The Christian Studies Shelf

The Book of Common Courage
K. J. Ramsey
Zondervan
https://www.zondervan.com
9780310461333, $19.99, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Courage-Prayers-Strength/dp/0310461332

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Book of Common Courage: Prayers and = Poems to Find Strength in Small Moments", author and therapist R. J. Ramsey=
presents a collection of prayers, poems, and blessings to help you find a = flicker of strength in the small and hard moments of life. Ramsey invites y=
ou to journey word-by-word through Psalm 23 to experience how the Good Shep= herd is with you and for you, especially in the valleys of life. When you s= truggle to find the words to hold your pain or trauma, be encouraged to cul= tivate the compassion and courage to believe that your story will, in fact,=
end in joy.

Through K. J.'s lyrical and emotive writing, you are invited to: Surrender = your anxiety and your tears to a faithful God; Validate your emotions and e= mbrace them as the gift they are; Slow down and remember that good will com=
e again; Replenish your soul with the life of Christ and the promises of Go=
d; Refresh your faith with a peace that lasts; Experience newfound confiden=
ce in prayer; Remember that even when pain is not past-tense, God is still = present

Courage is a common hope that we can cultivate together. The prayers and po= ems comprising "The Book of Common Courage: Prayers and Poems to Find Stren= gth in Small Moments" can be read in group settings (among friends, familie=
s, and worshipping communities) and are also ideal for personal reflection.

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in Christian Rites = and Ceremonies, Inspirational Poetry and Prayer, and enhanced for the reade=
r with the inclusion of colorful still life and nature photography and a ri= bbon marker, it should be noted that "The Book of Common Courage: Prayers a=
nd Poems to Find Strength in Small Moments" is also available in a digital = book format (Kindle, $9.99) and is highly recommended for clergy, seminary = students, and all members of the Christian community.

Editorial Note: K. J. Ramsey (www.kjramsey.com) is a trauma-informed licens=
ed professional counselor and author whose work offers space to see every p= art of our souls and stories as sacred. She holds degrees from Covenant Col= lege and Denver Seminary and is the author of This Too Shall Last: Finding = Grace When Suffering Lingers. K.J. writes at the intersection of theology, = psychology, and spiritual formation to guide readers in recovering the rhyt=
hm of resilience through nervous system regulation and the wonder of commun= ion with God. She can be followed on social media: @kjramseywrites

Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation
Collin Hansen
Zondervan
https://www.zondervan.com
9780310128687, $26.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Keller-Spiritual-Intellectual-Formation/dp/0= 310128684

Synopsis: Millions of Christians have read books and listened to sermons by=
Timothy Keller. But which people and what events shaped his own thinking a=
nd spiritual growth? With unfettered access to Keller's personal notes and = sermons (as well as exclusive interviews with family members and longtime f= riends), with the publication of "Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intelle= ctual Formation ", Collin Hansen gives you unprecedented understanding of o=
ne of the 21st century's most influential church leaders.

With this informative biography of Timothy Keller, you will learn what he's=
reading, what he's learning, what he's seeing. The story of Timothy Keller=
is the story of his spiritual and intellectual influences, from the woman = who taught him how to read the Bible to the professor who taught him to pre= ach Jesus from every text to the philosopher who taught him to see beneath = society's surface.

For the first time, Hansen introduces readers to Keller's early years: the = home where he learned to tell stories from the trees, the church where he l= earned to care for souls, and the city that lifted him to the international=
fame he never wanted.

Readers will also discover how to: Understand the principles and practices = that allowed Keller to synthesize so many different influences in a coheren=
t ministry; Take the best of Keller's preaching and teaching to meet emergi=
ng challenges in the 21st century: Develop their own historical, theologica=
l, and cultural perspectives to shape their leadership.

Critique: Revealing the previously untold story of the people, the books, t=
he lectures, and ultimately the God who formed and shaped the life of Timot=
hy Keller, Collin Hansen's biography, "Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and In= tellectual Formation" is especially commended to the attention of Keller's = legions of appreciative admirers. While highly recommended for personal, se= minary, academic, and church library Christian Church Leadership & Pastoral=
Biography collections, it should be noted that "Timothy Keller: His Spirit= ual and Intellectual Formation" is also available for personal reading list=
s in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Collin Hansen (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/c= ollin-hansen) serves as vice president of content and editor in chief for T=
he Gospel Coalition. He hosts the Gospelbound podcast and has written and e= dited many books. He earned an MDiv at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School = and an undergraduate degree in journalism and history from Northwestern Uni= versity. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Apologetics and co-chair of the=
advisory board at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.

Great American Prophets
Daniel Cosacchi
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
www.paulistpress.com
9780809155729, $29.95, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Prophets-Franciss-Christian/dp/080915= 5729

Synopsis: Using the examples of the "Great Americans" cited by Pope Francis=
during his visit to the United States, with the publication of "Great Amer= ican Prophets: Pope Francis's Models of Christian Life" Daniel Cosacchi dis= cusses how prophecy can be manifested in our own time.

When Pope Francis visited the United States in 2015 and addressed a joint s= ession of Congress, he cited several examples of "Great Americans": Abraham=
Lincoln, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, Thomas Merton, and Dorothy Day. "Grea=
t American Prophets" draws the line between the prophetic stance of these f= our (as well as others) and the role of the prophet from the Old Testament =
to the present day.

Critique: As informed and informative as it is thoughtful, thought-provokin=
g, "Great American Prophets: Pope Francis's Models of Christian Life" is an=
extraordinary study and one that will be of special interest to seminary s= tudents, parish priests, and all members of the Catholic community. A uniqu=
e and invaluable contribution, "Great American Prophets" is also highly rec= ommended as church and community library Christian inspirational reading co= llections and personal reading lists.

Editorial Note: Daniel Cosacchi (https://www.scranton.edu/ministries/about-= us.shtml) is vice president for mission and ministry at the University of S= cranton, Pennsylvania. He received his PhD in Christian ethics from Loyola = University of Chicago and has taught at a number of Catholic colleges and u= niversities.

The True Origins of Jesus
Geoff Roberts, author
Colm Holland, editor
Christian Alternative
c/o John Hunt Publishing
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781789049046, $19.95, PB, 248pp

https://www.amazon.com/True-Origins-Jesus-myth-behind/dp/1789049040

Synopsis: With all the evidence compiled in "The True Origins of Jesus: The=
myth behind the man" by Geoff Roberts (including some which has only come =
to light relatively recently), readers can draw their own conclusions from =
a story which will look very different to the one they learned at Sunday sc= hool. Was Jesus Christ a mythical figure who was never intended by the earl=
y founders of the religion to be a walking, talking historical person? By e= xamining the earliest historical sources referred to in "The True Origins o=
f Jesus" with an open mind, readers will be free to decide who Jesus is for=
them today.

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in Christology, rel= igious philosophy, and the history of Christianity, "The True Origins of Je= sus: The myth behind the man" is an inherently fascinating, informative, an=
d occasionally iconoclastic study that is highly recommended for personal, = community, seminary, church, and academic library Christian Studies collect= ions. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, theologi= ans, seminary students, and non-specialist general readers with an interest=
in the subject that "The True Origins of Jesus" is also available in a dig= ital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note #1: The late Geoff Roberts was a respected freelance photogr= apher and columnist from Merseyside, England, who worked in regional press = for more than three decades. After spending many years researching the earl=
y origins of Christianity, he dedicated the final years of his life to coll= ating his findings to present an honest and unbiased historical perspective=
.. Like many, Geoff was an intelligent, non-academic who wanted to conduct h= is own research into the evidence available to all of us, regarding the ori= gins of "the greatest story ever told", and to ask the question of whether =
it can be supported by any historical evidence outside the pages of the Bib= le.

Editorial Note #2: As an editor Colm Holland (https://www.colmholland.com/)=
spent twenty-five years working in sales and marketing in the publishing i= ndustry. He was a member the Harper Collins team which published Paul Coelh= o's The Alchemist in 1993. Colm teaches the art of alchemy in everyday life=
, and he has devoted his life to true empowerment through inner transformat= ion. He lives in Somerset, UK.

Arranged With Love
Tracy L. Smoak
http://www.tracysmoak.com
Redemption Press
https://redemption-press.com
9781951310387, $39.99, HC, 76pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arranged-with-love-tracy-l-smoak/114290459=
2

Synopsis: From swirls of petals to sturdy stems and stars, God has created =
a vast array of shapes and patterns to surprise and delight us. Such beauty=
daily testifies of his great love for each one of us. Explore God's garden=
s and his Word to find joy.

With the publication of "Arranged with Love", Tracy L. Smoak has combined t= hirty full-color, original photographs of God's artwork with Scripture, pra= yer, and encouragement to help the reader to rest in the Father's love.

Critique: The deft pairing of lovely images with an inspirational combinati=
on of Bible quotes and commentary, "Arranged With Love" will have a very sp= ecial and enduring appeal for anyone who enjoys nature, needs comfort, or d= esires spiritual renewal. While also available in a digital book format (Ki= ndle, $11.99), "Arranged With Love" is especially and unreservedly recommen= ded for personal and community library collections -- and is an ideal gift = book for friends and family as a Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or any cele= bratory occasion.

Editorial Note: Tracy Smoak (www.tracysmoak.com) is a licensed English teac= her with a master's of Education. Her debut title, "Employed by God: Benefi=
ts Packaged with Faith" is a memoir based on Psalm 23 with chapters about w= orking in a maximum-security prison and a medical mission to Outer Mongolia=
.. Another nonfiction based on her experience as an advocate for survivors o=
f domestic violence is "Break the Cycle: Healing from an Abusive Relationsh= ip". Smoak's photography with musical videos is available from YouTube play= lists at: https://www.youtube.com/@tracysmoak/playlists

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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