Imprints

Jody Neufeld shares from her heart “ordinary moments with an extraordinary God.” Upon her retirement from nursing and then beginning into ministry with her husband Henry, a Biblical teacher, Jody felt the Lord urging her to share a daily devotion with people she knew still in an outside workplace. “I know that when I was working in a hospital or a doctor’s office or in homes delivering hospice care, I wish someone had sent me an email devotion each morning that would give me a focus and a lesson for the day.” This ministry went from 12 people to hundreds and continues today. This weekly devotion book is made up of 52 devotions with questions or suggestions for discussion that will work well with small groups. Used in conjunction with the forthcoming Energion Publications book, When 3 to 8 Gather, this is an excellent way to ‘jump start’ a small group with diverse members or given an established group a new perspective.

How to use this book:

• Devotional study for prayer groups–economical for group purchase
• Occasional devotions for committee or social meetings

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Along Bible Paths: Summer Devotions grew out of the daily devotional e-mail list that Jody Neufeld began in 1999 to encourage others to begin their day with the Lord. Many continue to enjoy these thoughts in their e-mail every weekday morning, or via the Jody’s Devotionals blog. This book is a collection organized for the summer. We hope many more will enjoy these in printed form.

Jody Neufeld, now in a “new season” of her life as she is retired from nursing and is working in publishing full-time in partnership with her husband, Henry. “I’m not sure God agrees with the concept of retirement. He seems to be more about ‘seasons’ and giving us opportunities to serve in His Kingdom all the days of our lives.” She is the author of Daily Devotions of Ordinary People-Extraordinary God and

Grief: Finding the Candle of Light. Jody and Henry have three children: Janet and her husband, Chris Lister, who are in ministry in Ft. Worth,Texas, twin brother, John Webb, a former MLB pitcher, lives with his family in Phoenix, AZ, and James Webb, who loved to lead praise and worship and his work in marching band, is now home with Jesus after battling cancer for five years. They also have five grandchildren: Alex, Anna, Jaxon, Jamie, and Ashton.

Owner of Energion Publications, Henry Neufeld is also the editor of the Participatory Study Series. He can be followed on deepbiblestudy.net, henrysthreads.com, and jevlir.com. Henry has BA and MA degrees in Biblical Languages, and uses his skills in Biblical studies to help lay people learn to better understand the Bible . He is also the author of What’s in a Version?,When People Speak for God, and eight other books. He and Jody live near Pensacola, Florida.

ISBN10: 1-893729-83-4

ISBN13: 978-1-893729-83-4

Pages: 164

What is the Kingdom of God? What does it mean to be part of the kingdom? These are questions that should occupy the mind of every Christian. But we frequently shy away from the full meaning of God’s rule.

In Christian Archy, Dr. David Alan Black examines the New Testament to find the truly radical and all-encompassing claims of God’s kingdom. In doing so, he discovers that the character of this kingdom is widely different from what is commonly contemplated today. Its glory is revealed only through suffering — a point that Jesus’ disciples, then and now, have been slow to understand. This truth has tremendous implications for church life. The kingdom of God is in no way imperialistic. It has no political ambitions. It conquers not by force but by love. It is this humble characteristic of the kingdom that is a stumbling block to so many today. Christ’s claim to our total allegiance is one we seek to avoid at all costs. But there is only one way to victory and peace, and that way is the way of the Lamb.

This is the first volume in the new Areopagus Critical Christian Issues Series from Energion Publications. We believe it is an appropriate way to begin that series by addressing this foundational question of who we are as part of the Christian church, and why it is important for us to immerse ourselves in God’s word.

Consider
Christianity
Series

Christianity and Secularism is the second volume in the Consider Christianity series, written by Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. It focuses on the evidences for the Christian faith and the conflict between Christianity and secularism. Hushbeck believes that there is good evidence on which to base a belief in Jesus and in the basic doctrines of Christianity. He also believes it is important for Christians to understand their faith and to be prepared to defend it. Chapter titles are The Secularization of Society, A Rose by any Other Name, Is That All There Is, Christianity, The Church, Who Do You Say I Am, Resurrection or Passover Plot, and Is Christianity Relevant. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, Christian education directors and youth leaders will not want to miss this book. (Note: This is a new, slightly corrected edition of ISBN 1-893729-30-3, and is compatible with that volume in terms of content and pagination. It may be used with the study guide to that volume, ISBN 1-893729-33-8.)

Late in 2012 Energion Publications released Dr. Bruce Epperly’s book Healing Marks, which brings the healing stories of Jesus into focus for present day ministry. In April we plan to release Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening by Dr. Robert D. Cornwall. Finally, in June, we will release Transforming Acts: Acts of the Apostles as a 21^st Century Gospel, also by Dr. Bruce Epperly. This book is not yet even in our retail catalog, but you can see the description on our list of forthcoming books.

In his challenging foreword to Unfettered Spirit, Dr. Bruce Epperly says:

… Do we need to hold a “rummage sale,” as Phyllis Tickle asserts, to get rid of another unnecessary and outmoded doctrines and practices?

At the heart of this potential great awakening is the recovery of the experience and embody of the gifts of the Spirit within the church. Bob Cornwall sees the future of the church as involving awakening to God’s Spirit. Cornwall images a spirit-empowered church that is sensitive to God’s gifts in personal and community life. A spirit-empowered church expects great things from and this expectation leads to expecting great things from ourselves and our communities. The church has too often “played small” and expected to little from itself and God when Jesus challenges us to do greater things. If we ask and knock, we will experience life-changing and mission-inspiring surprises. Cornwall’s project involves an adventure of the Spirit which gives life to the description of the body of Christ as an interdependent and gifted community of faith. (emphasis mine)

So what is this package all about?

One of the questions I hear over and over again when I visit or teach in various mainline churches is this: How do we bring some life to this church? It’s a good question. In many cases churches are just existing, slowly dying as they become more and more irrelevant to their communities.

Both Bruce Epperly and Bob Cornwall have found some real guidance in the pages of Scripture. They see a challenge to bring the gospel message to life even in a pluralistic, postmodern  society. They both have practiced what they’re preaching in these books, and they bring you strong new ideas. This is biblically rooted theology brought to practical application.

Each of these books will be of great benefit. Together, they can give you the tools to discern what God is trying to do in your church and community and to find the guidance you need to take action.

So until Transforming Acts ships in June, I’m making a special offer. Order the package of all three books, and I’ll ship you Healing Marks right away. Then I’ll ship you the other two as they appear. I’ll do all of this for just $29.99 including shipping. That’s better than 30% off. Once Unfettered Spirit ships in April, we’ll continue the discount at 20% off, then when Transforming Acts is released in June, this package will sell for $39.99 or 10% off the cover price of the three books.

So order your package today. To get this offer, order it from this page, not from the individual book pages. We’ll ship you all three books as they’re released.

(This package includes books on pre-order. Please read our pre-order policies. If you prefer not to make a pre-paid pre-order, you can e-mail us and ask to be notified when each book is released. Our books generally are available for pre-order on Amazon.com as well.)

What goes on in the back of clergy folks’ heads that we wish we could talk about? And what do we talk about with no holds barred? In each chapter of this book, Groff offers a spiritual spin on an issue in ministry normally viewed as a distraction. He shows real life ways that a barrier can become a bridge to deepening spiritual life and vocation. A paragraph ends with a question, inviting the reader to pause . . . and ponder. Each chapter ends with a spiritual practice and questions for reflection. Here is ideal grist for intergenerational study groups for ministers, members, and seekers.

This is the book set for those interested in Christian apologetics. It includes the following books:

• Evidence for the Bible ($16.99)
• Evidence for the Bible Study Guide ($7.99)
• Christianity and Secularism ($16.99)
• Christianity and Secularism Study Guide ($7.99)

This is a total value of $49.96 at full retail. With our free, standard U. S. shipping, you can get all for books for just $39.99 (Florida residents must pay sales tax).

Study and discussion questions desgined for small groups and Sunday School classes. This study guide will help you learn to understand your faith for yourself, and how to defend it. Designed to go with Evidence for the Bible, ISBN: 1-893729-51-6.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Study and discussion questions desgined for small groups and Sunday School classes. This study guide will help you learn to understand your faith for yourself, and how to defend it. Designed to go with Christianity and Secularism, ISBN: 1-893729-52-4.

Buy both Creation in Scripture and Creation: The Christian Doctrine for $19.99. Price separately is $25.98, and standard shipping in the U. S. is free!

This special package combines two books, Creation in Scripture by Herold Weiss and Creation: The Christian Doctrine by Edward W. H. Vick. The debate regarding creation and evolution is a very heated and divisive one in the church today. Rather than attempting to start with a particular position and then adduce the evidence for it, both authors aim to survey a broad range of factors that go into the formation of a doctrine.

Herold Weiss aims to look at the variety of viewpoints on creation that are found in Scripture. Rather than starting from Genesis 1 & 2 and then bringing in other passages only as they elucidate portions of that passage, he instead looks at various sections of the Bible, such as the prophets, wisdom literature, the gospels, the writings of Paul, and yes, Genesis, and asks just what ideas the authors hold about creation and how those fit into the focus of the particular section.

Edward Vick approaches the topic as both a theologian and a professor of theology. His purpose is to ask just what elements go into a doctrine of creation. What would make such a doctrine distinctively Christian.

Both volumes discuss how these passages relate to modern Christian viewpoints, such as young earth creationism, theistic evolution, old earth creationism, intelligent design, and related views.

Buy the print copies direct from this site, or see the publisher’s catalog site for links to online retailers and to ebook editions:

• Creation: The Christian Doctrine (on publisher’s web site)
• Creation in Scripture (on publisher’s web site)

Praise for Creation in Scripture

In Creation in Scripture Herold Weiss presents the essential message that the creation story is complex and is addressed in many ways throughout scripture. As it is, much of the hot debate occurs when people take one particular part of scripture, sometimes out of context and sometimes misinterpreted and then baptize this passage as the one and only infallible description of how God really created or creates. This is the first book I have seen that takes this “overview” approach and considers all the Bible’s commentary on Creation. Kudos to Weiss for this contribution.

Richard Colling, Ph.D.
Author of Random Designer

Wading into the often truculent conflicts over creationism and evolution, Herold Weiss offers up the refreshing input of a biblical scholar who is fully attentive to the cultural contexts and religious variety of biblical traditions. While insisting that the life of faith and scientific inquiry each be given their proper respect, Weiss challenges those who would speak theologically about creation to consider more broadly the entire range of biblical evidence, rather than privileging a few chapters from Genesis. Crafted with great clarity and a wealth of knowledge, readers are treated to a lavish feast of biblical views of creation, from the prophets and Wisdom literature to the letters of Paul and the apocalyptic world of Revelation. What a remarkable little book: at once a bold challenge to creationism, exposing its reactionary impulses and indicting its ideological abuses of the Bible; and, at the same time, a generous invitation for thoughtful Christians to celebrate the amazingly rich and varied portraits of creation, and thereby to bolster their faith in the Creator in a way that is both well-conceived and biblically based.

Terence J. Martin, Ph.D.
Professor of Religious Studies
St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana

In this brief and concise volume, Dr. Weiss demonstrates the importance of exploring the entirety of Biblical evidence on this all too often divisive topic. With clarity and concrete example, he makes clear that this subject does not lend itself to simplistic answers. This volume makes a significant contribution to conversations regarding creation and the Bible. It is my hope that people of faith will use this helpful book to further future dialogue among those who value both Scripture and the human reason with which we have been graced by our loving Creator God! For those who believe that one can be both scholarly and faithful, this is a ‘must read’ book!

Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle
Author, Crossing the Street and Part Time Pastor, Full Time Church
Pastor, United Church of Christ

Most studies of creation in the Bible have focused on the first two chapters of Genesis, with little reference to the rest of Scripture where much discussion of creation is found. With characteristically wide understanding of the languages, and the historical and cultural contexts in which the Bible was written, and with deep theological insight and spiritual sensitivity, Dr. Weiss has made an important contribution toward rectifying this imbalance. Reading this book will reward everyone concerned with issues regarding the doctrine of creation.

Earle Hilgert
Professor of New Testament Emeritus
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago

This is a “must read” book for anyone interested in the current discussions on the concept of creation in the Bible, its cultural context, and its relation to current views in science and evolution. It is authoritative, cogent, masterfully articulated. I’ve read widely on this topic and have never read anything its equal. It pulls no punches. Better yet, it is timely, wise, and faith affirming.

Larry Geraty
President emeritus
La Sierra University

Praise for Creation: The Christian Doctrine

In this relatively short volume, Dr. Edward Vick presents a thorough and precise overview of the Christian doctrine of Creation.  This book has enormous value as a stand alone text yet, when coupled with Herold Weiss’ outstanding review of relevant Scriptural texts,  provides theological insights which complement the task of Scriptural exegesis with respect to this important doctrine of Creation.  There is no wasted word in this truly magnificent work as Dr. Vick explains and defines important terminology and challenges us to look at complex questions reasonably and faithfully.  While its topic is creation, it would serve well as a primer in the relationship of faith, Scripture and theology, a relationship with practical applcability to a multiplicity of issues confronting modern Christianity.  In short, this is an outstanding resource in Christian theology, one to which I expect to return many, many times.

Rev. Dr. Robert R. LaRochelle, Author, Crossing the Street and Part Time Pastor, Full Time Church

For the truth-seeker who takes seriously both faith and science, this thoughtful book makes a lot of sense, especially as a follow-up to its companion volume by Herold Weiss (Creation in Scripture).  I found the discussion questions on creation, and the conversation among three Christian friends, unique, provocative, and elucidating features of this masterful contribution to a vexed and timely topic.

– Lawrence T. Geraty, President Emeritus, La Sierra University

Drawing from the history of the relevant developments in philosophy and theology, Vick presents a cogent argument for a confessional Christian doctrine of Creation. To this end he makes important distinctions and gives concrete definitions to the vocabulary needed for the task. He argues that scientific and historical understandings of how the reality in which we live came to be are religiously irrelevant. Instead he presents a Christian understanding of what a doctrine of creation affirms. The clarity of the presentation and the relevance of its message makes this a most welcome contribution to a debate that quite often lacks both. I highly recommend its careful reading to the layperson, the cleric and the professional theologian, be they either Christian or non-Christian.

Herold Weiss, author of Creation in Scripture and Professor Emeritus of New Testament, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame

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“Not Your Everyday Devotional for Every Day” says author, Greg May. A self-proclaimed fisherman and forgiven sinner, Greg has spent many years leading and discipling through his real and unpretentious example.

Greg May’s love for fishing, family, and gatherings of people has led him to create The Fishin’ Hole in his garage where Bible study, big-screen sports events, and celebrations welcome Christian believers and non-believers alike. And now in Crewed Awakening, Greg shares what he is learning in his own personal time with the Jesus. “I love family. I like fishing. I try to follow Jesus. I mess up some. But He has enough grace, mercy and love to cover my mess. Now that’s my kind of God!”

The rift between Protestants and Roman Catholics continues to separate Christians from one another and to diminish our witness in the world. Words such as “heretic,” “apostate,” “idolater,” and “papist” have characterized much of the discussion over the last several centuries since the reformation. While changes in both groups over the last few decades have improved the tone of the discussion, much remains to be accomplished. Author Bob LaRochelle, as a former Roman Catholic and now a United Church of Christ minister, is well-equipped to guide us toward a more constructive relationship.

Crossing the Street speaks to the heart of the Energion Publications mission statement by advocating a “mainstream ecumenical center” in which Roman Catholics and Protestants can come to a deeper appreciation and understanding of the gifts they bring to one another. It demonstrates ways in which these traditions have misunderstood one another and even themselves, and then proposes strategies for both ecumenical cooperation and self-understanding.

This book is founded in a thorough understanding of both traditions and a commitment to ecumenical dialog and cooperation. It addresses both theory and practice. In a series of four chapters, it examines how we live in our own houses, the author’s own story, and then the gifts that each group offers the other.

Jody Neufeld shares from her heart “ordinary moments with an Extraordinary God”. Upon her retirement from nursing and into ministry with her husband Henry, a Bible teacher, Jody felt the Lord urging her to share a daily devotion with people she knew still in an outside workplace. “I know that when I was working in a hospital or a doctor’s office or in homes delivering hospice care, I wish someone had sent me an email devotion each morning that would give me a focus and a lesson for the day.” This ministry went from 12 people to hundreds and continues today. This book is collected from over two years of her devotions.

How to use this book:

• Daily personal devotions
• Sermon ideas
• Prayer group devotions

Package of three books for devotional study and prayer:

• Daily Devotions of Ordinary People – Extraordinary God
• Directed Paths
• I Want to Pray!

Discount over individual purchase is 30%!

Directed Paths will challenge your faith and your Determination to serve God while giving you new strength and encouragement. Each story reflects a Biblical principle or promise. Mrs. Neufeld openly shares her prayers and God’s answers.

We at Energion Publications offer this book to you in the hope that as God directs your paths you will hear and be open to His direction.

Use this book for:

• Encouraging stories to build your faith
• Devotions, with each story headed by a relevant scripture
• Sermon or lesson illustrations, for topics on missions, faith, or prayer

Disciples: Jesus With Us is a basic book on discipleship, with the emphasis on “basic.” It is for every pastor who has wondered just what he can give a new Christian, a new member, or someone who is struggling with the Christian walk that will help guide them through those first steps of discipleship. It is for every new believer who has wondered just what happened and what to do now. Rev. Riley Richardson speaks from the heart of a pastor and evangelist, providing basic guidance and explanations of what it means to be a Christian. Chapters discuss what it means to be saved, prayer, Bible study, finding a church home, stewardship, service, and some additional steps to take. There are questions and exercises provided for an individual or a small group. It includes a glossary, index, and scripture index, along with numerous recommendations for further study.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

This package includes four books by Edward W. H. Vick:

From Inspiration to Understanding: Reading the Bible Seriously and Faithfully

The Adventists’ Dilemma

History and Christian Faith

Eschatology: A Participatory Study Guide (Forthcoming October 2012; we will ship this separately when released)

Following the outlines of the Participatory Study Method, Dr. Robert Cornwall presents a study guide to the book of Ephesians that is both usable and challenging while not skirting the difficult issues. These eight lessons take you through the letter leading from the history and background to modern application and sharing in corporate study and worship.

Whether you are approaching this book as an individual, as a small group, or in a larger classroom setting, this study guide will provide you with direction, exercises, and questions for discussion and further investigation.

The Participatory Study Series from Energion Publications is designed to invite Bible students to become a part of the community of faith that produced the texts we now have as scripture by studying them empathetically and with an aim to learn and grow spiritually. The section Using this Book and the appendices are designed for the series and adapted to the particular study guide. Each author is free to emphasize different resources in the study, and individual students, group leaders, and teachers are encouraged to enhance their study through the use of additional resources.

It is our prayer at Energion Publications that each study guide will lead you deeper into scripture and more importantly closer to the One who inspired it.

132 pages.

Evidence for the Bible is the first in the Consider Christianity series, written by Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. It discusses the evidence for the inspiration and reliability of the Bible, and deals with objections. It is clear and forceful, but also invites dialogue on this key issue of the Christian faith. Chapter titles are How Did We Get the Bible, The Bible and Modern Criticism, Archeology and the Bible, Science vs. Religion, Science and the Bible, Is the Bible Reliable, and The Word of God or the Speculations of Men. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, Christian education directors and youth leaders will not want to miss this book. (Note: This is a new, slightly corrected edition of ISBN 1-893729-29-X, and is compatible with that volume in terms of content and pagination. It may be used with the study guide to that volume, ISBN 1-893729-32-X.)

What happens when a newspaper editor gives his primary editorial slot on Sundays to a pastor? In the case of Bob Cornwall, a pastor in Troy, Michigan, the result is a series of relevant, interesting, and challenging essays that go well beyond the local scene while still managing to be relevant to Americans in their local situation.

Now extensively revised and organized as to theme, these essays form a coherent statement of progressive Christianity at work in the public square. At the same time they are seasoned with a look at how the public square influences the spiritual life of a Christian living in mid-America. The 52 essays in this collection go well beyond one place and time. You will find yourself, your community, your state, your nation, and your world in each.

Can a person of faith be involved in the public square with integrity? Is public policy made better by this action? Can faith remain whole and genuine following the encounter? Read these essays to discover the answers, and perhaps find a new optimism for the future as you do.

Megabelt – Nick May ($12.99) A fictional account of the South and its preoccupations with modern Christianity told from the point of view of a boy named Gil growing up in what is otherwise known as the “Bible Belt.”

Prayer Trilogy – Kimberly Gordon ($9.99) Set in the late 1800′s Colorado, this is the story of the Jenkins and Davidson families, one nearly starving on their farm and the other a prosperous business family in the city of Denver. Neither family is perfect but both rely on the power and comfort of prayer to pull them through times of struggle and heartache. The three related stories in this book follow the history of the two families until the surprising and encouraging conclusion.

Tales from Jevlir: Oddballs – Henry E. Neufeld ($7.99) In this collection of ten fantasy short stories, eight collected from The Jevlir Caravansary story blog, and two written especially for this collection, the author portrays parts of an alternate universe he created originally for adventure gaming, but which now forms a background for story writing. Each major character illustrates some aspect of the background world. Together they begin to form a tapestry.

noise flash – Lee Baker ($12.99) A book of modern poetry from the heart of the writer through people, places, and things. Selection of titles: a knight could shine, 24 frames per second, fuzz fire, southern lights, a love hate relationship with vacation, chapel by the river, copiaco, torrance kids, and wild red romantic rest. 

Megabelt – Nick May ($12.99) A fictional account of the South and its preoccupations with modern Christianity told from the point of view of a boy named Gil growing up in what is otherwise known as the “Bible Belt.”

noise flash – Lee Baker ($12.99) A book of modern poetry from the heart of the writer through people, places, and things. Selection of titles: a knight could shine, 24 frames per second, fuzz fire, southern lights, a love hate relationship with vacation, chapel by the river, copiaco, torrance kids, and wild red romantic rest.

Fifty Shades of Grace provides a scriptural look at what the Bible says about relationships. Too often in the education of relationships, abusive and unhealthy relationships if discussed are not done so with enough depth.

This book will compare what society tells us, in the form of entertainment and media, with what God tells us in the Bible about what healthy and loving relationships are. It will explore what abuse is and why many of us are in abusive relationships and what we can do about it. “I hope this book helps people not to fall into the trap of harmful relationships.” — Rev. Shauna Hyde, author.

Subtitle: Recollections of a Journey

Finding My Way in Christianity: Recollections of a Journey is a story of dealing with the differences within the Christian community that is both personal and theologically reflective. With a diverse cross-cultural background, exceptional theological education, and fascinating personal experience, author Dr. Herold Weiss is uniquely qualified to write about this topic.

This notable book outlines the author’s experiences starting in Montevideo, Uruguay and moving through various educational experiences and teaching positions. It is no accident that the chapter titles reflect geographical locations, as the journey through space provides an illuminating metaphor for the faith journey that accompanies it.

Some of the people you meet in this book will make you angry. Others will make you thankful to be a Christian. Some will evoke your sympathy even as you seek to understand why they acted as they did. All of them will help give you some insight into what goes into a successful journey of faith. You can read Finding My Way in Christianity either as an interesting story or as theological reflection. The author’s experiences will resonate with many of us who have experienced the divisions within the Christian community and dealt with those who would silence dissent. Dr. Weiss’ story comes primarily within one denomination, but it follows outlines that will be familiar to many.

If you find yourself on a journey of faith, you owe it to yourself to read Finding My Way in Christianity.

Prayer Trilogy – Kimberly Gordon ($9.99) Set in the late 1800′s Colorado, this is the story of the Jenkins and Davidson families, one nearly starving on their farm and the other a prosperous business family in the city of Denver. Neither family is perfect but both rely on the power and comfort of prayer to pull them through times of struggle and heartache. The three related stories in this book follow the history of the two families until the surprising and encouraging conclusion.

Victim No More! – Shauna Hyde  ($12.99) A Colorado native, Shauna Hyde grew up with three brothers, no sisters, and a father who was a pastor of a local community church. She was taught that women married for life and no woman she knew was a pastor. This ‘normal’ crashed around her when her first husband left her with a newborn baby to raise alone. Her second husband confessed his unfaithfulness; again her world hit a bruising reality wall despite her efforts to be the ‘best little wife’. Shauna started studying karate and began to see a correlation between the two disciplines that opened her soul to be empowered by the grace of God. God, in turn, taught her and used her to empower others.

There’s a stereotype of a young, zealous Christian who feels called to the ministry as a pastor, goes to seminary, and then loses his faith as he studies the writings of all those intellectuals and theologians. The stereotype may not be accurate, but there are those who fit this description, not to mention many who leave home for college as passionate Christians and come home unbelievers. More importantly, that stereotype represents a fear—the fear that too much education or contact with those whose beliefs differ from those of a particular community will cause someone to lose their faith.

But there’s another group, much larger, but not heard nearly as frequently. This group consists of people who have gone from the position of fear that creates the stereotype to a position of faith, a faith that is no longer afraid of that outer darkness that looms outside the walls of their religious community. Indeed, they may not perceive any looming darkness at all.

From Fear to Faith, edited by Travis Milam and Joel L. Watts, gives voice to that too often unheard group. It is a collection of essays from those who have lived in fear, have faced the looming dark, collided with their share of brick walls, but have come out with a new-found faith and undismayed trust.

The journeys of faith presented in this book reveal a group deeply insightful and grounded minds, rich in thriving spirituality, joy, and hope. Where there was once trepidation in asking the tough questions of human existence, of the divine relationship with creation, there is now a certain hope found when these authors have struggled to overcome canyons of fear, leaving behind a life of black and white certitude, to live in a beautiful world of gray.

They have learned that having questions and even doubts does not reflect a lack of faith. Rather, hiding in fear from the serious questions indicates a lack of faith in the one who said, “Don’t be afraid.”

Come join in this journey from fear to faith.

Contributors:

Travis Milam (also co-editor)
Michael Beidler
Rev. Shannon Murray
Rev. Josheua Blanchard
Rev. Tony Buglass
Rev. Mark Stevens
Daniel Ortiz
Caitlyn Townsend
John W. Morehead
Steven Douglas
Craig Falvo
Doug Jantz
Joel L. Watts (co-editor)
Ric Hardison (Ric is a counselor at Kanawha Pastoral Counseling)

The way in which we read the Bible grows out of what we believe the Bible to be. Thus it is impossible to discuss methods of interpretation without considering our view of inspiration, the gathering of the canon, and even the reception of the Bible by the community of faith. And so, Edward W. H. Vick starts this comprehensive discussion of hermeneutics—the interpretation of Scripture—by looking at what the Bible is, and what empowers its authority. He brings a lifetime of experience, teaching and writing to the task.

In this examination, he takes up such diverse topics as inspiration, canonization, authority, infallibility, inerrancy, verbal inspiration, sola scriptura, tradition, myth, and many related topics. Dr. Vick always relates these elements to the overarching questions: How shall we read Scripture? How shall we understand it? How does it impact the way we live and act?

There are many books on how to read the Bible, but there are few that will offer this comprehensive and systematic study. If you apply the principles you find here to your own study, you will find the scriptures opening up in new ways. Dr. Vick will help you move beyond the assumptions that often stand in the way of our personal Bible study and see the remarkable variety and power that is mediated through this book we call the Bible.

John Piper is known for his support of missions. Many of his books devote sections to the advancement of missions, and almost all of his works have missions implications. Piper’s understanding of missions is based on his understanding of God’s glory, which flows from God’s righteousness. He sees Calvinistic theology as amplifying the themes of God’s glory and righteousness. Piper believes God glorifies himself in missions through individual, unconditional election. Piper states the “essential nature” of God is “to dispense mercy . . . on whomever he pleases, apart from any constraint originating outside his own will.” Piper also believes that God glorifies himself in missions through universal love. He states that God’s “righteousness demands that He be a God of love … love is at the very heart of God’s being.”

In Piper’s understanding of the glory of God in missions, involving a combination of individual, unconditional election with universal love, he reconciles the two seemingly opposing emphases of particularity and universality with the promotion of the “Two Wills of God Thesis.” He distinguishes between what God “would like to see happen” and what God “wills to happen.” God has a revealed will and a secret will; he desires to save all (revealed will), while he elects individuals unconditionally (secret will). Piper’s understanding of God’s glory, seen through the Two Wills of God Thesis, is the motivator and dictator of his missiology.

Philip O. Hopkins looks at John Piper’s background and thoroughly examines his written works to provide a clear and thorough discussion of Piper’s missiology and its foundation.

• Separated from someone you love: mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, child, friend, pet
• Separated from a career you love
• Separated from a home you love
• Separated from the life you thought would continue on the road you were traveling

Grief is the sorrow and suffering that must be walked THROUGH by everyone who has experienced a loss. The walk is characterized by:

• Alone-ness. No one can do it for you.
• Timelessness. There are no shortcuts and detours may occur.
• Darkness. Each path is unique to the person. There is only One who sees in the dark just as He does in the light (Psalm 139).

“God gives us simple directions as we walk through the valley of grief. As He told David in Psalm 23, it was His intention that we walk through the valley, not get stuck. Walking my own roads after the death of my son, my parents, and my first marriage, I can say now that each road was different; each one had some very difficult periods and yet God was faithful. It is my prayer as I write this book that others will also receive God’s healing, life-giving words.”

A basic Christian claim is that God is active in human history to accomplish his purpose, which he will do in the end. This book considers some of the implications of this far-reaching claim.

Christian faith is bound up with our personal history but beyond that stretches far into the past. Faith is not identical with historical knowledge, for example with knowledge of the facts about Jesus, facts which must be established historically. That involves using the historian’s methods of investigation. What does ‘God reveals himself in history’ mean? Christians claim to find an ultimate meaning in history. But how can that be? How is it possible to find an overall meaning in history, theistic or otherwise? Since Christians appeal to the New Testament in making the claim that God revealed himself in Jesus, we must go beyond that book to the Christian community which existed before there was a New Testament and out of whose midst its writings came. To understand those books we must interpret. So where do our principles of interpretation come from, and how valid are they? This is the question of tradition.

This small book is an introduction to these interesting topics. Hopefully it will help to clarify important issues and lead the reader to investigate such central matters further.

Dr. Bob McKibben shares from his heart his understanding of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit within the local church. Combining his experience as pastor, study, and a commitment to sound Biblical principles, Bob provides a checklist for pastors and churches to use in ministry and worship as they encounter the wonderful presence of the Holy Spirit.

This is a pastoral rather than a theological work. Sure enough, it has theology in it. The focus, however, is on caring for the Body of Christ as it experiences the abundant grace of God and the magnificent gifts of the of the Holy Spirit.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

This book provides the basics of Christian prayer for the non-specialist. Perry Dalton, retired pastor, and Henry Neufeld, Bible teacher and Biblical languages student combine their knowledge and practical experience to create this guide. Each chapter includes questions for thought and discussion and exercises to help you get personally involved in prayer. Ideal for group study and church based classes, clear and practical.

Suggestions for use:

• Read individually as an introduction to prayer
• Use with a small group or Sunday School class as a study. There are 11 sets of exercises with the first 11 chapters (chapter 12 is the conclusion).
• Use as a church-wide series to ignite prayer. Follow-up with establishing small prayer groups.

Note: You can now preview this book as a free eBook.
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

This book provides a process for discovering and activating spiritual gifts in your congregation. It is not a typical scientific survey designed to discover what kind of personality you have, what you feel like doing, or even what your talents are. Instead, it is a process designed to help a church congregation discover God’s gifts and leading in their lives. In going through this process you will be invited to shake off some of the walls and limitations you have placed on yourself and open yourself up to the full call that God has on your life. Discovering and using your Spiritual Gifts is an adventure!
Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

The original edition of Identifying Your Gifts and Service is a program for whole church congregations, led by a teacher, to discover their gifts and place of service. It is not a typical scientific survey designed to discover what kind of personality you have, what you feel like doing, or even what your talents are. This Small Group Edition is designed for a group of people to study together. The lectures and study materials are provided in the various chapters. With the cooperation of your pastor and church leadership, you can identify your gifts and find your place of service in your church congregation. In going through this process you will be invited to shake off some of the walls and limitations you have placed on yourself and open yourself up to the full call that God has on your life. Discovering and using your Spiritual Gifts is an adventure!

Geoffrey Lentz and Henry Neufeld, a pastor and a teacher team up in Learning and Living Scripture to present the Participatory Bible Study Method, an approach to Bible study that is rooted in the conviction that God can and will speak to us in scripture.

They bring together their different experiences and perspectives to present this method of study in a practical, usable way.

There are three key elements to this study:

1. The integration of prayer and study
2. Serious questioning and research that is nonetheless within reach of the non-scholar
3. Study in community with both witness and accountability through sharing

In this guide you will learn to integrate prayer and scripture reading while also being faithful to the historical meaning of the text and its use throughout history by the community of faith. This method is not just about study and learning facts; it’s about letting the God, who gave scripture, live in and through you, as you learn and share.

Pre-Order: Release is expected May 29. The pre-order price applies until the first book ships to a customer. Until then you get 30% off for a price of $10.49!

In true Celtic fashion, Rev. Dr. David Moffett-Moore views life as a celebration to be shared and a pilgrimage to be explored, tracing his roots to the O’Mordha clan of ancient Ireland and the McQueen’s and MacLean’s of the Scottish highlands.

In Life as Pilgrimage, Dr. Moffett-Moore offers us the image of pilgrimage as a basis for spiritual health. Using the Peregrine falcon as an archetype for pilgrimage, this volume explores the roots of our ancient past to discover meaning for our modern lives. Celtic pilgrimage is about the journey rather than the destination: life is a pilgrimage from the place of our birthing to the place of our rising.

This second edition is expanded and revised.

Megabelt is a fictional account of the South and its preoccupations with modern Christianity told from the point of view of a boy named Gil growing up in what is otherwise known as the “Bible Belt.”

The readers will find themselves steeped in the world of Gil whose experiences and questions lead him to unravel some of the Bible Belt’s many dominant and passively adopted messages as well as its numerous types of characters.

Gil is the quintessential mind of most inhabitants of the Belt. He is you. He is I. While his experiences greatly reflect those of the author, his encounters will never go unidentified with by the reader.

Megabelt is a fabricated entity describing the world that exists between traditional Bible Belt culture and contemporary Bible Belt culture, the term explores the differences between as well as the ever-growing and ever-changing dynamics of the two.

Megabelt has no message, no moral proclamation or agenda. Its purpose is to highlight the truths of the Bible Belt culture and therefore perform a complete overhaul of its patrons’ thoughts and lifestyles for better or for worse. Any further sort of significance or meaning drawn from its pages is strictly subjective.

Lee Baker has been writing songs since middle school. As a member of several bands, he became the primary lyricist, writing a huge collection of songs that were never used. He did study poetry in college, but it was the sermon poets and metaphysical poets that struck his interest and have been an influence in his work.

Lee feels that while setting goals is important in the writing process, he has learned from a friend-writer that it is “allowing people to read your work and get honest feedback” that has been crucial. “You always grow exponentially more from your critics than from your fans.”

Lee’s inspiration for this collection was people that had an impact, places that have inspired, and things, actually concepts more than inanimate objects.

“I really enjoyed the process of writing this book and writing is always cheaper than counseling,” says Lee Baker. “It’s a good outlet for crazy people. In my life, crazy is in abundant supply.”

What is the good news? If the gospel that Jesus taught is so good, why are Christians so bad? How can Christians relate to people of other faiths or of no faith at all?

Bible teacher Henry Neufeld wrestles with these issues in this book. This is not a book of theology. It is his personal testimony of what Jesus means in his life, and how one can be both a serious, committed Christian and a strong proponent of diversity and dialogue. In fact, he finds in the gospel not just permission to be tolerant, but a command to be open, honest, and clear in his convictions, and yet non-judgmental of the views of others.

Henry’s understanding of Christianity is built around the incarnation. If God can cross the gap between the infinite and the finite to experience life with us, surely we can cross the gap between ourselves and our fellow human beings. “You are never more God-like than when you open your heart’s door to another person. The more different they are, the more God-like that action is,” he says in describing how Christians should seek to build relationships.

Over the last 20 years, Hannah May says she has been slowly coming into an understanding of her life’s purpose. Beginning with some in-depth Bible Studies about God’s covenants and His faithfulness to those covenants, she could see that He was not finished with Israel.

She began to have a growing interest in all things Jewish and Israel-related. She studied the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, and how Jesus the Messiah is vividly portrayed in the Old Testament models, which were types and shadows of the reality of who He is, seen in every element of the Tabernacle, as well as all the Feasts of Israel in Leviticus 23. Jesus, the perfect fulfillment of the Jewish laws, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Hannah’s understanding of His grace, love and mercy in His substitutionary atonement is the foundation and bedrock of her Christian faith.

These are a collection of her stories. She calls them “mysteries” because they truly are mysterious. God is mysterious and when we are walking with Him, it is an adventure. Hannah is not trying to argue theology with people who disagree with her viewpoints. She is sharing her stories and hopes they will create an overall bigger picture of her theology, leaving the reader to take nuggets from them and draw their own conclusions. Hannah says, “It is a progressive revelation with me, as with all of us.”

Philippians: A Participatory Study Guide is the sixth volume in the Participatory Study Series. From beginning to end, the student is invited to absorb the text and allow God’s message to change her or his life. At the same time, it maintains the series standard of providing a guide that takes account of current biblical scholarship and helps the student examine the text critically while also listening to and being guided by the Holy Spirit.

This guide contains eight lessons suitable for use by an individual student, but best used in a small group. The lessons are clearly written so that a laity-led class or small group can use them to advantage. In addition, there is a guide to using the book that provides insights into Bible study in general, and two appendices, one outlining the process of Bible study and one listing and describing useful resources.

Each lesson includes prayers, spiritual exercises, thought questions, and theological reflection. These are designed to help students learn to see the text in a new way and to realize their full potential through the power of the Holy Spirit. This book will not only impact your knowledge of scripture; it will change the way you pray, live, witness, and relate to your community of faith and the world.

Energion Publications catalog page

Pre-Order: Release is planned April 15, 2013 (delayed from March 15, 2013).

One of the weaknesses in Christian congregations today is that many believers do not understand why they believe what they believe. Even those who study often read books that provide easy and superficial answers to complex and difficult questions.

Edward Vick has the answer to that problem and he provides it in Philosophy for Believers. We all believe many and various things. There’s no way to avoid believing. The question is what justifies our beliefs. We need to know how we can evaluate our beliefs for validity and how they relate to our theology and worship.

This book is not for the faint of heart who do not want to dig in and learn. It’s basic but not simplistic. It’s designed for those who haven’t studied philosophy or theology and want to build a thorough framework for future learning.

In thirteen chapters with such titles as “Belief and Believing,” “Meaning and Truth,” “Experience and God, Providence,” “Cause and Effect,” “Miracles,” and “Science and Faith,” he leads the readers from the basics of understanding the difference between belief and knowledge to applications of philosophy in considering contemporary issues.

While this book can be read and studied by an individual, it would be ideal as a text for a church study group or class led by the pastor or a church leader trained to lead fruitful discussions.

Margaret Roe, orphaned at the age of eight, lives her life in the same orphanage where her father was forced to leave her when he went off to fight in the Civil War. Now, fifteen years later, she takes care of the present set of children who are in the orphanage and has only a visit to the local confectionery shop as the highlight of her week. Margaret makes an uncharacteristically bold move and signs on as a mail order bride and quickly finds herself on a train to Iowa City, Iowa where she becomes Mrs. Russell Chadwick.

Margaret’s marriage is by no means usual as her husband is kind but distant. As she builds relationships with her neighbors and even her in-laws, her relationship with her husband remains confusing, emotionally hurtful and a test of her faith and trust in God and her husband. How does she know what God really wants her to do? Should she stay with Russell or leave him and begin yet again?

This is author Kimberly Gordon’s third published historical novel. While the characters and settings reflect well the history and mores of the time, the reader can easily draw insight into contemporary life lessons. Mrs. Gordon is a master at laying down biblical principles within the context of the story.

Like an aging monument, democracy itself is crumbling.

An ever increasing government threatens both freedom and a financial collapse.

• Judges are acting more like kings themselves than interpreters of the law
• Redistricting, voter fraud, campaign finance controls, and an uninformed electorate threaten the integrity of elections.
• The values that made America the greatest country in the world are being supplanted.
• Government’s attempts to make people’s lives better often have the opposite effect

What is causing this decay? What can we do?

Preserving Democracy was written to answer these questions.

Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. defends American constitutional government by:

1. focusing on specific ideas rather than personalities,
2. being ideologically sharp, yet non-partisan in tone
3. using clear and simple, but never simplistic, arguments.

Are you equipped for the task of Preserving Democracy?

July 5, 2010:  The new, expanded paperback edition has been released.  Take a look!

Like an aging monument, democracy itself is crumbling.

An ever increasing government threatens both freedom and a financial collapse.

• Judges are acting more like kings themselves than interpreters of the law
• Redistricting, voter fraud, campaign finance controls, and an uninformed electorate threaten the integrity of elections.
• The values that made America the greatest country in the world are being supplanted.
• Government’s attempts to make people’s lives better often have the opposite effect

What is causing this decay? What can we do?

Preserving Democracy was written to answer these questions.

Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. defends American constitutional government by:

1. focusing on specific ideas rather than personalities,
2. being ideologically sharp, yet non-partisan in tone
3. using clear and simple, but never simplistic, arguments.

Are you equipped for the task of Preserving Democracy?

This study guide to Revelation is designed for individual or small group studies. Its flexible lessons are ideal for Sunday School classes, small study or prayer groups and Wednesday evening studies. The guide is based on the participatory method, developed by author Henry Neufeld to help lay people learn to understand the Bible better.

Features:

1. Clearly defined study method for individuals and groups.
2. Basic lessons with graded additional study allow you to choose the time spent on your study
3. Examination of different approaches to Revelation
4. References to study Bibles and standard reference materials
5. Emphasis on spiritual application-even if your group has problems agreeing on prophetic interpretation, you can share many spiritual lessons
6. Glossary of terms
7. Background references
8. Study questions and topics for discussion
9. Outline and notes for reference

Suggested uses:

• Personal study
• Sunday School classes

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

Soup Kitchen for the Soul combines testimony with a challenging scriptural foundation and follows it with specific guidance on how you can get out of your church and make a difference in your community. Each chapter builds on a Bible story and the author’s personal experience, and ends with thought questions, and then action questions. References include specific ways in which you can take action on what you have been studying in the book.

This book is suitable for personal or small group study, or could be used effectively by an entire church to transform their ministry.

In the introduction Crosby says: “Upon entering Seminary, I was required to serve in the community and begrudgingly accepted my assignment, choosing to serve in a soup kitchen. While serving in the soup kitchen, God revealed himself to me in a profound and miraculous way. It was in restudying the scriptures with this new heart knowledge of God that allowed me to see a message of a mission for His people that we lack a connection with today. I began asking, ‘What if … What if I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand the whole mission God has planned for us? What exactly are we supposed to be doing? Where in the Bible can we find directives on our missions for God? What if I wrote a book about radically new old ways of doing the gospel?’”

Soup Kitchen for the Soul is that book.

Much of the text in the Bible is in the form of stories. From Old Testament tales of the patriarchs to the parables of Jesus, the reader is confronted with a variety of narratives. Even in those places where Bible writers are making and explaining statements of fact, there is a story in the background. What do these stories mean?

Bible teacher, writer, and publisher Henry Neufeld thinks that’s the wrong question to ask. (Yes, there are bad questions!) We spend a great deal of time trying to reduce Bible stories to a series of statements of fact, sucking the life out of them in the process. We don’t understand one of the parables of Jesus better when we’ve come up with a moral for the story. In fact, we’ve lost some of the meaning.

Instead, Henry suggests learning to think more in the form of stories. In fact, he even asks us to consider looking at the stories behind the various statements of fact in the Bible, finding similarities in our own stories, and even weaving new stories from our imaginations. This, he teaches, is the best way to learn to make scripture come alive and to live it.

This collection of short stories is not presented primarily as stories to read, but as a challenge to put your imagination to work as you study the Bible–to write your own stories. When you’ve let your imagination break the bounds of your life the Holy Spirit can then show you how to live new stories in your own life and in your relationships with family, friends, church, and the entire world.

This book includes 25 short stories. All but two of these stories were originally published on the Jevlir Caravansary fiction blog. Two new stories, “The Magic Sword” and “The Juror’s Oath” were written just for this collection. Scripture references and thought questions have been provided for each story to help small groups use them in discussions.

Come join the story!

Edward W. H. Vick provides an unbiassed assessment of the claim that you can go on speaking of the Second Advent as ‘soon’ after having said so for centuries, followed by a constructive statement suggesting a more honest approach derived directly from the New Testament.

If you use ‘soon’ in the ordinary sense, you can’t go on saying that the Advent is soon. If you say the Advent is ‘soon’ in a qualified sense (meaning ‘in the unknown and indefinite future but not long into that future’) the claim is meaningless. So the claim that the Advent is soon is either false or meaningless.

That leads us into a range of interesting problems: knowledge, certainty, truth, claims to know the truth, the meaningfulness of religious claims, the status of claims about the future and of the argument from prophecy, and the gap between the first and twenty-first centuries.

Quantity Discounts

Non-profit organizations that have sent us proof of non-profit status will receive an additional 5% discount. More information on non-profit or quantity discounts.

The Character of Our Discontent grew out of the author’s conviction that pastors do not preach enough about the Old Testament. The result is 19 chapters, each of which represents a sermon on an Old Testament character. These sermons are lively, fast paced, and practical yet are rooted in sound scholarship and are examples of the homiletical art.

Christians who would like to learn how the Old Testament can enlighten and guide their Christian walk, and pastors who would like to learn how to preach more effectively from the Old Testament will both find these sermons an invaluable aid.

While Dr. Bevere specializes in the New Testament and theology, he believes that pastors (and academics as well) can preach and teach effectively outside their areas of specialty. Indeed, they must, and this teaching can enrich their own learning and the fields of study into which they venture.

The Character of Our Discontent is an adventure in preaching and it invites us into the adventure of living in relationship with God, an adventure that has similar characteristics whether we are learning about God’s call to Abraham or how a call to mission in Africa came to a contemporary English teacher nearing retirement.

The cross has always been a scandal and sometimes a source of ridicule. At the same time, it is the central symbol of Christianity. Author William Powell Tuck believes that the cross has never been more relevant than it is today. It may be difficult to preach the cross, but it is the duty of Christians to do so. “As long as the church lifts up a hollow, aluminum foil cross instead of a heavy wooden cross, we will always be guilty of heresy in the message we present to the world,” he says.

In the pages of this book you will start by looking the cross as the central symbol of the gospel, a symbol that you cannot forget if you want to preach and live an authentic gospel. From there you will look at how the cross illuminates our understanding of God, and then to the way it guides the way we will teach and serve.

The cross is truly a difficult subject to preach, both because we stand amazed at what it represents and because of what it calls for each of us to do. But however difficult it is, we must not avoid it. Only if we become the church under the cross will we be the genuine body of Christ.

The Gospel of Saint Luke: A Participatory Study Guide is the newest installment to the successful Participatory Study Guide Series from Energion Publications. This series emphasizes individual and community involvement in the Bible story, inviting students to become part of God’s activity in the world by acting on and sharing what they learn.

Written by Geoffrey D. Lentz, associate pastor at First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, FL, this study guide gives the seeker historical insight and a fresh look into the Jesus Christ that Luke sought and recorded. Rev. Lentz brings his love of Church history and great thought-provoking questions into a user friendly layout that promotes lively discussions and deep-rooted growth in a group study.

Each lesson includes suggestions for prayer, exercises, thought questions, and basic background information on the passages studied. References to study Bibles and other useful resources are provided.

Useful for:

• Small group study
• Individual study
• Discussion and sharing

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

The church is in disarray. Theologians and commentators speak of the demise of evangelicalism. Are they alarmists? Is Christianity as we know it in the process of dying?

Writer, scholar, teacher, and missionary Dr. David Alan Black thinks that the answer does not lie in the politics of the left or the right. In fact, he doesn’t think that Jesus tells us what our politics should be. He doesn’t see answers in Christian nationalism. But even further, he sees serious flaws in the very structure of our churches and denominations that prevent us from truly being obedient to the gospel.

The solution lies, not in renewal, revival, or even in reformation, but rather in restoration-a restoration of the church organized as Jesus intended it and according to the example provided by the earliest church sources in the New Testament.

To make the church and its members true servants of Jesus Christ again, we need to change our entire paradigm-to The Jesus Paradigm.

The Cross. The central symbol of the Christian faith. “Can a church be an authentic Church and not focus on the cross?” William Powell Tuck began answering that question in his book, The Church Under the Cross, and now he leads us into the second part of his answer in his new book, The Last Words from the Cross.

“The words of our Lord on the cross have become very memorable. These words of Jesus have been designated as the seven last words. They are, of course, more than individual words. They are really sentences or fragments of sentences. One of these seven words is found in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Three of them are found in the Gospel of Luke, and three are recorded in John. No one gospel contains all of them. But, to me, that is a way of authenticating the gospels. Each writer drew on what he remembered or considered most important in those moments or what he had heard from others who shared their experiences.” says Tuck.

A study of these words gives us, His disciples, a deeper insight into Jesus’ thoughts through suffering, facing death, and what His death meant to Him as He met our need for salvation. Rev Tuck further says, “These words reveal his personal agony, his concern for others, his forgiving spirit, his physical suffering, his ultimate trust and faithfulness in the One he had proclaimed. Even in his moments of forsakenness he still resisted the temptation to turn away ultimately from God’s will or deny the One who led him to this shameful death as he identifies with sinners.”

Areopagus Critical Christan Issues

As the body of Christ, the church has a prophetic role in the world. Prophets have always spoken clearly to people in power. They have been willing to challenge the decisions made by people who thought they were not accountable to anyone. Sometimes the prophets were respected, sometimes persecuted, but they were never ignored or regarded as irrelevant. So why is it that the church today cannot speak truth effectively to power?

In The Politics of Witness, Dr. Allan R. Bevere asks these questions and proposes an answer. The church has come to depend too much on temporal power and has thus forgotten its divine authority. In finding this answer he goes back to the founding of the church and how it first became dependent on the state. He examines those who have followed, mostly building a political theory that takes the responsibility of ministry from the church and gives it to the state.

You’ll find some names in this that might surprise you. Any discussion of Christianity and the state will involve Emperor Constantine, but what about his modern lieutenants, such as Locke, Jefferson, Franklin, and others?

While the theology applies to the church in any country, Dr. Bevere takes a particular look at the peculiarly American view that the United States of America is somehow God’s chosen people, a nation of destiny in accomplishing the gospel mission.

This book balances brevity with a broad intellectual and historical reach. You will be taken from the founding and foundation structure of Christian theology today to a proposal for how we, as the Church can reclaim our prophetic witness.

A questioning approach lies at the heart of our relationship with God. That’s how God engages us. In fact, questioning (or free inquiry), is central to our being human. Yet the major monotheistic religions vary markedly on this matter. In The Questioning God, Dr. Greenham examines the three major monotheistic religions, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, to see how they relate to questioning, both the questions that God asks us, and the questions that we ask about God. His goal is to develop a biblical theology of questioning, avoiding a loss of direction and focus that results from selective questioning, and also a loss of humanity that results from bypassing our questions through an inappropriate submission.

The examination is wide ranging, including chapters on questioning in Islam, Judaism, evangelical and mainline Christianity, along with an examination of the consequences of a non-questioning culture. He ends the book with a proposal for a biblical theology and a look at the practical implications–just what does it mean to pursue this questioning culture.

The author finds that questions are not just valuable, they are essential for serious human interaction. “As questioning beings,” he concludes, “there is no limit to what we might ask, but our questions must always be anchored in the questioning God’s enduring concern to engage us.”

The Sacred Journey is a collection of insights, thoughts, and personal experiences centered on and emanating from the Beatitudes of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.

Within its pages we are invited to consider the radical love with which God pursues His creation. God in Jesus Christ was determined to make a way for sinners to be forgiven at the Cross. While man had sinned and caused a divide between himself and His creator, God has insisted that those who receive the grace and mercy offered in His Son shall be forgiven of sin and reconciled unto God in eternally secure love.

God in salvation is singly focused on reconciling all who will place their trust, their faith, and their hope in that sacrifice. It is not we who make our way to God through good works, right belief, perfectly ordered creedal statements, or any other edifice of human composition. It is God who pursues us heatedly to receive the radical beauty of the violence of the Cross.

God has pursued, forgiven, and reconciled us unto Himself. Through the wrath which was poured out upon Jesus, mercy was poured out on us. Salvation is purely the work of God’s mercy and grace. We who have received Him have done so by faith when we have responded to the pull of God on our hearts. Grace rests upon us because God has loved us. What, in response to such a violent grace, should our reply to God be?

Surber, Christopher D

Chris Surber is pastor of the First Congregational Church in Peru, IL. With a B. S. degree in Religion from Liberty University and Master of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (Cum Laude), Rev. Surber has a passion for preaching and teaching the Bible with a focus on discipleship, evangelism, and outreach. The Sacred Journey is Rev. Surber’s second publication, following Sweet Potatoes in my Coffee (2008). Rev. Surber and his wife, Christina, have three sons and a daughter.

Author Page

This study guide to the book of Hebrews is designed for individual or small group studies. Its 13 lessons are ideal for Sunday School classes, small study or prayer groups and Wednesday evening studies. The guide is based on the participatory method, developed by author Henry Neufeld to help lay people learn to understand the Bible better.

Features:

1. Clearly defined study method for individuals and groups.
2. Basic lessons with graded additional study allow you to choose the time spent on your study
3. References to study Bibles and standard reference materials
4. Study of Old Testament quotations
5. Glossary of terms used in Hebrews
6. Background references
7. Study questions and topics for discussion
8. Translation and notes for reference

Small Group Resource

Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

“Prayer changes things.” It’s a common saying, and too often Christian discussion of prayer deals only with how we can change other things and other people through prayer. But what if prayer is much more that we imagine? What if it is also the means of correcting our relationship to the Creator and at the same time of changing our relationships with one another? Perhaps prayer can ultimately help transform our theology, what we believe about God, into character and action.

In Ultimate Allegiance, Dr. Bob Cornwall takes us to the Lord’s Prayer, a short and simple prayer that is well-known and often recited. But in each of its major petitions, he finds deep meaning that challenges us to think and to change. In fact, this prayer of Jesus brings us to the ultimate question of just where we should place our ultimate allegiance.

Pre-order: 30% off until March 30, 2013, then 20% until the first copy ships!

All too frequently studies of the gifts of the Spirit consist largely of answering two questions: “What are the gifts?” and “Which ones do I have?” In many cases studies go on to a third question: “How can I get more?” In response, institutional churches and theologically and intellectually respectable Christians often tend to avoid the work of the Holy Spirit in the church entirely. It’s much easier to simply close the doors and windows than it is to deal with the wind (John 3:8). After all, they’ve seen the wind blow out the candles, disarrange the altar vestments, and send a chill through the congregants.

Author, pastor, and church historian Bob Cornwall has experienced all of this for himself. He has seen traditional churches and worship. He has seen Pentecostal worship. He has led congregations in difficult times. For more than 30 years, he has studied, practiced, prayed, and lived the work of the Holy Spirit in the church.

The result is Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening. Here he avoids both the errors of replacing the freedom of the Spirit with human whim and of trying to tame or confine the Spirit that will not be fettered.

He asks: “Do you truly believe that God is present in the world? And, do you believe that God is working through us to break down the walls that divide us from God, from each other, and from the world? And if you do, do you believe that you have been gifted and empowered to participate in this ministry that takes down the walls of egoism, suspicion, greed, self-interest, and hatred?”

If you can say “yes” to these questions, jump right in! This is the book for you. If you are hesitant, or if the idea of the Holy Spirit working unfettered in your congregation and community frightens you, read the first four chapters carefully as Bob lays the theological foundation. You may find your “maybe” or even your “no” turned into a “yes.”

Building on this foundation, Bob continues with five chapters on the gifts of the Spirit as described in Scripture. These are practical discussions that will let you keep your bearings in discussions of the Spirit and, more importantly, in a community where the Spirit is active.

Finally, he concludes with a discussion of how to lead and pastor a church where the gifts of the Spirit are active.

Whether you are a Pentecostal, an evangelical, a mainliner, a progressive, or any other label you might find for yourself or your church, you will profit from reading this book.

A Colorado native, Shauna Hyde grew up with three brothers, no sisters, and a father who was a pastor of a local community church. She was taught that women married for life and no woman she knew was a pastor. This ‘normal’ crashed around her when her first husband left her with a newborn baby to raise alone. Her second husband confessed his unfaithfulness; again her world hit a bruising reality wall despite her efforts to be the ‘best little wife’. Shauna started studying karate and began to see a correlation between the two disciplines that opened her soul to be empowered by the grace of God. God, in turn, taught her and used her to empower others.

“As a United Methodist minister who is also a black belt in Shota Kahn karate I am often asked how I can be both a martial artist and a pastor. There have been a lot of jokes about how I will force people to the altar or smack people who get out of line. Then there is always the joke about no one wanting to disobey me in the church because I know how to hurt them! In reality, anyone who is a true martial artist and/or has a deep understanding of the martial arts knows that it is not about violence — it is about mercy, self-discipline, a lot of routine practice, and a whole other host of characteristics that I would like to address [in this book].”

Shauna shares what she has learned with a solid Biblical foundation through thought-provoking questions that work well individually and with small groups. “Karate is a tool that can help people grow, understand, and become disciplined. Church is a tool that also helps people grow, understand, and become disciplined. The greatest tool of all to be used to empower others is the constant and abundant application of grace.”

Henry E. Neufeld writes about Bible translations from his knowledge as a student of Biblical languages, and his experience teaching them to laypeople and discussing them on the internet. Many people have questions about translations because they do not understand how translations are produced. Much of the material available is either polarizing, or is provided to advocate a particular version.

What’s in a Version? strives to provide a basis for lay students to understand how translations are made so they can understand the arguments and become confident of the Bible version they choose to use for reading and study.

When someone claims they have a message from God, how do you decide whether to believe them? This question has been with people of faith at least since Abraham heard someone-God, as it turned out-telling him to leave home and go to a place he would be shown. Other people have left their homes thinking God was guiding them, and have ended up with nothing but trouble.

And what about books? When someone claims a book is inspired by God how do you determine whether they are right or wrong? Very often they will be telling you that your eternal destination depends on believing what they say, and yet others will say that their book is right. Is it possible to know?

Interpretations of those books can be equally difficult to judge. People with special interpretations of scripture often claim just as much authority as those who claim to be prophets. If you reject their interpretation, you are rejecting God himself. How do you make a wise decision?

Writer and Bible teacher Henry Neufeld wrestles with these questions in these pages. You may not like some of the answers, but you will be challenged as he calls us each to focus first on the conversation with God and then to each be responsible for learning God’s will for our individual lives.

The Old Testament God generally has a rather poor reputation, even in Christian circles. But as the author points out, The Old Testament Scriptures can remain alive and will lead us to a fresh appreciation of all that God has done for us.

Targeted to thoughtful readers, this book addresses a cluster of issues often troubling for the person who seeks to understand the Old Testament. Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? speaks very frankly about some of these “problems,” things like sin and the fall, Satan, “moral blemish” passages, strange laws, etc. The chapter titles follow:

1. Don’t let your New Testament get in the way of your Old Testament
2. Behold it was very good and then it all turned sour
3. Whatever happened to Satan in the Old Testament
4. Strange people need strange laws
5. Could you invite a Canaanite home to lunch?
6. The worst story in the Old Testament – Judges 19-21
7. The best story in the Old Testament – the Messiah
8. What kind of prayers would you publish if you were God?

This new, fifth edition leaves the text unchanged, but has larger type and wider margins.

Publisher Catalog Page (includes links to other online retailers).

Note: This replaces ISBN 1-893729-07-9 / 978-1-893729-07-0.

In Why Four Gospels? noted Greek and New Testament scholar David Alan Black, concisely and clearly presents the case for the early development of the gospels, beginning with Matthew, rather than Mark. But this is much more than a discussion of the order in which the gospels were written. Using both internal data from the gospels themselves and an exhaustive and careful examination of the statements of the early church fathers, Dr. Black places each gospel in the context of the development of the early church.

Though Markan priority is the dominant position still in Biblical scholarship, Dr. Black argues that this position is not based on the best evidence available, that the internal evidence is often given more weight than it deserves and alternative explanations are dismissed or ignored. If you would like an outline of the basis for accepting both early authorship of the gospels and the priority of Matthew, this book is for you.

The church in America has come to depend on professionals to “do ministry.” In many churches, the pastor, paid to do the job, is the one who is expected to carry out all functions of the church.

But it was not always this way. Jesus came as God-in-the-flesh. The pattern portrayed in the New Testament is that every Christian is part of the body of Christ, and the function of Christ’s body is to be incarnational, to be Jesus Christ for the world (John 20:21).

Author David Alan Black takes on this attitude of outsourcing our mission in his shortest book, yet one he has said might be the most important that he has written: Will You Join the Cause of Global Missions? If you expect here a call to go to seminary and become a professional missionary, you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, Dave calls for us to replace outsourcing with insourcing. Instead of looking for professionals to do the ministry while the rest of us fill the pews, he is pointing us back to the Gospel Commission and the call on every Christian life to fulfill that Commission.

It is not enough in the 21st century to put a little bit of money into the church and expect the pastor and paid staff to do the work. Each one of us is called to also give of our time and talents.

This little book might be dangerous. You may not be able to put it down without seeing your life radically changed. In fact, the book ends with a call to make precisely that promise.

So will you join the cause of global missions?

(Put me on a waiting list for this book! You will be notified when the book begins shipping.)

It will come as no surprise to pastors and their families that the vocation of a minister involves stress. In fact, it involves a great deal of stress. Unfortunately, when many pastors encounter stress they tend to hunker down in the hopes of just surviving. All too frequently the stressful situations that have not been dealt with continue to build up, and the result is fatigue and burnout.

In Wind and Whirlwind, Dr. David Moffett-Moore presents a better way. He has survived the whirlwind in his own ministry, and more importantly, with the help of many others he has learned to turn the stress into an opportunity for growth, both for himself and for the congregations he serves.

In a series of 16 short chapters, he will help you identify the sources of stress, discover ways to manage it spiritually and emotionally, and point you to spiritual disciplines and practices that will help make you a better person and bring success to your ministry.

While the chapters are short, they do not present easy, trite answers to complex problems. Rather, they will help you strengthen yourself, so you can discern the way God is working in your life and ministry.

Each chapter presents topics for meditation and questions for discussion. It is designed to be used by clergy peer groups.

This is the second volume in the Conversations in Ministry series produced jointly by the Academy of Parish Clergy and Energion Publications.

A Living Psalter: Creative Reflections on the Book of Psalms is one faith community’s atttempt to appropriate the ancient hymns of Israel in a postmodern context. This book is filled with poetry, art, photography, and short stories that provide creative reflections on the Book of Psalms. They invite the reader into a faithful, yet deeply human conversation with God. The creative work in this book covers the extremes of human emotion from exuberant praise to heart-heavy lament. It is a great resource for rediscovering the Psalter as the central prayer book of the church.

…but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. — Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen [encourage] their heart, You will incline Your ear
To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror. — Psalm 10:17 (NIV)

It has been said that we need at least ten times as many encouragers as any other gifting in the Body of Jesus Christ. In a world that sets usually unatainable and even inappropriate standards and tells us we can “have it all,” we need encouragers who remind us of the true standards of God. We need to remember His promises for our lives. We need to remember His extravagant love.

Diane Milnes is such an encourager. She speaks from her heart and her experience as she has traveled the globe encouraging God’s people with her infectious laugh, hugs, and tears. A few minutes in her “circle of love” will have you walking away with a skip in your step and a leap in your spirit.

Milnes, Diane

Diane Milnes is a caregiver. Literally. She is a hands-on giver of care to those who are ill and infirmed. She has volunteered for many mission trips in the Haiti, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, the United States, Hungary, and the Ukraine. She is a long time volunteer with Teen Missions International. Diane currently lives in Florida. She has two children and two beautiful grand-children.

Author Page

What does it take to make a church congregation a community that fully carries out its mission? What can be done to correct the problems of a dysfunctional community and encourage healthy discipleship? In Out of This World, Darren McClellan studies these questions, not with a purely theoretical approach but rather by studying a specific congregation in a specific situation, and letting the members and former pastors speak in their own words. He then looks at these views through the lenses of John Wesley and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

This is a thoroughly researched, hard hitting, and honest examination of ministry, looking particularly at the structures of the United Methodist Church. There are specific recommendations for Bishops, District Superintendents, newly appointed pastors, and congregational leadership.

An EnerPower Press title.

An EnerPower Press title.

The Messiah and His Coming Kingdom: A Biblical Road Map contains commentary addressing many Scripture topics concerned with the what, when, where, who, why, and how of God’s redemptive plan, including among others:

• Who were Jesus’ ancestors?
• Where and when did Christianity, Judaism and Islam start?
• How did we get the Bible?
• How can Heaven be attained?
• In what order did Biblical events occur?
• How and why did so many Christian denominations emerge?
• What are their main doctrinal differences?
• What is Judaism’s part in God’s plan?
• What will happen in the last days: Rapture, Second Coming, Final Judgment?
• When will God’s plan be finalized?
• Why must we be saved from our sins?

This guide for Bible study features:

• 14 full page chronological charts, “road maps” to the Biblical story.
• 37 smaller charts and lists illustrating particular issues in the charts
• 18 maps, designed by the author to feature key information that is helpful in understanding the Bible story
• A comprehensive index of topics, in which you can look up obscure Bible names and discover where they fit in history
• A selected scripture index to help you connect information with your daily Bible study

Many people feel overwhelmed when they look at the amount of information that is packed into the 180 8 1/2 x 11 pages of this volume. But don’t be put off! There are many approaches to this book that will make it of value to any Bible student.

• As a supplementary handbook while you read through the Bible, individually or with a group. Simple, uncomplicated geographical maps, and comprehensive chronological information will help you understand what you read.
• A chronological study. Look at the Bible in time order rather than in its canonical order. You can do this by following the references and commentary that accompany the charts.
• A resource for problem solving. Are you wondering about Luke’s and Matthew’s genealogies? You’ll find a discussion. What about the genealogies of Genesis? They’re here. Confused by the kings of Israel and Judah? There’s a straightforward explanation in this book.

This is the Black and White edition. A color edition is also available.

An EnerPower Press title.

The Messiah and His Coming Kingdom: A Biblical Road Map contains commentary addressing many Scripture topics concerned with the what, when, where, who, why, and how of God’s redemptive plan, including among others:

• Who were Jesus’ ancestors?
• Where and when did Christianity, Judaism and Islam start?
• How did we get the Bible?
• How can Heaven be attained?
• In what order did Biblical events occur?
• How and why did so many Christian denominations emerge?
• What are their main doctrinal differences?
• What is Judaism’s part in God’s plan?
• What will happen in the last days: Rapture, Second Coming, Final Judgment?
• When will God’s plan be finalized?
• Why must we be saved from our sins?

This guide for Bible study features:

• 14 full page chronological charts, “road maps” to the Biblical story.
• 37 smaller charts and lists illustrating particular issues in the charts
• 18 maps, designed by the author to feature key information that is helpful in understanding the Bible story
• A comprehensive index of topics, in which you can look up obscure Bible names and discover where they fit in history
• A selected scripture index to help you connect information with your daily Bible study

Many people feel overwhelmed when they look at the amount of information that is packed into the 180 8 1/2 x 11 pages of this volume. But don’t be put off! There are many approaches to this book that will make it of value to any Bible student.

• As a supplementary handbook while you read through the Bible, individually or with a group. Simple, uncomplicated geographical maps, and comprehensive chronological information will help you understand what you read.
• A chronological study. Look at the Bible in time order rather than in its canonical order. You can do this by following the references and commentary that accompany the charts.
• A resource for problem solving. Are you wondering about Luke’s and Matthew’s genealogies? You’ll find a discussion. What about the genealogies of Genesis? They’re here. Confused by the kings of Israel and Judah? There’s a straightforward explanation in this book.

This is the Color edition. A black and white edition is also available.

This little book is a compilation of Bible verses and other quotations that will encourage and edify you. Scriptures are divided into headings on topics such as “God is Seeking for Us,” “The Power of His Love,” “The Creative Word,” “Self on the Cross” and many more.

The compiler suggests you follow up on the scriptures found here by using a Bible and concordance to search out these topics more deeply.

Color pictures highlight the topics through the book.

An Enzar Empire Press title.

Simple Risk: Marita is a teenager, or at least she thinks she is. Nobody knows, not even her noble adoptive parents. But she has been arrested near a bank with gold bars bearing the bank’s stamp. Now she’ll go on trial for armed robbery, and the penalty is death.

The Call: Hedder doesn’t have any gifts other than following a plow or silencing a squalling child until the king’s knight comes along with a call.

A State of Mind: Laaraalindarinaaz, more commonly known as Lara or even just La needs a weapon to drive the pirates from her village. But can a weapon be more dangerous than the pirates?

In this collection of ten fantasy short stories, eight collected from The Jevlir Caravansary story blog, and two written especially for this collection, the author portrays parts of an alternate universe he created originally for adventure gaming, but which now forms a background for story writing. Each major character illustrates some aspect of the background world. Together they begin to form a tapestry.

These stories are written for fun, not education. They offer the opportunity to play with some different rules and different consequences, and to look at the people such a world might produce.