A Review of Cast of Stones

            A great frustration of many in the realm of Christian fiction is the lack of imagination or uniqueness.  This may sound like a slightly exaggerated claim, but there is often a limit of Christian fiction that is not geared towards Amish romance, Old west romance, or murder and drama.  None of these are a bad genre, or ones that should be dismissed or ignored, but these limit the appeal of Christian fiction.  It is for this reason I was very excited when Bethany House announced the release of a new book by Patrick W. Carr A Cast of Stones: The Staff & The Sword.

             

           Set in an almost middle age’s world, A Cast of Stones is a book that gets off to a quick start with action, adventure, and examination of life.  This is the first book in a series that Patrick Carr is offering, and it seems to be a story that will excite and enthrall. The story begins with a young man by the name of Errol who sets out on what seems to be a simple task, and one that he has done many times, but that quickly takes twists and turns that young Errol could not expect.

            

           As the story progresses many changes begin to happen to Errol as his identity and character are challenged, and he must either stay who he is, or become who he was destined to be while being confronted with insurmountable odds.  Throughout this story Errol is challenged with a pain that he had spent year suppressing through drink.  Errol is not only haunted by these great pains, but also sought after by enemies whom he does not know, and thrown apparently off track by events outside of his control.

            

           Patrick Carr did more than just write intriguing fiction with Cast of Stones, instead he also offers character lessons and moral challenges.  In its pages Carr creates a mirror for self-examination.  It is for this reason that I give this book five stars for interest, intent, and intrigue.  If you love fantasy and adventure, then Cast of Stones: The Staff & The Sword is a book worth reading.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House as part of their 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 Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

If You Have a Love Problem, You Have a God Problem: A Review of Marriage Matters

            No matter what culture says, there is no doubt that marriage is an important foundation of society.  Regardless of race, religion, political, or social background marriage exists and has existed in every society that we know of from the ancient Egyptians to every country in the world today.  Yet marriage is also greatly under assault.  Much of this is due to how we treat marriage; the proliferation of no fault divorce and adultery are just some examples of how we continue to attack this foundation. 

            I have been married for almost eleven years now and know with how little regard I have treated my marriage.  Although, through the power of Christ, I have made many strides to restore my marriage, and to again build upon a Biblical foundation there is no doubt that with the attacks I have leveled against my marriage I needed some guidance and insight into what I can do better.  Recently I received the opportunity to begin book reviews for another publishing house, New Growth Press, and this review will focus on a book I received from them, Marriage Matters: extraordinary change through ordinary moments by Winston T. Smith.

            Until recently I have never been a fan of marriage books, yet as I have been growing in my relationship with my wife it was a marriage book that ultimately helped me realize that I was no doing all that I could. Just prior to our middle daughter being born Jen and I got to take part in a couple study on Love and Respect.  This book was the beginning of turning me around in how I loved and treated my wife.  This does not mean I still have not struggled on loving her like I need to, but I began to see things that made sense to me.  When I saw Marriage Matters as one of the options for review, I decided to take a look at another marriage book to see what else I might learn.

            Smith starts off this book with sharing a personal story about his own marriage.  In brief summary he felt that his wife was not keeping his needs in perspective as she went out on a Saturday morning and early afternoon with her friends.  This particular day was a busy day, as any parents of two or more children can imagine.  He explains how one had to get to baseball practice, the other had to go to a birthday party, and Smith was trying to prepare for a Bible study that evening (Smith 2010).  How many of us have been in a similar circumstance?  We know that there are things we need to do, but our spouse is not home, or is tied up doing something.  Suddenly we do not care whether or not what they are doing is important after all they are messing with a schedule we had already agreed upon.  I know I have fallen into this cycle myself many times.  Smith describes these as the ordinary moments (Smith 2010).

            In these ordinary moments we often time questions the love our spouse has for us.  In all reality though we are not showing love to our spouse.  Instead we are thinking about ourselves, and the impact their supposed self-centeredness had on what we needed to accomplish.  We begin to treat our spouse in an unloving manner, either getting angry or withdrawing into ourselves.  Smith quotes from 1 John 4:7-12 as he begins to get into the meat of chapter 1. 

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  God’s love was reveled among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.  No one has ever seen God.  If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us (Holman Christian Standard Bible, HCSB).

Shortly after quoting this Scripture Smith makes a very interesting and powerful observation.  “A lack of love should prompt us to not just look more closely at our marriage but at our relationship with God.” (Smith 2010)  He then goes on to say, “The bad news: your love problems are bigger than you think because love problems are God problems.” (Smith 2010)  What a powerful observation, and one I was very oblivious to for the majority of my marriage thus far. 

            From this observation Smith begins to help show how the ordinary moments can be extraordinary.  Smith divides his book into three sections to help build upon this basic principle.  In the first section Smith focuses on “God in the ordinary moments.” The second section is “Extraordinary love in the details of marriage”, and then his final section is “Staying on the path”.  Each section is well built upon, and upon the ending of this book the reader does have a good picture of what it looks like to see “extraordinary change in ordinary moments.”

            In this book I see no weakness at all.  Smith does well using personal stories to explain his points in each of the chapters, and this book is filled with Scripture and Scripture references.  There are many strengths in this book which make it great for not only reading as an individual or couple, but also for small group or Bible Studies as a tool to help tackle the Biblical principles of marriage.  Each chapter contains questions to help the reader focus in on the picture that the chapter is trying to portray.  This is a book I will certainly read again.

            I find it very easy to rate this book 5 out of 5 for practicality and application, as well as insight and direction.  This book will benefit engaged couples as they prepare to enter into the challenges and joys of marriage as well as the veteran couple who have been married for decades.  I look forward to seeing the other books that are offered by New Growth Press.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Growth Press as part of their 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 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Healing Your Church Hurt Book Giveaway

            Have you or someone you have known suffered from Church hurt? Have you felt rejected or looked down upon them that are your brothers and sisters in Christ? Has a Pastor, Elder, or Deacon/Deaconess said something about you that you felt was untrue, or not in love or kindness.  The truth of the matter is we live in a fallen world, and even those who mean well will at times hurt us.  95% of the time this is unintentional.  I myself have experienced Church hurt in the sense of people who I held in high esteem went so far as to questions my salvation, not to me, but to my father.  Yet, even today do I hold this over these godly men? The answer is, No. 

            In his book, Healing Your Church Hurt, Stephen Mansfield addresses the issue of Church hurt, and what should be our response to it.  I hope you all had a chance to read my review of this great book.  Now I have something I want to announce.  As part of the blog tour I was given the ability to give away one copy of this book.  Others who I have shared my review with have known others who might benefit from reading this book.  So now I want to give you the chance to get a copy of this book.

This drawing will end on April 30^th, and here are the details.  If you would like a chance to get a free copy of this book please follow these simple steps. 

1.      If you have Google + add and leave a comment for me at pemery4christ92@gmail.com.  This will give you two entries.

2.      If you have not sent me a friends request at Facebook, add me as a friend and leave a comment.  This will give you two entries.

3.      If you are not following my blog become a follower or subscribe to the blog at http://www.biblicallybornagain.blogspot.com.  This will get you one entry.

4.      You can also follow the Emery Family Blog at http://www.theemeryfamilyblog.blogspot.com.  This will get you one entry.

5.      Go to the book review of Healing Your Church Hurt and leave a comment.  This will give you one entry.

6.      Share the book review on the social media of your choice, the more media sources you share the more points you will earn, and then send me a link to your share so I can verify.  Points will be based off verification.

7.      Do you blog? Then connect your blogs to mine using Network Blogs.  This will give you one entry.

I look forward to sharing future contests with you. 

In Christ,
Paul Emery

The Importance of Sexual Purity: A Review of Every Single Man’s Battle By Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey

            I have had this book sitting on my shelf for probably five months.  After I received this book, I was wondering why on earth I would bother choosing this book to read.  Then just the previous day, I was talking to a friend of mine about needing to read this book, and I was informed that Stephen Arterburn went through a divorce.  This meant that I was even more hesitant to read a book, because after all, if it didn’t work for him, why read it?  As soon as I read over the introduction I knew I wasn’t giving Mr. Arterburn a fair chance.  I have now read this book, and will share my thoughts with you all.

            Before you read any further I want to put in a warning right here.  This book review is not meant for children.  I will be willingly addressing the issues that Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey address.  I will also be honest in this review as I see things that I can directly relate to and share my own insights and experiences. In this review, I will be direct but not graphic.

            The backdrop to Every Single Man’s Battle is Stephen Arterburn’s reentry into the dating world. Stephen writes this book to aid fellow brothers in Christ who may be single or recently divorced by challenging them to be men who flee from sexual temptation and pursue integrity. The author writes not from a place of superiority or strength, but to walk alongside men who may be struggling with sexual sin. In a society that devalues marriage, and the marriage bed, and instead advocates for shacking up, Mr. Arterburn in this book provides a helpful defense, and response to the sacredness of sex between one man and one woman in marriage.

            One of the most enjoyable aspects of Every Single Man’s Battle is Stephen, Fred and Mike’s courage in dealing with issues such as masturbation and porn. Many men struggle in silence with these issues but the authors provide helpful answers by highlighting how the point of intimacy is to grow closer together with our spouse not to fulfill our fantasies. On this point Stephen and Fred helpfully teach that when sexual intensity supersedes our sexual intimacy the marriage bed becomes defiled (Arterburn, Stoeker, Yorkey, 25).

Although I was raised in a solid, Biblically based, Christian home, I allowed myself to fall right into sexual temptation many times, and in many different ways.  I participated in pornography, masturbation, and premarital sex. Even after being married for over a decade, I continue to struggle with sexual purity and integrity. Rather than fleeing from sexual sin, I allowed myself to fill my mind with the drug of sex, and sought not my wife, but my fill of adultery.

           

            The authors in this book do not dance around the issues but press the reader to understand the issues they examine from a biblical worldview. For example in the first two chapters they cover the issue of sex, masturbation, and pornography, as well as accountability. They quote one pastor, Mason, who is in his thirties and single who says: “Single men should not live alone” (28). Chapter two makes the point that all Christian men should have godly male friends who pray with them and hold them accountable to the Word of God as they wage war against the sins of the flesh (Romans 13:11-14).

            In September, I choose not to be accountable in my war against sexual sin, and decided that I didn’t need anyone to help me.      In reflecting on this time in my life, I realized I acted like a fool. At this time, I was blessed with some money coming in from some work that I was doing, and instead of being wise with my money, I gave into my sin and went to a strip club.

At least one of my friends knows about that night where I gave in and chose to sin. On that night I was thinking about calling someone to talk to about my sinful thoughts, but ultimately talked myself out of calling one of my friends and instead gave in fully to my sin. Embracing my sin rather than forsaking my sin that night burned a lot of bridges that I had been working hard to build for a number of years.

           

            Men need accountability it really is that simple. Men need godly brothers to come along side of us, and to, quite frankly, give us a smack upside the head like Gibbs does to his fellow-team members in the original NCIS show. The Christian life is not a war we can engage in on our own. Men need to rise up and link arms with our brothers, and keep fighting.  Some people may say, “It was only a strip club”, but that strip club took my thoughts off the LORD, off my wife, and put them on an idol.  For a moment I chose to love my sin more then I love my Savior. As a result of this occurring, I have resolved in my heart to no more love my sin but to genuinely turn from my sin to Jesus Christ.  I now have godly brothers whom I will call, men who will hold me accountable, and smack me upside the head if I screw up again.  I’m very blessed by these brothers, these comrades! 

            Every Single Man’s Battle is only three chapters plus an introduction covering pages 6-54.  The remaining 129pages are a study guide for Every Man’s Battle which serves as an eight week study.  Even though this turned out more to be a Study then a book, the value of this book is great.  

            I rate this book as a must read for every Man, married or not!  The topics covered will address some topics that men have often preferred to keep secret.   I will actually be purchasing a copy of Every Man’s Battle in the near future with the intention of using this study guide as a spring board, not only for my own use, but one I plan to recommend to the men of my Church as well. 

            Men the battle for our integrity and our sexual purity is a must win battle, and one we cannot escape.  The Gospel provides the foundational reason why as men we can overcome sexual sin and be pure. Jesus died to give sinners new life, and as men who are redeemed through the blood of Jesus, and adopted as His sons, we have the ability through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit to put sin to death and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. As men we desperately need to rise up to the challenge to love our wives as Christ loves the Church, and be men of integrity.  Men love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, and mind!  Let us fight this battle together!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their 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 Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”