Daily meditations taken from the works of an acclaimed novelist, essayist, and preacher who has articulated what he sees with a freshness and clarity and energy that hails our stultified imaginations.

This book of faith makes us to realize that the kingdom of God lives in us, rather on us as a location "up there." The kingdom of God is a spiritual location and not a geographical one. It is indeed a Kingdom of God, Not a Place Called Heaven. "Ye as lively stones have been built up into a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5) shows that man is a "spirit" even though he has a covering called the "body." In other words, the kingdom of God is a "life" and not a location, even though this "life" also exists in a location. Jesus referred in the scripture about the kingdom of God in "us" rather "on" us and said, "Neither shall they say, lo here: or lo there: behold, the kingdom of God is "within you" (Luke17:21). Those actually entering into the kingdom of God are not those just entering the heavens, they are not those entering into the earth, neither are those entering into the waters. But those who are actually entering into the kingdom of God are those entering into "Christ," and while in Christ, no doubt they could exist in any location whether heaven or earth, since the kingdom of God is a "life." Apostle Stanley Onyenali is a minister of the gospel of Christ in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He writes because "it is an inspiration from the holy spirit teaching me to demystify to the world what the kingdom of God is." He is working on his next book. Publisher's website: http: //sbpra.com/StanleyOnyenali

There are eight types of kingdoms mentioned in the Bible. Two of those kingdoms-the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven-constitute the central message of the New Testament. If all the text that speaks directly of these two kingdoms were removed from the New Testament, there wouldn't be enough left to fill up a single page in the newspaper. Yet the kingdom message is completely unknown by a large majority of ministers and their congregations all across this land. There has never been anything spoken so much, yet understood so little. The errors of reformed theology and Armenianism alike are rooted in a misunderstanding of the kingdoms. Most cults, and many of the denominational differences today, can be traced to a lack of understanding of the mystery of the kingdoms. The key to understanding the entire Bible is found in knowing the differences among the eight kingdoms, but especially these two-the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. When readers finish reading this book, they will assuredly know the difference.

Over half of Americans believe in a literal heaven, in a literal hell. Most people who hold these beliefs are Christian and assume they are the age-old teachings of the Bible. Ehrman shows that eternal rewards and punishments are found nowhere in the Old Testament, and are not what Jesus or his disciples taught. He recounts the long history of the afterlife, ranging from The Epic of Gilgamesh up to the writings of Augustine, focusing especially on the teachings of Jesus and his early followers. Ehrman shows that competing views were intimately connected with the social, cultural, and historical worlds out of which they emerged. -- adapted from jacket

Today’s leading Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and acclaimed author N. T. Wright returns with a collection of pastoral excerpts, carefully curated from his widely celebrated books, that will inspire those wanting to cultivate a life “on earth as it is in heaven.” Modern pastors and their flocks have long considered N. T. Wright a role model for being a thoughtful Christian in today’s world. His bestselling books, including Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, Simply Jesus, and After You Believe, have guided Christians in their belief and practice of the faith. Now, Christians can rely on his wisdom to guide them through each day of their lives with this thoughtful book of daily meditations, featuring short selections from his classic works. With reflections on themes such as faith, mission, character, and God’s work in the world, these daily meditations will invigorate and uplift Christians in their search to live their faith authentically and biblically in today’s world.

What happens when we die? Where do we go? Is there an afterlife? Does the Bible say anything specific about heaven? Are there streets of gold there? This book will answer those questions and tell you what’s up with heaven. By studying the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation and studying a variety of topics, the curtain is pulled back—to the extent Scripture allows—to reveal the glorious and utterly amazing realm of heaven.

Feeling overwhelmed and unproductive? The answer isn’t to do more. What image forms in your mind when you think of productivity? An assembly line? Spreadsheets? Business suits or workplace uniforms? In the ancient world, productivity didn't conjure images like these. Instead, it referred to crop yield and fruit bearing. This agrarian imagery helps us understand productivity through a biblical lens. Jesus taught, By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit (John 15:8). Who doesn’t want to have a truly productive life—to bear much fruit? But how does this happen in the places we hold dear—the home, workplace, and in our communities? We often feel overworked and overrun, defeated and discouraged. The world says be productive so that you can get all you can out of this life. The Bible says be productive so you can gain more of the next life. In Redeeming Productivity, author Reagan Rose explores how God’s glory is the purpose for which He planted us. And he shows how productivity must be firmly rooted in the gospel. Only through our connection to Christ—the True Vine—are we empowered to produce good fruit. This book shows how we can maintain the vitality of that connection through simple, life-giving disciplines. Readers will discover manageable applications like giving God the first fruits of our days. Additionally, Reagan discusses how our perspective on suffering is transformed as we see trials as God’s pruning for greater productivity.