Reviews to Start Your Week

Wow, am I behind on book reviews! These will be brief, and they won’t be all the books I’ve read since the last set of reviews, but they’ll help me start catching up.

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The 5 Love Languages

Gary Chapman

Northfield Publishing, 1992; revised in 2010 (201 pages)

Leah and I read this together for our weekly devotionals, and it was an extremely helpful book. While I think most couples know at least some of the information in Chapman’s book, his writing helps to cement what “language” each partner uses, and also provides very helpful tips in helping to “speak” the proper language.

Each chapter is brief, and is perfect at starting very helpful conversations. I recommend this book in premarital counseling, but I think any married couple–no matter how long they have been together–will find great benefit in reading this book with an open mind.

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Cries of the Heart

Ravi Zacharias

Thomas Nelson, 2002 (224 pages)

This is the first book I have ever read that of which Zacharias is the sole author (I had read a book he contributed to and edited before), and I was not disappointed. If you are familiar with Ravi Zacharias’s work, you know that he deals with apologetics from a very deep angle. This book fits his usual mold.

The volume speaks to the questions that so many of us have on a deeply intellectual and emotional level, such as why we struggle with faith, and why there is suffering in the world. Obviously, the volume is not an “end all, be all” answer guide; rather, it is written to make you think more deeply about these matters.

This is not a book to be read quickly, but I highly recommend it for those interested in deep reading on some very tough issues.

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48 Days to the Work You Love

Dan Miller

B&H Publishing, 2010 (222 pages)

No, I am not thinking about leaving preaching, or about leaving Lebanon Road. This book is a helpful read, though, as it helps us see how the current world views getting a job, and especially how to land “that” job. In an economy where finding a job is difficult, I found this a good book to read, to understand at least a small amount of information to help those who ask for guidance in this area.

Also, Dale Jenkins and I utilized this book for the April Pages Podcast, on which Dan Miller himself agreed to appear as a guest. If you wish to listen to the show, you can find it on iTunes, or click here.

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The Fight of Our Lives

William J. Bennett & Seth Leibsohn

Thomas Nelson, 2011 (186 pages)

I wrote a review of this book earlier for Booksneeze.com. Here is the link to that post. If you are interested in the threat of radical Islam, you will want to read my review.

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Dietlinde

Dietlinde Spears

Penmann Press, 1988

Dietlinde Spears is a fascinating Christian. Raised under Nazi and Communist rule in Eastern Europe, this slight book gives her personal reflections on how she came to be not only a citizen of the United States, but also a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ.

Spears has spoken and countless ladies’ days and events throughout the brotherhood, but, as a man, I had never gotten the chance to hear her speak. So I was grateful when one of our elders let me borrow this book to read and enjoy. Written as a memoir, the volume reads fairly quickly, but will amaze you at the human spirit, as well as the ability of Christ to reach anyone from any circumstance.

The book is not easy to find, but I recommend it very highly if you can find a copy.