• When Narcissism Comes To Church

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  • NEW LIFE CREED

    A Creed To Remind The Gathered Church Of Its New Life In Christ

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  • Photos From Exile

    A walk through of Yosemite National Park. In this book I share the story behind some of my favorite photos and how the park consistently pointed me back to the majesty and goodness of God.

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    Articles to equip you to live for eternity.

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    Discover how your Christian identity can enable you to walk through the difficulties in your life well while at the same time point people to the one place they can find lasting hope.

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FEATURED BLOG POSTS

By Nick Minerva 16 Aug, 2023
This is one of those books that’s been on TBR List for a while. When it first came out I actually avoided it because I didn’t want to read about what I was experiencing. But my spiritual director recommended it would be helpful so I pulled it off the shelf, blew the dust off, and jumped right in. And boy was it helpful. I really appreciated how author Chuck DeGroat consistently calls his readers to a posture of humility. They may not be the grandiose narcissist we typically think of, but all of us feel the pull to preserve and project a false self to the detriment of our own soul. It would be easy to pick up this book for ammunition to rage against the narcissists in our lives. But it gently pulls us towards healthy, Christ-like humility and what a healthy relationship with ourselves looks like. This book will also help you see narcissistic behavior so you can guard yourself against its abuses. Page after page I found myself saying, “Yep, been there. Experienced that. Glad to know I’m not crazy.” It helped me personally understand how past wounds made me stay in a narcissistic environment for as long as I did. If you have ever been hurt by narcissism in the church, reading this book will help you feel seen and validated. It will also give you the tools to help navigate and get out of that dangerous environment. Chuck pulls from decades of counseling experience to help his readers understand the wounds that lead to narcissist behavior while at the same time time holding narcissists accountable for their abusive behavior. And does so while displaying the true heart of a pastor. I highly recommend reading When Narcissism Comes to the Church. You can pick up your own copy by clicking the link below.
By Nick Minerva 14 Jul, 2023
When I was pastoring I wanted to read a blessing over the church that would remind all of us of our new life in Christ. So I wrote this new life creed and every week I would read it and remind us of what Christ had done for us. We gather together as believers professing our great need We acknowledge that we have fallen short We confess that we are rebels who have gone our own way Apart from Christ, we stand condemned, guilty, and unable to save ourselves But what we are incapable of doing, God did In his infinite love, God made a way of salvation for all who would believe Jesus willingly laid down his life and received the just punishment we deserve So that could walk in new life So yes, we confess our great need We humbly recognize that apart from Christ we are incapable of any good thing But we also proclaim that because of the finished work of the cross we will never be apart from Christ We are forever secure in the love of the Father We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit All because of the sacrifice of the Son, Jesus Christ. We are no longer in bondage to sin We are no longer facing righteous wrath We have been declared holy by our King And nothing on heaven or earth will change that reality This gathering is a testimony to our redeemed state We pursue holy living to be an authentic demonstration of the love we have for Christ We believe that we have been empowered by grace to meet our every need And we gladly anticipate the complete fulfillment of our adaption and the remaking of this world at the coming of our Lord To Christ be glory forever and ever Amen
By Nick Minerva 28 Apr, 2023
Let me start this review by saying everyone should read this book. If you've grown up in Evangelicalism, you‘ve no doubt heard of purity culture. For the last several years we have seen the harm that has come as a result of this sub-group of Christianity. In Non-Toxic Masculinity, Zachary Wagner does an excellent job unpacking its teaching and the damage that has come as a result. He explains so well the angst I've been feeling with the movement and how often the Church falls short and winds up doing more damage. But unlike many critiques, this one also points a way forward. We know what toxic male sexuality looks like. We see it in the news and unfortunately, in the Church. But what does healthy male sexuality look like? What does it look like for me? What will it look like for my boys? In my heart, I know what I want it to look like, but so often I struggle to find the right words to express it. Non-Toxic Masculinity paints a healthy picture that is (re)humanizing and ultimately looks like Jesus, who, like all of us, had a sexual body. Zach is also very transparent in this book and God used his transparency to encourage, challenge, and convict me. As you read his story you will no doubt find yourself resonating with him on some level. Every man should read this book for themselves first and foremost. But if you have sons, nephews, grandsons, or young boys in your life, reading it is a must. Non-Toxic Masculinity is a breath of fresh air that will prove to be a tremendous resource for generations. Thank you Zach for writing it and sharing your story to serve us.

How Do We Navigate Suffering?

THRIVING IN EXILE

Discover how your Christian identity can enable you to walk through the difficulties in your life well while at the same time pointing people to the one place they can find lasting hope.


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