Book Review: Compelling Argument to Read Your Bible

     Bethany House provided a complimentary copy of Unstuck: Your Life. God's Design. Real Change. in exchange for an honest review. What is the difference between a Christian who delves into God's Word four or more times a week compared to one that hardly dusts their Bible off? A lot, according to Arnie Cole and Michael Ross, the authors of Unstuck.What takes a believer from a humdrum stroll to an invigorating journey? Collaborating with researchers, they set out to survey over 70,000 people to determine what made for a vibrant Christian walk.
     Believers may claim to know the Lord, but feel stuck in the spiritual growth arena. Repeatedly, the strongest link to growth was the amount of time people engaged God's Word. The first part of the book confronts and explains a lot of the hang-ups that stunt our growth and make us want to throw in the towel. The next third of Unstuck presents the "Powered by Four Solution."  Finally, the last third helps the reader apply the solution to get free from life's entanglements.
     I will say I am not a fan of a 1-2-3 solution approach. However, this is not a one-size-fits-all deal, but begins with the Bible as the starting point. The main point is that if we choose to engage in the Word we will begin to perceive the Bible as much more than words, but the Word. We will hear God speaking to us now and not just to the people of old. The Word will become a part of us in a deeper way. I do want to point out that this book can be used for the seasoned Bible reader. There very well could be points that will help enliven your encounter with God.
     The way each chapter was set up was nice. Instead of having a study in the back of the book, Cole and Ross include points to ponder: what research demonstrated, an encouraging bit and then Scripture and correlating questions, at the end of each chapter. The 15 chapters are easy to read and interesting. The research and personal accounts are what captivated my attention. Whether, you feel stuck, are new to Christianity or want to encourage others in their walk I would advise you to pick up a copy of Unstuck. It may be that you are not feeling "stuck" in any way, I still would imagine this volume could bring a deeper appreciation for the power of the Word and strengthen your faith.