Ladies and Theology

I just finished my second reading of Jen Wilkin's None Like Him.  If you recall, I did a book review of this at the beginning of the year.  I appreciated this book so much that I wanted to do a second reading of it.  This time, I was also blessed with a group of ladies who read along with me and discussed it together.  After my second reading, I like this book even more.  There is just so much theological truth to it! 

As a leader of ladies Bible studies and the one who is responsible for selecting the material we study, I often find myself at the Christian bookstore (online, usually) browsing through the studies geared towards women.  I flip through the best-sellers, the hot new releases, and the books I have heard recommended by others.  More often than not, I am disappointed by the lack of depth to these studies.  Many are mainly self-help books with Scripture sprinkled throughout.  I get it.  We ladies are drawn to these touchy-feely studies.  By divine design, we tend to be emotive rather than logical.  That is a good thing!  But sometimes, we need to put forth the hard work and feed that weaker logical drive within us.  By doing so, we will be better grounded, better equipped to face everyday life.

The irony of studying theology is that this logical study drives our emotional response.  The Holy Spirit actually uses it to transform how we think about ourselves and therefore how we live.  As Scott Sauls writes, "Loveliness, or holiness, or the fruit of the Spirit, or whatever we are going to call it, will not grow in us when we seek it directly.  It is not fruit we should be seeking; it is Jesus".  Choose to seek Jesus.  Choose to study Him.  Put forth the hard work of thinking through the things taught in Scripture.  It truly is life-changing.

Theology does not have to be dry or boring.  It does not have to be something only scholars dig into.  By God's grace, He has revealed Himself to the everyday person like you and me.  But it does take effort, and there are many great resource available to assist us in our learning.

Full disclosure:  I am not an expert on this by any means.  I struggle as well.  This hard work is fairly new to me.  But it is completely worth the effort.

Book Review: Truths We Confess

R.C. Sproul's Truths We Confess is an exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith.  Originally published as a 3-volume set in 2006-2007, it has now been combined and re-released in this one-volume edition.  Though the 720 pages of theologically-rich material may seem daunting, I challenge you to consider a slow and thorough reading of this book.

In his foreword, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson explains the importance of the Westminster Confession to the everyday Christian.  "The Westminster Confession of Faith

was written not to be dissected by academics but to guide the church and to instruct Christians and help them grasp the structure of the gospel.  It does for us what, sadly, is no longer done as a matter of course either in the church or in the educational system: it teaches us first principles, and it shows us how to think through everything in light of them."

Sproul writes, "The Westminster Confession is the most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity ever set forth in a creedal form."  He goes on to explain the 33 tenets of the confession in a format that is accessible to the lay reader.  Each tenet is listed at the beginning of a chapter, then broken down and further explained throughout the chapter.  Appendices contain the full content of both the larger and shorter Westminster Catechism.

It is important to note that Sproul writes from a Reformed background, explaining a Reformed confession.  While I do not agree with the view of baptism presented, most other chapters were consistent with my Baptist/Bible church beliefs.

This very thorough book is best taken in small sections.  This might best be read as a reference when studying different doctrines, or a challenge to read one chapter a week over the course of time.  In full transparency, I am not yet finished reading this book myself.  My survey thus far has given me confidence to recommend this book and to finish reading it in the future.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Upcycle Craft: Onesie to Headband

My daughters and I have developed a bit of an obsession with headbands lately.  In order to support this habit of ours, I learned how to make the headbands from Jersey fabric, rather than buy them from an area retailer.  Then I started thinking...what about using baby onesies to make the headbands?  I searched online but could not find a pattern for what I wanted.  So I developed my own to share with you.

Total time for this project was about 15 minutes.  I bought my onesie from a consignment store, so total cost was $.80.

First, lay out your onesie and cut a straight line from under one armpit, to under the armpit on the opposite side.

Determine how wide you want your headband to be, double that number, and add 1/2 inch for seam allowance.  I wanted a 3-inch headband, similar to those sold at our area retailer, so I cut 6.5 inches down from my first cut.

Turn onesie inside out, and cut off one seam.

Once cut and spread open, my 6-month onesie measured approximately 17 inches long, with a seam in the middle.  If you want a looser fitting headband, be sure to use a bigger sized onesie.  Also, as you will see further down, it is very easy to adjust this headband for a smaller size.

Fold this fabric lengthwise, with right sides together.  Make sure your onesie seam lines up in the middle, and using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, sew along the length of the fabric.

I used a ballpoint needle and a zigzag stitch, to allow for stretching.

Turn headband right-sided out.  Line up your sewn seam so it is centered on the back side of the headband.  Iron seam.

Fold headband in half width-wise, with front sides together.  Your rough edges will be lined up.

Take the fabric on the end with the rough edges, and fold it toward the middle of your fabric, meeting at the center seam. Your top layer will be closer together than the bottom layer, as shown.

 Sew in place, and trim to reduce bulk.

Flip headband right-sided out.  The seam you just created will be neatly tucked inside.  This is the back of your headband.  This is the point where you can try your headband for fit.  If it is too loose, simply repeat the previous step and cut off the extra!

The front of your headband will have a vertical seam directly down the middle.

Using a needle and thread, make a running stitch down the front vertical seam.

Pull your thread tight at the end to cinch the fabric.  Repeat, and tie off thread to secure.

That's it!  Find yourself a cute little model, and enjoy your handiwork.  (Yes, these fit adults as well!)

Book Review: A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night

A.W. Tozer's A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night, is drawn from a sermon series preached by the author.  Each chapter begins with a prayer and ends with a hymn.  Between, there is discussion of how God led the Israelites with a literal cloud by day and a literal fire by night, and parallels of how He leads those in His church today.

Ideally, this book could be used as a devotional.  Though I did not agree with all Tozer had to say, I did find many statements of truth that were encouraging and challenging.

Overall, I found this book to be "okay".  It was one that I looked forward to reading at first, then had to force myself to finish.  My rating may have been influence by the long span of time spent reading the book.  However, this is not one I would be likely to recommend to others.

Rachel's Rating:
★★☆☆☆

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bedtime Musings

It is not yet dark outside, as I lay on the floor of my boys' bedroom between their two toddler-sized racecar beds.  Each of my hands holds a chubby, clammy hand of a 4 year-old boy.  I sing to two of the few people I allow to hear my true singing voice, "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father..."

"START OVER!!!" interrupts a frustrated voice.  "I want to sing with you!"

"Great is Thy faithfulness..." I begin, again.  I am joined by one voice, but the other is silent.

"I WASN'T READY!"  This time he kicks his legs and pouts.  "Start from the beginning!"

One more time, I begin.  "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father".  Two sweet voices join me, and the cute way they mispronounce several of the words tugs at my heart.  How long will they go on talking the way they do?  I love it.  We continue singing, but it is not long before one voice drops out again.  I am towards the end of the song already, singing, "All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided", when that voice interrupts again.  "WAIT!  Start from the beginning!  I'm not singing!"

This time, I don't start from the beginning.  This time, I finish the song and tell him we are done singing.  I am still holding his hand, as I repeatedly tell him to be quiet.  Nothing stops him.  Punishment proves to be ineffective.  It takes me awhile, but I finally realize he needs to be held.  I pick him up from his bed, sit with my back against the wall, kiss his head and explain that we will try again next time.  He cries and snuggles closer.  I sway back and forth, and if I stop, he moves his own body back and forth to prompt me to continue that motion.  Soon, his cries turn to sighs.  His eyes start to droop.  I rub his back with one hand as I continue to hold his brother's hand with the other.  He looks in my eyes and smiles, then closes his eyes one last time and falls asleep.

I sit there, rocking my boy and remembering.  We have done this so many times, this snuggle and rock routine.  But it has been awhile, and his long torso barely fits against me anymore.  I shed a tear, as I think that this could be the last time I rock my boy to sleep.

"It's my turn now?" his brother asks.  As it usually goes with twins, boy number two needs the same treatment boy number one got.  I take the first and clumsily move him to his bed.  He wakes and looks at me, saying, "I didn't want you to do that.  I want you to hold me more."  Then he closes his eyes and is asleep again.

Boy number two is all smiles as he climbs on my lap.  He finds a comfy spot, and I sway side-to-side.  I rub his back and hold him close, taking in the scent of his hair and the way he grabs my neck and holds me tight.  He looks and me and says with a sleepy voice, "I love you".  He pushes back and holds my face between his hands, then carefully places sloppy boy-kisses on my cheek, then my forehead, then the tip of my nose.  We both laugh, knowing this is what I usually do to him at bedtime.  Then he settles in again, and as I rock, he quickly falls asleep.

I hold this sleeping boy...this last baby of mine...and I pray.  I pray that as my boys grow, they will learn to seek God first.  I pray that they would take after their namesakes, following what God instructs them to do regardless of what others around them do.

I kiss my sleeping boy one last time.  Then, having learned from boy number one, I more gracefully transfer this boy to his bed.  He sleeps through the movement, and I sneak out of their room.

Once in the hallway, I shed another tear.  But this time, I also smile.  I am no longer thinking of how this might be the last time I got to rock my boys to sleep.  I simply feel blessed.  I got to rock my boys to sleep again.

Book Review: 5 Minutes in Church History

Stephen Nichols' 5 Minutes in Church History is a book comprised of 40 short chapters about
important people, events, or locations in church history.  These brief overviews, or "postcards" as Nichols refers to them, give the highlights of church history through the Early Church, the Middle Ages, the Reformation, and into the Modern Age.

Why study church history?  Nichols writes, "In church history, we see men and women facing challenges not unlike the challenges before us today.  We look back and we learn.  We also learn from the mistakes and missteps of the past.  And, though it is a cliché, learning can be fun."

As a person who does not have a good sense of history in general, this book was full of insight for me.  I had heard of Polycarp, Canterbury, and Robinson Crusoe.  But I did not know how they played a role church history.  Through this book, I have gained a general knowledge of important people and places in church history.  Through this book, my desire to know more about church history has grown, causing my "to-read" list to grow!

Of course, a book about church history also includes many quotable writers and preachers.  I was especially impressed, encouraged, and challenged by William Ames' view of theology.  Summarizing Ames' beliefs about theology, Nichols writes, "Theology is not just thinking toward God; theology is living toward God....The end of theology is worship.  Theology is doxology."  Again summarizing Ames, Nichols writes, "Theology is the good life and theology is happiness.  You want the good life?  You want happiness?  Be a theologian."  What a challenge for all of us.

This book gives a great overview of church history.  Stephen Nichols is also the host of a podcast by the same name.  I look forward to learning more from him in the future!

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★☆

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: In His Image

I am participating in an adult summer reading program.  For this program, I am required to read a book from several suggested categories.  One of those categories is, "A book I have been wanting to read for far too long".  For this category, I chose Jen Wilkin's In His Image.

After reading Wilkin's None Like Him, I was excited to read In His Image and explore the characteristics of God that He has called us to reflect.  Wilkin introduces this study by addressing the concept of seeking God's will for our lives.  She reminds us that though many people question God's will for their lives, truly, "If Scripture teaches us anything, it is this: God is always more concerned with the decision-maker than he is with the decision itself."  She points out that "the questions 'What should I do?' and 'Who should I be?' are not unrelated.  But the order in which we ask them matters.  If we focus on our actions without addressing our hearts, we may end up merely as better behaved lovers of self."  This book prompts us to address our hearts.

During the following ten chapters, Wilkin gives an overview of ten characteristics of God.  I loved how she ended each chapter with the question, "What is the will of God for your life", answered with a summary of how to live out that chapter's godly characteristic.  Her thoughts were practical and applicable.
 
In His Image is definitely a book to re-read.  In my excitement to add another title to my summer reading list, I read this book quickly.  This is a book to which I will return and read more in-depth in the future.  The verses for meditation and questions for reflection at the end of the chapter make this a book that could easily be used as a Bible study.  As with Wilkin's other writings, this book is profitable for building and shaping one's theology.  I would recommend this book to women of all ages and stages of life.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★

Book Review: Letting Go of the Need to be Right

In Letting Go of the Need to be Right, Jeff Dollar shares his personal experience of discovering the need for humility.  This autobiography is marketed as a self-help book, but contains mostly stories about Dollar's personal experience, with a minimal amount of questions for self-reflection at the end of each chapter.

Dollar and I differ drastically in our doctrine, and that became very obvious the further I read in this book.  His charismatic background provided the basis for much of his self-reflection, and that was something to which I could not relate.  While his life story was interesting, this book fell short for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:
★★☆☆☆

Book Review: Misquoted

Misquoted: Rethinking Commonly Misused Bible Verses.  This title grabbed my attention, and I was eager to read what Dan Suelzle had to share.  As a pastor's wife, a leader of ladies' Bible studies, and a student of the Bible, I have repeatedly been reminded of the importance of context, especially when it comes to Scripture.  To pull Scripture out of context can at best make us look silly or uneducated, and at worst, misrepresent God Himself.

I appreciate the layout of Suelzle's book.  He begins by reminding the reader that the Bible is about Jesus, not us.  All of Scripture points to Jesus, and in order to read the Bible in context, we must keep this in mind.

After laying this foundation, Suelzle continues on to address several often-misquoted passages of Scripture.  He asks his reader to first consider the claim that is being made when one quotes a verse.  What is that person actually claiming Scripture says?  Second, consider the true, actual context of that verse in order to determine if the claim being made is valid.  Finally, consider the comfort that comes with finding a right, contextual understanding of the verse.

While I appreciate this approach and completely agree with it, I was surprised to find that I disagreed with one of his interpretations.  In fact, the stance he takes on the passage in question is not even a common one.  Ironic, considering this book was written to clarify misquoted Scripture.

Suelzle's book holds a lot of value.  His process is a good one, and Christians would do well to learn from this.  Context must always be considered when reading Scripture, and this book is helpful for reminding Christians to slow down, consider what is being claimed, consider the context of the verse this claim is based on, and then take comfort in the right, contextual understanding of the verse.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★☆☆

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Book Review: Over the Line

Gabriella is a former lawyer-turned chef, who finds herself in the middle of drama she never anticipated.  After a young man dies at her feet, Gabby discovers her brother is missing.  With the help of her former ex-fiance Eli, Gabby is determined to find her brother.

Many barriers lie ahead.  Will Gabby be able to trust Eli and forgive him for the past?  Can they work together to find Jake?  And will they live to tell the tale?

Kelly Irvin's fast-paced novel, Over the Line, is set to release June 11, 2019.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★☆☆

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Forever Friends

My kids tell me they are not allowed to have best friends.  Apparently, their teachers discourage this.  I cannot say whether I agree with this mindset or not.  People are going to have friends who are closer than others, and that is unavoidable.  Kids' feelings are easily hurt though, so I can support the effort to not label friendships as "best" and isolate others.  Still...I want my kids to have best friends.  I want them to grow up with people they will remain close to for a lifetime.

I grew up with several close friends.  For the fun of it, let's rename them according to their personalities.  There was Sweet Intelligent, Cute Quiet, and Sporty Super.  We all grew up in the same church.  That was our common ground.  Otherwise, we had so many differences.

Sweet Intelligent was homeschooled, the second oldest of 7 kids, enjoyed writing plays, and was wise beyond her years.  She studied her Bible.  She thought deep thoughts.  She impressed all of us.  She was supportive of her friends and had a gentle way of correcting us when necessary.  It was difficult to get mad at Sweet Intelligent.  Her personality hasn't changed much 20 years later.  She is now the mom of 5 (soon to be 6), married to her high school sweetheart, and still as impressive as always.  She is still thinking those deep thoughts.  I don't see her as often as I would like.  We are busy moms, with 5 hours of travel time between us.  But she is my friend, and I can go to her with anything.

Cute Quiet was homeschooled through junior high.  She then joined me at my Christian high school, and I do not know if she talked at all that first year of school.  At school, Cute Quiet was unsure of herself, timid, and scared of people.  Ironically, inwardly and at church, she was confident and unafraid to stand for what she believed.  Cute Quiet's "church" personality has become her all-around personality now, 20 years later.  She is confident and willing to speak up when necessary.  She met a guy shortly after high school, fell in love, and married him.  They have 2 boys, whom she homeschools.  Cute Quiet moved south, and I moved north, so even more distance separates us.  But again, she is my friend.  She understands my life more than most, having been a pastor's wife herself.

Sporty Super went to public school in a different town than me, then to the same Christian high school as myself.  Sporty Super was a spit-fire.  She was always playing sports and repeatedly got in fights with the boys in the church gym.  She was competitive as could be.  She had something about her though, that drew people to her.  Somehow, she got special treatment from (seemingly) everyone.  People gave her stuff.  They catered to her.  She was fun.  She was funny.  She was kind to everyone (except when playing basketball) and she loved the Lord.  Her personality has not changed these past 20 years, but she has tamed her childhood temper.  Kids love her, and she is so great with them.  She now makes a living playing sports with kids!

The common thread between myself and these girls was simply our love for the Lord and our attendance at the same church from childhood through college.  We are so very different.  But whenever we get together, there is a lot of laughter and very little judgment. 

As an adult, I now realize how rare these friendships are.  I assumed all other people had this experience of lifelong friends.  But no, not all.

I recently had someone comment to me that she knew I wanted friends that had things in common with me.  It's true, I do.  We all do.  Common ground is necessary for developing friendships.  But as Christians, we already have common ground.  We already have the tie of Christ as our Savior and the desire to grow in love for Him that bring us together.  Those other differences in personalities and interests can be beautiful reminders of God's creative work in our lives.  Sweet Intelligent inspires me to read my Bible more.  Cute Quiet reminds me to slow down and think before I speak.  Sporty Super encourages me to be gentle and patient with my children.

I want my children to have friends like these.  I want them to be encouraged by other believers' common ground and challenged by their differences.  I want them to have friends who are faithful through time and distance.  And I want them to remember that lifelong friendships can develop at any age.

Book Review: Final Word

The Bible is under attack.  This truth is the title of the opening chapter of John MacArthur's Final Word: Why We Need the Bible.  Throughout this book, MacArthur unpacks the nuances his title implies. 

He begins by showing how Satan's primary tool is deception.  Since his first appearance in Scripture, Satan has twisted God's word and implied that it should be "questioned, evaluated, and judged".  MacArthur gives examples of modern critics of God's Word, showing how His Word is still under attack today. 

To combat these attacks, believers must be grounded in fundamental doctrine.  MacArthur spends two chapters teaching of the Bible's truth and authority.  The Bible is rational truth, containing actual history about real people.  Believers are meant to understand Scripture through carefully reasoned study.  The Bible is also authoritative, eliminating any need to seek subjective interpretation of Scripture. 

MacArthur uses the book of 1 John to explain spiritual growth and how one matures in Christ.  He teaches how believers progress from cognition of God's Word, to conviction, then to affection.  MacArthur clearly portrays the Bible as the catalyst of spiritual growth.  It is only through careful study of God's Word and the working of the Holy Spirit that this growth is achieved.

MacArthur further explains how the Bible is central to faithful ministry.  He uses Scripture to explain how the job of a pastor is to protect the truth of Scripture, warn people of error, and to teach faithfully.  Finally, he teaches how believers can rekindle a love for God's Word.

MacArthur's words are true and pertinent to Christians today.  MacArthur emphasizes that there are no short-cuts in learning God's Word.  He warns against any who might teach otherwise.  This sufficiency of Scripture is the focus of MacArthur's book, and it is a truth that is fundamental for the growth of all Christians.  As MacArthur writes, "If we want to experience the supernatural work of God in our lives, we must understand that the Holy Spirit makes it happen only through His Word.  There is no other means He has ordained, no momentary emotional or existential experience that can catapult us to some higher level of spiritual maturity.  We cannot set aside our Bibles and expect His sanctifying work to continue uninterrupted.  God saved us through the power of His Word, and its work is not finished.  We need to increase our hunger for His truth, knowing that it is the sole source of our spiritual lives and the only means through which the Spirit conforms us into the image of His Son."

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★

What We Say Matters

I grew up with the erroneous idea that what I said was not important.  I could tease my friends, make fun of other people, berate myself, and this was okay.  After all, I was just Rachel.  Nobody really took anything I said seriously.  I did not have the power to hurt anyone.

How I got to this point is rather a mystery to me, and perhaps one day I will explore that further and try to understand.  The point is, I truly believed that.  This was not a false modesty or an excuse to avoid consequences of my actions.  I honestly believed that what I said did not matter.  Obviously, I was completely wrong, and I had to be shown and told that numerous times before I actually believed it.

Rachel, age 18

I remember one Christmas, we were in the living room as a family, and I was teasing my mom about something.  Now, anyone who knows my mom knows her strength.  Her name means "whole", "entire", or "complete one", and it is absolutely fitting for her character.  She put up with a lot from me as a teenager, and I never thought she was hurt by any of it.  But this day, I was teasing her mercilessly about something.  She looked at me and said in complete frustration, "WHY are you so mean to me?"  I was shocked.  I headed to my room in tears, ashamed and embarrassed.  I had hurt my mom?  How did that happen?  My mother, my rock, the complete one, was hurt by something I had said?  It didn't make sense to me.

I think I remember that scene so vividly, because it was the beginning of a change in thinking for me.  If I could hurt my mom by what I said, maybe my words were important after all.  Maybe the exhortation to, "let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29) applied to me after all.

It seems the sins we struggle with in childhood are often the sins we struggle with in adulthood.  Even after all these years, I sometimes still find myself thinking that it doesn't really matter what I say.  I'm just Rachel.  Nobody really takes me seriously.  But oh, that could not be further from the truth.  I have seen countless times the results of letting my guard down and speaking unwisely and uncaringly to friends.  The words I say have the potential to do such damage.  As the book of James so poetically states, "...the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.  How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.... It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

May the God who made us out of dust, who grants us salvation, who sustains us, also grant us wisdom to watch our words.  May He help us see that what we say matters.  And may He help us speak lovingly, kindly, and humbly to those around us.

Book Review: Devotedly, the Personal Letters and Love Story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot

Devotedly, The Personal Letters and Love Story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, was an inspiring and encouraging book to read.  Written by their only  daughter, Valerie Elliot Shepard, this book ties together 5 years of journal entries and letters between Jim and Elisabeth.

I was surprised to learn the details of Jim and Elisabeth's love story.  I wrongly assumed they were like (seemingly) every other couple: finding attraction, dating, falling in love, and deciding to marry.  Their beautiful love story was nothing like this.

What I found so encouraging as I read, was their obvious love for the Lord and their longing to follow Him above all else.  When this meant keeping quiet about their love for each other, they did so.  When this meant staying in one place, while their hearts were in another, they did so.  Yet in all of this beautiful striving to follow God, Jim and Elisabeth were merely two faulted humans.  They struggled in their faithfulness.  They had their quarrels and said their share of regrettable things to each other.  I was so thankful that their daughter did not omit these details in an effort to make her parents look more righteous.  On the contrary, Shepard wrote, "Don't think of my parents as perfect.  They weren't.  Don't think of their relationship as perfect.  It wasn't.  See them as two people - a man and a woman - who willingly invited God to direct their lives His own way.  God is the One doing things perfectly here in their story, even amid disaster, even after many years of testing and waiting, of separation and struggle."

As I read, I was struck by the beautiful way both Jim and Elisabeth wrote.  They were both obviously intelligent people, who loved poetry and the act of writing.  I am so glad they kept journals and kept the letters they wrote to each other.  What a gift they had for the written word!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading an encouraging love story.  Jim and Elisabeth faced many trials in their lives, but God was faithful, just as He is to all of us.  I trust this book will challenge you as it did for me.  As Shepard wrote concerning her parents, "May you take from their real lives the confidence and trust that God has designed you, too, for noble service in His kingdom, as you surrender to Him, obey Him, and daily learn to let Him lead where He alone is able to take you.  Lo, He is your God.  Wait on Him, devotedly."

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★

Book Review: The Tinderbox

Beverly Lewis' The Tinderbox is a story of a young Amish girl named Sylvia.  Sylvia shares a special bond with her father, but she learns a secret about his past that could change everything.

Sylvia faces the dilemma of whether to share her knowledge with her father or keep quiet.  Will her relationship with her father ever be the same?  How will others be affected if this secret is shared?

The book ends with more questions.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it is released in September, 2019.

*Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating
 ★★★★☆

Book Review: Grace Defined and Defended

Kevin DeYoung's Grace Defined and Defended is an in-depth study of the Synod of Dort.  Until I read this book, I had never even heard of the Synod of Dort.  The byline of the book title clarifies a bit:  What a 400-Year-Old Confession Teaches Us about Sin, Salvation, and the Sovereignty of God.
 

The Synod of Dort was held in Dordrecht, Netherlands from November, 1618 to May, 1619.  Leaders of the Reformed Church met 154 times between those dates, to settle controversies that had arisen due to the increasing belief in Arminianism.  During that time, they wrote The Canons of Dort, which included five main points.  The first concerned divine election and reprobation; the second, Christ's death and human redemption through it; the third and fourth, human corruption and how we convert to God; and the fifth, perseverance of the saints.
 

There is much value in reading this book and learning the nuances of Calvinism.  As DeYoung states, "We live in an age where passion is often considered an adequate substitute for precision."  The Canons of Dort are very specific, very detailed, and very clear in explanation.  DeYoung asserts the value in reading these confessions, and offers this thought:  "Many of us, even Christians, have little patience for rigorous thinking and little interest in careful definition.  We emote better than we reason, and we describe our feelings better than we define our words, which is one reason we need to study old confessions written by dead people....[Early theologians] were relentlessly passionate about doctrinal truth.  They cared about definitions.  And they cared about precision.  Praise God, they cared enough to be careful."

Written in a way that a layperson can understand, Grace Defined and Defended contains the articles written at the synod, with DeYoung's explanation following each.  Though theologically rich, this was not difficult to read. 

I would recommend this book to fellow believers.  There is much to learn and understand , both for those who are Reformed in their theology and those who are not. 

*Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★

Book Review: It's Not Supposed to Be This Way

It's Not Supposed to be This Way.  What a great book title!  The Bible tells us that God created the world good.  Lamentably, with the first sin in the garden of Eden, everything changed.  The heartache, the disappointment, the trials that are now faced by every human in life?  This is not how God created things.  It's not supposed to be this way.

If we study the overarching theme of the Bible, we see that God uses all things to bring about good.  TerKeurst builds on this truth in her book and show how disappointments in life can hold so much potential for good.  She encourages her reader to "be grateful and positive" in the midst of disappointments without "pretending we don't get exhausted by our disappointments".  TerKeurst shares intimate details of her own struggles, connecting herself with the reader.

While TerKeurst's writing was relatable, I could not help but see the first few chapters as a combination of a biography, a pep talk, and a self-help book.  This was not the type of book I was expecting, nor was it one I was particularly interested in reading.

TerKeurst's worldview snuck through at times through her particular choice of words.  She wrote of how "God showed [her] a picture of how He wants [her] to be as [she does] life from here."  She states the she is "not really a 'see some sort of vision' kind of girl" and how "at first [she] thought it was just [her] imagination wandering off for a minute.  But then [she] felt an impression on [her] heart that this wasn't random; this really was from God."  TerKeurst then depicts this vision she was supposedly given, in great detail.  This phrasing and practice concerns me and caused me to be on guard as I continued reading. 

TerKeurst writes of how God has given His Word to guide through disappointments.  She goes on to encourage the reader to store up "fighting words" and make declarations over situations they are facing.  She states, "We all need to have some fighting words on hand so we can declare God's truth over our difficult situations".  Some "fighting words" she recommends are, "I am declaring right now that I will not be swept up into a storm of fear and wild emotions", "I will not be one of [Satan's] victims, nor will I be afraid", "I will not be a woman controlled by the lies of the enemy or by my own doubts and fears", "I will see the things that come my way as God's perfect plan to develop my character to match my calling", "I am declaring hope and truth over my life".

My heart bristles at this wording.  Our confidence it to be in God alone, not in our declarations.  Though each statement she makes is backed with a Bible verse, when phrased as "I declare", the focus is taken off of God as our strength and placed on our very declaration.  Declaring "I will not" does not make the declaration occur.  To expect it to be so, is to set oneself up for disappointment.  I would have loved to see these same statements made with a humble prayer, even begging God to let these things be true in our lives.  Let the source of our strength be God alone, and our declarations be ones of praise for who He is.  Let our "fighting words" be His Words, stored in our hearts and overflowing in our lives.

While the bulk of the content of TerKeurst's book was good, and she had some very relatable, quotable material, I was not a fan of her writing style or the things already mentioned above.  If I were to recommend a book regarding disappointments, I would be much more likely to recommend Elisabeth Elliot's Suffering is Never for Nothing.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating
★★☆☆☆

Book Review: Suffering is Never for Nothing

Elisabeth Elliot.  The story of her life has always fascinated me.  When I saw she had written Suffering is Never for Nothing, I had to read it.  I thought, if anyone can speak of suffering and give godly wisdom on how to suffer well, it is this woman. 

As you may or may not know, Elisabeth Elliot's first husband was Jim Elliot.  Jim and four other missionary men were murdered by the Auca Indians, whom they were trying to reach with the Gospel.  Elisabeth and her young daughter Valerie continued to live with and minister to the Aucas.  Later, Elisabeth remarried.  She then lost her second husband to cancer.  She uses these pivotal life experiences to connect with others and share that God will bring good from our suffering.

Suffering is Never for Nothing is a book written from Elliot's lectures at a conference years ago.  Elliot begins by defining suffering as, "having what you don't want, or wanting what you don't have".  She acknowledges that all people suffer, whether in seemingly great ways or small.  She encourages that God is sovereign in all things, and He can be trusted at all times.

I love this paragraph, which speaks of God's goodness:
"But when we’re talking about the gifts of God, we’re talking about gifts that come from One who knows exactly what we need even though it is not necessarily to our tastes and preferences. And He gives us everything that is appropriate to the job that He wants us to do. And so, understanding that, then we can say yes, Lord. I’ll take it. It would not have been my choice but knowing You love me, I will receive it and I understand that someday I’m going to understand the necessity for this thing. So I accept it. And then I can even go the step beyond and say thank You. Thank You, Lord. "

Suffering is Never for Nothing is a book I would recommend to all.  Whether our suffering is great or small, it is good to be reminded of God's hand at work through all of it and to praise Him for it.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★

Book Review: Sovereign Hope

I chose to do a review of Claudia Barba's Sovereign Hope:  A Study of the Minor Prophets.  As I prepare for a Bible study on the book of Hosea, I was looking forward to using this as a resource.

Barba does an excellent job of presenting the central themes of each book of the Minor Prophets.  She gives a brief overview of each book and highlights some things that can be applied to daily life.  In each chapter, Barba poses several questions to guide the reader in their study and does a great job of  incorporating supporting Scripture.  If one is seeking a book to give main ideas an a general overview of each book of the Minor Prophets, this book is an excellent starting point.

Covering 12 books of the Bible in approximately 140 pages does not allow for much depth.  I would have loved to see Barba cite her sources, in order to use them for further study.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★☆☆

Book Review: Becoming Us

Robin Jones Gunn's Becoming Us is a novel about a woman named Emily, who recently moved from North Carolina to California with her husband and daughter.  After years of living in close proximity to her in-laws, Emily's small family is now learning how to be on their own.  This story takes you through the highs and lows of Emily's life, much of which is impacted by Emily's newfound friendship with several women in the area.

This story is uplifting and encouraging.  I loved how the author addressed many heart issues women face today.  Several times, I found myself wiping away tears and thinking, "I feel the exact same way".

Although I did not realize it when I chose to read this book, I read Gunn's Sierra Jensen series as a teenager.  I now look forward to re-reading that series and many others by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★☆

Book Review: No Little Women

I first heard about Aimee Byrd's No Little Women a few years ago, and I quickly downloaded an e-version of the book. For various reasons, I never did finish reading it.  I always wanted to though, so I chose this book as the second for my 2019 reading.

Byrd begins her book by pinpointing the problem of "little women" in the church.  This phrase refers to 2 Timothy 3:6-7, where Paul warns of false teachers "who creep into households and capture weak (little) women".  Byrd warns that, "in many cases, women's ministry becomes a back door for bad doctrine to seep into the church".  She asserts that women need to have good theology.  However, as Byrd points out, so many devotionals targeted at women slyly distort the truth.

How does one solve this problem and avoid becoming one of the "little women" mentioned in 2 Timothy?  Byrd encourages women to develop discernment.  "Do the hard work of learning his Word and becoming so familiar with it, through time and study in it, that we know him and his character well".  Then, we will be able to discern whether what we are reading is consistent with Scripture.  Byrd encourages women to read more, read well, and read from trusted sources.  "A vital skill for becoming a competent woman is learning how to read well.  We need to be alert and equipped, because Christian bookstores don't have genre labels like 'fluff' and 'I may look like I have my life together more than you, but I'm about to wreck your theology'."

I loved this part of Byrd's book.  I agree with her assessment of women's devotionals and her cry for discernment.  As a woman who is currently involved in choosing and leading women's Bible studies, I take this very seriously.  What our church group studies must be consistent with the beliefs taught in our church.

Along with Byrd's encouragement, she also lists some examples of writings that are not doctrinally sound.  While I agree with the majority of her assessments, I did feel there were times she focused too much on the specific wording of an author rather than his intent. 

The remainder of Byrd's book addresses the role of women in the church, how pastors and church leaders can encourage women to develop good doctrine, and gives examples to practice discernment skills.

Overall, I really appreciated Byrd's book.  There is a lot to glean from her writing, and I would recommend it especially to women involved in women's ministries, and to men who are leaders of the church.

Rachel's Rating:

★★★★☆



 

Book Review: Kat Makes

Kat Makes is a cute, easy-to-read book in Brenda Ponnay's Kat Can series.  I enjoyed listening to this 8-page book being read by my kindergartener.  The repetition of the words "Kat makes" helped my kindergartener remain confident in her reading.  The quality illustrations provided useful clues when she stumbled across unfamiliar words.

 

 

This book was a quick, easy read.  It was enjoyable, and the ending brought a smile to my little reader's face.  This book is set to release on February 15, 2019.  We hope to see more from Brenda Ponnay in the future!

 

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Book Review:. The Gift of Church

Taken from a blog posted by me in 2010:

I was excited when I found out that I had the opportunity to do my first official book review.  Then I faced a difficult decision:  What book would I choose that would be pertinent to my own life, as well as to the life of you, my blog reader?

I chose Jim Samra's The Gift of Church.  I do believe the local church is a gift to Christians, and I am saddened when I hear loved ones express the frustrations and difficulties they have experienced within their own local church.  I read in anticipation, eager to find some truths that I could share with these loved ones to encourage them to persevere in their trials.

In his introduction, Samra acknowledges that the church has been hypocritical, among other things, "and worst of all has been these things while claiming to represent God".  With all the failures of the church, why is it so important for Christians to be involved?  Simply put, "God designed and created the church for our benefit and for his glory".  The church is God's idea!

Samra walks the reader through the different parts of Scripture, showing what God designed the church to be and how He designed it to function.  Samra clearly points out the difference between churches and parachurch organizations and shows the benefits that can only truly be found in churches.  He also candidly discusses possible hindrances to the community that should be found in the church.  His conclusion brings the reader back to the fact that the church is the place where "God's infinite grace is highlighted".  What a great reminder that the church is God's design, and it is intended for His glory.

I would encourage any of you who are questioning the importance of being involved in a local church to read this book.  Although the writing is somewhat difficult to follow at times, the content is excellent.  Samra does not attempt to ignore or sugar-coat the problems that are all too often found in our churches, but addresses them with candor.  Perhaps the problems in our churches actually stem from the heart attitudes of you and me.  Or perhaps the answer to the problems in our churches is actually the involvement and dedication of you and me.

* This book was given to me for review purposes, and I do not have to return the book to the publisher. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Book Review: None Like Him

One of my goals for 2019 was to read one book a month.  Fiction has always been easy for me to read.  I can fly through a fiction book in a long evening, forsaking all responsibilities in the meantime.  Non-fiction seems to be a different story.  I get lost, become uninterested, or just plain fall asleep.  To help overcome this, I am choosing to focus on non-fiction for the bulk of my 12 books this year.

First on my list of books to read in 2019 was Jen Wilkin's None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different From Us (and why that's a good thing).

The opening line of Wilkin's book drew me in and made me feel as though she and I could be good friends.  She does an excellent job of sprinkling personal anecdotes throughout this theologically-rich book.  True to the title, Wilkin clearly conveys why it is a good thing that God is different from us.  She does this in a way that is practical and applicable.  Each of the ten chapters of this book begins by defining and explaining an attribute of God.  This is followed by examples of how we cannot attain these attributes, were never intended to, and how it is truly a good thing we cannot.

I loved everything about this book.  The content was deep, though easy to read.  I had many "ah-ha" moments as I read, as well as some conviction on areas where my thinking and actions have not been correct.  Overall, I found her book to be very challenging and encouraging, and I am excited to read more by this author in the future!  This is definitely a book I would recommend to others.

Rachel's Rating:
★★★★★