Paul Shotsberger

These days, I hear postcollege friends wishing their way through their twenties, hoping for better days. Relationships are a burden, work is a burden, finances are a burden--everything is a burden. The thought seems to be that if they can just get to their thirties, they'll have everything figured out and can finally feel like successful adults. But that's an illusion, as anyone who is in or has already passed through their thirties knows. We don't grow up because we hit some chronological age; we grow up when we decide to live, when we reach out and grasp hope by the tail and allow it to pull us into the future. I'm a professor of undergraduate students and I attend a church populated by twentysomethings, so I spend at least six days a week with college- and postcollege-aged folk. Since in my mind I'm still in my twenties, I'm obviously in my element. But I've been through some stuff and have had a few days of growing up, so I wanted to share some of those stories.

These days, I hear postcollege friends wishing their way through their twenties, hoping for better days. Relationships are a burden, work is a burden, finances are a burden--everything is a burden. The thought seems to be that if they can just get to their thirties, they'll have everything figured out and can finally feel like successful adults. But that's an illusion, as anyone who is in or has already passed through their thirties knows. We don't grow up because we hit some chronological age; we grow up when we decide to live, when we reach out and grasp hope by the tail and allow it to pull us into the future. I'm a professor of undergraduate students and I attend a church populated by twentysomethings, so I spend at least six days a week with college- and postcollege-aged folk. Since in my mind I'm still in my twenties, I'm obviously in my element. But I've been through some stuff and have had a few days of growing up, so I wanted to share some of those stories.

Choices: God's and Ours is a collection of stories and thoughts about how God's choices and our choices work together to advance His Kingdom. Written from the perspective of practical theology, the book is intended to help readers better understand the heart of God for us and the unlimited potential that exists when our moral will is aligned with His sovereign will. ""When it comes to living out God's calling and plan for our life, we can often feel paralyzed by the fear of making wrong choices. Likewise, we can find ourselves wondering if all of our choices are free will or sovereignly predetermined, and if so to what extent? This is why Dr. Paul Shotsberger's Choices is so refreshing, because it underscores the power of conforming our choices with God's choices in order to live a life of purpose and Kingdom-mindedness. Dr. Shotsberger tackles this theological topic in a thoughtful and conversational manner by carefully utilizing Scripture and his personal adventures in ministry. This book helps us recognize that choices are an opportunity to partner with God's redemptive work."" --KT Terry, Windchime Pictures President, Pastor ""No one seeking to follow Christ can simply ignore the question of how his or her decisions can fit into God's sovereign plan. The daily--sometimes hourly--demands to choose one path over another won't allow it. In this slim volume I was pleased to find important insights that should help every believer make the fundamental underlying choices that will firmly ground those daily decisions. I heartily recommend it."" --Keith Iddings, Consultant and Academic Leader ""Using an initial compelling example learned in the U. S. Navy, Paul masterfully lays out for us the strategic interplay between God's choices and ours. Yes, choices do have consequences. Peering into the window of various biblical characters, we can see ourselves in their stories and are encouraged to make right choices, or accept choices made for us. You will be blessed and challenged to read Choices. I know I have been."" --Ronald L. Bernier, Pastor, Master Builder Ministries Paul Shotsberger is Professor of Education at Southern Wesleyan University. Prior to his current position, he served as an officer in the United States Navy, a high school mathematics teacher, and a missionary in Ukraine.