What God Starts, God Completes: Gospel Hope for Hurting People [The Life Lessons of Mike Milton]

"I was supposed to have been aborted... but that is not my identity. I was abandoned, abused, and kidnapped - all before I was five years old... but that is not my identity.
I hear folks talk about their identity in terms of their heredity - I am English or I am a Choctaw Indian. I am both of those things... but that is not my identity.
Some say, "I was adopted" or "I was orphaned" or "My father was a drunk and my mother insane," and that is their identity.
I could, myself, use those phrases to describe my life... but that is not my identity.
"I was divorced" and "I lost my kids" and "I made some terrible choices" are all monikers that some use to describe their essential personhood... but not me, even though I could utter those hard confessions to you now.
"I was a successful businessman, a 'golden-haired fast tracker,' grooming for the vice-presidency of a major corporation. That is who I am." I was that, too... but that is not who I am...
"My identity is, quite simply, completely related to Jesus Christ. Some reading this will not like my saying that. They will want more. They will want "depth." They will want "irony." But He is all there is to me. I am as deep as this: I have only Him. There is no mystery, irony, or feature about me that is amazing or even interesting but that He chose me and I am His. That is the story of stories as far as I can tell.
You need to know that I am not a religious man, as one might think of that term, even though I am an ordained Presbyterian minister. I am simply a disciple, a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Sometimes I follow him closely and sometimes I don't, to my own hurt and my own shame. But I am His. And He is mine-in the sense that He has given His life to me."
--Mike Milton

"A true pastor reaches to the heart. Mike Milton is such a pastor. Because God has radically changed his heart, he longs to speak to the hearts of others about God's amazing grace. His open heart will touch yours, too."
--Robert C. Cannada ~ Chancellor Emeritus, Reformed Theological Seminary

Author:

The President and Professor of Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also a chaplain in United States Army Reserve and adjunct Professor of Knox Theological Seminary. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Michael was the Senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga.

Endorsements:

"God's amazing grace in the lives of his saints is inspiring and this biography is another chapter in God's grand narrative, a chapter well worth reading."
--Luder G. Whitlock ~ Executive Director of CNL Charitable Foundation

"The key word I would use to describe this book is 'encouragement'. Mike Milton's story is challenging, stimulating but above all an encouragement which enables us to see the grace of God in the life of one individual. It is open, warm and realistic. Read and be encouraged."
--David Robertson ~ Pastor of St Peter's Free Church of Scotland, Dundee

"Mike Milton has taken the risk to tell us his story, all of it. The parable of his life, like yours and mine, was composed by the creator and is only understandable in His light. It is a story of grace, gracefully told."
--Michael Card

"Mike Milton is a godly, zealous pastor and also a trophy of God's sovereign, amazing love in Christ. I welcome this new book by him for at least two reasons. First and foremost, it glorifies the Triune God. Second, its warm, humble and personalized approach makes it extremely attractive and readable. Read it and give copies to your friends. This book will help them."
--Eryl Davis ~ Head of Research, Wales Evangelical School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales

"In this self-disclosing autobiography, Dr. Mike Milton embraces the paradox of strength in weakness. The one who reads this volume runs the risk of finding freedom in captivity to Christ and power in the declaration of dependence on Christ."
--Robert Smith, Jr. ~ Assoc Professor, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University

"In this book you will read the account of a man who has been saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, set aside to serve Christ and thus an instrument of God to extend the glory of God and expand the Kingdom of God all by the power of God. Mike Milton's life unfolded in such an intriguing and interesting manner in this volume reminds us that to be Gospel-saved is to be Gospel-driven and even more importantly to be captured by the love of Christ. Enjoy this page-turner and remember that this same Christ can be yours and you can be His."
--Harry L. Reeder ~ Pastor of Preaching & Leadership, Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama

"From my youth I have sung, "I love to tell the story to those who know it best [and] seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest." Those who know the gospel of Jesus Christ's saving love never tire of its themes and delight to hear them sung again in the lives of his children. Pastor Mike Milton knows the tune well because it has been sung so beautifully in his life. May this story of salvation bring praise again to our Savior and bring delight to those yet hungering and thirsting to be filled with the goodness of his grace."
--Bryan Chapell ~ Chancellor, Covenant Theological Seminary, St Louis, Missouri

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