My favourite person in the world.

That's him, and I get to sit (or stand in this case) next to him. :)

Ah, C.S.Lewis.

'When I first became a Christian, about fourteen years ago, I thought that I could do it on my own, by retiring to my rooms and reading theology, and wouldn’t go to the churches and Gospel Halls; I disliked very much their hymns which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.'
 - C.S. Lewis on going to church. What a legend.

Let's Get Real by Dale & Jena Forehand

A book review.

Dale and Jena got married, divorced and remarried one another. This is a book directed at married people. I am not married. And yet I found it hugely helpful and challenging. And emotional. Both in the happy, excited sense, and in the "stop-reading-now-before-you-burst-into-tears-on-the-bus" sense. It is easy to read, with many examples from their own experience which they honestly and humbly give, and practical questions with space to answer for yourself. They give advice that is Biblical and gentle, without sugar coating.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is ready to let God use their relationships to sanctify them. There is a lot of thought provoking material and practical application to be had in this book and I know that God will use it for His glory and your benefit. Obviously, this is primarily directed at your marriage relationship and some of the points are not altogether appropriate or applicable to any relationship other than that between a husband and wife. However, authentic forgiveness, humility, conflict resolution and accountability all have a place in other relationships, and this book helps make positive changes towards these things. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Waiting Place by Eileen Button

A book review.

Eileen Button is a pastor's wife, often to her dismay, and a mother of three, as well as an author, columnist and professor. Each of these aspects of her life as well as others shine through the pages of The Waiting Place. This book has an interesting format and concept - it is autobiographical, and each chapter tells of a time in the author's life when she was made to wait. Some of these times are significant and will have undoubtedly shaped her, such as her child's serious illness when he was born. Other times of waiting she tells of are unbelievably mundane, such as waiting for her friend to decide what to order at Panera. Each waiting place however has taught the author something, though it is at times left unsaid.
This book at times brought me to tears as Button told the stories with such honesty and the situations were ones of despair and an uncertain ending. Other times I felt it was over dramatic and wanted to tell her to "dry her eyes and just get on with it" or "man up", though this would probably be harsh of me. She has found a topic common to all though, and overall I did enjoy reading it. It is an easy and pleasant read, and a good book in its genre. We all have to wait for things, for things to get better, for things to stop, for things to change. The Waiting Place provides insight into the life of a woman who, like it or not, has many waiting places and is provided with the opportunity to grow in them or moan about them. And we readers are invited and reminded to do the same.


*I was provided this book for free through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program in exchange for my unbiased review.