Richard Winter

Companions in the Darkness

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“This book takes us into the hearts of seven people who wrestled deeply with depression and only intermittently experienced a measure of freedom and healing. Diana Gruver, who knows depression well herself, artfully and sensitively opens up their inner pain and the outer difficult circumstances of their lives, raising many big and difficult questions about the nature of intractable depression, its stigma, and why God allows some to suffer so much before taking away their tears and releasing them through death. She draws out helpful lessons from the variety of things that helped these seven men and women to keep going, even when death seemed an attractive option, and to somehow continue to believe and trust in God in the darkness. The author has researched their lives extensively, using letters and biographies to enter their worlds. Her helpful footnotes add more information and useful resources for further reading. This book is a wonderful and sensitive encouragement for any for whom life has become unbearably dark and for those who seek to help them.”

God and Soul Care

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“When Eric Johnson's extraordinary magnum opus Foundations for Soul Care was published in 2007, I thought this would be the peak of his writing career, but as he says in the preface to this new volume, that was just 'a prolegomenon to the present work.' So now we have two weighty parts of a much-needed, wonderfully comprehensive Christian psychology that will stand for many years as the primary reference book on the relationship between Scripture, the character of God, the person of Christ, and insights from psychology. Johnson aims for 'the proper synthesis of all relevant biblical, theological, psychological, and philosophical forms of knowledge about human beings with the goal of understanding human beings as comprehensively as possible, that is, as much like God as we can.' His patient, diligent, and careful scholarship is an amazing gift to the church at a time when there are many significant advances in contemporary psychology and Christians need help to know how to think biblically about this area of life that affects us all—what he calls 'creation grace.' Johnson writes, 'Most of God and Soul Care… is focused on the use of redemptive grace resources that only Christian counselees can utilize.' Behind this work of scholarship is a man with a profound love for God, truth, people, and life who has poured all his resources into the task of developing Christian psychology. I will have no hesitation in recommending this valuable resource to my counseling and theology students.”

Grieving a Suicide

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“This is a sad, painful, comforting, and wonderful book. Al Hsu, with endearing honesty, carries the reader on a journey through his own story of grief, weaving together many contemporary, literary, and historic examples of responses to suicide and possible explanations for such a tragic choice. He does not shrink from grappling with tough questions about life and God that are raised by such suffering. This is a profound, detailed, and immensely helpful book for anyone touched by the suicide of a friend or family member. I know of no other book so comprehensive, sensitive, and healing.”

Seeing Through Cynicism

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“For those battered by the winds and tides of cynicism about marriage, family, politics, the church, the meaning of words, and even the character and existence of God, or for those just wanting to understand the culture in which we live, this is abrilliant and powerful exploration of a pervasive problem. Dick Keyes, in his wonderfully down-to-earth and intelligent manner, helps us to navigate between the rocks of corrosive pessimism and romantic optimism to healthy suspicion and solidly grounded hope.”

Soul of Shame Minicourse

“Who would want to embark on an expedition into the unknown and painful regions of our own soul where evil has caused disharmony and disintegration in body, brain and heart? But this is what Curt Thompson invites us to do. Like a skillful surgeon encouraging us through a difficult but necessary procedure, he works to set us free from our old stories in which shame holds us captive to the common, core fear of having our inadequacies exposed. Naming that fear is the road to healing and hope, not only in our own soul but also in our marriages, families, communities, churches and places of work. This is a challenging but profoundly life-giving book that teaches us—using many fascinating stories from Thompson's work as a psychiatrist—how to relate our inner world of thoughts, emotions and body sensations to the intriguing findings of contemporary brain science, and above all to the biblical story of God's longing that we live openly in the light of his love, delight and grace. Thus new stories are told.”

Still Time to Care

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“This is a much-needed book for our times. In a refreshing, deeply thoughtful, and engaging style, this celibate pastor shares his experience of living in the tides of secular and evangelical Christian thought, language, and behavior in relation to homosexuality over the last forty years. Here is a strong challenge to Christians to reflect deeply on how we have drifted away from a truly biblical approach. Johnson calls the church back to a more compassionate life of family/community to love and encourage those who are celibate for any reason. You will not regret taking the time to have your understanding and attitude transformed by grappling with the vital issues in this well-researched and excellent book.”