Songs in the Key of Solomon: In the Word and In the Mood

For many years the "Song of Solomon" was a neglected book. The anatomical references, I guess, made many think this book was "inappropriate" for church use. Funny, it is in the Bible. And traditionally the Jews read it every Passover! (Well, maybe not the first several hundred Passovers, but once written it was a staple of Passover.)Fortunately the "veil" seems to have been lifted from the book. Several books in recent years have been written on the Song. I myself have preached a sermon on the Song as well as taught it in Bible class twice.John and Anita Renfroe pick up on the theme of the Song. No, this book is not an exposition of the book. Look at the title closely. The look at the subtitle: "In the Word.../...and In the Mood." It is a study for couples to look at each other with the eyes of God. It is a book about Christian romance! In effect, it is a book in which couples can share with each other their innermost thoughts, secrets, and desires.Written in a devotional style, nonetheless the book can engender discussion and openness if the members of the couple are willing. It is written by a couple who also struggle to "get the devotional thing right." It may surprise you to know one is a pastor, the other a Christian clown. Of course, those in a parsonage already know this is a struggle, just as it is for everyone. Thus they set out to write this quirky, unconventional, yet brilliant couple's devotional. There are sixty settings that often use what might seem "non-devotional" methods. Really, now, grapes and candles in a bath for a devotional? Or curling up together in a big recliner with one bowl of ice cream and two spoons? Well, that is "intimacy" or as the authors define it, "Into me see."The book also highlights those smarmy, yet seemingly true, stereotypes. She might obsess about having "nothing to wear" even while staring at a closet full of clothes (and discusses what's up with that). The guy? Well, it pegs most of us pretty well with "if it smells clean and resembles something from the last decade, we're fine."This book would make a wonderful gift for a bridal shower, a wedding gift, even for congregations to give to newly-weds as gifts. Planning a weekend couples retreat? Excellent book--to guide the weekend and for couples to carry that fire with them.The authors do address several guilt trips couples (and even non-couples) have about devotions. One is the shame and fear of being a "loser" if you miss a day. I would add that a couple should start. If you miss a day (or two or ten), pick up where you left off. As you become more accustomed to devotions, you'll find yourself missing them less and less. Just don't dwell in guilt on missing one.

I have always struggled with devotionals. Always. They're either redolent of pablum, or irrelevant to my life, or too directed or too diffuse... I'll find a guide that looks promising, and it'll be dull as a box of rocks to my wife, or we'll get partway into it and just find it a chore, a drudge, a Sisyphean undertaking to make time each day to give it its due.Well. Ahem... When a devotional starts out by telling you to wash some grapes, bring them to the bathtub, draw a bath, light some candles, and climb in the tub together, let's just say it gets my attention. But don't get the wrong idea: while there are a number of entries in Songs in the Key of Solomon: In the Word and In the Mood that seek to support that Edenic relationship one is intended to have with one's spouse, it's not all co-bathing in candlelight. These devotions speak to all aspects of your relationship with your beloved, and all of them start with some sort of activity intended to illustrate the point. Some are sexy, yes; some are homey, some are fun and silly--but all of them provoke some deep thought about our love for each other, and how that reflects the love of God for His creation.Now I do have some concerns about this being an electronic edition. Going to have to be very careful during the water-play segments not to short out my devotional guide! But that's really a minor concern. Take a little proper care, and it'll be fine. I think this is what devotional guides ought to be, and I hope Anita Renfroe keeps writing more!

As described

My husband and I have tried out many, many different couple's devotional. In general, after about the first few days, they end up being lame and pointless. Some of them seem to lose their focus and end up being a waste of time. We have thoroughly enjoyed this one! We love the portions of Scripture form Song of Solomon that we read, we love the themes and we love the questions at the end of each reading that spark great conversation. We have found, in the past, that devotionals ask silly or pointless questions, but this devotional actually sparks conversation and we're actually talking about things that we have never really discussed before, even though we've been married for 10 years now.If you are looking for a good couple's devotional book to do before bed, we highly recommend this one.

This book would be a great read for any married couple to use as a guide. Ms. Renfroe has an amazing wit and is hysterical, especially in person, which is why I ordered this book. I did get it for free on the David C. Cook website. The Songs of Solomon is a wonderful book to use for a Bible study and Ms. Renfroe and her husband did a great job of using it for this purpose.I also love that on David C. Cook's site, I can get a lot of great books for Bible study, free.

My husband and I have been married 27 years and I was surprised at how this simple devotional has brought our intimacy and romance level up another notch or two. We both look forward to our weekly time together. Not only are the activities full of variety and fun, but the questions have elicited conversations that have surprised both of us! How can we still be learning things about each other after 27 years? We've made numerous small changes in our habits and attitudes that have had noticeably positive results. I can't tell you how glad I am that I had a moment of spontaneity and purchased the book when it was not on sale and I had not read any reviews about it. It has been a marriage brightener. I highly recommend this book.

This devotion for couples is much different from any others I have received and/or read in the past. The difference is how interactive it is in suggesting fun and easy ways to "set the mood" before reading together. Definitely requires/suggests more physical connection than couples' devotions which does have a powerful impact brought forth by scriptures in Song of Solomon as it references marriage and intimacy.

Very Prompt delivery. My wife and I will share this on our anniversary trip

Found it very American and a bit cheesy.Imaginative and helpful for some I am sure but I couldn't be bothered with it.

My husband and I are very intentional about working on our marriage. After 25 years of married life, we still like to find ways to communicate our love and appreciation to one another in fresh ways. This book was a great tool to do just that. We used it as a "jumping off point" for discussions and a kind of couples devo. The ideas in each of the devo's seem to build off one another to create a deeper level of communication, but in the context of a shared activity. Appreciated the scriptural references that were tied to the lessons.I would recommend this to any couple that would like to deepen their relationship in an intentional way. It may be a less effective tool in marriages where only one spouse is willing to "work" on the relationship, however the ideas can still be used, and perhaps the reluctant spouse may enjoy the activities and come around.