Books
rooted: First steps for new Christ-followers
ROOTED is a ten-session course designed to guide new and young Christ-followers through a series of discipleship basics. The objective is to provide a foundation and framework for the new life in Christ with Jesus as the cornerstone to that foundation (Isaiah 28:16-17, Ephesians 2:20). This is not a comprehensive course in discipleship. The intent of this study is only to get you, the reader, a running start at your new life in Christ.
[You are] fellow citizens with God’s people and members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
– Ephesians 2:19-20, NIV-1978
To build our foundation, this series of studies follows the pattern of the first Christ-followers, those who came to faith in Christ on the day of Pentecost, responding to the Acts 2 sermon delivered by the apostle Peter.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
– Acts 2:42 NIV-1978
God-Faced Forgiveness
God-Faced Forgiveness weaves personal narrative through an exploration of, and response to, our call to grant forgiveness as God grants it. Beginning with a scene in which the author is confronted with his own abusive past, and the need to form a mature, godly response to it, this book toggles between the events which necessitated a forgiveness response, and a frank exploration of how forgiveness can and cannot be achieved.
Through examination of select foundational events of his life, the author demonstrates how the reader, too, can move beyond natural, flesh-based responses to trauma, emerging healed, whole, and a conduit of God’s grace and forgiveness to others.
Finding Faith in Slow Motion
Faith is neither static nor instantaneous. It is not something we stumble upon and instantly understand. Neither is it a monolithic, one-dimensional, singular entity that has but one face, one color, one fragrance. It is many-faceted, multi-dimensional, and appears differently depending on one's angle to the Son.
In Finding Faith in Slow Motion, Gray examines faith from myriad angles and through gut-wrenching life experiences, as he asks regarding faith, "What is that stuff?" Spanning the emotional gamut from laughter to tears, Gray challenges us to define our faith and redefine it, to look at it from a multitude of perspectives and define it again. The writing is intentionally evocative and playful, offering the reader the ability to identify with Gray as he wrestles with the weighty subject matter of finding faith.
The Christ Saturated Life
While many presentations, both written and oral, have appropriately called for an alignment of the disciple’s life with the life of Christ, the majority of such works focus on tangibles: the actions, doing what Christ did, treating others the way Christ treated others.
The Christ Saturated Life reverse-engineers that process by beginning with the internals of Christ and working our way outward. We embrace Jesus’ passions, love what he loves, long for the things for which he longs, see with his eyes, and hear with his ears. However unlikely it may be that I could achieve such a state, if I were completely saturated with the heart and mind of Christ, filled to the point of overflowing, what would that look like? How would that change the man or woman I am today?
Inspire Christian Writers - Anthology contributions
Inspire courage
Courage. It’s a big word, isn’t it? For some, it means being brave when faced with scary situations. For others, courage is an inner fortitude which keeps us heading in the right direction when we’d rather head in another. Still others define courage as the ability to move past painful, traumatic circumstances and still contribute something beautiful to this world. \
And the truth is … courage is all of this and more.
This anthology brings together the true and fictional stories, essays, and poems of twenty-five Inspire Christian Writer members … all considering the concept of courage. Through this collection, you’ll laugh, be moved, and perhaps find yourself a little challenged.
But, above all, we hope you’ll be encouraged.
Inspire Community
Community has always been at the heart of human existence. We were made to be in relationship with each other and, more importantly, the One who created us. Desire for connection with others, and God, is hard wired into our DNA in a way we barely notice ... until that connection is severed or diminished. This anthology, a collection of writings from the members of Inspire Christian Writers, contains a look at the concept and importance of community, and its place in our identity, from many angles. We hope it blesses and encourages you ... And is a reminder of how very much we need each other.
Inspire Kindness
In a world of anger and hate, we could all use a little kindness. A gentle word, a helping hand would go a long way to comforting a hurting and lost community. This anthology, by Inspire Christian Writers, is a collection of over forty stories, poems, and devotionals that are testimonies to everyday acts of kindness big and small. May they encourage you and excite you to acts of kindness too as you share it forward to reach our world for Christ.
WHAT Readers are saying
"I find myself living such a fast paced life, church ministry included, that words like slow motion, pause and rest call deeply to my soul these days with an invitation to at least move to the right lane."
"Thanks for the reminder that faith most of the time grows not quickly, but slowly, as we learn to trust and depend on God."
"I found Gray's insightful, scripturally based, sometimes witty, sometimes poignant observations to be greatly uplifting."
"Precise, compelling writing. The cadence and voice is Five-Star!"
"Your command of English is excellent; not too formal, yet not too familiar."
"I trust what you write, friend. There's a lot of crazy stuff out there; we must appreciate the godly stuff when we find it."
"I'm grateful for the truth shared. I have, and will recommend it to clients and friends."
"Fair warning to readers, though - this is not light reading for a rainy afternoon."
"The words on the pages are embedded with relevant and interesting historic references."
"The author is serious, filling the piece with many insights and bits of wisdom, yet writing in a conversational style that is delightfully scattered with much humor and wit."
"My dad picked up your book and read it, and said he enjoyed it ... and he's an atheist!"
The thoughtfulness and thoroughness of Damon’s writings are really impressive.
I read your writings and am blown away. You are one where I go, "Man, from who I was … how did God put me here?" It blows my mind and I’m grateful.
Damon is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.