Reviews by Aaron
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Who Do You Think You Are?
On 1/14 Aaron wrote: Who am I? There isn’t a person alive who hasn’t asked this question on multiple occasions and with good reason—our understanding of our identity changes directly affects how we think, speak, feel and act. It’s no wonder then the Scriptures repeatedly remind us of who we are in Christ. And yet, ... A genuinely helpful examination of our identity in Christ.
Real Marriage
On 12/30 Aaron wrote: Whenever Mark Driscoll talks about sex and marriage, ears perk up. Some listen for ammo (and can usually find it). Others listen for something Tweetable. Still others search for something helpful. Is it any wonder, then, that when he first announced his new book would address marriage, many asked which ... Driscoll's most controversial book yet—but not for the reason you might think
Defiant Joy
On 6/13 Aaron wrote: Of all the Christian authors and apologists to emerge in the 20th century, few have been as influential as G.K. Chesterton. Blessed with a sharp mind (and even sharper wit), Chesterton penned dozens of articles and books, mastered the art of literary criticism, breathed new popularity into Charles Dickens' ... Somewhat encouraging, although not terribly joyful
Slave
On 1/3 Aaron wrote: Over and over again, the New Testament's writers refer to themselves by this one word--doulos. Typically, we see it translated in English as "servant" or "bondservant;" but is that most accurate way to translate it? Does doulos really mean "servant?" According to John MacArthur, it would be better ... Understanding Your Identity in Christ
Adventures in Booga Booga Land - Volume 1 (DVD)
On 11/25 Aaron wrote: You never know what you're going to get with kids videos. Sometimes they surprise you; they're packed with great content and have terrific production quality. Sometimes they're okay, but forgettable. And then there are the ones that are an absolute train wreck--mind-numbingly painful to watch and just ... Good intent, unpleasant outcome
Transforming Church in Rural America
On 10/11 Aaron wrote: What do you think of when you think about the rural church (if anything)? Outdated methodology? Gradually decaying buildings? Rapidly aging congregations? Ineffective in reaching people for Christ? This list might seem harsh, but more often than not, this is what many of us think of when we consider ... Powerful Insights into Revitalizing the Rural Church
Seeds of Turmoil
On 9/21 Aaron wrote: It's rare that a day goes by when there isn't a new story in the media about the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East. Despite attempts to forge a lasting peace, there is none to be found. Temporary cease-fires give way to full-scale conflict. Suicide bombers wreak havoc throughout the region. Iran's president ... Engaging and Provocative look at the Biblical Roots of the Middle Eastern Conflict
Outlive Your Life
On 9/10 Aaron wrote: Christian books on social justice and caring for the poor are tricky things. There’s a tendency to turn a God-honoring act into “God’s mandate” for the Christian life. A false gospel based around our work, rather than Christ’s work on the cross. So where does Outlive Your Life land? A weird ... Alarmingly & tragically gets the most fundamental thing wrong
The Boy Who Changed the World
On 9/8 Aaron wrote: Andy Andrews is an author who desires to inspire. In the last book of his I read, The Noticer (reviewed here), Andrews sought to show readers how a bit of perspective on their circumstances can completely change their outlook on life. In his latest, The Boy Who Changed the World (a children’s book), ... Encourages discussion on how God can use each of us to make an impact
Permission to Speak Freely
On 9/7 Aaron wrote: “What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?” When Anne Jackson published that question on her blog in May, 2008, she wasn’t prepared for the response. 497 comments (and counting) later, she knew she’d hit on something significant: A large number of people feel like they can’t be ... Raw, heartbreaking, messy and (at times) troubling
Anne Bradstreet
On 8/23 Aaron wrote: Reading this book, I alternated between being fascinated and frustrated. Kellogg went to great effort to show readers what the living conditions were like for the colonists and portray a more balanced view of the Puritans than some may be accustomed to; however, when it came to the details of Bradstreet's ... Interesting and enjoyable overview of Bradstreet's life
Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles
On 6/13 Aaron wrote: Good quality children's videos are hard to find, and I'm not just talking about faith-based ones. As a picky parent, it's really important to me to have video content that I'm comfortable with for my daughters. So I was intrigued when I received a copy of Read and Share: The Jesus Series, Life and Miracles. ... Cute, Eye-catching and Worth Discussing
Bonhoeffer
On 5/11 Aaron wrote: Eric Metaxas' Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy is the first major biography on this important figure in forty years. Relying on past biographies, interviews and letters from Bonhoeffer written over the course of his life, Metaxas paints a captivating picture of this twentieth century martyr. ... A Captivating Look at the Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Plan B
On 5/3 Aaron wrote: I wish books like Plan B didn't need to be written. And if I had to guess its author, Pete Wilson, does too. "Do you remember the day you discovered your life wasn't going to turn out quite the way you thought?" asks Wilson (p. 1). Whether it's a certain job, or children, marriage--whatever it may ... Plan B: Suffering, Idols and the Cross
Free Book
On 3/16 Aaron wrote: Are you living a life of freedom or one of fear? That's the question at the heart of pastor & author Brian Tome's latest, Free Book. Tome is "a fanatic about freedom" (p.3). He hates that people are beaten down by systems that prevent them from experiencing true freedom, "the kind of freedom that God ... Drowned out by the noise
Called to Worship
On 10/26 Aaron wrote: In Called to Worship, Whaley guides readers through an overview of the entire Bible, illustrating principles of worship from Genesis through Revelation, in an extremely accessible style that will no doubt be helpful to new believers and pastors alike. A great benefit of a survey like this is when it ... Extremely accessible and profitable
Find Your Strongest Life
On 10/5 Aaron wrote: It’s not often that I find finishing a book feeling like a chore—but that’s what I found with Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham. Buckingham wants readers to discover their strengths and weaknesses—what tasks, events and people motivate, energize, and inspire them? Conversely, what ... A Chore to Even Finish
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
On 9/29 Aaron wrote: Donald Miller frustrates me. He is an incredibly gifted writer. His self-effacing style is charming and engaging; truly, he turns self-deprecation into an art form. It’s rare when you find someone who is not afraid to portray themselves as a bit of a doofus. He understands how to make jokes that are ... A pleasant, if somewhat unfulfilling, way to spend a couple hours
Fearless
On 9/8 Aaron wrote: It was with some trepidation that I dug into Fearless. The last time I read one of his books, it was painfully squishy—big on feelings, light on content. And I honestly expected another squishy book... What I got instead was a book that actually provides the answer to overcoming our biggest fears: ... Unexpectedly Bold
What's He Really Thinking?
On 8/3 Aaron wrote: Sometimes it’s fun to read a book for which you’re definitely not the target audience. What’s even better is when you actually find it helpful. Paula Rinehart’s book, What’s He Really Thinking? wants women to understand one thing: Men are not women with beards and big feet. We are a truly ... Ladies, embrace the man in your life for what he is: A man.
The Noticer
On 7/18 Aaron wrote: It’s all about perspective. Whether you see your life as being the worst it can possibly be, if you see your influence as tiny or insignificant, it all depends on your perspective. That, in a nutshell, is the heart of The Noticer by Andy Andrews. The Noticer is a deceptively easy read. It’s prose ... Book Review: The Noticer