‘I’m looking for the words and writing for those who can’t imagine the words.’ Mark Meynell articulates a heart pain that most of us simply couldn’t express. He connects strongly and immediately with fellow cave dwellers. We relive significant moments from boarding school, Uganda, Berlin and London. We visit the Psalms, Job and The Pilgrim's Progress. If you're after neat conclusions and a fair-weather faith, this is not for you. This book serves up gritty reality and raw honesty, but also the heartfelt hope that the author's brokenness 'can somehow contribute to another person's integration' and 'inspire their clinging while beset by darkness or fog or blizzards'. Contents 1 The mask 2 The volcano 3 The cave 4 The weight 5 The invisibility cloak 6 The closing 7 The way 8 The fellow-traveller 9 The gift Appendix 1 Managing the symptoms Appendix 2 Unexpected friends in the cave Appendix 3 Some words from inside the cave

Focus on the amazing story of Jesus' crucifixion and the gospel in days and weeks leading up to Easter and think yet again how the cross transforms our lives today. With Bible verses, prayers and 40 meditations by Chris Wright and treasured, timeless nuggets from John Stott, prepare to be inspired as you contemplate the deep, life-transforming truths of the gospel: 'love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all'. Our Radical Reconciler * forgives sins * reconciles enemies * destroys death * defeats evil * governs history * restores creation

The hollow heart of depression echoes lies. It whispers, "You're worthless. This is no big deal. If anyone knew who you really are, you would be alone. Give up. This will never end." Pastor Luke Italiano has long struggled with depression's lies. In these pages, he shows how depression is nothing new among God's people. He points to the hope they had and the hope you have. He presents ways to deal with depression in a Christian manner, while still being realistic about the struggle ahead. Hollow Heart is a handbook for any Christian struggling with depression, as well as a guidebook for those who love someone with depression. Here is hope. Depression doesn't have you. You have depression. Jesus has you.

She couldn't believe it. There she was with her medical qualifications sitting on the floor of a mental hospital. She'd been baptized, offered her life to God, wanted to serve him anywhere, but no, surely not this... Sharon Hastings is absolutely passionate about helping anyone who suffers from 'severe and enduring mental illness' (SEMI): schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. She wants the church to know all about these illnesses: how they devastate ordinary people and how they need to be treated. By telling her story, warts and all, showing her own tortuous, painful journey, she equips us to come alongside loved ones, fellow church members, friends and neighbours, understanding the social and spiritual ramifications of their illnesses, including them in our activities (where appropriate) and encouraging their spiritual growth. A natural storyteller, the author draws us in. We journey with her as she shares deeply. With wisdom, kindness and the heart of a bruised survivor, she interweaves her exceptional story with vital teaching which cannot be ignored by anyone within the church today.

Tending to My Thoughts continues the story of Sharon Hastings, a medical doctor and Christian living with severe mental illness. Her personal experience of recovery offers a starting point to help readers think through what recovery could look like for them or their loved ones. Peppered with personal anecdotes, shot through with medical knowledge and chock-full of helpful explanation, this book inspires hope and provides evidence that life with mental illness can improve. Sharon Hastings writes to encourage those who walk alongside people who are suffering, as well as to equip individual Christians and churches to effectively support those in recovery, particularly from severe mental illness.

A devastating war, a burning cross, a crime network, and a victorious general—these are some of the many threads Hadžić and Irby weave together to clarify one of history’s most misunderstood symbols: the cross. The authors interweave Hadžić’s story with that of the cross in a way that seeks to rescue the true meaning of the cross from its misrepresentations and misuses throughout history. The result is a compelling tapestry that illuminates the transformative power of one of the most complex and controversial symbols in today’s global community.

Helping you and the whole church family understand, nurture and support those with mental-health conditions. Many people are struggling with mental-health conditions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and life in our image-conscious culture. Statistics tell us that, worldwide, one in six of us will have experienced a mental-health struggle in the past week, and serious depression is the second-leading cause of disability (Mental Health Foundation). That means there are brothers and sisters in our church families battling with thoughts, feelings, impulses, and even voices that distract, drag down, and nudge them towards despair. But when it comes to helping, it can be tricky to know where to begin, especially if we have very little knowledge of mental illnesses and are afraid of making things worse by saying and doing the wrong things. This wise, compassionate, and practical book is written by Steve Midgley, psychiatrist and Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK, and Helen Thorne, Director of Training and Resources at Biblical Counselling UK. It will help readers understand and respond with biblical wisdom to people who are struggling with their mental health. While acknowledging the importance of liaising responsibly with medics and counsellors, this book focuses on equipping readers to play their part in making churches places where those who struggle with mental-health conditions are welcomed, understood, nurtured, and supported: a foretaste of the new creation. This is a useful book for anyone who cares for others pastorally: pastors, elders, small-group leaders, and congregation members.