Books published by Abingdon Press

Newly widowed Charlotte Figg purchases a double-wide trailer sight unseen and moves to the Paradise Trailer Park with her dog, Lucky. Unfortunately, both her trailer and the park are far from paradise, and Charlotte finds herself plotting to save the park manager's wife from an abusive marriage.

When Jenny King marries Matthew Bontrager, she finally feels loved, cherished, and fulfilled as a mother to his children and as a writer. So why does something seem to be missing? 320 pp.

The authors present an exploration of how the things that matter most take time, effort, and lots of patience.

When Libby's husband fails to return from a solo canoe trip, Libby enlists the aid of her father-in-law and her best friend to help her search for clues to her husband's disappearance. What they discover upends Libby's presumptions about her husband and rearranges her faith.

Code Blue means more to Dr. Cathy Sewell than the cardiac emergency she has to face. It describes her mental state as coming back to her hometown hasn't brought her the peace she so desperately needs. Instead, it s clear that someone there wants her gone--or dead.

Now Larger Print for Easier Reading In Three Simple Rules, Rueben Job offers an interpretation of John Wesley's General Rules for today's readers. This simple but challenging look at three commands, "do no harm, do good, stay in love with God," calls us to mutual respect, unity, and a deeper relationship with God. This insightful work is designed for individual reading or group study. "Every year I review the three general rules of the United Methodist Church with those who are being ordained. Now I have a wonderful ordination gift to give them in Bishop Job's, Three Simple Rules, to start and deepen the conversation as they enter a new relationship with the church. Bishop Job has described "by attending upon all the ordinances of God" to be to "stay in love with God." It's a fresh language that speaks especially to long-time Christians and United Methodists." Sally Dyck, Resident Bishop, Minnesota Area "Three Simple Rules is a new catechism for everyone wanting to follow Jesus Christ. These practices for holy living should replace the membership vows in every church! Don't let the title fool you. Bishop Job writes, 'The rules are simple, but the way is not easy. Only those with great courage will attempt it, and only those with great faith will be able to walk this exciting and demanding way.'" John Hopkins, Resident Bishop, East Ohio Area

Free yourself from the threads of grief that grip your heart.In an irreversible moment, your life changes forever. Your life is upside down and your heart is inside out. Life goes on for others, but yours came to a screaming halt. With comfort and assurance, Dr. Flamming points ahead to tomorrows that will become a little easier than today. From years of pastoral experience and the heartbreak of losing his own son, the author knows that grief is anything but a tidy, predictable progression. Written in short, easy chapters, with practical helps, this book can be your companion as you struggle to pick up the pieces and go on. Contents:When Grief Breaks InWhat Do I Do Now?Unpredictable Emotions of GriefDecide Who to Talk ToWhen One Day at a Time is Too MuchFind Your Releasing ActivitesStrength from Beyond YourselfSoemtimes Faith Needs HealingTurning Points and Beginning Again

Even though they work right next door to each other, Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds. Cindy is a church secretary; Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. Together they have faced down a serial killer at Easter and a murderer of homeless people.The two unlikely companions continue to forge a strong friendship as they explore personal history and faith with each passing adventure.This third volume in the Psalm 23 Mysteries series finds Jeremiah and Cindy matching wits with an unscrupulous land developer. In a fast-paced story set around St. Patrick's Day, murder invades an idyllic landscape, challenging them to save hundreds of teens even as they try to discover the source of their unexpected danger.

Charity work can be murder!It's Thanksgiving and Joseph Tyler, one of the members of Cindy's church, has organized a new charity that provides homeless people with rescue dogs to love and care for. But one by one, the homeless recipients are being murdered and their dogs stolen. Could an overly competitive millionaire with his prize-winning pooches and a grudge be behind the crimes? Or could it be someone much closer to Joseph who has something sinister to hide? Cindy and Jeremiah must rush to find a killer before he strikes again.

Cindy's church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah's Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die. Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.

Agnes Sparrow is an unusual woman. No longer able or willing to leave her home, Agnes commits her life to prayer. And when she prays, miracles seem to happen. The townspeople are enamored of her talent, but Agnes wants to return to the true source of the miracles--God.

In When All Else Fails, Read the Instructions, Moore takes a close look at three sections of the Bible which dramatically underscore key 'instructions' for living.

Using the story of Bob, a successful swimsuit salesman whose business takes a turn for the worse when he moves to Alaska, Adam Hamilton reminds us that all of life is about sales. Whether we are in a job interview, a candidates' debate, or a classroom, we are selling something: our skills, our convictions, our selves. The same is true of presenting the gospel to the unchurched. In leading our friends to a saving relationship with Christ, in inviting them to join us at church, we are presenting them with something that we believe they need, that will make all the difference in their lives. Yet if we don't understand what we are presenting or to whom we are presenting; if we don't believe in the message we are offering; or if we don't believe that people need that message more than anything else, then we will not be faithful witnesses to it. In short, says Hamilton, we won't succeed in presenting the message of Christ to those who need to hear it. By telling the humorous and quirky story of Bob trying to sell swimsuits in the Arctic, Hamilton elucidates the fundamental concepts of sales that also apply in how we spread the gospel message. Drawing on his experience as the leader of one the country's fastest-growing churches, he offers pastors and other Christian leaders solid, simple guidance on how to share the faith and grow one's congregation.

Pastors and worship leaders know that one encounters God through the reading of Scripture in worship. They sometimes have difficulty, however, in integrating the day's readings from the lectionary with the other elements of worship. While worshippers usually meet the biblical text face to face in the sermon, David Hostetter believes that it would be better if they were attuned to hear the Word throughout the whole of worship. This book will help pastors and other leaders weave the themes of the day's lections throughout the worship service. Entries for each Sunday of the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary include: Call to Worship Invocation Prayer of Confession and Declaration of Pardon Prayer of the Day Prayer of Thanksgiving Prayer of Dedication Offertory Prayer Prayer of Intercession and Commemoration One-sentence introductions to each of the lections.

With its plain, easy-to-understand language, this Pocket Guide will help you understand the major aspects of John Wesley's theology. You will discover what Wesley believed about...The image of God and original sin Stewardship Justification by faith The witness of the Spirit Social holiness ...and more. This 96 page booklet also offers study questions that will help you or your group discuss the importance of Wesley's ideas for Christians today.

For parents of a child with a disability who sometimes have felt completely unable to cope with the unique problems confronting them, this book will help them overcome fears and inhibitions. Discussion sections are included.

Rehearsing the Soul is a collection of 52 five-minute devotions centered on the life of the church choir and its members. The book is organized by seasons, and each one- to two-page devotion relates directly to the ministry and events of a church choir. These events include the beginning of the choir year, rehearsal schedules, hymns, worship, and other aspects of the choir member's particular faith walk. Each devotion begins with a Scripture passage and closes with a brief prayer.

Brings J. Ellsworth Kalas into the classroom to discuss his popular book.

Why is it, James Moore asks, that we try to justify anything and everything we want to do? We use words, scapegoats, blaming other people, circumstances, past events, even evil spirits (-the devil made me do it!-) to attempt to excuse bad choices we make with our own free will. What does the Christian faith have to say about all this? The author reminds us of what our faith tells us about excuses: first, that God sees through them; second, that God is more interested in forgiving us than in hearing our excuses; third, that God wants penitence - not excuses - from us. In his warm, embracing style, James Moore encourages us to seek forgiveness. After all, we are justified, not by our eloquent excuses but by the grace of a loving, caring, forgiving God.

This book helps seminary students and lay leadership groups understand and participate in God's mission in the world. It presents not only a clear summary of contemporary understanding of missions, but it also adds a creative voice by offering diverse reasons to rethink missions and God's call to be missionaries in the world.

This book presents the necessary theoretical tools to understand, describe, and analyze the ethical and moral challenges Christians face today. The book also equips readers with the knowledge to make decisions and follow through with actions that produce ethical results.

Using an approach similar to his other "e;Back Side"e; books, J. Ellsworth Kalas opens up new possibilities of insight into selected New Testament stories by entering them through the "e;back side"e; -- through a unique starting point, a creative retelling, a new "e;lens"e;, or the eyes of a minor or unsympathetic character. Includes 12 stories and a study guide.

Sharpe offers a year's worth of daily devotional readings from 12 different women of faith.

In this new edition of his uplifting book, James W. Moore reminds us that some things are too good not to be true! These things are the most authentic qualities of life; qualities exemplified in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Using Scripture and illustrations from life's experiences, he shows how to follow Jesus' example and make these qualities our own. A leader's guide for small group study is included.

This beloved author has pleased, enlightened, and provided guidance for over half a million people. Study guide included with all titles except Top Ten List for Graduates.

The Planning Kit contains a DVD with twelve 10-minute sessions, plus "Meet J. Ellsworth Kalas"; one copy of the book Parables from the Back Side; and one copy of the video study Leader's Guide.

John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life is a six-week study on John Wesley, the major themes of his theology, the spread of Wesleyanism to North America, and renewal in the Wesleyan tradition. Chapters include reflection questions. The Study Guide offers step-by-step plans for each session.