Walk with Christ through ancient Jerusalem as he encounters the man with the withered hand, John the Baptist, Judas, and four other New Testament characters in this book of dramatic sketches by Nicole Johnson, the Women of Faith dramatist. Nicole uses her talent for storytelling to help us be there with Christ and see the scenes with new eyes and understanding, bringing to life lessons that apply to our modern lives.

This book began when the author realised that, when people said they were fascinated by particular biblical passages, they were usually ones that presented dramatic encounters between people and between God and people. Such are the passages interpreted in this book. They usually set a vivid scene that heightens the dramatic nature of the encounter, and animated dialogue often directly ad- dresses the reader. There is also animated action that is vividly striking and often sudden and unexpected. These features involve the readers themselves and may question them about what they expect. Indeed the dramatic encounters provocatively lead to unex- pected new life in the future.

Whether our notions of ‘god’ are personal projections or inherited traditions, author and theologian Brad Jersak proposes a radical reassessment, arguing for A More Christlike God: a More Beautiful Gospel. If Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of God’s likeness,” what if we conceived of God as completely Christlike—the perfect Incarnation of self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love? What if God has always been and forever will be ‘cruciform’ (cross-shaped) in his character and actions? A More Christlike God suggests that such a God would be very good news indeed—a God who Jesus “unwrathed” from dead religion, a Love that is always toward us, and a Grace that pours into this suffering world through willing, human partners.

This book explores a series of Dramatic Encounters, from the Gospel of St. John where a variety of persons come into contact with the Lord Jesus, and these contacts have a profound impact on their lives. Webster defines drama as: A poem or composition representing a picture of human life, and accommodated to action. These human characters come from divers backgrounds, with a variety of issues and hang-ups, but one thing they all have in common, when they encounter the Savior, the status quo of their lives is severely interrupted. The hidden recesses of their hearts are exposed to the light of day and the power of His presence always produces a response. It is impossible to be in the presence of Christ without being affected by Him.

Encounters With God” is an inspiring book that encourages the reader to realize that the word “coincidence” should never be a part of a true believer’s vocabulary. God is not a God of chance. He is the God of the Universe who longs to have a loving, intimate relationship with each one of us. In this book I share some of my own experiences, with divine messages arriving in various ways: through tests and trials, brushes with death, unusual meetings, dreams and visions, even a loved one’s deathbed revelation. My desire is that you will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to a personal encounter with God. Anything that God has done with me He can easily do with you. He just needs a willing vessel. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”_Jeremiah 29:13