Only A Woman

I really enjoyed the first book in The American Story,  series. It followed a clear, chronological storyline that made it easy to stay engaged and understand how events unfolded. This book, however, was more difficult for me to follow. While it focuses on the early presidents, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and Andrew Jackson, the structure often jumps backward in time within each section. When reading about one presidency, it frequently returns to events from earlier administrations, which made it difficult to follow the timeline and stay oriented. One aspect I did appreciate was the emphasis on the personal faith of many of the founders. I found it especially interesting how the book addressed common claims about Jefferson, arguing that he was not a deist in the way he is often portrayed by modern historians. The detail about him attending church services held in the United States Capitol was particularly striking. I had ne...

You’re Not Enough (And That’s Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love was a refreshing and much-needed read in a culture constantly preaching self-love, self-care, and the idea that everything we need is already within us. As the book description says, we are told that the key to happiness is learning to love ourselves more, and if we do, we will finally feel successful, secure, and complete. Yet for so many, that promise never delivers. Instead of peace, it often leaves people exhausted, constantly striving for self-acceptance and addicted to self-improvement. I deeply appreciated how Allie Beth Stuckey challenges the modern myth that we are “enough.” Our sufficiency was never meant to be found in ourselves. It is found in God. One of the strongest parts of the book was her discussion of the myth that we are entitled to our dreams. I think the American dream can sometimes cloud our biblical discernment. We are taught to chase personal fulfillment and ambition, but Scriptu...

I thoroughly enjoyed Leadership and the Sin of Empathy . It is a bold and needed critique of a cultural shift that many sense but struggle to articulate. The author confronts what he describes as a growing “tyranny of the sensitive,” where victimhood is elevated and exaggerated claims of harm are used to demand agreement, submission, and silence. One of the most compelling arguments in the book is how language has been redefined. What was once considered conflict, disagreement, or even loving accountability is now often labeled as abuse. This shift creates a dangerous environment where truth becomes secondary to feelings, and those who attempt to hold others accountable are accused of harm. The result is a kind of moral inversion where the one claiming hurt assumes authority, and the one speaking truth is placed on trial. The book also offers a helpful distinction in how empathy has been historically understood versus how it is now being practiced. Referencing earlier definitions, ...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The American Story by David Barton and Tim Barton . It was both informative and encouraging to read a version of American history that highlights the faith, courage, and sacrifice of our Founding Fathers. For many years, much of what has been taught in schools seems to present a very different picture, one that often demonizes the Founders rather than honoring the incredible risks they and their families took to establish this nation. This book challenges that narrative by returning to primary sources and historical writings that clearly show the role faith played in the founding of America. One of the most striking takeaways for me was how deeply biblical principles are woven throughout the foundation of our country. It becomes very clear while reading that the Constitution was written in a culture shaped by biblical understanding and moral principles. The Bartons do an excellent job of presenting evidence and historical context that help the reader se...

I just finished This Present Darkness, and I am still processing it. Peretti does not just tell a story. He pulls back the curtain on the unseen. He paints a vivid picture of spiritual warfare, reminding readers that our battle is not against flesh and blood. The way he portrays the demonic realm operating behind everyday decisions, politics, media, and influence is sobering. It makes you look twice at what seems normal. What struck me most is how much the fictional town in the book mirrors small communities like ours. A place where a handful of influential families quietly steer the direction of the city. Where power structures feel untouchable. Where, at times, there seems to be a spiritual heaviness you cannot quite explain. The atmosphere Peretti describes feels uncomfortably familiar. The book also confronts something many Christians would rather ignore, cultural compromise. There are characters who profess faith yet live in quiet opposition to God through what they consume, tol...