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Learning to Soar: How to Grow Through Transitions and Trials
Just as a mother eagle stirs her nest to encourage her eagles to fly, God “stirs our nest,” allowing us to grow in new ways toward spiritual maturity. This book will motivate unfulfilled Christians to respond to God’s stirrings and to step out into abundant living.
- GenresChristian Non Fiction
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2009
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Avery T. Willis Jr.
26 books10 followersThe retired senior vice president of the International Mission Board was known for his passion for missions, discipleship and making the Gospel known to "oral learners."
Willis was born on Feb. 21, 1934, in Lepanto, Ark. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Willis served as pastor of Center Point Baptist Church in Wilburton, Okla., from 1954-56; Sunset Heights Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, from 1957-60; and Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, from 1960-64.
Following his years as a pastor, he and his wife were appointed as missionaries by the Foreign Mission Board, serving with their children in Indonesia from 1964-78.
Willis devoted the first six years of his mission service to evangelism and church planting. He spent the next eight years with the Indonesia Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a professor at the seminary for two years and its president for six years, during which time he wrote the MasterLife series of discipleship handbooks that eventually were translated into more than 50 languages and used in more than 100 countries.
After missionary service in Indonesia, Willis served for 15 years with the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) in the adult discipleship department.
Willis was born on Feb. 21, 1934, in Lepanto, Ark. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and master of divinity and doctor of theology degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Willis served as pastor of Center Point Baptist Church in Wilburton, Okla., from 1954-56; Sunset Heights Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, from 1957-60; and Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, from 1960-64.
Following his years as a pastor, he and his wife were appointed as missionaries by the Foreign Mission Board, serving with their children in Indonesia from 1964-78.
Willis devoted the first six years of his mission service to evangelism and church planting. He spent the next eight years with the Indonesia Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a professor at the seminary for two years and its president for six years, during which time he wrote the MasterLife series of discipleship handbooks that eventually were translated into more than 50 languages and used in more than 100 countries.
After missionary service in Indonesia, Willis served for 15 years with the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) in the adult discipleship department.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 30, 2009
This is a great encouragement for new, mature, world-weary Christians and those desiring a stronger spiritual growth.
It was enjoyable and uplifting to read and a highly recommended book to share with others, particularly as a reminder of God's providence in our lives and a reminder that He is in control.
Reading the book really challenges the reader to leave life beyond the nominal and instead show how each of the reader can strive to the maxiumn in their lives, in and through our Heavenly Father and by taking up our cross and following Him, to better understand what the Christian journey is about.
The book makes a wonderful gift, if you are in the mood for just an encouraging book about the Christian journey or if you are looking for that next bible study to do with friends or your church and is sure by the end of the study to give the reader more encouragement on what our Father in Heaven can do in our lives.
Well written, the first 142 pages are devoted to focusing on the book and what the author(s) have to share, with the rest of the book, devoted to chapter study questions, for people who feel led in their hearts to use this for small group studies.
With delightful ancedotes throughout each chapter, Learning to Soar, provides an intimate look at how our Father seeks to challenge and encourages us to take up our crosses and follow Him and in the process grow in our personal relationships with Him.
Learning to Soar brings understanding that the circumstances that are thrown our way, are not to cause us to stumble or stop us, but is His way of growing us, refining and reshaping us and bringing us closer to Him. Using timeless principles and biblical based encouragment, Learning to Soar has something for everyone.
It was enjoyable and uplifting to read and a highly recommended book to share with others, particularly as a reminder of God's providence in our lives and a reminder that He is in control.
Reading the book really challenges the reader to leave life beyond the nominal and instead show how each of the reader can strive to the maxiumn in their lives, in and through our Heavenly Father and by taking up our cross and following Him, to better understand what the Christian journey is about.
The book makes a wonderful gift, if you are in the mood for just an encouraging book about the Christian journey or if you are looking for that next bible study to do with friends or your church and is sure by the end of the study to give the reader more encouragement on what our Father in Heaven can do in our lives.
Well written, the first 142 pages are devoted to focusing on the book and what the author(s) have to share, with the rest of the book, devoted to chapter study questions, for people who feel led in their hearts to use this for small group studies.
With delightful ancedotes throughout each chapter, Learning to Soar, provides an intimate look at how our Father seeks to challenge and encourages us to take up our crosses and follow Him and in the process grow in our personal relationships with Him.
Learning to Soar brings understanding that the circumstances that are thrown our way, are not to cause us to stumble or stop us, but is His way of growing us, refining and reshaping us and bringing us closer to Him. Using timeless principles and biblical based encouragment, Learning to Soar has something for everyone.
February 7, 2010
BOOK REVIEW: Learning to Soar.
Authored by Avery T. Willis Jr. & Matt Willis;
Published by NavPress.
Synopsis: How to grow through Transition and Trials. A constant reminder for today’s Christian living, from the relationship between an eaglet and its parent.
I quite enjoyed reading the book as it leaves one with that "tantalizing” after-taste” derived from an exotic dish.
Co-authored with a blend of generational views the result of which is plausible; as the younger Willis, (who understands the ideology of any growing Christian) explored the harsh realities in the school of discipline as the eaglet had to encounter in the hands of its parent; while the elder Willis’s metaphors stressed the essence of such lessons as it affects us today.
But on page 98, lies the crux of God’s reason for wanting all His Children learn to soar, there it states:
“ As you try out your own spiritual wings, how do you progress beyond disappointment and mistakes? Let me suggest some guidelines for spreading your wings of faith so that God can accomplish His purpose for you:
How to Build a Dynamic Faith.
1. Scriptural Authority.
2. Holy Spirit’s verification
3. Alignment with God’s purposes
I’d better stop there, as there are few more. You’d better fetch yourself a copy so you’d learn how to soar higher and better unto the Divine heights God ordained for you.
At such zenith, you will eventually experience what it means to soar high up there majestically like the Great eagle on the Wings of the Holy Spirit: and in retrospect, smirking that “Why have I never done this before? What I have missed”!
This book was received as a review copy from NAVPRESS. The summations are entirely mine.
God Bless.
Authored by Avery T. Willis Jr. & Matt Willis;
Published by NavPress.
Synopsis: How to grow through Transition and Trials. A constant reminder for today’s Christian living, from the relationship between an eaglet and its parent.
I quite enjoyed reading the book as it leaves one with that "tantalizing” after-taste” derived from an exotic dish.
Co-authored with a blend of generational views the result of which is plausible; as the younger Willis, (who understands the ideology of any growing Christian) explored the harsh realities in the school of discipline as the eaglet had to encounter in the hands of its parent; while the elder Willis’s metaphors stressed the essence of such lessons as it affects us today.
But on page 98, lies the crux of God’s reason for wanting all His Children learn to soar, there it states:
“ As you try out your own spiritual wings, how do you progress beyond disappointment and mistakes? Let me suggest some guidelines for spreading your wings of faith so that God can accomplish His purpose for you:
How to Build a Dynamic Faith.
1. Scriptural Authority.
2. Holy Spirit’s verification
3. Alignment with God’s purposes
I’d better stop there, as there are few more. You’d better fetch yourself a copy so you’d learn how to soar higher and better unto the Divine heights God ordained for you.
At such zenith, you will eventually experience what it means to soar high up there majestically like the Great eagle on the Wings of the Holy Spirit: and in retrospect, smirking that “Why have I never done this before? What I have missed”!
This book was received as a review copy from NAVPRESS. The summations are entirely mine.
God Bless.
January 11, 2011
Sometimes my loving Heavenly Father has to expose me to some thorny, prickly things in this life to spur me on to the destiny He created for me. He created each of His children to soar!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews