We are clay pots by design, not because we have gone afoul of God's intention for us. Wouldn't some of us love to shed our earthenware now and still walk among mortals? Our sins keep us from a perfect walk, and we mourn this. We do not yet understand, of course, that an imperfect walk is the main idea of this life. God puts the treasure of his spirit in earthen vessels now to keep the vessels from situating themselves upon high places. Humility is a blessed thing. Mistakes remind us of our clayhood and drive us toward Christ.

Human belief is a gift of God that acquaints people with something God already did. People do have faith, and they do have wills, but the believing and the willing originated outside themselves. Belief is a gift that follows salvation; it does not precede it. So no one should think: I did it! The startling result? We are not saved because we believe; we believe because we are saved.

Are there certain things in your life that you know are wrong but you do them anyway? Over and over again? Then welcome to the book that will change your life. This book is not for smokers only, but for anyone plagued by nagging weaknesses. You are about to become free from them, not through vigorous self-analysis and moral exercise, but by the most powerful tool in the universe: a revelation of god's truth concerning them.

If prayer changed things, we'd all be in trouble. Imagine eight billion people storming heaven simultaneously. Imagine God throwing His papers all around and wondering what to do, who to answer. Imagine God finally plugging His ears and grinding His pearly white teeth in holy exasperation. This is a worse case scenario than if God just ignored us all and continues with His plan, which He came up with quite a long time ago when everything was calm and peaceful and humanity had not been invented.

If you've wondered why you've generally felt worse rather than better after watching world and national news, here's your answer. At what point are we supposed to resist government—or is there even such a point? Zender's Beyond Politics will at first rock your political boat, but then anchor you to the most peaceful shore imaginable.