Bøger udgivet af Credo House Publishers

Is it possible to fall in love with someone you haven't seen for 40 years? Arnold Moon, an investigative reporter experiencing some career and personal setbacks, leaves New York City to become the editor of the community newspaper in his Ohio hometown. Surprisingly, he reconnects with Annie, his sidekick in a musical duo in a hotel on Mackinac Island where they worked as college students. Why did Arny suddenly take off from the island before summer was over, leaving Annie heartsick and confused? What will happen when they perform together again, as well as share their contrasting personalities and life stories? When a ghost from Arny's past appears, how will this affect their reunion? MARY BELL MEYER has worked in medical research, journalism, and libraries on the East Coast and in Ohio, where she grew up and later raised a family. Now retired, she and her husband live in Nevada below Lake Tahoe and enjoy hiking and traveling in the Sierra Nevada. Although she has written much during her career, this is her first novel.

"What happened in the 1990s at Hope, and is still happening, is nothing short of remarkable and spectacular-a dramatic and massive work of the Holy Spirit producing conversions and spiritual renewal and a call to missions and Christian ministry on a grand scale. "I call it a 'revival, ' not only because the word is accurate, but also because it has been the common term used throughout American history for this kind of event. A 'revival' at Hope was for years what many had prayed for. That's the proper noun I started to use as the title of this book, 'A Memoir of the Hope Revival.' "The story of the Hope College revival is a great story. I only hope I can do it justice." From Chapter 1, An Exclamation Point (Or why I wrote this memoir) After pastoring Presbyterian churches in California and New Jersey, Ben Patterson served as Dean of the Chapel at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, from 1994 to 2000. He subsequently served as Campus Pastor at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, from 2000 to 2018. He has been married to Lauretta, the love of his life, for over fifty years, and is blessed to be living in Carpinteria, California, near all four of his adult children and their families, which include eleven spirited grandchildren. He is the author of several books, including The Grand Essentials, Waiting, Serving God, Prayer Devotional Bible, God's Prayer Book, and Praying the Psalms Devotional.

As Christians do we truly believe God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and that He works all things together for good? When going through the unwanted and unexpected events of life, do we believe God is accomplishing His sovereign plan for our benefit and His glory? Making Choices for Godly Living will help you examine your choices and challenge you in making those that are pleasing to God. This is a great resource to help Christians facing challenging or difficult situations and for those wanting to grow in their faith. It has been designed so that it can also be useful in counseling or Bible studies. Our God cares about the truth as well as how we package that truth. The Truth is Jesus; the packaging is wisdom, humility and love. This book has what I think is the perfect wrapping for the truth. Terry is a wise man who has been tested in such difficult trials, and, in this book, he has chosen to partner with the Old Testament wise man, Joseph, who was also tested in the most difficult of trials. Between the two of them, I have benefited from the message as well as the messengers, and I expect to return to them both.Ed Welch, Author, Faculty and Counselor at the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation Making Choices for Godly Living shares the wisdom and insight that Terry Burlingame learned when life circumstances demanded that he and his wife go beyond simply reading and teaching Scripture to wrestling with God and with what the Bible says. Thoroughly biblical, and yet filled with thoughtful application, this book will help you trust the Lord even when life doesn't work out as you thought it should.Richard Bargas, Executive Director, IFCA International The Genesis account of the life of Joseph is a deep and rich mine from which expositors have been unearthing treasure for centuries. I know of no one who has mined those riches more effectively and in a more engaging way than Terry Burlingame. You will be both encouraged and challenged as you rehearse the life of this patriarch with Pastor Burlingame. Terry Burlingame is an experienced counselor who ministers God's solutions to hurting people. Here he shows you how you can move from victim to victor in your circumstances by making biblical choices.Donn R. Arms, Director, Institute for Nouthetic Studies, Publisher, INS Publishing I had a front row seat to Terry Burlingame's pastoring. As pastor to my then-fiancé, he officiated our wedding. He helped us make that glorious choice! In his book, Making Choices for Godly Living, Terry helps us with many more; choices that commend the majesty and mercy of our glorious God. As a good pastor, Terry laces his exhortations to "choose" with countless Scriptures that not only show us the way of godliness but reveal the God we obey.Trent Hunter, Pastor for Preaching and Teaching, Heritage Bible Church, Greer, SCWe all have choices to make when it comes to dealing with unexpected happenings in our lives, happenings that are good or bad. Terry Burlingame has thoughtfully shown how to use Joseph's perspective of seeing God's will in the many different events in his life and choosing acceptance and the choice to glorify God. Terry's own personal story woven through this book is inspiring and will hopefully help many choose to see how God's hand is in their lives, all the time.Casey Kuperus, President, David's House Ministries TERRY BURLINGAME earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in pastoral counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and is a member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. After retiring from the US Army Chaplaincy, he served as a lead pastor and biblical counselor. Regular posts on his blog can be found at terryburlingame.blog. Terry and his wife, Barbara, reside in Jenison, Michigan, and have three children and eight grandchildren.

The Bible on Families and Households encompasses a fairly inclusive set of reflections on the Bible's many family-related stories, as well as on the family references and principles embedded in genres other than the historical books. Divided into 22 umbrella chapters, it draws from the Old and the New Testaments, including reflections based on material from the psalms, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and New Testament epistles. The meditations, though devotional in nature, bypass the simplistic, engaging readers in thought-provoking discussions and challenges that go beyond the obvious or the trite.

Cora Mae Stewart's world collapses when Sherman destroys the Georgia cotton mill where she works and has her arrested for treason and sent North. Faced with impossible choices, she does what she must to keep a little girl safe in an inhospitable land.Convinced he won't survive the war, Union Sergeant Ethan Howard determines to make his death count for something. But Cora Mae gives him a reason to live. Trouble is, he's just arrested her on Sherman's orders, and torn her from home and family.Sergeant Howard is the last person Cora Mae wants to forgive, and the only man who can bring her all the way home.

Most people today acknowledge that the physical and spiritual dimensions of health connect somehow, but many Americans don't connect their lifestyle choices with their health, let alone their faith. In Vessels that Thrive, Dr. Ryan Bentley does what Thomas Edison said the doctor of the future would do: "interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease." As a devoted Christian he champions the biblical idea that the human body is God's vessel, and as an innovative physician he properly defines health in terms of thriving, not just surviving. Dr. Bentley cites solid medical research and engages the wisdom of God's truth in the Bible to challenge and encourage us toward a theology of wellness-health, healing, and faith-that synchronizes rather than divides the physical and spiritual aspects of the human person within our environment. He calls readers to embrace a gospel-shaped approach to healthy living that has the power to set us free from poor lifestyle choices that can account for seven of the top ten causes of death today in the United States. Written to help and inspire both the healthy and the sick, believers as well as skeptics, health-oholics and couch potatoes alike, this book offers something for every human being who desires to delve more deeply into why we should take care of our bodies and what's at stake if we don't. Dare to be different in your family, your church, your medical practice, your community, and the world!

There are people in our world today who, at "face value," seem to have little or no real value. The truth is, though, that what the world sees as "disposable" God sees as having incalculable worth. God assures us of a definite purpose and a plan for each of His children, including those-and perhaps especially those-whose life package includes "special needs." Often in the Bible we find that God uses the "least of these" to do His work, demonstrate His love, and provide the rest of us an avenue for expressing our own love. Immeasurably More is the heartfelt story of one family's journey, a journey that showcases the amazing impact one person with Down syndrome can have. Immeasurably More shares anecdotes from the Aalderinks' life together as a family, interspersed with personal observations and accounts from siblings, friends, teachers, coaches, and others. This honest, humorous, and poignant real-life story will touch your heart, while illustrating how an unassuming young man transformed a family, a school, and even a community. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING In our culture today, we look to professional athletes for inspiration. We want to see signs of God's activity and power in their achievements and testimonies. Instead, we should be looking at Zach and the Aalderink family! Zach's story shows that despite the challenges, God's plans are not hindered by Down syndrome, and that His goodness and faithfulness are not changed by an extra chromosome. I was moved by this book. Jason Hanson: Kicker, Detroit Lions I first met Zach one Sunday when he came into our church auditorium and I was getting ready to teach. He looked me in the eye, smiled warmly, and offered me a program. On the other side of the doorway was Zach's gentle-spirited, smiling, proud dad. Empowering these two was Linda, a loving, joy-filled, prayerful mom and wife. Her joy and journey is revealed in this book as she points us to the image of God in her son. James Liske: CEO, Prison Fellowship Ministries Life is about story and this book is filled with stories that highlight the joys and heartaches of parenting. Each chapter opened our hearts to the "Larger-Story" God is telling through Zach's life. We were reminded that life involves choices; and we celebrated how Zach's family repeatedly chose hope and a positive attitude in the face of disappointment and discouragement. This book reminds readers how sacrificial love and living in community can become the pathway to the sacred things in life. Tim + Anne Evans: REAL LIFE ministries, Colorado Springs, CO I have had the pleasure of watching the life of this incredible family as Zach has grown up in our community. Incredible is the word I use, not because they have a child with Down syndrome, but because of the way their family has affected an entire community. Zach's involvement with his school system and Hope College has had an enormous impact on everyone around him. And Linda has influenced our students as an annual guest lecturer in my courses at Hope College by articulating the life of a parent with Down syndrome in a compelling way from a parent's perspective. Now, in the context of this wonderful story, we can all peek into the life of a faithful family learning to grow together while raising a young man who matters, first because of who he is as a person, and second in the context of having a disability. You will love this story! Steven Smith, Ph.D.: Professor of Kinesiology, Hope College Linda Aalderink tells a real story, an honest story as a parent of Zach-who just happens to have Down syndrome. It is also a story of faith, hope and love. Zach's story is about faith that clings to God's promises that each of us, as parents, hold dear for our children. It is a powerful story of hope for parents in a future that holds so many question marks. And it is a love story because love transforms relationships. Rev. Matthew Floding, D.Min. Duke Div

Traditional models of spiritual transformation and leader development depend on the ability of experts to impart their knowledge, experience, and advice to others. But what we have discovered is that receiving information and advice alone does not lead to transformation and growth. This happens only when a person becomes internally motivated to change. Coaching empowers people to change without telling them what to do. To be empowered means to take ownership of and responsibility for shaping your own future. This is based on the principle that the people you coach will understand, value, and apply for themselves what you help them to discover, not what you tell them. We are also convinced that as churches and faith-based organizations discover the power and possibilities of coaching, there will be a growing effort to rebuild ministries and develop leaders around what we call the Coaching-Based Ministry(TM) model. This book is built around helping you find answers to three key questions. - Why coaching? - What is it like to be coached? - What does it take to become an effective coach? It is our hope and prayer that you will find meaningful answers to those questions and will then join us in bringing Coaching-Based Ministry(TM) to the churches and faith-based organizations in your area. Mike McGervey & Tim Cosby

Is absolute truth really missing today? My bet is no, to those who earnestly seek it. This collection brings simple, easy to read, lyrical poetry with purpose, to life. These pages will speak to your heart & arouse your mind. Re-discover the magic & the POWER of the word.

Christian women understand the reality of moving along on life's journey from one oasis-or steppingstone-of God's strength to the next. And what better steppingstone can they incorporate into their daily routine than a devotional pause for rejuvenation? While author Donna Huisjen often includes a personal touch in this 366-day devotional book for women, the conversation she seeks to encourage is that between the reader and God, her doting Abba. Each day's offering includes a verse or verses from the NIV, a relevant quote, a reflection, a prayer prompt, and a "Godly woman . . ." takeaway. "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. . . . they go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion" (Psalm 84:5, 7).

In Following Christ, Scott Gruber addresses the problem of what he calls "Christ followers who don't follow Christ"-people who consider themselves followers of Jesus but who are following something other than the actual teachings of Jesus. He does this by looking at the words of Jesus on a number of topics ranging from sin and salvation to evangelism and eternal punishment. And he shows that many popular notions about Jesus and his teachings are simply not consistent with the actual words of Jesus. He concludes that the underlying cause of the problem is that people don't read the teachings of Jesus for themselves, and the only remedy for the problem is for people to read and study and learn the teachings of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for themselves.

In What in the World Was God Thinking? author Kirk Hartness crystalizes a twenty-year journey of inquiry into life's ultimate questions. Among them: If God exists and is good and all-powerful, "what is this craziness we call human life really all about? What in the world was God thinking when he created the world and put people in the Garden of Eden?" These existential, overarching questions, he argues, lead to three of the most important ones we ask on a personal level: Where did I come from? Where am I going? And Why am I here? Kirk Hartness asserts that the answers to all three may be found only in God. In Hartness's words, "What do you value? Where did you acquire your values? Do these values lead to a consistent worldview that enables you to arrive at intelligent decisions and make sense of your existence? This book is designed to lead us through the process of answering these ultimate questions, as we look backward at our life and strain forward toward what that life may hold in the future."

How do people deal with the losses of health, loved ones, and dreams? Meet Lavone Genzink, whose life's challenges could be compared to those of the long-suffering Job of the Bible. After the man of her dreams became her husband, her first pregnancy was accompanied by news that her husband had brain cancer. And following the births of two more beautiful children came a catastrophic automobile accident that left tragedy in its wake. In trying to rebuild her health and family life, with the delight of four more children came unimaginable trials affecting various family members: disabilities, transplants, and a life of caregiving. Lavone shows that faith can indeed be maintained when happily-ever-after doesn't happen, and triumphant joy rises above circumstances.

How can we love with excellence the millions of orphaned and vulnerable children in our world who have lost their parents, have no relatives to love them well, and likely will not be adopted? In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence frames a conversation around this question through a collaborative effort involving fifteen authors from orphan care organizations around the world, bringing to the table an often-neglected component of orphan care. After discussing why everyone in the world, Christian and non-Christian alike, should care to the core about caring for orphans, In Pursuit examines a framework-from family to spiritual formation (and a whole lot in between)-of what excellent, best-practice orphan care looks like in situations where kinship care, legal adoption, quality foster care, or reunification with biological family is not possible, feasible, or likely to occur. As you read this book, you will be invited to learn from others seeking best-practice orphan care, engage in the conversation, and advocate for orphans around the world . . . and in your own backyard.

In this engaging true story with colorful elements of humor, inspiration, and hope, Jeff peels back the mysterious curtain of addictive thinking and brings a dynamic and candid illustration of his experiences through an early life encumbered by fear, abuse, and addiction. The details of his arduous journey through an elusive recovery reveal God's steady and loving hand over a life lived in rebellion. A must-read for anyone who is, or knows, someone struggling with addiction or spiritual identity, or who works with those in spiritual and psychological bondage.

Alpha, recently graduated from the East-West University in Hawaii, seeks his fortune in Japan by becoming an English teacher. He falls in love with Rie, the receptionist at the company where he is employed. Neither is aware of a hidden connection through Rie's uncle and father to the Japanese mafia (yakuza). When Rie's terminally ill uncle tries to break into the domestic monopoly on the sale of pachinko machines, a strange twist of fate occurs. When her father tries to sever similar ties with the yakuza by opting not to play a monthly "gratuity," he pays a steep price. Finally, the yakuza violates on of it's own cardinal rules, resulting in Rie's alarming disappearance. Alpha faces very limited options as he contemplates his future. The plot line of 893 is based on a composite of true events. The book offers readers a pleasurable introduction into the current Japanese culture and worldview, focusing on the complexities that arise in interactions between that society and Western culture.

Travel with one heartbroken family as they struggle to find help for their son, face unspeakable tragedy, receive unexpected forgiveness, and deal with the aftermath of a child whose mental health issues ended in calamity . . . and transformation. Discover the confidence that buoys author Joan Becker and her family as they push for reform in the broken mental health system before more lives are ruined. Their story offers hope, help, and heart-felt compassion. "Joan Becker has a generous spirit and kind heart that come forward in this book. By sharing her family's experience she'll help other families struggling with mental illness feel less alone. That's a tremendous accomplishment when the illness causes feelings of isolation and hopelessness for parents who are desperate to help their suffering child. The mental health system can and should be better, and this book inspires all of us to do everything we can to make it so." U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Intricately weaving together the experiences of twelve characters, six of them children and one an autistic older adult, The Sepia Season combines pathos and humor to see them, each and all, through the joys and tragedies of twelve pivotal months. For sixty-three-year-old family matriarch Adele, the year's transitions are bittersweet-punctuating what might seem a graying-out season of life with experiences and realizations that infuse her spirit with gradations of color, warm sepia tones offering hope she never recognized she needed. A unique and reflective novel that combines narrative material with touches of the devotional, The Sepia Season represents a genre of its own.

As I climbed up to the platform to stand behind the pulpit and speak to that large congregation the next Sunday morning, all I could see were loving faces lifted up to me. I explained that I had a sudden revelation of God's love and forgiveness that changed my life. I saw people wipe away tears, and others nodded or said "Amen" as I spoke. "I've prayed for you for nine years!" one woman told me tearfully. My sister and Don had come home from Philadelphia that weekend and were silent around the dinner table that afternoon. After the meal, Irene went to my father and complained: "Why is everyone making such a fuss about Vicki after what she has done? Everyone is celebrating her coming back when I've never gone away in the first place. I've not done all the awful things she did, but she's the one that gets all the glory!" Daddy quietly directed her to read the story of the Prodigal Son once again, and reminded her of the other brother who had faithfully remained at home. Yes, he had been the "good" son, but he too greatly resented the fact that everyone was celebrating the return of the Prodigal. excerpt from Prodigal Daughter "Mrs Holland takes the reader on a deep, personal journey, revealing pain and sin, but in the end victory. Finding her daughter, whom she had given up at birth, is a complex series of episodes, each with the drama of a detective novel. You cannot read this story without acknowledging the grace of God in Vicki's life and thanking Him that it is available for all of us." Dr. Karl Franklin, Wycliffe Bible Translators

In Building Relationships That Last a Lifetime, Ron Rice reveals the secrets he has learned in his fascinating, entrepreneurial journey to success. He examines the key strategies he used to identify, develop, and maintain both professional and personal relationships over the course of his career. Beginning as a traveling salesman, Rice navigated up through business opportunities and relationships to obtain the American dream for himself and his family. He has proven himself a trustworthy businessman, salesman, and leader. Following his story, you'll be able to evaluate your own business relationships, strategic leads, and entrepreneurial goals against Rice's powerful example.

What might the first Christmas have looked like through the eyes of a young shepherd boy?With wonder and artistic beauty, this retelling of the birth of Jesus, recorded in the second chapter of Luke, invites you to experience that "One Amazing Night"--truly one of the greatest miracles of all time!