What are clergy for? In this lively and provocative volume, Alan Billings argues that they serve the mission and ministry of the Church, which is to make God possible. In each new era, how to carry out this mission effectively will vary, as the Church seeks to respond to changes in society and culture, but it is likely to involve clergy in a refocusing of their ministry. Part 1 of Making God Possible looks at recent cultural shifts and the challenges they present to Christianity in the twenty-first century. Part 2 explores some of the models of ministry which have been found in the Church in the past and which continue to exercise an influence: classical (the parson); evangelical (the minister); catholic (the priest), and utility (the social activist and personal therapist). The author skilfully draws out those things of lasting importance and value in each model that might contribute towards the renewal of the ordained ministry today.

We live in an age of skepticism. Our society places such faith in empirical reason, historical progress, and heartfelt emotion that it’s easy to wonder: Why should anyone believe in Christianity? What role can faith and religion play in our modern lives? In this thoughtful and inspiring new book, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller invites skeptics to consider that Christianity is more relevant now than ever. As human beings, we cannot live without meaning, satisfaction, freedom, identity, justice, and hope. Christianity provides us with unsurpassed resources to meet these needs. Written for both the ardent believer and the skeptic, Making Sense of God shines a light on the profound value and importance of Christianity in our lives.

From trusted author Don Cousins comes Unexplainable, a dynamic book designed to help people find true fulfillment by shifting their life view from outside-in to inside-out. Most of us live our lives from the “outside-in.” This means we try to order our external circumstances (family, finances, career, friends, leisure, etc.) in such a way that we feel happy, secure, and content within. But this approach simply doesn’t work. Few of us are ever able to get our life circumstances just as we want, and even when we feel we do, it doesn’t last. More importantly, the Bible makes it clear that God intended life to be experienced “inside-out.” Unexplainable will inspire you to pursue a life for which there’s no logical explanation apart from God.

Using yet untapped resources from moral and political philosophy, this book seeks to answer the question of whether an all good God who is presumed to be all powerful is logically compatible with the degree and amount of moral and natural evil that exists in our world. It is widely held by theists and atheists alike that it may be logically impossible for an all good, all powerful God to create a world with moral agents like ourselves that does not also have at least some moral evil in it. James P. Sterba focuses on the further question of whether God is logically compatible with the degree and amount of moral and natural evil that exists in our world. The negative answer he provides marks a new stage in the age-old debate about God's existence.

Herbert Cooper was headed down a very different road, living a reckless lifestyle that would have destroyed him in the end, but God had a different plan. He heard the gospel at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, at which he wasn’t even supposed to be, and he gave his life to Christ. Two words changed Cooper’s life: But God. These two words can change every single person’s life— But God. Each word is only three letters long. The phrase is short, but the implications are huge. The path may look bleak, dim, and hopeless...but GOD changes everything... We’ve all sinned - whether it is sex outside of marriage, a bitter heart, alcohol or drug abuse, cheating, or lying. Maybe you’re at a place in your life where it just feels like things are falling apart. Perhaps you’re portraying one thing on the outside and living something else on the inside. Maybe you are simply going through the motions of a life that’s not quite what you hoped it would be. These moments drag us down - leaving us feeling hopeless and lost. You need something to happen in your life to change. You need a But God... moment. The But God moments are when God comes in and offers a new path and hope for our lives. These moments occur when we are at are lowest, and turn our down-trodden worlds around for the better. It is up to us to recognize and seize these moments when they occur and follow the renewed path God offers.

Does God Have a Perfect Will for Your Life? Does God have a perfect will for each Christian? Can you be absolutely certain of God’s specific will for your life? In this expanded twenty-fifth anniversary edition of his highly acclaimed work, Garry Friesen examines the prevalent view on God’s will today and provides a sound biblical alternative to the traditional teaching of how God guides us. This new edition includes these helpful resources: • Study guide for small groups • Responses to Frequently Asked Questions • Guide to painless Scripture memorization Friesen tackles the very practical issues of choosing a mate, picking a career, and giving in this fresh and liberating approach to decision making and the will of God. Story Behind the Book Most Christians have been taught how to find God’s will, yet many are still unsure whether they’ve found it. God does guide His people, but the question is, “How does He guide?” After “putting out a fleece” to decide which college to attend, Garry Friesen began pondering why it was so hard to find God’s will when he had so sincerely sought it. Was he the only one who did not have 100 percent clarity for every decision? Then a new possibility struck—perhaps his understanding of the nature of God’s will was biblically deficient. Maybe there was a better way to understand HOW God guides.

Throughout history, arguments for and against the existence of God have been largely confined to philosophy and theology, while science has sat on the sidelines. Despite the fact that science has revolutionized every aspect of human life and greatly clarified our understanding of the world, somehow the notion has arisen that it has nothing to say about the possibility of a supreme being, which much of humanity worships as the source of all reality. This book contends that, if God exists, some evidence for this existence should be detectable by scientific means, especially considering the central role that God is alleged to play in the operation of the universe and the lives of humans. Treating the traditional God concept, as conventionally presented in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, like any other scientific hypothesis, physicist Stenger examines all of the claims made for God's existence. He considers the latest Intelligent Design arguments as evidence of God's influence in biology. He looks at human behavior for evidence of immaterial souls and the possible effects of prayer. He discusses the findings of physics and astronomy in weighing the suggestions that the universe is the work of a creator and that humans are God's special creation. After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God. This paperback edition of the New York Times bestselling hardcover edition contains a new foreword by Christopher Hitchens and a postscript by the author in which he responds to reviewers' criticisms of the original edition.

Drawing from her own personal experience and beliefs to write this inspirational book, beloved singer-songwriter Donna Fargo champions the importance of prayer in our daily lives. She writes of the direct connection with God that provides us with the strength we need to carry on in the face of difficult or trying times but also asserts that we must be our own advocate. We must choose our thoughts carefully and refuse to allow negativity or doubt to take away our hope. When you read Donna's thoughtful messages, you'll be reminded that there are no limitations with God, and even when the path ahead seems unclear, He is guiding your steps. With patience and perseverance, trust that your prayers will be answered and that the best is yet to come. This 7.3-x-5.2-inch, 44-page Heart-to-Heart hardcover gift book from Blue Mountain Arts is printed on high-quality textured paper, perfect bound, and fully illustrated. Perfect for a friend or loved one who believes in the power of believing--or if you need your own reminder of the good plans God has for your life--these writings will remind anyone who reads them that it is faith that opens the door to our dreams and makes everything possible.

In this best-selling, award-winning book, now in paperback, Drs. Cloud and Townsend introduce eight persuasive principles that demonstrate how God enters both the heart-breaking situation and the life looking for more. These principles are applied to readers' lives so that their relationships will be better, they'll have more control over their lives, and their spiritual hunger will be satisfied.