This group study guide explores the wider themes portrayed in the Birches DVD which is a poignant story of love, loss and finding faith again. In the film Birches, David finds it hard to handle the death of his wife Jessica. At a reunion with old friends, David discovers that he is not the only one struggling with ghosts from the past, and together they look for a way to make the future shine again. Adrian and Bridget Plass have designed this study guide to enable a safe place for people to discuss the wider issues that arise from watching Birches. Each of the fifteen sections includes a relevant Bible passage, a comment on issues arising from characters and situations occurring in the film, a handful of questions to stimulate discussion, and in some cases, quotations or poems that are relevant to that theme.

People long for reality in their walk with Christ. To attain that heartfelt need, Adrian Plass in his profound but endearing style engages with three deeply significant aspects of Jesus - how he is safe, tender and extreme. The safety we find in Jesus is only discovered at a price, which may be suffering or the witnessing of suffering. Jesus himself was able to battle through the agony of Gethsemane because at the deepest level he was safe in the love of his Father. And he also knew that obedience is the surest path to ultimate security. Are we able to embrace the safety of Jesus?The tenderness of Jesus can be one of the most life-sustaining things of creation. We can see it in the people around us and we can see it in the Bible, such as in accounts of Jesus himself, especially his dealings with the widow of Nain. Many people may find it difficult to receive the tenderness of God, but, like Peter confronted with his rooftop vision, we may be called to a new understanding and a fresh revelation. Do we experience the tenderness of Jesus?The extreme Jesus was actually, from a divine perspective, not extreme at all. After all, Jesus only ever did what he saw his Father doing. Some of his behaviour may seem trivial or mundane to us while other actions appear dramatic, such as clearing out the temple with a knotted rope, asserting that a dying girl was actually asleep and would soon be awake, or being extremely rude to important people. All of his actions reveal his total commitment to obedience. Whatever needed to be done would be done, regardless of how it would appear to human eyes. Is Jesus the solid ground on which our feet stand? With him at the centre of our lives are we willing and able to be extreme for God in the big and little and mild and dramatic and banal and bizarre acts of service that are required of us?Each of the three sections is accompanied by personal experiences of encountering Jesus, safe, tender and extreme, some of them very raw indeed, and the book ends with a selection of prayers for readers who would like to respond to the issues that have been covered.

Two favourite works by best-selling author Adrian Plass in one volume
Adrian Plass has a way of telling our stories by telling his, and by so doing has endeared himself to a multitude of readers. Perhaps his secret lies in his humour, from the dark to the absurd. Or it could be his penchant for poking gently but frankly at the foibles of Christian living. Both qualities are on display here, with two of Plass's best-loved books rolled into one.
The Growing Up Pains of Adrian Plass offers reflections on a difficult passage in the author's personal journey, during which the television programme Company and some of its memorable guests made a deep impact on Plass's faith. The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass Aged 371/2 is a laugh-filled, fictional daily chronicle of family and church exploits, featuring Plass's literary alter ego and a memorable cast of supporting characters.
Referring to The Sacred Diary, Plass writes, 'I don't think I shall ever be unhappy enough to write such a funny book again.' Though different in character, both books in this volume explore the darker side of living the Christian faith--and, in Plass's inimitable style, point beyond to the bright hope that lies in Jesus.

Adrian Plass has been delighting readers with his poetry for over twenty-five years, and this book finally brings it all together in one volume. As he says, 'To have them all, good, not so good, simple, complicated, light-hearted, funny, serious, sensible and silly collected into one volume is more exciting than I can say.' Funny, poignant, challenging and downright hysterical - these poems will delight readers. Some were born from times of incredible personal difficulty. Others have come from his visits to dangerous and poor parts of the world. Others come from his love affair with the Church. All of them reflect the man, his faith, his life and his joy

Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas are renowned for their ability to express the silly side of Christian culture, and to cut through our pretensions and foibles with incisive wit. In this long-awaited sequel to "Seriously Funny" the pair again join comedic forces to challenge and entertain us with candid, moving, hilarious excerpts from their personal correspondence.

Adrian Plass's unique perspective on life and faith can be enjoyed once more in this energizing compilation of two autobiographical books--- The Growing Up Pains of Adrian Plass and Why I Follow Jesus Told with disarming honesty and his usual irresistible humour, The Growing Up Pains of Adrian Plass is about the sometimes difficult progress of faith. From being 'asked to leave' his grammar school as a youth, to the ups and downs throughout his life and relationship with God, Plass departs from the usual formula of the 'Christian paperback' and tells it like it is...warts and all. In Why I Follow Jesus, Plass explains why a man who had a short-lived life 2000 years ago still has meaning for us today. As he says, ''I follow Jesus because he's less narrow and boring about salvation than an awful lot of his followers.'' With many more laugh-out-loud witticisms, stories and anecdotes, this collection is for anyone who wonders how it is possible to follow Jesus and remain a real human being in a real world.

Adrian Plass lovers got their initial baptism of laughter through his bestseller, The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass (aged 37 3/4). The author's account of 'serious spiritual experiences' naturally made him in demand as a public speaker - so of course another diary was inevitable.The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker (aged 45 3/4) continues the misadventures of Adrian's fictional alter-ego. As Plass gathers regularly with his support group, we meet old friends, including his longsuffering wife, Anne; son Gerald, now grown but no less irrepressible; loony and loveable Leonard Thynn; Edwin, the wise church elder; and Richard and Doreen Cook, who are just as religious as ever. We also meet some new characters, such as Stephanie Widgeon, who only seems to have one thing to say, ever. . . and who knows, we might even find out why Leonard Thynn borrowed Adrian's cat all those years ago.And finally - what is a banner ripping seminar?

We got our first taste of Adrian Plass's outrageous humour in The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Age 37 3/4 and The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Age 45 3/4. With over 2 million copies sold, these beloved bestsellers naturally placed the author's fanciful alter-ego in great demand as an inspirational speaker. And of course, his touring experiences have led to all-new stories to share with his friends. This sequel to the first two books will doubtless secure the Sacred Diarist's reputation as a spiritual authority. It's probably not the reputation he's hoping for, but it's the perfect medium for a bucketful of laughter. So meet the speaker, meet the crew and take a seat. It's time to join Adrian Plass on tour! Anne seems to think it would be a good idea to let people see some of the diary entries I've written in connection with the little seven-day speaking tour that she and I have just done ... On that innocent note, Adrian Plass whisks us along on one of the zaniest tours in his career as a Christian speaker. Besides his wife, his fictional entourage includes Gerald, his grown son, who is now a wise-cracking vicar; high-strung Leonard Thynn and his talented but surrealistic girlfriend, Angels Twitten; and the tour's Scripture-spouting benefactor, Barry Ingstone. First stop is the church of St. James the Hardly Visible at All, where a dour caretaker is waiting to set the tone for things to come. So hop on board - the tour is leaving, and you don't want to miss a thing.

'I think I need to explain why I decided to call this book STILL CRAZY. Firstly, because I've been at this writing-and-speaking business for quite a while now, and the passion to share my thoughts still hasn't subsided. Secondly, because I am more and more convinced that a healthy dose of the right kind of crazy might be just what we need to cope with the ups and downs of modern life, and of faith. 'Join me as we explore some of the strange, funny, puzzlingly pointless little side turnings that, generally speaking, we are too busy to bother with but which might just lead us to the place where we need to be: one place. One thing. One person. 'Lots of laughs along the way. A few tears. It can feel a bit crazy. We'll get there.' From the Introduction From the challenges of growing old (un)gracefully to reflections on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, this is a wide-ranging collection with lashings of Adrian's trademark humour. Whether considering the paradoxes and contradictions of faith and the church, or the unexpected blessings encountered along the way, this collection is thought-provoking and encouraging in equal measure. There are fresh entries from the Sacred Diary and new insights into the world of the Shadow Doctor, and finally Adrian considers the mystery of love, and ponders its power to help us change our world for good.

LAUGH. CRY. ENJOY. It's time to strip away the hypocrisy and look at Christianity the way it's meant to be Let internationally acclaimed author Adrian Plass point you in the right direction ... toward authentic faith. With his trademark brand of off-beat humour, Plass pens this unique collection of stories, songs, poems, dramatic sketches and reflections on the sometimes quirky antics of the family of God. On marriage: Arguments in marriage are like pieces of music---with familiar and oft-repeated tunes. On denominations: It's always good to have a variety of flavours available, and it's not a bad thing to educate your taste buds with the odd sip at a concoction you've never tried. On anxiety: Whole lives are wasted by worry---about the wrong things On Christian busy-ness: We are very good at kidding ourselves into believing that religious activities equal Christian living. From spinning upbeat tales about the kindness of strangers to spoofing people who don't care with his 'Apathetic Creed, ' Plass will captivate you from the very first page. Discover a rich treasure trove of laugh-aloud moments mingled with heartbreaking anecdotes ... and come away changed

When David Herrick receives an invitation to a reunion from a long-forgotten acquaintance, his first reaction is to refuse. He isn't feeling very sociable since his wife, Jessica, died six months ago. But the invitation comes from Angela, one of his wife's oldest friends---and mysteriously, she has something for him from his beloved Jessica. Reluctant but curious, he visits Headly Manor.When the friends gather, they no longer resemble the fresh-faced group of twenty years ago. One has been deserted by her husband, another has lost his faith, and another is filled with anger and Bitterness. As they have less than forty-eight hours with each other, they decide to be vulnerable and bear their souls.This poignant and moving story blends Adrian Plass's rich style of writing with his knack for addressing the deep issues we all face, such as faith, grief, love ... and fear.

From the perennially popular Adrian Plass, this book sets down his personal thoughts on Christianity Adrian Plass's popularity is often put down to his refreshingly honest insight into what it means to be a Christian in today's world. This is what makes him such a sought-after speaker around the world. Why I follow Jesus will be an attempt by Adrian to explain why it is that a man who lived 2000 years ago and who lived for such a short time, still has meaning for someone like himself today. Why it is that he feels compelled to spend his life following the example of Jesus and trying to tell others what it means to be a follower of God.

A spoof collection of monthly parish magazines which lampoons the life of a fictional rural parish.

Saturday, December 14thFeel led to keep a diary. A sort of spiritual log for the benefit of others in the future. Each new divine insight and experience will shine like a beacon in the darkness!Can't think of anything to put in today.Still, tomorrow's Sunday. Must be something on a Sunday, surely?Adrian Plass is hilarious, pure and simple. His readers are legion - and this is the bestselling book that started it all, converting thousands of people who love to laugh into avid Plass readers.The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass (aged 37 3/4) is merriment and facetiousness at its best - a journal of the wacky Christian life of Plass's fictional alter-ego, who chronicles in his 'sacred' diary the daily goings-on in the lives of ordinary-but-somewhat-eccentric people he knows and meets. Reading it will doeth good like a medicine!

A little while ago, concerned that the next time they got together, one of them would be in a coffin, Jeff Lucas and Adrian Plass decided to start exchanging letters and this book is the result. Breathtakingly honest, funny, moving and immensely enjoyable, "Seriously Funny" is a celebration of 21st century Christianity as well as a no-holds barred expose of its sillier side. And they are equally hard on themselves their most embarrassing moments are a joy to read. Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas are renowned for their ability to express the silly side of Christian culture, and to cut through our pretensions and foibles with incisive wit. In this candid, moving, hilarious book, they join comedic forces to challenge and entertain us.

Adrian Plass is back to humorously yet gently challenge the Churchman or woman in all of us as we treat the church as if it should be made in our own image. In Looking Good Being Bad, Adrian Plass asks why the body of Christ constantly trips over itself to derail it's mission and ward off the world? He ponders how those much less spiritual than ourselves can often be in positions of leadership and asks have you ever had the sense that some other force was at work in that committee meeting?Looking Good Being Bad reveals the answers. This annual report from the headquarters of Churchmanship, Great Malvern reveals a training ground for those who wish to carry on the noble tradition of thwarting the work of the gospel. In Looking Good Being Bad, Adrian Plass once again applies his unique and satirical perspective on the subject, pinpointing the more eccentric aspects of the Christian church. Yet within the book lies a deeper message about the state of modern Churchmanship.

The whole idea of the SERIOUSLY FUNNY tour was for Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas to let people in on their conversations about God, life and the universe - and it went pretty well. After all, that's pretty much what they've been doing in their separate writing and speaking careers all these years. All told, people seemed to like the way their trademark styles came together and shed light on even the most difficult subjects, in a way that perhaps made those burdens a little easier to bear. However, as they toured around the country, Adrian and Jeff realised that other people's questions were at least as interesting as their own - possible more so. Eventually they decided they'd better have a go at some answers. This book is the result. They may not have got the answers right, but they have certainly had a good time along the way - and they hope you will, too.

Mysteries are there to be solved. Aren't they? Jack has been working with the Shadow Doctor for a little while now. He thinks he might just be getting to grips with the Doc's unusual approach to helping with people's deep problems. Then, visiting the highly respected leader of a large Christian organisation, Jack sees his friend go on the attack. However, the encounter reveals secrets about the Doc's past that are beyond anything Jack could have imagined. Perturbed, he makes a list of all his unanswered questions. Where does the Shadow Doctor's unusual name come from? Why is he so stubbornly reluctant to speak about faith in terms that normal churchgoers would understand? Why is Jack not allowed to simply enjoy a moment when God really seems to have spoken through him? And will the Doc finally describe the life-changing experience mentioned by Jack's gran in the letter she wrote to him shortly before her death? Most all, Jack is desperate to pin down just what the Shadow Doctor actually thinks and feels about God. And there is one more issue that Jack feels particularly keenly. How will Doc respond to hearing that, having met a young lady named Aelwen, Jack is deeply in love for the very first time?

Adrian has been trying to keep a low profile at church but his son Gerald is now an Anglican vicar and the two churches are getting together for a joint weekend away. Now Adrian's been volunteered to run it... From the confusion of arrival when Anne is allocated to the top bunk with a schizophrenic recovery group, and Adrian is in a low-ceilinged 'pod' at the top of the tower, to the hugs and tears of departure, this is typical Plass, humorous and heartwarming in equal measure. Adrian has a simple conversation about birdlife that ends with him being accused of harassment, Leonard Thynn and his wife turn up just in time to leave again after falling out with the SatNav lady, and Gerald's wit just keeps getting the better of him. There are as many questions as answers, of course. Will poor Sally, the unwilling nomad of the community, ever find a proper bed to sleep in? What exactly is it about Adrian's twinkle that Minnie Stamp 'lovey-doves' so very much? And how do you cope when your daughter-in-law shares a secret you simply cannot, must not tell? Once again, Adrian Plass gets us laughing just long enough for the truth to slip in by the back door, and for all the mishaps, this new instalment of the Sacred Diary series once again shows just how good God is at caring for this mixed bag of people we call the church.

'I think I need to explain why I decided to call this book STILL CRAZY. Firstly, because I've been at this writing-and-speaking business for quite a while now, and the passion to share my thoughts still hasn't subsided. Secondly, because I am more and more convinced that a healthy dose of the right kind of crazy might be just what we need to cope with the ups and downs of modern life, and of faith. 'Join me as we explore some of the strange, funny, puzzlingly pointless little side turnings that, generally speaking, we are too busy to bother with but which might just lead us to the place where we need to be: one place. One thing. One person. 'Lots of laughs along the way. A few tears. It can feel a bit crazy. We'll get there.' From the Introduction From the challenges of growing old (un)gracefully to reflections on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, this is a wide-ranging collection with lashings of Adrian's trademark humour. Whether considering the paradoxes and contradictions of faith and the church, or the unexpected blessings encountered along the way, this collection is thought-provoking and encouraging in equal measure. There are fresh entries from the Sacred Diary and new insights into the world of the Shadow Doctor, and finally Adrian considers the mystery of love, and ponders its power to help us change our world for good.

Adrian Plass considers the pull of the spirit and of the flesh and how this often leads us to live compartmentalised lives. We allow God only into certain bits and suffer embarrassment when our compromised private lives and shiny public lives collide."War of the Worlds" is about spiritual warfare, maturity, prayer and the fear of true commitment. It's a book that battles to reunite the secret world of what we are, with the public world of what we appear to be, in an outrageous and seriously funny advance into the no-man's-land of genuine Christian engagement. Adrian brings the Bible alive with rather unexpected soap opera characters; he introduces us to a God who is much more playful than we thought and asks questions such as: - If doubt and insecurity are the elephants in the room, how do we deal with these huge creatures? - How have we allowed so many herds of sacred cows to grow so large? True authenticity demands a major cull.

Adrian works through the alphabet, combining one-line definitions with more thoughtful pieces - a laugh-out-loud book on Christians and Christian culture. What are the two most important things in the universe? Bacon sandwiches and salvation, according to Adrian Plass. In this book, he combines one-line definitions with more thoughtful pieces, producing a volume that will make you laugh, cry - and reflect. Despite the fact that someone once offered him five million pounds never to write another word for publication (one hilarious story recounted here) this is a glorious book. Vintage Plass. 'Doubt: more or less frequent visitor who should be allowed in when he knocks at the door and sat firmly down in a corner. As long as he is neither fed nor entertained he will usually get bored after a while and go away.' 'Ineffable: (1) cannot be expressed in words (2) cannot be sworn at. 'Oblivion: nothing to worry about.' 'Go in peace: (1) injunction to the congregation at the end of communion (2) something that is only possible for those blessed with an en-suite bathroom and toilet.' 'Pillar of the church: big thick thing that holds everything up and restricts vision.' "Healing, life-affirming and full of hope." Rob Frost "Subversive but not destructive, cutting but never unkind, the man helps me to want to remain a Christian. Brilliant, fun, laugh-out-loud stuff." Jeff Lucas, author, speaker, broadcaster Adrian Plass is one of today's most successful Christian authors. He has written over twenty books in the last eighteen years, including The Son of God is Dancing.

The much-praised writing team of Adrian and Bridget Plass looks at the extent of the AIDS pandemic in Zambia. On visiting this colorful country they saw the problem and what is being done about it from many angles: from preventative projects with sex-workers to the care of orphans. The desperation there left them determined to make westerners see how ordinary families are affected. The stories aren't all negative; however, Adrian and Bridget tell of the World Vision rehabilitation program for girls forced into prostitution enabling training in alternative occupations including hairdressing and tailoring. There were no miracles in Zambia--only the miracle of people allowing God to use them. God acts through us and the truth is that if we do nothing, we withhold His love from them. This is a heart-warming, inspiring, and sometimes even humorous account with a serious message: God won't act to lessen the HIV/AIDS crisis if we don't.

Mysteries are there to be solved. Aren't they? Jack has been working with the Shadow Doctor for a little while now. He thinks he might just be getting to grips with the Doc's unusual approach to helping with people's deep problems. Then, visiting the highly respected leader of a large Christian organisation, Jack sees his friend go on the attack. However, the encounter reveals secrets about the Doc's past that are beyond anything Jack could have imagined. Perturbed, he makes a list of all his unanswered questions. Where does the Shadow Doctor's unusual name come from? Why is he so stubbornly reluctant to speak about faith in terms that normal churchgoers would understand? Why is Jack not allowed to simply enjoy a moment when God really seems to have spoken through him? And will the Doc finally describe the life-changing experience mentioned by Jack's gran in the letter she wrote to him shortly before her death? Most all, Jack is desperate to pin down just what the Shadow Doctor actually thinks and feels about God. And there is one more issue that Jack feels particularly keenly. How will Doc respond to hearing that, having met a young lady named Aelwen, Jack is deeply in love for the very first time?