Along The Road To Heaven

“You have a call, Elder Wilder.” When missionary Micah Wilder set his sights on bringing a Baptist congregation into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he had no idea that he was the one about to be changed. Yet when he finally came to know the God of the Bible, Micah had no choice but to surrender himself—no matter the consequences. For a passionate young Mormon who had grown up in the Church, finding authentic faith meant giving up all he knew: his community, his ambitions, and his place in the world. Yet as Micah struggled to reconcile the teachings of his Church with the truths revealed in the Bible, he awakened to his need for God’s grace. This led him to be summoned to the door of the mission president, terrified but confident in the testimony he knew could cost him everything. Passport to Heaven is a gripping account of Micah’s surprising journey from living as a devoted member of a religion based on human works to embracing the divine mercy and freedom that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

This second Lent resource from the author of The Naturalist and the Christ explores Christian understandings of “salvation” in a five-part study course based on the film The Way. Starring Martin Sheen as a bereaved father, this soulful and uplifting film observes a group of pilgrims walking the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. As it follows their journey of inner transformation, the course examines biblical accounts and images of salvation – past, present and future – and addresses the questions: What are we saved from? What are we saved for? Who can be saved? What do we have to do to be saved? How are we saved?

This first comparative study sketches the differences as well as the common threads that bind these groups together.

Since the Chinese have, historically, always looked up to and encouraged their hermits, Bill Porter wondered whether these people still existed in China today. Roaming the landscape of the Chungnan Mountains, he discovered that they do indeed still flourish, and have extraordinary stories to tell.

Elena Wright Maguire has a problem: for nearly two decades, she’s used sheer will to hold together her safe, predictable, and mostly fulfilling life. Then she’s involved in a fender bender and all bets are off. She’s forced to confront a tragedy from long ago that threatens the sense of security she’s worked so hard to create. But as the aftershocks of the past unfold, it seems they just might have something to offer—for Elena and for us—in the journey of navigating the sometimes heartbreaking challenges of the here and now. Set in the foothills of Upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains, and spanning events over four decades, M. Reed McCall’s humorous, poignant, and endearing novel is a tender foray into the emotional landscape of family, friendship, and the kind of love that transcends boundaries, weaving an inspiring tale about what it means to hang on before learning to let go . . . and remembering how to keep living when you lose someone you love.

Hieronymous Bosch (c. 1450-1516) was a remarkable artist from the Netherlands who left an indelible mark on the imagination of the world. He was one of the few artists who rose above the conventions of his time and created a new visual language of macabre symbolism, sometimes a literal translation of verbal metaphors found in the Bible. He gave his imagination free rein in works, his paintings populated with grotesque scenes using images of demons and other fantastical creatures to portray the lacking morality of man. Bosch produced at least sixteen triptychs, of which eight are fully intact, and another five in fragments. His most famous work, The Garden of Earthly Delights, depicts the decline of the world through sin, a beautiful garden becoming a dark, fiery nightmare. Like so many of his pieces, it serves as a visual lecture on morality. Hertogenbosch, a city in the Netherlands and Bosch's hometown, celebrates the life and works of the artist in 2016, starting with the largest retrospective ever of Bosch's work being exhibited at the Noordbrabants Museum, 12th February - 8th May. Theatre, dance and musical extravaganzas inspired by Bosch's work will be performed around the city, including a spectacular light show that will be presented on the city's market square. Jheronimus- The Road to Heaven and Hell is essential reading for all Bosch enthusiasts and a perfect introduction for those new to this incredible artist.

Almost 60 percent of those in American evangelical churches believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. But if Jesus is to be trusted when he says that no one comes to the Father except through him, the church is failing in its mission. And it's not hard to guess why. An exclusive Jesus just isn't popular in our inclusive world. Dr. Robert Jeffress calls on Christians to recover the exclusive claims of the one they claim as Lord and Savior, not as a way to keep people out of heaven but as the only way to invite them in. He tackles questions like - Can people be saved who have never heard of Christ? - What about those who worship God by another name? - Do children automatically go to Heaven when they die? True compassion for non-Christians doesn't lie in letting them go their way while we go ours, but in sharing the only true way with them.