[Review] An Invitation to Joy: The Divine Journey to Human Flourishing by Daniel J. Denk

Publisher and Publication Date: Wm. B. Eerdmans. April 4, 2023.
Genre: Christian nonfiction.
Format: Paperback.
Pages: 243.
Source: Purchased.
Rating: Very good.

To read more about the book at the publisher: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802883087/

To read information about the author: https://www.eerdmans.com/author/daniel-j-denk/

Link for the book at Christian Book/ Barnes and Noble/ Amazon.

The Bible translation in the book is from the ESV.

Summary:

An Invitation to Joy addresses the lack of joy in Christian lives. Worry, fear, anxieties, the death of dreams and the death of loved ones overtake and shadow joy.

Daniel J. Denk in the introduction helps us in understanding the events that can rob us of joy, as well as helping to direct us to where joy comes from which is a direction and a focus that is not on the things of this world.

Denk does not dismiss or make light of times in life where joy is dampened by personal suffering or by the world’s suffering.

He is quick to state he does not have a mastery over being joyful.

And he does not want the reader to look at this book as a self-help type book.

His purpose is to help us understand where joy comes from and direct us back to that Person.

My Thoughts:

Joy and happiness are often defined as the same thing. This is incorrect. In the Bible, Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is in the Lord. Joy is a gift given to us from the Holy Spirit.

However, I know from my own experience that joy is at times absent, and it is hard to hold onto.

The reason it is difficult for me to hold onto it is because joy gets pushed to the side or even covered completely up by chronic pain or stressful situations. You see, I take my eye off of Jesus, and focus on the pain or the suffering.

I’ve been looking for a book that addresses the topic of joy. I’m so glad to have read this book!

Reasons why I love this book:

1. I took 5 pages of notes. I especially wrote down several points or quotes to keep for a later time when I am not feeling joyful.
2. In the early part of the book Denk explains that people live with regrets, and they have heavy burdens.
   Page 1. “So many people in our culture live with deep regret rather than hope and contentment and joy.”
   Page 3. “Some of us, many of us, carry burdens that God never intended us to bear….”
3. Denk defines joy as “a hopeful and peaceful outlook on life, a deep-seated sense of well-being.”
   Joy is something we feel, but it is more than that.
4. Denk mentions on page 9, we have a current “generation of people now who do not focus or think long about a certain thing.”
   I have heard several times from friends and family that they don’t like to think too much about stuff-serious stuff.
   This is a topic that will be great for a discussion.
5. I have been reminded of the things to think about that are joyful: creation, eternal life, salvation, and God is with me.
6. One of the biggest take-aways in the book is joy is “not self-directed” it is instead “always others directed, and it is lived out in community.”
   Think about that. Happiness is thinking about “me.” Whereas joy is not thinking about self and focused on others.
   Some of my joy filled moments in life are working with children. For 10 years I’ve volunteered working with kids. I love it. I love them. I love getting to know them. I love being with them.
7. Peace is also talked about in the book.
   I am reminded of Ephesians 2:14-16. ESV. “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
8. In chapter 7. The title of this chapter is “Enemies of Joy.” What happens when we’ve lost joy? The big answer to this question is to trust God.
9. Chapter 8 is “Joy and Suffering.” Denk shares his health condition. The story of Joni Eareckson Tada is shared. Several truths are given based on her life challenges.
10. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions.

I don’t believe this is an adequate book for people who have major depression, and it is not controlled. This book is not going to lift you up out of that place. However, An Invitation to Joy can be considered helpful.

A person who is going through a time of grief. This book alone is not going to lift you up out of that period of grieving. However, it is a helpful book.

[Review] Is It Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims by Darby A. Strickland Foreword by Edward T. Welch

Publisher and Publication Date: P & R Publishing. 2020.
Genre: Christian nonfiction. Counseling. Psychology.
Pages: 352.
Format: Paperback.
Source: Self-purchase.
Rating: Excellent.

Link for the book @ Amazon.

Link for the book @ Christian Book.

Summary:

For continuing education for a ministry, I am a part of, I came across this book. Darby A. Strickland is one of the authors of the other book as well.

At the start of the book is an important note on “How to Use This Book.” This book is for Christians who are involved in a church ministry. However, at some point in life, we may have a friend, family member, or neighbor who may need our help and support.

Is It Abuse is a strong source to help those who are in an oppressive marriage situation. It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself “qualified” as an expert with education. This book is a strong tool that will help you to mentor and guide the victim through a “Christ-centered counsel.”

“Part One: Understanding Oppression”
The first chapter will help to identify if it is abuse. Further chapters help understand the impact of abuse.

“Part Two: Uncovering Oppression”
Five chapters covering different types of abuse.

Part Three: Upholding the Oppressed”
Safety and support of the family members.

The appendix section holds an interesting and valuable segment with signs to look for during dating.

My Thoughts:

Is It Abuse? Is an exceptional book. An important book. It is a hard topic. A tender topic. However, this book is so needed in the Christian community.

I love the organization of the book.

I love the arrangement of the topics and subtopics.

I love the approachableness and clarity of the book.

I love how Strickland keeps reminding me to continue to focus on the victim and what is happening to them. This is referred to in the previous book I’d read. How in the past the church had focused more on what the perpetrator had done and less on the victim and their suffering.

Be observant about the effects of the suffering and be observant about the abuser. Blame shifting (from the abuser) is what I’m referring to.

The different ways the victims suffer. This is eye-opening. And it is far-reaching.

Emotional abuse has a huge impact. This chapter I read twice.

Spiritual abuse is an abuse that is not talked about enough. The author K. J. Ramsey in her book,
The Lord is My Courage, has written about it as well as on Instagram and Substack.

[Review] Becoming a Church that Cares Well for The Abused by Brad Hambrick, General Editor, plus ten other contributors

Publisher and Publication Date: B&H Publishing Group. June 4, 2019.
Genre: Christian nonfiction. Abuse. Ethics. Church response to abuse.
Pages: 256.
Format: Paperback.
Source: Self-purchase.
Rating: Excellent.

Link for the book @ the publisher: B&H Publishing Group.

Link for the book @ Amazon. I am not an affiliate. The Kindle price today is 0. The paperback price today is $4.99.

Further links:

Brad Hambrick.

Darby Strickland.

CCEF.

There is a video teaching series on this book: Church Cares. Twelve lesson videos that last about 20 minutes each.

Summary:

Becoming a Church that Cares Well for The Abused is a strong resource to help individuals and churches respond to abuse.

The book addresses adult and child abuse. It addresses all forms of abuse.

Ten contributors have helped pull together excellent and valuable information to help abuse victims. And to know how to respond to the abusers.

The book is divided into two parts with twelve chapters.

The final section of the book is every state is listed in alphabetical order with their laws regarding child abuse reporting.

My Thoughts:

The first statement in the book that piqued my interest and attention is the church has concentrated more on applying the Gospel to the sin instead of helping the abused person. And in getting the abuser to stop rather than helping the victim.

I will add, the church has handled abuse privately without doing anything other than removing quietly that person who is the abuser from the church. I’m referring to a person on the church payroll who is the abuser. And a person who is not on the payroll, the abuser whether it is a man, or woman-this is often never addressed.

The previous generations did not talk about things like they do now. As a kid growing up, my parents would say, “don’t be telling people about (whatever it is that needed to only remain in the family) this information.” The information might be a marriage separation or divorce. It might be someone was arrested and is in jail. This type of attitude and behavior will set up an advantage for the abuser to have power over the victim. But mother and daddy did not know this. I don’t fault them. They were responding to how they were taught even though I disagree with them.

In 2019, sexual abuse allegations in Baptist churches were printed in a story in the Houston Chronicle. The Southern Baptist Convention had no choice but to do something about it. The cover-ups and mishandling of the abuses could no longer be ignored.

Consider this. Think about all of the abuses in Southern Baptist churches that were never reported.

Abuse can happen in any home, church, school, and business. Abusers want power over their victim. They feel a sense of entitlement. They lie and make excuses. They look for ways and places to abuse. Secrecy gives them more power.

Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused is a proactive stance against abuse.

It is a well-written, direct, concise, informative, and well-rounded resource.

It is a handbook to utilize during the abuse crisis.

Important take-aways:

1. The book helps people respond to an abuse victim (any age) and the abuser.
2. It teaches how to evaluate the situation in order to know if a criminal act needs to be reported.
3. CPS and social workers. How to contact them and what information to give, plus who they are and what their jobs entail.
4. Follow-up resources.
5. Do not allow the abuser to manipulate you.
6. The safety of the abuse victim is most important.
7. How to develop a safety plan.
8. How to deal with the abuser, especially if the person is a church member.

(Review) Introvert by Design: A Guided Journal for Living with New Confidence in Who You’re Created to Be by Holley Gerth

Publisher and Publication Date: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. May 9, 2023.
Genre: Christian nonfiction. Introvert personality.
Pages: 224.
Format: Paperback.
Source: Self-purchase.
Audience: Christian introvert readers or those who are interested in understanding an introvert.
Rating: Very good.

Link @ Amazon.

Holley Gerth’s Goodreads’ author page.

Website for Holley Gerth/ Instagram/ Pinterest/ Facebook/ Twitter.

Summary:

Introvert by Design is a further study and spinoff from a previous book Gerth wrote titled The Powerful Purpose of Introverts. I’ve not read her previous book.

The focus of Introvert by Design is to build a confidence in people who are introverted. The confidence is in and through God.

Another focus is how to look at the traits in an introvert personality as positive and not negative.

Gerth repeats in her book that an introvert should not alter a personality to fit in with what other’s expect or want from us.

This is a book study. Short chapters with an application part in the form of questions that explore deeper the chapter’s focus and themes. Included is “Breathe Prayers,” quotes from other writers, Bible verses to encourage; and a “Yesterday” and “Today” section which reflects on how I responded yesterday and what I can do today. As a part of this last mention, there is a “Do What You Can Plan.”

My Thoughts:

I am an introvert. I have taken the Myers-Briggs Personality test twice. The first time I took the test I was in my 40s. The second time I took the test was just a couple of months ago. Both tests reveal I am an INFJ.

Recently I read a book with a subject of overthinking. These two books pair well together as my personality type overthinks.

Several reasons why I enjoyed reading this book:

1. Gerth provides science behind how introverts and extroverts deal with social situations.
2. There is a focus on an introvert not changing how we are wired or created, but to focus on strengths, and to depend on God for confidence and provision.
3. I have heard in my life many times, “why are you so quiet?” I cringe when I hear that. I actually don’t know what to say when I’ve been told that. I do talk. I can be social. I just need down time to recharge and decompress. Gerth states, “The most powerful thing you can do is embrace your quietness, and not change it.” Page 29.
4. I love it that Holley Gerth is an introvert. She is a person, therapist, and writer who understands the subject matter.
5. I have struggled with feeling-I am not enough. Gerth addresses this. “Acceptance begins with recognizing you’re already enough.” Page 37.
6. Gerth’s writing style is approachable, easy to understand, gentle, kind, thoughtful, and thought provoking.
7. On page 131, chapter Twenty, there is a technique to retrain the brain-the introverted brain that thinks and jumps around too much. There is nothing odd about this technique, it is actually a loving and kind thing. It is an easy exercise.
8. Know when to rest. “As introverts, we often feel we do have something to prove. We want people to know we’re likable even if we’re not the life of the party. We have something to contribute even if we’re not the chattiest person in the meeting. We have something to offer the world even if we’re reluctant to stand on a stage. This desire to prove ourselves is often what pushes us to act like extroverts, to run and run until we’re exhausted then run some more.” Page 183.

Overall, this is a great book for a person who is not a heavy material type reader or doesn’t have time to read a large and more detailed book. It is small and light enough to fit in a purse or bag.

[Book Spotlight] The Christian Counselor’s Desk Reference, the editor is Charles D. Hodges Jr., MD

Help for Counseling the Whole Person. A team of medical professionals with biblical counseling experience provides a guide to understanding how certain medical diagnoses factor into counseling. Biblical counselors and pastors often have questions when a counselee is struggling with a mixture of physical, emotional, and spiritual difficulties. A new update to a popular resource is now available to equip those who counsel with the answers to their questions. In The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference, 2nd Edition (New Growth Press/February 20, 2023), Dr. Charles Hodges Jr. and a team of contributing physicians and health care professionals, all with biblical counseling experience, offer solid biblical principles for counseling individuals with medical issues, addressing a variety of specific problems.The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference helps counselors understand how some medical conditions impact counseling needs. Inspired by Dr. Bob Smith’s first edition, this book will help to guide counselors in offering specific reminders of gospel truth to counselees as they journey the road ahead. Readers will learn more about the basics of certain disorders and conditions as well as gain a better understanding of the specific counseling needs that often accompany each condition.The opening chapters offer guidance for the extra challenges inherent with certain medical diagnoses. The remaining chapters examine the challenges associated with a variety of physical and mental conditions such as autoimmune disorders, OCD, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome, and others, helping counselors better understand the specific counseling needs that often accompany each condition. By learning more about certain conditions, readers will be better equipped to counsel beyond labels and address the whole person. They will also gain confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture to bring hope and help to sufferers.“The Bible has much to offer those who have medical diseases and labels. Problems in life such as sadness, worry, anger, and fear are described in scripture and have solutions,” Dr. Hodges shares. “Those who struggle with medical illness and those who counsel them can find help in The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference to understand the basics of many ailments and biblical principles to help those who are ill to respond in a way that glorifies and honors their Savior.”The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship’s (IBCD) executive director Jim Newheiser writes, “This is a book every pastor and Christian counselor needs to own and to which they will often refer. The authors combine the wealth of their extensive medical training and experience with their commitment to and knowledge of God’s Word. The case studies in each chapter effectively help the reader to better understand medical issues that often come up in counseling and the potential approaches to offer help.” The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference, 2nd Edition by Charles Hodges Jr., MD. February 20, 2023/Retail Price: $39.99. Available in paperback and Kindle. 384 pages. Print: ISBN 978-1-64507-231-7. Religion/Christian Ministry/Counseling and Recovery. Published by New Growth Press. Link for the book @ Amazon.

What Others Are Saying: “Dr. Charles Hodges has performed a marvelous service to biblical counselors by assembling a tremendous team to address key issues that may require medical intervention. I look forward to having a copy of this book on my shelf for reference whenever I am trying to determine whether it would be wise to consult a medical doctor, so my counsel to others is as compassionate and comprehensive as possible.” – Steve Viars, Senior Pastor, Faith Church, Lafayette, IN. “This medical reference book is an important resource for biblical counselors, showing the wisdom of caring for both the body and soul. Charles Hodges and the other contributors provide medical and biblical perspectives that are informative and readable. Around twenty years ago, I used the first edition as a biblical counseling student, and I look forward to sharing the second edition with my students.” – Lilly Park, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “This book helps counselors to think holistically about caring for embodied souls. Each chapter reviews the current medical understanding of common counseling issues and then skillfully applies God’s Word to the disruptive, disheartening, and often perplexing problems people experience. If you provide one-another care—whether formally or informally—reading this resource is well-worth your time.” – Christine Chappell, Author of Help! I’ve Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder; outreach director and Hope + Help Podcast host, Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship About The Editor: Charles Hodges Jr., MD, is a family physician and biblical counselor who serves as the Executive Director of Vision of Hope, a residential treatment facility for women with emotional struggles. He is also a counselor and instructor at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministry in Lafayette, IN. He is the author of Good Mood Bad Mood: Help and Hope for Depression and Bipolar Disorder, editor of The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference, 2nd Edition, and was a contributing writer for Caring for the Souls of Children. Hodges and his wife, Helen, live in Indiana and have four children, thirteen grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. He runs four miles daily on his lunch hour and enjoys golf. Dr. Hodges can be found on Facebook @(chodgesrun) and Twitter (@runningdoc).