Inspirational Sunday: Review of What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?

Inspirational Sunday is to honor the many different forms of religions found across the world and the literature that comes from said religions. Anyone with an inspirational post to share is welcome ~ this could be a free download, a great quote, a review of an inspiring book or memoir - anything that moves you that you would love to share with everyone. Please link up to your specific post and not your blog home page.

Publisher: New Growth Press | Published: October 1, 2011

Genre: Christian Life | 160 pages

Book Description from Goodreads~

Tired of Trying to Win Approval and Escape Rejection? Peer pressure, codependency, shame, low self-esteem these are just some of the words used to identify how people are controlled by others opinions. Why is it so important to be liked? Why is rejection so traumatic? Edward T. Welch s insightful, biblical answers to these questions show that freedom from others opinions and genuine, loving relationships grow as we learn about ourselves, others, and God. This interactive book includes questions for individual or group study and is suitable for teenagers and young adults.

The book description describes What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? as suitable for teenagers and young adults.  While this is true, I also found the book to be helpful myself.  The book revolves around three main questions:

1. Who is God?
2. Who am I?
3. Who are these other people?

We all struggle with rejection in some form or another - some appear to have such high self-esteem that the opinions of others never touches them and then there are those who struggle to get through the day because of a harsh word said.  I probably fall somewhere in the middle.  Reading this book helped me to put the opinions of others into perspective.  It is God's opinion that matters - not my neighbor's, not my co-worker's, not even that of my boyfriend or my family.  I need to look to God for my self-worth.

I like that this book concentrates on God's love.  The world needs more love ~ focusing on loving others rather than judging others:

....It goes back to loving others more than needing them. There is something about love that crowds out our painful self-consciousness. You can't have one in your heart when the other is there. Consider the needs of others more than you consider your own, and guaranteed, the fear of other people will no longer suffocate you.

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care? is a book that a new believer can read through and comprehend easily.  A veteran believer can read this book and have his or her faith injected with a renewed sense of enthusiasm.  Teenagers and young adults can read the book alone or as part of a small group and have a life-changing experience before adulthood takes over.  An excellent resource for anyone wanting to "answer the big questions in life."

After graduating from seminary in 1978, Ed went on to study at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (Neuropsychology) in 1981. He currently serves as counselor, faculty member and director of the School of Biblical Counseling at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation and as professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Ed is deeply devoted to his wife, Sheri, and his two daughters and their husbands, all of whom live close by in the Philadelphia area. The family has traveled yearly to the west coast to visit relatives and enjoy water sports at the beach.

Many thanks to The B & B Media Group for the complimentary review copy.

Happy Sunday!