Category: Christian

Christian

Areté Again

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Tobin E. Wilson
Publisher: San Juan Publishing
Genre: Theology
ISBN: 978-0-9707399-8-8
Pages: 224
Price: $16.95

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Areté means excellence in character and life. And in order to achieve this excellence, a thorough exploration of our current values can lead to an attempt at correcting them. In Areté Again, Rev. Tobin Wilson offers a glimpse of his own past, including an addiction to alcohol, in order to show us how he is changing his ways, and to inspire us to change our own.

First Wilson gives us his own insights into the doctrine of the Trinity. One of the most confusing elements of the Christian faith, Wilson attempts to shed some light on this important theological concept. Then, within the framework of the seven deadly sins, he shares his thoughts on how we as humans have gone astray. Using examples from his own youth ministry, he introduces some of the young people he’s worked with. These teens made a deep impression on him, and he hopes the stories of their struggles and triumphs will impact us as well.

Wilson doesn’t hold anything back. Citing other theological works and the Presbyterian church’s teachings, he forces the reader to face up to his own selfishness in light of the world’s problems. But despite the harsh realities he presents, he does it a gentle manner meant to inspire rather than condemn us. Excellence doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s worth working toward, no matter how long it takes.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, memoir

From Zero to Christian in Just 35 Years

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Lori A. Moore
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Memoir / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-61566-081-0
Pages: 96
Price: $9.99

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Growing up, Lori A. Moore was never introduced to religion. Her parents let her decide what she believed on her own, but never taught her enough to make a decision. So she formed her early beliefs on misinformation and doubt.

Although she had no formal religious training, God never took His eye off of her, and eventually led her back to Him. The path wasn’t easy and included several detours, but now Moore is a committed Christian striving to emulate Jesus.

This short memoir shares the journey Moore took in living a Christian life. The first section is fairly chronological, starting at childhood and progressing onward. But in the second section, the story jumps around a little. Some parts are repetitive, and at times it isn’t clear exactly where on her Christian journey the incidents are occurring.

Moore intends to bring as many people as possible to Christ through From Zero to Christian in Just 35 Years. In sharing her own story of being rescued from a life in the pit, she hopes to reach other pit-dwellers and help them find the right path home. A popular bumper-sticker reads, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Moore’s testimony lets us know that we also don’t need to be perfect. We only need to let God work in us.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Someone to Blame

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: C.S. Lakin
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Christian fiction
ISBN: 978-0-310-32739-4
Pages: 368
Price: $12.99

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The Moore family has been hit hard by tragedy. In a desperate attempt to recover, they move to a small town near the water. No one knows their circumstances, and they hope to have a chance to finally heal.

But soon after they arrive, a young man shows up, causing a stir of hostility. Billy Thurber wears a chip on his shoulders that no one will knock off, and he doesn’t intend to back down from anyone. Billy reminds Matt and Irene Moore of their son, Daniel, and their feelings are stirred up in their interactions with him.

Things finally come to a head with Billy and Irene faces a decision that could cost her life. But she does the only thing she knows to do, fully willing to risk the consequences.

Matt and Irene both have demons in their closets reminding them every day of their failings as parents and all they did wrong in raising their family. Now they’re struggling with their faith, wondering what God plans to do with their pain and heartache and how He can use it for good.

Someone to Blame shows us our dark and sinful nature, while also reminding us that we have the light of God within us, if we remember to let it shine. I highly recommend this powerfully moving novel.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, marriage

Discovering Your Amazing Marriage

Bergers Book Reviews


Authors: Jason & Debby Coleman
Publisher: Seraphina Press
Genre: Marriage / Christian
ISBN: 978-0984196531
Pages: 186
Price: $14.95

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Do you have an amazing marriage? If you don’t, would you like to have one? After twenty years together, Jason and Debby Coleman have discovered how to keep their marriage going strong, and they want to share their ideas with us.

Discovering Your Amazing Marriage is written from a Christian perspective with a Biblical view of every topic. These include communication, forgiveness, resolving conflict, protecting against infidelity, and agreeing in advance that no matter what, you’ll stay married.

Jason and Debby share some of their struggles and how they learned how to handle them while making their marriage even better. And they share how God views marriage, and what He expects from us once we take our vows.

The advice the Colemans share is sound, and for the most part, healthy for a marriage. But in the area of infidelity, I felt some of their advice was fear-based, as a result of their own infidelity issues, and a strong marriage didn’t need such safeguards.

Even if you’re not a Christian, the Colemans believe you can benefit from this book. Just skip over the Biblical perspective sections if they don’t pertain to you. But don’t just read it – put these ideas into practice, and you can’t help but have an amazing marriage, too.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, history

A Wretched Man – A Novel of Paul the Apostle

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: RW Holmen
Publisher: Bascom Hill Publishing Group
Genre: History / Christianity
ISBN: 978-1935098218
Pages: 420
Price: $16.95

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No one did more to spread the gospel among the Gentiles than Paul. After his road to Damascus experience changed everything, he was willing to be a slave to Christ until his final days. But reading the Biblical accounts of his travels is not the same as taking the journey with him.

In A Wretched Man, the reader is offered an invitation to join Paul as he attempts to win as many Gentile converts as he can. We see Jerusalem and Rome in the midst of political and religious unrest, as well as the struggles between the men charged by Jesus to spread the word. Although much of this account is speculation, it’s clear that the Bible is a primary reference source in crafting this novel.

Paul often speaks of a “thorn in his flesh” that he prays God will take from him, but he never mentions what this affliction might be. The author’s surprising interpretation of this thorn initially made me wonder, but the more I read, the more I came to believe his ideas may have been correct. We may never know for sure, this side of Heaven, but Holmen’s theory is certainly likely, given Paul’s own words on the subject.

A Wretched Man is well-written and solidly Biblical, while also being immensely dramatic and human. One can’t help but feel a new and higher regard for the apostles who faced persecution but risked it all in spreading the gospel message. It will be impossible to read Acts or Paul’s letters without seeing them in the context of this period of intense unrest, and marveling at the sacrifices these men were willing to make. I highly recommend this moving tribute to the man most responsible for spreading the good news of Christianity.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Mercy Rising

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Amber Robinson
Publisher: Beacon Hill Press
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-0-8341-2497-4
Pages: 192
Price: $14.99

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The average American woman has a full schedule keeping up with family, job, and household responsibilities. Adding social activism to the mix would become burdensome, although at times she may feel she should be doing more to help others. Amber Robinson realizes the pressures women feel, and she’s written Mercy Rising as a guide for the busy woman to be active in ways that fit her lifestyle.

First, Robinson asks us to pick just “one thing” that we’re most passionate about. This may be world hunger, sanitary drinking water, sweatshops, or human trafficking. Whatever it is, we should focus on this “one thing” to get started. Once we’ve discovered our passion, she provides a wealth of information on researching the integrity of charitable organizations and businesses, as well as individual charities that support the causes we believe in.

As with any book that provides extensive internet listings and websites, this information may go out of date, as charities close and websites go inactive. The very first link I tried to access was dead. But even though charities themselves may come and go, the causes continue, and simple searches would reveal the organizations that have taken their place.

Amber Robinson is passionate about the organization she works for and the cause of social justice. As she leads and guides others to also feel her passion, it’s almost impossible to resist the pull to get more involved. Mercy Rising is a well-written and well-researched book that can’t help but inspire you to want to find your own “one thing” and make a difference in the world.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Amber Robinson is an advocate for children, and works with Compassion International. Sponsor a child today!

Amish fiction, Christian

The Courtship of Nellie Fisher

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Beverly Lewis
Publisher: Bethany House
Genre: Christian Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0310-7 / 978-0-7642-0311-4 / 978-0-7642-0312-1
Pages: 352
Price: $13.99

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The Parting
The Forbidden
The Longing

At seventeen years old, Nellie Mae Fisher is at the courting age, and has her sights on a beau. Caleb Yoder is just the man Nellie Mae wants to get to know better, and she’s pleased when he invites her to go riding after Sunday Singing. But her heart is still heavy after losing her sister Suzy just a few months prior, and she’s consumed with knowing what happened to her before she died.

When the Old Order church is split, Caleb and Nellie Mae find themselves caught in the crossfire, and their relationship is sorely threatened. Can their love persist, or will Nellie lose her heart to the new man who declares his interest? Decisions must be made by all, and not only on whether or not to join the New Order church. Nellie’s dearest friend wonders if adopting another woman’s child is the answer to her barrenness. And her sister Rhoda uses her time of Rumschpringe to decide if she wants to stay Amish or go out into the world.

This was the first Amish fiction series I’ve read, and I have to admit I finished these three books in about a week. This story really pulled me in and I felt such a part of the Honey Brook community where it takes place. While the story is centered on Nellie Mae and Caleb, we also learn so much about the Fisher family and their relatives and friends. I simply couldn’t put these books down. I’m really looking forward to reading other Amish fiction by Beverly Lewis. If they’re as good as this series, I’m in for a real treat.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, memoir

Saved By Her Enemy

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak
Publisher: Howard Books
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-4391-5910-1
Pages: 321
Price: $24.99

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Don Teague, former news correspondent for NBC, was sent to Kuwait, just after 9-11. In his first visit, he spent several months traveling in and out of Iraq, reporting on items of interest. When he reached the end of his tenure there, he returned home, happy to be alive. But NBC still needed him to go back, and this time it would be to Baghdad.

Rafraf Barrak grew up in Baghdad with a strong nationalistic pride in her country, and a respectful fear of Saddam Hussein. She despised the Americans who had invaded, and thought they humiliated Iraq. But Rafraf spoke very good English, and she decided to put aside her prejudices and take a job as translator for NBC, when she was offered it. But then she found herself a target when Iraqi insurgents determined she was working for the enemy.

After one incident where both Don and Rafraf were nearly killed in a school explosion, Don decided he needed to get Rafraf out of Iraq. But this would prove more challenging than he initially expected, and keeping her in America would be even more difficult. But would Rafraf adjust to life in the US after so many years of repression in Iraq?

In Saved By Her Enemy, Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak tell their stories. Rafraf shares her experiences in Iraq, leading up to her decision to come to America, and how she ultimately converts to Christianity. Don explains how he knew God led him back to Iraq on that second tour of duty with NBC for the sole purpose of rescuing Rafraf and bringing her home with him.

Both Don and Rafraf are wonderful story tellers, and the backdrop of violence and fear in Iraq come alive for the reader. It’s easy to understand why Don felt protective of this intelligent and unique Iraqi woman, and why he would be willing to put himself out to ensure her survival. And Rafraf is strong and courageous in the face of unknown terrors.

We may never know what good things God has planned for our lives, when we leave ourselves open to His leading. Don followed the direction he knew he had been given, and was able to save Rafraf – both in body and soul. If you’re looking for an inspirational read with a great message and a happy ending, I highly recommend Saved By Her Enemy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Catholic, Christian, inspiration, Saints, spirituality

A Saint For All Reasons

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Tim Muldoon
Publisher: Ivy Press
Genre: Spiritual / Inspiration
ISBN: 978-0843-713817
Pages: 128
Price: $13.99

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Sometimes we reach the end of our rope and we need special assistance to keep on going. When that happens, it’s easier if we can rely on someone who’s been there before us as a guide. For centuries, Christians have turned to the saints for help in times of crisis.

A Saint For All Reasons is a handy guidebook of 100 saints we can call on when we’re in need. Organized by category, this book provides a summary of who the saint was, and why he or she is associated with our particular situation. A ritual and prayer help us connect more fully with the saint and grow closer to God. The images of these saints can also be downloaded from the website, and a calendar of feast days and an alphabetical index of the saints is included for easy reference.

It’s easy to lose our focus when things aren’t going well for us, and we forget that others have also faced dire situations and calamities. Remembering the saints and the trials and tribulations they faced can help put our problems in their true perspective. And in asking for their assistance, we can invoke Divine intervention.

If you’ve wanted to know more about the saints, or wanted to begin to connect with them on a deeper level, A Saint For All Reasons is a great place to begin. You’re sure to find someone who’s been through something similar to you who can help. This handy little book, along with your Bible and your own relationship with God, will provide comfort and guidance.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, inspiration

Gloria’s Miracle

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jerry Brewer
Publisher: San Juan Publishing
Genre: Faith / Inspiration
ISBN: 978-0-9707399-7-1
Pages: 256
Price: $21.95

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When a seven year-old is diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer called neuroblastoma, it’s easy for a family to lose faith. But when Gloria Strauss is the little girl involved, faith is rejuvenated and strengthened. In Gloria’s Miracle, Seattle Times sports reporter Jerry Brewer shares the incredible story of a little girl’s belief in miracles and the family who rallies around her.

The author originally chose to report this story for the newspaper because of Gloria’s father, Doug’s, sports connection as high school coach. But before long, Brewer was no longer a spectator writing about this family. Instead, he was a friend they turned to in times of grief and celebration.

Early on in Gloria’s struggle with this insidious form of cancer, her mother, Kristen, received what she believed was a message from God. Your daughter will have an incurable disease. When I heal her, I will change the lives of many. The Strauss family believed God had a miracle in store for Gloria, and they lived to glorify God and pray for His miracle.

This faith of this devout Catholic family reached the whole community, as all those who met Gloria were moved to pray with her and for her to be healed of her illness. Even the author’s shaky faith was restored, as he witnessed the many miracles God provided for Gloria and her family.

If your faith has faltered, or even if it’s solidly intact, you are sure to be touched by this moving tribute to a beautiful and inspiring girl. God is truly changing the lives of many through Gloria and her family.

Reviewer: Alice Berger