Intimacy is a quality high on the wish list for many women today. Two thousand years ago, Banks argues, this same desire drove 10 biblical women out of their comfort zones in a passionate search for closeness. One man was the focus of attention for each of these biblical characters: Jesus. Banks (Love Letters to My Baby) pulls story after story from the Bible, inviting the reader to pause, consider and drink in the deeper message behind the encounters between Jesus and such women as the Widow of Nain, Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, the bleeding woman, the adulterous woman and others. Banks, with great urgency, writes of the powerful impact Jesus had on each woman, who came to him with unique and desperate needs. Jesus, overcoming the stigma of the day, touched these women, spoke with them publicly, healed them, and perhaps most significantly, listened to them. Every chapter is brimming with the author's fervent desire that contemporary Christians understand the depth of Christ's love for these women. Banks discusses the Bible passages, offers modern-day parallels and includes application questions. While she successfully captures the moment through her skilled and empathetic storytelling, the "Getting Personal" section that closes each chapter lacks the verve found throughout the rest of the book. Banks draws too heavily from quick-fix questions that are similarly tacked on to numerous self-help books; a more appropriate ending to such an intimate walk with these special women would have been to simply close in contrite prayer. (Mar.)
