I don’t have any cohesive thoughts on this book except for the fact that it made me feel a wider range of emotions than any book ever has and was alsoI don’t have any cohesive thoughts on this book except for the fact that it made me feel a wider range of emotions than any book ever has and was also probably more raw than anything I’ve ever read. Dang. The way Key writes about “the difference between doubt and wonder,” hope, depravity, grace, the church, scripture, marriage, love, friendship, anger, virtue, forgiveness, and really anything else in life will stick with me for a long time. This book is honest and vulnerable in that way that is simultaneously painful and comforting, which maybe is to say it’s overwhelmingly beautiful in a way you can’t ever forget.
Also Goodreads besties go read @Drake Osborn’s (why can we still not tag people on this platform?) review for some really good pastoral thoughts! ...more
Listen, I know there’s nothing more on brand for me than a 5/5 review for Russell Moore’s work but I really think this might be my favorite thing he’sListen, I know there’s nothing more on brand for me than a 5/5 review for Russell Moore’s work but I really think this might be my favorite thing he’s ever written! It was contemplative but not dramatic, honest but not harsh, and had applied wisdom but wasn’t overly prescriptive. Moore writes with a delicate balance of sobriety and hope — his voice is just so needed for the church! I’m thankful for the ways he has influenced/inspired me for years (especially those years this book focuses on) and know I will return to this work for years to come! ...more
“Truth is God himself who cannot be known apart from life and cannot be loved apart from surrender to his will. Genuine knowing demands a response. To“Truth is God himself who cannot be known apart from life and cannot be loved apart from surrender to his will. Genuine knowing demands a response. To know God demands that we be willing to be touched by Divine love. To be touched by God’s love is to be forever changed. To surrender to Divine love is to find our soul’s home — the place and identity for which we yearn in every cell of our being.”
This book rocked my whole little world in the best way! I have a few question marks in margins on things that I’m still thinking over but it’s mostly underlines and stars and highlights and exclamation points because there is just such rich goodness in these 90ish pages! Confident I’ll return to this book again and again. ...more
Accessible, grounded, and distinctively marked by hope, this book is phenomenal. One central idea is that prayer invites us in on the greater story GoAccessible, grounded, and distinctively marked by hope, this book is phenomenal. One central idea is that prayer invites us in on the greater story God is telling, allowing us to see that no one works like him. Miller’s words are simple, humbling, and deeply worshipful (one of my favorite quotes - it absolutely wrecked me - is below!). I’m grateful for my time spent reading this book, probably won’t stop thinking/talking about it for a long time, and am confident that I’ll return to it again and again!
“When you stop trying to control your life and instead allow your anxieties and problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worry to watching. You watch God weave his patterns in the story of your life. Instead of trying to be out front, designing your life, you realize you are inside God’s drama. As you wait, you begin to see him work, and your life begins to sparkle with wonder. You are learning to trust again.”...more
I’ve recognized, known, and respected Beth Moore’s voice for most all of my life. She was the spunky woman who taught my mom the Word of God and(!) hoI’ve recognized, known, and respected Beth Moore’s voice for most all of my life. She was the spunky woman who taught my mom the Word of God and(!) how to use a fork to tease your hair in case of emergency. She was the one who wrote Bible studies with those whose Bible studies heavily shaped my life. “My Beth” — as my mom has exclusively called her for as long as I can remember — was the authentic one, the one who wasn’t afraid to be honest and bold, even when it cost her. Her voice has guided many of the women who have guided me - a cool aunt figure of sorts. In more recent years, though, Beth’s influence has moved away from the tangential and right to my central line of focus. Her voice was one I looked to for safety when so many others I once trusted no longer felt safe in the wake of 2016. It was her book on sanctification and suffering that brought encouragement during the hardest season of my life. I heard Beth speak once in college and was struck by her reverence for Jesus, her commitment to Scripture. Afterward, I shook her hand and told her how much my mom loved her, to which she responded by grabbing my face with her hands and telling me to tell the dear sister in Christ that is my mom hello and that she loved her. She treated me like we were old friends, and I know that’s how she is with everyone else who shares similar sentiments with her. Reading her book felt like spending time with your most trusted confidante, wisest counsel, and the person who makes you laugh the hardest - all at the same time.
This review is already ridiculously long, but I want to say that Beth’s memoir is really, really important. It’s powerful and vulnerable and beautiful and unapologetic because its author is all of those things. Beth Moore is unapologetically in love with Jesus, unapologetically a champion of His Bride, unapologetically real about the wounds of her life (even those that remain unhealed and might be that way until Glory), and unapologetically herself. Her heart and mind and soul are just such a gift. And I think this book will enable this gift to continue for generations to come. Thankful for a book that so clearly testifies to a Savior whose love will not let us go!
P.S. If you want more of Beth’s personality/dramatic flare listen to the audiobook! Feels like you’re sitting in her home laughing and crying right there with her!...more
I don’t think I could have loved this more! It’s a unique biography in that it focuses more on the subject’s influences rather than those he has influI don’t think I could have loved this more! It’s a unique biography in that it focuses more on the subject’s influences rather than those he has influenced — something I thoroughly enjoyed. Hansen does an amazing job honoring Tim Keller without idolizing him, giving readers an honest look at the well known leader. I’ve loved and respected Timmy K for a while now, and this book only solidified that more!
P.S. This book also talks a lot about Kathy Keller (and specifically her struggles/triumphs in ministry), which was one of my favorite aspects bc I learned that Kathy is spicy!...more
My new favorite Tim Keller book! It gave me a deeper understanding of, and thus a deeper appreciation for, forgiveness. Keller is honest and sharp andMy new favorite Tim Keller book! It gave me a deeper understanding of, and thus a deeper appreciation for, forgiveness. Keller is honest and sharp and gentle and encouraging. His words are hopeful and really needed. Will be thinking about this book forever, I hope! ...more
A key theme of this book is that we are limited in what we can know “not because we’re not allowed, but because we aren’t capable”. This reality is a A key theme of this book is that we are limited in what we can know “not because we’re not allowed, but because we aren’t capable”. This reality is a tough one for me and my growth mindset-driven by curiosity-grew up playing (and thus being determined to win) Bible trivia-always desiring control-post-positivist researcher-self to accept. I want to know all the things all the time, and it’s pretty easy for me to carry that perspective over to my relationship with God in a way that looks like studying the Bible, theology, etc. in a way that is no different than the way I study things for my job. Barnabas talks about hating the limits of his understanding but desperately needing them so that he remains humble and aware of his finitude. I couldn’t relate more. I’m learning a lot about what faith actually is (a lot of “I don’t know”!) these days and this book was very helpful. Piper’s credible, authentic, and gentle writing create space to take an honest look at oneself in a way that is both convicting and hopeful. I’d *highly* recommend this to anyone who finds it more natural to love God with their mind than with their heart, soul, or strength! It will bless you! ...more
I’m late to the game on this one but the 2018 hype is real! Education! Family! Religion! Some of my favorite topics presented in a remarkable woman’s I’m late to the game on this one but the 2018 hype is real! Education! Family! Religion! Some of my favorite topics presented in a remarkable woman’s heartbreaking story. From the way she communicates trauma to how she aims to present all characters as never just one thing, Westover’s writing is phenomenal. She’s my latest addition to the “who would you have at your dinner party” question because I just want to hear her thoughts on everything, basically.
I’m taking a coping and resilience class this semester and this book was an excellent companion to our week on familial coping. We talk a lot about how resilience cannot be formed apart from interruption and how these interruptions are the very thing that propel people towards growth or greater dysfunction. It’s rarely a linear process and humans (because we are human) bounce around between positive and negative reintegration all throughout our lives. This book helped me to understand and visualize this concept like no other examples have. Whether you’re interested in things like this or stopped reading this review after the first paragraph, I think you should read this! ...more
It required a whole lot of self control not to absolutely abandon all my responsibilities while reading this book because I simply did not ever want tIt required a whole lot of self control not to absolutely abandon all my responsibilities while reading this book because I simply did not ever want to put it down! I don’t really have words to describe how vulnerable, gripping, dark, and redemptive it is, but I’ll be thinking about this narrative probably forever. Read it! ...more
This book was special. Sweet and funny and bright all while dealing with hard, serious, dark things. Would recommend to anyone who has seen the benefiThis book was special. Sweet and funny and bright all while dealing with hard, serious, dark things. Would recommend to anyone who has seen the benefits of therapy in their own life (you’ll relate so much!) and to those who are skeptical/think it might not be for them (you’ll also relate so much!) ❣️❣️❣️...more
One of the most challenging and convicting books I’ve read in a long time! And one of the lore encouraging! Kapic’s arguments - which are simple yet sOne of the most challenging and convicting books I’ve read in a long time! And one of the lore encouraging! Kapic’s arguments - which are simple yet somehow quite profound - resonated very deeply with me. I know I’ll return to this book several times! Highly recommend!!!!...more
I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did but Yancey’s humble honesty was really notable. His story reminded me of a much more extreme vI honestly didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did but Yancey’s humble honesty was really notable. His story reminded me of a much more extreme version of my own and taught me a lot about how to see all things through a gracious lens. Refreshingly kind and candid. ...more
Similar to Gentle and Lowly, I’ll be spending my life collecting my thoughts on how much this book has blessed me. It’s just absolutely amazing. WouldSimilar to Gentle and Lowly, I’ll be spending my life collecting my thoughts on how much this book has blessed me. It’s just absolutely amazing. Would highly recommend to quite literally any Christian. I plan on returning to it many more times. ...more
“Alexander Rostov was neither scientist nor sage; but at the end of sixty-four he was wise enough to know that life does not proceed by leaps and boun“Alexander Rostov was neither scientist nor sage; but at the end of sixty-four he was wise enough to know that life does not proceed by leaps and bounds. It unfolds. At any given moment, it is the manifestation of a thousand transitions. Our faculties wax and wane, our experiences accumulate, and our opinions evolve — if not glacially, then at least gradually. Such that the events of an average day are as likely to transform who we are as a pinch of pepper is to transform a stew.”
I’m late to the game with this book but oh my was it good! It’s a bold claim to say that it reminded me of classic American literature (think Fitzgerald, Hemingway, etc.) but I’ll stand by it. Towles writing, like that of the greats, takes the reader to an entirely new world that still somehow feels familiar. A world you don’t ever want to leave that also helps you feel more at home in the one you already live in. I’d give it 6 stars if I could! ...more
This. Book. Challenging and gentle and so dang profound without trying too hard. Feels human and holy at the same time. Collier writes with such intimThis. Book. Challenging and gentle and so dang profound without trying too hard. Feels human and holy at the same time. Collier writes with such intimacy and depth, each chapter felt like sitting with Peterson himself! I learned a lot about God, a lot about people, and a lot about myself. May my heart and life reflect Peterson’s prayerful desire to be a saint who is fully engulfed by the story of Jesus we get to see in the Bible. ...more
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