BOOK REVIEWS
Livingston members, please feel free to provide a summary/review
of
any of our library books that you have enjoyed.
Journal of a Not-So-Perfect Daughter
Nancy Carver Abbott
Reinvent Your Sabbath School
Chris and Yolanda Blake
My Son, Beloved Stranger
Kate McLaughlin
Sometimes I Don't Like My Kids!
Candace Schap
Listening To God
Joyce Huggett
No Compromise
Melody Green and David Hazard
Journal of a Not-So-Perfect Daughter
Nancy Carver Abbott
When Nancy Abbott's father became too frail to care for himself she
took him into her home with the intention of providing the care he
needed. In this book she takes us on this journey, where reality
did not coincide with expectations and where obstacles such as depression
and illness sometimes seemed too much to bear.
A continual theme is
her delving into her father's past, from an underpriveleged
childhood to first contact with Adventists, to an examination of his
unfailing faith in God. This leads to her own gradual reconnection
with the Adventist faith of her childhood. I really enjoyed this book,
both for its readable style and its honest portrayal of the nature of
family relationships and spiritual journeys.
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Reinvent Your Sabbath School
Chris and Yolanda Blake
This book describes the implementation of a ministry-driven Sabbath
School program. It aims to demonstrate a more meaningful and effective
method of Sabbath School fellowship as class time is allocated to five
ministries: prayer, money, time, study, and social. If you're interested
in investigating new possibilities for your Sabbath School class this book
is definitely worth reading. It includes an Appendix describing the
Adventist Church's Centre For
Creative Ministry, which provides support for
those wishing to establish a ministry-driven Sabbath School.
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My Son, Beloved Stranger
Kate McLaughlin
Reviewed by Sharon Morgan
This is a personal and thought provoking story by a woman who learns
of her third son's homosexual orientation after his engagement is
broken off. As she struggles with her own ignorance, preconceptions
and emotions, the reader is challenged along with her, grappling
with the reality and terrible tragedy of homosexuality.
How our church handles this often ignored issue will greatly depend
on how we as individuals face it, and how we relate to those who are forced
to deal with the reality of homosexuality in their own lives or of
those they love.
I'm glad I read this book. I feel more informed and less confused in
my own regard for sufferers of homosexuality. A 'must read' for our church.
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Sometimes I Don't Like My Kids!
Candace Schap
Reviewed by Sharon Morgan
I could have written this book! She's stolen some of my inner most thoughts,
shared many of my own struggles, she has the same number of children (four),
and our husbands even have similarities!
Far from being a book that wallows in self pity and parental woes, this is a
book that looks honestly at the frustrations of mothering and the
dangers of the 'super mum syndrome'. Candace Schap is refreshingly frank
in exposing her own struggles and inadequacies as a mother. I found
myself being encouraged as she outlined the steps she took in discovering
practical and efffective remedies to some of the struggles common
to all mothers. She provides some very sound, easy to follow advice
on topics such as handling mountains of housework, and feelings of
anger, disappointment and depression.
I found this book enormously helpful, and recommend it to all parents.
Easy read format.
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Listening To God
Joyce Huggett
This book shares the author's spiritual journey as she explores
different ways of listening to God's voice. She openly describes both
her difficulties and her joys as she opens her heart and mind to God in
ways that were once unfamiliar to her.
I found this book to be very interesting and thought provoking. The first
few chapters are dedicated to describing her experiences as she personally
opens herself up to greater communication with God.
Huggett then devotes individual chapters to discussion of the different
ways God speaks, how mistakes can be made, what the Bible says, and encouragement
for when difficulties are encountered.
Listening To God is a prime example of the fact that God does speak to us
in many different ways. As you read it you will feel him speak to your
heart, encouraging you to be open to his leading, always ready to
hear his voice.
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No Compromise
The Life Story of Keith Green
Melody Green and David Hazard
Reviewed by Brian Oemcke
Keith Green was raised in the capital of worldly entertainment,
Hollywood. Himself a gifted singer and pianist, he strived hard
to make it in the big world, but seemed to continually meet with
defeat. From experimenting with drugs to having "spiritual"
talks with his friends, Keith searched for meaning to his life.
His search took him on many journeys, each time ending with
disappointment, a realisation that he had taken the wrong path.
In fact, there were so many possible paths that it seemed confusing
and bewildering, as though he would never find the right one.
But Keith had one thing going in his favour, he was not a quitter.
Because of his untiring search for truth and God's untiring desire
for us to know Him, Keith and his wife Melody, had an encounter
with Jesus Christ that was to change their lives forever. Keith
knew he had finally found the way and became fully committed to Jesus.
It was then that his gift of music really blossomed and Keith and
Melody began to tour from town to town running Christian concerts.
But Keith was not content to just sing. Together, this couple spent
their lives for Jesus, uncompromisingly giving their all for Him.
This book is a tribute to what can happen when we let God take the
wheel. It is a must-read for anyone searching for meaning to life.
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