Glory Days

With an inspirational voice, bestselling author and pastor Lucado (God Will Use This for Good) offers insights from the Old Testament book of Joshua on how to embrace what he calls "Promised Land Living." Drawing on the experiences of Joshua and the Israelites as they left behind 40 years of wandering and prepared to enter the promised land of Canaan, Lucado urges readers to believe "the best days are ahead of us." Within this framework, Lucado draws a connection between the experiences of early Israelites—during enslavement under the Egyptian pharaoh and subsequent years wandering the wilderness—and the fear that he says many Christians still live under. He works through the book story by story, including narratives from his own life and the lives of others to illustrate his overarching point, and sprinkling in details about the historical and cultural background of events such as the Israelites' march on Jericho. At times, Lucado's colloquial tone flirts dangerously close with hokey; his dog even provides a spiritual lesson. However, personified pet stories aside, Lucado continues to strike a winning balance between spiritual insights and pastoral inspiration. (Sept.)