tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15185734461227380492024-03-04T22:08:46.247-08:00AUTHORS FOR CHRIST - ARTICLES AND BOOK REVIEWS BY MIRIAM JACOBWELCOME TO OUR VISITORS FROM 37 COUNTRIES - AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, BRAZIL, BULGARIA, CANADA, CHINA, CZECH REPUBLIC, FRANCE, GERMANY, GHANA, INDIA, ISRAEL, JAPAN, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, MALAYSIA, NETHERLANDS, NIGERIA, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, POLAND, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SERBIA, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA, SOUTH KOREA, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN, TURKEY, TURKMENISTAN, UKRAINE, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND VIETNAM.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-86375284332316516312020-02-22T23:05:00.000-08:002020-02-23T09:44:00.639-08:00A TIME TO BE BORN AND A TIME TO DIE - Everlee Whitman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A Time To Be Born and A Time To Die - by Everlee Whitman - is the first book of the Time For Everything series. All books in this series follow Ecclesiastes 3:18 - A Time for Everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.</div>
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A Time To Be Born and A Time To Die is a Living River Ranch romance. It is a ranch for therapy and rehabilitation services, to cater to people with special needs.</div>
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Margaret and Matthew's grandfather's demise leaves the ranch in Margaret's hands. Can she manage the ranch and a new relationship simultaneously? </div>
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Margaret's grandfather left her a great legacy and she was determined that, with all the love and help from her community, she would conquer her grief and continue the ranch's faith mission into the future.</div>
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Noah's late father had been Margaret's grandfather's right hand. So Noah was allowed to manage the animals, do farm maintenance and general ranch upkeep. </div>
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Margaret, with her feisty side, was determined to ensure that her grandfather's vision for the ranch would be fulfilled. She was clearly cut out of the same cloth, with her stubborn, inquisitive streak, being smart as a whip and as capable as any man on the ranch.</div>
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Noah loved Margaret and he had her grandfather's blessing to marry her.</div>
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Friends since childhood, they had worked together on the ranch. Margaret needed time to realize Noah's love for her. When Margaret and Noah went on their first date together, the date was perfection personified. Having known Margaret from childhood, Noah knew all her likes and dislikes and set out to delight her. When Noah proposed, Margaret accepted, with all the live in her heart. At that moment, a divine peace descended upon her, confirming God's blessing upon them. </div>
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True to the name of the book, there is a time for everything, a time to be born and a time to die. A baby was born to a ranch helper and Margaret's grandfather had died. There is s time for rest and winter to herald the new season of growth and birth. Margaret's season of growth had come. She would mature in the role of serving her family and community with a healthy balance. I highly recommend this beautiful book of family love and affection to all who wish to enjoy a good, healthy, Christian read.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-27386733298337455832020-01-22T21:16:00.001-08:002020-01-22T21:16:55.645-08:00STILL - Jenny L. Donnelly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In "Still," Jenny L. Donnelly helps us to still our souls and discover the rest God planned for us. She shows us how to experience true, life-giving rest.<br />
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Miriam JacobUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-68237185883275488232019-12-16T09:57:00.000-08:002019-12-16T09:59:08.302-08:00LETTING GO THIS CHRISTMAS - Natasha Queen "Letting Go This Christmas" by Natasha Queen is a second chance holiday romance. Poignant and thought-provoking, it is all about letting go of past memories to pave the way for the brilliant future ahead. Unless past memories are voluntarily given up, the future can never arrive. It is how we deal with our past experiences, and the memories they bestow, that shapes the beauty of our character. In life, the priceless jewels of love and friendship are the precious things a person needs to survive.<br />
In "Letting Go This Christmas," the only thing holding Cleo back is herself and her past memories, as she passionately clings to them for dear life, refusing to let go. Cleo had a lot of questions and no answers. Although Cleo was everything Charlie ever wanted in a bride, she was hopelessly tied up in her past, painful, bittersweet memories, unable to break free.<br />
It was only when Charlie found a mutual link to Cleo's past and bridged the gap that Cleo's frozen heart finally melts, throwing the floodgates wide open, and allowing love to heal all the wounds in her heart.<br />
Natasha Queen is an expert at genuine affairs of the heart, recognizing the authentic nature of true love, and skillfully depicting it in her characters.<br />
"Letting Go This Christmas" is an endearing story of true love that tugs at our heartstrings. It captures the latent love hidden in ordinary humdrum everyday lives, highlighting selfless acts of compassion and care. It leads us to examine our own hearts and inspires us to let go of past memories that only hinder us from moving forward. It explores the innocent, heartfelt loyalty of love, in a deeply-moving, dramatic story-within-a-story. I highly recommend this poignant, heart-moving book by an extremely gifted author and master wordsmith, Natasha Queen, who signs the book with her inimitable seal of perfection.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: roboto, helveticaneue, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">©</span><span style="color: #3c4043; font-family: roboto, helveticaneue, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px;"> </span></span>Miriam JacobUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-9764374082606703982019-11-15T21:54:00.001-08:002019-11-15T22:38:02.276-08:00THE OUTBACK GOVERNESS - Sarah Williams <span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Outback Governess" by Sarah Williams is a sweet journey to love. The poignant story of how Paige and Logan discover their love for each other makes a deep impact upon readers and wins their hearts instantly. Paige comes as an outback governess, only to find her God-given calling as a mother to motherless children. Her wide hazel eyes, delicate features and simple natural beauty, coupled with her deep commitment and selfless devotion to duty and love, wins all their hearts, as Paige finally finds her true home, and a family to love her. As a governess, she teaches them all what real love is, and this translates into real life. As no review can ever truly capture the beauty of this really inspiring book, be sure to get your own copy of "The Outback Governess" and all she stands for. Sarah Williams is a bestselling author of the best love stories that the human heart yearns for. You will be fully satisfied with her books, and I highly recommend them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: "roboto" , "helveticaneue" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">©</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Miriam Jacob </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-45896787837040961732019-10-21T10:49:00.000-07:002019-11-15T22:49:28.221-08:00THE FORTUNATE ACCIDENT - Emily Deady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"The Fortunate Accident" by Emily Deady is a most enjoyable, clean love story that is true to its name. When Derrik, a young ship's crewman is injured, General Strand's daughter, Lady Aida, a beautiful lady with the gentlest of eyes, visits him daily. She has loved him for ever so long but he doesn't know it as she concealed it from him. All he knows is that her happy face kindles a fire in his heart and he doesn't want to fan the flames. As Derrik's heart opens to Aida and his feelings grow for her, he feels it might be much easier for her if she doesn't know how much he cares for her. As it wasn't possible that they could ever build a life together, due to the complex pecking order of the upperclass hierarchy, both as a titled lady and the General's daughter. Derrik didn't want to lead her on falsely, without hope. But Derrik needn't have worried. Aida's love for him was a natural gift that couldn't be denied. This lighthearted, clean novella guarantees a perfect happily ever after! I highly recommend it to all who wish to read a beautiful, uplifting love story, to enjoy to their hearts' content.</b><br />
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<b>Miriam Jacob </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-68476797857481245272019-10-17T20:43:00.000-07:002019-10-18T19:13:16.491-07:00Fake Fiance Fiasco - Natasha Queen <b>"Fake Fiance Fiasco" by Natasha Queen is true to its name. Here is another heart-stopping, second chance, sweet romance, to hold your undivided attention from start to finish. You will be so engrossed, spellbound and captivated that it will be virtually impossible for you to put the book down. The two main characters, Katie and Max spring to life with amazing resilience, sparkling wit and humor. Natasha's characters are so realistically portrayed and skillfully delineated that you will happily follow the lives of these sensitive people, who choose true love above all else, to be the guiding light of their lives. Katie's unrequited love, spanning decades, is richly rewarded when Max finally realizes that she is the only person who really loves him for who he is. The human heart always recognizes the authentic nature of true love. Natasha's books are emblazoned with the ring of truth. She is a truly gifted and talented author, who describes true love in her books exactly as it exists in real life. I highly recommend this book to all who want to read about true love in the printed word and its digital formats.</b><br />
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<b>Miriam Jacob </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-47614416179860680612019-09-27T22:02:00.002-07:002019-09-27T22:02:37.905-07:00LOVE'S SACRIFICE - Evangeline Kelly "Love's Sacrifice" by Evangeline Kelly is a heartwarming Christian story about God’s love and the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. "Love's strength lies in love's sacrifice, and He who suffers most has most to give." In this inspiring book, Evangeline teaches us the priceless lessons of a pure heart and a sterling character. "The heart has its reasons of which reason cannot know." After facing the heartrending turmoil of separation during the first few days of their marriage, and spending six months apart, the two main characters learn the true meaning of love's sacrifice when they give their hearts to the Lord. Christ died for us and His undying love for us is the reason for our faith. Evangeline speaks directly to the hearts of her readers, inspiring us to think about everything that is beautiful and good. I highly recommend this book to all who want to learn the true beauty of love's sacrifice.<br />
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Miriam Jacob Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-4475684801860359402019-09-27T19:09:00.001-07:002019-09-27T19:09:08.968-07:00MATCHMAKER - Evangeline Kelly Matchmaker by Evangeline Kelly is an inspiring Christian story that puts God first and inspires us to define ourselves, with eternity's values in view, by God’s standards of who we actually are. The heroine, Ellie struggles with identity issues and lack of self-confidence while the hero, Noah struggles with rejection and self-doubt. Evangeline Kelly portrays her characters so realistically that we feel for them so deeply. I was spellbound as I read, and marveled that characters in books can be so realistic, literally springing to life from the page. I highly recommend this book that is clearly larger than life.<br />
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Miriam Jacob Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-6467846175164504572018-07-12T20:50:00.001-07:002018-07-12T20:50:37.540-07:00The Salutation (words: Traherne)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KTw99cDkI9Q" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-50960895668695751332017-11-30T08:02:00.002-08:002017-11-30T08:02:54.846-08:00Handbook To Happiness – A Biblical Guide to Victorious Living – by Dr. Charles R. Solomon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Imprint: Tyndale Momentum, Tyndale House Publishers.</b></div>
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<b>Newly Published: May 9, 2017. Pages 176.</b></div>
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<b>Originally Published: 1971, 1989, 1999</b></div>
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<b>ISBN: 9780842318099. Price: $13.99</b></div>
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<b>Reviewer: Miriam Jacob</b></div>
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<b>“Handbook to Happiness: A Biblical Guide to Victorious Living” by Dr. Charles R. Solomon is a fifty-year classic, with more than a quarter of a million copies sold. For generations, believers have been enriched by deeper life devotional writers such as Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, and Oswald Chambers. Yet most who struggle with life-controlling problems assume that “devotional truth” does not directly pertain to their need for personal freedom. In “Handbook to Happiness,” the author writes from personal experience as he bridges this gap, providing a clarified, practical handbook for strategic discipling and effective counseling.</b></div>
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<b>It counsels hurting people to exchange their life for Christ’s. Instead of trying to live the Christian life by our own efforts and in our own strength, we allow Christ to live His life in us, enabling us to become totally Christ centered. How do you fix a broken person? Where do you take twisted emotions to get them repaired? The answer is the Cross. We must die to self and find life in Christ, by appropriating His work on the Cross, as taught in Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” </b></div>
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<b>Dr. Solomon calls this “Exchanged-Life Counseling.” Don’t “Get A Life” – Exchange It! For five decades, thousands have found help and healing through Spirituotherapy – a completely Christ-centered strategy pioneered by Dr. Solomon. The practical principles of this time-tested, proven treatment are presented in “Handbook to Happiness – A Biblical Guide to Victorious Living.” Those dealing with emotional struggles are helped by returning to the cross of Christ and seeing themselves buried with Christ in His crucifixion and raised to new life in His resurrection. “Handbook to Happiness” relies heavily on the truth of Scripture to give people hope and encouragement. </b></div>
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<b>Countless lives have been transformed by the Holy Spirit on all six continents since 1970. There have been many spin-off ministries such that an exchanged life movement has been launched and several books written. Each life that is transformed has experienced revival. Many people have been set free where psychotherapy had failed, including addictions. The wheel and line diagrams are effective from 8-80 and may be used in evangelism, discipleship and counseling. Prison inmates are very receptive to the book’s message. The Handbook to Happiness is published in 10 languages with chapter 2 (the Wheel and Line) in 49 languages.</b></div>
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<b>Dr. Charles R. Solomon, the author of “Handbook to Happiness” and founder of Grace Fellowship International, has an extensive counseling ministry in the United States and worldwide. He has written twenty books, including four books of New Covenant Poetry. </b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-26141304231275532142017-10-10T09:45:00.001-07:002017-10-10T09:46:52.571-07:00CHRISTIAN MENTORING<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christian mentors are trusted counselors who give Biblical training on how to live a successful Christian life to their mentees. Christ leads and we follow. The mentor is the role model who leads the mentees to follow and emulate. Christian mentoring submits to the leadership of Christ in a mutual role of sharing and trust with the mentees. The mentor is a trusted confidante who relies on the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit for wisdom and insight to impart spiritual truths to the mentee. Mentors train disciples to transmit the faith to others. Mentors are committed to follow Christ and live up to their calling. Christian mentors equip others to mentor.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mentors train mentees to worship Christ and lead good Christian lives. They offer wholehearted guidance and support in mutual love and obedience. This takes a lot of clear-sighted vision and understanding of the Bible. The mentor trains potential leaders, who in their turn, mentor and train others to become leaders. The extraordinary skills and unique abilities of a mentor sets him apart to be an obedient child of God, with selfless dedication and unquestioning obedience to God's call. Mentees are taught to live for Christ. The Christian mentor is a force for the Kingdom to be reckoned with. It is a giant leap of faith.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">You, as the Christian mentor, give your mentees spiritual support to become good disciples, help them to grow and mature in faith, realigning their beliefs and behavioral patterns to enable their character to line up with their call. You use your gifts and talents to have a contented life, filled with His Spirit. When serious setbacks and tiresome troubles come into your life, you deal with them fearlessly and learn precious lessons from them. You will be a mentor to someone, as a shining beacon of God's divine light. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">To be a good Christian mentor, keep your faith in Christ. Christianity requires a level of faith that is costly. It needs our untiring and selfless obedience. Our faith protects us from what we fear most. It inspires us to do our very best in Christ. As a mentor, you will teach and inspire others. You are a role model, growing in the Lord. You obey His Word. God uses you to impart spiritual learning to others. Being a mentor to your mentee is a relationship and a process. It is about God's love pouring His precepts into us. Be a caring, supportive mentor for Christ.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Christian mentoring is a specialized form of discipleship. The mentor is one who has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and Life, according to Romans 6 and Galatians 2:20. His calling as mentor is to foster this relationship with another believer and to walk with him as he is established in walking in the Spirit.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The mentor should be established in a church which advocates such a relationship where he, too, can be under authority. Such a church should have a discipleship program where one believer leads another to appropriate his death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, thus entering into the Spirit-filled life!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Miriam Jacob & Dr. Charles R. Solomon</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">© The Authors</span></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-13592033247533666912017-06-29T11:00:00.001-07:002017-06-29T11:03:30.703-07:00TESTED BY FIRE - by Kelley Latta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tested-Fire-Will-Build-Survive/dp/1940262062" rel="noopener" target="_blank">TESTED BY FIRE</a> - by <a href="http://kelleylattaministries.org/bio/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kelley Latta</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Published by: <a href="http://kelleylattaministries.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kelley Latta Ministries</a> & Snowfall Press © 2012</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Publisher: <a href="https://www.christianbookservices.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Christian Book Services</a>;</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Imprint: <a href="https://www.carpenterssonpublishing.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Carpenter's Son Publishing</a>;</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Revised edition (April 1, 2014).</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ISBN-13: 978-1940262062</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In her book "Tested by Fire," Kelley Latta unveils the most striking truths, as she helps us to discover the treasures hidden in God's Word, until we come face to face with the most precious Treasure of all Treasures, the Lord Jesus Christ. Is the foundation of your life built on solid rock or sinking sand? Will it withstand the test of time? Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the House that God built. Are you a member of His Royal Family? There is eternal life in God's House.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus Christ is our Rock; the solid foundation on which we stand. We are securely held within the safety of God's Hand when we receive the lavish gift of grace poured out to us through His Son. We have to receive Jesus into our hearts, crown Him Lord of our lives, take up His cause voluntarily and relinquish all rights to our own lives, handing over everything to Jesus, the rightful owner of our souls. God gives us salvation through the gift of His Son, a gracious gift of life, a glorious gift of grace. This comes at a personal cost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">God wants us to lay down our will and embrace His Holy Will. He invites us "to live according to His plan in the safety of His protection." If we allow God to write the story of our lives, He promises to give us the fruits of His kingdom. A glorious eternal future will be ours. May the light of Jesus shine ever so brightly in our hearts! May we hear His gentle voice whispering to us softly as He guides us through the tangled maze of life. Let us treasure the beauty of His life-giving Word as we get to know the precious Holy Spirit in a wonderful, soul-satisfying and "fruit-bearing relationship with the King of Kings."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Seek God in His Word and He will give you a fruitful harvest. Your faith will grow into a ripe fruit for Christ. Lay the first stone to set a firm foundation in your faith-life. Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone, the bright Morning Star, the Light of Life. Let us build our faith on the firm foundation of Christ the Rock as an everlasting monument to the glory of the Lord. God speaks to us through His Son and expects us to obey Him wholeheartedly. Jesus Christ is the brilliant radiance of God's dazzling glory. Let us not forget that "to the heart that desires to know Him, He will make Himself known." Let us pray for the gift of His Presence in our hearts, to give us the strength to live a new life in Him. "He who promised is faithful and He will do it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">God desires sweet fellowship with His children. He gave us His Son so that we could become His very own. The Divine Artist paints a vivid portrait of His love in His Word. Ask God to open your heart to the truth of His Word. The tender whisper of the Shepherd beckons us to safe pasture. To tap into the abundance of Christ, we must know Him intimately. Redeemed by the Blood of Christ, we are one with Him in perfect unity. God's Word communicates Jesus to the members of His Body, the Church. God's Word reveals His instructions to His people, to obey in order to receive His blessing. God's Spirit will guide us in spirit and truth, taking what He hears from Jesus and giving it to us. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us, His children and our Guide to His blessed Will. Christ, the Rock of Life meets us in His Word, the Book of Life, to give us new life in the Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">© Miriam Jacob</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-14535081786128596552017-05-16T08:46:00.002-07:002017-05-16T08:46:50.098-07:00Faith: Believing in the God Who Works on Your Behalf - by Dr. Yonggi Cho and Dr. Wayde Goodall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Faith: Believing in the God Who Works on Your Behalf" by Dr. Yonggi Cho and Dr. Wayde Goodall, is a divinely anointed book about genuine, prevailing faith, with time-tested spiritual insights into the deeper things of God, following the Holy Spirit with reckless abandon, teaching how to cross the “bridge of faith” between then and now, "to believe the implausible and attempt the impossible." God bridges the delicate gap between the past and the present into a supernatural flow of His Spirit, in the secret place of prayer. "One thing I know, though I was blind, now I see." - (John 9:25). When you experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, you walk by faith in the precious grace of God. You belong to Jesus, bought with His Blood. Faith in Christ transforms your life. As you walk by faith in Him, your faith grows to believe incredible miracles, supernatural signs and wonders. God will use you amazingly, giving you indefatigable courage well beyond the impossible. </div>
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These time-tested, spiritual truths will enhance your walk by faith, to believe in the impossible, dream God's dreams, and let the Lord do what only He can do. “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” — which God has revealed through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9–10). "Faith is more important than life itself because without it there is no fullness of life." — Mother Teresa. By faith we see things happening when they do not exist yet. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see." - (Hebrews 11:1)</div>
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We have a “measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Faith as small as a mustard seed, can grow into a huge tree (Matthew 17:20). Faith grows as we study God’s Word and dwell upon His goodness. The Holy Spirit gently speaks in quietness and confidence, giving us fresh hope. “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” - Mother Teresa. Dreams Give Hope for Tomorrow. Our creative God gives creative ideas to open the door to circumstances to bless our lives. We carry dreams in our hearts. Successful People, with dreams and visions of the future, see what others cannot see, standing alone confidently. “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with success.” - Henry David Thoreau.</div>
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Aged seventy-five, Abraham received God’s calling in Ur. Abraham possessed his God-given dream in his heart. God answered his prayer and made him into the father of faith (Genesis 12–24; Romans 4). There are principles of faith and God-inspired dreams. When God speaks to you in thoughts, dreams, and visions, your life is transformed because Jesus Christ is in the equation. God is with you and you are competent in Christ. Like Paul, we declare, “But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14). Although our dreams are not yet a reality, they give us vision to accomplish God’s will and His purpose in our lives. God-inspired thoughts can be turned into faith. Learn how to implement a strategy to work with God to bring a thought to pass. Your dream is not yet a reality. As you pray and study the Bible, you can set goals and ways to implement your goals. </div>
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When God spoke to Abraham, Abraham had a new dream in his heart for the future. This became a desire and he was filled with hope. Although he didn’t understand the dream, he believed what God had shown him. He trusted in God's promise, a part of the dream in his heart. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8 ESV). By hearing from God and his God-inspired dreams, insurmountable faith arose in Abraham’s heart. His dream became a desire, and Abraham left Ur. By faith he walked away from the familiar to the unfamiliar, due to the God-given dream to receive an inheritance. When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, he had faith to have his own child. His faith came due to the promise God gave him. In the natural, it wasn’t possible due of his age, but with God added into the equation, his dream became a reality and Isaac was born. Abraham believed, trusting in God, believing God would fulfill His promise. He took his first step by faith and walked away from his past. Abraham did not weaken in faith when his own body was as good as dead or the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning God's promise, but he grew strong in his faith, giving glory to God. (Genesis 4:19–20) </div>
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When we have faith and the dreams of the Holy Spirit, our hope grows as we step out in faith. Our faith grows as we see the evidence come to pass. Abraham prayed for a son. He was promised to have as many descendants as the stars in the sky. On clear nights, gazing at tens of thousands of stars, seemingly unending, his imagination grew, and hope, encouragement and the anticipation of the fulfilled dream filled his heart. When we have a God-inspired dream in our hearts, we trust that God hears our prayers, giving us wisdom and patience as He brings our dream to fruition. But this only happens in His time. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-64267021605003091752017-05-16T08:30:00.002-07:002017-05-16T08:30:42.730-07:00Activating The Power of God’s Word - by Kyle Winkler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Activating The Power of God’s Word, Kyle Winkler describes how, deep inside in the very heart core of creation is a law stronger than the laws of nature, an unrivaled force, more powerful than gravity, a supernatural power that radically transforms everything it touches. It is the spoken Word of God. In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was formless and empty (Gen. 1:1–2). Then God spoke, in all His majesty- with a resounding declaration “Let there be…” thundering in all its supernatural glory into the dark void from the heavens — to chase away the darkness and light up the cosmos with creative life. This ground-breaking moment defined and established God’s spoken Word as the basis of creation, to hold everything together in time and space. He sustains all things by His powerful Word. — Hebrews 1:3. God’s Word keeps the planets silently spinning in their orbits and the seasons in their respective cycles. We marvel at the unique grandeur of God’s design and the sheer majesty of His awesome power. Most remarkably, God made this power accessible to everyone. The spellbinding reality is that we can activate the power of God’s Word to transform our lives forever.</div>
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The purpose of this book is to confidently assert that God’s Word spoken through you can and will accomplish the very same things it accomplished for the Biblical superfaith heroes. Through strategic declarations, you can activate God’s Word to transform every area of your life. The power of God’s spoken Word declares God-inspired destiny and gives perfect identity to what seems hopeless, empty or meaningless. It provides strength to get through insurmountable difficulties in the dark valleys of life. It is the spiritual basis to overcome life’s greatest obstacles and win every single battle of faith and spiritual warfare. The power of God’s spoken Word sustains you as “more than a conqueror” in the life of overwhelming victory that Jesus Christ died to give you (Rom. 8:37). God’s spoken Word is a powerful spiritual weapon to give abundant life in all its fullness. In Activating the Power of God’s Word, Kyle Winkler helps us to discover the supernatural power of declaration. You will receive biblical keys from the Word of God to make strategic declarations that will bring the supernatural breakthrough you are praying for.</div>
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Miriam Jacob</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-79242549057513329042017-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:002017-05-16T08:22:28.721-07:00 Anywhere Faith by Heather C. King <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Anywhere Faith, Heather C. King helps us to learn about Abraham and his journey to an unknown destination. God called him out of a place called Ur and told him to go, without knowing where to go or how long it would take to get there. Everyone wants faith like Abraham, without counting the cost. In a moment of soul honesty and penetrating analysis, Heather realizes the worst nightmare scenario of not knowing where the road leads to or how long it will take to get there! We have to trust God wholeheartedly, instead of trusting in our own worthless plans. Abraham deserves superfaith status for his radical obedience and unquestioning faith that does not complain at any cost. Not only was he ready to follow God anywhere, but he also passed a greater faith test. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, waited for almost thirty years, from God’s promise of a baby, to the actual moment when they held their precious child of promise, Isaac, in their arms. When Isaac was finally born, Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety. Isaac was a miracle child — a gift from God and the glorious fulfllment of the divine promise to Abraham that he would become the father of many nations.</div>
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God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to place his son’s life on the line. Years after Isaac’s birth, God asked Abraham to climb the mountain with his young son and build an altar, supposedly to kill Isaac as a sacrifice to God. God asked Abraham to give back the promised child. “How could Isaac possibly be both the promised son and a sacrifice?” Abraham did not question God or try to reason with Him. Instead, with his unquestioning, obedient faith, he did not stall at all. “Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took his men with him, and his son Isaac. He cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him” (22:3). God called in the night, and early the very next day, Abraham did exactly as God commanded. In Hebrews 11, Abraham was willing to obey God in the most radical of ways because he knew God was able even to raise Isaac from the dead. While we might stall, question, and fight with God, Abraham simply believed in the impossible. God could raise Isaac up from death if He chose.</div>
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Are we ready to be used by God, to do only what He wants us to do, and go anywhere He wants us to go? Will we choose God over everything else? This is the wholehearted, selfless devotion God desires from us. He won’t settle for anything else. Even Abraham made mistakes, when he trusted his own plans and not God’s, when his faith broke down and he tried to take matters into his own hands. Our faith “superheroes” weren’t superhuman at all. When God called them, they responded honestly – sometimes telling God they didn’t know if they could do what He asked. Moses wanted God to send somebody else. Gideon worried about whether he heard God correctly. Elijah felt alone. Isaiah felt unworthy. Esther was terrified. When God calls us, we answer hesitatingly, afraid to get intimate with God, fearing that He might ask us to give what we cannot, terrified to move forward for fear of failure, or that the costly task might hurt too much.</div>
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A. W. Tozer said, “We can be in our day what the heroes of faith were in their day —but remember at the time they didn’t know they were heroes.” The faith heroes and heroines were regular people with perfectly ordinary lives, insecure and frightened, but choosing to obey God anyway. They followed Him in spite of fear, insecurity or questions. In Anywhere Faith, Heather C. King writes about dialogue, relationship and friendship with God. She explains how to respond to Him when He asks us to trust and obey. When God called men and women throughout Scripture to follow Him, and their answers in that moment of their calling revealed the honest truth about their heart condition and their faith condition. We love God and want to follow Him. We want to be “anywhere faith” Christians and pray like David Livingstone did: “Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me.” But we have struggles, or even excuses, that hold</div>
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us back. We want to be God’s friend like Abraham, but we have hidden away parts of our hearts from God, our Creator.</div>
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When we hide our hearts from God, our deep-rooted fears and insecurities weigh us down, chaining us to the darkness, and not allowing God’s light to shine into our hearts, to deliver and to liberate us. Let us give God the freedom to do His work in us. When we bring our needs to Him, He rescues us. When we feel afraid, He gives us peace. When we are unworthy, He clothes us in His righteousness. When we confess the painful truth that we don’t want to go, He reveals His sovereignty and grace to give us the strength and courage to undertake the journey. “The Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.” God knows the truth of our hearts because He made us. He has compassion on us. He wants to rescue us. He beckons us to bring Him our brokenness, to make us whole and holy. God invites us into His presence, promising that it will be worth any sacrifice, effort, or price we pay. Surely we can trust Him. “God is love” (1 John 4:16). He will never leave us: “Be strong and courageous. The Lord goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). With promises as trustworthy as this, can we resist Him any longer? Let us honestly tell Him the truth: “God, in spite of my fears, uncertainties and insecurities, I’m coming with You anyway! I’ll go with You anywhere, to do anything You ask me to do.”</div>
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Prayer by David Livingstone, missionary to Africa:</div>
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“Lord, send me anywhere,</div>
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Only go with me.</div>
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Lay any burden on me,</div>
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Only sustain me.</div>
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Sever any tie but the tie</div>
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That binds me to Yourself.”</div>
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Miriam Jacob</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-43880254704981009202017-05-16T08:15:00.004-07:002017-05-16T08:15:57.073-07:00The Anna Anointing – by Michelle McClain-Walters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In The Anna Anointing, Michelle McClain-Walters explains how God pursues us, searching for those to answer the call to stand in the gap breaching God and our society. Someone must stand in the gap between God and man to cry for mercy and grace. God seeks people to take up the mantle of prayer to release healing, deliverance, and glory upon the earth.</div>
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In one of the darkest times of human history, God raised up Anna the prophetess. God releases the spirit of grace and supplication for seasons of prayer, to proclaim the revelation of Jesus to a lost world. Anointed by the Holy Spirit, we can become people who moves the Hand of God in our generation. There is incredible power in a consecrated life. With spiritual influence, we can become people of persistence, hope, and power, anointed to serve God.</div>
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God commissions an army of people to cry out with the knowledge of God’s glory. They will be watchmen on the wall until revival comes, to labor in intercession for the Holy Spirit to save lost souls and revive the church. These people will touch the heart of God as they cry out to be imbued with power to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus Christ to a lost generation. God awakens a worldwide prayer movement to release the power of His kingdom on earth.</div>
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God needs people to contend for the faith, to fight for deliverance while battling difficulties that hinder release. Anointed people of God will have a passion and burden to see generations walk in God’s plans and purposes. They pray for the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth, in a time of transition into the fullness of the glorious new covenant power to be implemented upon earth, in the splendor of God’s glory, manifested through miracles, healing, and prophetic ministry. The glory of the new covenant is the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. As part of the glorious new covenant, God will write His Word on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).</div>
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In His sovereign power the Lord stirs nations and people to be His agents on earth. When the Lord wants tasks to be completed and His divine purposes fulfilled, He will awakens people to accomplish His will. The Lord commands an army to cry out in prayer intercession and spiritual warfare against the evil plots and schemes of the enemy of our souls, until revival and glory fill the earth. The Lord opened His armory and brought out the weapons of His indignation — (Jeremiah 50:25).</div>
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God calls us to be spiritual history makers, as He turns potential disaster zones into powerful revival centers, by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He wants people to be agents of change before the throne of grace. He wants people to be intimate with Him, partnering with Him to be His chosen vehicles of blessing to the world. God awakens in people a deep thirst and desire to know His divine calling and destiny for their lives. All people are called to serve the Lord, for the glory of His Name.</div>
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Miriam Jacob</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-74242775989957783122017-03-15T08:19:00.004-07:002017-03-15T08:36:35.337-07:00Sacred Love - Claudia Cantrell with Kim P. Davis<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Journey of Singleness, Belonging, and Finding True Love</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dHixc8XQ5kYso43EuG37ArQQFHO4zvWbJF8g7kLUIpsczUOWxZ2pIRYBkIlS4iV2YQFZUOgRxOC4DoyLPEll8NLH1MSKg2Dh6XBj69679xBLynaRB571exk8q1jlqBKH-bRAOzn22ok/s1600/CLAUDIA+CANTRELL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dHixc8XQ5kYso43EuG37ArQQFHO4zvWbJF8g7kLUIpsczUOWxZ2pIRYBkIlS4iV2YQFZUOgRxOC4DoyLPEll8NLH1MSKg2Dh6XBj69679xBLynaRB571exk8q1jlqBKH-bRAOzn22ok/s400/CLAUDIA+CANTRELL.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLAUDIA CANTRELL<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Do you ever long for a deeply soul-satisfying love and a fulfilling sense of belonging to the only One who can give you the blissful joys of a happily-ever-after life? Sacred Love is the truthful, heartfelt and poignant love story of how a precious child of God can find triumphant victory over utter brokenness. Overwhelmed by the most distressing, traumatic and turbulent circumstances, you come face to face with an ultimate crisis of belief and a numb distrust of everything in life. Unable to carry the heavy burdens anymore, you surrender the bitter, painful past to God. By surrendering to the One who loves you the most, you learn how to live life more abundantly through Christ. Sacred Love compels you to run to Jesus Christ, your heavenly Bridegroom, your happily ever after. He is your own true love, the only One who can transform a sad life into a most joyful one. Jesus is our only reason for living. In Him, we live and move and have our being. When Claudia rekindled her first love for Jesus Christ and made a firm decision to love, cherish and obey His will in her life, God healed Dr. David Cantrell’s grieving heart and gave Claudia to him as his bride. Today, Claudia and David serve Christ together in the Cantrell Ministries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Miriam Jacob</span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-13371955571116249852017-02-17T16:16:00.002-08:002017-02-17T16:31:29.568-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyd35QNJKWD4s4pf3kL0Nb-4pTw9mzNFOtbCE1FYaJmibxyQpIgBt3gg0iGLX33LubduwId5e-j7y-ukLwaXcg18f7oA7NiRiiBZAqV4ACrf6FhW9nCZK101mLVVduCKi-w3VnzKrHRw/s1600/JTS-APRIL+2016-VOL+67-PART+1-OA-OUP-JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyd35QNJKWD4s4pf3kL0Nb-4pTw9mzNFOtbCE1FYaJmibxyQpIgBt3gg0iGLX33LubduwId5e-j7y-ukLwaXcg18f7oA7NiRiiBZAqV4ACrf6FhW9nCZK101mLVVduCKi-w3VnzKrHRw/s640/JTS-APRIL+2016-VOL+67-PART+1-OA-OUP-JPG.jpg" width="552" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-85130897831635361472017-02-16T19:10:00.001-08:002017-02-16T19:47:26.672-08:00iF@ITH by Daniel Darling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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New Hope Publishers<br />
ISBN-10: 1596692944<br />
ISBN-13: 978-1596692947<br />
December 21, 2010</div>
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iF@ith by Daniel Darling connects with God in the 21st century through an in-depth study of the real people in the Bible who instantly communicated with God, heart-to-heart, in a personally intimate way. How do we connect with God in the digital age of pixels, bandwidth, high-speed and warp speed, when “we are always plugged in and wired to the digital revolution”, with instant answers at the tips of our fingers? How do we restart our prayer life to open a high-speed connection with God? We live in a connected generation, moving at warped speed, through a maze of intricate data, traveling swiftly at the speed of thought. We send digital messages by email and receive instant, real-time answers in the blink of an eye. Reading iF@ith will activate your faith and set you on a unique road in this connected generation in which life explodes with data racing ahead at the warp speed of thought. Leap on board and surf with iF@ith. Your life will never be the same! </div>
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God certainly has a digital mission for this millennium. Where does prayer fit into the fast-paced and ever-changing scenario of today's technological revolution, where people are constantly plugged in and wired, with instant answers at their fingertips? iF@ith is Daniel Darling's perfect response to the digital generation of which he is an integral part. Practical prayer refreshes your prayer life and opens an instant, high-speed connection with God. Do the centuries-old, time-tested truths of Christianity connect with the modern expectations of the digital era? "We are an always-connected generation, weaned on warp speed, raised on instant formula, with life revolving around our ever-expanding devices, exploding with data traveling at the speed of thought." We send instant messages, emails and texts to people connected in the world wide web and get instant real-time answers in the blink of an eye. As we send and receive information , we get instant answers, one-on-one, person to person. </div>
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With the advent of the internet and “the rapid acceleration of communication” at the click of a button, the lost art of letter-writing was duly revived in digital format as we strive to paint a digital masterpiece, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each word and the significance of every phrase used to embellish our artwork. Gone are the days when letter-writing was an exquisite art, duly executed on paper, with words dexterously painted like a portrait, every word significantly weighed to convey the most accurate meaning. </div>
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This is the fast-paced digital age of pixels and bandwidth, rebooting and opening high-speed internet connections, faced with the urgent need to be always-connected, racing on fast-track from high-speed to warp speed, as we struggle to cope with vast amounts of data transmitted at the lightning speed of thought. Digital messages by text and email demand instant, real-time answers, as we send and receive information to communicate personally, one-on-one. Global communication makes gigantic leaps across oceans, spanning countries and borders, transcending time zones. It is as easy as the click of a button."Nobody is ever out of reach, unavailable or offline." You will see Jesus form deeply in you and discover Him smiling at you through the all-important missives of emails, text and chat messages. </div>
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In iF@ith, Daniel Darling enriches your walk with Christ through practical, revealing insights into the lives and times of biblical characters, those giants of faith who inspire our faith beyond the eye of reason. Faith is based on biblical fact. "The heart has its reasons of which reason cannot know." Christ died for us and His undying love for us is the reason for our faith. "Love's strength lies in love's sacrifice and He who suffers most has most to give." </div>
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Miriam Jacob<br />
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AUTHOR PROFILE<br />
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Daniel Darling is the Vice President of Communications for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He previously served five years as Senior Pastor of Gages Lake Bible Church in Gages Lake, Illinois, USA. He is a contributor to Leadership Journal, Gospel Coalition, and a variety of other publications. He has written several books, including his latest, Activist Faith. He blogs at <a href="http://www.danieldarling.com/" target="_blank">www.danieldarling.com</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-15669282790866659662017-01-06T08:07:00.002-08:002017-01-06T10:13:19.432-08:00THE SCARS THAT HAVE SHAPED ME - How God Meets Us In Suffering - by Vaneetha Rendall Risner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“Vaneetha Rendall Risner writes with unique authenticity in a creative, compelling style that inspires readers to want to know more about her time-tested faith, selfless integrity and her deep and passionate love of a gracious God who never fails to satisfy her with His unfailing goodness. This inspiring book gives fresh new hope to those battling grief, loss and pain.<br />
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Vaneetha’s credible writing is firmly rooted in deep pain and suffering, in which her indefatigable determination to hold on to Christ played the greatest role in her life. She patiently endures suffering with amazing joy, grace, and perseverance. This transparent, truth-filled book gives a rare glimpse into her world and her loving God.<br />
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Vaneetha knows and understands. She has been in the valley of pain and despair and survived to tell the tale. There is no better voice than hers to convince us of the truth of Christ's words. In either a sudden, unprecipitated crisis of daily life or a long, relentless, seemingly-endless struggle for perpetual survival, Vaneetha’s time-tested insights are purified and refined in the fire of adversity.<br />
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In the unfathomable designs of God’s plans, Vaneetha securely latches onto God’s reliable faithfulness, with a love that will not let go, whatever the consequences. Her faith helps us to weather the storms in our own lives with courage and strength as Vaneetha herself has walked difficult terrains and swam in deep spiritual waters. This vulnerable yet deeply hopeful book is firmly rooted in God’s faithfulness in suffering. You will glimpse a little of God’s light through Vaneetha’s eyes and hear His music through her ears.<br />
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Through this anointed, Spirit-filled book, Vaneetha gently guides us through the dark, lonesome, trouble-filled valley of tragedy, triumphantly laced with victory in God’s love. With rare grace and truth, she reveals the redemptive power of God in a dark world, inviting us to glimpse God’s glory in bitter times of struggle and strife. Instead of drawing us into her pain, with rare grace and wisdom, Vaneetha gently guides us through our own sufferings into the heart of God. She captivates us with the goodness of God in the midst of pain and suffering, inspiring us to dare to trust Jesus. This book is a loving gift to those who silently suffer, and to those who selflessly care for them.<br />
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Miriam Jacob<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-88508464061012624372017-01-06T08:02:00.004-08:002017-01-06T08:02:54.677-08:00PROF. P. P. THOMAS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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PROF. P. P. THOMAS</div>
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Born with the gift for one-to-one relationships, Prof. P P Thomas loves to be with people. The various disciplines in which he underwent training viz. Philosophy, Psychology, English Literature and Theology show his interest in human nature.</div>
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His career in North India as teacher in Nepali Bible School, Gorakhpur and as lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Psychology, St. John’s College, Agra, and English Language and Literature at three colleges in Kerala (St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, B. A. M. College, Thuruthicad and Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla – all in Kerala State).</div>
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This gave him an opportunity to live in close association with students. He knew the problems of young people first hand – he became a friend to them as he listened to them and talked to them. He enjoys helping people acquire skills in Inductive Bible Study Method; also in facilitating two local weekly Bible Study Groups in book by book study.</div>
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In 1979 during an assignment to teach counseling to church workers Thomas found the scarcity of books on the subject in India. A friend coming from Canada brought him four books and one of them was ‘Counseling with the mind of Christ’ by Charles R Solomon, of Grace Fellowship International.</div>
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As has been his habit, he wrote an appreciation to Dr. Solomon. On Solomon’s invitation Thomas underwent Counselor Training with GFI in Denver USA in 1982.</div>
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He became convinced of the need for an organization in India to concentrate on healing the emotional problems and needs of people.</div>
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Added impetus for the need of an organization was felt in a counseling seminar that he conducted in South India. The participants in the seminar had experience in Christian work among students and they encouraged him to start an organization. The Grace Counseling India was formed in 1982.</div>
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Information: Grace Counseling India</div>
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Photo © Prof. P. P. Thomas</div>
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Frame: Google Images</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-31711359645999609242017-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:002017-01-06T07:54:55.862-08:00Triumphant Hope (Asha)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Triumphant Hope (Asha)</span></div>
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In Sept of 1997, CUSAT University had a fresh intake of students for their engineering school. We were only their third batch. Among the many who floated into the campus from various places was me. </div>
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In the initial week of school, a simple looking big mustached lecturer sauntered into the classroom unannounced with a face that could burn the room down. He introduced himself as a lecturer in the same department that I was studying in. And he warned all the students from treating their studies lightly and how everything would end looking like ‘end-times’ should that happen. He definitely caught the curiosity of all the students with that one and he walked away with the same abruptness. We were 18-19-year-olds who were exploring how to 'make the best' of the college years. He definitely doused our excitement in a matter of those two minutes. In a few days, we found out that Roy Paul was going to be the lecturer for one of our subjects and we braced for the storm.</div>
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A few weeks later, I was invited to a Christian meeting that took place in an elementary school near the campus. There I spotted him again but this time around he was smiling and enjoying a vibrant informal relationship with the students who had gathered. That's where I saw a beaming Asha and their 3-year-old smart talking boy, Joshua, for the first time. As one confused about Christianity and dabbling with atheism, this community strangely attracted me. Even stranger was how I was drawn to this family. Within that year, the Lord saved me through Roy. </div>
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The last line was typed in seven seconds. But I could write a book on that period. The best apologetic to the message of the gospel I received was the life of this family. This visible expression of the gospel shone brightly into my life and the foolishness of the cross at one point suddenly became sweet and glorious. </div>
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Central to the family was the role Asha played. They were the most hospitable people I'd known. There were people in their home all the time. What beat me about this family was how, though there were many at their home, still everyone went away with a lot of individual attention. This was remarkable because I have spent considerable time wondering how they managed that. </div>
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That kind of hospitality requires a lot of wisdom. And I knew it wasn't Roy who maneuvered through it. As much as he would be the main conversationalist, I realized that Asha was the one who steered the conversations, at the right time, onto the right topic and around a new person. This played out very beautifully in them being a dynamic duo. I'm certain that many people in a good sense may appreciate the role Roy played among students and the larger evangelical students union. But I can vouch as a close observer and Roy's disciple that Asha was instrumental in weaving that wonderfully together. </div>
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Asha was a keen observer of others, their interests, their struggles and their joys. She also had a sharp memory of all these details. In the nascent days of my relationship with the family, she realized that I didn't drink tea or coffee. Ever since, she always made sure there was lemon at home so that she could make a refreshing glass of lemon juice whenever I hopped into their home (which was every day!). She did the same even a few months ago when I had the opportunity to drop in. I know I'm not the only one who could narrate this kind of a story. She knew everyone at a personal level so that she could be a blessing to everyone.</div>
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Being in a 'through the week' open-home church ministry myself, I can easily imagine the drain on finances their lifestyle caused. It was not unusual that many a discussion intruded into their meal time and she would only be eager to serve all. They even had others live in their home for an extended period because the situation demanded so. In one instance, it was a parent of a student who requested this for their son who was going through a harsh time. The line between late night and early morning blurred at their home. But the time she sacrificed also for unbelieving students who would show up at their door to seek clarity from a range of academic topics (much even unrelated to Roy's core discipline) was most astounding. The man spent several hours teaching such students from their home for no extra benefit. Asha created a welcoming space for this. </div>
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Such a lifestyle is usually harder on the woman of the home than the man. Asha could have easily said to Roy, "Let's have open-home two days a week. That way we will still be a blessing to others as well as have enough resources that we can enjoy a good meal for ourselves and go shopping with the kids and buy me a new sari once in a while". Should Roy have taken that direction, the family would still have been a huge blessing. But the only thing on Asha's mind was how she could maximize their service of others and in the process establish God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven and have their children grown up in that missional context. </div>
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Asha additionally worked hard at starting a women's bible study along with the regular discipling of women who were part of the evangelical community. Many girls who were not part of the regular Evangelical Union attendance would turn up for that time with Asha at their home and be blessed! She also made regular time to be in prayer with some of the girls. How she would navigate that along with a young Joshua and baby Joel those years still stumps me.</div>
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In time I realized that Asha was a simple woman who lived a supernatural life through the indwelling of a supernatural being. It was obvious that she had died to herself many years ago. When I met her first in 1997, she was a woman who died several hundred such deaths . It was no longer she who lived but Christ who lived in her. And the life she lived was one that she lived by fluent faith in the Son of God who loved her and gave himself for her. She lived in the reality of that truth. And that truth was glorious to her. Many have complimented her for the following traits- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Not surprising! I could write plenty for each of those. The death she finally died to herself is the final one and that she had been prepared for years in waiting for her truly beloved.</div>
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As an unbeliever, the message of this gospel made sense because it was made visible to me in real life. As much as it was Roy's message that fell like bricks on my head and heart in 1998, I have no doubt that Asha's 'normal' Christian life (along with Roy's) had an equal role not just in the beginning of that faith but even in the shaping and deepening of my faith. I can say that she fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. May many men and women be more attracted to the same Jesus she served, as I was compelled to in 1998. As much as many grieved rightfully the last few weeks, it will do well to celebrate her life too. Her life was a triumphant one even in the blaze of the furious battle. Let us often visit her life in our memories so that we live as ones triumphant in hope!</div>
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© Vivek Jones</div>
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First Publication Rights: Our Contact Magazine<br />
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Courtesy:<br />
Photo: vsquaretv<br />
Frame: Google Images</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-61254911078734881542016-10-25T10:16:00.003-07:002017-06-21T03:04:22.885-07:00GODSMILES - OCEANS APART - by Angela Dugi<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oceans Apart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have a remarkable story to tell. It has shown me once again that I
serve a God who arranges the impossible, surprises with the unexpected, and
still performs the miraculous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In July 2013, I received an odd friend request on Facebook. I really
thought nothing of it and accepted the request only because she had two
beautiful Bible names. I had no idea God was about to bless me with a precious
gift from His gracious hand and blow the socks right off my flat feet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her name is Miriam Jacob, and she lives halfway around the world, which
makes this story extraordinary. The Father had a divine and wonderful plan to
introduce two of His daughters during a tumultuous time in my life when
everything was turned upside down. I desperately needed encouragement. My
family was in the middle of a big move to another city. My husband had already
transferred, leaving me to pack the house, with three kids and two dogs in the
middle of a scorching Texas summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Miriam is a proper-speaking, lovely lady who has traveled the world. I
am a plain, ordinary Texas girl who says “y'all” far too often. God does have a
sense of humor. She is an author, poet, and editor who does ministry work on
the internet. Miriam said she had searched for months until she finally found
me. She was extremely excited while I, on the other hand, was quite mystified
by who this person was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bewildered, I asked her at least half a dozen rapid-fire questions. “Who
are you?”, “Why do you want to meet me?” and "How on earth did you find
me?" In her gentle way she answered each one. Little did I know, Miriam
found me while watching a short video on YouTube.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During one of our first online conversations she wrote that the Holy
Spirit revealed to her that I needed encouragement. This resonated with me
because I love to encourage others as well. Nevertheless, I thought to myself,
Really? A stranger from across the seas wants to encourage me? But yes, that
was indeed her mission. Miriam was a genuine sister in Christ. Of course I was
uncertain at first, but it didn't take long for the Lord to ease my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm very grateful that she listened to the voice of God because I needed
her and soon found that she needed me. Her words of encouragement were like a
glass of cold water to this weary traveler. She also gave me the courage to
finish this book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our friendship has grown now as we chat online. We laugh, cry, and
encourage each other through simple, type-written words. Often it feels like we
are not oceans apart at all, because our hearts are bound together through the
love of Christ. My friend has suffered incredible pain and loss in her life.
Despite her suffering, she has a sweet and gentle spirit that reflects God's
love in a powerful way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Miriam has deeply enriched my life and I have found her to be sincere
and loving. She is a beacon of hope and a beautiful picture of true humility
filled with the Holy Spirit. Her spiritual walk challenges me to draw closer to
Him. She is also a true intercessor, praying for me and for my family. Through
Miriam, God reminds me in a profound way that I am not alone and that our
family is not forgotten. I love my Father's ways and how He meets needs and
sends His best gifts right on time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"
(Genesis 18:14)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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© Angela Dugi</div>
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WestBow Press, A Division of Thomas
Nelson and Zondervan.</div>
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'Oceans Apart' is
the first story in Part 1: Stories From The Heart in "GodSmiles" by
Angela Dugi, </div>
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published by WestBow Press.</div>
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Angie lives in Texas
with her husband and their three teenage children. She has suffered for almost
two decades with lupus, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain. But she refuses to let
disease define her. Besides writing, she loves to cook and grow anything that
blooms. Angie is also the author of What I Learned Lying Down—Hope for the
Chronically Ill.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-74914848298804871692016-10-24T21:34:00.002-07:002016-10-24T22:02:54.153-07:00Dr. Duane Alexander Miller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GYN_kXGZwyTLR4D49ZzCAWa3Fjd4tJprj6iR2qdeBeUTiF4DalQOOfHy_gfXIhjgDOqZ-nLihGRlt2TUTcEzUsiRtIxnf_pT20IlbVIFGNjspVHxrEvc1mbmBnE8MKhkCD30CnY6hmE/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GYN_kXGZwyTLR4D49ZzCAWa3Fjd4tJprj6iR2qdeBeUTiF4DalQOOfHy_gfXIhjgDOqZ-nLihGRlt2TUTcEzUsiRtIxnf_pT20IlbVIFGNjspVHxrEvc1mbmBnE8MKhkCD30CnY6hmE/s400/1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Dr. Duane Alexander Miller<br />
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Researcher and Lecturer in Muslim-Christian relations,<br />
The Christian Institute of Islamic Studies,<br />
San Antonio, Texas, USA.<br />
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BA in Philosophy (honors) from University of Texas at San Antonio,<br />
MA in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio (honors),<br />
Diploma in Arabic from the Kelsey Language Institute in Jordan.<br />
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PhD in Divinity (focus on World Christianity), University of Edinburgh, Scotland.<br />
Doctoral research on the contextual theologies proposed by Christian converts from Islam –<br />
what do they claim to know about God, and what attracted them to the Christian faith?<br />
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Thesis published as: <span style="text-align: center;">"Living among the Breakage: Contextual Theology-making and ex-Muslim Christians" </span><span style="text-align: center;">(Pickwick, 2016).</span></div>
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After studying Arabic, the Millers moved to Nazareth of Galilee,<br />
a Muslim-majority, Arab city in Israel.<br />
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Dr Miller became the founding academic dean of<br />
Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS).<br />
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He also served as lecturer in church history and theology for the seminary.<br />
(In 2015 NETS and a local bible college merged to form Nazareth Evangelical College.)<br />
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Dr. Miller has taught at the University of Texas at San Antonio,<br />
the University of Edinburgh,<br />
and from January, 2014 through May, 2016<br />
at St Mary’s University.</div>
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Dr. Miller published several articles and chapters on the topics of Christian converts from Islam,<br />
the history of Protestant missions in Ottoman Palestine,<br />
and contemporary evangelicalism in the Middle East.<br />
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He is author of "Two Stories of Everything: The Competing Metanarratives of Islam and Christianity" (Whitchurch Publishing, 2016),<br />
which seeks to understand the two faiths not as alternative religions,<br />
but as accounts of the entirety of history, from Creation to the final judgment.</div>
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Dr. Miller travels widely to provide training and carry out research.<br />
He and his wife, Sharon, married in 2003, have three children.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1518573446122738049.post-5771935518363184202016-10-23T20:34:00.000-07:002016-10-23T21:17:08.964-07:00WHO STOLE THE COOKIES? - AMEENA BEGUM - by Dr. Alex Mathew<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Afzalbhai breezes in into the office and rather largely introduces himself; “Dr., I am an MDP; you see. My wife wants me to have a talk with you”. I thought Afzalbhai wanted to me to get an impression that he is an MBA from XLRI. He was almost brimming with pride in introducing himself as an MDP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ameena Begum standing coyly behind the man ventures a smile and takes up the indicated seat. Afzalbhai is already comfortable in the armed chair with elaborately crossed legs and an amused smirk on his face. Afzal is a huge man, flabby body with ruddy cheeks and disproportionately small mongoloid eyes. Ameena wants to say something but holds herself back and waits for her husband to start the ball rolling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bhaisaheb is in no mood to kick start a conversation, but is more interested in the lacework of the table cloth. There is no sound for a couple of minutes and suddenly Afzalbhai tilts up his absent neck and offers me an elaborate smile and; “Yes doctor, Ameena has a problem, she thinks she has depression. With me having MDP, her condition is not getting any better for the--- the, better, let us say,,, for,,,, almost,,,, for the last twelve years.” Then he stopped for a snort of tobacco snuff into his huge nostrils, big enough to belong to a bovine hulk..</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ameena Begum is a frail young woman, appearing to be closer to sixty, with wrinkles, sunburn and a set expression of hopelessness. Her large eyes are sunken, darkly unfathomable, which have not smiled for decades, it appears. But her eyes tell her story. She had the bearing of a hardy, famished work horse. “Behanji, (honorable Sister) what brings you here from so far away? How can I help you”? They both have traveled something like 150 kilometers, auto-rickshaw, bus, train and auto-rickshaw again. Despite her frail body she did not appear to be tired. She made a start and held herself back. After 20 minutes she suggested she would like to talk to me privately. I escorted Afzalbhai to another room and settled her in a comfortable chair to tell me her pain. Tenderly and hardly audible, she said without any preamble “Doctorsaheb, Afzaljan is not sick, he does not have MDP. He does not want to do any work. I am not in depression. Yes, I am depressed. Anyone would be; in my situation. Tell me how can I cope up with what I get day after day, keep getting hour after hour, 7 X 24?” I didn’t say a thing, didn’t have to say, the story unfolded. Afzal is around forty, has worked in the Arabian gulf for three years. Had to leave the country under some unexplained circumstances about which Ameena has no idea. She has never asked for details. Soon after his return from Gulf they got married. She was given to understand that Afzal would be going back to Gulf to take up a new assignment. That never happened. Instead he started ‘Agriculture - Chemicals’ retail shop. His family had many acres of agricultural land and the trade he liked most was something connected with agriculture. The strong smell of the chemicals started irritating him; to overcome that he started sniffing tobacco snuff, which became an unbearably offensive habit. Without personal attention the business packed up pretty soon and then he began to sell of pieces of land to live in the comfort he was used to. Much of the remaining land, where our house stands, which is about an acre and a half, - a gift from my father- is his next focus. He wants to sell part of it to pay off his debts and I am refusing. I will not compromise on it. The way he is living, he is likely to finish off every saleable article we have. I do not know where all the gold Vappa gave me have gone. He never pledges gold, knowing he can’t redeem it and so conveniently sells off whatever ornaments he gets hold of when I go to school.” “Oh, you are a teacher? Nice to hear that Ameena” “Yes I am a PGT (post-graduate Trained) Physics teacher. I teach 11th and 12th. Apart from teaching and all the associated work, I do all the house-work too as I am not very comfortable with engaging housemaids. I do not trust Afzal wholly in these matters. So I end up doing everything including shopping on my way back from school. I sleep for less than four hours” Ameena talked for over an hour describing their circumstances, the slight she had from his family as they have no children, the fault for which too she is bearing. The truth is not worth mentioning to you. Allow me to keep my dignity. One thing she loathes is her moral problem with suicide, though that is decidedly a better option than the life she leads now. Ameena is rock steady as she describes her plight in harrowing details. She has no tears to spare. “I am brought here for you to convince me to be party to selling off pieces of the Tharavadu (ancestral) land. I didn’t want to create a fuss which I never do. But I am not going to agree to the sale of the only remaining asset we have. If you can please convince him that he is not right in how he is going about this; I will be grateful. I have nothing more to say. Thank you for your valuable time” I escorted Afzalbhai back into the counseling room. He shot out a smart query, “Doctor have you fixed her?” “Yes, we can discuss that soon. But Bhaijan, (dear brother) how do you believe you have MDP? “Ha, that, the doctor we saw in ……….. Hospital told me that I behave like an MDP. “Right, did you take any medication for that?” “Oh, no, the doctor told me there is no need for any medication. My condition will not improve with medication. He asked us to go to a counselor and also told us that Ameena needed help”. “And did you go to any counselor” “Doctor that is the problem, she says there is nothing wrong with her. Yesterday for some reason she said she is ready to see anyone because she has no desire to live. I am worried about her. She might even do something stupid, you see what I mean? That is why I insist on your fixing her, you see? She is so quiet now before you. She can be a tigress at times, you see? I hope you have fixed and corrected her.” “Have I?” Who needs fixing? Is it moral trying to ‘fix’ people in counseling? Where do we make a beginning in their situation? Think. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">© Alex Mathew</span><br />
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WHO STOLE THE COOKIES? - AMEENA BEGUM</h3>
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