Bibles

Christian Apologetics

Easter Enigma: Are the Resurrection Accounts in Conflict?

John Wenham

This fantastic book explains how to reconcile the various resurrection accounts. I highly recommend it. From the back cover: “Wenham begins by setting the scene of Jerusalem and its environs, going on to describe the main actors in the events with particular attention to Mary Magdalene and the five writers themselves, and then examining in detail all the biblical narratives from Good Friday through Easter Day to the Ascension. He concludes that the various accounts as they stand can be satisfactorily reconciled to provide a trustworthy record for the church.”

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3OisqqL

Favorite books includes When Culture Hates You

When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square

Natasha Crain

Wow! I highly recommend this eye-opening book. Natasha Crain explains cultural issues in easy-to-understand ways and shows where and why culture deviates from biblical teaching. “Part 1: Understanding the Hate,” explains why culture is so antagonistic to Christians. In it, she argues for Christians to advocate for the common good. “Part 2: Responding to and Persevering Through Today’s Most Prominent Charges” examines five accusations culture levies against Christians, suggests responses, and proposes possible actions. I had no idea what was behind much of what’s happening in schools and politics.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/42F9lnJ

Favorite books includes Why Does God Allow Evil?

Why Does God Allow Evil? Compelling Answers for Life’s Toughest Questions

Clay Jones

A lot of people seem to be asking why God allows evil like the recent assassination. So I’d like to recommend my husband’s book on the subject. He not only taught a course of the same name at Talbot Seminary, but he’s spoken all over the world on it.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4o1YvQu

Christian Living

Favorite books includes Liturgy of the ordinary

liturgy of the ordinary: sacred practices in everyday life

Tish Harrison Warren

Warren examines the ordinary routines of life to see how they mesh with liturgies that teach us about spiritual life. For instance, waking up in the morning reminds her of baptism and learning to be beloved. Her musings softly encourage. Here’s an excerpt from the chapter, “Fighting with My Husband”:

We’ll have to keep forgiving all day, every time we think back to our argument, every time we’re tempted top ick up the sword again. Peace takes a whole lot of work. Conflict and resentment seem to be the easier route. Shorter, anyway. Less humiliating.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3JoAF23

Praying Personalities

Janet McHenry

I enjoyed reading about how different personalities might flourish with different prayer styles. I smiled as I recognized my own prayer styles as well as those of friends. The section on spiritual gifts was perhaps superfluous. Other than that, I found the book interesting and a good follow-up to the author’s Prayerwalking.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43AKG4z

Favorite books includes Run with the Horses

Run with Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best

Eugene H. Peterson

This book is named for Jeremiah 12:5: “If you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses?” Jeremiah more than any other prophet records his personal ordeals as a prophet whom many decried as false. When young, he complained over his hardship, but God replied that he was strengthening him to do even more: run with horses. Peterson examines 16 of the personal passages in the book named for the prophet to see what we learn about living life at its best. Here’s a favorite quotation:

The abyss of obscurity and contradiction and paradox in Jeremiah’s life is resolved in this moment. All the skeptical question marks that had been raised over Jeremiah throughout his life—Was he a true or false prophet? Was he a patriot or a traitor? Was he clear-sighted or deluded? Was he futile or effective?—are turned into affirmative exclamation marks. The truth of his preaching is vindicated. The integrity of his life is proved. His commitment to God’s covenant is validated.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mt3I3m

Suffering Well

Paul Grimmond

The author writes from a pastor’s heart on a difficult subject. It’s an encouraging book about suffering and even dying well. It’s not a theodicy (explanation of why God allows suffering), but rather encouragement to live out godliness. Taking on the world’s view that happiness is the greatest good keeps us from that. Here’s a favorite quotation:

What are Christians called to do in the face of suffering? We are called to wait well, to praise our God in every moment, and to ask for God’s strength to do good—even to our enemies.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/465Zetk

Walking in Unity: Biblical Answers to Questions on Race and Racism

Krista Bontrager and Monique Duson

Bontrager and Duson deftly explain the reasoning behind secular culture’s current directives for bringing equity among races. They compare this with Scripture’s call for unity and finding identity in Christ rather than race. Handling difficult topics delicately, they offer biblically based solutions to hot-button issues. This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/41aRapi

Knowing the Bible

40 Questions About Heaven and Hell

Alan W. Gomes

Outstanding! Gomes divides his book into four parts: 1) An Overview of the Afterlife; 2) The Intermediate State between Death and the Resurrection of the Body; 3) The Final Judgment; and 4) The Eternal State. Each part is divided into questions such as, “What Happens to Infants Who Die?” He offers clear, thoughtful answers. Where scholars disagree, he explains alternate views before giving reasons for the view he finds most compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It’s scholarly, but not difficult.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3GzX0bC

Favorite books includes All the Genealogies of the Bible

All the Genealogies of the Bible: Visual Charts and Exegetical Commentary

Nancy S. Dawson, Eugene H. Merrill, Andreas J. Kostenberger

This giant book is wonderful. I ordered it as soon as it came out. It contains over 340 genealogies in chronological order. It’s a great reference work and is particularly helpful in determining when people with similar names are the same person or not. But I confess it’s also good for reading just before bedtime.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4p6K7XM

Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ (Preaching the Word)

R. Kent Hughes

I read this book as part of my research into Ephesians for a future project. It’s terrific. It consists of 30 sermons that overflow with wise perceptions coupled with caring compassion. Although it’s meant as a tool to help pastors, the sermons read like devotions. They thoroughly blessed and encouraged me, so I highly recommend them to enrich your own understanding of Ephesians.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4eYxn18

Favorite books includes Glimpsing the Future

Glimpsing the Future: New Testament Perspectives on Death, Resurrection, Immortality, Eternity, and the Afterlife

Murray J. Harris

This is a scholarly work on the afterlife. Harris differentiates between reanimation (as when Jesus raised Lazarus) and resurrection in the full New Testament sense (as when Jesus raised himself). He pulls together texts throughout the Bible to shed light on immortality. I enjoyed this a lot.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3PhHmCL

Favorite books includes How We got the Bible

How We Got the Bible: A Visual Journey

Clinton E. Arnold

This short book is loaded with photographs, paintings, maps, and charts. It explains how the Bible was physically created from ancient to modern times, including how our modern English translations came about. I was shocked to learn that many religious and political leaders resisted translating the Bible into languages common people could understand—Queen Mary 1 burned translators at the stake! Another interesting tidbit: King James commissioned the Bible named after him partly because he detested marginal notes in an earlier translation that contradicted his belief that rebelling against a king was always sinful.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45RGiiJ

Power and Magic: The Concept of Power in Ephesians

Clinton E. Arnold

For you serious Bible students out there, here’s a gem. Arnold explains the popular beliefs about power and magic in Ephesus that Paul addresses in his letter to the Ephesians. This book fascinated both Clay and me. The only drawback is the many untranslated Greek words.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4pTLoma

Favorite books includes The Serpent of Paradise — Version 1.0.0

The Serpent of Paradise: The Incredible Story of How Satan’s Rebellion Serves God’s Purposes

Erwin W. Lutzer

This is another book I read as part of my research into Ephesians. Lutzer traces Satan’s history as an exalted angel who fell and who ultimately will be condemned in shame. Along the way, he shows how Satan can only do what God allows, and even that God works for good. This was an interesting book with many good insights. I appreciate that he acknowledges where some of his conclusions aren’t universally held. One benefit of this book over some is that he sticks to what the Bible teaches rather than incorporating the ancient teachings of surrounding nations, which can fall under “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3IHFoM3

Favorite books includes The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross

The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross: Their Circumstances and Meaning

Murray J. Harris

This outstanding book examines in detail Jesus’s seven sayings on the cross. Despite excruciating pain, Jesus tends to others’ needs in the first three sayings. Then he voices anguish. Finally, he shouts his victory and commits himself to his Father. This short book increased my gratitude for and awe of Jesus’s sacrifice even more. College level.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4jphIsr

Fiction

The Agatha Christie: Miss Marple Collection (all books in one)

Agatha Christie

What fun! This collection has all the books starring my favorite of Agatha Christie’s sleuths, and it’s available on Kindle Unlimited. I read both Murder at the Vicarage and The Body in the Library last month. The first few chapters of the first book have minor formatting issues such that I had to set the font size so that line breaks occurred correctly. But the issues seemed to clear up after that. I appreciate the sweetness of Miss Marple. If you love clean cozy mysteries, this one’s a deal.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3M604j3

Around the World in Eighty Days

Jules Verne

What fun this classic is! The wealthy Phileas Fogg of London bets his friends that he can go around the world in 80 days. Written in 1873 before the first airplanes, Fogg and his French valet Passepartout have quite the adventure. I saw the movie as a child but remembered nothing but the surprising climax. Nonetheless, it delighted from beginning to end. Additionally, the watercolors are lovely. Suitable for children aged 9 and up.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4innkDD

The Book of Lost Names

Kristen Harmel

During World War II, a young woman with a gift for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children escape Nazis. She creates a coded book linking the children’s true identities with their new identities. This story was interesting for what it teaches about history and its reminder of how evil humans can be. However, the theology the characters espouse leaves much to be desired: good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. And both Jewish and Christian characters reject the Bible’s teaching on sex outside of marriage (there’s a PG-13 scene). Still, I enjoyed learning about how forgeries were made and how rebels secreted children out of France during the Nazi occupation.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3VLRPtw

The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (7 of 29)

Lilian Jackson Braun

This is the most amusing in the series so far because of the many references to Shakespeare. Koko the Siamese cat has taken to pushing the Bard’s books off the shelves in ways that link to current events, including the mysterious murder of the local paper’s publisher. It’s a fun cozy mystery series.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4jTCGBk

Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

My father’s parents migrated as youths to California during the Dust Bowl, my grandmother from Texas and my grandfather from Oklahoma. My grandmother told me to read Grapes of Wrath to learn what it was like. I finally did. It was worth reading to learn the history, human evil, why our government breaks up monopolies, and how unions came about. The events Steinbeck describes are eye-opening. My grandfather lived in a tent encampment near the railroad tracks in Yorba Linda. I have a much better understanding of what that was like now. The book gave me insight into some of what was behind Grandpa’s poem, “I Just Want to Be a Normal Man.”

I recommend this for learning, not pleasure. The tale is sad throughout and lacks the somewhat hopeful ending the movie of the same name has. Steinbeck paints Christianity negatively, and it saddens me to think that some Christians may have acted in the ways portrayed.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4l4dBn9

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure

Angela Bell

This is a funny historical romance set in 1860 London. Clara’s ex-fiancé is spreading rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity so he can force her to marry him and abscond with her family’s money. Meanwhile, a former soldier with a prosthetic leg and a past he’s ashamed of begins working for her grandfather. Then grandpa flies away in a mechanical owl and leaves clues for Clara and his apprentice to follow. The author’s prose is lovely and her dialogs witty. Teen girls would particularly enjoy this clean novel with a Christian message.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4nw0Dk2

The Marlow Murder Club

Robert Thorogood

Septuagenarian Judith Potts hears a gunshot and later discovers her neighbor’s body. When the police are slow to investigate, she brings in new friends to help solve the murder: Becks the vicar’s wife and Suzie the dog walker. The quirky characters are hilarious in this cozy mystery that’s been made into a BBC television series.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4kckpxS

The Moving Finger: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marples Mysteries Book 3)

Agatha Christie

Anonymous hate mail causes minor troubles in a small town—until one of the recipients commits suicide. Now the police want to track down the author. But when one of the recipients invites Miss Marple to investigate, she doubts the death was suicide.

What intrigued me was the analysis of what used to drive anonymous hate mail. Such letter writers have been replaced by anonymous trolls on social media, but the motivations seem the same.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3IWmj8Q

An Ode to Poison: A Livia Aemilia Mystery

Lisa E. Betz

This is a fun, clean cozy mystery set in first century Rome. Livia is a newlywed who’s already solved two murders when a new friend is poisoned. Her husband is dismayed over some of the foolish risks she takes, but also needs her help to clear his brother’s name. What I enjoy most in Betz’s books is learning about the culture of the early Christians. There’s a helpful cast of characters and glossary.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4fNGrpx

Open and Shut: A Novel (Andy Carpenter Book 1)

David Rosenfelt

Amazon has been recommending this book for ages, and I finally gave it a try. Andy Carpenter is a witty defense attorney whose father—the ex-DA—drops dead in front of him. Suddenly Andy inherits a fortune he didn’t know his dad had. At the same time, he’s working a case that’s uncovering dangerous secrets—secrets that might involve Andy’s own family. The book is funny and suspenseful, and Andy’s golden retriever is a homey plus. (Caveat: Some adult situations. PG-13.)

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4kXM7il

The Queen’s Cook

Tessa Afshar

This is a sweet historical novel about a Persian girl who dreams of cooking for Queen Esther. Her life changes when she meets the Jewish court physician. There are lots of interesting details about the Persian palace. From the back cover: “In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin–the man whose kind eyes haunt her–and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.”

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4fIA5XB

The Queens of Crime: A Novel

Marie Benedict

In 1930 London, five female crime writers band together to solve a murder. The sleuths include two of my favorite authors, Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. The women feel their male colleagues aren’t taking them seriously, so they take it upon themselves solve a cold case. This was a fun story and brought in a lot of interesting facts about Sayers that I didn’t know.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4nz9JvO (free with Kindle Unlimited)

Theo of Golden: A Novel

Allen Levi

A reader recommended this delightful work. Theo arrives in the southern city of Golden and notices 92 pencil portraits displayed in a coffee shop. He decides to purchase them one at a time to give to each work’s subject. While doing so, he makes friends and learns many people’s life stories. Indeed, his kindnesses change others’ lives. The clever ending ties up the many mysteries satisfactorily. From the back cover: “Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted story about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the far-reaching possibilities of anonymous kindness.“

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Sgc2FW

The Warden

Anthony Trollope

What a delightful story of personal responsibility and what matters most at the end of one’s life! How had I not known of this Victorian era author before? In this novel, Septimus Harding is the warden of Hiram’s Hospital, where he diligently cares for twelve elderly men. His daughter Eleanor lives with him, and she is in love with John Bold. But Bold sues the church because he believes too much money goes to the warden rather than the hospital’s impoverished occupants. The characterizations are charming and insightful. Some of the place descriptions run long, but these can be skimmed without loss to the narrative.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/46NV4FY (illustrated)

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mM4qb8 (The Complete Works of Anthony Trollope, eBook only)

West With Giraffes: A Novel

Lynda Rutledge

An engrossing tale inspired by the true story of two giraffes who survive a hurricane and then travel from the East coast to California. I learned much about the Great Depression’s hardships and sundown laws in the segregated South. From the back cover: “[T]he tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.” It took a few chapters to get into the story, but after that I enjoyed it. Some swearing. Available in Kindle Unlimited.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Gug4It

Children’s Literature

Anne of Green Gables

L. M. Montgomery

Why had I never read this before? I read it during evenings while Clay was in the hospital and absolutely loved this charming coming-of-age classic. A spirited young orphan with a wild imagination and a bit of a temper finds a home with elderly siblings. She learns to pray, study, be patient, and forgive. The illustrated versions would delight a girl age 8 and up. The link below is to the complete 8-book set on Kindle for 99 cents.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4pHKxnC

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Barbara Robinson

My schoolteacher-niece Melody told me she reads this book to her class every year. It’s a delightful tale told from the perspective of a child. From the back cover: “The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, and swear. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale—the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies—has a lot of people up in arms. And their wild antics cause havoc throughout the play’s production. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas.”

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3PjUSGg

Charlotte’s Web

E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams.

I found this gem while I was cleaning bookshelves. What a delightful story about friendship. A little girl named Fern loves a piglet named Wilbur. Wilbur goes to live at Fern’s uncle’s farm. There he makes friends with various creatures, including the wise spider, Charlotte. Some creatures are good friends to Wilbur; others, not so much. But when they discover that the farmer intends to serve Wilbur for Christmas dinner, Charlotte weaves a plan to save him. This children’s classic with endearing illustrations is great for all ages.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4myqPtq

The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury

Bill Watterson

I enjoy a good chuckle in the evenings, and that’s what this brings. I love Watterson’s illustrations and sense of humor.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3XlSfrE

Paws Vs. Claws

Spencer Quinn

I read this funny children’s mystery while we were out at Cedars-Sinai for Clay to have a procedure. It was the perfect light distraction. Queenie the cat and Arthur the dog narrate the chapters, and they have quite different views about events. The adventure begins when Queenie wants her cream, but the cow is missing. Meanwhile, her humans are distressed about strange things happening around Catastrophe Falls. Arthur wants to help, but he is oh-so forgetful. Grades 3 to 7 plus adults who love children’s books.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4k8E6HI

General Nonfiction

Quiet Your Mind & Get to Sleep: solutions to insomnia for those with depression, anxiety, or chronic pain

Colleen E. Carney, Ph.D, and Rachel Manber, Ph.D.

My #1 health goal for 2025 was sleeping better. The New York Times recommended this book, so I ordered it because chronic pain both affects my sleep and is affected by it. The recommendations are all supported by studies. The best tip so far was about how to determine how much sleep you need since trying to get more sleep than you need worsens insomnia. My sleep has already improved. I’m going through the book a second time since there were too many recommendations to implement all at once. My only disappointment was that there was little advice about managing chronic pain other than being sure to take your medications. I recommend the paperback edition over the electronic since there are worksheets to copy. UPDATE: It hasn’t helped as much as I’d hoped partly because of the stresses of this year.

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4hDtOxF

Writing by the Book: 101 devotionals that encourage and equip writers to write well

Kathy Widenhouse

Widenhouse finds writing insights throughout the Bible in this inspiring set of devotionals for Christian writers. I enjoyed reading one of these devotionals before settling down to write. What I liked best was that they modeled what they taught. Each includes a Scripture, a short illustration, a summary truth, and a prayer. From the back cover: “The fundamentals of good writing are woven into scripture. Biblical truths provide the cornerstone for our lives. That includes our writing lives.”

Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mJXtbZ

Conclusion

Whew! That was 39 terrific reads last year. If you’d like to receive my monthly recommendations, subscribe to my newsletter below.

February 12, 2026/0 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

26 Great 2024 Books That Will Make You Think

Here are the 2024 books I recommended in my monthly newsletters along with updated recaps. The reviews are alphabetical by title within categories. The categories are:

Christian Apologetics
Christian Living
Knowing the Bible
Fiction
Children’s Literature
General Nonfiction

And if you’re not receiving my newsletter, sign up below! You’ll receive a free download plus a monthly newsletter with encouragement, book recommendations, news, and more.

By the way, the links to books below are affiliate links for which I receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Christian Apologetics

“Apologetics” is the defense of the faith. Here are four noteworthy books that examine culture and present evidence for faith in Jesus.

Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church by Holly Pivec and R. Douglass Geivett

Two friends asked me about people they’d run into who called themselves prophets and apostles. Since I had a relative who claimed to be a prophet and apostle despite false prophecies, I was eager to learn more. So I suggested this book to my book club. Pivec and Geivett do a solid job documenting the New Apostolic Reformation’s teaching and practices. They highlight areas that don’t align with Scripture. The book proved somewhat controversial in that one of our members had attended NAR meetings without encountering the more egregious teachings. And opinions differed on some matters. But our discussion was respectful and fruitful. We all agreed that someone who falsely prophecies shouldn’t be trusted as a prophet. I particularly recommend this book for Christian book clubs.

Faithfully Different by Natasha Crain

Natasha Crain has penned another terrific tome. This one looks at why secularism is blending with and supplanting the Christian worldview. Crain doesn’t stop there but explains what we as Christians can do about it. My entire book club loved this book. From the back cover: “In an increasingly secular society, those who have a biblical worldview are now a shrinking minority. As mainstream culture grows more hostile toward the Bible’s truths and those who embrace them, you’ll face mounting pressures—from family, friends, media, academia, and government—to change and even abandon your beliefs. But these challenges also create abundant opportunities to stand strong for Christ and shine light to those hurt by the darkness of our day.” I highly recommend this.

Immortal by Clay Jones

One thing the pandemic did was expose people’s innate fear of death. The answer to it is to enjoy the hope of a wonderful forever. That’s what Clay talks about in this book. With plenty of humor, he exposes the ways those without hope of eternal life try to gain some type of lesser immortality. And he describes the glories that await us. I highly recommend this book.

Walking in Unity: Biblical Answers to Questions on Race and Racism by Krista Bontrager and Monique Duson

Bontrager and Duson deftly explain the reasoning behind secular culture’s current directives for bringing equity among races. They compare this with Scripture’s call for unity and finding identity in Christ rather than race. Handling difficult topics delicately, they offer biblically based solutions to hot-button issues. This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend.

Christian Living

Here are four delightful books on Christian living, including two by authors better known for apologetics writing.

Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life by Donna Jones

I loved this book! Donna Jones has an easy, conversational style that drew me in. She identifies common conflict mistakes and explains how to fix them. Her suggestions on how to start difficult conversations are priceless. My favorite chapter is “How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable.” Every chapter ends with a prayer and steps for “Putting Peace into Practice.” This is a book I intend to return to whenever I meet conflict. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Honest Prayers for Mama Bears by Hillary Morgan Ferrer with Julie Loos

Love, love, love the prayers in this book. Their honesty reminds me of Psalms. I haven’t read the entire book because that’s not the kind of book it is. The prayers are divided into sections such as “Selfless Prayers for Self” and “Prayers You Pray You Never Have to Pray.” Pick a section and then pick a prayer, such as “While Doing Laundry.” Many are followed by actions like “Honest Journaling” and “Honest Step.” This is a good companion to Ferrer’s best-selling apologetics books.

PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline by Janet Holm McHenry

I was intrigued by this book because before I broke my toe, I walked while praying nearly every day. McHenry humbly describes how she committed to getting up early each day to walk and pray, and how that erased her depression and drew her closer to God. Let this book inspire you to walk your neighborhood as you pray for your own needs and the needs of those around you.

The Truth in True Crime What Investigating Death Teaches Us about the Meaning of Life by J. Warner Wallace

Perfect for teens and twenty-somethings. Wallace gives fifteen life lessons, illustrating them with fascinating stories from his former homicide cases. He cites secular sources to support the lesson and then shows how the Bible already recommended what secular sages now advise. For example, the first chapter explains “How to Make Age-Appropriate Mistakes” since “You were created to learn.” Another counsels “How to Moderate Your Celebrity” since “You were created to pursue humility.” Unlike his former books, this is more of an advice book than an apologetics book. But like them, it contains captivating true crime stories.

Knowing the Bible

Here are three books to help you understand the Bible.

The Psalter Reclaimed: Praying and Praising with the Psalms by Gordon Wenham

This was one of my favorite resources when I wrote my book on the Psalms. I picked it back up recently for a talk I was preparing. There are chapters on praying the psalms, messianic psalms, ethics, and imprecatory psalms. I recommend this book for the thoughtful Christian who wants to take a scholarly dive into the longest book in the Bible. College level.

The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People by Zondervan

This is a good introduction to the entire Bible. When my church went through the series a decade ago, I wrote a study guide to go with it (see Digital Downloads). From the back cover: “God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation.” High school graduate level.

Ten Words to Live By by Jen Wilkin

Who knew the Ten Commandments could be so interesting? Wilkin does a fantastic job fleshing them out and showing how they still apply today. From the back cover: “Jen Wilkin presents a fresh biblical look at the Ten Commandments, showing how they come to bear on our lives today as we seek to love God and others, to live in joyful freedom, and to long for that future day when God will be rightly worshiped for eternity. Learn to see the law of God as a feast for your famished soul, open to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.”

Fiction

All but perhaps two of these authors are Christians who blend Christian themes into their works.

An Assassination on the Agenda (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery Book 11) by T E Kinsey

Set in July 1912, England’s Secret Service Bureau dispatches Lady Hardcastle and her spunky lady’s maid (a former circus performer), Florence Armstrong, to prevent local police from uncovering too much about a murder victim. Soon they discover a link between the killer and an upcoming visit from an important Austrian guest. The cozy mystery series is clean and fun, sprinkled with witty repartee. A bonus: Kinsey ends each book with Author’s Notes that give a bit of related history.

Between Heaven and Texas (A Too Much, Texas Novel Book 1) by Marie Bostwick

In this charming story, Bostwick gives us the background to one of the colorful characters from the best-selling Cobbled Court Quilts series: Mary Dell Templeton. Bostwick always tackles difficult situations that Christian women face, and in this one, it’s parenting a special-needs child. The tone is warm, sweet, and hopeful throughout. From the back cover: “While Lydia Dale grows up petite and pretty, Mary Dell just keeps growing. Tall, smart, and sassy, she is determined to one day turn her love of sewing into a business. Meanwhile, she’ll settle for raising babies with her new husband, Donny. But that dream proves elusive too, until finally, Mary Dell gets the son she always wanted—a child as different as he is wonderful.”

Death and a Crocodile by Lisa E. Betz

This is a fun, cozy mystery set in Rome in the days of the apostles. Livia is a new Christian concerned about her upcoming arranged marriage when dad’s discovered dead. From the back cover: “When Livia’s father dies under suspicious circumstances, she sets out to find the killer before her innocent brother is convicted of murder. She may be an amateur when it comes to hunting dangerous criminals, but she’s determined, intelligent, and not afraid to break a convention or two in pursuit of the truth.” There’s a glossary in the back providing interesting historical details. This is book 1 in Betz’s series (see book 3 below).

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly: A Novel by Marie Bostwick

A delightful story of plans failing, promises kept and broken, love and forgiveness, and finding one’s path in life. Bostwick deftly draws characters teeming with personality. From the back cover: “Esme Cahill thinks she has failed spectacularly: fired from her New York City publishing job, divorced from her husband, and possessing little more than a broken-down car and a pile of unfinished manuscripts, she drives home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother, Adele, who had begged her, just before she died, to return to the place she grew up.”

Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge by Spencer Quinn

Mrs. Plansky is a recent widow dealing with a curmudgeonly father and frequent requests for money from her beloved children and grandchildren. One day she takes a call from someone claiming to be her grandson desperate for emergency funds. She obliges. The next morning, her bank accounts are empty, and law enforcement gives her little hope for recovering her savings. But plucky Plansky heads to Romania to get her money back. I enjoyed the humor and insights into how scammers work. One reservation: this would be rated PG-13 if it were a movie.

An Ode to Poison: A Livia Aemilia Mystery by Lisa E. Betz

This is a fun, clean cozy mystery set in first century Rome. Livia is a newlywed who’s already solved two murders when a new friend is poisoned. Livia’s husband is dismayed over some of the foolish risks she takes, but also needs her help to clear his brother’s name. What I enjoy most in Betz’s books is learning about the culture of the early Christians. There’s a helpful cast of characters and glossary. This is book 3 in Betz’s series (see book 1 above).

Of Mice and Murder (Cat and Mouse Whodunit Book 2) by Emily James

James continues her saga of the veterinarian Zoe who investigates murder yet again. This is a clean, fun cozy mystery. From the back cover: “A gunman targeting pet owners. A veterinarian determined to protect them. Can she ferret out the shooter’s identity before she ends up with a bullseye on her own back?” Meanwhile, her incarcerated birth mom is making demands before she’ll tell Zoe where to find the sister she never knew. James tucks in lots of pet advice and gives us glimpses of the foster care system. We were foster parents who took kids to visit mom in jail, so I could relate. This is the second in a series I recommended last September.

Placebo by Steven James

This murder thriller is taut. “While trying to debunk a controversial neurological research program, illusionist and filmmaker Jevin Banks uncovers a far-reaching conspiracy involving one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms.” James makes his characters grapple with thorny theological issues as they fight evil. James melds Christian themes into best-selling fiction. (I recommend his Patrick Bower series for non-Christian friends. There widower Bower hunts murderers while grappling with why the God his wife worshiped would let her die.)

Children’s Literature

I love children’s books and read them often.

The Essential Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

When I saw this was on Kindle Unlimited, I thought, I’m in the mood to laugh, and snatched it up. This is Volume 1 of 9 volumes, and it’s hilarious. Besides a boy and tiger named after famous theologians, there’s a schoolteacher with the name of the junior tempter in C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. I think we have the paperback somewhere, but flipping from strip to strip using the Kindle app on my tablet was easy. Age 9 and up.

The Tailor of Gloucester (Beatrix Potter Originals Book 3) by Beatrix Potter

This is a delightful tale of a poor tailor who simply must finish a special garment for the mayor. But when he falls ill, kind mice try to outwit the tailor’s cat to help him out. Both the hardcover and Kindle editions have Potter’s lovely watercolors. The classic is for children 3-7.

Woof: A Bowser and Birdie Novel by Spencer Quinn

I just finished the fun and fantastic three-book series of which this is book 1. Although written for grades 3-6, I thoroughly enjoyed it. From the back cover: “There is trouble brewing in the Louisiana swamp — Bowser can smell it. Bowser is a very handsome and only slightly slobbery dog, and he can smell lots of things. Like bacon. And rawhide chews! And the sweat on humans when they’re lying. Birdie Gaux, the girl Bowser lives with, also knows something is wrong. It’s not just that her grammy’s stuffed prize marlin has been stolen. It’s the weird rumor that the marlin is linked to a missing treasure. It’s the truck that seems to be following Birdie and the bad feeling on the back of her neck. When Birdie and Bowser start digging into the mystery, not even Bowser’s powerful sniffer can smell just how menacing the threat is. And when the danger comes straight for Birdie, Bowser knows it up to him to sic ’em.”

General Nonfiction

The Fall of the Ottomans by Eugene Rogan

This 514-page book explains how the Ottoman Empire fell in World War 1. I wanted to understand the Middle East situation, so I checked this book out of the library. It was so good I bought it. It has many photographs and excerpts of letters. The Kindle version allows you to highlight items (for example, a treaty name) and a popup window explains what they are. If you have the time for a long read, I highly recommend it.

Minimalista by Shira Gill

This is a fun, easy read with lots of gorgeous photos. Its niche is families with limited space. There are no forms to fill out—just questions to ask yourself. Every room has a dedicated chapter filled with suggestions. Each chapter ends with a summary guideline list, making review easy. I’m using it as inspiration to purge things I no longer need.

Organizing from the Inside Out byJulie Morgenstern

I used this book to get my home office and files in order. It explains a three-part system that can be used anywhere: analyze, strategize, attack. The appendix has three forms to fill out for every area you’re going to tackle. Chapters cover the usual rooms plus briefcases and purses, home-based businesses, cubicle workstations, and photographs.

Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg

Wow, did I learn a lot from this book. The principles align well with biblical teaching. For example, Duhigg’s advice on how to match emotions reads like an expansion of “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). I hope to practice the principles more over the next few months. Here’s from the back cover: “Come inside a jury room as one juror leads a starkly divided room to consensus. Join a young CIA officer as he recruits a reluctant foreign agent. And sit with an accomplished surgeon as he tries, and fails, to convince yet another cancer patient to opt for the less risky course of treatment. In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg blends deep research and his trademark storytelling skills to show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation.”

December 31, 2024/0 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Honest Prayers for Mama Bears: Review

Love, love, love the prayers in Honest Prayers for Mama Bears by Hillary Morgan Ferrer with Julie Loos. Their honesty reminds me of the psalms. I haven’t read the entire book because that’s not the kind of book it is. The prayers are divided into sections such as “Selfless Prayers for Self” and “Prayers You Pray You Never Have to Pray.” Pick a section and then pick a prayer, such as “While Doing Laundry.” Many prayers are followed by actions like “Honest Journaling” and “Honest Step.”

From the back cover: “In the everyday battle of raising kids who love Jesus while living in a world that doesn’t, God invites you to come to Him. No cleaning up, no pretenses, no fancy words–all you need is to tell Him what’s truly on your heart and then ask for the wisdom, encouragement, and protection that only He can provide.”

Honest Prayers for Mama Bears would make a terrific Mothers’ Day gift.

The authors have four goals. First, the prayers give readers permission to say things to God they might not have said before. Second, the prayers “model what it looks like to renew our minds (Romans 12:2), especially by focusing on gratitude.” Third, they wanted the book to be a communal experience, so there are quite a few contributors from different walks of life. Fourth, they wish to teach readers how to craft honest prayers for themselves.

Loos offers an afterword on creating a legacy of prayer. Ferrer pens an appendix on honest questions about prayer.

Excerpt from Honest Prayers for Mama Bears

Here’s an expert of one of my favorite prayers.

Eternal Perspective

God, I want to invest in what will last into eternity, but the petty things of the world keep taking my attention. I know this world is temporary and that all things here will eventually pass away, so please reform my perspective and help me prioritize what matters most. I pray that You would give me the spiritual eyes to see the things that will have eternal weight, no matter how mundane they may feel in the here and now. Lord, I know there are some battles that need to be fought, and other battles are just distractions. Please give me the wisdom to tell the difference. If there is anything I am fixating upon that’s keeping ne from eternal things, please reveal it to me.

You have put so many good things in my path, but they are not my ultimate things. Some good things may not be my responsibility. My primary tasks are being Your daughter, nurturing my marriage, and shepherding my children . Lord, may I be faith to that which You have give me, knowing the fruits of my obedience will last after I am gone. I praise You that I have more than just this life to live for. Help me to live it well, knowing that faithfulness in even the smallest of callings will echo long into eternity.

Honest Journaling

Read through Colossians 3:1-17 and meditate on it. In your journal, make a list of time-suckers in your life. Which of these things don’t really bring you refreshment or aren’t of eternal importance? Which one can you cut down on each day or week?
Hillary Morgan Ferrer with Julie Loos, Honest Prayers for Mama Bears (Harvest House, 2024)

Where to Find Honest Prayers

Amazon *

Christianbook.com

* Affiliate link

Learn More about Honest Prayers

April 30, 2024/0 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Terrific 2023 Books That Will Make You Think

Here are the 2023 books I recommended in my monthly newsletters. The categories covered include Christian apologetics, other Christian nonfiction, fiction, children’s, and more. In case you missed any, here’s a recap.

And if you’re not receiving my newsletter, sign up in the sidebar! You’ll receive a free download plus a monthly newsletter with encouragement, book recommendations, news, and more.

March 2023 Books

The Second Sister by Marie Bostwick

A touching story by Christian author Marie Bostwick and the inspiration for the Hallmark Hall of Fame film Christmas Everlasting. I absolutely loved this book about a political campaigner who is estranged from her family. But when her sister dies, she must return to her small hometown to meet the conditions of her sister’s odd will.

Live Your Truth and Other Lies by Alisa Childers

The best-selling author of Another Gospel has turned out another great book. With gentleness and splashes of humor, Alisa tackles cultural lies head on, such as “live your truth,” “authenticity is everything,” “you shouldn’t judge,” and “you are enough.” Outstanding! My entire book club raved over this book. If you’ve been wondering how to respond to things you hear that sound a bit off, but you’re not sure why, then this is the book for you.

The Biblical Theology Study Bible, edited by D. A. Carson

In February I finished reading this fantastic study Bible. It’s hefty and I used a magnifier for most notes. But it was absolutely worth reading through the well-researched notes that trace grand biblical themes. Every book of the Bible has an introduction, outline, cross-references, text notes, and commentary notes. There are also 28 theological articles, numerous charts, and full-color illustrations. This is my favorite of all the study Bibles I’ve read.

April 2023 Books

A Sticky Inheritance by Emily James

This delightful cozy mystery is the first in a 13-part series. “When Nicole’s uncle dies and she inherits his maple syrup farm, she thinks it’s time to leave her career as a criminal defense attorney behind for a life that allows her to stay far away from murderers and liars.” But then “her uncle’s suicide looks like it wasn’t a suicide at all.” I was pleasantly surprised to find Christian themes woven throughout the series.

Person of Interest by J. Warner Wallace

“Detective and bestselling author J. Warner Wallace investigates Jesus, the most significant person in history, using an innovative and unique approach he employs to solve real missing person murder cases. Wallace carefully sifts through the evidence from history alone, without relying on the New Testament. You’ll understand like never before how Jesus changed the world.” This book is fantastic! Wallace investigates the evidence using missing-body investigative techniques. I’ve never read the evidence presented in this way before and love it. This is the research he conducted before the research described in Cold-Case Christianity (another top-notch read).

May 2023 Books

At the Back of the North Wind (2023 books)

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

This is a lovely fairy tale that teaches children (and adults) not to fear death but rather see it as transitioning to a beautiful land. I just read it for perhaps the third time and found it delightful once again. (It was George MacDonald’s fairy tale Phantastes that helped lead C.S. Lewis to Christ. In Lewis’s book, The Great Divorce, MacDonald is his guide to the outskirts of Paradise.)

Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer (gen. ed.)

This insightful and often funny collection of essays by women shows us how to recognize lies, offer discernment, argue for a healthier approach, and reinforce truth. They address false messages such as “Follow Your Heart—It Never Lies! Emotionalism” and “I’m Not Religious; I’m Spiritual! New Spirituality.” Chapters end with discussions to have with children. You can read my fuller review here.

June 2023 Books

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

I just finished reading this for perhaps the fourth time. I love this little book. In it, Lewis takes a trip from a shadowy town he later learns is hell to the outskirts of Paradise. The Great Divorce brilliantly answers the question, Why doesn’t God simply save everyone?

Suffering Wisely and Well by Eric Ortlund

I got this as part of my research into a book I’m writing, and it’s turned out to be a gem. Ortlund compassionately examines the book of Job in large chunks: the introduction, the friends’ speeches, Job’s speeches, etc. He ends each chapter with tips for helping those who suffer. The section on Leviathan is particularly good.

July 2023 Books

Both books below blend non-fiction and fiction seamlessly. Both are also my first encounter with the author but certainly not the last.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Fantastic. This author’s prose is lyrical, the story is sweet, and the revelations about C.S. Lewis’s life are entertaining. Here’s the book cover blurb: “1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it’s just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: ‘Where did Narnia come from?’”

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Delightful and filled with fascinating facts about animals. “In the rolling dales of Yorkshire, a simple, rural region of northern England, a young veterinarian from Sunderland joins a new practice. A stranger in a strange land, he must quickly learn the odd dialect and humorous ways of the locals, master outdated equipment, and do his best to mend, treat, and heal pets and livestock alike. This witty and heartwarming collection, based on the author’s own experiences, became an international success, spawning sequels and winning over animal lovers everywhere. Perhaps better than any other writer, James Herriot reveals the ties that bind us to the creatures in our lives.”

August 2023 Books

The Other Side of the Sun by Madeleine L’Engle

This is a gripping tale of love and hate, forgiveness and revenge in the South after the Civil War, as seen through the eyes of a young British bride. L’Engle portrays people vividly and handles dialects deftly. I learned much about the complexities of the war’s aftermath.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

A fun children’s tale that upholds virtues like honesty, kindness, and bravery. Five children receive golden tickets to visit Willy Wonka’s amazing chocolate factory. I waited months for this to come available at my library through Libby, and it was worth the wait.

September 2023 Books

The Toxic War on Masculinity (2023 books)

The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes by Nancy R. Pearcey

This book is outstanding. The back cover copy says it well: “How did the idea arise that masculinity is dangerous and destructive? Bestselling author Nancy Pearcey leads you on a fascinating excursion through American history to discover why the script for masculinity turned toxic—and how to fix it.” Her chapter on how churches should deal with abuse is perhaps the best I’ve read.

A Tail of Murder: Cat and Mouse Whodunits 1 by Emily James

This is the first of a new series about Zoe Stephenson, a veterinarian who must turn detective to save herself and those she loves. There are lots of fun animals and even sprinkles of advice for pet owners. From the back cover: “If you like adorable animals, quirky characters, and a twisty-turny plot, then you’ll love Emily James’ page-turning story.”

October 2023 Books

Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim Challies

This is heart-warming, uplifting, and theologically rich. Seasons of Sorrow will help both those who are working through sorrow and those who are comforting others. Pastor and theologian Challies chronicles working through his grief during the first year of loss. I heartily recommend it.

All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot

If you’re looking for something to relax and charm you, try these delightful stories about a country veterinarian. The novel is based on James Herriot’s life and is the second of four books in the “All Creatures Great and Small” series.

November 2023 Books

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Here’s a historical romance of the WWII Air Force in England for a Christian audience. From the back: “Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval—even marry a man she doesn’t love.”

The Right Kind of Strong by Mary Kassian

This is a terrific book by one of my favorite authors. From the back: “Our culture teaches us that it’s important for women to be strong. The Bible agrees. Unfortunately, culture’s idea of what makes a woman strong doesn’t always align with the Bible’s.”

December 2023 Books

This month I’ve got a children’s book you might consider as a Christmas gift as well as an amusing cozy mystery. (Also: Discovering Wisdom in Proverbs makes a great gift for teens and pre-teens just learning to read the Bible!)

What Is Truth? By Elizabeth Urbanowicz, illustrated by Miranda Duncan

This is a delightful book for children ages 3 to 8. The author is a friend of mine who writes and teaches Christian worldview curriculum. Here’s the back cover copy: “Join Sebastian and Gregg on a thrilling intellectual adventure in Elizabeth Urbanowicz’s captivating children’s book, vibrantly brought to life by Miranda Duncan’s illustrations. Our two charismatic characters guide young readers on a playful exploration of ‘truth,’ a word filled with profound meaning. With a blend of real-world examples and interactive participation, children are invited to discern what’s real and what’s not alongside their new friends.”

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun

Braun’s cozy mysteries solved with the help of Siamese cats are just plain fun. I discovered the author earlier this year, and this is the second in a series of 29. “Jim Qwilleran isn’t exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialties and now he’s supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the subject every week! But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory—the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarized and the lady of the house found dead.”

January 26, 2024/3 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Favorite fiction recommendations for a new year Share on X

Favorite Fiction from Last Year

Are you looking for good, clean fiction to read next year? I read a stack of novels every year, so let me recommend a few of my favorites from last year, from classical literature to science fiction to mysteries to thrillers.

Last year I gave Kindle Unlimited a try since I was reading a series that was free on there. I liked it! Most of the books below are (or were) free on Kindle Unlimited.

Classic Literature

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Loved this stirring tale of courage, leadership, exile, and survival. The story follows a band of rabbits who must flee the down (grassy hill) in which they live when men destroy it. They encounter perils and hardship as they search for a promised land in which to make their home. This was hands down my favorite book of the year. (I found it in Kindle Unlimited–watch for it to return.)

Science Fiction

Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength (The Space Trilogy) by C.S. Lewis

I think this was my third time to read this remarkable series. In the first, Dr. Ransom is abducted and taken by spaceship to Malacandra (Mars) where he encounters the planet’s unfallen inhabitants as he flees his kidnappers. In the second, heavenly creatures take him to Perelandra (Venus) where he attempts to prevent evil’s encroachment. In the third, he battles rising evil forces on Earth. The series is both fun and filled with spiritual insights. (Tolkien fans: Watch for LOTR elements!)

The Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength) by C.S. Lewis (2011) Paperback

MEM by Bethany C. Morrow

A scientist discovers how to extract a single memory from a person’s mind and place it in a Mem—a creature that looks like the human donor but is doomed to relive the single memory until finally expiring. But Delores Extract #1 can create her own memories. Is she a person in her own right, or is she owned by the human from whom she was extracted? Morrow explores identity, personhood, slavery, and memory. (This was either Prime Free Reading or Kindle Unlimited–I couldn’t find a free link.)

Cozy Mysteries

Cozy mysteries contain no graphic violence or sex, despite being built around solving a murder.

Dog On It and Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn

These hilarious and delightful mysteries are narrated by a private investigator’s dog Chet. Ingenious! They were my second favorite fiction of the year. They’re pricey, but when Quinn’s latest addition to The Chet and Bernie Mystery Series came out, he put the previous ones on Kindle Unlimited for a short time—watch for that possibly happening again this summer. (Note: The bad guys sometimes use bad language.)

Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery (The Chet and Bernie Mystery Series Book 1)

Maple Syrup Mysteries by Emily James

I read books 10 to 12 in this series last year (Slay Bells Ringing, Rooted in Murder, Guilty or Knot), but I’ll tell you about the first one, A Sticky Inheritance. In book 1, criminal defense attorney Nicole inherits a maple syrup farm from her late uncle. After she moves into her new home, she suspects he was murdered. The series is sweet, has romance, and follows Nicole’s exploration of Christianity. It’s included in Kindle Unlimited and its one of the reasons I gave KU a try.

A Sticky Inheritance: Maple Syrup Mysteries

A Lady Hardcastle Mystery Book series by T.E. Kinsey

I read the entire six-book series plus the related single this year. The best part about these books is the witty repartee between the widow Lady Hardcastle and her diminutive maid Flo as they go about solving murders in early 20^th century England. Lady Hardcastle is a former British spy and Flo was raised in the circus, so they bring special skillsets to their problem solving. These are fun and are all in Kindle Unlimited. The first in the series is A Quiet Life in the Country.

A Quiet Life in the Country (A Lady Hardcastle Mystery Book 1)

Teen & Young Adult Mystery

Blur, Fury, and Curse (The Blur Trilogy) by Steven James

Sixteen-year-old Daniel has a terrifying vision at the funeral of a classmate that suggests her death was not accidental. He grapples with what’s real and what isn’t in this three-book series of who-dun-its for young adults. He and his friends try to understand how the Bible should guide them as their town is rocked by murders. There’s a bit of crossover into the science fiction and paranormal genres. The entire trilogy is on Kindle Unlimited.

Psychological Thrillers

The Pawn (The Bowers Files Book 1) by Steven James

Not for late night reading! Special Agent Patrick Bowers searches for a cunning serial killer who leaves clues as to who his next victim will be. This is a can’t-put-it-down thriller that also addresses theodicy as Bowers seeks answers as to whether a good God exists. I liked the examination of a serial killer’s psychological makeup as well as the dispensing of trite spiritual answers in favor of more thoughtful responses. The Pawn is on Kindle Unlimited and is the first of a seven-book series.

Conclusion

There you have it: my favorite fiction from last year! What were your favorite novels last year? Have you tried Kindle Unlimited? If so, what do you think of it?

CLICK TO TWEET:

Review: Mama Bear Apologetics
9 Book Reviews from fun to serious
Books to Encourage and Embolden Your Prayers

Note: The Amazon links above are affiliate links for which I receive a tiny commission on sales.

January 3, 2020/3 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Apologetics, Reviews

Review: Mama Bear Apologetics

Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies

Hillary Morgan Ferrer, general editor

In a word: Outstanding!

Mama Bear Apologetics deftly describes where culture departs from Scripture. It shows how to recognize cultural lies and how to defeat them logically and compassionately. Humor abounds, such as their “refined art of the chew and spit” method of discerning where progressivism, feminism, socialism, and more agree with or stray from biblical teaching. Moreover, the authors maintain a kind, compassionate demeanor toward those who cling to cultural lies.

Best of all, it’s readable. Not only are the chapter titles funny, but the writing is outstanding. So that you can see for yourself, I’ve added an excerpt and the table of contents below.

The Book’s Heart

Part 2, “Lies You’ve Probably Heard but Didn’t Know What They Were Called,” is the heart of the book. Here, each chapter begins by describing the cultural lie with spot-on analogies and the history behind it. Then chapters move to a “ROAR like a Mother!” section consisting of four parts:

RECOGNIZE the Message gives modern examples of the lie.
OFFER Discernment shows what’s good about the movement so readers can find common ground with proponents. It also shows where the movement goes astray from biblical teaching.
ARGUE for a Healthier Approach explains how to effectively argue for a more biblical view.
REINFORCE Through Discussion, Discipleship, and Prayer lists specific ways to teach children about the cultural lies. It also offers a prayer addressing the issues and asking for help. Then, it gives discussion questions that can be used in small groups.

Finally, the book ends with a list of recommended reading for those who want to learn more about any chapter’s subject.

Conclusion

In summary, Mama Bear Apologetics is intelligent, insightful, and witty. The authors’ suggestions for engaging in conversations with adults and children are both doable and helpful. In fact, many of the authors explain creative teaching methods they used with their own children.

I highly recommend Mama Bear Apologetics to anyone wanting to know more about what’s happening in our culture and how to address it. And I do mean anyone: you do not need children to benefit from this book.

Excerpt from Mama Bear Apologetics

So you can see the clear reading style, here’s an excerpt featuring a current presidential candidate. Written by Alisa Childers, it’s from one of my favorite chapters, “I’m Not Religious; I’m Spiritual!—New Spirituality.”

NAM [New Age Mysticism] is typically a hodgepodge of Eastern religious ideas, psychology, modern philosophy, pseudoscience, and Christianity. Let’s zoom in to see a practical example of NAM teachings in action.

In January 2008, the “Oprah & Friends” satellite radio channel launched a year-long class with daily lessons and affirmations from the book A Course in Miracles. The teacher of the class, Marianne Williamson, described it as a “self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy” that seeks to take certain “principles” and apply them in practical ways.

The book upon which the class is based, A Course in Miracles, was published in 1975, and is a collection of spiritual revelations recorded by Columbia University professor Helen Schucman. Schucman received the messages from an entity she called “the Voice,” which she later identified as “Jesus Christ.” If you are wondering what kind of “dictations” she received from this supposed “Jesus,” here are a few examples. They sum up the ideas of the new spirituality perfectly:

“Do not make the pathetic error of ‘clinging to the old rugged cross.’ The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross.”
“The name of Jesus Christ as such is but a symbol. But it stands for love that is not of this world. It is a symbol that is safely used as a replacement for the many names of all the gods to which you pray.”
…
Lesson 259 asks the reader to affirm “there is no sin.”

Part 1: Rise Up, Mama Bears

Calling all Mama Bears—My kid has a cheerio shoved up his nose. Why am I reading this book?
Hillary Morgan Ferrer and Julie Loos
How to Be a Mama Bear—Is this code for being the weirdest mom on the playground?
Hillary Short
The Discerning Mama Bear—The refined art of “chew and spit”
Hillary Morgan Ferrer
Linguistic Theft—Redefining words to get your way and avoid reality
Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Part 2: Lies You’ve Probably Heard but Didn’t Know What They Were Called

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves—Self-Helpism
Teasi Cannon
My Brain Is Trustworthy…According to My Brain—Naturalism
Hillary Morgan Ferrer
I’d Believe in God If There Were Any Shred of Evidence—Skepticism
Hillary Morgan Ferrer and Rebekah Valerius
The Truth Is, There Is No Truth—Postmodernism
Rebekah Valerius and Hillary Morgan Ferrer
You’re Wrong to Tell Me that I’m Wrong!—Moral Relativism
Hillary Morgan Ferrer and Rebekah Valerius
Follow Your Heart—It Never Lies!—Emotionalism
Teasi Cannon, Hillary Morgan Ferrer, and Hillary Short
Just Worship Something—Pluralism
Cathryn S. Buse
I’m Not Religious; I’m Spiritual!—New Spirituality
Alisa Childers
Communism Failed Because Nobody Did It Right—Marxism
Hillary Morgan Ferrer
The Future Is Female—Feminism
Rebekah Valerius, Alisa Childers, and Hillary Morgan Ferrer
Christianity Needs a Makover—Progressive Christianity
Alisa Childers

Final Words of Encouragement

How to Take All This Information and #RoarLikeAMother—The Mama Bears

August 27, 2019/5 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Christian Living, Encouragement, Reviews, Spiritual Practices

Books to Encourage and Embolden Your Prayers

June 26, 2019/1 Comment/by Jean E. Jones

6 Bibles, books & study guides to help you understand the Old Testament Share on X

Great Intro to Faith and Science Conversation

Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God. Author: Melissa Cain Travis. Bottom line: Terrific introduction to a hot topic.

Around my 15^thbirthday, I told my non-believing parents that I had become a Christian. My dad grimaced and shook his head in disapproval. Then he said, “I could easily argue you out of it and destroy your faith, but I won’t.” He continued, “I had a friend who tried to convince me Christianity was true, but I demolished his arguments and his faith. Later, I felt bad that he looked so downcast, so I won’t do that to you.”

Right then and there, I decided that I needed to study the evidences for Christianity’s truth. Then I’d be ready when he—or anyone else—sought to destroy my faith. At first, I sought answers from the Bible. But when I started dating Clay, he suggested we read Evidence that Demands a Verdict together. Thus began my journey into Christian apologetics: the study of reasons for belief in the truth of Christianity. It prepared me not only to stand firm in my faith, but also to share the gospel with others better. After all, many have heard objections to Christianity.

My guess is that you probably want to be able to do the same. That’s why I’m excited to tell you about a new book on faith and science. It presents scientific and philosophical arguments for the existence of a Creator in a clear and understandable way. It’s Science and the Mind of the Maker: What the Conversation Between Faith and Science Reveals About God

Faith and Science

Author Melissa Cain Travis has that rare gift of being able to break complex material into understandable parts. While I’ve read quite a few books about faith and science, this is one of the clearest and most readable. That’s because some books on the subject are too complex for the average reader. Or, they are general apologetics books that don’t have the space to adequately address this complex subject. But Travis expertly divides the material into digestible chunks that the average reader can manage.

In each chapter, Travis puts forth her hypothesis, examines atheist objections, and presents evidence for a Creator (the Maker Thesis). Throughout, she carefully separates science and philosophy: “It has been said that the business of science is taking things apart to see how they work, while the business of philosophy and theology is putting things together to see what the mean.”

She offers plenty of definitions to keep readers from getting lost. There are fascinating details about scientists whose faith spurred them on to discover scientific truths as a form of worship. There are lots of fun sidebars. And every chapter ends with a bullet list summary.

Faith and Science in Our Comprehensible Mathematical World

Travis’s chapter, “A Meeting of the Minds: Our Comprehensible Mathematical Universe,” is a gem. She presents plenty of evidence contending that the mathematical qualities of the physical world are discovered, not invented. She also argues that the human mind’s ability to perform convoluted calculations could not have evolved through Darwinian evolution. That’s because complex calculations don’t increase a person’s ability to survive. Indeed, mathematicians have worked out mathematical constructs with no apparent use, only to have physicists much later discover they describe some part of the universe’s physical traits.

Faith and Science in Serpens Nebula — Serpens Nebula HBC 672. Credits: NASA, ESA, STSci. Public domain.

Materialists say that “everything in the cosmos is, or can be reduced to, matter and energy governed by the laws of nature.” But mathematical truths are immaterial. Materialists thus have “difficulty explaining the objectivity of mathematical truth, how beautifully mathematics applies to physical reality, and mankind’s corresponding intellectual capacities.”

Not so those who contend that a Creator better fits what we see. “If the cosmos is the creation of a rational Mind in whose image we are made, a Maker who desires our awareness of him, this deep interconnection makes perfect sense.”

This short summary doesn’t do the chapter justice. So, if this topic intrigues you, get the book.

The Just-Right World Spurs Faith and Science Talk

I was delighted to discover that Travis examined evidences about which I’d not read before. For example, “Habitable and Discoverable: A World Just Right for Scientists” had many examples new to me. Here’s an excerpt:

The fact that life is balanced on a razor’s edge, that our universe is fine-tuned for our existence, is incredible in its own right, but it’s not the end of the story—not by far. A diversity of features of the universe, our solar system, the moon, and planet Earth constitute an amazingly beneficial set of conditions that make both intelligent life and scientific discovery possible. It turns out that the set of circumstances needed for a scientifically advanced civilization such as ours is actually narrower than those needed for our biological existence.3 In other words, there are other possible scenarios that would have allowed for intelligent observers (us), but would have been terribly unconducive to the practice of the natural sciences. In those cases, we would have been stuck in a perpetually primitive existence of hunting and gathering, with no clue about the deeper wonders of the world around us.
Melissa Cain Travis, Science and the Mind of the Maker

My Recommendation

I highly recommend this book for those seeking the scientific evidences for the existence of a Maker. It will help you join the faith and science conversation.

6 Bibles, Books and Study Guides for Understanding the Old Testament

In my last post, I offered seven free tools to help you understand the Old Testament. Here I’ll review Bibles, books, and study guides that help with that, too. Some are for those who are new to reading the Bible, and some are for seasoned Bible readers.

I end each review with an excerpt that shows how each explains Isaiah’s promise to King Ahaz to trust God to deliver him, and Ahaz’s refusal (Isaiah 7). That should let you know if the depth is what you’re looking for.

Bibles

If you’ve read the New Testament before and are ready to dive into the Old Testament, these two Bibles will help you understand it.

Review: NIV Zondervan Study Bible

Edited by D. A. Carson

Audience: Thoughtful Christians wanting historical, archaeological, and theological insights

Reading level: college

If you want a Bible with articles, charts, timelines, color photos, book introductions, and notes, this five-pound beauty is the way to go. This is the third edition of the NIV Study Bible that I own, and it’s the best of the three. It includes two dozen articles covering overarching topics such as “The Story of the Bible: How the Good News About Jesus Is Central” and “Prophets and Prophecy.” The introductions to each book are fabulous. (The link above is for leather, but there are less expensive options. I don’t recommend the Kindle version–I purchased that for version 2 and regret it. The pictures are too small and the hyperlinks overlap, making some unworkable.)

This Bible would overwhelm a new Christian. But for the thoughtful Christian wanting depth, this is the Bible to invest in. Here’s an excerpt from the Introduction to Isaiah (1308):

In ch. 7 Isaiah issues King Ahaz a challenge to trust Yahweh, not Assyria’s power. Ahaz refuses the challenge, and much of Judah’s history between that point (734 BC) and the destruction of Sennacherib’s army in 701 BC revolves around the results of Ahaz’s refusal. A burning question unites chs. 7-39: Will Israel trust Yahweh or the surrounding nations? Chs. 7-12 not only give the answer (no) but also give the answer’s implications.

Review: The One Year Chronological Bible NIV

Edited by Steve Benson

Audience: Anyone wanting to read the Old Testament and New Testament chronologically

Reading level: high school

The One Year Chronological Bible: New International Version

I read the Bible in chronological chunks fairly often, so I made things easier by buying a chronological Bible. In the table of contents, I color coded the prophets so I could see at a glance how they relate (see figure). I seldom read from this Bible, but I use its table of contents to guide my reading in other Bibles. The editors provide short italicized segues when switching between texts, but not a lot of historical notes. Here’s the transition from histories (2 Kings and 2 Chronicles) to Isaiah 7 (799):

Isaiah encouraged King Ahaz to trust in the Lord when Rezin and Pekah marched against Jerusalem. Through these prophecies of Isaiah, the Lord also gave Ahaz a sign of coming salvation—the coming of the Messiah.

Books

Review: Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel

By Eugene H. Merrill

Audience: Thoughtful Christians wanting to understand Old Testament history

Reading level: graduate

This superb book is my number one recommendation for thoughtful Christians who have read and studied the entire Bible and aren’t put off by academic works. Merrill divides Old Testament history into 15 parts and examines each thoroughly, weaving in historical documents from surrounding nations and archaeological finds. He keeps the overarching purpose of God establishing a kingdom of priests clearly in mind. His analysis of the ministry of the prophets is illuminating.

This is an academic work that carefully examines dating problems and apparent contradictions. His goal for this second edition was “to take on the task of bringing the narrative up to date so that the message of the Old Testament as not only a theological but also a historical work can resonate more clearly and relevantly with a new generation of readers” (11).

The book contains numerous chronological tables and maps, as well as both Scripture and subject indexes. Here’s an excerpt (420):

Ahaz had paid a staggering price for survival not only in monetary terms but especially in the moral and spiritual compromises his bargaining had required. As the Chronicler notes, in the final analysis, Tiglath-pileser gave Ahaz trouble and not help (2 Chron. 28:21). Ahaz had had to loot the temple to pay the heavy protection fees that Tiglath demanded, and as an act of thanksgiving, Ahaz offered sacrifices to the gods of Assyria, whom he credited for his salvation. He also installed their shrines throughout the land. It is little wonder that Isaiah the prophet chastised Ahaz in the bitterest terms and predicted the day when Judah also would come to know the awful Assyrian scourge (Isa. 7:17).

Review: The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People

Selections from the New International Version

Audience: Churches desiring to teach the entire congregation the main story of the Bible and willing to use supplemental supporting material

Reading level: youth and adult versions are available

The Story divides selections of text from the NIV Bible into 31 chapters arranged mostly chronologically. Short italicized segues summarize skipped material and add a few historical notes. Simple timelines begin the book; some use increments of thousands of years, others decades. The back material includes discussion questions and a character list.

Zondervan intended for churches to use The Story as part of Sunday sermons, adult small group studies, youth studies, and children’s materials. They provide DVDs, curriculum to go with the DVDs, and other support materials, including a church resource library. I offer a companion study guide (see below).

The Story highlights a dozen or so kings and includes only five excerpts from Isaiah. It skips King Ahaz and Isaiah 7, so here’s the first transition between histories and Isaiah (224):

The greatest of the writing prophets, Isaiah, began his work in Jerusalem (capital of Judah, the southern kingdom) in 740 BC, shortly before King Uzziah died. Isaiah achieved prominence during Hezekiah’s reign, helping the king to stand-down the Assyrian threat by relying on God alone. Such a strategy must be founded on rock solid faith, and this kind of faith Isaiah clearly practiced and developed. His call to service came in a powerful vision—an apt start to a prophetic vocation that would span nearly 60 years.

Study Guides

The first of these is ideal for new Christians; the second is good for those who have read a bit of the Bible already and are willing to put in 31 weeks of daily study.

Review: Seamless: Understanding the Bible as One Complete Story

By Angie Smith

Audience: Women’s Bible study groups with a mix of new and mature Christians wanting to understand how the Old Testament and New Testament relate

Reading level: high school

The women at my church just finished going through Seamless: Understanding the Bible as One Complete Story, by Angie Smith. It’s terrific, funny, and touching. Those who had never read the Old Testament before felt it made sense of the Bible. Those who have read the Bible many times loved the clarifying way Smith laid out the stories. I had a brand new Christian in my group who had never gone to church until a few months ago, and she kept up fine.

Icons that represent major events adorn the footer and make the story easy to follow and review. The back cover folds out with the icons in order and linked by a thread. My group loved turning to the back cover to review the icons together. In the margins, Smith provides a dozen-word summary of every book of the Bible.

The women loved the book and videos, and they had tons of questions every week (which shows how engaging they found the material, but also shows the need to have someone around to answer questions). Some had trouble following the chronology of Week 4: The Kingdoms & the Prophets, so I recommend supplying a few timelines (feel free to use the ones I provide in 7 Free Tools for Understanding the Old Testament).

Covering the entire Bible in six chapters, Smith broadly summarizes Israel’s history. In this excerpt, she introduces some of the prophets, including Isaiah (104):

Several prophets preached in Judah before and during its destruction: Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Isaiah and Micah overlapped our division of times. They lived and preached in Judah both during the Divided Kingdom—the same time as Hosea and Amos—and after the Northern Kingdom was destroyed. See how this all fits together?

Review: The Story Personal Journal and Discovery Guide

By Jean E. Jones

Audience: Thoughtful Christians with some Old Testament understanding who want an in-depth Bible study guide to accompany The Story

Reading level: high school; languages: English & Korean

Free Download here

The Story: Personal Journal & Discussion Guide

I wrote this companion to The Story for my church and later updated it for Zondervan’s church resource library. It explains historical details and has ten timelines to keep the events in perspective. Practical application questions apply the Bible’s message to the reader’s life. It’s written so that people can read a chapter in The Story, and then answer questions from their Bible. Headings summarize what’s happening, and there are plenty of footnotes with additional details for those who want them. You can get it free from my website (see the link above) or Zondervan’s church resource library.

This excerpt is on Isaiah approaching King Ahaz:

God sent the prophet Isaiah to encourage Ahaz king of Judah not to be afraid, for he wouldn’t let [the kings of Israel and Aram] overthrow him. He told Ahaz to ask for any sign as proof. But Ahaz refused and instead sought Assyria’s help. He voluntarily became a vassal to Assyria’s king, paid him a large tribute, and set up shrines to Assyria’s gods in Jerusalem.

Jesus in the Old Testament

November 7, 2017/1 Comment/by Jean E. Jones

9 Book Reviews in 4 categories: Soul & Brain; Worship & Art; Christian Living; Inspirational Fiction Share on X

9 Book Reviews: Summer 2017

Summer reading pile

Here I review nine of my favorite books from this summer’s reading pile. They range from serious to downright fun in these categories:

Consciousness, the Soul & the Brain
Worship & Art
Christian Living
Inspirational Fiction

Consciousness, the Soul & the Brain

Review: The Soul: How We know It’s Real and Why It Matters

By J. P. Moreland

Reading Level: College
I loved this slim book. It made sense of the many verses about the soul. The chapter on what the Bible teaches on the soul is terrific and worth the price of the book by itself. Chapter Four: The Reality of the Soul uses philosophical arguments to prove the soul’s existence, but if you lack a background in philosophy or symbolic logic, you could skip this chapter. Then the final chapter on the future of the human person discusses Near Death Experiences as well as what the Bible teaches on the afterlife. While the vocabulary is sometimes steep, every chapter ends with a review of key concepts and key vocabulary, so that makes it doable.

Here’s a quotation that gives the gist of Moreland’s position (page 51):

Old Testament teaching about life after death is best understood in terms of a diminished though conscious form of disembodied personal survival in an intermediate state.

Review: Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

By John Medina

Reading Level: College
This was a thoroughly fun and informative book. The 12 rules explore the way factors affect the brain: exercise, sleep, stress, wiring, attention, memory, sensory integration, vision, music, gender, and exploration. Medina includes lots of case studies and lots of ideas to enhance learning. He advises both teachers and parents on how to help others learn. He shatters myths. Here’s a sample (191):

When it comes to both recognition memory and working memory, pictures and text follow very different rules. Put simply, the more visual the input becomes, the more likely it is to be recognized—and recalled. It’s called the pictorial superiority effect.

I happened to finish this book while I was also reading J. P. Moreland’s book on the soul, making for an interesting juxtaposition of one scientist attributing the wonders of the brain to evolution, and the other to God.

Worship & Art

Review: Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story & Imagination

By Brian Godawa

Reading level: College
This is a fascinating look at balancing reason with imagination when expressing faith. An award-winning screenwriter, Godawa begins by explaining how he used to try to argue people into the faith through reason and logic alone, but often fell short. He examines the Bible’s use of story and art, and talks about art (and rejection of art) in church history. Then he looks at how the arts can be used to present the gospel message. He says (72):

Our Western bias toward rational discourse can too easily blind us to the biblical power of story and word pictures to embody truth.

Every chapter uses a different typeface, giving each its own feel. Pictures adorn most pages, nicely supporting his points. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to use the various arts to spread the gospel, including literary, visual, and performing arts.

Review: Complete Guide to Bible Journaling: Creative Techniques to Express Your Faith

By Joanne Fink & Regina Yoder

Reading Level: High School
My co-authors, Pam Farrel and Karla Dornacher, introduced me to Bible journaling. Wanting to learn more, I ordered this terrific book. It begins with an explanation of what Bible journaling is (8):

In its simplest definition, Bible journaling is a way to express your faith creatively. Putting pen to paper is a great way to remember and record biblical concepts that are meaningful and relevant to your life.

The book explains tools and techniques, profiles 11 artists (including Karla!), and presents a gallery of different artists’ works. The artists share how turning Scripture into art helps them meditate on God’s word, apply it to their lives, and remember Scripture. This is a great book for anyone wanting to use art to creatively express Scripture.

Review: Whitework with Colour (Milner Craft Series)

By Trish Burr

Reading Level: High School
I’ve always loved whitework embroidery, which historically uses white thread on a white background worked in a variety of stitches that provide texture and shades. Burr adds a bit of color to her whitework, and it makes for gorgeous pieces.

This beautiful, full color book begins with the basics of whitework: materials, preparation, color, and stitches. Then it moves into 17 projects separated by difficulty level. The projects include patterns to trace, stitch diagrams, thread keys, and instructions. The instructions are easy to follow, and she provides videos on her website.

I’d already begun a whitework project before I received this for my birthday, and the book’s instructions greatly improved my stitches. I used the techniques to embroider the Psalm 73 bookmark from my book, Discovering Hope in the Psalms. (I’d already colored the background before I decided to try whitework.)

Christian Living

Review: Tattered and Mended: The Art of Healing the Wounded Soul

By Cynthia Ruchti

Reading Level: High School
What a gem this is! The author’s prose sings as she compares the ways artists restore damaged art with the ways God restores damaged souls. Each chapter unfolds as a hope-filled parable. Then the book concludes with comforting advice to those in the mending process. What I like best is the value Ruchti observes in tattered art and wounded souls as each awaits restoration.

As God mended what had been broken in me—both in body and spirit—I began to see that he wasn’t merely replacing faded material or restitching seams that had loosened. He was embroidering a design that would forever remind me of the story of what I’d been through … and how near he drew.

Review: Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences & God’s Faithfulness

By Janet Thompson

Reading Level: High School

This is the best book I’ve read on spiritual mentoring, hands down. Janet Thompson begins with an introduction explaining how she came to start a mentoring ministry. Section One explains the biblical call to mentor, how churches can avoid generation gaps in their ministries, and the basics of connecting mentors with mentees.

Section Two Describes life seasons and the type of mentoring women need in each season. For each season, Thompson gives tips for both mentors and mentees, Scriptures to discuss, personal stories from mentors and mentees, a short Bible story, and discussion questions. I particularly liked Thompson’s guidelines for establishing boundaries so no one feels like they’re being asked for more time than they’ve agreed to give, and for making sure expectations are clearly discussed up front.

The epilogue finishes with a variety of short topics such as tips on choosing a mentor, setting realistic expectations, Do’s and Don’ts, mentor vulnerability, advice for when mentoring is hard, and resources.

I highly recommend this book for Christian women who want to both grow spiritually and help others grow.

Review: Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages

By Darlene Schacht

Reading Level: High School
Darlene Schacht begins with the powerful story of her husband discovering she had had an affair and his decision to offer grace. Then she reveals the vulnerable story of how they put their marriage back together piece by piece, with God’s help. After the introductory chapter, each chapter focuses on one key concept for making marriage work, such as “Appreciate Him for Who He Truly Is.” The writing is tender and encouraging, never overbearing. Here’s a sample (174):

Contentment requires us to trade personal and immediate gratification for a heightened sense of appreciation.

I recommend this book for any newlywed or any wife looking to improve her marriage.

Inspirational Fiction

Review: Turtles in the Road: A Novel

By Rhonda Rhea & Kaley Rhea

Reading Level: High School
This is a sweet, delightful romantic comedy with hilarious dialog. Two Christians try to follow God’s plan for their lives. But they fumble a bit in the funniest of ways. Then friends and a wise older couple step in with words of wisdom as a romance slowly and sweetly develops. This is the relaxing, funny kind of book I like to read just before bedtime. And on Kindle, it’s $2.99!

Here’s the opening paragraph:

Normally a nice long solo drive had a calming effect on Piper. All alone, no interruptions, just her, the Lord, and the open road. She’d done some of her best thinking on long road trips. Some of her best praying. Some of her worst singing.

Note: Links are affiliate links.

October 10, 2017/2 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Christian Living, Psalms, Reviews

6 Best Books on Psalms for Prayer and Understanding

One of the delights of deciding to write a book on the Psalms is the excuse to read many books on them. Here are the six best books on Psalms I’ve found, ordered from broadest appeal to narrowest. They’ll enhance your prayer life and deepen your understanding of these prayer songs.

By the way, the Bible study guide I wrote with Pam Farrel and Karla Dornacher, Discovering Hope in the Psalms, is due out August 2017. It will walk you through praying with and understanding psalms as you discover eight hopes in the psalms for you.

Six best books on Psalms for prayer and understanding Share on X

Best Books on Psalms #1

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society

By Eugene H. Peterson

Audience: Christians wanting to draw closer to God

This superb book is by the translator of The Message. It contains sixteen inspirational chapters on the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–134). The Jews sang these songs as they made their way to worship God at the temple in Jerusalem, and so Peterson presents them as “’songs for the road’ for those who travel the way of faith Christ.” This is a book to read over and over. If you can read only one book on the Psalms, this is the one.

Quotation

I knew that following Jesus could never develop into a “long obedience” without a deepening life of prayer and that the Psalms had always been the primary means by which Christians learned to pray everything they lived, and live everything they prayed over the long haul.

Pros

Easy to read and understand. Delightful writing style. Folds many Christian disciplines into praying psalms.

Cons

If you don’t own it already, you should.

Best Books on Psalms #2

Psalms as Torah: Reading Biblical Song Ethically

By Gordon J. Wenham

Audience: Thoughtful Christians with good biblical background wanting to worship with psalms

This book transformed the way I prayed psalms. I already prayed laments (prayer request psalms) and praises, but Wenham’s insights into how praying a psalm becomes transformative deepened the way I approached these psalms and emboldened me to memorize psalms for prayer. It also showed me how to pray other types of psalms, such as wisdom and royal psalms. This book is rich and deeply layered, with chapters such as “The Unique Claims of Prayed Ethics” and “Virtues and Vices in the Psalter.” The chapter, “Appeals for Divine Intervention,” examines three of the harshest psalms: 35; 69; 109. This is an outstanding theological work on interpreting Psalms. I return to it often—it’s that good.

Quotation

If we praise a certain type of behavior in our prayers, we are telling God that this is how we intend to behave. On the other hand, if in prayer we denounce certain acts and pray for God to punish them, we are in effect inviting God to judge us if we do the same. This makes the ethics of liturgy uniquely powerful. It makes a stronger claim on the believer than either law, wisdom, or story, which are simply subject to passive reception: one can listen to a proverb or a story and then take it or leave it, but if you pray ethically, you commit yourself to a path of action.

Pros

Thoughtful, clear discussion of ethics in the psalms and how praying the psalms should transform our lives.

Cons

Requires a good biblical background, and that may deter some.

Best Books on Psalms #3

Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook

By Mark D. Futato

Audience: Christians who want to understand Hebrew poetry and who are comfortable with college reading level

This is a 200-page introduction to interpreting Psalms. It’s the first book I read on Hebrew poetry, and it answered questions I’d always had as well as questions I hadn’t known to ask. It spurred me on to read even more. The first chapter explains Hebrew poetry. The second examines the Psalter’s arrangement. The third touches on historical influences. The fourth discusses psalm categories. The fifth and sixth help the teacher develop an outline. While this book isn’t directly about praying the psalms, knowing how to interpret them enhances prayer. If you can’t afford Ross’s commentaries below, then get this.

Quotation

My objective is to acquaint you with the principle that parallelism is the art of saying something similar in both cola [line segments] but with a difference added in the second colon. Hebrew poets thus invite us to read slowly, looking for a difference in the second colon, be that difference small or great.

Pros

Excellent introduction to interpreting Psalms and understanding Hebrew poetry. Fast to read.

Cons

No transliteration of Hebrew (though English translations are supplied). The last two chapters are really too short to be useful.

Best Books on Psalms #4

A Commentary on the Psalms: Volume I (1-41)

Best Books on Psalms #5

A Commentary on the Psalms: Volume II (42-89)

Best Books on Psalms #6

A Commentary on the Psalms: Volume III (90-150)

By Allen P. Ross

Audience: Pastors and Bible teachers comfortable with graduate reading level

I own quite a few commentaries on Psalms, but this three-volume set far surpasses the rest. Volume I has an introduction to interpreting biblical poetry that equals or surpasses that of Futato above. Ross supplies a history of psalm interpretation (as do Wenham and Futato). He also details literary forms. Then comes the psalm-by-psalm commentary—this is where Ross shines. Each contains the author’s translation; composition and context notes; exegetical analysis (including summary and outline); the main commentary on the text; and message and application notes. This last section has preaching tips and is where Ross’s pastoral heart comes through clearly. There are extensive footnotes, including many Hebrew word studies on difficult words such as she’ol.

Volume I Quotation from introductory chapters

A type is a divinely prefigured illustration of a corresponding reality (called the antitype) it is a form of prophecy, the major difference with direct prophecy being that the passage can only be understood as prophetic once the fulfilling antitype has come into full view. This topic will be discussed in the notes on the royal psalms.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1)

The words of the psalm hyperbolically describe the suffering of David but become historically true in Jesus.

Volume II Quotation from Psalm 51 message and application

We, like the psalmist, can and must have complete cleansing before we can fully and freely serve God in any capacity. Our eternal destiny may not be in doubt when we sin, and neither was David’s because he appealed to that covenant relationship, but our fellowship and service will be. God will not tolerate unconfessed sin, but will discipline for it.

Volume III Quotation from Psalm 137 commentary in expository form

All of this is to say that the communal prayer of Psalm 137 was a prayer in harmony with the prophetic oracle concerning the coming judgment on Babylon. They were actually praying for God to do what he said he was going to do, bring punishment on the Babylonians that was a just recompense for their barbaric activities.

Pros

Comprehensive. Many word studies (index in Volume III). Teaching and application tips. If you’re teaching or writing on the Psalms, this is the commentary set to get.

Cons

Typographical errors in verse references. No transliteration for Hebrew words, though English translations are always supplied.

6 Best Books on Psalms for Prayer and Understanding Share on X

Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene Peterson

February 24, 2017/4 Comments/by Jean E. Jones

Reviews, Small Group Leadership

Review: “Why Do You Believe That?”

Here’s a terrific Bible study guide for women who want to grow better at talking about their faith: Why Do You Believe That? A Faith Conversation.

Image of "Why Do You Believe That?" member book

“Why Do You Believe That? A Faith Conversation” by Mary Jo Sharp

Author Mary Jo Sharp packs six weeks of personal Bible study into 160 pages. She’s sprinkled Confidence Builders throughout that address handling tricky conversations. A helpful leader guide at the book’s back suggests discussion questions and even supplies weekly social media samples. Interspersed within the seven video lectures are eye-opening clips of Mary Jo talking to atheists and former atheists about their conversations with Christians.

When I announced I was leading a women’s apologetics Bible study using this book this summer, so many women signed up I offered two sessions. Women truly felt a need to be better able to give reasons for their faith to their friends, co-workers, and teens. By the end of the study, we felt not only better equipped to answer questions, but that we’d developed better relationship and conversation skills.

Review
Conclusion
Chapter Summaries

Review

Why Do You Believe That? Study Guide

The personal study guide examines how Jesus handled faith conversations. It addresses conversation conundrums that women regularly face: “All religions teach basically the same thing”; “Religious people believe in spite of evidence”; “Why do you Christians always push your morality on others?” There’s a summary of what different religions teach about Jesus that was a unanimous favorite.

Each weekly personal study section is broken into five daily lessons that average about 35 minutes, except for week two (55) and week three (45). The homework length and topic make the study best for those with prior Bible study experience.

Daily lesson titles and key questions begin each lesson and provide good focus. The material is laid out attractively with teal and gray highlights that are easy to read. Often Mary Jo asks how you would respond to a situation before giving her suggestions. Good trick! We eagerly read on as we imagined ourselves being in that situation.

Chapters begin with a Group page listing questions from the previous week’s homework in case you prefer that over leafing through the pages; these lacked page numbers for looking up one’s responses, however.

Several chapters have sample statements to practice responding to out loud. Practicing in the group was enlightening—you could tell if you sounded sarcastic or timid, and watching someone with a particularly gentle manner gave everyone something to imitate.

In our group discussions, I encouraged the women to first share examples of when they’d actually encountered the situations we were discussing. Hearing real-life stories added lots of excitement and drove home the practicality of what we were studying.

There are a few minor issues, all easy to work around. The questions are not numbered, making it a little more difficult for people to find questions during the discussion, especially those using a digital format. The table of contents lists “Week One,” “Week Two,” etc., but doesn’t give chapter titles, making it impossible to know what the book covers from Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature (not to worry: I list the chapter titles and content at the end of this blog).

Week Two’s daily homework averaged nearly an hour per day, and if I offer the study again, I’ll cover the chapter in two weeks. This is an excellent chapter, but day three’s homework was a bit tricky. The Confidence Builder on the minimal facts defense of the resurrection (p. 39) was apparently edited down to where it doesn’t accurately represent the argument. This made it difficult for women to answer the question about it. This was easy to get around, though. I gave the group members a Minimal Facts handout that not only quoted the minimal facts, but had a hyperlink to an example of how apologist Clay Jones uses them in faith conversations: http://www.clayjones.net/2010/09/my-200-word-resurrection-witness/.

Videos

Everyone loved the seven session videos. They’re clear, well taught, and visually exciting. Rather than the typical lecture-only videos, Mary Jo’s lectures are nicely interspersed with vignettes of her talking to atheists and former atheists, and of her answering her editor’s questions. Scripture references and answers for the video guides stay on the screen long enough to write down. Graphics are top-notch. Most session videos are twenty to thirty minutes, except for the last which is nine minutes. The videos are designed to be shown at the end of a session since they introduce the following week’s homework. They’re available on DVD in the separately sold Leader Kit or by download.

Leader Guide

The leader guide at the back of member books is exceptional. It has promotion ideas; suggestions for weekly Facebook, Twitter, and email announcements; proposed discussion questions with page numbers (these differ somewhat from the discussion guides); and optional session exercises.

Conclusion

Why Do You Believe That? is an excellent Bible study for women with previous Bible study experience. I will probably offer it again, splitting Session Two into two parts and teaching on the minimal facts approach to explaining the evidence for the resurrection. In all, the lessons engendered lots of excitement because they talked about issues Christian women regularly face.