What are you reading this summer?
Summer is my favorite time for reading. I enjoy taking my Kindle outside on a sunny day and diving into a good book or reading late at night. Here are a few books I'm reading this summer that I highly recommend.
This book is awesome!!! Again, I encourage every Christian to read it.
In this book, Alisa discussed the popular lies of progressive Christianity that are seeping into today's church. Don't think you or your church are in danger? You might be surprised. The truth is that Christian bookstores are filled with popular books by so-called "Christian authors" who are promoting complete heresy.
How are they getting away with it?
They are funny, charming, and relatable. Reading their books is like wrapping yourself up in a warm blanket or being surrounded by a group of friends who all say, "You go, girl, everything about you is awesome!"
These authors and books are particularly popular in the Women's Ministry or Bible Study section.
How can we know who these authors are or whether their teaching is Biblical?
In this book, Alisa calls them out. She names names and quotes from their books. Then she points to Scripture to show why their theories are 100% wrong.
In these dangerous times, where lies are called truth and truth is called hatred, Alisa's book helps us see through popular teachers' haze and recognize what they are: wolves in sheep's clothing.
But don't be afraid; it isn't going to be dry or ultra-theological. Alisa is also a funny, relatable, easy-to-read author who wants people to know the truth in God's Word. It's an important book to read.
Okay, so there's a story to go with this recommendation. When I first saw the advertisements for this book, I thought, "I should read that." Then I got busy and forgot until a friend of mine recommended it. When she said how much she liked it, I thought, "Okay, I'll try it."
Honestly, I expected to read this book for entertainment….a diversion. I didn't expect how the Holy Spirit would use this book to help me continue disentangling some of the false teachings I learned while growing up in a family and church that the Bill Gothard Movement influenced. Because while I've worked through a lot of this in the past, it surprised me that I still needed to work on some areas. (I'll probably write about this in the future, but not yet.)
"Disentangled" is a keyword in Jinger's book. It's how she describes separating Biblical truth from false teaching without deconstructing and walking away from Christianity. Unlike the recent documentary, Jinger is very generous and forgiving to her parents in this book. (I can understand, having known so many people who fell prey to Gothard's teaching because they wanted to serve God.) Still, she explains how Gothard's false teaching affected her life, what made her realize they were false teachings, and the process she's gone through of making the Bible her guide for life rather than one man's false teaching.
She talks about her battle with fear, anxiety, and the struggle to face the truth. The entire book is filled with Scripture. If you were raised under Bill Gothard's teaching, the holiness movement, or any other form of abusive Christianity, read this book. Don't deconstruct and turn from Jesus. Instead, allow the power of the Holy Spirit to disentangle your brain.
As I said, I'm still processing this book, but I highly, highly recommend it.
"Seriously, Des, you're gonna go there? We all know we're supposed to read the Bible."
I included this because I am especially enjoying using my FireBible for reading and studying. It's been about a year since I got my first FireBible, and all I can say is, "Where have you been all my life?" (I know this is funny because everyone in the Assemblies of God apparently grew up with the FireBible, but it's new to me, and I absolutely love it!)
The notes are so good! Very practical, very relevant, and from a Pentecostal perspective. My advice: if you aren't already using the FireBible study Bible, get one and use it. If you have an old one on a shelf, pick it up and use it again. The notes make the Bible come alive and help us apply the Bible to our everyday lives.
Here's exciting news: the FireBible App is coming soon! I can hardly wait.
Okay, this book doesn't seem like my kind of book at all, but it's SO good. If you're looking for help becoming a better ministry, business, or community leader, these lessons are priceless. I can't tell you how many highlights I've made!!!
It's helping me in my quest to be a better leader. It's fascinating, too.
Speaking of books that help with leadership, I'm rereading Deanna Shrodes' "Stronger: 30 Powerful Principles for Strong Leaders." The chapters are very short and to the point, but they are filled with practical advice for women in leadership.
So that's what I'm reading this summer. As I said, I highly recommend all of these books.
What do all these books have in common? They are helping me to grow in various areas of my life. I'm a big believer in the quote: "Five years from now, you're the same person except for the people you've met and the books you've read." (John Wooden) That's why I believe it's essential for all of us to read good books that inspire us and help us to grow into the women God wants us to be.
That's why I write books, too—in the hopes that my testimonies and experiences can help others grow in their walk with God.
Of course, I also recommend these books from our ministry. Each comes with study questions for personal growth or to be used in a women's ministry. Some even have video curriculum to go with them. They are all available on Amazon.
I hope you check one out and add it to your summer reading list.
Have a great day!
Adessa Holden is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God specializing in Women's Ministry. Together with her brother, Jamie, they manage 4One Ministries and travel the East Coast speaking, holding conferences, and producing Men's and Women's resources that provide practical Biblical teaching for everyday life.
When asked about herself, she'll tell you "I'm a women's minister, a sister, and a daughter. I love to laugh and spend time with people. My favorite things are chocolate, the ocean, sandals and white capris, anything purple, summertime and riding in the car listening to music. It is my absolute honor and privilege to serve Jesus and women through this ministry."
