Start Where You Are

Rashawn Copeland

Description

How would you describe your walk with God? Fresh and passionate? Vibrant and full of life? Stagnant? Nonexistent? No matter where you are on your walk, that's exactly where God promises to meet you--even if it's messy.Sharing his own story of spiritual drifting, popular online pastor Rashawn Copeland encourages you to accept yourself as a glorious work in progress, a beloved child in whom God delights, a person on the brink of revival. Anchoring everything in Scripture, he shows you how to start your walk with God now, even in the midst of your mess. Even in the midst of addiction, doubt, depression, fear, and years spent running from God, he shows it is possible to- find God's love and acceptance - develop strong character- choose to rejoice- move out of your mess- see life through God's eyes- be a loving person in a hateful world- never settle for less than God's best- and moreThe change you long to see in the world starts in your own heart. Thankfully, that's exactly where God is waiting for you.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493427734
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Endorsements
“Rashawn Copeland takes the reader on a personal journey to experience the love of the Father—a wonderful book for anyone searching for home.”
Eric Metaxas , New York Times bestselling author and host of the nationally syndicated Eric Metaxas Radio Show
“We don’t have to impress, perform for, or prove ourselves to God, and Rashawn Copeland’s life tells that story well. With a huge heart and deep conviction, Start Where You Are is a simple, straightforward anthem about the love God has for all of us, and Rashawn is a joyful guide pointing the way.”
Emily P. Freeman , Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Next Right Thing
“Compelling, poetic, and inspiring, Rashawn Copeland’s Start Where You Are encourages us to embrace the greatest need in human life—a chance to start again, right where we are! I can’t imagine someone picking up this book and regretting it. Rashawn is a passionate storyteller, sharing his painful and broken moments with fearless vulnerability.”
Trent Shelton , founder of Rehab Time and author of The Greatest You
“Real, convicting, transparent. This book brings hope of a second chance, a clean slate, and divine appointments with a merciful God and invites you to grow deeper in your relationship with God and better understand His character. Rashawn writes with passion, vulnerability, and honest humor. The joy many see on his face is depicted in this book and is a result of God’s sweet mercies!”
Alena Pitts , age thirteen, actress ( War Room ) and cousin of Priscilla Shirer
“For a guy who understands the feeling of being written off, Rashawn shares a fresh reminder on how Jesus says, ‘I want him no matter how messy he is.’ You may feel unworthy, useless, and upset; this book will push you to refocus your life and energy back on the Source of life, Jesus Christ. This isn’t just a book. It’s an invitation to God’s best for your life. Start where you are and get excited about the outrageous role you can play in God’s unfolding love story of grace and hope.”
Darryl Strawberry , New York Times bestselling author, evangelist, and four-time World Series champ
“A refreshing encouragement. Start Where You Are has deep potential to bring healing and peace to those who are broken and hurting.”
Carey Nieuwhof , bestselling author of Didn’ t See It Coming and founding pastor of Connexus Church
“ Start Where You Are is filled with fresh hope for anyone who feels stagnant in their spiritual journey. The transparency and vulnerability of this book are refreshing and empowering. This book will meet every reader right where there are and right where they need it most!”
Bobby Gruenewald , founder of the YouVersion Bible app and innovation pastor of Life.Church
“ Start Where You Are is a poetic, powerful, and practical book that opens our eyes to what it means to be love in a sometimes hateful world. My friend Rashawn gives truthful insights into the social trends of today and shares how God longs to meet us right there, on the ever-constant timelines of Tik-Tok and Twitter—and brings His timeless love that never changes. This book is a must-read we all need!”
Meredith Foster , author of Fostering Your Best Self , YouTuber, and influencer
“Rashawn Copeland writes from a place of deep conviction and touches lives in many ways. Start Where You Are is a call to celebrate God’s love and mercy and move forward with Him out of our messy past. As Rashawn’s friends, we joyfully recommend this book wholeheartedly.”
Cole and Sav Labrant , influencers and authors of Cole and Sav
“Rashawn has an amazing story. I hope you will grab this incredible book.”
Greg Laurie , pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, author, and founder of Harvest America
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2020 by Rashawn Copeland
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2020
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2773-4
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled MSG are from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled TLB are from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The author is represented by MacGregor & Luedeke Literary.
Illustrations © 2020 by Emily Mills. Used by permission.
Some names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
Dedication
TO MY DAD.
This book is for you because I know God is calling you.
A yearning cry is reaching out from His heart telling you to “Start where you are.”
You taught me what it means to love and lead a family, the importance of living a life of integrity, and love that makes life worth living.
I love you more than words can say.
I’m so thankful to be Rodney Copeland’s son.
Contents
Cover 1
Endorsements 2
Title page 4
Copyright Page 5
Dedication 6
Foreword by Manny Pacquiao 9
Just Start Here 13
1. From Dirty to Worthy 19
2. Where I Started 33
3. Peace 45
4. Conviction 59
5. Faithfulness 81
6. Patience 95
7. Self-Control 113
8. Joy 123
9. Kindness 143
10. Goodness 157
11. Love 169
12. Start Where You Are but Don’t Look Back 183
Today Is the Day 198
Shout Out 201
Notes 205
Back Ads 207
Back Cover 209
Foreword
I will never forget where I came from. When my boxing career began to soar, my moral standards started to nosedive. I gave in to one too many temptations—and because of the heaviness of my sin I became shackled with shame. I found myself overwhelmed and overworked by great darkness with no sense of hope. Despite the glamour of the spotlight, I found myself quite often lost in the shadows of a lukewarm Christian life. Although I had strong drive and a noble dream, sadly God wasn’t my priority. I went to church on Sunday morning, but by Monday night I was right back in my routine of getting drunk and gambling. I never took a moment to reflect on who I was hurting. I was simply stuck in my mess . I was immoral and drunk many nights before I ever felt any sorrow or remorse about it. I knew that none of it would ever satisfy the deepest longings of my soul. I just found myself more confused about what the true meaning of life was. Being one of the highest-paid athletes in the world in 2012 still didn’t help light up the darkness in my soul. The old saying is true: money can’t buy happiness.
Today, many of my fans would say my greatest victory of all time was versus Oscar De La Hoya. But that’s not true at all. My greatest victory by far was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. God is using His unfailing mercy as a message through my life to help transform millions of lives.
I refused to be marked by the traumas of my past, deprivation, and the paralyzing mindset of poverty. That is where I started. In a culture that lays great stress on being self-reliant, wealthy, and powerful, God has reversed every human opinion on what significance truly is. You can start with nothing at all . Jesus came into our world as a helpless, vulnerable baby, and this is why you can have confidence you are not alone when you feel weak and vulnerable. Jesus came as a baby, and He will return as King to conquer and reign once and for all. All of your impossibilities are possible with God. No battle is too great for Him.
Right now , what’s the biggest fight in my life? Honestly, it has nothing to do with the boxing ring. The biggest fight in my life is for people to be set entirely free to become who God is calling them to be. That’s the good fight of faith. That’s the fight that takes more endurance than twelve rounds in a boxing ring.
You might not realize it yet, but you aren’t fighting alone. You are free to start over again with God by your side. And Start Where You Are holds a captivating message for every person on the face of the planet. Rashawn is a beloved brother in Christ. I felt compelled to be part of this project, because this message hits much harder than Floyd Mayweather. I’m not kidding! Rashawn has impacted thousands with the gospel on my home island of Mindanao, Philippines. He shares that a life lived intimately with God may not be the easiest. But it will always be the fullest, richest, and most exciting life possible not only now but in eternity.
When Rashawn and I first met, our conviction for the gospel immediately