Title: Little Black Books: Suffering & Evil
Author: Scott Petty
Book Information:
- Publisher: Matthias Media
- ISBN: 9781921441769
- Page Count: 56
How did I get this book: A complimentary review copy was provided to me by Cross Focused Reviews (A Service of Cross Focused Media, LLC). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
Review: As someone who is not a stranger to suffering, I found this book to be the best conversation I never had. The potent, honest, Biblical information found here, felt like sitting down for coffee with an incredible youth pastor and having one of the most candid, refreshing, compelling, and interesting conversations imaginable.
Scott Perry addresses three big questions in this 'Little Black Book':
1. The question of suffering
2. The question of evil
3. The question of God
"Have you suffered recently? Are you suffering right now? Do you expect to experience suffering soon? Probably not. Nobody expects it- that's part of what makes it so bad." pg.9
"In our society we are masters at denying our problems." pg.12 Job didn't deny his problems or his suffering, and that suffering permeated all that he had as well as who he was. "We live in a world in which people suffer, and sometimes unjustly. When that happens to you like it happened to Job, then frankly it is better to gasp in despair, or to confess your loss of hope or sense of frustration, than to pretend everything is OK. God will not blame you for that kind of honesty."
There were many wonderful things that I learned from reading this book, but I would simply be robbing you of the riches to be found within it if I exposed them all here. So since I know you will be reading Little Black Books: Suffering & Evil by Scott Perry for yourself, I will exercise some restraint and share with you only one, and here it is: It is not possible to use the Bible to make a direct connection between suffering and sin; therefore, even though suffering can happen as a result of our sin, it would be an unsound argument that suffering is God's punishment for your sin itself. (I told you this book is good.)
About Little Black Books: A new series of books that get straight to the point on the topics that Christians always have questions about. Not too big, not too fancy, and not at all boring. LBBs are ideal for young Christians (ages 14-20+), but speak biblical truths applicable to any age range.
About the Author: Scott is the youth minister at Christ Church St Ives in Sydney, and loves the tricky questions young people ask about the Christian journey. He also loves his beautiful wife, Carolyn, his three energetic sons, racing bicycles, Italian coffee, food in general, rock‘n’roll and Apple computers, probably in that order.
Scott Perry addresses three big questions in this 'Little Black Book':
1. The question of suffering
2. The question of evil
3. The question of God
"Have you suffered recently? Are you suffering right now? Do you expect to experience suffering soon? Probably not. Nobody expects it- that's part of what makes it so bad." pg.9
"In our society we are masters at denying our problems." pg.12 Job didn't deny his problems or his suffering, and that suffering permeated all that he had as well as who he was. "We live in a world in which people suffer, and sometimes unjustly. When that happens to you like it happened to Job, then frankly it is better to gasp in despair, or to confess your loss of hope or sense of frustration, than to pretend everything is OK. God will not blame you for that kind of honesty."
There were many wonderful things that I learned from reading this book, but I would simply be robbing you of the riches to be found within it if I exposed them all here. So since I know you will be reading Little Black Books: Suffering & Evil by Scott Perry for yourself, I will exercise some restraint and share with you only one, and here it is: It is not possible to use the Bible to make a direct connection between suffering and sin; therefore, even though suffering can happen as a result of our sin, it would be an unsound argument that suffering is God's punishment for your sin itself. (I told you this book is good.)
About Little Black Books: A new series of books that get straight to the point on the topics that Christians always have questions about. Not too big, not too fancy, and not at all boring. LBBs are ideal for young Christians (ages 14-20+), but speak biblical truths applicable to any age range.
About the Author: Scott is the youth minister at Christ Church St Ives in Sydney, and loves the tricky questions young people ask about the Christian journey. He also loves his beautiful wife, Carolyn, his three energetic sons, racing bicycles, Italian coffee, food in general, rock‘n’roll and Apple computers, probably in that order.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed Scott's Little Black Book on Suffering & Evil. There's an eighth book on Jesus being added to the series this summer. Thanks for contributing to the blog tour.
Shaun Tabatt
Cross Focused Reviews