"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it." (2 Cor.13:5, The Message Bible) "My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion." (1Jo 5:13, The Message Bible) The epistle of 1 John identifies the vital signs of eternal life. They provide a diagnostic tool that will reveal our true spiritual condition. We can accurately test ourselves for the presence, or absence, of eternal life. Also, the strength, or weakness, of each vital sign reveals the quality of our spiritual health and where we need to take emergency action. Calvin Partain was born to parents who were devout believers in Jesus Christ. He was saved in his childhood years. When a senior in high school God made it clear to him that his calling in life was to be a pastor-teacher. His formal training includes the normal College, Seminary, and countless seminars and conferences. But his main preparation for writing this book has come through more than fifty years of serving people as their pastor. Calvin is theologically conservative. His conviction is that the Bible is God's inerrant revelation of Himself to man, written by divinely inspired men. Calvin has been married to his high school sweetheart for over fifty years. God gave Calvin and his wife Marion two sons and a daughter, two grand-daughters and three grand-sons. One son and a grand-daughter are in heaven. "This book is essential for anyone that wants to inventory their own spiritual health, grow greatly in Christ, or nurture others in doing all of the above." Dr. Keith E. Eitel Dean of the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions Professor of Missions Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Untold multitudes of church members today are religious, but lost and many lack the assurance of their salvation. Many are grappling with where they stand with the Lord-am I saved or not? Others are deceived and have a false assurance that they ought not have. Yet others want to know how to live the Christian life victoriously. Such people must be awakened out of their slumber and shown what are the evidences of a true work of grace in salvation. The greatest proof of the new birth is not a past event, but a present experience of God at work within a believer's life.

Vital Signs: How to Monitor Your Spiritual Health turns to the passage in Johns gospel in which Jesus prays to His Father, asking that His followers know unity with one another in their love for God. Author Harley Ihm finds in this prayer for unity the inspiration for uncovering five vital signs that indicate ones spiritual health. He describes the signs that point to the spiritual vitality of ones heart, vision, mind, body, and community. Vital Signs devotes a chapter to each of these five signs of spiritual vitality, drawing upon key biblical passages, theological insights from the traditions of the church, and reflective observations rooted in contemporary events. Accompanying the discussion of the five vital signs are eleven steps for creating a plan for spiritual health. These supplementary guides are suitable for either individual or group use. They take the books insights as the starting points for developing plans to enable one to work out an approach for cultivating and maintaining spiritual health. No matter where you find yourself in your spiritual journey, Vital Signs: How to Monitor Your Spiritual Health can provide you with a refreshing look at the hope and promise of true health that flows from Jesuss prayer and desires for His people. By taking stock of your vital signs, you can understand more clearly your current spiritual health and then make and carry out a plan for improving your spiritual fitness.

The Life Application Bible Commentary series is the only commentary to offer sermon and lesson applications alongside stirring commentary. Each volume in the series provides in-depth explanation, background, and application for every verse in the text. Perfect for sermon preparation and lesson planning, this one-of-a-kind reference provides excellent quotes and a bibliography for additional commentary. Additional features include Charts, diagrams, and maps on the same page as their related verses Quotes from various versions, such as the NIV, NRSV, and NLT Key information graphically highlighted

“Vital Signs,” a popular column featured in Discover Magazine, has long been a favorite of readers, showcasing, each month, fascinating new tales of strange illnesses and diseases that baffle doctors and elude diagnosis. Each tale is true and borders on the unbelievable. It’s no wonder that throughout the years the column has become an unofficial textbook for medical students, interns, doctors, and anyone interested in human illness and staying healthy. Now, physician and “Vital Signs” editor Robert Norman has compiled the very best of the series into an intriguing and suspenseful collection for fans and new readers alike. A young woman carries a baby that wasn’t her own—and wasn’t even a human; Aretha Franklin gives a physician the insight needed to save a life; a modern gynecologist faces an ancient disease. These cases and more, representing a wide variety of unique medical anomalies and life-or-death situations, bring readers to the front lines of the medical fray. Fans of hit medical dramas such as House MD will savor the opportunity to read of the real-life cases that puzzled doctors, the gripping detective work that ensued, and the completely unexpected, often life-saving diagnoses. Discover Magazine’s Vital Signs is a glimpse into the exciting work of real medical professionals, told from their perspective, and revealing that anything can happen in medicine. Readers will never look at a “routine check-up” the same again.