Bethel Grove's Blog

​When I found the documentary Authorized for free online, I was quite curious. While I did not grow up reading the King James Version, it’s hard to deny the impact it has had on English-speaking Christianity and the English-speaking culture as we know it today. I found the documentary to be both insightful and entertaining, balancing humor with practical information about the changes in the English language that have caused much of the language in the KJV to fall out of the vernacular. While I usually be at least partially hesitant about using the KJV in my personal Bible study, I believe that between the document, the book, and the work on his YouTube channel, I now have the tools I need to use the KJV to help me better understand God’s Word. I was also appreciative of the work he had done for Logos, which was the Bible study software I was introduced to in college. If you have found yourself believing that the King James Version is the only Bible a Christian should us or you have avoided using it because you can’t understand it, I highly recommend that you check out this book to give you the perspective you need to use it the right way ~ Bethel For many English-speaking Christians today, there is an ongoing battle for which Bible translation is the best. For a few hundred years, the King James Version was the one translation that ruled them all. When other translations started to come out in the last century, a war began between those who wanted to use newer translations and those who were convinced that the KJV is the only acceptable English translation of the Bible. Similar with the fractions that came with Protestantism, some Christians have allowed themselves to be divided based on their preferred translation, with KJV-onlyist often being the most vocal and passionate. It makes us ask the question: is the King James Version a useful Bible translation for our world today?
​In his book Authorized, Dr. Mark Ward addressed both the benefits of using the King James Version while also addressing concerns about whether this version is intelligible enough for contemporary audiences. While Ward acknowledges that there have been great benefits for several generations of the church to have one primary Bible translation, he also explains the problems that have accumulated over time because the KJV translated God’s Words in a version of English that is not used anymore. Some of the words in the KJV are dead words, but many more have become “false friends,” which are words that we still use today but had a different meaning when they were written. Many of these false friends have led to either misinterpretation of the text or readers completely missing the point because the passage doesn’t make sense. These problems, Ward argues, are unnecessary hurdles when there are acceptable modern equivalents that would help them understand if these words were retranslated. He explains that, based on 1 Corinthians 14, for a person to be edified or encouraged by God’s Word, they have to understand God’s Word. So instead of using one translation exclusively that may limit intelligibility, it could become one tool among many translations you should use to help you better understand God’s Word.
​This book is insightful and engaging on an important topic and is one that I recommend to any Christian, no matter where you are on the KJV spectrum. Get you copy today.
Teen Rating. While I am not sure how many teens would be interested in this topic, I believe this book could be a great resource for a teen that either grew up reading the KJV or wants to know more about choosing a Bible translation. I recommend it for those 16 or older. Personal Rating. A great, eye-opening resource on an important topic. I look forward to reading other books by Mark Ward in the future. Interested in purchasing this title? If you purchase it from Amazon using the link below, Abiding Grace Ministries will receive a small commission from the purchase at no cost to you.

Purchase Authorized:  https://amzn.to/4nXtj55​   Other Resources by this Author ​Authorized Documentary – I was originally introduced to this book by a documentary produced by Faithlife. If you don’t feel you have the time to read this book, this 45-minute documentary will give you the core ideas of the book in engaging and sometimes humorous ways. It is available for free on YouTube and RedeemTV . ​Audiobook – I used the audiobook for this title and really enjoyed it. Some parts of the books were engaging and amusing when he was doing accents to differentiate certain quotations. There is also a great appendix exclusive to the audiobook that address some of the criticisms some KJV-onlyist have had to his work. Ward on Words – While he finally decided to conclude his work on addressing KJV-onlyism, Mark Ward’s YouTube channel, Ward on Words , has quite a collection of work that extends the word he began in this book, including a series where he addressed a total of 150 false friends in the King James Version. He has now shifted his work to focusing more generally on Bible translations, but anyone who is interested in such topics would benefit from checking out these videos.

​It has surprisingly taken me over 5 years to get around to reading this book. I’ve been a fan of Jeff since he shared his spoken word poetry on YouTube and had followed most of his earlier books, especially It’s Not What You Think and Love that Lasts (both of which I was on the launch team for). However, the timing of this launch prevented me from getting involved and it took a while to get a copy and even longer to get around to reading it. But when I did, I was not disappointed. While the title admittedly made me a little hesitant, I found this book to be just as inspiring as the other books I’ve read by Jeff. The contents of this book are still incredibly relevant in our overconnected world, and I highly recommend this book ~ Bethel Our world is more connected than any generation before. Between the internet, social media, cell phones that are the equivalent of super computers in our pockets, and even smart appliances, we have more knowledge and technology at our fingertips than ever before. However, we are also more disconnected and unsettled than any generation in history. Between a mental health crisis and the rising number of broken and dysfunctional relationships in our world, most of us are running on empty, attempting to fill the emptiness with busyness and work. Yet, none of this is solving the problem. It makes us ask the question: is there a way to reconnect and recharge in our overconnected and overdemanding world? ​In his book To Hell with the Hustle, bestselling author Jefferson Bethke walks readers through what it means to recharge and reprioritize in our overconnected world. Through personal stories, relevant research, and powerful insights, Jeff lays out the reasons why being overconnected and participating in the race to work as hard as possible for as long as possible is negatively impacting us as individuals as our world as a whole. Instead, we can choose to change our pace and prioritize what really matters. He challenges his readers to consider his family philosophy of setting “formations” for himself and his family instead of setting goals and to learn how to respond to invitations with “no” as a default so that family and authentic relationships are prioritized. We are also encouraged to establish a Sabbath, a day once a week set aside to rest and truly recharge. Through it all, you will be inspired to rethink the way that you use your time and your family’s time. This is a great book for anyone that wants to learn the right way to slow down and refocus on what matters most. Get your copy today! Teen Rating. While none of the content of this book is inappropriate for a teenager, this book is really speaking to adults, and more specifically parents. Some younger teens might have a hard time applying some of the principles in this book for that reason. I would recommend it for those 17 and older. Singles-Friendly Rating. While most of the illustrations are relevant to singles, Jeff does refer to his family and family plans a lot. Some singles may have a hard time getting past this. Personal Rating. I have two minor criticisms of this book. First, the title contains a usage of a word that could be perceived as swearing. While its usage is technically correct and appropriate, it was still close enough to inappropriate that it made me a little uncomfortable and could be off-putting. Second, while I appreciated the chapter that talked about Sabbath, he also had a whole chapter about Sabbath in his book It’s Not What You Think. While the contents of these chapters were different and relevant to each respective book, some aspects could also be considered redundant, such as having a full chapter in two separate books dedicated to the same topic. Aside from these minor issues, I enjoyed this book very much, as I have enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Jeff.
To read my reviews of Jeff's book It's Not What You Think, click here
To read my review of Jeff's book Jesus>Religion, click here
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​When I heard that Kristen and Bethany of Girl Defined Ministries were planning to release another book about biblical womanhood, I was quite excited. It had been a few years since their last book was released and I was looking forward to reading another book from them. But I was pleasantly surprised when they reached out to me last year to ask me to read and give them notes on the first draft of Made to Be She. I was honored that they asked me to help and trusted me to give them honest feedback on everything from the flow of the content to the theology of their teachings (which says a lot about their desire to get this book right that they would ask for honest feedback from myself as well as several other people). When I read the draft, I knew that even in this unfinished form, this book was incredible and had the potential to be their best book yet. Now that I’ve read the finalized book, I believe that it is their best work, and I am excited to see the impact it will have on the next generation of Christian women that read it. I was quite blessed to be a part of it, even in a small way. ~ Bethel
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PS – If you do purchase the book, you can find my name in the acknowledgments 😊 In their book Made to Be She, authors Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal dive deep into what it means to be created as a woman in the image of God. They start by addressing the ways in which our views of womanhood have gone wrong, explaining that there are not only pitfalls to believing in feminist womanhood to give you a satisfying identity, but also in religious womanhood that tends to rely on personal works and legalism rather than God’s grace and redemption. Both of these ditches (feminist womanhood and religious womanhood) are examined carefully through the movements that influenced their current state while helping readers see that the only way to find a fulfillment in your identity as a woman is to rely on the truth God reveals about your design through His Word, providing guidance on how to improve your biblical literacy and diving deep into six core traits that God designed into males and females respectively. The fallout of many difference aspects of feminist womanhood are explored, including transgender ideology, the birth control pill, and the normalizing of choosing a career over motherhood. Through it all, you are encouraged to find hope and confidence by reclaiming God’s timeless design so that you can live out fearless femininity.
​This book is full of wisdom and inspiration for women of all ages. Kristen and Bethany tackle some difficult topics with clarity and bring biblical truths to areas that are often hidden beneath ideas that rely on feelings and human reasoning. They are honest about the aspects of womanhood and their faith that they got wrong so they can help others get it right. No matter where your views of womanhood are, you will hopefully find a fresh and must-needed perspective that will ground your identity in the truth of God’s Word. It’s a must-read for women who desire to find their identity as a redeemed daughter of the King of Kings. Get your copy today!
Teen Rating. This book addresses some sensitive topics with honesty and appropriateness, such as sex, marriage, transgenderism, the birth control pill, and more. If your daughter is younger, I would encourage you to read the book to decide if she is mature enough to handle their discussions around these topics. Otherwise, I would recommend their first book Girl Defined as an alternative that might be a better starting point for a younger teenager. I would confidently recommend it for those 16 and older. Singles-Friendly Rating. Kristen and Bethany have always done an excellent job at appealing to both married and single women. They often address them directly or set up their marriage/family illustrations in a way that still feels accessible to singles. This is a great book from single women Male-Friendly Rating. While some women-specific topics are addressed honestly, I think that some men could benefit from reading this book. Personal Rating. This book is incredible and shows have much Kristen and Bethany have grown as authors since their first book. I highly recommend it for any Christian women wanting to learn more about their identity as a woman. If you to read my reviews of Kristen's and Bethany's other books,
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​In the almost ten years since I have started this website, I have been blessed by the encouragement of family, friends, and fans who have followed my work. Whether it be my early blog posts, my spoken word poetry on YouTube, my book reviews, my own books, or my digital products, I am grateful for those of you that have been supportive of my work. As I am looking toward the future, I am excited about the opportunities for this ministry to grow and expand its reach. But for this to happen, I would like to ask those that follow my work to consider finding one or more ways to support the work of Abiding Grace Ministries.
What is Abiding Grace Ministries? Before I continue, I want to clarify what I mean when I talk about Abiding Grace Ministries. This is the term to use to explain all the ministry projects under one banner. Most of these projects are classified under outreaches of Abiding Grace Ministries, including: Bethel Grove Publications (My unofficial printing imprint) Lion’s Eyes Reviews (My book review blog, aka the same blog you are currently reading) Simple Youth Ministry (A collection of print and digital resources designed to make youth ministry simple) Teen Girl Youth Ministry (A collection of print and digital resources designed to help youth leaders minister to teen girls) Operation Shoebox Resources (A collection of print and digital resource designed to help Operation Christmas Child project leaders, volunteers, and shoebox packers) 1) Follow Author Bethel Grove (and Other Accounts) on Social Media ​The first thing you can do to help is follow my social media accounts. Most of my official accounts are under the name Author Bethel Grove:
Author Bethel Grove ​This will be where I will post updates on most of my publications/resources and my book reviews. However, I also have separate accounts for Simple Youth Ministry, Teen Girl Youth Ministry, and Operation Shoebox Resources where I will occasional share about the release of relevant resources in each respective niche. I will list all the links here. While I don’t expect anyone to follow all of them, you should follow any that spark your interest or recommend them to anyone that might be interested.
Simple Youth Ministry Teen Girl Youth Ministry Operation Shoebox Resources 2) Subscribe to Bethel's Newsletter ​The next thing you can do is subscribe to my email newsletter. This is the way that I send occasional updates on the work of Abiding Grace Ministries and share prayer requests for the needs of the ministry. I am admittedly not the best at being consistent with sending this newsletter out, but I hope to get more consistent in the future. You will also get an exclusive eBook download for free.
Subscribe to Bethel's Newsletter 3) Visit Bethel's Website and Online Stores The next way you can help is to visit my website. If you are reading this post, you are already on my website. So this step will involve you exploring other pages, such as my book reviews and the pages that describe my books and products. This will increase the traffic on my website and will help you become familiar with the resources I’ve created in hopes that you will be able to recommend them to others who can use them.

You can also visit one of my online stores. Most of my digital resources are available on https://bethelgrovestore.com . However, my youth ministry resources are available on https://simpleyouthministry.org . Some of the resources are available on Gumroad ( https://www.bethelgrove.gumroad.com ). I also have apparel and accessories collections for both Abiding Grace Ministries and Simple Youth Ministry on multiple platforms.

Abiding Grace Ministries
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Simple Youth Ministry
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Zazzle  Visiting these pages will again increase traffic and help you recommend them to others. And if you choose to purchase something, all the better. 4) Buy a Book or Resource ​One of the most helpful things that you can do is purchase any of my books and/or resources. Whether you buy them for yourself or for someone else who would find them useful, making a purchase goes a long way to making them more discoverable internet searches and spreading the word.
5) Recommend a Book or Resource ​If you know youth leaders or Operation Christmas Child volunteers who could use the books or resources here, please share them. This again will go a long way in spreading the word.
6) Review a Book or Resource ​If you have finished reading one of my books or using one of my resources, writing and posting a review on retails sites can make a huge difference in helping others decide to purchase it. If you are interested in review specific books or resources but can't afford to purchase them, email me at contact@bethelgrove.com. 7) Join Bethel's Patreon The last thing that you can do to help this ministry grow is to support my work on Patreon. If you haven’t heard of this site, it’s a crowdfunding site that will allow me to ask for monthly contributions in exchange for exclusive updates and rewards. While this is a newer concept, I see it as a modern version of support raising, as many of ministries and missionaries have done for over 200 years. For Christians, it gives them an opportunity to ask fellow believers to partner with them in their ministry.
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For a little as $5 per month, you can support my work on a monthly basis while also getting exclusive updates through my Patreon feed and a free eBook or digital product from my store of your choice. Other rewards are available at higher tiers, such as your name in the acknowledgments of future publications and a free print book. The money earned here will help me improve my current publications and publish more books and digital resources.
Visit Bethel's Patreon Just Do What You Can I know that most of you that read this will not be able to do every single thing on this list, especially providing support on Patreon. That's totally OK. If all you do is read a few book reviews, that's still helpful. If you just subscribe to my newsletter, that is still a great way to support this work. I will continue to do the work that will build this ministry. But anything you can do to help is appreciated and will be seen as a blessing.

This book has been on my “Books to Read” list for a long time. I have been familiar with Corrie’s story from the film adaptation of her book, but I was reintroduced to it through an episode of the kids cartoon series “Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith” a few years ago. Through the corresponding documentary that came with this episode, I was drawn into the story of Corrie’s life and knew that I wanted to eventually read her book. In fact, I listened to two different audiobook versions in less than a month’s time. I have now come to admire Corrie and her family more than I already had and believe anyone that reads her story will too ~ Bethel
​In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells the story of her life and how it led her to becoming part of the underground resistance to the Nazis in Holland in World War II, which eventually led to imprisonment at a concentration camp. She shares many stories that helped shape her life, including helping to care for her elderly aunts who lived her family, how she fell in love with a young man only to have her heart broken when he showed up with her fiancée, and even being Holland’s first licensed female watchmaker. All of this set the stage for when the Nazis invaded Holland and their family felt compelled to do something to help people who were in need. Corrie eventually turned their house/watch shop into the center of a ring for the underground resistance and a hiding place for Jews that had nowhere else to go. They even build a secret room into Corrie’s own bedroom. Corrie, her sister Bestie, and their father Casper continued their work until they, along with many members of their underground ring, were arrested. While many of the members were eventually released Corrie ultimately lost her father and her sister Bestie through their imprisonment and Corrie herself would endure one prison and two concentration camps over the span of 10 months. She served others even while she was in prison herself and quickly started to serve and help others not long after her release, helping many find healing and restoration. Through everything that Corrie went through, she was not afraid or ashamed of the God she loved so dearly, knowing that remaining in His will was the only true “hiding place.”
​This book is compelling and inspiring, as you will be moved the lives of Corrie, Bestie, Casper, and other members of their family. If you like the original film, enjoy World War II stories, or appreciate inspiring autobiographies, this is definitely a book worth reading. Get your copy today.
Teen Rating. This book is great story, but does contain a lot on intense content, especially at it relates to Corrie’s experiences in prison and the concentration camps. If you are concerned about your teen reading it, you should either read it yourself first or consider giving them the Young Reader’s Edition of the book. Personal Rating. Despite the difficult content, this is a story would reading. I think this is a book every Christian should read.

I have enjoyed reading and reviewing the True Girl Bible Study series by Dannah Gresh. But when I found out that their next study was going to be on Esther and focus on purpose, I was both excited and curious to read it. When I finally did, I was not disappointed. This Bible study is an incredible resource for tween girls as they learn how to study God’s word and what it means to understand and live out your purpose, especially as a pre-teen girl. This is one I highly recommend for tween girls, their moms, or their youth leaders ~ Bethel ​Most people in our world struggle to understand why they are here on this earth. While the world continues to offer ways of identifying ourselves and finding fulfillment, it usually doesn’t satisfy us. As a result, we struggle to know who are and what we are supposed to do with our lives. This is especially true when it comes to pre-teen girls. It makes them ask the question: what is my purpose and how can I live it out? ​In her tween girl Bible study Esther: Becoming a Girl of Purpose, author Dannah Gresh teaches girls how to understand and live out your purpose by looking to the example of Queen Esther. Through this 6-week study on the story of Esther, girls learn how to find their purpose by discovering the plan God has for their life. It clear to see through the story of Esther that God was at work behind the scenes to save His people, and that Esther was a significant part of that plan. Through all the difficulties that Esther experienced, she realized that she came to her position for a purpose and when she realized how important it was, she was willing to risk everything to fulfill it. It wasn’t easy and required her to do some uncomfortable and risky things, but God used her boldness and her wisdom to save His people. Through this study, pre-teen girls are reminded that even when they are discouraged and face things they don’t want to do, God has a good plan and can use them to fulfill it if they trust Him. All these powerful truths and more are shared in the context of a Bible study that is geared to tween girls (between 7-12 years old). This study specifically does an excellent of simplifying and explaining some of the more mature aspects of the story (such as harems and eunuchs) in an age-appropriate way.
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Including fill-in-the-blanks, places to highlight Scripture, and interactive puzzles and prompts, this book will be engaging and impactful to any tween girl that reads it. It would also be a great resource for the moms of tween girls or youth leaders looking for a Bible study for this unique age group. Get your copy today! 

​* I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review Pre-Teen Rating. This book is perfect for tween girls! Teen Rating. While geared at slightly younger girls, I do think older teens could get a lot out of this book. Even I as a Bible college graduate learned some things about the story of Esther that I did not know before. This would also be a great option for an older teen wanting to lead a Bible study for younger girls. Personal Rating. This has become one of my favorite studies in this whole series. This is a great pre-teen bible study that I highly recommend for its given age group. Make sure to check out my reviews of the other titles in this series:

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​When I saw an Operation Christmas Child display at a youth conference a few years ago, I was reminded of the time when I packed a shoebox with a Sunday School class as a kid. However, I hadn’t thought about the ministry in many years. The presentation at this conference peeked my interest, so I decided to look into their ministry more. This led to my journey of being a project leader and processing center volunteer. Even in the short time I’ve been involved in the work of this ministry, I have blessed by the ability to serve children around the world and provide them with an opportunity to hear the gospel, as well as the people that I have gotten to meet and work with through the work of Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan’s Purse. I even discovered while reading this book that there was a student who attended Ozark Christian College at the same time I did who was a shoebox recipient. I am so grateful to be a part of this ministry and for the opportunity to learn more about it through this book ~ Bethel In his book Operation Christmas Child, Franklin Graham shares the story about how a simple idea of packing gifts into shoeboxes became a ministry that has given 100 million children a chance to hear the gospel in 20 years*. Through a collection of short stories, you learn more about the project’s humble beginnings, when Graham offered to help assemble shoebox gifts for children in the war-torn country of Bosnia for Christmas 1993. Forgetting until right before Thanksgiving, Graham and others scrambled to get some shoebox gifts together and through God’s help were able to get 12,000 shoeboxes in about two weeks with only two contributing churches. Those who had the opportunity to go distribute the boxes saw God’s hand of which child received which gifts and had many children and their families come to know Christ through these efforts. With the success of the first collection, Samaritan’s Purse formed Operation Christmas Child as a project under their ministry and started figuring out how collect more boxes. As Graham shares the stories of shoebox packers and shoebox recipients, employees and volunteers, distribution trips and adoptions, you will gain a glimpse into part of what God has done through this ministry and will probably be inspired to get involved if you aren’t already. This book is a must read for anyone who is involved with Operation Christmas Child or wants to learn more about the ministry. Get your copy today!**
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Learn more about the work of Operation Christmas Child by visiting: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child
Personal Rating. The small sections of the book make it an easy read. I highly recommend reading it. But note that some of the stories and the final section about getting involved have outdated information, especially regarding donation pricing. Make sure to check out the OCC section of the Samaritan’s Purse website that is linked above to get all the current information on donation pricing, gift recommendations, and ways to get involved.
* As of 2013, when this book was published. At the end of its thirtieth anniversary celebration in 2023, Operation Christmas Child had packed over 209 million shoeboxes.
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** This book is currently out of print but is available on Kindle and online resellers.

​When I chose to write a research paper on the life and works of C.S. Lewis, I sought out the best resources that were available to learn about his life and his works. Through that research, I discovered that Lewis’ stepson had written a biography of his stepfather. While many biographies have been written about Lewis over the years, I knew that one written by someone who knew him personally would be one worth reading. Even now, this is one of my biographies of Lewis to reference. This is definitely one worth checking out. ~ Bethel ​In his book Jack’s Life, Douglas Gresham shares the story of the life of C.S. Lewis, his stepfather and mentor. You start with the story of a boy with an active imagination who would lost his faith after losing his mother at a young age. Then he grew up, fought in a war, took in a late friend’s mother, and eventually rediscovered his faith, going on to become one of the most renowned authors and theologians of his time. Gresham reveals this through the lens of his admiration for a man who endured similar struggles in his younger life and loved him through his own difficulties. His grasp of Lewis’ writings and how his life experiences influenced them is profound, as he does a great job of summarizing some of Lewis’s concepts through the book. Including a DVD with an interview with Gresham, this book is a must have resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the life of C.S. Lewis.
Personal Rating. A great biography of the great C.S. Lewis
To read my review of Gresham's personal biography, click here

​I’ve been a fan of C.S. Lewis since I read The Chronicles of Narnia when I was in junior high. But I was surprised when an older friend from my church gave me a copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and Lenten Lands by Douglas Gresham. Prior to receiving this book, all I knew about Gresham was that he was C.S. Lewis’ stepson and that he was the executive producer of Narnia films by Walden Media. When I can to write a paper on C.S. Lewis my senior year, I drove into Gresham’s story and was intrigued. So grateful to have received a copy of this book. Whether you are familiar with the life and works of Lewis or not, you will enjoy this autobiography ~ Bethel [image error] ​In his autobiography, Douglas Gresham recounts the story of his childhood and how he eventually became the stepson of beloved author, C.S. Lewis. Facing anything but a carefree childhood, you follow his story from New York to Australia to England. It will draw you into the story of his life, even before it intersected with Lewis. But once they came to England, his life became extraordinary for him and his brother. You see an honest side to the difficult parts of his past. Between having a renowned stepfather, his mother dying from cancer, and eventually his stepfather pass away. Through it all, you not only discover the story of young man (at least the time he wrote the book) who learned how to overcome the difficulties he faced, but you also get an up close and personal look at C.S. Lewis, especially at the joys of his marriage and his struggles after his wife’s death as he faced the challenge of caring for two orphaned boys. If you are interested in learning more about the life of C.S. Lewis, this is definitely a book worth checking out.
[image error] Teen Rating. There are some dark elements of the story that might be intense for some teens. By the time he’s eighteen years old, Gresham had lost his parents and his stepfather. Comments made the negative nature of his father’s death might be difficult for some younger or sensitive readers to handle. However, I personal believe all of these elements are handled tastefully. If you have concerns, review it before your teen reads it. [image error] Personal Rating. Aside from some of difficult elements, this a great autobiography and a personal account of C.S. Lewis. Definitely worth checking out. To read my review of Gresham's biography of his stepfather C.S. Lewis, click here

I have been a casual fan of Duck Dynasty since the first few years of the show. I’ve even had to chance to hear three different members of the Robertson family speak at a few different events (Alan, Missy, and Sadie). Since that time, I have been interested in reading some of the books that have been written by the Robertson family and admittedly own a few of them that I haven’t read. But when I learned that they were going to be releasing a biopic movie about Phil Robertson’s godless years called The Blind, I knew that I wanted to read Phil’s personal story first. When I found this book in Goodwill last week (two weeks before the movie was to be released), I knew it was a sign that it was time to read this book. In the end, I was not disappointed. I found Phil’s writing to be honest, witty, and gospel-oriented. I’ve come to admire Phil before that I had before for all he overcame, his heart for the gospel, and his determination to live a simple life. Reading this book has made me look forward to watching The Blind and reading some of the other books by the Robertson clan in the future ~ Bethel
​In his first book, Happy, Happy, Happy, Phil Robertson of the popular reality show Duck Dynasty shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of the journey that led him to become known as the Duck Commander. He describes his humble beginnings living in a log cabin house, where he learned to work hard and live simply off of the land. He eventually met Kay Carroway and fell in love, getting married when he was 16 and she was 15, having their first son before she graduated high school. Not long after, even as their family was growing, Phil fell into a period of living wild and recklessly, struggling with drinking, drugs, and lawlessness that was common in the cultural revolution of the 60s. It was a difficult, dark, and uncertain time for their whole family, especially his wife and their three sons. It wasn’t until he ran all of them out of the house that he realized that needed help and was finally open to hearing the gospel. He was baptized shortly after and his life and family were never the same. He eventually went on to revolutionize the hunting industry with his duck calls and founded Duck Commander, which eventually became a multi-million dollar company. However, he never forgot his roots and chose to do his best to live simply while also growing in his faith and loving his family. All of this story is shared in the context of a lot of practical wisdom, honest opinions, and solid gospel truth. You will hopefully be moved, inspired, and a little amused by Phil’s story. Get a copy or plan to go see the movie The Blind, in theaters on September 28, 2023 (check out the movie trailer below). While there are some difficult elements of Phil’s story (especially a portion told from Miss Kay’s perspective), they are told in a tasteful and appropriate way. As long as they are emotionally mature, I wouldn’t have a problem recommending this to a teenager if they were interested. I would recommend it for those 15 and older. Personal Rating. While the stories within are not totally linear (which is my preference when reading autobiographical books), I enjoyed reading this book and felt it was a fairly easy read. This book is definitely worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of Duck Dynasty Celebrating My 100th Book Review ​This review is special because it happens to be the 100th book I’ve reviewed on this blog (There have been a few unofficial reviews I did of supplemental material to other books that would put me over 100 earlier this year, but I am counting mostly full reviews that explore the content and give my recommendation of a book). It’s hard to me to believe that I have reached this milestone. When I started this blog in late 2014, I didn’t really have much direction for it until I was accepted onto a social media book team for the first time and eventually started reviewing books. Within a few years, that became the exclusive focus of this blog. This blog has been a fascinating journey, leading me to meet many great people on their pages (and in some cases real life), learn so many valuable life lessons, and support some great authors in the process. I also had no idea when I started how writing these reviews would become training ground for my eventual work as a self-published author, teaching me about the publishing industry, review site systems, and book marketing strategies. I am so grateful for this continuing journey and everyone who had supported it along the way, especially the authors who have inspired me. Me with Bob Goff, author of Love Does and Everybody Always Me with Jon Jorgenson, author of Authentic Love and Created to Create Me with Jefferson Bethke, author of Jesus > Religion and It's Not What You Think Juli Slattery's and Dannah Gresh's autograph for Pulling Back the Shades, the first book I reviewed on this blog A personalized card I recieved from Kristen Clark and Bethany Barid (now Beal) of GIrl Defined Ministries for being a part of their first book launch team Jeff Bethke's autograph for Jesus > Religion. All I have to say is that if Jeff Bethke said this, it must be true, lol