31. Sex Is Not The Problem (Lust Is) by Joshua HarrisRefreshing in comparison to the last book, I’ll recommend this one to you. I am afraid I have read far too many books about sexual purity in order to be fair; they just don’t seem to all say the same thing. Harris’ book is well written and focuses mainly on fighting lust instead of boundaries in dating and other usual chapters to read in these books.
32. SHE by Rebecca St. James and Lynda Hunter BjorklundA book scattered with numerous topics, this book covered everything from sexual purity to beautiful femininity, from the importance of mentoring relationships to living on purpose within boundaries. Throughout, the stories of women in the Bible are highlighted and retold. It attempts to define what a healthy woman of God looks like. I didn’t find this book helpful, but it wasn’t awful either.
33. And The Bride Wore White by Dannah GreshThe subtitle of this book is, “Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity.” I have no idea what the author thinks those seven secrets are, although I’m sure I could find them in the table of contents. Regardless, reading this book was more like a long heart to heart talk over a cup of hot chocolate, written to a younger audience than myself. Gresh tells her story and encourages the reader through it and through Scripture to make a relationship with Jesus Christ priority as one seeks to act purely in dating relationships.
And The Bride Wore White is unique among its kind.
34. Do You Think I’m Beautiful? by Angela ThomasIt’s in the heart of a woman to know if she is beautiful. Oftentimes she goes looking for the answer in the wrong places, and in my opinion this book is not the place either. Angela Thomas tells women they are beautiful because of the way God makes much of them as she quotes from Psalms and Song of Songs. It focuses on throwing off fear and choosing to try to dance an intimate relationship with God into being. Thomas uses several substitutes for profanity, and several ellipses in each chapter leave the reader wondering if the author knows how to complete her own thoughts.
*End of purity and femininity books! Back to a more normal reading list.35. The Cross by Peter JefferyJeffery uses a simplistic writing style to tell the story of the cross, tracing the prophecies of the Old Testament and discussing the accounts in the gospels. It is nothing out of the ordinary. Reading about Jesus’ last moments and resurrection three days later from the gospels themselves is far richer. Sadly, Jeffery hardly mentions the resurrection, is often repetitive, and takes few words to connect the event of the cross to everyday life despite the subtitle, "The Reality of the Cross for Today."
36. The Doctrine Of Repentance by Thomas WatsonWritten originally in 1668,
The Doctrine of Repentance is rich in both vocabulary and rhetoric. Watson discusses six character traits of true repentance in full detail, especially focusing on sorrowing over sin. Some other topics within this little book include why we should repent, a warning not to trust in our own repentance but in Christ’s work on the cross to cover our sin, and encouragement to live a life of daily repentance. It made me pause to contemplate as I read. Not a read leading to a happy, light spirit, but a necessary one, I think, regardless.