Sara saw things differently. Two weeks before her due date, Sara lost a healthy baby girl. Four weeks later, doctors discovered Stage IV colon cancer. A week after this terminal diagnosis, Sara set up a profile on Caring Bridge and began telling her story of the "most wonderful terrible thing" that had ever happened to her. Sara's transparency about the experience of the physical and emotional turmoil of her illness serves as a brilliant example of a woman firmly convinced that God holds victory over death. In The Light Shines Through, you can walk with Sara and learn from the amazing love and peace that defined her difficult but beautiful last year and a half of her life on earth. Through her humble perspective and unabashed passion, Sara offers compelling lessons on how to live in the present, teaching others to see God’s presence and abundant love every moment—even those that are deeply painful.

- For Bible study groups, preaching, retreats - For new and not-so-new Christians seeking to connect Scripture with their personal lives today

How His Light Shines Through Us “This Is My Story” – Is a must read for anyone who is searching for a deeper meaning in life. When we cry out to God, with all our heart, seeking what His will is for us – I Believe God Will Answer! “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV) I believe that we are all at some point in our lives, at the stepping stones of God’s will for us. I believe God has a plan for every one of us to utilize our gifts, given by Him, for His Glory. I believe the plans He has for us, are far greater than we could ever imagine; and that He is just waiting for us to say: “OK, I’m ready – I’ve tried it my way, and it’s not working. I desperately need You in my life! Please reveal to me what Your will is for my life. What is my purpose on this earth, and how do I fit into Your plan, for Your Kingdom?” Sherri is sharing now, her story of how God stepped into her life big time – with numerous poems/songs that she feels God has given to her, as well as some short stories behind them, and a few photos taken along the way – as she reminisces back through these moments in time, following her transition from ordinary days, to being in the middle of something that she feels God is calling her to.

What happens when a hard-charging businessman tries to rent a gym for his youth basketball camp? He meets an elderly Catholic nun who holds the keys to the perfect gym. And a whole lot more. In this beautifully crafted memoir, bestselling author and business leader Joe Sweeney weaves a remarkable tale of friendship, spirituality, and even some of the mischief that characterizes the unlikely 32-year relationship he enjoyed with a modern-day saint. She had a way about her, he said, and it was unlike anything he had encountered as a lifelong Catholic with honest questions about his faith, spirituality, and the meaning of life. A Light Shines Through Us guides readers of all religious faiths and those claiming no faith on a journey of spiritual exploration and discovery offering new insights into the age-old questions that have intrigued people for centuries: Why are there so many different religions? How can I stay connected to a higher power? How can we grow old gracefully? What happens when we die? From his regular visits to the convent to Joe and Sister Camille's long discussions on park benches or over special meals to a remarkable visit with a U.S. president, Sweeney weaves his inquisitiveness, irreverence, and humor into a compelling tapestry of inspiration and enlightenment.

The light is everywhere and yet we seem to not be able to see. In this booklet, we take a moment and uncover the light so that it may now shine through.

Are you a new preacher who wants to build confidence in writing and delivering sermons? Or have you been preaching for a while and are looking for new ideas and techniques to keep your sermons fresh and your congregation engaged? These 62 creative sermons, written by New Zealand Methodist Lay Preacher Philip Garside, will provide just the input you need. Sermons work well when you are honest about your theology, draw meaning from the Bible readings for the day and relate them in a clear, logical way to your congregation. People will respond to personal stories in your sermons, and you will find that you develop your own style of preaching over time. Memorable sermons and services can be created by offering physical objects for the congregation to interact with, e.g. at prayer stations around the church, or waving flax leaves at the start of a Passion Sunday service and folding them into palm crosses later, during the sermon slot. If you read widely, listen to new music, look at new art, stay up-to-date with the politics of the day and generally take in what is happening in your local community, you will never be short of imaginative ideas to fill your sermons. Keep adding to your creative toolbox. Try something new. Your congregation will thank you. And always remember that your sermons need to tell the Good News of God’s love for us shown by the life, teaching and example of Jesus Christ. The book includes indexes of Scripture readings and of People & Themes, and a Bibliography of key books, recordings and other sources referred to in the sermons. The book is supported by free online PowerPoints, images & photos, video clips, and audio recordings of many of the sermons. Quotes from the sermons “He turned ‘Thou shalt not...’ into, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’” From the sermon: The Tipping Point “This evolution of the story of Jesus death over a 30 to 35 year period was a deliberate choice by the gospel writers in each case.” From: Head, Heart and Hands “If you can learn to love your enemy, can they still be your enemy? No, because of your change of heart, they are now your neighbour.” From: Who is my enemy? “Jesus was a back to basics sort of guy. He put people before rules.” From: Good things come in threes... “This is a hopeful story. No matter how troubled we are by what we have done or not done, no matter how distant we feel from God or each other, no matter who we are, there is always a way back to redemption and wholeness.” From: Have mercy on us... Praise for Let Your Light Shine Through “Are you a preacher of long-standing, jaded, feeling your sermons no longer connect? Or a lay preacher, seeking innovative and fresh ways to tell the Jesus story? Then Let Your Light Shine Through, is for you. A little book of 62 creative sermons, fresh ideas and resources, there’s much in it to stimulate congregational thought, or personal reflection and transformation. Wellingtonian, Philip Garside, is a man of many parts – a Methodist Lay Preacher of over 15 years, a New Zealand distributor and publisher of stimulating theological resources, a musician and singing group leader, a widely read thoughtful theologian, and a married father of three. Philip invites you to share, his insights from scholars like N.T. Wright, Bart Ehrman, and Richard Rohr, Joy Cowley’s contemporary psalms, and use video clips from an Al-Jazeera documentary, musical CDs from his Festival Singers’ choral music, Bach, and Handel, and physical objects, to sheet home your points. I particularly warmed to some 2014 sermons where Philip unbundles the Trinity to make sense to modern ears, as: “Worship God – Follow Jesus – [Be] Spirit Filled.” And in, “Jesus, the Human Face of God,” his de-coupling of the Nativity story. This is a preachers' goldmine I highly commend.” Gary Clover, historian & retired Methodist presbyter, author of: Collision, Compromise and Conversion during the Wesleyan Hokianga Mission, 1827–1855. “Every Methodist preacher in Aotearoa-New Zealand should have this sermon collection by Philip Garside... Philip joins a short list of the old-style Methodists who found within themselves, the flame, the fire, to preach and publish and be damned - and some of them were! ... all power to PGPL and to Philip for this book which gets the evangel into the marketplace. I like it.” Rev Dr David Bell, former principal of Trinity Theological College, Auckland “I am impressed. I see this as an excellent collection of role-model sermons. Each is well researched, well-structured and thoughtfully spiritual. You display an innovative range of creative presentations. Every reflection delivers a meaningful and meaty message for our times. Thank you for sharing it with me.” Rosalie Sugrue, Author and Lay Preacher

"Bible study, science, math, language arts, spelling and art with 12 'Character, connections': wisdom, faith, responsibility, diligence, honesty, cooperation, peaceableness, kindness, respect, obedience, thankfulness"--Page [1].

I, Psalmist is a 365-day devotional. This book provides reflection, prayer, and scripture reference for each day of the year. It may be started at any time. It is a truly inspirational book.

Why is it such a struggle for us to surrender everything to God? What does surrendering to God even look like and how are we supposed to do it? Why is it so hard for us to live the life that Jesus died to give us? Is life really supposed to be one constant struggle after another? One of the hardest things to do in life is to let go, giving God everything and never looking back. Laying it all down, never picking it up is the only way we can walk through this dark unfair world shinning and burning brightly for Jesus. Wanting control over our lives is the struggle that many Christians face and the turmoil of that fight is constantly lurking deep in our hearts. For many know what to do, but few actually do it: surrender. When a person holds onto frustration, bitterness, and the injustices of life their pain slowly evolves into chains that hold him down, disabling him to walk through life with peace, love, joy, and compassion. The only way to truly live is to die to our selfish nature every day and cast all of our burdens at the feet of Jesus.