Life After Death: The Evidence

This book seems fitting for all of us to read during this lenten season

Life After Death: The Evidence 

by Dinesh D’Souza

This is an amazing book. Dinesh D’Souza explores in detail near death experiences, modern physics, biology/evolution, neuroscience, philosophy, morality, and practical reason to show that death is not the end of life. The chapter on neuroscience interested me especially. It showed that “the realm of subjective experience lies outside its domain and outside the domain of objective science altogether. Two features of the mind – consciousness and free will – define the human soul. These features seem to operate outside the laws of nature and therefore are not subject to the laws governing the mortality of the body. The body dies but the soul lives on.” Pg.270 

Each chapter is fascinating and detailed. The final chapters of the book present clear reasons to show that the resurrection of Jesus was real and true and changed history in its tracks. D’Souza also explains the choice between hell and heaven which we all must make. Read this book and learn there is life after death! And seek him if you do not know him.

"I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and eveyone who lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26

Blessings, Dottie

Christian Novels for Summer Reading 3 - Murder Mysteries!

Here are three murder mysteries by Randy Alcorn. I’m a fan of his writing. The books are a series and should be read in the order listed.

Deadline

by Randy Alcorn

Deadline is a well written, intriguing 424 page Christian mystery revolving around three friends and a car accident. The book is full of detailed and engrossing conversations on the issues of our day especially political correctness and moral relativism. In addition it offers many intriguing insights into the newspaper business and police and detective affairs. As always, Randy Alcorn also gives us a view of heaven that is inspiring and even thrilling. I don’t usually read novels or mysteries but on this one I took notes of things I want to remember. It is well worth reading!

Dominion

by Randy Alcorn

Dominion is a well written, fast paced murder mystery revolving around a black newspaper columnist and a white detective. The book is full of detailed and engrossing thoughts and feelings blacks experience on a daily basis and gives information and perspective about the history of slavery and racism in the United States. The intense emotions of an angry black man are exposed throughout. In addition there are many intriguing insights into police, detectives, teenage gangs, and the roadblocks to solving crimes. As always, Randy Alcorn includes a thrilling view of heaven. I don’t usually read novels or mysteries but on this one I took notes. Dominion is a valuable book!

Deception

by Randy Alcorn

This is the third book in a series of murder mysteries by Randy Alcorn. The first two – Deadline and Dominion – were better than this one. At least I didn’t enjoy this one as much. Nevertheless, Alcorn has a very clever plot. Ollie Chandler, detective appears in all three books but is the main character in this one. A college philosophy professor is murdered and Chandler and his partner are the investigators. As the plot unfolds it looks as though one of his fellow detectives is the murderer. In addition Ollie is uncertain about his own whereabouts at the time of the murder. The book is written with some humor especially around Ollie’s love of food and his dog Mooch. Jake Woods and Clarence Abernathy join him throughout this tense and suspense filled journey. As always, Alcorn has some scenes of heaven, with those who have passed away watching the drama on earth and praying for their loved ones still on this earth. These scenes of heaven aren’t as lengthy as in the prior books and so intrude less on the story. However, the Christian message may be lost in the dark story of a number of murders and the capture of the murderer.

Blessings, Dottie

Christian Novels for Summer Reading 2

Christian Novels for Summer Reading 2  

The Book of Hours

By T. Davis Bunn

The Book of Hours is an interesting Christian novel both historical and a mystery. Set in a small town in England, the story revolves around Brian Blackstone, a young man who has inherited Castle Keep from his deceased wife. The estate is about to be foreclosed and sold to entrepreneurs who plan to demolish it. Brian and his new friends in the village discover a sequence of letters from his wife’s deceased Aunt. The letters, each with a puzzle to solve, reveal many secrets hidden at the estate. Through twists and turns of this they struggle to hang onto Castle Keep. A renewal of faith and recovery from grief by Brian is well described and inspiring and affects the entire village.

Lord Foulgrin’s Letters: How to Strike Back at the Tyrant by Deceiving and destroying His Human Vermin 

By Randy Alcorn

Lord Foulgrin, as a senior devil, writes letters to a student devil instructing him how to deceive and tempt humans and thus entice them into sin and away from God. This excellent book is as good as The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Alcorn has added alternate chapters about Fletcher and his family, who the student devil is assigned to, bringing the issues to real life.

Throughout the letters God is referred to as the Tyrant or the Enemy – the way a demon would think of him. This fact is a bit unnerving when reading the book. The advice given the student devil is ingenious, teaching him to be subtle and to know his subject. The book touches on many of the issues of our day including moral relativism, diversity, honestt, money and possessions, anger and more. We are told by Scripture that Satan prowls around like a lion seeking who he can devour. We are also told that our battle is against the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms. This book confronts us with our own sin temptations and adaptations to the world that keep us from our God-given purposes. There’s much to ponder in this excellent book.

The Ishbane Conspiracy

By Angela, Karina & Randy Alcorn

This novel is similar to Lord Foulgrins Letters (above) and the Screwtape Letters of C.S. Lewis in which we hear demons reflect on how to defeat or lead astray the main characters. Randy Alcorn and his two daughters present a fascinating work of fiction with great truth in it. The story focuses on four youthful characters and their families. We learn the trials and temptations that beset each of them. Some are dabbling in Ouija boards and the occult, others are depressed and thinking of suicide, all are unaware of each other’s problems and needs. Letters between two demons reveal the strategies they use to keep us from the Enemy (God). This is an excellent book for both young and old.

Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard Von Bingen

By Mary Sharratt

Illuminations portrays the life of Hildegard Von Bingen, a woman of note who grew up in the Middle Ages. The youngest of ten children, Hildegard’s mother gave her to the church as the family “tithe” at the age of eight. Her father and older brothers were fighting in the Crusades and she reported having visions which greatly distressed her mother. In the monastery she was sequestered in one room with a disturbed young nun. This powerless, imprisoned child nevertheless grew up to be a powerful leader, a writer of visions and a champion of her sisters. The story is beautifully written and riveting with many twists and turns. It sheds light on life in the Middle Ages as well as the life of young women dedicated to the Church. This is a very good read.

Blessings, Dottie

Christian Novels for Summer Reading

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

Safely Home is a profound and brilliant novel about the plight of Christians in the house churches in China. The story revolves around an American executive and his Chinese college roommate – twenty years after they have graduated from Harvard. Woven throughout are delightful Chinese proverbs, intense meaningful conversations between the two roommates, the truth of the Bible, and many trials and adventures. The book gives insights into various Chinese eras and subjects including Buddhism, the Dali Lama, Mao, the Boxer rebellion, and Tiananmen Square. The corruption of people in power and the blind collusion of big business are vividly shown. Safely Home beautifully depicts the humble acceptance of suffering for Christ. The ending gives a thrilling view of the doorway to heaven.

Seven Days in Utopia: Golf’s Sacred Journey

By David L. Cook, PhD

Seven Days in Utopia is a profound book that can enhance your golf game and also your life. A friend loaned the book to my husband who read and enjoyed it. The title and plot intrigued me. So I opened the book and read it all - though I am not a golfer, nor have ever played golf! There is great wisdom in this book. The story is about a professional golfer devastated by his disastrous play at a recent tournament. He meets an unusual rancher and owner of a small driving range and golf course in Utopia, Texas who offers to help him find his game if he will spend seven days there. This is a book to read and put into practice. An online study guide is available for individuals or groups. Golf groups take note.

Seeker of Hearts

By Stephen P. Smith

Seeker of Hearts by Steven P. Smith is a recounting of the life of Jesus in a modern day setting. And I do mean modern day. Think Jesus and the disciples wearing blue jeans, driving vans and using cell phones. The setting is an America-like land, currently occupied by foreign troops. Much of the dialog is straight from the NIV Bible following the gospel accounts accurately. This gives readers a fresh way of thinking about Jesus and his mission.

Seeker of Hearts is written in every day language and the scenes flow smoothly from one location or view point to another. Smith very adeptly describes, for example, the healing of the man born blind and the hullabaloo following it. He is inventive in scenes such as the raising of Lazarus from the dead - in a modern cemetery. Smith also fills in behind the scenes stories we've always wondered about, for example, dialog between Caiaphas, the chairman of City Council, and Judd (Judas).

The events from the Last Supper on are riveting. I couldn't put Seeker of Hearts down. It reminded me of Riven by Jerry Jenkins! I won't tell more or I'll spoil the surprises. This is a must read for Christians and seekers will also learn from it. The book can also be read aloud to children, with discussion to help them understand. Teen-agers also will find this book inspiring, even life-changing.

Blessings, Dottie

WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE?

Here are book reviews on two excellent books about HEAVEN. With all that’s going on in the world it will help us to learn about heaven and keep our eyes on God and our future with Him.

Heaven 

By Randy Alcorn

This is an amazing book. Randy Alcorn gives detailed and convincing explanations of what Scripture says about life after death. He briefly describes the intermediate Heaven but spends most of the book describing the New Heaven and the New Earth.

I read this book about ten years ago and studied it with a Sunday school class. At that point I couldn’t believe what he says. Now I’m convinced!

I had pictured Heaven as a place where our spirits floated around on clouds and we sang praises to God. We were in His holy presence and it was wonderful with no more tears or sorrow. This last sentence is true but the floating around part is not according to Alcorn.

He maintains that Scripture promises a New Heaven and a New Earth and they will be like our physical earth and our universe. Our earth is physical and humans are physical creatures with physical bodies. The New Earth will be a physical one and will be united with the New Heaven, a new universe of stars and planets. Jesus will occupy the New Earth and we will help him rule it as he originally planned for Adam and Eve to rule our current earth.

Throughout the book Alcorn gives compelling Scripture references to prove the kind of New Earth we will live in. Through more than four hundred pages and forty-six chapters he meticulously describes what life on the New Earth will be like. He cites many other experts on this subject quoting from C. S. Lewis, Joni Eareckson Tada, Helen Keller and John Wesley and more. For example, R. A. Torry says “We will not be disembodied spirits in the world to come, but redeemed spirits, in redeemed bodies, in a redeemed universe.” Pg 110 We will keep our unique identities and will recognize friends and family members we have known. And Alcorn says there will be animals in heaven, maybe even your lost pets!

Toward the end of the book Alcorn writes: “Every person reading this book is dying. Perhaps you have reason to believe death will come very soon. You may be troubled, feeling uncertain or unready to leave. Make sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Be certain that you trust him alone to save you – not anyone or anything else, and certainly not any good works you’ve done. And then allow yourself to get excited about what’s on the other side of death’s door.” Pg 446 This book is worth reading and rereading!

Heaven: Your Real Home

By Joni Eareckson Tada

This is a beautiful, thoughtful, well written, and well researched book about Heaven as described in Scriptures. Joni Eareckson Tada, is a remarkable person. She is a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, has written a number of excellent books, is a national speaker, and has a ministry to disabled individuals. She pictures heaven in vivid, insightful and glorious images.

The book is divided into three parts.

1. What Will Heaven by Like?

2. Will Heaven be Home?

3. The Journey Home.

Throughout the book Joni gives illustrations from her own experiences and from the experiences of others, especially those with major handicaps. Chapter 5 Why Don’t We Fit on Earth? resonates with my own experiences. Our culture’s materialism, tasteless  entertainment and corrupt morality cause me to feel this world is not my home. Joni writes “I’m a little like a refugee who is longing for a better country called heaven.” Pg. 98

Throughout the book Joni gives inspiring and thoughtful insights. For example “We are not only to “set our hearts on things above where Christ is seated, but set our minds on things above as well. That’s hard.” Pg. 127 She explains in detail why that’s hard and promises we will have “the mind of Christ when we lay hold of Him and His ideas.” Pg.129 No book review can do justice to this book!

This is not an easy read. It must be read slowly and thoughtfully. It will challenge many Christians, especially Chapter 9 Getting Ready for Heaven and the scriptures about suffering. This book can be very helpful to anyone who is severely handicapped or who takes care of a handicapped person and wants to understand God’s perfect plan for their life. It will give all readers a glorious view of our future home and help us focus on HIm!

“Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Blessings, Dottie

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving and Heaven # 5

Here are two books by Joni Eareckson Tada about time, aging, death, grieving and heaven that will give you new perspectives about what living and dying is all about. These books will grow your faith, help you live with purpose and guide you through grief.

When is it Right to Die? Suicide, Euthanasia, Suffering, Mercy

By Joni Eareckson Tada

This book can be especially helpful to parents with a handicapped child. Joni Eareckson Tada, well known author and speaker, suffered a permanent spinal injury in a diving accident when she was in her teens. This book, written more than two decades later, addresses the difficult topics of suicide and euthanasia, suffering and mercy. 

The book is divided into three sections. Part 1. A Time to Live, Part 2. A Time to Choose, and Part 3. A Time to Die. Joni’s story and experiences run through out the book along with stories about others who are handicapped or dying. She offers practical and specific information and help for those who are depressed, considering suicide; those who want to die.

She speaks from her Christian faith with a strong belief in God and notes that Judiasm, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism all “recognize an intelligence behind moral evil.” He’s the devil. He was called the tempter by Jesus. There is no truth in him and his goal is death. Pg.97. The devil tells us all kinds of lies – “No one cares.” “There’s nothing more to expect from life.” “I can’t live with this depression.” And the biggest lie of all, “Nothing awaits me after death.”

This book published in 1992 continues to help people with handicaps, people with depression and those who are nearing death. There is excellent information in here from a Christian perspective. Joni’s life is a testimony in itself to the fact that every life has a God given purpose.

Heaven

By Joni Eareckson Tada

This is a beautiful, thoughtful, well written, and well researched book about Heaven as described in Scripture. The author, Joni Eareckson Tada, is a remarkable person. She is a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, has written a number of excellent books, is a national speaker, and has a ministry to disabled individuals. She pictures heaven in vivid, insightful and glorious images.

The book is divided into three parts.

1. What Will Heaven by Like?

2. Will Heaven be Home?

3. The Journey Home.

Throughout the book Joni gives illustrations from her own experiences and from the experiences of others, especially those with major handicaps. Chapter 5  Why Don’t We Fit on Earth? resonates with my own experiences. Our culture’s materialism, tasteless entertainment and corrupt morality cause me to feel this world is not my home. Joni writes “I’m a little like a refugee who is longing for a better country called heaven.” Pg. 98

Throughout the book Joni gives inspiring and thoughtful insights. For example “We are not only to ‘set our hearts on things above’ where Christ is seated, but set our minds on things above as well. That’s hard.” Pg. 127 She explains in detail why that’s hard and promises “we will have ‘the mind of Christ’ when we lay hold of Him and His ideas.” Pg.129 No book review can do justice to this book!

This is not an easy read. It must be read slowly and thoughtfully. It will challenge many Christians, especially Chapter 9 Getting Ready for Heaven and the scriptures about suffering. This book can be very helpful to anyone who is severely handicapped or who takes care of a handicapped person and wants to understand God’s perfect plan for their life.

It will give all readers a glorious view of our future home and help us focus on HIm!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Blessings, Dottie

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 1 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 2 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 3 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 4 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving and Heaven # 4

Here are two books about aging, death and dying that will give you new perspectives about what living and dying is all about. These books will grow your faith, help you live with purpose and guide you through grief.

Hard Choices for Loving People

By Hank Dunn

The subtitle of this book is: CPR, Artificial Feeding, Comfort Care, and the Patient with a Life Threatening Illness. This short (75 pages), informative book by Hank Dunn, a healthcare chaplain, presents clear and concise answers to the families of those nearing death. He notes that prior generations did not have feeding tubes, ventilators or CPR – so they were not faced with the choices facing many today as they age. He describes the issues in using these, pro and con, and offers clear steps to choosing the best route in a particular situation. The final chapter The Journey to Letting Be (23 pages) is the most valuable. This can be helpful to families as well as the person who is dying. He notes, “We will die whether we give up, let go or let be.” He hopes dying patients will have “a sense of being upheld by a loving God.”

Finishing Well to the Glory of God: Strategies from a Christian Physician

By John Dunlop, MD

Finishing Well to the Glory of God is a wonderful, beautiful, outstanding book. Dr. Dunlop offers nine strategies for finishing well beginning with #1 Live Well and #2 Let Go Graciously to #8 Switching Gears from Cure to Comfort Care and #9 Rest in Jesus. Every chapter (strategy) is thought provoking and instructive. Biblical teaching runs throughout helping the reader understand the Christian perspective on each subject. Each chapter ends with a beautiful prayer and meditation. Strategy #7 Make Appropriate Use of Technology details the medical choices we face today. In addition Appendix 2 offers Examples of Technology. The biblical teaching on God’s love, suffering, life and death defines the heart and soul of the Christian faith and will deepen the walk of every reader who digests these teachings. This is a valuable book to be studied, thought about, discussed, read and reread. Finishing Well is a unique and excellent guide that will help Christians live well and finish well to the glory of God.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Blessings, Dottie

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 1 are here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 2 are here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging,Death, Grieving and Heaven # 3 are here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving and Heaven #3

Here are two books about heaven that will give you new perspectives about what living and dying is all about. These books will grow your faith, help you live with purpose and guide you through grief.

Letters to Heaven by Calvin Miller

Letters to Heaven is a fascinating book. Calvin Miller writes to people who have preceded him in reaching eternity. Each person impacted his life. A number of the people he writes to are well known including C.S. Lewis, Todd Beamer, and Madeleine L’Engle. Many are unknown. The girl in the iron lung brings memories of polio, the most dreaded childhood disease in the 20^th Century. Another letter is written to a man who died beside him on a flight. He includes a letter to his mother and one to a brother who died in childhood. Miller's own experiences and wisdom weave throughout the book.

Calvin Miller was a pastor, a professor and a writer. I previously read his books Life is Mostly Edges (a memoir) and Letters to Young Pastors (both excellent). I wanted to read this book because he replied kindly when I sent him a copy of my book, Changing Churches. Also, I knew he recently went on to heaven himself. He impacted my life in a small but meaningful way.

HEAVEN: A World of Joy by Jonathan Edwards

I discovered this sixty-three page booklet in my church library and was intrigued to read what the famous preacher Jonathan Edwards had to say about heaven. Many have heard of his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

His thoughts on heaven are both simple and complex and all very beautiful. Citing 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Edwards says “The doctrine I would desire to draw from this text is, that HEAVEN IS A WORLD OF DIVINE LOVE.” 

Edwards covers 

1. The great cause and fountain of love in heaven.

2. The objects of love in heaven.

3. The subjects of love in heaven.

4. The principle or essence of love in heaven.

5. The excellent circumstances in which love is exercised, expressed and enjoyed in heaven.

6. The happy effects and fruit of all this.

The circumstances he lists in chapter 5 inspired me.

1. Love in heaven is always mutual.

2. The joy of heavenly love shall never be interrupted or stifled by jealousy.

3. There shall be nothing within themselves to block or hinder the saints in heaven in the exercises and expressions of love.

4. In heaven love will be expressed with perfect decency and wisdom.

5. There shall be nothing external in heaven to keep its inhabitants at a distance from each other, or to hinder their most perfect enjoyment of each other’s love.

6. In heaven all shall be united together in very near and dear relations.

7. In heaven all shall have property and ownership in each other.

8. In heaven they shall enjoy each other’s love in perfect and uninterrupted prosperity.

9. In heaven all things shall combine to promote their love, and give advantage for mutual enjoyment.

10. The inhabitants of heaven shall all know that they will continue in the perfect enjoyment of each other’s love forever.

No more tears, no more night – the fullness of love given and received eternally. What a vision and promise for those who know Christ and have accepted him as Lord and Savior.

Readers can Google the title and find Jonathan Edwards book on line in its entirety.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Blessings, Dottie

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving and Heaven # 1 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving and Heaven # 2 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving and Heaven #2

Here are two books that will give you new perspectives about what living and dying is all about. These books will grow your faith, help you live with purpose and guide you through grief.

When the Game is over

IT ALL GOES BACK IN THE BOX

By John Ortberg

It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg, pastor and best selling author, is a clever and wise book about the fact that life is short and often our priorities are flawed and driven by plans for worldly success. Playing Monopoly with his grandmother taught Ortberg that when the game is over it all goes back in the box. This game metaphor for life continues throughout the book pointing out that the object in life is not to win houses, hotels, fame or fortune. The object for a Christian is to “be rich toward God.”

Ortberg gives a detailed game plan for living life intentionally and with significance. Chapter titles include Three Ways to Keep Score, Master the Inner Game, Resign as Master of The Board, and more. In the chapter titled No One Else Can Take Your Turn, Ortberg describes his experience playing doubles tennis with his father in a match they wanted to win. With a tied score, his first shot went outside the lines. It was all up to his second shot. There was no bench player who could take his place. There are no passes in life. Comparing life to a calendar he suggests we fill each day (square) with what matters most. Beware of Your Shadow Mission is also a significant chapter. We can think we’re in the will of God and be deceived. This is an excellent book that should inspire many Christians to live more intentionally. 

The full title points out that after a game is over (such as Monopoly) it all goes back in the box.

THE DAWN OF HOPE: Encouragement for those who grieve

By Eldyn Simons

The Dawn of Hope is a small book with a brilliant hope-filled message for all who grieve. The author, Eldyn Simons, recounts the loss of his sixteen year old son who died in a plane crash while on a summer student exchange trip to Peru. There is no loss more difficult than the loss of a child. There is no loss more difficult than the sudden loss of a child.

The author has walked this road of grief and knows the tremendous pain and suffering it entails. He teaches the importance of facing the pain as well as how to hang onto God and the hope that He offers.

In short chapters beginning with a scripture and ending with a poem and a prayer, Simons tells about the loss of his son and recounts other losses—the loss of a spouse, the loss of the older generation, even the loss of a child by miscarriage.

God led Simons on a “journey of wonder and discovery” after the darkest night of his soul. He says God “will take you to many unexpected places, places of which you may never even have dreamed…. He will teach us how to bear the pain, how to laugh again, how to once more taste life’s sweetness. He will never leave us.”

He also says, “Our responsibility is to hold fast to God, to snuggle close so nothing can come between us. His part is to cover us with his love, to encourage and nourish us with His life that we may be fruitful in our service to him, no matter what conditions surround us.” This is a marvelous little book for those who are grieving. This was published in 2000 so you may need to buy a used book.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Blessings, Dottie

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving & Heaven #1 is here.

Book Reviews on Time, Aging, Death, Grieving & Heaven

I’ll be reviewing a series of books on time, aging, death, grieving and heaven. This is part one. There’s much to learn here.

Another Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders 

by Mary Pipher, Ph.D.

Another Country is an outstanding, valuable book for anyone concerned about parents or grandparents who are aging and need help. The book is beautifully written – it’s a New York Times best seller. Pipher, a clinical psychologist, is knowledgeable about seniors and researched this subject extensively. She comments on the fact that our culture has changed dramatically – people are living longer yet our culture worships youth; families live at great distances from each other leaving grandparents isolated and alone.

Pipher offers many vignettes of adult children and their aging parents. Some of these stories demonstrate the helpfulness of a counselor in thinking through tough family decisions and in solving contentious family relationships.

Pipher invites us to overcome our aversion to thinking and talking about death and helps us understand elders. She says adult children live in “different time zones” from their parents and this causes difficulty understanding each other. Throughout the book she emphasizes the need for intergenerational community and offers ways to implement this. There is a wealth of information here for all generations to learn from and put to use in their relationships with each other. It is also a delightful book to read.

When Your Family’s Lost A Loved One: Finding Hope Together

By David and Nancy Guthrie

When Your Family's Lost A Loved One is a very insightful book about the difficult topic of grieving and loss. The Guthries share their experiences in losing two babies. In addition to telling their story of loss, they interview several others who have faced a difficult loss and they include information from experts. There are chapters on Her Grief, His Grief, Helping Kids Cope and ideas about handling birthdays, holidays and death days – and on remembering. This is a valuable resource for Christian families.

Beyond the Scars: Daring to Live Forward 

By F. Elaine Olsen

Beyond the Scars describes one woman’s journey of faith through the shock of a diagnosis of breast cancer, painful surgery, and difficult treatments. Olsen gives an honest, vulnerable account of her emotions and describes how she held onto her faith. She discoveed valuable faith lessons in her suffering – lessons that will help many others with any type of suffering. This beautifully written book contains forty devotional chapters with scripture, prayer and questions to ponder. Buy this for friends in similar circumstances.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Blessings, Dottie