyone who has been searching for ways to have productive, loving conversations surrounding this critical topic will find this incredible resource a must-have.

Currently, there are no reviews of this book on Amazon, so I'm guessing that not many people chose it for their monthly review book. However, when I saw it released, I picked it up because the topic of homosexuality and Christianity is a vital and current topic. Many Christians struggle to answer their own or others questions regarding the topic. We don't want to be seen as "homophobic", but nor do we want to compromised our standards, or maybe we just don't understand why there is such a big fuss. After all, it doesn't seem to be a "salvation" issue that we need to divide over.

Joe Dallas begins his book by explaining the context of the culture we live in along with its presumptions. Because we assume things about homosexuals or the homosexual lifestye that aren't always true. And they assume things about those who don't agree with them as well. He then defines some terms which I found extremely helpful because I hadn't heard of them before. Basically he describes how each generation has thought about homosexuality. The Militants are convinced that homosexuality is normal and that those who disagree need to be silenced, while most people would fall under the description of Mainstream: the average person with whom we have more in common than we realize. Millenials are different in that they are the first generation to be mostly prohomosexual. And to describe things further, there is the Traditionalist and Revisionist point of view for Christians. Traditionalists tend to view Scripture as saying that homosexuality is a sin, while Revisionists tend to hold to the position that Scripture has been misunderstood on this matter and cultural reformation is needed.

Dallas then goes on to give several important reminders on how we're to engage conversation and participate in discussions. I love how each chapter ends with 10 talking points from that chapter. These provide a short outline of the chapter content and provide quick points to remember when discussion homosexual issues with others. Chapters 4-13 are the chapters which take arguments and provide answers for them from Scripture. I appreciated Dallas' concise way of answering arguments and giving specific passages, along with common logic to draw readers to the conclusion. He deals with topics such as being "born gay", same-sex marriage, homophobia, hypocrisy, and harm, gay Christians, Levitical passages and the "gay Christian", and homosexuality in the New Testament. Dallas covers all the basis.

Reading this book provided much thought, as I saw how many assumptions the average person has about homosexuality, along with some that I myself also had. I bracketed many paragraphs which highlight truths of Scripture in a practical way, and I appreciated Dallas' boldness. While he is honest, he's kind and forgiving in his writing, and I think many people could read this book even though they might disagree. Dallas' is specifically debating the Revisionist point of view in his arguments, and I think he does well in his layout of the book. For each argument he presents 3-4 responses and details his answers.

So glad I picked up this book. While I still have the last two chapters to finish off, I'm glad I picked up this copy. A much needed reminder of truth in the midst of a changing culture. Dallas balances the line between shunning those who practice the homosexual lifestyle (or merely support it), but yet not condoning behavior that is specifically expressed as sin in Scripture. It's a tough place to be today. But let's remember that they who identify as part of the LGBT lifestyle need to be treated with Love, Grace, and Biblical Truth (my new acronym ;). To converse and disciple people with same-sex attraction or even with those actively practicing that lifestyle, it will be a hard ride, but by God's grace it will be a life worth knowing if we are pointing them to Jesus by our love for them.

Favorite Quotes

The righteness or wrongness of a thing is not determined by its changeableness. Some tendancies may never change, or may never change completely. That doesn't justify giving in to them. And if therapy cannot erase them, that doesn't discredit therapy.

---

Everyone has, at some time, been firmly convinced of something only to later find they had it all wrong.

---

...what we're facing in today's church is not unique. Christ's body has always included people who repented of homosexual behavior and faithfully stwarded their bodies to the end. But it has no doubt also included those who decided to indulge what they initially resisted.

---

...stories...remind us that such strugglers [Gay Christians] often endure the slings and arrows of fellow believers who make crass jokes about homosexuals without realizing whom they may be wounding. And they remind us of the profound grief in facing the possibility of life without sexual fulfillment if what would fulfill you most is forbidden and difficult even to discuss.

---

Truth would be a lot easier, after all, if it wasn't accompanied by love. But it is, binding our hearts hostage to another person's experience...All because we're bonded in love to those who may or may not join us in eternity...to those who choose intimate obedience or continue to rebel. Our hearts ride with them as they analyze, wrestle, rationalize, and hopefully, sooner or later say yes to God. But we also risk accompanying them emotionally into the grief of no.

*I received this book free from the publishers. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Hope Prevails by Dr. Michelle Bengtson

From Goodreads
As a board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson sees the devastation of depression. Early on, she practiced the most effective treatments and prescribed them for her clients. But when she experienced depression herself, she found that the treatments she had recommended were lacking. Her experience showed her the missing component in treating depression. 

In "Hope Prevails," Dr. Bengtson writes with deep compassion, blending her training and faith, to offer readers a hope grounded in God's love and grace. She helps readers understand what depression is, how it affects them spiritually, and what, by God's grace, it cannot do. The result is an approach that offers the hope of release, not just the management of symptoms.
For those who struggle with depression and those who want to help them, "Hope Prevails" offers hope for the future.

Depression is a common mental health disorder, and it's one that captured my attention a few years back when I began to better understand the human body and mind. While the effects of depression may be severe or mild, and the causes of depression vary depending on the person, most people have either struggled with it themselves or know someone who has. Reading about mental health disorders as a Christian calls for caution and discernment--not all authors are grounded in Scripture, and not all authors portray the healing process accurately. I have only read one other book on this topic, that being David Murray's Christians Get Depressed, Too (a good book!). 

Depression is a legitimate health disorder, and while that does not provide liberty for sin, we should understand it's effects and background in order to treat it. Dr. Michelle Bengtson uses her personal journey through depression to write this book. Being a neuropsychologist, one would expect her to have a certain amount of knowledge and techniques to enable a person to heal; however, when she herself walked through depression, she found her techniques weren't helping in the way she expected. She wrote this book, as a result of her findings and spiritual journey through a difficult time of life. Perhaps the most effective counselors and doctors are the ones who have suffered in the same way. 

In the first chapter Bengtson defines depression. This a vital chapter because many people do not know what it is exactly: there are physical symptoms, yes, but the mental side of depression is huge as well. Depressed people often feel alone (or are actually alone) in their suffering, and so Bengtson also writes this book to bring comfort and healing to the hurting. She includes a "My Prayer for You" section at the end of each chapter, along with questions that guide the reader and give insight into the causes and effects of their depression. Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the list of songs, Bengtson provides with each chapter. They are meant to guide the reader toward worshiping God, finding encouragement in Scripture, and creating an uplifting mindset. 

Bengtson then lists the underlying causes of depression: chemical makeup of the brain, genetics, depression as a secondary symptom, depression as a reaction to life events, and the spiritual roots of depression. Those who struggle with depression must understand that, as believers, they have an enemy. This enemy seeks to destroy their mind daily, leading them to believe the lies they've heard and continue sinning mentally, rather than replacing those lies with Bible. Bengtson doesn't leave it there, however. She follows up these chapters in the next many pages about recovering joy, reclaiming peace, reestablishing identity, knowing your worth and destiny, and finding healing in God's love. 

She concludes the book with chapters on how God uses our pain to ensure victory if we allow Him to work through the physical and mental tears. The testing of our faith and the darkness that surrounds us is not meant to be forever, for there is a way of hope if we guard our minds, seek therapy and counsel, and take care of our spirit and body. Taking care of our spirit is one of the ways to hope. We must spend time in God's presence, stay anchored in the Word, pray, obey, take time for praise and gratitude, and trust God to lead us into the light in His timing.

Bengtson uses Scripture to demonstrate a pathway of healing for those with depression, while not ignoring sin or merely dismissing depression as "something a Christian shouldn't have". Perhaps one example of a man who struggled with depression was King David, and through his pain and heartache, God brought him through troubled times with a renewed focus on the Messiah who was to come and the God who loved him forever. So glad I requested this book. 

*I received this book free from Revell Books through the Baker Books Bloggers program. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Temple and the Tabernacle by J. Daniel Hays

From Amazon:

At various points in Israel's history, God dwelt in specific, significant places, most notably in the tabernacle and the temple. These structures, meticulously planned, extravagantly furnished, and regularly frequented by the devout, were more than just places of worship and sacrifice. They were pictures of God's relationship with his chosen people and of the atoning work that would be done by the Messiah. To understand the tabernacle and the temple, then, is to understand how we are brought into God's family through the sacrifice of his only Son, Jesus.

Visually stunning and theologically rich, this full-color resource brings together the latest scholarship and archeological discoveries to bring God's dwelling places alive for modern believers. It places these important structures in their historical and theological contexts, connects them with the overall biblical story, and shows how they bring meaning and depth to the faith of Christians today.

This was a book that I was really excited to receive. I first encountered Hays writing during one of my university courses. His book called Grasping God's Word was one of the required resources, so I became familiar with his approach through my assignments. 

The Temple and the Tabernacle takes us through the history of Scripture, describing Eden as the first place where God's presented His glory. Hays also devotes a chapter exclusively to the study of the original languages and the words used to describe "temple" and "tabernacle". Hardly a page goes by without a picture of an artifact, map, quote, or other extra feature. I loved just skimming through the pages and seeing all the pictures. Definitely a highlight of this book. Using frequent and consistent Scripture passages and verses, Hays describes the first tabernacle's structure and features, reminding us that God then filled the tabernacle with His glory. 

Hays is careful to caution us against imaginative and prophetic interpretations of Scripture. I so appreciate Hays for this, as today's culture of Christians tends to interpret Scripture based on individual experience or opinion, rather than Christ and the Scriptures. 

"Solomon's Temple" was the most eye-opening chapter for me, in that it described the circumstances of Solomon's life and actions. While many of us tend to remember Solomon for his temple and for his wisdom (things that did indeed occur), few remember that his life was not one marked by obedience to God. In fact, there is little in Scripture, if one studies carefully, that condones anything that Solomon does. I always thought of Solomon as a king who started out well and ended badly, but in reality, he didn't really start out well at all. But you'll have to read the book to get more details. ;) While God's presence once again fills the new temple, corrupt worship becomes the norm and Solomon's kingdom crumbles. Hays describes the departure of God's glory from the temple in the following chapter. 

The history of the second temple is then chronicled. Despite political turmoil, Ezra and Haggai encourage the people to rebuild the destroyed temple, and as history passes, this temple becomes known as Herod's Temple. However, this temple is not one that is filled with God's glory, but rather consumed with man's corruption, and until the Son of Man Himself walks through it's doors and overturns those who bought and sold there, there is no record of God's glory entering this building. 

Hays concludes the book with a description of the temple during the New Testament era and during Jesus' life on earth. He discusses the presence of God and Jesus as the true Temple, along with the heavenly tabernacle and earthly temple. The final chapter sums up the book's descriptions and discussions by stating that we today live corum deo--living in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God. Our worship here is only a shadow of what is to be in heaven. Yet those shadows are here to remind us what we are waiting for. 

There was an aspect of this book that I didn't care for, however. In detailing the history of Scripture, events, places, and people, Hays frequently uses words such as "possibly", "maybe", "likely", and "perhaps" when detailing things that could have happened, but for which we have no documentation. While I was grateful for the extra details, I thought that the repeated use of such words and the frequent statements of probability took away from the credibility of Scripture or the author's words. I would have prefered just to read the history which we know for sure did take place, rather than gathering extra details and speculating on them when the chapter closed. But that is personal preference, and it may not bother another reader at all. 

Besides the point I mentioned, this is a great resource on the temple and tabernacle, and it gives a wonderful glimpse into how history causes Scripture to come alive. A good book to make you think about the glory of God and how we as believers are called to live out His glory in our own lives while we wait for the final glory of the holy city, the new Jerusalem. 

I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

The Power of Together by Jim Putman

Back Cover
The joyful and powerful Christian life you long for is closer than you think. None of us is lovable all of the time--and no one can make us feel worse than those closest to us. So we keep others at arm's length to protect ourselves rather than reaching out for relationship. But think of who Jesus invited into his life and ministry. They weren't always lovable. Yet he modeled perfect love for us and showed how the mark of a spiritually mature believer is engaging with others in meaningful relationships. This in-depth, biblical look at the critical importance of "doing life" in close fellowship with other believers will draw you closer to your spiritual family--and to Jesus--than ever before.

Jim Putman addresses a topic that I believe is much needed in today's churches. Some churches today have solid doctrine down pat, while others are exemplary in their friendliness and relational closeness within the church. However, few churches combine the two in a biblical manner. Solid doctrine without relational fellowship produces an emotionally unstable and socially awkward congregation. Fellowship without doctrine leads to a false understanding and lack of knowledge of the Scriptures. 

Putman's church, while certainly not filled with perfect people, demonstrates a working understanding of biblical relationships through solid doctrine, and he uses examples from people around him and from the staff in his church to display how healthy relationships should work among believers. He begins with a definition of what is missing and a description of how people are "hardwired to connect". He states that though we may be fully committed to Christ and understand doctrine, we won't experience all God has for us unless we are intentional in our relationships. We think we can handle anxiety and pressure on our own, but in reality that leaves us with burdens that we weren't meant to carry. We fight the devil alone when we have an incomplete picture of Christianity. "Yes, as an isolated Christian, you can still make it to heaven. But while on earth, something will always be missing. You will not experience all the good that God has for you, and you will not be the light in the dark world that God desires that you become."

In the next several chapters, Putman writes of and describes spiritual maturity and how pride keeps us from continually resolving conflict and interacting with others of the same faith. He states that the churches today are great at training up polite and friendly people in their churches, but that they fail at producing relationships in order to disciple new believers and grow the older believers. "True relationship is different from surface politeness--it goes much deeper..." Politeness won't end up satisfying those who are crying for the fellowship of the Spirit through other believers. 

Putman describes relationships, and the community of the church family. He also takes a chapter to explain the danger of pride--the vice that divides relationships. He gives examples of and writes of relationships that are real in his church or in others' lives. "Authentic Christianity is incomplete without real relationships that strengthen and supprt." We refuse or weaken God's grace when we think that in our pride we can handle our trials, burdens, sins,  and questions alone. Defeating the enemy becomes a group effort, rather than a single exhausted warrior attempting to fight the spiritual darkness single-handedly. In being a city on a hill, we must be just that...a city. Not just merely an individual. And combined with the relationships, solid doctrine is preached in order to keep the congregation functioning as the bride of Christ. Relational efforts don't always work, but there is a method that works when both parties are willing to grow together. 

Toward the end of the book,  Putman's paragraphs can seem rather redundant because he's writing about one single topic, but in all, I found his book extrememly helpful (and encouraging) in pinpointing the struggles of most--if not all--churches today. There is something missing, but once discovered, we cannot say that we do not know the solution. An easy read on a vital issue. 



Disclosure: 

I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Girl Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird

I had never heard of the authors of this book or the book itself until social media exploded with the upcoming release news. Twitter, Amazon, publishing house email updates, comments from friends, and just general book news updates from ministries. I didn't pay much attention to it as new book releases happen frequently, and because it's a "normal" thing in my social media streams to see book news. However, when Baker Books put it out for review, I decided to request it because a friend had said I would like it. They were right. ;)

Back Cover:
What is God's design for women?
In a culture where airbrushed models and ultra-driven career women define beauty and success, it's no wonder we have a distorted view of femininity. "Girl Defined" offers a distinctly God-centered view of beauty, femininity, and self-worth. Based firmly in God's design for our lives, this book invites us on a liberating journey toward a radically better vision for femininity--one that ends with the kind of hope, purpose, and fulfillment we've been yearning for.

Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird are sisters, lifelong friends, and the founders of GirlDefined Ministries. These Texas gals are passionate about God's beautiful design for womanhood and love sharing this message through blogging, speaking, and mentoring young women.
www.girldefined.com

For the girls who have followed the biblical womanhood theme throughout their life, you might be thinking "Not ANOTHER book on this topic!" But yes, there is. However, this book is like a combination of all the books you've probably read. I like to compare it to Leslie Ludy's Set-Apart Femininity and Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin's So Much More. Here's why. Leslie Ludy is a married woman looking back on her single years. The Botkin sisters are both single looking forward to either more single years or to marriage if the Lord wills. Both perspectives are valid and important today, even though both those books were written 8-10 years ago. However, you have something a little different from Bethany and Kristen. One is single, the other married, and together they compare and combine their experiences, giving a complete picture of biblical womanhood for the immediate present. If you read books that are purely one perspective, you end up focusing on one or the other too much sometimes. But Girl Defined has an amazing balance. 

Coming from a family of eight (five girls and three boys), these two Texan girls redefine the meaning of womanhood in light of Scripture. They wrote this book because they're passionate about the glory of God and because the Lord provided the opportunity for them to coauthor a book in order to share that glory with the rest of the world. They quote or use the stories from past and present "heroes" of the faith, such as Elisabeth Elliot, C.S. Lewis, Susan Hunt, Mary Kassian, Nancy (Demoss) Wolgemuth, Ian and Larissa Murphy, and Sheila Gregoire. They also use personal examples from their own lives and from the lives of their friends. They discuss the culture and "femininity gone wrong", as well as womanhood and godly living according to Scripture. Ending with a femininity worth fighting for, these girls leave the reader with biblical hope and encouragement. You're not supposed to read this book and then place it on a shelf. You're supposed to read it, pass it along, and then live out the bold, radical, anchored, vigilant, and empowered life as a fierce warrior of Christ. 

In today's culture of gender and marriage confusion, Kristen and Bethany provide a refreshing reminder of what our lives must look like, whether married or single. Our identity is in Christ, and because of that, we need not fear what any one thinks of what we're doing or what we look like. We will appear different, but that's because we have the end of the story of the world written in our hearts and it compels us to find fulfillment and worth in something other than this world can offer. 

Definitely a book to read and then buy for a friend. Each chapter also includes a study guide, which I, personally, did not use. 

Favorite Quotes

God doesn't need an army to accomplish his work; he just needs a few faithful followers.

//

When the mighty forces come against God-defined femininity, our sisterhood will remain like a rope with many cords. 

//

Imagine what could happen if you lived with your eternal home in mind. 

//

You only get one shot at doing things right. You only get one life to live for Christ.

//

Hard work is a good and godly thing. 

//

God's design transcends time and culture and is always relevant.

//

Being a wife is truly an indespensable role.

//

When I take God at his word and value the things he values, I find real purpose.

Disclosure: 

I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

Rescuing the Gospel by Erwin Lutzer

I debated requesting this book because I didn't know if I'd have time to read it, but I'm so glad I did!

Next year is the Reformation's 500th anniversary, and Lutzer takes us through the journey of the Gospel through the lives of some of the most influential reformers. Lutzer gives us the spiritual background history of England, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland, and France in his retelling of the Reformation movement. He write the stories of Knox, Calvin, Zwingli, and Luther in vivid detail, capturing the attention of the reader. Though three-quarters of the book is devoted to Luther's reforms, Lutzer describes each of these men with their virtues and vices. Sometimes Christians look up to these people as almost perfect examples, but they were just humans. But men that God chose to use mightly despite their flaws.

We see the history of the spiritual world and the influence of the Catholic church during these times. The darkness that prevailed in the hearts and minds of the people, and the corrupt spiritual leaders who influenced the people only served to brighten the light of the Gospel once it was rescued from the distortions of man.

Lutzer also describes the different divisions among the reformers, namely the Lord's Table and baptism: two debates that still exist today, and likely will until the end of time. Also the separation of church and state and the discussion of war vs. pacifism. The reformers did not all agree on every doctrine, but one thing bound them together. One thing that led them to support one another and pass the baton to the next man: the Gospel.

Lutzer gives a bit of detail on some of the smaller groups that broke off from the Catholic Church: Anabaptists, Lutherans, Mennonites, Huguenots, Puritans, Dutch Reformed, and Presbyterians. He also comments on the burning of Servetus and the doctrine of predestination regarding Calvin. Lutzer also frequently enlightens his readers on the history and aspects of the Catholic church, detailing how it differs in regards to salvation and worship from the Protestants.

While not an extensive history of the Reformation and the impact it had on the world, this book provides a much needed reminder of the men gone before and the work they did to shine the light of the Gospel in a dark world--a world much like ours today. The Reformation isn't over.

"Despite these differences, that which united them [the reformers] was greater than that which divided them." The reformers lived on the Word of God: sola Scriptura, sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, and soli Deo gloria. On the eve of the anniversary of the Reformation, this would be a great book to read to review the challenges men faced to present the light of truth to the world. They weren't perfect men, but they were willing to die for their faith, and they stood on the Word of God because their conscience and convictions held them captive to it.



Disclosure: 

I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.