Christ Alive In Me

“It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.”—Galatians 2:20 Giving God permission to dwell within us, thereby transforming us into another incarnate son or daughter, has been at the heart of the Christian Gospel for millennia. It is not just one theological doctrine among many; it is the ultimate goal of the entire Christian life. The only goal in God’s becoming human is to continue his life in ours. In Christ Alive in Me: Living as a Member of the Mystical Body, Fr. David Meconi, S.J., explains the theology of Christian deification, which is also the theology of the Mystical Body of Christ. Although this radical aspect of the Gospel has been forgotten by many today, Meconi seeks to reclaim this central truth and uncover what it means live with, in, and even “as” Christ. Discover what it is to become other Christs, living extensions of the Lord himself: to become his eyes and ears, his heart and words, his hands and feet on earth.

The Word of God, the Bible, has been a part of my life. We had family devotions mornings and evenings, Sunday school, and worship services. These continued to draw me into the Word. I was in high school when I was led to read the Bible through in a year, which I have continued down to the present time. It was I was in the seminary that I was inspired to mark a special verse in every chapter of the Bible. Some chapters were so full of gems of truth that I chose several.

I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20 I want to tell you what perhaps the greatest Christian who ever lived (the Apostle Paul) thought of the cross of Christ. Believe me, the cross is one of deepest importance. This is no mere question of controversy; this is not one of those points on which men may agree to differ and feel that differences will not shut them out of heaven. A man must be right on this subject, or he is lost forever. Heaven or hell, happiness or misery, life or death, blessing or cursing in the last day – all hinges on the answer to this question: “What do you think about the cross of Christ?” Let me show you: 1. What the apostle Paul did not glory in. 2. What Paul did glory in. 3. Why all Christians should think and feel about the cross like Paul.

The book consists primarily of interviews between Strobel (a former legal editor at the Chicago Tribune) and biblical scholars such as Bruce Metzger. Each interview is based on a simple question, concerning historical evidence (for example, "Can the Biographies of Jesus Be Trusted?"), scientific evidence, ("Does Archaeology Confirm or Contradict Jesus' Biographies?"), and "psychiatric evidence" ("Was Jesus Crazy When He Claimed to Be the Son of God?"). Together, these interviews compose a case brief defending Jesus' divinity, and urging readers to reach a verdict of their own.

These newly revised storybooks provide a wonderful way to nurture faith in children while establishing devotional habits of Bible reading and prayer. Each book retells a Bible story in simple language that young children can understand, a prayer, and suggestions for learning-through-play activities. Children will learn about God's wonderful creation and people like Abraham, Hannah, David, Simeon, Anna, Peter, Jesus and Pauland all the wonderful stories in between. Children will be engaged by fresh, vivid illustrations and simple language as parents, grandparents, child care providers, and preschool teachers delight in sharing with them the stories they cherish. The books also make a great gift for baby showers, baptisms, birthdays, and holidays.

The scriptures of the Christian faith speak of a life qualitatively different from that which we see portrayed on videos, movie screens, and the pages of magazines. The Scriptures proclaim that we can experience the "life of God" here and now. Most of us long for such a life, but have discovered that experiencing this life of God is not simply a matter of following seven specific steps or nine important principles. In this book, Rev. Douglas J. Early reminds us that the way to the fullness of life that God offers us has little to do with our own striving and far more to do with receiving what is already at hand. Using wisdom found in 1 John, Abide In Me serves as a guide to experiencing a life of joy, purpose, and love. Readers are invited to explore the breadth and depth of the life that comes from abiding in the presence of Christ and attending to the Spirit of Christ abiding in each of us. For anyone wanting more in life but tired of working hard and getting nowhere, this book offers hope for experiencing the life of God in Christ, here and now.