A PROPHETIC MANIFESTO FOR CHRISTIANS IN CONFLICT CAUGHT BETWEEN LOVE OF POWER AND THE POWER OF LOVE

In a time of confusion and chaos, amid competing voices shouting out lies as truth and decrying truth as a lie, it becomes essential to distinguish reality from unreality. The book of Hosea provides a master class in unmasking deception, layer by deceptive layer. Through his words, in tandem with his prophetic marital performance, Hosea exposes the lies that had captivated Israel's imagination and affection, stolen her vitality, robbing her of her vocation to reflect God's beauty and compassion to the nations. Many Christians have been similarly ensnared and are convinced that pursuing power will guarantee the survival of their nation and their way of life. Hosea's task is to uncover the truth: God's people have been seduced into worshiping a false god who guarantees peace and prosperity at the cost of following a Lord who calls His people to imitate His steadfast, loyal, sacrificial love. This is an expose of delusion, a lament over barrenness and exile, but also a promise of astonishing fruitfulness.

Tim was raised in Chile, South America and in Spain where his parents served as Baptist missionaries. He studied at Cedarville University, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and Thomas Cooley Law School. He was a litigating attorney for Migrant Legal Services and research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals before starting his own practice in 1993, specializing in Estates and Trusts. He has been married to his best friend, Patty, for over 40 years. They have five children. His first book, The Paladins, a fantasy, spiritual warfare thriller was published in 1998, followed by The God Who Smokes: Scandalous meditations on faith; Warrior Poet: Before David became King; and Crucify! Why the Crowd Killed Jesus. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.