Books published by Resource Publications (CA)

Supported by the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC), this second annual review addresses innovation, evaluation, and program development efforts in addictions and offender counseling. Experts in the field present peer-reviewed models and recommendations for ensuring best practices in addictions and offender counseling.

In Christianity for Doubters, mathematician Granville Sewell looks at a series of issues that cause Christians to doubt. The first two chapters effectively counter the widely believed idea that science can explain how we got here without design. The remaining chapters examine, from a non-fundamentalist point of view, some of the theological issues that educated Christians struggle with, including problems with the Bible, the idea of a resurrection, and the problem of pain. Although these theological problems are more difficult, the author shows that some of the most important insights into both the scientific and theological problems can be made by applying a little common sense, without relying on ideas that can only be understood by the "experts."

How do we find God in a world where God often seems to be hidden? How do we love one another and seek social justice? This series of theological and spiritual reflections on family and community helps readers see spirituality in daily life, exploring current issues such as global warming, environment, racism, child rearing, and sexism in relation to the church to offer readers new insights and directions for living as faithful Christians. This book's brief, daily reflections on universal concerns give voice to what many people feel but struggle to articulate, bringing emotions to the surface to help readers apply theology in their everyday lives. The book's thirty entries make it ideal for a month of daily personal devotions or group study and discussion.

It is early in the fourth century AD, and Christianity has become a religion in search of a theology. Roman persecution has ended, but doctrinal debates threaten to tear the church apart as the early church fathers strive to solve a mystery inherited from their apostolic tradition: how both Father and Son might be thought of as God, and yet as distinct, without doing violence to the tenet that God is One.Enter Arius, a Libyan priest who comes to Alexandria to preach an answer: that the Son of God is a created being of a different substance than the Father, and not fully divine. When the Archbishop condemns his teachings and banishes him from the city, Arius' local apostacy expands into a worldwide schism as bishops and clergy throughout the Mediterranean world take sides. Desperate to use the religion as a force for political unity, the Christian emperor Constantine calls a convention of bishops at Nicaea to resolve the dispute. As debate begins, a consensus answer seems out of reach--until a young Alexandrian deacon presses a solution that will forever shape orthodoxy in a different direction.

Have you ever wondered what the church will look like a generation or two from now? Do you worry that the church you grew up in might someday die? Would you like to see your faith legacy passed on to a new generation of Christians? Using Martin Luther's Smalcald Articles Wesley Telyea explores how Christians today can use Luther's insights found in his own theological last will and testament to write their own, and pass the faith to the next generation of disciples. For Lutherans this book will bring to life an often neglected, but highly valuable, confessional document. For non-Lutherans this book will open up a new way of thinking for how to make disciples.

Buddhism's influence is growing in the West, as seen in the widespread use of ""Buddhist mindfulness apps"" in people's attempts to unwind, or the casual use of words like ""nirvana"" and ""karma"" that have crept into the English language. Whether we meet it in the East or West, what is Buddhism? What is at the heart of its teachings? How does Buddhism differ from Christianity, and are they compatible?Through a collection of true short stories and testimonies, Buddhism in the Light of Christ--a sequel and companion to Esther Baker's first book, I Once was a Buddhist Nun--takes an insightful look at some core Buddhist beliefs and practices, and then reflects on them from a Christian viewpoint and biblical understanding. Esther tackles important questions such as: ""How does the Buddhist goal nirvana and God differ?"" and ""Is Buddhism a form of idolatry?"" Her responses reveal a penetrating understanding that helps to unravel and demystify the true nature of Buddhism.Buddhism in the Light of Christ also includes helpful suggestions on how to share Jesus with Buddhist friends, as well as important considerations regarding discipleship once a Buddhist has come to know Christ.

The presence of the Divine is everywhere. That is both a comfort and a challenge. We are consoled to know that God is with us, but being human we need a sign, something to touch, see, hear, taste, smell. We need something of the ordinary to name the non-touchable, invisible, unable-to-be-heard, tasteless, odorless God's presence with us. So, we employ metaphors, figures of speech which literally denote one kind of object in place of another, to suggest a likeness or analogy. In this book, the metaphors used for God come out of the Bible; they are the four elements of nature for the Greeks: wind, water, earth, and fire. Wind is a metaphor for God's Spirit. Water refers to God as the source of life. Earth, from which we are created, bears God's fingerprints and footprints. And fire reminds us of the God who purifies and draws all creation to himself. This nature spirituality book consists of four chapters--wind, water, earth, fire--each of which contains twenty, four-part exercises of prayer: a few verses from Scripture, a reflection, a journal exercise, and a concluding prayer.

Narrow escapes, hilarious predicaments, and grim disasters are all part of the rich and varied experiences of a young tugboat captain on the Columbia River during the era between the grand old sternwheelers and the multi-thousand horsepower tugboats of today. The author had captured the excitement of this episode in his life and presented it in an informal manner that will appeal to a wide audience.

Ever wonder if your daily work really matters? Do you wish your career could truly connect with Christ's mission and the bigger story he's writing every day? Is it possible for you to find deeper satisfaction in your job, greater integration of your faith in your daily work, and stronger connections with co-workers, clients, and other work contacts?In Henry's Glory, Zach and Maggie face a critical crisis in both family and their careers. Old spiritual ""ghosts"" haunt Zach's psyche, based on his larger-than-life uncle's narrow view of the kind of work that truly glorifies God. Transported across their journey of discovery by a classic old pickup truck and several wise but oh-so-quirky characters, Zach and Mags embark on an intriguing quest for a real sense of calling and greater life purpose in their everyday work. Their story of discovery proves stunning, provocative, and forever perspective-changing.Join the adventure of personal discovery in this captivating story. Henry's Glory supplies a robust blend of humor, biblical/spiritual inspiration, history, romance, mystery, and thought-provoking reflection questions for personal study and group discussion.

I can't tell you my name.I can't tell you where I live.I can't tell you who I work for, or any details about the people with whom I work.Because where I live, my line of work is not exactly legal.But if you can pardon the vagueness, I have a story for you.Edge of the Map is a memoir of the calling and adjustment, success and failure of our first year as missionaries to a closed country in the 10/40 window. It tells the story of how my family and I lived out the challenges and blessings of the lives we tried to lay down for Jesus. It is the book I would have wished for, had I known the right questions to ask.How do I know that I'm called overseas?How do I move beyond callousness and distraction?What do I do once I've accepted a call to the nations?What issues arise after I step into my calling?How do I go about resolving those issues?Edge of the Map speaks to these questions in hopes that our journey to a closed country will help nudge the souls of a young, poised generation toward the calling God is whispering over their lives.

The flashy poets and the poets with a schtick get the big audience, but it is the quiet poets whose individual poems more often linger with me. I'd trade all of Ginsberg, say, for William Bronk's six-line poem ""After Bach,"" which derives from the cello suites the lesson that sadness ""can be in part /to accept the absence of One to say it to."" And it is Bronk whose work is called to mind for me by Yahia Lababidi's Barely There, in which ""in embracing, we let go.""'-- H. L. Hix, Author of First Fire, Then Birds

Description:Can your ultimate desire ever be fulfilled? Everywhere you look, every time you listen, with each click and tap, there's something you desire. How do you know if what you desire will satisfy, or if you are seeing a ""desire mirage""? The global village presents countless ways to connect to all kinds of information. We think we can scarcely live without these connections. Do we realize, however, that these connections often block or slow down connections to God, self, and others? Divided Desire is a journey along the road of desire--a road everyone travels. Along the journey, Kenny Damara explores why we desire what we desire in the global village today. What role does God have in fulfilling the ultimate desire of the heart? And how should we respond?

Mainline Christianity in the West is dying. Addiction to hierarchical and bureaucratic power is killing it. A management-god and a mission-god have usurped the Way of Christ. In the midst of decline the missional movement is attempting to reboot the church. Its goal is to remake a New Christian West through mission, leadership, mapping, and planning. Yet it is trapped in the language and methods of modernity. Its final solution is a polarizing vision of cultural domination by one social group, the Christians. The Way of Life and Truth has been forgotten. Christ is not a conquering King, a written Word, or an absolute Idea, but a divine Human Being. Social wholeness can only be realized through a rediscovery of Conversation, Reconciliation, and Empowerment. These reflect Christ's practices of eternal dialogue and reciprocal giving in small communities. Through this mutual Way of Life people of all faiths (and none) can discover deep within themselves Our Un/Known G-d. A gentle voice is whispering in the heart of all humanity, "I am . . . the Way."

That we are afraid is no revelation. Only God has the power to calm our fears and to make us courageous. But what happens when God refuses to meet your expectations? What happens when Jesus turns out to be more difficult to deal with, more serious, and more unpredictable than we once thought he was? Will we wait on him to answer us? Will we trust him when he seems to be making no sense? In our hurry to offer each other hope, have we neglected the true nature of the power and strength of God that makes him capable of helping us? In this inquisitive and honest work, Casey Hobbs determines to reacquaint us with the greatness of God and to draw us in to the goodness of God that only Jesus offers us.

Cordell Strug served as a Lutheran pastor for almost twenty-eight years in rural Minnesota. In these stories and reflections, he gives a picture of a pastor's life from the inside. He writes of sitting with the dying and meeting with the angry, of visiting shut-ins and writing sermons, of lonely drives over frozen roads, of work he can't finish and wounds he can't heal. He is candid about what surprised or bothered him, about his misjudgments and failures, about the ever-growing weight of stress and sorrow. He tells who inspired him and who drove him nuts, which advice he found priceless and which he found useless. He shows the ideals of faith colliding with the realities of life in the struggling congregations he served.

Dr./Major Breathed chooses the cause of the Confederacy over medicine but will that decision cost him the love of his life? James is swept away into a war created by divisions between the northern and southern states. The Broken Circle has elements that mirror a Greek tragedy that sets up the paradoxical inner conflict of saving life as a doctor versus destroying life as a soldier. He re-channels his genius from medical to master warrior and ultimately becomes disillusioned and demoralized. Mollie Macgill utilizes her espionage talents as the two fall in love throughout the course of the war. In the final post-war chapters they both seek redemption from God for their greater devotion to the Southern cause. As they seek to repair their shattered souls the tragic brokenness of James's and Mollie's lives is revealed. The Broken Circle is full of historically accurate battle scenes and the characters are historical people.

A Time to Live and a Time to Die will inspire its readers through a greater understanding of God's seasons for humanity as revealed by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. It describes in poetry and rhyme the ever-changing nature of the seasons yet their harmony and purpose.

Reflections of Spirituality in Pastoral Psychotherapy supports the pastoral and counseling practitioner's assurance that spirituality is imbedded within the human experience and may be presumed to be a positive resource for remediation and reconciliation. The work is at once autobiographical and theological. In many ways the author's approach echoes the pilgrim's path of the faithful disciple. A clear distinction is provided by which one may identify the spiritually sensitive counselor. Leon Sims sketches a treatment program, but emphasizes how one may explore theoretical materials germane to a faith community to reframe approaches to clients' problems and personal pain. Although the approach is based on Christian principles, there will suggestive resources for divergent orientations. The model for theoretical reflection is a major strength of the book.

Ants are diligent when they undertake a task. In order to understand and follow the Scripture for better living, follow their example. God Likes Ants: Every Week features Andrea Gilson's thoughts, perspectives, and interpretations in a weekly reader format. Scripture verses from the Authorized King James Bible are featured and discussed with both the brand new and the lifelong Christian in mind. The stress is on salvation through faith, the sovereignty of God, Jesus as the Savior of the world, God's relationship to Israel, and the nurturing of an intimate relationship to our Creator through prayer. Use this Bible supplement for personal study or in groups to promote learning, fellowship, and worship.

Shadows of Revenge continues the story that began with Days of Purgatory. The sequel is an adventure mystery set in and around Abilene, Kansas, in 1872. Deacon Coburn, a realist galvanized by his past, is startled when remnants of yesteryear track him down. Longing and brokenness are everywhere. A headstrong orphan girl seeks to live out her dreams; a childless widow pursues meaning; a reformed prostitute desires a return to her childhood faith; a young man makes tragic choices. It's a tale of hope and redemption. No matter how ugly our past, every individual can choose new beginnings. In the words of a stealthy drifter, ""Hope is always nearby, as sure as thunder follows lightning. Search your heart. Hope is there to lead you onward.""

Everyone in this world must deal with loss. The hardest loss is losing those we love. There are not many books written about a son's love for his mother, but here in Praying With Mom, Michael Chung chronicles the journey of a son through the last years of his mother's life. Through prayer, tears, time, and love, this book is a "voyage of the soul" into how a son spent the last years with his mother and how his God brought him through it all. Many people have trouble with their faith when experiencing the trials of loss, and some even abandon it, being angry at God for not doing more. In Praying With Mom, the author discusses from his heart and soul how he dealt with the suffering of losing the love of his mother.

How long will this planet go on? How long will the universe last? Scientists give projected answers based on knowledge of universal physical laws. They talk of billions of years. When Christians take part in worship they express belief in what are called the Last Things--Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, concepts based on the Scriptures. Can these beliefs be held on to? Concerning future events the Bible presents diverse and even incredible ideas that are held by Christians. This book is an attempt to interpret the Bible in a credible way and to encourage faith in God's purposes.

The world has been completely thrown on its head. A nobody from Nazareth, who was brutally executed by the Roman Empire, has conquered all the empires of mankind and brought freedom to all its slaves. A world of ecosystems and communities of life headed towards death is being rescued. You are being called to follow in this movement, sacrificing everything that you have and are. Will you flee or will you follow?

Goronwy Owen (1723-1769) was a Welsh poet and clergyman who spent the last dozen years of his life in Virginia. As a poet, Owen is still revered in his native land as in his work he revived the ancient bardic meters of Welsh poetry. He lived in obscurity in Virginia, first in Williamsburg where he was the Master of the Grammar School at the College of William and Mary, and then in Brunswick County where he was the rector of St. Andrew's Parish. In Brunswick County, Owen wrote "Marwnad Lewys Morys Yswain," widely considered his second greatest poem. Goronwy and Me: A Narrative of Two Lives traces Owen's tempestuous life from his humble beginnings in Wales to his last years in Virginia. Throughout the narrative, Proal Heartwell explores the many intersections between his own life and that of the exiled bard. Goronwy and Me is not a typical biography, but rather a conversation between the author and the reader on the life of a remarkable Welshman.