Describes how evangelist and minister Wang Mingdao emerged from humble roots to take a dramatic stand against the state-sponsored Chinese churches.

"Acquainted with Grief, written between 1938 and 1941, begins as a charade (what is the significance of the strange mock-Spanish dictatorship that serves as the story's locale: Mussolini's Italy in harmless disguise?). It proceeds sinuously while various provincial characters drift past and around the principal players--Gonzalo, the misanthropic bachelor and his poor fluttery mother caught in a web of social pretensions. By the close there is a terrible cry of death and despair not unworthy of the culmination of a Pirandello play. One can look at this bizarre novel as a symbolic attack on Fascism (later corroborated in Gadda's That Awful Mess on Via Merulana) but, as the introductory note makes clear, Gadda is really working out a private obsession-the Oedipal situation of his own life. And the long sequence where the villagers enter the deserted villa and discover the bloody Senora perhaps "murdered" by her departed son has a hallucinatory poignancy shocking in its nakedness, moral and otherwise. Here Gadda strikes through his lordly mask and speaks with true power." (Kirkus Review, March 1, 1969)

Acquainted with Grief" is a deeply moving non-fiction Christian book that presents the riveting life story of a Marine Corps veteran who experiences the ravages of childhood trauma, PTSD, and alcoholism. This gripping narrative is a beacon for adults grappling with childhood trauma, painting a vivid picture of its profound and lasting effects. Growing up in a household marred by alcoholism, the author found solace in the structured environment of the Marine Corps, where he was able to channel his frustrations. Dispatched to Vietnam, he faced the horrors of the Quang Nam Province, taking the lives of hundreds of North Vietnamese soldiers while wrestling with the Christian injunction to love one's enemies amidst the carnage of war. The author's experience in jail marked a turning point, where he embraced Christianity. He strove to save himself through the Christian ministry, seeking an escape from the trauma and pain he'd endured. However, a decade later, he suffered a mental breakdown. This setback triggered a 25-year-long spiral into alcoholism, interspersed with three divorces, two bankruptcies, and the haunting shadows of the Iraq War. "Acquainted with Grief" offers guidance on how to help a friend with alcoholism, making it an invaluable resource for those trying to understand and assist loved ones on the difficult road to recovery. For adults confronting childhood trauma, it provides a stark, honest look at the long journey toward healing and redemption. A striking testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the book shows how, in the depths of despair, the author finally surrendered his struggles to the Lord. This surrender marked a crucial transformation, in which he discovered that the grace of God is always available, regardless of one's sorrows or grief. Ultimately, "Acquainted with Grief" illuminates how to practice the presence of God, providing insights on experiencing the peace of God, even in the throes of addiction and trauma. This inspirational narrative encourages readers to trust in God as their strong tower, the shield of faith, and eternal salvation, reaffirming the belief that God will never forsake those who surrender to Him. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking understanding, compassion, and hope amidst personal turmoil. Its compelling narrative reaffirms the power of faith and the enduring capacity for redemption and healing in the face of life's most challenging trials. It is a beacon of hope for those struggling with PTSD, addiction, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma.

Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Hurt is real. But so is hope. Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism about the hurts of life-yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life. This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering-whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer. It is a book to buy for yourself, or to buy for a member of your church or friend. For anyone who is hurting, this book will give hope, not just for life beyond the suffering, but for life in the suffering. Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.

Losing a loved one is a shattering experience, and life is never quite the same afterward. But God is always be there to help the grieving pick up the pieces, giving comfort, strength, guidance-even joy. Writing from personal knowledge and the experience of others, author Faye Landrum provides sixty brief devotionals to help those who've suffered loss through this most difficult time of life. With a focus on Jesus Christ, who was Himself acquainted with grief, this easy-to-read devotional affirms the emotional struggles every grieving person faces, while encouraging progress in the reader's own time.

My name is Lois Burrell, and very early in life, the Lord impressed upon my heart to be a missionary. I grew up with this desire planted deep within my soul. Being saved as a young teen aged girl, I wanted nothing more than to shine for Jesus Christ and be a testimony and a witness wherever I found myself in life. Such a desire and a zeal comes at quite a cost. I didn't know it would, and I just stumbled along the best I could, wondering why it was so hard to serve the Lord. Service for the Lord always brings persecution from those that would stop you. I didn't understand the molding and the making at the Potter's wheel, or the pruning of the branches. I just saw the pain and the heartache, and little joy. It wasn't until I was a much older Christian that I realized how the trials that we go through make us who we are. Those trials either push us away from the source of our strength or pull us up close to our loving Saviour, Jesus Christ. Some of my deepest, darkest moments were times when I thought that I had been forsaken, but I hadn't. I only had to open my Bible again and read the words in that blessed Book and see the promises of His faithfulness to me. Those sorrows, pains, and agonies in life that I have gone through are also the ones of which my Lord suffered. All of it has pulled me close to Him. He is my Strength, and my Shield. What more can I do for Him? If He wants to use my life in grief, then let it be so for I am acquainted with it.

At the age of thirty-nine, Christian theologian Todd Billings was diagnosed with a rare form of incurable cancer. In the wake of that diagnosis, he began grappling with the hard theological questions we face in the midst of crisis: Why me? Why now? Where is God in all of this? This eloquently written book shares Billings's journey, struggle, and reflections on providence, lament, and life in Christ in light of his illness, moving beyond pat answers toward hope in God's promises. Theologically robust yet eminently practical, it engages the open questions, areas of mystery, and times of disorientation in the Christian life. Billings offers concrete examples through autobiography, cultural commentary, and stories from others, showing how our human stories of joy and grief can be incorporated into the larger biblical story of God's saving work in Christ.

My story is not just about me; it includes my parents and my siblings who also bore the hurt and sorrow inflicted. Sadly, the grief and disappointments that festered in our home were the products of alcoholism; a disease, an illness that isn't caught like the flu only inherited. But an inheritance that can be denied, if desired. Some might think my stories lean more toward fiction or that I embellished for the sake of entertainment. I wish they were fiction or stories embellished. I envy the individuals who have lived the so-called normal lives that were filled with peace and unselfish love that did not hold conditions to its occasion. I am telling my story because my children asked me to. They have struggled over the years trying to understand my logic, my reasons for being like I am. Of course, much has mellowed with age; or I should say, much has been disabled with age. I am still the warrior inside, the man who compromised after the fight, the person who agreed to disagree after we settled the disagreement. The hurt has healed and been forgiven; but the sorrow continues with the memories. Tears still fall when an old familiar song resurrects a day's heartache, a wrenching goodbye, or the parting of a beloved pet. The joys and laughter of the few good times I cherish as the brush of angels wings while in the presence of God. They arrived so infrequently that when they did, I held them ever so tightly so not to forget any detail of the happiness enjoyed if only for a few moments.

Originally published in 1935, Gold by Moonlight was not written by the well for the ill, but by one who knows the sensitive lessons that come from a walk with pain. This book is for all who are walking in the difficult places of life. It is a literary signpost pointing toward the peace and comfort that only comes from the Lord. A spiritually rich book, full of courage for anyone who suffers. “Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the adversities of life? Then this encouraging and comforting book is just for you. Written by Amy Carmichael who has known pain and suffering herself and has an amazing capacity to guide a weary soul back into God’s presence.”—Prayer Tray Illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs.