Book Review: The Best Question Ever (Stanley)

In life we face a ton of questions: where should I go to college? Is this the person I should marry? What is the best decision for my family? So when Andy Stanley presented that he had the “best question ever” I was a bit more than skeptical. How can all of life be wrapped up in one question, right? Well his question helps get at the heart of decision-making processes. Andy Stanley states that using this question will help avoid regretting decisions that were made and provide a more solid filter through which to go about making these life choices. His foundation is from Ephesians 5:15-17 (no, I won’t give it away here, but many other reviews likely do).

Andy Stanley’s book took quite a bit of time to get off the ground for me, and to be honest when I got to the question I was less than floored. However, in typical Andy Stanley fashion he takes what seems to be a straightforward and simple question and begins unravelling the layers like an onion. He guides the reader through three primary areas of utilizing this question (time, finances, and morality) and challenges the reader to seek wisdom, not just that which is ‘not wrong’. In his book he challenges the reader to a constant, sobering, introspection.

I give the book 3/5 stars because while it was helpful in a couple manners, I didn’t ever reach that point of “diving in.” I respect Andy Stanley’s work and absolutely see the value for some, it just never got to that point personally for me.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes by the Multnomah Publishing. I was not required to post a positive review and the views expressed in this review are my own.

Book Review: This Momentary Marriage (Piper)

In Ephesians 5:32, Paul calls marriage a “profound mystery.” We may have heard it said before: earthly marriage is a picture of the Gospel; Christ being wedded to His Bride, the Church. That is what this book is about. The temporary being a shadow, pointing to the reality that is permanent. John Piper writes that “there has never been a generation whose general view of marriage is high enough” and with the constant pressure places on marriage in the U.S.–as we’ve seen over the years, as well as with all the debate over same-sex marriage–having a right understanding of marriage is more critical than ever.

Marriage is constantly under pressure in our society:

• Who says that marriage should only be between one man and one woman?
• Why should any two consenting adults be denied marriage if they’re in love?
• Isn’t being in love essentially what marriage is all about?
• Who says marriage ought to be “till death do us part”? If love is gone why stay married?

Even within the church:

• What does the Bible mean that the husband is the head of the wife?
• What does submission look like? Are there times we should not submit?
• Do single people just miss out on the mystery of marriage?
• What is God’s design in sex? What role does it play in the “mystery”?
• What does the Bible really teach about divorce and remarriage?

This is what This Momentary Marriage is about. It seeks to display how marriage on this earth is separated only by death, but that it is meant as a profound symbol of the everlasting covenant between Christ and the Church. That marriage points to the Gospel, and points to profound, ultimate joy.

I cannot wait to experience this joy, in both respects, and I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting to know what the Bible says about marriage, how it points to Jesus, and the joy available to us in the Gospel.

Some content adapted from DesiringGod.org; used with permission.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes by Crossway Publishing. I was not required to post a positive review and the views expressed in this review are my own.

Book Review: Date Your Wife (Justin Buzzard)

If you want to change a marriage, change the man.

With the recent influx of solid, gospel-centered literature on marriage, Justin Buzzard comes out with a short, extremely helpful supplement that does not disappoint. Men are charged with the responsibility to “love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25) and because of this, men are help responsible for their wives’ actions and well-being (see Genesis 3).

My first reaction was that this book would be a “you need to step up, cause you suck” sort of book [after all, the cover is a stern finger pointing directly at the reader], but I am pleased to say that this book is a sobering wake up call for men, written with practical steps to implement and respond to it’s content. When it comes down to it, this book lovingly comes alongside men to encourage and equip them to love their wives well, with the most central theme necessary: the Gospel.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is found on page 66: “You crush a man if you only talk to him about responsibility. You empower a man if you talk to him about responsibility— about living life in response to the power and ability of God.” It is necessary for us to realize that it is impossible to lead, love, and honor our wives as the Bible commands us to while acting in our own power–inherently separate from the Gospel. It takes godly submission, humility, and urgency to lead well, and this book helps show the significance of loving your wife well, and leading her in the ways of the Gospel.

I definitely recommend adding this short book (only 148 pages including the notes)to your collection on marriage and gospel-centered relationships. You won’t be disappointed.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes by Crossway Publishing. I was not required to post a positive review and the views expressed in this review are my own.

Biblical Manhood and Womanhood on Display

The story of Ruth and Boaz is the kind of story that can awaken and feed the masculine and feminine soul in ways that we cannot articulate.

I encourage you to be like a dolphin in the sea of our egalitarian, gender-leveling culture. Don’t be like a jellyfish. The ocean of secularism that we swim in (including much of the church) drifts toward minimizing serious differences between manhood and womanhood. The culture swings back and forth as to whether women are mainly sex objects or senior vice presidents. But rarely does it ponder the biblical vision that men are called to humbly lead and protect and provide, and women are called to come in alongside with their unique gifts and strengths and help the men carry through the vision.

I pray that you will be stirred up by Ruth and Boaz to pursue mature manhood and womanhood. More is at stake than we know. God has made marriage the showcase of his covenant love where the husband models Christ, and the wife models the church (Ephesians 5:21–33). And God calls single people to bless this vision and to cultivate an expression of leadership and support appropriate to their different relationships.

~ John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence (p.132)

A Sweet and Bitter Providence can be downloaded for free or purchased online.