Overview for Book Proposal

Each year more than one million children experience their parents’ divorce. Why is the timing for this book perfect right now? Just like Rick Warren’s national best-selling Purpose Driven Life answered adults’ questions about the meaning of life, It’s Not Fair will infuse teenagers with a sense of purpose despite desperate circumstances. Counselors and therapists who work with teens asked them, “What do you see as the major stresses/problems facing today's teenagers?” 72% of the respondents listed, ‘Problems arising from parental divorce.’ In addition to the normal challenge of adolescence, divorce activates a vast array of difficulties that, without the proper guidance, can lead to damaging results—both now and later in life. “Children of divorced parents are . . . twice as likely as others to have poor relationships with their parents, drop out of high school and receive psychological help.” The book will show teens where to go for help, how to regain control over their lives, what the facts are concerning the tough issues they face and how to deal with them successfully.
Furthermore, teenagers with divorced parents are more likely to feel that no one really understands them. The authors—Linda Jacobs, a divorced, single mom who now runs a national divorce care program for kids and Ben Wilcox, an adult child of divorce with years of experience working with teenagers from divorce situations—will connect with readers on every level by including real stories from teens who went through their parents’ divorce and adult children of divorce who prove that success in life is possible. Through fresh encounters with key Bible characters, relevant applications, and Scriptural references for life skills, the teenaged child of divorce will be doing something that will give new verve to their spirit, mind, body, and soul. In the United States alone, there are approximately 20 million teenagers living with just one parent. By reading It’s Not Fair, they have the chance to discover the power found in only Jesus and the critical opportunity to not only survive their parents’ divorce but also thrive in the midst of it.

Book review

I think every pastor and paid minister should read this . . .and church member, too.

The section on pastors 'getting over their call to preach' alone is enough to make this a must-read.

The paradigm that Roberts illustrates concerning the true nature of missions is amazing. While reading this book, I was confronted with so many uncomfortable truths about the ways I view the rest of the world, my nationalistic ego, & my ignorance of not only the need for but also the mandate to long-term, overseas commitments from the American Church. Whether we like to admit it or not, we had better get going--off the seats and into the field. When Roberts mentioned how many Easterners are coming to America as missionaries, I about cried.
What am I doing? What are we doing? Why aren't we doing? Or, is this more about who we refuse to become?

"I too had noticed that our prayers for others flow more easily than those we offer on our own behalf. And it would be nice to accept your view that this just shows we are made to live by charity. I'm afraid, however, I detect two much less attractive reasons for the ease of my own intercessory prayers. One is that I am often, I believe, praying for others when I should be doing things for them. It's so much easier to pray for a bore than to go and see him. And the other is like unto it. Suppose I pray that you may be given grace to withstand your besetting sin (short list of candidates for this post will be forwarded on demand). Well, all the work has to be done by God and you. If I pray against my own besetting sin there will be work for me. One sometimes fights shy of admitting an act to be a sin for this very reason." -C.S. Lewis

I'm trying to read and do some quiet time today. I finished reading Starving Jesus. I dare you to read it if you consider yourself a Christian, and if you are not a Christian, try reading it for entertainment value as the authors call the American Church out on the carpet.

My biggest take-away from the book is, "When confronted with an uncomfortable truth, how will I choose to respond?"