REGRETTABLE CHOICES – The Book Nook

November 18, 2016February 4, 2017 Tucker White

If I Could Do It All Over Again: Christian Leaders Share the Most Important Lessons of Their Lives
Compiled and Edited
by Jon Gauger
Harvest House Publishers
Hardbound, 978-0-7369-9
157 pages, $12

This is a book aimed at speculating about how lives with, have been better with “do over” opportunities. Regret can be a burden on the heart, and this book offers the warnings of prominent Christian leaders regarding regrettable choices they would now avoid or better decisions they should have made. From authors to radio hosts, from musicians to motivational speakers, from pastors to apologists, each of these twenty-nine leaders lays his or her heart bare. In eleven easy-to-read chapters the leaders share wisdom regarding nine different things they regret doing, or not doing, and finish with a pair of hopeful, prospective chapters. Among those profiled are Anne Graham Lotz, Tony Evans, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ravi Zacharias, Tim Keller, Kay Arthur, Joe Stowell and Josh McDowell.

This is a biblically sound book of advice for Christians who are curious about how to improve their spiritual lives and avoid missteps. Nothing heretical or controversial stands out, only wisdom from Christian leaders. Bible verses are peppered throughout the various bits of advice and guidance, in addition to the verses the leaders mention on their own. The variety of perspectives lends a greater effect to the common decisions widely regretted and offers multiple ideas for how to tackle these problems. This book has special appeal to Christians looking for opportunities to grow spiritually. The book confronts its readers with mistakes they likely make daily and shows them that if they don’t take action now and correct the choices they are making, they might live to regret certain bad decisions and actions.

Reviewed by Tucker White, a Professional Writing major at Taylor University, Upland, IN.