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3.0 out of 5 stars
A Perfect Gift When You Want to Encourage, December 25, 2009
This review is from: 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (Paperback)
This little book cracked me up when I unpacked it. You see, I rarely stress and I'm not a worrier. However, I am married to a man with a Ph.D in Worry, so I thought, if nothing else, I might glean a few things to encourage him to consider.
My first impression was that it was kind of simplistic. I mean, the title alone implies that you can "pick a fun way to attack your worry or stress and voila. Instant success. No, the title doesn't say that, but it's the feeling you get when you look at it. I also wondered at some of the topics in the little book. I mean, one of them suggests that you invest in your friends. Make sure you have multiple friends that you spend regular time with and don't neglect those friendships. Well, that's well and good, but I know an awful lot of people who struggle to find friends, much less invest in them. So, at first, as I read it, I really thought the book was a lovely little collection of pithy stories and platitudes that wouldn't do you any good.
So, why am I writing all this negativity about a book that Multnomah/Waterbrook so graciously provided me to review? Shouldn't I have just put up their publisher's synopsis without my negative input?
Nope. Because the story doesn't end there. As I was mulling my dilemma, the truth of the issue hit me like a Mack Truck. When you're worried or have stress, the last thing you need is an exhaustive treatise on the deep spiritual ramifications of worry and the huge pit of sin someone is in if they dare to struggle with it. When you're stressed and worried, you need a little encouragement to help you out of that pit and then you can see to fight the battle against recurrence. When I looked at the book from that perspective, suddenly the little bits of encouragement to get enough exercise and rest didn't seem so trivial. The author doesn't ever hint that this is the exhaustive work on the topic. She simply gives simple coping mechanisms to get you over the hump and leaves the deeper theological issues to those who love to delve into that realm.
My hat is off to Ms. Colopy. She took a difficult subject and broke it down into bite-sized pieces for those who have such a difficult elephant to consume! If the rest of the 99 Ways series is as interesting as this book, I'd say it's a perfect option to grab at your local bookstore or to order and have shipped to a friend who is having a tough time. You'd be giving gentle encouragement rather than a 2×4 disguised as a gift.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Great stocking stuffer..., December 11, 2009
This review is from: 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (Paperback)
Sometimes things come up in life - we all know how that is. Soon, it seems worry and stress are taking over our lives. In 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress, Elsa Kok Colopy brings us simple steps that we can take, based on biblical principles, to refocus our attention on God, remembering that He is in control in every situation.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Just What I Needed, December 10, 2009
This review is from: 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (Paperback)
I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover. Or by its title. I understand Elsa Kok Colopy's new book, 99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress (Waterbrook) is part of "The 99 Ways" book series, but this book stands on its own. I wasn't too excited when I was assigned to review this book (Not another how-to book!) so I put off reading it. But instead God handed me a special gift--one that was best to unwrap. After all, He knows what I need. I needed this book, and perhaps so may you.
The first sentence echoed the wishes of my heart, "I wish I could say I handle stress and worry with ease." After detailing some of the stressors in her life, Colopy continues, "I need more than oatmeal and exercise. I need tools. I need day-to-day coping-with-life tools so I don't follow through on my temptation to move to the mountains with twenty pounds of chocolate, a few warm blankets, and an armload of romantic comedies." I tried that and felt far away from civilization, gained 30 pounds, still was cold (it did get to -37 degrees Fahrenheit), but I did enjoy those romances! The stress increased dramatically and thirty years later, I still find it difficult to manage stress.
Colopy's "99 Ways to Fight Worry and Stress" are suggestions are rooted in Scripture advising readers to savor friendships, rest, journal, dream, laughing, pursue interests, and find God's truth.. Now this all sounds ordinary when I list them, but the 99 ideas are thoughtful, fanciful, practical and true and they're easy to do--if we just slow down and actually do them! To start, just choose one of the 99 suggestions and do it. Let's see, #15 is "Nap Often." Now, that I can do! Number 50 suggest readers savor food--to slow down whole eating and relish each bite of food. Hmm, good idea. Number 65 says beating stress is all about "Finding Humor in Movies" while #90 reminds us that "God is Bigger than Anything We Face". So very true!
Each suggestion is followed by a paragraph or two illustrating the main concept. This book needs to be read and followed one chapter, one idea at a time. I am going to incorporate these ideas into my daily life as I seek to enjoy (rather than stress about) the life that I have chosen in following God. I loved this book and I am thankful for Elsa Kok Colopy for writing this book. Maybe this book is what you need to fight the worry and stress plaguing your life--and you can one idea at a time.
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