Book Review - True Truth
Saturday, Jun. 12, 2004
Posted: 10:37:48AM EST
Have you ever tried to debate moral principles with someone
who doesn't believe they exist? If you have, you know
it's an exercise in frustration. In our anything-goes
society, even mentioning that there might be such a thing
as a moral absolute truth is a good way to get branded
intolerant, anachronistic, and a killjoy. And the more
frustrated we get with this state of affairs, the more
likely we are to turn the stereotype into a self-fulfilling
prophecy. That is, our frustration can easily turn into
anger, and our anger can begin to look very much like
the arrogance that we're already accused of harboring.
The goal that Christians need to strive for, argues scholar
Art Lindsley of the C. S. Lewis Institute, is "absolutes
without absolutism." In his excellent new book, "True
Truth: Defending Absolute Truth in a Relativistic World,"
Lindsley writes, "Just as a need to relate truth
to all areas of life does not make us relativists, so
believing that there are some moral absolutes does not
make us absolutists. … Absolutism might be defined
as being synonymous with a cluster of characteristics:
arrogance, close-mindedness, intolerance, self-righteousness,
bigotry, and the like." These are characteristics
that many people already associate with Christianity,
unfairly. And so these are the very characteristics that
Christians need to work especially hard to avoid. After
all, as Lindsley reminds us, the most fundamental doctrines
of our faith – our fallen state and our desperate
need for a Savior – are doctrines that make for
humility, not pride.
John Ma
john@jubileemission.com
Renaissance Authors Featured On Howard
Publishing's 2005 Spring Releases
Tuesday, Sep. 21, 2004 Posted: 10:06:27AM EST
Howard Publishing's Spring 2005 releases will include,
among others, titles by a well-known recording artist,
a familiar actress and award-winning authors.
Headlining Howard's lineup is Sandi Patty's new book "Broken
on the Back Row." A heart-touching narrative, Patty
tells the story of her long road to restoration-from her
years as an acclaimed recording artist balancing her role
as a mother of four, to her fall from public acclaim,
and the steps she worked through with her church and pastor
to find forgiveness and peace-all under the harsh glare
of national media attention.
Lisa
Whelchel, known for her role as "Blair" on
the sitcom "The Facts of Life" will serve
as spokesperson for The Motherhood Club, an innovative
new resource center for moms. Along with "The Busy
Mom's Guide to Prayer" by Whelchel, The Motherhood
Club will include an array of Christian living, fiction,
and gift-book titles, as well as future plans for a
Web site with chat rooms, a book club, annual events,
contests, e-newsletters, and more.
Rounding out this high-profile list,
the late Bill Bright and award-winning author Jack Cavanaugh
take the Holy Spirit to trial in "Proof,"
the first fiction title in the four-book Great Awakening
series.
Other notable titles in Howard's spring
lineup include: "The Power of a Positive Teen,"
the fifth book in Karol Ladd's popular Power of a Positive
series; "The Connected Family" by David and
Claudia Arp; "The Total Temple Makeover,"
a 12-week program for turning your body into a temple
you can rejoice in, by Dr. Gregory Jantz; "Becoming
Real" by one of the nation's most innovative storytellers,
Steven James; "Fateful Journeys," the second
book in Gary Parker's Southern Tides trilogy; and "Saving
Grace," Denise Hunter's sequel to "Mending
Places."
Source: www.churchexecutive.com
Justin Camacho
justin@jubileemission.com
'Hit Upon God': Overcoming
Obstacles In A Post 9/11 World
Tuesday, Sep. 28, 2004 Posted: 8:22:58AM EST
Gazelle Press has released Hit Upon God, an inspirational
book that presents a practical approach to overcome
seemingly insurmountable obstacles, achieve fulfillment,
develop greater appreciation for life, and find peace
in today's post-9/11 world.
The God- and prayer-centered book, written by Charlie
Hartley, was inspired by his reaction to the September
11th event and his desire to give people tons of hope
for the future. The author shares a wide range of real-life
stories about people overcoming difficult hurdles in
professional careers, academics, parenthood, sports,
childhood, and other aspects of life. Each chapter contains
practical, easy to apply advice on various ways any
human being can "hit upon God" to live better
lives.
"I want this book to give people
practical, immediately usable tools to help them feel
much more optimistic about their futures, despite the
horrors of 9/11 and all the troubling negative fall-out
since then," says Hartley.
"I wrote this book to give people
hope for their futures," he adds. "But not
just some hope--tons of hope--and much more peace of
mind and fulfillment than anyone ever thought was possible.
I want Hit Upon God to inspire and motivate people to
believe that countless reasons remain to appreciate
and love their lives and other people.
"The greatest hope is achieved
by starting with three key ways of hitting upon God,
what I call 'Life's Triple Play': First is to pray to
God and open your heart so He can communicate to you
His calling for your life. Second is to pursue this
calling with great and positive passion and intensity.
And third is to do this by controlling your thoughts,
ridding your mind of negatives, and always focusing
on the positives."
The book refutes many of society's
commonly held beliefs that prevent people from achieving
their great potential. Examples of such beliefs are:
That being passed over for job promotions
is career-ending and a sign of failure. Such non-promotions
can actually be life-altering events that catapult you
to the best career you could have ever imagined.
That losing means you are a loser.
Counter-intuitively, yet truthfully, losing is very
often an expression of winning.
That rejection means you are no good.
Rejection can have a positive outcome because, with
courage and persistence, it can translate into amazing
acceptance.
That problems are always negative and
to be avoided. Problems are actually great opportunities
to learn and grow and should be embraced and cherished.
That nice guys always finish last.
Nice guys always finish first in the eyes of God.
"God will eventually answer the
questions you have about the obstacles in your life
and what He calls you to do, though often not immediately,"
Hartley adds. "Have faith that God has a plan for
your life. Someday you will understand why He allowed
the obstacles."
“Hit Upon God is an essential
read for people wanting to learn practical, easy-to-understand,
and immediately applicable ways to pursue what God calls
them to do," says Morgan Wooten, NBA hall-of-famer
and Christian high school teacher for more than 40 years,
"And this book motivates people to do this with
passion, excitement, and a positive mindset. By focusing
on God as the all-time number one player, Charlie Hartley
has written a unique and valuable book with useful,
powerful and inspirational punch for overcoming obstacles
in the post 9/11 world."
The book is available at the author's
website, www.charleyhartley.com, Amazon.com, and local
bookstores.
Justin Camacho
justin@jubileemission.com
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