Kirjahaku

"Dave allowed God to navigate him through the pain of religious moralism to arrive at insightful, compelling, and gracious wisdom. He remains a sincere lover of God's church and people as he directs weary pilgrims to safer lodging." -John Lynch, coauthor of TrueFaced and Bo's Cafe Have you been betrayed by a Christian friend? Are you disillusioned with the church? If you have been hurt by Christians, you know all about anger and resentment. But what about a workable solution? How can the words and actions of "bad Christians" be addressed so the mistakes are not repeated? When Bad Christians Happen to Good People offers a workable response and, ultimately, a new way of living. In this revised and updated edition, you will find healing for hurts infl icted by others. At the same time, you will discover ways to help Christians and church leaders recognize the damage that is done by unexamined assumptions, words, and actions.After dealing with his own hurt, Dave Burchett now shows believers how to: Live as Jesus followers, not rule enforcers Stop using religious performance as the standard for accepting others Let go of moralism, legalism, and an allegiance to trying harder Discover God's grace as a daily reality, not just a word to use in evangelism Working toward a solution will benefi t your own life at the same time it helps others. Whether you have been a bad Christian in the past, or have been hurt by one, there is a better way to live. Discussion Guide Included for Individual and Small-Group Use

Amazing (Furry) Lessons from a Dog's LifeYou'll be enthralled by this story of a man and his lovable Labrador retriever, Hannah, and what their canine friendship can show us about life, grace, and long walks in the park.Hannah was Dave's best friend. He couldn't imagine starting a day without her tail wagging an energetic greeting, her body wiggling with sheer gratitude when her food dish was filled, and her unbridled enthusiasm for tennis balls. (How she fit three tennis balls in her mouth at once he'll never know.)So when Dave first learned of Hannah's cancer diagnosis, he decided to take whatever time he had left with Hannah to cherish the moments and capture his thoughts in a journal. As he wrote about his canine friend, he soon realized that Hannah was an able (and furry) mentor of faith, grace, kindness, and forgiveness. The lessons were invaluable: from being present to trusting the master. When Hannah lived well past the expected time frame, Dave started to see that the insights he was gaining were more than just journal entries about a family pet. Through Hannah's antics, God was preparing Dave for life itself.You won't want to miss this heartwarming tale of a dog who knew how to live . . . and showed her owner how.

It was a story Jesus liked to tell. If a man owned a hundred sheep and one of them wandered away, he would, without hesitation, leave the ninety-nine and search for the one. And when he found that lost sheep he would celebrate with great joy. In the same way, Jesus concluded, our Father in heaven-like the shepherd-is unwilling for any of his sheep to be lost. Yet all too often God's sheep do wander from the flock. Sometimes, for reasons that are hard to discern, they stray on their own. Other times they're driven away, perhaps wounded by an unkind word or thoughtless deed. In Bring 'Em Back Alive author Dave Burchett shows us the importance of bringing these lost and wounded lambs back to the fold-or, when we're the ones who wandered, becoming willing to return. He explains, step-by-step, how to replenish the spiritual strength of Christ's body. And he reminds us that we, like the shepherd, can know the joy that comes when a lost sheep returns home. Every believer is a precious part of Christ's body. When even one is missing, the church lacks power and is less than whole. Whether we're victims, perpetrators, or innocent bystanders we're called by God to seek restoration.And when one of God's sheep goes missing we have no choice: We must Bring 'Em Back Alive. Includes questions at the end of each chapter for discussion and reflection.

Grunt the Runt Finds His Purpose is the story of a little puppy with a big heart. Young readers will love the true "underdog" who never gives up in his pursuit of a purpose for his life. Grunt learns that God creates every one of His creatures with a special role to fulfill but sometimes the journey to find your way is tough. He learns that every experience is a building block to find out who you are. Grunt realizes that adversity refines and helps you grow stronger. You will be touched by the heartwarming completion of Grunt the Runt's determined and successful trek to find his purpose.