Showing results by narrator "Van Tracy" in All Categories

He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. This lighthearted song is a bit more ominous in the context of other Christmas traditions. From beasts that threaten to cook children into stew to sinister crones who snatch little ones from their beds, you won’t find any dancing sugar plums here. Outside of the heartwarming Christmas tales we all know and love, there are an abundance of frightening stories to chill all who hear them to the bone.

Joseph of Arimathea tells the story of the man who took upon himself the task of burying Jesus after his crucifixion. Joseph, who is briefly discussed in all four gospel accounts, is a mere footnote in Scripture, but his actions speak volumes and give the working Christian an example of how to live for Christ in a world that opposes him.

Power - God's power. You've got to have it to stand strong in these times and become who God says you are. And the good news is you have full access to it through Jesus. Daily Power will help you develop a consistent, daily pursuit of Jesus that releases his power in your life. These 365 brief devotions by pastor and New York Times best-selling author Craig Groeschel deliver what no instant energy drink can: strength and insight for the here-and-now of your life, your marriage, your workplace, family matters, temptations, hopes and dreams, possibilities and decisions.

Whether you are a young company that's just starting out or a mature business looking to grow, Bob Pritchett's hands-on advice and practical examples are a must-listen for every manager, business owner, and entrepreneur. You'll hear what Pritchett has discovered through his years of experience as an entrepreneur and small-business owner. It is a book about what to do, what not to do, and why. For your business, it could be that one piece of advice that makes all the difference...and even give you a few laughs along the way.

We all get the same 24 hours in a day, yet a special few seem to have superhuman abilities when it comes to accomplishing great things in life. Tommy Barnett, a proven master at “getting things done,” says the key to maximizing your productivity is to make use of small, manageable moments in your day - just 30 minutes at a time. In this remarkably practical book, Tommy shows how to begin a whole new life of fruitfulness.

A groundbreaking look at the strange friendship between George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin, who together defined what it means to be an American. They were the most famous men in America. They came from separate countries, followed different philosophies, and led dissimilar lives. But they were fast friends. No two people did more to shape America in the mid-1700s.

Anchor Man presents the high calling of fatherhood, the traits of a Christian father, the adventures that await him as he interacts with his children, and the significance of his role as a good family man. Steve Farrar presents these roles and responsibilities in a way any man wanting to increase his understanding of his place in the family, and our society, can put into action every day.

For many Christians who've tried their hands at evangelism or have had to defend their faith, it can feel like doing PR work for God—limiting ourselves to a series of strategies and tactics. In The Faithful Apologist, Scott Oliphint provides a foundation for Christians to explain their faith in a welcoming manner that avoids any burden to "sell" Christianity to non-Christians. Drawing as much from the rich tradition of Western apologetics as from the wisdom of effective communication, this book bridges the gap between sharing the truth of our faith and the art of persuasion.

The more you compare, the less satisfied you are. The more we interact online, the more we crave intimacy. The more filtered our lives become, the harder it is to be real. It's time to refresh and rediscover what it means to be "like Jesus" and find true authenticity, a healthy self-image, and compassion for others in an age when we relate to each other so differently than ever before. Craig Groeschel helps put Christ first again in today's maxed out, selfie-centered world.

America has become a beautiful mosaic filled with many colors and ethnicities - but does your church reflect this change? Are you longing to be a cross-cultural leader who can guide the church into a multicolored world for the sake of the gospel? Best-selling author and pastor Dr. Derwin Gray calls all churches and their leaders to grow out of ignorance, classism, racism, and greed into a flourishing, vibrant, and grace-filled community of believers.

Mark Batterson has a surprising secret weapon for parenting: prayer. Batterson shares a perfect blend of biblical yet practical advice that will revolutionize parents' prayer lives. This guide describes seven important ways prayer circles will transform how parents pray for their kids and lead them to a deeper relationship with Christ. As Batterson says, "You can leave a legacy for generations to come. Your prayers have the power to shape the destiny of your children and your children's children. It's time to start circling."

Being a misfit does not disqualify you from a dynamic life - it prepares you for it.Matthew Barnett knows a thing or two about misfits. As founder of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, a 24-hour church that ministers to 35,000 hurting people a week, Barnett has seen a little of everything. Gangsters, addicts, orphans, taggers, cutters, the sick, the suffering, the hopeless . . . all the misfits of the world come through the church's doors in search of hope.

Do you ever sense that there's far more to prayer, and to God's vision for your life, than what you're experiencing? It's time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker - a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his prayers for his people. What impossibly big dream is God calling you to draw a prayer circle around? In this powerful booklet, excerpted from The Circle Maker, Batterson helps you uncover your heart's deepest desires and God-given dreams and unleash them through the kind of audacious prayer that God delights to answer.

Some churches advocate one-on-one discipling, others try getting everyone into a small group, while still others training through mission trips or service projects. Yet others focus all their efforts on attracting people to a large group gathering to hear biblical teaching and preaching. But does one size really fit everyone? Based on careful biblical study and years of experience making disciples in the local church, Bobby Harrington and Alex Absalom have identified five key relationships where discipleship happens in our lives.

Is your life limited by labels the world and other people have used to define you? Labels you have internalized and apply to yourself every day? Labels like “Afraid” or “Addict” or “Orphan.” “Damaged Goods.” “Failure.” Maybe even “Religious.” These labels might be sewn into your life with such tight little stitches that they feel like a part of you. It feels like they define you. But that’s a lie. If you let him, Jesus can remove those old labels and tattoo new ones onto your soul. Then you’ll begin to see yourself as God the Father sees you.

Prayer can sometimes be a frightening thing. How do you approach the maker of the world, and what exactly can you pray for? In this student adaptation of The Circle Maker, Pastor Mark Batterson uses the true legend of Honi the circle maker, a first-century Jewish sage whose bold prayer saved a generation, to uncover the boldness God asks of us at times and what powerful prayer can mean in your life.

The Case for Christianity Answer Book provides succinct answers to real questions about Christianity. Best-selling author and spiritual skeptic Lee Strobel uses his investigative journalism skills to dig deep into the Bible to provide compelling and concise answers about the religion of Christianity.

At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves in a boat in the middle of a lake. We might be there due to a job loss or the death of a loved one. Maybe disability, divorce, or financial insecurity has stranded us. Patrick and Ruth Schwenk found themselves feeling battered after five miscarriages and then surrounded by the waves with Patrick’s cancer diagnosis at age 43. They were alone. Drifting. And that’s when their transformation began.

In Solving Your Money Problems, Pastor David Crank simplifies the scary and unleashes the new of way of thinking about money. Teaching the nuts and bolts of finances, he outlines easy and accessible ways to budget, eliminate debt, increase savings, and give generously.

What can the military teach all of us about success? Plenty. Col. Mark Bender's Operation Excellence shows how to harness the success strategies of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps and apply them to every facet of our lives: wealth and success, business and leadership, health and well-being, personal relationships, and more.