Showing results by narrator "Boyd Barrett" in All Categories

Everlasting hell and divine judgment, a lake of fire and brimstone—these mainstays of evangelical tradition have come under fire once again in recent decades. Would the God of love revealed by Jesus really consign the vast majority of humankind to a destiny of eternal, conscious torment? Is divine mercy bound by the demands of justice? How can anyone presume to know who is saved from the flames and who is not?

In Out of the Embers, Bradley Jersak explores the necessity, perils, and possibilities of the Great Deconstruction—how it has the potential to either sabotage our communion with God or infuse it with the breath of life, the light and life of Christ himself.

The scriptures are an essential aspect of the Christian faith. But we have often equated them with the living Word himself, even elevating them above the One to whom they point. In doing so, we have distorted their central message - and our view of God. Tragically, this has caused multitudes of people unnecessary doubt, confusion, and pain in their encounters with the scriptures.

From the first puzzling sentence, Banker's Holiday—a euphemism for a federal bank closure—conjures the bleak and humorous world of Cincinnatus Stillman Fuller, a billionaire financier who suffers a breakdown in the middle of a Monday morning staff meeting.

Destined for Joy is a collection of essays devoted to the theme of the absolute love of God and the gospel of universal salvation. Written over a period of 10 years and revised for publication in this volume, they represent the fruition of the author’s theological and spiritual development over a span of four decades in parish ministry. If God has truly revealed himself in his incarnate Son Jesus Christ as absolute and unconditional love, does this not mean that he intends the salvation of all?

The question I address in this brief work is how Christ-followers might hold the tension of these two abiding and complementary truths: 1. Christ’s one-of-a-kind revelation 2. Abba’s all-inclusive love. I believe that Sacred Scripture and Christ himself affirm both these doctrines in a mind-blowing fullness. And yet those who enthusiastically profess either one of these two truths frequently do so at the expense of their complement.

One Sunday morning, John Thompson went out for a ride on his bike. He never made it home. Was his death really just a freak accident? That’s the question ex-wife, Angela Thompson, has for the sheriff’s office. But for some reason they refuse to investigate further.

He knows he’s more than just another washed-up ex-cop. Solving a murder will help him prove it... A straight-shooter who lives on a boat and likes a drink or two, Henry’s frustrated he can't even land work as a dispatcher. And his job running security for a local baseball team is far from his idea of excitement. But it pays the bills. The morning after the season ends, Henry’s at his friend’s bar with a Bloody Mary in one hand and a phone in the other. He takes a call that could change everything... Turns out a couple of fishermen pulled third baseman Lance Moreau’s body from the St.

Crisis! An explosive public meltdown. A violent incident in the psychiatric ward. Now the Pastor stares into the abyss of his own secret shame. Before he can be free, he must confront his demons and find grace. But will he let go? Will he allow himself to be healed?

For Caleb McRae—devout Baptist, Texas Ranger, hero of the Wild West—life is simple: lawmen bring bad guys to justice and hellfire's a sinner's fate. But Caleb's world turns upside down when he falls in love with the outlaw Henry Midnight...

Can Jack untangle the murderous web of lies and solve the case before he gets trapped in the killer’s deadly scheme? Murder in the San Juans is a gripping tale of betrayal in the formidable San Juan Mountains around Telluride, Colorado, and the fourth book in the suspenseful Mountain Resort Mystery Series.

In these four supernatural dramas, first broadcast on radio in 1984, a house hides more than meets the eye; a B & B landlady helps her guests forget their troubles; a Japanese man inadvertently awakens a vengeful spirit; and a mother and baby become unsettled in remote mill.

How far would you go to save the thing you cannot lose? Violent seeds grow bloody trees. In an instant, with a choice he never had the chance to make, Cole Traeger's life was ripped apart. Now, set on the path of revenge, he must reckon with his past, mistakes made, and games still to be played. But more than Cole's life hangs in the balance. This brutal story of family, grief, and revenge will take readers on a journey from grimy city streets and shootouts between rival gangs to the sprawling southwest and into Mexico.

The second in a series of Old West tales, this book follows the adventures of Lonnie as he encounters characters of ill repute, horses of great talent, and founders of old west towns.

I have loved researching the U.S. Old West to create this story. It covers horses, cattle drives, horseshoes and even poker games. The main character is Lonnie, a young boy with no apparent roots, who lands in trouble right away.

After a summer spent off the grid in the Colorado Rockies, Detective Jack Martin returns to Telluride and finds the sheriff looking for him. Local school boys have found a body in an abandoned mine with a long history of betrayal and greed. Law enforcement needs Jack’s help to find the killer. But when the number of murder suspects mounts, Jack finds himself in the dark, struggling to piece together the clues. And as his investigation intensifies, so does the danger. Will an avalanche of small-town secrets bury him alive?

After an insightful introduction on Tolstoy and his writing, Part 1 begins with Bradley Jersak's essay on Tolstoy's Confessions, a nonfiction memoir of Tolstoy's faith journey. Jersak (author of Out of the Embers: Faith After the Great Deconstruction, 2022) presents what he describes as an "Anatomy of a Great Deconstruction." He offers a description of each bend on the Tolstoy's spiritual path, along with some reflection questions that ask listeners to ponder their own spiritual progress or regress.

To be JourneyWise is to discover and live out the simple yet powerful truths of the Beatitudes. It is through the Beatitudes, which literally mean “blessings,” that Jesus gives us a new definition of significance before leading us to reflect on the deeper meaning of life, our relationship with God, and the interconnections we have with others. They speak to our friendships, actions, fears, prejudices, and joys. They are pragmatic, powerful lessons wrapped in simple words. In their simplicity and accuracy, the Beatitudes yield amazing results when practiced faithfully.

This contemporary Christian novel with an international setting is both spiritual journey and an adventurous romance story. But beyond that it is a challenge to discover a faith that can withstand disillusionment, deconstruction, and spiritual abuse. It is an invitation to follow Jesus with authenticity and humility and in doing so, discover a love of God that transcends any doctrine.

Twenty-six years ago, outlaw Billy the Kid’s tombstone was stolen from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Now, it has mysteriously been returned. When teenage brothers Pancho and Dorado Dumez steal it themselves, they get more than they bargained for.