Nine Parts of Desire - Geraldine Brooks

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I probably wouldn't have picked up this book if it hadn't been a book club choice. This despite the fact I really enjoyed Geraldine Brooks Caleb's Crossing and have other books of hers on my To Read list. This one never crossed my radar.h
While it was tedious to get through and I had to look up a lot of the words, I did find the information interesting. The chapters were arranged by topic and not sequentially. It was almost like each chapter was its own essay.
The book is rather outdated (copyright 1995 and I'm writing this review in 2017), so probably not all of the facts and figures contained remain accurate. However, it is a good jumping off point for me to continue a basis of understanding into women and the Muslim world.

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Tea with Hezbollah - Ted Dekker & Carl Medearis

In this book, Dekker and Medearis walk you through their Middle East travels as they search for a modern day “Good Samaritan.” Intertwined throughout the prose and interviews is a parable regarding one girl’s encounter with a current “Good Samaritan.”


It was an interesting concept. The authors begin in Egypt and travel through Syria, Israel, and other Middle Eastern countries to discover what others (perceived enemies and friends alike) think of Jesus’ ultimate teaching of living your neighbor as yourself.

I enjoyed the premise. But I didn’t enjoy the book much until I was about halfway through it. The text was very choppy, in my opinion. So it wasn’t until the middle of the story that the pieces started to fit together for me, and I could really dive into the people Dekker and Medearis were meeting and what they were learning.

I did learn a lot. About how some in the Middle East view the U.S. And I began to, perhaps for the first time, think of Middle Eastern Muslims in a different way as well. Even the self-proclaimed terrorists and leaders of Hezbollah. It was a bit challenging. But that is probably part of why I ended up liking it.

And it challenged me on a larger scale too. Who in my life would I consider my “enemies”? And, regardless, Jesus still calls on me as a Christ-follower to love them and pray for them. I’m working on it.

The Christian Atheist - Craig Groeschel

This book took me two sessions to read. Fairly thought-provoking.


I picked it up after reading Nancy Alcorn’s (founder of Mercy Ministries) blog about reading it. I figured if it was worth someone as busy as her reading it, I should definitely check it out.

The subtitle Craig Groeschel gives his book kind of sums up the book and defines “Christian atheist”: Believing in God but living as if He doesn’t exist.

And in reading through the pages, I came to the realization that I am more of a Christian Atheist than I would have though. Although he certainly doesn’t approach it in a “Bash you over the head; You’re a horrible person” kind of way, you still close the book surprised by what you’ve seen in yourself and committed to change.

I believe that all Christians are subject to a little atheism. The point of the book is to help you see where you still have room to grow in your faith and relationship with God.

The chapters cover the various “areas” of Christian atheism. When you Believe in God but…

          1. Don’t Really know Him
          2. Are Ashamed of Your Past
          3. Aren’t Sure He Loves You
          4. Not in Prayer
          5. Don’t Think He’s Fair
          6. Won’t Forgive
          7. Don’t Think You Can Change
          8. Still Worry All the Time
          9. Pursue Happiness at Any Cost
          10. Trust More in Money
          11. Don’t Share Your Faith
          12. Not in His Church

Each one deals with an aspect of not having full faith in God or trusting Him at His Word.

Pastor Groeschel shares stories, Scripture, and practical advice for each area to help you move closer to God and deepen your relationship with him.

I think it’s one of those books that I will revisit every now and then for a spiritual “check up.”

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore - Wayne Jacobson & Dave Coleman

An allegory of sorts that seems to have some autobiographical content from the authors.


The title alone drew me to this book about fictional character Jake Colson. Jake meets a mysterious man, John, who challenges his views of himself, God's love and acceptance, and his concept of the church body. This book chronicles many encounters as Jake walks through months and even years of coming to terms with his "need" to "earn" God's love, his craving for acceptance, and his disillusionment with the church "machine." He comes out the other side with his priority fully centered on connecting with Jesus and following Him every day and experiencing true fellowship with other believers outside the church walls and organization.

While I disagree with the premise of that can be assumed from the book - all churches are evil, we don't need them, don't go - I think that assumption is also wrong. I believe that John made it clear that true fellowship and focus on living with and following Christ and growing in that relationship *can* be found in a traditional church body. However, it often isn't because we all get so caught up in our programs and activities that we lose sight of Him...and each other. I know tht I have experienced that personally and even know struggle with the lack of authentic connection to other believers in my life...even though I regularly attend and am involved in the ministries at a church.

From the appendix in the back, one of the authors says that no where in the Bible does it say that you have to attend church. Which I guess is valid in and of itself if you view church as a certain way. But Hebrews 10:25 does state: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

In our culture that most likely means traditional church. But I understand that it doesn't have to. It is just the most likely way to meet people who are hungry and pushing after Jesus to join along with the journey.

A lot of the points in the book DID hit home with me, though, and echo some of my thoughts and feelings. So it has given me a lot of fodder to think and pray on. I will continue to attend church but with God's help my focus will shift more from the tasks and programs and to do lists and the superficial relationships to really delving into what Jesus has for me to do there and for the connections that He can make through the leading of the Spirit so that I can experience authentic fellowship and relationships that help me (and I can help others) along the path. Because, really, isn't that where it's suppose to be at anyway: focus fully on Jesus and doing what He is calling you to. And the church is purely a mechanism to help that process and to help others come to know Him and be on that journey as well.