No Ordinary Dog, by Will Chesney

The Good and Beautiful God, by James Bryan Smith

The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith is the first book in the Apprentice Series and focuses on spiritual transformation through knowing the true character of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Smith argues that many of our struggles stem from false narratives we believe about God, ourselves, and the world. Each chapter addresses a specific false narrative—such as "God is angry" or "God blesses me when I'm good"—and replaces it with a true, biblical narrative grounded in the life and teachings of Jesus.

Smith emphasizes spiritual practices (called "soul training exercises") to help readers internalize these true narratives. His goal is to help believers move from merely trying to be good to training in the way of Jesus, allowing God's love and grace to transform them from the inside out.

Main themes include:

• God is good, loving, and trustworthy

• Transformation happens by changing the stories we live by

• Spiritual practices are essential to growth in Christlikeness

It's a hopeful and practical guide to becoming more like Christ by truly understanding who God is.