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Baker Publishing Group - Arnie Cole

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128 pages

English

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Back to the Bible Leaders Show Readers How to Cultivate a Thriving Walk with ChristWhen asked about their relationship with God, many believers say the Christian life "isn't working" or that they want "more than an okay walk." After conducting extensive survey research on what it takes to grow spiritually, Back to the Bible leaders Cole and Ross offer solid evidence for the power of Bible engagement. But more than statistics, Unstuck gives readers a practical and proven way to encounter Scripture daily, connect with God, and revitalize an otherwise listless faith. This book is part of a strategic ministry plan developed by Back to the Bible, which has been on the air for more than 70 years. Through multimedia products and services, the ministry is walking alongside individuals and churches, helping Christ-followers tap into and live out God's Word.

Sujets

Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 mai 2012
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441271129
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0432€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

© 2012 by Arnie Cole and Michael Ross
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-7112-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV 1984 are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked The Message are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All events/accounts in this book are factual. Some names and small details have been changed in order to protect the privacy of those involved.
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.
Authors are represented by WordServe Literary Group
“As Christians, we often talk about ‘spiritual growth,’ but for many it’s a concept that remains elusive. With Unstuck, Michael Ross and Arnie Cole offer a blueprint for genuine growth in grace, grounded in the life-changing power of Scripture.”
Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family
“Arnie Cole and Michael Ross’s new book Unstuck is a gem. Written in an engaging, transparent way, Unstuck offers tremendous insights on growing a close relationship with Christ and living a transformed, fruitful, and vibrant spiritual life rather than a frustrating, “stuck” one.”
Cheri Fuller, Author of The Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer; The One-Year Book of Praying Through the Bible
“Disconnected, spiritually empty, stuck. We’ve all been there. This book gets us moving again through the eternal, transformational Word of God. Unstuck is an important resource for churches, families everyone!”
H. B. London, Bestselling Author and Pastor to Pastor Emeritus, Focus on the Family
“Fascinating from the first page to the very last word! This compelling read underscores the importance of God’s Word. It’s like a cup of life-giving water for a thirsty soul. Unstuck is heartfelt, convicting, powerful, and hard to put down.”
Richard P. Bott II, President, Bott Radio Network
“ Unstuck is ‘that one book’ we’ve all been waiting for! My friends Arnie Cole and Michael Ross combine groundbreaking research with poignant stories and hard-hitting insights. They show us what it means to think biblically, live relationally, and follow Christ radically.”
Vance Brown, Chairman and CEO, Band of Brothers ministry and author of No Matter the Cost
“ Unstuck is a convicting reminder that ‘engaging God’s Word consistently makes the difference in regard to lasting spiritual growth.’ You’ll love the variety of pastors and theologians quoted throughout the book and the compelling research that shows how important habitually reading the Bible really is.”
Martha Krienke, Editor/Producer, Boundless, www.boundless.org
From Arnie
To all the special people who have traveled with me on my spiritual journey . . .
my mom and dad, Dr. Ken and Ruth Cole, who prayed for me more than twenty-five years while I was spiritually stuck
my brothers and sisters, Wes and Lou Ann, and Kathy and Dean, for hanging in through all the drama
my pastor, Gary Inrig, who helped me find “True North”
my friend and mentor Dr. Woodrow Kroll, who asked, “Why do so many Christians own Bibles and never read them?”
my friend Bill Bantz, who demanded we help people positively engage their spiritual life on a daily basis
my researchers Pam and LG, who made sure we got it right
my kids, Ben, Matt, Danny, and Laura, who love me despite my shortcomings
my wife and love of my life, Char, who knew all my past failures, who believed in me before I did, and who gave me a chance
my Lord Jesus Christ, who saved me from spiritual death
From Michael
To my brothers, Robert, Jerry, and Walter
“Christ says, ‘Give me All. . . . I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there. I want to have the whole tree down. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.’” [1]
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Starting Point
Part One: Why We Stall Out
1. Confessions of a Spiritual Loser
2. “A Thousand Steps” Between Us and God
3. The Bestseller Many Won’t Read
4. From Temptation to Turmoil
5. Breakthroughs for the Broken
Part Two: The Powered by Four Solution
6. Radically Relational (Not Too Religious)
7. Finding the Real God of Scripture
8. Vertical Conversations
9. Giant Squid and Bible Truth
10. Moving Beyond “ME”
Part Three: Engage, Untangle . . . Grow!
11. Regaining the Wonder
12. Managing the “Dark Side”
13. Getting Unstuck Again . . . and Again
14. Throwing Out the Formulas
Appendix 1: Four Critical Elements of Spiritual Growth
Appendix 2: Our Research Methods
Notes
About the Authors
Back Cover
Acknowledgments
Come meet the amazing team that helped us make this book a reality. These folks are much more than media and ministry professionals; they are our friends.
Dr. Woodrow Kroll president of Back to the Bible. His guidance and skill as a Bible expert and teacher has been a tremendous help to us.
Dr. Pamela Ovwigho executive director of the Center for Bible Engagement. She directed all the research that became this book’s foundation.
Theresa Cox writer, missionary, and a physician’s assistant in Colorado. She contributed her story in chapters 6 and 10.
Tiffany Ross wife, mother, and children’s director in Nebraska. She contributed theological insights and also her story in chapter 11.
Char Cole wife, mother, and co-owner of Still Waters Ranch in Nebraska. She offered invaluable editorial suggestions.
Margie Younce program director for a nonprofit social outreach in West Virginia. She contributed to the chapter 5 story “Getting Unstuck Means Digging Deep.”
Manfred Koehler writer, missionary, and a businessman in Ontario. He provided biblical research and contributed to portions of chapter 13.
David Barshinger writer, and PhD candidate at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He contributed to portions of chapter 5, specifically about the life of Paul.
Dr. Mary Spaulding biblical studies and Hebrew instructor in Colorado Springs and Nairobi, Kenya. She provided insights in chapter 8 on better understanding the Bible.
Greg Johnson president of WordServe Literary Group in Colorado. He represented Unstuck and walked us through the amazing process of creating a book . . . from start to finish.
Kyle Duncan who acquired this project for Bethany House.
The Minnesota-based editorial and marketing teams at Bethany House Christopher Soderstrom, Julie Smith, Andy McGuire, Brett Benson, Jim Hart, Carra Carr, Tim Peterson, Steve Oates, David Horton, and Jim Parrish.
Take a bow, friends . . . take a bow!
Starting Point
When Faith Gets Stuck
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10
Something’s gone wrong.
Praying doesn’t seem to work anymore; I’m bored with church, and the church crowd. Half the time the Bible doesn’t make sense to me that is, when I slow down enough to actually read it (which isn’t often). If I’m really honest with myself, I don’t have a clue what God is like . . . or what He wants from me.
I play church and act as if I have it all together. But inside, I’m tired.
Tired of the fog, tired of running hard but never getting anywhere, tired of faking it, tired of missing the things I want most: real purpose . . . real life.
My faith isn’t working and I don’t know how to fix it.
Maybe you’ve been having similar thoughts. It’s like a three-hundred-pound gorilla is sharing the room with you. You can see it, others probably can’t yet you’re terrified to open your mouth. What would they think?
We’re talking about the disconnected sense you wake up with most Sundays; an annoying thought that grows into a big hairy beast when worship hour rolls around. It starts beating its chest whenever the congregation breaks into songs like “Amazing Grace.”
Yes, I’m a wretch. Yes, I’ve been saved. Yet most days I’m still pretty lost, and horribly blind. My life is supposed to be different somehow better than it is now. But it isn’t. Something’s gone wrong.
The thing is, the gorilla doesn’t just come around Sunday mornings. It sometimes hangs around 24/7. You’ve tried to live with it, even ignore it. Nothing’s worked.
Like we said, you’re not the only one struggling spiritually. In this book you’ll . . .
Meet Theresa.