Life is hard, and the challenges it presents can be overwhelming at times. But as much as we might want to give up, we eventually come to moments when we need to make decisions and keep moving forward. Grind, Don’t Quit offers inspiration and an honest, relevant, and practical approach to developing the grit needed to journey through life’s toughest battles and reach a new place in life. A pastor and business leader respectively, Jamie Holtom and Jim Christian offer real-life stories and practical tips on how to work through these kinds of challenges to get the most out of life. You will be encouraged and empowered in ways that will strengthen you when times get tough. Hope. Resiliency. Faith. Hard work. Measurable goals. These are the things that will change your life and lift you to new heights physically, spiritually, and mentally. In our private lives and as leaders, we all need to strengthen our resolve in our most discouraging moments. Grind, Don’t Quit models for readers a meaningful process of sticking with a task and seeing it through to the desired end. Ideal for both individual and group study, this inspiring book will challenge readers and be a valuable addition to personal, church, and business libraries.
An Invitation to Deeper, More Joyful, and Rewarding Relationships with God and Others None of us is lovable all of the time. People are unreasonable, arguments flare, feelings are hurt. And no one can make us feel worse than those closest to us. It's easy to fall into the trap of closing ourselves off in order to protect ourselves, rather than opening ourselves up for relationship with each other. But think of who Jesus invited into his life and ministry. They weren't always lovable. Yet he modeled perfect love for us and showed how the mark of a spiritually mature believer was always love. In The Power of Together, pastor and author Jim Putman uncovers the core of true discipleship with an in-depth, biblical look at how Jesus always invited people into relationship with himself. He loved them with God's perfect love and, in the process, showed everyone around him that the act of following God is the act of extending and receiving love that endures all things.
Jim Wallis thinks our life together can be better. In this timely and provocative book, he shows us how to reclaim Jesus's ancient and compelling vision of the common good--a vision that impacts and inspires not only our politics but also our personal lives, families, churches, neighborhoods, and world. Now available in paperback with a new preface. "Personal/political, religion/politics, faith/power, ideology/pragmatism . . . Jim Wallis is a wrestler of values, ideas, and policies and how they interact to shape the world we live in. His deep, melodious voice is easy to listen to, but what he says takes a harder commitment to live by."--Bono, lead singer of U2; cofounder of ONE.org "Wallis persuades more powerfully here than ever before. . . . He lays out the theology of [Jesus's gospel of the kingdom] and then issues to all Christians a rallying cry to apply that theology both in private life and in the arena of public activity."--Phyllis Tickle, author of Emergence Christianity "Jim Wallis has long been an influential voice on Christian ethics and public life. . . . A fresh take on the interplay of faith and politics in America."--Relevant "Jim Wallis and I have a variety of differences on domestic and international policy, but there is no message more timely or urgent than his call to actively consider the common good."--Michael Gerson, op-ed columnist, The Washington Post "Reading this book will help you be more like Jesus, especially in the public square."--Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor, Northland--A Church Distributed
Writing in response to our current “constitutional crisis,” New York Times bestselling author and Christian activist Jim Wallis urges America to return to the tenets of Jesus once again as the means to save us from the polarizing bitterness and anger of our tribal nation. In Christ in Crisis Jim Wallis provides a path of spiritual healing and solidarity to help us heal the divide separating Americans today. Building on “Reclaiming Jesus”—the declaration he and other church leaders wrote in May 2018 to address America’s current crisis—Wallis argues that Christians have become disconnected from Jesus and need to revisit their spiritual foundations. By pointing to eight questions Jesus asked or is asked, Wallis provides a means to measure whether we are truly aligned with the moral and spiritual foundations of our Christian faith. “Christians have often remembered, re-discovered, and returned to their obedient discipleship of Jesus Christ—both personal and public—in times of trouble. It’s called coming home,” Wallis reminds us. While he addresses the dividing lines and dangers facing our nation, the religious and cultural commentator’s focus isn’t politics; it’s faith. As he has done throughout his career, Wallis offers comfort, empathy, and a practical roadmap. Christ in Crisis is a constructive field guide for all those involved in resistance and renewal initiatives in faith communities in the post-2016 political context.
Put Your Faith into Action A leading voice at the crossroads of faith and politics offers a prophetic appeal for our times: faced with a growing gap between the rich and poor, bombarded by national security alerts that ratchet up our stress levels, taxed by a government that spends billions of dollars on war -- where do we find hope? In this revised and updated edition of his classic, Jim Wallis insightfully critiques contemporary culture and politics, inspiring us with stories to convert our way of thinking and point to a solution to our current social and political dilemmas.
Something is wrong in America. Our streets are not safe. Families are in crisis. Corporations value profit above all else. And in this time of partisan politics and divisive self-interest, where is the voice of integrity and authority? The Religious Right? The secular Left? In this visionary work, prominent social activist and pastor Jim Wallis cuts to the heart of the debate to offer a moral and spiritual alternative to both sides of the political spectrum. In a daring attack on the Religious Right, Wallis reveals how its extreme positions actually conflict with the Bible, yet wield an enormous, and dangerous, influence in Washington. He also exposes the emptiness of the policies of the secular Left--programs he feels are devoid of values and spirituality. Instead of platitudes, Wallis discusses real people; instead of slogans, he offers solutions, calling for a new politics of compassion, community, and civility--the three touchstones of a balanced society. Whether he talks about abortion, welfare, crime, or a new social agenda, he gives surprising, and provocative, answers to the questions that concern us all. Who Speaks For God? is a call to action for the millions of Americans who yearn for a more humane and spiritual national agenda. And in this transformational and practical book, Jim Wallis puts that vision within reach for all of us
When your world comes crashing down around you there is only one place of safety-the Refuge. Convinced that many Christians are already experiencing tough times, Jim Bakker offers hope to believers, showing how to make it through the dark nights and difficult days ahead. Security will not be in money or materialism; it will be in Christ and His family, working to overcome the obstacles in life. Drawing upon lessons he learned the hard way, Bakker encourages Christians to gather together in one accord, to bear one another's burdens, to open our hearts to a fresh outpouring of God's supernatural presence in our midst. His call for "first-century Christianity" in the twenty-first century is radical, challenging, thoroughly biblical, and inspiring.
Growing as a man after God's own heart happens one step at a time. Bestselling author Jim George shares quick, focused devotions that will enable you to make every step count. You'll discover great advice for... making forward progress in your spiritual growth staying strong when life gets tough managing your responsibilities with wisdom leading and loving your wife and children living with maximum impact in all you do Along the way you'll experience the satisfaction that comes from living as the kind of man God designed you to be.
How are you spending your days? Jesus is the most interesting man who ever lived. He is also the most misunderstood man who ever lived. His influence is unprecedented. Many people profess to be his followers, but how much do you really know about him? Whether you have never looked into the life of Jesus or have followed him for years, Days with Jesus can transform your perspective of him forever. In a groundbreaking combination of book and on-location videos shot in Israel, Jim Jackson takes readers through an immersive experience like no other. Read the words of Jesus. See the place where he said those words. Connect with Jesus in a new way. Watch the adventure begin in Bethlehem as Jesus is born and placed in a stone feeding trough. Walk to the Jordan River, where he is baptized by a locust-eating prophet. Go to the corner of the Temple, where Jesus is tempted to jump. See the place where Jesus cracks a whip and makes the religious leaders seethe with anger. Hear Jesus tell people to eat his flesh and drink his blood in Capernaum. Observe Jesus pardon the adulterous woman. In Days with Jesus, we encounter the life of Jesus as told through his best friend, John: Jesus as the scandalous preacher; Jesus as the lover of people; Jesus as the miracle worker; Jesus as the hated rabbi. There is a lot to learn. There is much to behold. Get to know the man many know of but don't know much about. See more at www.DaysWithJesus.com.
As you take this journey with the author, know that he will be examining areas which have earned the title of “Sacred Cows”. Ask those questions that come to mind as you travel through this inspiring text. The discoveries made will open hearts, minds, and spirits to freedom beyond expectations. Dying of Thirst on the Bank of the River begins with the author’s story. This book explores why so many people fail to move closer to the Lord, answering questions such as: Are there things we have to do or change to see the living reality of Christ’s Church? As His Church, are we manifesting the love Jesus said would cause the world to know we are His disciples? Is there a place for individualism within the Christian community? What paradigms need to change? As a Christian leader, Jim knew only one way to lead; as he began this journey, he discovered a way that more clearly represented the Good Shepherd. Jim’s understanding of the church Jesus has chosen to build grew as he found true freedom. No longer live according to Christian cultural norms. Thirst no more. Jump in! Dying of Thirst on the Bank of the River. is for you!!
What does a Hip-Hop artist, Waffle House waitress, tire salesman, and disabled girl have to do with discovering spiritual truth? What if embracing authentic Christianity is a journey of unlearning? Welcome to Jim Palmer's world! Don Miller meets Anne Lamott meets Brian McLaren in this tale of shedding religion and plunging into uncharted depths of knowing God. Jim Palmer, emergent pastor, shares his compelling off-road spiritual journey and the unsuspecting people who became his guides. "Perhaps God's reason for wanting me," writes Palmer, "is much better than my reason for wanting him. Maybe God's idea of my salvation trumps the version I am too willing to settle for. Seeing I needed a little help to get this, God sent a variety pack of characters to awaken me." For all those hoping there's more to God and Christianity than what they've heard or experienced, each chapter of Divine Nobodies gives the reader permission and freedom to discover it for themselves. Sometimes comical, other times tragic, at times shocking, always honest; Jim Palmer's story offers an inspiring and profound glimpse into life with God beyond institutional church and conventional religion. "I am tempted to say that Jim Palmer could well be the next Donald Miller, but what they have in common, along with an honest spirituality and extraordinary skill as storytellers, is a unique voice . . . Divine Nobodies is a delight to read, and it was good for my soul to read it." -BRIAN MCLAREN Author of The Secret Message of Jesus "You hold in your hands an amazing story of a broken man finding freedom in all the right places-in God's work in the lives of some extraordinarily ordinary people around him. You will thrill to this delightful blend of gut-wrenching honesty and laugh-out-loud hilarity, and in the end you'll find God much closer, the body of Christ far bigger and your own journey far clearer than you ever dreamed." -WAYNE JACOBSEN Author of Authentic Relationships
Experience the Lord of the dance! Let's be real: while life in Christ is filled with riches for the soul, there are also many challenges as we walk through this broken world toward our heavenly home: - Coping with unanswered prayer - Being wounded by loved ones - Feeling no longer needed - Longing for freedom from legalism During thirty years of ministry, Jim Clark has encountered stories of Christ-followers who faced innumerable challenges and yet found joy, freedom, and a deep purpose as they put their lives in the hands of Jesus. Jim takes you on a journey of these fellow pilgrims during which you'll witness the intersection of tough obstacles with a powerful, yet tender Savior. You'll learn of the wife who forgave deeply from the heart, the addict who became a pastor to those seeking recovery, the elderly who found purpose through service, and the man who preached a sermon at his own funeral. It's a journey that can inspire you to face your own obstacles and challenges with faith, hope, and joy in the Holy Spirit. You just might find yourself dancing as you experience more of God's amazing grace. Real stories about real people - living, struggling and growing in their faith in Jesus Christ. This is what Jim Clark brings to life. It's a must-read for anyone interested in a timeless treasure of encouraging stories of faith. -Merlin Mann, Professor of Journalism, Arkansas Tech University This is a great book about an even greater hope. It's a profound call to embrace God's incredible capacity to heal, forgive and love. -Danny Sims, Executive Director, Global Samaritan Resources
Jim Petersen shares what he’s learned from over 25 years of working with the unchurched. He shows that, although many people don’t want to hear about our faith, they will talk about their own felt needs—needs that can only be met in Christ. Learn how to develop relationships with the unreached, model the Christian message, and eventually present the Bible’s claims in a non-threatening manner.
The Bible is filled with amazing people, and Paul stands out prominently among them. What made him so effective, so influential? In this book, author Jim George explores how Paul took God’s priorities for life and made them his own. The result? He had a significant impact on everyone around him. From Paul we can learn how to... let God’s power work in and through us acquire discernment for making right decisions and choices pursue holiness that allows God to work through us unhindered stay faithful to God’s calling all the way to the end Because it is God who enables us, these qualities are accessible to every believer. Readers will experience true fulfillment as they take steps toward making a difference in the workplace, at home, at church, and in their community.
Written by Jim Daly, the compassionate leader of Focus on the Family, ReFocus inspires and motivates Christians to transcend political agendas and partisan battles and instead interact with others in a way that will consistently reveal the heart of God to a desperately hurting world. Our culture has become painfully polarized, often hindering relationships with neighbors, colleagues, and the very people who need to discover the love of Jesus Christ. Remembering that we are foremost citizens of heaven serving a loving Father, we who call ourselves followers of Christ can once again be known by our love. But how? In what context and through what means? How can we tear down the walls that divide our culture, our neighborhoods and workplaces and families, in this increasingly contentious world? Drawing on a rich variety of true stories and sources both historical and contemporary--from behind the scenes in today's halls of power, to moving accounts from church history, to powerful breakthrough's in Daly's own life and ministry--Daly challenges us to reclaim our responsibility, and our privilege, as God's sons and daughters. As followers of Jesus with His humility and compassion as our model, ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God's Heart demonstrates how Christians can show the world an inexplicable taste of grace with no agenda other than to reveal the heart of God as the loving Abba Father He is.
Jim has distilled over fifty years of strength training experience into a workout program that is supported by the latest research in muscle physiology. I am confident the post-conventional method will allow anyone to effectively achieve their physical strength goals, and I am excited to incorporate PC techniques into my own training program. John J. McCarthy, PHD, University of Kentucky Center for Muscle Biology
Jim Palmer's critically acclaimed Divine Nobodies was only half the story - the deconstruction and shedding of a religious mentality that hindered his knowing God. In his next book, Jim takes the reader along into the wide open spaces of exploring and experiencing God beyond religion. Jim writes, "It is no secret that God can be lost beneath the waving banner of religion. Divine Nobodies is my story of how this happened to me. Sometimes you have to disentangle God from religion, even Christ from Christianity, to find the truth. With the help of some unsuspecting nobodies, I uncovered a new starting line with God. As I've put one foot in front of another, I've experienced God in ways that are deeply transforming." Each chapter revolves around a central question related to knowing God on fresh terms: Is God a belief system? Is the Bible a landing strip or launching pad? Can what we're feeling inside be God? Are we too religiously minded to be any earthly good? Brian McLaren wrote, "I am tempted to say that Jim Palmer could well be the next Don Miller, but what they have in common, along with an honest spirituality and extraordinary skill as storytellers, is a unique voice." The Library Reviews said of him, "Jim Palmer's casual, yet compelling writing style cuts through the religious rhetoric and gets to the real issues...readers will love this author! His sense of humor is alternately mixed with shocking sentences and poignant moments. Laced throughout is a refreshing honesty that ties his ideas together with a ribbon of reality...each turn of the page strips away a little more of the contrived mystery of Christianity until the simplicity and sincerity of it stands in realistic splendor." More and more people seek a deeper spirituality beyond status-quo religion. Others are left empty and weary from a shallow and narrow pop-Christianity. Palmer says that God's kingdom of love, peace, and freedom can be a present reality in any person's life. He proclaims that God is indeed in the process of birthing something deep and wide among unlikely people in unconventional ways, which is changing the world...one "nobody" at a time.
The Church today is in the middle of a powerful storm, the intensity of which is likely to increase in the future. Many Christians are bewildered and concerned by what they see—a culture that’s become increasingly hostile to biblical Christianity and a church whose vital signs are quickly waning. In Strong through the Storm, pastor and bestselling author Jim Cymbala speaks to every Christian who is concerned about the challenges the church is facing in America today. Using powerful stories of people who have been transformed by Christ, Cymbala offers hope, helping Christians to understand that a life surrendered to Christ will not be easily defeated, even in the midst of growing hostility toward Christians. No matter how much spiritual darkness encompasses the world, the light of the gospel cannot be suppressed. Some churches are coming at the storm with harsh legalism, but Cymbala explains that the message needs to be grace. We need to understand the spiritual battle we are in and use the right weapons against it, says Cymbala. We are not struggling against the leaders of this world or the people in the battle, we are struggling against our spiritual enemy, and we need to fight with the Word of God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. We don’t need more church growth programs to turn the church around. What’s needed is a transformation so that the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead, and lives are changed.
What will it take to solve the biggest issues of our time: extreme and needless poverty, global warming and environmental degradation, terrorism and the endless cycle of violence, racism, human trafficking, health care and education, and other pressing problems? While Washington offers only the politics of blame and fear, Jim Wallis, the man who changed the conversation about faith and politics, has traveled the country and found a nation hungry for a politics of solutions and hope. He shows us that a revival is happening, as people of faith and moral conviction seek common ground for change. Wallis also reminds us that religious faith was a driving force behind our greatest national reforms, such as the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement. These "great awakenings" happened periodically at crucial times in our nation's history to propel us toward the common good. The time is ripe for another movement that will transform this country. With The Great Awakening, Wallis helps us rediscover our moral center and provides both the needed inspiration and a concrete plan to hold politics accountable and find solutions to our greatest challenges.
New York Times bestseller God's Politics struck a chord with Americans disenchanted with how the Right had co-opted all talk about integrating religious values into our politics, and with the Left, who were mute on the subject. Jim Wallis argues that America's separation of church and state does not require banishing moral and religious values from the public square. God's Politics offers a vision for how to convert spiritual values into real social change and has started a grassroots movement to hold our political leaders accountable by incorporating our deepest convictions about war, poverty, racism, abortion, capital punishment, and other moral issues into our nation's public life. Who can change the political wind? Only we can.
As you take this journey with the author, know that he will be examining areas which have earned the title of "Sacred Cows". Ask those questions that come to mind as you travel through this inspiring text. The discoveries made will open hearts, minds, and spirits to freedom beyond expectations. Dying of Thirst on the Bank of the River begins with the author's story. This book explores why so many people fail to move closer to the Lord, answering questions such as: Are there things we have to do or change to see the living reality of Christ's Church? As His Church, are we manifesting the love Jesus said would cause the world to know we are His disciples? Is there a place for individualism within the Christian community? What paradigms need to change? As a Christian leader, Jim knew only one way to lead; as he began this journey, he discovered a way that more clearly represented the Good Shepherd. Jim's understanding of the church Jesus has chosen to build grew as he found true freedom. No longer live according to Christian cultural norms. Thirst no more. Jump in! Dying of Thirst on the Bank of the River. is for you!!
The purpose of this book is for believers to take a close look at their walk with Christ. Coming from a recovery background we saw the need for a spiritual inventory, not just for those in recovery, but for all believers. Christians are to be different than the world. That difference comes from being under His influence and not the influence of the flesh. This takes a determined and disciplined walk. Our desire is that believers would use this book to see if they really have traded their "old man" for the "new man" as Paul tells us in Colossians 3:9-10. For all Christ has done for us, why would we try and follow Him with anything less than 100% commitment? We pray that as you read through these questions you would reflect seriously on your commitment to Jesus Christ and the things of God. Jim is a believer in Jesus Christ who used to struggle with drugs and alcohol and now lives daily in freedom at the foot of the cross. He is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. He has worked construction, restaurants, truck driver, delivered pizzas, phonebooks, and flowers, installed fiber optic cable, chemical salesman, auto parts, Fed-Ex warehouse, auto body, and back to construction where he heeded the call to full time ministry. Robbie became a Christian in high school, was active in campus ministry in college, and was a Young Life leader after college. She seemed to be doing all the right things, with all the right people, for all the right reasons. She met Jim, a non-believer, when she was 24 years old and the roller coaster of their lives together began. Robbie's desire is that believers would yearn to live and walk daily under His (Holy Spirit) Influence.
Through the story of the life of Joseph, you will discover how to embrace the voyage and learn to celebrate being a dreamer even when dream killers show up.
Jesus B. explores the risks and rewards of being Jesus' follower in today's world. It describes how Christians who live like Jesus dramatically change their communities, and it challenges us to allow the Spirit of Christ to do the same thing through us.
“Jim Marion’s book returns us to the central challenge Christianity ought to be handing us. Indeed, how do we put on the mind of Christ? How do we see through his eyes? How do we feel through his heart? How do we learn to respond to the world with that same wholeness and healing love? That’s what Christian orthodoxy really is all about. It’s not about right belief; it’s about right practice.” —Cynthia Bourgeault, author of The Wisdom Jesus What does it mean to follow the path of Christ today? Putting on the Mind of Christ is the first book to offer an integral understanding of the Christian spiritual path--one that examines the basic stages of spiritual development described by the great saints and sages, along with the psychological stages of development used by modern psychology. American mystic Jim Marion draws upon his own rich spiritual experience and deep understanding of scriptural models, to show readers how to emulate the developmental stages of the Christ: how to put on the mind of Christ to achieve spiritual illumination and communion with the Christ. He examines the seven levels of consciousness of the human personality mapped by the work of Jean Piaget, Carol Milligan, and Lawrence Kohlberg, and leads readers to the consciousness that Jesus called the Kingdom of Heaven--the highest level of spiritual development. Marion shows how inner spiritual growth has always been the true essence of Christian practice and shares his own spiritual experiences within a "Christ-focused" framework. Pioneering, transcendent, and grounded, Putting on the Mind of Christ will permanently alter the landscape of 21st-century Christianity.
Provide a solid foundation for teens with The Christian Life high school Bible study. Part of the exciting new Uncommon youth resource line, this straightforward presentation of the Gospel will help young people discover for themselves what it means to be a follower of Christ and how they can walk in God's love and forgiveness. The three four-week modules examine one of the most critical parts of a young person's life, their faith. Teens will discover the basics of the Christian life, starting with God's love, how to set a strong foundation and understanding God's will for their lives. The Christian Life DVD is available for session starters.
Discover How God Can Use Men Just Like You Start or end your day with powerful one-minute reminders of how God can work in your life—as seen through in the lives of men in the Bible. You'll find encouragement for your own faith journey as you meet... Abraham, who modeled obedience to God Daniel, who made a habit of prayer Jonathan, who was a loyal friend John the Baptist, who was a bold messenger Jesus, who was the ultimate example and a true servant Through these examples and more, you'll learn how God will stand with, help, and provide for you—and you'll grow more and more aware of His amazing love for you.
When the worst school shooting in history occurred, Pastor Jim Pace, a Virginia Tech alumnus, was front and center. Media, students, church members, and strangers asked him the same question: If God is loving, why doesn't He stop disasters before they start? Shoudl We Fire God is Jim's thoughtful, reasoned response to the idea that God isn't doing His job very well. In conversational, nonpreachy prose, Jim explains why God allows pain and devastation to occur -- and what the consequences would be if He didn't. And he leads readers to question: if we fire God -- who takes His place -- woefully imperfect humans? Jim uses real-life examples and his own battles with faith to develop readers' understanding of God, His true role in their lives, what they should do with doubt and fear, and what He feels when we ache. Richly informative and comforting, Shoudl We Fire God is a must-read for seekers everywhere.
China. Iraq. Sudan. Burma. They are among the countries most widely known for religious persecution, yet amazingly, the Christian church continues to grow within their borders. They are just a few of the countries around the world where, every day, millions of believers face the unspeakable danger of imprisonment, torture, and even martyrdom because of their Christian faith. The year was 1995 when Jim Jacobson, a former White House policy analyst, took the helm of the nonprofit organization that would become Christian Freedom International. As he traveled around the world, discovering firsthand the true plight of thousands of suffering Christians, his resolve and overwhelming compassion would become the driving force behind CFI s mission to assist those who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. From a sleepy farming town in Michigan to the war zones of Burma, Remember the Persecuted is the redemptive story of one man's calling to minister to the afflicted, as well as a challenge to all those who live free to remember the prisoners as if chained with them.
America's problem with race has deep roots, with the country's foundation tied to the near extermination of one race of people and the enslavement of another. Racism is truly our nation's original sin. "It's time we right this unacceptable wrong," says bestselling author and leading Christian activist Jim Wallis. Fifty years ago, Wallis was driven away from his faith by a white church that considered dealing with racism to be taboo. His participation in the civil rights movement brought him back when he discovered a faith that commands racial justice. Yet as recent tragedies confirm, we continue to suffer from the legacy of racism. The old patterns of white privilege are colliding with the changing demographics of a diverse nation. The church has been slow to respond, and Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour of the week. In America's Original Sin, Wallis offers a prophetic and deeply personal call to action in overcoming the racism so ingrained in American society. He speaks candidly to Christians--particularly white Christians--urging them to cross a new bridge toward racial justice and healing. Whenever divided cultures and gridlocked power structures fail to end systemic sin, faith communities can help lead the way to grassroots change. Probing yet positive, biblically rooted yet highly practical, this book shows people of faith how they can work together to overcome the embedded racism in America, galvanizing a movement to cross the bridge to a multiracial church and a new America.
As Christians, we know that God is in control and that it is through Christ that we find both salvation and peace. Yet the world is still full of trials and tribulations, and there are many ways in which we can be robbed of this peace. So when facing the darkness, where do we turn to find the light? How can we preserve the peace that passes all understanding? In Peace That Passes All Understanding, author Jim Rannells shares the heartbreaking story of his sons suicide and the sickness and deep horror and grief that followed. Yet from his tragedy he would find the peace that passes all understanding, and his trust in God would become solidified in faith. With a more complete spiritual view, Jim shows how the horror of his loss contains so much deep joy and peacebecause Christ with outstretched arms is standing in that picture. No matter what life throws at you, and no matter the losses you incur, Christ is always ready to meet your needs and provide you with hope, peace, and even joy. Even in the darkest times, lasting peace through Christ is achievable. It is true that time stands still for significant moments in our lives. A second can seem to last an eternity when, from one monumental experience, a torrent of separate emotions comes into our minds. I do not think I could fully describe what a pistol to the head does when it is fired, with the traumatic carnage from a bullet entering and leaving the skullcoupled with the fact that this was my own flesh and blood who was sitting there on his bed. I dont think there was a single negative human emotion absent in me in that very moment, including a violent, physical revulsion. My picture in my mind that morning was one of physical sickness and deep horror, and certainly the ugliness of death. Now, with a more completed, spiritual view, that picture includes so much deep joy and peace, because Christ with outstretched arms is standing in that picture. This story has a happy, joyful ending, so I encourage the reader to read on. From my tragedy, I found the peace that passes all understanding, and my trust in God is more solid. It is my deep desire to continue to learn of Him.
Becoming a dragon is a dangerously subtle process. You make a long chain of bad choices. The chain gradually wraps around you. Layer by layer, it begins to take on the aspect of scales. One day you glance at yourself in the mirror and a monster is staring back at you. You aren't who you used to be. You aren't who you want to be. You're not who you were created and designed to be. Instead, you're a dragon. When Jim Burgen was nineteen years old, he realized how easy it had been to become a dragon. He knew he didn't want to be one anymore . . . but how? No More Dragons is the story of our common, hopeful journey from dragonhood back to personhood. As Pastor Burgen narrates the remarkable process of reclaiming himself from himself, he implores modern church goers to shake off the trivialities of churchiness in favor of the substantive questions that make a spiritual transformation: “Is Jesus the only one who can undragon people?” “Why don't I like most churches?” “Where is God in difficult times?” “How do you shed decades of gnarly scales?” Some choices will lead you to a better life. Some will kill you. Some choices will add a new layer of scales to your dragon, and some will slough them off. No More Dragons is about asking Christ to deliver you and learning how to obey him.
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