| Format: | Ebook |
| Page Count: | 144 |
| Size: | 5.25 in x 8.0 in |
| ISBN-UPC: | 9781433569388 |
| ePub ISBN: | 978-1-4335-6938-8 |
| PDF ISBN: | 978-1-4335-6936-4 |
| Mobipocket ISBN: | 978-1-4335-6937-1 |
| Published: | August 25, 2020 |
At the heart of the Christian life lay the tension of the single-minded pursuit of the glory of God and the deep enjoyment of the things that God has made. How can Christians enjoy the good things of earth? Whether it’s a delicious meal or a game night with friends, listening to jazz or watching baseball, earthly joys often seem to compete with a deep love for God. Scripture supports both the enjoyment of the Creator and the enjoyment of the creation, revealing that this tension in the Christian life is also found in the Bible. In this accessible book, Joe Rigney displays how Christians can delight in God and enjoy his good gifts.
Author:
Joe Rigney (PhD, University of Chester) serves as a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College. He is a husband, a father of three, and the author of a number of books, including The Things of Earth; Strangely Bright; and More Than a Battle: How to Experience Victory, Freedom, and Healing from Lust.
Product Details
Endorsements
“Many of us are illiterate when it comes to reading anything other than a book. Joe follows Scripture’s example by teaching us how to read the world, the creation, and the gifts of God under the authority of the word of God. This is an important book and I hope you’ll read it.”
Abigail Dodds, author, Bread of Life; (A)Typical Woman; and A Student’s Guide to Womanhood
“God’s passion for his glory and our ache to be truly happy are not at odds but rather one life-changing pursuit. And so too with God himself and the world he made—not at odds but rather God means for us to enjoy him in everything, and everything in him. It sounds so simple, but in our finitude and fallenness, we are so prone to get tripped up over this. For years, Joe Rigney has handled this dilemma as well as anyone I’m aware of, and now he does it with even more focus and accessibility. I’ve eagerly awaited this short book with its life-changing vision, and I could hardly be more excited that it’s finally here.”
David Mathis, Senior Teacher and Executive Editor, Desiring God; Pastor, Cities Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota; author, Habits of Grace
“Since Constantine entered Rome in October of AD 312 and ended Christian persecution, the faithful have struggled with their embrace of God and their love for the world. Instead of gladiator games, it’s UFC. Instead of pagan celebrations, it’s Netflix binging and secularized holidays. How can Christians in the twenty-first century enjoy the world without sacrificing their primary obligation to love the Lord? Joe Rigney provides remarkably timely advice on enjoying God’s creation, while still putting God above his creation.”
Erick-Woods Erickson, Editor, The Resurgent
“The path to wisdom and joy involves asking the right questions in the right way, with help from reliable sherpas when the going gets tough. My friend Joe Rigney is one such sherpa, who asks questions like, How does the single-minded pursuit of God’s glory fit with a sincere enjoyment of created things? And then he humbly writes books, big and small, as an answer. Rigney’s Bible-saturated imagination and down-to-earth wit, along with his ridiculously good prose, make Strangely Bright a special created thing that leads us deeper into the heart of the Creator.”
Jonathan Parnell, Lead Pastor, Cities Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota; author, Mercy for Today and Never Settle for Normal