Every so often we highlight some books that have come our way since we can’t review them all. Here are some recent titles:
Any Day Is Father’s Day by Jonathan De Young When he became a father, this writer took note of the new experiences fatherhood brings. He shares those experiences in this small collection of stories of everyday life. (Transcendence Press)
A Christ-Centered Wedding: Rejoicing in the Gospel on Your Big Day by Catherine Strode Parks and Linda Strode If you’ve paged through Brides magazine in the last decade, you know that weddings are getting bigger and more expensive every year. This practical book, intended to keep Christ at the center of the planning, offers advice on everything from choosing a location to premarital counseling. (B & H Books)
Desperate Hope by Charlane Blomberg In her story Blomberg describes the damage family dysfunction and sexual abuse did to her. She also tells how others in her life gave her hope and how letting go of her past has allowed her to fully embrace God’s love. (Crossbooks)
The Journey Home by Willy Nywening Nywening, a retired teacher in Ontario, offers a novel about a brother and sister, orphaned at a young age, who suffer greatly as they are placed into the care of family members and others. The children’s hope for the future lies in redemptive love. (iUniverse)
Playing Before the Lord: The Life and Work of Joseph Haydn by Calvin R. Stapert Part biography and part music history class, Stapert’s book takes a detailed look at the way Hadyn’s work was influenced by his Catholic faith. Music scholars and Haydn fans will find much to enjoy. (Eerdmans)
Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture and Computer Technology by Derek C. Schuurman Schuurman explores how computers and technology impact our lives and our world; he suggests that our view of technology should be shaped by faith like any other aspect of our lives and encourages readers to become redemptive users of technology. (InterVarsity)
The Spiritual Practice of Remembering by Margaret Bendroth This slim volume sheds light on the fact that our church families and our faith do not spring from nowhere—we are part of a long and wide tradition of faith. Bendroth suggests ways to honor the past without being overburdened by the load. (Eerdmans)