"I don't know of a more important topic now than this, and I don't know anyone more qualified to speak on it than James Merritt."
-Rick Warren, New York Times bestselling author, The Purpose Driven Life
Stop Protecting Your Reputation. Start Building Your Character.
In a world of social media snapshots and cable news sound bites, we're often more concerned with our outer image than we are with our inner make up. But in the end, integrity trumps image. You can look good on the outside without being good on the inside.
If you long to commit yourself to what matters most-the content of your character-join bestselling author James Merritt as he explores 13 overlooked traits that form the bedrock of a godly life and a good society. Along the way, you'll encounter surprising role models-flawed people who failed spectacularly, overcame adversity, and went on to live lives worth imitating.
In a world that has abandoned the virtues and values that matter, this book offers a clarion call to return to a simple message: Character still counts. It always has, and it always will.
Nuanced Fire. This book is typical of Merritt the Elder's style of truly nuanced fire - he will not back down on what he believes, but he absolutely understands nuance where applicable. In this discussion of character, he does not negate his own integrity by taking partisan sides, yet speaks to character as the Bible describes it. And when that means mentioning a certain 1990s era US President's affairs, Merritt the Elder in the very same breath also mentions the sitting US President's affairs. Full of jokes and various stories - as well as Scripture references - this is as easy to read as listening to one of his sermons either live or (as I often did growing up) on TV. While I don't agree politically or theologically with absolutely everything here, really the main reason for the 4* rating is the constant use of prooftexting - citing Bible verses out of context. Were it not for my personal crusade against the practice, this would easily be a 5* read. Very much recommended, whether or not you normally agree with Merritt the Elder's own conservative evangelical American Christian mindset.
*A note on "Merritt the Elder": One of Dr. Merritt's sons, Jonathan, is also a Christian Living writer now and has written nearly a handful of books over the last decade or so - and serves as his father's agent and editor on this project. I grew up outside Atlanta listening to Dr. Merritt's sermons on TV as we got ready for church, and began reading Jonathan's books with his 2012 release A Faith Of Our Own. To separate the two and as an homage to the Pliny's, I use "the Elder" or "the Younger" and have since I first read Jonathan's works.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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15 December, 2019:
Finished reading
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15 December, 2019:
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