On Friday 17th July 2020, one of the most influential theological voices of the 20th century, James Innell Packer, passed away at the age of 93.

James Innell Packer, better known by many as J.I. Packer, was born in 1926 in Gloucestershire, England. At age seven he suffered a head injury preventing him from sports participation. But after receiving a typewriter as a gift, he became interested in reading and writing. Before his conversion, Packer was influenced by the writings of C.S. Lewis and the King James Bible. Packer received his B.A. from the University of Oxford in 1948 and his M.A. and PhD in 1954. He eventually moved to Vancouver, Canada where he taught at Regent College until the end of his life.

Packer wrote over 40 books for laypeople and academics alike, including the Christian classic, Knowing God, which was published in 1973, and has sold over 1.5 million copies. Other widely read and influential books include Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God and A Quest for Godliness. He served as the General and Theological Editor of the English Standard Version Bible. In 2001, Packer reflected, ‘I find myself suspecting very strongly that this was the most important thing that I have ever done for the Kingdom.’

When asked in 2015 how he wanted to be remembered he said:

‘…I would like to be remembered as a voice – a voice that focused on the authority of the Bible, the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the wonder of his substitutionary sacrifice and atonement for our sins…a voice calling Christian people to holiness and challenging lapses in Christian moral standards…someone who was always courteous in controversy, but without compromise. I ask you to thank God with me for the way that he has led me, and I wish, hope, pray that you will enjoy the same clear leading from him and the same help in doing the tasks that he sets you that I have enjoyed.’

We here at Christianbook offer our condolences and prayers to J.I. Packer’s family.

The post Remembering J.I. Packer, Author of ‘Knowing God’ appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

This article is an excerpt from Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work, Pierce Brantley’s new book (David C Cook, May 2020).

“Son, you need a sense of urgency.” When I was a boy, my dad would say this to me whenever he wanted me to treat some task around the house with the same importance as he did. Some tasks are time sensitive. Some tasks are really important because they affect other people. Still others are meant to mature us into more skillful workers. The same is true for your calling.

Your Father God first provides you with a job, and then he waits to see how you treat that work before allowing you to partner with him on bigger things. This isn’t punishment or cause for concern; it’s just the natural order of supernatural work. Hammers before jackhammers. Plumb lines before power tools. Agreement with God before awakening in calling. So often we think of our current jobs as if they have nothing to do with our calling, so we don’t approach them with the reverence they deserve. We’ll never discover our holy work with this attitude.

Jobs are provided supernaturally by God’s hand. When we revere God in that work, honor it as holy, and treat it with intention, it demonstrates to him that we’re ready for what we are really meant to do. That ought to bring an importance—an urgency—to whatever job you have.

This is spiritual urgency. It is agreeing with God that the task right in front of you requires an earnest and persistent attitude. This attitude in and of itself will give new meaning to your work—though it’s really just the start of all that’s in store for you. After all, all kinds of things can awake in others a deep desire for God.

God is looking for you to understand that every moment of your workday—even the mundane parts—is ripe for action. This is the same attitude that great men of the faith had by the time they were in the middle of their own called careers.

A HOPEFUL EXPECTATION

Jesus is coming again. We don’t know the day or the hour, of course, but the Bible is clear that the awareness of his imminent return ought to be in our minds, giving urgency to everything we do.

For the Christian man, the reality of Christ’s coming is the undercurrent beneath every calling and job. We all desire God’s will to be done on earth just as it is in heaven (see Matt. 6:10). Since we don’t know when Jesus might return or even what might happen and in what order, the desire to spread his message ought to become the driving force for what a Christian man does during any day, at work or at home or wherever he is. (We still have to do our actual jobs too!)

The opportunity we have as Christian men is to look out over the world and see it as Jesus does: as a field ready for harvest (see John 4:35). God sees humanity—including that portion you interact with at your job—as being full of potential. He has strategically set you in this time and place, not to mention this place of employment, for just such a time as this.

One thing the sobering reality of Jesus’ return may do is clarify for us what is important. It ought to give us a clear sense of what is useless, hamster-wheel work and what is work that will endure. How much time do we have to tell our family, friends, and coworkers about Christ before it’s too late?

This awareness of our finite opportunity to share the good news ought to give our jobs—whatever they are—a new urgency. Talk about finding meaning in your work!

This urgency will lead us to manifest him throughout our workday.

When the Christian man goes to work, he is colaboring with Christ in the expectation of his return. You cannot overlook it. God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9 KJV). This truth makes any job an urgent, critical, meaningful, purposeful, mission-related job.

It gives you your calling.

An expectation that Jesus’ return could happen at any moment is a great lens for looking at all your labor and discerning what needs to be done more, what needs to be done less, and what needs to be undone. Paul said it like this:

No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:11–15)

In other words, your work matters. No matter what job you have, Paul said you are a builder. If you’re a cook, you’re building with gold or wood. If you’re an accountant, you’re building with silver or straw. Let’s build with the best materials—what do you say? That means having your mind set on demonstrating Christ to those you encounter wherever you spend time.

We don’t know what day or hour the Lord will return. Neither do we know how many days we have on earth if Jesus tarries. In our jobs—and all the parts of our lives—we need to live in light of the possibility that we may not have a tomorrow to talk to our coworkers, bosses, or employees about eternal life.

This article is an excerpt from Calling: Awaken to the Purpose of Your Work, Brantley’s new book (David C Cook, May 2020).

The post The Heart of a Father: An Eternal Perspective by Pierce Brantley appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Guest post by Rob Flood author of
‘With These Words: Five Communication Tools for Marriage and Life’

This is such a unique time in which we are living. No one could have foreseen this global COVID-19 pandemic, nor the ripple effect on economies and the daily life of people across the globe. The spread of the coronavirus and all of the related shutdowns have brought us to a stark dichotomy. While we are separating from the rest of the world through social distancing, we are spending constant time with our immediate families. In real time, many are experiencing the opposing truths of two well-known cultural proverbs, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

But for the Christian marriage, for the marriage that seeks to bring God great honor and reflect Christ’s relationship with the church, we have the opportunity to throw those cultural proverbs into a blender. Christian marriages can create a new proverb: “Familiarity makes the heart grow fonder.”

As God ordained our marriages, he created one flesh out of two people. And, in times like this, we have the golden opportunity to live daily as one flesh in increased ways. This begs a very important question—what can we do to build into our marriages during this time of social distancing and isolation?

Here are four ways you can build your marriage during social distancing.

Create Memories

A lack of time together often keeps us from making great memories. Work schedules, long commutes, soccer practice, dance lessons, and social obligations often limit our time with our spouses. For many of us, this pandemic has drastically changed our schedules and has opened up an unlimited amount of togetherness. Take advantage of that opportunity by packing a picnic lunch and throwing a blanket on your lawn. Make your own movie theater popcorn and watch a new movie. Share your favorite memes with one another and enjoy the gift of laughter. Take a virtual tour of a museum together.

Catch Up on Conversations

If your marriage is anything like mine, there are important topics that can get bumped down the to-do list. This is a perfect time to catch up. Create a list of all of the things you need to discuss, both important and mundane, heavy and light, as well as personal and family-related business. Then pick a time of the day or a day of the week and gradually work through the list. If you don’t complete a conversation, that’s okay. You have tomorrow or next week to continue. You’ll be amazed at the growth God creates in your marriage when you discuss the things you’ve put off for weeks, months, or years. As both husband and wife earnestly desire to please God in these conversations, you’ll find more than sufficient grace from above to be make these times constructive.

For this idea in particular, you’ll find helpful tips in my book, With These Words: Five Communication Tools for Marriage and Life. It will provide help and guidance as you catch up on conversations.

Learn Together

Find some common areas of interest and learn something new. Read a book together on the topic or watch a related YouTube video or listen to a podcast. Also consider areas of your walk with Christ where you can learn together. Maybe you’ve heard your pastor share a number of quotes from an author you found helpful. This is a great time to get one of his or her books and read it. Perhaps you want to grow as a couple in a specific spiritual discipline, or joy, or contentment, or evangelism. Get recommendations for a resource from your pastor or a trusted friend and get busy learning side-by-side.

Develop Routine

Most of us are finding our daily routines entirely disrupted. Employees are working from home. Homemakers now have a spouse in the house all of the time. The kids are not going out of the home for school and they’re always underfoot. This can all result in a lack of order that can quickly generate anxiety and conflict. To combat this tendency, create a routine. Create a daily or weekly schedule for your new reality. Set aside specific time for your kids and specific time for your spouse. Keep a normal wake time and normal bedtime. Each of these practical rhythms can serve to establish a sense of normalcy and healthy relational habits.

Think Creatively

Some of these ideas will be more useful to you than others, depending on your individual situation. Use these suggestions to spur on your own creative thinking. We know that God desires us to cherish our spouse in all seasons and to grow together in Christlikeness. Hidden within this global pandemic are boundless occasions to do just that. Don’t miss them. Seize the opportunities of this unique season and come out of this crisis stronger and healthier as a married couple.

– Guest post by Rob Flood author of
‘With These Words: Five Communication Tools for Marriage and Life’

The post 4 Ways to Build Your Marriage During Social Distancing appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

There are few more famed Christian authors than Clive Staples Lewis, a former Oxford Professor, Christian apologist, and lay theologian. He was a writer who captured the imaginations of children across the world with his fictional tales of Narnia. But C.S. Lewis is also famed for his more spiritual works – books such as Mere Christianity and The Four Loves. These are books that, to this day, remain some of the most widely read texts on the Christian faith.

Today, November 29, marks 120 years since C.S. Lewis’ birth. So we thought we’d celebrate his life by revisiting some of Lewis’ thoughts on God, faith, life and much more.

Quotes on Christianity

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” – C.S. Lewis

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” – C.S. Lewis

“The great thing to remember is that though our feelings come and go God’s love for us does not.” – C.S. Lewis

“I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.” – C.S. Lewis

“Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” – C.S. Lewis

“God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.” – C.S. Lewis

“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.” – C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” – C.S. Lewis

“Whether we like it or not, God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want.” – C.S. Lewis

Quotes on Love, Friendship & Life

“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” – C.S. Lewis

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” – C.S. Lewis

“Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but silence breaks your heart.” – C.S. Lewis

“You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Quotes about Books & Reading

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”  – C.S. Lewis

“I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.” – C.S. Lewis

“It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.” – C.S. Lewis

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis

“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” – C.S. Lewis

“Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.” – C.S. Lewis

Quotes from The Chronicles of Narnia

“Courage, dear heart.” – C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

“What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.” – C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

“You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,” said the Lion.” – C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

“Things never happen the same way twice.” – C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian

“Do not dare not to dare.” – C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy

“Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.” – C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

“Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.” – C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

“I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.” – C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

“He’ll be coming and going” he had said. “One day you’ll see him and another you won’t. He doesn’t like being tied down–and of course he has other countries to attend to. It’s quite all right. He’ll often drop in. Only you mustn’t press him. He’s wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.” – C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The post 32 Inspiring C.S. Lewis Quotes on Faith & More appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

We have to admit, it was hard to put together this list without going on forever. There are just so many incredible Christian women out there right now writing inspiring books for other women. The authors listed below have tackled a variety of themes pertinent to Christian women today – from feeling left out to misconceptions about motherhood.

Prepare to be inspired by these female authors who will guide, encourage and accompany you on your journey.

Lysa TerKeurst

Writing in a casual, conversational style, Lysa openly and honestly shares her own experiences, struggles, and processes of transformation. Lysa talks about experiences such as feeling left out and less than, people-pleasing, food cravings, coping with emotions, the ups and downs of living – and the ways she triumphed and continues to triumph with God’s help.

Top 5 Books by Lysa TerKeurst

1. Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely
2. Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food
3. Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions
4. The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands
5. Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God’s Love Right Where You Are – Coming Soon! 

Ann Voskamp

Ann Voskamp delights in finding the beauty in life even when things aren’t perfect. She invites you to walk with her through the intimate sharings of One Thousand Gifts, and to discover that while your enormous heart may be broken wide open in the process of caring for others, abundance is found when you have the courage to continue along The Broken Way. This year, Ann offers two new books. The first is Be the Gift, which includes with her own lovely photographic work, and the Advent keepsake and devotional The Wonder of the Greatest Gift.

Top 5 Reads by Ann Voskamp

1. The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life
2. The Greatest Gift: An Advent Devotional
3. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
4. Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas
5. The Way of Abundance – Coming Soon! 

Karen Ehman

You can learn much about Karen’s mode of communicating from the titles of her books. She tackles issues that others might find embarrassing, such as, when to keep quiet, misconceptions about motherhood, how to stop running the show and more. With her natural, characteristic humor and goodwill, Karen has a gift for making the helpful information she offers easier to hear. There are plenty of gems of wisdom amid the laughs, and Karen readily admits that the lessons she empathetically shares were often learned through experience.

Top 5 Books by Karen Ehman

1. Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All
2. Everyday Confetti: Your Year-Round Guide to Celebrating Holidays and Special Occasions
3. Let It Go: How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith
4. Listen, Love, Repeat
5. Hoodwinked: Ten Myths Moms Believe & Why We All Need to Knock it Off

Priscilla Shirer

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Throughout her writing career, Nancy has been committed to helping women grow. In her earlier works, she led women through her instructional, interactive leadership style to transform their lives in the Lord and be set free. In her recent writings, she encourages older women to mentor younger women and younger women to include more experienced women in their circle of friends, working together to bring the Gospel to life in their lives, homes, and churches.

Top 5 Books by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

1. Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together
2. Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free
3. Lies Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free
4. Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy
5. Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival

The post 5 Christian Authors Inspiring Women appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

A word from author Kim Vogel Sawyer on her latest novel, ‘Bringing Maggie Home‘, just for you Christianbook.com readers…

When I think about the release of Bringing Maggie Home, I have two opposing emotions: hope-filled anticipation and nail-biting apprehension. This story was a joy to write, delving into the unique relationship shared by mothers and daughters (as mom to three girls and gramma to four grandgirls, I do have a little experience in the subject), and I’m eager to find out how it resonates with readers. The nervous part comes from knowing this story is a new direction for me.

In the past, my full-length contemporary stories have featured Old Order Mennonite characters; this story does not. Up until now, my stories have either been set in modern days or in the distant past; this one transitions back and forth through time. In some of my previous works a hint of mystery has added a thread to the story; Bringing Maggie Home is predominantly a mystery. Whenever an author branches into a new direction, there’s the concern that readers who have a certain expectation will be disappointed. But I sincerely hope my readers will enjoy this offering, which still incorporates elements of hope, faith, and heart.

The idea for this story came to me when I stumbled upon a short, obscure news article on the Internet about an unsolved mystery from the 1930s. In a small Arkansas town, six or seven early grade school-age children disappeared and were never found. Of course, an author’s brain always runs to the “what/who/why/how”—in this case, what happened to the children? Who took them away? Why were they taken? How could they leave no trace? The answers came together in my mind, along with the agonizing realization of how these families’ lives were impacted forever by the irreplaceable loss. From there, story grew.

I am particularly fond of Hazel Blackwell DeFord, the “main” main character. She was such a loving grandmother to Meghan. Since I didn’t have a grandmother (both of mine died when my parents were still children), I gave her all the characteristics I’ve been told my grandmothers possessed: spunk, strong faith, compassion, protectiveness, and creativity. Crafting her, in a way, bonded me to the grandmothers I never met, and also challenged me to develop a closer relationship with my grandchildren.

Hazel tried so hard to be a good mother to her daughter, Diane, but the fear of loss always intruded, and strong-willed Diane only wanted to break free of the entangling bonds of protection. I confess, at times I wept over the broken relationship between these two women, both doing what they thought was best but always pitting themselves against each other. Ah, so human, these two.

A pre-reader shared the most heart-touching reaction to this story—one that put a lump in my throat: “After reading this book, I have a new gratitude for my great-grandma, and I am so grateful to have seen through fiction what actually could change my heart. What an incredible book that it can bring healing I didn’t even know I needed!”

I truly hope this story, even though it is purely fictitious, will help mothers and daughters who are at odds with each look deeper into their relationship and find a way to mend their differences. I’m a firm believer that God is able to heal any wound when we give Him the chance to work in and through us—and believe me, it’s never too late!

God bless you muchly as you journey with Him,

Kim

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