Books by James McReynolds

The church is a congregation of likeminded believers, supporting and encouraging one another; a place of forgiveness and healing. On any given Sunday, you will find pastors speaking passionately from the pulpit, people singing and worshiping unashamed of their love for God. Yet mention the word "sex" or "sexuality" and you can hear a pin drop.Why the silence around the topic of sexuality in the church? Where did the passion go? Where did the celebration of lovers, like the teaching on the subject from the Songs of Solomon go?This book is a bold proclamation, from a courageous pastor, willing to break the silence and speak about the joy still found in sexuality and the church. It challenges congregations everywhere to open their platforms and ministries to discuss this important subject; one that deeply affects our households and future generations.Here one will discover a voice for sexuality from a spiritual perspective, filled with love and grace, giving us permission to fully embrace our sexuality as a gift from God.Thank you pastor James for your courage to share.

If a pastor could dream up and plant the perfect church, what would it be like? Realistically, a minister accepts the church he gets. John Killinger once said, "The trouble with churches are that they fill up with people." All types of people. I dream about a church that is so loving, where my gifts would be valued, and my passions would flourish. My dream congregation would be full of joy. I would never be embarrassed to call it my spiritual home. The church would be so amazing than any non-Christian who visited would never want to leave.Being an empathic minister and a therapist, I know and understand emotions. Each emotion-fear, anger, anxiety, guilt, and joy according to research-is real and distinct as colors and shades are to an artist.Emphatic skills are not unusual. Everybody has these skills. We are sensitive and intuitive. We feel what some people never acknowledge. We can't figure out what emotions are. For the past five years, I have traveled to New Haven, Connecticut to share in a twelve-million-dollar study of joy funded by the Templeton Foundation.

I know the importance of James McReynolds' work. If more people noticed all the joys that surround them every day, exploding like fireworks in their dark and glorious skies, there would be fewer wars, fewer crimes, and more sheer excitement about being alive.This book bristles with Jim's thoughts about the joyful life. He talks about it on every page. No one can read the book without coming away thinking about joy and what it means to his or her life. I wish it were required reading for everybody, regardless of age or stage of life. There would be an immediate and noticeable leap in the world's wellness quotient!

James McReynolds has been my friend for more than 40 years. He and I first met when we were young staff members for our denominations-he a Southern Baptist, and I a Methodist. We were both working in communication-he a Southern Baptist and I for the Methodist Board of Evangelism. We were both pursuing doctoral studies at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. He was born to be a communicator. More than this, he was born to be a preacher. --Harold BalesFor my friend, encourager, and colleague in Christ, Jim McReynolds About 15 years ago, I received my calling from God to become a preacher of the Word and it scared me to death. But like Isaiah, after the "Woe is me," I said, "Here am I, Lord." A few year later I was blessed to meet Jim, a very kind and compassionate man with a love for preaching the Word of God. --Catherine A. Stander