Chris N van der Merwe's Books

Splendors of Godly Love

By: Chris N. van der Merwe

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The ethics of the Bible can be summarized in one word: love. Love became flesh in the person of Jesus--in the narrative of his life, his teachings, his death, and his resurrection. Jesus was the "Word of God" (John 1:1). Splendors of Godly Love brings a fresh perspective on age-old Christian concepts to guide us through life. Chris van der Merwe is a literary scholar who carefully analyzes biblical texts and explores the richness of their content. He reflects on seven Christian values and explains how faith, hope, righteousness, truth, humility, and joy are all connected to the central Christian virtue of love. While talking about some of the tough choices that present-day Christians have to make, and the emptiness that so many of us experience, he delves deep into the truths of the biblical texts and shares with his readers some of the wonderful wisdom of poets and writers from all over the world. He argues that the emptiness of our existence can be filled with meaning only if we seek to reflect the splendor of God's love in our daily lives.

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Page Count

112

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1498242405

ISBN 13

9781498242400

Narrating our Healing

Perspectives on Working through Trauma

By: Chris N van der Merwe

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Narrating our Healing

Perspectives on Working through Trauma

By: Chris N van der Merwe

In the 1990's, South Africa surprised the world with a peaceful, negotiated transition from armed conflict to an inclusive democracy. This was followed by the ground-breaking Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established to confront and work through a troubled past. The search for truth and reconciliation in South Africa, however, is far from completed; the country is in many ways still burdened by unresolved individual and collective traumas. In this book, two academics from the University of Cape Town, one a psychologist and the other a literary scholar, explore the importance of narrative as a way of working through trauma. Although written from within a South African context, the work has a much wider relevance. It offers illuminating perspectives on the process of narrating our healing: the sharing of personal narratives, the appropriation of literary narratives, and above all, the re-creating of life narratives shattered by trauma. It is a book about the search for meaning when all meaning seems to have been lost; it deals with the overwhelming nature of traumatic suffering, yet offers some hope of healing.The book is remarkably overarching, tailored to the needs of scientists and practitioners in the fields of psychology, social work, education and literature. It offers a strong message to all individuals and nations who live in an atmosphere of blame, shame and hopelessness. - Yuval Wolf, Professor of Psychology and Dean of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University.Narrating Our Healing is a good book in the widest sense of that adjective: it is well constructed, meticulously researched, and likely to deepen understanding of the difficult but profoundly important subject of trauma and how to address it. It is something like a handbook for living with suffering – both one's own and that of others. To have constructed a text that can serve such a purpose is a profoundly admirable achievement. Annie Gagiano, LitNet.It is a timeous and exciting study that should be essential reading for anyone grappling with our present, our past and our future. - Andrè P Brink – South African and international authorThis is one of the best books I have ever read on healing deep wounds.- VamÃ¿k D. Volkan, M. D. Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia.We need to know the truth about what happened in South Africa during the Apartheid years. Van der Merwe and Gobodo-Madikizela have given us the tools to face that challenge. - Rolf Wolfswinkel, Professor of Modern History, New York University.

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Page Count

116

Publisher

Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1443808458

ISBN 13

9781443808453

Boundless Grace

A modern confession of faith

By: Chris N van der Merwe

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Boundless Grace

A modern confession of faith

By: Chris N van der Merwe

The message of the New Testament is that Jesus took the punishment of sin meant for men upon Himself to redeem those who believe in Him. This belief in the transference of suffering from men to Jesus creates a myriad of questions for many people. Was Jesus’s brutal death truly necessary? Why do God require a sacrifice instead of just forgiving unconditionally? Is God the Father restricted in His willingness to forgive? The idea of heaven and hell stirs up doubt and fear in many – fear for the eternal damnation of hell and doubt if they will ever be able to make it to heaven. How could a loving God, the God of love who is preached by the Christian faith, allow for people to go to hell? The author gives no pretence that he has the definitive answers to all these difficult questions, or that he could fully uncover the extensive meaning of what the life, death and resurrection of Jesus truly entails. But he sincerely hopes the new thoughts that these writings might evoke, will cast some light on these darker questions for those who struggle with them.

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Page Count

146

Publisher

Penguin Random House South Africa

Published Date

ISBN 10

1779880278

ISBN 13

9781779880277

The broken snare

By: Chris N van der Merwe

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The broken snare

By: Chris N van der Merwe

“We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.” (Psalm 124:7). Many of us end up in a net of misery at some point. The plans we made have collapsed, and our lives are falling apart. You have lost your partner, or your job, or your health has given in. You have lost the courage to keep living. A major crisis can, however, lead to inner growth and enrichment. In our Christian faith there is the comforting message of a net that has indeed broken: With the death of Jesus, free access to God was made possible to all. The price for human guilt has been paid so that all people can always approach God with courage and boldness. But the joy of the broken net can only be experienced by those who know of and acknowledge the net that holds them captive, one from which they cannot escape themselves. Only the humble can pray sincerely – and humility is the result of a healthy prayer life. In The Broken Snare we are reminded that we can find meaning in a time of adversity, and a new path can lead from what appears to be a dead end.

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157

Publisher

Penguin Random House South Africa

Published Date

ISBN 10

1776351282

ISBN 13

9781776351282

Splendors of Godly Love

By: Chris N. van der Merwe

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Splendors of Godly Love

By: Chris N. van der Merwe

The ethics of the Bible can be summarized in one word: love. Love became flesh in the person of Jesus—in the narrative of his life, his teachings, his death, and his resurrection. Jesus was the “Word of God” (John 1:1). Splendors of Godly Love brings a fresh perspective on age-old Christian concepts to guide us through life. Chris van der Merwe is a literary scholar who carefully analyzes biblical texts and explores the richness of their content. He reflects on seven Christian values and explains how faith, hope, righteousness, truth, humility, and joy are all connected to the central Christian virtue of love. While talking about some of the tough choices that present-day Christians have to make, and the emptiness that so many of us experience, he delves deep into the truths of the biblical texts and shares with his readers some of the wonderful wisdom of poets and writers from all over the world. He argues that the emptiness of our existence can be filled with meaning only if we seek to reflect the splendor of God's love in our daily lives.

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Page Count

141

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532617607

ISBN 13

9781532617607

The broken snare

By: Chris N van der Merwe

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The broken snare

By: Chris N van der Merwe

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Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

157

Publisher

Penguin Random House South Africa

Published Date

ISBN 10

1776351282

ISBN 13

9781776351282

Boundless Grace

A modern confession of faith

By: Chris N van der Merwe

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Boundless Grace

A modern confession of faith

By: Chris N van der Merwe

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

146

Publisher

Penguin Random House South Africa

Published Date

ISBN 10

1779880278

ISBN 13

9781779880277

Book's by Chris N van der Merwe

Splendors of Godly Love

Splendors of Godly Love

Narrating our Healing

Narrating our Healing

Boundless Grace

Boundless Grace

The broken snare

The broken snare

Splendors of Godly Love

Splendors of Godly Love

The broken snare

The broken snare

Boundless Grace

Boundless Grace

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