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ADULTNONFICTIONinteresting style that delves just deep enoughinto the meat of the topic without getting boggeddown in heavy theology. The brown and blackcover with simple white lettering is drab anduninviting, but between the covers is achallenging message that flows smoothly. Theprinciples are solid and the book encourages thereader to look at Jesus from a differentperspective to gain valuable insight into the Onewho truly was God in the flesh.Jeff FriendThe three wise women : a Christmasreflection / Christin Ditchfield. LCCN2005003641. Wheaton, Ill. : CrosswayBooks, 2005.HBB, 1581346360, list price: $10.99.232.91. Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Meditations.;Elizabeth (Mother of John the Baptist), Saint--Meditations.; Anna (Biblical prophetess)--Meditations.; Jesus Christ--Nativity--Meditations.;Christian women--Prayer-books and devotions--English. 80 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.Grades 10-Adult. Rating : 3.The Three Wise Women focuses not on the wisemen of the gospel of Matthew (of whom little isknown, including the actual number of men) buton three biblical women who are named in theBible and play an important role in Scripture:Mary, the mother of God; Elizabeth, the motherof John the Baptist; and Anna the prophetess.Christin Ditchfield, host of the syndicated radioprogram “Take it to Heart” and author of overforty books, uses examples from these women’sstories to focus on what makes them wise aswell as what makes them beautiful. They werewise, Ditchfield writes, because they “chose tofear the Lord, to reverence Him, to trust Him.”They were beautiful because they offeredthemselves as living sacrifices to Him, andcultivated gentle, quiet spirits. By being calledupon to emulate Mary’s willing heart,Elizabeth’s hearing heart, and Anna’s faithfulheart, readers are shown ways to get a closerrelationship to God.Ditchfield’s easy-to-read, smoothly-written textmakes her message simple enough for readersnew to or unfamiliar with Christianity, but it willalso interest long-time believers. Since it’s asmall-sized hardcover that fits nicely in the palmof the hand, and has a lovely gilded dust jacketand beautiful paper stock in the interior pages,it’s probably best as a gift book, but the book canbe used by readers wanting a fullerunderstanding of the story of Jesus’ birth (onenot ordinarily focused upon). It can also be usedas a devotional during the Christmas season.Rosemarie DiCristoHow do you know you're not wrong? :responding to objections that leaveChristians speechless / Paul Copan.LCCN 2005007932. Grand Rapids :Baker Books, 2005.PAP, 0801064996, list price: $14.99.239. Skepticism; Apologetics. 268 p. ; 22 cm.Adult (Grades 10-12). Rating : 3.Christians are often stumped by the questions ofskeptics. How Do You Know You’re Not Wrongattempts to help answer some of those tough,philosophical claims. It shows the flaws in theidea that truth is relative. In fact, Paul Copan’slogic shows the flaws in many worldviews likepragmatism, scientism, and naturalism. Copanalso explains ideas related to Christianity, likethe oddity of some of the Old Testament lawsand why certain books were included in thecanon and others weren’t. Thorough, logicalexplanations are supported by scripturalreferences or references to other philosophers,scientists, and theologians. In a rebuttal tosupporters of naturalistic evolution, Copanbriefly explores the idea of theistic evolution“for the sake of argument.” (p. 128)How Do You Know You’re Not Wrong? waswritten for “Christians in general, butparticularly Christian students in high schoolsand universities (and their parents!)” (p.12);however, this book is mostly written at a collegelevel and feels a little tedious at times. Helpfulsummaries as well as books for further readingat the end of each chapter do help the readerassimilate information. A few chapters includehelpful charts. At the end of the book a sectionof “notes,” basically bibliographic informationand a few additional thoughts, is included.Attention to the techniques used to present andrebut challenges could potentially helpChristians develop logic and face skeptics, butthe best advice in this book is “the believer’swinsome character and the support of a lovingChristian community must increasinglycharacterize our witness in the marketplace ofideas.” (p. 13)Kristi WolcottSo, you want to be like Christ? : eightessentials to get you there / Charles R.Swindoll. LCCN 2005299384. Nashville :W Publishing, 2005.HBB, 084991731X, list price: $22.99.241./4. Spiritual life; Virtues. xvii, 192 p. : ill. ; 25cm.Adult. Rating : 3.In this book, noted pastor Charles Swindollchallenges the reader to heed the advice of Paulfound in I Timothy 4:7, which says “Disciplineyourself for the purpose of Godliness.”Swindoll carefully selects eight spiritualdisciplines and, using Philippians 3:10 as atheme verse, shows us how we can begin livingthe life that Christ intended. He reminds us thatthough these disciplines demand a strenuousworkout, the end result will be worthwhile, asthe Holy Spirit shapes an individual from theinside out into the person Christ wants him tobe.Through this book, Charles Swindoll uses hisgentle humor, insight, and teaching tocompellingly persuade us to take a hard look atour Christian life. Each chapter is a mini bookfilled with applicable scripture, insight, andillustrations helping the reader to gain a clearerunderstanding of each spiritual discipline.While providing commentary explaining eachpassage of scripture, Swindoll writes in asuccinct way that all can understand. This is awell-written book that challenges Christians tobecome “less self-centered and more Godcentered.”Chris CarrollGrace for each hour : through the breastcancer journey / Mary J. Nelson. LCCN2004024238. Minneapolis : BethanyHouse, 2005.PAP, 0764200240, list price: $12.99.242/.4. Breast--Cancer--Patients--Prayer-books anddevotions--English; Christian women--Prayer-booksand devotions--English. 266 p. ; 22 cm.Adult. Rating : 4.Hardly a day goes by, but something remindswomen of breast cancer. Mary J. Nelsontraveled that bumpy road, and wrote Grace forEach Hour : Through the Breast CancerJourney. She is an elder in her church, andprefers the New Living Translation or the NewInternational Version. Over 125 devotionschallenge women to grow spiritually during thetesting of breast cancer. Read the devotions inany order, as each is self-contained.She confessed, “My brokenness turned myoccasional Bible dabbling into a serious hungerfor the Word of God.” Further, she realized,“My suffering could be a blessing to others.”Nelson is realistic. She writes of physical painand emotional upheavals. Her bare head and thetime required for treatments were bothproblems. Yet she coped in the darkest hours byreaching out “to others who were suffering.”I recommend Grace for Each Hour for manywomen with health problems…not just breastcancer.Roberta Lou JonesFrom dream to destiny / Robert Morris.LCCN 2004027348. Ventura, Calif. :Regal Books, 2005.HBB, 0830736743, list price: $18.99.248.4. Joseph (Son of Jacob); Christian life--Biblicalteaching; Success--Biblical teaching. 208 p. ; 24 cm.Adult. Rating : 3.In this book, Pastor Robert Morris extends aninvitation to the reader to discover the destinythat God has for each person. 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