Books published by Energion Publications

A questioning approach lies at the heart of our relationship with God. That''s how God engages us. In fact, questioning (or free inquiry), is central to our being human.Yet the major monotheistic religions vary markedly on this matter. In The Questioning God, Dr. Greenham examines the three major monotheistic religions, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, to see how they relate to questioning, including questions that God asks us and the questions that we ask about God. His goal is to develop a biblical theology of questioning, avoiding a loss of direction and focus that results from selective questioning, and also a loss of humanity that results from bypassing our questions through an inappropriate submission.The examination is wide ranging, including chapters on questioning in Islam, Judaism, mainline and evangelical Christianity, along with an examination of the consequences of a non-questioning culture. He ends the book with a proposal for a biblical theology and a look at the practical implications-just what it means to pursue a questioning culture.The author finds that questions are not just valuable, they are essential for serious human interaction. "As questioning beings," he concludes, "there is no limit to what we might ask, but our questions must always be anchored in the questioning God''s enduring concern to engage us."

Much of the text in the Bible is in the form of stories. From Old Testament tales of the patriarchs to the parables of Jesus, the reader is confronted with a variety of narratives. Even in those places where Bible writers are making and explaining statements of fact, there is a story in the background. What do these stories mean?Bible teacher, writer, and publisher Henry Neufeld thinks that''s the wrong question to ask. (Yes, there are bad questions!) We spend a great deal of time trying to reduce Bible stories to a series of statements of fact, sucking the life out of them in the process. We don''t understand one of the parables of Jesus better when we''ve come up with a moral for the story. In fact, we''ve lost some of the meaning.Instead, Henry suggests learning to think more in the form of stories. In fact, he even asks us to consider looking at the stories behind the various statements of fact in the Bible, finding similarities in our own stories, and even weaving new stories from our imaginations. This, he teaches, is the best way to learn to make scripture come alive and to live it.This collection of short stories is not presented primarily as stories to read, but as a challenge to put your imagination to work as you study the Bible-to write your own stories. When you''ve let your imagination break the bounds of your life the Holy Spirit can then show you how to live new stories in your own life and in your relationships with family, friends, church, and the entire world.This book includes 25 short stories. All but two of these stories were originally published on the Jevlir Caravansary fiction blog. Two new stories, "The Magic Sword" and "The Juror''s Oath" were written just for this collection. Scripture references and thought questions have been provided for each story to help small groups use them in discussions.Come join the story!

A Colorado native, Shauna Hyde grew up with three brothers, no sisters, and a father who was a pastor of a local community church. She was taught that women married for life and no woman she knew was a pastor. This ''normal'' crashed around her when her first husband left her with a newborn baby to raise alone. Her second husband confessed his unfaithfulness; again her world hit a bruising reality wall despite her efforts to be the ''best little wife''. Shauna started studying karate and began to see a correlation between the two disciplines that opened her soul to be empowered by the grace of God. God, in turn, taught her and used her to empower others."As a United Methodist minister who is also a black belt in Shota Kahn karate I am often asked how I can be both a martial artist and a pastor. There have been a lot of jokes about how I will force people to the altar or smack people who get out of line. Then there is always the joke about no one wanting to disobey me in the church because I know how to hurt them! In reality, anyone who is a true martial artist and/or has a deep understanding of the martial arts knows that it is not about violence - it is about mercy, self-discipline, a lot of routine practice, and a whole other host of characteristics that I would like to address [in this book]."Shauna shares what she has learned with a solid Biblical foundation through thought-provoking questions that work well individually and with small groups. "Karate is a tool that can help people grow, understand, and become disciplined. Church is a tool that also helps people grow, understand, and become disciplined. The greatest tool of all to be used to empower others is the constant and abundant application of grace."

It has been said that we need at least ten times as many encouragers as any other gifting in the Body of Jesus Christ. In a world that sets usually unatainable and even inappropriate standards and tells us we can "have it all," we need encouragers who remind us of the true standards of God. We need to remember His promises for our lives. We need to remember His extravagant love.Diane Milnes is such an encourager. She speaks from her heart and her experience as she has traveled the globe encouraging God''s people with her infectious laugh, hugs, and tears. A few minutes in her "circle of love" will have you walking away with a skip in your step and a leap in your spirit.

Lee Baker has been writing songs since middle school. As a member of several bands, he became the primary lyricist, writing a huge collection of songs that were never used. He did study poetry in college, but it was the sermon poets and metaphysical poets that struck his interest and have been an influence in his work.Lee feels that while setting goals is important in the writing process, he has learned from a friend-writer that it is "allowing people to read your work and get honest feedback" that has been crucial. "You always grow exponentially more from your critics than from your fans."Lee's inspiration for this collection was people that had an impact, places that have inspired, and things, actually concepts more than inanimate objects."I really enjoyed the process of writing this book and writing is always cheaper than counseling," says Lee Baker. "It's a good outlet for crazy people. In my life, crazy is in abundant supply."

What happens when a newspaper editor gives his primary editorial slot on Sundays to a pastor? In the case of Bob Cornwall, a pastor in Troy, Michigan, the result is a series of relevant, interesting, and challenging essays that go well beyond the local scene while still managing to be relevant to Americans in their local situation. Now extensively revised and organized as to theme, these essays form a coherent statement of progressive Christianity at work in the public square. At the same time they are seasoned with a look at how the public square influences the spiritual life of a Christian living in mid-America. The 52 essays in this collection go well beyond one place and time. You will find yourself, your community, your state, your nation, and your world in each. Can a person of faith be involved in the public square with integrity? Is public policy made better by this action? Can faith remain whole and genuine following the encounter? Read these essays to discover the answers, and perhaps find a new optimism for the future as you do.