Chasing An Elusive God

Is there anyone “up there” to hear our cries for help? Will there ever be justice in this world? Why do we suffer? Is there life after death? Is there a meaning in history? How will it all end? Is there a God? What do we mean by “God” anyway? The answers are in the Bible, some say. But are they? This book is a guide to reading the Bible not to find answers but to hear the urgency of the questions and to realise that those who wrote the Bible were searching too. They searched in many different ways. Sometimes what they say seems alien to our way of thinking. Sometimes we feel they are kindred spirits. Sometimes they challenge us to think again. Often they argue with one another, and as we read their words and respond to them we become part of the ongoing conversation. This, rather than false notions of “authority”, is what makes the Bible relevant and exciting. ,

What meanings can be ascribed to the existence of God? This question has been investigated by prominent thinkers throughout the ages, and led several of them to suggest arguments for proving this existence and explaining its meaning. The first part of this book reviews some of these proofs and their criticism. Following this discussion, it suggests a new meaning and characterization of God as a connector between different types of entities. This idea sheds new light on several interesting problems, including the emergence of plurality in reality from the unity of God. The second section deals with God and the human mind, and focuses mainly on the mind-body bifurcation problem, the problem of free will, and the existence of consciousness and soul. The third part discusses several problems associated with God and the world. Special emphasis is laid here upon God and the laws of nature, the creation of the universe, and the impact of modern Physics on the belief in God’s existence.

Mainstream Christian denominations are facing critical decline in the United Kingdom. Church leaders call for new strategies for growth but will these be effective? In this book, Adrian Alker calls for an honest look at the life of Jesus and the faith of the Church and suggests a radical and more honest reshaping of the churches to enable them to face the challenges of the present day. The author has been ordained as an Anglican priest for over thirty years and recognises the important contributions which church congregations can and do make to their communities and the wider world. He passionately believes that the Church must become more Jesus shaped and less concerned with its own structures and beliefs in order to attract new members.

Chasing Mystery is an exploration into how the Bible negotiates the presence and absence of God in the hopes of forging a path in the modern situation where absences often seem more pressing than presences. Amid the prevailing skepticism and restlessness, says Walsh, we must relearn the skill of trust in reading Scripture. The aim is to experience God through holy writing.

"This book represents a compilation of two events, an Advent series of seven sermons preached alternately by Ray Vincent and John Henson at St. David's, Pontypridd, and John Henson's talks during another Advent given at the Othona Community in Dorset, England"--Page xiii.

The Old Testament prophets were not just predictors of things that would happen long after their time. Nor were they purveyors of religious platitudes. They were people with an urgent message for their own generation and a passion to declare it whatever the risk. They were singers, poets, demonstrators and protesters, radical critics of their own society and dreamers of a world that could be different.

Recovering the Lost Art of Contentment The biblical practice of contentment can seem like a lost art—something reserved for spiritual giants but out of reach for the rest of us. In our discontented age—characterized by impatience, overspending, grumbling, and unhappiness—it’s hard to imagine what true contentment actually looks (and feels) like. But even the apostle Paul said that he learned to be content in any and every circumstance. Paul’s remarkable contentment was something grown and developed over time. In Chasing Contentment, Erik Raymond helps us understand what biblical contentment is—the inward gracious spirit that joyfully rests in God’s providence—and then how we learn it. Giving us practical guidance for growing in contentment in various areas of our lives, this book will encourage us to see contentment as a priority for all believers. By God’s grace, it is possible to pursue the high calling of contentment and anchor our joy in God himself rather than our changing circumstances.

Are you feeling stressed, Christian? What exactly is stress? Where does it come from, and how does it really affect us? More importantly, what does God have to say about stress? Isn't stress like the impartial rain, falling on both the just and the unjust? How would a Christian handle stress differently from anyone else? There is good news! God promises to give His children special help when it comes to dealing with stress. Are we taking full advantage of the gifts He has given us? Are we living out the peace, joy and victory that is available to us? Find out how in this full length Christian self-help book, with workbook-style activity pages after every chapter. Perfect for both personal use and small group study.