LONGWOOD, FL-A peculiar Greek word, agape, appears 320 times in the New Testament, making it the undisputed champion of thematic content in the second "half" of the Bible. Author Rick Gowdy takes a stab at analyzing every area of life wherein agape, or godly love, can play a role. In his book Agape-Love: How Is It Important Anyhow? (paperback, 978-1-60266-329-9) readers will gain a fresh perspective on what it really means to follow Christ. And, as it turns out, doing so may be so much simpler than you thought.
"Our Christian walk is not about keeping the Ten Commandments per se," says Gowdy, "it's about only one commandment, the golden rule. All that we are to do is summed up in one simple rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The beauty of this lifestyle is that it completely simplifies the Christian walk. There is only one thing we are to doÑlove others 24/7."
While searching for direction the last 16 years of his life, Gowdy continued to pursue a passion for studying doctrine and theology. Sensing something was missing, he began a study of the Bible to find out what is the most significant priority or duty God requires of us. That endeavor led him to Matthew 22:36-40: "Love your neighbor as yourself." This significant passage transformed his life, and he hopes it will transform readers' as well, because "Christianity has lost its focus," says the author. "There is only one thing we are to do above all else. By doing so, the all else falls into place automatically."
Rick Gowdy and his wife, Teena, have two sons, Derek and Daren, and they live in Colorado.
Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world's largest Christian publisher, with more than 3,900 titles published to date. Retailers may order Agape-Love: How Is It Important Anyhow? through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Salem Communications is the country's leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing.
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2007