The Pastor's Ponderings


Book Description

A collection of ponderings full of wit and wisdom to inspire you, make you smile, and even laugh out loud. Sit down, relax, and take a moment to stroll down a sun-dappled roadway, climb the steps to an old country church, wade in a clear mountain stream, listen to the rushing water as it pours over river rocks, smell the fresh air after a rain, and soak in the beauty and grandeur of Gods masterpiece found in the ever-changing panorama of the Great Smoky Mountains. You will enjoy a bit of history as well as introductions to some interesting folks who call this mountain paradise home. You wont want to miss the story of burning the palm fronds for Ash Wednesdaythey sure smelled sweet, a bit like marijuanaand the noises in the night among many others, too funny for words. Each one, a feel-good story, intertwined with Gods own Word.




Pondering Things: About the Bible, Christianity, and Other Stuff.


Book Description

This is a book of essays pondering the meanings of the Bible, Christianity, and various related subjects. These essays were written during the period from November 2003 through June 2009 and posted to forums and blogs on the Internet. The essays were written because of a felt need to answer questions about the Christian message for myself and others. Sometimes irreverent, the essays cover a variety of topics but always with the intent to inform and entertain the reader without getting too involved with specific denominational viewpoints.




Weallgetalong


Book Description

The only thing that matters in WeAllGetAlong, Texas, is that they all get along. With so many diverse characters living in the town—all with different plans for the future—sometimes that task can be challenging. G.G. ILovedYouFirst is at the helm to watch over the citizens, ensure the first responders’ offices are stocked with fresh cookies, and share God’s word whenever appropriate. Ms. ImGoingToLoveYouAnyway is a new third grade teacher who is looking forward to her first year of teaching. As school begins, Ms. ImGoingToLoveYouAnyway is praying she is not assigned to a class with Burping Bobby, Gossiping Gerta, and Tattling Tina as students. But with co-workers like Mrs. ICanFindSomethingToComplainAbout and Ms. IDreadRetirement, Ms. ImGoingToLoveYouAnyway knows she has her work cut out for her, especially when the principal, Mr. YouBetterDoWhatISay, assigns her to a challenging class. Now as she attempts to make the best of her situation, only time will tell if Ms. ImGoingToLoveYouAnyway can live up to her name or whether she will go down in history as the only one in WeAllGetAlong, Texas, who can’t get along with anyone. In this entertaining tale, a third grade teacher and many more diverse characters living in a Texas town must learn to get along despite their differences.




Partners in Care


Book Description

The needs for and the benefits of holistic health care--care that extends to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of individuals--have been well known for 2,500 years or so. But still, to quote the late Rodney Dangerfield, some caregivers "don't get no respect." Fred Reklau is out to change that with this book, offered as an exploration of the synergies possible among those who care for persons. In the 1980s he wrote the theses that formed the core of this book. Since then they have helped many, in groups and singly, to see their work in a new light. Chaplains, pastors, parish nurses, lay caregivers, hospice workers--all will rejoice to read this heartfelt plea to elevate them to equal status with the vital care-giving services performed by physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other members of the medical professions.




Brothers, We are Not Professionals


Book Description

John Piper pleads with fellow pastors to abandon the professionalization of the pastorate and pursue the prophetic call of the Bible for radical ministry.




I Was a P.K....


Book Description

This is my story; how I came from a good Christian home and my perspective as a PK; of what it is to have Pastors for parents and the pragmatic challenges that are rarely talked about. I share chilling accounts of what goes on in a PK home that should be read by all. I am transparent in sharing my experience in hopes of bringing awareness to others about Pastors and family life. What should have been a good, happy, balanced life being brought up in church and knowing better, went quite the opposite. I left my faith and lived a life with alcohol, drugs and a life of promiscuity. I later married my husband, who was a powerful ring leader of this ruthless prison gang. My activities inevitably ended me in jail with charges that should have left me to do life without. I should have died, but God had a purpose and a plan for my life all along. You wont be able to put this book down!




Am I Called? (Foreword by Matt Chandler)


Book Description

Many men have the skills to lead a church, but only some are called. Dave Harvey helps men considering pastoral ministry to see God's active role in the process of discerning their calling. God's Word offers a clear framework for evaluating one's call, especially within the context of community. Harvey offers six diagnostic questions to help prospective pastors process their calling, and what they should be doing now if they aren't sure. Illustrated with personal and historical stories, Harvey explores biblical and practical principles for determining the pastoral call. Over the past twenty-four years of ministry, Harvey has enjoyed assisting many men in discerning whether they are called into ministry. This book will guide you through that all-important process with wisdom and confidence in God's faithfulness in your life.




Grace is Enough


Book Description

"Wow, this devotional is meant for such a time as this! Grace is Enough is filled with daily truth to fight the lies of the world with God's truth, prayer and real-life encouraging messages to bring you into a life filled with His peace." - Sadie Robertson Huff For days when you're feeling stressed, worried, or simply seeking inspiration, this beautifully written women's devotional will lift you up and help you find calm amid the chaos of life today. Grace Is Enough is a 30-day devotional for women who are seeking to build confidence and fight anxiety with the use of God's word. Through poignant personal essays and stories from the Bible, author Courtney Fidell shares inspiring messages to help you overcome your insecurities and find freedom and peace through the power of prayer. Grace Is Enough features: 30 days of devotional passages featuring the author's personal essays and Bible stories to help you ease common anxieties and insecurities, like feeling unqualified, jealous, fearful, restless, or overwhelmed Original prayers and personal reflections to help you process your own thoughts and feelings Modern artwork and minimalist design




Women Living Well


Book Description

Women desire to live well. However, living well in this modern world is a challenge. The pace of life, along with the new front porch of social media, has changed the landscape of our lives. Women have been told for far too long that being on the go and accumulating more things will make their lives full. As a result, we grasp for the wrong things in life and come up empty. God created us to walk with him; to know him and to be loved by him. He is our living well and when we drink from the water he continually provides, it will change us. Our marriages, our parenting, and our homemaking will be transformed. Mommy-blogger Courtney Joseph is a cheerful realist. She tackles the challenge of holding onto vintage values in a modern world, starting with the keys to protecting our walk with God. No subject is off-limits as she moves on to marriage, parenting, and household management. Rooted in the Bible, her practical approach includes tons of tips that are perfect for busy moms, including: Simple Solutions for Studying God’s Word How to Handle Marriage, Parenting, and Homemaking in a Digital Age 10 Steps to Completing Your Husband Dealing With Disappointed Expectations in Motherhood Creating Routines that Bring Rest Pursuing the Discipline and Diligence of the Proverbs 31 Woman There is nothing more important than fostering your faith, building your marriage, training your children, and creating a haven for your family. Women Living Well is a clear and personal guide to making the most of these precious responsibilities.




Four Seasons of Ministry


Book Description

Ministers often find themselves caught in the day-to-day pressures of leading a congregation and yearn to experience the unfolding of their professional lives from a larger perspective. Four Seasons of Ministry serves as a guide for what you will find on your ministerial journey and gives meaning to the routine and repetitive tasks of ministry. Authors Bruce G. and Katherine Gould Epperly, each of whom has over 25 years of experience in various pastoral roles, invite clergy to see their ministries in the present as part of a life-long adventure in companionship with God, their loved ones, and their congregations. There is a time and a season to every ministry. Healthy and vital pastors look for the signs of the times and the gifts of each swiftly passing season, but they also take responsibility for engaging the creative opportunities of each season of ministry. Those who listen well to the gentle rhythm of God moving through their lives and the responsibilities and challenges that attend the passing of the years, vocationally as well as chronologically, will be amazed at the beauty and truth that shapes and characterizes the development of their ministries.