The Will to Believe


Book Description




Victory Over a Critical Spirit


Book Description

"Can you believe he is wearing sandals to church?" "I know, and did you see what she brought for potluck? Doesn't see know better?" "Tell me about it, and did you hear that the pastor supports the school board's decision to hire another teacher? How ridiculous! The school doesn't have the money!" Sound familiar? Our church is often plagued with critical comments and a negative spirit. Instead of reaching out to those in the world, we criticize them. And if they do come to church, we are quick to point out their faults in an effort to help them "grow." Of course, we aren't any better with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We like to point out what we think other people are doing wrong. If we are to finish the work of spreading the gospel to the world, we must unite and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. We must become like Jesus and banish our critical spirit and let the Holy Spirit develop a loving character in us. Jim Hammer shares personal stories and insights from his own spiritual journey that has brought him Victory Over a Critical Spirit. This is a must read! "Jim has given us a much-needed message. If we could each incorporate its principles into our lives we would bring a new peace and happiness into our families, the church, and the world." June Strong, author of Project Sunlight and Song of Eve "The toxic results of being judgmental are at the heart of why Christianity and its love message have not swept the world. I thank Jim for writing such a sensitive book and for his vulnerability. May God bless you and your Christian walk as you digest and grow in grace by reading this book." Mike Ortel, president, Northern New England Conference




The Will to Believe


Book Description

"The Will to Believe" is a lecture by William James, first published in 1896, which defends, in certain cases, the adoption of a belief without prior evidence of its truth. In particular, James is concerned in this lecture about defending the rationality of religious faith even lacking sufficient evidence of religious truth. James states in his introduction: "I have brought with me tonight [...] an essay in justification of faith, a defense of our right to adopt a believing attitude in religious matters, in spite of the fact that our merely logical intellect may not have been coerced. 'The Will to Believe,' accordingly, is the title of my paper."




The Faith of Jesus Christ


Book Description

In this important study Hays argues against the mainstream that any attempt to account for the nature and method of Paul's theological language must first reckon with the centrality of narrative elements in his thought. Through an in-depth investigation of Galatians 3:1-4:11, Hays shows that the framework of Paul's thought is neither a system of doctrines nor his personal religious experience but the "sacred story" of Jesus Christ.




Dynamics of Faith


Book Description

One of the greatest books ever written on the subject, Dynamics of Faithis a primer in the philosophy of religion. Paul Tillich, a leading theologian of the twentieth century, explores the idea of faith in all its dimensions, while defining the concept in the process. This graceful and accessible volume contains a new introduction by Marion Pauck, Tillich's biographer.




Wild at Heart


Book Description

In all your boyhood dreams of growing up, did you dream of being a "nice guy"? Eldredge believes that every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. That is how he bears the image of God; that is what God made him to be.




In the Presence of Jesus


Book Description

A 40-day journey to calm your restless, anxious thoughts and listen for the voice of Jesus. In the stress, noise, and activity of modern life, there is a way of finding inner peace and contentment. In the Presence of Jesus will help you learn to quiet your mind and focus your attention on the grace and love that is only available in God's presence. Deeply faithful to Scripture and infused with the truth of Christ's unwavering love on every page, In the Presence of Jesus is an easy-to-understand, step-by-step, daily guide that will empower you to transfer the truth of His everlasting love for you from your head to your heart. This 40-day journey will help you focus on the character of Jesus and open your spirit to His presence in your life. Every day, you'll experience: an invocation welcoming Christ's presence into your devotional time a personal note as if it were written by Jesus to you, drawn carefully from Scripture and opening your heart to the grace of Christ Bible verses to meditate on daily prayers, reflection activities, and blessings to help you focus on Christ's presence with you throughout your day. Awaken moment by moment to the presence of a loving God--and find peace for your mind and soul.




Why I Believe in God


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You Are What You Love


Book Description

You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. In this book, award-winning author James K. A. Smith shows that who and what we worship fundamentally shape our hearts. And while we desire to shape culture, we are not often aware of how culture shapes us. We might not realize the ways our hearts are being taught to love rival gods instead of the One for whom we were made. Smith helps readers recognize the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of Christian practices. He explains that worship is the "imagination station" that incubates our loves and longings so that our cultural endeavors are indexed toward God and his kingdom. This is why the church and worshiping in a local community of believers should be the hub and heart of Christian formation and discipleship. Following the publication of his influential work Desiring the Kingdom, Smith received numerous requests from pastors and leaders for a more accessible version of that book's content. No mere abridgment, this new book draws on years of Smith's popular presentations on the ideas in Desiring the Kingdom to offer a fresh, bottom-up rearticulation. The author creatively uses film, literature, and music illustrations to engage readers and includes new material on marriage, family, youth ministry, and faith and work. He also suggests individual and communal practices for shaping the Christian life.