Non-Fiction Books
A short biography of William Wilberforce MP who fought the British Slave Trade and slavery itself in the late 1700s and early 1800s. This book focuses on the spiritual disciplines that made Wilberforce into the dynamic man of faith and action that he was.
"God is a gardener. We know quite a lot about five of his gardens, three of which, for the price of an airline ticket, we can still visit. Murray Pura, writer and pastor in Pincher Creek, is also a gardener. He brings his lifelong immersion in the extravagant vitality and sensuality of gardens-he has planted and tended gardens all across Canada-to God's gardens and what it is like to live in them. This is contemplative writing at its vigorous best, involving us energetically in what God is doing. And not so much as a hint of soft sentimentality or soupy inspiration to mar his imagination-kindling prose." Eugene H. Peterson, Translator of The Message Murray lives by the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in the Canadian Rockies. His published works include Mizzly Fitch, Mister Good Morning, The Poets Of Windhover Marsh, and Vital Christianity: The Life and Spirituality of William Wilberforce.
Church can be a great place to learn spiritual lessons, but sometimes you just have to get up and get outside to experience the grandeur of God. In Majestic and Wild , pastor, writer, and avid outdoorsman Murray Pura weaves his real-life adventures with spiritual inspiration and life lessons, capturing the majestic and wild creation that God has set before us all. From animal encounters to wildfires to raging rapids to Daniel Boone hunts and buffalo stampedes, the stories range from dramatic and suspenseful to light-hearted and whimsical. Each story is woven with spiritual lessons not easily learned from sitting in a pew. A great gift for wives to give to their husbands and kids to give to their dads, Majestic and Wild will entertain and inspire anyone with a sense of adventure and a love for the great outdoors.
Through meaningful stories and an intimate knowledge of Scriptural symbolism in this Rooted: Finding God in the Gardens of Scripture, Best-Selling author, pastor, and gardener Murray Pura demonstrates how Jesus' life and your life as a contemporary believer are intertwined. Each of the five major gardens has something to say to Christians today: * The Garden of Eden, and our fall from innocence * En Gedi, and God's love for us * Gethsemane, and suffering * The Garden Tomb, and the hope of resurrection * The River of Life, and God's promises Visit these gardens and draw inspiration and new understanding of the God who cultivates your life as a Christian.
Mingling personal anecdotes with Scriptural wisdom in Streams: Seeking God in the Waters of Scripture, author and pastor Murray Pura explores the many ways water is portrayed in the Bible. From creation---when the earth was formed from water---to its possession by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for their flocks. From the exodus and the parting of the Red Sea to the time of the prophet Elisha and the healing of Namaan the Syrian in the Jordan River. From the rise of the kingdom under David to the fall of the kingdom and Israel's exile by the waters of Babylon. In all these dramatic events, and many more, Pura demonstrates how the physical and symbolic representation of water in ancient Scripture offers you, as a modern Christian, new insights about following Christ. Best- Selling author Murray Pura also examines how water was used in Jesus' ministry: Jesus was baptized in water, walked on water, turned water into wine, and healed with water. Understanding the symbolism of water is key to understanding Scripture. You will meditate on: * The Red Sea's challenging waters .... How do we conquer obstacles? * The rivers of Babylon and their waters of darkness ... How do we handle tragedy and suffering? * Streams in the desert and the waters of rejuvenation ...What do we do when our spiritual lives are dry? * And much, much more. This refreshing new book will help you discover the deeper meanings of water in Scripture and better understand the life-giving power of a Christian life.
There was nothing the police could do - the Amish girl was of age, she was leaving the community of her own free will, no laws had been broken. The state troopers could not force her back home even if the boy she was running from Pennsylvania with was a suspected drugs dealer. But there was something the Amish could do - pray, hope, encourage one another with God's Word - and ask two young people who were still in rumspringa to go after the girl and plead with her to return to them. So a journey begins, a journey of great danger and a journey of great distances but also a journey of great love.