Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Grace of God by Jep & Jessica Robertson

The Good, the Bad, and the Grace of God: What Honesty and Pain Taught Us About Faith, Family, and Forgiveness

Authors: Jep Robertson and Jessica Robertson with Susy Flory 
Genre: Nonfiction/Biography/Memoir/Christianity
Release Date: June 23, 2015
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Description:

A Moving Story of Redemption and Second Chances
 
Jep Robertson, the youngest son of Duck Commander Phil Robertson, and his wife, Jessica, open up about their personal trials, their early years together, and the challenges that might have destroyed them both had the grace of God not intervened. Jep describes being molested as a child and his reluctance to tell anyone until only a few years ago, his downward spiral into drug and alcohol abuse, and the eventual intervention of his family. 

Jessica shares about the difficult failure of her first marriage while still a teenager and the hurt that came along with it, much of it from the church. Her insecurities spun out of control as she wondered whether she would ever be good enough or pretty enough. This book is their love story but, more importantly, their love story for God.
 
"We are desperate to let people know that no matter what you've done; no matter what you've lived through, you can come out of it. You can be washed clean. You are redeemed."  

The Good, the Bad, and the Grace of God is a very personal look inside the lives of TV celebrities Jep and Jessica Robertson, who are known from Duck Dynasty. If you've ever seen the show or read any of the other books that other members of the Robertson clan have written, you know that they aren't shy about their Christian faith. In this memoir, the youngest of the Robertson brothers - Jep - and his wife - Jessica - speak about some of the hard life lessons they've had to learn throughout the years and how even these tough situations brought them closer to their family and to God.

The book is told in a very natural, laid-back manner - which allows the reader to easily identify with Jep and Jessica from early on. It also reminds us that these 'larger than life' celebrities are just normal people like us, who have struggled with several common issues and who are still learning and growing as they go through life. Being a woman, I found it easier to identify with Jessica's stories - especially the ones dealing with her insecurities. Jep's stories were intriguing and showed me a side of his life I never would have guessed about. Hearing about the horrific events he had to go through - like being molested as a child and keeping it inside for so many years - as well as his drug and alcohol issues - made my heart break a little bit. I haven't been through these situations myself, but having Jep tell his story made me realize how lucky I am and how much worse other people's lives are without you even knowing it. Overall, this was an engaging memoir on Jep and Jessica's trials and suffering, along with their faith in each other and in God. As a fan of the show, I like knowing more about them and now I'll remember what they've gone through and overcome. I definitely recommend this to fans of Christianity nonfiction, biographies, and memoirs, along with fans of the Duck Dynasty franchise.

 *I received a copy of the book from the BookLook Bloggers Program in exchange for an honest review.*

 

Book Review: Beyond Heaven's Door by Max Lucado

Beyond Heaven's Door

Author: Max Lucado
Genre: Christian Nonfiction
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Description:

Thoughts of heaven can be unsettling. Life with no end? Space with no bounds? Are we supposed to feel good about these things?

Bestselling author Max Lucado assures us that we can. There is much about heaven that we don't yet understand. And while thoughts on our final destiny may stir questions, they needn't stir our fears.

In "Beyond Heaven's Door" Max takes us on a journey from finding certainty in our destination to God's great promises of the hereafter. Open the door and catch a glimpse of the joy that awaits you in heaven--and find hope for today in the process.

Beyond Heaven's Door is a gift book that details what Christians can expect when they enter the afterlife. The book is short and easily read in under an hour. It contains beautiful images with quotes taken from the text as well as scriptures. The author focuses on several different questions that people have about Heaven and what happens when we die. The book quotes several passages of scripture that deal with the nature of Jesus, what Heaven will be like, and what our new bodies will look and be like after resurrection. The author tells anecdotes throughout the book to help the reader understand the passages of scripture and also to show the reader what is meant by the text. Overall, this was an uplifting book that Christians will enjoy reading more than once and the images and quotes throughout are beautiful and definitely add to the book's appeal. It would make a wonderful gift to those who are questioning death and Heaven as well as to those who have recently lost a loved one.

Max Lucado has touched millions with his signature storytelling writing style. Awards and accolades follow Max with each book he writes. Max is the first author to win the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year three times—1999 for Just Like Jesus, 1997 for In the Grip of Grace and 1995 for When God Whispers Your Name. In 2005, Reader’s Digest dubbed him “America’s Best Preacher.” In addition, he has been an ECPA Gold Medallion finalist with more titles than any other author in the industry.

In 1994, he became the only author to have 11 of his twelve books in print simultaneously appear on paperback, hardcover and children's CBA bestseller lists. Lucado set a new industry record by concurrently placing nine different Word Publishing titles on the CBA Hardcover Bestseller List in both March and April 1997. Max Lucado is a fixture on the national bestseller lists – a Max Lucado title has appeared on the CBA hardcover bestseller list every month for the past dozen years. He has appeared on the Publishers Weekly, USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. He has won eight ECPA Gold Medallion awards.

In addition to his nonfiction books, Lucado has authored several award-winning children's titles including, Just In Case You Ever Wonder, The Crippled Lamb, Alabaster's Song and the award-winning You Are Special. Max is also the author of Hermie: A Common Caterpillar, and the Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends collection of books and DVD’s are quickly becoming a fixture on bestseller lists. He also served as the general editor for the best-selling Lucado Study Bible and God's Inspirational Promise Book.

In the Fall of 2006, he released Facing Your Giants, followed by Every Day Deserves a Chance in April of the 2007.

For over twenty years, Max has served as the Senior Pastor of the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. But he says his greatest accomplishment is finding a one-in-a-million wife in Denalyn and having three unbelievable daughters: Jenna, Andrea, and Sara.

Author Links:
Website