Heaven Misplaced

Though most Christians refrain from predicting exactly when our world will end, many believe that when earth's finale does arrive, it will be a catastrophe. They expect that before Christ comes back to reclaim His own, Satan will escape his chains and return to wreak havoc on our planet. Details vary, but the general assumption is the same: things will get much, much worse before they get better. But is this really what the Bible teaches? Leaving aside the theological terms that often confuse and muddle this question, Douglas Wilson instead explains eschatology as the end of the greatest story in the world - the story of humanity. He turns our attention back to the stories and prophecies of Scripture and argues for "hopeful optimism": the belief that God will be true to His promises, that His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that the peace and good will we sing about at Christmas will one day be a reality here on earth.

Positive psychologists have proven that positivity leads to success, but most Christians in America have chosen to believe a single eschatological theory that leads to pessimism and cynicism. Pessimistic Christians put themselves in Christian bubbles and focus on self-preservation, and when a mind is clouded by negativity, interpretations of biblical prophecy lean toward the pessimistic possibilities. The fantastic writing of the Left Behind books has popularized premillennial dispensationalism with good intentions, but that interpretation of biblical prophecy teaches that sinfulness will continually increase until Jesus throws up his hands in disgust and secretly raptures worthy Christians, leaving behind unworthy sinners to suffer the wrath of the antichrist. Teaching that questionable theory produces negativity that hinders the Christian mission. When Christians believe that they cannot succeed in leading most of the world to Jesus, they will fail to put in the effort that success would require. Jesus, on the other hand, taught his followers that nothing will prevail over his church, and that teaching inspired them to sacrifice everything for the Christian mission. This is not a promise of prosperity without effort or of inevitable success, but biblical positivity is an energizing force that will help Christians flourish.

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • Set in Senegal, this modern-day Oliver Twist is a meditation on the power of love and the strength that can emerge when we have no other choice but to survive. “I loved this book because it is a story about generations of parents and children saving one another with a love so powerful that it transcends distance, time, and reason.”—Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Edward Six-year-old Ibrahimah loves snatching pastries from his mother’s kitchen, harvesting string beans with his father, and searching for sea glass with his sisters. But when he is approached in his rural village one day by Marabout Ahmed, a seemingly kind stranger and highly regarded teacher, the tides of his life turn forever. Ibrahimah is sent to the capital city of Dakar to join his cousin Étienne in studying the Koran under Marabout Ahmed for a year, but instead of the days of learning that Ibrahimah’s parents imagine, the young boys, called Talibé, are forced to beg in the streets in order to line their teacher’s pockets. To make it back home, Étienne and Ibrahimah must help each other survive both the dangers posed by their Marabout, and the darker sides of Dakar: threats of black-market organ traders, rival packs of Talibé, and mounting student protest on the streets. Drawn from real incidents and transporting readers between rural and urban Senegal, No Heaven for Good Boys is a tale of hope, resilience, and the affirming power of love.

Captain Benjamin Nyman Vizcarra, son of the wealthiest man in Mexico, has everything a young man could want. But in the days leading up to the Mexican Revolution of 1910, he finds himself questioning whether he can support the old regime--and more and more distracted by his brother's bewitching fiancee, Isabel. Accused and convicted of his father's murder after a fateful late-night encounter, Benjamin relives the events that led to his imprisonment. As he plots escape, a new question begins to form: will he run, or will he stay to confront his mistakes and win back the woman he loves? -- back cover.

A fresh, clear, joyful guide for parents on how to teach their children to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. GIVE THEM JESUS aims to help parents not simply add to their children's stockpile of knowledge, but to cultivate children-disciples who are able to display Christ-likeness in every situation. Parents are the ones primarily responsible for opening up the Scriptures to help their children understand God, the world, and themselves. The family is the divinely appointed discipleship program; the home is first and foremost a place of worship. The introduction of the book discusses the four vital components of family worship: teach, treasure, sing, and pray, and offers practical suggestions for beginning and prioritizing family worship in the rough and tumble of life. Subsequent chapters guide parents to a deeper understanding of the core truths of the historic Christian faith, as summarized in the Apostles' Creed, arming them with appropriate language, helpful illustrations, and relevant object lessons, so that in the end they will be better prepared to pass these truths on to their children. Each chapter concludes with a family worship guide, which includes: 1) family memory verses, 2) nuggets of truth from the chapter, 3) questions for family discussion, 4) songs that celebrate the truths of the Creed, and 5) prayer prompts. GIVE THEM JESUS equips parents to prepare their children to leave home and go out into the world as faithful participants in the great gospel story. "Never stop telling the gospel story to your kids," Thornton says. "Give your children Jesus. Again. And again. And again. And you'll see them walk in the truth."

"Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators." ~ G.K. Chesterton The book of Revelation was written to do just that: reveal. But most commentaries nowadays either engage in bizarre speculations about the future, or they keep an embarrassed distance from all the apocalyptic events that the apostle John says will “shortly take place.” In this commentary, Douglas Wilson provides a passage-by-passage walkthrough of the entire book, showing how John’s most notorious prophecies concern the Fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Explaining symbols and characters as he goes, Wilson shows from the text that not only is this book not an elaborate code, but that Revelation is not even ultimately concerned with the end of the world as we know it. Revelation is about the triumph of the Church, which always happens when the Man comes around.

Imagine what your Christian development would be like if ? you grasped the true character of God. ? you were captivated by appreciation of and love for God's Word. ? you were not frightened away by the ?haunted house? of Revelation. ? you appreciated how the early church's experience influenced the message of Revelation. ? you understood how various viewpoints on Revelation developed over time. ? you enjoyed a perspective which prevents tunnel vision. ? you understood viewpoints about which you were previously unaware. ? you esteemed fellow believers who have different understandings of Revelation. ? you appreciated how the meaning of Jesus? sacrifice is pictured in Revelation. ? you practiced the message of Revelation in everyday life. ? you were strengthened by an unshakable faith in God. ? your faith was heartfelt and growing rather than formal or ritualistic. ? you were strong enough to stand firm in the face of any and all spiritual opposition. ? you were known for your moral and spiritual purity. ? you were able to resist the seductions of our culture. ? you demonstrated the sacrificial style of Jesus rather than the self-serving style of society. ? you enjoyed the blessings of those who ?keep the words? of Revelation's message. ? your anticipation of Jesus? return rose above a distracting concern with earthquakes, wars, and developing social events. ? you appreciated your present and future spiritual realities. ? you were eager rather than fearful about the future. ? you enjoyed the depths of the relationship toward which God is moving us.

Papa Don't Pope evaluates some of the most important issues between Roman Catholics and Protestants, including personal interpretation, apostolic succession, sola Scriptura, and so on. So this little book should be a huge help for anyone (Catholic or Protestant) with honest questions, as well as for anyone looking to interact with the original Protestant vision. But what's the point in stirring up differences between Geneva and Rome? Don't we have enough division over church and theology already? The truth is, we don't have nearly enough clear disagreement--because clear disagreement is a necessary step on the way to agreement. So you could say this book has a catholic purpose (even if the future is clearly Protestant). The classical Protestant expression is Soli Deo Gloria. Roman Catholics might prefer Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam. May God hasten the day when we can say 'amen' to both.