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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian life & practice > General
Our culture is self-obsessed - in our schedules, relationships, and
especially online. (Can you say selfie?) But in this
near-narcissism, people are less content than in decades past. Why?
Because we forgot the joy that comes from putting others first.
Doing so requires us to live alert, listening for "heart drops,"
hints from those in our lives who need a helping hand or a generous
dose of encouragement. Living alert lifts our own spirits, showing
us that blessing others blesses us even more. Listen, Love, Repeat
offers biblical teaching and suggests doable actions that are
simple, heart-tugging, sentimental, even sneaky and hilarious. This
message: * Presents scriptural examples of those who lived alert,
including Jesus, who noticed those who least expected to be seen. *
Explains the role of good works for followers of Christ. They
aren't our ticket to heaven but they are our marching orders on
earth. * Gives creative ideas for showing love to friends and
family, and suggests practical ways to reach out to the lonely, the
marginalized, the outcast, and the odd duck. Additionally, it helps
you comfort the grieving, showing what you can do when you don't
know what to say. * Provides inspiration for blessing the
"necessary people" in your life, those often-overlooked souls who
help you get life done every day, and teaches you how to hug a
porcupine by genuinely loving the hard-to-love. As we scatter love,
we create a safe space where we can openly share the gospel. We get
to see lives changed right before our eyes. Most importantly,
Listen, Love, Repeat will enable you to live a life that is full of
kind deeds, not to selfishly shout, "Hey! Look at me!" but to
humbly implore, "Will you look at Him?"
Each moment that you’re given is a precious gift from God. You can
choose to have a thankful attitude and live each moment full of joy,
simply because God is good. In The Power of Thank You: Discover The Joy
Of Gratitude, renowned Bible teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling
author Joyce Meyer encourages us to take a look at ourselves and the
importance of being thankful.
Living life with a heart of gratitude for who God is and what He has
done lifts your burdens and allows you to see everything in a different
light. Regularly giving thanks to God not only helps you fully realize
how He’s working in your life, it gives you a new perspective—your mind
is renewed, your attitude is improved, and you're filled with joy.
Things will certainly happen to you that don’t seem fair, and it’s much
easier to make excuses and feel sorry for yourself. Keep saying, “I
trust You, God, and I believe You will work it all out for my good.” If
you find The Power of Thank You in every situation, truly believing
that God is working everything out for your good, you will end up with
the victory every single time.
Laws mandating cooperation with the state's new sexual orthodoxy
are among the leading contemporary threats to the religious freedom
of Catholic institutions in the United States. These demand that
Catholic schools, health-care providers, or social services
cooperate with contraception, cohabitation, abortion, same-sex
marriage, or transgender identity and surgeries. But Catholic
institutions' responses seem thin and uninspiring to many. They are
criticized as legalistic, authoritarian, bureaucratic, retrograde
and hurtful to women and to persons who identify as LGBTQ. They are
even called "un-Christian." They invite disrespect both for
Catholic sexual responsibility norms and for religious freedom
generally, not only among lawmakers and judges, but also in the
court of public opinion, which includes skeptical Catholics. The
U.S. Constitution protects Catholic institutions' "autonomy" -
their authority over faith and doctrine, internal operations, and
the personnel involved in personifying and transmitting the faith.
Other constitutional and statutory provisions also safeguard
religious freedom, if not always perfectly. Catholic institutions
could take far better advantage of all of these existing
protections if they communicated, first, how they differ from
secular institutions: how their missions emerge from their faith in
Jesus Christ, and their efforts both to make his presence felt in
the world today, and to display the inbreaking of the Kingdom of
God. Second, they need to draw out the link between their teachings
on sexual responsibility and love of God and neighbor. Drawing upon
Scripture, tradition, history, theology and empirical evidence,
Helen Alvare frames a more complete, inspiring and appealing
response to current laws' attempts to impose a new sexual orthodoxy
upon Catholic institutions. It clarifies the "ecclesial" nature of
Catholic schools, hospitals and social services. It summarizes the
empirical evidence supporting the link between personnel decisions
and mission, and between Catholic sexual responsibility norms and
human flourishing. It grounds Catholic sexual responsibility
teachings in the same love of God and neighbor that animate the
existence, operations, and services of Catholic institutions.
Are You Ready For True And Lasting Freedom? The Freedom In Christ
Course is designed to help every Christian become a fruitful
disciple and make their life count. It has been an effective
resource for Christians of all backgrounds, from those who have
been believers for many years to those who are brand-new followers
of Jesus. Over 350,000 people have gone through the curriculum in
English, and it has been translated into over 25 languages. Some of
the areas covered in the course include: * how we became brand-new
people from the inside out when we became Christians * why we can
go boldly into God's presence any time we like without fear * how
nothing we do can make God love us any more or any less * how to
resolve the effects of even the deepest issues from the past * how
to deal with repeating patterns of sin * understanding what God's
purpose for your life is (it may not be what you think!) This
Participant's Guide is designed to accompany you through the
course. You may also wish to download the Freedom In Christ app
that will accompany you on your journey. Dr. Neil T. Anderson is
the founder and president emeritus of Freedom In Christ Ministries.
Dr. Anderson and his wife live in Franklin, Tennessee. For more
information see www.ficm.org or www.ficminternational.org. Steve
Goss is international director of Freedom in Christ Ministries.
Under his leadership the ministry has gone from operating in 7
countries to operating in nearly 40 countries. He lives in
Berkshire, England, with his wife, Zoe, and two daughters.
A brand new heart-stopping series from a USA Today bestselling
author No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim
sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed
the Queen's Gambit Killer strikes again--this time in her hometown.
Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way
to Alex's real dream: becoming the first female police chief of
Chattanooga. But the killer's calling card--a white pawn and a note
with a chess move printed on it--cannot be ignored. Pearl Springs
chief of police Nathan Landry can't believe that his high school
sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town,
and he can't help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped
loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can
Nathan come through on the promises he makes to himself to bring a
killer to justice before it's too late.
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