The Christian Studies Shelf

Why Did God Give My Kids Free Will?
Ken Swarner
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.davidccook.org
9780830784196, $17.00, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Why-Give-Kids-Free-Will/dp/0830784195

Synopsis: As a parent, do you sometimes wonder about God's plan -- specific= ally why He gave our children free will to do the things they do? More thou= ghtful and holy thinkers have tackled the question.

It's a mystery, mostly, but in its raw form, parental mishaps help us get c= loser to God. Consider:
Learning patience while spitwads land in your drink; Embracing the absurdit=
y of teens wearing shorts in the winter; Practicing gentleness as you expla=
in (again) why it is important to restock the toilet paper.

Regret, humiliation, control -- as a parent you can let go of these when yo=
u laugh and make peace with the idea that God may just have a sense of humo=
r after all.

With anecdotes, prayers, devotionals, and reflections, with the publication=
of "Why Did God Give My Kids Free Will?", parent and author Ken Swarner sh= ows his readers the hilarious, spiritual journey of life with kids sure to = inspire and unite Christian parents.

Critique: Written with wit, wisdom, experience, and a sense of humor, "Why = Did God Give My Kids Free Will?" is a fun, informative, and thought-provoki=
ng read that can be unreservedly recommended for personal and community lib= rary Parenting collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lis=
ts of anyone with an interest in a Christian perspective on parenting that = "Why Did God Give My Kids Free Will?" is also readily available in a digita=
l book format (Kindle, $15.04).

Editorial Note: Ken Swarner (https://kenswarner.com) is the author of Whose=
Kids Are These Anyway? He has been married to his high school sweetheart f=
or thirty-three years and counting while raising four children and three pe= ts. While on the front lines of child rearing (once constructing a homework=
jail), Ken has served as a school board member, PTA president, Cub Master,=
and soccer coach. He is also in the Civilian Hall of Fame at Joint Base Le= wis-McChord and one day aspires to complete a full sentence at the family d= inner table.

Grief: The Beacon of Love
Carolyn Begley Daley
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.westbowpress.com
9781664271784, $9.95, PB, 80pp

https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Beacon-Carolyn-Begley-Daley/dp/1664271783

Synopsis: With the publication of "Grief: The Beacon of Love", Carolyn Begl=
ey Daley reveals that grief has been her teacher for many years in a life r= eplete with both sorrows and joys. Carolun expounds on the way of love whic=
h leads us to the cross and God's great love for us. She would often wonder=
what her life was all about with its occasions of grief born tears?

If grief is our teacher, what do we need to learn? Her message is that grie=
f is a journey of love that each of us has to walk alone. While our tears d= rip, drop and flow, they contain our healing as well as we, each of us, wal=
k along our individual pilgrimages of grief that ultimately leads us to fin= ding joy through the love of God.

Critique: Compassionate, insightful, absorbing, inspired and inspiring, "Gr= ief: The Beacon of Love" has won Literary Titan Silver Award and received a=
n Honorable Mention at the New England Book Festival. While also available =
in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99), "Grief: The Beacon of Love" will = have a special appeal and value for readers with an interest on a life chan= ging, life enhancing, Christian perspective with Personal & Spiritual Growt=
h.

Editorial Note: Carolyn Begley Daley (https://www.carolynbegleydaley.com) w=
as born in Hyden, Kentucky. She holds a BS in chemistry and biology from Ea= stern Kentucky University and a MEd in education from the University of Lou= isville. She has served on the boards of several charitable organizations a=
nd has served in leadership roles in those organizations. She and her husba= nd, Gil have taught Bible study and Sunday school for several years while l= iving in Dallas and Lexington, Kentucky.

The Church's Mission in a Polarized World
Aaron Wessman
New City Press
202 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565485495, $24.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Churchs-Mission-Polarized-World-Magenta/dp/156548549=
1

Synopsis: The Roman Catholic Church has been riven with assaults on the int= egrity of its leadership in recent years with everything from child abuse t=
o changes in liturgy/ritual, the role of nuns, the celibacy of priests, and=
its role and performance in geopolitical issues abroad and the toxic polit= ical realities her at home.

With the publication of "The Church's Mission in a Polarized World", Fr. Ro= bert Aaron Wessman seeks to provide perspective and faith-based inspiration=
for all members of the Catholic community to understand this current age f= rom a long-range Catholic history and contemporary application of Christian=
values to heal toxic polarizations that threaten to corrupt the social fab= ric and unleash the forces of persecution, hatred, and discrimination upon = (and within) the Catholic community. Highly recommended as essential readin=
g, it should be noted for clergy, seminary students, and all members of Cat= holic Church that "The Church's Mission in a Polarized World" is also avail= able in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.95).

Editorial Note: Fr. Robert Aaron Wessman is vicar general and director of f= ormation of the Glenmary Home Missioners. He has a PhD from the Catholic Un= iversity of Louvain (Belgium) in Systematic Theology (2019). He serves as a=
n at-large board member for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men Religi= ous (CMSM) and is a guest lecturer at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Th= eology. Glenmary, the religious congregation he belongs to, is a missionary=
society of apostolic life of the Catholic Church. Glenmary conducts missio=
n in rural, poor, and non-Catholic areas of the United States, primarily in=
the southeast and Appalachia. Visit www.glenmary.org for more information.

Jesus for Living: Daily Prayers, Wisdom, and Guidance
Mark Lanier
1845 Books
c/o Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781481318808, $39.99, HC, 383pp

https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Living-Prayers-Wisdom-Guidance/dp/1481318802

Synopsis: A trial lawyer by trade, a Christian by heart -- author and attor= ney Mark Lanier has trained in biblical languages and devoted his life to s= tudying and living the Bible. Facing daily the tension between the demands =
of his career and the desire for a godly life, Lanier recognizes the import= ance and challenge of finding daily time to spend in God's Word. His medita= tions on the Gospels reveal the need for daily devotion from the teachings =
of Jesus.

With the publication of "Jesus for Living: Daily Prayers, Wisdom, and Guida= nce", Lanier shares a year's worth of meditations centered around the churc=
h calendar. Unlike his other devotionals, "Jesus for Living" is meant to be=
read according to the rhythms of the liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas=
, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time.

In the pages of "Jesus for Living, Lanier reflects on the actions and teach= ings of Jesus, offering insight on how our lives might imitate Jesus, and c= oncludes each reading with a prayer of encouragement.

Critique: Inspired and inspiring, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Jesus = for Living: Daily Prayers, Wisdom, and Guidance" will be of very special in= terest and value to readers with an interest in Jesus as recorded in the Ne=
w Testament Gospels and Book of Acts, in Christian Meditation and Worship, = and Christian Devotionals. While unreservedly recommended for church, commu= nity, and academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be note=
d for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and all memb= ers of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations th=
at "Jesus for Living" is also readily available in a paperback edition (978= 1481318815, $24.99).

Editorial Note: Mark Lanier is a nationally renowned trial lawyer; founder =
of the Lanier Theological Library and the Christian Trial Lawyers Associati= on; and author of Psalms for Living: Daily Prayers, Wisdom, and Guidance, T= orah for Living: Daily Prayers, Wisdom, and Guidance, and Christianity on T= rial: A Lawyer Examines the Christian Faith.

From Prodigal to Priest
Fr. Goyo Hidalgo
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781646802128, $14.95, PB, 218pp

https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Priest-Journey-Fathers-Embrace/dp/164680212=
8

Synopsis: Goyo Hidalgo's struggle with excess, pain, and fear plagued him f=
or ten years. The gritty story of his unexpected redemption started after a=
hard night of partying in Los Angeles and a life-changing message coming f= rom his television.

He woke up that April morning to the broadcast of Pope John Paul II's funer=
al Mass. A reflection on the now-saint's message of "Be not afraid" awakene=
d a deep longing in Hidalgo's soul -- a yearning that led him back to the C= atholic faith of his youth and ultimately into the priesthood.

"From Prodigal to Priest: A Journey Home to Family, Faith, and the Father's=
Embrace " is a memoir that takes you on Hidalgo's journey of reconciliatio=
n with his faith and his family. He offers compassionate encouragement to t= hose who believe themselves unforgivable and reminds them that Jesus is alw= ays there to welcome them home to the Church. Hidalgo's conversion story af= firms the power of God's mercy and the deep transformation his grace can br= ing.

Hidalgo grew up in a devout Catholic family in a small town in Spain. He we=
nt to a minor seminary as a youth to begin studies to become a priest, but = left after about five years. Once he went to college, he fell away from the=
faith -- and repeatedly lied to his mother about it. Hidalgo's dream was t=
o travel the world and teach, leaving poverty behind.

With Jesus's parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) as a companion, "F= rom Prodigal to Priest" will have you walking along with Hidalgo through bo=
th the joy and the difficulties he experienced as he came home to the Catho= lic faith of his childhood -- confessing to his mother, relearning how to p= ray, going to Confession, telling his friends about his reversion, and his = call to the priesthood. And you will learn that it's important to pray, dis= cern, trust, and be thankful to God, regardless of the outcome.

Of special note is that each individual chapter includes prayers for both p= rodigal sons and daughters and those who accompany them.

Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "From Prodigal to Priest: A Journey Home =
to Family, Faith, and the Father's Embrace" is unreservedly recommended rea= ding for all members of the Roman Catholic community. It should be noted fo=
r the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and non-speciali=
st general readers with an interest in the subject that "From Prodigal to P= riest" is also available in a digital book format ($11.49) from Ave Maria P= ress.

Editorial Note: Fr. Goyo Hidalgo is a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Ange= les, a singer-songwriter, and a social media evangelist. A native of La Vil=
la de Don Fadrique, a small town near Toledo, Spain, he attended minor semi= nary as a youth to become a priest, but left after six years. He earned mas= ter's degrees in English and Spanish linguistics from Complutense Universit=
y of Madrid in 1996, after which he traveled to other countries to teach Sp= anish and English. He eventually became a middle and high school teacher in=
the Los Angeles, California, area and released two albums of Catholic musi=
c in Spanish and English. Hidalgo underwent a radical reversion to the fait=
h of his youth after watching the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005 and = hearing his famous words: "Do not be afraid." Hidalgo earned a master of di= vinity degree from St. John's seminary in Camarillo, California, and was or= dained to the priesthood in 2016.

Never Cast Out
Jasmine L. Holmes
B&H Publishing Group
1 LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234
www.bhpublishinggroup.com
9781087747163, $17.99, PB, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Cast-Out-Gospel-Story/dp/1087747163

Synopsis: Body shaming. Marriage shaming. Single shaming. Mom shaming. Life= style shaming. Religious shaming. It seems no matter which direction women = today turn, they find themselves unable to shake the shame that is constant=
ly piled on top of them.

Author and podcaster Jasmine L. Holmes knows this struggle all too well. Th= ough shame has been a constant companion (and even a snare) throughout her = life, God has broken the chains of shame in Jasmine's life through the powe=
r of the gospel.

"Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame" is a Chr= ist-centered and empowering book in which Jasmine covers: The story of sham=
e (where it comes from, what it is, what makes it different from guilt or c= onviction, and why it's so pervasive); The problem with shame (why the typi= cal methods of throwing off shame don't actually work); The end of shame (h=
ow Jesus puts an end to shame by offering a better covering, a better image=
, and a better message than the world can); The way to fight shame (how to = use practical and powerful ways to fight shame in daily life, breaking its = chains in the power of the gospel and resting in the One who has taken all = your shame away for good).

The story of shame is a powerful one. But even stronger are the arms of the=
One who carried your shame and will never cast you out.

Critique: "Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame=
" is especially commended to the attention of all women members of the Chri= stian community who are ready to experience what Jesus has to offer them --=
and finally be free of unwarranted and spiritually debilitating shames imp= osed by our secular society. Exceptionally well written, organized and pres= ented, "Never Cast Out" is recommended for readers with an interest in a Ch= ristian perspective on women's social and spiritual issues. It should be no= ted for personal reading lists that "Never Cast Out" is also available in a=
digital book format (Kindle, $14.95).

Editorial Note: Jasmine L. Holmes (https://jasminelholmes.com) has written = for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Fathom Mag, Christianity Today, and=
The Witness. She is also a contributing author for Identity Theft: Reclaim= ing the Truth of Our Identity in Christ and His Testimonies, My Heritage: W= omen of Color on the Word of God. She teaches humanities in a classical Chr= istian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Phillip, = are parenting two young sons. They are members of Redeemer Church, PCA.

C.J.S. Hayward in Under 99 Pages
C.J.S. Hayward
CJS Hayward Publications
www.cjshayward.com/books
9798485392727, $11.99 Hardcover/$5.99 Paper/$.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/C-J-S-Hayward-Under-Pages-Works/dp/B09H8SLCZP

Anyone who has followed the spiritual writings of C.J.S. Hayward well knows=
they are thought-provoking, lengthy productions designed to engage spiritu=
al thinkers and audiences in intellectual discourse. This is why C.J.S. Hay= ward in Under 99 Pages represents a significant achievement, appealing to m= odern readers who may not have time or inclination for a tome of hundreds o=
f pages, however relevant or intriguing they might be; but who will find th=
is a fine synthesis of his works that touches on the highlights.

The attempt to consolidate so many trains of thought, literary, spiritual, = and philosophical references, and intellectual discourse into such a diminu= tive work must have been daunting, given the length and breadth of Hayward'=
s previous writings. Those familiar with them might expect that the idea th=
at the scope of these works could even begin to fit into 99 pages would be =
a task especially daunting (perhaps nearly impossible). And yet, Br. Christ=
os achieves this goal, offering six chapters, an introduction, and an epilo= gue that touches upon the basic principles more heavily outlined in his pre= vious works.

Readers who would gain an introduction to Christian Orthodoxy principles in=
general and Hayward's extensive reflections on it would do well to begin w= ith C.J.S. Hayward in Under 99 Pages. Its ability to capture audiences with=
discussions that are lively and contemporary makes it a top recommendation=
for book clubs interested in debates and discussions over spiritual concep=
ts and analytical approaches: "Where the reader only sees one question, an = ancient reader saw at least two other questions that are invisible to the p= resent reader. As well as the question of "How?" that evolution addresses, = there is the question of "Why?" and "What function does it serve?" These tw=
o questions are very important, and are not even considered when people are=
only trying to work out the antagonism between creationism and evolutionis= m."

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=
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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=
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(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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