This book strives to help followers of Jesus to do well in difficult times in their lives, and strikes a good balance between the impor-tance of being and doing. Being is inwardly focussed and concerns our thinking, attitudes and motivations. Doing concerns taking action. If we want to fllourish in troubling times, we need to make sure that our actions flow from a right frame of mind.
Both being and doing are essential, but what we do grows out of what we are.
Shakespeare described this tension between being and doing in his play, Hamlet.
“To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles…..”
We can be sure that the ‘arms against a sea of troubles’ are the arms of Jesus Himself! It is his activity in us and through us which will help us to flourish in times of trouble.
After Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, he asked the disciples, “where is your faith?” He knew that the answer to flourishing in the midts of the storm was faith in Him!
In this book, Bruce helps you navigate the storms of life with both timeless principles and practical action.
We live in troubling times, from financial uncertainty to political instability, from physical war to cyber war, from physical viruses to computer viruses. Every person faces struggles whether it is relational, spiritual, or physical. In spite of the gloom and doom, the Bible gives us hope that not only can we survive, but we can flourish. We can thrive, grow, multiply, and bear fruit in spite of any circumstance. Our lives can be satisfying and rich in relationships and in accomplishments. How you may wonder? There is a great promise in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Christ is present to work in us and through us to give us an abundant life and experience victory.
The book outlines both a spiritual journey (motivation of the heart) and practical process (strength for the hand) that will help you flourish regardless of our country, culture, job, or financial ca-pacity. The spiritual journey is where God is transforming our hearts and relationships. The practical process, which parallels the spiritual, will guide each of us in gaining order and maturity in the use of all our resources so we can engage in God’s Kingdom purposes. Each chapter will feature a story or parable of Jesus to set the stage.
“Flourishing in Troubling Times” takes you on a journey from challenge to hope, making application in the use of material resources so we truly will “be able take hold of life indeed.”
This book will inspire the spiritual heart to go deeper with the Lord and to support our practices of being wise in use of finances. By stimulating the heart we will be able to: tackle the challenges, sustain our spiritual lives in the journey, engage in God’s purpose and plan, and glorify the Lord. By strengthening the hand we will be freed up (finances and relationships in order), to do good, be generous, be rich in good works and take hold of what the Lord has in store for us.
This dual process of spiritual and practical will consider eight elements or key markers in our journey. Be encouraged as the process will be adventuresome and will truly help each of to “flourish” beyond measure.
The process has four primary stages along its path: Chaos, Order, Maturity, and Eternity. Each of these stages contains two stops in the journey.
Chaos – The Gathering Storm and a Future Hope.
Order – Surrender/Stewardship and Lifestyle Choices on Money. Maturity – Contentment and Generosity.
Eternity – Kingdom living, resulting in Flourishing.
You can buy the book at € 9,95 from our webshop. Click here.
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