Christianity Is Easy Until Tragedy Strikes

Losing a child is probably the worst thing that can happen to any parent. However, people can experience many types of tragedies depending on their situations. If a parent gets ill with alzheimers or any other disease, that can be a tragedy for the child as well as the parent. Yet when another person loses a pet, that can be a tragedy for him or her. We all experience some type of tragedy, sometimes many, during our lifetime. My most recent tragedy was the loss of a child. In the book, I discuss my faith as connected to the tragedy. In writing this book, I hope that I can touch people's lives. There are so many people out there who are hurting and struggling through life because of their current situation. My Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ. He has begun to heal my pain and ease my burdens. My prayer is that he can do the same thing for you and your family!

Finally, a summary section provides a brief synopsis of at least one title, representative of the author's style, and several of the writers have provided personal annotations of their works."--BOOK JACKET.

Find the Freedom of Authentic Faith Over a decade ago, best-selling authors Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton exposed the dangers of what they called "toxic faith," helping countless believers to discern between religion and relationship and overcome their spiritual baggage. Drawing upon an additional ten years of observation and personal experience, Steve and Jack offer new insights in the search for lasting joy, fuller freedom, amd greater understanding, anda more honest experience of God. Be set free from man-made rules, churchianity, Phariseeism, judgment, and legalism. Easily recognize misconceptions of religious performance, accountability, and fear-based duty. Return a grace-filled life with your Father and friend. More Jesus, Less Religion points the way back to the balance of grace and reveals how to escape the pitfalls of repressive religion once and for all.

This is the third volume of poetry by author Bill Granse. Granse is a poet who in earlier years, struggled with issues of alcohol and mental illness. He is now doing well in recovery. This volume of Christian Challenge deals with the authors strong faith. The works are spiritual and uplifting. Readers interested in Granses insights reflecting his earlier times of turmoil will enjoy his first two volumes of collected poems. Bill Granse was a very successful college English instructor and has a rich background of literary knowledge. His midlife was marked by the turmoil mentioned above, and now his life has come full circle.

Lamentations is a book that has never had a place of honor at the table of Christian spirituality. This is an unfortunate state of affairs because its challenging poetry has much to offer. This volume explores the how the biblical book of Lamentations may be engaged afresh so that it can function as Holy Scripture for the ekklesia. Four main chapters consider issues in hermeneutics, exegesis, the use of Lamentations in worship, and pastoral reflections. These chapters have been supplemented by seventeen reception history studies written by an international team of Jewish and Christian scholars. These studies introduce a wide range of interpretations and uses of the book of Lamentations from throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity. They include examinations of the use of Lamentations in Isaiah 40-55, the Targum, Rashi, and contemporary Jewish thought, the Patristic period, Calvin, Jewish and Christian worship, music, Rembrandt, and psychological and feminist interpretation. Appendices include new English translations of LXX Lamentations and Targum Lamentations.

The Crisis: People who are in rebellion are not the only ones with hard hearts. The dictionary defines hard when it applies to matters of the heart as being "cold; insensitive; callous; unfeeling; unyielding." This malady has stricken every Christian in some area of their life. This is what keeps us from hearing the voice of the Lord and being led by Him in our everyday lives. The Cause: The condition of our heart is determined by what we focus our attention on. It doesn't matter what we know, it's what we think on that controls whether our hearts is hard or soft (Proverbs 23:7). Once this is understood, this same law that will sensitize us towards God can be used to harden us towards the devil. The Cure: The Cure for a hardened heart is a total commitment to keep our minds stayed on the Lord. This teaching will give you one of the clearest understandings of the relationship between faith and unbelief that you have ever had.

Religion and Mental Health: Research and Clinical Applications summarizes research on how religion may help people better cope or exacerbate their stress, covering its relationship to depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, well-being, happiness, life satisfaction, optimism, generosity, gratitude and meaning and purpose in life. The book looks across religions and specific faiths, as well as to spirituality for those who don’t ascribe to a specific religion. It integrates research findings with best practices for treating mental health disorders for religious clients, also covering religious beliefs and practices as part of therapy to treat depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Summarizes research findings on the relationship of religion to mental health Investigates religion’s positive and negative influence on coping Presents common findings across religions and specific faiths Identifies how these findings inform clinical practice interventions Describes how to use religious practices and beliefs as part of therapy