Bøger udgivet af ACU/LEAFWOOD PUBL

"This commentary provides assistance in holy reading of the Bible. It gives structure to daily personal devotions, family meditation, small group Bible studies, and church classes. Some study Genesis to try and answer questions about science. Some teach the book looking for moral examples from its heroes. However, Genesis is all about the character of God. The spirituality of Genesis centers on God as Creator and God as a Faithful Partner. As we read these stories of those who trusted, followed, and wrestled with God, let us open ourselves to his Spirit. Let us trust his inscrutable ways. Let us believe God so he might, through his covenant of love, count us as righteous"--

"Despite this seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the day came when Jesus' first followers-flawed and broken people very much like you and me-reached the spiritual summit of other-centered love. By focusing upon Jesus' teaching on what it meant to be his disciple-a word used over 260 times in the New Testament-rather than the word Christian-a word used only three times, it is possible to discern how Jesus accomplished this miracle. Using an acclimatization strategy not unlike Mallory, Jesus' set up a base camp in the relatively thick spiritual air of his followers' first spiritual steps. Then by his teaching and example, guided his followers along a series of expedition camps leading toward the summit long two interrelated yet distinct pathways. First, the Ascent of a higher and higher commitment to loving God and neighbor with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength via the camps of Desire, Instruction, Surrender, and Community. Second, the Descent into a deeper and deeper experience of God's intimate, transforming, through other-centered love, through the expedition camps of Intimacy, Prayer, Love, and Endurance"--

How do we stay faithful as we wait on God? The time after Good Friday but before Easter Sunday is one of the most overlooked portions of the Bible. We tend to rush ahead to the empty tomb seeking to find the resurrected Lord, but our lives don't come equipped with a fast-forward button. We all face seasons of waiting where we long for a new or better future. Peace in the Dark invites you to look again and acknowledge the reality of Holy Saturday. The example of the early disciples in those in-between hours offers a depth of wisdom about what to do when things have gone wrong. Their practices can serve us as we face our own disappointments, trials, and even traumatic experiences. There is a way to not just live but to experience peace when God seems silent. Rooted in Scripture, nature, and her personal experiences of years of trial, Jessica Herberger guides us through what was happening on that day, why it matters, and how we can approach our Holy Saturdays with hope and faithfulness.

"You know you should move on, you just have a hard time silencing your thoughts. Thoughts like:"Why is God still blessing them?", "How can they be a Christian and act this way?", "I would never do to them what they did to me." Regardless of how long ago you were hurt, those thoughts still repeat in your mind. I Want To Move On addresses each thought Lauren (and likely, you) experiences when walking through feelings of betrayal, bitterness, and confusion. Each chapter addresses a different thought she wrestled with while battling unforgiveness. It's written in a way so you can pick any quote that resonates with you most and jump right into healing! What are you waiting for? Open the book!"

"In Friendship Can Save the World, Carrie and Morgan Stephens offer an invigorating retelling of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi to help us love people unlike us. Weaving the Book of Ruth with real life stories from their multiethnic, multigenerational, and socioeconomically diverse church, they highlight the power of unique friendships in God's greater missional story. Readers will find inspiration to love and be loved more courageously as we all forge a path forward into a more redemptive future. Friendship Can Save the World is for people longing to build and nurture strong, godly friendships with those of different backgrounds. It offers hope and encouragement for ministry and secular leaders seeking to foster mutual love and honor in the culture of their church or organization"--

"Keri is no stranger to worry and it's ill effects. As a teenager she discovered the power of panic and anxiety after encountering her own struggles and suffering. She developed unhealthy and unreliable coping strategies of self-will over the preferred will and way of God. Win over Worry will equip and charge you to face the worries and fears that have been holding you back from taking flight into the fullness of life we all long for. A colorful, flavorful, chains-free future that God planned and intended for you, his cherished child, to enjoy, flourish and greatly delight in. Right here, and right now"--

"The story of Rahab has fascinated Bible students and lay persons for centuries. Her story appears in the book of Joshua after God commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites after the death of Moses. Yet no sooner do the people come to the edge of the Promised Land than God puts the whole drama on hold to tell us the story of a Canaanite prostitute. This interruption of the conquest story is not an accident, and it gives us our first glimpse into the theological significance of Rahab's story. When we come to the New Testament, Rahab holds a surprisingly prominent position in several key faith passages-as well as being listed in the lineage of Christ! In fact, she marries a prince! The prostitute marries a prince! This is the stuff of Hollywood movies and romance novels. The heartbeat of the Bible is God's passionate pursuit of His adulterous Bride-a theme that echoes within the depths of every human heart. But the best part? Rahab's story is our story. It's a story centered on three key themes, without which there would be no Bible, no gospel, and no Savior: faith, grace, and salvation. Here is a woman who witnessed no miracles, knew none of God's laws. She merely heard of God's power-and believed. Through her daring faith, Rahab hid enemy spies, defied her king, risked her life, and found the living God. By the time you finish this study, you will never look at the story of Rahab the same way again"--

"The believers who faced these decisions felt their limitations. Yet they found strength in the Lord. You can too. Using the men and women highlighted in the last half of Hebrews 11, Little Strength, Big God will help you turn your weaknesses into strengths to accomplish God's purpose in your life. When trouble attacks, you don't need a bigger God-you need a clearer vision. Discover the transforming power of a God greater than your goliaths and live strong now"--

"Lost Shepherd is an in depth look at Psalm 23. Using historical examples and commentary on each sections of verses, Fugitt provides a new look at interpreting this well-known Psalm of David. Lost Shepherd helps illustrate through critical and historical analysis, how past Christians lived out such principles and how we as modern Christians can draw on these same divine promises to help learn how to appreciate the guiding hand of Providence and the nurturing and relentless love of the Good Shepherd"--

"Social media, television, and the internet are feeding a destructive culture in the US. Students now widely accept distorted views of intimate relationships, and their larger-than-life sexual expectations have made hookups, sending nudes, and rampant pornography into a dysfunctional way of life. But at what cost? Barb Winters documents the heavy loads of anxiety, worry, and depression that she has witnessed among today's young people, and Sexpectations offers practical advice for anyone desiring to help others discover healthier options. Her much-needed personal stories, professional experience, and guidance into biblical truths can help parents, grandparents and young leaders learn and remember the fundamentals of healthy relationships"--

"Prodigals digs deeply into each line from Jesus's famous parable about the prodigal son, inviting all readers-those down on their luck or high on their horse-to identify as prodigals. A prodigal is anyone who accepts they have a sinful human nature and turns toward the love of home, the place where we find a deeper relationship with God. Rather than divide the world into prodigals and non-prodigals, Taylor invites readers to find themselves in the teaching of Jesus as either younger or elder siblings. The life changing power of the book comes when readers begin to identify with the characters in the story and join in the prayers and calls for transformation that conclude the chapters"--

"Fear and anxiety rage in our world-a weight we carry, producing profound physical consequences. We hustle hard and strive more each day, our priorities mismatched with our Savior's-struggling to surrender our lives to his will. We believe our superwoman tendencies are amazing when they are in fact alarming. What will it take to rock the boat enough to awaken our souls? A total nervous breakdown? A diagnosis of severe panic and anxiety disorder answered that question for Christy Boulware. Her fast paced, highly driven, mis-prioritized life finally caught up with her. Eventually she went from being superwoman to staring at guns on her bedroom floor. Through her journey to recovery, Christy learned how to overcome fear and anxiety in a world that feeds both emotions. Whether you're on the verge of a breakdown, in the middle of one, or worried you're headed toward one-this book will show you how a breakdown can lead to a breakthrough. We have wasted enough time living in fear; let's start living in freedom!"--

"Flip the Script addresses five main areas where women find themselves overwhelmed and stuck in a negative outlook. Through engaging, relatable stories and scripture, this book offers hope for a new way of thinking. It gives women practical action steps to flip their internal scripts and embrace a more positive outlook"--

"In A Million Skies, Abigail shares her journey to gain a true vision about the mental illness that radically altered her life: bipolar disorder. After facing several near-death experiences and a tumultuous fallout from her initial diagnosis, she was left with little of the life she had known. In time, Abigail has found victory in her mind, but that has meant that she has had to shift her views of herself, others, life, and God. More than one woman's story, A Million Skies is an invitation to understand mental illness in new ways. The reader who enters the pages of A Million Skies will find the author's contagious courage, inspiring journey, and words of challenge compelling them forward"--

"From energy and injury to surviving middle school, moms are asking questions. They want to know about training, role models, overcoming fear, dealing with ADD, how to talk to their teenagers and how to get them to have a conversation. Moms want to know if they have permission to take care of themselves, how to not act shocked, and how to experience God's grace and joy in being a boy mom. Twenty-six years of encouragement and wisdom is packed into this short read. Each three-to-five page chapter begins with a story and concludes with a challenging truth and a Scripture reference"--

"To alleviate a crisis, you have to get to its source, not just treat the symptoms. Many say they are leaving the faith as the result of conscious intellectual doubts or relational hurts. But often, what's driving the doubt is just outside of one's conscious awareness. Unbeknownst to those struggling-and those trying to help them-these unconscious factors can be the actual source from which their doubt springs. Before You Go is a diagnostic tool for addressing doubts. Rather than rehash surface-level apologetic answers, Marriott and Wicks dig deeper into overlooked factors that frequently are the real culprits when it comes to faith crisis, namely the unconscious aspects of our experience. Find real hope for those struggling to maintain their faith and genuine help for those trying to prevent faith loss in those they love"--

"One of the most important discoveries any of us will ever make is that the Christian life is not an achievement but an awakening-something initiated by God and empowered by his Spirit. It demands nothing more than that we position ourselves for the transformational journey that he intends. When we do this, a wonder is birthed inside of us that is a reflection of God himself. The acceptance and spiritual vibrancy we long for won't be won through personal effort. Good behavior and dedicated service within the church won't enable us to see who we really are. As important as these commitments may be, they are not prerequisites to experiencing intimacy with the Lord or to receiving affirmation of our self-worth. The truth is that God has already placed brilliance inside of us. We are one-of-a-kind works of art, uniquely valuable not by virtue of what we do but by virtue of who we are-beloved children gathered into the heart of the Father, who has made us in his image. Unfortunately, many of us are clueless about our true identity because it is buried beneath layers of personal brokenness. From Broken to Beloved will lead you step-by-step, enabling you to say yes to the work Jesus wants to do within you. As you take one step after the other, you will begin to realize that "awakening" is not simply a beautiful concept, but a healing experience that will enable you to see who you are so that you can receive everything God intends for your life"--

"If God can choose the Canaanite Tamar to continue the line through whom Christ would come, can anything keep Him from weaving your story into His redemptive plan? Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah, is the first woman listed in the lineage of Christ. Mistreated, widowed twice, betrayed, and used as a prostitute . . . it seems impossible that God could redeem her story, but His plan of redemption was written from eternity past-and nothing can get in His way. Through this six-week, in-depth Bible study, you will discover that no matter life's twists and turns or your sins and failures, there is a God working behind the seen, redeeming it all for His glory"--

Who are we? This is one of the oldest questions, and the bottom-line answer is that we are created in the image of God. But when we ask what it means to live in the image of God, we cannot forget the cross. After all, God came, took on our likeness, and died on the cross. So what does it mean to live in the image of a God who is willing to die on a cross? Though the cross is a well-known symbol in Western society, we are not prone to think of the cross as the key to our identity. Yet to discover the heart of God, and therefore who we are to be as his image bearers, it is to the cross that we must turn. The journey of The Cross-Shaped Life takes readers into the story of God from creation to salvation, but it culminates in Paul's words found in Philippians 2:5-11. It's in these few verses that readers will discover that though our Western culture tells us that in order to find ourselves we must continue to acquire more prestige, power, and possessions, the truth is that we only discover who we truly are when we live lives of humility, service, and sacrifice on behalf of others.

Each day, thousands of choices, from the mundane to the weighty, press for your attention. On top of all that, our world is wrestling with numerous, legitimate social concerns. It all shouts for us to weigh-in and take a side. Do you ever wonder how things became so complicated? Do you ever daydream about a simpler time in your life and faith? Was there ever a simpler time for you? With so many issues to ponder in our faith and in our crazy world, we have forgotten what is most important. Dudley Rutherford invites you to open your Bible and look closely at seven passages of Scripture where you'll find the beautifully uncomplicated phrase one thing. These Scriptures will quiet all the noise that you're hearing and call you back to a simpler faith.

What Does God Expect from Women's Ministry? While women's ministry can easily get caught up in Bible study themes and Pinterest-worthy decor, God's heart calls for a ministry that is rooted in him. In order to understand what women's ministry should look like today, Gena explores Scripture to establish what this ministry was meant to be and how women are called minister to other women. Every church needs a team of women who serve in God's name. Women's Ministry with Purpose will show you how to rediscover the true purpose of your women's ministry and gain support from your church's leadership. More importantly, it will breathe new life into leaders and volunteers, giving you practical advice for organizing, training, and supporting the women around you.

Be Your Own Kind of Brave! Bravery isn't reserved for only women serving on international mission teams, or for women who serve in the military or on a police force. Every woman is brave, much braver than she might think. But feelings of doubt and inadequacy try to stop us from living up to our God-given potential to be courageous women of faith. In Everyday Brave, Janet explores the extraordinary actions of fifty ordinary women in the Bible, women who display bravery in usual and unusual circumstances. Thirty present-day women also give their testimony of realizing their strength and courage through God's love. As Janet shares the stories of these women, she reminds us that the heart and substance of bravery, even in the face of fear, comes from unconditionally placing our hope in the only One who can give us the courage to stay the course.

Following Jesus is a lifelong journey of transformation. "Follow me!" These two words changed the lives of twelve unlikely individuals in the first century, and they can change the course of your life as well. Many people claim to follow Jesus, but truly following him involves a commitment to transformational discipleship, not just nominal acceptance. Discipleship was the mission of Christ, and therefore, as disciples, it is our mission as well, both to be disciples and to make disciples. Following as a disciple of Jesus begins with hearing his call and then desiring to grow in our relationship with him. However, we are too often satisfied with simply receiving God's grace and neglect to give it back. We desire to gain all the privileges of a disciple minus the commitment to be one. As a result, we need to develop a consistent, coordinated, and intentional plan for greater spiritual growth and discipleship, focused on gaining an ever increasing ability to apply God's Word to life. If you want more than sitting in pews and checking off church participation boxes, if you are ready to live the life Christ calls you to by following him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, this book is for you.

The problem of Eden is much worse than you thought, but the solution is much better than you could have ever imagined. Between Two Trees reveals that the real tragedy of Eden is a union with death, a union that produces division and despair. Life isn't lived under Eden's tree of life or beneath the healing leaves of the tree in the New Jerusalem. It is lived between them. And between these two trees, life is hard. In spite of this tragedy, Between Two Trees will challenge you to embrace hope, love, and the beauty of reconciliation at the true tree of life: the cross of Calvary. By exploring the problem of Eden and the power of the cross, Shane Wood calls us to walk on a path to transformation, a path to union with God. The book's journey ends under the shade of the tree of life in the New Jerusalem with God's unfinished creation now complete. Yes, Eden, but more importantly, you. The unfinished creation in us.

Finally, a balanced appraisal . . . Labeled as both a villain and a hero, Brian McLaren has been celebrated and maligned by the evangelical community. Many have used his extensive writings to understand Christianity in fresh ways, but critics contend that McLaren has strayed too far from the Bible as well as from core Christian beliefs. Finally, this book puts McLaren in focusshowing the development of his ideas over time, giving firm assessments of his positions, and offering suggestions of both the strengths and weaknesses of his thinking. Even more, McLaren speaks for himself in these pages as the author of the foreword, and through his extensive, charitable conversation with the author. Don't miss this important book!

Too often we avoid what Jesus clearly pursued. Pastor Dicks unlocks the mystery of holy hardships, arming readers with wisdom and revelation to embrace what they've been trying desperately to escape; the advantage of adversity. Holy hardship is cross-shaped adversity you can't avoid or ignore. The experience can change you for the better, but you must handle your hardship like Jesus handled his. Based on his own journey through a dark season of personal adversity, Pastor Dicks provides perspective on the passion of Christ, showing you how to handle your hardship and grow closer to Jesus. You can do more than survive your trouble. The Advantage of Adversity will convince you that you can thrive because of it. Through this book you'll learn how to: -Get the most out of adversity without it getting the best of you.-Initiate holy acts in hostile environments.-Give up without quitting.-Identify the people you need on your side in high pressure situations.-Handle six types of adversaries.-Pray during tough times.-Thrive after adversity.

"It may feel like you've slammed into a solid, impenetrable wall. If so, Taylor Murray knows that same place. She has banged her fists, only to feel more stuck. More alone. Life pauses here, at this mark in time where you can't seem to move forward. Stop Saying I'm Fine offers hope to those who are tired of reading their Bibles and praying more. Vowing to God that you'll do better. Exhausted by the loop of resolved effort and repeated defeat. Murray gives permission to your pain and invites you to share in her spiritual journey and battle with anorexia. She's familiar with the routine of looking good and performing with perfection. Instead, she wants to give you permission to sit unhurriedly and discover a new, slower rhythm. Your heart needs a dose of honesty and courage; reading Stop Saying I'm Fine will allow you to take in what you really need. Come learn about God, the nature of stuffed pain, our wounded places, and the spiritual steps that we can take to be more whole and anxiety-free"--

God isn't looking for heroes of faith. A thriving relationship with God is not built on our perfect performance but on our trust in a gracious Savior. Hebrews 11 reveals one superhero"š€š"Jesus. Our God delights in flawed followers who trust him in the daily aspects of their lives. He designed spiritual growth to be an ongoing journey of faith and delights in who you are becoming. By exploring the lives of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, Little Faith, Big God will inspire you to persevere in your faith through the examples of biblical men and women who failed, got up again, finished well, and were commended by God. With biblical principles to separate false hope from real faith, present-day stories to encourage you, and guiding questions to invite personal reflection, application, and discussion, Little Faith, Big God will equip you to trade your self-made superhero cape for a dynamic, grace-filled relationship with our big God.

"An invisible, spiritual battle is waging around us, a battle between God and Satan for control of our lives. In spite of God's truth that the battle has already been won, Satan's primary goal is to separate us from God and convince us that he holds absolute power over us. Armor of God unpacks the six pieces of armor that God has revealed as essential tools to defend against Satan's schemes on earth. Alongside their tween, parents will uncover important truths to better understand the enemy and how he works to ambush, outflank, and outsmart God's army. Most importantly, parents and tweens will learn how to equip their God-given armor, to apply it to their daily lives, and to employ strategies to defeat the one true enemy. In addition to guided Bible study and "Letters from the Battlefield," Armor of God includes conversation starters and fun activities that will open a dialogue between parents and tweens and draw them deeply into God's Word together"--