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BOOK HIGHLIGHT – Idols of the Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone written by Elyse Fitzpatrick

240 pages | $13.99 | Paperback | Published: 2002

Summary: Many people desire to live godly lives but feel trapped in habitual sins. This book reveals that idolatry lies at the heart of every besetting sin.

“Demonstrates how ‘false gods’ generate the garden-variety sins of irritability, self-pity, escapism, and anxiety, as well as anger, despair, addictions, and panic. Fitzpatrick shows how Jesus Christ retakes our lives from these idols, setting up his reign over our attention, loyalty, and affections.” – David Powlison

Table of Contents: Click HERE

About the Author:

Elyse Fitzpatrick counsels with the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship and is a frequent retreat and conference speaker. Fitzpatrick coauthored Women Helping Women, a 1998 Gold Medallion finalist; Love to Eat, Hate to Eat; Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety; and Uncommon Vessels: A Program for Developing Godly Eating Habits – as well as P&R titles: Idols of the Heart, The Afternoon of Life, A Steadfast Heart, and coauthored You Never Stop Being a Parent. She and her husband, Philip, have three adult children and two grandchildren.

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Our mis­sion is to serve Christ and his church by pro­duc­ing clear, engag­ing, fresh, and insight­ful appli­ca­tions of Reformed theology.

NO FLUFF. NO BRICKS. JUST GOOD NEWS! I believe that God is powerful enough to use all my weakness and sin to make me contagiously grateful for grace.

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BOOK HIGHLIGHT – Ministries of Mercy by Timothy Keller

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road written by Timothy Keller

240 pages | $12.99 | Paperback | Published: 1997
Also available as an ebook:
Kindle: Click HERE
iTunes/ePub: Click HERE

Summary: Like the wounded man on the Jericho road, there are needy people in our path—the widow next door, the family strapped with medical bills, the homeless man outside our place of worship. God calls us to be ministers of mercy to people in need of shelter, assistance, medical care, or just friendship.

Timothy Keller demonstrates that caring for needy people is the job of every believer—not just church deacons—and is as fundamental to Christian living as evangelism, nurture, and worship. But Keller does not stop there. He shows how we can carry out this vital ministry as individuals, families, and churches. Along the way, he deals perceptively with many thorny issues, such as the costs of meeting needs versus the limits of time and resources, giving material aid versus teaching responsibility, and meeting needs within the church versus those outside.

Sample Chapter: Click HERE
Table of Contents: Click HERE

 

About the Author:

Timothy J. Keller (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) is senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, and the author of the best seller The Reason for God. He previously was associate professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and director of mercy ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.

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Our mis­sion is to serve Christ and his church by pro­duc­ing clear, engag­ing, fresh, and insight­ful appli­ca­tions of Reformed theology.

Timothy Keller is the founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and City to City.

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Author Interview with Brandon Crowe

This week’s author interview is with Brandon Crowe, author of the Christian Answers to Hard Questions Booklet: Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin?

 

  • Question #1 – Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what do you do in your spare time, etc.

I am from the South. My wife and I grew up in Alabama, but we have more recently lived in Florida, Scotland, and now Philadelphia where I teach at Westminster Theological Seminary. When I’m not working, I am usually spending time with my children—doing something active or perhaps playing with Legos or cars.

 

  • Question #2 – When did you first want to write a book?

I’ve always enjoyed literature and history, and I did a fair amount of writing in high school and college, but I wrote even more in seminary. I suppose I first thought of writing a book when I considered applying to Ph.D. programs. One of the draws of pursuing further graduate work was the opportunity to study a biblical-theological topic of interest in depth for several years and write what amounts to a book on the issue.

 

  • Question #3 – Do you have a specific spot that you enjoy writing most?

I can write in a variety of settings—sometimes in a comfortable chair, sometimes at a desk at home, rarely at a coffee shop—but I prefer to write in my office where most of my books are. I often need to pull out a volume to look up or check something, so being near books is a big plus. When I’m writing I like to set up a workstation around my computer with the resources I need at my fingertips.

 

  • Question #4 – What book are you reading now?

I generally have a number of books in process at once, and I am often reading for the purposes of course preparation and/or academic research. Currently I am reading much on the life of Christ in the Gospels and in Christian theology for a writing project I am working on.

 

  • Question #5 – Do you have a favorite movie? What is it and why?

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite movie, but if pressed I would probably opt for the nostalgic classic Star Wars (the original, of course). Happily, my children are now fans of Star Wars so I have a chance to relive my own childhood on a consistent basis.

 

  • Question #6 – Favorite sport to watch? Why? Favorite sport’s team?

My favorite sport and team to watch is Atlanta Braves baseball; it’s hard to beat taking in a game of America’s Pastime (especially in person). In spite of baseball’s preeminence, I also very much enjoy the excitement and tradition of college football.

 

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How can readers discover more about you and your work?

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Adventures in the American Revolution by Susan Olasky

Adventures in the American Revolution, previously published by Crossway Books (short-listed for the Crown Book Awards), gives young people an exciting look at life during America’s War of Independence. These 4 books are written by Susan Olasky. They are written from the perspective of a young Annie Henry, the daughter of Patrick Henry.

 

Book 1 – Annie Henry and the Secret Mission

To read a sample chapter click HERE

Page Count: 96

Summary: With war on the horizon, Patrick Henry must often be away from his plantation and family. But his ten-year-old daughter Annie is determined to help the cause for freedom in any way she can.

Book 2 – Annie Henry and the Birth of Liberty

To read a sample chapter click HERE

Page Count: 112

SummaryWith her father and famous patriot, Patrick Henry, away from home, Annie bravely deals with problems of her own. And when she least expects it, she witnesses the birth of liberty itself!

Book 3 – Annie Henry and the Mysterious Stranger

To read a sample chapter click HERE

Page Count: 128

SummaryA new home in a governor’s mansion means new troubles for Annie. As she deals with others’ high expectations of her, a scary stranger tells her that her dad is “important” . . .

Book 4 – Annie Henry and the Redcoats

To read a sample chapter click HERE

Page Count: 104

SummaryMoving from the capital city, Williamsburg, to a frontier town doesn’t mean less trouble for Annie! Especially when being in Richmond brings her closer to the Revolutionary War than she’d ever counted on . . .

***Price: $7.99 each or the set of 4 for $27.99        Click HERE to order the set.

About the Author:

Susan Olasky cofounded and chaired the Austin Crisis Pregnancy Center in Austin, TX. She is author of several books, book review editor, and senior writer for WORLD magazine.

 

Author Interview with Robert Kellemen

This week we get to learn more about Bob Kellemen, author of Equipping Counselors for Your Church: The 4E Ministry Training Strategy, Anxiety: Anatomy and Cure, and Sexual Abuse: Beauty for Ashes.

 

  • Question #1 – Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what do you do in your spare time, etc.

I was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. I did not grow up in a Christian home, but came to Christ as a freshmen in high school. I have been married to Shirley for 34 years. We have two young adult children and two grandchildren. I am the Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and also the Elder Chairperson and Teaching Elder at Cornerstone Community Church in Hobart, IN. My wife and I live in Crown Point, Indiana, where we enjoy tennis, biking, hiking, and hosting large parties. I like to run and I am a fan of all Chicago professional sports teams.

 

  • Question #2 – When did you first want to write a book?

I have always loved writing, but it was when I began as a seminary professor at Capital Bible Seminary that I really started thinking about writing a book. My students kept saying, “Your lecture notes are more helpful than any of the books you require on biblical counseling. You should write biblical counseling equipping books.” So I did!

 

  • Question #3 – What inspired you to write this book, about this topic? If you choose this question and have published more than 1 book with us, please specify which book you are referring to.

I have published three books with P&R. I was inspired to write Equipping Counselors for Your Church because there had not been a book written on this topic in a generation. Since I have equipped counselors in three churches and since I taught seminary students and pastors how to equip counselors, I wanted to share some best practice wisdom with local church leaders.

I have also published Anxiety: Anatomy and Cure. I was motivated to write this booklet because few people have a practical theology of emotions, including anxiety. I wanted to share a unique biblical perspective on how even a distressing emotion like anxiety can be brought under the cross. The gospel provides a hope-filled journey from anxiety and fear to trust and peace.

I also published Sexual Abuse: Beauty for Ashes with P&R. My counseling ministry has focused or specialized in helping victims of sexual abuse. I wanted to share a gospel-centered message of healing hope—one where we look in particular at the story of Tamar’s abuse in 2 Samuel 13. In this passage we learn what the Bible teaches about the damage of sexual abuse and what the Bible teaches about God’s healing in Christ.

 

  • Question #4 – What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I love to help aspiring authors. Several of my books I co-authored with first-time writers and that has been a joy. Advice? Find your passion and your giftedness and even before you write about it—teach about it. Do a Sunday school lesson. Create a seminar. Then begin to manuscript what you are saying. Before you know it, you have created the foundation for a non-fiction book that has been tested in “the trenches of real life.”

 

  • Question #5 – Favorite sport to watch? Why? Favorite sport’s team?

I love watching the Chicago Bears (football). Why? Hmm, maybe because I used to watch “Da Bears” with my dad when I was a child.

 

  • Question #6 – Favorite animal? Why?

The American Bison. I collect bison art/carvings. Why? Our family went on a three-week Western vacation when our kids where in middle school. Our church was going through a difficult time. When I read about the “comeback” of the American Bison, it made me think of coming back from the brink and then also of Christ’s resurrection power. Since my personal ministry is called RPM Ministries (Resurrection Power Multipliers), I like the imagery of the Bison coming back from extinction. Christ’s power within us can renew everything.

 

  • Question #7 – Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia? Why?

Wow. That’s a tough question. I like both. We read The Chronicles of Narnia to our children when they were in elementary school—what wonderful memories. Because of that, I give the slight edge to Chronicles, but I am a big-time fan of both book series.

 

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Interested in learning more about Bob Kellemen and his work?

Visit his website: http://rpmministries.org

Follow him on Twitter: @BobKellemen

Like his Facebook Ministry page: RPM Ministries

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