Chris Bruno

Stranded (Audible Original) is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud audiobook comedy that totally hooked me from the opening scene. Taraji P. Henson and Tracee Ellis Ross are a dream duo—playing best friends who reconnect during a 40th birthday trip… only to end up stranded on a deserted island with no skills, no supplies, and a whole lot of emotional baggage.

The voice acting is top-tier. You can feel every eye roll, every petty jab, every moment of real vulnerability—like you're eavesdropping show more on two people who've known each other for decades. The full cast (Whoopi! Taye Diggs! Nicole Byer! Blake Griffin?!?) brings so much energy, and the sound design makes it feel like a full-on audio movie.

It’s raunchy, ridiculous, and unexpectedly real. Perfect for fans of smart comedies with heart, especially if you’re into ensemble casts and friendship dynamics that cut deep.

Highly recommend for your next road trip, workout, or just zoning out with headphones. show less

First sentence from the introduction: When I was completing this book, my dad was hospitalized with late stage cancer. As I write these words, I'm sitting in his hospital room while we prepare for the Lord to take him home.

First sentence from chapter one: Any study of Philippians must begin with Christ, for his person and work pervade the letter from beginning to end.

Sharing Christ in Joy and Sorrow is primarily for an audience of pastors, elders, seminary students, those who take show more theological study deep, deep, deep. It is not necessarily ideal for the average Christian who enjoys reading and studying the Bible yet doesn't have the background and experience to be scholars. Crossway certainly publishes books for a wide audience--some more scholarly, some more approachable. They do commentaries for example that would be a good fit for the 'average Christian.'

In the introduction, Chris Bruno gives readers a preview of what to expect in each chapter....

I quote...

*We will begin in chapter 1 by considering the humiliation and exaltation of Christ in Philippians 2:1-11 as foundational for much of the letter. From this we will see how Paul, the Philippians, and all Christians are called to imitate Christ in joy and sorrow.
*Chapter 2 will look more closely at union with Christ, a theme that appears over twenty times in the letter and is foundational for all of Paul's instructions for the church. We will see the central role that union with Christ plays in the theology of Philippians, from beginning to end.
*In chapter 3, we will see that Paul calls the church to unity and shared humility because of its shared union with Christ (Philippians 2:2-3) As a result, the church ought to recognize and honor the pastors and teachers that God uses in her midst (Philippians 2:19-30). In addition, the church is an outpost of the coming kingdom, not Rome (Philippians 3:20-21); therefore it ought to strive for unity among its members (Philippians 4:2-3) and with other congregations (Philippians 4:14-19).
*Chapter 4 considers Paul's instructions about gospel proclamation in view of both our union with Christ and his robust confidence in the sovereignty of God in salvation (Philippians 2:12-13).
*In chapter 5, we will see how the hope of Christ's return and the new creation animated our life in this age.
*In chapter 6, we will conclude by considering how Paul calls the Philippians to ongoing joy through suffering.

I read the book in one day. Perhaps that was a mistake on my part. Perhaps I should have taken the time to read each chapter through several times. Would it have helped me? Maybe. Maybe not.

Readers should definitely be prepared for foot notes, more foot notes, and even more foot notes.

I do love the book of Philippians. While this one is not particularly the right fit for me, it certainly appears to be well-researched, supported through end notes, and with a strong focus on connecting everything back to Scripture itself. For the right reader, this one might be beneficial. show less

Chris Bruno's The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses provides a foundational outline for the story of the Bible, highlighting key moments in the biblical narrative—Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. Although the topics covered in this book may be too basic for those who have already engaged in theological study, it is ideal for new believers or beginner theologians seeking a deeper understanding of the story of Scripture and the overarching narrative of the Gospel found within it.

Stranded

I Picked Up This Book Because: Needed a short read to finish the month.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Audible
Dates Read: 1/31/25
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narrator(s): Full Cast

The Story:

This was so much fun. I didn't know what to expect as I only picked this up for a short read before the month changed but I turned out really good. Mayhem, strong friendships, survival trials and a bumbling detective. It had it all.