"Worth Fighting For" (John Pavlovitz)

TITLE: Worth Fighting For: Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty is Trending
AUTHOR: John Pavlovitz
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2024, (168 pages).

It has been said that "No news is good news." This is obvious when we read the news today. On every page we turn, chances are, there is more bad news than anything else. From the poverty and homelessness crisis to global-warming; corruption to leadership scandals; rising inflation to unemployment; political turmoil and wars; social uprising and injustice; wherever one turns, the world seems to be getting from bad to worse. This world is broken. Systems are broken. People are broken. Everything is broken. No wonder many people are feeling more helpless and hopeless than ever before. Worse, people are turning from sympathy to lethargy to apathy. If a broken world remains unfixed, it will not be fixed. For all the talk about goodness and love, author John Pavlovitz writes that "Love isn’t real until it moves from aspiration to incarnation." We need action that speaks louder than words. Using a metaphor of the car warning lights, Pavlovitz urges us to use despair as the impetus for action. Our actions include attention to mental health matters; creating a safe space for people to share their struggles; encouraging empathy toward the vulnerable; harnessing righteous anger; resisting the tendency toward depression; cultivating good attitudes like gratitude, rest, joy, and simply being well. Fellowship with people who give us hope. Adopt faith over fear. Move beyond mere niceness. 

"Heavenward" (Cameron Cole)

TITLE: Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change your Life on Earth
AUTHOR: Cameron Cole
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2024, (200 pages).

Life is difficult. For some, life is terribly cruel. In an honest lament after losing his firstborn, author Cameron Cole writes about the need for hope by cultivating a heavenward perspective of life. Linking personal experience with Scriptural teachings, he describes what heavenward means, who the book is for, and some ways to live with heavenly thoughts while on earth. Written in three sections, Section One begins with a description of what "heavenward" means for the Apostle Paul and for the rest of us. Using Paul as an example, Cole shows us from the Bible how heaven-mindedness transforms Paul's entire life. From Paul, Cole then moves to what it means in our present world. In top-down, we let the love of God from above motivate our earthly living. In bottom-up, he links earthly circumstances with a perspective of heavenward mindset. Another heavenward posture is through waiting.

Section Two looks at five different factors affecting Paul's heavenly outlook. The first is about seeing the coming of the Kingdom with Christ as the centre. The second is a powerful take on how the way to transform conventional earthly living with heavenward earthly living. Whether on earth or in heaven, we can live that eternity perspective and that changes everything. The third points moves this further along toward a target: Jesus. Heaven is less about a material place but more about that spiritual union with Christ. The fourth takes us even deeper toward seeing God for who He is. This glorious outlook is beyond understanding. Finally, the power of the Holy Spirit moves us to become heavenward people.

"You are Not Alone" (Jennie Allen)

TITLE: You Are Not Alone: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxious Thoughts and Believing What's True
AUTHOR: Jennie Allen
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Waterbrook Multnomah, 2024, (192 pages).

Mental health is a big topic nowadays. Ever since the Covid pandemic, we continue to hear news reports and various mainstream articles talking about the need for proper mental healthcare. One of the best ways to cultivate good mental health is toward the young. Many problems arise out of a poor or traumatic upbringing. As the younger population becomes more exposed to the Internet, it is increasingly important to take steps to foster wisdom and tact when dealing with so much information, especially via social media. That is not the only concern. Children needs guidance in almost all areas of life. From discerning Truth from fiction to dealing with thoughts and all kinds of feelings, author Jennie Allen gives us tools and tips to guide the younger ones among us. It is easy to feel helpless with the continuing onslaught of information and mass misinformation out there. Thankfully, this resource helps us put things in perspective. Calling it a "Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxious Thoughts and Believing What's True," this book anchors readers on the foundation of all stability: The Bible. Written in three parts, Allen guides us with clear instruction and biblical wisdom on how to deal with life, and especially our spiritual upbringing.

"Help for the Hungry Soul" (Kristen Wetherell)

TITLE: Help for the Hungry Soul: Eight Encouragements to Grow Your Appetite for God's Word
AUTHOR: Kristen Wetherell
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2023, (176 pages).
 

The Word of God nourishes our souls and fills our insatiable appetite for Truth. The Bible gives us God's Message to help us live toward righteousness in Christ. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus assures us that His Word is living water to the thirsty. Like the way He multiplied the loaves of bread and the fish, He provides for all our needs and satisfies the hungry. Yet, many of us choose to go hungry for all the wrong reasons. We feed on unhealthy food. We make poor choices. Worse, we ignore the good food that is readily available to us. How do we long for nutritious food? Author Kristen Wetherell gives us 8 ways to do just that. Calling it "Eight Encouragements," she shares about her own journey to fill her hungry soul. These ways are not methods or strategies but reasons to fill our souls with the Word of God. She asserts that we are "born hungry," and specifically, we are born to hunger for God. She writes for people especially believers who do not seem to have a desire for the Word of God.  She describes such people as those who are "not hungry enough to engage," "not sure what to do about it," and those who hunger for things other than God's Word. These eight encouragements are to:

"Nourishing Narratives" (Jennifer L. Holberg)

TITLE: Nourishing Narratives: The Power of Story to Shape Our Faith
AUTHOR: Jennifer L. Holberg
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2023, (240 pages).
 

What is our story? Are they defined by highlights in our careers or are they tarnished by failures in our ventures? How do we tell our own stories? Which narrative should we share? Do we share inspiring ones or lament about the negative events in our lives? For author Jennifer Holberg, this book is about helping us share life-giving narratives of our lives. Readers also learn about paying close attention to the narratives of others, all for the purpose of sensing God's story in the larger world. We associate the names of people with memories of our encounters with them. We get a frank assessment of the popular use of testimonies, with the author questioning the stereotypes of the "Boring Testimony Syndrome" where believers are urged to share sensational conversion stories. The truth is, many of our personal narratives are complicated. We cannot and should not allow others to dictate our own narratives. Here, we learn to ask ourselves questions like:

• Why do I find it hard to share my personal stories?
• Why am I uncomfortable with my own narrative?
• What does the discomfort tell us about ourselves and our theology?
• Is the tension we feel need to go away or to be embraced?
• What is the essence of the story and how can I share it in such a way as to bless another person?

"Incurable Faith" (Andrea Herzer)

TITLE: Incurable Faith: 120 Devotions of Lasting Hope for Lingering Health Issues
AUTHOR: Andrea Herzer
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Waterbrook & Multnomah, 2023, (304 pages).
 

"You have cancer!" These three words can easily strike fear even for the most stoic minds. How does one deal with bad news? What if the prognosis is mostly negative? How then do we bear living in an increasingly unbearable situation? Like in a dark and gloomy tunnel, life through chronic illness can be downright depressing. In times like these, hope becomes that crucial light at the end of the long tunnel. One of the ways to remind us of hope in Jesus is through devotionals. Here, author Andrea Herzer gives us 120 devotionals to guide us through hardships any of us might encounter from time to time. These devotionals are conveniently categorized according to length. Section One is "snack size" meaning the devotional is about 1-2 pages long. Intended for people who might not be able to sustain a longer read, they are given in bit-size format for ease of reading and reference. The introductory passage, prayer, and invitation to worship are brief and to the point. Section Two is a little more substantial called "A Marvelous Meal." The passages are slightly longer, about 2-3 pages in length. This allows readers who have the energy to read a longer passage to do so. It gives us more time and space to reflect on the passages read. Section Three contains devotionals that are the most dense of all. It is written particularly for the lonely in mind. It is also suitable for those who want a longer quiet time. 

"Exit the Cave" (Blaine Hogan)

TITLE: Exit the Cave: Embracing a Life of Courage, Creativity, and Radical Imagination
AUTHOR: Blaine Hogan
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2023, (256 pages).
 

Each of us has our own cave. It is a place where we could feel comfortable, relaxed, and honest with ourselves. For author Blaine Hogan, his cave is more than that. It is about him boldly taking a step out of the cave of addiction, depression, self-pity, and encountering health issues among his loved ones. He shares about past broken relationships, broken marriages, and emotional struggles.  As an actor, he toggles from the highs of success to the lows of addiction. He shares his ups and downs through personal stories told with brutal honesty. Some of his most painful episodes were about the hurts he had inflicted on others and the resultant turmoil that tormented him emotionally and spiritually. He thought singing can help him feel better but any positive vibes didn't last. He shares about his constant travels because of his gigs. His search for peace continues with his foray into theological education in Seattle. While disappointed with the city and the school for various reasons, he soon finds inspiration in the stories of Hagar and Sarah. He would be challenged by two simple questions:

1. Where have you come from?
2. Where are you going?

These two questions would gradually help sprout other questions that not only probe his inner self and relationships but also his purpose in life. The bulk of this book deals with the way he answers these two questions. On the question of where he came from, Hogan shares honestly about his past, celebrating the highs as well as admitting the lows. The second question about where he is going deals with his desire to move forward from his checkered past. His journey in search of healing does not come easy. He summarizes his life with "four straight lines" or more specifically, our imperfect efforts to draw four perfectly straight lines. In a throwback to life in general, he shows us that we ought not be chained by our imperfections. Spirituality is essentially about not giving up in spite of our imperfect drawings of life. This is such a liberating thing to learn. 

"The Long COVID Survival Guide" (Fiona Lowenstein, ed)

TITLE: The Long COVID Survival Guide: Stories and Advice from Twenty Long-Haulers and Experts
AUTHOR: Fiona Lowenstein, ed
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: The Experiment, 2022, (288 pages).
 

It has been more than two years since the pandemic began. Since 2020, people around the world have become more cautious about face masks, vaccination requirements, handwashing, disinfectants, and many other healthcare concerns. Many have gotten covid and subsequently recovered. However, not all recoveries are the same. Some continue to suffer symptoms called "long covid." While the rest of the world chug along, those with long covid symptoms find it the journey long and often lonely. From initial diagnosis to constant anxiety about whether it gets better or worse, even medical professionals are learning new things every day with regard to how to help patients deal with covid, especially long covid. In this book, we hear directly from contributors who have experienced either directly or indirectly the challenges of long covid. In this book, twenty contributors share their stories. Sabrina writes about her loss of smell, headaches, stomach flu symptoms, and a sense of exasperation of not having anyone who could expertly tell her what to do. She tells us that there are a lot more nuances to know with regard to healing and recovery. Many who have struggled with long covid realize they are no longer the same persons they used to be. We learn about what it takes to be a knowledgeable, understanding, and supportive community. We learn about logistical and financial advice. We learn about symptom management, crowdsourced guidance, discerning the theories floating around covid-19, and a host of other issues pertaining to understanding more about Long Covid. Conventional words like healing, recovery, care, disability, patient, are all redefined under the new awareness of long covid. From a first-person perspective, we read about:

"Songs of Suffering" (Joni Eareckson Tada)

TITLE: Songs of Suffering
AUTHOR: Joni Eareckson Tada
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2022, (200 pages).
 

Colossians 3:16 exhorts us to let the Word of Christ dwell in our hearts richly, that when we have deep gratitude in our hearts, we will be able to respond to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The Book of Psalms is a wonderful collection of amazing spiritual insights and worship. We sing not only when we are happy, we sing even as we lament the struggles of this life. Entitled "Songs of Suffering," this book is an attempt to make sense of some of the most popular and powerful hymns used through the centuries. Written and compiled by one who has known suffering personally, Joni Eareckson Tada who is a quadriplegic, shares with us spiritual insights and learnings from 25 hymns. Not only should these hymns be sung more frequently, the author believes that the lyrics should be memorized as well. Many of the hymn lyrics contain powerful theological truth. Included in this collection are devotional lessons, inspiring events, and strength for the soul. Each chapter begins with a Bible verse to anchor our thoughts on. The author then weaves her own stories and experience into the telling of the story and the relationship to the hymn itself. This is followed by a melody score with words and music for musicians to play and sing along to.This is helpful for those who find the hymns unfamiliar.  She ends the book with a "reprise" which is a musical reflection and some last-minute advice. 

"Stories of My Life" (Katherine Paterson)

TITLE: Stories of My Life
AUTHOR: Katherine Paterson
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2022, (352 pages).
 

We all love stories. Since young, many of us would recall listening to how our parents and grandparents told us all kinds of stories. From fairy tales to modern legends, biblical narratives to personal testimonies, stories captivate us in ways that no prose nor non-fiction could. Stories help us appreciate and understand tradition. They also teach us lessons about life, just like the world-famous Aesop's Fables. It takes a conscientious storyteller to tell a good story. It takes a gifted storyteller to tell a great story. Author Katherine Paterson tells her own story to give us many glimpses into her fascinating life as a writer, a missionary kid, teacher, preacher's wife, devoted mother, and a Christian. She shares about the ups and downs of her life. Events like her topsy-turvy days when living with her missionary parents to China to having children of her own following a miscarriage, Paterson shares her stories with vivid description and brutal honesty. She introduces the book from a readers' perspective via three "Frequently Asked Questions." 

1. How did you become a writer?
2. Where do you get your ideas?
3. How does it feel to be famous?

"Churches and the Crisis of Decline" (Andrew Root)

TITLE: Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age)
AUTHOR: Andrew Root
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (304 pages).
 

Saying that the Church in the West is on the decline is nothing new. The Church at large is in a crisis. Even before the pandemic, many churches are already in dire straits. Older people are decreasing with attrition. Young people are leaving because of disillusion. The majority of the rest in between is basically too busy with their own concerns to be worried about Church! Yet, what exactly is causing this? What are the roots behind this decline? Is there hope for the Church? What can we do about it? The problem: No pulse. That means the heart had stopped and the demise is declared. In a stark and shocking picture of the state of the Church, Author Andrew Root shows how a formerly thriving church had turned into a pub! This fictional story of a gentrified neighborhood commercial pub is called "Church Brewhouse" once it has taken over an old church building. How does a Church survive the secular onslaught? What is behind the disillusionment? 

He eases theological discussion with a story of people struggling to keep the faith. From John the Baptist to Karl Barth, sacred places to secular influences, Root poses several observations about life, faith, and what it means to be Church.

"Hollywood Heroes" (Frank Turek and Zach Turek)

TITLE: Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God
AUTHOR: Frank Turek and Zach Turek
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2022, (256 pages).
 

We watch a lot of movies. During a pandemic when most of us are either locked down, working from home, or simply spending more time isolated from the general public, we tend to stay indoors and in our leisure moments, watch even more movies While some of us simply want to be entertained, in the midst of searching for nice movies to watch, there is a little child inside each of us craving for hope. This heart desires to be inspired by heroic acts and heroes who could save the world. Whether fantasy or sci-fi, drama or romance, we all want something good to happen in this world. With the popularity of Marvel movies, characters from Justice League, and memorable personalities from Harry Potter, Lord-Of-The-Rings, etc, these superheroes have captivated our imagination about special powers and unique abilities. These are skills that the common person does not have. Spiderman can swing. Harry Potter casts spells. Batman has his special gadgets and the futuristic Star Wars gives us an out-of-this-world experience. Common to all movies described in this book is the hero who aids mankind with the accomplishment of the greater good, and often to save the world. This hero figure essentially tells us that fictional characters represent hope and inspiration in real life. Throughout these movies, there are many other lessons we could glean from, such as questions about the divine, ethical dilemmas, the reality of evil, the downfall of arrogance, the consequences of personal choices, and the sanctity of life. Authors Frank and Zach Turek assert that these movies actually reveal our desire for God. With an intrinsic sense of good battling evil, these stories speak of salvation, justice, senseless evil, and the eventual culmination of good. These superheroes and gallant protagonists often represent the inner human need for retribution against evil and the victory of the good. Yet, they assert that however heroic or virtuous each of these heroes may be, they are a far cry from the God of the Bible. This book is essentially about how these Hollywood heroes reveal our hearts' desires and how they ought to point us to the Greatest Hero of all: God. 

"Breaking Ground" (Anne Snyder and Susannah Black, editors)

TITLE: Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year
AUTHOR: (Anne Snyder and Susannah Black, editors)
PUBLISHER: Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2022, (400 pages).

If there is any specific life-changing event at the turn of this decade, it would nonetheless be Covid-19. Never before have there been so many deaths, fears, disruptions to the local economy, and global repercussions for the general public, businesses, friends, families, and loved ones. From multinational corporations to non-profits like charities and churches, the arms of the pandemic have spread like wildfires affecting every continent, every country, and every culture. In early 2020, a group of thoughtful individuals came together to ask the question: "What would a post-pandemic world look like?" Refusing to accept a mere "Things will never be the same again," the contributors boldly attempt to see the future through renewed thinking of the many facets of life we have often taken for granted. That is not all. Even after removing the pandemic factor, there remains a deep-seated self-deception among people that they are presumed correct until proven otherwise. That sets the stage for arrogance and pride that refuses to learn, to the detriment of our future generations. We need a way to help us humbly learn from our mistakes and to break new ground for growth and human progress. This collection of essays is written by individuals who hail as cultural critics, scholars, speakers, businesspersons, professors, psychologists, philosophers, poets, political observers, professionals, researchers, venture capitalists, and many more. Written between June 2020 to June 2021, the writers explore issues pertaining to three types of needs, the need to:

"Made to Worship" (Phil Stacey)

TITLE: Made to Worship: Empty Idols and the Fullness of God
AUTHOR: Phil Stacey
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021, (272 pages).

He was set apart for a singing career. Yet, the very things that made him famous are also the very reason for breaking him down. Growing up in a family of singers, Phil Stacey has a gifted voice and a love for music. As a son of a pastor, Church is like his second home. He and his family thrived musically everywhere they went. For Phil, his music was what attracted people to him. It was the reality show, American Idol, that launched him to fame. This book is his memoir of faith, of his humble beginnings, his journey to American Idol, and the subsequent darkness that befell him in the midst of glittering images of fame. Writing about his fall from grace, he shares also about his return via the path of faith. He ends with a powerful note to proclaim that all his music, all of his experience, and all of his life are essentially made for worship. 

"Ward Nine: Coronavirus" (Alys Morgan)

TITLE: Ward Nine: Coronavirus: One Woman's Story
AUTHOR: Alys Morgan
PUBLISHER: Cardigan, Wales: Parthian Books, 2020, (150 pages).

We are now in the second year of the global pandemic. Since late 2019, many parts of the world have been locked down, travel curtailed, and in many countries, the mandatory wearing of masks. In the early part of 2020, it was also common to see members of the public coming out regularly to openly support workers in essential services. These are the front-line workers in healthcare, people who face customers regularly, and those in public services who had gone beyond their call of duty to serve others. Most of us see these healthcare professionals and frontline workers from the outside. What about scenes from the inside? What about stories and perspectives that come from the patients of hospitals, especially in those wards that are focused on caring for Covid patients? This book is about the story of a Covid-19 patient admitted to a special ward on March 21st, 2020, and her 48-day journey to recovery.

Part One of the book describes all the activities prior to her entering Ward 9, the NHS Wales and Mind. It all began with caution. With impending city lockdown, public facilities like libraries were all preparing to close. People were told to avoid gathering in public and to stay home. The news throughout the country was about the lockdown. Soon Alys Morgan was working from home. Some people were panic buying. People were starting to wear masks when they venture outside. Ten days later, her daughter Caitlin got sick. Soon, Alys got the sniffles, which coincided with the British Prime Minister who was moved into the Intensive Care due to Covid-19. By mid-April, it was Alys turn to get sick. As her illness struggles linger longer, her daily notes grew shorter. Soon she had to be hospitalized. She has been infected by the dreaded coronavirus. Even in her weakened condition, she manages to put down her observations in writing. She writes about how she was admitted to hospital. She remembers the different nurses and doctors checking her blood pressure, taking her temperature, monitoring her overall health, and the presence of so many different medical specialists. It was a surreal moment when she saw her ward description: "Ward Nine. Coronavirus: No Unauthorised Entry."

"Charitable Writing" (Richard Hughes Gibson and James Edward Beitler III)

TITLE: Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue Through Our Words
AUTHOR: Richard Hughes Gibson and James Edward Beitler III
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (248 pages).

We have been told that love is the greatest. The Bible says so. Our culture also asserts that. We all believe so. We are taught to love our neighbour. We all want love but the truth is, love is often more easily said than done. This applies equally to the field of writing. Authors Richard Gibson and James Beitler helps us understand what it means to apply the expression of love in our writings, via charitable writing. Being a Christian is not just about speaking or living out the good news in public. It is also in how we write and express our love in writing. It is also a way of spiritual formation. It is discipleship. It is using our writing to paint the art of love. The central theme of this book is that "charitable writers listen humbly, argue lovingly, and keep the time of writing hopefully." Without going into the details of how to write or not to write, the focus is on the "big picture," to imagine, to relate, to respond, and how to express our neighbourliness in our writing. In other words, we write not for the sake of writing but for the purpose of showing we care and we love. These can be done through applying "spiritual threshold concepts," which are concepts to help integrate academic disciplines, including the discipline of writing. They engage the wisdom of ancient as well as modern writers to help us along. Through imitation, we learn from the practitioners in the past. Through practice, we apply the process over and over again to solidify the habit. This dual rhythm of imitation and practice are incorporated into the three key parts of the book. I appreciate how the authors remind us once again that writing is not only social and spiritual, it is also communal. The best way to integrate all of these is to begin with humility. Using art and images to supplement this manual about writing charitably, the authors show us the significance of our humble words. It begins with "humble listening." This is most appropriate because charity begins with humility. Being charitable needs to begin with us receiving charity from others. We are reminded that while most writers would write alone, there are wise companions that we can tap upon. Nicolas Frances calls writing a social activity. We cite others. We build upon the works of others. There is also the spiritual component to it when writers pray before writing. 

"Lifelong Leadership" (MaryKate Morse)

TITLE: Lifelong Leadership: Woven Together through Mentoring Communities
AUTHOR: MaryKate Morse
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale, 2020, (240 pages).

Leadership is tough. It is a marathon. It is often lonely. As leaders minister to others, who ministers to them? Those who lead in the Name of Jesus, do they then claim that their strength comes from above? Theologically, that is true, but practically, God has placed people among us to be His avenue of support. Enters the notion of mentoring. In recent years, mentoring has become popular. There was a time in which people learn from famous leaders who are experts in their specialty fields. Going to conferences and seminars, leaders and trainees would lap it all up all the knowledge and experience they could gain from these top leaders. When they return back to the grind, they start to yearn for the next shot of spiritual adrenaline. What if leaders could do more than just depending on gurus and inspirational talks? What if they could be freed from the expectations of leadership molds that are beyond them? What if they could be truly themselves without having to carry around a facade of invincibility? Wouldn't that be liberating? Wouldn't that be comforting? What if the thing leaders need most is not knowledge nor the inspirational stories other leaders tell, but a special place of safety and encouragement that could help them grow? Enters this book that teaches the importance of mentoring communities. Author MaryKate Morse defines a mentoring community as:

"a yearly, three-to-five-day gathering of a mature leader mentor and five to ten younger leader participants who step away from work and daily life and come together to rest, listen, and pray for each other."

"Strength for the Cancer Journey" (Deborah Barr)

TITLE: Strength for the Cancer Journey: 30 Days of Inspiration, Encouragement, and Comfort
AUTHOR: Deborah Barr
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2020, (208 pages).

Cancer is a tough experience to go through. Not only is it difficult for the patient, it also wreaks havoc on family and loved ones. In fact, just to say "hard" would be an understatement. For many, it begins with shock and denial; proceeding with anger and anguish; followed by resignation or depression. Individuals express it in their own ways. In this book, author Deborah Barr writes a 30-days inspiration with inputs drawn from eight different cancer patients. The emotional ups and downs range from sleepless nights to physical pain. The key question posed in this book is this: Would you face cancer on your own strength or God's strength? If you choose the latter, this book is definitely for you. Meant as a 30-days devotional and journal, this book helps us to journey along both spiritually and emotionally along the difficult path of cancer. Each day introduces a particular thought or emotion. Barr parallels each occurrence with a corresponding set of Bible text to help us lament and learn. We lament the state of brokenness while learning to deal with faith matters. Using real life stories to describe the human experience, Barr helps readers to meander through the many range of emotional expressions without dumbing anyone down. Remembering our pain does not necessarily deny the reality of faith. Acknowledging our questions does not mean we answers are immediately available. Each day is an opportunity to build strength through daily meditation and prayer. With intentionality, the book helps us not only to honestly deal with our questions but also to wait for spiritual enlightenment.

"Work Worth Doing" (Tom Heetderks)

TITLE: Work Worth Doing: Finding God's Direction and Purpose in Your Career
AUTHOR: Tom Heetderks
PUBLISHER: Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2020, (176 pages).

If there is one thing we all do, it will probably be work. Whether it is working at home or in the office, proft or non-profits, small or large, or any kind of activity, we are all part of the economy of work. For we are all recipients of someone else's work. For example, imagining turning on the TV. Some company employees have manufactured the machine. Others have packed it, shipped it, sold it, delivered it, and installed it for us. There is the cable or Internet company needed to provide services to the TV. Then there is the power company to supply electricity to our device and the distribution network. These and many more are needed for all to happen at the push of a remote control button. This is one small illustration of how our work impacts so many others in society. The point of work is not simply to make a living. If we were to look at work from a bigger picture, what we do provides varying levels of essential services in the economy.  Author Tom Heetderks expands on this notion of work to share that work is essentially something worth doing. With conviction, he gives us an acronym: Worship Our Risen King, to remind us that as believers, we work as a means to honour God. Of course, non-believers might feel a little out of place to hear things like that. Not only that, employees might find it hard to work for a boss they don't respect. Heetderks challenges us to list down our top reasons for work and to compare that to this bigger picture. For non-believers, this big picture is about the wider benefit to society. For believers, we serve and work not just for the sake of our neighbour, but for God's kingdom. In that manner, this book should appeal to a wider audience, both believer and unbeliever.

"Don't Give Up" (Kyle Idleman)

TITLE: Don't Give Up: Faith That Gives You the Confidence to Keep Believing and the Courage to Keep Going
AUTHOR: Kyle Idleman
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2019, (240 pages).

How do we encourage someone? Do we use the soft gentle approach like Mr Rogers? That might tempt one toward self-pity or worse, a sense of depression. Or do we use the William Wallace approach to usher in courage? That might move us beyond our comfort zones. In this book by bestselling author and senior pastor of one of the largest mega churches in America, we are told not only to never give up but to press on with the exhortation from the Bible book of Hebrews 12:1-3. After showing us the powerful examples of faith in the long list of people in Hebrews 11, we receive a “battle cry” to press ahead to finish the race of faith. There is a time for sympathy and a time to spring into action. Idleman’s key thesis has to deal with the latter. His three-part strategy is based on the Hebrews 12:1-3 text, especially verse 1.

1. Listen to the Crowd
2. Throw off the Weight
3. Run Your Race