What do the music of Metallica and Bach, the film Crash, and stories about Batman have in common? According to author and pastor John Van Sloten, God can speak through all of them if we're listening. Out of his own often startling and sometimes wrenching journey of discovery, Van Sloten shows how God can speak to us through anything and everything heavy metal music, R-rated films, sports, and even the latest fashions. This book might just change the way you hear God's voice and how you live in today's world.

A Walmart greeter, a nurse, and an astronaut walk into a church. . . . They each bring with them their own exhaustions and exasperations, their own uncertainty about whether and how their work matters to God. Good news: All work matters to God, because all work reflects some aspect of the character of God. God created the world so that it runs best when it mirrors Him, and we ourselves find the most fulfillment when we recognize God behind our labor. John Van Sloten offers a fascinating and innovative reflection on vocation: Our work is a parable of God; as we work, we are icons of grace.

Want to know what's different about the Reformed/Presbyterian faith and how having a Reformed perspective can change your life? This brief overview is a useful guide for inquirers, new Christians, small groups, education classes, those making profession of faith, and more. The four chapters include useful sidebars that provide interesting tidbits, explain terms, and suggest shortcuts for those with limited time. Each chapter concludes with open-ended discussion questions that encourage reflection and investigation.

Tells the story of the creation of the Master of puppets album and the subsequent tour.

Dean Borgman, a nationally known youth ministry expert, offers a new edition of his influential classic. Reaching a broadly ecumenical audience, this book challenges readers to think about the theological nature of youth ministry. Questions for discussion and reflection are included. This thoroughly updated edition was previously published as When Kumbaya Is Not Enough. Praise for the first edition "Writing with the lens of a theologian, the heart of a pastor, and welcome doctrinal breadth, Borgman has provided a 'field book' of pastoral theologies that takes seriously the social systems shaping the lives of adolescents. This book is a significant step toward the long-awaited conversation about theology and youth ministry in postmodern culture."--Kenda Creasy Dean, Princeton Theological Seminary; author of Almost Christian "In this excellent work Borgman brings theological integrity, depth, and years of wisdom like nothing else I have seen in our field."--Jim Burns, author of Teenology: The Art of Raising Great Teenagers

Heavy Tales is the detailed never before told story as lived by Jonny Zazula on how he founded Megaforce Records out of a flea market in New Jersey with his wife Marsha and built a dynasty unmatched by many others forever changing the scope of Heavy Metal. The bands they worked with would go on to release some of the most prolific and important albums in Heavy Metal History giving it it's Golden Era. As a renegade youth who went from living on the city street to later work on Wall Street and then moving unexpectedly towards the music business, when in the winter of 1982 he received an unexpected demo tape of the underground, unsigned band Metallica while working in a flea market. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce Records in 1983 and released Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All. Through this release Megaforce had cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for Heavy Metal but that's just the start. Heavy Tales details the stories of how Jonny worked miracles by managing and releasing albums by Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, Ace Frehley, King's X, Ministry and others. With a foreward written by Chuck Billy and over 100 photographs unearthed from the MegaVault and photographer friends, Heavy Tales is definitively an American story of a family man with a dream to prove to the world that Heavy Metal belonged on the stage, on the radio and in your living room. H.C.M. Jonny Zazula is the co-founder of Megaforce Records and CraZed Management. A lifelong music disciple and avid Nightmare Before Christmas toy collector he now spends retirement with his wife, Marsha, and the dogs in Orlando, Florida.

(If You Like). In hard rock history, there is the time before Metallica and there is everything that has come since: metal, punk, industrial, grunge, alternative all of it absorbed, transformed, and reinvented by the band that, for decades, has ruled as both the Beatles and the Stones of heavy music. From garage rock to the avant-garde, indie pop to hardcore punk and, of course, all shades of metal, If You Like Metallica... illuminates the sounds and styles that influenced and have been influenced by this band, in addition to nonmusical elements such movies, books, and cultural iconoclasts. Just as Metallica expanded heavy metal to new meanings and new possibilities, If You Like Metallica... expands being a fan of the band to an education and a treasure hunt that, put as bluntly as a devil-fingered salute to the face, rocks.

Tolerance and co-existence are both great! In fact, they are necessary. If we are to live together in peace without hating each other, or physically harming each other over differences in race, culture, sexual orientation, political views, and religious beliefs, we must have tolerance. However, we must also recognize that every belief can't be equally valid. If two beliefs directly contradict each other, both of them cannot be true, no matter how "tolerant" we become. This means it is false to say that every religion is true, or that every religion leads to God. When people make such claims they show that they have not taken the time to study the world's religions, because a brief reading of the sacred texts of only a handful of religions quickly reveals contradictions on the most fundamental levels. Religious Contradictions Reincarnation (Hinduism and Buddhism) contradicts the belief that this is your only life before eternity (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). Salvation from sin (Christianity) contradicts the belief that there is no sin to be saved from but simply pain that can be escaped through enlightenment (Buddhism). Jesus Christ is the incarnate, Son of God (Christianity), contradicts the teaching that he is just a prophet (Islam) or that he was a false prophet (Judaism). In light of these contradictions alone, all religions can't be true. They could all be false, but they can't all be true. Are any of them true? This is the most important question anyone can ask. Recognize religious contradictions. Embrace them. Test them. Seek the truth. www.contradictmovement.org

How do we Follow Jesus and fulfill His purpose for our lives here on earth? This book focuses on drawing from the Bible the seven essentials to following Jesus. You'll not only learn essential information about Jesus, but you'll be stirred to seek and know Him personally; discovering Jesus' heart for you and His purpose for your life. This book is great for all those who are committed to Following Jesus. Whether you're new to your relationship with God or you've been following Him for years, this book will encourage and strengthen your faith and it will equip and empower you to share your faith and disciple the people in your world! For more resources to go along with the book, visit FOLLOWINGJESUSBOOK.COM

World-renowned environmental scientist Cal DeWitt is widely regarded as a pioneer in opening the eyes of the Christian community to the wonders of God's Creation and the dangers of its degradation by human beings. With the rare combination of scientific rigor, poetic imagination, and a deep Christian faith, DeWitt probes the twin books of God's Word and God's world, nudging us toward grateful stewardship and praise, joining the doxology of all creation.