The God You Thought You Knew

Popular Apologist Corrects the Record on What Christianity Is All About The Christianity our culture rejects may not be true Christianity at all. So many people today believe they have to be good to be accepted by God, or that the Bible is just a list of do's and don'ts, or that God is far away and unapproachable. Instead of providing "proofs" about God and the Bible, in this book Alex provides a reason to want to know Jesus. By sharing his own story of the loneliness and alienation of his youth, Alex taps in to universal fears of rejection and loneliness. We all seek acceptance and purpose--and there's only one solution. Learn how to be anchored in the Truth and security that comes through Christ.

When’s the last time you were captivated by Jesus? Crowds clamored, women wept in awe, disciples dared to do the impossible—all because of Jesus. Somewhere in the overly familiar we’ve lost our fascination. Whether you’re worn thin, filled with questions, or desperate for more of God, come encounter Unexplainable Jesus. Experience the culture and customs of His day and follow Him into a life unimaginable. This study features: in-depth study of Luke (40 lessons over 8 weeks) historical and cultural insights soul-searching questions access to extensive online resources Step into the streets of Jerusalem and encounter the Jewish Rabbi who turned the world upside down. After rediscovering Jesus on the pages of the book of Luke—or maybe discovering Him for the very first time—you’ll see there is no other plan, goal, ambition, or Person worth following but Jesus. Plus, check out the Unexplainable Jesus DVD, which contains hours of all-new video teaching content from Erica Wiggenhorn.

We struggle to like our enemies. God asks us to love them. Our cupboards are bare. God asks us to make Him a feast. We cannot walk. God asks us to carry our burden. We think the secret is trying harder! The God we thought we knew made us clench our spiritual teeth in frustration and struggle to merit His approval. That God tantalized us with the prospect of eternal life, held just beyond our reach, so we spend our lives striving to be better and falling short of His standards. But the real God asks us to die. Then He patiently molds each persevering, yielding sinner--each living sacrifice--into His divine image. The real God does not ask us to deserve forgiveness. Only to accept it. Meet the real God. Let Him transform your relationships. You'll never be the same.

Many people tend to read the Bible at the surface level and accept and obey what is there unquestioningly. This book takes an entirely different approach. It encourages readers to be honest and bold to acknowledge seeming shortcomings and question them. Who is bold enough to admit that the Genesis account of our origin is a weird story too difficult for an intelligent mind to accept and embrace? Even worse is the story of the Fall that sounds more like myth than fact. Why couldnt God forgive a mere peccadillo and let the couple continue living in paradise? The book is not a call to rebellion or irreverence. It appeals to intelligence, maturity and imagination to read between the lines, dig deep, connect the dots and uncover the rich treasures hidden there. It even veers into hallowed grounds and dares to question piously held views. How did Jesus, for example, end up with Judas in his camp of hand-picked disciples? What was he thinking? What a price he paid for what was clearly a bad choice! The book forges into areas where readers have been mum, bringing to the fore violence and brutality, and questions how they could be associated with God the Father of his gentle Son, Jesus. But the pauses are mere signposts of something rich hiding underneath. The God You Thought You Knew is a compendium of rich treasures gathered from a trip across the Scriptures that will generate a new excitement for Gods holy word.

If you accept evolutionary theory, can you also believe in God? Are human beings superior to other animals, or is this just a human prejudice? Does Darwin have implications for heated issues like euthanasia and animal rights? Does evolution tell us the purpose of life, or does it imply that life has no ultimate purpose? Does evolution tell us what is morally right and wrong, or does it imply that ultimately 'nothing' is right or wrong? In this fascinating and intriguing book, Steve Stewart-Williams addresses these and other fundamental philosophical questions raised by evolutionary theory and the exciting new field of evolutionary psychology. Drawing on biology, psychology and philosophy, he argues that Darwinian science supports a view of a godless universe devoid of ultimate purpose or moral structure, but that we can still live a good life and a happy life within the confines of this view.

Wade Bearden thought he had religion figured out. He grew up in church, read through the entire Bible by age ten, and even did puppet shows to positive Christian music. As a young adult, he became a pastor and taught theology classes at a local university. But after watching friends die, losing two jobs, and seeing his own father diagnosed with cancer, Wade found his faith failing. He realized that his ideas about God were far too comfortable. They were good excuses to be safe and affluent, but not anything that could stand up to disappointment and suffering. Somehow, along the way, he had traded an ancient, powerful Christianity for a Christianity made in the image of success and well-being. In 'Failing Faith,' Wade uses humor and stories of personal pain to detail his journey to recapture what was lost-his journey to find a richer, more meaningful faith that bears the weight of depression, loss, and even comfort.For anyone whose faith was crushed by the real world.For anyone trying to reconcile a loving God in the midst of sadness.For anyone looking for a faith that finds its roots in Jesus rather than the American dream.Failing Faith is a unique, emotional, and often funny take on what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a dark, materialistic world.

God isn't far away; He's near. God isn't watching from a distance; He's active and involved. God doesn't want to ruin your life; He wants to fulfill it. Too many people stumble through life with an inaccurate view of who God is. They believe in His existence, but don't know how to relate to Him in a practical and meaningful way. As a result, they fail to achieve anything beyond a superficial relationship with their Creator, and live less-than-fulfilling lives. In "WHATEVER, GOD", Fr. Anthony Messeh attempts to change that. He shares his unique story and the lessons he's learned that helped him go from a "don't-get-too-close-to-God-because-He-might-ruin-your-life" Christian, to a fully devoted "I-can't-get-enough-of-God-in-my-life" believer. In his own words, "I wrote this book to show you what that life can look like, and help you take a step or two to get there. My goal is to help you see where God wants you to be . . . how He wants you to live . . . and what your life should look like and could look like if you allow Him to lead it for you." All you need is to say, "WHATEVER, GOD" and you'll see for yourself that God is REAL, God is RELEVANT, and God is always REWARDING.

Are you restless and looking for more out of life? Do you desire a deeper experience of God’s love and mercy? Have you been searching for freedom, peace, fulfillment, and joy? You can find all of these things in the story of Jesus Christ. But be aware—it’s nothing like you’re expecting. In Jesus: The Story You Thought You Knew, Deacon Keith Strohm invites you not just to read about Jesus, but to have a transformative encounter with him. This isn’t a book of theology, or an abstract story with little impact on your real life. It is the story that can and will transform you if you’re open to it. In these pages, you will discover who you truly are and what you were created for. You will meet Jesus, not simply as an historical figure, but as our living and present Savior and friend. Encounter – again, or for the first time – Jesus Christ, who lives ... and changes lives. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Deacon Keith Strohm is a deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago and the former Director of the Office for the New Evangelization in Chicago. A well-known international speaker and conference keynote, he has helped tens of thousands of men and women hear the Gospel message and encounter the mercy, love, and power of Jesus Christ. Deacon Keith has extensive experience in creating and sustaining processes and programs of evangelization and formation at the group, parish, and diocesan level that focus on the making, maturation, and missioning of disciples of Jesus Christ. He is also a long-time teacher and collaborator with the Catherine of Siena Institute. He is a co-author, along with six other collaborators, with Sherry Weddell for the book Becoming a Parish of Intentional Disciples—a follow up to the bestselling book, Forming Intentional Disciples.