An Unforgettable Story of Life After Death "The cold voice of the anesthesiologist recited the typical 'count backward from 10' cadence. Darkness closed around me before he got to 7. That's when I found out what it's like to die--and to come back from the dead." It was a beautiful winter's day, showing no signs of what was to come. Steve Sjogren, pastor of one of America's fastest growing churches, went into the hospital for routine gall bladder surgery and died--twice. What began as a tragic medical accident led to Steve's encounter with death, an experience of unimaginable peace and some surprises, with comforting words from God, a meeting with an angel, and seeing those who had died before him. If you, or someone you know, are fearful of dying, curious about heaven, or simply desiring to live life to its fullest, this encouraging book could change how you view life and death.

"If you'd asked me who God is on December 9, the year of my accident, I would have been able to give you a fairly cohesive but theoretical answer. A day later all of that changed."

A simple surgery went horribly wrong. Steve Sjogren died on the operating table. He encountered a heavenly world where he felt infinite peace. And then he had to come back--back to a physical reality filled with pain and disability and an endless line of tests.

The drama of dying suddenly paled in comparison to the trauma of living. Sjogren could not face this new existence with his same old comfortable understanding of God.

"I had minimized God," Sjogren says. "Somehow, over time, he had become fairly predictable--like he could be outlined, fully grasped, and contained in a neat set of mere ideas. Now I saw that he apparently wasn't all that impressed with my cool little notebooks."

One day in heaven followed by hundreds in agony forged a deeper and stronger faith than Sjogren could have crafted on his own. In "Heaven's Lessons," Sjogren shares his experiences and the life-changing ways they have affected his perspective on success, suffering, and the mysteries of God.

Watch the trailer here: http: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l4jugXqiBU

As a pastor, the author loved to do evangelism, but noticed most in his congregation didn't share his enthusiasm, despite their desire to share the gospel. Sjogren presents a collection of 101 ways that Christians can reach out to those around them. These "read-and-do" concepts are designed to be read and then done with a few friends, a small group, or an entire church.

Join three seasoned church-ministry experts on an insider's tour of the most innovative churches today! Discover a dozen types of innovation, each with profiles of congregations that have implemented that innovation. This is more than a show-and-tell tour, however. Each chapter offers a solid take-away for church leaders on how to learn and apply the appropriate innovation profiled. The authors also offer scripturally based assessments of both the positive and negatives implications of implementing each innovation, providing guidance and wisdom. There are many ways to present the gospel, and this timely book will serve as a springboard for church leaders scratching their heads and asking themselves, "What should we do next?" By learning from a dozen different church types, church leaders can become more intentional about exploring new directions and reaching more of the world for Christ.

God is seeking to enter the heart of every person on this planet. Yet, for those who are not gifted evangelists, the task of communicating the gospel can seem daunting. What if there was another way? There is, and it's called the conspiracy of kindness. Operating on a simple premise, this exciting form of servant evangelism enables every follower of Christ, from brand-new to mature believer, to become an effective evangelist through unassuming acts of kindness. In this book, Steve Sjogren offers a proven vision, simple strategy, and real-life stories that show the amazing impact servant evangelism has had throughout the world. Here's how to communicate the love of God more persuasively through actions than with words. Learn how churches, groups, and individuals have used washing windows, cleaning toilets, handing out sodas, and more to impact their communities with the life-changing love of Christ. Although a simple premise, the conspiracy of kindness principle affects both those serving and those being served. Are you ready to roll up your sleeves?