Paul Mallard – författare

Let’s be honest. We’re frequently disappointed. With family, friends, leaders, work, ourselves, church - sometimes, dare we say it, even with God.'You carry the tears inside,' is the author's description.Disappointment can be devastating. It can be sudden. And it's certainly universal.But what if we were to use disappointment as an opportunity to check whether our motivation and priorities were in line with God's will? Could it provide a chance to grow?

'Let me be honest, during the last twenty years there have been times when my faith has seemed frail and fragile and almost ready to collapse. I have struggled with seeing my wife stripped of her dignity and reduced by her agony. I have doubted all kinds of things. I have exploded and lashed out. I do not like what is happening to my sweetheart one little bit. Chronic illness never goes away. Come on, realistically, how much more can we take?''But one thing I have never doubted is that, in the darkest circumstances, we were only ever in the hands of God. That has been the ultimate source of comfort and hope.'As Paul Mallard knows only too well, the crucible of suffering is a horrible place to be. But lessons learned there can be powerful and memorable. And it was there that Paul and Edrie experienced unexpected intimacy with a loving God who is no stranger to suffering. They feel personally challenged to use their experience and insights to help fellow sufferers too.

Staying Fresh is all about keeping the main thing the main thing. Paul Mallard gives you the encouragement to persevere with joy and integrity as we serve Christ.How can we maintain an intimate relationship with God in a busy world? How do we read the Bible to feed our souls, rather than "professionally", looking for the next talk we have to deliver? How do we care for ourselves and avoid either burn-out or rust-out?Paul Mallard has written Staying Fresh for everyone involved in ministry, at whatever level that may be. While he acknowledges the importance of conviction and competence, his primary emphasis here is on character. He is passionate about the importance of integrity, of persevering in prayer and discipleship, of never giving up in our battle with sin and our service for Christ."But even if you are not a leader and never aspire to be one,' he says, 'I hope that what you learn here will help you to maintain the freshness of young love."

How do we live the whole of our lives for Christ? How does being a disciple of Jesus impact our work, our leisure, our place in the community, our homes, our role in public life, our responsibility to care for creation, and every other sphere of life?The 2015 Convention encouraged us to engage with a whole-life vision of discipleship that transforms our work into worship and bringsour Christian faith out of the church buildingsand onto the streets of everyday life.This Year Book includes a selection of talks given during the three weeks of Convention: Bible teaching from Liam Goligher, Paul Mallard, John Risbridger, Mark Greene, Tim Chester, Vanessa Conant, Malcolm Duncan, Robin Sydserff, Patrick Fung, Martin Salter and George Verwer to help you live the whole of your life for Ch

Does the church have a future?Across the generations troubled Christians have often asked this question.Even as early as the end of the first century the future of the church hung in the balance. False teaching, internal division and persecution were rife. Emperor Domitian had exiled the apostle John, probably in his 90s, on the island of Patmos. You can imagine John, pacing up and down the island at night, looking across the sea to the cities on the shore, wondering, `Does the church have a future?'Into this situation the Lord comes and makes these glorious revelations. He gives John this vision and tells him to write to the seven churches of Asia Minor, in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, in what is now called Turkey.To each of these churches Jesus says, `I know... I know your hopes and dreams, your faults and failings, your joys and sorrows, your temptations and frustrations.' Jesus knew each church, and so he could speak wisely and truthfully into each circumstance. He said some hard things to shake the believers out of their apathy. He also spoke words of comfort. The letter ends by pointing the believers to heaven, a reminder that despite their present struggles, ultimately they are on the victory side.Today the church still faces internal division, opposition and persecution. It is understandable that some believers ask, `Does the church have a future?'The answer is the same as it always has been.Absolutely.

Who am I and do I really matter? This is a heartfelt cry today, articulated in different ways, often even among those who claim to be Christians.Paul Mallard shows us what the Bible teaches us about our identity as human beings and, more specifically, as Christians. We look at our relationship with God, with the church, with our family and in the workplace. The starting point is the NT book of Ephesians, which is far more relevant today than we might think.The author brings us right into the heart of his family, explaining how Abe, his young grandson, in spite of severe disability from birth, was made by a loving and kind Creator, with unique value and immeasurable dignity. In fact, our dignity as humans stems from the fact that God has created us in his image - how amazing is that!This is a book which will orientate and reassure us, offering genuine confidence. But it will also move our hearts to praise God for investing such value in human beings like us, and for sending his Son, Jesus, so that we could have freedom from sin and enjoy the status of sons and daughters.Preface1 Who am I?2 Unbelievably blessed3 Undeservedly rescued4 Unimaginably transformed5 Every barrier is down6 Every person is needed7 Everyone worships something8 Against the flow9 The home - men and women10 Fight for who you are11 People of hope12 More loved than you can imagine

Making big decisions can be desperately difficult. Often we end up paralysed with indecision, afraid that making the wrong choice – whether it’s going to the wrong university, applying for the wrong job, or moving to the wrong place – will ruin our lives. So how do we make good decisions? When does the Bible guide us, and when should we just use our common sense or talk things through with friends and family?Using his huge experience and pastoral heart, Paul Mallard comes right alongside us in Invest Your Future to help us practice spiritual discernment. He shows us where to find wisdom and how it works in God's economy. He helps us find the balance in what is, for many of us, a constant challenge. He teaches us how to understand God’s purpose, so we can see what are the truly important factors in making our decisions.You don't have to spend your life in indecision, confusion, guilt or regret. Drawing on examples from Scripture as well as from life, Invest Your Future shows how you can cultivate spiritual discernment in order to grow in maturity and wisdom, and know where to turn for guidance when making decisions.If you have ever questioned how to make good decisions, or find yourself worrying and second-guessing your choices, this is the book for you. Compassionate and grounded, Invest Your Future will leave you more confident in your own and in God’s wisdom, so that you can make sure-footed, stress-free choices in the future.