PDF - Christian Library Journal

ADULT
NONFICTION
Leroy Hommerding, Director, Fort Myers Beach P.L. District, Fort
Myers, Florida
The Cleavers don’t live here anymore :
bringing hope and radical forgiveness to
the bewilderment, betrayal, and bitterness
of real family life, by Laurie Sharlene
Hall. LCCN 99088896. Ann Arbor,
Mich.: Vine Books, Servant Publications,
2000. ISBN 1569551316, PAP, $10.99.
248.4. Married persons--Religious life; Marriage--
Religious aspects--Christianity. 218 p. Adult.
This is Laurie Hall’s second book. Her first,
Affair of the Mind, discussed her ordeal with her
husband’s addiction to pornography. She
references that book in her new book taking the
reader to the next level when there has been a
betrayal in the marriage—forgiveness. Her
book is written as if one is sitting across from
her drinking coffee in the kitchen. Her honest
discussions of her sadness and experiences will
connect with those hurting. Most importantly,
her appropriate use of humor make this book
one to read and turn to in the hard times. She
presents, in the opening chapters, an overview
of our hurting society. She spends much of her
time reporting statistics of the situation in the
church and in the world. Throughout her book
Hall doesn’t mince words or gloss over the
situation of a hurting man or woman where trust
has been destroyed. She simply states that there
is a specific process that has brought her and her
husband peace. She presents her ideas regarding
how marriage is not understood well in three
units entitled, dealing with the outward realities,
dealing with the inward realities, and dealing
with the ongoing realities.
Each chapter begins with a quote of an
individual and scripture. She then proceeds to
rip any pretense for the reader to remain
unforgiving in their present situation. Each
chapter ends with questions that force the reader
to examine himself/herself rather than the other
person.
The book is a quality paperback. Hall discusses
depression, pornography and its effects, abuse,
as well as other topics candidly. Appendix A is
a table indicating how one can discern abusive
leadership. Appendix B is a listing of
recommended reading ordered by topicality.
She qualifies this reading list by stating that she
doesn’t endorse every book; she just found it
generally helpful in her understanding of
forgiveness. Her notes section is worth reading
on its own.
Bianca Elliott, Teacher, Linwood, Kansas
Visioneering, by Andy Stanley. LCCN
99015763. Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah,
1999. ISBN 1576735389, HBB, $18.99.
248.4. Nehemiah (Governor of Juday); Success--
Religious aspects--Christianity. 272 p. Adult.
Using the Book of Nehemiah as a running
illustration, Visioneering describes the process
of recognizing, developing, implementing, and
maintaining a vision. The book constantly
reminds the reader that visions begin, end, and
have their purpose in glorifying God and
expanding His Kingdom. The text introduces
two new words into the lexicon: “visioneering,”
the process of developing and maintaining
vision; and “visioncasting,” the sharing of a
vision with others.
Visioneering’s eighteen chapters thoroughly
cover a number of topics: vision birth, prayer,
faith, moral authority, and godly purpose. The
book also addresses vital topics such as
planning, public relations, organizational
behavior, and team development. Visioneering
covers the secular and religious aspects of vision
in a natural, smooth manner. Appropriately, the
book ends with a challenge: “Pay the price.
Embrace the vision.”
Visioneering is well written, well researched and
well organized. Author Andy Stanley marches
through the Book of Nehemiah in an orderly,
thorough way. Despite that order and structure,
the book is an engaging read. Additionally,
Pastor Stanley goes out of his way to tie
everything, at every opportunity, back to our
Lord and the building of His Kingdom.
Anyone who reads the text should develop a
complete understanding of vision. The entire
subject is made accessible and understandable.
While remaining true to a scriptural and biblical
basis, Visioneering does not become
sanctimonious or dogmatic. It’s easy to imagine
any secular businessman picking up this book
and being enriched by its content.
Visioneering will, by its nature, be most valuable
to the leaders and managers of organizations and
institutions. Any parent, pastor, teacher or
leader should find something of value within
these pages. Happily, even those who seek to
simply manage themselves with benefit from
reading this book.
This book is a valuable and important resource
for anyone who wants to get something done.
Kirk Hunt, Instructor, Pima County Community College, Business
& Industry Division, Tucson, Arizona
Husbands and fathers : rediscover the
Creator’s purpose for men, by Derek
Prince; foreword by Edwin Louis Cole.
LCCN 99038439. Grand Rapids: Chosen
Books, Baker Book House, 2000. ISBN
0800792742, PAP, $9.99.
248.8’421. Christian men--Religious life; Husbands--
Religious life; Fathers--Religious life. 160 p. Adult.
Husbands and Fathers is a thought-provoking,
discussion-starting, quick-reading, experiencebased
book written by Pentecostal preacherteacher
Derek Prince. Prince draws on his own
experience as the father of nine daughters and
the husband of two wives to provide practical
advice.
Much of what he shares has the grandfatherly
feel that readers might expect from an eighty
year old evangelist who remains active in
Christian ministry despite the very recent homegoing
of his second wife. Herein lies a problem.
Much of his solid, practical, experiential advice
Prince labels as biblical advice. While the
principles he shares with readers may transcend
many cultural walls, this does not make them
biblical. Examples include this bold statement:
“If the wife does not submit willingly to her
husband’s headship, there is only one way he
can take that position—by self-assertive
domination.” While this is a debatable claim
even within the most conservative of
evangelical circles, Prince couches it in a section
addressing “what the Bible has to say” about
wives.
Readers should be prepared for several casual,
but not too frequent, references to speaking in
tongues and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Additionally, Prince’s treatment of the historic
meaning and nature of “covenant” relationships
is interesting. Unfortunately, his observations
seem to be that of an amateur theologian rather
than a biblical scholar.
The greatest reward awaits the reader who
completes his study of this book. Prince’s
advice and insight regarding spiritual fatherhood
is gratifying and affirming. Detailing the life
and teaching of Paul, Prince provides creative
and original perspectives for fathers, single men,
and childless husbands. These later portions of
the book were a wonderful surprise and will,
unfortunately, miss their target audience because
of the book’s misdirected title.
Maturing Christian men and the women who
care about them will benefit from discussion
based on Husbands and Fathers.
Daniel S. Brown, Professor of Communication, Indiana Wesleyan
University, Indianapolis, Indiana
★
When couples pray together, by Jan Stoop
and David Stoop. LCCN 99059126. Ann
Arbor, Mich.: Vine Books, Servant
Publications, 2000. ISBN 1569551081,
PAP, $10.99.
248.8’44. Spouses--Religious life; Marriage--
Religious aspects--Christianity; Prayer--Christianity.
180 p. Adult.
Authors David and Jan Stoop struggled to pray
together during their early years of marriage.
Jan yearned for spiritual intimacy with Dave,
but he resisted when she suggested they join in
prayer. Problems like theirs are not uncommon.
Informal statistics reveal only four percent of
Christian couples actually pray together on a
regular basis.
Whether marriage partners already pray together
or want to start, When Couples Pray Together
has much to offer. It brims with stories of
praying couples, answered prayers, and practical
guidance. Written in a friendly tone, it covers
why couples should pray together, why they
don’t, and how to begin.
The Stoops, now grandparents, have prayed
with each other daily for almost thirty years and
list marital stability as an important benefit.
While divorce statistics soar even among
Christians, one marriage ministry reported: If
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