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Reviews
Songs of Freedom - stories of lives transformed The Woman Who Outran the Devil The Passionate Church Amazing Grace Cliff Richard: the biography Sacred Spaces Mentoring Marriages
Songs of Freedom - stories of lives transformed by the deep power of Christ. edited by Eileen Mitson £6.99 ISBN 1 85424 719 0
We put such store in appearance. Yet behind the smiling masks so many of us are wrestling with low self-image, eating disorders, sexual pain, a history of rejection, the fallout from occult experiments – the list goes on. As every Christian leader recognises, the simple step of becoming a Christian doesn't solve the problems.
Eileen Mitson has collected fifteen authentic accounts of people whose lives have been utterly turned around by a deep encounter with Christ.
The Woman Who Outran the Devil The extraordinary story of one woman's search for her true self. by Shirley Baskett £6.99 ISBN 1 85424 704 2
Shirley Baskett's life was a mess. Drinking heavily, partying most weekends, actively engaged in New Zealand's lesbian sub-culture, she moved from one relationship to another in a search for permanence and fulfilment.
Her mother had been a believer, but was emotionally disturbed. Her father had rejected the faith when Shirley was young. Her autistic brother had commanded the family's time and attention. In a search for meaning and identity Shirley attended Bible college. Her first lesbian encounter, with another Christian, occurred the night of her graduation.
Increasingly Shirley found herself torn between the world of trite sexual encounters, violence and alcohol, and a Christian past she had rejected but could not shake off. One fight left her with a broken nose. She was raped. On one occasion she faced prison.
Contemplating suicide, she offered up one last, unhopeful prayer: it was answered. She began to grow in faith. Then she met Peter... This powerful account of a life utterly changed will prove an encouragement to all who have lost hope.
Shirley and her husband Peter now live in Melbourne, Australia, and have been married for over 20 years. Shirley was ordained a minister in the Assemblies of God in 1998.
The Passionate Church by Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad £7.99 ISBN 1842912399
Jesus led and lived with a passion that changed the world. Today, all around the world, church leaders and believers are desperate to experience that passion.
Pastors ache to see church members become true disciples and to see congregations become communities reflecting the love and life of Jesus.
Believers yearn to be closer to Jesus, to have a faith that transforms every aspect of their lives. Non-believers hunger to experience a faith that is real.
To fulfil each of these longings, The Passionate Church offers eight simple yet profound truths known as LifeShape. Learn these truths and you will learn the art of life-changing discipleship.
Amazing Grace by Steve Turner £8.99 ISBN 0 7459 5178 3
Acclaimed music writer, Steve Turner, traces the life of 'Amazing Grace' and the man behind it. The song has been recorded by artists as varied as Elvis Presley, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Judy Collins and Destiny's Child. The book begins with the dramatic story of John Newton, from his childhood, his life at sea, his participation in the African slave trade through to his writing of 'Amazing Grace' and his campaigning against slavery.
The second part of the book - picking up the thread in the years immediately following Newton's death - tells the story of the song itself as it has spread and developed over the past two centuries and its recordings by many famous artists from a wide variety of musical backgrounds.
Cliff Richard: the biography by Steve Turner £7.99 ISBN 0 7459 5175 9
'What is so good about this book is that none of the gossip is too touchy to dwell on. Although this is an authorised biography, all the innuendos are confronted head on. There are a lot of fine anecdotes. Turner's sympathetic, sagacious and highly enjoyable book tells you everything you ever wanted to know about Cliff.'
Sacred Spaces by Margaret Silf £6.99 ISBN: 0 7459 5186 4
There are many books that explore actual, physical, sacred space and pilgrimage sites. This is a different kind of book. It introduces seven traditional 'sacred spaces' but then leads readers into a deeper reflection on what such 'sacred space' means in our own lives and experience.
The various sacred spaces explored are: the Celtic Cross; the infinite knot; hilltops; wells and springs; causeways and bridges; thresholds and burial grounds; and boundaries. In each chapter, the author introduces a 'sacred space' as the main theme and then illustrates this by associating it with a particular stage of life and a particular sacramental experience. The ideas are then brought together by means of a scripture story
Mentoring Marriages by Harry Benson £7.99 ISBN: 1 85424 699 2
Because divorce is so common, many young couples have never seen a healthy marriage. They are full of myths about 'happy ever after' - but don't know how to spot their own bad attitudes, or offer forgiveness.
Mentoring Marriages is a clear, fun, easily followed guide to help you and your husband or wife mentor a less experienced couple, helping them to talk through issues such as money, sex and children. As you share your own struggles you can offer them hope, ideas and a way forward. You will make friends for life - and mentor couples attend a lot of weddings!
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