About this item
Imagine hearing your physician tell you that chips and queso contain more nutritional benefits than kale and quinoa. In her new book, The Sacrament of Happy: What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World, Lisa Harper unveils a similarly extravagant, unexpected surprise, declaring that happiness is a gift from God that we can unashamedly enjoy. Wearing the twin hats of both seminarian and belly-laughing adoptive mom, Harper builds upon solid theological scaffolding for happiness in a warm, vignette style. She dismantles the old-school idea that joy, not happiness, is the truly spiritual emotion of the Christian family and asserts that Christ-followers are actually called to happiness . . . to such a deep conviction in the unmitigated goodness of our Creator-Redeemer that we are free to feel and express genuine joy, fulfillment and contentment, regardless of personal and global tumult.
About the Author
Rarely are the terms hilarious storyteller and theological scholar used in the same sentence, much less used to describe the same person... but then again, Lisa Harper is anything but stereotypical! She has been lauded as a gifted communicator, whose writing and speaking overflows with colorful pop culture references that connect the dots between the Bible era and modern life. Her style combines sound scriptural exposition with easy-to-relate to anecdotes and comedic wit.
Best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado calls Lisa on of the "best Bible tour guides around," and speaker Priscilla Evans Shirer adds, "If anyone can help us to hear, understand and receive the truth of Scripture it is Lisa Harper. Her God-given ability to not merely teach the Word but package it in a way that stirs the heart and calls to action is incomparable. When she speaks ears perk up!" Lisa's pastor - Scotty Smith of Christ Community Church of Franklin, TN,? - sums up her appealing approach with this commendation, "In a day in which people connect with stories and yet too often find the Bible abstract and irrelevant, Lisa shows us that 66 books of the Bible are telling one grand story of personal and cosmic redemption, with Jesus starring as the lead character."
Her vocational resume includes six years as the director of Focus on the Family's national women's ministry where she created the popular Renewing the Heart conferences, attended by almost 200,000 women, followed by 6 years as the women's ministry director at a large church in Nashville. Her academic resume includes a Masters of Theological Studies with honors from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. Now a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker, Lisa is currently featured on the Women of Faith tour and speaks at many other large multi-denominational events - such as Moody Bible, Women of Joy, and Focus on the Family conferences - as well as at hundreds of church retreats all over the world. She's been on numerous syndicated radio and television programs and was featured on the cover of Today's Christian Woman.
She's written ten books including Holding Out For a Hero: A New Spin on Hebrews; A Perfect Mess: Why You Don't Have To Worry About Being Good Enough For God and Untamed: How the Wild Side of Jesus Frees Us to Live and Love With Abandon. Lisa's latest book is titled Stumbling Into Grace: Confessions of a Sometimes Spiritually Clumsy Woman. She also served as a key contributor to the Becoming Devotional Bible for Women and as a columnist for Today's Christian Woman magazine.
Yet in spite of her credentials, the most noticeable thing about Lisa Harper is her authenticity. When recently asked about her accomplishments she responded with a grin saying, "I'm definitely grateful for the opportunities God's given me; but don't forget, He often uses donkeys and rocks!"
