FRANK VIOLA
transforming lives together
Published by David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
David C Cook Distribution Canada
55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5
David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England
The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.
The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.
For Bible credits, see page 206.
LCCN 2013933125
ISBN 978-0-7814-0590-4
eISBN 978-1-4347-0558-7
© 2013 Frank Viola
Published in association with the literary agency of
Daniel Literary Group, Nashville, TN 37215.
The Team: Alex Field, Amy Konyndyk, Nick Lee, Caitlyn Carlson, Karen Athen
Cover Design: Amy Konyndyk
Cover Image: David Roberts, Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS
First Edition 2013
Narratives anchor people to a unified vision.
May this book give you a unified vision
that will govern the rest of your life.
Introducing an Amazing Village
INTRODUCING AN AMAZING VILLAGE
In every generation, Christians face the same challenges—namely doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, division, rejection, and the struggle against consumerism and complacency.
The Gospels narrate the incredible story of Jesus’ earthly life. Yet there is a story within this narrative that’s often missed. And to my mind, it’s the greatest story never told—a narrative within the narrative.
That narrative is the story of Jesus’ repeated visits to the little village of Bethany.
When we extract the story of Bethany from the four Gospels and trace the footsteps of our Lord there, a beautiful saga emerges. This saga speaks to the challenges of doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, division, rejection, consumerism, and spiritual apathy. Challenges we all face as believers.
My object in this book is to tell the story of Bethany and bring its powerful message to life. The reason? Because that narrative changed my life. And I’m hopeful that it will change yours also.
This book is a work of biblical narrative. The Gospels give us the meat of the story of Bethany, but I’ve filled in the details by creating dialogue, action, and atmosphere. These details add color and texture to the story. They transform the story into vivid 3D Technicolor, unearthing uncommon insights from the biblical text.
Note that I’ve drawn the creative details from first-century history. As such, ...
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About God’s Favorite Place on EarthWhen he came to earth, Jesus Christ was rejected in every quarter in which he stepped. The Creator was rejected by his own creation. “He came to his own and his own received him not,” said John. For this reason, Jesus Christ had “no where to lay his head.” There was one exception, however. A little village just outside of Jerusalem named Bethany. Bethany was the only place on earth where Jesus was completely received. God’s Favorite Place on Earth is a retelling of Jesus’ many visits to Bethany and a relaying of the message it holds for us today. Frank Viola presents a beautifully crafted narrative from the viewpoint of Lazarus, one of the people who lived in Bethany with his two sisters. This incomparable story not only brings the Gospel narratives to life, but it addresses the struggle against doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, rejection, and spiritual apathy that challenges countless Christians today. In profoundly moving prose, God’s Favorite Place on Earth will captivate your heart with its beauty, charm, and depth. In this book, you will discover how to live as a “Bethany” in our world today, being set free to love and follow Jesus like never before. |
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