Today, I’d like to point you to a handy little book from Art Rainer. It’s called The Money Challenge, and it’s from B&H Books. Now, it’s a short book, so I’ll honor that with a short review.
Rainer’s basic goal is to help Christian people see the ways of God in the use of money. It’s broken into three sections: Give Generously, Save Wisely, and Live Appropriately. Rainer has found these to be a good outline of how God intends for Christians to use the money He gives them.
These are excellent principles for Christians in understanding stewardship and it’s a great introduction for those who have never examined Christian stewardship. There is not a lot of new information here for those who have learned about Christian stewardship.
However, stewardship is about tried and true principles, so the lack of new ideas is not a problem. In truth, Rainer has artfully repackaged these with a story about Annie and her learning the principles of stewardship through a 30-day money challenge.
Her challenge becomes the structure of the book and the challenge to you, the reader. It’s well-written and an easily digested book.
That’s not to say that implementation will be a cinch. In fact, that’s always the hardest part of money management. I can spout the principles well enough, but putting them into practice is the hard part.
Using Rainer’s book as a template, though, one can easily start into the behaviors that will set a long-term pattern. As is usually the case with a book like this, the principles are far easier to put not place if you aren’t years behind.
All in all, this would be an ideal group study for a church young adult group—probably even to start with older youth. And then a follow-on for so many of us in the adult range who need to get straight what matters most!
The Money Challenge is available from Lifeway and other book retailers, B&H gave me a copy exchange for the review.
The Heart Mender: A Story of Second ChancesEver read a book that you just kind of wish is true? That's my take on The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews. It's a charming story of love and forgiveness, and it's woven into the historical setting of World War II America. For the narrative alone, the book is worth the read, but the message it contains is well worth absorbing as well.However, let's drop back a minute. This book was originally published under the title Island of Saints. I read Island of Saints and enjoyed it greatly. Now, Andrews has released it under a new title, with a few minor changes. All of this is explained in the Author's Note at the beginning, but should be noted for purchaser's sake. If you read Island of Saints, you're rereading when you read The Heart Mender. Now, go ahead and reread it. It will not hurt you one bit.Overall, the story is well-paced. There are points where I'd like more detail, both in the history and the geog…