Book reviews
The 39 page book has eleven chapters dealing with ‘disagreements, disputes and conflict: how to understand and begin to resolve them. Based on Romans 12 – 14.
The author looks at the way we can approach disputes in our communities, giving the biblical reasoning’s and using current ways of understanding conflict and how it is part of our dealings as human beings.
Copies available from Beverly Russell, 12 Booyong Avenue Lugarno, 2210, NSW. Australia.
This book is a scriptural look at the meaning of suffering. The author looks at examples in the Bible and puts some reasoning on the way God works through suffering. The sixty pages are crammed with thought provoking verses and reasoning in short chapters to leave space for consideration before moving on.
This book is the result of many years experience providing Marriage Enrichment courses. Principally aimed at young marrieds and those preparing for marriage, it is also useful for anyone wanting to maintain a vital and growing marriage relationship.
This book can be purchased from the CSN at a cost of $15.
Good relationships of all kinds are made - they don't just happen. Relating to another person is a skill that can be learned, and this book gives some sound practical advice about looking at oneself in the context of the relationship, how to create lasting intimacy and how to grow a rewarding relationship.
Is someone else's problem your problem?
That can be a dilemma for those who believe that bearing another's burden is a Christian duty. If you have lost sight of your own life in the drama of tending to someone else, you may be co-dependant. The author's personal experience of this stultifying situation, and of escaping it helps to delineate a map of that perplexing world, and charts a path to freedom.
This book looks at 4 basic tasks of becoming a mature Christian. These are: Bonding to others, Separating from others, Sorting the good and the bad in ourselves and others, Becoming an adult.
It attempts to explain why people develop emotional and relationship problems and ways in which they can solve them.
Now in its second printing, this workbook is a resource for engaged couples. The material is compiled around issues that often need resolving after marriage. Marriage celebrants are encouraged to use them in pre-marriage counselling sessions.
Available for purchase at $20.
The second in our proposed series of booklets on topical issues is now available!
‘Coping with Loss’ A useful reference for every family. It summarises the causes, characteristics and phases of grief and suggests ways we can comfort and encourage one another. Ecclesias or individuals can obtain free copies from the CSS Librarian. Ask your ecclesia to get copies for all your families
A practical guide toward mutual acceptance and understanding. A step-by-step program that can be worked through to improve a relationship with a teenager. Some of the specific problem areas covered are: coping with trouble spots, building good feelings, stopping arguments, speaking up for what you want, negotiating, problem solving.
A self-help manual which looks at some marriage difficulties and ways to enhance relationships. The authors note that a systematic and sustained effort will need to be made if the manual is to be used effectively
This book makes it clear that “all healthy couples fight, and that learning to be close and yet individual is what relationships are all about. That men and women are different, but not worlds apart! That sexual tension and communication problems are opportunities to spark into new levels of closeness and honesty."
The author aims to help husbands, wives, parents and children friends and co-workers settle differences and overcome problems that occur in day-to-day relationships. It is suggested that the book will help people: Identify the underlying causes of conflict, Recognise the signals of emotional pain or damage in a relationship, Build genuine communication, Discover the power of forgiveness to heal broken relationships, Take positive steps to build strong relationships before they are damaged.
It is claimed that this “helpful and compassionate book is a blueprint for surviving the pain of separation, sorting out the pieces and reconstructing a partnership.” The authors work in areas of counselling, stress management and personal effectiveness.
Diagnosing what’s wrong with a relationship.
The book claims that the author can help people to:
Take personal responsibility
Escape wrong thinking
Embrace relationship truths
Learn the formula for success in relationships
Renegotiate a relationship
Learn to live with love and harmony.
Dr. Bennet explains what happens when the teenage years strike, and what parents can do to help their kids and themselves get through them. “While teenagers are experiencing adolescence, parents are confused in their middlescence. It’s a time of change for both teenagers and parents”. At the time of writing the author was the head of the Adolescent medical Unit at the Royal Alexandra hospital for Children in Sydney.
A practical approach guided by biblical concepts to assist parents in helping teenagers towards maturity.
Looks at some of the hard realities of fatherhood:
men’s emotional response to fatherhood, their role as support during pregnancy, their response to childbirth, the effect it might have on their sexual life. It stands for equality in parenting while recognising the differences between men’s and women’s natural style.
This book addresses the major issues confronting members of stepfamilies. It examines the key relationships, identifies potential problem areas and explains what is happening, why it is happening, and what to do about it.
A collection of articles which have appeared in Christadelphian magazines addressing various issues in family life.
In this book Steve Biddulph looks at the most important issues in boys’ development from birth to manhood and discusses the warm, strong parenting and guidance that boys need. He brings his humour, honesty and practical knowledge of families to the vital task of raising sons.
The author argues that we deeply affect our children’s self-esteem, and in fact shape their future, by what we say and how we say it. Children can be programmed to be losers often before they even start schoo
The book sets out to examine feelings — why we feel as we do and how the way that we feel about ourselves effects our lives. It is suggested that many of our feelings and beliefs are gained in childhood and that at that time we are dependent on others and learn to suppress the feelings that are unacceptable and show only that side which will gain us approval. The authors believe that this teaches us that our happiness and self-worth depends on others, rather than being of our own making.
Having healthy Boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks out those things for which we are responsible. Boundaries effect all areas of our lives.
Physical boundaries help us to determine who may touch us and how, and when.
Mental boundaries give us freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions.
Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage us from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others.
Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God’s will from our own.
The authors set out to offe
A method to bring parents and their children together and to show parents how to help their children become mature, healthy, happy and loving. The sorts of results that have been claimed as outcomes are:
Less fighting, fewer tantrums and lies
Warmer feelings, closer relationships
Rules that are established and followed
More responsible children
Parents that are neither dictators nor doormats
Genuine friendship and respect between parents and children.
Provides new ways parents and teachers can build self-control, self-esteem, and self-reliance by teaching the skills required to govern a family, classroom or group more democratically, less autocratically.
Dr. Thomas Gordon a the author of P.E.T. writes “Dr. Gaulke shows parents how they can integrate their Christian beliefs with a more humane philosophy of child rearing. Invaluable for both parents and those who counsel parents, this pioneering book clearly documents the need for specific communication skills to practice Christian love. It also provides theological support for those who have been searching for an alternative to the dictatorial or permissive approach to parenthood.
Practical help for teenagers and their parents. Identifies problems and offers easy to follow solutions.
They hold that while they may sound scriptural, false assumptions like:
It’s selfish to have my needs met
If I’m spiritual enough, I will have no pain or sinfulness
If I have God, I don’t need people
Guilt and shame are good for me
Just doing the right thing is more important than why I do it, can have a devastating effect on mental and spiritual and even physical welfare. They write about how the bible, properly understood, brings emotional spiritual health and growth.
Covers are wide range of approaches to the whole spectrum of depressive experience and stresses the importance of seeking the right kind of help. Written from a Christian background.
A pastor and psychologist write about personal accounts of the journey to wholeness. The book talks about the general nature of Depression, some of the problems which are encountered and the help which is available.
An autobiographical account of a sufferer from this disorder compiled by the authors. The autobiographical material is followed by a commentary on schizophrenia together with some general information.
The author is the director of The Christian Synergy Center writes about the nature and purpose of stress and some coping strategies.
Dr. Jamison is one of the foremost authorities on manic-depressive illness, also known as “Bi-polar Disorder”. She has experienced it firsthand. While pursuing her career in academia and medicine, she was affected by the same exhilarating highs and catastrophic depression that afflicted many of her patients. This book is a personal memoir of candour and courage, wit, humour and expensively won wisdom, which examines manic-depression from the perspectives of both healer and the healed.The British Medical Journal said of the book, ‘A landmark…A vibrant and engaging account of the life, love and experience of a woman, a therapist and academic and a “patient” who can offer much understanding, comfort and inspiration and illumination to both those afflicted by depression and manic-depressive illness and those who want to understand some of the experience’
In this book the author marshals recent scientific evidence that demonstrates many emotional problems are just as physical as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. “While he does not discount personal responsibility, he shows from both the Bible and up-to-date medicine why it isn’t sin to hurt. The book is dedicated to those many “God-fearing Christians who — to the best of their ability — are walking according to the Scriptures and yet are suffering from emotional symptoms. Many of them have been judged for their condition and given half-truths and clichés by well-meaning but ill-informed fellow-believers.” One reviewer wrote, “For those who care for the suffering, here is vivid proof that those in emotional pain deserve compassion not condemnation”
The author claims that real change is possible if one is willing to start from the inside out, to develop a vital union with God, richer relationships with others, and a deeper sense of personal wholeness. Real change begins with facing the realities of one’s own life and letting God help you to become a person who is free to be honest and loving.
The book is written by people with first hand experience of domestic violence and the first half is geared to support network people like parents, friends, both personal and professional who can make a difference. The second half is directed at the victims of abuse. It provides an action plan for battered women and for those around them. It offers steps on how to combat such violence within families and communities.
Comments about this book include: “A complete guide to the psychological, social, spiritual,…needs of both victims and their families as well as those who work with them.”“This book uncovers the problem, points to a solution that has history behind it — it works! It’s biblical, it’s practical, while still providing a way to process all the inner turmoil and confusion that the victim experiences.”
This book is Cathy Ann Matthew’s moving personal story —the horrors of her sexual, emotional, and physical abuse as a child, the devastating effects on her life and the practical steps she took with her belief in God towards recovery. It provides encouragement for people who were abused as children and teenagers, and those who support them.
The book explores the damaging effects of verbal abuse on children and the family, and offers some valuable insights and recommendations. It encourages victims or helpers in their efforts to change such a situation.
The book aims to help victims of spiritual abuse and their families cope with reentry the Christian mainstream. It includes topics such as dispelling emotional confusion, restoring relationships, retaining independence and making life adjustments.
Written by two men who had to deal with past sexual abuse in their own marriages, the book is directed to husbands who are trying to cope with the confusion, fear and anger that results when their wives first confront and then begin to recover from past abuse. Important issues like identifying the warning signs, handling the relationship changes, how to avoid behaving like an abuser, helping a wife toward recovery and husbands finding support.
This new look at one of the most contentious issues of our time draws together what science really says about a homosexual gene and a review of the flawed research reported in the popular press, The author produces a model based on modern science and psychological understanding of habit, compulsion, and addiction.One of the positive reviews of the book says, “By far the most best, most comprehensive, most balanced and incisive treatment of the subject I have yet seen.” (Roger Sider, M.D. Medical Director, Pine Rest Hospital)
Mario Bergner lectures frequently on the subject of homosexuality and is the director of “A Redeemed Life” a ministry of pastoral care for the sexually broken. Paul Viitz, Professor of Psychology, New York University comments” “Bergner’s powerful account of his healing from homosexuality, largely through his faith, is also deeply informed by a psychological understanding of some of the major problems and crises which he faced.” He recommends it highly.
There are many Christians who do not wish to embrace a homosexual identity. Because of their faith and their belief in the Bible, these people chose not to act on their same-sex attraction. This book contains stories of people who have made that choice, and share their struggles, and the hope their stories will bring hope and encouragement to others.
This is the intensely personal story of how a father and a Christian came to terms with his bereavement when his three year old son died.
This book sets out to explore the depths of human sorrows, whether due to illness, divorce, or the loss of someone that we love. It holds that what we do with the circumstances of our life is the deciding factor in resolving such griefs.
Dr. Paul Brand’s work with leprosy patients in India and the United States convinced him that pain is really one of God’s gifts. This is the inspiring story of this man’s fifty-year career as a healer, his reflection on the mystery of pain and its importance as an indicator that lets us know that something is wrong.
