The Trouble With Love: a best friend's brother romance with a realistic look into faith and God

The Trouble With Love is the first book in the Faith and Fortune series by Toni Shiloh. Holiday Brown has it all. A successful singing career with a platinum record and a multi-million dollar home in Manhattan that she shares with her two closest friends. Everything was looking great until her roommate’s brother came to stay. W. Emmett Brown has been a thorn in her side for a long time. He is annoying, stubborn and a know it all. He is also the most gorgeous man she has ever seen. Suddenly dynamics charge as Emmett’s sister has a stalker who is getting closer and more threatened. Holiday soon finds that Emmett’s faith isn’t as annoying as it was and he has a softer side that she had failed to notice before. As the two get closer, Holiday starts to question faith, belief and God in ways she hadn’t thought about before. Will it bring Holiday closer to God? 

The Trouble With Love is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother, clean romance. It sounds like a lot, so many tropes in one story, but it works. Once I started this story, I could not put it down. One of my favorite quotes is “The trouble with love was it always smacked you in the face when you least expected it,” which is so true! I fell in love with Holiday, Emmett and her roommates, Tori and Octavia. I loved the banter and teasing between Holiday and Emmett. I loved the interactions between all the characters. The friendship and love between the women. I loved the in depth, realistic look into the struggles with belief, the questions and doubts and the honest real answers from the believers in the story. Even before I finished Holiday and Emmett’s story, I knew I would be continuing the series. I highly, highly recommend The Trouble With Love. 

The Trouble With Love is available in paperback and eBook

The Deconstruction of Christianity: what is it and how can Christians respond?

This month’s Bible study focused on the recent phenomenon of deconstruction. Over the last few years, big names in Christian community announced that they have deconstructed their faith and essentially walked away from God and the church. Hearing their stories, I felt empty, then angry and dismissive. Sadly, there are many false teachings, abuses and hurts done within the church that have led people to doubt God and His word. I also realized that I did not know what deconstruction even was and there are multiple definitions. Two well known Christians in apologetics wrote a book on this very subject and I decided it was the perfect time to study this topic. I read the book as well as went through the study guide for Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett’s The Deconstruction of Christianity. The in-depth and detailed investigation into what deconstruction means. How are doubts and questions dealt with within deconstruction and in the faith? What is biblical faith?  

What is deconstruction? There have been many definitions being used by those who claim to be deconstructing as the individual is the authority. One definition is simply the process of dismantling an individual’s accepted beliefs. It is questioning the Bible when it doesn’t align with the culture and the Bible is seen as a tool of oppression to be rejected. Today’s culture likes to redefine words, making clarity unclear and communication confusing. Many deconstructionists have “the same vocabulary but they are using a different dictionary” (page 21). Childers and Barnett define deconstruction as “a post-modern process of rethinking faith without regarding Scripture as a standard” (page 26). Essentially deconstruction is about a question of authority. The Bible tells us to evaluate our faith, our beliefs with discernment (Hebrews 5:14) to seek understanding (Proverbs 2:2-5), to abound in knowledge (Philippians 11:9-10) and holding onto what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:2). However, deconstruction is at odds with Christianity because it has little to do with achieving a correct theology. It is about tearing down doctrine that is morally wrong to an individual, to match one’s own internal conscience, moral compass with a never ending cycle of skepticism. Deconstruction also seems to focus on the evangelical label as they lump it together with white supremacy, Christian nationalism and Western civilization. Therefore, they seek to “decolonize” one’s theology and try to delegitimize the authority of the Bible. To many deconstructionists, Biblical interpretation needs to be subjective or it is to be rejected. 

The origin of deconstruction begins in the Garden of Eden and Satan as he postulates to Eve the question: Did God really say…? As well as to deny God’s word and twist the meaning of His word. Doubt enters into our human minds all the time, especially in terms of our faith and God himself. Childers and Barnett quote a pastor who says “Doubt drives you in one of two directions. It either pushes away from God or it pushes you to run toward God (page 84). God welcomes our questions. He doesn’t rebuke us for our doubts, he wants us to come to him with every question, doubt and insecurities. The most famous doubter that comes to mind is John the Baptist. In Matthew 11, John is in prison and he hears the stories of what Jesus is doing, so he sends his disciples to ask “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (verse 3). Jesus gave his answer to John and told him to look for the objective evidence (verses 4-6). The main picture here is Jesus can handle our doubts. He didn’t belittle John for his question or say how dare he doubt me! He even complimented John for his question (verse 11). Doubts can lead to a reformation, a moving back. If someone comes to you with a question, it is acceptable to say “I don’t know.” However, it is important to follow through with “but let’s find the answer together,” by using Scripture as a guide.

Deconstructionists also like to state that faith is irrational, self-oriented and not truth based. However, that is not the case. Biblically, faith is built on reason as it is a response to evidence, not a lack of it. A “saving faith is active trust based on the evidence” (page 173) as seen in “signs, wonders, and various miracles” (Hebrews 2:4). Faith is belief in a future occurrence based on the evidence of the past. However, having faith doesn’t mean doubts disappear. In Matthew 8:26, Jesus rebukes the disciples, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Here were men who saw amazing miracles and yet were afraid in a storm. It is proof that faith is in flux. It can easily go from confident to shaky and back again. I have been a Christian for almost thirty years and my faith isn’t always confident. There are times when I doubt, when I am afraid and uncertain what the future holds. I keep to the faith that God will keep His promises despite my doubts. What is the faith? The faith, a genuine Christian faith, is objective reality. It is true regardless how we believe or feel about it (page 162). The example Childers and Barnett uses is that someone can deny gravity but will still fall to the ground when he jumps. Gravity is true regardless of the individual’s beliefs. The genuine Christian faith is based in the truth of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 

In conclusion, The Deconstruction of Christianity goes into much more depth and topics within the deconstruction movement that I can write about here. Deconstructionism is nothing new. It is a reaction to and motivated by sin. And our questions and doubts do not mean a lack of faith. God welcomes it all. Doubts and questions are not a lack of faith and sometimes necessary on the path to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity involves understanding the difference between biblical truths and extra biblical religiosity and we do so by asking questions. After finishing this study, I am reminded that behind every deconstruction is a very real person. A person with complex wounds, desires, triggers, hurts and experiences. Each one is seen and loved by God and we need to be loving, kind and compassionate when and if they come to us with questions. And to remember that we do not change their minds. Only God can open minds and heal broken hearts. 

Someone to Trust: an inspirational story about faith, hope and joy

Someone to Trust is the second book in the Life Unexpected trilogy by Melanie D. Snitker. Chess Summers never got a “real” family growing up. Entering the foster care system at a young age and he grew up feeling alone. As an adult, he created a makeshift family with other former foster kids that finally gave Chess the sense of belonging. However when his insecurities from the past threaten his future, Chess sees everything he holds dear begin to fall away. Brooke Pierce has had a tough life but her trust in Christ has kept her going. She has harbored a crush for Chess but he has made it clear that he saw no future for them. When Chess begins to see Brooke differently and as Brooke starts to move on, Chess must ask himself the difficult questions, especially his own doubts about God and faith. 

Someone to Trust is a wonderful inspirational Christian novel that hits the tough questions about the power of faith, hope, and the joy found in redemption. I enjoyed Chess as he struggles with his doubts and the honesty in his questions. I also enjoyed the answers that he received as real and honest. There was no flowery, everything will be perfect in their answers but faith helps the struggles lighter. One of my favorite quotes from Chess’s brother, Joel, as he answers Chess’s questions: “We can’t control what happens around us, Chess, but we can control the choices we make in the midst of it all.” So very true! I devoured this book and I look forward to reading the third and final book in the trilogy.  I highly recommend Someone to Trust as well as the first book in the trilogy, Safe in His Arms.

Someone to Trust is available in paperback and eBook

The Haven: a gothic suspense thriller

The Haven is the second book in the Outer Banks series by Nicola Marsh. The Haven has been a refuge for many; however, for Rylee it has been a sheltered life. While she loves her father, John, and her grandmother, Leah, she wonders about life outside of her home. When an opportunity to work at the Arcania, a wellness retreat near her home, Rylee is excited but Leah isn’t thrilled. Rylee is also on a journey to search for the mother who left suddenly when she was a newborn with long buried family secrets ready to be uncovered. What Leah is hiding is that decades earlier, she arrived at The Haven and got a job at the nearby Arcania. However, horrors she witnessed there sent her running. As Rylee’s fascination with finding her mother and the Arcania grows, Leah believes Rylee is now in harm’s way. How far will Leah go to protect her family? 

OMG! What a story! As I began the book, I was curious how the Haven could be related to the Arcania, the story we see in The Retreat (2023). Although you do not need to read The Retreat first to enjoy The Haven, I would highly recommend it. As Rylee begins to subvert her grandmother’s control and truly begins her search for answers, the gates open and the story begins a twisted tale of suspense, thrills, and turns of events you won’t see coming! I love how Rylee finds her courage and stands up for herself as she demands answers. And the ending! Are there plans for a third book? Oh, I hope so! With the haunting setting and unexplained happenings, this story will draw you in until the final page. I highly recommend The Haven as well as the first book, The Retreat. If you enjoy gothic suspense thrillers, you cannot miss the Outer Banks series! 

The Haven will be available on October 31, 2023 in paperback and eBook

The Prisoner: a psychological thriller of survival

The Prisoner by BA Paris is a story of survival. Amelie Lamont is a survivor. She has been on her own since the death of her father. She makes her way to London, finds a job and enters the glamorous lifestyle of those around her. She meets the billionaire Ned Hawthorne and enters into a marriage of convenience. She doesn’t realize until it's too late that lies and deceit are the name of the game. A chain of events begins, tumbling like dominoes until she finds herself in a dark room, kidnapped with no hope of getting out. Lies, deception and She has no idea where she is, who her captors are or what their intentions could be; however, one thing she knows for certain, she’s not going down without a fight. 

The Prisoner is an interesting psychological thriller told in two parts. Part One opens in the present as Amelie wakes up in a dark room, recounting the events of the previous day. Back and forth between past and present, the series of events are revealed as how she got kidnapped and possibly why. Part Two is the aftermath as the investigation into the kidnapping begins. Who is to be believed? And who is hiding a deadly secret? The Prisoner is filled with twists and turns that will leave you guessing who to trust and who is behind the kidnapping and what their motives are. I enjoyed The Prisoner. It kept me guessing until the very end. I recommend The Prisoner. 

The Prisoner is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

What We Carry: a hard look at life following a miscarriage

What We Carry by Kalyn Fogarty is a story of heartbreak, grief and finding a way back. Cassidy Morgan has always followed a carefully thought out plan for her life. Top education, check. Fulfilling career, check. Marriage to the love of her life, check! The next item would be to start a family, But when a late-term miscarriage throws her off her tracks, she finds herself questioning everything she knows about herself, her life and the world around her. Cassidy finds it difficult to move past her sense of guilt and shame, she shuts herself off from her husband, Owen, as well as the rest of the world. At the depth of her grief, she begins to see the areas of her life that aren’t so perfect. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant again, joy and fear overwhelm her. Cassidy must decide if she will let her grief and fear hold her back from a future that is worth living for. 

As a woman who dealt with many miscarriages at various stages of pregnancy, there aren’t many books that truly get into the darkness that happens after a miscarriage. What We Carry is thought-provoking and eye opening for any one who has not experienced a pregnancy loss. Ms. Fogarty is deeply honest in her unflinching, no-holds-bar depiction of the fear, the pain and the grief that follows a miscarriage. The what ifs, the undeserving blame and questions of what went wrong are very real. I also appreciated Ms. Fogarty’s depiction of the well-meaning and yet not so helpful comments is so accurate. What We Carry is a heartfelt, tear-filled story. A journey of how grief and fear can turn into strength and courage. While every woman’s experience and journey is different, I feel that women who have gone through this journey can feel a connection with Cassidy and Owen as they find their way through the fog. I highly recommend What We Carry. 

What We Carry is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

No God But One: an in depth examination of Christianity and Islam

No God but One: Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi is an in depth, analytical examination of Christianity and Islam. Mr. Qureshi sets out to examine Island and Christianity in detail, exploring areas of crucial conflict and seeking relevant evidence. In this book, he provides a through and careful comparison of the evidence for Islam and for Christianity and addresses the important questions regarding the two religions. How do they differ? Are the differences significant? Can we be confident that either Christianity or Islam is true? And most importantly, is it worth sacrificing everything? Sharing stories from his life and ministry, Mr. Qureshi casts new light on current events and explores pivotal events in the histories of both religions as he compares and contrasts the two religions. Both Islam and Christianity teach that there is no God but one. But who is it? Allah or Jesus? Who deserves to be worshiped? 

I was first introduced to Nabeel Qureshi in the documentary, American Gospel (2018) and I immediately was curious about his journey from Islam to Christianity. Mr. Qureshi shared his journey of faith in the New York Times bestselling Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (2014), which I have not read yet. However, in No God But One, the reader gets a sense of his journey to faith as he examines Islam and Christianity to their bare bones and answers the hard questions. No God but One is a great resource that is gripping, thought-provoking and challenging while being respectful and insightful. I read the eBook edition which has bonus content of a Q&A with Nabeel Qureshi as well as access to videos in which Mr. Qureshi answers some of the common questions about Islam and Christianity. No God but One is an amazing, in-depth examination between Islam and Christianity. I highly, highly recommend No God but One. 

No God but One is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Rise of Skywalker: a odd ending to a disjointed sequel trilogy

The final episode of the sequel trilogy was released on December 20, 2019. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was an anticipated movie as fans hoped that the questions left open in The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017) would be answered and bring a satisfying ending to the sequel trilogy. Unfortunately, there is very little about Rise of Skywalker I enjoyed. After watching the film, not once, not twice but three times. I can see why so many fans were disgusted with this film. The sequel trilogy was too rushed. All three films were released in four years when the original and prequel trilogies were released in six years. So, for this review, I will discuss the problems I saw with Rise of Skywalker and the sequel trilogy. I also have a few thoughts about what it is to be a Star Wars fan now.

There is no cohesiveness in the sequel trilogy. From The Force Awakens (2015), to The Last Jedi (2017) to Rise of Skywalker (2019), there is no real center to the trilogy. There is no central villain as The Last Jedi saw Snoke killed off and Rise of Skywalker brought back Emperor Palpatine who was not mentioned in the first two films. The only connectedness to this trilogy is the reappearance of the main characters: Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The original trilogy, Episodes IV-VI, had the fight against Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. The prequel trilogy, Episodes I-III, had the rise of Palpatine to emperor as well as the development of Darth Vader from Anakin Skywalker. There was an overall arc that connected the actions and events in the trilogies that are missing the sequel trilogy. The overall story of the sequel trilogy feels like they brainstormed ideas and decided to just add it all. There were too many writers with too many ideas, and they didn’t know how, or wanted to, to edit it down. Between the three movies, there are seven different writers with the only overlap with JJ Abrams co-writing The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker.

Second, there are just too many questions left unanswered. There are questions about Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. How does Kylo Ren become a good guy so quickly and so completely? From my reading on fan theories and comments, the sequel trilogy could be about Ben Solo’s internal struggle between his heroic and villainous natures which is a good idea but the movie doesn't do the idea justice. His return to the Light Side is so sudden and left unexplained in Rise of Skywalker. What does he do to redeem himself? Darth Vader saved Luke from Palpatine, what did Ben do? There are questions about the Emperor. How did Emperor come back to life? How and when did Palpatine have a son? As his personal life is left unmentioned in the prequel trilogy, this revelation seems to come out of left field. Other questions include: Who were the Knights of Ren? They are mentioned throughout the trilogy; however, they aren’t really seen until Rise of Skywalker and even that sequence was a let down to some fans. Also, what exactly is a Force dyad? Who was Snoke and how did he become Supreme Leader? One question I was most interested in learning was how did Maz Kanata get Luke’s original lightsaber? How was it retrieved from Cloud City? It would have been an interesting story to hear. It was raised in The Force Awakens as Maz says “A good question - for another time.” However, we may never hear it now. These are just some of the questions fans have asked. A quick search on the internet would find so much more.

Before Disney acquired the Star Wars, fans were ridiculed and mocked for being fans. Suddenly, now that it’s a Disney brand, its cool and hip to be a Star Wars fan. According to these new fans, a true fan cannot dislike a Star Wars film or have any criticisms about it. To be a fan now means you must like everything about the franchise. Since when can’t a fan be critical of a franchise he or she likes? Why can’t he or she point something out that doesn’t fit? Unfortunately, it is a trend I am seeing in more and more fandoms than just Star Wars. I have seen some fans hate something simply because it didn’t follow what they had thought should happen. Disliking something without evidence is just being spiteful. However, when legitimate arguments are made, the only counterargument I’ve heard is “well, they aren’t true fans then.” That’s not an argument, that’s being childish. I do want to acknowledge the toxic “fans” who openly threatened and bullied some of the actors from the films on social media, especially actress Kelly Marie Tran who played Rose Tico. That behavior is completely uncalled for and equally childish. While the character was not my favorite, it is not the actress’s fault that she was given horrible dialogue in a horrible story. Even if she did a horrible job acting, that is no reason to threaten or bully someone.

In conclusion, the sequel trilogy is like a great start to a new book which leaves you disappointed. The opening chapter set the scene to an exciting adventure. But as you read, doubt and confusion sets in. Rise of Skywalker is the last chapter of a very confusing and disjointed story. There were too many holes left in the plot. Too many questions left unanswered. Everything, including the kitchen sink, was thrown in as fan service, or just plain because they wanted to, which left a laughable and cringeworthy movie. If you have seen The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, I recommend you check out Rise of Skywalker. If you happen to like it, that’s fine. The sequel trilogy, unfortunately, is not a trilogy I will be watching again and again like I do with the original and prequel trilogies. It is unfortunate since the trilogy started strong.

Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai: deep questions, hope in times of trouble and God's place in our lives

This month continues with the Minor Prophets as I get closer to the end of the Old Testament. Habakkuk was a prophet during the reign of King Jehoiakim between 612 and 588 BCE. He was prophesying during the time leading to the exile. He was troubled by what he saw and began to have doubts. Zephaniah was a prophet during the reign of King Josiah and written before the king’s religious reformation between 640 to 622 BCE. His message was filled with the Day of Judgment for those who would not repent. Haggai, a prophet, wrote his prophecies in 520 BCE when the Israelites return to their land after exile and began to rebuild their lives. He reminds the people of the importance to keep God first. Where is God when we see injustice? Is there is hope during times of wrath? Where is God placed in the priorities of our lives? 

Habakkuk was a man who sought answers and he set his questions to God. Like a child with deep questions, he came to God without fear. He came to God with heartfelt questions. Habakkuk 2:2-3 lists his questions: “How long, O Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not listen. Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?” Ouch! The Lord’s answers were not with anger but with love. Habakkuk 2:5 records his answers that he will do amazing acts, a series of unbelievable events were coming. First, their independent and prosperous kingdom, Judah, would become a vassal nation. Second, Egypt, a world power for centuries, would be crushed overnight. Third, Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, would be so completely ransacked that people would forget when it had be. These events would happen at the hands of the Babylonians (verses 6-11). Even with these answers, Habakkuk had more complaints, more questions. He was concerned and horrified that Babylon, a nation more wicked than Judah would be an instrument for their punishment. But the Babylonians weren’t aware that they were being used by God and their pride in their victories would lead to their eventual downfall. After all his questions, God asks Habakkuk (and us) to be patient. Habakkuk 2:3, he says “wait for it, it will certainly come.” The lesson in Habakkuk is we should not be afraid to come to God with our questions and concerns. God will not punish us for questioning him. It is our limited understanding of his ways that causes our questions and doubts. God knows this and he will answer.

Zephaniah was a prophet who wrote about the Day of Judgment for those who turned from God.  A warning to those who did evil in his eyes. Zephaniah 1:2 says that the Lord will “sweep everything from the face of the earth.” Punishment against Judah for their idolatry worship and refusal to repent and return to God. Zephaniah also talks about the Great Day of the Lord. Zephaniah 1:14-18 describe a day of bitterness, a warrior’s shout, a day of distress, wrath, anguish and gloom. But the Day of Judgment is a day of cheer for those who were mistreated. These individuals will be purified and restored. Zephaniah 3:8-20 describes the day of hope. After the Lord’s wrath has been poured out and the evildoers are punished, he will purify the people and restore those who were faithful to him. One of my favorite verses in this book is verse 17 “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Imagine God as a parent, a parent whose child has returned home. A parent who rejoices that his child is back safely, a child he will hold and comfort. “Quiet you with his love” is a powerful image that I see as a parent. While a child falls and gets hurt, what is a parent’s first instinct? To pull that child into his or her arms with comfort and love. I image God enfolding each of us like a parent would a child, when we return to him. He holds us and tells us everything will be alright.

Haggai is the first post-exile prophets. His purpose was a call to the people to reevaluate their priorities and help motivate them to rebuild the temple. When the Israelites returned to their land, they focused on getting their homes in order and forgot the temple. Haggai reminded them that when God isn’t a priority, labors are fruitless. We often place a higher priority on personal comfort than on God’s work and true worship. But God is pleased and promises strength and guidance when we give him first place in our lives. I know this is easier said than done and it takes great effort. I often forget to stop and pray or to open God’s word in the hustle of life. However, when I do stop and take a moment in God’s word, even a simple passage in my devotional amazing things can happen. It is hard work to keep my eyes on God but when I do, I can truly see remarkable things happen. God also tells us in Haggai 2:10-19 that holiness doesn’t rub off onto to others but contamination can. Therefore we must careful the foundation in which we lay down. We need to repent and obey every day of our lives not just religious activities like church. We need to be careful in our daily relationships as well. This lesson is repeated in 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” It is easier to pull someone down than to pull someone up. So we must careful who we allow to influence our lives. Look to God first and foremost and he will guide us in all other aspects.

In conclusion, these three prophets give us important lessons. In Habakkuk, we learn that though we cannot see all that God is doing, and we cannot see all that God will do, we can be assured that God is in control. He will punish the evil and right the wrongs. Keeping this in mind can give us a comfort and hope in an evil world. In Zephaniah, we learn that in the Day of Judgment those who did evil will be punished and those who remained faithful will be purified and restored. It is a day we will all face, when we stand before God, we will be held accountable for what we have done with our lives. In Haggai, we learn that when we place God first among our priorities, he will do amazing work in our lives. When we do God’s work in our lives, we honor and worship him. 

Job: story of suffering, faith and trust in God

This month’s study is on the book of Job. It is an illustration of God’s sovereignty and the meaning of true faith. It addresses the question, “why do the righteous suffer?” A question that is still debated today. The book of Job is believed to have been written during the time of the patriarchs (approximately 2000-1800 BC) and the first book of the Bible to be written. It is the first poetic book of the Bible. The book of Job opens in the land of Uz where Job is living with his family among vast wealth. Job was “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3).

Satan approaches God in heaven and the discussion turns to Job. Satan believed that Job was a righteous man because he had everything and if it were taken from him, he would turn from God (Job 1:9-11). God gives Satan permission to take everything Job has but he could not physically harm him (Job 1:12). Soon, Job loses his children, his herds and still does nothing wrong. Job is given a second test in which God allows Satan to physical harm Job but he could not take his life (Job 2:6). There Job sits with every sign of his wealth taken and illness has claimed his body but Job still refused to turn from God (Job 2:10). Job discusses his sufferings with his friends who all give their view as to why he is suffering.

First, Job’s view about his suffering is “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21) and “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10). His attitude is that we should not give up on God simply because he allows bad experiences. Faith in God does not guarantee prosperity and a lack of faith does not guarantee troubles. Job was a man of faith, patience and endurance. As his friends claim that he is suffering for something he has done, he is willing to confess it if he knew what it was. He demands to be shown what sins he could have committed to deserve such punishment (Job 13: 23-24). Job wanted to know why and claimed he could bear the suffering if he could only know why (Job 23. It is a very human demand to know why we are suffering. Does understanding the reasons help the pain and suffering? If God were to answer why would it be easier to accept and bear the pain? The question why is the hardest to answer because you may get the reason but you may not like or accept such an answer.

Second, his friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, come to comfort him and offer advice. They soon turn to accuse Job of an unresolved sin in his life. Eliphaz’s view is simply that man is responsible for his own troubles for “those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:8). Bildad claims that Job’s suffering is because he is unjust as God would not reject a blameless man (Job 8:20). When Zophar joins the discussion he adds that only does Job have sin in his life but his sin deserves more punishment that he already is suffering (Job 11). It is a sentiment the friends will repeat several times. It is also a sentiment repeated in churches today: “Oh you are dealing with financial issues because there’s sin in your life.” Or “You are in pain because you haven’t confessed a sin.” While God does allow the consequences of our sin and bad decisions to play out despite our confession, it does not mean that the bad circumstances are the result of your personal sin. Good and innocent people will suffer bad circumstances because people don’t always do what is right and innocent parties will suffer. Does this mean that you shall lose faith? No, because faith in the bad times shows a stronger character than faith in the good times.

Lastly, the Lord speaks to the group. He first addresses Job and demands to know why he speaks with knowledge (Job 38:1). The Lord rebukes Job for daring to demand an answer, to question God and the workings of the universe he couldn’t possibly understand. God uses His questions to Job to demonstrate how little he really knows (Job 38-39). Job acknowledges that he cannot understand what God understands (Job 40:4). In Job 42:2, Job says “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” This is a concept that many believers must face and learn. There’s a Yiddish proverb which states, “Man plans and God laughs.” We can carefully plan but if it is against the will of God, it will not come to fruition. As believers, we must submit to the will of God in our lives. As it says in the Lord’s Prayer, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). The Lord then addresses the three friends because they “have not spoken of me what is right” as Job has (Job 42:7). The Lord blesses Job’s life with far more than he had originally because he passed the test of faith.

In conclusion, the lessons learned from Job is bad circumstances are not always the result of sin and knowing the reason why isn’t the point. The point is our faith in God in times of prosperity and in times of troubles, especially in times of troubles. It may sound easier said than done and it is something I still struggle with from time to time. There has been other times when my faith was tested and it will continued to be tested for the rest of my life. There are times where I worry and I think “how am I going to do this?” And I forget to lean on my faith in Christ. However, there is always something that reminds me to trust in Him. It would be a whisper in my dreams, a voice of a friend, or a verse I read during my studies. Even in his anguish, Job never turned from God. And in mine, I won't either. 

The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson: stories of family and faith

The O’Malley series by Dee Henderson is another example of great books that have stayed with me. Each book focuses on one aspect of the Christian theology with each character who is a non-Christian struggling to understand and accept. Set in Chicago, Illinois, The O’Malleys are 7 individuals who met at Trevor House, a home for children who have been orphaned or taken from their parents’ custody. Together, they decide to start their own family, choosing the name O’Malley and maintained a strong bond that rivals some natural siblings.

First, The Negotiator is the story of Kate O’Malley, a police negotiator who meets Dave Richman, a FBI agent. Together, they must untangle a mystery of a plane bombing. The main theme is God’s mercy versus justice. She learns that her youngest sister, Jennifer, is sick and she questions God’s mercy to those she believes deserve justice. Dave must help her understand that God accomplishes both through Jesus Christ.  One of my favorite quotes from this series is: “Faith is the ultimate personal decision.” I also love Dave’s explanation of the different between a relationship with Christ and a religion: it is the distinction between “follow me” and “follow these rules.” 

Second, The Guardian is the story of Marcus O’Malley, a U.S. Marshall who is assigned to protect Sherri Hanford, the only eyewitness to the shooting death of her father and a family friend who is a federal judge. The main topic between Marcus and Sherri is the idea of unanswered prayer. Marcus, who abandoned his faith when God didn’t answer his childhood prayer and Sherri, who also had an unanswered prayer, helps Marcus understand that God doesn’t always answer prayers in the way we want Him to. God always answers prayers. Sometimes He answers yes, sometimes it’s not yet and sometimes it’s no.

Third, The Truth Seeker is the story of Lisa O’Malley, a forensic pathologist who with the help of Quinn Diamond, a U.S. Marshall and Marcus’ partner, investigates a possible serial killer with a connection to a missing person case from Quinn’s hometown. The topic of the Resurrection is the main theme. Lisa, who has witnessed death as a young child and spent her career investigating death, doesn’t believe that the Resurrection is real. Through the course of the investigations, she must decide if she believes in Jesus and His Resurrection.

Fourth, The Protector is the story of Jack O’Malley, a firefighter who is drawn to Cassie Ellis, a fellow firefighter who was injured in a tragic fire. Together with their boss, Cole Parker, they must investigate a series of arson fires before someone is hurt or killed. The main theme of this story is the reality of Hell. Jack is one of my favorite O’Malley character. He is funny and lovable. He also have a knight in shining armor quality that makes him the ideal firefighter. He struggles with the fact that he cannot protect his youngest sister from the illness that is ravaging her body.

Fifth, The Healer is the story of Rachel O’Malley, a trauma psychologist for the Red Cross who helps people after major tragic events. She is called in to help with the victims of a recent flood in the Chicago area when a crime is discovered that connects her to the victim. She must figure out how she is connects as well as struggle with her new faith, her new relationship with Cole Parker and the realization that her youngest sister is dying. This book is the most emotional for me. Even after reading it for years, I still cry at the end.

Lastly, The Rescuer is the story of Stephan O’Malley, a paramedic and the only O’Malley who has accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. The story begins immediately after the events in The Healer. Stephen, unable to cope with the changes around him, takes a very long vacation. He is effectively running away. As he drives away from his home and family, he runs into an old friend, Meghan Delhart. Stephen is drawn to the small town life which Meghan has settled in. He buys a neighboring farm. They soon discover a pieces of stolen jewelry and they must unravel the mystery before someone comes looking for them. The main theme of this story is how someone keeps their faith in Christ amidst personal tragedy and crisis.

These books are filled with laughter, tears, and thought provoking questions that many Christians struggle with. Ms. Henderson offers a few answers to these questions but effectively each person must answer one question: will you put your faith in Jesus Christ? The O’Malley series is a great story of one family’s journey through crisis and faith. How blood doesn’t necessary create a strong bond of family. I also highly recommend Dee Henderson’s Danger in the Shadows which is a prequel to the series and it is a great mystery focusing on Dave’s sister, Sara.