Join pastor and bestselling author Charles Swindoll as he explores the lives of 13 biblical hidden figures whose stories have remained in the shadows of history for long enough. Somehow life has taught us poorly. We're trained to think that the most significant people are star athletes, actors, and musicians--the ones we applaud, those whose autographs we seek, or those who have worldly fame. But Swindoll teaches us that most often, the people really worth noting are those who turn from a 'nobody' into a 'somebody' but never receive credit. Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives reminds us of a core truth: success in God's kingdom and in the church depends upon faithful people the public rarely knows. The Old Testament contains numerous fascinating stories of forgotten lives--unsung heroes whose actions, sacrifices, or battles failed to ascribe them worldly applause. These great lives, however, reveal significant people whom God honors in the pages of His Word and, therefore, deserve our serious attention and emulation. From the misfortunes of Esau to the bravery of Abigail, each of these unlikely heroes has four unique elements in common: A selfless sense of devotion A mission A love of harmony A contagious joy Join Swindoll in this eighth volume of the bestselling Great Lives from God's Word series as he examines little-remembered Bible characters and events, helping you discover biblical principles and practical applications for living so that you can be who you already are in God's eyes--a person of true significance.

In concert with the million-selling Great Lives series of books, comes the newest addition to the Great Lives study guides. Focusing on a dozen of the heroes and their stories of leadership, trial, and tribulation found within the Old Testament, renowned pastor Charles Swindoll illuminates the lives of such characters as: Lot, Abraham, Noah, Solomon, Jonah, Deborah, Isaiah, and Ruth. Modeled after the other workbooks in this series, feature sections include Digging Deeper, an examination of Christian belief and practice; Taking Truth to Heart, guidance for personal reflection and living a Christian life; In Other Words, a selection of quotes and questions from a variety of authors for meditation and application; Treasures from the Text, including directed study from the Scriptures themselves and Nuggets of Wisdom, specific encouragement from the Pastor himself. Versatile enough for use in small groups and as a church curriculum, as well as individual study.

"Portrait of twelve lives from the Old Testament whose lives have great lessons to teach us"--Provided by publisher.

This devotional features daily insight taken from Charles Swindoll's Great Lives series. Each day, readers will find a scripture reference and a devotional thought taken straight from one of the Great Lives of the Bible. These lives offer hope to all of us. They show that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary men and women, and offer insightful perspective on what it means to be truly spiritual men and women after God's own heart.

What can the incredible life of Moses teach us about modern Christianity? When you face your personal Red Sea, will you be prepared like Moses was? Join pastor and bestselling author Charles Swindoll as he explores the life and legacy of Moses, a man of selfless dedication. In Great Lives: Moses, the fourth book in his bestselling Great Lives series, Swindoll teaches us that our decision to go forward in life instead of retreating will be bolstered by studying the astonishing story of Moses. Swindoll gives us the facts based squarely on the truth revealed in God's Word. He also fills in the fine-line details of Moses' life with emotion and feeling, because Moses, like all of us, was a human being with faults and frailties. And finally, Swindoll helps us apply the lessons of Moses' life to our own daily dilemmas. From the Moses who tried to decline his assignment from God to the Moses who received the Ten Commandments, Swindoll shares his journey in a new light, inspiring you to: Find strength and confidence in God's power Embrace failure with grace Become a servant leader in your own life Come along with Swindoll as he invites you to travel far back to another place in another era--allowing us to focus our attention on one man's life, clinging closely to his side. Hopefully, as a result, our lives will never again be the same.

We live in a time when things are tough for a lot of folks. The boomers are beginning to feel anxiety as they move toward retirement. Many people are facing financial pressure and are up to their ears in debt. We are having to care for both our kids and our parents. The pace of life, and the demands of life, just keep getting more intense. And for many, these tough times bring life crises. This is a book of encouragement, hope and freedom... an invitation to meet Christ at the crossroads of our lives and move beyond the tough times.

Lying at the crucible of Central Europe, the Silesian village of Kupferberg suffered the violence of the Thirty Years War, the Napoleonic Wars, the World War I. After Stalin's post-World War II redrawing of Poland's borders, Kupferberg became Miedzianka, a town settled by displaced people from all over Poland and a new center of the Eastern Bloc's uranium-mining industry. Decades of neglect and environmental degradation led to the town being declared uninhabitable, and the population was evacuated. Today, it exists only in ruins, with barely a hundred people living on the unstable ground above its collapsing mines. Springer catalogs the lost human elements: the long-departed tailor and deceased shopkeeper; the parties, now silenced, that used to fill the streets with shouts and laughter, and the once-beautiful cemetery, with gravestones upended by tractors and human bones scattered by dogs. In Miedzianka, Springer sees a microcosm of European history, and a powerful narrative of how the ghosts of the past continue to haunt us in the present--Provided by the publisher.

In The Forgotten Desert Mothers, Laura Swan introduces readers to the sayings, lives, stories, and spirituality of women in the early Christian desert and monastic movement, from the third century on. In doing so, she finally sets the record straight that women played an important and influential role in early Christianity, indeed a role that has been long overshadowed by men. She begins with an exploration of the historical context and spirituality of the desert ascetics. Then she weaves together the sayings of the major desert ammas, or mothers, along with commentary that invites readers to reflect on their own spiritual journey as they share their wisdom. The book then journeys between desert, monastery and city to reveal the stories of ascetics and solitaries whose stories are rarely heard, organized in the author's own alphabetical collection. The Forgotten Desert Mothers demonstrates, like no other work, that women have long had a history of leadership in Christianity. This engaging, eye-opening, and insightful work targets all faith seekers looking to reclaim the history and spirituality of the women who came before them, as well as to understand their own inner journey. It will be a welcome addition to courses on early church history, women's studies, and religious studies.

In a world where faith is fading and integrity is rare, the life and legacy of Joseph shine bright, showing us that following God brings hope even in the worst of circumstances. Join bestselling author Charles Swindoll as he sheds light on a man whose tenacious faith kept him strong in the face of temptation, danger, and torment. Great Lives: Joseph presents a fresh look at one of the most intriguing characters in the Old Testament and focuses on the virtue of forgiveness in the face of deceit and betrayal. From his famous multi-colored coat through the jealous rage that prompts his brothers to sell him into slavery to his astounding rise to national power, Swindoll follows Joseph through temptation, imprisonment, his ascension in Egyptian society, and the brothers who deceived him. Despite the incredible challenges he faced throughout his life, Joseph stood firm, exemplifying what's possible when ordinary people maintain their connections with God. In Great Lives: Joseph, the third installment in Swindoll's bestselling Great Lives from God's Word series, Swindoll traces the life and legacy of a man who exemplified grace under pressure, teaching us how to: Be quick to forgive Live with integrity Trust God every step of the way Joseph's story reads like an epic novel, filled with intrigue, tension, temptation, and torrential emotions--but it heartens us as we face the same kinds of difficulties today, proving that we can triumph over whatever life sends our way.