THEO 330-D03
Book Review and Application
Walls
Presented to
Mrs. Lisa Rasberry – Adjunct Instructor
For
THEO .330 – Theology of the Family
By
Carlinda Rashid
L03511260
December 14, 2018
THEO 330-D03
Book Review and Application
Walls: Why Everybody’s Stuck-And Nobody Has to Be
Summary
The book Wall: Why Everybody’s Stuck (And Nobody Has To Be) by author Ryan Rush is
a wonderful motivational book. As I read this book during the semester, noted the throughout
the different chapters was the terms for life struggles one would encounter as “the walls.” The
author writes this book as a person who has experience when one hit the walls of life. After
reviewing a brief history about the author’s life in the “Introduction” he faced many challenges
that has occurred in his life that if one was not close to God those issues would bring most
people to a breaking point. Ryan Rush began his first chapter with a question asking: “Do you
ever have the feeling that you are missing out on something important?”(pg.1) Followed with an
answer: (“It’s probably because you are.” (pg.1)
This book allows the readers to project themselves inside of the stories listed for self-
examination how to handle walls in your lives. One on most moving stories in this comes from
Chapter 8 entitled “A Promise Chosen”(Chapter 8) which discusses the choices we make. The
story of Edith Eva Eger a holocaust survivor who’s own “mother had told her that no one could
take from her what she put in her head. What you and I put in our heads is a choice. What will it
be? Hatred or love? Bitterness or kindness? Vengeance or forgiveness? Edith chose to move
forward in spite of her memories. And now it’s your choice---that is, if you’re serious about
tearing down walls. So, it’s time to make a choice.”(Chapter 8) For some individuals that choice
can be to do nothing and allow circumstances to happen.
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Strengths and weaknesses
The strengths and weaknesses of this book comes in two forms of being down to earth
life application manual and eye attention grabber topics. The first strength noted in this book the
author is not just listing scriptures and biblical stories to teach the readers a lesson, but he
contributes his own life experiences which gives balance and validity to the subject matter being
addressed. Rush discusses the medical struggles of his 4-year-old daughter Lily and he describes
“I have discovered through my own trials that overcoming walls is not always that simple. For
me, that struggle came from the most unlikely place. Lily has brought me face-to-face with my
own walls.” (Chapter1) Second strength noted in this book is a strong biblical foundation to
cross--reference with information given. “As Rush talks about the paralytic man in the Gospel of
Mark 2:8-9 he concluded this chapter with Walls separate. Walls isolate. Walls intimidate. But
walls are no match for God.” (Chapter 3) The only weakness noted for this book uses different
stories about famous people, historical events and the author’s life experiences for dealing with
their wall challenges but gave multi-facet explanation in certain parts of the book. The strengths
outweighed the minor weaknesses noted in this book. I do feel this book can be used as a tool
alongside with the Bible as reference guide for our youth, young adults, etc. for teaching these
individuals about facing their walls in life. Would I use this tool or share the information learnt?
Yes, most definitely.
Application of the book to your life.
How would I apply the information from Walls to my own life? As I read this through
this book it challenged how I had been facing the walls in my life. I am a person who deals with
things as they come. But sadly, dealing with serious problems irritate me to my core. When I
read chapter 4, I could see myself in those situations and this chapter was an eye opener relating
THEO 330-D03
to how I handled problems. Rush stated in chapter 4 “The longer we let walls stand, the more
likely we are to focus on what led to the wall in the first place and to forget all about what we’re
missing on the other side.” (Chapter 4) As I read the different stories of how those individuals
dealt with each choice given to them, each one was prime examples of overcomers. From Edith
Eger the holocaust survivor or Senator John McCain a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War
conflict, both persons made a choice which change their lives. So, how does making choices
break down the walls in my life? I could choose to avoid them entirely or break through the
walls of life. God gave many promises to his children from life more abundantly or life eternal.
Rush stated in chapter 6 “God’s Word and especially his promises, has the power to blast through
spiritual walls.”(Chapter 6) I choose to believe in God’s promises through His Word that he
fights my battles, and supplier of my needs.
THEO 330-D03
Bibliography
Rush, Ryan. Walls: Why Everybody’s Stuck and Nobody Want To Be. (Nashville: Lifeway Church
Resources), 2011.
