Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World Book Review

I wish I could give this book a higher rating but I just found it a little boring and dry. Technically, I thought it was well-written and relevent to Christ followers but it took me forever to get into. While it isn't necessarily a difficult read, I personally found it difficult to get into thus I found it challenging to pick up and actually finish. I believe that's more of a personal preference issue than an actual book issue.

The author does a good job of incorporating scripture into his chapters, which are broken up clearly with what I would call "advice tabs" for easy reference later. Chapter issues include "Staying Compassionate", "Staying Committed", "Staying Connected" and "Staying Centered".
Again, I was grateful the author backed up his beliefs and advice with God's Word and I think his advice was sound and in accordance with Scripture.

I will admit, I haven't read Dr. Jeremiah's prequel book, "What in the World is Going On?" but am under the impression they do not hinge on one another. Dr. Jeremiah has a radio show and if you are a fan of that then most likely you would enjoy the teaching style of this book; it didn't do it for me though.

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ book “Love and Respect” is a well written book filled with practical advice for husband and wives; unfortunately, I found the book to be a little too “clinical” and desperately hard to get in to and get through.

A few positive things about the book is that Dr. Eggerichs does a good job using God’s Word to outline his principles and he gives practical tips on how to provide a woman love and a man respect. As a wife, his bulleted points were very helpful and practical. Applying them to my husband, I found them to be spot on.

Lastly, despite the book being sort of a difficult read for me, I enjoyed the book’s foundation that we ought to love and respect one another because of our love for Christ; not just our love for our spouse or for our desire to have a better marriage. Sometimes in a marriage it can feel as though your spouse “doesn’t deserve” love and/or respect but the author does a good job of showing the reader it isn’t about the spouse so much as it is about honoring Christ.

The best part of this book is the Appendix in the back that gives bulleted questions to ask yourself and things to remember of “what to say, do, or think to practice love and respect in your marriage”. I found this chapter to be the most helpful, practical and stimulating.

Max Lucado’s “Fearless” reads like part guide and part exhortation. In Lucado’s newest book he masterfully weaves Scripture, stories and teaching to guide his reader to a place of living life without fear.

In the short and easy read of 180 pages, Lucado touches on spiritual fear (fear of disappointing God and fear that God isn’t real) to the very practical and daily fears of not protecting our children, violence, bad health and death. With poetic ease Lucado uses God’s Word to outline how to overcome these fears without ever diminishing the fact that they are indeed real fears.

Like Lucado’s other books, his voice comes through clearly and instead of reading a book you feel as though you are in his sanctuary listening to him teach from the pulpit. In the first chapter of the book when he thoughtfully and honestly writes of his late brother you feel as if you’re in a coffee shop listening to a friend share intimate thoughts on a person you both loved.

It is a compelling read with each chapter speaking to the heart of a person’s existence asking, “Am I wasting my life fearing things I have no power over or am I resting in God’s peace”?

Despite tackling many of life’s circumstances that cause gripping fear “Fearless” is like a cup of joy. Lucado assures his reader there is a better alternative and he backs it up with timeless Scripture references that are as relevant today as when they were written.

For those who are gripped by fear and for those who hardly struggle at all, I highly recommend Max Lucado’s “Fearless”.