Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

June 22, 2009

White Walls
by Meghan Kleppinger

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, "Build houses and live {in them;} and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare."
Jeremiah 29: 4-7

If we were playing the word association game and someone said, "Military life," I would answer "white walls." 

Thanks to our travel agency, otherwise known as the U.S. Army, I moved with my family 13 times before I graduated from college. Many of our abodes were Army quarters (houses on army installations for military families). The walls were always white. I determined early on that when I moved out on my own there wouldn't be a single white wall in my home. 

From the time I graduated from college until now, I've continued to be in transition which has meant more white walls in my apartments. Well, I just bought my first house and, of course, I'm not thinking about the practical purchases that need to be made (like a washer and a dryer for example), I'm considering color! I'm thinking about the things that need to be done to help me feel settled and at home.

Eventually, I could move to a different town, or I could marry (this one gets my parents' vote), or a number of other things could happen that would require me to move out of this house. Will my probable future keep my belongings in their boxes or the paint in its can? Of course not! If there is one thing I learned as a military kid, it's to make home wherever I am for as long as I am there.

This world is not our permanent home and God tells us our days are like a breath (Psalm 144:4), but He has also given each of us the opportunity to unpack our boxes and make an impact while we are here. 

Like the exiles in Babylon, God has put each of us where we are at this time for a reason. While we anticipate a "better country" (Hebrews 11:16), we are to live, enjoy the blessings God continues to give, and exhibit a life that tells others of His magnificent love.

Intersecting Faith & Life: In the words of missionary Jim Elliot, "Wherever you are, be all there." In others words, Get a brush and paint some walls

[Judy Harder]

June 23, 2009

Enduring Hurled Stones
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Director of Social Media

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

Stephen was just an ordinary believer that God chose to use in an extraordinary way. He was chosen by the church leaders to assist in meeting the needs of the widowed church members. God chose to use him to work miracles and preach.

I like his speech recorded in Acts chapter 7. I can just imagine seeing the religious leaders drumming their fingers as he recounted Jewish history. they knew all of this already of course. But their drumming fingers soon came to be clenched fists as Stephen began to drive home their hard-headedness. It didn't take long before those clenched fingers were clutching stones waiting to be hurled in Stephen's direction.

You know, Stephen could have stopped at anytime. This wasn't his job; he was just supposed to make sure everyone got their food. Who would have blamed him? His life was in danger. But he didn't stop; he chose to allow himself to be swept away by the Spirit.

How about it?

Are you willing to be used by God?

Intersecting Faith & Life: Will you take a stand for Jesus regardless of the cost? Maybe you've been pounded by one to many stones. Take heart... Jesus is standing to the right of the Father. Be brave. Be strong. He will sustain you.

Further Reading

Acts 7
Psalm 46
The God of All Encouragement, by Adrian Rogers
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[Judy Harder]

June 24, 2009

Who Wants to be Humbled?
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18: 9 -- 14


Have you ever picked up an interest or hobby you'd set aside for awhile? At the encouragement of fellow editor Meghan Kleppinger, I revived my love of horse back riding earlier this year by signing up for lessons. It's been five years since I climbed atop a horse and cantered over jumps as part of Virginia Tech's equine program. Thing is, horse back riding isn't exactly like bike-riding -- your muscles forget. I've swallowed more than my fair share of humble pie as my new instructor "teaches" me skills I already "know." It seems all the prior knowledge in my head won't translate to my muscles -- not without serious practice. In fact, my experience seems to act as a hindrance -- heightening my sense of self-consciousness and upping the frustration factor.

After one particularly frustrating lesson, it occurred to me how often my faith journey resembles these hour-long lessons. I became a Christian when I was 19. The first few years, I had a natural love for the Lord, and I wasn't too bothered when I stumbled -- after all, this was new to me. But after 7 years of following Christ, I find there are days I can explain theology and doctrine inside and out yet actually living out sacrificial, Christ-like virtue feels downright impossible. My spiritual muscles are paralyzed by fear or contorted by sin. My prior knowledge only serves to condemn as I wonder, "How is it I can spend years following the Lord, and yet still wake up such a sinner every morning?"

It's easy to step into pride's trap - especially those of us who have been Christian for awhile. We've run the race for a stretch, and holiness may seem just around the next corner. Or, conversely, we lose steam as we slip into despair, discouraged and shocked at our sinfulness when we should "know better by now."

I think we often mistake the gift of humility with this latter struggle. We think if we hate ourselves enough, somehow it'll make us better Christians. In the process, we throw out the good with the bad and find ourselves running -- or riding -- on empty. But my father once explained humility to me like this: Humility is the antidote for both pride and despair because humility is the simple act of acknowledging who you are in relationship to God.

Imagine yourself standing in the Presence of God. Pride instantly melts away as His beauty, purity, and glory overwhelms our small, sinful selves. Yet Scripture tells us that God loves us as His own children -- so we have no right to despise ourselves, no matter how flawed, because God Himself loved us enough to die for us. Our job is simply to acknowledge the truth of who we are today, no more and no less. Once we embrace genuine humility, the door opens for God to do great things through us

Intersecting Faith & Life: Does a lack of confidence prevent you from using your God-given gifts? Does your past hinder your present spiritual walk? What are some ways you can take what is good and leave the rest in order to move forward?

Further Reading

2 Samuel 22: 25- 38
1 Corinthians 12: 5 -- 10
1 Peter 5: 5-7
The Promise of Humility, by C.J. Mahaney
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[Judy Harder]

June 25, 2009

Flying Lessons
by Meghan Kleppinger

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11, NAS

While traveling to Chattanooga, TN a few years ago, I read the autobiography, Dorie: The Girl Nobody Loved, by Dorie Van Stone. The book retraces the past of a deeply wounded child transformed into a woman with heart on fire for the God who loves her.

As a child, Dorie was rejected and abandoned by her mother, and abused by orphanage workers, foster parents, and relatives. In the midst of a horrendous childhood filled with daily mistreatment, Dorie was introduced to the One who did love her and would never abandon her. Her life is now one that reflects not her past, but her Savior.

As I finished reading the final chapter on the plane, I shared with the Lord that I wanted to meet Dorie, give her a huge hug, and thank her for writing the book. 

During my layover in Atlanta, I saw a woman resembling Dorie in one of the airport stores. I pulled the book out of my bag to compare the woman in the store with the photo on the back cover. I shook off the possibility and thought the same thing you are thinking now, "There is no way!" I proceeded to my gate promising myself if I saw her again I would I ask if she was, in fact, "Dorie."

I'm not proud to admit that when she appeared at my departure gate, I was a complete wimp and did not approach her. She sat two seats behind me on the plane, and still I said nothing. In Chattanooga's airport she kept popping up, but I continued to come up with excuses for not asking a simple question. Finally, while waiting for my baggage, I heard someone say, "Mrs. Van Stone."

I turned to her and finally asked, "Are you Dorie Van Stone?"  She answered "yes" (of course).  "Oh my!" was my intelligent response. I continued with, "I just finished your book on the plane." 

"What did you think?" She asked, smiling.

"It was wonderful!" I managed to gurgle out. "I promised myself that if I ever met you I would give you a big hug!"

Without hesitation, she dropped her bags and gave me the biggest bear hug imaginable. I thanked her for writing the book and we quickly embraced again before going our separate ways.

I was amazed by the marvelous gift God gave me in meeting Dorie Van Stone. My adrenaline high was cut short with the reality that I could have spent a lot more time talking with her, but was too afraid. God was prompting me, but I ignored Him. Instead of listening, I waited until it was safe to ask. To this day, I regret the lost time I could have spent with Dorie.

I committed to never again allow fear to guide my decisions.

Every day, in little ways, God asks us to step out and trust Him. Sometimes He is asking us to share the gospel or help someone in need ... and sometimes He is answering a prayer or simply asking us to receive a gift. Isn't it easy to make excuses or justify saying "no?" We cheat ourselves when we respond this way. He offers us His goodness, shows us His glory, invites to be part of His work, and all we have to do is sensitive to His prompting and say "yes."

Intersecting Faith & Life: Remember what I learned that day -- When God asks you to do something that is a little challenging or out of your comfort zone, He's not asking you to blindly jump off a bridge to your death, He's offering you a chance to fly!  So, prepare for flight, find comfort in the shadow of His wings (Psalms 36:7), and experience His goodness and love.

Further Reading

2 Timothy: 1:7
Your Ordinary Life Can be Extraordinary
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[Judy Harder]

June 26, 2009

Viva La Vice!
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Let's be honest. We all have vices. Each of us has something that is the thorn in our sides, something that torments and tempts us. For some, it's pretty painful. And for others, it may not even register at all. Either way, a vice is something that causes us to stumble.

I used to think that there might be different levels of vices or sin. Maybe speeding wasn't necessarily as bad as having one too many drinks every Saturday night. Or perhaps polishing off most of a half gallon of Jamocha Almond Fudge by oneself wasn't even close to the same league of say, lying or gossiping.

But you know what? The bottom line is, a vice causes us to stumble. And when we stumble, we sin. Webster's says a vice is "moral depravity or corruption."  "Wickedness" and a "habitual defect or shortcoming."

Most of us will struggle with a particular vice for the rest of our lives. In fact, many of us can point to the same vice affecting several generations throughout our family lines. And so we ask God to help us break these "generational curses" and so forth. 

But sometimes, I think we might also thank God for allowing us to struggle. Celebrate our weakness. And say, "Viva la vice!" 

Why is that? In a roundabout way, our vices can ultimately be good for us for they bring us to our knees. And when we're on our knees, we can only look up and reach our hands upward and cry out "Help me, Lord!" as we ask Him to work mightily and powerfully through us.

The apostle Paul had a vice in his life, too. In 2 Corinthians 12: 7, he called it a "thorn in his flesh." We don't know for sure if this was a physical ailment or something else that tempted him and caused him to stumble. Whatever it was, though, it propelled him to call upon the Lord:

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (1 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Like Paul, we need something to keep us grounded, to keep the focus off ourselves and our "ministry" if you will. A "thorn in the flesh" or a vice, is troublesome and painful, yes. But it keeps us our eyes  on the Lord and reminds us daily that despite this weakness and the suffering it causes, it is an opportunity for God to work through us to accomplish great things. And in that, we can certainly boast!

Intersecting Faith & Life: When was the last time you wrote down your vices? Sometimes seeing something in writing makes it more real. Make a list and ask God to help you in your weaknesses, so that His power may be made known in your life.

Further Reading

Galatians 5:16-26
Why Do Bad Things Happen If God Is Good?
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[Judy Harder]

June 29, 2009

Short on Change
by Fred Alberti, Crosswalk.com Director of Social Media

And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40

Ever come up short at the grocery stand? A good friend of mine shared with me an experience he had when he was at the store picking up a few items. The lines were long so he jumped in the shortest one but he still wasn't satisfied. But then he saw it... an even shorter line. My friend, not one to waste time, jumped in that line. The lined moved along briskly until it got to the elderly lady in front of my friend.

Snag!

The cashier totaled her bill and the lady suddenly realized that she was short by over $2.00. Oh, what a dilemma! Not quite sure what to do, she began searching her groceries, hoping to find something she could do without. There was no luck.

The Bible says, "Whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me" (Matthew 25:40). You know what my friend did? He stepped up to the cashier, asked how much was owed and then gave her the money that was needed. What a great act of kindness!

There's more to be learned here. The Bible says that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Ow, there's that word again: short. You know, when we pass on from this earth, we'll gather before the throne. It is here that we shall lay before God all that we have done in this life. He'll tally it up and say, "You're short." All that you have done won't pay the bill. But there's hope; you see, if you have acknowledged Jesus as your Savior, then He will step up behind you and say, "Here Father, I've paid for this person's bill. It's all right here." And then He'll show the marks in His side, hands and feet.

Oh what amazing love He shows toward us!

Intersecting Faith & Life: Is Jesus paying your bill or are you trying to pay the bill your own way? Maybe you know someone who doesn't know about Jesus. Make a point to tell them. Ask them to get in His line. He'll gladly pay their bill too.

Further Reading

Becoming a Christian
Romans 2:16
1 Corinthians 3:13
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[Judy Harder]

June 30, 2009

Trust His Heart
by Meghan Kleppinger

"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.'" Psalm 31:14

Whether it be financial, relational, spiritual, or physical troubles (and don't they all seem to come at the same time?), it's easy to find ourselves questioning God and His plan for our lives.

Christian singer Babbie Mason's song, Trust His Heart, addresses these times of hardship. I heard this song for the first time when I was a preteen, and its moving lyrics continue to encourage me now in my adult years. I sing the chorus whenever I'm going through one of life's rough patches.

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart

These aren't just lyrics of a song, they're descriptions of God's character and reminders of His promises as told through scripture.

1. God is too wise to be mistaken
"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his." (Job 12:13) (NIV)

"But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (Jeremiah 10:12) (NIV)

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33) (NIV)

2. God is too good to be unkind
"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalms 34: (NAS)

"Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me." (Psalm 69:16) (NIV)

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2, 3) (NAS)

3. So when you don't understand, When you don't see His plan, When you can't trace His hand, Trust His heart

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) (NAS)

"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) (NAS)

Isn't good to know that we when we are afraid or in the middle of circumstance we don't understand, that we can trust the ways of our wise and wonderful God!

Intersecting Faith & Life: Commit scriptures to memory that remind you of God's character and share the confidence you have in Him.

Further Reading

Use Means But Don't Trust in Means, Trust in God, by John Piper
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[Judy Harder]

July 1, 2009

Breath of Fresh Air
by Fred Alberti Sr.; and Fred Alberti Jr., Crosswalk.com Director of Social Media

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13


40 years ago, while anchored in the Philippines Islands, I was jarred from sleep by the 'battle stations' klaxons. After finding my way to my battle station, I was told there was a fire spreading aboard ship and was issued an OBA (Oxygen Breather) and sent below decks to search for injured shipmates in need of help.

Two decks below the hanger bay I came across my friend Tony. His eyes were nearly swollen shut and he was semi-conscious. Fortunately he was as skinny as I was, about 130 pounds soaking wet. I removed my Oxy mask and gave him a few breaths of pure air.  I put him over my shoulder and struggled up the first ladder. At the top, I stopped to give another breath of Oxy to Tony, then began climbing another ladder to the hanger bay where I slipped Tony to the deck and yelled for a medic.   

Like many of the injured, he was transferred to the USS Constellation for emergency medical treatment. That was the last I saw of Tony, until recently. I've since learned that Tony lost 50 percent of his lung capacity in that fire on the Kitty Hawk. He claims that if I hadn't removed my mask and given him some of my Oxy, he probably would not have survived.

Everyday we come into contact with people who are suffering from the choking "smoke" of sin. The easy thing to do is to judge them and turn our back.

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2)

Tony would probably have died if he had not been given the oxygen his lungs craved. How many people have you come into contact with who need the fresh oxygen of an encouraging word or a helping, loving hand?

Intersecting Faith & Life: Take some time to help in a homeless shelter this month. Be the bearer of a breath of fresh encouragement.

Further Reading

Romans 12:6-21
Living Free
On the Verge of Collapse

Fred Alberti Sr. served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk 1967-1969. He has two children and lives with his wife. He may be emailed at nukeglow@gmail.com.
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[Judy Harder]

July 2, 2009

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him
by Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Matthew 26: 40-41 NIV


There is a little chapel I frequent once a week to spend time with the Lord. It consists of a small, modest room attached to a monastery, tucked away on sprawling land in a neighboring county. Every Thursday, my boyfriend and I travel to spend one hour of silence before the Lord.

One full hour. With no breaks, no comforts of home. Just a cheap chair and a beat up old kneeler.

When we first made the one hour commitment, I expected a struggle.10 minutes here or 15 there in the tiny chapel seemed much more reasonable. It's times like this that I empathize with the disciples in the passage above. Indeed, the spirit is more willing than the flesh.

Over time, I am beginning to realize how little an hour per week really is -- and how beneficial this hour is to my relationship with God. It often takes a solid half hour before my soul is even still enough to cease my rambling at the Lord and allow Him to speak. And both of us recently noted that on the weeks we don't make it to Adoration, there is a distinct hole in our lives.

St. John of the Cross once said, "Those who are very active and think they can embrace the world with their preaching and external activities, should remember that they would be more useful to the Church and more pleasing to God, not to mention the good example they would set, were they to spend half as much time with him in prayer."

It's hard to imagine such a stationary activity could be so valuable -- even more so than preaching. Yet, ultimately, all the doing in the world, all those other interesting things that hold our attention, could be rendered meaningless if our relationship with the Lord is weak.

I often imagine the Lord waiting for us each week for that appointment in that chapel. There may be hours where it is completely empty, and yet He waits. As you begin your week, know that time spent with the Lord is time He desires with you. It is never wasted time and may bring Him more pleasure than anything else you accomplish this week

Intersecting Faith & Life: Are your quiet times still and peaceful? Or are they distracted and rushed? What can you do to improve your quiet times? Do you have a special place set aside where you spend time with the Lord?

Further Reading

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Psalm 95: 6-7
Matthew 6:5-8
How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time, by Adrian Rogers
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[Judy Harder]

July 3, 2009

How I Came to Enjoy Raisins
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. -- 1 John 2:10

Worst advertising slogan ever: "Two scoops of raisins in Kellogg's Raisin Bran." Blech. But apparently it worked on my mother, who bought the stuff like it was going out of style, while referring to delicious breakfast desserts such as Lucky Charms and Crunchberries as "cardboard." So unfair. So there I sat, choking down my raisin bran, or even oatmeal cookies with raisins in them, always suffering the same horrible fate: the bran or cookie part would be chewed and swallowed before the gooey chewy raisins, leaving me a mouthful of not-nearly-as-tasty goop.

I despised raisins. Thought about writing Kellogg's and telling them that backing off to one scoop would be plenty (nothing like getting to the bottom of the bowl and finding no flakes, only 10 little black things. Ew).

Flash-forward a quarter century. I'm having a similar issue to the raisin problem with people. Specifically, I'm loathe to admit, some Christian people. No, I haven't been eating them, but sometimes, I do find us hard to swallow. Part of the problem, ironically, is my job! Here at Crosswalk we often receive angry emails from fellow Christians who don't like the movie we reviewed, the way we said something, the ad we ran, or the author we allowed to appear on the site. Criticism's fine, even justified; I just have a hard time when it comes with a "You call yourself Christian?" or a "Have you even read the Bible?" punch to the gut. Sometimes it feels as if we Christians are concerned more with hammering home universal truth no matter how bluntly, or railing against _(fill in the blank)_ than genuinely loving people and meeting needs. Of course, the obvious irony here is that I then, looking in the mirror, find myself in short supply on genuine love myself. Which is not where Christ wants any of us to be. In fact, in Revelation 12:10, the title "Accuser of the Brethren" is given to our enemy Satan at his judgment. Yikes. Do I really want to claim that monicker for myself?

So what does this have to do with raisins? Well, recently I discovered I kinda like the shriveled little things! I pack 'em for snacks, and eat them with the kids. I like the nutritional value, the fiber, the chewiness. What's changed? My tastes? No. The raisins? No. Not the packaging, not the flavor, not even my effort (I'm not choking them down because they're good for me, I genuinely like them). I realized that what has changed is my perspective. It didn't happen overnight, but about the time "Craisins" (dried Cranberries) came on the scene, I began enjoying all sorts of dried fruits. And here's what I noticed: I like cranberries, ergo I like dried cranberries. I like apricots, therefore I like dried apricots. I love grapes, so obviously I... hate raisins? That didn't seem to make logical sense. Maybe it was time to give raisins another try. Maybe I shouldn't even think of them as raisins. Maybe I should just think of them as "dried grapes!"

That may sound extremely silly... but it worked! I felt like I had come into the light. The texture was suddenly different. The way I savored them changed... everything. And a fun new world of food possibilities has re-opened to me, simply thanks to a different way of looking at something.

1 John Chapter 2 is all about Light, who it comes from, what it helps us do, and what it shows about us when we walk in it. Light is a perspective-changer. It reveals the true nature of hidden or darkened things. It doesn't change them, but it can and does change how they appear, how they are perceived, and the details we notice. Our verse today says, "Whoever loves his brother lives in the light," and I think it also works backwards: "Whoever lives in the light loves his brother." It's not going to be easy for me to see fellow redeemed sinners - especially the angry ones - as Jesus does, but it's clearly possible, and commanded, and in the raisin example it wasn't about my efforts anyway - just turning on a light.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Who's got your goat? Have you ever tried seeing that individual, group, or faceless internet personage in a different light, from a different perspective, or even as God sees them? Have you considered how you might look different to others in a new light? Try filling these blanks in for yourself: "I like ____(x)_____, therefore I like even __________  _____(x)_____."

Further Reading

John 1: 4-11
Light and the Nature of God, by Regis Nicoll
How to Deal with Angry People, by Gary Chapman
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