A Bounty of Books

Defiant Joy: Taking Hold of Hope, Beauty, and Life in a Hurting World
by Stasi Eldredge is a call to fulfill the biblical command of living a life of joy. Using primarily personal anecdotes, Eldredge illustrates how Christians can, and should, live a life full of joy not just in spite of hardship and adversity, but in the face of it. Though her message applies to both men and women, Eldredge writes for a primarily female audience.

Anyone familiar with the primary message of Ransomed Heart ministries or John or Stasi Eldredge will find familiar material in this book. That is my primary problem with Defiant Joy. It has good content and a great message, but it feels a bit too familiar. Having read almost everything the Eldredges have written, I expected a familiar message, but I did not expect one that was the exact same, which is what I felt Defiant Joy was.

Putting aside the above complaint, Defiant Joy is a great resource for those who are either completely unfamiliar with the concept of living a joyful life in Christ, or those for whom that is a particular struggle. As in her other works, Eldredge invites the reader into parts of her own story, which helps to better communicate and cement her message.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice by Dr. Eric Mason serves as a clarion call to the American Church about race relations. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. noted over fifty years ago, the 11 o'clock hour is still the most segregated in the nation. Dr. Mason calls this out and in bold language describes both the pain and history of the truth behind this statement as well as ways to make progress in this area.

Woke Church is broken into four parts: Be Aware, Be Willing to Acknowledge, Be Accountable, and Be Active. Each part addresses a specific component of the problem of a lack of racial unity in the American church. While this is a short book, the length should not be mistaken for a lack of depth. Dr. Mason doesn't tiptoe around the issues. He boldly points them out and calls for action.

I found several convicting as well as hopeful statements in Woke Church. As someone who is aware of the problem, but not really sure what to do to address it, I found several helpful suggestions for both me personally and for my community. Woke Church should be required reading for everyone in ministry in America. It is an excellent primer on a subject that could define our generation of leaders.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Moody Publishers Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, See Part 255