The Cure: What If God Isn’t Who You Think He Is And Neither Are You

Authors: John Lynch, Bruce McNichol, Bill Thrall - CrossSection Publishing - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBook, Kindle

Recommended by:  Allen Tyndall

Dangerous Calling

Author: Paul David Tripp - Crossway Publishing - iBook, Lifeway

Recommended by:  Allen Tyndall

The Divine Mentor

Author: Wayne Cordeiro. Bethany House Publishers. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2007.

How to have a dynamic, intimate relationship with God as your mentor and how to pass this on to others.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

The Sacred Annointing

Author: Tony Sargent. Crossway Books. Wheaton, IL. 1994.

The Preaching of Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones and the anointing that was on his life and ministry.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Abandoned to God

Author: David McCasland. Discovery House Publishers,Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1993.

The life story of Iswald Chambers: the Author of "My Utmost for His Highest." A landmark biography about one of the greatest men of God of all time.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

The Pastor

Author: Eugene H. Peterson. Harper and Row. New York City. 2011.

The life and ministry of Eugene Peterson, the writer/translator of The Message Bible. This is one of my favorite books of all time. For any of God's ministering servants, concerned about their calling and fulfilling that calling.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Kingdom Triangle

Author: J.P. Moreland. Zondervan publishers. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2007.

The Faith journey of J.P.Moreland, one of the leading Biblical scholars in the Evangelical Church with emphasis on "Recovering the Christian Mind, Renovating the Soul, Restoring Spirit's Power." A must read for those seeking more of God.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

The Power of Encouragement

Author: Dr David Jeremiah. Sisters, Oregon. Multnomah Publishers.1997.

About Encouragement, the greatest power of healing known to man. This "handbook on encouragement" should be on every minister's desk. For every ministering servant who needs encouragement, including instructions on how to encourage yourself.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Support Your Local Pastor

Author: Wes Roberts. NAV Press. Colorado Springs. 1995.

A book for the lay leaders and encouragement on how to keep their pastor and family healthy. Every lay leader should have it.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Radical Well-Being

Author: Dr. Rita Hancock M.D. Lake Mary, Florida. Siloam Publishers. 2013.

The most powerful book I have ever read on experiencing the wholeness God intended for us in body, mind, soul and spirit.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Experiencing The Father's Embrace

Author: Jack Frost. Father's House Productions. Conway, SC. 2002.

A book about "The Father Deficit" many of us experience, and how we can fill that deficit by finding acceptance in the arms of a loving God.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Thirty Years That Changed The World

Author: Michael Green. Eerdman's Publishers. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2002.

The dynamic nature of life in the first thirty years of the early church. A Classic as to what was the church like that "turned the world" right side up.

Recommended by:  Jim Bevis

Autopsy of a Deceased Church

Author: Thom S. Ranier - B&H Publishing - iBook, Lifeway

Recommended by:  Allen Tyndall

Pastors At Greater Risk

By H.B. London and Neil B. Wiseman

Some of today's pastors are relatively untroubled but need help in releasing the pressure inherent in ministry to others. Others are close to running on empty, both spiritually and emotionally. All of them would like someone to confide in who can provide realistic help based on firsthand experience. This is precisely what ''Pastors at Greater Risk'' is all about! First published in 1993, this edition is completely rewritten, with updated stats, interviews with contemporary pastoral leaders and a special emphasis on today's hot-button issues... job turnover, pornography, spiritual burnout, congregational turnover and more! Result: A book that is rich in wisdom and understanding and one that provides pastor-to-pastor help at a time when it is needed more than ever!

Crushed: The Perilous Side of Ministry

By Gary Pinion

Churches all across this nation are in disarray. Pastors are being terminated because of an emergence of a few rebellious-religious zealot “control freaks.” Members are hurting and inflicting hurt on one another as well as their pastors with a dictatorial style of leadership. Why are so many pastors and churches experiencing such devastation? Why do Christians, many of whom have been raised and trained under some of the godliest pastors and churches in America, end up acting like pagans? This book is about what is going on in the ministry environment in the 21st Century.

The Wounded Minister: Healing from and Preventing Personal Attacks

By Guy Greenfield

Every church deals with personality conflicts and intermittent discord. But in some churches, what should be normal clashes has become a devastating form of abuse-pastoral abuse. A growing phenomenon that cuts across denominational lines and impacts every level of ministry, pastoral abuse leaves in its wake thousands of wounded clergymen with ruined ministries, broken relationships, damaged health, even shattered faith.The Wounded Minister: Healing for Abused Clergy, written by a clinically trained pastoral counselor, examines the reality of evil in churches and the ways in which "pathological antagonists" emotionally and spiritually batter pastors. A deft mix of personal experience and in-depth research, this resource will help wounded men and women of all ministerial positions learn how to recover their broken hearts while rebuilding their lives. And as preventative medicine, it also provides guidelines on how spiritually sensitive Christians can develop a church structure that protects their pastors from this tragedy. Both compassionate and proactive, this book is an excellent resource for hurting pastors as well as lay leadership pursuing healthy church life.

Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Experience

By Anne Jackson

Growing up the daughter of a pastor, Anne Jackson experienced firsthand the conflict, stress, and struggle church leaders often face. She vowed her life in ministry would be different. Yet, years later, as a church leader, she was hospitalized because stress began wreaking havoc on her body. After being released from the hospital, an associate pastor asked her, 'Does working at this church interfere with your communion with Christ?' The question was paramount in turning her life around. Thinking she wasn't alone, Anne developed a website that allowed church leaders to share their struggles. Within a few days, she was flooded with over a thousand responses from people pouring out their stories of burnout. Using anecdotal parallels between Mad Cow Disease and leadership trends in the church, she writes not only to help us realize what church leaders are facing, but also to provide practical and positive treatment plans. Mad Church Disease is a lively, informative, and potentially life-saving resource for anyone in ministry – vocational or volunteer – who would like to understand, prevent, or treat the epidemic of burnout in church culture.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ

By Peter Scazzero

What Are You Missing?

Peter Scazzero learned the hard way: you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Even though Pete was pastor of a rapidly growing church, he did what most people do:

• avoid conflict in the name of Christianity

• ignore his anger, sadness, and fear

• use God to run from God

• live without boundaries

Eventually God awakened him to a biblical integration of emotional health, a profound relationship with Jesus, and the historical practices of contemplative spirituality. It created nothing short of a spiritual revolution, utterly transforming him and his church.

In this best-selling book Pete outlines his journey and the signs of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. Then he provides seven biblical, reality-tested ways to break through to the revolutionary life Christ meant for you. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is presently used in more than twenty-six countries to equip churches in a deep, beneath-the-surface spiritual formation paradigm that truly transforms lives.

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry

By Ruth Haley Barton

"I'm tired of helping others enjoy God." "I just want to enjoy God for myself." With this painful admission, Ruth Haley Barton invites us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls. Weaving together contemporary illustrations with penetrating insight from the life of Moses, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership explores topics such as

• responding to the dynamics of calling

• facing the loneliness of leadership

• leading from your authentic self

• cultivating spiritual community

• reenvisioning the promised land

• discerning God's will together

Each chapter includes a spiritual practice to ensure your soul gets the nourishment it needs. Forging and maintaining a life-giving connection with God is the best choice you can make for yourself and for those you lead.

Becoming a Healthier Pastor (Creative Pastoral Care and Counseling) (Creative Pastoral Care & Counseling)

By Ronald W. Richardson

Among the most helpful and widely acclaimed resources for addressing church conflict and the quality of church life is Richardson's groundbreaking volume Creating a Healthier Church (Fortress Press, 1996). His application of family systems theory to congregational life has enormously clarified its operative systems and especially its emotional system. In this sequel, Richardson employs the same methodology to address the roots of personal issues that may hinder pastors' ability to function effectively as leaders within their congregations, and may in fact cause them deep difficulties. He especially addresses pastors' own families of origin, a major but often hidden component in how they function emotionally in their congregations. When anxiety arises, unresolved familial issues and old family patterns return, often unhelpfully. Richardson explores these patterns, how they operate in church situations, and how pastors can do their own family-of-origin assessment. His volume will become a standard tool for analysis of patterns in ministerial behavior and developing strong personal effectiveness.

What Pastors Wish Church Members Knew: Helping People Understand and Appreciate Their Leaders

By Denise George

Pastors face a nearly impossible position! Even happy, healthy pastors struggle with pressures, pains, and fears unique to their position. If pastors were given an opportunity to speak honestly, openly, and anonymously about themselves, their families, and their churches, what would they say? What Pastors Wish Church Members Knew provides that opportunity. Based on anonymous and honest interviews and surveys, a national cross-section of hundreds of pastors speak out about their personal life, faith, health, wife, children, finances, greatest joys, frustrations, disappointments, greatest fears, and dreams. And you’ll learn how you can better help and encourage your pastor. This is insightful and encouraging reading for anyone who cares about the future of the church. This is a companion to the book What Women Wish Pastors Knew.

Preventing Ministry Failure: A ShepherdCare Guide for Pastors, Ministers and Other Caregivers

By Michael Todd Wilson, Brad Hoffman

Great ministers don't just happen. Great falls from ministry don't just happen either. A complex mix of factors both internal and external test the limits of your ability to minister wholeheartedly over the long haul. Senior pastor Brad Hoffmann and licensed professional counselor Michael Todd Wilson work with pastors removed from their place of service. The common experiences of these pastors revealed patterns that consistently contributed to burnout, ineffectiveness and moral failure. If such patterns can be predicted, the authors reasoned, can they be prevented?Preventing Ministry Failure is a personal guidebook for pastors and other caregivers to prepare them to withstand common pressures and to flourish in the ministry God has called them to. Work through the exercises and reflections individually or in conversation with your peers, and you'll find yourself better equipped for the challenges of vocational ministry, and more conscious of the presence of God leading you on and restoring your soul.

Time Alone

By Gordon L. Densmore

TIME ALONE is a unique daily devotional, with each day including: • His Word • My Challenge • A Unique Rhyme • Prayer and Praise TIME ALONE also includes a choice of method to read it: 1. By week and day listing (so you can start on any day of the year) or 2. By the actual date. In TIME ALONE, each seven-day period has a theme, and there is an index of the themes. Each rhyme lists the meter, and there is an index of the meters and an index for all titles.

A Pause for Peace: What God’s Gift of the Sabbath Can Mean to You

By Clifford Goldstein

126 pages

A Trip Into The Supernatural

By Roger J. Morneau

Just Out Of The Canadian Merchant Navy And Adrift In A Large City, Morneau Was Lured Into The World Of Spieit Worship. This Is The Remarkable Story Of That Encounter, And His Rescue By A God He Didn't Know.

The Day Santa Met Jesus

by Allen Tyndall

The Day Santa Met Jesus is the true personal story of the author’s coming to salvation in Jesus Christ during a tent revival as a nine-year-old boy.  His childhood was always adventurous, daily exploring his neighborhood with his friends while riding bicycles and running around looking for something to do or “get into” along the way.  

24 pages

Who Stole My Church?

By Gordon MacDonald

Has your church been hijacked?

Millions of people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies feel their churches have been hijacked by church-growth movements characterized by loud praise bands, constant PowerPoint presentations, and cavernous megachurches devoid of any personal touch. They are bewildered by the changes, and are dropping out after thirty, forty, or fifty years in a congregation. It's a crisis!

In this fictional story, pastor and author Gordon MacDonald uses topical examples and all-too-familiar characters to reassure readers that it is possible to embrace change, and to demonstrate how that change can actually be a positive influence in their church. The church, he says, has always been in a state of change; it has been changing for the last two thousand years. It is time to embrace that change and use it further the Kingdom of God.

272 pages

Recommended by Allen Tyndall

What’s So Amazing About Grace?

By Philip Yancey

In 1987, an IRA bomb buried Gordon Wilson and his twenty-year-old daughter beneath five feet of rubble. Gordon alone survived. And forgave. He said of the bombers, "I have lost my daughter, but I bear no grudge... I shall pray, tonight and every night, that God will forgive them." His words caught the media’s ear – and out of one man’s grief, the world got a glimpse of grace. Grace is the church’s great distinctive. It’s the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else – for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world. In What’s So Amazing About Grace? award-winning author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. If grace is God’s love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? Yancey sets grace in the midst of life’s stark images, tests its mettle against horrific "ungrace." Can grace survive in the midst of such atrocities as the Nazi holocaust? Can it triumph over the brutality of the Ku Klux Klan? Should any grace at all be shown to the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer, who killed and cannibalized seventeen young men? Grace does not excuse sin, says Yancey, but it treasures the sinner. True grace is shocking, scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on getting close to sinners and touching them with mercy and hope. It forgives the unfaithful spouse, the racist, the child abuser. It loves today’s AIDS-ridden addict as much as the tax collector of Jesus’ day. In his most personal and provocative book ever, Yancey offers compelling, true portraits of grace’s life-changing power. He searches for its presence in his own life and in the church. He asks, How can Christians contend graciously with moral issues that threaten all they hold dear? And he challenges us to become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know, What’s So Amazing About Grace?

The Desire Of Ages...

From Nabu Press

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. 

Into Abba’s Arms (AACC Library)

By Sandra D. Wilson

Wilson leads readers on a personal journey toward healing by helping them to hear God's voice inviting them to find ultimate acceptance and safety in a deep relationship with him.

My Utmost for His Highest

By Oswald Chambers

This edition of Oswald Chambers' golden book combines all of the features of the updated language edition while preserving the meaning and style of the author. This bestselling devotional includes complete subject and Scripture indexes along with 366 timeless, inspirational devotions in a classic but affordable hardcover binding. Ideal for both the Chambers devotee and for gift-giving.

The Diary of an Old Soul

By George MacDonald

This collection chronicles the fiction and non fiction classics by the greatest writers the world has ever known. The inclusion of both popular as well as overlooked pieces is pivotal to providing a broad and representative collection of classic works.

The Green Letters: Principles of Spiritual Growth

By Miles J. Stanford

As the first book in a series of five on the Christian life, The Green Letters emphasizes both the doctrinal and experiential aspects of maturing in Christian living. The book is grounded in Scripture and enlivened by quotations from noted authors. "Not I, but Christ" is its theme. The author makes this arresting statement regarding the dynamics of the Christian life: "God . . . doesn't intend to help us live the Christian life. Immaturity considers the Lord Jesus a Helper. Maturity knows Him to be life itself." Perhaps the greatest drama in the world is the slow and subtle growth of character in the Christian. Beauty of character can be developed only through years of reflection and experience in the Word of God as the life of Christ is increasingly lived by faith. The Christian life is a healthy, robust kind of life. It advances also through trials, for in one who has faith even suffering is not wasted, but becomes a means for increasing spiritual vigor and strength.

My Prayer With You Today

By Allen Tyndall

"My Prayer With You Today" is born out of a passion for prayer. This book recognizes that people are always in the midst of something in their lives. These "somethings" usually consume them and their energy. The book focuses attention on what people are experiencing and addresses those issues with a prayer - a prayer that identifies both the issue, the emotions surrounding the issue, and offers hope and a way to proceed in the midst of the issue. Each day has two parts. One part consists of Bible Readings from the Old Testament, Psalms or Proverbs, and New Testament. If this is followed every day a person will read through the Bible during the year. The second part is a practical down to earth prayer which relates to the reflection verse which is taken from the daily Bible readings.

Incredible Answers to Prayer: How God Intervened When One Man Prayed

By Roger J. Morneau

Incredible Answers to Prayer is an exhilarating spiritual experience. It will send chills down your spine and make you rejoice that you too serve the "Lord of the Impossible."

Roger Morneau has witnessed hundreds of miracles. Some saved him from an early death. But most were in response to prayers for others. People dying in a hospital get well. A man pronounced dead by his doctor lives. A woman's shattered relationship is suddenly filled with love and acceptance. Another man's life and business turn around within days.

More Incredible Answers to Prayer

By Roger J. Morneau

96 pages

I'm a product

By Roger J. Morneau

122 pages

An Affair of the Mind

By Laurie Hall

Laurie Hall's story reveals pornography's subversive side and offers comfort, encouragement, insight, and a plan of action to women whose husbands are addicted.

Faithful and Free

By George A. Elias

The Christian life can sometimes feel like a roller coaster ride. One day we sense the fire of the Holy Spirit and the next day we seem to be struggling in battle with sin and turmoil. "Faithful & Free" is the true story of a man who endured incredible struggles all his life. He could never see the light at the end of the tunnel until Jesus, illuminated every dark crevasse and corner of his being. This book captures and reveals the keys that the Lord taught him through this beautiful process of transformation. The power of the Spirit of God Who makes us bold as lions in a world where so many live as timid sheep is the overall message of this book. Author George Elias will share with you some precious keys of life that have come from the very heart of God while encouraging you to live at the full potential God has intended for you. This powerful story will deposit within you a desire to not just survive but to thrive in your own life. You will discover a fresh desire to be the example God always intended you to be. Righteousness will supernaturally develop in your life as you begin to understand the keys given within this book. Keys unlocking chains of sin found in principles that provide the passion needed to continue advancing. When partnering with the Holy Spirit, all things can be accomplished if you have the tenacity to follow through. Read this book with a prayerful heart and a determined mind to hear from the Lord and apply what He says. The benefits are tremendous. May He take you by the hand as both of you embark on a phenomenal journey to live life "Faithful & Free."

Always Daddy’s Girl

By H. Norman Wright

No matter how old she is, a woman's relationship with her father - whether it was wonderful or painful - had an impact on the person she is today. Her relationship with men, her career and her feelings about herself have all been shaped by her father, whether she realizes it or not. Now, with the help of noted marriage and family counselor H. Norman Wright, women can begin to understand how their fathers had a profound effect on their emotions and behaviors as adults.

Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion

By Wayne Cordeiro

A message of revitalization and encouragement for leaders before they leave the ministry. Wayne Cordeiro, author of Doing Church as a Team, found himself paralyzed by burnout. He had been in ministry for 30 years, and 10 years after founding what is now the largest church in Hawaii, he found himself depleted. Wayne took a season out of his growing ministry to recharge and refocus on the truly important. He got back in touch with his life, got back in proper balance, and re-energized his spirit through Christ and came back to serve with new passion and joy. Wayne first gave this message at a Willow Creek Leadership Summit, where it was the highest-rated presentation by those in attendance.

Restoring the Christian Soul: Overcoming Barriers to Completion in Christ through Healing Prayer

By Leanne Payne

Three barriers keep us from being whole persons: (1) inability to receive forgiveness; (2) inability to forgive; (3) inability to accept ourselves.

Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith

By Richard J. Foster

The author of the bestselling celebration of discipline explores the great traditions of Christian spirituality and their role in spiritual renewal today.

In this landmark work, Foster examines the "streams of living water" – the six dimensions of faith and practice that define Christian tradition. He lifts up the enduring character of each tradition and shows how a variety of practices, from individual study and retreat to disciplines of service and community, are all essential elements of growth and maturity. Foster examines the unique contributions of each of these traditions and offers as examples the inspiring stories of faithful people whose lives defined each of these "streams."

Battlefield of the Mind: Winning The Battle in Your Mind - Study Guide

By Joyce Meyer

In celebration of selling 3 million copies, FaithWords is publishing a special updated edition of BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND.

Worry, doubt, confusion, depression, anger and feelings of condemnation: all these are attacks on the mind. If readers suffer from negative thoughts, they can take heart! Joyce Meyer has helped millions win these all-important battles. In her most popular bestseller ever, the beloved author and minister shows readers how to change their lives by changing their minds. She teaches how to deal with thousands of thoughts that people think every day and how to focus the mind the way God thinks. And she shares the trials, tragedies, and ultimate victories from her own marriage, family, and ministry that led her to wondrous, life-transforming truth--and reveals her thoughts and feelings every step of the way.

This special updated edition includes an additional introduction and updated content throughout the book.

Morning and Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on The Holy Bible, English Standard Version

By Charles H. Spurgeon

For over one hundred years, Christians have gotten up and gone to bed with Charles Spurgeon's devotional Morning and Evening as a companion. With a reading to begin and end each day throughout the year, you will come to appreciate Spurgeon's emphasis on the importance of abiding in Christ and meditating on God's Word. His wisdom and counsel provide a timeless guide through the trials and triumphs of the year. The richness of his biblical understanding offers readers a look into the heart of one of England's foremost pastors and enduring Christian authors.

His lasting message is even more accessible with Alistair Begg's careful modernizing of Spurgeon's English. Begg, who has a deep love for Spurgeon's preaching and especially for this work, has maintained Spurgeon's clear passion and commitment to Christ. Using the English Standard Version as the scriptural text provides an accurate, understandable accompaniment to Spurgeon's lessons.

This updated version of a devotional classic is a timely and much-needed encouragement for today's Christian.

The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse

By Dan B. Allender

Sexual abuse knows no religious or social boundaries. The Wounded Heart is an intensely personal and specific look at this form of abuse. Dr. Allender explores the secret lament of the soul damaged by sexual abuse and lays hold of the hope buried there by the One whose unstained image we all bear. Includes information about false memory issues.

Steps to Christ

By Ellen G. White

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare’s finesse to Oscar Wilde’s wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim’s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.

The Great Divorce

By C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, Lewis’s revolutionary idea in the The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside. Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis’ The Great Divorce will change the way we think about good and evil. 

The Language of Feelings

By David Viscott, M.D.

This sound and simple program helps listeners tune in to their emotions, allowing them to find their natural expression and grow toward a new life of accomplishment and greater emotional freedom.

Mere Christianity (Gift Edition)

By C.S. Lewis

One of the most important Christian books of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis’s classic, Mere Christianity, is now available in a beautiful keepsake edition 60 years after its original publication. A timeless and thought-provoking spiritual work from the author of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters—one of the leading Christian writers and thinkers of our age—this beautifully illustrated anniversary edition includes a new foreword and fascinating background information on the story behind the book, and remains fresh and relevant for the modern reader. 

The Surprising Grace of Disappointment

By Dr. John Koessler

I just finished reading this extremely thought provoking book by Dr. John Koessler, and I highly recommend it for everyone – but especially for the exited pastors among us. The title was what first drew me to purchase the book. It was a mind grabber. However, Dr. Koessler’s ability to be both pastor and theologian while unpacking this important topic made it deeply practical while stimulating my thinking.

Many of us who follow Jesus and are in ministry leadership struggle with disappointment. Beyond trying to comfort others who are in the crisis of wondering why God “didn’t show up,” we ourselves are deeply disappointed in Him. We find it difficult to reconcile the Jesus we have learned in church and school with the Jesus we have to live with each day.

What do we do when our experience of life collides with our expectations of the same – and of God?

“The point of this book is that you can expect to meet Jesus in the most unlikely place – at the intersection of Expectation and Disappointment. The Jesus you meet there is not the Jesus of your dreams. Nor is He the airbrushed Christ of popular Christianity. He is the enigmatic and unpredictable Jesus of the Bible. You will not forget Him.” – from the introduction to The Surprising Grace of Disappointment.

Dr. Koessler asserts that our good theology regarding the reliability of God has taken a left turn and become the bad practice of expecting Him to be predictable.

The subtitle of the book is “Finding Hope When God Seems to Fail Us,” and there is hope to be found in these pages. Let me suggest that you pick up a copy for yourself and discover the grace that is born out of disappointment – the grace of a deeper understanding of His faithfulness.

Dr. John Koessler is the Chair of the Pastoral Theology department at Moody Bible Institute, and pastor in the Chicago area.

– Book Review by Roy Yanke, West Michigan Director of Pastors In Residence, posted August 6, 2014