The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs

The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs ISBN-13: 9781601426826 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: WaterBrook Released: Jan. 3, 2017

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
You re about to meet three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Mary of Bethany prepares the way for the Lord s burial when she anoints His feet and fills the air with her perfume. His mother, Mary of Nazareth, remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering. Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours and then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection. What a trio. What a Savior!

Your mind and emotions will be engaged and your faith strengthened as each scene unfolds, preparing your heart for a richer, deeper Easter experience. Liz Curtis Higgs, a seasoned Bible teacher and award-winning novelist, combines her storytelling skills with a thorough verse-by-verse study of Scripture as together you explore the remarkable lives of the women of Easter.


My Review:
The Women of Easter is a Bible study focusing on the women involved in Easter events (from Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet to after Jesus' resurrection). The author went verse-by-verse and commented on events. She provided cultural background information so the reader could better understand and visualize events. She also suggested what various emotions people might have felt during those events. There's a short study guide in the back with questions for further discussion or thought.

The book is very readable, and I found it to be encouraging and full of grace. I suspect I'll often read it around Easter time as a devotional. I'd highly recommend this book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The American Miracle by Michael Medved

The American Miracle by Michael Medved Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Crown Forum Released: October 25, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In The American Miracle, conservative radio host and best-selling author Michael Medved describes a stunning series of amazements in early American history that each suggest an "intelligent design"—a higher power that has steered crucial turns in our nation's story, and will again.

The American Miracle traces the grace that shaped twelve decisive moments in our history—from the desperate passengers of the Mayflower who were blown off course to the one spot in the region that gave them a fair chance for survival, to the casual discovery of three cigars wrapped in handwritten notes that assured Union victory in the Civil War. Sometimes Medved reveals the providential nature of well-known incidents, and at others he focuses on an unknown historical event that had long-term impact.


My Review:
The American Miracle described incidents in American history that where attributed to the divine hand in part due to how improbable they seemed. He looked at the period from the Pilgrims to the Civil War. At the beginning, he mostly focused on specific events. As the book went on, he focused people who had a series of "divine incidents" happen in their life. The book ends with Abraham Lincoln, and that section read more like a biography. The more biographical portions are on George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston, Nicholas Trist, and Abraham Lincoln.

When describing an incident, he often quoted people who actually witnessed these events. I'd previously heard of many of these events. However, I did learn some interesting new details about those events and learned about some events I was unaware of. If you're not familiar with this theme, I think a person would find it very interesting and well-researched.

Incidentally, his point is not that we have the right to be arrogant or feel faultless because God has intervened in our history but rather that we should be grateful and are obligated to act more nobly because of it.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Today's Moment of Truth by Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg

Today's Moment of Truth by Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg ISBN-13: 9780310359401 Hardback: 400 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: July 12, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Leading apologists Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg present 180 insightful devotions that will give you daily infusions of spiritual truth while deepening your knowledge of the evidence for Christianity. Each devotional is based on scientific, historical, or biblical facts that will bolster your confidence in Christ. You will be inspired, encouraged, and equipped to “give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).


My Review:
Today's Moment of Truth is a 180 day devotional. Each devotional started with a short verse from the Bible, was usually followed by a critical comment about the Bible (related to the verse) by an atheist, and then briefly described a scientific, archeological, or Biblical point (like prophecy) that supports the Bible account.

If you've read Strobel's books or other in-depth apologetics books, you probably won't find much new here. However, if you (or a friend) are interested but don't have the time to read those books, this is a nice, bite-sized way to get informed. It's more for strengthening your faith than learning to counter arguments. The entries are too brief to give a full argument on a topic.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps by Nancy Guthrie

What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps by Nancy Guthrie ISBN-13: 9781433552359 Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Crossway Books Released: Sept. 30, 2016

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
When someone we love is grieving, we want to be there. But it's easy to feel paralyzed, worried that we might say or do the wrong thing. Nancy Guthrie has personal experience dealing with pain and knows what words of encouragement are helpful and what words are harmful.

Drawing from her own life experiences--including the loss of two young children--Guthrie has written this helpful resource for Christians who want to be better friends to those who are suffering. Practical and down-to-earth, this book includes examples and helpful tips from real grieving people who have been helped (and hurt) by friends who meant well, equipping readers to come alongside and comfort loved ones who are hurting.


My Review:
What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps focused on grief from losing a loved one by death. The author understands that different people will be comforted or offended by different things, but she tries to give general principles about what to say and do and what to not say and do. She also includes comments by people who have experienced this grief, explaining what they found comforting when they were grieving.

What I found most helpful was insight into the mindset of people who are profoundly grieving. Some of the suggestions seemed contradictory, as some people said they would find it comforting but others said they would not, but I found some suggestions that I would be comfortable doing. I'd recommend this book to those who want to better comfort those grieving the lose of a loved one.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.