Most Popular Books by Dave Jackson

"Lucy Tucker, the crotchety old bag lady from the popular Yada Yada House of Hope series, is a veteran of the Chicago streets and not about to give up her independence, even as she approaches her 80th birthday. Until, that is, a young displaced woman with her gentle ageing mother and a dog named Dandy seem to need her--unsettling the secretive Lucy, who doesn't let anyone get too close. But just when it seems her past is catching up with her to bring her in out of the cold, Lucy disappears again"--Back cover.

A fictionalized account of the five missionaries who carried God's word to the fierce Aucas, or Huaorani, of Ecuador in 1956.

Endorsements by Theologians, Pastors, Philosophers, Therapists Is Your God Good? takes on perhaps the greatest single obstacle to faith in the Christian God-the widespread occurrence of seemingly unfair and senseless suffering. Dave Jackson does not downplay the seriousness of the problem or offer simplistic solutions. Nor does he dodge the difficulty of certain biblical texts that portray God as the agent of evils but emphatically urges readers to consider Jesus Christ as the definitive revelation of God that corrects these all-too-human ancient, albeit "biblical" misconceptions of God's moral character. -John R. Schneider, Professor Emeritus of Theology, Calvin University How can we believe that God is perfectly good when so many prayers go unanswered, when so much pain and evil is allowed to take place, and when Scripture sometimes depicts him as a violent nationalistic warrior deity? In Is Your God Good?, Jackson boldly addresses these and other objections to the goodness of God, providing insightful and informed responses at every turn. Everyone who is concerned with the character of God and the problem of evil would benefit from this work. -Greg Boyd, author, theologian, Teaching Pastor Woodland Hills Church, Maplewood, Minnesota We often subscribe to theological ideas and ways of reading Scripture that deliver spoiled products when we suffer. Jackson names these and offers better alternatives. By owning his own experience, Jackson makes it safe for readers to explore how their own suffering has been excused, denied, ignored, or even justified in the name of God. -Gregory A. Clark, Professor of Philosophy, North Park University In this present, disorienting political moment, where $60 Bibles incorporate the U.S. Constitution and "God Bless America," Jackson's book, Is Your God Good? could not be more timely. While the Word of God has always had a history of being misused, today's Christ-followers (particularly the emerging generations) are disillusioned by the present American-brand of Christianity that has propagated all kinds of violence and human suffering in the name of God. In the face of such jaw-dropping displays of Christian nationalism like the January 6th insurrection, young believers have all but dismissed the Bible as dangerously archaic. Jackson's read is a labor-of-love, helping "set the record straight" on the irrefutable goodness of God via a remarkable survey of some of the Bible's most difficult texts and narratives, and in a way accessible to all ages. Furthermore, Jackson's discussion ranges from the cosmic and philosophical to the on-the-ground practical. I cannot overstate the contribution this book can make to the health and renewal of a Church in crisis. -Dr. Craig Wong, Executive Director, New College Berkeley As a pastor, I can think of dozens of conversations I've had with people who were struggling with the very questions Jackson addresses. I wish I'd had a resource like this to give them. This book is thoughtful and accessible for anyone wrestling with some of the hard questions of faith, especially when it comes to understanding the heart of God and how God engages with humanity. -Scott Keebles, Lead Pastor, Copper Creek Church, Champaign, Illinois When it comes to the core Christian belief that "God is good all the time," the American Church is confused and divided, especially on the question of suffering. Jackson addresses this complex theological question in truly understandable ways. His approach is unapologetically gospel-centered, looking to Christ to ultimately clarify the nature of God. -Julia Pferdehirt, LPC, author of Soul Mending and other books on mental and spiritual health

DANGER ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE: Introducing D.L. Moody -- Fourteen-year-old Casey Watkins wants nothing more than to escape his family's dreary, bare-bones life in the Philadelphia of 1893. When he learns of an opening in Adam Forepaugh's Circus, it seems like the perfect escape, and he convinces his mother and sister to join with him. Then "The Flying Eugenes," a family of trapeze artists, offer Casey a role in their death-defying act, and he is elated. Flying on the trapeze is more exciting than he ever dreamed! The pressure is on-Casey has only a few weeks to learn the act before the circus arrives in Chicago in time for the famous World's Fair. Once in Chicago, the boy is fascinated by D. L. Moody, the dynamic evangelist who preaches to standing-room-only crowds in the circus Big Top Sunday mornings. Casey never imagined that church could be more popular than the circus! But then a dangerous accident leaves him paralyzed with fear, and he runs to Moody looking for a way out. Will the evangelist be able to help him? The circus is counting on him . . . what if he falls?

EXILED TO THE RED RIVER, Introducing Chief Spokane Garry -- A great sickness has swept through the Indian nations, killing several of the Spokane tribe and many others from neighboring tribes. The faith of the Spokane is nearly broken when they realize the smallpox epidemic has killed those who believe in the Creator of All as well as those who don't believe in Him. How can evil men live while good men die? Why should they continue to obey the Creator's laws if He takes away innocent lives? But when white-skinned men arrive with the Leaves of Life-a book telling how to get to heaven-the Spokane chief agrees to send Garry, his youngest son, to learn more about God. Garry is confused and uncertain about the reason for his travels, but as he begins the first of four years at the Christian school, he soon realizes the saving grace of God and can't wait to return to his homeland to share the Good News with the Indian nations. WHAT CAN GARRY LEARN AT A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL THAT WILL INTEREST THE REST OF HIS PEOPLE?

Greg Singer's job puts tremendous stress on his marriage with Nicole, who for the first time notices the handsome lawyer at the end of the block. When the recession hits Greg's industry, he thinks the crisis is merely an opportunity for God to bless him with unmatched prosperity, and he steps out in bold faith. But is he being "pound foolish"? Intersecting with Penny wise, (book three) Pound foolish returns us to Beecham Street, a typical American neighborhood, where a growing friendship brings new meaning to prosperity.

ESCAPE FROM THE SLAVE TRADERS Introducing David Livingstone An urgent call for help cut through the morning mists that floated along the shore of Lake Shirwa. Two young African boys, Wikatani and Chuma, had been captured by slave traders, but the desperate cry would never reach their village. Easily overpowered by their captors, the boys' only hope is to endure a ruthless march through the jungles that takes them far from their village to a destination unknown. Where are the cruel Red Caps taking them? What chance might the boys have to escape? If they manage to escape, how will they ever find their way home again? Fortunately for Wikatani and Chuma, there is help on the way. David Livingstone, a missionary and British government official, is doing everything he can to put a halt to the slave traders who are devastating southeastern Africa during the 1860s. But is there any reason to hope that he might help two young boys? Will they have the courage to face the phenomenal adventure and peril before them?

This booklet, When The Best Help is No Help (widely known as The Yellow Book) came about following a talk my husband Dave gave on personal agency and accountability in November 2006, using our experiences with our son Brin.Brin gave his permission for the original talk, as well as an article that followed, and this book. He has also shared the book, as well as his experiences, with others in need.Is there one perfect solution? No. Does this book provide all the answers and make "everything" go away and life return to normal ? Unfortunately, no.Has it helped?Later that November we gave Aaron, the counselor who facilitates a weekly meeting for the parents for the parents and loved ones of addicts and alcoholics (which we still attend) a copy of the talk. Much of what we have learned comes from that group - sharing, supporting and grieving together - learning that we cannot save or fix our loved one no matter how much we may want to and/or try to.We had to learn that those who dig themselves into the trench are the ones who must make the hard choice, and do the hard work, to climb out! Only they, as they seek and turn their lives over to their higher power can achieve this.While you cannot fix them, IT IS possible to fix yourself starting with the coming to the vital and freeing realization that you did not cause it, you cannot control it, and you cannot cure it. But, with effort, support, and understanding, you can become "UN-addicted" to your loved one! You must learn to fix yourself for your own health and your relationships with your many other loved ones and all the others that make up your world. And if there is good news in this, it is that there is help for you to overcome guilty, to refuse blame, to have a life aside from their situation - even to accept and love them in spite of what is going on in their life. Helpfully, this book will help!I, Gail, woke up in the middle of the night feeling Dave's talk needed to be formatted. I went to bed three hours later. I did not change any wording, just the visual presentation. That was in January 2007.We had six copies printed and gave them to people familiar with the disease and the toil it takes on everyone. One copy went to the psychologist who had been seeing Brin for several months during our frantic search for answers.We had copies printed, a few at a time, as they were requested. In December of 2009 we had our eighth printing which brought the total to 500.At that time we quit counting -- but not printing!The Yellow Book quickly took on a life of its own (and and continues to) without any formal advertising. Recently it was suggested that we extend its audience as an electronic book. We did not have any clue if 1) it was a good idea and 2) how to do it, so we tossed the idea out at the next weekly meeting, mentioned above. It was met with enthusiasm and ideas but no concrete information on the how of doing it.The very next week, an individual attending the group for the very first time, had just finished putting an e-book on-line. We do not believe in coincidences!

In 1888, change arrives in a small village in Calabar, Nigeria in the form of a courageous missionary named Mary.

Includes Attack in the Rye Grass, Trial by Poison, Flight of the Fugitives, The Betrayer's Fortune, and Abandoned in the Wilderness.

RISKING THE FORBIDDEN GAME, Introducing Maude Cary -- For Jamal and Hameem, The Game starts out as a fun and daring contest between the two young boys to see who can collect more items belonging to the "enemy"--the French soldiers who are keeping Morocco from gaining its independence. For a Muslim to be seen with anything belonging to the infidels is among the most punishable of sins, but the excitement of The Game calls to the adventurous boys, who even risk swiping belongings right off of the French soldiers. The Game becomes more risky when Jamal begins collecting pictures from the Christian missionary Maude Cary, whom he meets in the marketplace, Surely a whole set of the pictures must be worth enough points to win The Game! Then jamal realizes that each picture tells a story bout Jesus, and he's torn between believing the missionary's stories and believing the Muslim way. When a French traitor comes to Jamal for help, will he lead Jamal to the Truth? IS BECOMING A CHRISTIAN WORTH LOSING HIS FAMILY?

RISKING GRACE, Loving Out Gay Family and Friends Like Jesus by Dave Jackson As someone who helped write a book advocating reparative therapy for gay people back in 1987, it was with gut-wrenching love that my wife and I did not let our daughter go when she came out 16 years ago. We fi rst prayed that God would change her, then that he would work out his purpose in her life, and fi nally, "Lord, what are you trying to teach us?" God answered with insights that led me to write RISKING GRACE, Loving Our Gay Family and Friends Like Jesus. It's a father's story about my agonizing personal journey of coming to realize that we evangelicals have lost our way when it comes to gay people by substituting a works/righteousness requirement for the clear Gospel message that salvation comes by grace through faith alone. I explore alternative interpretations to the "prohibitive texts," but the main foundation for my change of heart is the life and ministry of Jesus, how he embraced marginalized people, and the way he and the early church dealt with diffi cult issues. I share our story with you, our church family, because many of us have family members or friends who are gay, and we all need help learning how to love like Jesus. I've written with as much transparent vulnerability as I can, wrestling with the questions and presuppositions of the average straight dad (or mom) . . . who loves his daughter and his church but discovers that we have been driving gay people away from Jesus.

THE QUEEN'S SMUGGLER Introducing William Tyndale Sarah Poyntz is the daughter of an English merchant who operates a shipping business from Antwerp, Belgium, in 1535. Her father is very interested in the ideas of William Tyndale, who has fled England as a condemned outlaw for refusing to stop his translation work of the English Bible. Tyndale believes that the Word of God should be read by the common people in their own language, a belief shared by the Poyntz family. But when Tyndale is captured and imprisoned, Sarah becomes the only hope for saving his fife. If she can successfully smuggle a copy of Tyndale's New Testament into the hands of the king's wife, Queen Anne, perhaps she can persuade him to spare Tyndale's life. If Sarah's desperate mission fails, her family is in peril of their lives. Will she have the courage to go through with it? Can Tyndale's life be spared?

THE DRUMMER BOY'S BATTLE, Introducing Florence Nightingale -- After their father dies, Robbie Robinson and his older brother, Peter, join the British army in order to make a living for their family. At first, army life is exciting, even fun. Then in 1854, they are sent to Russia to right in the Crimean War-Peter as a member of the famous Light Horse Brigade and twelve-year-old Robbie as a drummer boy. But the brothers are separated during the doomed charge of the Light Brigade, and Robbie fears for Peter's life. An injury to his left hand brings Robbie to Barracks Hospital in Scutari, Turkey, where he hopes to find Peter. Instead he meets Florence Nightingale, a nurse working hard to change for the better the way nurses do their jobs. Robbie becomes Florence's "right-hand man," running errands, delivering messages, and reporting alarming hospital conditions to her. But the doctors and officers running the hospital want to put a stop to Florence's improvements. Will Robbie and his friend find a way to succeed in spite of the challenges? Soldiers are dying all around him, and only Florence Nightingale can help save them!

Stories with accompanying Scripture quotations suggest ways of dealing with disappointments such as being prevented by illness from attending the first day of school, having unfulfilled expectations, and attempting and failing to care for a pet fish.

Stories with accompanying Scripture quotations and discussion questions explore the positive and negative aspects of stubbornness in such situations as being too proud to change your mind, disobeying authority, and resisting the pressure to do something wrong.

For use in teaching literature to high school students.

We find that profit-warning announcements elicit a strong negative market response that is not sensitive to timing of the warning in advance of the earnings announcement. Share prices begin to adjust about five days before a profit warning, and the market response is not complete until about five days after the warning. The accumulated response over the 11-day period ending five days after the announcement is -21.7%. The profit warning effect over the two-day announcement period is 32 times the valuation effect upon subsequent release of the actual earnings. There is no evidence of a reversal after this period, and therefore no sign that the market response is excessive.

Stories with accompanying Scripture quotations and discussion questions demonstrate the effectiveness of persevering and finishing such projects as cleaning a room, making a gift for a relative, and bailing out a leaky boat.

Stories with accompanying Scripture quotations and discussion questions examine unfair situations such as a classmate's selfishness and a painful divorce and discuss ways of putting them in perspective.

Stories with accompanying Scripture quotations and discussion questions suggest ways to deal with excessive shyness in such situations as wanting to play with a stranger your own age, performing or speaking before a group, and asking a relative for a favo

In 2020, the world was plunged into a spiralling ball of panic, uncertainty and death as the covid-19 pandemic hit. Not only did the world record a high number of deaths, but there was also worldwide economic disruption to levels last recorded in the time of the Great Depression as many businesses folded under the weight of the constraints the virus imposed; with the stay-at-home orders and limited human interactions, it was difficult for many entrepreneurs to stay in business. In this book, 10 amazing entrepreneurs collaborated together with their business skills and strategies that helped them navigate the hardship and uncertainty as a result of the pandemic to not only survive but thrive using creative methods. From the stables of founders of Shameless Buns, Inflectiv, Ceecee's Gift Baskets and more, what you are about to encounter in the ten chapters of this book are relatable personal stories; from how a new mom started and scaled her business, to the food truck industry and how a few business owners picked themselves up from losing more than half of their revenue streams and launched new models to overcome the hurdles set by the pandemic. This book will show you elements of creativity and utilizing resources around you that you might not have realized to increase cashflow for your business. You will also learn different systems to effectively market and attract new customers for business growth and develop new income streams from your expertise. Our experiences have helped our businesses, other businesses and even non-business owners look at things through a different lens to overcome setbacks and create new revenue opportunities. From The Creative Grit Authors ... Ivan Ho ~ "Focus on what's strong and not what's wrong ~ How leveraging your expertise into multiple income streams can protect you during uncertain economic times." Cassandre Van Bakel ~ "Dream, try, and persevere ~ Make the space you need for yourself in the world of business, and inhabit it with determination, hard work, flexibility, and passion." Rob Manne ~ "Don't allow yourself to be put in a box. Listen to the market, think about what you bring to the table, and take action to re-invent yourself." Matt Brennan ~ "The pandemic has changed the landscape of food businesses as we know it and right now is the best time to start your dream food business for next to nothing!" Elizabeth Hartyoon ~ "Seek to change your mindset and not just your address" - How newcomers to Canada settled and transitioned successfully despite obstacles and challenges." Dave Jackson ~ "Adapting to change is the spice of life. Expect it, don't fear it. Plan for change. What goes up must come down, but nothing states that it can't come back up again." Jim Habbal ~ "Creative thinking could be a great source of joy, and when applied to business, it turns into creativity in action. Ultimately, when pushed against challenging times, it becomes creative grit." Li Lu ~ "The Covid pandemic taught me how to turn a crisis into an opportunity. I want other entrepreneurs to learn from my mistakes, try my winning strategies and, most importantly, relate to my emotional journey." Aamar Khwaja ~ "There is a difference between the creative that merely produces product or draws lines on a canvas, than the one who actually experiences their creation." Frances Schagen ~ "When you have a deep understanding of your money, it stops being the reason. You know that you can make a decision based on what you need and want. Then you figure out the money to support you in that decision."