Thursday, August 13, 2009

Friendship and Leadership

Welcome to the blog tour for The Friends We Keep/40-Minute Bible Studies Blog Tour!

Today we're taking a peek into two books: The Friends We Keep : A Woman's Quest for the Soul of Friendship by Sarah Zacharias Davis, and Rising to the Call of Leadership by Kay Arthur, David and BJ Lawson, a volume in a 40-minute Study series.

Summary for The Friends We Keep:

During a particularly painful time in her life, Sarah Zacharias Davis learned how delightful–and wounding–women can be in friendship. She saw how some friendships end badly, others die slow deaths, and how a chance acquaintance can become that enduring friend you need.

The Friends We Keep is Sarah’s thoughtful account of her own story and the stories of other women about navigating friendship. Her revealing discoveries tackle the questions every woman asks:

• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

With heartfelt, intelligent writing, Sarah explores these questions and more with personal stories, cultural references and history, faith, and grace. In the process, she delivers wisdom for navigating the challenges, mysteries, and delights of friendship: why we need friendships with other women, what it means to be safe in relationship, and how to embrace what a friend has to offer, whether meager or generous.

Pattie's Review

Wow. What can I say? I wish I'd had this book as a teenager, when I was trying to figure out what friendship really was!

This is a terrific resource for all women. The author takes examples from real women as well as from the "ideal" friendships we find in literature, film, and popular culture. She lovingly shows us what the word of God says, and gives suggestions for dealing with particular issues in female friendship.

This is a book I will read again, savoring each chapter.

Summary of Bible Study series:
The 40 Minute Bible Study series from beloved Bible teacher Kay Arthur and the teaching staff of Precept Ministries tackles important issues in brief, easy-to-grasp lessons you can use personally or for small-group discussion. Each book in the series includes six 40-minute studies designed to draw you into God’s Word through basic inductive Bible study. There are 16 titles in the series, with topics ranging from fasting and forgiveness to prayer and worship. With no homework required, everyone in the group can work through the lesson together at the same time. Let these respected Bible teachers lead you in a study that will transform your thinking—and your life.

Titles Include:
•The Essentials of Effective Prayer •Being a Disciple: Counting the Cost
•Building a Marriage That Really Works •Discovering What the Future Holds
•Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past •Having a Real Relationship with God
•How Do You Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk? •Living a Life of Real Worship
•How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret •Living Victoriously in Difficult Times
•Money & Possessions: The Quest for Contentment •Rising to the Call of Leadership
•How Do You Know God’s Your Father? •Key Principles of Biblical Fasting
•A Man’s Strategy for Conquering Temptation •What Does the Bible Say About Sex?

Pattie's Review:

While I have not had the time to go through this study yet, I will say that after paging through it, it looks to be a REALLY good series. Designed for small groups, yet still something one could do on one's own, this little book seems like a great example for the series. I'd recommend it. It appeals to me. The length, the layout, all seem very exciting, as well as nonthreatening (and anyone who has gone through a Kay Arthur study probably knows what I mean! They're really deep!).

Many thanks to Random House for the opportunity to review these books!

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