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God's Grace Is Greater Than Your Biggest Setback.God enacts his perfect plan through imperfect people—including you and me!In this five-session…
Bible study (video streaming included), you will see how God used Jacob—the misbehaving patriarch who was strong on savvy but weak on conscience—simply because God chose to use Jacob. His story invites us to believe in a God who sticks with the unworthy until we are safely at home. God turns brokenness into blessings through his grace, mercy, and relentless love. Not just for Bible characters, but for you. God Never Gives Up on YOU.This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself—with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide.An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don't need to buy a DVD!)Sessions and video run times:Taking Shortcuts (15:30)Reaping What You Sow (16:00)Living with a Louse (17:00)Wrestling with God (18:00)Returning Home (16:00) Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2028. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
The Standout Business Plan: Make It Irresistible¿and Get the Funds You Need for Your Startup or Growing Business
Par Brian Tracy, Vaughan Evans. 2014
The Standout Business Plan is an immensely practical and readable guide that shows you how to create a business plan that…
not only speaks directly to investors and lenders but also makes it easy for them to say yes.At the beginning of every successful business is a well-thought-out and exceptionally prepared business plan that was written with one audience in mind--investors. However, too many budding entrepreneurs have written their business&’s bible with a focus on details most important to managers or employees or even themselves, completely avoiding the questions most crucial to those who determine the fate of the business&’s genesis…its potential backers.Renowned leadership expert Brian Tracy and business strategy consultant Vaughan Evans share case studies and examples of both what to do and what not to do when developing a plan for your business.In The Standout Business Plan, Tracy and Evans reveal how to:Include the vital information backers need, while leaving out extraneous fillers that gets in the wayAddress key factors such as market demand, competition, and strategySpell out the essence of your business propositionOutline resources and financial forecastsAssess risk from the backer's perspectiveEvaluate and improve the plan to ensure its successYour business plan is too important to not get exactly right from the beginning. With the easy-to-follow guidance in The Standout Business Plan, now anyone can present a clear, concise, and convincing case that will win them the funding they need to succeed.
Searching for God Study Guide: Is There Any Reason to Believe in God Today?
Par Holly Lazzaro. 2019
In this 6-session, video-based study guide (DVD/streaming video sold separately) some of today's greatest Christian thinkers and apologists explore many…
of the most important questions about Christianity and what it has to offer the world today.What is Christianity and how is it unique among worldviews?What are some of the ideas that have influenced the way people think about it?Is there any evidence for God?Why does the resurrection matter? Many people in today's culture hold a wide variety of ideas about religion in general and Christianity in particular, some of which stem from distorted views and misunderstandings that the church can respond well to if it's well equipped.The Searching for God Study Guide will draw you and your small group into a close look at the Christian faith and how it makes better sense of the universe and human nature than two of the most common non-Christian theories: naturalism and relativism. It then examines the central event in the Christian story, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how to make a strong defense of this event.Holly Lazzaro expertly leads participants into deeper reflection on the insights provided in the video study by top scholars such as Lee Strobel, William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, J. Warner Wallace, Nabeel Qureshi, Paul Copan, and many more.This video-based study is designed to be experienced in a group setting or any small gathering and includes video teaching notes, group discussion questions, personal reflections, and Scripture readings.Searching for God Video Study (025986100711) sold separately.
Don't settle for half of the story! Discover the Jewish roots to the Christian faith.This study guide has everything you…
need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself—with discussion and reflection questions, Bible exploration, video notes, and a leader's guide.An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).Every page of the Old Testament reveals divine mysteries about Jesus, the Messiah. Only by understanding the Old Testament can Christians understand the complete picture of who God is, how he relates to us, and what he is doing today in the world.In this six-session video Bible study (video streaming included), walk with Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel as he shows you how the Bible fits together as a whole to offer one complete picture of Jesus. In the Mysteries of the Messiah Bible study Rabbi Jason Sobel helps us to...Understand the Jewish roots of our faith and begin to see Jesus' life and ministry from a different perspective.See the signs everywhere in the Old Testament that point to the coming of the Messiah in the New Testament.Continue to dig and find mysteries and new discoveries hidden in God's Word.Sessions and video run times:Finding Jesus in the Story of Creation (22:00)Finding Jesus in the Story of the Patriarchs (22:00)Finding Jesus in the Story of Joseph and Judah (22:30)Finding Jesus in the Story of Moses (22:30)Finding Jesus in the Story of Ruth and Boaz (22:00)Finding Jesus in the Story of David (22:30)Watch on any device!Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
Gospel Coach: Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God
Par Tom Wood, Scott Thomas. 2012
In order to help pastors and other Christian leaders to lovingly lead God’s flock to Jesus Christ and into God’s…
mission, Scott Thomas and Tom Wood clarify a process of coaching and shepherding that is rooted in the patterns of the Good Shepherd himself, a process in which leaders stir up the gifts, passion, and calling upon others’ lives. This book addresses the needs of the leader, his or her sinful tendencies, and church leadership issues. It directs the leader to the person and work of Jesus. It provides a system to intentionally shepherd leaders to glorify God in their personal, spiritual, and missional lives. Many ministry leaders serving in churches find themselves overwhelmed, disillusioned, and depressed by the enormous and challenging task of leading and ministering in a congregation. As a result, the ministry suffers, the leaders suffer, and the result is often an unhealthy church existent with little or no Gospel influence. These leaders need someone to shepherd their soul so that they can lead others to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We suggest that coaching for the church leader looks less like corporate consulting or humanistic psychology and more like biblical-shepherding. We suggest that every church leader needs a Gospel Coach to come alongside with words of truth, wisdom and experience to encourage, admonish, comfort and help—words drawn from Scripture and godly wisdom, grounded in the gracious saving work of Jesus Christ, and presented in the context of a trusting relationship. Gospel Coaching is an intentional relationship to skillfully care for others with four ancient shepherding principles: 1) Know the sheep, 2) Feed the sheep, 3) Lead the sheep, and 4) Protect the sheep. A Gospel Coach both inquires about the personal, spiritual, and missional aspects of a ministry leader’s life in a loving yet focused manner, and also probes the church leader for compulsive unbelief or selfish motivation, or disobedience and sin, and leads the ministry leader back to the Gospel, through belief, repentance and obedience. Churches that desire to be rich in a Gospel application toward their city, their relationships with one another, their communication and worship, as well as their service, will benefit to a greater degree by having their leaders being coached by a Gospel-centered leader.
The Bible: Irrelevant or Invaluable? (Christianity Today Study Series)
Par Christianity Today Intl.. 2005
The Christianity Today Study Series delves into today's vital cultural issues to get to the heart of what these topics…
mean to readers. Each eight-week study is based on articles written by today's leading Christian authors and published by Christianity Today magazines. These remarkable studies foster deep, authentic, and relevant discussion that will challenge and grow any small group. The Bible: Irrelevant or Invaluable? is scheduled to coincide with the release of the film sequel to The DaVinci Code and takes on the hot topics of the authority, origin, and infallibility of the Bible.
Salvation: Supersaver Edition (Swindoll Leadership Library)
Par Earl D. Radmacher. 1982
God's ultimate gift to His children is salvation. In this volume Earl Radmacher offers an in-depth look at the most…
fundamental element of the Christian faith. From defining the essentials of salvation to explaining the result of Christ's sacrifice, this book walks readers through the spiritual meaning, motives, application, and eternal result of God's work of salvation in our lives.
The Global Church---The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam
Par Donald Fairbairn. 2021
Discover the Variety and Unity of the Early ChurchThe Christian church of the early centuries spread throughout much of Asia,…
Africa, and Europe, spoke many languages, was situated within diverse cultural settings, and had varied worship practices; yet it maintained a vital unity on core teachings at the heart of the Christian faith. In The Global Church--The First Eight Centuries: From Pentecost through the Rise of Islam, author Donald Fairbairn helps readers understand both the variety and unity of the church in this pivotal era by:Re-centering the story of the church in its early centuries, paying greater attention to Africa, Turkey, and Syria, where most of the church's intellectual energy was nurturedHighlighting Christian communities outside the Roman Empire, as far afield as Persia and India, alongside those within itIdentifying key events by their global, not merely Western, significance and taking into account early Christian interactions with other religions, particularly IslamThe Global Church--The First Eight Centuries is an ideal introduction to the patristic era that broadens the narrative often recounted and places it more firmly in its varied cultural contexts. Students of the early church, formal and informal alike, will appreciate the fresh approach and depth of insight this book provides.
Midnight Dad Devotional: 100 Devotions and Prayers to Connect Dads Just Like You to the Father
Par Becky Thompson, Mark R. Pitts. 2021
Every stage of being a dad comes with its own set of challenges. But one challenge encompasses them all--how do…
I become the best dad I can be? In Midnight Dad Devotional, author Becky Thompson joins her dad, Dr. Mark Pitts, to lead you on a journey of discovering the Father's heart so you can be encouraged, strengthened, and challenged in your role as a dad.Midnight Dad Devotional offers the encouragement and biblical grounding that has made the Midnight Mom and Midnight Dad Devotional Facebook Communities a help to parents around the world.The Midnight Mom Devotional Community has become a global movement of prayer and encouragement for mamas everywhere, launching Midnight Mom Devotional to bestseller lists and into over a million moms' hearts. Now author Becky Thompson and her dad, Dr. Mark Pitts, offer a new book for dads who need to know God is with them on the parenting journey. Midnight Dad Devotional gives dads in all seasons of life:A sense of connection with other fathersStrength for each night and the day aheadWisdom from the Bible for tough situationsAffirmation of the importance of their roleReassurance that God is with them No matter what time of night or day, dads will know their heavenly Father travels with them on the parenting journey. With its handsome cover and a presentation page, this devotional is a great gift for new dads, Father's Day, or any dad needing a little extra encouragement.As the Midnight Dad community says every evening, "Tonight we pray for the dad who . . ."Is trying to balance long work hours and a desire to be with familyWants to set a good example for his childrenSometimes feels distant from his kidsIs navigating a separation or a divorceDesires to pass on his faith in authentic ways Just as Midnight Mom Devotional has equipped so many moms to love their kids well, Midnight Dad Devotional helps each dad find courage in the calm of the night, knowing that men around the world are joining him in prayer and that God is more than capable of guiding him into the morning. Midnight Dad Devotional equips dads to tackle the hard places and the joyful places on this journey of being a dad.
A Guided Tour of One of the Greatest Theological Works of the Twentieth CenturyKarl Barth's Church Dogmatics is considered by…
many to be the most important theological work of the twentieth century and for many people reading it, or at least understanding its contents and arguments, is a lifelong goal. Yet its enormous size, at over 12,000 pages (in English translations) and enough print volumes to fill an entire shelf, make reading it a daunting prospect for seasoned theologians and novices alike.Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics for Everyone, Volume 1--The Doctrine of the Word of God helps bridge the gap for would-be Karl Barth readers from beginners to professionals by offering an introduction to Barth's theology and thought like no other. User-friendly and creative, this guide helps readers get the gist, significance, and relevance of what Barth intended for the church... to restore the focus of theology and revitalize the practices of the church.Each section contains insights for pastors, new theologians, professionals, and ordinary people including:Summaries of the sectionContextual considerationsAnd other visually informative features that reinforce the main points of the Barth's thoughtIn addition, each volume features the voices of authors from different academic disciplines who contribute brief reflections on the value of Church Dogmatics for creative discovery in their disciplines. Volume 1 reflections include:Douglas Campbell (biblical studies)Myk Habets (systematic theology)Richard Keith (pastors)Julie Canlis (ordinary people)James Chaousis (mental health)John Vissers (spiritual formation)Whether you are just discovering Barth or want a fresh look at his magnum opus, this series invites you to an enjoyable and insightful journey into the Church Dogmatics.
Do you struggle with people-pleasing? Learn how to develop a Biblically-centered strategy for knowing when to say yes and how…
to say no.Karen Ehman knows firsthand how people-pleasing locks us in a prison, trapping us in unhealthy habits which distract us from our true selves and our God-given purpose. With honesty and practical wisdom, Ehman explores why we fall into people-pleasing behaviors and offers advice for how we can break out into the freedom God has called us to. Because the truth is we cannot fulfill our divine purpose if we&’re too busy living everyone else&’s.In this six-session video Bible study filled with vulnerable and humorous stories, biblical insight, and encouragement from someone who&’s been there, Ehman will help you:Discover how to live out your priorities despite the opinions and expectations of othersCultivate a strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say noImplement boundaries with the pushers, pouters, guilt-bombers and others who try to call the shots in your lifeLearn to navigate the tension between following God and loving the people around youWhen Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable is the Bible study you need to quit the pleasing game, reclaim your life, and walk with God in peace and confidence.Sessions and Run Times:People Pleasing (20 mins)Just Who Is Calling the Shots? (23 mins)To Tell the Truth (18 mins)You're Capable, but Are You Called? (20 mins)Must Be Nice (20 mins)Your People and Your Punch List (20 mins)This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself - video teaching notes, group discussion questions, Scripture memory verses and personal study of Scripture and context.An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
Grace to Grow: Creating a Healthy Church in Unhealthy Times
Par John K. Jenkins Sr.. 2023
Most pastors pray for a healthy and vibrant church, a prosperous organization and transformative change among those they disciple, but…
many find themselves frustrated because they lack direction and feel as though they are spinning their wheels. They struggle to correct unhealthy patterns or do not have fresh vision for their ministry.John K. Jenkins can relate. The first church he attended is best described as a shack with a bell and a steeple. The restroom facilities? An outhouse. When he accepted his first senior pastoral role, he ministered to 35 people on a good Sunday.Today, Pastor Jenkins welcomes more than 11,000 worshipers to Sunday services, and thousands more participate virtually. And he has learned what it takes to help an organization function wisely and efficiently, no matter its size.Grace to Grow reveals the lessons Jenkins has learned along the way. It is a guide to help pastors move their ministries from merely surviving to fully thriving, despite the challenging road ahead. He gives insight into his own journey as a young pastor and identifies biblical principles, strategies, and techniques that made the difference in the life of his church and his personal discipleship for almost four decades.
None of us can outrun the wounds of our past. We can face our past willingly, or our live will…
force us to face it. But while digging into the deep corners of our souls and excavating our past is uncomfortable, this is where God makes a masterpiece out of our mess. Through this study, you can begin to take steps toward healing and restoration.This Study Guide includes:Individual access to four streaming video sessionsDiscussion questions, reflection questions, and biblical character studiesPersonal Bible study for between sessionsA guide with best practices for leading groupsTwo-time GRAMMY winning hip-hop artist and bestselling author Lecrae inspires millions with his redemptive and gut-honest art. But when his personal life spun into chaos, he was forced to face the buried impact of unhealed wounds from his past. Along the way to restoration, he learned simple practices for lasting health and realized that the pain we all carry has the potential to be an unlikely guide to freedom for ourselves and others.In I Am Restored, Lecrae explains how his journey to restoration revealed:The importance of not normalizing traumatic circumstancesThe truth that God still loves us in spite of what we&’ve doneHow not to turn people wounds into God woundsThe suffering in suppression but freedom of confessionHow to take care of the mind, body, and soul that God has given usLife has a way of marring or damaging what you were created for. But God loves to restore. So make the decision to journey toward God and be what he has always intended you to be.Sessions include:Facing the TurmoilConfronting the ChaosDiscovering HopeWalking in the LightStreaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
Christmas: Finding Peace and Joy During the Holiday Season
Par Charles F. Stanley. 2021
Beloved pastor Dr. Charles Stanley takes us back to our truest and best reason for celebration—the birth of Christ. By…
revisiting the people and events of that first Christmas, Dr. Stanley reveals the unique lessons that long-ago starry night offers to each of us today. Such timeless truths as . . .true peace and joy are found only in Christ, not in the things of this world;Christmas itself is undeniable evidence that God always keeps His promises;the Lord God not only lives and reigns, but He is intimately involved in every circumstance of our lives; andthe perfect gift for us to give Jesus is the gift of our own heart.Christmas is a gift to everyone on earth. That gift has different meaning to God—Christ&’s birth was His perfect plan that unfolded in His perfect time. This message is followed by a celebration of who Jesus is—God came down, reigning King, suffering Servant, Savior of the world—and the lessons learned through His birth from the perspectives of:Mary, the virgin motherJoseph, faithful and obedient servant of Godthe innkeeper who had no vacancythe townspeople who were indifferent to what was happening around themthe wise men who, by faith, followed the star and brought gifts of genuine worship and adorationand Isaiah, looking for the wonderful counselorChristmas: A Gift for Every Heart is a highly designed Christmas gift book with beautiful callouts, Dr. Stanley&’s own personal thoughts and memories, Scripture, and four-color photography. This will be a treasured gift for Advent and Christmas that will be read again and again.
This STUDY GUIDE is a companion resource to Wayne Grudem's Christian Beliefs, revised edition. Not every Christian needs to go…
to seminary, but there are certain teachings of the Bible that every Christian should know. Whether you're a relatively new believer in Jesus or a mature Christian looking for a better understanding of basics of the faith, the Christian Beliefs Study Guide can help you reflect on and deeply internalize the core teachings of Christianity, when used in conjunction with Christian Beliefs, revised edition (sold separately).This STUDY GUIDE will help you think through important topics like:The Bible and its authority for our livesThe characteristics of GodThe importance of prayerAngels and the reality of spiritual warfareWhat it means that we are created in the image of GodWhat God has done for us in ChristThe purpose of the churchWhat happens when Christ returnsThe biblical understanding of heavenAnd much moreChapter by chapter, this STUDY GUIDE will lead you to examine and reflect on Christian Beliefs, revised edition (sold separately), by providing:Summary: A short summary of the chapter to help remind readers what they read.Key terms: Definitions of important terminology introduced in the chapter.Key quotes: Selection of one or two key quotes from the chapter.Central Scripture Passage: An important biblical passage related to the chapter for reflection or memorization.Content Questions: Questions that reflect on the theological content of the chapter.Practical Application Questions: Questions that help tie the theological content of the chapter to real-life situations.For Further Reading: Lists where to find more information on theological topics in Systematic Theology, second edition, by Wayne Grudem so readers know where to go for a deeper dive into specific subjects they want to know more about.The Christian Beliefs Study Guide is the ideal resource for every Christian who wants a solid foundation for understanding the most basic and essential teachings of the Bible.
The Insider's Guide to Culture Change: Creating a Workplace That Delivers, Grows, and Adapts
Par Siobhan McHale. 2020
Culture transformation expert Siobhan McHale defines culture simply: &“It&’s how things work around here.&” The secret to the success or…
failure of any business boils down to its culture.From disengaged employees to underserved customers, business failures invariably stem from a culture problem. In The Insider&’s Guide to Culture Change, acclaimed culture transformation expert and global executive Siobhan McHale shares her proven four-step process to demystifying culture transformation and starting down the path to positive change.Many leaders and managers struggle to get a handle on exactly what culture is and how pervasive its impact is throughout an organization. Some try to change the culture by publishing a statement of core values but soon find that no meaningful change happens.Others try to unify the culture around a set of shared goals that satisfy shareholders but find their efforts backfire as stressed employees throw their hands up because &“leadership just doesn&’t get it.&” Others implement expensive new IT systems to try to bring about change, only to find that employees find &“workarounds&” and soon go back to their old ways.The Insider&’s Guide to Culture Change walks readers through McHale&’s four-step process to culture transformation, including how to:Understand what &“corporate culture&” really is and how it impacts every aspect of the way your organization operatesAnalyze where your culture is broken or not adding maximum valueUnlock the power of reframing roles within your company to empower and engage your employeesUtilize proven methods and tools to break through deeply embedded patterns and change your company mind-setKeep the momentum going by consolidating gains and maintaining your foot on the change acceleratorWith The Insider&’s Guide to Culture Change, watch your employees go from followers to change leaders who drive an agile culture that constantly outperforms.
What if you could find a way to share your faith in Jesus that feels natural, fits your personality, and…
ignites a fire in others?In this video-based evangelism training course (video streaming code included), author of Becoming a Contagious Christian Mark Mittelberg introduces five approaches to evangelism to help you determine which of them fit best with your unique gifts and personality:Friendship-BuildingSelfless-ServingStory-SharingReason-GivingTruth-TellingAs disciples of Christ, we are called to share the gospel, but few of us are naturally comfortable with evangelism. We wrestle with a sense of insecurity, a lack of preparation, and the sense that reaching out to others might force us to act like someone we're not. And many of us feel guilty when we fail to use an opportunity to talk about our faith, lowering our confidence even further.Building upon popular personality-type methods, the Contagious Faith assessment will help you identify your primary style, along with any secondary styles you discover. You'll learn next steps for developing and deploying your natural approach to evangelism and work through interactive prompts to practice the methods Mark unpacks in the videos.The Contagious Faith Study Guide can be used in small groups, classes, student ministries, and church-wide campaigns and has everything you need to participate, including:The guide itself—with discussion and personal reflection questions, prompts, video notes, and a leader's guide.An individual access code to stream all six video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).An assessment quiz to help you determine your Contagious Faith style. The training videos also include short interviews with Mark and five individuals who speak and use each of the 5 faith-sharing styles so that you can see them in action.Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
This book dismantles every mistruth that you've heard about the role of women in the Bible, her place in the…
church, and the patriarchal lie of so-called &“biblical manhood and womanhood.&” In its place, Aimee Byrd details a truly biblical vision of women as equal partners in Christ's church and kingdom. The church is the school of Christ, commissioned to discipleship. The responsibility of every believer—men and women together—is being active and equal participants in and witnesses to the faith. And yet many women are trying to figure out what their place is in the church, fighting to have their voices heard and filled with questions:Do men and women benefit equally from God's word?Are we equally responsible in sharpening one another in the faith and passing it down to the next generation?Do we really need men's Bibles and women's Bibles, or can the one Holy Bible guide us all?The answers lie neither with radical feminists, who claim that the Bible is hopelessly patriarchal, nor with the defenders of &“biblical manhood,&” whose understanding of Scripture is captive to the culture they claim to distance themselves from.Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood presents a more biblical account of gender, marriage, and ministry. It explores the feminine voice in Scripture as synergistic with the dominant male voice. It fortifies churches in a biblical understanding of brotherhood and sisterhood in God's household and the necessity of learning from one another in studying God's word.Until both men and women grow in their understanding of their relationship to Scripture, there will continue to be tension between the sexes in the church. Church leaders can be engaged in thoughtful critique of the biblical manhood and womanhood movement, the effects it has on their congregation, and the homage it ironically pays to the culture of individualism that works against church, family, and a Christ-like vision of community.
This collection of provocative discussion questions is guaranteed to get teenagers talking, thinking, and debating. It follows in the footsteps…
of the best-selling Would You Rather—?, What If—?, and Unfinished Sentences. Each set of questions is followed by thought-provoking ideas, facts, and verses to think about. Adaptable content makes the book an easy-to-use resource for large or small groups—at youth meetings, retreats, small group discussions, mission trips, and more. With its compact size, it’s convenient to carry along wherever you go.Examples of questions include:• Which would be better? To have your prayers answered or to be constantly full of joy?• Which would be worse? To eat what you don’t like or to crave what you can’t have?• Which would be better? Fresh-baked, soft, chewy cookies or a nice thick, juicy steak?• Which would be worse? To have a parachute fail or to ski into a tree?
This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers
Par K. J. Ramsey. 2020
This book is not a before-and-after story.Our culture treats suffering like a problem to fix, a blight to hide, or…
the sad start of a transformation story. We silently, secretly wither under the pressure of living as though suffering is a predicament we can avoid or annihilate by working hard enough or having enough faith. When your prayers for healing haven't been answered, the fog of depression isn't lifting, your marriage is ending in divorce, or grief won't go away, it's easy to feel you've failed God and, worse, he's failed you. If God loves us, why does he allow us to hurt?Over a decade ago chronic illness plunged therapist and writer K.J. Ramsey straight into this paradox. Before her illness, faith made sense. But when pain came and never left, K.J. had to find a way across the widening canyon that seemed to separate God's goodness from her excruciating circumstances.She wanted to conquer suffering. Instead, she encountered the God who chose it. She wanted to make pain past-tense. Instead, God invited her into a bigger story.This Too Shall Last offers an antidote to our cultural idolatry of effort and ease. Through personal story and insights from neuroscience and theology, Ramsey invites us to let our tears become lenses of the wonder that before God ever rescues us, he stands in solidarity with us. We are all mid-story in circumstances we did not choose, wondering when our hard things will end and where grace will come if they don&’t. We don't need to make suffering a before-and-after story. Together we can encounter the grace that enters the middle of our stories, where living with suffering that lingers means receiving God's presence that lasts.