Face Time by Kristen Hatton

Face Time: Your Identity in a Selfie World by Kristen Hatton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A short, succinct and practical book, this is geared toward teen girls and the struggle to find their identity. However, anyone can gain help from this book, which starts out with the foundation of our identity being in Christ if we are a believer in Him. She gives the foundation of what justification means and how that affects who we are as Christians and what that means for where our identity lies.
After the foundation of our identity being rooted in Christ, she then takes us through multiple ways that teens struggle today with their identity, whether it be an eating disorder, approval of friends, perfectionism, self-harm, sex, or drinking. With each example, she then has discussion questions and a journal section with Bible verses to see the truth about these struggles. Whether it’s a personal struggle or something we see our friends going through, this book offers practical help in dealing with life in this world.
One small problem I had was that some of the verses used were taken out of context. While the truth that was being given from these verses is accurate, those verses are not the best place to show that truth as the meaning of those particular verses was not correctly being used. Other verses in the Bible could have been used to show that truth. However, overall this was an excellent book that could be used with a small group of teens to work through some of these issues that they face and how to deal with them in a Biblical way.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher New Growth Press in exchange for my review.

Redefining Truth by David Fiorazo

Redefining Truth: Delusions of Replacing God and Calling Evil Good by David Fiorazo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a world where truth has become relative, those of us who believe that there is an absolute truth are fast becoming a minority. In this book the author goes through many ways that the truth has been eroding in the world, particularly in America. Several of the chapters take a closer look at particular religions and worldviews and what about them makes them false. Other chapters look at the decline of marriage and family and how the sex revolution has changed the culture. This book is sobering and a wake-up call to not be complacent in the face of mounting opposition to the Christian faith. Truth must be defined based on what God says in His Word, not on what our feelings want it to be.
Easy to read, if you want to be informed on some of the current issues facing the church today, this book would be a help. One of the chapters that I did not find helpful was the one where he used the strawman fallacy regarding what he calls “replacement theology”. He doesn’t accurately understand the opposing view, obviously holding to dispensationalism himself. But disregarding that chapter, overall the book was a helpful read and one that can provide information regarding the downward slide that this country is part of.

*I received a copy of this book free from the publisher Aneko Press in exchange for my review.

Uncomfortable by Brett McCracken

Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community by Brett McCracken

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I tried to finish this book, but I found myself unable to keep reading. I disagree theologically with the author, which made it difficult to continue on. While there were some good things in this book, including a discussion on how we find it uncomfortable to talk about the cross and sin, as well as our uncomfortableness with pursing holiness in our lives, the chapter on the Holy Spirit was not in line with what I believe. While there can be things to learn from reading those we disagree with, there was enough in this book to not make it worth my time to continue. Others may find it helpful but it’s not a book I would recommend.

*I received a copy of this book free from the publisher Crossway in exchange for my review.