I Love the World--It's People I Can't Stand: Jonah's Journey of Brokenness and

Description: Jonah … a fascinating and intriguing story. One of the best you'll ever read. A run-away-preacher, scared-out-of-their-wits sailors, a hurricane-like storm, a fish-eats-man drama, a bleached prophet, and terrified terrorists. Further, it's true-all of it. Jonah is not your run-of-the-mill prophet. He's different. Defiant. A rebel. Hard-headed and stubborn. Most prophets ran to God. Jonah ran from God. The prophets proclaimed their message. Jonah proclaimed his woes. Jonah's message was eight words, "'Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown'" (Jonah 3:4). Lousy sermon from my perspective-no introduction, no outline, no humor, no hope, and a total downer. Most of the prophets suffered horrific persecution. They were mocked, stoned, imprisoned, and beaten. Not Jonah. His only suffering was self-inflicted. Most of the prophets predicted the future with glimpses of hope. Jonah fumed about the future-angry there was hope. Jonah was the only prophet sent to preach in a foreign land … and the only one to run the opposite direction to a different foreign land. Jonah had more visible results than all the other prophets combined-and he deserved his success the least. God's patience with Jonah stretches the meaning of the word. The glowing grandeur of the book is God's compassion for the undeserving-Jonah, the sailors, the terrorists in Nineveh. Above all the miracles and spectacular twists of events, nothing is of greater significance than God's love for a wicked-to-the-core people. The message of the book crashes through all the barriers of nationalism and racial hatred. People of other cultures, languages, and colors of skin matter to God. The message of the book captures the why for going to the ends of the earth with the good news that God loves and is willing to save the most lost person on the planet. Perhaps, there's never been a time when the message of this book has been more needed. Racism, prejudice, and hatred flourish in our world. Many pat themselves on the back for being a loving person while they despise the person who mows their lawn … or their co-worker … or the person in the other political party … or obnoxious Uncle Charlie. Saying you love all the people in Africa and Asia is fairly easy but quite a different matter when they move into the neighborhood. God's love through Jesus Christ is for every person-murderer, kidnapper, terrorist, thief, drug addict, sexual deviant, and the self-righteous. The "Go and preach" of the opening verse of Jonah is still the command today. You cannot say the word "gospel" without saying "go." As you capture the passion of God for a lost people and his love for a hurting world today, translate the lessons of the book into your world. Love that person who irritates you or misuses you or maligns you. Walk across the room to talk to that person others avoid. Show and tell others how much God loves them. The message of Jonah is for today! Dave Beckwith grew up in the Midwest in a small town of seven hundred fifty people, Murdo, South Dakota (and some other small towns). In first grade when the teacher asked what everyone wanted to be ... fireman, teacher, doctor, nurse, etc., Dave announced he was going to be a pastor. The call of God on his life was clear from this early age, shortly after he committed his life to Christ. During high school, he preached his first sermons in the small church. In the fall of 1965, Dave started Biola where he met his future wife, Joanne. She recorded meal ticket numbers in the cafeteria-Dave's number was 573, and she had his number. One week after their wedding in 1969, Dave and Joanne began their journey in pastoral ministry. And what an adventure it has been-some thrilling joys and successes along with struggles, pain, and setbacks. God has repeatedly spared Dave's life ... a knife thrown at him while preaching in the Philippines, a dramatic rescue from a fiery head-on freeway collision with a drunk driver who was driving on the wrong side of the freeway, a forty-foot fall while speaking in Northern California, and a biking accident when the driver of an SUV plowed into and ran over him. Dave relates these life lessons and many others in his speaking and teaching. Dave's ministry experience includes youth and camp ministry, church administration, and serving as a senior pastor for over thirty years. Currently, Dave and Joanne serve as shepherds with Standing Stone Ministry, caring for spiritual leaders. Dave is also the Western US Regional Director for Standing Stone Ministry, training and coordinating the work of over fifty pastoral shepherds. In 2007, Dave was named senior pastor emeritus for Woodbridge Church in Irvine, California, where he served as senior pastor for nearly twenty years. Dave and Joanne also wrote Your Winning Edge: God's Power Perfected in Weakness (previously titled The Edge). The third edition will soon be released by Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. Dave and Joanne are both graduates of Biola University. Joanne received her BS degree in nursing. Professionally, she has worked in alcohol and drug rehab and psychiatry. Dave received his BS degree in business administration at Biola and did his seminary work at Talbot School of Theology. Additional graduate studies have included an MA in biblical studies and a PhD in church and family ministry. A love for God's beauty in nature takes them on hikes and rides on their recumbent bikes. Their two married daughters, Julie and Tami, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren are a great source of joy and enjoyment. Having faced the painful side of personal and church life has equipped them to come alongside others. God has given them a heart for those who hurt and a shared life mission to help others discover God's power in their weakest moments. One of their greatest joys is sharing over a cup of coffee or a meal-weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice. You may contact Dave for speaking, consulting, or leader care at: Standing Stone Ministry 270 Baker Street East, Suite 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 dave.b@standingstoneministry.org or

Price: 29.08 AUD

Location: Hillsdale, NSW

End Time: 2025-01-05T01:25:23.000Z

Shipping Cost: 31.06 AUD