How Good is Good Enough?

"Since Nobody's Perfect: How Good is Good Enough?" by Andy Stanley shows that smart, educated, and accomplished men and women can have wrong ideas about what's needed to get into heaven. With chapters such as "Everything's Fine," "Liar, Liar," "Grading on the Curve," Stanley presents the real story of what's need to enter God's Kingdom. (94 pages)

"Humor for a Friend's Heart"

What do a former Bob Hope staff writer, executive with a major oil company, and a leader of women's retreats have in common? They're all contributors to this deliciously hilarious book on friendships. Dealing with the issue of friendship and their ups and downs, the book pulls the curtain on topics such as "friendship means never having to say you're embarrassed" and "real men do have friends." This one will definitely satisfy your funny bone. This book is compiled by Shari MacDonald. (194 pages.)

Doubts About Your Salvation?

How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian? What the Bible Says about Assurance of Salvation by Donald Whitney. If occasional doubts about the genuineness of your salvation plague you, read Whitney's book. He gives clear explanations of common issues, such as false assurance of salvation, signs of eternal life, the unpardonable sin, etc. (153 pages.)

Lost Your Creativity? Get It Back!

Cirque du Soleil, The Spark: Igniting the Creative Fire That Lives Within Us All by Lyn Heward and John U. Bacon. An inspiring account about the power of creativity. If you think you've lost your creativity and inspiration, read this. The performance artists tell what sparks their creativity. (135 pages.)

Welcome to "The Good Words Bookshelf"

Hi! I'm Barbara.

This is "The Good Words Bookshelf" blog, a companion to the "Good Words for Women" site where women can be inspired, encouraged and empowered through the influence of positive and godly words.

From time to time, I'll share with you some of the excellent books on my own personal bookshelf. Some are written by women, some by men. Some are obviously Christian, some are not. But they all contain kernels of good ideas and good words that are God glorifying and that can inspire and light a spark under us all. Check your local library for copies you can borrow.

Also, you may want to send in suggestions for good books you'd like to see on this site. Or you can write write a brief review of them. Then perhaps, click on the companion site, "Good Words for Women," and take the fun poll in the right-hand column.

Here are two that are on my bookshelf. I'd love to know what you think about them.

1. The Top 100 Women of the Bible: Who They Are and What They Mean to You Today by Pamela McQuade. The top 100 list includes well-known women, such as Abigail, Jesus' mother Mary, as well as lesser-known women of the Bible. A good read. (189 pages.)

2. Love to Eat, Hate to Eat by Elyse Fitzpatrick. This book contains solutions for those women who have struggled with their weight for years. (We've all been there.) This is not another diet book. Fitzpatrick says the solution is having the right perspective of food and understanding why we do the things we do. The book helps women work through breaking the vicious cycle and surrendering their desire for control to Jesus Christ. (263 pages.)

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