Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/623149
W orry Less So You Can Live More: Surprising, Simple Ways to Feel More Peace, Joy, and Energy By Jane Rubietta Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2015 We live in a very serious world, filled with all manner of difficulties and troubles. And even though as Christians we live secure in the knowledge that God is sover- eign and all will ultimately be well, the minutia of our days all too often clouds our minds and hearts with nagging, joy- robbing worry. The subtitle of this book promises "surprising, simple ways to feel more peace, joy, and energy." And author Jane Rubietta (author, speaker, pastor's wife, mother and self-professed worrier) delivers on this promise through 13 con- versational, faithful, relatable, often amus- ing and always thoughtful chapters. Each chapter provides a "tool" to help navigate worry (for example, play, nurture, move- ment, identity, tears, trust); and concludes with a quotation from a contemporary or classic author; scripture; questions for reflection; and prayers. This book is not a substitute for medical help for readers who suffer from overwhelming anxiety or p anic, but it does offer advice for "every- day" worriers who seek to live more fully, joyfully and freely into God's faithfulness. Encountering God in Tyrannical Texts: Reflections on Paul, Women and the Authority of Scripture By Frances Taylor Gench Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2015 Have you ever squirmed or cringed at a scripture that seemed to suggest a certain person or group was less than another? For many of us, that answer is yes. In particular, many women stumble over the passages that suggest women are less than or should be obedient to their hus- bands. In her new book, beloved coau- thor of the 1992 PW/Horizons Bible study on James, Frances Taylor Gench, explores the biblical passages credited to Paul that are especially problematic for women. She calls these texts "tyranni- cal," as they seem to validate the right of some to oppress others. She guides the reader to evaluate the tyrannical texts using three questions—How can one honor scripture's authority without i gnoring some passages? What alternate interpretations are possible? How can the problematic scripture (and the whole of scripture) bring us closer to God? This book engages the reader in thinking about the nature and authority of Scrip- ture and how to make it relevant in their faith journey. A Land More Kind Than Home: A Novel By Wiley Cash New York: William Morrow, 2013 "A church ain't no place to hide the truth, and a church that does ain't no place for me," says Adelaide, the first of four narrators, in the first chapter of a beautiful novel that explores commu- nity, faith, truth and reconciliation. Readers learn that a boy named Christo- pher has died, and that Adelaide holds Christopher's pastor responsible for the boy's death. The story that unfolds paints a detailed picture of a small North Car- olina town, a faith community that strug- gles to deal with spiritual and physical violence, and the damage caused by a his- tory that is kept secret. It's a wonderful but heart-wrenching read. January/February 2016 43 Pages Worth Turning t t t USA Mission Experience review Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not For Sale: A Memoir By Rachel Lloyd. New York: Harper Collins, 2011 If you were to see a provocatively dressed teenage girl talking to an older man, would you think of her as a "commercially and sexually exploited minor" or a "teen prostitute"? While many in advocacy groups under - stand sex workers as people who are being exploited, much of the broader population does not have this awareness. In her painfully honest memoir, Rachel Lloyd shares her personal story of how she was lured into the sex trade, following years of violence and neglect. After she left her pimp boyfriend, she estab - lished an organization to help at-risk girls. Through that organization, she learned many other girls' sto - ries, which she shares in this book. Readers will learn about the lack of options and care that drag girls into the sex industry, and the heartbreaking lack of concern from law enforcement for the girls. This book is a useful tool for a paradigm shift, from focusing on what the girls have done wrong to focusing on what wrongs have been done to them, and what society can do to right those wrongs. —Judy Robinett Lenexa, Kansas b o o k s