This is a very naked and honest autobiographical account of a time when the world around Nancy started to collapse. Her husband, Ray fell into a dark pit where he experienced ill health and burnout. At the same time God was taking their ministry, ngm, through a shift, which caused much pain and insecurity and led to many people eventually leaving. Pressures swept in like a storm elaving the devastation of confusion and unanswered prayers. Nancy discovered that through this time there were 'treasures of darkness and riches hidden in a secret place.' (Isaiah 45:3)

Some people think that vocation is just for special people...but God calls us all to live our lives shaped and directed by his call. This course for small groups explores the meaning of vocation for everyone. It offers five interactive sessions: Called by God: The shape of God's call in Scripture Called from within: Drawing out the call and gifts that God has planted in us Called out: How God sets us free from everything that stops us responding to God's call. Called up: Understanding how God calls us to join in with his loving care of the world. Called on: how we can grow in our sense of calling beyond the end of the course. This course helps people to embark on an adventure with God - a journey through life in which we make a contribution to the world around us. Each session contains enough material for a 90-minute session and includes: Guidelines and full background notes for leaders Interactive activities Discussion starters Multi-media ideas e.g. film and music Resources for worship Each group member will need a copy of the book.

Frida witnessed her family being massacred by Hutu men with machetes and was then asked how she wanted to die. She could not afford a bullet, which they offered to sell her, so instead received what should have been a fatal blow to the head. She was put in a mass grave with her slaughtered family only to find herself still alive and conscious. She eventually climbed out of the pit covered in filth and blood. Frida's traumas would never be undone, but today this young woman has an important message for the world. This book tells the true, dramatic story of life amid the horror of genocide, but more importantly how Frida's life was utterly transformed by the power to forgive and love her enemies. Amazingly, in the midst of the traumas she found Christ. Her story is for all those who have gone through life shattering experiences and are unable to forgive, imprisoned by bitterness and distress. The message is one of immense hope and personal deliverance pointing towards the transforming power of forgiveness. She was chosen to die, yet destined to live - the fruit of her transformation is expressed in Frida's present day work with the orphans of Rwanda.

How do we live out the message of Jesus in today's ever-changing culture? The church is facing its greatest challenge—-and its greatest opportunity—-in our postmodern, post-Christian world. God is drawing thousands of spiritually curious 'imperfect people' to become his church—-but how are we doing at welcoming them? No Perfect People Allowed shows you how to deconstruct the five main barriers standing between emerging generations and your church by creating the right culture. From inspiring stories of real people once far from God, to practical ideas that can be applied by any local church, this book offers a refreshing vision of the potential and power of the Body of Christ to transform lives today. 'We now are living in a post-Christian America—-and that means we must be rethinking ministry through a missionary mindset. What makes this book both unique and extremely helpful is that it is filled with real-life stories of post-Christian people becoming followers of Jesus—-not just statistics or data about them.' Dan Kimball, Author, The Emerging Church '. . . John's 'get it' factor with people, lost or found, is something to behold! Reading this book filled me with optimism regarding the next generation of pastors and faith communities . . . ' Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church No Perfect People Allowed is a timely and necessary word for church leaders in a post Christian culture. John Burke serves up quite a tasty meal full of the rich nutrients that will strengthen the Body of Christ. Randy Frazee, Senior Pastor, Pantego Bible Church; Author, The Connecting Church and Making Room for Life

The time has come, argues Dr. Wess Stafford, for a major paradigm shift: Children are too important and too intensely loved by God to be left behind or left to chance. Children belong to all of us and we are compelled to intervene on their behalf. We must invest in children–all across the world.

There are strategic, persuasive reasons–beyond love and kindness–to invest in children. Today they may snuggle into your lap, if you let them. But tomorrow you may not have access to them in the corridors of power they might occupy. Now is the time to shape the future.

Dr. Stafford issues an urgent call for change. His adventures as a boy raised in a West African village provide an often-humorous and always-captivating backdrop to his profound and inspiring challenges. Wess lived the reality of “it takes a village to raise a child” and calls us to “be that loving village for children everywhere.”
This book will encourage you to turn your good, loving intentions into strategic actions and empower you to help change the world–and the future–forever: one child at a time.

From the Hardcover edition.

"In returning and rest you shall be saved." - Isaiah 30.15. When was the last time you had a real day off? Ditched the 'to do' lists. Switched off the phone. Had a lie-in. Sat in the bath until the water went cold? Most of us live at break-neck speed. Busy lives - work, family, friends, endless tasks - leave us with little time to sleep, never mind stopping and reflecting. We urgently need to stop imagining everything is so urgent. We need to learn to nurture our inner slob. In this generous, life-affirming book, full of practical wisdom, Stephen Cottrell invites us to slow down and stop...and breathe. This work contains 12 chapters: tackling the difficult business of stopping, through to where God fits in, and offering a beginners guide to sitting still! Start an adventure of self-discovery, play and renewed creativity that will improve the way you see life and help you catch a glimpse of God.

True North Based on research and first-person interviews with 125 of the top leaders in business, Bill George-the highly respected former CEO of Medtronic and current Harvard Business School professor- and coauthor Peter Sims, a younger leader, describe how anyone can become an authentic leader. Full description

As an investment banker in the City of London, Ken Costa has read "The Financial Times" and "The Bible" almost every day for thirty years. But there is a widespread view that God and business just do not mix. The competitive, cut throat demands of the marketplace are seen as the obvious enemy of Christian compassion and love. To Ken Costa, the God who created and sustains the world is also the God of the workplace. If the Christian faith is not relevant to the work place it is not relevant at all. Without a value based architecture, the market economy is weak at its foundations. To be a Christian in the world today is therefore not comfortable. We will be left challenged and uneasy as we are constantly prodded by the Holy Spirit to question the ways in which the market economy serves the Christian objectives of justice and fairness. Our task is distinctive as we live our lives as witnesses of the Judaeo Christian values which underpin so much of the market economy. Such sentiments will surprise many people. But this book is packed with surprises. It is also packed with real-life case studies of ethical dilemmas in business which bring the author's arguments forcefully to life. This book will satisfy a deep seated gap in the literature of business practice. It will appeal to Christians of all denominations but will go beyond that to compel the interest of anyone who takes the Bible seriously, even if they rarely go to Church.

In Mirror Images, David Adam reflects on human encounters - on how we meet others in their otherness and through them the great Other who is God. Characters in the book include the bird-watcher who has a greater sense of wonder and awe than many who call themselves Christian; the Snow White woman who is fading away for lack of love; the man who needs to drink and cannot live easily without doing so, and the fan who is almost possessed by the team he supports. Each chapter ends with a look at a biblical character (Abraham, Jacob, David and Isaiah are among those featured), who has something to teach us about ourselves and our inner make-up. We will then be able to reflect further on our own way of living and how other people may see us. ""If we are fortunate enough we will meet at least one person with whom we can truly share our love. Then the love that is poured into our lives can be released and poured out towards others. For the strange thing about love is the more you give it away the more it grows. Love turns us away from ourselves and helps us to look outward and beyond the confines of our own space."" From Love Changes Everything