Broken Roads: Returning to My Amish Father

Ira Wagler | FaithWords, 2020, 272 pp. | Reviewed by Maria Rockhill

In this sequel to his best-selling Growing Up Amish, Ira Wagler unfolds his journey of faith in Christ after leaving the Amish church. He opens his book with a brief introduction to and factual summary of Amish culture.

This author’s masterful storytelling and slightly unorthodox grammar and syntax yield a writing style in captivating flow. He thoughtfully walks the reader through both the cadenced joy and plodding heartbreak of life. There’s a little wheel spinning, too.

The reader sees Wagler’s initial transition to the conservative Mennonite church as a stepping stone to finding his place in larger society. Wagler focuses next on the delightful learning curve both college and law school prove to be.

He describes the unexpected romance and idyllic wedding to his beautiful wife, followed by the subsequent, arduous journey to forgive the infidelity that ended their childless marriage. Wagler further elaborates on his struggle to move forward to restore beauty to the home they once shared and accept the finality of divorce.

The author details the poignant pall of his mother’s slow decline to the insidiousness of Alzheimer’s disease, his family’s loving care of a dying parent, and the closure her death brings when her suffering finally ends.

His battle with alcoholism as a coping mechanism for loss is raw, real, and, ultimately, a triumph.

This author’s pen is both compassionate and compelling when writing of the father from whom he struggles to gain acceptance and approval. It is the powerful, paternal voice that he hears again and again—sometimes face-to-face, but mostly in echo—when life hits home. This book closes with contemplative commentary, both of his father’s final days and as a confirmation that his purpose in writing is to give a loving tribute.

With particular skill in painting a picture of gratitude for the richness of his Amish heritage against the backdrop of its austerity, Wagler affirms his assurance in the Savior who has graciously led him away from legalism and into a biblical understanding of the true liberation found in Christ’s gospel.

Broken Roads is a well-crafted, wistful weaving of both the timeless and the contemporary.

Read it and weep.

Read it and rejoice.

Read it and be reminded that our heavenly Father is the only true hope for reconciliation and redemption.

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Gentle and Lowly

Dane Ortlund | Crossway, 2020, 224 pp., $19.99 | Reviewed by Pastor Martin Blocki

Recently, a fellow teaching elder and dear friend let me know he would not be at evening worship and so would miss my exposition of God’s Word. He exhorted me, “Give ’em heaven!” This is exactly what Dane Ortlund does for the reader in his wonderful book Gentle and Lowly.

Starting from Matthew 11:29, where Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart,” the book begins with an exploration of the very heart of our Lord Jesus Christ toward His people.

Initially, the discerning reader may be concerned that the author makes assumptions that are not well supported, but my simple exhortation is to read on! As the book develops, the reader is presented with an even larger picture of the all-consuming love and mercy of the triune God.

Standing on the shoulders of John Owen, Thomas Goodwin, Richard Sibbes, Jonathan Edwards, and John Calvin, Ortlund systematically and exegetically probes the Scriptures in order to present us with an overwhelmingly beautiful picture of the very nature of our God and the power and purpose of the gospel.

Perhaps a couple of key excerpts will persuade you that this book is worth your time:

“It is one thing to believe that God has put away and forgiven all our old failures that occurred before new birth. That is a wonder of mercy, unspeakably rich, but those were, after all, sins committed while we were still in the dark.…It’s another thing to believe that God continues, just as freely, to put away all our present failures that occur after new birth.”

“Perhaps, as believers today, we know God loves us. We really believe that. But if we were to more closely examine how we actually relate to the Father moment by moment—which reveals our actual theology, whatever we say we believe on paper—many of us tend to believe it is a love infected with disappointment.”

“Once again, it is a result of projecting our own capacities to love onto God. We do not know His truest heart.”

What starts as an examination of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ develops into a powerful, moving, and beautiful exposition of the heart of the triune God toward His people. In short, Ortlund exposits the gospel to the reader, seeking to open our hearts and minds to the overwhelming mercy and love of God for His people.

There is no moralism here, only Christ. There is no list of things to do, only the exhortation to go to Jesus; for He is the one who says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

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Walking by Faith

Esther Smith | P&R, 2020, 92 pp., $9.99 | Reviewed by Meg Spear

Walking by Faith is a new title in P&R’s 31-Day Devotionals for Life series. Each title is aimed at addressing a particular struggle or sin; and there are 16 books in the series, with more in the works.

In this book, Esther Smith explores biblical responses to the specific challenges of chronic illness. Smith is a CCEF-certified biblical counselor and is also a licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Maryland.

Importantly, Smith struggles with the issues surrounding chronic illness and chronic pain on a daily basis as she battles lupus and hypermobililty syndrome. Her words of biblical encouragement are especially meaningful as she has battled through times of great grief, anxiety, and despair. She is honest about her own pain, compassionate to others who similarly suffer, and forthright in applying scriptural principles.

She has chosen themes that are particularly applicable to those dealing with chronic pain or illness, although I think these themes are likewise helpful for those dealing with various forms of long-term suffering. The book addresses four themes in succession: Near to God, Take Care of Yourself, Live with Purpose, and Don’t Give Up.

As is true of the other titles in the series, each daily devotional begins with Scripture and is followed by the author’s reflections and gentle exhortations. Each reading closes with a few things for the reader to reflect on or specific actions for the reader to take. Taking time to use this part of the book well will greatly benefit the reader.

I found this book to be helpful in understanding the pain of others and the resultant feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. It has given me a greater compassion for those who are suffering as well as some good tools for working through the very real physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual battles that are a part of life.

I appreciate Smith’s ability to consistently point to the Word of God, to draw out important truths from it, and to apply it to every area of life.

The closing devotional is from 2 Corinthians 4:16–17: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” A good reminder for all weary pilgrims.

Living for God: A Short Introduction to the Christian Faith

Mark Jones | Crossway, 2020, 227 pp. + endnotes, $19.99 | Reviewed by Pastor Joe Allyn

I love teaching my congregation’s Church Information Study! This is not only because of the joy of seeing younger Christians grasp the foundations of the faith, but because I need to be reminded that what we hold most dearly is that which is most basic. That is why I heartily recommend this book by Mark Jones, structured after the persons of our triune God, with application to the life of the church and anticipation of eternity.

The book led me to doxology several times, particularly when the author brought in voices from historic Christian thinkers, including Augustine, Anselm, John Calvin, Richard Sibbes, and Jonathan Edwards. Their excerpts made the doctrines being taught resonate more fully in my own heart.

The author also brought forth the fruit of his own labors in the Word; his consideration of Christ pronouncing blessing upon us is one great example. While the book as a whole is recommended, I lament that the author assumed the use of hymns rather than engaging further with the place of the Book of Psalms in corporate praise.

As he argued that we should be focused on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in our worship, it is surprising that the singing of psalms, which draws us experientially into inter-trinitarian discussions (e.g., Ps. 2:7–9; 22:1–3), should not at least be given primacy of place.

That aside, this is a book I will come back to, not only when instructing others, but when I want to be reminded of the glory of the triune God for whom we live.