Gaining a heart of wisdom
The Romantic Rationalist -- edited by John Piper and David Mathis: A Book Review Even though he died over fifty years ago; Even though he was an atheist during his early adult life; Even though, as a confirmed Anglican churchman, he never jumped onto the evangelical bandwagon, C.S. Lewis's popularity as an author is greater… Continue reading The Head and Heart Behind Narnia
Keep It Shut by Karen Ehman: A Book Review Whether you enter every room mouth-first or just struggle with an angry outburst from time to time; Whether you habitually turn the prayer chain into a gossip group or just lapse occasionally into insecurity-fed flattery; Wherever you fall on the sliding continuum of the blab-o-meter, you've… Continue reading Zip It!
Mothering from Scratch by Melinda Means and Kathy Helgemo: A Book Review When my four boys were all very small, there were days when I could have argued that I was too strict, and then heaped guilt upon myself for being too lenient -- all within one hour's time. When my mind and heart were in… Continue reading Throw Out the Cookie Cutters
The Financially Confident Woman by Mary Hunt: A Book Review "Don't you have to have lots of money if you're going to 'manage' it?" "I don't/can't do financial stuff." This mindset might keep you from reading the new edition of Mary Hunt's book, but you wouldn't expect to find that the author of a half dozen books… Continue reading Take Charge of Your Money and Your Life
Fierce Convictions by Karen Swallow Prior: A Book Review In order for Hannah More to be truly Hannah More, she had to challenge nearly every aspect of her cultural context. Fierce Convictions is richly historical and rooted deeply in the period straddling the 18th and 19th centuries, because it is impossible to appreciate the impact of… Continue reading An Exuberant Life
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled by Martin Lloyd Jones: A Book Review Sometimes we get it all wrong when we read Scripture. We translate sentences through a syrupy grid of sentimentality ("Oh, that's so comforting . . ."), when what we are looking at is a command. Do this. Thus begins sermon number one of… Continue reading Do You Want a Quiet Heart?
Light Upon Light Compiled by Sarah Arthur: A Book Review The problem with reviewing a book like Light Upon Light is that Sarah Arthur has done such a fine job explaining her purpose in the introduction that anything I say feels superfluous. As a guide to prayer during the season of Advent, she has compiled a rich assortment of… Continue reading Slow Christmas
Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions by Vern S. Poythress: A Book Review Why does anyone exist? How do we come to know what we know? Where do commonly held moral standards come from? Do any of these questions matter to ordinary people in our "sleeping, eating, going to work, walking around… Continue reading A Lively Faith is Enhanced by a Lively Mind
When the angel announced good news to a band of startled shepherds, the heavenly messenger could not possibly have anticipated the extent of the gift or its impact. In Chapter 14 of The Mortification of Sin, John Owen puts words around the unwrapping of God's gift in his Directions for the Work of Mortifying Sin. … Continue reading Good News of Great Joy
The Invention of Lefse by Larry Woiwode: A Book Review The Invention of Lefse is a peaceful, homely Christmas tale that spins a fable for the origin of Norwegian lefse bread while also drawing the reader back into a long-forgotten day of simple celebration and elaborate joy. Thirteen-year-old Mette Iversdatter wakes early on Christmas eve to… Continue reading Celebrate What You Have
Living Our Days 