Digging Deeper - Additional Resources
1.6 (Why Jesus?)
Forgiveness is a Choice
Read More / Hide Text >>by Rev. Dr. Steven HokanaForgiving is not easy. From minor infractions to colossal misdeeds, we've all been the recipient of some action or situation that called for us-when all the hard words and dust had settled-to forgive. How impossible this act can be sometimes. How far from our thinking is our notion of granting forgiveness, especially when we're in the right because we've been wronged. To forgive, however, and to appreciate the power of forgiveness, takes some understanding of how this concept pertains to us-for everything we've done.
In this Project Connect booklet, Steven Hokana tackles the nuts and bolts of forgiveness, and how it's a choice, a conscious decision. When applied to another, forgiveness is an extraordinary balm for broken relationships, messed-up circumstances, and tortured psyches. It restores people to each other and brings wholeness to lives otherwise burdened with maintaining a grudge or an attitude of hostility. As we all know, choosing not to forgive takes energy-and lots of it. Choosing to forgive is not done from weakness or a trivialization of the pain experienced. It's a forward-moving decision that lays the offense at the foot of the cross of Christ. He is the perfect example of forgiveness in action, and by His forgiveness we are set free … forgiven and ready to forgive others.
Steven Hokana is an active-duty U.S. Army chaplain with nearly 30 years of service to our country. He has served in the Middle East, Bosnia, Cuba, Germany, Alaska, and numerous stateside assignments. He has also written Project Connect booklets on victimization and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Reasons to Believe
Read More / Hide Text >>by Rev. Stephen HowerThe faith Christians confess is grounded in the texts of Scripture and the historical milieu of the people and places where the events of the Bible unfolded. This affirmation of trust by the believer in God's saving grace is not a question of choosing between facts and faith; neither is it one that collapses beneath the rigors of academic scrutiny. In fact, based on the historical and archaeological evidence, faith in the truthfulness of God's Word is a logical response to the material at our disposal. This handy, go-to guide shows how Christianity makes sense on levels that involve both the head and the heart.
Written to illustrate the sensibleness of the Christian faith, Reasons To Believe makes its case clearly and with conviction. Penned by Pastor Stephen Hower in an easy-to-read style, this Project Connect booklet shows how believing in God, creation, prophecy, man's inner morality, Jesus, and salvation is not something far-fetched and out there. Rather, using "objective reasons" and "historical evidence" to undergird the assertions of Scripture, Hower makes a convincing argument concerning the sensibility of the Christian faith. He gives seven reasons "why it is logical to believe the claims Christians make about the Bible, about Jesus, and the truth that Christians base their lives upon."
Pastor Stephen Hower has been the senior pastor at St. John Church, a Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod congregation, located in Ellisville, Missouri, since 1988. Previously, he served congregations in Michigan and Texas. A frequent conference speaker, he has written books on biblical topics as well as articles on parenting, leadership, worship, charitable giving and evangelism.
2.15 (Why the Bible?)
The Bible What? When? Why?
Read More / Hide Text >>by Dr. Carol GeislerWhat is the Bible all about? Our booklet The Bible: What? When? Why? look at the sixty-six books that make up the Bible. Written by different authors across the centuries at first glance it looks like they were just thrown together in random order without rhyme or reason. But Dr. Geisler shows how the books come together to form a mini-library. And despite their differences they share one important purpose. In this booklet you will learn about the heart and center of the message God brings us in His Bible.
Geisler writes, "The words of the Bible did not come down from heaven on golden pages or in a secret book delivered by an angel. The Bible is an amazing miracle, but it is a quiet kind of miracle that joins together the words of God Himself with ordinary human language."
Carol Geisler is a former Lutheran elementary school teacher and principal. A graduate of Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, she earned her Masters degrees in school administration and in theology from Concordia University in Irvine, California and a Ph. D. in historical theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Carol has written devotions for Portals of Prayer and religion curriculum for Concordia Publishing House.
3.12 (God's Law)
Why Should I go to Church
Read More / Hide Text >>When you hear the word “church” or see a church building in your neighborhood, how do you feel? Do you smile at a warm memory? Do you have questions about what the people of that church believe and do? You are not alone. No matter where you are in your spiritual life, we invite you to discover the possibilities through the experiences of people just like you. Read the stories of smiles, frowns and lives transformed.
3.14 (God's Law)
Has God Abandoned Me?
Read More / Hide Text >>Domestic violence has no boundaries, and it does not care about social standing, age, ethnicity or religion. It traps its victims in a very lonely and frightening prison. This booklet is designed to answer questions and help you understand the cycle of violence, develop a plan for the future and know that God will never forsake an abused woman.
The Unbearable Sorrow - When Suicide Hits Home
Read More / Hide Text >>Every year many people commit suicide in the United States and each suicide leave an average of six survivors. Today there are about 4.5 million survivors of suicide in the U.S. Grieving the death of a loved one is painful enough, but as a suicide survivor you face a more complicated grief because you must also deal with the fact that your loved one chose to die. It is hard to believe life can ever be normal again, but there is hope. Although you are changed forever by such a tragedy life can once again have hope and meaning.
Speaking Of Care
Read More / Hide Text >>This booklet is about the demanding and complicated relationship between care givers and care receivers. Particularly when this connection occurs within the same household.
There's More to Anger Than Getting Mad
Read More / Hide Text >>Poorly managed anger is the root of many serious physical, social and emotional problems, including poor health, chronic disease, depression, unhappy relationships, violence and crime. Some people are taught that it’s wrong to get angry. Others are taught it’s their right to get angry! The truth is that everyone gets angry. Anger is a natural feeling that shows your something is wrong an can stir your to action against that which hurts you or others. This booklet provides productive ways to express your anger, what to say, and how to say it.
3.15 (God's Law)
Parenting Families: Practical Strategies for Family Life
Read More / Hide Text >>Insights from this expert family counselor, help parents in all family situations, forms strong, unified family unit, and develop self-controlled, independent children.
Parenting Families: Practical Strategies for the Single Parent
Read More / Hide Text >>Insights especially for single parent families from an expert family counselor. The strategies and helpful guidelines provided wil help parents build a strong family unit.
Parenting Families: Practical Strategies for the Blended Family
Read More / Hide Text >>Insights especially for single parents from an expert family counselor. The strategies and helpful guidelines provided will help families go from blended to bonded.
For Better... For Worse
Read More / Hide Text >>Soaring divorce rates indicate that good marriages don’t just happen. A good marriage requires a firm foundation and effective ways to deal with key areas, such as financial concerns, decision-making processes and child-rearing. This booklet shares four principles of a healthy marriage and provides practical recommendations to maintain the love that brought you together in the first place. If you are married or if marriage is in your future, this booklet will provide insights to help you avoid becoming a divorce statistic.
Uncover the Lover Within
Read More / Hide Text >>The author of this booklet shares what she’s learned from ten years of marriage and from professional experience counseling couples. Scholars say that making marriage a top priority is the best gift we can give our children. She’ll show you how to create romance in your marriage, from creating the right mood and caring for yourself to looking at your relationship from a new perspective.
Beyond Divorce
Read More / Hide Text >>With divorce comes upheaval. Like puzzle pieces scattered on a floor, the divorced person is left putting his or her life back together—often with only the faintest picture to work from. Compounding the collapse of a relationship that was once “till death do us part” are fits of anger, intense frustration and, sometimes, a hopelessness that knows no bounds. No bounds that is, until God’s grace can change the hearts of those involved.
Strength and Honor: The Spiritual Warfare against Pornography
Read More / Hide Text >>The reader will find insights and hope for dealing with problems brought on by pornography. Christ-centered, to the point, and delivers a Christian approach to battling this pernicious vice. Its overriding aim is to help individuals defeat pornographic addiction in their lives.
Pornography and the Search for Intimacy
Read More / Hide Text >>This booklet outlines the four stages of sexual addiction and shares steps to restoring and rebuilding our relationships with God and others.
3.16 (God's Law)
Gambling
Read More / Hide Text >>by Dan KohnIn many ways, those deeply involved in gambling are looking for "the end of the rainbow"-the "pot of gold" that, once found, will change their lives forever. It's a motivating dream; a seducing reverie, and for the lion's share of those chasing it, it's an empty illusion. Gambling in its many forms-roulette, cards, the races, slots, sporting contests, online events-is a zealous pastime for people the world over. You name it, and somebody's probably put a wager down on it.
The habitual nature of gambling, however, has a huge downside. What may have begun innocently enough can grow unwieldy as fortunes and futures are invested in the all-consuming cycle to "hit the jackpot." Once enmeshed in an addiction to gambling the odds turn bleak as the money-making possibilities for the average gambler prove slim indeed.
In this Project Connect booklet penned by Dan Kohn, there is hope offered the chronic gambler. For those heading toward-or who have already found-the many dead-end paths of gambling, there is a road to recovery. Getting there is not a one-time shot though. It requires admitting, accepting, and asking God to step in and conquer the overwhelming guilt and shame out-of-control gambling can bring. As the gambler seeks His grace in His Word and turns the nightmare over to Him, the riches of forgiveness are freely given, clearing the gambler's slate, and giving him or her the life-changing, second chance that is only available in Jesus.
Dan Kohn is a Christian counselor, trainer, consultant, and author. He has worked in the field of personal addictions for more than 30 years.
4.0 (Nature of God)
Men's NetWork Bible Study: Out of Nothing: The Word, Creation and Faith
Read More / Hide Text >>In this Bible study, Pastor Steve Misch considers theories of evolution, the plausibility of random chance, man's spiritual and physical nature, and how God's creation and salvation are intrinsically linked in the person of Jesus Christ.
4.4 (Nature of God)
Your Place in God's Plan
Read More / Hide Text >>What’s your purpose in life? Like spokes without a hub, a life without a purpose—a center—feels futile and empty. This booklet will help you gain a deeper understanding about God’s plans for you and with you. Whether in your family, workplace or community, God’s plans will make the most of the gifts, talents and abilities He has entrusted to you. Discover how the pieces of your life fit beautifully together in His purpose—His glorious purpose.
4.14 (Nature of God)
The Truth About Angels
Read More / Hide Text >>Today's media features many stories on angels. The New Age Movement suggests that each of us has a “personal angel” and encourages us to get in contact with it. Do angels really exist? Explore the biblical evidence of angels and their purpose inside this booklet. You’ll also discover answers to many of the questions raised in the media and by New Age religious movements. Inside you’ll find the special role angels serve in delivering the Gospel message.
4.15 (Nature of God)
Satan: The Great Deceiver
Read More / Hide Text >>by Rev. Michael NewmanThe battle we wage in this world is not against flesh and blood but "against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So writes the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12. Thus our capacity to resist the forces of darkness is ultimately a losing fight. Alerting readers in their struggle against sin and evil, Pastor Michael Newman reminds us Satan is the "father of lies" (see John 8:44) and a nemesis we cannot take down on our own. Applying a generous use of Scripture to reinforce his message, the author shows how the devil -- the "prince of this world" (see John 12:31) and a "murderer from the beginning" (see John 8:44) -- is hell-bent on our destruction.
In this Project Connect booklet, Newman pulls no punches: the Christian is contending with a sinister being whose nature is pure deception and malicious intent. From twisting God's words in the Garden to the distortions he perpetuates today, Satan's scheme to deceive and mislead are in operation full bore. Yet, grave as this situation appears, our position -- though vulnerable due to sin and our corrupt nature -- is not one of ultimate defeat. Instead, as believers in Christ's redemptive victory, we have a complete and decisive triumph over Satan. God's own Son has demolished the works of unrighteousness by paying the penalty for our sins on Calvary, and He now reigns gloriously at the right hand of God.
Newman is a mission strategist for the Texas District of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. He is the author of several books and Bible studies, and his focus is communicating the gift of hope in Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and creative mission outreach.
7.9 (Prayer)
Prayer: When You Don’t Know What to Say
Read More / Hide Text >>by Rich Cohrs, Wayne Palmer and Suzie SalleePrayer is an invitation. It's an open door. It's a line of communication established by God Himself and available to us all. It's part of the relationship we share with our Father who encourages us to bring Him our wildest joys, our most profound sorrows, and everything in between. Though seemingly a simple thing, prayer is, in reality, a magnificent example of the kind of relationship God wants us to have with Him. It's no small matter that the One who set the stars in place and knows the number of hairs on our heads would incline Himself to the feeble words we have to offer.
In this Project Connect booklet, penned jointly by three members of Lutheran Hour Ministries' United States Ministries team, the reader will learn about the power and privilege of prayer. Following some insights on prayer and how God answers it, the Lord's Prayer-which Jesus gave His disciples-is examined briefly, with a few comments on the prayer's seven petitions. Finally, the booklet offers a few prayer examples for those in certain circumstances who may have a hard time finding the words to say.
In prayer we converse with the God of the universe; we pour out our hearts to Him, and we offer Him our praises. We acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives, and we thank Him for sending His Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. More than just wish lists we put before God, our prayers are an opportunity to share our deepest thoughts and heartfelt concerns with Him, who always has our best interests in mind.
11.4 (The End of Time)
What Happens When I Die?
Read More / Hide Text >>by Rev. Stephen HowerPerhaps nothing is more certain in our lives than the specter of death. Surprisingly, though, we are remarkably astute at keeping this reality at arm's length; that is, until its presence (a massive heart attack, a terminal disease) puts it front and center in our minds. When that happens, inevitably, there are questions-lots of them: What's it like on the other side? What happens to us physically and spiritually when it's time for our "dirt nap"? Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? Is "purgatory" somewhere in between? Is what the Bible says about eternity true? Will my dog be with me in heaven?
These issues, and many more, are addressed in this Project Connect booklet by Stephen Hower. Written in a style that's straightforward and concise, the author zeroes in on the tough questions many of us have about being dead. While exiting this world's stage is a final act of sorts-i.e. an end to our engagement with this world-it's not the end of our existence. There is more. With deftness, Hower shows that while human life is something to be valued greatly, for the Christian, the end of his days holds the promise of an eternity in the presence of the Almighty.
Since 1988 Stephen Hower has been the senior pastor at St. John Church, a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, located in Ellisville, Missouri. Previously, he served congregations in Michigan and Texas. A frequent conference speaker, he has written four books on biblical topics as well as articles on parenting, leadership, worship, charitable giving and evangelism.
12.5 (Christian Life)
Why Should I go to Church
Read More / Hide Text >>When you hear the word “church” or see a church building in your neighborhood, how do you feel? Do you smile at a warm memory? Do you have questions about what the people of that church believe and do? You are not alone. No matter where you are in your spiritual life, we invite you to discover the possibilities through the experiences of people just like you. Read the stories of smiles, frowns and lives transformed.
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