Divine Romance: How God Draws Us Near to Him

Overview In the epilogue of this book, the author shares his frustration with trying to motivate Christians to heart-felt service. After more than 30 years of leadership ministry, Vines tells us that he has finally learned a key principle. “You cannot manipulate and coerce people into living righteous lives of service and obedience to God.” In this important and thoughtful book, Jeff Vines, a pastor, opens up his heart to the readers and relates a personal journey that has at its center a desire to know and love Jesus. Drawing near to Jesus is the very secret of motivation for all meaningful Christian service. It is possible to respect Jesus, to honor Him and even obey Him, but that is not the same thing as loving Him. Vines shares many principles and reflections demonstrating how he continually opens himself to the love of the Lord. “Make no mistake, God wants relationship with us and not merely a functional relationship but one that goes deep into our very mind, heart and soul. As intensely desperate as we are to know God, He is even more determined to reveal Himself to us.” (page 33) ISBN 978-0-89900-541-6 Features Though an excellent stand-alone study, this book is easily used for group study Excellent resource material for sermon or lesson preparation on the subject of “Knowing God” Crisp, compelling writing Numerous stories and illustrations including “why do bad things happen to good people?” A special chapter at the conclusion of the book is entitled “A special note to pastors and leaders” relating the book’s content to their task in a personal way   Excerpts “We all long for deeper relationships with those we love, whether those relationships are with our spouse, our children, our friends, or extended family. How much more so does God long to be in a deeper relationship with us? Just as a young man pursues the woman he loves in hopes of a marriage covenant, so too does God pursue us so that we might become the bride of Christ. This is the divine romance. God does not merely want to bring us into His presence, He wants us to grow in deep community with Him.” (p. 10) “If we truly desire to know God as He seeks to be known then we must pursue Him more than any other pursuit in our lives. The temptation is to place such a high value on something God has provided or has yet to provide that that thing or person becomes that which we give ultimate worth. But only God is supposed to sit in that chair.” (p. 35)   Endorsements “If you have lived through extreme challenges and suffered great loss along the way, Divine Romance will allow you to discover hope and encouragement. So dive in and keep reading. If you do, you’ll probably discover the same thing that Jeff did…that the God of the universe is both powerful and personal, whether you are on the mountain top or down in the valley.”  - Dave Stone: Senior Pastor, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky   Other Books by This Author Dinner With Skeptics   About the Author Jeff Vines spent twenty years on the mission field planting churches and training leaders (10 years in Zimbabwe and 10 years in New Zealand). From 1998-2005 he was the featured speaker on the weekly television broadcast, "Questions of Life," and frequently debated agnostic and atheist alike on national radio. For two years Jeff served as the Teaching Pastor at Savannah Christian Church in Savannah, GA. He is currently the Lead Pastor of Christ's Church of the Valley in San Dimas, CA. Jeff and his wife, Robin, have two children, Delaney and Sian.