Henry G Brinton

When the heavens open on the small river town of Occoquan, Virginia, the streets flood and a candle shop is swept away. A Methodist pastor named Harley Camden witnesses the destructive deluge and then discovers, in the debris, a dead man with a crude carving of Satan's claws in his back. Harley is drawn into the mystery of what caused the flood and who killed the man, while diving into questions of good and evil, body and spirit, humanity and the environment--especially questions about the change in climate that now threatens life around the globe. He discovers that there is a spiritual dimension to every social issue, whether it be the violence of Central American gangs or the racism that leads a black businessman to make a fateful choice. When the windows of the heavens open, surprising truths are revealed about how people can coexist in an interfaith, multicultural community, and how humans can establish a sustainable relationship with the natural world around them.

When the heavens open on the small river town of Occoquan, Virginia, the streets flood and a candle shop is swept away. A Methodist pastor named Harley Camden witnesses the destructive deluge and then discovers, in the debris, a dead man with a crude carving of Satan's claws in his back. Harley is drawn into the mystery of what caused the flood and who killed the man, while diving into questions of good and evil, body and spirit, humanity and the environment--especially questions about the change in climate that now threatens life around the globe. He discovers that there is a spiritual dimension to every social issue, whether it be the violence of Central American gangs or the racism that leads a black businessman to make a fateful choice. When the windows of the heavens open, surprising truths are revealed about how people can coexist in an interfaith, multicultural community, and how humans can establish a sustainable relationship with the natural world around them.

From the creation story of Genesis to the new heaven and new earth of Revelation, The Bible's Greatest Hits contains the top sixty-six passages in Holy Scripture. Presbyterian pastor and novelist Henry G. Brinton invites readers into discussion and debate as he reveals the significance of these passages and connects them to contemporary life. Some readers will disagree with Brinton's selections, just as music fans dispute the choices on a greatest-hits album, but all will gain a new appreciation for the richness of scriptural insights found in the full range of biblical books, from the well-known to the obscure. Written for both private devotion and group discussion, The Bible's Greatest Hits includes the best in biblical scholarship as well as practical connections to daily life, along with questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. The book gives Christian youths and adults an introduction to the major characters and stories of Holy Scripture, as it links their daily lives to the Bible's most important moral and theological insights. Readers will gain the satisfaction of increased biblical literacy while being shaped by the most transformative passages from Genesis to Revelation in the course of their ongoing faith development.

From the creation story of Genesis to the new heaven and new earth of Revelation, The Bible's Greatest Hits contains the top sixty-six passages in Holy Scripture. Presbyterian pastor and novelist Henry G. Brinton invites readers into discussion and debate as he reveals the significance of these passages and connects them to contemporary life. Some readers will disagree with Brinton's selections, just as music fans dispute the choices on a greatest-hits album, but all will gain a new appreciation for the richness of scriptural insights found in the full range of biblical books, from the well-known to the obscure. Written for both private devotion and group discussion, The Bible's Greatest Hits includes the best in biblical scholarship as well as practical connections to daily life, along with questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. The book gives Christian youths and adults an introduction to the major characters and stories of Holy Scripture, as it links their daily lives to the Bible's most important moral and theological insights. Readers will gain the satisfaction of increased biblical literacy while being shaped by the most transformative passages from Genesis to Revelation in the course of their ongoing faith development.

"Every time people sit down to eat and drink together, there is the possibility that community will grow and people will be reconciled to one another. This is good news for a fractured and polarized world, and a strong sign of the importance of being a welcoming congregation that embraces all people with God's love and grace." from the introductionThis practical book by pastor and writer Henry G. Brinton studies the biblical basis for Christian hospitality and how it is practiced in congregations today. While recognizing the challenges for embracing all people in the life of the church, Brinton offers a helpful guide for creating a hospitable congregation and welcoming others through spiritual formation, reconciliation, and outreach. He includes discussion questions and an action plan in each chapter.