Raising Purity Now Available

My book is now available online. The publisher has put together a nice little Raising Purity website--you can check out sample pages, back cover, etc. And, of course, buy a copy.

The work is titled Raising Purity: Fashioning the Image of God in the Heart of Your Child. The book highlights the typological relationship between sexuality and the gospel, with a specific application toward the subject of sexual purity. My aim is to help parents think through the discipleship they bring to their children in this area. It's more theological than your average book on sexual purity, but I think we managed to keep it readable, and even light at times.

It was written largely during my tenure as a youth pastor in Fremont, NE, and was primarily intended for the families in my local church. I had largely laid it aside, until Bill Edmondson of Ryver Media took an interest in it. Bill and his team have done a great job with the design and production of the book. While it's not likely to make the New York times best seller's list, it's still nice to have a royalty contract, and to see my book in print. Below are a few of the back cover recommendations:

“I’m delighted my friend Gerald wrote this book. After reading Raising Purity, you’ll be equipped and motivated to lead your children into the joy of a clean and holy life. And it may just help you as well!”
Joe Stowell, Teaching Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois

“Hiestand’s book is unique, biblical, and paradigm shifting. It’s the most important book I’ve read on this subject—a must read for parents.”
David Cleland, Sr. High Pastor, Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois

"This is the best book I’ve read on the subject of sexual purity. I strongly recommend it to parents and pastors.”
James Nolan, Director of Student Ministries, Fremont Evangelical Free Church in Fremont, Nebraska

“There is much godly wisdom in this book. I heartily recommend it.”
David W. Jones, Academic Dean, Harvest School of Ministry in Elgin, Illinois

Update: So I was talking to my publisher--who is also an IT guru--and he mentioned how search engines work. The more that people link to your site using a certain phrase, the higher your site's search engine ranking will be for that phrase. So for instance, if were to link the phrase raising pure children, or purity, or sexual purity to my book's website, this would help increase the site's ranking in these categories. Well look at that, I just did. Shameless, I know.

On the Regneration of All Things

“Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones . . .” Mathew 19:28

“In the regeneration”—what did Christ mean? The Greek word paliggenesia—translated regeneration—carries with it the idea of “renewal,” and “rebirth.” The word is used only two times in all of Scripture; once in Titus 3:5 to speak of the renewal of individual Christians, and here in Matthew 19:28 to speak of the renewal of all creation. When the Son of Man comes and takes up his glorious throne it will be, Jesus says, the “rebirth” of all things. It is not insignificant that Jesus uses this word to describe the eternal state.

For reasons many and varied, Christians have often been led to believe that God’s plan is the ultimate destruction of the cosmos. Creation is spent and wasted, we are told; it will be dissolved and we will be whisked away to a celestial home beyond the bounds of earth. And though not often stated, we are often left with the impression our time in eternity will be spent in some sort of celestial, disembodied existence—floating through walls, not needing food or water. Not breathing air. But not so.

As Joe pointed out in his sermon a few weeks ago, John’s vision in Revelation 21:1-6 reveals a glimpse of a “new heavens” and a “new earth.” This is the paliggenesia—the regeneration—of which Christ spoke. The Scriptures tell us this world, like us, will be born again. The coming of the Son of Man is not the destruction of our home, but it’s healing. Indeed all of creation groans in anticipation of the Son’s return and subsequent glory (Romans 8:22-23). It too longs to be set free from decay. From this text—along with similar ones in 2 Peter and Isaiah—we see that God’s intent all along has been to redeem creation, not dissolve it. He intends to fix this word—infuse it with new life (indeed the divine life of the Second Adam) and give it back to us restored, remade, young again and fresh.

Heaven is a place of rest; the earth is a place of resurrection. God has created us as humans, with human desires and longings. He has made us for the earth, and the earth for us. It is here we will smell again the freshness of spring, hear once more the sound of the wind through the trees, and see as if for the first time, every time, the beauty of a sunrise. And it is here on this earth we will be raised again from the dust; and it is here we will be reunited with loved ones past and present. And the greatest blessing of this “heaven on earth” will be the unveiled presence of our God. It is this final hope that gives birth to all others. Every desire we have, the desire to love and to be loved, the desire for significance, purpose, glory, comfort—every desire—is met in Him.

Too often we think of the Son’s return as the interruption of all our earthly hopes and dreams. But such thoughts reflect a skewed notion of God’s plan. Christ’s return is not the interruption of our earthly desires; it is the consummation of our earthly desires—perhaps not in the way we imagine, but truly nonetheless. Christ is forever the Lord of both heaven and earth. Anchored in this truth, may we have the faith to believe His coming is the realization of every dream—both heavenly and earthly.