Bøger af John Michael Helms

Yob and the Bird Dog is the first in a series of books featuring siblings Yob and Lerig. In this book, Yob learns about making wise choices. Ride the wind of joy with Yob's bird dog creation and then feel his sadness when his bird dog crash-lands in the ocean after Yob makes the wrong choice and lets it go free in the ocean breeze to fly with the Laughing Gulls. Read along with your child and see what lessons Yob and Lerig learn together at the beach the next day. You get more with this book than the average children's books. There are over 50 beautifully illustrated pages, much more than the average children's book. The illustrations are beautifully done by award-winning artist and illustrator, Gabriele Liedtke. The illustrations allow children to feel the sand beneath their feet, see the waves crashing in from the ocean, and hear the Laughing Gulls gawking overhead. The story allows children to enjoy the imaginations of Yob and Lerig, who enjoy the wonders of the beach and learn important lessons which they take home with them. In addition, at the end of the book, there is a section of suggested questions for teachers/parents to use to see what lessons children might have learned from the story. Each child's interpretation will be different, but some common lessons should emerge. There is also a page of suggested questions for parents to ask children. These questions not only help with comprehension but also helps the parent/adult engage in conversation with children about some of the story's main points and values. For those who want to instill some religious instruction, there is another section of questions for religious educators/parents to use to teach children moral/religious lessons that some might see in the story. Although the story is not religious, for the religiously inclined, it can be used to teach eternal truths.

A magic story of Christian stewardship. -Dr. Walter B. Shurden Minister at Large, Mercer University In Hoping Liberia, Michael Helms weaves together multiple stories-the story of his friendship with Olu Menjay, the director of Ricks Institute in Virginia, Liberia; the story of their partnership in ministry; and the story of the nation of Liberia. . . . Helms immerses readers into a period of political turmoil and violence, a devastating civil war, and the immeasurable suffering experienced by the Liberian people. In the aftermath of these harsh realities, Liberian Christians held on to hope, and Hoping Liberia is ultimately an inspirational and uplifting story of faith being lived out and the body of Christ coming together and joining hands to do God's work. -Dr. Pamela R. Durso Executive Director Baptist Women in Ministry, Atlanta, Georgia While this book reads like a novel, it is a well-researched history of Liberia. . . . In addition to its prophetic voice, Hoping Liberia is insightful, purposeful, and missional and will move the reader into "missio Dei." -Dr. Emmanuel McCall Founding Pastor of The Fellowship Group East Point, Georgia Every good story needs a good storyteller. The story of Olu Menjay and Ricks Institute is a very good story. Michael Helms is a very good storyteller. Now the story will be shared far and wide. Thanks be to God for the story and its teller. -Dr. Richard F. Wilson Columbus Roberts Professor of Theology and Chair, Roberts Department of Christianity, Mercer University

This life will eventually carry us through a wilderness, a period of life epitomized by hardships, suffering, wandering, and grief. The wilderness can also be a time to withdraw from the world, to give up something of significance in order to think, pray, read, and gain spiritual insight on life. Finding Our Way Through the Wilderness is designed to help those who are in a wilderness by no choice of their own and those who choose to enter the wilderness to prepare spiritually for the arrival of Easter or the next part of their journey. Readers will emerge from the wilderness stronger, healthier, wiser, and better equipped to continue on their way.

For those who want something deeper than the commercialized trappings of the Advent season, Finding Our Way with the Magi gives readers a daily opportunity to be spiritually challenged, encouraged, inspired, and confronted with Jesus' admonitions to live out our faith in an increasingly secular world. Seamless shifts are made from common, sometimes humorous life stories to biblical truths that all of us need to apply to our daily lives. Creative "Advent Actions" appear at the end of each day's reading to give concrete, practical suggestions for putting that day's focus into practice during Advent. Guided prayers help readers begin a conversation with God based on the reading for the day. Michael Helms clears away the layers of wrappings, ribbons, and assorted commercial glitz so that once again we can gaze upon the Christ Child. These delightful, often touching reflections usher us gracefully through the Advent season. -Dr. Jim Barnette Professor, Samford University With the narrative grace of a gifted pastor, Michael Helms offers meaningful devotional engagement along with thoughtful direction for actually living through the Advent season with purpose and intention. -Rev. Dr. Amy Butler Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church Washington, DC Michael Helms' Finding Our Way with the Magi is a Christ-centered GPS that will navigate your family through the Advent season with a gentleness and grace that foster the peace and hope so often absent in the daily bustle of life. -Dr. Bruce Gourley Executive Director, Baptist History & Heritage Society Dr. Michael Helms is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson, Georgia, and the author of numerous books, including Finding Our Way: An Introspective Journey Through the Labyrinth of Life, Hoping Liberia: Stories of Civil War from Africa's First Republic, and Finding Our Way Through the Wilderness-A Journey for Lent and Other Days of Spiritual Reflection and Prayer.