When you’re in a conflict, you don’t want a bunch of steps, and you don’t want a big book.
Ed: Why did you write this book and what got you interested in this topic?
Tony: I deal with conflict daily as a pastor as well as a human being living in a fallen world! So it’s something that has great relevance. I have benefited from various books through the years on this subject, like Sande’s The Peacemaker and Poiri’s The Peacemaking Pastor. While I will continue using these wonderful books, I wanted to write something smaller and a bit more simple and to the point.
When you’re in a conflict, you don’t want a bunch of steps, and you don’t want a big book. You need biblical texts that point you to Jesus, so I tried to gather relevant texts in order to help the readers deal with their hearts and to help encourage them toward peacemaking in their relationships.
Ed: Who did you write it for?
Tony: I suppose you could say I wrote it for humanity in general because everyone deals with conflict! But to be more specific, I had in mind people in my church coming to me who are facing conflict. This might be a marital conflict, a conflict with children, or with one’s friends, neighbors, or fellow church members.
I also wrote it for pastors and ministry leaders. I envision them having a stack of these little books that they will hand out as they are helping individuals and families work through conflict resolution.
Ed: How have you seen relational dynamics and conflict change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic?
Tony: I’m not sure they’ve changed, but they have intensified for many. To be sure, COVID-19 has actually helped some relationships and marriages! What was hurting some marriages was life lived at too fast of a pace or with constant travel creating separation. But for ...
from Christianity Today Magazine https://ift.tt/2VbSupg
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