There are four needs that only God can meet in each of us. They are Acceptance, Identity, Security, and Purpose. Yet, we all strive to fulfill them on our own! In Accepting Truth, Finding Hope! Ricky D. Sluder invites you to join him in a deeply personal conversation where he shares lifelong struggles with answering these four questions for himself: Why are you striving for acceptance? Who are you? Why are you so insecure? What is your purpose for living? Ricky holds himself accountable along the way, admitting his mistakes and his intentional sins instead of providing excuses. In each chapter, he does a wonderful job of having a discussion with the reader instead of simply preaching to them. The use of rhetorical questions, hypotheticals, metaphors, and an overall reflection-based approach works phenomenally to engage the reader in conversation like no other book. Ricky's use of scripture to provide living examples from biblical history, followed by his raw analysis and real-world applications of the message, will aid readers in understanding God's true character and nature as it relates to these four needs. His transparency throughout the book is admirable, empowering readers to reflect on their own past, present, and future selves. Ricky serves as an inspiration for readers willing to take the step toward accepting Truth and finding Hope, just as he did. If this book has found its way to you, consider it a personal invitation to join Ricky in this riveting conversation. Ricky D. Sluder is a son and Outlaw Disciple of Jesus Christ. His identity is no longer defined by a badge on his chest, nor the scars on his heart from buying the countless lies of a painful past. Acceptance, Identity, Security, and Purpose are the four words God gave Ricky for ministry, and he plans to spend the rest of his life helping others accept Truth, that they might find Hope! He enjoys writing, public speaking, being a husband, a father, and a friend. A native Texan, he resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and children.

I once heard a devout Christian make this comment, "I wonder if I would have followed Jesus Christ if I had lived in His day?" My thoughts took me back to the time of Christ when people followed the mainstream religion of the Mosaic Law which had gradually strayed from the truth since the days of Moses. Relatively few people accepted the prophet from Nazareth who taught a seemingly new doctrine that differed from the mainstream religion. Most people neither recognized nor acknowledged the church that He established on the earth, while exclaiming "Crucify Him". And so it is in our day, when true doctrine has greatly digressed from the perfect gospel of Christ since the dawn of Christianity, as confirmed by many argumentative denominations of Christianity throughout the world. After review of this Christian's question of following Jesus during the time of His ministry, I concluded that it was doubtful ... for the same reasons that this person does not recognize the Lord's true church today. However, I was impressed with the Christian's insightful question. It is the first step in discovering the perfect gospel of Jesus Christ from among all the sects of Christianity. This book can provide genuine hope and peace through a review of why and how the true doctrine of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth in fulfillment of 'One Lord, one faith, one baptism' in preparation for His return and reign on the earth.

Losing Love, Having Faith, and Finding Hope is a must read! This book is an empowering story for all parents. It is about three main characters: Love, the father; Faith, the mother; and Hope, their son. Their story will touch you, making you think about relationships and whether it would be healthier to walk away, even if children are involved. Losing Love, Having Faith, and Finding Hope gives parents an inside view of how their actions can have a negative impact on their child. The book shows how easily things can spiral out of control if the right type of communication is not present within the family. Parents will get some harsh realities about the consequences to their actions, along with very helpful personal and parenting tips. They will also learn the importance of working together for the benefit of their child. Children that relate to this story will be encouraged not to give up on themselves when they feel others have given up on them. Together, families can be restructured and functional despite all parties not living under the same roof; and children do not have to suffer the consequences of their parent's actions.

In a world of hype, we may buy into the idea that through Jesus, we ll be healthier and wealthier as well as wiser. So what happens when we become ill, or depressed, or bankrupt? Did we do something wrong? Has God abandoned us? As a child, Michael Horton would run up the down escalator, trying to beat it to the top. As Christians, he notes, we sometimes seek God the same way, believing we can climb to him under our own steam. But we can t, which is why we are blessed that Jesus descends to us, especially during times of trial. In Too Good to Be True, Horton exposes the pop culture that sells Jesus like a product for health and happiness and reminds us that our lives often lead us on difficult routes we must follow by faith. This book offers a series of powerful readings that demonstrate how, through every type of earthly difficulty, our Father keeps his promises from Scripture and works all things together for our good."

We all encounter waves of difficulties in our lives--some strong waves, some continuous waves, and some subtle waves. Altogether, these waves can add up, so what do we do when overwhelmed with life's challenges? Who do we turn to? How do we find hope and healing? Up from the Ashes, Finding Hope and Purpose: How to Rise Up and Embrace Your Resilience shares the story of author Dr. Tiffany Modica's journey through trauma, discovering her own resilience, finding hope and purpose through her faith in God, music, and overcoming diverse challenges such as human trafficking, foster care, abuse and neglect, and more. In it, she discusses her research on resilience and foster youth and attachment trauma and her work in supporting trauma survivors in trauma therapy. "You were created for a purpose," and you, too, can discover your own resilience and find hope as you join in the journey of this book. The Moments of Reflection embedded within the text provides opportunities for readers to reflect on their own journey and engage in contemplative growth moments to build upon. Dr. Modica's intention in writing this is to provide people with hope for the future, the knowledge that they are not alone, and opportunities for transformation, restoration, and recovery from trauma while emphasizing patience and kindness in the process of reclaiming your identity and purpose.

The resurrection message is the most important part of our belief system. Without the truth of the resurrection message, our faith is just another religion with no real substance. The Resurrection sets Christianity apart. This book is dedicated to establishing this truth. The extent of the work of Christs resurrection is staggering. However, if there is one topic that is the central message of the Bible, it is the sacrifice of Christ. The Old Testament looks forward to it, whereas the New Testament looks back at it. We must be extremely careful not to allow these two ordinances to become routine in our Christian life (communion and baptism) and thereby reduce the significance of what Jesus did for us at his sacrifice and resurrection. The greatest gift that anyone can be given is eternal life, and the one that made that possible is Jesus. In Christ, we have victory, provided we see ourselves dead to sin and raised together with him. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11, AMP). I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. [Therefore, I do not treat Gods gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.] (Galatians 2:2021, AMP). We need to remember that the story doesnt end with Jesuss death. He is currently in heaven, in his resurrected body, and one day, he will return. The resurrection of Jesus was an act of the supreme love of God. Remember, our identification is in who we are in Christ and his resurrection. The Bible tells us in John 14:12 that the things Christ has done we can do, and greater than these we will do because he goes to the Father. The resurrection demonstrated Jesuss victory over the power of death and confirms there is life beyond the grave. Jesus Christ offers us a resurrection power beyond ourselves that can make us alive; it empowers us to overcome the limitations of this realm with an infused ability as we focus on the Spirit of power working within us. I hope you receive much insight and revelation as you discover the wholeness of what Jesus achieved for you and me.

What does it mean to live the Christian life with conviction? Richard Lischer insists that Christians have a stake in the political and social conflicts that are dividing our culture. In whatever circumstance, Christians are obligated to tell the truth about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. In Just Tell the Truth, Lischer explores seasons of suffering, hope, and triumph in the light of the gospel. Drawing upon Scripture and the lives of both well-known and anonymous Christians, he helps his readers imagine what truthful living looks like. While remaining biblically and theologically rooted, the sermons eloquently engage the present moment, showing how Christian conviction has a place in the controversial realms of politics, racial justice, and the COVID-19 crisis. The nourishing meditations in Just Tell the Truth align the rhythm of the gospel with the curvature of human experience, empowering Christians to find the heart of God in what is too often a heartless world.