Review of Reasons My Kid is Crying

Reviewing a coffee table book is a little weird, but here I am. You may, like me, have come across this website where there are pictures of crying children, along with a short explanation of why the kid is crying. Apparently that website hit big and became a bit of a cultural phenomenon that I missed out on. It became a big enough deal that the website's author, Greg Pembroke, published a book version of his site.

Describing what it's like to be a parent can be a real challenge. This book comes close to providing a clear picture into just how insane and hilarious children can be. As parents turn the page they will find themselves comforted by the fact that their child isn't the only one who cries when they take off their sandals and can't put them back on...their child isn't the only one who can ask for a popsicle, get it, and freak out because it's cold.

I've already had a lot of fun sharing this book with my friends, both with and without kids. I'm not sure how someone who's never around kids would respond to the book but everybody who has kids or is around them laughs with recognition at many of the pictures. These pictures capture some of the  most bafflingly infuriating moments of parenting. Sometimes you're so amused at their fit you're able to laugh in the face of it...other times you're at the end of your rope and their fit drives you crazy.  This book will allow you to laugh no matter what. There's not much to read, but it's a good book to thumb through and laugh at your crazy kids.

You can pick the book up at Amazon here.

I was provided a copy of this book for review.

Review of Desiring God DVD Curriculum

John Piper's Desiring God is such a ubiquitous classic that there is almost nothing new I could hope to say about it. Yet here I am, and here you are.

The Desiring God DVD Set is a 10-part series for personal or group study. Between the two DVDs there are ten segments of video of John Piper teaching through the content of his book in a workshop/seminar format. He is still preaching with all the conviction and passion of John Piper in the pulpit, so don't expect it to be your typical dry seminar.

The grand theme of Desiring God is the concept of "Christian Hedonism." This is Piper's philosophy that the supreme purpose of life is to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Far from living a dry, joyless, prim and proper life, the Christian is called to pursue God...and in that pursuit we find greater pleasure and enjoyment than we could ever find in a life pursuing worldly pleasures. That is to say: God is greater than the greatest drug, than a night of getting wasted with your friends, than the pursuit of self-satisfaction through self-service. It is only through the pursuit of God and His intention for our life that we can experience true joy and pleasure like we were intended. And Piper wants to encourage Christians to unashamedly pursue that joy and satisfaction. Christian Hedonism.

Throughout the DVD set Piper introduces and explains this concept, then discusses its implications in areas such as worship, love, prayer, money, marriage, missions, suffering, and more. The intention is that a group of people would watch the DVDs together to discuss them in a small group setting. I'd say you can also easily use it with your family for family devotional time, with a group of friends informally, and so on. There are tons of ways to digest the content and discuss it.

Piper's ministry is popular for a reason. He is a compelling speaker and there is no subject more dear to his heart than this. There is much to be gained from going through this classic content with others and letting it influence your walk with God.