You want to pierce what? Getting a grip on today's family

'You Want To Pierce What? Getting a grip on today's family'
By Walter Moore
Marshall Pickering. 147 pages. £6.99

This enigmatic title is not about body-piercing and tattooing as such, but the challenge of parenting children in today's culture. It is a wise and compassionate book, written by a loving father who relates many family experiences to illustrate his points.
It would be fair to say that more personal illustrations than Scripture references are used, and the book is weaker on that account. It is firmly rooted in American culture which limits the book's effectiveness - the 'dating' procedure outlined would not find many parallels in young people's experience in this country. However, one of the most helpful aspects of the book is the explanation and illustration of the 'rites of passage' needed for the development of adolescents as they approach adulthood. I had not read of this in other books of a similar nature and I found it particularly helpful. What does come across is the genuine humanity and love of the author for his wife and family.
The cover blurb worried me a little where the book was described as 'using humour and proven innovative techniques'. Is this where true wisdom comes from or rather from a diligent compliance and obedience to the Word of God? However, parents and youth leaders may find some insights applicable.

Geoff Gobbett

© Evangelicals Now - December 1998
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Main Articles

• Black life
  A review of white Christian attitudes towards black and other ethnic minorities with the UK with diverse culture and modes of worship
• Open to what?
  The meaning of the term 'evangelical' and the emergence of a new group calling themselves 'open evangelicals'
• Evangelistic worship
  The problems of praise and worship and making it relevant to all - and a review of the SFC (Seeker Friendly Church) Movement
• Who needs it?
  Edited from a lecture on why religion matters and the moral crisis today in a society which rejects the Judaeo-Christian faith
• Has your church got a child protection policy?
  Reprinted guidelines from a child protection statement from Park Evangelical Church at Stoke-on-Trent
• Every Christian a witness? (Bulldog for December)
  A study of witness and the duties of the ordinary believer
• The approach of God
  Vernon Higham tells of his early life and path to faith

Other articles

• What Every Christian Needs To Know
• Online Bible Deluxe CD v. 7.06 - CD-ROM review
• You want to pierce what? Getting a grip on today's family
• Christianity in a Consumer Culture - 177 shades of lipstick - an edited extract from the book Christianity in a Consumer Culture on the effects of consumerism on Christians
• Christmas Sermons - an Exposition of the Magnificat - Bringing down the mighty - an extract from the book Christmas Sermons - an Exposition of the Magnificat
• The Truman Show
• Canterbury Letters to the Future - Ten letters to the archbishop's grandchildren covering the major Christian doctrines
• Bloodline of the Holy Grail - The Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed
• Knowing Where We Stand - The Message of John's Epistles
• Elizabeth
• The Hymns of Vernon Higham - A collection of 162 hymns
• Shadows of Scotland - The Story of the Covenanters
• Charles H Spurgeon - The Prince of Preachers
• Get Up and Give - 101 little ways to make a big difference
• Calvin and the Calvinists
• The Relationships Revolution
• Four Men and a Church - The Story of Worthing Tabernacle
• Spirit-Empowered Preaching
• Blame it on the Brain - Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders and Disobedience