HELLO FRIENDS!

Loving one another is a command given to us. But loving another human being (Christian or not) is not easy. This week's New Arrivals are about Loving one another & also, Christian history - which detail (in both the successes & the failures of the Church) just how hard it has always been to love & serve. But the beauty of Christianity is that with Christ, it is possible. And loving one another, is the only way to point others to God.

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If you're keen to learn about loving those who struggle with mental issues, ageing, &/ or addictions, EMCC is organising an online seminar with Rev Dr Tan Siang Yang & other practitioners. For more details, click on the image below.

Read more, Learn more, Love more

Get to know the man behind the 5 Love Languages®.

You just might discover yourself along the way.

Many people are familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages®. Millions have been transformed by this New York Times bestselling book. But as influential as Gary has been, the surprising thing is . . . he's just a regular guy, not much different than you and me. And in the mirror of his life, you might discover your own story, too.

Come look behind the curtain for a glimpse of Gary's life, from his upbringing in Small Town, USA to becoming a bestselling author and international speaker. What makes him tick may surprise you!

In Gary's story, you'll discover five great influences that shaped his, and most of our lives: home, education, marriage, children, and vocation. Even if you don't experience each influence yourself, you'll benefit from seeing how these pillars of human society work together to form productive individuals. Getting to know Gary will be a lot of fun. But getting to know yourself and how the world works is a gift that this small-town kid doesn't want you to miss.

All followers of Jesus are called to be hospitable. We know that God works through our lives to bring life to others. Yet many of us feel ill-equipped and overwhelmed at the prospect, especially if we don’t have big houses and we are not wonderful cooks! Generous Hospitality sounds like it requires expense, exhaustion and even a change of personality.

Carolyn Lacey encourages us to focus on the goal of hospitality, which is to reflect God’s welcoming heart, and shows us how we can all do that, regardless of our bank balance or living situation.

She explores seven ways in which we can reflect God’s character in the way we welcome others into our homes and into our lives, and so point people ultimately to Christ.

It's time to look at hospitality in a different way.

Frantic thoughts keep you awake at night. Overwhelming emotions consume you and leave you feeling powerless to move forward. And you can't help but wonder, Why isn't my faith strong enough to handle this?  Should a Christian even be having these struggles?

In Out of the Cave, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges uses Elijah's life to show us that everyone is susceptible to depression. Even when we're walking closely with God, we can still stumble and get lost in the wilderness of tangled emotions. But we don't have to stay there, because we serve a God who meets us in the darkness.

With his trademark blend of Bible-based wisdom, practical application, & vulnerability in sharing his personal struggles, Hodges explores the causes of depression we can't change, the contributors we can conquer, and offers transformative hope & spiritual power to help us win the battle.

Many people today would say that Christianity has done more harm than good to our world. Sharon James argues, however, in seeking to love their neighbour and reflect God’s moral character, the followers of Jesus have had a largely positive impact on our society.

Sharon James takes a number of areas – education, healthcare, justice, human dignity – and traces the ways in which these benefits have spread with the gospel.

Is religion a pernicious force in the world? Does it poison everything? Would we be better off without religion in general and Christianity in particular? Many skeptics certainly think so.

But these skeptics are only partly right: this is not what Christianity was meant to be. When Christians do evil they are out of tune with the teachings of their Lord. Jesus gave the world a beautiful melody -- of love, grace, charity, humility, non-violence, equality, human dignity -- to which, tragically, his followers have more often than not been tone-deaf. Denying the evils of church history does not do. John Dickson gives an honest account of the mixed history of Christianity, the evil and the good. He concedes the Christians' complicity for centuries of bullying but also shows the myriad ways the beautiful melody of Christ has enriched our world and the lives of countless individuals. 

This book asks contemporary skeptics of religion to listen again to the melody of Jesus, despite the discord produced by too many Christians through history and today. It also leads contemporary believers into sober reflection on and repentance for their own participation in the tragic inconsistencies of Christendom and seeks to inspire them to live in tune with Christ.

The history of the Christian church is a fascinating story.

Since the ascension of Jesus and the birth of the church at Pentecost, the followers of Christ have experienced persecution and martyrdom, established orthodoxy and orthopraxy, endured internal division and social upheaval, and sought to proclaim the good news "to the end of the earth." How can we possibly begin to grasp the complexity of the church's story?

In this brief volume, historian Jennifer Woodruff Tait provides a primer using seven sentences to introduce readers to the sweeping scope of church history. Among the sentences:

• "No one whatsoever should be denied the opportunity to give his heart to the observance of the Christian religion." — The Edict of Milan (AD 313)
• "Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance from the Father." — The Nicene Creed (325)
• "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." — Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses (1517)
• "The church is confronted today, as in no preceding generation, with a literally worldwide opportunity to make Christ known." — The Edinburgh Conference (1910)

Pick up and read. The story continues.

Epic: The Story that Changed the World is a graphic novel style Bible storybook featuring 40 stories and life-application questions circling back to the one big story of Jesus and making biblical events more relevant for today's youth. The book features familiar yet reimagined art from the One Big Story brand that is perfect for engaging older kids and preteen readers.

This B&H Kids book includes a Parent Connection, an easy tool to help moms and dads (or anyone else who loves kids) discuss the book's message with their child. We're all about connecting parents and kids to each other and to God's Word.

201 Things to Pray About has powerful potential to help shape and grow a child's prayer life. [ Recommended for ages 8+ ]

Featuring 201 numbered people, places, and things that a child can pray about (that God also cares about!) alongside page after page of kid-friendly, yet thought-provoking journal prompts, including: Does prayer really change anything? . . . What kinds of things do you pray about most? . . . Do you think God really hears every word you pray? . . . Do you believe God always answers prayer? . . . Has God ever answered your prayers in unexpected ways? . . . 

This unique journal will not only encourage the kids in your life to really think about their conversations with God, it will also challenge them to be more intentional as they share what’s on their heart with the One who hears their every prayer.