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Connor rector launches book on Love and Joy and Peace

Tuesday November 15th 2011

The Rev Jim Carson, rector of St Paul’s, Lisburn, will launch his book Love and Joy and Peace in the Good Book Shop, Belfast, on Tuesday November 22.

This is a devotional book about the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22–23 –“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control. Against such things there is no law.”

In the book Jim seeks to give some background on St Paul and the fruit of the Spirit before writing about each in turn, love, joy, peace and so on. He does this in 12 chapters which are followed up with an individual study on each of the fruit of the Spirit.

The premise of the book is two–fold, firstly to make the Bible and Christian writing more accessible to people in an easy to read format whilst also providing a means by which people individually or in a group can go deeper into the things of God and begin to take on these Godly characteristics in their lives.

Reviews

“One of the biggest challenges facing the Church today is to ensure that the Christian creeds are expressed in Christ–like deeds. A profession of faith that is not matched by a practice of the faith can become a denial of the faith. People are tired of empty words and need to see loving deeds. Ireland has had enough of hypocrisy and so has God! God longs that His people live holy lives. His exciting purposes for His people include the growth and development of good character. In this book Jim Carson points us in the right direction. In a culture obsessed with celebrity God prioritises character…the kind of people we really are. This is the theme of Jim’s book. It is timely. It is practical. It is helpful.”

Bishop Ken Clarke

“I believe that in this book, Love and Joy and Peace, we are receiving the benefit of lessons learned by Jim Carson during nearly 30 years of ministry. Jim goes through the various fruits of the spirit one by one and gives good practical advice as to how we can experience them in a deeper way in our own lives. He encourages us, not to stay at the same level in our spiritual lives for years, but to keep growing into the person Jesus wants us to be. I suspect that the book is the fruit of years of struggle in Jim Carson’s own walk with God. That is why he can speak to us with authority. I strongly recommend this book for those who wish to go deeper in their spiritual lives.”

Brother David Jardine SSF, Canon, St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast

“This book is an excellent introduction to the fruit of the Spirit. Set out in such a way that it is easily accessible to today’s busy person; it is enhanced by the Bible studies which allow for personal interaction with the material. I look forward to using these studies with my own church group. A great first book for the author.”

The Rev Jennifer McWhirter, Vicar of Templepatrick and Donegore,
part time tutor in CITI

“This book is a classic, thought provoking text defining ‘The fruit of the Spirit’ in an easily understood, ‘Christ–like’ way – the way that ought to be evident in all Christian people as they characterise the image of Christ in their daily lives. This ‘fruit of the Spirit’ should not be the result of adherence to a set of Christian standards but should grow out of a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Using this writing as a devotional book should strengthen and deepen that relationship, and make ‘The fruit of the Spirit’ more visible in us in a refreshing way!”

Very Rev Kenneth R. J. Hall, M.Phil Dean of Clogher

Love and Joy and Peace by James Carson will be launched in the Good Book Shop, Donegall Street, Belfast, on November 22 at 12.30pm

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