Charismatic Christianity by Helen Collins

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 
I'm researching for a doctoral course on Spirituality of the Pentecostal Minister. Then I came across Collins' book. What a godsend to my classroom in reviewing ongoing scholarship on the gifts as well as a fresh look at the use and meaning in scripture and the historical Church.

The author examines the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 and Galatians 5 as they come alive on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Many current believers are cessationists - that is, they assume that these gifts ended with the deaths of the first generation of the Early Church - but there is no such indication in scripture. This book gives those streams of theology food for thought.

The instructions given by Paul for orderly worship and Christian gatherings include gifts of the Spirit as normative and expected in koinonia. He offers no expiry date for their practice or usefulness. Paul's writings indicate that if the gift of knowledge has not yet passed away, the other spiritual gifts he mentions (such as prophecy and tongues) are an ongoing part of the Spirit's work that will continue to enhance the Body of Christ until "completeness comes" - when only love remains (1 Corinthians 13:8). Therefore, charismatics expect the Holy Spirit to continue to build the Kingdom of God through the activity of these gifts within the Church.

This scholarly and practical look at prophecy, miracles, healing, a word of knowledge and wisdom, tongues, evangelism/proclamation, and worship is a welcome addition to other books written on the topic. It's a joy to see emerging by Pentecostals and charismatics. In addition to definitions and explanations, Collins examines the strengths and dangers of misuse, offering encouragement and cautions within charismatic traditions and practices.

This will be required reading for my students.

The Pastoral Epistles by Stanley E. Porter

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review. 

The delightful thing about this volume is that how comprehensive and engaging it feels. When I preach, I want to be certain not to make up things or read impossibilities into the text. This is my new guidebook to the Pastoral Epistles.

For a linguist interested in details for accurate translation, the phrase by phrase, in context treatment of these letters is a pleasure. This book offers insights into how the language was normally used as well as innovations of use and form by New Testament writers.

For a preacher like me, it offers a breadth of background, dictionary, lexicon, and function. I've long ago left my Hebrew and NT Greek classes behind, as have so many Bible and theology students. To have a gifted scholar teach us and remind us of structure, culture, and meaning is a true gift. It will change what you say to your congregation and classroom as well as how you say it. My husband is a theology prof so he'll be picking up a copy as well. 

Highly recommended.

How Art is Made: the Craft Behind the Masterpieces by Debra N Mancoff

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
You've just seen an amazing painting or sculpture, a fresco or drawing ... and thought, "I wonder if I could do that?" Or maybe you realize, "NO WAY could I ever do that!" Or "How did that happen?"

Well, you can't know until you spend years perfecting your creativity. 

Some ongoing questions that pop up in blogs and discussions are: "Is this a craft project or an art project?" and "How do you know the difference between something made a hobby and something made as a job?" (Usually the latter is identified by remuneration.) "When do I know/do enough to qualify as a 'real' artist?"

Mancoff spotlights various arts by how they're made. If you like art history, this is for you. Same if you're a student of art who wonders how that masterpiece "happened" with basic materials. And ... you'll learn a lot whether you identify as an artist or crafter, especially if you want to broaden your repertoire of techniques and skills. 

Special Effects Lettering and Calligraphy by Grace Frösén

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
If you've got an event coming up and are expected to dress it up,

if you've wanted to dip your pen into new ideas,

if you want to shake up your boring text in journal or artwork ...

c'mon, you'll want a copy of this. So much fun, cool methods, and good illustrations in one volume.

The 10-Minute Budget by David Lewis

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Ugh. I hate budgeting. My husband has refused to do it for 46 years of marriage. Focus, discipline, thought, and control - those are the building blocks offered by Lewis. They're good ideas. It's a workable process.

If you're looking for simple, practical advice on starting or maintaining a budget, I recommend this book. It highlights how to make decisions toward financial balance and freedom. Good for those starting out and those digging themselves out of a financial hole.

Children's Ministry and the Spiritual Child, edited by Robin Turner and Trevecca Okholm

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review before publication. 
Sometimes you get a lot of counsel in one volume. This is that.

How do you know the needs of child or where they are spiritually and relationally? How do you serve a family as you touch a child? And how does this express itself in the community of faith? Those basic questions lie at the core of a successful outreach and ongoing service to children.

Experts in psychology and ministry weigh in with advice and practical ideas for serving children and their families. Recommended for senior leaders and ministry staff that serve families and children.

Let Food Be Your Medicine by Dr. Steve Kringold

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

Intake affects output, right? That's good science and practice. We're all thinking about health, aging, and staying active with maximum energy. 

What if a fix (or bump up) was as simple as eating well?

Kringold puts it all together - nutrition, motion, rest, reducing stress ... and a volume that doesn't offer startling new insights. But if you pick up this one book, you'll have a compilation of sound counsel for eating well, rounding out your nutritional needs, examining your lifestyle for natural prevention, and a boost in the right direction if you need cures for unhealthy habits. 

A bonus is link to a short how-to: "Health Coach Secrets."

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

What a fun book. I'm looking forward to more of this story, if the author will write a series. Interesting characters. A plot that keeps moving. A community you want to cheer on. Hopes and dreams that are (sometimes) fulfilled. That's pretty much a review of a good novel, right there.

You'll meet people you'd be friends with in plausible situations - well, ok, authors have to make up a lot of stuff to make it mesh. There's a set of questions for book clubs or journal-writers to ponder, too.

I liked this one enough to put a hold on the first book she's written - grab a copy for your lazy evenings or to check off your "just-got-to-escape" list.

Bust Writer's Block Forever by Caryl Westmore

★★★ ☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

An aspirational self-help book of encouragement for writers. So you've come to the end of ideas, energy, and time? Writers are readers, right?

You might want to pick up Westmore's challenge to examine why the ideas are not flowing or why you don't have the oomph or can't seem to find the hours you had before.

The author recommends EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques), logosynthesis (using positive words), and other therapeutic (and pseudo-therapeutic) tools to unblock your self-image, writing, and forward movement. 

It's interesting, somewhat New-Agey, and worth perusing to find a technique that might work for you. Just don't make a religion out of it.

Lost Shepherd: What Believers Once Knew about Psalm 23 That the Modern World Has Forgotten by Mark Fugitt

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Fugitt traces historical and current understandings of the "Shepherd's Psalm" (Psalm 23) which many Christian traditions teach their adherents.

The author examines the psalm phrase by phrase through personal anecdotes, stories gleaned from friends and other sources, biblical scholarship, church history, and contemporary studies. Fugitt brings the scripture to life with a deep look into the implications of living out Psalm 23 as individuals and communities of faith.

Highly recommended for pastors and students of scripture and culture. It would make a great gift book as well.

Infectious Generosity by Chris Anderson

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Two-thirds of funds that are unexpectedly received will be given away to others, according to the author's own research and several studies. That's a multiplication of generosity, for sure. 

Generosity spins a global web, says Anderson. Jesus agreed: "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 8:38)

The book exams the universal principle of giving and the effects - immediate and ongoing - of being a generous person. Both donor and recipient receive extended benefits, especially if they continue the web of generosity.

You'll want to look around you and see how you can be an unexpected blessing - and live a life large with hope and gratitude. I recommend this one for its encouragement and for its research and practical push toward living a generous life - with your own time, energy, money, and relationships.

Sugarless by Nicole M. Avena

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Sugar. Love it? Hate it? we all know it's not good for us, especially as a direct jolt from soft drinks, snacks, and fast foods. In SE Asia, it seems like most food is "seasoned" not with salt but with sugar.

Avena explores the effects of the constant infusion of sugar, as well as how to curb cravings and sugar dependence in her 7-step method. Most importantly, she addresses how to get through the pressures of eating with friends and family, the withdrawals, and balancing mental health without lapsing back into a sweet addiction.

The author ends with ideas for setting up a healthy kitchen (including tools and shopping tips), good recipes, and ways to think ahead for remaining "sugarless" for life.

While I didn't find anything dazzling or new in this book, if you're on the hunt for a basic revision of your sugar-saturated intake, this book offers solid advice - what, how-to, and a mental shift that may just be what you're looking for.

Forgetting by Scott A. Small

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

The title made me laugh. I may be the world's best "forgetter." When they're over, I shed memories of events and places. I never remember restaurants or hotels. I forget people and meetings. I hardly remember anything - which is why I blog (Peaceful Ones). Writing it down means I can go back to remember what's just happened or who we met a few years ago in that town somewhere on the plain or in the valley.

Small insists that we don't have to remember everything and that forgetting is a gift to the mind and heart. The rigidity and inflexibility of having to tell a joke exactly the same way or putting a book back on the shelf in the same order (for all but librarians?!) takes a lot of energy and causes anxiety. How memory is absorbed and shed is a mark of mental health or disease.

The author examines the gift of forgetting - that we can redo memories, find new joys in old places, and reinvent ourselves - past and future. Read this book as part of the adventure of exploring the wonderful and complex beings God created. You'll appreciate those forgotten moments more than ever!

Leading Things You Didn't Start by Tyler Reagin

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Maybe you fell into your position. Maybe someone handed it to you. Maybe you inherited it. But you didn't start it. Reagin helps you examine who or what made it happen and how you got to be in charge. Then, whether you hit the ground running, stumbled into your current responsibilities, or are encountering unexpected resistance, you'll find solid ground in this book.

Written from a Christian viewpoint, there's much to recommend for non-religious others as well. Reagin covers the basics of management and relationship-building, the effects of your decisions, and the qualities that can help your business or organization thrive.

Take time to pick up this book and put your feet (and mind) on a firm foundation. Journal the questions or go through them with your board or leadership team to boost your chances for success.

GodSpace by Keri Wyatt Kent

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

How much space do you have - in your life, in your calendar, in your home, your work, your soul, your budget ... and the other spaces you occupy? Why is it so crowded? 

"And," Kent asks, "where does God fit into those spaces?" How can you make room to know, love, and experience him so that you overflow with His life and light? The author challenges you to expand your spiritual life through the seasons, through the places, and through the relationships God has given you.

It's encouraging and uplifting, full of stories and practical applications. If you're feeling dry or wrung out, like there's no time or space for "real living," this book is for you.

Quest 52: A Fifteen-Minute-a-Day Yearlong Pursuit of Jesus by Mark E. Moore

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

These challenging essays explore questions that make you think about Jesus. What was he like, both human as well as divine? How did he feel? What choices did he make and what did he do - and in what context? Did he know God was his Father? Why was he baptized?

Primed with research, stories, and questions, the checklist at the end of each week's reading will give you or your group concrete methods to pursue your understanding about God-with-us. 

"It makes me wonder ..." comes up more than once. For that reason, among many others, I recommend it to thoughtful explorers of their faith - or those who want to know what Christianity and following Jesus is all about.

Love Pattern and Colour by Charlotte Abrahams

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

Was this a pandemic casualty? I haven't gotten around to reviewing through I liked this book. I learned some things about how pattern shows up and shows off. 

Abrahams has the expertise to explain and explore pattern and its effect on a space and on people. You'll enjoy the illustrations, photos, and text. Get a copy if you're ready for more adventure but hesitant about taking the plunge into color and pattern for your house or office.

Red Lip Theology by Candice Marie Benbow

★★★ ☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

This came out a while back and I'm still puzzling through it. The culture, values, and age group are so far from my own that I spun it around a few times and couldn't finish.

I am going to recommend it to young women who are distracted by influencers, social media, and peer pressure. Maybe you'll find a way through the maze of comparisons and illusions to a true spiritual life that satisfies you from the inside out.

Complications by Danielle Steel

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

I'm a bit late to review this one. It was interesting to explore the ups and downs of running a famous hotel. You can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes of a client's effortless stay. 

Steel writes imaginative and wonderful descriptions of Oliver and Yvonne, tasked with caring for guests. It's a touch of romance, adventure, and mystery in the best and worst case scenario with implications for staff, guests, and onlookers. I got caught up in the drama, especially since I used to clean hotel rooms during college summers. (Ugh. But I learned a lot!)

I enjoyed this novel. I also plan to tip my servers and maintenance personnel a little extra on our next stay.

Men-in-the-Middle by Kori Reed

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review before publication. 

I've watched it happen over and over to girlfriends and colleagues. Iit's happened to me as the "almost-elected" nominee several times. 

It's a trend that every working woman has experienced or observed. Well-liked and well-intentioned guys overlook qualified women or push them to the side when promotions come around. In general, these men are not high-level CEOs or huge decision-makers. For the mot part, they will not advocate for a female coworker. They don't speak up. They don't mentor. Instead, they guard their flanks and their position and leave highly-skilled women on the sidelines.

Reed examines the fears and aspirations of men in the middle. Well-researched and supported by workplace experiences, she asks why men will not boost women into higher positions as they rise through the ranks or manage groups. 

Eye-opening and solution-oriented, this book is worth including in workplace discussions on equality and gender.

The Ball at Versailles by Danielle Steel

★★★ ☐☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review. 

The world you no longer live in - unless you're rich and famous. This story weaves around debutantes, balls, young marriageable women on display in a short season of life. They may or may not want husbands - but off they go to be twirled and courted and feted at two grand events.

Steel remembers what it's like to be young and the drama of fitting in. She knows what the wealthy and status-driven will do to keep their place and understands the rules of high society. She offers a glimpse of a culture that has shifted to other methods for marrying off their young. 

You may like or dislike the women and their families but you'll want to know what and why as you keep turning the page. A good novel to tuck in the tote bag for when you need an escape and time to dream about dresses and jewelry and ballrooms.

The Secret by Lee Child; Andrew Child

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

Another page-turner, unleashed on an eager fan base. Child and Child know how to engage the reader with action and cliffhangers. I always look forward to Reacher novels. This one was especially fun because it was retro, set in time 30 years ago.

You'll recognize a younger Reacher, a man who travels lightly, shows up with unexpected solutions, and fights evil with good intentions and a hard punch. When you want an adventure to take your mind off your boring job, pick up this novel.

Arise and Shine by Allyson Golden

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

An autobiography and study of hope, courage, and comfort. Golden says that who you are can light up a room and make others' lives better. No matter what the circumstances, the light of Christ wants to shine through.

Golden has arranged the chapters with questions for small group discussion or personal journaling. In a world that seems dark and hopeless, this is an encouraging look - a new view - of life as it is and life as it can be. Recommended.

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review before publication. 

Wow. I need this book - and will buy it in paperback as a reference. We assume so many things about people around us. First impressions, disappointed expectations, or excesses ... there are so many ways we form opinions about who people are, what they want, and how they will act.

Brooks encourages us to examine who we are and why we approach relationships the way we do. He advocates for grace (and mercy) in our dealings with others. You'll come away instructed, coached, and better able to understand humanity - which is a tall order. 

GET THIS ONE. You'll be a better person for it.

The Gardins of Edin by Rosey Lee

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.

Well, this one was a surprise. I ended up liking it. However, the culture (black, Southern) is so far from my worldview (immigrant Canadian family) that it took me a while to understand the dynamics. 

The Garden family of women is competitive and competent, but they are working at cross-purposes throughout. "I'm right, you're wrong," could have been a subtitle.

I'd love to know what readers in the American South think of it. Fortunately, the ending brings some resolution and satisfaction. Overall, a good story and interesting interactions.