Meet Your Spiritual Ancestors… As They Really Were
What can the Bible’s most flawed men and women reveal about who God is and how he reaches out to less-than-perfect people? In Less Than Perfect, bestselling author Ann Spangler takes us beyond cardboard cutouts of 38 biblical characters to show us how these were real individuals who had dreams, temptations, and weaknesses just like us.
Whether considering the murderous Herodias, the scheming Jacob, or the doubting Sarah, Spangler approaches both familiar and lesser-known characters with fresh eyes. We meet each of these individuals again as if for the first time as Spangler offers a dramatic retelling of their lives, insight into the historical and cultural context of their time, and key takeaway points for our lives today.
Each chapter includes questions for discussion or reflection, making Less Than Perfect ideal for individual or group Bible study. Entertaining, informative, and inspirational, Less Than Perfect gives you a big picture view of the Bible even as it takes you into the hearts and minds of people with struggles just like yours. As you learn more about the individuals who are part of your spiritual family tree, you’ll discover why God loves to use imperfect people to tell his perfect story of redemption.
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About the Author:
Ann Spangler is an award-winning writer and the author of many bestselling books, including Praying the Names of God, Women of the Bible and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus. She is also the author of The One Year Devotions for Women and the general editor of the Names of God Bible. Ann’s fascination with and love of Scripture have resulted in books that have opened the Bible to a wide range of readers. She and her two daughters live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What Others Are Saying About Less Than Perfect:
Reading just the first paragraph in Ann Spangler’s exquisitely written book carried my mind into a cozy, candlelit scene, sitting at the feet of a master storyteller. Her colorful descriptions and dancing phrasing served to paint moving pictures in my imagination. I could “see” the Bible stories in a way that illuminated them as never before. Clearly, Less than Perfect is a pleasure to read and a must for anyone desiring to know the men and women of the Scriptures more intimately and see more of ourselves through them.
– Susan Gregory, Bestselling author of The Daniel Fast.
As children, we enjoyed our storybook Bibles, with brightly-colored illustrations and sanitized stories about our flannel graph heroes. In Less than Perfect, Ann Spangler invites us to take a grown-up look at biblical characters and meditate on how God used them despite their lack of storybook perfection. I especially enjoyed her vibrant tale-telling and many cultural insights. Each chapter is sprinkled with nuggets from the ancient world that shed new light on the lives of biblical characters in the world that they knew.
— Lois Tverberg, Author, Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus.
Ann Spangler’s latest book Less Than Perfect is a moving tribute to the fact that God uses broken people who are often seen as failures to others. These are beautifully written stories that will touch the deepest part of your heart and inspire a fresh faith in Jesus Christ and his grace.
– Jim Cymbala, Senior Pastor, The Brooklyn Tabernacle.
Ann Spangler has a gift of making the Bible come alive. Her beautiful storytelling combined with historical insights give us powerful lessons we can apply to our own less-than-perfect lives.
– Joanna Weaver, Bestselling author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.
Ann Spangler makes Bible people feel like close cousins—if not like we ourselves. Taking us by the hand, she guides us through these ancient lives with a contemporary lens that’s candid, courageous, inspiring and insightful. With Ann Spangler, such Bible voyages are always remarkable journeys. Don’t miss this one!
– Patricia Raybon, Author of Undivided: A Muslim Daughter, Her Christian Mother, Their Path to Peace.
