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One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts. ~ Albert Einstein “find herself,” anorexia, bulimia, personal care, healthy parenting, peer pressure, and dealing with bullies. She closes every chapter with a prayer and gives the book a Christian flavor throughout. Ms. Rue has published 36 previous books for tweens and teen girls about authenticity, beauty, the changing body, relationships and spiritual formation. She gives helpful insights and true examples for dealing with all the touchy subjects facing tween girls today. I would like to have read this book 25 years ago with my own daughter, but now it will be helpful for my 2 granddaughters. I recommend this book for mom study groups and every church library. It would make an excellent gift. Rating: 4 —RE TEEN-OLOGY: The Art of Raising Great Teenagers. Burns, Jim. 221p, Bethany House 2010, 9780764207044 [248.8’45] The premise is that raising teenagers is tough. Although this is certainly not a new idea, Burns uses his extensive experience in working with teens to explore the questions that every parent struggles to answer. The book is divided into two parts. The first is how to parent teens to become responsible adults. Some of the subjects he covers are: correcting behavior without crushing character, learning the developmental stages of adolescence, creating a media-safe home, teaching the purity code, the spiritual life of a teenager, and others. In the second half he discusses common problems and solutions: eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, tattoos and body piercing, coping with tragedy, cyberbullying, driving, choosing a college, depression, dinnertime, obesity, self-injury, sleep, sexual abuse, suicide, and homework hassles. He gives symptoms to look for and suggestions for solutions. The book is straightforward with up-to-date material, including sample contracts parents can make with their teenagers. It could be used by individuals, but would be most beneficial in a discussion setting with several parents. Rating: 4 —AMB 22 WHAT YOUR SON ISN’T TELLING YOU: Unlocking the Secret World of Teen Boys. Ross, Michael and Suzie Shellenburger. 190p, paper, Bethany House 2010, 9780764207495 [248.8] According to the authors, a father must understand his son’s heart and mind in order to provide the support and connection he desperately needs. The authors’ experiences teach three of most boy’s essential viewpoints: “Please Clue In: I’m not You!”, “Trust me, and I’ll Trust You”, and “Stay Close and Let Me Breathe.” They suggest that your son’s world is nothing like the world which you recall. Every teen boy struggles with constant pressure to prove himself. Advice offered here is for the parent to forget his world and concentrate on listening and trusting. Crucially, their closing chapters deal with tendencies toward rejection of Christianity. Rating: 3 —JT � OUTREACH & EVANGELISM MARKS OF THE MESSENGER: Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel. Stiles, J. Mack. 128p, paper, InterVarsity 2010, 9780830833504 [248.5] Mack Stiles is a dedicated American evangelist who moved his family to the United Arab Emirates to spread the Gospel. His concern in this book is that many people offer a weakened or confused version of the Gospel, which leads to people assuming they are Christians without realizing what being a disciple of Christ actually entails. The book felt “preachy” to me, though he backs his points anecdotally as well as Scripturally. Stiles’ bold conversations with non-Christians frequently expose a muddled understanding of the Gospel. Theologically liberal readers might disagree with his focus on hell and his narrow interpretation of “the Gospel,” but he rightly calls for a more honest proclamation. And I wish his “16 Ways to Demonstrate Love and Unity in the <strong>Church</strong>” could be printed as a pamphlet and distributed in churches. Rating: 2.5 —DKW
THE QUESTIONS CHRISTIANS HOPE NO ONE WILL EVER ASK: (With Answers). Mittleberg, Mark. 306p, paper, Tyndale 2010, 9781414315911 [239.7] I really like this book. The writing is precise and the explanations are clear and well documented. Of equal importance, the author supplies the answers. Some of the questions explored are: “What makes you so sure that God exists at all?” “Why do you condemn homosexuals?” “Why should I trust the Bible—it’s full of myths?” “Why is abortion such a line in the sand for Christians?” and “How could a good God allow so much suffering?” Each chapter also provides a subsection entitled “Evidence for the Answer” as well as tips for talking about the issue and questions for group discussion. This is a valuable book for any Christian. Rating: 4 —GD � PRAYER & DEVOTIONAL KALEIDOSCOPE. Clairmont, Patsy. 196p, Thomas Nelson 2009, 9781400202706 [248.8] This book consists of reflections on various verses from the book of Proverbs which the author compares to a kaleidoscope, the child’s toy that when turned and looked through reveals beautiful geometric designs. She refers to “colorful verses with their direct wisdom, clear understanding and their snappy offering of divine instruction.” Each chapter covers one verse followed by questions that lead the reader to think more deeply about the verse and a section that contains other Bible verses on the same subject. The reflections and stories are given with a light touch, but the message can be profound. This book is quick reading and is not heavy. It offers another way of looking at God’s Word. Rating: 3 —JC � Click on book covers to compare prices and purchase books onine. 23 � RELIGION & CULTURE THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BOB DYLAN: The Old, Old Story for Modern Times. Gilmour, Michael J. 195p, paper, Westminster John Knox 2011, 9780664232078 [782.42] Michael Gilmour, associate professor of New Testament and English at Providence College in Manitoba, Canada, and author of other works on rock music and religion, focuses on Bob Dylan in this new book. Dylan, one of the most important rock music figures of all time, notably went through a conversion phase from his family’s Judaism to Christianity in the late ’70s, and then later appeared to distance himself from organized religion. Gilmour traces Dylan’s musical development, commenting on Scriptural relationships and analogies, but this book should be understood to be primarily about Dylan, and only secondarily about Scripture. It also comments as much on Old Testament as New Testament or Gospel imagery; Gilmour has written an earlier book entitled Tangled Up in the Bible: Bob Dylan and Scripture (Continuum, 2004), and though that book was not available for comparison, this reviewer wonders what the overlap between the two might be. For only the largest church libraries. Note: The book clearly states that it has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by any person or entity associated with Bob Dylan. Rating: 2 —KLF HANDEL’S MESSIAH: Comfort for God’s People. Stapert, Calvin R. 173p, paper, Eerdmans 2010, 9780802865878 [782.23] There may be no more wellloved musical work for Christians than Handel’s Messiah, which is performed every year by countless church choirs in Advent and in Lent. Few, however, have the opportunity or take the time to familiarize themselves in depth with the libretto and score of the work. Calvin Stapert’s book Handel’s Messiah: Comfort for God’s People aims to meet this need. The Is your desk missing this essential reference? Inside you’ll find valuable advice and how-to instruction on creating, organizing and managing a successful church library with special information for automated libraries. It also contains a comprehensive list of Subject Headings and Dewey Decimal classifications customized for church library use. Order your copy today. Member price $21 (save 40%) Non-member price $35 To order, add $4 shipping & handling. Choose one of the following payment options: • Send a check or money order to NCLA, 275 S. 3rd St., #204, Stillwater, MN 55082. • Call NCLA at 651-430-0770 to place a credit card order. • Order online through www.Amazon.com (Sorry, member discounts can not be applied to Amazon orders).
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Page 3 and 4: Letter from our President Kathleen
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Page 7 and 8: Calendar All are welcome to attend
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Page 11 and 12: Reviews � BIBLE & THEOLOGY THE IN
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Page 15 and 16: PRINCESS WITH A PURPOSE. Chapman, K
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Page 19 and 20: without thinking about their lives
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