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Book Review: Because I Said So

November 28, 2012 by Erynn Sprouse 22 Comments

 

“Because I Said So” by Celine Sparks is one part humor, one part tribute to her mother, two parts Bible study, and at least one part toe-stepping. Sparks takes Momma’s old sayings and pulls the Biblical truths from them. There are plenty of scripture references (both direct and indirect), and lots of applications given. Well thought-out chapters are witty, steeped in scripture and fun to read. Of course, the sore toes may not be much fun, but, as the saying goes, if your toes are getting stepped on, move them… and this book will help you do just that: get your toes where they ought to be.

I love the serious and silly blend here. The meat of the chapters is serious enough to cause a moment of self-reflection and redirection, but there’s enough silly and witty mixed in to help the medicine go down. The questions included at the end of each chapter are excellent for solo study, but would also be appropriate for a group study. The questions hit all the bases, covering scriptures, the reader’s personal walk and general considerations. Each chapter also includes a “Spark Plug.” These are narrative reflections from Sparks’ own life told with a hefty dose of humor. I couldn’t help laughing aloud at least once during each one. So much of the book centers on Sparks’ mother’s common sense sayings, it’s only appropriate that pictures of her mother are included. Though they’re probably included more for visual interest than learning, I found the pictures caused me to remember the humanness of each of us. There’s a picture of Johnnia (Sparks’ mom) washing dishes in her first house as a new wife (38). Somehow it helps me to see and understand that most of the moms out there are really just young women doing their best and stumbling along in the hardest job on the planet: motherhood.

Something else I liked about this book is that it doesn’t hit just one demographic or group of women in the church. There isn’t too much focus on life as a young mother or as an older woman. A single woman would not find herself excluded nor would a widow or someone without children. The topics are broad enough in range that a new Christian would not be out of her depth, but a mature saint will likely not come off without at least a bit of toe soreness. I would definitely recommend the book for personal study or for group study. There’s a lot to be gleaned from this book… and plenty of laughs too. At $9.00 for a well-bound paperback book chocked with wisdom, it’s a steal of a deal.

 

Note: The author was in no way compensated for this review nor was Come Fill Your Cup, or its Editor or affiliates.

*Affiliate links are used in this post

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Erynn Sprouse
Erynn Sprouse
Erynn is the author of Perfected (A Study of Hebrews). She and her husband, Jeremy serve with the Patrick Street church of Christ in Dublin, TX . Her husband is the pulpit minister and evangelist. Erynn is a stay at home, homeschooling mom to their six children: five young knights-in-training and one sweet princess. They are 2003 graduates of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. Erynn is the creator and a regular contributor form Come Fill Your Cup.
Erynn Sprouse
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Filed Under: Resources Tagged With: book review, Celine Sparks, Erynn Sprouse, gift ideas

About Erynn Sprouse

Erynn is the author of Perfected (A Study of Hebrews). She and her husband, Jeremy serve with the Patrick Street church of Christ in Dublin, TX . Her husband is the pulpit minister and evangelist. Erynn is a stay at home, homeschooling mom to their six children: five young knights-in-training and one sweet princess. They are 2003 graduates of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. Erynn is the creator and a regular contributor form Come Fill Your Cup.

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Comments

  1. Samantha Moore says

    November 28, 2012 at 9:22 am

    This hurts me worse than it does you.

    Reply
  2. Linda says

    November 28, 2012 at 9:37 am

    “Perhaps the fairies will do it”

    (always made me feel like I had to do whatever “it” was….)

    Reply
  3. Cynthia Suggs says

    November 28, 2012 at 9:49 am

    This is a wonderful book.

    Reply
  4. Erin says

    November 28, 2012 at 10:16 am

    Someday you’re going to grow up and have a child just like you! (This was usually said when I was being stubborn!)

    Reply
  5. Jessica says

    November 28, 2012 at 10:29 am

    “I’m not going to ask/tell you again…” (But really, isn’t that what I just did…ask/tell them again?!) 😉

    Reply
  6. Abbie says

    November 28, 2012 at 10:31 am

    Your face will get stuck that way.

    Reply
  7. Cindy Graney says

    November 28, 2012 at 11:09 am

    Don’t make me stop this car

    Reply
  8. Amy says

    November 28, 2012 at 11:41 am

    Someday your sister will be your best friend.

    Reply
  9. Margaret Langston says

    November 28, 2012 at 11:46 am

    “Pretty is as pretty does”

    Reply
  10. Pisa says

    November 28, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    “Don’t make me stop what I’m doing and come over there…it won’t be pretty.” (Usually when sibling rivalry goes a little too far and mom is busy cleaning or cooking)

    Reply
  11. Heidi Sprouse says

    November 28, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    “It’s got to be somewhere!” I find this coming out of my mouth quite often now that my kids are misplacing things. This book sounds wonderful!

    Reply
  12. Tracy Voyles says

    November 29, 2012 at 12:38 am

    “Where are my keys?!”

    Reply
  13. Ann Evans says

    November 29, 2012 at 7:46 am

    “I’m erpy” – always meant nauseous! Maybe not the sort of comment you are looking for, but how amazing for me that these words always come to mind when I’m not feeling well. Mother died at age 57…I miss her more and more, even after 21+ years!

    Reply
  14. katrena rosas says

    November 29, 2012 at 8:22 am

    “Now, give me a hug”, after a spanking. Oh, that would burn me up and I say the same thing to my kiddos after disciplining them!

    Reply
  15. Brianna Ramseur says

    November 29, 2012 at 8:33 am

    “Your dad is the sheriff and I’m the deputy.” I use this to explain that Chuck is the boss all the time! My mom is so creative!

    Reply
  16. Gina Bohanan says

    November 29, 2012 at 5:42 pm

    “if you dont stop crying I will give you something to cry about”

    Reply
  17. Terri says

    November 29, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    She would always tell me, “it was better to go to the house of mourning than the house of laughter”, I would roll my eyes and say, “Oh mother” I just spent a week with her and I am married 22 years with teenagers of my own and we were talking about when she would say that and she asked me if I knew why now and I told her I really get it now.

    Reply
  18. Alicia B says

    November 29, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    “The poochy lip will get you if you start to pout” I used to HATE this and now my daughter hears it. mwahahah 😉

    Reply
  19. Mintie Welchance says

    November 29, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    My mother always said, “Can’t never tried.”

    Reply
  20. Natalie says

    November 29, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    “It must have been a lie!” (Said when I couldn’t remember what I wanted to tell her) 🙂

    Reply
  21. Leslie says

    November 30, 2012 at 9:14 am

    When I was being difficult she would say, “I hope you have a little girl just like you when you grow up!” This statement would make me so mad. I know I have said that to my kids a time or two 🙂

    Reply
  22. Tracy Frederick says

    November 30, 2012 at 10:54 am

    My mother came from a very large farm family in which most of them never graduated from high school, but went on to the army and work. She has many funny sayings from those old days, but ther eis one that served me well:”You can fall in love with anyone, but you can’t live with just anybody.”

    Reply

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Welcome to Come Fill Your Cup!

CFYC About Image Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!

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