Essay --

Refuge from Abuse: Healing and Hope for Abused, by Nason-Clark, N. and Kroeger, is a book that made for victims of domestic abuse , those who are currently suffering through it, and those who already have; and also for those who want to be knowledgeable on the issue. The authors of the book bring their knowledge from distinctive points of view. Nancy N. Clark is a sociologist while Cathie Clark Kroger is a biblical scholar. With these two different perspectives, we are able to get the subject of Domestic abuse through a multi-dimensional view point and see an in depth view of the serious crime that is domestic abuse. The things the stand out about this book are the amount of areas that it covers, and the creative ways Clark and Kroger are able to communicate the material. In the beginning of the book there are small portions of information. These little portions focus on things such as when a relationship is not healthy, safety, and ways to protect oneself. The book also promptly corrects any false ideas about domestic abuse. These false ideas include the belief that domestic violence does not occur in my neighborhood, church, family, or oneself. Throughout the book there are different examples of domestic violence. The different examples show the variety of factors that complicates or are just part of the abuse. Factors include mental health, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and others. The stories portray how abuse can begin in the beginning of the relationship, middle, or when they enter late adulthood. A biblical element is also added in the book. Throughout the book the authors of the book relate characters from the Bible. These Characters include Hagar, David, Mary, and others. The auth... ...s. The part of the book that really impacted me was the chapter about worship. It deals with the fact that worship can heal. It uses psalm 66 which states â€Å"For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.† It uses this passage to illustrate the rest that we seek from our burdens and that in the end, God delivers on his promise of peace and rest. Sometimes, I have difficulty worshipping, especially when I’ve going through a tough situation. Although I already know this the book just reinforced it. I might be going through a tough situation; God will give me the rest I need at the appropriate time, as long as I remain faithful in my worship to Him.