A Buffet Table of Beliefs

People like to treat religion like a buffet table. They place all the belief systems out there and then go through picking and choosing the bits they want to be true.

But religious beliefs aren’t supposed to be like that. We don't get to choose reality. We have no control over it. We are finite beings with zero power to influence much of anything in our world, let alone reality as a whole. Instead of thinking we get to decide what reality is, we are meant to search and study the world around us to discover what is true. We don’t get to simply choose what we want to be true.

“We don’t get to choose reality...Let’s be honest with ourselves, we can’t even keep our own hearts beating. The audacity required to think our opinions should mean anything is insane.”
— Amanda Hovseth

Most people I know decide what they believe on an emotional whim. They like to pretend they are knowledgeable on the subject because they prayed a few times, or listened to a bit of a sermon, or visited eastern countries and like to meditate. They are only comfortable with touching the surface level things which make them feel good and happy. They aren't willing to actually put the work in to sort through the lies and discover the truth. That kind of work is too uncomfortable and the truth about reality isn’t always pretty, and it doesn’t always make us feel good. So, people would rather just close their eyes and continue pretending to be gods of their own lives. But, really, let's be honest with ourselves, we can't even keep our own hearts beating. The audacity required to think our opinions should mean anything is insane.

God speaks in Job 36:4 and says, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, then, if you know so much.”

https://tr.ee/pxgCnk

Don't slack on seeking out the answers to these big important questions:

  • Why are we here?

  • Where did we come from?'

  • Is God real?

  • What does God want from me?

Do the research. Believe me or not, I've spent most of my life doing this research and I've barely scratched the surface of the information God has provided us with.

While I could spend the rest of my life studying and still have way more to learn, the work I’ve done isn’t useless. Because of the evidence for God and the Bible which I’ve already learned about, my faith isn't wobbly. My faith can’t be changed by every little setback in life; it is grounded in fact and supported by evidence. Just as my favorite quote–which is by C.S. Lewis–says, “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”

And, because of this, when life gets hard—instead of getting angry with God and turning on Him—I turn to Him for help through those struggles. Without fail, He always steps in to help and to comfort me. And these personal interactions He’s had with me have only strengthened my faith even further. I don’t ever want to try facing life without God by my side.

God is calling out to you. He has provided the evidence needed for you to get to know Him. 

Romans 1:20 (ESV) says,“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Don't let our culture's habits of surface research and gut reaction decisions hold you back from answering life’s big questions and from discovering reality. When we discover reality, we can then know better how to properly exist within it.

Some people refer to the search for reality as the Metaphysical Search. You can click on these photos to link to more information specifically on Metaphysics —->

Furthermore, if you really think about it, an all-powerful creator wouldn’t need to care about His creation at all. There would be nothing we could do about it if God decided to just get rid of us all.

And yet, God does care about us. He wants a relationship with us and because of that He was willing to go so far as to choose to give us free-will, because free-will gives us the capability of choosing to have that relationship with Him, and relationships which are chosen freely by both parties are the ones which are truly great. God gave us free-will even though He knew we would choose to abandon Him and try to go our own way. He also knew that the result of us having free-will would be that Jesus would have to sacrifice Himself on the cross in order to make a relationship possible between Him and us.

1 John 4:10 (NIV) says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

The reality of God’s love for us is mind-blowing, and it is precisely this proven love of God for us that has caused me to dedicate my life to Him. Not only because He loves me, but because He clearly loves everyone I care about even more than I ever could. It can be terrifying watching someone you care about face struggles which are out of your control, or having to let them go off into the world without you. Knowing I can trust God to be with them and that He loves them is the only thing that eases my mind.

To sum things up, not only is there loads of scientific, mathematical, and historical evidence out there supporting God’s existence, He has also reached into my life personally to prove Himself. He didn't have to do any of that, but He did, and I am eternally grateful to Him for it. I never want to try existing without Him by my side and I don’t ever plan to.

Last year I collected a bunch of information about the evidence I have mentioned here and put it all together on a page on this website. There is stuff to read, listen to, and watch which begin to answer the big questions about our reality and Christianity. Some of the questions include: What is the Bible? Why believe God exists? Does the Bible align with history and archeology? Why believe the Bible over other religions? Did Jesus rise from the dead? And so much more. The stuff there barely scratches the surface of the evidence God has provided us, but it's a good place to start. Here’s a link to the website: kcmifm.com/bibleinfo.

This series of blog posts titled, “Holding on to Reason”, is named after Amanda’s favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”

Click here for more things written by Amanda Hovseth.



The Catacombs

John 1: 6-13 (NASB) “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

If this was the only Scripture we ever had, it would be enough to enlighten and enrich us all! Christ came as a light to light our way to God the Father. We did not know Him and those who guessed at who He might be refused Him. But to the few who received Him with gladness, He gave them the right to become children of God. How marvelous!

When I was a teenager we didn’t have personal computers or 5G phones. We still read books and walked to school. Maybe a more innocent time, maybe not. But whatever the times may be, we need the presence of God with us. Back then it was a time for spiritual revolution. And that kind of revolution was against what little the Church was offering. People were looking for the deep meaning of their lives and the churches did not have the answer. It seems the same today!

We asked questions:

  • What is the meaning of life?

  • Why am I here?

  • Do I have a purpose?

Not really radical views or questions, but necessary ones for us all to ask. Maybe there are more distractions today. Maybe we are running at such a fast pace that we cannot mentally slow down enough to think. Look at how quickly answers to anything can be found on the internet. How to fly fish. How to can pickles. How to crochet a scarf. How to smoke a brisket. Anything and everything is immediately available. But what about God? Can God be instantly found at the touch of a finger to the computer?

That my friends is an answer that no one really understands. Obviously because God is so much bigger than the internet. He cannot be reduced to simplicity. Someone that complex is only found by personal searching of the heart. One of our great problems as human beings is looking for answers to come in a moment of time. But as to God, we must question and seek. And that process of seeking comes from a hungry heart that longs for more than what it has. That is what we did at the Catacombs in the early 70’s.

The Catacombs was a little oasis of thought just off the downtown square in Morristown, NJ. It was in a basement (hence the name catacombs). There were some of the stalest donuts and worst coffee you ever tasted available for all. But it was a place where those seeking something more and those who had found something more could meet. There was one and only one topic of conversation. Jesus Christ.

Honest questions were freely asked and honest answers were freely given. Nobody pretended to be an authority on God. No one faked being spiritual. And no one asked any dumb questions. We all wanted more than what the establishments of state and church were offering. Those asking wanted truth and those answering were hoping to help. The Catacombs was a beautiful place and time and I miss it.

“Every new century and every new generation should bring with it the question; Why am I here?”
— Craig Stevens

In today’s world, we need this honesty to return. The honesty of truly searching for ultimate truth and the ability to discover that truth. People need something more than a new I-phone or pair of Nike shoes. Those are just things which bring only temporary satisfaction to a hungry or hurting soul. Every new century and every new generation should bring with it the question; Why am I here?

Jesus came to earth to open our eyes and hearts to the answer to that question. That answer has remained the same throughout the history of mankind. God made each one of us in His image for the one purpose of having a wonderful and meaningful relationship with Him. We cannot blame anyone other than ourselves if we refuse that relationship. It’s not our parents fault. It’s not a church’s fault. And we cannot criticize the government over it. The desire to find God must come from within each of us individually. Again, the question should not be, Does God exist? But Why am I here? And the answer to that is the beginning to a beautiful new life.

Written in the Bible are the direct words of God, “Seek Me and you will find Me.” This is a promise from Him! Sadly, some of us do not care about this at all. We just want to take all we can grab while we are here. But that will never satisfy! You see, we were made in such a way that only the completion of a real relationship with God will ever truly please us. We are restless without Him. We are lonely without Him. We are doomed to wander empty streets looking for answers we cannot find.

We must turn and look to Jesus Christ, the Light for all mankind. There is only one answer and only one way to peace, Jesus Christ! Back in the day of the Catacombs, we who believed knew that beyond question. And we were able to be clear about how others could find freedom in Him. It just seems a little mundane today. Are we offering the vital and vibrant answers people need today? Or are we only trying to grow our group?

You who believe, turn all your attention on the Light, Jesus Christ! And you who are questioning, seek out Jesus Christ!

What say you?   

This series of blog posts titled, “Pondering Hope”, are written by Craig Stevens. If you are interested in reading more from him you can find his blog at ponderinghope.com.

Audiobook Appreciation Month at the Cross Reference Library

June is Audiobook Appreciation Month! A time dedicated to celebrating the growing impact and popularity of Audiobooks in the United States.

Audiobooks are a hot topic among readers. The debate on whether listening to audiobooks count as reading has left a huge divide in the book community.

But did you know that the history of audiobooks dates all the way back to 1877? When Thomas Edison invented the phonograph he wanted to be able to record books to make reading more accessible for the visually impaired. However, due to the phonograph's limited capacity, only being able to record around 4 minute audio clips, it wasn't until the rise of CDs that audiobooks really took off.

Despite their controversy, audiobooks have been proven to increase general literacy. In a study published in the journal of neuroscience, researchers found that listening to a story and reading a story stimulate similar parts of the brain, making the two equally beneficial. They can help improve comprehension and fluency skills, all while providing an introduction to the world of reading. The National Literacy Trust released a series of statistics stating that "in 2024, almost 2 in 5 (37.5%) of children and young people said that listening to audiobooks had sparked their interest in reading."

Today, 40% of audiobooks are consumed through public libraries.

The Cross Reference Library has it’s own selection of audiobooks! Featuring authors like C.S. Lewis, Dave Ramsey, Beverly Lewis, and my personal favorites, our collection of audio dramas based on G.A. Henty’s works.

And don’t forget to check out our collection of your favorite Saturday morning programs from Hope Radio’s “Sonshine Station” such as Your Story Hour, Adventures in Odyssey, and The Pond. A perfect way to pass the time on your upcoming family road trip!

It's All a Matter of the Heart

Let’s open the Book of Truth and delve:

Psalm 53:2 (ESV) “God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV) “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

I don’t mean to always sound like a broken record, but God has a lot of servants. They are called angels. But His free will children are rare. They are those who have decided there is nothing that matters more than belonging to Him. They haven’t left this world yet, but they are anxious to be with Him for all eternity. And they want what He wants.

Remember Mary and Martha? Martha was busy about her serving. She even wanted Mary to get up and help her serve. What was Mary doing? She was sitting in front of our Lord drinking in all of His words. Jesus said she had chosen the better!

This might sound radical, but God does not need our help. What He wants is our loyalty and faithfulness. But we have fallen into the trap of thinking about our ministries instead of focusing entirely on our relationship with Christ. Yes, He might want us to do something for Him, but it is more likely for our benefit than His need.

“It’s all about the relationship, the work can come later!”
— Craig Stevens

We think, just keep our heads down and plow ahead. In so doing we miss out on something so wonderfully abundant and don’t comprehend the beauty we are missing. It’s all about the relationship, the work can come later! I know there are some church leaders who would be terribly appalled by this writing. They already are overburdened by all they must do for the church and need help. But there is a better way:

The Holy Spirit! He knows exactly what to do all the time and every time. If we would stop to listen for His whisper then we would begin to hear the will of God. Isn’t that what we really want anyway? But how do we get there?

Ask, seek, and knock by combing through His Scriptures. All the truth and answers are in there if we would only seek. Then let’s obey what we find. Let’s be His children and heirs to all His promises. Like Mary!

Amen?

This series of blog posts titled, “Pondering Hope”, are written by Craig Stevens. If you are interested in reading more from him you can find his blog at ponderinghope.com.

Kingdom of Love by Tracie Peterson | New to The Cross Reference Library

Kidnapping. . .Murder. . .Revenge.

In this collection of stories by Tracie Peterson set in Medieval England, three women face trials that will teach them about faith and love.

A Kingdom Divided
Raised in a home filled with violence, Arianne Pemberton experiences love and gentleness only after her arranged marriage to Richard, Duke of Gavenshire. But before she can feel confident both in Richard's love and in God's personal care for her, a mysterious enemy from Richard's Past over-powers the castle and takes Arianne hostage. Who is Tancred, and why is he set on revenge? What fuels the animosity between the two men? Exercising her new faith, Arianne risks her life to restore peace and unite a kingdom divided. 
 
Alas, My Love
England in the Middle Ages is far from a jolly place for an unprotected young woman. Yet the savagery of her stepbrother and the devious schemes of her stepsister have given golden-haired Helena Talbot little choice. She must find shelter elsewhere. Afforded protection by the magnanimous Duke of Gavenshire, Helena nonetheless lives under an assumed name, ever fearful her whereabouts will be revealed to her stepbrother. Only one dream transports her above her worries, the desire that one day she will be reunited with brave Tancred. Years have passed since they were together and now an ocean and a king's decree keep them apart. But are those obstacles stronger than a woman's prayer for love? 
 
If Only
The year is 1349, the place, England. As the bubonic shadow spreads across the land, Mary Beckett finds herself alone and desperate. Her father, a physician who has been accused of consorting with the devil, has been murdered. Even her own interest in medicine has brought cries of witchcraft. Mary's only hope is to journey north to the home of her godly grandmother, a woman her father once rejected. Doctors and pilgrims will cross her path, and, last but not least, Peter Donne, a knight on a mission from the king. Hundreds will beg her to heal them. Will Mary Beckett, a lonely pilgrim herself, find a way to help her people and herself? If only she could reach her grandmother's home, if only she could find her own way to God. . . .
 

Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio | New to The Cross Reference Library

“These thoughts are not of God. No, they’re from the Enemy lurking, ready to seize any opportunity to lie his way into your mind and claim control over your life.”

In the book “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table,” bestselling author and pastor, Louie Giglio, unpacks Psalm 23 to break down the enemy's lies and find peace and spiritual security in any circumstance or situation.

This study goes over the tactics of the enemy and the battle field in the mind. Offering biblical insight into restoring peace in your life by taking authority over your thoughts, recapturing your emotions, and and breaking free from the endless cycle of destructive thinking.

The Reader will learn how to:

  • Cancel the lies that will wreck your life and take the empowering steps to live fully alive in Christ

  • Restore peace and rest in your life by taking authority over your thoughts

  • Break free from the endless cycle of destructive thinking and recapture your emotions

  • Embrace the true purpose behind your journey through challenging circumstances

“The Enemy wants to define you by your scars. Jesus wants to define you by His scars.”

Why did God make women who were raped marry the men who raped them?

It can be tough to read some parts of the Bible, especially parts which make it seem like God doesn’t understand justice or doesn’t care about us or our suffering.

However, if we are to believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then it is important we truly understand what it says, even if it is hard to face. And, from my experience, when these intimidating sections of the Bible are faced head on, and are studied within their proper historical, Scriptural, and cultural context, they turn out to be the opposite of what I had feared them to be.

Let’s take a look at one of these difficult topics which is in Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (NIV):

“If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.”

It seems to me that women who have been raped wouldn’t want to marry their rapist. In fact, in many cases having to even be in the same room as their rapist would be a nightmare. So, why would God require them to marry their rapist?

To understand this, we need to understand what a woman who had been raped in 1400 BC (when Deuteronomy was written by Moses) would have been facing in the culture she was living in. 

In their culture if a woman was raped they most likely would never get to get married because marriage was considered a transaction and, according to the men of the time, a woman who wasn’t a virgin had lost her value. Women also needed men to provide for them financially and to keep them safe. So, if a woman was raped and the man who raped her didn’t marry her, then she would most likely be destined to live under her father’s roof for the rest of his life and then a brother’s. If she ended up with neither option she would end up homeless. This is why the consequence for the rapist was to pay her father’s household and to marry her. It is the equivalent of financial restitution in our culture. The man was forced to provide for the woman’s needs for the rest of her life.

“God took rape as seriously as He took murder.”
— Amanda Hovseth

But, to fully understand this situation, we need to understand this law within the context of other laws which the Israelites would have had in mind while adding this law to the mix. Let’s start by looking right before these verses where we will see God’s opinion on rape. He took it as seriously as murder.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27 (NIV) says:

“But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes her, only the man who has done this shall die. Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor, for the man found the young woman out in the country, and though the betrothed woman screamed, there was no one to rescue her.”

This part of the law shows us that God views rape as a sin worthy of execution. And the only difference between the situation in these verses and the one in the next, is the fact that this woman was already betrothed to be married and had someone to provide for her, while the other wasn’t betrothed and may not have anyone to provide for her. The rapist’s life is spared in the second situation solely because the woman’s life depended on him providing for her.

As the Christian Research Institute says:

“If the woman was not engaged, the rapist was spared for the sake of the woman’s security. Having lost her virginity, she would have been deemed undesirable for marriage—and in the culture of the day, a woman without a father or husband to provide for her faced a life of abject poverty, destitution, and social ostracism. As such, the rapist was compelled to provide for the rape victim for as long as he lived. Thus, far from barbaric, the law was a cultural means of protection and provision.”

Furthermore, this law would have been understood in addition to the law in Exodus which they had already been given by God through Moses years earlier. 

Exodus 22:16-17 (NIV) says:

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.”

So, the Israelites would have understood that the woman didn’t have to marry the man who raped her. The man was legally required to marry the woman, but the woman wasn’t legally required to marry him, she had that as an option, but she could take a different path. If she had a father and he could provide for her, or if there was the potential for a different husband, then her father could refuse to have her marry the man who raped her. And the rapist still had to pay the bride price in order to make restitution and to provide for the woman’s future. So, even if her father wasn’t wealthy she could potentially stay in his household instead of getting married, but still be provided for financially.

However, if the woman had no other options for her future, no father, and no other potential husbands, then in most cases, the only way she could survive was to become the wife of the man who raped her, forcing him to provide and care for her for the rest of their lives.

“The law was not designed to force the rape victim into an unbearable marriage, but to secure her future and that of her children.”
— The Christian Research Institute

With all of this in mind it is clear that God’s heart when it comes to these laws was with the women. His desire was to make sure the women who had been wronged wouldn’t end up dying destitute and homeless because of what had been done to them. This means that even though it wasn’t God’s desire for women to have to live completely dependent on men who had hurt them, He understood that, realistically, this was what the women in 1400 BC were facing. So, God wrote His laws accordingly, to make sure the women were provided for the best they could be within their society’s culture and that the men took responsibility for their actions.

Yes, it’s clearly not ideal. Through the context of the Bible, we see that God makes it clear that the ideal would be the sinless world He intended, but humans “muddied the waters”. And, instead of giving up on us–like God as an all-powerful being could have easily done–God decided to walk with us through the mess we create, trying to guide us to best possible outcomes amongst the mess, and then He even redeemed us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross so that someday we can live the painless ideal reality which He desires for us.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” - Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

This series of blog posts titled, “Holding on to Reason”, is named after Amanda’s favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”

Click here for more things written by Amanda Hovseth.

Lord of Lords

Mark 4: 35-41 (NASB) says:

On that day, when evening came, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’

  • Even the wind and the sea!

  • What about Christ’s math? Five loaves of bread and two small fish, certainly not enough to feed twenty people let alone five thousand. Yet we get caught up in arguing that it was only five thousand men.

  • The raising of Lazarus. He was dead and buried four days already stinking and decaying. Does that not declare Christ’s mighty authority?

  • His own resurrection, personally conquering death once and for all.

  • Then His ascension up through the clouds.

  • And His promise to return in the same way.

I would say most of the Jews missed who He really was. They were looking for a remake of King David. Someone who would rid them of the Romans and give them their land back. They could not comprehend an eternal kingdom and undershot His true glory. They wanted Him to give them more earthly food not the everlasting manna. And the Pharisees were the most blind of all. They couldn’t get over Christ healing on the Sabbath. That was their line in the sand?

At Christmastime, we celebrate the sweet baby child lying in a manger. We see Him in His swaddling clothes being visited by shepherds and the three wise men. All is soft and gentle. We are able to accept Him as a little child. No real pressure on our belief system.

At Eastertime, we see Him beaten and bruised, covered in scars of blood, dying on a cross for our sin. We praise His sacrifice for us and some of us even shed a tear on Good Friday. Then on Easter morning we celebrate an empty tomb. We say, “Thank you Jesus.” But do we truly know Him? What exactly is our relationship with Christ? And where is He?

As Americans we have never had a king. We have presidents that we vote in and out of office every four years. We have no comprehension of kingship. In today’s world, in other countries it seems to be the prime minister who does all the work, and the king is only a figurehead. That is definitely a false assumption when it comes to Christ. We do not respect Him nearly enough. His very essence is complete sovereignty and majesty.

There is a throne at the right hand of God where Christ rules all, both heaven and earth. The wind and the sea obey Him. The angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy!” The stars shine His glory. Even the demons cry out, “He is the holy Son of God.” The Father gave Him the throne of honor at His own right hand and certified that His name is far above any other name. He is the one and only true Eternal King. If only we could understand!

Where do you think the true power of faith comes from? He is who the bible says He is. His full disclosure is written in there. We should not put Him in a manger. Don’t hang Him on a cross. There is no one more than Christ. There is no one better than Christ. He is master of all. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. When you look to Christ, see Him as such. It will change all your perceptions and give power to your faith.

Amen?

This series of blog posts titled, “Pondering Hope”, are written by Craig Stevens. If you are interested in reading more from him you can find his blog at ponderinghope.com.

What's New in the Cross Reference Library? The Jesus book & workbook by Max Lucado

The Book - For thirty-three years Jesus felt everything you have ever felt: weakness, weariness, sadness, rejection. His feet got tired and his head ached. He was tempted and his strength was tested. And you know why? Because in becoming human, Jesus made it possible for us to see God. His tears, God's tears. His voice, God's voice. Want to know what matters to God? Find out what matters to Jesus. Want to know what in the world God is doing? Ponder the words and life of Jesus. For more than three decades, pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado has shown us Jesus. In this capstone book, he takes us further on the journey to know the life and character of the Savior.

The Study Guide - This book describes both the person Jesus was on earth and how to live in a personal relationship with him. It is divided into six sections:

  • Immanuel

  • Friend

  • Teacher

  • Miracle Worker

  • Lamb of God

  • Returning King

This compilation from Max Lucado gives readers the chance to become more familiar with the man at the center of the greatest story ever told. Max explores Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, including how Jesus interacted with his friends and his enemies, what he did with time alone, and how he acted at a party.

What's New in the Cross Reference Library? How to Grow Spiritually. . .

Thrive - The only way to be the hands and feet of Jesus is to love him and serve others out of our love for him. But to do that we must first be deeply rooted in our life with God. In Thrive, Mark Hall, lead singer for the popular band Casting Crowns, shows us what it really looks like to walk with Jesus. In part 1, Digging Deep, Hall demonstrates how to truly engage with the Word and a community of faith, worshiping and pursuing God wholeheartedly as our hearts and minds are transformed. In part 2, Reaching Out, we see the fruits of our engagement with the Word and the community, the grateful giving back of service and love. Using relatable stories, grounded teaching, and great application, Hall helps everyone who wants to take the next step of faith and see their life grow deep and strong.

So, You Want To Be Like Christ? - Practice makes perfect. And readers of So, You Want To Be Like Christ? learn how to cultivate spiritual discipline through projects, activities and exercises that lead to the essence of what it means to be a Christian. Inspired by the acts of sacrifice and discipline exemplified by the D-Day generation as well as the current generation of young American soldiers, many Christians today are looking for an obedient, disciplined approach to faith. In this user-friendly study, Chuck Swindoll guides readers toward a greater understanding of eight spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith-- prayer, humility, self-control, sacrifice, submission, solitude, silence, and hope.