Showing results by narrator "Tim Dixon" in All Categories

When Jesus looks for grace in your church, it’s like spotting the sunrise in the dark sky. The smallest rays of grace eclipse sin, each sunbeam from the Spirit stirring the heart of the Son. Unfortunately, apart from the Spirit, we don’t naturally see the church as Jesus does.

In the tradition of The Inside of a Dog, top science writer and TV personality Jay Ingram shares new insights into the hearts, minds, and bodies of the animals who love us (or do they?). More than one billion pets live in homes around the world, sleeping on dog beds, clawing at cat trees...

The Puritan movement began in England during the sixteenth century and continued all the way into the early eighteenth century. Although the Church of England was formed as a result of the Reformation, the Puritans believed it needed much more reform. The book concludes with ten important lessons readers can learn from the Puritans and study questions to help them retain these fascinating stories and assist them in applying the lessons to their lives.

Les Misérables, the powerful story of Jean Valjean's redemption, is beloved by readers, listeners, and theatre-goers everywhere. Why? Because Victor Hugo's epic novel explores, through Valjean's heroic journey and transformations, truths and delusions about politics, morality, justice, religion, and both romantic and familial love. In this invaluable companion and guide to Hugo's masterpiece author John Morrison shares with Les Miz fans the spiritual depth and breadth of this classic novel and popular Broadway musical.

In Sons of Baseball, Mark Braff interviews 18 men who share their exclusive stories, ballpark memories, and the challenges and rewards of having fathers whose talents enabled them to reach the pinnacle of their profession. Each chapter is devoted to one son talking about his experiences, from the poignancy of one son’s disclosure that his dad has not been able to acknowledge his son’s sexuality as a gay man, to the humor of another son absconding with the groundskeepers’ cart in Cleveland.

The Power of Dreams tells the story of a couple, already in their 40s, who uprooted themselves from urban life to follow their dream of living in the wilderness. They settled in a remote mountain valley called Precipice Valley, part of the ancient trade route linking B.C.’s Chilcotin plateau to the Pacific Coast. These are the stories of how the two of them designed and hand-built a solar-powered, two-story post-and-beam house while learning to live off-grid and in harmony with nature.

Life can feel so full of conflict and struggle. It’s easy to lose yourself in the daily grind, the bills, the chores, the responsibilities.... Perhaps you sometimes find yourself asking, “Is this really all there is to life?” When grief and pain hit, you sit with your questions about why this is happening. We all have to navigate hard times, and that will inevitably lead you to question the meaning of life. But exploring deeper answers will bring you comfort, re-energize you, and help you find a sense of purpose and place.

C S. Lewis stands as one of the most influential Christians of the twentieth century. His commitment to the life of the mind and the life of the heart is evident in classics like the Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity―books that illustrate the unbreakable connection between rigorous thought and deep affection. This volume explores the man, his work, and his legacy―reveling in the truth at the heart of Lewis’s spiritual genius: God alone is the answer to our deepest longings and the source of our unending joy.

In these days of global crisis, thoughtful seekers increasingly turn to Native Americans for healing wisdom. The Sacred Pipe is the medicine, says Jay Cleve in this informative and practical guide to a key practice in Native American spirituality. The Hopi and other ancient cultures predicted our present age as one of transition into a New World. Cleve shows how the Pipe can facilitate transformation on both the personal and planetary levels. He explains its use in rituals such as the sweat lodge, the vision quest, and the sun dance, and in relation to the Medicine Wheel.

Nothing captivates the human imagination like the vast unknowns of space. Ancient petroglyphs present renderings of the heavens, proof that we have been gazing up at the stars with wonder for thousands of years. Since then, mankind has systematically expanded our cosmic possibilities. What were once flights of fancy and dreams of science fiction writers have become nearly routine. Space travel is a sometimes heroic, sometimes humorous, and always dangerous journey fraught with perils. Space Oddities brings unknown, offbeat, and obscure stories of space to life.

Among books that discern our reason for living, Sent to Soar is exceptional for its interfaith perspective and its appeal to people of all backgrounds. Reverend Poos-Benson mines the wisdom of the great spiritual heroes—Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed, Lao Tzu—to reveal a pattern in how God works in the world. He believes that God has sent us to fulfill a unique destiny. In order to find meaning in life, we must understand why we have been sent and then fulfill that purpose.

One of Bounds’ last published works, The Weapon of Prayer, emphasizes his belief that seeing God’s power, experiencing His miracles, and participating in His works relies on dedicated prayer. While receiving prayers is important to God, this communication is crucial for His people. Prayer is not only a religious responsibility, but it is also worship, growth, power, and the Christian’s lifeline. Bounds encourages Christians to practice and sharpen this weapon of strength in order to fully appreciate the gifts that can come from God.

In Preacher & Prayer, Bounds explains that prayer is the key to deeper, more impactful sermons as well as a life that is more genuine and modeled after Christ. Focusing on anything else leads to superficial sermons, tainted intentions, and a weak understanding of God. E.M. Bounds cites great men of God and their emphasis on consistent and intentional prayer. A pastor’s prayer life should be always growing—gaining depth and knowledge in time spent with God.

If you want to reach your full potential in life, you can't play it safe. If you're too risk-averse, you'll be resigned to mediocrity. But if you risk foolishly, you may destroy your life's work. In all this confusion, how can you be sure you won't end up asking yourself, what was I thinking? In this new book, David Ashcraft, pastor of a large and influential church, and Rob Skacel, licensed psychologist and executive coach, encourage listeners to embrace risk and to live their lives to the fullest potential, in order to both run and finish the race with no regrets.

The Bible is full of examples of persecution for those who follow God in faithfulness and obedience. From Abel to the prophets, from John the Baptist to the disciples, the men and women who testified to the Truth endured suffering and trials for their godly witness. In the Shadow of the Cross explores suffering and persecution throughout the entire Bible, including observations and studies from nearly 200 Christian scholars, both ancient and modern. It is one of the most thorough biblical studies of persecution available today, a valuable resource for every student of the Bible.

Paul Thagard explores the physiological workings and metaphorical resonance of balance in the brain, the body, and society. He describes the neural mechanisms that keep bodies balanced and explains why their failures can result in nausea, falls, or vertigo. Thagard connects bodily balance with leading ideas in neuroscience, including the nature of consciousness.

Longtime pastor and leading authority on church health, Mark Dever draws from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians to tackle 12 major challenges facing the church today. As he presents each challenge, Dever provides practical ways for individuals and churches to respond biblically. Writing for both church leaders and laymen, Dever insists that the health of the local church should be the concern of every believer and that God can overcome the most difficult of challenges.

When we sow our seeds in the garden of life, do we settle for a meager display of two or three flowers? Or, do we aim for a pageantry of rich colors and breathtaking beauty? So asks author David Bruce in these exquisite essays inspiring us to live an active spiritual life. Fresh and concise, he ranges in theme from living with purpose, spiritual practice, and digital distractions to reincarnation, the human condition, and advice on books and reading. Free of dogma, he helps the open-minded inquirer find ultimate meaning.

Let’s face it: sustained business growth doesn’t just happen. Growth must be planned for and executed, cultivated from a strategic standpoint and applied tactically at the front line, led by the right people, and focused on the right objectives. The Growth Advantage provides a blueprint for sustained and profitable growth for any business. It is designed to help companies build the ultimate competitive edge.

Many followers of Christ find it discouraging trying to maintain an active prayer life and end up letting that discipline fall to the side. E.M. Bounds, a dedicated prayer warrior himself, shows how much God does listen to prayer and how greatly he desires that his children reach out to him.