Journey Through The Wilderness

Reprint of the original.

On the one-hundred-fiftieth anniversary of the Civil War, award-winning author Frye Gaillard reflects on the war -- and the way we remember it -- through letters written by his family, including his great-great grandfather and his two sons, both of whom were Confederate officers. As Gaillard explains in his introductory essay, he came of age in a Southern generation that viewed the war as a glorious lost cause. But as he read through letters collected by members of his family, he confronted a far more sobering truth. "Oh, this terrible war," wrote his great-great-grandfather, Thomas Gaillard. "Who can measure the troubles -- the affliction -- it has brought upon us all?" To this real-time anguish in voices from the past, Gaillard offers a personal remembrance of the shadow of war and its place in the haunted identity of the South. "My own generation," he writes, "was, perhaps, the last that was raised on stories of gallantry and courage . . . Oddly, mine was also the one of the first generations to view the Civil War through the lens of civil rights -- to see . . . connections and flaws in Southern history that earlier generations couldn't bear to face."

Dear Reader, As I began to write this book I originally thought I would only share the past (15) months of my personal experiences and circumstances that led me to where I am today. I soon realized that in order to paint a clear picture of how I got to this place in my life I needed to go further back. As I reflect back to how this unusual journey started I must first begin with some life changing events which shaped the beginnings of this journey. As you read on you will experience a journey with circumstances that took place over a period of 12 years. So come with me as I take you on my journey into the heart of Jesus Christ.

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do we find it so hard to pull ourselves out of the depths of despair, to rise above our anxieties, fears and struggles? Why do our efforts to be good people, to treat others as we would want to be treated seem so fruitless? Why do we find it so difficult to avoid heartache, or at least to function in the midst of it? Using illustrations from his own life, John C. Lawton attempts to answer these questions through an exploration of who we are, who God is, and who we are supposed to be in Christ.

The book of Exodus not only tells the story of Moses and the Israelites but also uncovers a piece of your own story, and how God desires for you to live in His liberty every day. In this 8-week Bible study, you'll see how God reveals His presence and His attitude toward issues of injustice, leadership, and social responsibilities. Discover new insights into Exodus and be equipped to make long-lasting, God-honoring impacts in your community.

Father in heaven, through the Holy Spirit, You have faithfully kept Your promise and have carried us all the way through our journey of life with You. We owe all our life, love, obedience, and thanksgiving to You. In the glorious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray, amen. It was while reading the gospel of John that Randy Christianson first began to see parallels between Moses’ and Israel’s wilderness journey with God and our own journey in this world with Jesus. Journey through Life is a volume of fifty-two devotions that explore the resemblances of Israel’s journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom (abundant life) in Canaan and our journey from slavery of sin to freedom (abundant life) in Christ. Each devotion is divided into five sections that include a word or words whose meanings arise from a biblical perspective and end with a prayer and a verse of the week or day that summarizes the devotional. Throughout his devotions, Christianson reminds those belonging to Christ and spiritual seekers that God is faithful and never forsakes those who are in Christ, despite our daily struggle with sin.

This book is a multichapter introduction to spiritual formation within the Christian tradition. Corneliu C. Simuț discusses spiritual formation from the views of several Christian thinkers, with a chapter devoted to each thinker. The concluding chapter notes common themes shared by each thinker. The author presents some key Patristic, Medieval, Early Modern, Modern, and Contemporary theologians in a way that is characterized by brevity, concision, and clarity. Thus, this small book is a useful introduction to spiritual formation from a Christian perspective. It would be helpful for a college student or young adult who seeks to be educated on the subject. The conciseness of the book is a benefit. Yet the book raises interesting questions for further pursuit. A very succinct – but comprehensive – historical presentation of sanctification through the lens of spiritual formation, a concept which has been revived in the past two decades, especially in Evangelical circles, this text is useful for a college course in spiritual formation or religion.