Michael Beck

When wealthy Seth Hubbard hangs himself from a sycamore tree and leaves his fortune to his black maid, Jake Brigance once again finds himself embroiled in a controversial trial that will expose old racial tensions and force Ford County to confront its tortured history.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • John Grisham's most powerful, surprising, and suspenseful thriller yet • “A murder mystery, a courtroom drama, a family saga.” —USA Today
 
October 1946, Clanton, Mississippi

Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi’s favorite son—a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and...

Eliciting excellence is the essence of exceptional leadership. Everyone accepts that good leadership is important, but rarely is the question raised as to why and how good leadership makes a difference. Although developing good strategies and making smart decisions are important, bringing out the best in people is the most important ability a leader needs in order to produce great results. In Eliciting Excellence, Michael Beck explains why bringing...

According to Fresh Expressions U.S., "a Fresh Expression is a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet part of any church." Fresh Expressions are introducing people to Jesus, expanding the kingdom, and revitalizing churches. Congregations need a practical and theological resource that can help them cultivate Fresh Expressions. As consultants who work nationwide and as innovative pastors,...

What is the future of the church in North America? Churches are closing faster than new ones can be planted. Existing churches engaged in effective evangelism beyond the tired tactics of attractional approaches are increasingly rare. One of the major pitfalls of the past few decades is "either/or" thinking-either attractional or missional; traditional or contemporary; old or new. In Deep Roots, Wild Branches, missiologist and church planter Dr. Michael...

Learn to cultivate the extraordinary gifts of Christian community in the countryside with Fresh Expressions of the Rural Church by Tyler Kleeberger and Michael Beck. The rural church was a community's centerpiece. The place where people gathered to worship and hear a sermon, break bread together, and support each other through the joys and struggles of life with the land. In many ways, the rural church captured a central aspect of the church's mission:...

The Pursuit of God teaches us the value of knowing God through our personal experience instead of thinking of Him as an abstract being. With constant communication with God, we will be able to develop a personal relationship with Him. Tozer asserts that God never ceases to speak to us, and we only need to listen and engage in a conversation with our Heavenly Father. The author main goal is to provide insights on how we can establish habits and a lifestyle...

In this short story, a land owner named Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov takes along one of his peasants, Nikita, for a short journey to the house of the owner of a forest. He is impatient and wishes to get to the town more quickly 'for business' (purchasing the forest before other contenders can get there). They find themselves in the middle of a blizzard, but the master in his avarice wishes to press on. They eventually get lost off the road and they...

This collection of four stories by Leo Tolstoy was published in 1885, a few years after his religious conversion to radical non-violent Christianity, and the stories reflect his concerns at that time. Includes "What Men Live By", "The Three Questions", "The Coffee House of Surat", and "How Much Land Does a Man Need?"

We hear and say short Christian clichés all the time, such as "Jesus was a social justice warrior," "Just have faith," and "It's not my place to judge." These trite statements often go unquestioned. Sometimes they even substitute for truth, leading to a fragile and shallow faith. But what if a close study of these clichés could lead us to deep biblical truth? In Unquestioned Answers, Dr. Jeff Myers rethinks ten popular Christian clichés....