Evangelicals Now
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Second Choice

Helpful examples

SECOND CHOICE
By Viv Thomas
Paternoster Press. 154 pages
1 84227 010 9

The sub-title of this book is 'embracing life as it is'. Viv Thomas defines what has shaped Western culture in its attitude: 'To a significant extent we earn money, gain position and get educated in order to achieve a position in which we shall be able to respond to a range of choices.'

But often we are in a position where our preferred choice is not possible or where our first choice turns into something that ideally we would not want.

Taking the life of Daniel as his biblical exemplar, Viv Thomas explores how God can use second choice situations in the Christian's life to build relationships with God and other people and strengthen character. The author uses stories from his own experience and that of several others to illustrate this process in operation.

Although I found the 'second-choice' concept uneasy throughout the book, the exploration of how Daniel handled difficult and dangerous situations by faith was helpful, as were the real life examples, particularly the author's own experience of a heart attack.

Sonia Wardle, London