Book Review: Another Gospel? - Alisa Childers

Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity  - Alisa Childers

2020, Tyndale Momentum

Reviewed by Diane Busch

This book is so necessary!  Alisa discusses the progressive movement within the church that tried to take down her long-held beliefs of God, Jesus, the Bible, etc.  I will keep this book as a reference book to refer to when I am asked some of the same hard questions that she answers.  Sometimes we have doubts or need information to back up our faith.  She references writings by many great apologists such as Lee Strobel, Norman Geisler, and Tim Keller.  The lists of credits at the end of the book suggest many more great books to read to support your faith.

In this book Alisa discusses progressive Christianity vs historical Christianity.  And how her faith was at first rocked by the progressives’ questions. This was a catalyst for her to do extensive reading and research to gain the knowledge and proof for what she always knew in her heart was true. 

Book Review: That Sounds Fun - Annie F. Downs

That Sounds Fun : The Joys of Being an Amateur, the Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby  

by Annie F. Downs 

Revell, 2021

Reviewed by Diane Busch

    Annie is open and honest and, of course, full of fun, life and energy.  She reads her own audiobook, which makes sense because so many listeners are used to her voice from her podcast by the same title.  The audiobook includes extra content, such as snippets of podcast interviews with some of the fun people in her life.

    In this book, Annie uses experiences from her own life to spur you on to joy-filled living.  She champions friendship, and emboldens you to connect with others in positive and meaningful ways.  She inspires you to pursue God’s will for your life with joy.  Her energy and happiness is contagious.  But she is also very real and discusses her struggles.  She dispels any negative stereotypes of getting counseling to better yourself and work through issues.

    Above all, the author wants you to find ways to have fun and enjoy life!

Book Review - 7 Days of Christmas by Jen Hatmaker

7 Days of Christmas : a season of generosity 

by Jen Hatmaker 

Abingdon Press 2019

Reviewed by Diane Busch

I listened to the audiobook, and this one was not read by the author as her other books have been, so it was a little hard for me to get used to the voice.

As a fan of Jen's book “7” it was nice to revisit the principles we learned in her earlier book, but this time adapted to the holidays.  We American women are often overwhelmed during the holidays because we try to do too much and spend too much and eat too much, etc.  What if we could simply Christmas, spend more quality time with family, and replace excess with generosity?

Book Review - Love Anyway by Jeremy Courtney

Love Anyway: an invitation beyond a world that’s scary as hell 

by Jeremy Courtney 

Zondervan 2019 

Reviewed by Diane Busch

This narrative is so inspiring and challenging!  I feel unworthy to be called a Christ follower when compared to people like Jeremy and his wife who sacrifice so much for the Kingdom.  They have spent years living in the Middle East to share the gospel of Jesus.  They have been betrayed, their lives have been threatened, and they have seen and experienced much evil and sadness.  And through it all they have loved anyway.  

Book Review - Defying Jihad by Esther Ahmad & Craig Borlase

Defying Jihad : the dramatic true story of a woman who volunteered to kill infidels - and then faced death for becoming one 

by Esther Ahmad & Craig Borlase 

Tyndale House 2018

Reviewed by Diane Busch

Amazing true story of Esther's calling by Jesus, her conversion to Christianity, her faith in God, her bravery, her persecution, her salvation, her evangelism, and her courage. 

She grew up in a Muslim family and was an excellent student. And she studied the Quran religiously. It refers to 4 books that are books in the Holy Bible so she sought out a Bible to read. At the medical lab at the hospital where her mother was going due to an illness, she met John who was a Christian. He let her come by every week day in the afternoon after her college classes to read his Bible (but it wasn’t safe to give her a Bible). She became a Christian and shared the gospel with her mother and siblings who eventually became saved as well. Due to her Christianity, her father arranged for her to be killed, so she fled in the middle of the night with the help of John. On a whim she asked him to marry her and he did. They had to flee the city and later Pakistan altogether (they lived in Malaysia for several years before becoming refugees to America).  They had one daughter during this time. Esther's testimony is so inspirational because of her strong faith and the miracles God bestowed upon her and her family in answer to her prayers.