Rachel Jankovic has a way with words and analogies, but more than that her clarity and no-nonsense approach to Christian living is what’s needed todayRachel Jankovic has a way with words and analogies, but more than that her clarity and no-nonsense approach to Christian living is what’s needed today. Because there is a lot of nonsense out there.
You may have been told that you need to know yourself, to reach a higher self-actualization. Maybe you’ve been counseled that some level of your needs aren’t being met, or you can’t seem to find your place in the world. Many of us spend and are spent making the most of our lives and preparing for the future or a better way of life. Most simply like to share motivational memes as a source of encouragement. If you feel like life doesn’t seem to work out the way it’s supposed to after you’ve given your all, then this book will explain where you have gone wrong.
Rachel Jankovic explores the roots of wisdom that is from below (James 3). From Descartes, to Sarte, to Beauvoir, or Freud…. she walks the reader through the “high fashion” of philosophical thought and how it trickles down to where we buy into it on the “clearance rack” everyday. The book led me to repent about some things, and it also clarified many thoughts I’ve already had. My discomfort and yet curiosity of popular memes and philosophies (even from new philosophers like Jordan Peterson) were verified in a clear way. Excellent.
Read the rest of this review and more book reviews by Rebekah Schrepfer at MostlySensible.com....more
The worship wars may be in a bit of a stand-still, but the opinions are still ingrained in all of us. I’ve appreciated Ben Everson’s music very much aThe worship wars may be in a bit of a stand-still, but the opinions are still ingrained in all of us. I’ve appreciated Ben Everson’s music very much as well as his testimony, so I was happy to see him write a book about his point of view. Being conservative myself about music, I know that this point of view is in the minority. And even among us conservatives there are nuances of meaning and application. Unfortunately, we tend to shy away from being very precise about it all. I get tired of the fight myself. Bro. Everson’s approach was refreshing. It appealed to my organized mind, too!
I appreciate that he is writing from a “Dispensational Baptistic Perspective” (pg 7). Whew! Thank you! I don’t have to give any caveats about theological differences we may have. I also appreciated his honesty, a humility we all must cultivate, to say that we cannot pigeon-hole every style of music and every person or church who uses a particular style. Rather he sets out the frame-work he himself uses to evaluate the nuances of church music. And I think he’s about as precise as one can be. As his title suggests, there are some things that are important and some things that are not in Christian music.
I’m out of the loop on the contemporary music landscape these days. So it was nice for me to read from someone who is in and around it every day. Well worth the price.
This is the true story of a tragic accident and one family’s journey of faith by Sarah Lynn Phillips, and I loved it. The testimony given about how GoThis is the true story of a tragic accident and one family’s journey of faith by Sarah Lynn Phillips, and I loved it. The testimony given about how God’s grace and strength and peace sustained an entire family through tragedy and change was a beautiful thing to read. Sarah Phillips has a gift for writing. She leads the reader along in how God worked in her own life from her perspective. The clear implication is that God is working personally with ALL of us in personal and specific ways. It could be an easy road God has given you to walk, or perhaps a difficult one. In all of it, God lovingly leads His children for their good and His own glory.
I enjoyed following her train of thought, and I especially appreciated her continual reference to Scripture. She also has a Leader’s Guide so that her book can be used as a Bible study.
I changed my mind. This book is the best I’ve read on this issue. Every lay person ought to read it. Every Christian woman ought to read it!
This book I changed my mind. This book is the best I’ve read on this issue. Every lay person ought to read it. Every Christian woman ought to read it!
This book is a condensation of the comprehensive book Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth: An Analysis of More than 100 Disputed Questions. Wisely, Grudem understands that the lay person would not have always have the time or desire to trudge through the minute details, so this condensed work (309 pages) is just right. He does give the references back to the big hefty book in case someone wants more than what she finds here.
The book is structured by first giving the egalitarian claim, along with references and quotes so there is no misunderstanding of what they mean. Then Grudem gives his answers, usually multiple answers, that counter the egalitarian claim. Hence the title of the book. This makes for easy reading and a good reference work after the fact.
He gives enough references to feminist works to show that their pseudo-scholarly works actually have no basis. Especially in the meaning of specific words like “head” or “authority”, egalitarians like to change the meanings, but Grudem very clearly points out that many of those meanings are simply incorrect or even just made up. This is where the lay person should highly praise biblical scholars and their attention to detail! What a blessing it is to me to watch this debate from afar.
Grudem adeptly lays out the serious errors of the Egalitarian position. He shows that it upends the doctrines of the Trinity, the concept of Sola Scriptura, and the nature of Male and Female. Egalitarianism is in grave error! These are heavy charges, and are not met with flippancy.
The basic question underlying this controversy is obedience to the Bible. That is a major doctrine and it is a core issue. Throughout this book and throughout Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth, I have pointed out various ways in which egalitarian claims result in a rejection of the authority of the Bible over our lives. This happens through saying that certain passages no longer apply to us today, or saying that certain verses are not really part of the Bible, or saying Paul’s reasoning from the Old Testament was wrong or saying that the reason for Paul’s command was something other than what he gave as the reason, or saying that the New Testament epistles are descriptive rather than prescriptive (and show us what was happening in the first century, not what we should do today), or saying that people can disobey what the Bible says if the elders or pastor give them permission, or saying that what we should obey is not what the New Testament says but our best guess as to where its “trajectory” was leading, and so forth.
But this repeated theme in the egalitarian position shows what is really at stake in this controversy is the authority of the Bible. I am convinced that if the egalitarian position prevails, the principles it has used to interpret and apply Scripture will soon be broadened to many other areas of life, and no moral command of Scripture will be safe from its destructive procedures. Then the church will mimic the popular views of its culture in one issue after another, and Christians will no longer be subject to the authority of God speaking through His Word. I believe this is the direction egalitarianism is pushing the church (page 222).
I liked this book. Sydney Millage gives a comprehensive view of the heart of a victim of abuse. For those who aren’t sure if what you are experiencingI liked this book. Sydney Millage gives a comprehensive view of the heart of a victim of abuse. For those who aren’t sure if what you are experiencing is abuse, this book is what you need to read! For those who are in healthy relationships, this is a great book to give you the whole lay of the land when it comes to spiritually helping people in abusive situations.
The book is front loaded with truths about the heart attitudes and spiritual health of the victim. It is not until chapter 14 that there is practical help for escaping truly abusive situations. That might be a difficult setup for someone in that situation. So in that sense, the book is designed to build up a victim’s spiritual fortitude in the midst of verbal abuse and mild forms of abuse. It is also made to help that person recognize when to go get immediate help.
There were several places that I would have stated things differently, but she comes around to what I agree with in the end. For instance, some statements made me cringe, and they are similar to other statements I have seen in many counseling resources. She says a couple of times, “Most biblical counselors, pastors, and lay leaders are well-versed in Scripture, but few have knowledge about how to help domestic abuse victims.” This makes it sound like a pastor is not a good place to go for help, because their knowledge of the Bible isn’t enough to help a victim. Also, I’m not sure I would agree with that wording if I’m also to affirm that the Bible alone is my sole authority for faith and practice. It’s not the Bible + counseling techniques. So her way of communication seems to be to go the long way around the barn to get to the door, but that is a small criticism, really.
The book is Scripture-centered and deals with the heart of the issue of domestic abuse. I highly recommend it.
I have an 11 year old daughter. She has two sisters ages 9 and 8. So as you can imagine, I have some interesting days ahead! In addition to very open I have an 11 year old daughter. She has two sisters ages 9 and 8. So as you can imagine, I have some interesting days ahead! In addition to very open and honest talks with my daughter, I began looking for some good resources to help my daughters through this transition time as they mature into womanhood. Some books I saw gave too much information, complete with explicit pictures, and those would not have been appropriate for the very first introduction to puberty. Some that I saw gave good information, but also included standards that were not conservative (like how to have a clean tattoo or how pink hair might be just your way of expressing yourself. [sigh]) Some had only physiological information and nothing from a spiritual standpoint. I settled on this one and I’ve been happy with it.
My daughter enjoyed reading it, first of all. It was made for the tween age. It’s not boring. It’s not long. Nancy Rue set it up as a devotional book. There are lots of places to write and make check lists. There are only nine chapters about what is going on with her body. While the pages are filled with cartoon pictures, none are explicit. There are no illustrations of a naked or near-naked body. The most personal pictures would be a drawing of the uterus and ovaries, drawings of maxi pads, tampons, and bras (not on a girl). There is talk of menstruation and body anatomy and changes. Let’s just say there is enough information in there to make a boy blush. Nancy Rue didn’t go into ALL there is to know. There is no information about the mechanics of sex, neither is there any information about a boy’s changes. And I liked that. I prefer to talk about that myself with my daughter. Mostly, though there is a LOT about attitude during emotional times, keeping the temple of the Holy Spirit healthy, and drawing near to God.
So this was a good book to start off this season in life. It opened the door for my daughter to ask me more questions and for me to keep those doors open with her. I look forward to reviewing her other books in this series.
I still like his first book best (How Children Fail), which is a bit disappointing to me. I always hope for better and better, but I shouldn’t be surpI still like his first book best (How Children Fail), which is a bit disappointing to me. I always hope for better and better, but I shouldn’t be surprised. This happens with most secular books I read. “Teach Your Own” gives a much clearer picture of Holt’s vision for children and the world in general than he did in “How Children Fail”. So overall, there were some good things and some concerning things.
Negatives This is a secular book. So some points Holt makes have to do with the kind of goals children ought to have. While the author isn’t against Christian ideals, it is a significant omission. For me, there are some significant mandates in Scripture that have to enter the educational picture. Holt also believes in the absolute innocence of a child’s nature, a non-christian view. For example, on page 55, he disagrees with a child learning something simply motivated by submission to authority. However, we are taught in Scripture to do just that in many arenas. Later in chapter 4 he qualifies this view by saying “not all people are innately good, neither are they innately bad.” I assume he holds to a “neutral” view of human nature. There is a bit too much of a child-centric feel. Of course, the subject is their education, but this concern of mine hearkened back to my point above. Holt often advocates helping children avoid meeting the expectations of others. This can be a potential problem. In reality, there is balance between cultivating creativity/independence and responsibility/team playing. Life does have a certain amount of expectations especially if you work for a boss or are meeting a certain level of achievement. If that doesn’t suit you, then you need to be your own boss. This is also concerning as it regards the Christian life with all of God’s expectations….balanced with His grace. To be fair again, Holt addresses this concern by his belief that a child’s mind / childhood is THE place where this kind of creativity, freedom, and independence SHOULD flourish for the sake of mental development. Plenty of time for buckling down later on, he says. Maybe he’s right, but I wouldn’t go as far as he does in this regard. He’s not a capitalist, not a political conservative which comes out in his writing. Any point of view that leaves out God will have deficiencies when it comes to the root causes of behavior and the very nature of Man. So his chapter on “living with children” it quite a bit incoherent to me as a Christian. That’s to be expected I guess. Read with a Scriptural filter and you’ll be fine. Positives One recurring theme is that children don’t really need every waking hour to be planned and scheduled in order to “succeed” in life. In fact, it’s just the opposite. That’s a relief to me! Loved the section about whether homeschool parents are qualified enough…he uses Alaska as an example of the correspondence school model (pg 43). I agree with him that Homeschooling is not for everyone. If a parent cannot, or will not, find a way to teach their child without doing harm (He likens the attitude to the hypocratic oath’s, “first do no harm.”), to teach without anxiety, then go ahead and put them in a school. Loved, loved, loved his answer to the need for socialization. I hear this a lot that their child needs to be around other people besides me. Indeed I think of this often regarding my daughter who is my social butterfly. Holt says, “They need to know more and more adults whose main work in life is nottaking care of kids. They need some friends their own age, but not dozens of them; two or three, at most half a dozen, is as many real friends as any child can have at one time. Perhaps above all, they need a lot of privacy, solitude, calm, times when there’s nothing to do.” (pg 48) Love his point about how children with special needs or learning disabilities often flourish in a homeschooling environment. I know several families in this situation, and he’s right! Holt “likes, enjoys, and respects children.” This is his main theme in all of his books. Maybe Holt’s vision of unschooled children everywhere, where children run the whole thing entirely rather than by parents or teachers is unrealistic and maybe even detrimental. Maybe strict traditional schooling with rigid graded expectations is unrealistic and detrimental too. The truth is somewhere in the middle I suspect. Maybe the solution is for parents, who love their kids best, to help them know the three R’s. Then we can leave the unschooling learning to grandparents! [wink]
John Holt understands children. If you are an educator of any kind, and that includes parents, take the time to read this book! How are we teaching? HJohn Holt understands children. If you are an educator of any kind, and that includes parents, take the time to read this book! How are we teaching? How do our students think? How can I help them think? Even with 300 pages, “How Children Fail” is a super easy read. Holt’s conversation style and simple observations kept me glued to the pages.
If you were a poor student, you will identify with this book. If you were a “troublesome” student who exasperated your teachers, you will identify with this book. Because you will be reading a teacher/author who really gets you. If you were a good student with few academic problems, your eyes will be opened.
I really wanted to underline the whole book! This book explores those who are not just poor students, but poor thinkers. What is the thought process that leads them to continually get things wrong?
The application to my homeschooling was obvious, and many concepts I was able to implement right away. But it struck me early in the book, how much of this is applicable to all of life! As we read our Bibles and go to church and Bible studies and conferences, are we learning? Really learning? Am I internalizing and fully understanding the material laid before me? Or am I just coasting through, giving the best guess/rote answers when called upon? Do I have a way of thinking that continually gets me the “wrong answers?”
On the flip side, am I teaching and admonishing in effective ways when given teaching and discipleship opportunities? How can I help those who simply have given up even trying to find real and true answers?
To avoid trying to force a secular book into spiritual meanings, I will say up front that Holt is simply observing how a student behaves and how classrooms and teachers help him or hinder him. My extrapolation into the Christian life is purely my own.
I especially thought about discipleship when he said this: “How can we foster a joyous alert, wholehearted participation in life if we build all our schooling around the holiness of getting ‘right answers'” (pg. 242)? There is a difference between learning things by rote memorization and by full understanding of how things fit together. Maybe that’s why English grammar and spelling is so difficult. Maybe that’s why phonics is a key component of reading and why many homeschool families are teaching Latin and other languages early. There are seemingly random rules to grammar and spelling that break phonics rules, but there is an order to the madness after all.
It was interesting to see his updated notes. The first edition of “How Children Fail” was printed in the 1964, and then the second edition was done in 1982. Instead of replacing his thoughts with new things he’s learned, Holt added just another paragraph to show his new thoughts. In some cases his theories and observations were corroborated, but in other cases he modifies his thoughts a bit. You can really hear the difference in his tone between his earlier and later observations. That’s really important to remember when researching and coming to conclusions (in any areas of life). We don’t usually have a final definitive answer that can never be modified. Humility and integrity to look at things honestly and without bias is crucial when seeking solutions....
I used this book to help me through my morning Bible Reading of the Pentateuch this year. I ended up not just referencing it, but reading thru it compI used this book to help me through my morning Bible Reading of the Pentateuch this year. I ended up not just referencing it, but reading thru it completely.
The simple terminology was so appreciated, perfect for the lay person. The charts and summaries helped give the overview of the book. So often we skim thru Numbers and Leviticus and miss the forest for the trees. This year I wanted to try an exercise for myself in writing down my own gleaning from these books in a more devotional form some of which I’ve been sharing in my posts. But this book is an in depth commentary well suited to help us keep our moorings when the weeds get thick. So as a reference book it was not only helpful in my devotions, but also in study for teaching opportunities. Often the author explains how modern Judaism interprets a passage alongside Christianity’s view, and that was helpful.
James E. Smith sought to create a one-volume classroom textbook that was neither too short and simple nor too long and technical for the subject matter. His perspective is one of a traditional view regarding Moses’ authorship. It is arranged in 45 chapter which could be used in a 45 lesson survey class.
I was surprised and reminded again how the simple stories we learn in Sunday School really were just primers to the actual accounts. God had a reason for including the events in our Bible. They often were crises events, and turning points for Israel with far reaching consequences. They revealed the hearts of God’s people and its leaders, not to mention God’s character and plan. It was so much more than just a moral anecdote. Or lists of genealogies.
Here were some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“Israel was not to obey these laws in order to become the people of God; rather, they were to obey because they were, by God’s grace, the people of God” (Deut. 12 section).
“By grace God had chosen them, and redeemed them. The only appropriate response to that grace was obedience” (Duet. 27 section).
“Their future is determined by their present walk. Obedient faith leads to blessing, but disobedience to disaster” (Deut. 29 section).
I was struck by the frequency that faith and God’s grace is mentioned. .... (Read the rest of my review at MostlySensible.com....more
This was a really great book. Easy to read and not too long which is good for a busy mom like me. It is written by a mother and daughter who have two This was a really great book. Easy to read and not too long which is good for a busy mom like me. It is written by a mother and daughter who have two different personalities. She says if you imagine Marilla Cuthbert and Anne Shirley writing a book together, that’s what you’ll get in this book. I can relate more to the even-keeled Marilla, and Anne is an example of a totally different emotional makeup. Marilla is one of my favorite characters ever written, and I love all the “Annes” in my life, too.
The author constantly refers to Scripture, and I really appreciate that. Quotes are nice and pithy sayings help us remember a truth, but Scripture IS truth. Basing the ideas in the Word means this book is not a fluff book.
I think we often deceive ourselves into thinking that we can’t control our emotions. But the Bible clearly expects us to conform even our feelings to Christ. I’ve been guilty of walling off my emotions. I tend to want to turn off my feelings. But obedience is not the absence of emotion. Rather it’s a part of the obedience. “Serve the Lord with gladness, ” “Be tenderhearted,” “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” This is the main theme of the book:
We cannot be content with half-truths about our emotions. Obedience is more than feelings, but obedience is not less than feelings. God doesn’t command our minds and our wills and then give us a free pass when it comes to our emotions. He calls us to obedience with every one of our faculties, including our emotions. If our feelings are from God and for God, then we must feel— and not just think and act— the way he tells us to feel. Scripture’s feeling commands raise the godliness bar considerably. So high, it’s scary. We may have thought we were within striking distance of many of the actions required by Scripture. After all, we “show hospitality” (Rom. 12: 13); we are “not neglecting to meet together” (Heb. 10: 25); we do “good works” (1 Tim. 6: 18); and we “let no corrupting talk come out of [our] mouths” (Eph. 4: 29). We all admit we’ve got our fair share of weaknesses and sins, but we think, on average, we are pretty good Christians. When we include Scripture’s feeling commands in our evaluations, however, the results change. No matter how much we serve or sacrifice, if we don’t feel the emotions God wants us to feel, our acts of service fall short of the obedience he requires. The Israelites’ lack of feeling actually provoked God’s righteous condemnation: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart . . . therefore you shall serve your enemies . . . lacking everything” (Deut. 28: 47– 48). Yikes! God never intended for us to perform our duties grudgingly, without feeling or emotion. He did not create us with the faculty of emotion only to have us leave it out of the Christian life. Rather, God designed our feelings to play a central role in our service to him. (pg. 62-63)
Buy this book for yourself and read through it with your daughters too.
I really enjoyed this little book. It was convicting for me. We complain about the most mundane and normal things in life. Chapter 8 especially was goI really enjoyed this little book. It was convicting for me. We complain about the most mundane and normal things in life. Chapter 8 especially was good about complainers in the church, and also about how parents can handle children who complain. It was excellent. Here is how Macarthur puts it.
“The complaints have become more and more petty over time. Think about the things most people complain about, get anxious over, and even become enraged over. You may feel convicted. I know I’ve been guilty of letting some of these things bother me more than they should. Something as commonplace as a traffic jam can bring on incredible anger. Slow drivers in front of us and people who cut us off can be enough to make us fall back into sin! Talkative people irritate us. Long lines, short lines— any lines— drive us crazy. We want it our way, and we want it now! Think how distressed people become over crying babies. Rather than accepting them as part of life, a terrible brooding discontent has led to a frightening increase in child abuse. Phone calls at inconvenient times, misplaced keys, non-housebroken puppies, stuck zippers, tight clothes, unsuccessful diets, being rushed or interrupted by someone— we get distressed by the biggies, don’t we?”
Beyond just simple worry or complaining, this is a good resource for any who are battling depression or anxiety, even for those who are just plain timid and shy.
“In the Christian life your focal point must be beyond yourself. In fact, the sooner you take your eyes off yourself the better off you will be. I see much harm coming from the current preoccupation with psychotherapy and intensive introspection. We can become so wrapped up watching ourselves that it’s like trying to drive a car while watching the pedals.”
And I have to include this quote just to note that MacArthur addresses often in the book the relationship between an anxious person and the church, or more specifically, the people in the church.
“It’s been well said that the church is the only society in the world in which membership is based on the single qualification that the candidate be unworthy of membership.”
As a teenager and then single adult, I thought organization meant neat shelves and matching totes, and I could actually get all if my work done withouAs a teenager and then single adult, I thought organization meant neat shelves and matching totes, and I could actually get all if my work done without writing a single to do list! I found out life requires much more than that. Reality hit me as a young wife and mother, as a family in full time ministry, and then as a home schooling mom. I wish I had read this book much sooner!
David Allen has been called one of the world’s most influential thinkers on productivity and has been a keynote speaker and facilitator for such organizations as New York Life, the World Bank, the Ford Foundation, L.L. Bean, and the U.S. Navy, and he conducts workshops for individuals and organizations across the country. He is the chairman of the David Allen Company and has more than thirty-five years of experience as a management consultant and executive coach. His work has been featured in Fast Company, Fortune, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.
One must read the book with the understanding that it is a secular book. To the author, the ultimate happiness and fulfillment is from organizing and implementing and realizing your life goals. For the Christian, our ultimate joy comes from being yielded to God’s will. The method is sound, though, and his way of catching whatever input comes your way, directing it to the appropriate place, and acting on it, is tremendously helpful especially for those in ministry with that flexible, often unpredictable schedule.
Here are some concepts that I found most helpful to me: ....
America fought not just one war for independence; it fought two. The War of 1812 threatened to be the downfall of our fledgling nation, but John QuincAmerica fought not just one war for independence; it fought two. The War of 1812 threatened to be the downfall of our fledgling nation, but John Quincy Adams and his wife, Louisa, were instrumental in raising her up from the ashes.
Although the author used simile and metaphor much too much, I still enjoyed the journey through the Adams’s correspondence and diaries. Some of the important points of diplomacy and treaties were witnessed by John Q. Adams. The peace treaty between France & Austria after Napoleon’s war was announced at a diplomatic dinner he attended in Russia. This was the perspective he had. There were extraordinary and historic experiences in St. Petersburg. Who of us wouldn’t be awed at meeting with the royalty of the old Russian Empire? Securing good trade relations via the most magnificent court in all of Europe and Asia was his task. Adams was successful with Alexander just as his father had been with Peter the Great. America was accepted by Russia as a legitimate independent country with good trade relations, a distinct advantage when England was stubbornly trying to bring the whole world to heel. Both Adams and his “Eve” loathed the pomp and costumes of the courts which were so foreign to Americans. Both would rather have been home, but they played the part and won the friendship of one of the most powerful nations in the world.
These were the days of Napoleon’s rule. He was descending from a triumphant general to an avaricious emperor. His policies and greed were beginning to take a toll, not only on France but all of Europe including the great Imperial Russia and British empire….trickling all the way to the fledgling country, America. “Times were changing. Something dark hovered over the horizon. What it was Adams did not yet know” (Pg 220).
Louisa is described as the American Jane Austin. One who often was obliged to play her role as a diplomat’s wife, a politician’s wife, a president’s wife…yet privately yearning for the simplicity of a quiet life with her loving husband and children. She despised the pretentiousness of political intrigue, but at the same time understood the weighty importance of it for their young nation. Interestingly, Louisa was the only other American First Lady besides Melania Trump who was born outside of the US and became a naturalized citizen. She was an extraordinary woman! ....
I enjoy Dorothy Patterson. Her contributions to the complementarian view of womanhood have been invaluable! This book is also a great addition to the I enjoy Dorothy Patterson. Her contributions to the complementarian view of womanhood have been invaluable! This book is also a great addition to the pastor’s wife’s library.
The main body of the book reads like Emily Post’s Guide to Manners. She tells the pastor’s wife how to act and even what to wear and what to say in a variety of ministry areas. Her advice for home life is quite detailed. Perhaps she was just trying to throw out there as many ideas as possible, but I would be overwhelmed if I tried everything she suggests. I felt a little defensive for my own way of conducting home life. For example, she is very structured with her child rearing, and I am not so much. She even devotes a couple of pages to the process of naming your children. However, the reminders of the point of each exercise and habit and tradition was good.
Her Victorian style and suggestions would not work so well in our neck if the woods, and so her belaboring the point was annoying to me. I would rather have enjoyed wrapping my mind around the Biblical precedents and principles for hospitality, rather than wade through her numerous practical suggestions that don’t mean much to me. I think Mrs. Patterson was desirous to be of practical use to new pastor’s wives, but for me it was a lot of mental clutter to wade through.
It is a handbook after all, though. So if I ever need to know the protocol for entertaining formally in our home, I have the book to turn to. I think a lot of her suggestions on gifts and recipes and hospitality ideas could be substituted by using Pinterest these days.
This is really for a pastor’s wife who is starting from square one. Most of the reminders of propriety and appropriateness seemed obvious to me, but I grew up in a ministry family. A wife who never has been around such things may truly need these things spelled out. Where should the pastor’s family sit or stand at a funeral, what kinds of gifts are appropriate, and practical suggestions on how much or how little she should be involved would be helpful to many. I know some pastor’s wives who need to read this! And to be honest I need improvement in some of these areas too. Appropriateness and graciousness is becoming a lost art.
Some sections are written to congregations as admonitions and suggestions in regards to their pastor and his family. I appreciated her addressing the unique challenges of living in a parsonage. I also appreciated her discussion on whether a pastor’s wife should work outside the home and whether that is any business of the church’s. The was a good section on resignations and terminations. She tactfully discusses difficult ministry hurts. Just to know that it has happened before to others and the varying degrees of severity, was soothing and helpful to me.
I loved her answering of dilemmas and philosophical questions. I wish the book spent more time on that, but that’s just me.
“I desire to seek fewer self-fulfilling experiences in exchange for more God-honoring obligations. I want to yield personal rights in exchange for God-given privileges. I want to commit my life to begin my ministry for the Lord in my home, focusing on meeting the needs of my household. I want to renew my efforts to be a helper to my preacher-husband in his God-assigned task. I want to expect great things from my preacher-husband and attempt great things with him. I will gladly spend and be spent in all I do for God as the wife of a preacher (p. 77).
“God does not give any woman a blank slate and tell her to write her own job description—to do as she pleases with her life. She is not simply to consider her gifts and training and make her own choices. Rather, He gives you a road map in Scripture with the fixed boundaries and general guidelines and lots of crossroads with choices to be made. Fortunately, however, He also furnishes a guidance system for finding and redirecting you when you get lost along the way. The Holy Spirit is on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and He always knows your location and the proper destination. If you let Him, He will get you there!” (pg. 158).
The Kindle version was hard to read because of pull out quotes in boxes. The formatting was not so good, so you might want to be aware of that if you are considering purchasing it.
This was a good little book overall, especially for the Type A personality pastor’s wife. For me it seemed like a lot of the author’s struggles withinThis was a good little book overall, especially for the Type A personality pastor’s wife. For me it seemed like a lot of the author’s struggles within her spirit were not my struggles. I wished there was more from my point of view. However, there was a lot here that were good reminders for me.
Positives: - Being (or not being) the cool church. - Strength and power comes from God. - Faithfulness is the goal. - Uniqueness of each individual and individual ministry. - The need for rest. - We don’t need to approval of man, only God’s approval. - The chapter about Friendship was better than I thought. It was not the type of stuff I want to hear or do, but it was good for me. - The chapter “Specifically for Sundays” was …. what I needed.
Negatives: The only negatives were my old annoyance at the author’s concept of grace living or gospel living versus “legalism”. Do we change through effort? Yes. (See my article “It’s a Relationship AND a Religion”.) Also, this kind of writing is such a contrast to the old style writing about sanctification and holiness. While the casual, modern language is enjoyable and easy and quick to read, I find myself wanting to go back to Tozer or Spurgeon for some more depth.
Deb Brammer has done it again. This sequel to “Broken Windows” follows the same vein of wholesome Christian fiction for young adults.
I enjoyed the disDeb Brammer has done it again. This sequel to “Broken Windows” follows the same vein of wholesome Christian fiction for young adults.
I enjoyed the discussion beginning in chapter 10 about relative truth vs absolute truth, and real vs. fake conversion. Deb Brammer demonstrates her thorough understanding of far Eastern thought and the difficulties of cross-cultural communication.
I especially love how normal Christian life* is woven into the story. The main character goes to God for prayer, and his prayers are … normal. Asking Him to give strength and wisdom, leaning on God for direction. It actually caused me to think of situations that I’m facing personally and go to God in prayer myself.
Having studied biblical gender roles, I greatly appreciated the author’s support of complementarianism. Chapter 17, loc 1383. It is interesting to me, too, how issues in introversion and extrovertion and other personality traits affect following God’s plan in one’s life. These characters struggled with how to share their faith and reach out. This story took all of that and showed a young dating couple with struggles and flaws, and made them an example of how to work through it and grow.
So often Christian fiction skirts around these ideals rather than embracing them. It often gives credence to non-biblical philosophies like feminism or egalitarianism, purity issues, and the like, not to mention irregular church attendance, or steady personal devotions, and godly friends. Most fiction I have come across embraces the struggling, weak, or fallen among the Christian community. Not much is out there for the mature believer to identify with. I’m not saying the latter is not needed or even necessary, but there’s a gap in the market for the former. And maybe that is part of why the normal, healthy Christian life is misunderstood and criticized. Chesterton said, “It’s not that the Christian life has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”
Maybe good fiction, like Deb Brammer’s, needs to be tried in more Christian fiction.
This is a must read for every Christian. Andrew Murray’s classic book is written to the believer who findRead more book reviews at MostlySensible.com.
This is a must read for every Christian. Andrew Murray’s classic book is written to the believer who finds it difficult to live a holy Christian life. Murray had a great burden to bring along new Christians and help them to grow spiritually. So he walks the reader through that great passage of John 15, the Vine and the Branches. There are 31 chapters so it can be read in one month at a chapter per day. I read it in connection with my daily devotions. Often I wanted to go further! The Apostle John’s concept of abiding in Christ has always been a challenge and joy to me. I loved following Murray’s train of thought and by the end of the book my prayers were full of confession and renewed desire to die to self and live unto Christ!
Murray reminds the believer that salvation from God is not only effective for our eternal destiny, but for this present life. God saves us from hell, but He also saves us from this wicked generation. The same faith that has saved you will also enable you to forsake sin and lead a holy life.
Here are some quotes that stood out to me from the book. How often do we in America give such excuses for living our lives for Jesus?
"Look not upon a life of holiness as a strain and an effort, but as the natural outgrowth of the life of Christ within you. And let ever again a quiet, hopeful, gladsome faith hold itself assured that all you need for a holy life will most assuredly be given you out of the holiness of Jesus. Thus will you understand and prove what it is to abide in Christ our sanctification" (pp. 38-39).
"Christians are so accustomed to look upon sinning daily as something absolutely inevitable, that they regard it as a matter of course that no one can keep up abiding fellowship with the Savior: we must sometimes be unfaithful and fail. As if it was not just because we have a nature which is naught but a very fountain of sin, that the abiding in Christ has been ordained for us as our only but our sufficient deliverance! As if it were not the Heavenly Vine, the living, loving Christ, in whom we have to abide, and whose almighty power to hold us fast is to be the measure of our expectations! As if He would give us the command, “Abide in me,” without securing the grace and the power to enable us to perform it!" (pp. 53-54).
"As a child, who easily makes himself master of a book, when each day only the lesson for the day is given him, would be utterly hopeless if the whole book were given him at once; so it would be with man, if there were no divisions in time. Broken small and divided into fragments, he can bear them; only the care and the work of each day have to be undertaken–the day’s portion in its day. The rest of the night fits him for making a fresh start with each new morning; the mistakes of the past can be avoided, its lessons improved. And he has only each day to be faithful for the one short day, and long years and a long life take care of themselves, without the sense of their length or their weight ever being a burden" (p. 56).
Martha Peace is a wonderful author for women’s issues, not the least of which is her book, “The Excellent Wife“. She teams up with Pastor Kent Keller Martha Peace is a wonderful author for women’s issues, not the least of which is her book, “The Excellent Wife“. She teams up with Pastor Kent Keller to bring us a book solely devoted to the topic of modesty. The book is geared toward young women in particular, but I think women of all ages can benefit from it.
The emphasis on the heart issues is so refreshing. Although details about specific items of clothing are addressed, by far the priority of the book is to focus on the heart’s attitude toward God and His value of your body. The seriousness of the sin of nakedness and immodesty is clear. Clothing itself does not change a heart, but Keller and Peace are right to point out that “immodesty and sinful people make for an explosive combination” (Loc. 543).
There is a section devoted to parents in particular which is helpful. I am considering reading this book along with my young daughters when they reach puberty. There are discussion questions and a Scripture index that make this book very easy to use in a group setting or individually with your own daughter.
The only caution I would express is the use of the term “legalism”. They define the word as “a sinful way of trying to please God,” and “adding to God’s Word.” (Loc. 1533) The definition I’ve always heard growing up was that legalism is adding to the gospel itself. Trying to earn salvation or keep from losing it by works is true legalism. But these days the circle has been drawn larger so that term, legalism, is now used for anything that leads to that belief, I guess. Piety and striving to please God as a Christian is a good thing, not a bad thing (1 Thess. 4:1; Heb. 11:5-6; Col. 1:10; Gal. 1:10).
** I read this book on my Kindle, hence the denotation of location numbers (Loc.) rather than page numbers.
My book shelf is quickly filling with books from the complementarian point of view of women’s roles, and Ryrie’s book is a great addition. He showed the great worth and dignity that Christianity has given women. The first edition was written in 1979, and this second edition was published in 2011. Some parts of the book took a bit of slow reading without distraction, but it was well worth the time!
Ryrie’s book begins with descriptions of the status of women in Judaism and in Greek and Roman culture and outlines how that differs from Christ’s teaching and relationship with women as well as the early church’s view of women’s roles. Jesus’ ministry was truly a turning point in the life of women. “It was the Lord Himself, who turned the reproach of the unmarried or widowed Jewish woman into reputable service for the Master.” I appreciated in this section Dr. Ryrie’s explanation of the issues of divorce, silence in the church, head coverings, subordination, prophetesses and deaconesses, widows, and virgins. His interpretations of the relevant Scriptures are true to the languages and the common sense of the texts.
The second half of the book traced all of the mentions of women in all of the church writings from the time of the apostles through the 3rd century. This was different that most other books of this genre I’ve read, and I loved it! The writings of Polycarp, Ignatius, Clement, Tertullian, Origen and others are analysed for clues about how the early church viewed women’s roles and how they applied the New Testament to the faithful Christian life. Ryrie’s short overview of each writer’s theology and background was helpful because unlike Scripture, the writings of the early church are jaded by their own human infallibility and philosophies and false doctrines. Having that framework for each writer was helpful to me in that way. The writings reveal how the early church practiced the doctrines of the New Testament and interestingly an office of deaconess is conspicuously absent until halfway through the 3rd century. Rather, “Beyond any question the widow was the outstanding figure throughout the entire first three centuries of the church.” We find the term deaconess only in connection with Phoebe (Rom. 16:1-2) in the New Testament, and Ryrie shows clearly that even in the first centuries of the church, the office of “deaconess” is more of an outgrowth of a well-organized and respected group of widows whose duties were not liturgical but consistent with helping at baptisms of women and visiting the sick and prayer. They did not preach, teach, nor perform any of the ordinances, not even when it involved only women. Notably in these early church writings, widows were not ordained as were bishops/pastors. Throughout these centuries the role of women in the home was the main emphasis of the church. The value of these godly women and their active service in the church was undeniably treasured, but their service was never authoritarian or in conflict with male leadership. Ryrie concludes, “Women workers, yes; women deacons, no.”
Too often the feminist and egalitarian camps try to rewrite church history and read into words like deaconess much more than was intended or described. We need more voices like Ryrie’s speaking in support of the complementarian view of women’s roles, that subordination does not equal inferiority, that ordering of authority and roles is very much defined and expected in Scripture, and that a woman’s godly service and contribution to the church does not require a formal position of authority....more
I added Warren Wiesbe’s bundle of commentaries on The Gospels in his “Be Series” books to my Kindle. Each book is named for its accompanying virtue thI added Warren Wiesbe’s bundle of commentaries on The Gospels in his “Be Series” books to my Kindle. Each book is named for its accompanying virtue that the Bible is calling us to display. “Be Loyal” is the commentary on Matthew, for instance. “Be Dilligent” is Mark. “Be Compassionate” is the first part of Luke, and “Be Courageous” is the second part of Luke. “Be Alive” is the first part of John, and “Be Transformed” is the second part of John. The idea, of course, is that as we learn the Scriptures we are learning how to let the Lord change us on the inside.
Encouraging and helpful, these commentaries deepened my knowledge of the Lord himself as seen in the Gospels. Wiersbe is pretiribulational and premillennial, which helps in our understanding of many of Jesus’ parables and it helps in reconciling the beginning of His ministry with the end of it. It is a great set of books for the lay person, and it is also full of interesting anecdotes and pithy sayings giving it a nice devotional style of writing. Much of it is geared toward some simple applications of the passages rather than a technical explanation of the texts.
I read it in connection with my Bible reading trying to read the whole set of Gospel commentaries as I came to the passage each morning. Each chapter has a set of devotional questions at the end, so it really is geared toward a Bible Study setting or a more in depth devotional time. But that was too much to read for my morning devotion time and turned out to be difficult to read even in an hour’s session. Unless you have a good hour and a half or so each day, you won’t be able to keep up with a Through the Bible reading schedule. However, it would be a handy volume to have at the ready as you read through the gospels at a slower pace. I am looking forward to using his other Be Series books in the future.
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I enjoy reading biographies. It is always a fascinating thing to find out what makes a persRead more book reviews at my link text">MostlySensible.com.
I enjoy reading biographies. It is always a fascinating thing to find out what makes a person tick. Abigail Santamaria very thoroughly researched the life of Joy Davidman Gresham, the woman who captivated C.S. Lewis as the subtitle states.
Now I know why many of Lewis’s friends did not like Joy. They were intrigued by her and so was I, but she would have been a difficult person to get along with. She explored and immersed herself in all the things that I would avoid, Communism, Dianetics (the precursor to Scientology), drinking, and other worldly pastimes. She was a seeker. The author sees her “journey” to Christianity as a person seeking paradise, but being fooled too often by a false heaven.
The world of writers and writing guilds was interesting to read as she struggled to make ends meet as an author. I was most disappointed with her failure as a mother. Her children suffered much as a result of her focus on writing and selfish pursuits. She first became enamored with C.S. Lewis after reading his novel, The Great Divorce. Lewis captured the minds of many intellectuals of his era. He pointed them to Christianity in a venue that they understood. Perhaps her difficult childhood coupled with her brilliant mind explains her stinging personality. And maybe that’s why in the end she needed another brilliant mind to fully understand her. Lewis and his brother enjoyed her because she was unpretentious and open with them, some would say rude and crude, but the brothers had had their fill of disingenuous admirers. She was refreshing to them. I would have to assume that even though she went to England to beguile Lewis, he must have known she had fallen for him long before he fell in love with her.
Part of me feels sorry for Joy that her life was so turbulent and difficult, but then again, she brought a lot of it on herself. I’m not sure if she truly came to know Christ as Savior in the end, but she did convert to Anglicanism. The biographer doesn’t go into those kind of details that I’d be interested in, and neither did C.S. Lewis in his writings for that matter. I would like to assume that both of them accepted Christ as their Savior. After all, she was a tremendous influence on three of his works, Surprised by Joy (not about her, but rather about topics that brought them together), ‘Til We Have Faces, and The Four Loves (one of my favorites). So who knows? Maybe we’ll see Joy in heaven one day....more
Recommending this kitchen essential is easy for me. It’s a New York Times Bestseller, and it’s no wonder. I will never get rid of this cookbook! It’s been updated since I bought this on a whim at Sam’s Club for a little more than $10.00. During a very busy stage in life with little time for meal preparation, my slow cooker was a life-saver, and not just for Sunday dinners but for every occasion. When the day is going to be a busy one, a crockpot meal is the way to go. It’s easy and most recipes are hearty and filling and I didn’t have to worry about burning anything.
These recipes were compiled from real favorites from avid slow cooker users. You get to see the name of the contributor and where they’re from at the top of each recipe. Many of them are Amish or Mennonite recipes, so you know they are good! Not only was it a help to me to get some meals started, but it also educated me! As I look back on my cooking skills now (10 years removed from being a newlywed), the book has helped me learn how to make a big hunk of meat taste good. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.
Fix-it and Forget-it is different from most cookbooks in that many recipes use very similar ingredients that it almost seems redundant. More than 700 recipes from appetizers, breakfast food, breads, soups, main dishes, side dishes, beverages, and desserts. It seemed odd to me at first to have five or ten recipes for beef stew and thirty recipes for baked beans. How many ways can you make stew? Well apparently, there are several ways. The author helps you out by grouping similar recipes together. There have been many times that I didn’t have much in the pantry, but I knew a bit about how to throw the ingredients together because of this cookbook.
So for me, when I’m searching for a recipe for the crockpot, I look for the ingredients I have on hand and go from there. Let’s say I have ground beef and some carrots, potatoes, tomato sauce, a can of beans and some other pantry basics. I look in the main dish section where the beef recipes are, and I would also look in the Soups & Stews & Chilis section. Then I’ll look to see what kinds of foods go well with those ingredients and in what portions. I look at what kinds of seasonings are used. I look for what kind of thickener is used, what kind of starch, etc. Often, my own recipe is not exactly like any one recipe in the book, but it’s a compilation of several.
A HINT: To adjust amounts for your family size, just remember that a slow cooker works best when it is filled at least 3/4 of the way up. Most of the recipes in the book are for large slow cookers for large families. You could halve most of the recipes to fit in a medium sized crockpot, which is what I do for us often.
Get the book and use it. The book comes in a Kindle version, but I really like my comb-binder edition. I’m planning to purchase the other editions as well. There’s one for diabetics, one for light-cooking, one that is just with 5-ingredients or less, and more. Definitely worth the money, and I don’t usually say that about cookbooks!...more
Now THIS is Christian fiction. Deb Brammer had me at the first chapter, and I’m not just saying that. I don’t read a whole lot of fiction these days, Now THIS is Christian fiction. Deb Brammer had me at the first chapter, and I’m not just saying that. I don’t read a whole lot of fiction these days, but I’ve loved Deb’s articles and helps for small church ministry on her blog, www.DebBrammer.com. Her books are an extension of her widespread and faithful ministry. “Broken Windows” is recognizable to me. These are the situations and conversations that I am familiar with. These are the people that I know and love in churches and Christian homes and colleges all over the nation. Deb weaves through her stories an uncanny way to my own issues I’ve dealt with either in the past or right now.
You’ll have to look elsewhere if you are looking for the typical Christian romance or mystery (which really could have been written by an unbeliever). Her characters include the struggling missionary family whose supporting churches are dropping their support because they don’t see enough “results”, the MK who doesn’t want anything to do with the ministry, the twenty-something single girl who is a bit pushy and annoying yet on fire for the Lord but can’t find God’s will for her life, the lukewarm Christian, the Christan families and church members who help or hinder along the way, and if course, the mysterious bad guy.
The surprise comes in finding out which character does the most for the cause of Christ. Read it! Then read the second book, “Deja Who?”
Edges of Truth is a true story of a woman falsely convicted of murder. I love real life crime stories, and this really satisfied my appetite for it. IEdges of Truth is a true story of a woman falsely convicted of murder. I love real life crime stories, and this really satisfied my appetite for it. I was swept up in the story of injustice and redemption and couldn’t put the book down! The issue of shaken baby syndrome is explored as well as the difficulties of the legal system. Although there are a lot of legal and medical details, Deb Brammer brings the reader along easily. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Deb Brammer is a missionary wife serving with her husband under Baptist Mid Missions. She is an incredible author both for adults and children. She also writes puppet plays and church programs especially geared toward small churches. So I love that!
Art & Deb Brammer wrote this companion Bible Study book to go along with the story of Mary Weaver, ".I Survived: 5 Bible Characters Who Survived Disasters". Though the study can be done without the novel, it really does dovetail well with it. I especially appreciated chapter 7 and the discussion about the role of hardships. The Brammers make an important distinction between hardship and sin.
“Hardship produces spiritual growth, but sin hinders progress and makes a Christian ineffective.”
(This Review can be read at MostlySensible.com J. Warner Wallace is a homicide detective who brings us along in his book as he questions the claims of (This Review can be read at MostlySensible.com J. Warner Wallace is a homicide detective who brings us along in his book as he questions the claims of Christianity and uses his skills to investigate the validity of the faith. I love a good mystery, and many of my friends shake their heads at my fascination with real-life murder mysteries. The truth is always much more interesting to me than fiction. Wallace walks the reader through the steps of investigation. Not only was I impressed with his credentials as an L.A. homicide detective, but also with the logic that is needed to prove a case! What does a circumstantial case mean? How can we be certain that the Bible is true and that the writers, especially the New Testament writers, really saw the resurrected Jesus? His explanation of what the chain of custody means to the validity of Biblical texts was especially interesting. What about biased witnesses?
Truth will be logical. The Bible is truth, and God is a God of Truth. Apologetics is a worthy study for any Christian for this reason. I appreciated very much Wallace’s explanation that agreeing with the truth (assensus) is not full faith. True believing faith entrusts (fiducia) the Lord with his soul based on that truth. Read it!...more
This book was reviewed at MostlySensible.com. I loved this book. Susan Cain retraces her steps as she researched the introverted personality. It seems This book was reviewed at MostlySensible.com. I loved this book. Susan Cain retraces her steps as she researched the introverted personality. It seems introversion and extroversion are innate in our personalities. She points to our past conduct guides like Pilgrim’s Progress “which warned readers to behave with restraint if they wanted to make it into heaven.” (Not exactly Bunyan’s point, but that’s how she interprets it.) Yet in our current American culture, extroversion is the ideal. Interestingly, she mentions trends in today’s churches. “Evangelicalism has taken the Extrovert ideal to its logical extreme…If you don’t love Jesus out loud, then it must not be real love….it must be displayed publicly.” This trend may be changing with books like, Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture. I like following her train of thought when she asks, “to what degree is temperament destiny?” After all, though a Bill Gates may be in the spotlight often and handle himself well, he will never be a Bill Clinton who loves the spotlight. I loved her thorough research in that regard. Another helpful chapter dealt with human interactions and especially for marriages in which an extrovert marries an introvert. That was good.
The danger in this kind of book is that I found myself as a believer thinking too much of myself and my needs whether real or perceived. The same Bible is given to all of us introverts and extroverts with the same commands and exhortations. To be fair, Susan Cain would not advocate exalting self, but rather finding what is important and then using your strengths to accomplish the task. I suppose that’s what I do on a daily basis. Consider her conclusion: “Love is essential. Gregariousness is not…..” I think her main thrust is to educate the readers, but also to find ways to feed your own soul do you can accomplish what is important to you. Indeed, the Bible does teach us to rest and come away for prayer and study. In that sense, instrospection is good. But in a secular book, as always, the answers she finds are in this world and in the world you create for yourself. Contrast that with these biblical concepts: “Love not the world neither the things in the world” (1 John 2:15), or “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it:and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26). In the end, the strength we find comes from the Lord, not from our surroundings or our ability to arrange our circumstances.
For myself, I’d rather not take this book as a “know thyself” self-help book, but rather I could use it as a study in anthropology as we reach out to others. It was an exercise in evaluating strengths and weaknesses. As a Christian, as a ministry worker, we ought to do our best to engage and serve people of both stripes. To give to others in a meaningful way, it helps to know them. I hope there’s a book out there somewhere about extroverts. Lest I think too highly of my introverted self, I think I need to go read an Elisabeth Eliot book now....more
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