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About the Book
"Ishmael & Isaac" is a thought-provoking e-novel that explores the themes of family, religion, and destiny through the parallel stories of two brothers, Ishmael and Isaac. As they navigate their relationships with their father, Abraham, and their faith in God, the brothers are forced to confront their differences and ultimately come to a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world. The novel delves into complex moral dilemmas and raises important questions about the nature of belief and the search for purpose.
Calvin Miller
Calvin Miller was a pastor, professor and storyteller, best known for The Singer Trilogy, a mythic retelling of the New Testament story in the spirit of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Miller passed away on the afternoon of August 19, 2012, due to complications after heart surgery. He was 75.
A prolific artist and a writer's writer, Miller garnered respect and praise throughout his career from peers like Luci Shaw, Max Lucado and Philip Yancey. He was the author of more than forty books of popular theology and Christian inspiration including such recent books as Letters to Heaven, The Path of Celtic Prayer, Letters to a Young Pastor and his memoir Life Is Mostly Edges.
In addition to his twenty years of pastoral service at Westside Church in Omaha, Nebraska, Miller was also a great mentor to many students and leaders through his preaching and pastoral ministry classes at Beeson Divinity School. Calvin Miller, never one to multiply words, used just four to describe his rule of life: "Time is a gift."
RESCUE FROM THE SLUSH PILE
In October 1973 one important book was rescued from the slush pile (the stack of unsolicited manuscripts every publisher receives) by assistant editor Don Smith. He read a manuscript by a little-known Baptist pastor in Nebraska that was a poetic retelling of the life of Jesusâportraying him as a Troubadour. Both he and Linda Doll excitedly encouraged Jim Sire to take this imaginative manuscript seriously. In February 1974 Sire wrote the author, Calvin Miller, that IVP wanted to publish his book The Singer.
Months before, Miller had been waking up nights, stirred to write this tale, perhaps unconsciously inspired by the recent Broadway hits Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. Later Miller wrote:
When the manuscript was done, I sent it to Jim Sire at InterVarsity Press. âItâs good,â he said, âbut we want to think about it a couple of weeks before we give you an answer.â So I waited until finally the letter came. They were going to do it. Jim Sire had done his Ph.D. on John Milton, and the fact that he liked it was joy immeasurable to me. âBut,â he cautioned, âweâre going to print five thousand of these. They may not do wellâin fact we may end up with four thousand of them on skids in our basement for the next ten years. Still, itâs a good book and deserves to be in print.â
Far more than a thousand copies sold. Actually, over three hundred times that amount sold in its first decade. It became âthe most successful evangelical publication in this genre.â The Singer was followed in two years by The Song (paralleling the story of the early church in Acts) and two years after that by The Finale (inspired by the book of Revelation). Publication of The Singer changed Millerâs life. Even though he stayed in the pastorate for many years, it set him on a course of writing and speaking that he could not have imagined.
4 Simple Steps to a New Financial Beginning
The start of a new year is a terrific time to begin your journey toward financial security and investing success by making it a priority to pay off credit cards, car loans, and other short-term debts. Thatâs right, the first financial fitness test you need to pass is the "debt" test. Websterâs says that debt is anything youâre "bound to pay or perform; the state of owing something." Using that definition, very few Americans are free of debt. Why is getting debt-free the first step toward a sound investing strategy? Because itâs unwise to take on the risks that come with investing unless you have staying power. That means you donât want to be in a position where circumstances unrelated to your investment strategy force you to sell your holdings and use the money elsewhere, such as for interest and debt payments. Also, for Christians, debts are moral as well as legal obligations and they must be honorably met no matter the circumstances. The late Dr. D. James Kennedy once gave a sermon in which he read a poem called "The Land of Beginning Again." He then presented Christ as the King of the Land of Beginning Again. All of us have experienced our share of errors, failures, and missed opportunities. We all have things that we would do differently if given a second chance. What wonderful news that, in Christ, the slate is wiped clean and we do have the opportunity of beginning again. In a similar fashion, many who have become weighed down by debt wish they could get free. They have learned that the satisfaction that comes with spending is brief indeed compared to the pressure of making monthly payments which often go on for years. For some, it seems hopeless. You may sometimes feel this way yourself. If so, take heart! You can make significant strides this year. It will require planning, discipline, sacrifice, and singleness of purpose, and there are some excellent books that can help: ⢠Check out Mary Hunt's website DebtProofLiving.com, which also links to her very helpful blog, "Money Rules, Debt Stinks." Through her website and books, Mary has become the queen of frugal living. Her advice is practical and witty. Thatâs why we use her articles regularly in SMI. ⢠Free and Clear: Godâs Road Map to Debt-Free Living by Howard Dayton is a compassionate guide for those struggling with debt. Daytonâs Compass1.org website offers this and many other helpful resources. ⢠Dave Ramsey has made a big splash helping listeners to his radio program get debt-free. His Financial Peace Revisited is worth a look. A friend of mine likes to say that the most powerful force in the universe (humanly speaking, of course) is singleness of purpose. Individuals or groups, no matter how determined, disciplined, or talented, will never realize their potential for growth and accomplishment without singleness of purpose. Their time, money, and energies must be focused on common goals. One thing that successful people seem to have in common is an emphasis on â perhaps thatâs putting it too lightly, make that an obsession about â setting goals. Without singleness of purpose and specific goals, we can become like the person Scripture describes as double-minded. "That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does" (James 1:7-8). So let me encourage you to engage in a meaningful goal-setting exercise as you work to get debt-free. Here are some suggestions for effective goal-setting in any area of life; adapt them to your financial situation. Set goals that are consistent with Godâs Word. Many successful people have accomplished much, yet remain unhappy. Having singleness of purpose toward the wrong goals only leads to wrong results. Examine your motivations, as well as your actions, in the light of Godâs wisdom. Ask God for His guidance. This is not the same as having scripturally sound goals. This has more to do with having the wisdom needed to set the right personal priorities. God promises to guide us if weâre willing to submit to Him (Prov. 3:5-6). Itâs not: "Show me Your will, Lord, so I can decide if Iâm willing." Rather, itâs: "Before You even reveal Your will to me, Lord, the answer is yes." If married, set your goals together. If two people have become "one flesh," itâs critical that they have a singleness of purpose in their commitment toward common goals. Few areas will so quickly affect a coupleâs relationship as a financial plan that limits their spending freedom because it brings mutually conflicting goals into the open. If you canât reach a meeting of the minds on what your priorities should be, perhaps the marriage relationship itself needs some work. Put your goals in writing, signing your name and date. This helps cement in your thinking that you really have made a firm commitment of your will to achieving your goals. It is also helpful to have your goals posted where you will see them daily as additional motivation to stay the course when the inevitable temptations to compromise arise. Austin Pryor
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