Less Than Perfect

Ann Spangler is an award-winning writer and the author of many bestselling books, including Women of the Bible, Praying the Names of God, and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.

You can connect with Ann and learn more about her writing via her website which can be found HERE.

Meet your spiritual ancestors...
as they really were.

What can the Bible's most flawed men and women reveal about who God is and how he reaches out to less-than-perfect people?  Bestselling author Ann Spangler takes us beyond cardboard cutouts of 38 biblical characters to reveal real people with many of the same dreams, temptations, and weaknesses we have.

Whether considering the murderous Herodias, the scheming Jacob, or the doubting Sarah, Spangler approaches both familiar and lesser-know characters with fresh eyes, bringing them to life for modern readers by including key cultural and historical insights.  As you learn more about the people who are part of your spiritual family tree, you'll discover why God loves to use imperfect people to tell his perfect story of redemption.  

My Thoughts:
If I had to assign a passage of Scripture to put a summary to Spangler's latest book, it would be...

"Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.  Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.  God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world - what is viewed as nothint - to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in His presence.  It is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us - our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that as it is written:  Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."  1 Corinthians 1:26-31  (CSB)

Beginning with Adam and Eve and then covering biblical characters like Sarah, Tamar, Miriam, Michal, Bathsheba, Jezebel, the woman who wiped the feet of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, Spangler highlights those aspects of life that we who would like to think ourselves "super spiritual" tend to sweep under the rug.

Through Spangler's writing, it is obvious that once God got a hold of her heart and life, she was wrecked for an attachment to this world.  Each biblical character highlight begins with a "story form" section with sidebar notes explaining key cultural and historical aspects that are key to understanding context.  These notes were extremely helpful in bringing a new level of knowledge of the Scriptures for me.  Then Spangler includes a section called "The Times" where she gives the time period and where in Scripture that particular character's story took place followed by a bit of commentary from Spangler.  Each section is concluded with "The Takeaway" which gives the reader questions that really do a good job of helping to apply the Scripture personally.  

I've been going through the book devotionally, taking one chapter a day.  I have been blessed beyond what I can express here.  Spangler clearly shines a light on the great truth that all of our life...ALL of it can be used for God's glory and our good.  And that He is the Great Redeemer.

Less Than Perfect would be a great resource for personal use but also for small group or one-on-one discipleship use.
*I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer