Religious liberty is under attack in the United States. Faced with legal challenges for the mere action of preaching from the Bible, Pastor Preston and his supporters confront a terrifying truth: the US Constitution is no defense against a biased district attorney obsessed with sending him to prison. A Pastor's Pit exposes the threat to the religious liberty that people of all faiths take for granted in the United States, as well as the crucial role that US Supreme Court appointments and presidential elections play in maintaining the rights of all citizens. How can a pastor be indicted and tried for the "crime" of preaching from the Bible? Will the courts send him to prison or uphold his constitutional freedoms? Pastor Preston's future and that of his family and his church hang in the balance!
Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase. You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture, a blessed and audacious act that left no regrets: “Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it” (2 Samuel 23:20 -21). Unleash the lion chaser within! #InAPit “Mark has become one of the most important voices for a new generation. Anything he touches changes lives. Read this book and you’ll see what I mean.” — Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life.Church, author of Chazown and Dare to Drop the Pose “As a leader and teacher, Mark Batterson brings imagination, energy, and insight. I appreciate his willingness to take bold risks and go to extraordinary lengths to reach our culture with a message that is truly relevant.” — Ed Young, senior pastor, Fellowship Church “Don’t settle for a normal life. Conquer your fears, accept His anointing, jump into that pit, chase the lion, and watch God’s Kingdom come in amazing ways.” — Christine Caine, founder of Propel Women, author of Unashamed
Travelers to the Holy Land can all attest ... this truly is a land of “hills and valleys” (Deuteronomy 8:7, 11:11) and so is life! Hills and valleys, highs and lows, peaks and pits—whatever one chooses to call them, every person has some good days and some bad ones. In this inspirational Christian book, Roger D. Mardis, a seasoned pastor, preacher, writer, and traveler, reflects on the many places and locations in Israel (mountains and/or valleys), to take you on a thirty-day journey to learn about the Holy Land—and life. As you read this devotional guide, you’ll consider questions such as: •What is the problem with pride? •When were you tested in life—and what did you learn? •What is the purpose of God’s law? •What does it mean to “abide” in Christ? At the conclusion of each day’s reading, you’ll find questions like the ones above that will help you make your way on your journey—whether you’re enjoying a peak or trying to slog through a pit. Embark on a journey that will challenge your life and bring you closer to the Lord with the lessons in this book.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see: a person who truly believes he/she is on the right path, or one struggling daily to find a sense of identity? More importantly, how do you see God as you seek the purpose for your life: as your back pocket Lord, or as your personal guide? For some, they may feel they are on the right path but have drifted away from discerning and understanding God’s will for them. This inspired pastor and author Dennis Lee to establish a meaningful resource for readers wanting to grow in their relationship with God, in his new Christian discipleship book; From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation, part of his Spiritual Formation series. As an “A through Z roadmap on discipleship,” Dennis offers readers a biblically-sound guide to familiarize readers to biblical principles of what it’s like to be a follower of Jesus Christ, being found in His likeness. Each chapter clarifies this developing relationship with God, established when you accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, and furthered through changing how you approach living this life in Christ. Pastor Lee takes the reader along this narrow road described by Jesus, looking at a Christian’s true identity when pursuing God’s presence and becoming aligned with His will. To make sure his readers’ stay upon this path, Lee looks at Satan’s potholes that damages a person’s spiritual transformation, as well as God’s speed bumps to help believers slow down and not miss God’s promises for their lives. It’s a journey to the ultimate destination of Heaven with God, and this guide will help you make the necessary changes and take the required steps to stay upon God’s path.
The Times Are Urgent God Is on the Move Now Is the Moment to ... ask God to ignite his fire in your soul! Pastor Jim Cymbala believes that Jesus wants to renew his people-to call us back from spiritual dead ends, apathy, and lukewarm religion. Cymbala knows the difference firsthand. Thirty-five years ago his own church, the Brooklyn Tabernacle, was a struggling congregation of twenty. Then they began to pray ... God began to move ... street-hardened lives by the hundreds were changed by the love of Christ ... and today they are more than ten thousand strong. The story of what happened to this broken-down church in one of America's toughest neighborhoods points the way to new spiritual vitality in the church and in your own life. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire shows what the Holy Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the gospel. As this compelling book reveals, God moves in life-changing ways when we set aside our own agendas, take him at his word, and listen for his voice.
This book is an invitation. Rather than something to read or a project to complete, it’s an opportunity for us, you and me, to heal together. Maybe you were hit hard by tragedy, one day fine, the next day wounded. Perhaps your losses have been accumulating over time. Both equally painful and needing a healing touch. Reading about my journey is not in itself restoring. However, if my “story” can get you in touch with your “story” then the process of healing will take place. As you process through the pages, be honest with your feelings, thoughts, fears, memories, and the deep parts of your heart that might even make you feel uncomfortable. God knows it all and most importantly, He cares about it. I never sat down to write with an agenda or even a planned out thought. What I did do was express my heart and in the process I felt God draw near to me and I felt some comfort. I hadn’t planned on these writings becoming a book and when I finally felt compelled to do so, I put off getting it published because of how personal in nature it is. This writing is more about what I don’t know than what I do. You won’t find a theological discourse or me trying to answer any of life’s “why,” because frankly I know little in the way of answers. As the reader, you are getting a considerable look into my heart and journey, which is ugly and weak at times, but honest. I hope that through my honesty, you will feel compelled to be truthful with yourself and with God. Also, perhaps you will feel a connection to another person needing healing and therefore less isolated. As you write in this journal and embrace your darkness, our two stories will become intertwined and I pray that by the end, you will feel less alone, one step closer to wholeness, and that your scars will begin to serve as reminders of how strong and wonderful you are.
These pastoral notes concern an effort to provide a pastoral input to my congregations in a way that is not sermonic in nature. The Letters to Anna deal with reflections on spiritual matters addressed to a young girl asking about matters of faith. The Occasional Pamphlets represent various other writings of a largely pastoral nature.
As in football, the church congregation is a team. In football, when a player is too rough on the opposing quarterback he gets the yellow flag. and his team gets a 15 yard penalty. In the church we also have those who "rough" the quarterback, but in the church it is the quarterback on the offending player's own team who gets "roughed up" and that person also gets the penalty. This book gives Scriptural and practical basis for throwing the yellow flag on those who are rough on theit pastor. Then we must go beyond that and become encouragers to those around us.
