Dramatic Encounters With God

Walk with Christ through ancient Jerusalem as he encounters the man with the withered hand, John the Baptist, Judas, and four other New Testament characters in this book of dramatic sketches by Nicole Johnson, the Women of Faith dramatist. Nicole uses her talent for storytelling to help us be there with Christ and see the scenes with new eyes and understanding, bringing to life lessons that apply to our modern lives.

This book began when the author realised that, when people said they were fascinated by particular biblical passages, they were usually ones that presented dramatic encounters between people and between God and people. Such are the passages interpreted in this book. They usually set a vivid scene that heightens the dramatic nature of the encounter, and animated dialogue often directly ad- dresses the reader. There is also animated action that is vividly striking and often sudden and unexpected. These features involve the readers themselves and may question them about what they expect. Indeed the dramatic encounters provocatively lead to unex- pected new life in the future.

This book began when the author realised that, when people said they were fascinated by particular biblical passages, they were usually ones that presented dramatic encounters between people and between God and people. Such are the passages interpreted in this book. They usually set a vivid scene that heightens the dramatic nature of the encounter, and animated dialogue often directly ad- dresses the reader. There is also animated action that is vividly striking and often sudden and unexpected. These features involve the readers themselves and may question them about what they expect. Indeed the dramatic encounters provocatively lead to unex- pected new life in the future.

This book explores a series of Dramatic Encounters, from the Gospel of St. John where a variety of persons come into contact with the Lord Jesus, and these contacts have a profound impact on their lives. Webster defines drama as: A poem or composition representing a picture of human life, and accommodated to action. These human characters come from divers backgrounds, with a variety of issues and hang-ups, but one thing they all have in common, when they encounter the Savior, the status quo of their lives is severely interrupted. The hidden recesses of their hearts are exposed to the light of day and the power of His presence always produces a response. It is impossible to be in the presence of Christ without being affected by Him.

Ranging from gritty, real-life vignettes to imaginative retellings of biblical events, Paul and Nicole Johnson's stories appeal to all. As actors they believe that "drama is the back door to the heart" and that life contains the fingerprints of God's grace.

Close Encounters with God presents a study of multiple close encounters with Yahweh, the name of God in Hebrew Scripture. These encounters enable us to have a clearer portrayal of the self-revealed God, one who is different from the conceptualized deity envisioned through such means as transcendental meditation, vision quest, or mystical rapture. By rediscovering the true personality of the self-revealed God, we will be able to understand the great mysteries of the universe that have baffled mankind for millennia. Why do the blameless suffer? Why does evil persist in the world? Why do the wicked prosper? Must the chosen people suffer the destiny of martyrdom? And why should Yahweh remain the hidden God?

Gold Medallion winning author, Elmer Towns, tells the stories of men & women whose God encounters are recorded in the Bible, & reveals how you can encounter God & be forever changed. Includes personal testimonies of God encounters from such renowned Christian leaders as Billy Graham & Oswald Chambers.