Alia Joy H’s life has not been easy. Some people deal with cancer. Some deal with mental illness. Some deal with poverty. Alia Joy has had all of this and more in her life and continues an existence in which any given day can be a struggle. Thank goodness Alia Joy is an articulate writer who gives most of us readers an insight we’ve likely been blinded to by our “North American Christianity”.

I’m flagging Glorious Weakness as one of 2019’s most significant books. It reads like the Book of James. If your toes are too sensitive, don’t read it. If you don’t want to develop any compassion for the poor or disadvantaged, don’t read it. If you have no room in your theology for the mentally ill, homeless, addicted, uneducated, obese, abused, or marginalized don’t even check it out from the library.

If you’ve found yourself needing to justify your existence because you think you aren’t contributing anything to the church or society; if you’ve gone “all-in” for God but every circumstance still seems to conspire against you; if experience teaches you that actually relying on God brings sideways looks from the established church and sometimes it is best not to share what you know; if you believe no matter how hard you work you are always going to be God’s “secondhand kid” relegated to receive scraps and leftovers; you should read this book. In Alia Joy’s words:

“We have merit-based ideology so ingrained into our cultural identity and theology that we often fail to see the great imbalances Jesus constantly pointed out. Much to the irritation of the respectable religious people, Jesus was always elevating the poor and the weak.  He knew something we so often forget: none are worthy, not one.”

I hope we will hear more from this new author. Stay fluent in the language of hope!

@aliajoyh @ReadBakerBooks

#GloriousWeakness #NetGalley

The Dictionary of Difficult Words is a delightful book for budding wordsmiths!

A brief introduction gives the reader permission to read the book straight through from A to Z to learn new things, or not read it at all, and just look at the pictures.

The illustrations are whimsical and eye-catching. With interesting pictures and cool words like Quixotic and Salubrious, I don’t doubt that whatever approach is taken new words will be learned.

My only recommendation for a change would be to replace the word “Difficult” in the title. I fear that could be off-putting to some children who would otherwise benefit from this book. This collection of words may more aptly be described as “less common”. I dare say most adults would gain from perusing this volume.

#TheDictionaryofDifficultWords #NetGalley

@QuartoKids ‏  @QuartoKnows ‏  @TheQuartoGroup

Tony Evans is a fine preacher and communicator, and there is no higher subject than the Names of Jesus. The Power of Jesus Names combines Evans’ illustrations and explanations to bring out the meanings of those names.

Evans says that the power in Jesus Names is available for us to tap into as believers. For instance, Immanuel means God with us. Evans explains that we are never alone, no matter what. The name Immanuel was introduced when the scripture spoke of Jesus coming to Earth to be with man.

To study the meanings of the names of Jesus is to open a new world of understanding the power and might of God: Creator, I AM, Banner of Victory, Lord our Shepherd, Lord of Hosts, Lord who is High and Mighty, and God Almighty. The list goes on. It will do you good to learn who your God is and how powerful he is!

#ThePowerOfJesusNames #NetGalley @Harvest_House

Successful Christian businessman Terry Looper has written a part-memoir, part-how-to book full of practical advice for the man or woman who wants to follow God’s leading in business, and in life.

Looper became a millionaire in his 20s, and had eclipsed all his financial goals in his 30s, but it came at a great cost. He found himself so utterly depleted – physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally – one morning he couldn’t get out of bed. His health and relationships with others were a mess. Although he was about to be ordained as an elder in his church, Looper admitted to himself that money and approval had really been his gods.

This low point in Looper’s life became the genesis of his new way of living and doing business, something he developed into a 4-step process he calls the Sacred Pace. The crux of Looper’s system is what he calls “going neutral”. This means divesting yourself of interest in the matter at hand, as you lay it before God. If your heart cannot impartially say, “I want what You want, God,” then you are not neutral.

The meaning and importance of scripture increased for Looper, as did stopping to discern peace. If there was no peace he could not proceed. Looper demonstrates this principle with examples from his business and life. This book is helpful for those exploring the logistics of following God’s leading.

#SacredPace #NetGalley

Now available in ebook and paperback!

This time, you weren’t going to mess up.

That was your resolve.

You weren’t going to make God mad.

Until you did.

The Good News is God isn’t mad. And you don’t have to try so hard.

You’ll love this 3-volume bundle because you’ll learn how to get close to God. (And everybody loves a great deal!)

Get it now.

In Blink, Malcolm Gladwell examines the first few seconds our mind is exposed to something, and our ability to make amazingly accurate assessments without thinking about it. He postulates that those initial decisions come from behind the locked door of our subconscious.

Gladwell also puts forth a theory that in moments of extreme stress, our mind becomes blinded to the cues that would provide critical information. He calls this being “mind-blinded” and compares it to autism. To support his theory, Gladwell recounts the shooting of an unarmed black man in a rough part of New York City by four white policemen. I’m not sure I agree with the autism comparison, but the rest of the theory seems to hold water.

Blink is an interesting and well-researched book, typical of Gladwell’s other efforts. This one didn’t grab me the way Outliers did, but still introduced new ways of thinking and seeing things. I give it four stars.

I read this book so long ago when I was a child, I had forgotten most of it. After all this time it is still a classic! This audiobook version has opening remarks by Madelene L’Engle’s granddaughter, and closing remarks recorded by the author herself. The book, written now over 60 years ago, didn’t fit any established genre at the time. It took two years before any publisher was willing to take a chance on it!