Faith For The Times From The Shadows Into The Marvelous Light

Our nation is currently in a unique and perilous time of division which includes our communities of faith. Unique in the sense that issues of faith are being used by many secular and sacred sources to exploit the divide of our nation further and perilous because if left unchecked, our nation could move to civil war. “Faith for the Times” first describes the political, social, and civil issues facilitating the division in our nation’s faith communities. Following those descriptions are discussions of methods to heal those divides supported by anecdotes and experiences from over thirty years of ministry in various communities of faith in the Washington D.C. area. Divisions in our nation exist in several ways, but in this writing, they are generalized into the three areas of political, social, and civil. What is most alarming about our times is that these divisions combine with the many existing divisions in the communities of faith in our nation. There have always been divisions between types of faith and there have been many conflicts between them throughout history. But it seems that since the turn of the century, beginning with the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York City, that conflicts among some of the major faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have escalated. What's more, with the accelerated political polarization of the Evangelical Christian community, divides between denominations of the Evangelical church have grown. In the first part of this writing, the author describes the dividing of our nation, and the role faith has played in that division. This is done by borrowing a technique used by David in the writing of his Psalms using the term "shadows". The author applies that term as the “shadows of faith” as an illustration how our faith influences our political, social, and civil expressions of living. The intent with Part 1 of this writing is to expose the complexity of the divide in our nation and how faith interacts with that divide. In Part 2 the author addresses how to close the divide by faith. There is no pretense in this writing to suggest a nation as big and diverse as ours could be united with this one writing. But there is a confidence portrayed in the text concerning what God has done in the author's faith journey that allows the writing of these words and ideas as something to ponder and perhaps light a spark to begin the healing process required of our nation. The reader is invited to embrace what may be a new conversation of faith. A faith that focuses more on what we have in common with other people of faith than what divides us. That passion has been birthed in the author because of a faith journey not of his choosing but by his experience. Being raised Catholic the author converted to Protestant as a young adult. Moving through several denominations by experiences of faith the result has been a faith and a passion to impact people for God, not for a particular denomination. The reader is invited to join this celebration of faith with the author.

How can the universal church know it needs a change, a renewal of truth, if the people don’t even know we have a serious problem? What if evil influence got into the foundation of our Christian doctrine back in the Dark Ages, hiding the true character of God, turning multitudes against the God of Jesus Christ, and stealing our faith and miracles? Wouldn’t you want to know it? These pages address the fables in our Christian doctrine and include the truth about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the one true God. I feel like a lawyer for God, and the evidence is pure Scripture. Knowing who God is and His design of divine partnership with His children will assist you in believing in the power of your own prayers that will produce your miracles. Without the church coming back to what Jesus taught about God, it could continue to render itself helpless against evil principalities and their hold on mankind. Isn’t it time God was out of the shadows? America and this world are desperate to see the miracles of God!

A personal testimony of salvation through life experiences, "Out of the Darkness" encourages consideration of God's invitation of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Author Cortland Jones provides insight on darkness and explores how God uses both circumstantial darkness and spiritual darkness to lead open hearts into a personal, intimate encounter with Him. Cortland shares stories of how he overcame difficult circumstances and how he has grown through God's unconditional love, providing his testimony of how God spoke the light of salvation into his world. "Out of the Darkness" presents a resource that includes biblical references from both the Old and New Testament to enlighten and encourage growth in the grace and truth of Christ on the subject of salvation. It reveals truths from the Bible about God's plan, purpose, fulfillment, power, and glory in salvation. Through Scripture and personal insights revealed through childhood and adulthood experiences, "Out of the Darkness "describes God's personal call for Cortland to walk away from the pain of the past, the torment of failure, sin, emptiness, and thoughts of a hopeless future. He offers this opportunity to grow in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.

A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.

Life's painful trials can bring shame about our inadequate and broken faith. There is relief in hearing the expressions of desperation in the psalmist's voice. He didn't experience this life perfected, and we don't either. But the psalmist was loved. So are we. God was so kind to give us the Psalms. To walk through darkened days is part of the human experience. To walk through them with faith, comfort, strength, joy, and hope is part of the divine experience. Our eyes, though, are often clouded to those blessings by the thing oppressing us. When we remember and recognize our Father's faithfulness, when we see reality with the eyes of understanding, the darkness ebbs and the light of hope grows. The impossible, unbearable, and unthinkable becomes the hidden passageway to truth, hope, and joy in Christ. These letters were originally written as encouragement to a friend when the darkness began to overtake his path. Each day for 22 days, a letter arrived with one of the eight-verse sections from Psalm 119 along with a small thought to bring light and hope and to be a reminder that we do not fight our battles alone. The letters, along with nine more devotions on the subject of experiencing God in the dark, make up this powerful, honest, hope-filled 31-day devotional.

Living in the Shadows of a Rich and Sick Society is a chilling reality depicting the rising level of violence among teens, increased alcohol and drug abuse, and the continuous exploitation of children, which has become a widespread phenomena that has developed into a scandalous situation in our homes, schools, communities, and that all too often ends up in many grave yards. The spiral of youth problems and issues has created challenges for our schools, the police, the courts and our neighborhoods. It is my belief that solutions to most of these problems are no longer a local matter. Our government must establish a national new team philosophy and commitment to address the physical, social, economical, psychological and technological problems of our youth in our changing world. It is my belief that the social problems of teens, youth violence, and miss education will continue to become major issues for a very long time unless some immediate and drastic actions are implemented. In spite of the advancement of technology and the achievements in education, businesses, government, and faith institution, there is no single source within our societies that is more important that is in danger than the foundation of family The day break of a new culture is at hand in which the youth culture must be taken very seriously. It is time for a cultural make over. Our civilize society can no longer wait for an early afternoon break. In a rich republic like ours, we can no longer side step our civic responsibilities of knowing that the foundation of the family is in danger. The new day is now. Tomorrow is not promised. Our civilized society can no longer wait for an early afternoon. Immediate action is need to address the black sheep attitude of this nation. Our young people are restless. They have been awakened to the misgivings of their adult counterparts. Do as I say, but not as 1 do. There is a silent revolution taking place in our youth culture of internet forums to challenge our institutions, may be for good or for evil actions. However, soon they will be no more silent in the outcome. The youth population must be taken very serious concerning their aggressive disobedience to parents, their uncaring attitudes towards their peers and civic disorder to institutions Government, both state and local jurisdictions, will need to reassert their methods in developing regional strategies and collective programs that at times will call for a national approach for an effective comprehensive solution to counteract the silent psychopathic nature that are taking hold of our society. It is quite evident from my experience of working in schools, the community and the correctional institutions that violent behavior by youth is very serious and extreme and must be corrected immediately. In times like these, someone must be able to speak about the wrongs of government without fear and limitations. The voice of the sick, lame and the poor must be represented in all chambers of society. As we look around to the greed and corruptions, the crimes, the abuse and violence we can see a decaying state of affairs crashing down with shattering forces ready to destroy the family and our learning institutions. Needless to say, most families are not equipped to keep pace with increasing technological changes that are taking place. The level of advertisement and marketing techniques have cast a double shadow in which the haves are joining the haves and the have nots. Living in the shadows of a rich and sick society is an attempt to look at the five major institutions of civilization with a spiritual vision of hope and institutional reconciliation. A vision where the institutions of the family/home, schools, places of worship, commerce and government win dream new dreams for equitable action and just resources and services, to reverse then ever ending spiral of unrest if we fail to addressing the needs of our future generation. Today, God is can

These notebook leaflets--which were first published in the 1920's--printed to make available to ministers and gospel workers choice materials that are found in the Ellen G. White manuscript and letter files. The series is composed of four groups of leaflets:CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE--which has 16 chapters covering many of the experiences which Christians go through in this life.THE CHURCH--containing eight chapters on doctrines and the Scriptures.EDUCATION--six chapters such as home training and church school.METHODS--thirteen chapters showing how to present truth and using medical missionary work.