Bøker av Gary Henry

"Dad, you're wrong about Santa Claus! I can't sit on baby Jesus's lap or even see him! I can't send letters to Jesus! Santa Claus is the star of Christmas. He should be in the middle of our front yard!" Sammy is upset. He doesn't understand why his father makes Jesus the center of the Christmas decorations each year when Santa is the main focus everywhere else. Santa is just plain better! He's the one that brings the gifts, has the cool reindeer and makes everyone happy... or is he? Sammy is in for the surprise of his life when he finally meets Santa and learns what Santa really thinks about Christmas. When Santa Claus Prayed is a book that will really stay with you, whether you are young or old. See how we can celebrate both-Jesus in our hearts and Santa in our lives. This is a great book about the warm-hearted, but occasionally tense times that can take place at the end of each year. The memories we have and the ones we create will stay with us always; this book will be a great part of that. With this endearing short story, Gary Henry shows us we can celebrate the season just as much as the reason.

"Dad, you're wrong about Santa Claus! I can't sit on baby Jesus's lap or even see him! I can't send letters to Jesus! Santa Claus is the star of Christmas. He should be in the middle of our front yard!"Sammy is upset. He doesn't understand why his father makes Jesus the center of the Christmas decorations each year when Santa is the main focus everywhere else. Santa is just plain better! He's the one that brings the gifts, has the cool reindeer and makes everyone happy... or is he? Sammy is in for the surprise of his life when he finally meets Santa and learns what Santa really thinks about Christmas. When Santa Claus Prayed is a book that will really stay with you, whether you are young or old. See how we can celebrate both-Jesus in our hearts and Santa in our lives. This is a great book about the warm-hearted, but occasionally tense times that can take place at the end of each year. The memories we have and the ones we create will stay with us always; this book will be a great part of that. With this endearing short story, Gary Henry shows us we can celebrate the season just as much as the reason.

"My old kite is really all yours now, Seth. You're able to handle it by yourself and bring it down in a strong wind. You've learned to fix it when it needs mended and change the colored bows when they're worn. You even send it messages of your own. So fly it this year, and then decide if you want a new one next summer. You need to know, Seth, it is a very special kite. I'm sure you will find that out for yourself one of these days." Seth isn't quite sure what his dad means about his old kite being very special, but he is about to find out as his family enjoys their beach vacation. Seth's kite has two beautiful tails, but it also has two wonderful tales. A young girl named Annie is also visiting the beach with her family as they heal from the loss of her dad. Seth and Annie have never met, but the kite draws their stories together until they finally become entangled, much like the tails of the kite.Whether we are children or adults, God has a miraculous way of bringing others into our lives at just the right moment. Gary Henry blends Seth's and Annie's tales in a very unique and heartwarming way as he shares a story of family and fun, and of giving and healing. After enjoying this book you will undoubtedly want to "go fly a kite and send it a message of your own."

Obeying the Gospel is Book 5 in the WordPoints Daybook Series. Written by Gary Henry in his familiar style of courtesy and candor, this volume will challenge the conscience of readers young and old.The gospel of Christ is a message, but it is a message that requires a response. Action is necessary if we are to receive the benefits promised in the gospel -- and it is God who has stipulated what must be done. So the gospel of Christ is not just about thinking; it''s about action. And if we need motivation to act on our faith, Obeying the Gospel seeks to provide that encouragement.If a person wanted to become a Christian, how would he go about it? What would he actually need to do? In view of the importance of the question, every honest person will want an accurate answer, one that is consistent with the teachings of the New Testament.But if the "how" of becoming a Christian is important, the "why" is even more so. Sadly, the shallow and shaky experience of so many Christians stems from their having become Christians for reasons that were inadequate. Obeying the Gospel explores the solid foundations of the Christian faith and points the reader to the highest (and most powerful) reasons why a person would decide to follow Jesus Christ.The idea of "commitment" is near to the heart of the Christian faith. Without commitment, very few worthwhile things are possible in life, and that is certainly true of life in Christ. For that reason, Obeying the Gospel will be valuable to the Christian as well as the non-Christian. For the non-Christian, the book speaks plainly about the commitment Christ requires of those who seek salvation in Him -- and for the Christian, it emphasizes the need for an ever-growing faithfulness to that commitment.(1) The book''s title, Obeying the Gospel, is a biblical expression, but it involves far more than just the initial steps that one takes in becoming a Christian. For the rest of one''s life, doing what is right will always be seen as responding rightly to the gospel -- and if one ever becomes unfaithful and departs from Christ, the problem will be that he quit obeying the gospel.(2) Obeying the Gospel emphasizes the original purpose of the gospel in the days of the New Testament. In contrast to much of what is preached today, this book shows from the teachings of Jesus and His apostles that the gospel was originally about the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation.(3) A unique feature of Obeying the Gospel is that it challenges Christians to re-examine whether they are, in fact, Christians. Two thousand years after the gospel began, it can be hard to separate what is original from the many social and cultural phenomena that people today identify as "Christianity." In the twenty-first century, is there any way for us to get back to the foundational teachings of Christ and His apostles? The answer is yes, and Obeying the Gospel argues for a renewed emphasis on the restoration of New Testament Christianity.With 366 one-page readings, Obeying the Gospel is what the old-timers used to call a "daybook." Daybooks have a rich literary tradition. Containing a brief essay for each day of the year, they sharply concentrate our thoughts on significant subjects once a day, every day. (Daybooks can be read in any way that is helpful to the reader. You don''t have to start on January 1 -- you can start anywhere, skip around, or read more than one page a day. It''s up to you.)The WordPoints Daybook Series takes the reader on a journey of seven stages. In Books 1-2, the journey begins with meditations on the character values and principles recognized by mankind throughout history. Books 3-5 discuss the importance of God and our need for the gospel of Christ. Book 7 concludes the series with a consideration of heaven: the home of the soul.

More Enthusiastic Ideas: Another Good Word for Each Day of the Year is Book 2 in the WordPoints Daybook Series by Gary Henry. Like Book 1, this volume presents a word each day for positive meditation. Each essay is framed by quotations from other sources, both ancient and modern, combining the best of classic and contemporary literature for daily reflection.Words are powerful! They can enlighten, encourage, and uplift us when we ponder the application their meanings can have to our daily decisions. The two volumes of Enthusiastic Ideas explore everyday words in a way that is both deep and comfortable. The result is a blend of pleasant reading, intellectual stimulation, and serious motivation to change.Enthusiastic Ideas and More Enthusiastic Ideas are written in the familiar style of Gary Henry. With his blend of candor and courtesy, Gary leads the reader on a daily journey toward significant personal growth. Refreshing but also challenging, these pages inspire the courage to take steps toward a better future. They are based on a lifetime of experience by the author in speaking to audiences about improvement and progress.The goal of these writings is not only better feelings, but better character and conduct. With a wide variety of topics -- 366 in all -- the reader is encouraged to grow in the time-tested qualities virtuous character, so that his or her habits are based on firm principles rather than passing trends.Each book in the WordPoints Daybook Series contains "daily affirmations of hope and courage." Standing in the centuries-old tradition of the "daybook," these books contain a single reading for each day of the year. The idea is to use each day's reading as the starting point for a brief, but profitable, meditation. The readings are short enough to be read by busy people (as most of us are these days), but they are provocative and suggestive in the highest sense. Highly concentrated, each meditation provides the foundation for deeper consideration throughout the day.

Enthusiastic Ideas offers "a good word for each day of the year." Briefmeditations are framed by quotations from other writers, ancient and modern.Topics range from outgoing ideas like "courage" and "creativity" to moreinward ones like "serenity" and "solitude." Enthusiastic Ideas is Book 1 inthe WordPoints Daybook Series by Gary Henry.