The Psalms' insights are remarkable, unexpected, eye-opening. They have vital things to say to us if we listen intently to the ancient wisdom, much of which has been lost to modern ears. Using the insights of the "shape and shaping of the Psalms" work done by Psalms scholars over the past twenty-five years, James Chatham presents an inviting study for nonexperts to explore the interactions that various psalms have with one another. The book invites us to listen in on several psalm conversations, to realize how contemporary they are, and to join them. Chatham encourages us to immerse ourselves in the mind, heart, and world of the Psalms editor, to get to know those editors well, and to realize that their world was, in important ways, very much like ours. Through this process, the messages spoken by the Psalms editors emerge with words of faith about everyday issues in human living, both then and now.

Perhaps the best way to portray that unique cultural phenomenon called "southerners" is by telling tales about how these particular people live. And who could perceive them better, heart and soul, than their preacher? James O. Chatham, a Presbyterian minister who served several congregations during four decades, witnessed to a full spectrum of southern types during his years in the pulpit. He met all kinds, and he strived to minister to each with a compassionate, pastoral hand. His book of tales about his experiences with them puts a human face on the southern portrait. In Sundays Down South: A Pastor's Stories, he recounts experiences with people who were heroic and pathetic, wise and foolish, visionary and blind. "Two things I have taken from these [stories]," he says. "One is the insight that the most sturdy and courageous hearts often come in very plain packaging. The other is the importance of conviction, of having in your soul a motivating cause."He preached in a variety of southern locales-a paper mill town in the mountains of western Virginia, two small communities in southwestern Mississippi, a tobacco town in Piedmont North Carolina, and a city on the edge of Kentucky's bluegrass region. The people he encountered in his pastorates are flawed but charming, even admirable in some instances. "It is impossible," he says, "to tell from the outside who the giants will be. You have to be attentive, to watch and listen carefully, sometimes to dig to uncover the people you really want to meet." Religion, race, sex, family ties, economic hardship, health, and education all arise in these tales, and Chatham never condemns or accuses. Nor does he shy from an honest portrayal of reality and of the prejudice that persists in the South. With a poignant but plain style, he makes clear his love for his parishioners and his attempt to infuse their lives with the inspired dignity that has moved him through a lifetime of preaching and listening.

We know the stories -- Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, Jesus feeding the five thousand. We know the verses -- John 3:16, Psalm 23, 1 Corinthians 13. But how many of us can take the separate pieces and fit them into the Bible as a whole? With the common practice of taking passages out of context, even active Bible readers tackling a chapter or more every day can easily lose sight of the whole biblical story.

James Chatham, a beloved minister and Bible teacher, has spent decades offering the panorama of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation to those who want to understand Gods Word more fully. He now spreads the wealth in this practical volume. In twenty-six short segments designed to facilitate Bible study, "Creation to Revelation" weaves the disparate stories and familiar verses into a complete narrative and thematic framework, taking the whole counsel of God into account. Pertinent sidebars, carefully designed discussion questions, and two helpful appendixes -- a chronology of the Bibles story and select daily Bible readings -- enhance Chathams overview.

Extremely accessible to a wide audience, this pithy book is meant not to replace the Bible but rather to lure us into reading it -- and to help us better understand its message.

The addition of simple drama to sermons is effective in bringing Bible passages alive and involving a variety of church members in enacting and proclaiming the gospel. There is no more engaging way to tell the stories in the Bible than through effective sermon dramas. Chatham offers a collection of seven sermon-dramas that are ready for use in worship. He includes lines, stage directions and a list of characters and props. Some of these dramas retell the stories of the persistent widow (in Luke 18), of Rahab and of Jonah; others give testimony to the re-creative power of God, God's calling of his people, the continuing power of the Easter story, and the discernment of light from darkness.

In this small yet immensely helpful book, experienced pastor Jim Chatham offers an invaluable resource for those seeking to answer the question 'Is God calling me to be a pastor?' By identifying related questions such as 'What is the life of a pastor like?', 'What does a call look, sound, and feel like?', and 'What are the major benefits and drawbacks of being a pastor?', Chatham guides his readers through the difficult process of discernment. As Chatham writes, 'The path of answering Gods call is not easy. God does not build straight highways through the desert to guarantee us safe passage.... This book will serve as a companion to all who are on that journey, listening for that voice.'