Despite the flaws of the book and the author, M. Scott Peck’s work remains a timeless self-help classic. Wisdom such as committing ourselves to love, delaying gratification and practicing self-discipline is what many of us, including those of us in the church, need to hear today.

I’ve learnt more from the marginalised, the stigmatised and the devalued than from any celebrity pastor. And it’s been humbling.

Our views about God – and politics – go right to the very heart of who we are. So, in these times of polarisation, how can Christians be unified, as Jesus prayed for, and proclaim the best news the world has ever been presented with?

Entering into our pain takes us to the deepest place, to reality, to the loving heart of God.

For many people, Christmas is the hardest time of the year. Thankfully, the joy of Christmas can only really be known within pain.

Corey’s journey out of fear-based faith is a hopeful one: instead of ditching his faith, he stuck with it because he found the Jesus who loves us not despite who we are, but because of who we are. And he calls us to discover this Jesus. Unafraid is powerful, hopeful and inspirational.

Ultimately, for the Christian, the core of voting means voting for the party that will do the most for those who are most disadvantaged in the world, not the party that will do the most for ourselves.

Quite simply, this is one of the most profound books I have ever read. In a world where we are seeing a plethora of natural disasters, many of which are the type forecast by climate scientists to be what we can expect more of in the future, Fretheim’s excellent volume is timely indeed.