Category: Christian

Christian

40 Days of Doubt

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Eric Huffman
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-1-5018-6913-6
Pages: 176
Price: $14.99

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If you’ve ever had doubts about your faith, you’ve probably looked for answers. In 40 Days of Doubt, Eric Huffman tackles some of the issues Christians grapple with, in an attempt to reassure the reader of God’s constant presence in their lives.

In a series of eight weeks of topics, Huffman covers doubts about: God, Jesus, the Bible, the human condition, faith and science, quality of life, sex and relationships, and religion. He addresses the concepts of miracles, the Old Testament God, happiness, and pain, as well as many other issues we struggle with today. Each entry is about four pages long, and would easily fit into a daily Lenten reading plan.

For the most part, Huffman’s ideas are ecumenical in nature, but I felt it was unnecessarily harsh to bash the current (not 4th Century, as the author states) Catholic belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity. But overall, this book is a nice summary of answers to doubts people might have about Christianity.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian

Dinosaur Devotions

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Michelle Medlock Adams
Illustrator: Denise Turu
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Genre: Children / Dinosaurs / Christian / Devotions
ISBN: 978-1-4002-0902-6
Pages: 160
Price: $14.99

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It’s so much more fun learning about the Bible when you can do it with dinosaurs. Not only will kids learn solid Christian teaching – they’ll also acquire some impressive knowledge of 75 different prehistoric beasts.

Each of these two-page devotional entries shares a Bible quote, details some interesting facts about one particular dinosaur, and relates the dinosaur’s qualities to Christian behavior. Then a “dig deeper” question is asked, followed by a prompt for Jurassic journaling.

Did you know the Baryonyx dinosaur most likely ate a diet of fish? Dinosaur Devotions shares this information with kids before explaining the words of Jesus sending his disciples out to be fishers of men. Then it asks them to dig even deeper, and come up with a list of people they would like to invite to church – and do it!

Dinosaur Devotions is perfect for middle-grade kids who love dinosaurs and are open to hearing about Christian living in a fresh and interesting way.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, inspiration, self improvement

You Are Enough

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mandy Hale
Publisher: FaithWords
Genre: Christian / Inspiration
ISBN: 978-1-5460-1234-4
Pages: 176
Price: $20.00

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Mandy Hale has become popular through her twitter account and blog. Known as The Single Woman, she shares her experiences with dating and relationships. But one relationship in particular, along with its painful ending, haunts her more than she realizes.

Carrying the wounds from this experience into her current reality, she suffers an emotional breakdown that she’s unable to deal with on her own. It will take professional help for her to fully recover and face what happened. And when she is finally able to speak with him again, she has a newfound sense of dignity that helps her realize he is not the man she believed him to be. She has gained the knowledge that she really is enough.

You Are Enough is Mandy’s reminder to all of us, that we don’t need to listen to the messages we hear from the world around us. God loves us just as we are, and we don’t need to be better-prettier-smarter to earn his love. We are enough, just as we are. And isn’t that just the message we need to hear?

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Good News for a Change

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Matt Mikalatos
Publisher: NavPress
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-1-63146-856-8
Pages: 208
Price: $15.99

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Sharing the good news about Jesus should be easy. We know He came to earth to save us from our sins and guarantee our place in Heaven, but how can we communicate this message without sounding too preachy? If you’ve ever struggled with knowing how to approach this topic with others, Matt Mikalatos offers some great advice.

Matt has had first-hand experience with these conversations, and in Good News for a Change, he shares the lessons he’s learned along the way. We learn how to identify what’s really good about the good news, frame it in a way people will not only listen to, but also understand, and make it meaningful to the person we’re speaking with.

This uplifting and inspiring book helps us see that opportunities for evangelism are all around us, and being prepared is easier than we think. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, sports

This Is the Day

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Tim Tebow
Publisher: WaterBrook
Genre: Christian inspiration
ISBN: 978-0-525-65030-0
Pages: 224
Price: $25.00

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When Tim Tebow decided to pursue a major league baseball career, many people didn’t understand. Why would a successful football player go back to the minor leagues and try to rise through the ranks? Wouldn’t it be safer to pursue a career in broadcasting, as he had the opportunity to do? But as Tim explains in This Is the Day, life isn’t always best lived by making the safe choices.

Through a series of stories, Tim shows us the times in his life where important choices needed to be made. Although he admits he didn’t always choose correctly, he recognizes that God placed him in certain situations for a reason, and it was up to him to act. Maybe we don’t always see this in our own lives, but God asks the same of us, also. If we can learn to see how important this very moment is, we can make a difference in this world.

Tim Tebow is not only a talented athlete, but also a gifted story teller. This Is the Day is an inspirational read that gives us a lot to think about. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian

Shh… God Is in the Silence

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Fiona Basile
Publisher: Loyola Press
Genre: Children / Christian
ISBN: 978-0829446579
Pages: 26
Price: $8.95

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If children don’t know how much God loves them, they will find out when they read Shh… God Is in the Silence. Phrases including I love you, You are precious, and There is no one else like you, as well as many others are repeated, reminding children of these awesome truths. Illustrations of children in peaceful settings accompany these beautiful words.

God may be silent, but He lives in their hearts, and He wants them to know how precious they are to Him. Shh… God Is in the Silence is a wonderful book to read when children need reassurance, and it’s perfect for bedtime.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, romance

As the Tide Comes In

Bergers Book Reviews


Authors: Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook
Genre: Christian Romance
ISBN: 978-0-7352-9101-0
Pages: 352
Price: $14.99

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Tara Abbott has helped raise her two half-brothers, and how she’s looking forward to the vacation they’ve planned for her. When tragedy strikes, she makes the trip to St. Simons Island anyway. Dazed and confused, she has no idea where she is or what she’s doing there, but she searches relentlessly for answers.

Gavin Burnside is attempting to solve the family’s financial difficulties after his dad passed away. With his mom and the rest of the “Glynn Girls” to help, they hope to have everything resolved shortly. Finding Tara, lost and alone on the island, isn’t part of his plan. But who is Tara, and what is she really doing on St. Simons Island? And how is her future intertwined with his own?

Watching Tara cope with such a devastating loss is heart-breaking, and at times I wondered how she would ever recover. But with her loving friends, the Glynn Girls, and Gavin to support her, she starts to make peace with the past. As the Tide Comes In is a moving picture of God’s grace in unimaginable circumstances. I highly recommend this beautiful story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, journal

Bless This Home

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Robin Pickens
Publisher: Quiet Fox Designs
Genre: Journal / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-64178-000-1
Pages: 128
Price: $7.99

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Bless This Home is designed to inspire. Filled with Bible quotes, artwork, and questions to think about, this lined journal gives us the space to record our thoughts and prayers.

This beautiful hardcover book is affordably priced and would make a great gift.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, journal

My Prayer Journal

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Joanne Fink
Publisher: Quiet Fox Designs
Genre: Christian / Journal
ISBN: 978-1-64178-003-2
Pages: 128
Price: $7.99

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Keeping a record of our prayers is a wonderful way to see God at work in our lives. My Prayer Journal is a beautiful hardcover book designed for making notes of our own prayers.

There are three main sections to this journal. The first few pages are available to record our prayer list: the name of the person, the date, and the reason. The next section is a series of journal pages, offering us the opportunity to reflect on gratitude, specific prayer requests, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. The last section is a calendar for listing important birthdays, anniversaries, and other dated items. Throughout the journal, Joanne Fink’s religious artwork adorns the pages.

My Prayer Journal is not only a beautiful record of our prayers, but it’s also priced right. This journal is perfect for prayer warriors, and would make a great gift.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, journal

The Beloved Word: A Scripture Journal

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Joanne Fink
Publisher: Quiet Fox Designs
Genre: Christian / Journal
ISBN: 978-1-64178-026-1
Pages: 128
Price: $7.99

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This blank journal features the artwork of Joanne Fink along with 30 inspiring Bible verses interspersed throughout the book. Soft watercolor enhances the line drawings appearing in the corners and on the margins of the pages. Sturdy hardcover binding and lined pages make for an easy and enjoyable writing experience. This beautiful book is perfect for faith-based notes and journal entries.

Reviewer: Alice Berger