The Health of the Mind
Murray, David and Tom Karel, Jr. A Christian's Guide to Mental Illness: Answers to Common Questions. Wheaton: Crossway, 2023. 244 Pages. Paper. $21.99. https://www.crossway.org/books/a-christians-guide-to-mental-illness-tpb/
Glodo, Michael J. The Lord Bless You and Keep You: The Promise of the Gospel in the Aaronic Blessing. Wheaton: Crossway, 2023. 203 Pages. Paper. $16.99. https://www.crossway.org/books/the-lord-bless-you-and-keep-you-tpb/
Cusick, Jason. Anxiety Field Guide: Healthy Habits for Long-Term Healing. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2022. 184 pages. Paper. $17.00. https://www.ivpress.com/the-anxiety-field-guide
Publishers and Readers, please accept my apologies for the delay in publishing this review.
While I am not a full-time book reviewer, my extensive experience and consistent record of high-quality reviews demonstrate my professionalism and expertise in this area.
Murray and Karel provide a practical, compassionate, and realistic help in their book A Christian's Guide to Mental Illness: Answers to Common Questions. Helping caregivers avoid missteps and misunderstandings, the question-and-answer approach is enlightening, informative, transparent, and faithful. I recommend it for pastors and loved ones who struggle with health of the mind.
I first read Glodo's book when I needed comfort myself after the loss of a loved one. I re-read it after another similar loss. The Lord Bless You and Keep You faithfully confesses and delivers The Promise of the Gospel in the Aaronic Blessing. It's the best treatment of the blessing of Numbers 6 that I've heard since a memorable sermon by the Rev. Dr. Ron Garwood when he served as Wyoming District President in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. If your congregation and pastor do not yet make use of the Aaronic blessing to conclude church services, gift him a copy of this Crossway book.
If you or a loved one struggle with anxiety, I recommend Cusick's Anxiety Field Guide: Healthy Habits for Long-Term Healing published by IVP. Of particular helpfulness were the chapters on Obsession and Compulsion and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It's a field guide to get you started on what can be a long journey for you and your loved one.
Taken together, these three books are an affordable and informative entry point book collection to helping yourself or loved ones with health of the mind.
Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a permanent member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, a founding regent for Luther Classical College, a Director for Steadfast Lutherans and Associate Editor of Curriculum for Steadfast Press, a Director for Views on Learning, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheranism 101, the LSB Hymnal Companion hymn and liturgy volumes and the LSB Devotional Edition, is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Our Congregation a Caring Church and articles in Concordia Pulpit Resources and The Lutheran Witness. He is a regular presenter at conferences of the CCLE and is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, teaching, and making music.
