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Justice is Gods Righteousness in Action Reclaim what was always meant to be whole. Justice and righteousness are not opposing forces but inseparable pillars of Gods design. But often our minds divide them, even set them in opposition to one another.In What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness?, Rev. Dr. Charlie E. Dates provides a biblical and historical overview of the bond between these two pillars of the Christian faith that challenges our assumptions, renews our understanding, and invites us into a new movement of protest and prayer.With biblical wisdom, theological reflection, and an honest critique of cultural blind spots, this book boldly declares that justice is Gods righteousness in action. True justice cannot exist apart from righteousness, and righteousness is hollow without a commitment to justice. Gods justice restores and reconciles. "When Jesus hung on a cross, God got justice, and we got righteousness."In What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness? you will:Understand Justice Through a Biblical Lens: Explore how the Bible defines justice as an expression of Gods character and His kingdom purpose. Resist Systemic Injustice on Biblical Grounds: Learn how Scripture equips believers to stand against oppression and advocate for equity in society. Persevere in Gods Truth: Receive spiritual guidance and motivation to remain steadfast in the pursuit of Gods justice. Dates challenges assumptions, exposes divisions, and delivers a call to action for both protest and prayer. Prepare to be called, inspired, and equipped to resist systemic injustice on biblical grounds and embody both justice and righteousness in every step you take. Are you ready to unite what the world seeks to divide?

Trust God to Meet You in Motherhood Sometimes motherhood feels like youre running on autopilot, moving so fast that you forget where youre going. Other times it feels like youre just trying to hold it all together while working through a never-ending list of errands.But Jesus invitation to follow him isnt limited to people with empty calendars and picture-perfect families. Its for moms waiting in carpool lines, cheering from the bleachers, and pacing outside a doctors office. Its for moms who are tired, overwhelmed, running late, and somehow still trying to be faithful.Moms on the Way offers moms of any age a chance to journey through the challenges of motherhood together. This Bible study offers a practical way to encourage one another, share honestly about your struggles and hopes, and encounter the God who invites you into a process of spiritual transformation.Through studying women in Scripture, this seven-week Bible study addresses these often-unspoken challenges that moms face: When we need a friend When we feel ashamed When we feel resentful When we feel like we dont have enough When were caught up in the rat race When God invites us to embrace vulnerability When all we can taste is bitterness Kathy Tuan-MacLean and Tara Edelschick, authors of Moms at the Well, invite moms to draw near to God and to one another as you share your struggles. Each week youll study how God meets you where you are, welcomes you into honest conversation, calls you to trust and obey, transforms and sets you free, and invites you to be an agent of shalom.With Moms on the Way, find encouragement in Jesus healing and transforming presence and experience how God meets you where you are in motherhood. Youll see that motherhood is meant to be a sacred journey, walking alongside the God who promises to be both your guide and your destination.

Illuminating Advent Through Diverse Voices from Early Christianity In Candles in the Darkness, historian Lynneth Miller Renberg and theologian Adam R. Renberg invite us to travel back in time and encounter faithful voices from many walks of life, including bishops and mothers, monks and nuns, priests, pastors, and noblewomen.For each day of Advent and the Christmastide, this thoughtful devotional will connect you to the global and historical body of Christ, offering a new, deeper experience of the season through rediscovering treasures from Christians of long ago.The writers featured in Candles in the Darkness lived throughout the early Christian world, from Scandinavia and the British Isles to Ethiopia and China. They include well-known leaders such as Augustine of Hippo and Francis of Assisi, as well as many largely forgotten figures. With a variety of sermons, poems, theological meditations, and more, these selections draw you into the wonders of Christs first and second comings. Through biographical sketches at the end of the book, youll learn more about each historical believer.Each daily reading for Advent and the twelve days of Christmas includes a Scripture text, an excerpt from an author from the second through thirteenth centuries, a devotional reflection, and a prayer. By reflecting on the perspectives of women and men from different chronological, geographic, and theological traditions in the ancient and medieval church, your readings of familiar Scripture passages will be enriched with new perspectives and insights from past brothers and sisters in Christ. As you worship and learn together with them, youll be reoriented toward Christ, our light in the darkness.When your spiritual life feels stagnant, the world feels too noisy, or Advent feels like just another repetitive season, Candles in the Darkness can help you know God more fully by seeing him through the eyes of past believers.

A Christian Approach for Communicating with Your Neighbor Every day we give and receive communication. But good communication doesnt always come naturally. Strengthening our skills is vital not only for those who specialize in communication but for everyone who wants to have healthy relationships, love our neighbors, and shape the world around us for good.In Authentic Communication, educators Tim Muehlhoff and Todd Lewis offer a wealth of resources from both communication studies and the Bible. This textbook unpacks the essential elements of communication and applies them to common challenges, offering a unique look at biblical principles of communication such as loving our enemies and blessing those who insult us.Youll find wisdom to address questions like: How can we overcome our natural biases and take someone elses perspective? When are persuasion tactics ethicaland when arent they? What does healthy forgiveness look like? How should Christians offer alternative views to the dominant voices in society? Is constructive dialogue practical in a culture of argument? Whats new in the second edition: a new chapter on perspective taking in light of disagreement, a new chapter on communication in estranged relationships, an updated recommended resources section, and updated research and sources based on the past fifteen years of fresh scholarship in communication studies. This book lays a foundation for engaging people who hold different views, seeking to open pathways for communication. Embrace the invitation to communicate well as a Christian with Authentic Communication.

"Mako has a lot of wise things to say about beauty in this book . . . one point is worth emphasizing: Beauty refreshes. Beauty alters. Beauty is a revolution in outlook. That makes beauty both a potent balm and a potent provocation, especially in times like these." from the foreword by David Brooks, New York Times columnist and author of How to Know a Person Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year Christianity Today Book AwardsAward of Merit Cultivate Practices That Care for the Soul of Our Culture "Culture is not a territory to be won or lost but a resource we are called to steward with care. Culture is a garden to be cultivated."We live in an era of cultural war and combativeness. But we all have a responsibility to care for culture, to nurture it in ways that help people thrive. In this second edition of Culture Care, internationally recognized artist Makoto Fujimura issues a call to cultural stewardship in which we become generative and feed our cultures soul with beauty, creativity, and generosity, serving others as cultural custodians of the future.This is a book for anyone with a calling to createfrom visual artists, musicians, writers, and actors to entrepreneurs, pastors, and business professionalswho wants to reach across boundaries with understanding, reconciliation, and healing. As creative catalysts, we can contribute to the shared culture that affects human thriving today and shapes the generations to come.Whats New in the Second Edition Carries forth the call to steward and restore culture so that people and communities may thrive A new introduction and additional content addressing the significance of culture care in an era of culture wars New material on generative thinking and culture care as public theology Enhanced with 15% more new content including real life stories and fresh insights to help deepen your understanding This book also includes a study guide for individual reflection or group discussion. Culture care is about shaping culture by fostering beauty, cultivating understanding, and offering hope. If you want to learn how to engage with culture in a more meaningful way, read Culture Care and discover how to become a hopeful, generative contributor to the world around you. Culture Care is your invitation into a vision of cultural engagement rooted in beauty, restoration, and spiritual depth.

Global Voices on Global Mission Global mission has moved into a new era when it is no longer just "from the West to the rest" but rather "from everywhere to everywhere." But too often mission workers have not partnered well with local communities, hurting Christian witness and ministry efforts. And as the global church sends more and more missionaries, how can we learn from the past, develop new ways of partnering, and avoid repeating these same mistakes? The book of Acts provides a role model.Many people go into global missions to be like Paul, the pioneer taking the gospel to places where people have never heard. But in an era of mission when the church is truly global, Pauls companion Barnabas is an exceptional model of mission service.In this multifaceted volume, mission practitioners from around the world unpack the life and ministry of Barnabas. Contributors from Zambia, Bosnia, Australia, India, Ghana, New Zealand, Latin America, and the United States provide diverse experiences, global viewpoints, and best practices for effective mission partnerships that embrace humility, generosity, and mutuality.In Barnabass example we find answers for some of the most pressing questions in global mission partnership today: How should we share financial resources with generosity and trustworthiness? How do we advocate for, encourage, partner with, and empower mission partners across cultural and experiential differences? How can our mission partnerships develop as genuine communities of mutuality and visibility for all people involved? How do we wisely face sending, suffering, and division as we partner globally? Barnabas entered sensitive crosscultural situations and could help without hurting. He taught, developed, and trained others while also encouraging and releasing leaders. He modeled mission partnership that is generous, trustworthy, mutual, and empowering. In todays new era of global mission, we need more people like Barnabas. Discover how The Barnabas Factor offers a fresh approach to global collaboration that fosters healthier and more effective crosscultural mission partnerships.

A Trusted Resource for Christian Mental Health Professionals, Now Updated Navigate the complexities of mental health from a Christian worldview with Modern Psychopathologies. Written by well-known and respected scholars Mark A. Yarhouse, Barrett W. McRay, and Richard E. Butman, this classic textbook, now in its third edition, provides a comprehensive introduction to the major psychopathologies identified in contemporary mental health care.Chapters address categories of psychological problems and offer overviews of current research on etiology, treatment, and prevention. Topics covered include: Issues related to anxiety, mood, addiction, trauma, and more Biological and sociocultural foundations of mental illness Insight for conducting responsible care in an imperfect system The authors also explore methods of classifying disorders in historical pastoral care and contemporary mental health care. In addition to the biological and sociocultural foundations of mental illness, they reflect on the relation between psychopathology and the Christian understanding of sin.Whats new in the third edition: Updates according to the DSM-5-TR New content on social and cultural influences, trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and more Discussion of different classification models for personality disorders Incorporates new insights and references from the latest ten years of research Modern Psychopathologies is a unique and trusted resource for Christian students, professors, and mental health professionals. Whether you are studying psychology and counseling or providing counseling services, pastoral care, or spiritual direction, this book equips you to understand, evaluate, and contribute to mental health care with clarity, compassion, and conviction.About the Series Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

Become Stewards of Gods Vision Where You Are Its possible for American Christians to live everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Were often disconnected from the places we inhabitcut off from nature, our neighbors, people different from us, and a sense of rootedness. Its time to imagine a better way.Each of us is placed by God in a specific "somewhere." Drawing on social science research and their experiences across American landscapes and the Middle East, Ben Norquist and Brian Miller show how Christians in the US can develop a redemptive imagination for place. Many people have uncritically accepted American cultural assumptions about land, property, home ownership, and the good life. Yet our identity as followers of Jesus should transform how we live in the physical world, even as we recognize how places shape their inhabitants.Every Somewhere Sacred explores tools for deeply understanding or "reading" places; interdisciplinary scholarship from Scripture, sociology, and theology on land and place; and connections between colonialism, race, social class, and American landscapes. Norquist and Miller offer a variety of personal and corporate practices including land research, reassessing priorities and habits, advocating for others, and reconsidering the nature of sacred space, prompting us toward a broader vision for how God works through space, using biblical lenses of landscape as gift, sacrament, kin, and home. Are you seeking a rooted, meaningful faith that responds to the needs of your community? If you want to dive deeper into a theology of place, Every Somewhere Sacred will help you connect to your own "somewhere" and offer guidance for becoming a steward of Gods vision where you are.

Lessons from Midwives for Pastoral Leadership We find ourselves in a moment in which the church is in great pain. Congregations are dwindling, denominations are fracturing, and church scandals have become all too common. We need a new imagination to capture the hopefulness of God birthing something new in the midst of the pain of the old creation. In The Pastor as Midwife, Shawna Songer Gaines brings her pastoral experience alongside her research on the vocation and practices of midwifery to explore a vision of pastoral leadership that is shaped by the wisdom of those who walk alongside expectant mothers. Learning to pastor like a midwife helps us embrace what God is doing in our pain and see new life in unlikely places.This book gives pastors a ministry paradigm that embraces change and pain as part of Gods salvific work in the world. Gaines helps pastors embrace a new, life-giving posture for ministry marked by advocacy, listening, and letting go of control. Like the apostle Paul in Romans 8:22, pastors who long to witness the birth of Gods new creation are invited to imagine their work like a hopeful midwife.With The Pastor as Midwife, you will: learn how the practices and wisdom of midwives offer a new way of approaching pastoral leadership, a way that begins and ends with a hopeful view of Gods work in birthing new creation; engage with thought-provoking reflection questions to explore your own leadership patterns; and reenvision ministry to see change and pain as integral to Gods life-giving work in the world. Wherever you are in your journey as a pastor, The Pastor as Midwife offers a thoughtful and hopeful perspective on ministry in a changing and often challenging world. Learn to witness and partner with God in the birth of new creation with The Pastor as Midwife, trusting in the Spirit of God who brings new life to a fallen but beautiful world.

Lead Your Congregation to Connect Sunday Worship to Monday Work Work matters to God. Does it matter to his church? Many Christians experience vocational restlessness and anxiety, unsure or unaware how their faith can guide them in their workplaces. What would it look like for your church to affirm, equip, and commission your congregation to embrace a sense of calling and mission in their everyday labor? In Pastoring for Monday, Matt Rusten helps you lead your church to form Christians who follow, represent, and commune with Christ amid their daily work. This book equips you to bridge the divide between the sacred and secular, transforming how your church disciples people for the workplace.Rusten shows how you can intentionally change your language and liturgy to celebrate the ordinary working lives of church members, providing concrete discipleship pathways and pastoral priorities for living out the gospel through vocational discipleship. Youll learn how you can prioritize faith and work as a necessary focus, rather than an optional add-on, for the thriving and collective mission of your church.With Pastoring for Monday, you will: Learn to connect Sunday worship with the realities of Monday work to equip people to follow Jesus through the work week. Find practical discipleship ideas to help believers live out their faith in professional contexts. Transform your preaching and leadership to help your congregation see the value of their daily vocation as a ministry. This book empowers pastors to foster a church culture where every believer is equipped to follow Jesus not just on Sunday but through the workdays that follow. With Pastoring for Monday, help your congregation connect Sunday worship to Monday work and transform the way your ministry bridges faith and work.

"When we interact with our LGBTQ+ neighbors we are not interacting with an ideology, a political movement, a social media post, a caricature from a movie, or a law being debated in Congress. We are interacting with people made in the image of God, who our Savior bled and died to redeem. We are interacting with someone God literally loved to the point of his own death."Cultivate Community With LGBTQ+ Neighbors Too often, fear and suspicion have characterized churches response to LGTBQ+ people. As we remain committed to the historic Christian teachings about marriage and sexuality, American evangelical churches have also harmed a community we have not understood. Our default has been to keep LGBTQ+ people at arms length.But there is another way, one that resists both culture wars and the pressure to revise scriptural teaching; one that embraces people and clings to historic witness.In Love All Our Neighbors, Tony Scarcello shows how holding a traditional sexual ethic does not have to lead toward the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from church. Drawing from biblical theology, cultural data, and the authors personal experience as a same-sex-attracted pastor, this book teaches traditional Christians and churches how to truly care for LGBTQ+ people. Scarcello explains how churches can and should be places of conviction, humility, and radical love for everyone.In Love All Our Neighbors, youll learn how Jesus loves LGBTQ+ people and desires to know them, how churches have built unbiblical barriers between LGBTQ+ people and Jesus, and how to dismantle these barriers and minister with care, without compromising orthodox theology. If youre a church leader who upholds a traditional sexual ethic and seeks to genuinely care for LGBTQ+ individuals, youll find this book both challenging and transformative. With thoughtful guidance, Love All Our Neighbors equips churches committed to historic Christian teaching to overcome barriers, fostering a Jesus-centered, life-giving community that embraces everyone with grace and love. Our churches can become environments where LGBTQ+ people can find and follow Jesus in life-giving community.

Heaven: Why It Matters Here and Now Have we forgotten heaven? Bestselling author and pastor Brian Zahnd invites us to remember heaven, to experience and embrace the divine mystery of the spiritual realm in this lifetime. This slow and steady progression of a deeper Christian faith that draws us nearer to Goda "pilgrimage of the soul"fosters in us a love for both the heavenly and the earthly.For too long, the conversation about heaven has been caught between two extremes. On one hand, there is the shallow "escapist" theology that reduces salvation to a reservation for the afterlife, unconcerned with Gods good earth or issues of justice in the world.On the other hand, many of us have overcorrected, hyperfocusing on the here and now and losing sight of the spiritual reality beyonda fatal mistake if our Christianity is to have a compelling message in the twenty-first century. Our faith must once again speak confidently and humbly about the reality of the spiritual worldthe reality of unseen existences.In Unseen Existences, youll find a fresh way of looking at heaven that pushes back against extremes, a vision for life as a pilgrimage to our true home in heaven and union with God, and encouragement to persevere through the injustices of this world with hope. Unseen Existences will help you renew your faith, expand your perspective, and re-embrace the divine mystery of heaven. Though life can be uncertain and unjust, our pilgrimage is preparing us for the world to come, where we will see Christ face-to-face. With the company of our Helper, Advocate, and Comforter, we press on, trusting he will lead us home.

What If You Saw Your Hobbies as a Form of Worship? Maybe youre an athlete or collector, a chef or film critic, a painter or video gamer. Your hobbies arent arbitrary passions. The same God who formed your muscles and nervous system also formed the specific ways you love to play. He understands the delight you feel in your garden or your excitement as you open up a new board game. And he calls it good.We often view play as a distraction from lifes serious responsibilities, but in Created to Play, Brianna Lambert reveals the ways God blesses your hobbies and uses them to form and pull you into worship. Lambert explores ten different titles you may inhabit in your play: Beholder, Curator, Maker, Herald, Restorer, Connecter, Nourisher, Mover, Caretaker, and Historian.This book helps you view your hobbies as opportunities not just for individual expression but also for communal enjoyment. With winsome practicality and theological reflection, Lambert draws you to glory in the God who loves and teaches you through play.With Created to Play, you will: Explore how hobbies shape your spiritual formation, offering a fresh perspective on the theology of hobbies and leisure. Identify yourself among ten unique roles we take on through hobbies, uncovering how play shapes your identity in Christ. Learn to embrace rest and joy through hobbies, reenvisioning leisure as life-giving rather than wasteful. Challenge your guilt around play by learning how hobbies can form you spiritually, draw you into worship, and help you reflect Gods character. You can experience how God is already participating in your hobbies with you, sharing in the joy they bring. If you are seeking a biblical perspective on your hobbies or struggling to enjoy leisure amid the demands of a busy life, this book can help you reclaim play as a vital part of spiritual formation.Play isnt about what you get or achieve but about who you become in the process.

Move Past Anxiety and Into Confident Witness Are fear and anxiety holding you back from sharing your faith? Does the thought of evangelism make you uneasy or leave you concerned about making others uncomfortable? The biggest barrier to evangelism, Mark Teasdale argues, is not lack of training or informationits fear.To overcome this fear, we must engage not just intellectually and spiritually, but also psychologically. In Socially Awkward Evangelism, Teasdale considers evangelism through the lens of psychology, helping you overcome the roadblocks that often accompany sharing your faith. Teasdale offers resources for dealing with anxiety and shame and helps you communicate in ways that reduce uncertainties in others, utilizing recent developments in understanding mental and emotional health.Socially Awkward Evangelism: addresses the underlying fears and anxieties often tied to evangelism with tools informed by psychology, offers practical tools for overcoming fears about evangelism, challenges common misperceptions about evangelism, and helps you communicate your faith authentically, sensitively, and creatively. Through practical exercises, theological foundations, and psychological insights, this book will guide you to thoughtfully attend to your inner life, your social context, and the heart of Jesus, helping you move beyond fear to embrace evangelism as the blessing its meant to be.Whether youre a church leader or educator training others, a student eager to learn, or someone who struggles with the social anxiety often tied to evangelism, Socially Awkward Evangelism provides the tools to help you step into this sacred task with confidence and purpose.

You were told to live a meaningful life. But no one ever told you how. Our lives are shaped by contradictions. Competing voices tell us who to be, what to want, and how to live. The result? A fragmented moral imagination. Were handed a thousand broken messages and left to cobble together something resembling a life. But instead of clarity, we get exhaustion. Instead of wisdom, we get anxiety.This leaves you asking yourself How can I get through when I feel alone and confused? How can I live well in this broken and chaotic world? In To Live Well, Alan Noble shows you how you can not only endure but flourish in life. Through exploring the seven virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and love, youll learn how to choose gracefully, act justly, suffer steadfastly, live moderately, believe soundly, hope resolutely, and love rightly. This book wont give you a ten-step plan to fix everything. It doesnt promise clarity overnight. But it will invite you into something deeper: an ancient, time-tested path of habits of heart and mind that shape who we are and how we live.With honesty, theological depth, and a mentors heart, Noble names your confusion and offers an antidotenot by escaping the mess but by learning how to live faithfully within it. If youve ever longed for something solid in a world that just wants to sell you more temporary stuff, To Live Well is a good place to begin.

Including People with Disabilities Is Essential to Your Churchs Witness God wants people of all abilities to be active participants in his kingdom. But churches have not always made it clear that people with disabilities are both part of Gods story and fully welcome in their communities. If the church is to be a credible witness, it must reach and include people with disabilities within its evangelism, mission, and everyday life.In Disability and Evangelism, Rochelle Scheuermann casts a vision for including people with disabilities in all aspects of evangelism, from how we understand and tell the gospel story, to how we evangelize to and with people with disabilities. This groundbreaking book invites us to reshape our evangelism theology and practice so that people with disabilities are central in all we think, say, and do. Scheuermann uncovers how Gods story in Scripture responds to the complexities of disability and provides both the means and message to share good news among people of all abilities. She then explores issues of evangelism practice, including how we understand conversion, an expanded understanding of accommodation, and pursuing interdependence in ministry.In Disability and Evangelism, you will gain a biblical understanding of both disability and evangelism; hear stories from people with a range of disabilities; study evangelism practices that go beyond traditional approaches that are key for doing evangelism with and among people with disabilities; understand why many people with disabilities feel excluded from and do not attend church; and engage with discussion questions in each chapter. This book shows how the gospel really is good news for people of all abilities. Understanding and embracing disability is not only a matter of compassion and justice. People with disabilities will help the church to counteract faulty visions of power, autonomy, and self-promotion and to encounter the good news of Jesus more deeply. If youre looking for a resource that invites people with disabilities to be both recipients and active participants in Gods mission, Disability and Evangelism is for you.About the Series Center for Disability and Ministry books explore the intersection of disability and practical theology in partnership with the Center for Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary. Co-edited by Benjamin T. Conner and John Swinton, this series explores key issues in disability theology through the framework of practical theology, aiming to increase knowledge as well as faithfully impact Christian practice.

Walking the Path of Allyship: Men Supporting Women in Ministry For women and men to thrive equally in ministry, the church needs male allies who are committed to supporting women in their callings. Allies in Ministry provides a practical, research-based pathway for men who desire to support women in ministry but may feel uncertain about how to act or worried about doing the wrong thing.Building on the foundations of his previous book, Together in Ministry, Rob Dixon presents seven proven steps to becoming an effective ally, grounded in qualitative research, real-life examples, and biblical insights. With action-oriented suggestions, reflection questions in every chapter, and inspirational true stories, Allies in Ministry is a vital resource for helping the church become a community where women can thrive in ministry in equal measure.In Allies in Ministry, Rob Dixon articulates a unique Christian approach to male allyship; provides a concrete, sequenced process for developing more men into more effective allies to women; draws insight from biblical teaching, real-life examples, and original research; and offers practical guidance to help transform good intentions into meaningful action for both women and men who want to create a culture of male allyship. By exploring the Christian call to allyship and its role in spiritual formation, this book complements secular resources and fills a gap for ministry leaders. Building a ministry context marked by equal partnership takes intentionality and wisdom. Allies in Ministry points the way forward.

Connect Your Creativity with the Creator In In the Beginning We Create, award-winning graphic designer and artist Nathan L. Nicholson reflects on Gods timeless patterns of creation, offering practical insights for how and what you create. Nicholson guides you through twenty-one reflective meditations inspired by Gods creative process, each paired with the authors original artwork, uncovering how collaboration, creation, and rest are essential rhythms for expressing your unique creative vision.Nicholson explores how God is the ultimate Creator, and his creative abilities are beyond compare. In the Beginning We Create invites you to explore Gods creative process and discover how you can emulate his creativity in the creative gifts he has given you. Using the book of Genesis as the foundation, youll dive into the story of God creating the universe and find inspiration for your own creative journey. If the Creator of the universe took time to rest, the cycle of creation and rest is necessary for our healthy creativity as well.Key Features: 21 inspiring reflections that draw from the Genesis creation narrative and other Scripture passages 50+ original artworks by the author thoughtfully included throughout the book Insights for spiritual growth as you learn how the process of creating connects you with God and has purpose and meaning Though this book, youll see how no matter the creative discipline you use, you can offer your creativity back to God, discovering new ways to reflect the Creators handiwork in your life.If you yearn to create with intention and purpose, this book will help you view creativity through a new lens: aligning your creativity with divine purpose. Learn how you can honor God with every word, stroke, or melody you create with In the Beginning We Create.

Find Meaning in the Wilderness through Scripture and Spiritual Practice The desert is a place of paradox. In the desert we encounter silence and revelation, hunger and provision, barrenness and abundance, absence of God and intimate awareness of Gods presence. The image of wilderness is a key theme in Scripture, from Abraham, Moses, and the prophets to Jesus. And throughout church history, people of faith have found it to be a useful metaphor for the spiritual life.In God in the Desert, Old Testament scholar and spiritual director Noel Forlini Burt explores Old Testament wilderness narratives in conversation with wise voices from throughout church history, bridging the gap between biblical studies and spiritual formation. Journeying through stories such as Hagar, Elijah, and the Israelites at Sinai, each chapter also engages with figures like the desert fathers and mothers, Parker Palmer, Henri Nouwen, Richard Rohr, and Eugene Peterson.God in the Desert connects biblical studies and spiritual formation, traces the theme of wilderness in the Old Testament and its implications for Christians, and combines scholarly depth with practical and inspiring spiritual reflection. In this book, youll walk through key themes and practices in spiritual formation like solitude, rebirth, prayer, spiritual reading, attachment, and how they can nurture the souls of readers today. Connecting biblical texts to her own experiences and those of Christians across time, Forlini Burt unpacks how wilderness can still be a place of transformation as Gods people respond to the God of the desert. Whether youre a scholar, student, pastor, or spiritual formation practitioner, youll find deep engagement with the Scriptures and spiritual wisdom for the Christian life in God in the Desert.

Transform Your Suffering with Tools from Theology, Psychology, and Spiritual Formation We dont like pain.So, we find creative ways to go around it. We try to ignore, minimize, or deny our suffering, but were still left hurting. The twisting and defiling work of sin on this world is overwhelming and shatters our assumptions about ourselves and our place in the world. And yet, the path forward is through suffering. Our afflictions present an opportunity to encounter God and allow him to redeem our suffering.Drawing on six years of research, When the Journey Hurts untangles common misconceptions about suffering, instead helping you find meaning in it. The authors integrate theology, psychology, and spiritual formation to provide actionable steps and tools that teach you how to suffer well in relationship with God and others.This book introduces seven key practices to help you uncover meaning in your suffering, equipping you to engage with suffering in a healthy, faithful way: Identifying with Christs suffering Lament Surrender Forgiveness Gratitude Memento mori (remembering our mortality) Weaving our story of suffering into Gods story These practices are supported by both theological insights and psychological research, providing a unique approach to navigating suffering. Rather than diminishing the weight of your pain, this book is designed to help you transform suffering into an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God. With When the Journey Hurts, youll find that your pain can lead you closer to Jesus.