Book Review: Twelve Extraordinary Women
I loved 'Twelve Ordinary Men,' by John MacArthur. So when I heard that he had this sort of pseudo-sequel, I got all excited. And then I was really excited when I found a copy for half price when the bookstore went out of business.So anyway. I finally got around to reading it during my vacation. It was good. Just not as good as I thought it would be. I'm sure part of that was probably that my expectations were so high. I think the biggest thing was that I didn't feel there was any application. Part of it could also be that since the sections in the Bible about these women are shorter than the passages about the disciples (which is what the other book was about), it tended to say a lot of things that I've heard before.
My favorite chapter was the chapter on Anna, the prophetess at the temple when JESUS was dedicated. It really showed her as a godly woman, who we can look to as an example as to how to be completely devoted to GOD. 'She lived the simplest kind of life. She could always be found at the temple. She was singularly and completely devoted to the service and worship of GOD - mostly through her prayers and fasting.'
Overall it is a good book, and I would recommend it. Just keep in mind that it is not the same as 'Twelve Ordinary Men.' And then you will enjoy it.
posted by melilotnfosco | 3:19 PM
10 Comments:
i like anna - had i lived back then, i would have wanted her to disciple me.
lately one of my favorites has been leah, who was treated horribly by her father and sister, yet ended up being an ancestor of Christ (in your face, rachel!)
I've always wondered what it must have been like for those boys to grow up in a household like that. So many authors have different views on the women that Leah might have become. Makes the hatred of Joseph and Joseph's behavior make more sense.
Hmm, I've never read either (and don't think I'd heard of them before you said anything)... so I guess I should just read the women one first :)
random: I like Leah's name better than Rachel's too :) ...but I have to say, I haven't read this story in so long that I don't remember it too well. :( But in my defense, I didn't grow up in a Christian family or in church or anything -- so I didn't read it until college -- hmm, more recently -- that means I should remember it even better, huh? Anyway, sorry, rambling... :)
i like both names, actually :)
I liked this book, but on the whole I like the lineage series better.
Just to make finding the stories easier Chelley- Rachel and Leah were Jacob's wives- the story is in Genisis. Anna was the woman that met Jesus when he was presented at the Temple right after He was born. There are only a few words about her, but they are powerful.
and yes, the lineage books are GREAT! I just finished them all and they've definitely helped me expand my perspective of the culture back then. Especially the one about Tamar- Rivers really got into why things happened the way they did. And the story of Rahab was such a beautiful love story both between her and Salmon but also between her and God.
i loved the lineage books, too.
just for the record, i never said i didn't like the name rachel -- just like leah better :) (don't want to offend anybody;)
don't forget that i'm borrowing this book!
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