Religious Growth

Here is a perceptive evaluation of the new “emerging church” movement showing how we must not only interact with a fast-changing culture but also have our vision and practice of ministry shaped by biblical theology with Scripture as the norm.

Natalie Boonstra was diagnosed with Madelung’s Deformity at just ten years old. The corrective surgery for this painful, one-in-two-million congenital wrist disorder was successful but left the very visible daughter of a well-known public figure with emotional scars, insecurity, and self-doubt. Both arms are noticeably short in proportion to the rest of my body, and this physical difference caused a great deal of insecurity and self-doubt. But then I realized who Jesus says I am.

Must you believe something to be saved? Does the kingdom of God include non-Christians? Is hell for real and forever? These are big questions. Hard questions. Questions that divide Christians along conservative and liberal lines. Conservatives love their beliefs and liberals believe in their love. Each pushes the other to opposite extremes. Fundamentalists imply that it doesn’t matter how we live as long as we believe in Jesus, while some Emergent Christians respond that it doesn’t matter what we believe as long as we live like him.

The role of organized religion in our society is undergoing monumental changes. Church attendance is decreasing at unprecedented rates. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Clearly, the need for religion remains as strong as ever, yet more and more, people are seeking spirituality elsewhere. Why? What accounts for these trends? Can organized religion still play a valuable role in today’s world?

While most of us have heard about Christians suffering for their faith, we tend to think "persecution" mainly impacts believers in times past or in hostile nations today, far removed from our daily lives. But this eye-opening book describes the various stages of persecution, revealing that persecution is something all followers of the Way can expect to face in this fallen world. Trouble on the Way will not only help listeners recognize persecution in all its forms but enable them to stand firm against it.

Having faith isn't an all-or-nothing situation and we all deserve to enjoy the parts that bring us comfort. In Have a Little Faith, Kate reveals for the first time the surprising truth about what faith means to her and how, ultimately, it can make us all happy. Kate is not your average vicar; in fact, she says herself that believing in the resurrection is 'a bit bonkers' so, whether you believe in God, the universe's plan or simply the goodness of humanity, Kate argues that having belief equals having hope, and we all deserve to feel hopeful.

The deeper I grow in my own faith as a Christian, the greater my desire to explore. My faith whets my appetite for discovering what God is doing in and through the world each and every day. This book is a chronicle of some of the most important lessons I have learned thus far. I write to encourage my fellow nomads who, like me, so often feel alone in their wanderings yet are a part of a much larger caravan of fellow wanderers seeking to discover for ourselves the meaning and mysteries of life.

This book is an invitation to a life of passion and significance. As you listen, you’ll feel like you’re sharing a heartfelt chat with a dear friend, exchanging stories, laughter, and moments of deep insights. Kim’s uplifting new book will challenge and inspire you; it will revolutionize your spiritual life.

Born into a prominent Shia Muslim family in Pakistan, Ali had it all - prestige, security, wealth, social status. The Cost is the extraordinary story of his dramatic encounter with Jesus that would change everything. That life-altering choice to follow Jesus would turn Ali from a typical teenager into a target of a terrorist organization based in his hometown - a target they would soon act on.

Have you often wondered what tarot cards can do for you, but didn’t quite understand how they work, or thought they were just a game? Have you often wondered how they work, and why they can be so accurate and hit right on the spot? Do you have any unresolved issues in your life, indecision about something, or want to manifest new goals but are unsure of how to proceed or which goal may be the wrong one to pursue? Find out more in this audiobook.

If you want to appreciate life to the fullest, this unabridged audio download of A Positive Life reveals nine basic yet powerful lessons for living with passionate faith and joy. Through his story of living with HIV, Shane Stanford will help you find contentment in your own life, no matter the circumstances.

In this newest contemporary YA novel from author Amy Clipston, Chelsea’s responsible life takes a turn when she meets Dylan while working with the summer stock theater. But when their fun starts to interfere with her relationships and possibly her dreams, Chelsea must decide if her heart is leading her in the right direction after all.

The day Shaley O’Conner has dreamed of all her life is shattered by a nightmare. On a lavish estate in California guarded from the media, Shaley’s mom, rock star Rayne O’Connor, is marrying her teen sweetheart and Shaley’s father, Gary Donovon. It’s a dream come true for Shaley, who has always longed for the father she never knew.But minutes before the wedding, Shaley is kidnapped.

En corazón pródigo descubrirás cómo Christine logró superar la muerte de su padre, el mudarse a otro país, los sentimientos de coraje, la falta de perdón, pérdida y rechazo, el haber sido acosada sexualmente, y hasta fue liberada de vivir una doble vida siendo líder en la iglesia. Ella retó a Dios y Él le respondió con su amor sanador. Christine comparte su historia y el gozo de rendirse completamente a Dios. Hoy día vive pródigamente, es decir, vive sin restricción por la gloria de Dios, para el servicio de su pueblo y no para sí.

This is a poetry book. There is something for everyone in this! Want to try it out? Listen to Growth.

The suspenseful and emotion-filled second book in the Rayne series begins where the first book ended… with a dying man whispering four stunning words into Shaley O’Connor’s ear. Should she believe him? After two murders on the Rayne concert tour, Shaley is reeling. But she has no time to rest. If the dying man’s claim is right, the danger is far from over. Shaley’s quest for the truth leads to the mysterious and wrenching past of her mother and father. Could what happened to them so many years ago threaten Shaley’s life now?

Millones de personas desesperadas por tener esperanza y soluciones para su vida se sienten atraídas por la promesa del evangelio de la prosperidad: que Dios hará lo que sea necesario con solo un poco de fe y un don financiero. Mientras tanto, los predicadores de la prosperidad explotan a los pobres y los necesitados para acumular sus riquezas. ¿Qué pueden hacer los seguidores del verdadero evangelio para combatir el engaño?

This thought-provoking book challenges traditional religious beliefs, exploring how the principles of cosmic evolution can provide a fulfilling and meaningful framework for understanding our place in the universe. Vander Maas delves into the science of evolution, demonstrating how it reveals a profound and awe-inspiring story of interconnectedness and purpose. Through compelling arguments and scientific evidence, Vander Maas shows how evolution offers a more profound and meaningful explanation for our existence than traditional religious doctrines.

Stumbling on Open Ground steps away from the pattern of other cancer books, Christian or secular, and attempts to tackle the question of how you can doubt a God that you do not doubt. It's about having trouble believing what is going on when you believe God knows what he is doing at all times. It is about questioning what is happening when you know where all the questions are answered.

James Polson was once a skeptic who believed that God, heaven, and hell did not likely exist outside of his imagination. He was satisfied with his views until he was involved in a car accident that forced the realization that death can occur at any time. Was he wrong about heaven and hell? If they really existed, where would he be? While these complex questions remained in the back of his mind, Polson embarked on a quest to discover any truth about the existence of God, heaven, and hell.