A helpful examination of secular ideology and the biblical response to it. My rating: ★★★★☆

Content warnings: Discussion of gender ideology and other antibiblical beliefs | Bible versions used: NIV, ESV | Click here to read full post

I have always enjoyed books about apologetics. Because of that, parts of this book were fairly familiar to me. Its strength for me was its concise descriptions of the secular humanist philosophy that our world—to say nothing of human nature at its core—is built on. That was a challenge to me: Although I claim the authority of the Word of God for my life, how often do I act as if I’m the ultimate authority? The four-part breakdown of this mindset (feelings are the ultimate guide, happiness is the ultimate goal, judging is the ultimate sin, and God is the ultimate guess) really encapsulated the attitudes we see around us—they’re nothing new and nothing surprising; they’re the natural outpouring of human beings who have rejected God’s authority in favor of their own. And unfortunately, they crop up in my own life far too often.

Meet the author behind The Shenandoah Road in today’s interview with Lynne Basham Tagawa.

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The Great Awakening was a time of great spiritual revival in early America. All over the Thirteen Colonies, people realized that formal religion and their own good works were not enough to make them right with God—that only trusting in Christ’s righteousness could save them from God’s wrath toward sin. Lynne’s novel The Shenandoah Road brings this heart change to life. Here she shares her thoughts about the book and what she does when she’s not writing. (The Shenandoah Road is part of the Prelude to Freedom: Independence Day Giveaway that runs until July 3, so enter here if you love Christian historical fiction!)

Enter to win four Christian historical novels!

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Less than three weeks to Independence Day! What better time to think about the faith and courage that built this nation? One of the things I love about historical fiction is the way it lets us imagine what life might have been like in a different time and place. So I am thrilled to partner with three other Christian historical fiction authors to offer a book giveaway exploring the years just prior to the War for Independence. (US entrants only, please.)

A thoughtful, balanced challenge to approach technology in a Christ-centered way and consider what our habits reveal about our hearts. Highly recommended. My rating: ★★★★★

Content warnings: pornography mentioned, moderate alcohol use condoned | Bible versions used: ESV, KJV, NASB, NIV, and others | Click here to read full post

Everyone should read this book.

Well, not every book is for everyone. But most people should definitely read this book. I read it twice (because I read it too fast the first time), and it was equally thought-provoking both times. I expected more of your typical digital-detox book (think Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, but from a Christian perspective), and while there was some of that, this book was far more than that—it got to the heart of the matter. Why do I use technology the way I do? What is my motivation for reading and posting what I read and post? Do I use my digital devices to serve the Lord and others, or to avoid hard questions, entertain myself, and improve my self-image? Is my technology subservient to the eternal glory of Christ or distracting me from it?

Ouch to all of the above.

A grand treasure-hunting, west-exploring adventure in L’Amour’s masterful storytelling style. My rating: ★★★★☆

Content warnings: profanity, violence, secular author | Click here to read full post

I’m always game for a good adventure story, and this certainly fit that description. L’Amour’s storytelling style and historical detail always bring to life the men who settled America. Since Kings Mountain and Patrick Ferguson figure into my own current project (see more about that here), the title particularly caught my eye. It’s now commonly believed that Ferguson improved the breech-loading concept but did not invent it; either version fits with the events in this story. I applaud L’Amour’s ability to clearly portray his characters’ loyalties while acknowledging that Ferguson was admired by men on both sides (though certainly not the men he faced at Kings Mountain).