Books published by Resource Publications (CA)

Seeking to live a Christian life in this American society can often evoke a wide range of emotions, and the precipitation sometimes looks like poetry. Times of great joy as well as times of disappointment and great sorrow are excellent catalysts for a kind of poetry that speaks in real ways to real people. This project contains both joy and sorrow, in an attempt to express different aspects of the changing atmosphere of the religious experience in the twenty-first century. I believe poetry can speak simply to deeper theological ideas in a way that is both deeply beautiful and deeply true.At times theology can be a very inaccessible subject for the average layperson, but it can also have a certain simple beauty that anyone can appreciate. As I have read and learned about theology, I've always found that the most profound ideas can be written out logically in essays and books, or they can be stated in succinct but imaginative phrases. I write with the latter category in mind.Pages Called Holy has been written over the past three years as I live, work, and learn in a local church. Most of these poems have their inspiration in the struggles of church life and the disparity between what I see happening and what I see God calling the Church to be. It is this tension that brings life to the poetry I write, and it is my hope that these poems would speak to an audience of the countless numbers of believers across all generations who feel that same tension between what is and what could be.

Effective communication with the African society in the field of missions, church planting, and social development work has been and continues to be a great challenge, particularly to people from western cultural and language orientation. Africans are a ""we"" rather than ""I"" and a ""depended on"" rather than ""independent of"" society. The worldview of a traditional African in terms of society, relationships, and communication is communal. Certainly, the African perception of communalism affects how they communicate with the people of different cultural orientation.Africa has several cultures and people differ in their communication depending on their cultural orientation. However, there are universal African cultures that act as a framework for understanding key aspects of communication with Africans for successful missions, church planting, and social development work. This book, therefore, provides a strategy of understanding communication with the African society. The discussions in this book provide readers with different cultural orientations unique perception of the African society as s/he may be planning to communicate with the African society for missions, church planting, and social development work, even doing humanitarian ministry in African society.Although literacy levels have improved tremendously in most African countries, most of Africa is not a reading society. It is imperative to understand that most Africans still communicate orally and are not time conscious. Hence, effective communication in African societies ought to be based on storytelling rather than literature distribution, although this is in transition. In fact, Africans are oratory and good listeners. Thus, this book provides an understanding to people of different cultural orientations when they plan to communicate with the people in Africa.

From Death to Life examines what happens when people die. Have you ever wondered or are you curious about end of life moments? Is there actually a splitting of the body and soul at the time of death, or is there something else? What happens to the survivors after their loved one dies, and how are they comforted in their time of sorrow and grief? In this book the words of the Holy Bible, and others like Martin Luther, will speak to you, tell you the truth, and give you words of comfort, so that you too can have the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

At one time when an individual wanted a direct, personal experience of God that person turned to his or her dreams. The early third century Christian defender of the faith, Tertullian, observed, "Is it not known to all people that the dream is the most usual way that God reveals himself to man?" Yet by the eleventh century, King William II of England states, "They are not good Christians that regard dreams." Why did this reversal of opinion occur, not only in Christian thinking, but in Jewish and Islamic attitudes also? God and Dreams: Is There a Connection? traces the historic connection between God and dreams and examines why this shift happened. While particular attention is given to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought, several secular disciplines are discussed also. After investigating the different points of view, an argument is made that the connection between God and dreams still exists.

When he was asked to summarize his philosophy, Plato reportedly said: "Practice dying," which seems a rather strange, even morbid, comment until one realizes that every life consists of passages, some smooth and some not. Within these passages are what John Morgan calls "thin places." On a trip to Wales, Morgan discovered that the term "thin places" is part of Celtic culture. Thin places are those places where the eternal and the temporal touch, if only for a brief glimpse; where you know that life is more than just the obvious. Thin places can be of great beauty, where life's meaning breaks through by the ocean or in the mountains; but thin places can also arise in the life of every person, whether with the birth of a child or the death of a family member. John Morgan believes that being fully awake to such times and places holds a clue to living more deeply and with greater wisdom about what's really important. His poems express this understanding.

Psalm 15 begins with two related questions: ""LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?"" (v. 1). These are questions worthy of our consideration as Christian business professionals seeking to integrate our faith and our work. The psalmist answers the questions with the following description: ""He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken"" (vv. 2-5, NIV). Using this psalm as a basis, Southwest Baptist University's College of Business and Computer Science is devoted to educating ""Psalm 15 professionals,"" who exemplify traits including integrity, service, respect, charity, faithfulness, truthfulness, humility, and perseverance. The devotions in this small volume draw readers' attention to the need for believers to exemplify such character traits. Contributions from the SBU faculty and administration remind us of the necessity to approach life and work with a biblical worldview. This volume is an abbreviated version of another Resource Publications book, A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals, also available from Wipf and Stock Publishers (www.wipfandstock.com).

Every organization wants to achieve the kind of success that leads to greater success, and every leader wants to guide a successful venture. Leaders with drive want to be surrounded by people who have an overarching desire to expand all boundaries and utilize their talents for the good of the goal. Effective team members see problems as challenges, boundaries as movable, and the synergism of the team as a way to reach their goals. It's important to note, however, that a group of people working together toward a common goal will not necessarily make a team. They might merely be ""a group of people working toward a common goal."" I am completely committed to the team concept in the workplace. Obviously, much more can be accomplished by a finely tuned team of people than can be accomplished by one person; but more than that, people thrive when they are in an environment that values a team approach to the tasks at hand. Establishing and cultivating the concept of team in and among those you oversee will spark a fresh fire of productivity that will be as noticeable as it is enjoyable.

The Philosophy of the Law Idea (PLI) analyzes the manner in which religious beliefs control scientific theorizing. Religious beliefs control philosophical overviews of reality. Overviews of reality, also called ontologies, try to discover and disclose the essential nature of reality. They are concerned with what kinds of things exist and with the connections between the various types of properties and laws in human experience. Among such overviews are the biblically consistent overview provided by the PLI and certain humanist ""mathematicist"" and ""subjectivist"" overviews. The science of statistical inference seeks to evaluate the credibility of scientific hypotheses given empirical data. This essay reviews various popular paradigms, or systems of theories, concerning the ways that credibility may be evaluated, and identifies some ways that these religiously controlled overviews of reality have, in turn, controlled statistical paradigms. In particular, one paradigm harmonizes with the PLI's overview; another, with the subjectivist overview; and two others, with the mathematicist overview.

Praise is a hidden doorway in the world that enables us to see things outside of the universe. But it's a doorway that is easily missed; people walk past it, thinking nothing of it, not realizing the value of it. But God has placed it there for us to walk through and see where he lives.This look at praise takes some surprising turns and gives us insight into heaven, hell, the world we live in, and our own souls.People praise all sorts of things. I find myself praising my wife--or praising children, footballers, or chefs. I even praise my dog. When we praise God, it is a natural extension of what we normally do every day. And praise isn't one way, because God praises us, too. When we are patient, praise will come our way from the most unexpected source, and it will come just when our enemies have turned up to see it. God intervenes on our behalf when we leave the task of being praised to him. Contrary to popular belief, praise comes to those who wait. We don't have to fish for it.

This book is a biography rather than a doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Focusing on the Holy Spirit as a person, the author portrays the Spirit as the one who has done and is doing every work of the creation and re-creation. The Holy Spirit is the most important and basic substance, binding together the three persons of the divine Trinity into one. The name of the Holy Spirit as well as of God the Father is "Jesus," and it is strongly recommended to baptize "in the name of Jesus Christ" instead of "in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit." The Holy Spirit would like to be acknowledged as true God and true Lord by all his servants all over the world.

In this book, Walter Friedman exposes internal contradictions that nullify the theory of evolution. He also reveals the ways Charles Darwin falsified observation data to promote his pseudoscientific discovery.In a variety of ways, Friedman aims to undercut the logical assumptions of evolutionary theory. First, he applies elementary probability theory to show that a random mutation cannot spread to an entire population, which means that the evolution of species is a myth. Friedman further contends that the centerpiece of Darwin's theory--the hypothesis of natural selection--is also a statistical impossibility, as simple arithmetic reveals. Third, he turns to genetics data to demonstrate that the idea of the evolution of species leads to ridiculous conclusions. Next, Friedman employs anthropological findings of so-called human ancestors to argue the reverse of what anthropologists believe to be true-- that evolution never took place. Fifth, Friedman appeals to the laws of physics to explain why it is impossible, in principle, for inorganic matter to transform into organic matter with a DNA-like structure. Darwin's racist view of people of African descent and its legal implications for the teaching of the evolutionary theory in public schools are also investigated. The last section of the book provides extensive criticism of the books written by prominent evolutionists, including Darwin.Friedman points out that a vast majority of false scientific theories stumbled and fell not because they were replaced by new, more sophisticated theories, but simply because of an abundance of conflicting statements and disagreement with the experimental data. For the same reasons, he finally asserts, the theory of evolution is destined for oblivion.

The time is Earth Year 2333 AD--a year at the beginning of a horrible new reality for civilization. The location is the city of Chicago, one of the last cities in the United States that remains. But it, too, has suffered great devastation. Death and destruction have been directed on it by the other cities that were caught up in what turned out to be a self-destructive competition to gain preeminence. Most of the people are gone, and the believers that remain in Chicago are thrust into survival mode. Marduk, a vicious leader of the forces loyal to the Leader, sees the remnant as a threat and makes his personal goal to wipe them out. Victor Steinhouse and his friends are all that stand in his way. But who will win this contest of wills? And what will it cost? And will the believers glorify God as they deal with such opposition? Yet the bigger question remains: Is faith all you really need when faith is all you have?

Can you imagine millions of acres of grain ripened for the harvest with thousands of laborers seeking to gather in the crop by hand? What would happen if a large shipment of combines were suddenly delivered? We know the grain ripe unto harvest represents those in several thousand people, ethnic, and language groups who have not yet heard the Gospel message. But what if those combines were businesses that could be used as vehicles and platforms for building relationships? Galtronics is one such business and its story will both encourage and enlighten you as to how a man and a woman turned an idea into a global business for the express purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We hope by the time you finish reading this book you will better understand the potential of using your profession and/or business as a great combine to bring in the harvest.

This book is for anyone who yearns to enter more fully into the world Jesus inhabited, not as an intellectual exercise, but as an aid to authentic personal devotion. The King of the Jews ponders five defining moments from the ministry of Jesus and lingers at a series of events that, historically, must have unfolded rapidly. Within twenty-four hours of his arrest, Jesus was dead, yet these events are so momentous that they repay careful meditation: first upon the night of trials, and then the seven sayings from the cross, and finally, the ten thrilling post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Each meditation adds up to a whole message that presents the King who came to take his throne and who does finally take it. But he takes it not by force, but by facing down evil through the agony of the cross, and now invites the hurting to share in his triumph.

Jesus told simple stories about common items; yet his parables profoundly address our hearts and minds. We offer an interpretation, not only about what we read, but also what we think and feel. Parables of Parenthood presents modern biblical scholarship in an accessible writing style in order to model how these ancient stories continue to enrich life in the twenty-first century. Andrew Taylor-Troutman closely analyzes each parable with deep appreciation before applying these interpretations to his life, because he believes the genius of the parables offers a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven in our everyday experience. By interpreting from the author's head and heart, Parables of Parenthood gives new luster to well-known, narrative gems about sowing seeds and lost sheep through personal insights about anxiety and hope. Lessons about wise builders and wicked tenants are illustrated with anecdotes about a baby's food and a grandmother's rocking chair. Through interpretations of other parables, moments as diverse as a beach trip and an ultrasound appointment invite movement from fear to faith. Through the combination of his informed Bible study and practical life experience, Taylor-Troutman empowers readers to connect the teachings of Jesus to our world in comforting and challenging ways.

The first year for any missionary is filled with adventure and trials. Assimilating to a new culture requires more than any book can offer. This is the story of a young woman who stepped out of her college years directly into the mission field. She was vastly unprepared in language, experience, and spiritual discipline, but she encountered the Lord in a way she never could while growing up in America. The transition from an American college campus to the sandy streets of a developing country was not easy physically or emotionally. The excitement of adventure soon waned in the face of homesickness and culture shock. Through it all, she found that the practices she had been taught for years in church and student ministry were vital for survival and that there is no hope, no strength, and no joy that can sustain you outside of what is found in Christ.

""If it ain't broke, don't fix it.""But it's no secret that the Christian church is ""broke,"" and does need fixing. Despite great effort, things are going badly for us. We've tried trendy and tech-savvy, entrepreneurial and coffee-house gritty. They're not helping. Our problem is deeper than that. Our problem is our instincts--instincts informed by our story. There was a time when the Christian church was a powerfully transformative presence in society. It can be again--but it will require radical rethinking of the story that informs our instincts. And it's time! It's been five hundred years since the Reformation, our last major update. Today is a pivotal moment in history. With our worldview upended by quantum physics, history is demanding we renew the Christian story for our times. Rethinking Our Story reframes the elements of the Christian narrative for the new era. It explores ""quantum"" ways of thinking about God, human nature, Jesus, salvation, and the afterlife. The future of the church and the health of our society depend on our willingness to rethink, retell, and live out a better story. We will either update our instincts and contribute to the earth's well-being--or disappear into oblivion.

At a time when pews are not as full as they used to be, many churches are struggling to stay open. But no matter how creative or hard-working, some congregations are unable to revitalize their ministry. Is it time to talk about closing your church? Are there any other options for your future?Toward the Better Country tells the stories of real congregations that have faced a significant downsizing, merger, or closure and found positive ways to move forward in ministry. While no local church is meant to live forever, congregations that have chosen to faithfully complete their ministry are finding hope in the new ventures born from passing on their spiritual and material legacies. Based on over thirty interviews with church leaders from various denominations, this practical resource offers guidance to lay leaders, clergy, and regional leaders as they deal with the grief and discernment process of struggling churches. Designed for group study, each chapter includes reflection questions for discussion. A listing of additional resources is also included.