book reviews, Thoughts & Reviews

New Release Book Review: “Like an Anchor Study Guide: The Beatitudes”

Marissa Baker’s “Like an Anchor Study Guide: The Beatitudes” is a cozy, soul-growing read to add to your travel bag while walking with Christ. Marissa presents her study on the Beatitudes with a friendly and welcoming tone, a writing style that is intimate, humble and well researched and allows readers to easily sink into the study and reflect on Christ’s teachings. The author lays out each chapter’s text neatly (organized by helpful sub headers) and includes relevant scripture verses to round out the various layers of meanings each Beatitudes carries. Marissa ends each chapter with several open-ended questions that lend well to journaling prompts, personal prayer time and small group discussions. Each chapter is an approximate fifteen-to-thirty-minute read, depending on how slowly or quickly you want to digest the material, either on a first read or on subsequent studies. It is a book you can return to repeatedly and reflect on exactly what Jesus is still teaching us all these centuries later.  

If you are looking for a smaller, approachable book to grow in your faith and relationship with God, please consider Marissa’s study guide on the Beatitudes. Her blog “Like An Anchor” is filled with further reflections on Bible verses and teachings, the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith and more. It is truly a light on the internet and can be explored at LikeAnAnchor.com. For more information on how to purchase a copy of the book, please check out her Amazon’s book page where the study is available to order as a paperback, or as an eBook currently on Kindle Unlimited.

I look forward to possible, future Bible study guides published by Marissa and adding them to my reading list. I encourage fellow Christians to consider adding this to their bookshelves, passing the book onto a friend to share or suggesting it as a book to read in your church’s small groups. Happy reading.

Take A Book, Leave a Book, Thoughts & Reviews

Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People (Brief Book Review) 📖

I volunteered to read this book for work, to better myself and to learn more about biases and how humans think (often erroneously) and why. I found the book very illuminating and a helpful tool to become more aware of my thoughts and mindbugs–a term used frequently in the book. There are also several IATs (Implicit Association Tests) you can take in the book, or online.

I included a presentation from one of the authors and researchers below (Dr. Mahzarin Banaji; the other is Dr. Anthony (Tony) Greenwald.) Stick it out until the end; she ends on a hopeful note. And there’s some witty humor throughout.

Do not become rootbound in your life; do not conform to one pot and cease growing. This is a very sad waste of human potential and a paved road for bigotry. Those with power (of whatever kinds and varieties) use this to control people and persuade through manipulation. It’s a tale as old as time. And I am heartily weary of it, in my country and worldwide.

Dr. Banaji’s work will help break your pot and put you into a slightly bigger one where you can continue to learn and grow. This is my continued life goal, and has been. Like the researcher says at the end, there is great hope to change our biases, to truly allow people to flourish and live freely.

Take care and happy writing. ✏️

*If you do take the online test (s), please DO NOT share your results below. These are for your own use and should be taken in context of the book and larger body of research. I will be monitoring comments closely as well.


Thoughts & Reviews

Author: SBSK Video Share (Erica’s Inspirational Story)

The longer I live, the more appreciative I am of the Encouragers. Encouragers are the ones who give off genuine light, positivity and leave judgment at the door.

Erica’s story and words of encouragement are below. Around the 7:44 marker, I feel like these words could apply to writing a novel, as she explains how she felt after completing  a marathon.

Keep going, Arcians. Stay the course.