Meet Josephus Hezekiah Carson a born again, spirit filled, Christian man called to sing the gospel. There is something else worthy of note about Josephus. Josephus Carson is a same gender loving man queer, gay, homosexual. Journey with him as he travels the gospel highway, rubbing shoulders with the likes of James Cleveland, Clara Ward, Mahalia Jackson, among others. Journey with him as he explores the wild world of Sex, Alcohol, and Gospel Music. Journey with him as he finds love and success in a world filled with hate and disappointment.

Ministering to Gay Teenagers was originally published in November 2012. This edition is revamped with approximately 80% new material incorporating wisdom the author has since learned, in addition to valuable feedback received from his youth ministry peers. When it comes to ministering to gays and lesbians, far too many churches have chosen silence over service, or a reactive stance over proactive involvement. But congregations must abandon their comfort zone and minister to a group of people who need to experience the love of Jesus in powerful, tangible ways. With truths drawn from his own personal experiences, youth pastor Shawn Harrison seeks to equip youth workers, parents, and churches in ministering to gay teenagers, their families, and the gay community at-large. The church must not compromise truth, he says, but it should not withhold grace either. How gay students first encounter God—personally and communally—and how Christians react to them can determine subsequent steps in their faith journey. Ministering to Gay Teenagers is filled with wisdom and practical advice on how to respond when a student comes out and how to help the teenager’s family through that journey, too. This book will equip leaders and parents with solid answers to the questions families ask. And it will challenge youth workers and churches to consider how to practically serve and minister to a group of people who seek deep authenticity in love, character, truth, and presence.

“There I go again, not doing what I want to do and, instead, doing what I don’t want to do. What kind of Christian am I, anyway? Even more: “Who am I, anyway?” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many Christians, perhaps most, have wondered the same thing. Glorified Rubble: Rebuilding the True You (The You God Intended in the First Place) is the journey of a man who spent years after he became a Christian wondering it about himself, feeling trapped in a sin he didn’t want nor how to get out of. A sin most of the church didn’t want to address, except to condemn. A sin that made him feel like a second-class citizen, separate from other Christians. But the man knew he was saved and he loved Jesus. Finally determined to break free of the trap, he turned to the Holy Spirit to teach him directly from scripture how to overcome sin as a Christian. To his amazement, he discovered core biblical truths that applied to him and all Christians – core biblical truths much of the church has lost sight of and are shrouded by secular ideas and language. Glorified Rubble: Rebuilding the True You (The You God Intended in the First Place) is more than a man learning how to overcome sin in his life. It’s a clarion call to every pastor, church leader – every Christian – to return to core biblical truths: the systematic unfolding of the Word of God from Genesis through Revelation. The need to replace making church goers with making disciples! A Reformation!

True to Our Native Land is a pioneering commentary on the New Testament that sets biblical interpretation firmly in the context of African American experience and concern. In this second edition, the scholarship is cutting-edge, updated, and expanded to be in tune with African American culture, education, and churches. The book calls into question many canons of traditional biblical research and highlights the role of the Bible in African American history, accenting themes of ethnicity, class, slavery, and African heritage as these play a role in Christian Scripture and the Christian odyssey of an emancipated people.

The church is going through a time of severe fracture over the issue of homosexuality. This book addresses the arguments from the gay Christian movement and revisionist theologians and exegetes on a single point: Can they withstand the evidence of the primary sources? In Unchanging Witness, Donald Fortson and Rollin Grams articulate the consistent orthodox view on homosexuality by presenting primary sources throughout Christian history and by interpreting the biblical texts in their cultural contexts. The first part of the book examines church history from the patristic period to the present day, and the second part engages biblical texts in light of Ancient Near Eastern, Jewish, Greek, and Roman primary sources. Throughout, the authors survey the conflicting and changing arguments of revisionist readings and contend that, in light of the overwhelming evidence of the relevant texts, the real issue is not one of interpretation but of biblical authority and Christian orthodoxy.

An evangelical Christian examines the impact of sexuality, the LGBTQ+ movement, and the future of the church in this thoughtful, deeply researched guide to navigating and mending the social and political division in our families and churches. As a teenager and young man, Justin Lee felt deeply torn. Nicknamed "God Boy" by his peers, he knew that he was called to a life in the evangelical Christian ministry. But Lee harbored a secret: He also knew that he was gay. In this groundbreaking book, Lee recalls the events--his coming out to his parents, his experiences with the "ex-gay" movement, and his in-depth study of the Bible--that led him, eventually, to self-acceptance. But more than just a memoir, TORN provides insightful, practical guidance for all committed Christians who wonder how to relate to gay friends or family members--or who struggle with their own sexuality. Convinced that "in a culture that sees gays and Christians as enemies, gay Christians are in a unique position to bring peace," Lee demonstrates that people of faith on both sides of the debate can respect, learn from, and love one another.

Recently, and seemingly overnight, the once cliche slogan "God Bless America" became almost a national mantra. John MacArthur gets to the heart of the matter by asking the questions most Americans choose to ignore: "Should God bless America?" and "Is America deserving of blessing?" Turning to the Old Testament, he presents the simple truth of God's word, his blessing has always had conditions. MacArthur calls the Nation to turn back to God by showing us how we can become a nation that is once again blessed by God.

This clear and accessible treatment of key biblical themes related to human suffering and evil is written by one of the most respected evangelical biblical scholars alive today. Carson brings together a close, careful exposition of key biblical passages with helpful pastoral applications. The second edition has been updated throughout.

Gagnon offers the most thorough analysis to date of the biblical texts relating to homosexuality. He demonstrates why attempts to classify the Bible’s rejection of same-sex intercourse as irrelevant for our contemporary context fail to do justice to the biblical texts and to current scientific data. Gagnon’s book powerfully challenges attempts to identify love and inclusivity with affirmation of homosexual practice. . . . the most sophisticated and convincing examination of the biblical data for our time. —Jürgen Becker, Professor of New Testament, Christian-Albrechts University