Gift of Thorns
Jesus, the Flesh, and the War for Our Wants
By A. J. Swoboda, James Bryan Smith | Publisher: Zondervan
About the book
Today's follower of Jesus exists at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us by cultural, spiritual, and relational forces. \"Follow your heart\" and \"You do you\" has become our moment's mantras. The result, for too many, is feeling torn asunder by the raging desires within. What do we do with our desire? What about our unwanted desires? And how do we cultivate desires which bring life and freedom and lead to Christ? The Gift of Thorns, by A. J. Swoboda, addresses these questions and more.
The path forward is anything but easy. It is assumed by too many in the Christian community that desire is in and of itself bad or dangerous and must be crucified for simply existing. Desire is demonic for some. But, for many others--particularly in the secular West--desire must be followed through and through. This side deifies desire. But these two options sidestep the joy in the great challenge of finding God in our desire. There exists an ancient and sacred way that is forged around the life, wisdom, and power of Jesus and his Spirit. In short, what makes a follower of Christ is not whether or not we have desires. Rather, it is what we do with the desires we have.
Near the end of the story of humanity's rebellion, the theme of \"thorns\" is introduced. As readers will discover, the thematic repetition of \"thorns\" pops up over and over throughout the Bible. What are the thorns for? They will be, in the words of God, \"for you\" (Gen. 3:18). The premise of this book is that a world where we do not get all that we want is, well, the greatest gift ever.
Editions of Gift of Thorns
- EBook
- ISBN 9780310153290
Read an Excerpt
Today's follower of Jesus exists at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us by cultural, spiritual, and relational forces. \"Follow your heart\" and \"You do you\" has become our moment's mantras. The result, for too many, is feeling torn asunder by the raging desires within. What do we do with our desire? What about our unwanted desires? And how do we cultivate desires which bring life and freedom and lead to Christ? The Gift of Thorns, by A. J. Swoboda, addresses these questions and more.
The path forward is anything but easy. It is assumed by too many in the Christian community that desire is in and of itself bad or dangerous and must be crucified for simply existing. Desire is demonic for some. But, for many others--particularly in the secular West--desire must be followed through and through. This side deifies desire. But these two options sidestep the joy in the great challenge of finding God in our desire. There exists an ancient and sacred way that is forged around the life, wisdom, and power of Jesus and his Spirit. In short, what makes a follower of Christ is not whether or not we have desires. Rather, it is what we do with the desires we have.
Near the end of the story of humanity's rebellion, the theme of \"thorns\" is introduced. As readers will discover, the thematic repetition of \"thorns\" pops up over and over throughout the Bible. What are the thorns for? They will be, in the words of God, \"for you\" (Gen. 3:18). The premise of this book is that a world where we do not get all that we want is, well, the greatest gift ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gift of Thorns about?
Today's follower of Jesus exists at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us by cultural, spiritual, and relational forces. \"Follow your heart\" and \"You do you\" has become our moment's mantras. The result, for too many, is feeling torn asunder by the raging desires within. What do we do with our desire? What about our unwanted desires? And how do we cultivate desires which bring life and freedom and lead to Christ? The Gift of Thorns, by A. J. Swoboda, addresses these questions and more.
The path forward is anything but easy. It is assumed by too many in the Christian community that desire is in and of itself bad or dangerous and must be crucified for simply existing. Desire is demonic for some. But, for many others--particularly in the secular West--desire must be followed through and through. This side deifies desire. But these two options sidestep the joy in the great challenge of finding God in our desire. There exists an ancient and sacred way that is forged around the life, wisdom, and power of Jesus and his Spirit. In short, what makes a follower of Christ is not whether or not we have desires. Rather, it is what we do with the desires we have.
Near the end of the story of humanity's rebellion, the theme of \"thorns\" is introduced. As readers will discover, the thematic repetition of \"thorns\" pops up over and over throughout the Bible. What are the thorns for? They will be, in the words of God, \"for you\" (Gen. 3:18). The premise of this book is that a world where we do not get all that we want is, well, the greatest gift ever.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Gift of Thorns?
Philosophy and Religion > Religion and beliefs > Christianity > Christian life and practice
Where can I read a sample of Gift of Thorns?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780310153290
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Gift of Thorns?
A. J. Swoboda, James Bryan Smith
Who is the Publisher of the book Gift of Thorns?
Zondervan
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Gift of Thorns is available as ebook(ISBN 9780310153290)
Where can I buy Gift of Thorns online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Gift of Thorns from below
Where can I buy Gift of Thorns?