"Dwelling in the Land" (Jeanette Howard)

TITLE: Dwelling in the Land: Bringing Same-Sex Attraction Under the Lordship of Christ
AUTHOR: Jeanette Howard
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2015, (288 pages).

Gay marriage may have been legalized throughout the United States. It may have become the norm in many parts of Western society and others. It may also have been accepted in various religions and churches. Yet, it remains a contentious issue in many churches. Some churches insist on therapy for homosexuals, believing that spiritual healing is needed for such conditions. Others insist on re-interpreting biblical texts to make it more acceptable for same-sex orientations. Still, there are those who do not want to make a stand on such a divisive issue. They can choose celibacy or total abstinence from sex. They can also choose to avoid talking about the topic altogether. Almost all Church denominations have become split over this matter. What about those who believe that the biblical does not support homosexuality and yet experience some form of same-sex attraction (SSA)? This book is about one who openly admits her homosexual tendencies and yet believes that the Bible does not support homosexual acts. It is about the honest struggles personally and biblically. With regard to SSA, the strategy is not elimination but re-orientation. This book is the story of one who has gone through that and is sharing her experience, her knowledge, and also her pain.

"Raising Children in a Digital Age" (Bex Lewis)

TITLE: Raising Children in a Digital Age: Preparing Your Children for the Digital Jungle
AUTHOR: Bex Lewis
PUBLISHER: Oxford, England: Lion Hudson plc, 2014, (256 pages).

As the book title has suggested, how can parents raise their children in an increasingly digital world? How do we deal with a world that is resembling more and more like a technological jungle? In fact, it seems like technology is spiraling out of any human control. This is exactly what is happening right now in a world driven by technology. We are forced to move beyond questions such as "How do we control the Internet?" to learning to live with the Internet. No longer is one able to simply switch off the Internet like what baby boomers are used to switching off the TV. With more gadgets becoming more portable, it is almost impossible to keep away wireless signals or to lock away the computer. Technology has invaded the family lifestyle, both in public as well as in private. What goes onto the Internet stays on the Internet. Indeed, the world now is drastically different from previous eras. When the technological tsunami happens, most of us will not be able to avoid the effects. Cellphones, portable tablets, as well as the ubiquitous Internet have posed a new lifestyle altogether. Both children as well as adults are hooked onto the Internet day and night, whether one is traveling or stationary at any one place. With this in mind, this book addresses the following questions.

• Are our fears or paranoia over the digital world a legitimate one?
• What are the facts and fiction about the promises of the Internet?
• How did we arrive at our current technological state?
• What guidance can parents give to their children?
• What specific guidance is necessary for children of various age groups?
• What are the technologies out there?
• What practical advice can parents get?
• Is technology a boon or a bane?
• What are the promises and the pitfalls of the use of technologies?