Review: Finding God in the Hard Times: Choosing to Trust and Hope When You Can’t see the Way by Matt and Beth Redman

Review: Finding God in the Hard Times: Choosing to Trust and Hope When You Can't See the Way

Matt and Beth Redman

Bethany House

2005

What to say about this little book? First it is short, about 120 pages including front matter, two forwards, and a set of questions for discussion. But, the material in between all that is worth the read. The chapters are based on the different portions of a song the authors wrote in 2002, Blessed Be Your Name. Many of us know this song and love it, but haven’t given the lyrics much thought really. This book gives us a chance to do a little thinking in that regard.

For example, how heavily the contemporary songs emphasize victory and equate blessings with the plentiful, bountiful, comfortable life. Little there for when things get tough. And they do and will continue to do so. What then? That’s the point of this little book. What then? What choices will we make then? What will lift the darkness then? Good questions and there are others like “why me?”. The authors give us a great start on finding some answers. As always it seems the answers are too simple for us to believe. Another three hundred pages would not help either. And that might be the only nit I have with this book. It’s so readable and short that the reader will breeze right through it and miss the important message found in the text. But, then we could re-read it or slow down a little.

I do recommend this little book as a place to start the conversation to answer the hard questions we ask in the tough times.

This book was provided by the publisher in return for a review.

Comments

Review: The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Review: The Little French Bistro Nina George Crown 2017 I have to admit that I'm not a fan of romance novels, but I think this one goes beyond the boy meets girl idea. By a bunch. If adults had coming of age stories this one would fit there. Marianne travels a road many people I know would love to, but fear taking the steps needed. And that is the basis of this book. Taking the steps. Joy, sorrow, whatever comes and keep on taking the steps. I agree with many of the comments already made about George's ability to build wonderful characters, paint scenes that vibrate with energy, and tell a story too. Her writing touches the heart and not in some sappy, maudlin way. A place of real emotions and desire. Speaking of desire---her intimate scenes are just that, intimate. In body and mind. And not for just spicing things up a bit. She captures the true nature of intimacy...

Review: Anatomy of the Soul

Anatomy of the Soul Curt Thompson. M.D. Salt River, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2010 This is the most helpful,insightful book I’ve read in a long time. There’s advice, guidance, explanations and examples to illustrate discussion offered by the author. Best of all, for me anyway, it explains some of what I had suspected about how things work all along. Dr. Thompson links human anatomy and physiology to the spiritual part of our being throughout the text. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. And God uses His creation of the physical body in amazing ways. The author does a great job showing God’s wisdom found in research and the discoveries that science has made recently in neuroscience. Whether science wants to or not, it is describing the wonders of creation. Read this book. The text will require thought, evaluation, and time to go through. The author’s writing style is quite readable and he covers the material well. While this isn’t a how to or self help boo...

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Dr. Larry Crabb

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense Dr. Larry Crabb Baker Books 2018 I chose this book because the title intrigued me. When God’s Ways Make No Sense. There have been plenty of times when that seemed truer than I’d like to admit. Are we even allowed to say something like that? Even if we think it. So, an author willing to take on that topic had my attention. And mostly because I wanted his take on what to do about it? As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote. The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not. His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either. Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology. Or at least I think so. I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating. ...

The Return

Search This Blog