Jody Neufeld shares from her heart “ordinary moments with an extraordinary God.” Upon her retirement from nursing and then beginning into ministry with her husband Henry, a Biblical teacher, Jody felt the Lord urging her to share a daily devotion with people she knew still in an outside workplace. “I know that when I was working in a hospital or a doctor’s office or in homes delivering hospice care, I wish someone had sent me an email devotion each morning that would give me a focus and a lesson for the day.” This ministry went from 12 people to hundreds and continues today. This weekly devotion book is made up of 52 devotions with questions or suggestions for discussion that will work well with small groups. Used in conjunction with the Energion Publication, When 3 to 8 Gather, this is an excellent way to ‘jump start’ a small group with diverse members or given an established group a new perspective.
Imprint: Energion Publications
Our main Energion Imprint
-
52 Weeks of Ordinary People – Extraordinary God (ePub)
Jody Neufeld shares from her heart “ordinary moments with an extraordinary God.” Upon her retirement from nursing and then beginning into ministry with her husband Henry, a Biblical teacher, Jody felt the Lord urging her to share a daily devotion with people she knew still in an outside workplace. “I know that when I was working in a hospital or a doctor’s office or in homes delivering hospice care, I wish someone had sent me an email devotion each morning that would give me a focus and a lesson for the day.” This ministry went from 12 people to hundreds and continues today. This weekly devotion book is made up of 52 devotions with questions or suggestions for discussion that will work well with small groups. Used in conjunction with the Energion Publication, When 3 to 8 Gather, this is an excellent way to ‘jump start’ a small group with diverse members or given an established group a new perspective.
[kadence_element id=”17548″] -
A Cup of Cold Water
A “chance” meeting with a thirsty little girl on a back street in Haiti and God’s plan is received by the author, forever changing his life and that of his family.
“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup and of cold water because he is a
disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” – Matthew 10:42What “cup of water” is Jesus asking you to deliver? What is your mission in this world? Are you willing to obey? Will you spend your life fishing safely from the dock? Or will you step out of a boat with Jesus and walk across the water in His plan?
-
A Holy Mystery
A pastor says, “If you think you understand the trinity, you’ve probably fallen into heresy.” An expert in biblical studies says, “The trinity is one of the best ways ever invented to say, ‘We don’t have a clue!’” Many people say the trinity is not found in the Bible, so what is it doing as a doctrine?
This lively and challenging book asks you to think about the trinity, what it means, how it came to be, and what value it might have in Christian conversation today. If you don’t want to have your thinking challenged, or you’d rather just go on saying, “I believe in the trinity,” without knowing what you’re saying, then definitely stay away from this book!
To the rest of you, “Enjoy!”
-
A Home United
Dr Robert LaRochelle has a passion for reaching across the lines of division and guiding both sides to a place of dialogue, maybe even a place of agreement. Marriage is not an easy merger when the two parties are coming from diverse faith beliefs. Bob LaRochelle brings not only his passion to facilitate communication but also his own personal experience in navigating towards a united home. In his practical way, He does speak to some specific situations but he also discusses some general philosophies on how to communicate constructively.
-
A New Look at Hospitality as a Key to Missions
Many Christians have grown up with a very limited concept of “missions” and “missionaries.” In this view a missionary is a person who goes and preaches to lots of people, often in primitive lands, and explains the theology of the gospel. The natives are convinced and become Christians. Thus the gospel commission is fulfilled. Actual missions have not been carried out in this way very much. Missionaries are generally very aware of the personal aspect of their activities, and the importance of hospitality. But western churches have become much less attuned to hospitality. The days are past when visitors could assume they’d be invited home for lunch or become personally connected to people in a church they visit. But hospitality is a key concept, and a key practice, in the Bible, both in Old and New Testament times. This involved both God’s relationship with his people, in which some “entertained angels,” in their relationships with one another, and in the way they reached the world with the good news God had given to them. Chris Freet examines the biblical idea of hospitality, the role it played in biblical times, and the example that provides for us. He concludes that the western church needs to be re-awakened to the mutual and reciprocal biblical definition of hospitality; that it must undergo some contextualization in order for the biblical role of hospitality and the “person of peace” to work in it; and (3) it must transition from short-term encounters of hospitality in the West to long-term relationships as the family of God. This is a serious theological examination, but it is also both a challenge and a practical guide to help us get started in giving hospitality the role in our churches that the biblical story envisions.
-
A Positive Word for Christian Lamenting
One of the most difficult tasks that may confront a pastor is the preaching of a funeral homily. What are the words that will provide comfort and encouragement to the family and friends of the deceased? What words will be faithful to the message of the gospel and the community of faith?
William Powell Tuck, author of the practical guide to preaching, Overcoming Sermon Block and Holidays, Holy Days, and Special Days draws on his years of experience, training, and teaching to provide some examples of funeral homilies that can help young pastors to prepare for everything from joyful celebrations of a long life well lived to the memory of life tragically shortened.
But this book is not just useful for pastors. Reading these homilies will provide you with insight into understand grief. Whether you are dealing with loss yourself, or looking for ways to help friends or family, you will find insights and encouragement in the homilies in this book.
-
A Short Critique of Climate Change
Climate Change has become a major topic of debate in today’s politics, with some advocating serious changes in policy in response to it, and others suggesting that scientists and politicians are misreading, misrepresenting, and misapplying the data.
Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. is not afraid to challenge scientific orthodoxy, and in fact believes it is very important that we do so. In this little book, he gives an introduction to a number of problems that he and others see with the apparent consensus view on this topic. His intention is to use this one case as a model for how we need to handle scientific data and dissent from consensus opinions in order to preserve the integrity of the scientific process.
Is important data being ignored? Is it being interpreted to fit an existing view? How should we respond as a society? You’ll have a chance to examine some of these questions in the pages of this book.
-
Aging is Not Optional
In a youth-oriented culture where old age is almost regarded as the unpardonable sin, there is not much space in our daily lives for the discussion of the one reality that is inescapable – aging.
This book brings the good news that discussions about aging can bring new purpose, meaning, and hope to all of life – regardless of your present age. It is a book filled with perspectives and suggestions that can make the advancing years truly golden in the sense of satisfaction, meaning, and fulfillment. Come along with the author (who is 80+ years old) on the journey through this book and see if it was worth the trip. You may be surprised at the number of discoveries and new insights you will find which can enlighten and enliven all of the remaining days of your life.
Aging Is Not Optional includes challenging questions for reflection and discussion. It’s suitable for individual or small group use, or for a church study.
-
All I Need to Know I’m Still Learning at 80
Those who have lived eight decades in this world often feel the need to write about their life experiences or life philosophies. If that person has lived a varied, experiential life and shows good spiritual fruit in that life, it might be wise of those who are coming after them to read and listen to them and thus, learn Ron Higdon has lived such a life and has now written such a book.
So fix yourself a “hot cuppa,” pull up a chair, clean your reading glasses, and settle in for a chapter or two (or more ) and mark some nuggets of Higdon Gold to consider and meditate on.
-
Allegheny Hideaway
Iris Elaine Picket lives in a beautiful home, with many servants, and a husband who sees her with the same respect he sees those household slaves. The loss of her child after yet another beating from her husband gives her the impetus to take her maidservant and flee South Carolina, leaving behind her parents, security, even her name and begin a new life in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. Once again, author Kimberly Gordon, draws us into the lives of her fictional characters, connecting us in our contemporary lives with her imperfect people who struggle to make good choices, just like us. This story calls us to consider our own secret prejudices as Iris evolves from her childhood beliefs to the truths that she recognizes as she finds friends in those who were once thought of as slaves. Mrs. Gordon writes unapologetically from her Christian beliefs but avoids the distraction of preaching and, instead, offers her characters who are learning from the witness of others and their own time of prayer with God.
-
Along Bible Paths
Along Bible Paths: Summer Devotions grew out of the daily devotional e-mail list that Jody Neufeld began in 1999 to encourage others to begin their day with the Lord. This book is a collection organized for the summer.