Terribly Interesting

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation by LaTasha Morrison My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have never in my life understood the racial divide in our country. I was always asking questions about why there was clearly a spot of town where black people lived. It was on the other side of the tracks, down where the river floods. The houses were different from the houses on our side of the tracks. I would hear people say words and be worried about how it might look to mix races in any way. There has always been a part of me that wanted to fix this. That is why I was drawn to read this book. I want everyone to feel fully human. I will admit, some of this was hard to read. I cannot wrap my head around torture and murder. I most definitely cannot understand it when it is done with the blessing of the church. It has made me sick to read these stories recounted. It goes beyond ignorance. How on earth is there so much willful hate inside of us and how do we g...

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book made my heart stop beating a time or two. The author did a powerful job giving these characters humanity. Her years spent working with refugees and her careful study of people is clearly reflected throughout these pages. This gut wrenching story gave me a view into a world I would never want to see. It cultivated a mercy that will never leave me. My eyes are open to the tragedy that is swept away from public view. The story is so well told that I feel like I know the people in it. I wanted the beekeeper to find his way and his wife to be healed. I grieved with them. I cried. I was in shock.  This is a powerful story. View all my reviews

The Jesus Who Surprises: Opening Our Eyes to His Presence in All of Life and Scripture by Dee Brestin My rating: 3 of 5 stars There were some good points in this book. There were words that challenged me and made me think. The thing I found lacking was how Jesus surprises us. A large portion of the book doesn't talk about it at all. It comes back to try to tie it in at the end. I wanted to relish it and enjoy it more, but unfortunately I didn't. View all my reviews View this post on Instagram I read all of Miracle on Voodoo Mountain yesterday while my kids swam in the pool. It was such an encouraging read. I needed the reminder to keep my focus on God and expect him to move mountains (or build things on them in Haiti). I’m moving on to Dee Brestin’s new book The Jesus Who Surprises (releasing Tuesday July 23rd). I’m looking forward to this! #surpriseme #Jesus #deebrestin #book #books #📚 #instabook #read...

View this post on Instagram Beach reading. #books #bookstagram I tried to get a cute floppy hat photo, but ... {swipe right} #😎 #micahberteau #lovechangeseverything #hoseaandgomer A post shared by Steph Cherry (@heystephcherry) on Sep 10, 2019 at 12:35pm PDT Love Changes Everything: Finding What's Real in a World Full of Fake by Micah Berteau My rating: 3 of 5 stars I wanted to like this book. My husband and I named our 105 year old house after Hosea’s wife because of the lengths he went to in order to restore her. I love the story. This felt like a poorly retold sermon filled with Christian clichés. I raised an eyebrow at some of the points given and how he was relating the story to Gomer. It felt like a cheap observation of the story. I wanted to like it. I looked past the title and the fact that I did not know the author hoping to love the story because I love the original story, but sadly did not. It was ...

Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society by Judy Christie My rating: 4 of 5 stars After I read Before We Were Yours, I was moved by the tales of the orphans that went through the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The thought of thousands of children kidnapped in a modern society in the middle of America with the help of corrupt politicians is bewildering. They estimated number of children that died there is grievous. After Lisa’s novel was published, so many of the people who were stolen from their families began reaching out to her. She formed a reunion and documented many of their stories. These stories are equally beautiful and devastating. There are lives that turned out well and those that have suffered for generations because of torment. There was one story that spoke to my heart. A couple had been offered a perfect boy and when they went to pick him up, they heard a baby whimpering in the corner o...

Blessed Broken Given: How Your Story Becomes Sacred in the Hands of Jesus by Glenn Packiam My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is powerful and beautifully written. The author has a wonderful gift of story and eloquence. I was moved many times while reading. His words on church hurt, lament, and being given out are some of the best I have read. If you are wondering how God could ever use the wreck that is your life, this is a healing balm. I loved it. View all my reviews

View this post on Instagram If you are looking to overthrow your comfortable Christianity, this will get to you. There are words here that will tear at your heart. Poverty. Sickness. Sex trade of innocent young girls. What will we do with what we have? *Fun Fact: I was on a team that helped pick out the cover (swipe right to see). *due out Sept 17th #books #bookstagram #📚 #👩🏼‍🏫 #somethingneedstochange #davidplatt A post shared by Steph Cherry (@heystephcherry) on Aug 20, 2019 at 8:44am PDT Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need by David Platt My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is one of those books that makes you wonder if you could do more with your life. Following David through a trek up the Himalayas gives a perspective on a life we cannot imagine. The terrifying death rituals, the sex trafficking of little girls, & the awful medical conditions there make your heart want...

View this post on Instagram Denbigh and I are headed into a new season of life and we have put all of the things we do under one new name. What started as simple table fellowship at our house (w/1,400 people in 10 years) grew out the door, into other cities, and to another country. Be on the look out for upcoming changes. “If you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.” #thebohotable A post shared by Steph Cherry (@heystephcherry) on Sep 3, 2019 at 11:55am PDT A little over ten years ago, I lost my second brother to liver related illness. Mike's death propelled me to begin searching beyond my shyness in order to help the drug addict, the lonely, and those looking to love them. We sold our perfect little home in a white picket fenced neighborhood and waited for almost an entire year for God to show us what to do next. I was in no way prepared for the 3 story, 100 year old mansi...

Limited Time BOGO Offer: https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/raising-successful-teens-bogo-offer/ Raising children has been one of the hardest things I have ever attempted to do. I have never felt so ill equipped and so needy before the Lord. I pray and I pray to pray more over these people I have been entrusted with. Their hearts, minds, emotions, and sexuality are incredibly sacred. This book reminded me that I am in a battle. It has given me tools and equipped my heart for much of the journey. I highly recommend it. Raising Successful Teens: How to Help Your Child Honor God and Live Wisely by Jeffrey Dean My rating: 4 of 5 stars I feel like I only survived adolescence. I was exposed to every bad thing you would never want your child to encounter. It came from teachers, peers, parents, and church members. It was horrible. I was in therapy. I went to church. The problem was that my parents were in no way invested in my life, they took no responsibility for their own acti...