What does it look like when someone feels called to do something that doesn’t make sense? It depends on who you ask. To the one doing it, it seems like the only choice. To those looking on from the outside, it may look admirable, a little on the crazy side or bordering on insanity. This is the true story of one couple who knew that calling as they became unwittingly involved in the life of a stranger, a sweet old man named George who landed on their porch in the midst of a heart attack. Despite any real plan, Linda and Bobby answered a gentle nudge from God. As they surrendered, God perfectly orchestrated everything, allowing them all to receive a lifetime of living and loving in just eight months. When it was all over, they were unable to imagine anything more beautiful than the lifelong blessings they received. And then one last unexpected blessing came to light, which God used to open the eyes of those looking on from the outside.

One of the ways many people find their way to faith is through a story. Stories are treasures for those seeking and searching for inspiration. There are some people brought up in church who are familiar with stories of God and Jesus, and others who find concepts of faith to be foreign and intangible. Perhaps they see God as a fairy tale or something that some people need, but not they themselves. There are people who have accepted and believed stories from the Bible as children, those who learn as young adults, and those who are still wondering and pondering what it means to believe in God. Stories have a way of opening up our eyes and hearts to things we may not typically consider due to our own life experiences. Seeing the world through the lens of another allows us to ask questions, learn, encounter new ideas, and maybe even find a lost treasure of faith. A Portrait of Obedience is a story for all of these individuals. In its pages, a reader has the opportunity to revisit, strengthen, or perhaps for the first time see and understand for themselves, what faith is, who Jesus is, what the Bible says, and how life looks when faith is lived out. A Portrait of Obedience Book Study is a companion for those readers who want to allow the story to take on a more personal level—readers who want to reflect on what the story means to them and to their life. This book study allows a reader to ask questions, dig deeper, learn, grow, and discover truth for themselves. This study can be done individually or in groups to allow for more intimate discussion and discovery.

I determined to write a devotional biography. In no sense is this volume a critical analysis of the man's theology or his actions. Instead, it is the account of an Allegheny mountain farmboy with a limited education and a severe physical handicap who promised God the only thing he had to offer: obedience. Each experience in Dr. Ketcham's life reinforced the principle that obedience is all God expects from anyone. The story of Robert Thomas Ketchum is the story of God's sufficient grace in the life of His obedient servant. Thus, the message of this volume is simple: God rewards obedience. As a historian, I was captivated by the manner in which Dr. Ketcham's life was rooted in the history of fundamentalism. In order to portray him correctly, I felt it important to show some of the conflicts within the Northern Baptist Convention. It also seemed necessary to present briefly the development and decline of the Baptist Bible Union, a movement in which Dr. Ketcham was deeply involved. Finally, since in many respects the story of his life is the story of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, some history of the Association has also been included. Dr. Ketcham was a vital part of the history of the Baptist fundamentalist movement. He was by no means the only figure, but he was an important figure. His life was devoted to the defense of biblical Christianity. It is my prayer that this volume might help the reader achieve a more complete understanding of fundamentalism in its historic context. - Preface.

Since Eugene Peterson first wrote this spiritual formation classic nearly forty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been inspired by Peterson's prophetic and pastoral wisdom and the call to deeper discipleship found in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). This special commemorative edition includes a new preface taken from Leif Peterson's eulogy at his father's memorial service.

Listen and obey: These words transformed Rod Loy's relationship with God. He wondered what would happen if he became more sensitive to the voice of God and immediately obeyed whatever God told him to do. Through his story, Rod describes the thrill and the challenge of walking hand in hand with the King of the universe.God gives us specific assignments in the ordinary course of every day--even, and especially, in the mundane and the frustrating events. When we grasp that truth, every moment will become infused with the possibility that God may do something unexpected and spectacular at any moment.Jesus delighted in doing the Father's will and showering His love on people. In the same way, when your heart is aligned with His, you'll delight in doing His will--fully and immediately--and seeing Him use you to touch the lives of those around you.Get ready to hear God clearly and to obey immediately.

Wise Sheep Among the Wolves All Christian disciples have one thing in common: as they carry the gospel across the ocean and across the street, persecution will become the norm for those who choose to follow Jesus. How believers respond in the face of persecution reveals everything about their level of faith and obedience. The Insanity of Obedience is a bold challenge to global discipleship. Nik Ripken exposes the danger of safe Christianity and calls readers to something greater. The Insanity of Obedience challenges Christians in the same, provocative way that Jesus did. This book dares you—and prepares you—to cross the street and the oceans with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some of Jesus’ instructions sound uncomfortable and are potentially dangerous. We may be initially encouraged by His declaration, “I am sending you out.” But how are we to respond when He then tells us that He is sending us out “like sheep among wolves"? In light of the words of Jesus, how can modern day believers rest comfortably in the status quo? How can we embrace casual faith in light of the radical commands of Jesus which are anything but casual? Ripken brings decades of ministry experience in some of the most persecuted areas of the world to bear on our understanding of faith in Jesus. The Insanity of Obedience is a call to roll up your sleeves . . . and to follow and partner with Jesus in the toughest places on this planet. "We have the high privilege of answering Jesus’ call to go," Ripken says. "But let us be clear about this: we go on His terms, not ours. If we go at all, we go as sheep among wolves." Jesus gives us Himself. And He gives us the tools necessary for those who dare to journey with Him.

At the beginning of the fall term at Winchester University, in rural Indiana: On the first day of class, Professor Williams presents a startling scenario to the students in his Logic and Reasoning 204 course: A young girl has gone missing and the class has until the end of the quarter to find her or she will be murdered. The students believe Williams’ tale is nothing more than a logic puzzle, but soon three of them - Mary, Brian and Dennis - stumble upon a real-life, unsolved disappearance that sounds eerily similar to the one Williams described, the case of Deanna Ward, a girl who went missing 20 years earlier and was never found. Each of them becomes obsessed with the two women and the professor, a shadowy figure himself. As the real world and Williams' puzzle begin to merge, the three young people are thrown into a complex and horrifying game of deception. What’s real, what’s fiction, and how far will the students go to obey authority? 'A taut and timely thriller that explores the dark side of academia, where classrooms are dangerous and paranoia abounds' Karin Slaughter ‘Obedience draws you in and never lets you go – and what a ride’ David Baldacci