I am Second by Dave Sterrett & Doug Bender

I am Second

By Dave Sterrett & Doug Bender

This book was a compilation of short stories about how Jesus transformed people’s lives. It includes the story of several people – famous and some people I have never heard of that discovered that they are second, and Jesus is first. Each story describes their lives before and after they found Jesus.

I found this book intriguing because I love hearing about people’s lives and how they live. The dark places these people traveled and the hurt they experienced was made real to me through these descriptions. This book challenged me to tell my story more because we all have one, even if it is not as dramatic as some of the ones found here. The stories made me think about how my life would be different without Christ and how many other stories are yet to be told because people yet do not know the Good News. The stories were gripping and held my attention. They were short enough to read in quick sittings and on short breaks. There were QR codes at the end of each story about the story you just read and additional stories that were similar to the one you just read that you could read by scanning the codes.

The authors conveyed Biblical truth and had a section in the book explaining how anyone could find salvation through Jesus Christ. I would recommend this book to get short examples of how God has changed people’s lives. And it may be fun to have a discussion group to discuss the stories because each story is not long to read and the book in itself is an easy read.

BookSneeze provided me a complimentary copy of this book.

Healing is a Choice by Steven Arterburn

Healing is a Choice

By Stephen Arterburn

Stephen Arterburn’s work is definitely a tome, with over four hundred pages including ten chapters, a workbook, and some final thoughts. At first glance, this book may seem overwhelming, but within its pages, there is a lot of wisdom. I really do believe working through the exercises in this book and taking them seriously can change people’s lives. There are powerful words of insight within these pages. I found myself underlining quite often in this book as things stuck out to me. The pages are not full of fluff; they are logical, even though they may sometimes be hard to read.

Aterburn is honest about his own life and pain. He seasons the book with personal stories of his and also other people’s struggles. His words are easier to take knowing that he too has had struggles and has overcome them. Each chapter concludes with a prayer and an opportunity to journal. The questions included in the workbook chapters could be done alone or with a study group.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on serving. The chapter is one I will probably reference and return to in the future. Even if a reader does not think a chapter applies to he or she, I suggest reading each chapter and taking time to digest it for the full effect. If you are looking for a quick read, this book is probably not for you. It is not a dense book, but it takes time to process through each of the exercises. However, if you are looking to be honest with yourself and others and move forward in a healthily manner, I highly suggest this book to guide you through the process.