Coram Deo ~

Looking at contemporary culture from a Christian worldview

Monthly Archives: October 2021


by Leave a comment

BOOK REVIEWS and NEWS


The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown. Hazelden Publishing. 156 pages. 2010
***

This self-help book by Brené Brown, a research professor, is outside of my normal genre of reading. It was highly recommended by a few family members, so my wife Tammy and I decided to read and discuss the book.
The book is comprised of ten short chapters, each one covering a “Guide Post” toward living a wholehearted life. Each chapter ends with a “DIG Deep” section, including suggestions on how to “Get Deliberate”, “Get Inspired” and “Get Going”.
Brown writes that wholehearted living is not a onetime choice. It is a process, and she believes that it’s the journey of a lifetime. Cultivating a wholehearted life is not like trying to reach a destination. Brown writes that it is like walking toward a star in the sky. We never really arrive, but we certainly know that we’re heading in the right direction. She tells us that at the heart of wholeheartedness is worthy now. We are worthy of love and belonging now. Courage, compassion, and connection are the tools that we need to work our way through our journey.
The book covers a wide variety of subjects, such as vulnerability, belonging, shame, fear, courage, authenticity, perfectionism, resilience, spirituality, gratitude, creativity, play, work and laughter. Although the book is not written from a specifically Christian perspective, there is much to consider and ponder in the book. Being a perfectionist, that particular section was eye-opening for me.

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
BOOK REVIEWS ~ More of this review…
BOOK NEWS ~ Links to Interesting Articles
BOOK CLUB ~ Providence by John Piper
I’M CURRENTLY READING…. Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Will You Come Under the Authority of Scripture?

Theologian R.C. Sproul tells about having a sign on his desk that read:

You are required to believe, to preach, and to teach what the
Bible says is true, not what you want the Bible to say is true.

It’s possible that you have come across passages in the Bible that you wish were not in there, and not part of God’s inerrant and inspired Word. Perhaps those passages have to do with women preaching to men in a worship service, sexuality or gender issues, or any number of topics that you may hold dear. Sproul states “When there’s something in the Word of God that I don’t like, the problem is not with the Word of God. It’s with me.” Are you willing to come under the authority of God’s Word, even if it teaches something you disagree with? Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

THIS & THAT: A Roundup of Favorite Articles and Quotes

  • Do You Feel Alone? Paul Tripp writes “If you’re his child, ward off the fear that knocks on your door by remembering who God is and who you’ve become as his chosen child. And don’t just celebrate his grace; let it reshape the way you live today and the tomorrows that follow.”
  • Are You a Winner? Howard Graham writes “The Bible has a lot to say about winning including what it takes to compete and finish in victory. Here are seven attributes of winners to guide you on the path to victory.”
  • Where We Draw the Line: How to Live (and Die) in Babylon. Alistair Begg writes “The line is to be drawn where we are told to disobey God; it is also to be drawn where we are asked to compromise on a matter that our conscience tells us will undermine our identity as a Christian.”
  • Handling Our Differences Redemptively, Not Destructively. Scotty Smith writes “Trying to wrap my head and heart around the divisiveness that has marked so much public discourse lately, I spent some valuable time pondering three messy relational scenarios described in the New Testament. Each situation highlights how we, who are perfectly loved by Jesus, don’t easily handle our differences very well.”

Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:

  • More interesting article links
  • Favorite Quotes of the Week

Continue reading →