BOOK REVIEW: Clear Winter Nights

"Think back to kindergarten....Until you agree to the basics, like two plus two equals four, you never move on to the multiplication tables. And if you stay endlessly open-minded and never accept the truth that five times five equals twenty five, then you'll never be able to do an advanced math problem....You've got to accept basic truths before you can grow into deeper and richer truths."--Gil

Chris is a twenty-something college student in the midst of a doubting season. He doubts his faith even as he has committed to plant a church, and he doubts his relationships even as he has asked his girlfriend to marry him. Over the period of a few days staying with his grandfather, Gil, who is recovering from a stroke, he airs his doubts to this retired pastor and man of faith. What he gains is clarity and an appreciation of the wisdom that the seasoned saints have to offer the young people of today.

Clear Winter Nights, by Trevin Wax, is a beautifully simple story that honestly takes apart the issues that young people today struggle with as they seek to decide whether to step into their parents' faith...or walk away. Theology, sexual sin, absolute truth, hypocrisy, forgiveness, and the inclusiveness of the gospel are all covered in the easy, casual conversations between Chris and Gil. Gil is humble out of a recognition of the fact he is a sinner saved by grace; Chris is edgy as a result of his youthful immaturity and frustration with his faith struggles. However, Gil is not afraid to confront, and Chris is not too edgy to listen. Together the two of them resolve some issues and agree that others are an ongoing source of prayer and development.

"Failure to evangelize is almost always a worship problem....When you are completely taken with something or someone, you can't help but talk about it...Fix the worship problem, and evangelism starts coming naturally."--Gil

I have two twenty-something sons. I have watched many young people fall away after youth group graduation because their faith has not yet become their own. They give in to the doubts rather than do the hard work of partnering in mentorship with a seasoned saint and hashing them out. This is a particular issue of concern for the church today; we cannot deny it, and we cannot disregard it. We need to, like Gil, find ways to let them be brutally honest about their questions while we humbly give wise counsel from God's Word. As Gil explains, Jesus was gentle, but He wasn't a pushover. He was a friend of sinners, but He also is the one who said, "Go and sin no more."

"The true rebellion is in the heart of the Christian who follows King Jesus by swimming upstream against the current of the world."--Gil 

I loved this book. It will get rereads from me because the truths are so simple yet so timeless. When I grow up I want to be wise, gentle, humble, and bold like Gil!

I did receive a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.

For more information on the book, go here