The Ministry of Healing Celebrate Lit Tour and Giveaway!

About the Book

Book:  The Ministry of Healing

Author: AJ Gordon

Genre:  Christian non-fiction, spiritual growth

Release Date: January 17, 2020

Classic Christian author A. J. Gordon expresses curiosity about whether the healing miracles from the Middle Ages up to his day can be verified as a continuation of Christ’s Spirit in the church. Through deep study and inquiry of the established history, Gordon concludes that the power to heal followers remains with the church—there was no special era of miracle working. God and His powers remain the same in the modern era as they have right through human history. For Gordon, God’s intervention in the suffering and sickness of His followers is frequent; the will of the Lord however is variable—but He will not prolong the pain of someone whose illness is too great. Throughout this text, A. J. Gordon makes his argument from a biblical perspective, citing passages in both the Old and New Testament that support the continuation of spiritual gifts. Quoting testimonies of believers across the ages, he offers a convincing argument that the church ministry is, to this day, one of healing.

Click here to get your copy!

Review 

The Ministry of Healing by AJ Gordon is a look into the proof and belief of healing. Based on the study of scripture, reason and many other testimonies, the author tries to find evidence to answer the question: “Have there been any miracles since the days of the apostles?”

He makes a compelling argument for both sides. I found it to be a little difficult to read but also found it to be well written. I tend toward the fiction section but this was also an interesting read.

About the Author

Adoniram Judson (A. J.) Gordon (1836–1895) came to prominence in the United States as the evangelical pastor of Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston for more than twenty-five years. During his tenure there, he saw the church completely transformed into one of the most spiritual and aggressive churches in America, with an unsurpassed effort in missions. A missionary training school and publishing house were associated with the church, and Gordon preached at many of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Conferences, along with other notable preachers such as A. B. Simpson, A. T. Pierson, and R. A. Torrey. His training school eventually became Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He also founded Gordon College, in Wenham, Massachusetts. He wrote his most famous book, The Ministry of Healing, in 1882, but he also wrote at least fifteen hymns, including “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” as well as other books of Christian instruction.

More from Whitaker House

This classic Christian work has previously only been self published. Gordon is renowned as founder of Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Gordon College. His writings became foundational work for what later became the spirit-filled movement.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 18

Blossoms and Blessings, March 19 (Spotlight)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 20

Artistic Nobody, March 21 (Spotlight)

Inklings and notions, March 22

Lukewarm Tea, March 23 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, March 24

Andrea Christenson, March 25 (Spotlight)

deb’s Book Review, March 26

For the Love of Literature, March 27 (Spotlight)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 28

Simple Harvest Reads, March 29 (Spotlight)

CarpeDiem, March 30

For Him and My Family, March 31

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Whitaker House is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Starbucks Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f6ea/the-ministry-of-healing-celebration-tour-giveaway

Will The Real Person Please Stand Up? Celebration Tour

Author Interview

1. Who most influenced your writing?The other members of my Word Weavers International writing group. Our personal interaction, critique groups, and honest advice for my own submissions have helped me make huge progress on the craft of writing.
   
2. What was the best advice you received about writing?You don’t need to implement everything you learn at a writers’ conference or workshop. Consider what two next things you would like to focus on and let the other things go.
   
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?Choose to take risks more frequently. I’ve made a lot of progress in saying yes, even without assurance of succeeding, but I want to keep traveling on that new track.
   
4. Where do you do most of your writing?At my dining room table, which overlooks my inviting screened-in porch and my backyard with refreshing green grass, majestic trees, and colored flowers. It’s easy to raise my head and find refreshment for my mind whenever I need it.
   
5. What's currently in your To Be Read pile?
   Sam’s Letters to Jennifer – James PattersonThe God I Thought I knew – Robert Morris
   Uninvited – Lysa Terkeurst 

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 2

deb’s Book Review, March 3

Artistic Nobody, March 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 4

Texas Book-aholic, March 5

SPLASHES of Joy, March 6

Rebecca Tews, March 7

Inklings and notions, March 8

For the Love of Literature, March 9 (Author Interview)

Betti Mace, March 10

For Him and My Family, March 11

Lukewarm Tea, March 12 (Author Interview)

Create! Teach! Inspire!, March 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 14

Wishful Endings, March 15 (Author Interview)

About the Book

Book:  Will the Real Person Please Stand Up?

Author: Gail Porter

Genre:  Non-Fiction/Personal Growth

Release Date: Oct 1, 2018

Does fear of rejection hold you back from letting people see the real you? Are you tired of hiding?

Gail Porter lived with this kind of fear during her childhood and most of her adult life. When God revealed her bondage to the power of fear, she was set free to come out of hiding and become who He’d created her to be. What she learned grew into a passion to help others experience the same freedom.

Will the Real Person Please Stand Up? offers much-needed hope to those who long to be set free from the fear of rejection and become their authentic selves. In this life-changing book you will read Gail’s own experiences, stories of real people, and input from those in the medical field. Gail walks you through the process of identifying and acknowledging what holds you captive so you can live in freedom rather than in fear.

With God’s help, you can walk out of your self-made prison, break strongholds, and taste the freedom that will allow you to become who God made you to be. Get ready to stand up and say, “This is the real me.”

“Gail teaches her readers how to embrace the present without encumbrances of the past. With practical, action-based steps, we learn to climb mountains with new determination and anticipate our futures with joy.” Jeanne LeMay, author of Dear God I’m Desperate: Women Have Issues, God Has Answers.

About the Author

Gail Porter graduated from Oregon State University and spent fifty years serving with Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ. She is the author of Life through Loss: Facing Your Pain, Finding Your Purpose and two co-written books. Gail lives in Orlando, Florida, where she enjoys ballroom dancing and her favorite role of aunt to her nieces and nephews.

Childhood Celebration Tour

Author Interview

1. Who has been your favorite character to write?
   Jake, from my first novel, because he emulated me. In the circumstances that I placed him in, he did what I would do. I lived vicariously through Jake in the first novel. 
   
   
   
2. Who has been your most difficult character to write?
   Aleksey in my second novel, because he is essentially the devil in human flesh.
   
   
   
3. Has a real person inspired a character?
   Many of my characters are inspired by one or more real people.
   
   
4. Where is the weirdest place you've found inspiration?
   The bathroom.
   
   
5. Is there a scene you wish you could rewrite?
   Yes. In my last novel a couple of the scenes, in retrospect, are “preachier” than I intended. 

About the Book

Book:  Childhood

Author: Greg Schaffer

Genre:  Contemporary

Release Date: February 10, 2020

Katie lived a lonely childhood, her after school time filled with responsibilities to her father and special needs brother. Her chores prevented her from experiencing the carefree life her peers, including Joey, her neighbor and secret crush, lived. She began running to impress Joey, then discovered track as a possible way out of the small town of Nortonville, Tennessee. But as the promise of a college scholarship drew her closer to the escape she had dreamed about since childhood, she wondered why she didn’t feel better. What was missing?

Childhood is the novelette prequel to Fatherhood, a full-length novel about abortion from the father’s point of view.

About the Author

Greg Schaffer has written several novels, beginning with Forgiveness (2014). Each conveys the message that hope is always available, even in the darkest of times. His other works of fiction include horse-humor and poetry anthologies. A northerner by birth and a southerner by choice, Greg resides with his wife and rescue dogs in Franklin, Tennessee

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 12

Older & Smarter?, February 13

Artistic Nobody, February 14 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, February 15

For Him and My Family, February 16

Through the Fire Blogs, February 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 17

deb’s Book Review, February 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 19

By The Book, February 20 (Author Interview)

Just the Write Escape, February 21

Mamma Loves Books, February 22

Lukewarm Tea, February 23 (Author Interview)

Spoken from the Heart, February 24

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Greg is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f5bc/childhood-celebration-tour-giveaway

Revelations from a church bathroom stall

It was a Wednesday night. My daughter's mission trip group meeting had just wrapped up and I had about 30 minutes before my Bible study began. So I had a little down time. I walked in to the auditorium where we have Bible study to find the tables not quite set up yet and I wasn't sure what to do so I went back out to the church lobby. There was surprisingly nobody there...so I went to the restroom. It was while I was in there, once again alone, that I started questioning what the heck I was doing at the church. Of the thoughts that congregated in my mind, most of which were negative, the one that stood out and kept screaming for attention was "You don't belong here"...

This isn't really anything new for me. I've often felt very out of place as I think most introverted people do. We struggle to find where we belong in any situation. Usually, my comfort zone is in the corner or with my husband who is an extroverted person by nature. I'm not an anti-social person. In fact, I'm actually pretty funny and on many occasions find myself starting up conversations. But outside of my comfort zone, I tend to close myself off and can probably seem shy or unapproachable. My friends know that when you first meet me I don't talk and after I get really comfortable around you I won't shut up. It's a balancing act I guess.

So anyways, this is where I was. The lone occupant of a stall in the bathroom. It's almost like a setup for something bad about to happen, right? It's like a scene from a scary movie. All alone. Until...Like when predators isolate their prey. Only, I had isolated myself in this case and had left myself open to predators. Only not of flesh and blood but of lies.

I started to think:

• Maybe I'll just skip Bible study and go home. 
• I could pick my daughter up after her youth group thing and just go home. 
• Nobody is gonna miss me anyways. 
• It's not like I'm contributing to the group discussion. 
• Nobody even cares. 
• I'm not getting that much out of it anyways. 
• I'm not really enjoying the discussion. 
• It's really boring sometimes. 
• I don't really feel a connection to anyone. 
• I don't belong here.
• What am I doing here anyways?

See how I started to rationalize? These were all lies or rationalizations based on lies. Because the truth is I was needed. 

In a moment of clarity, I just said out loud (I think) "No, I am suppose to be here!" 

As I stopped thinking and started praying and declaring, my phone rang. I know this is poor taste but my daughter was still in the building somewhere and she was calling, so I answered. She was in the parking lot with a couple of her friends and one of them couldn't get his car started. So she figured I could help. I left my peaceful cocoon of isolation and went to help. After a few tries we got his car started and my daughter and I went back in to the building. Bible study and youth group happened and nobody knew what battle had taken place in order for me to walk back into the auditorium. 

Sometimes it's not a major battle. Sometimes it's literally just greeting someone or not hiding out in the corner. I've had to make myself shake hands with people. I'm not meant to be in the corner. Sometimes I have to tell myself that "Nobody puts Baby in the corner!" 

I realized whose words I needed to be listening to. Not my own and definitely not the lies that I'd allowed into my thoughts. I was meant to be at that Bible study that night. We've been study Exodus and it's been eye-opening the things that I never knew. Especially since I'm a preacher's kid. It directly points to Jesus. And that's whose words I needed to have going through my head. 

On the way home from the church, I told my daughter what happened. She said she got chills. I came home and put up post-its all over the kitchen. They say things like:

• "Be Brave" 
• "I'm contributing."
• "I'm supposed to be here."
• "I'm loved."
• "I'm valued."

They are a daily reminder of truths that I let get away from me. Maybe you've felt that way. You've allowed yourself to get isolated and you've started to listen to lies. I'd encourage you to really stop where you are and just declare, I am loved, I am valued, I'm contributing, I matter, I'm brave and I'm suppose to be here. You are gonna feel silly. But if it helps, go stand in the bathroom and do the Wonder Woman pose and declare these things over yourself. 

• Because the truth is, you are a daughter of the King. 
• You are loved by God. 
• You are brave on a daily basis just by living life and raising your kids or working your job or whatever it is that you do. 
• You are suppose to be here. You're life might feel like one flop after the next but don't stop. 
• You are no accident and you have a purpose. 
• You have value. What you think or say matters. 
• You have the gift of a voice and you can use it to speak life into a world that's full of darkness.
• You can be that tiny point of light that shows someone else the way. 
• You are contributing. Make it count. 

Just every time you feel like crap and feel like you just want to go hide in the bathroom, tell yourself these things. And you'll start to believe them. Because they are all true. 

Celebrate Lit: Are you in the Game or in the Way? by Ross Holtz

About the Book

Book: Are You in the Game or in the Way?

Author: Ross Holtz

Genre: RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Pastoral Resources

Release Date: March 10, 2017

Are You in the Game or in the Way?

A men’s ministry reality check: What is standing in the way of a vital men’s ministry in your church? 

The guy who should be at the forefront is often in the way of the program getting off the ground. 

·         Are you, as pastor, the main obstacle to the growth of a vital men’s ministry? 

·         Are you the guy who wants to start a men’s ministry in your church but don’t know how? 

·         Is fear or a sense of inadequacy keeping you from starting such a ministry? 

Pastor Ross Holtz tells his personal story of how he became a catalyst for growth, instead of an impediment will inspire pastors and men’s ministry leaders. 

What works, what doesn’t, and what is required in forming a vital men’s ministry. Practical and honest teaching filled with relevant and tested examples from recognizing the problem to finding the fix.  

Pastor Ross Holtz is a man who has earned the right to speak on ministering to and through men . . . One man’s journey from being a sceptic to a fully-engaged pastor who sees the power of a clear ministry to and through men . . . Pastor Ross bares his heart, and is, at times, brutally honest in a way that will resonate.  

—Chuck Stecker, president, A Chosen Generation

Author Interview

When did you decide to become an author?

I have always been intrigued with writing. In Jr Hi, writing compositions was one of my favorite things. I’ve been writing articles and columns for decades. About five years ago I finally got serious about writing a book.

Who most influenced your writing?

Dave Berry. He’s a humorist and columnist. I like the way he makes his points with humorous, sometimes absurd, observations from real life. I would like to write with more humor. 

What was the best advice you received about writing?

I once heard William F. Buckley asked about what he felt about deadlines. He answered that he loved deadlines, that without them he’d never get anything written. I’ve always needed deadlines but felt like there was something wrong with me until I heard his statement. The advice is to learn to love deadlines. 

Who is your hero?

I’m a Christian, so, Jesus must  be the main hero I have. From a more contemporary view, I’d have to say Billy Graham. He was able to maintain his moral balance and reputation for the long run. As for writers, I’d have to list C.S. Lewis and Charles H. Spurgeon as heroes of the pen.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Oh, there are almost too many things to list. I’ve been at this thing called life for a long time. I guess it would have to be an ability to stay focused. I have a serious case of attention deficit. 

You are leaving Earth to start a colony on Mars, what's in your luggage?

A computer with a very long cord. Everything I know is on my computer, or on the cloud. 

Where do you do most of your writing?

I’d like to do most of my writing in Tampa, Florida. But, that being unavailable, I have an upstairs study with very large windows. I seem to need to be in contact with the outside world to concentrate. I live in a very old neighborhood where all the houses are different and interesting to look at while I’m thinking. 

Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what's your favorite genre?

I don’t listen to music when writing. I need quiet. When I listen to music I concentrate on the music and not on what I’m supposed to be thinking about. 

Who would be your ideal editor/writing partner?

 Shakespeare would be good. But since he doesn’t do that anymore, I have my ideal editor. My wife is a writer and publisher. Everything I write goes by her before it goes out. She is very objective, sometimes painfully so. 

As for a writing partner, I am not great with teams, even teams of two. I’ve never tried writing with another person but I’m not at all sure I would like it. If I could have written with Francis Schaeffer or C.S Lewis, that would be cool.

What's currently in your To Be Read pile?

Ha, I’ve just finished a doctorate and I have exhausted my reading list for the dissertation. I am currently on sabbatical from reading anything but murder mysteries.

About the Author

Geoffrey Ross Holtz, DD, is founding and senior pastor of The Summit (ECFA) in Enumclaw. He was awarded “Pastor of the Year” in 2014 by the National Coalition of Ministries for Men. Ross and his wife, Athena, the founder and publisher of Redemption Press, have a blended family of eight adult children and seventeen grandchildren and enjoy time spent sailing.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 11

Vicky Sluiter, November 12

Artistic Nobody, November 13 (Author Interview)

Just the Write Escape, November 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 15

A Baker’s Perspective, November 16 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 17

janicesbookreviews, November 18

Christian Bookshelf Reviews, November 19 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, November 20

Inklings and notions, November 21

My Devotional Thoughts, November 22 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, November 23 (Guest Review from James Barela)

Lukewarm Tea, November 24 (Author Interview)