Margins
Pure Joy book cover
Pure Joy
Rediscover Your Conscience
2012
First Published
4.09
Average Rating
208
Number of Pages

Conscience is the Cinderella of the contemporary world. We hardly speak or think about our conscience. She is left behind while we get on with the party of life, untroubled by any serious self-examination. And yet conscience is a God-given part of being human, with tremendous potential for good - if it is cleansed and kept clean - or for harm - if it becomes hardened or calloused. 'This book is about the joy of a clear conscience in every day of living and in the day of death,'' enthuses Christopher Ash. 'With a clear conscience, we can enjoy not just the stuff we think of as "spiritual", but all sorts of things like sleep, sport, friendship and holidays. With a good conscience none of these things ever leaves a sour taste in our mouths.' Christopher is eager to get all of us thinking about conscience again: 'I want you to take your conscience out of the cupboard, dust it down, bring it back into daily life and discover its power to do you good.' Commendations 'Pure Joy will attune you to your own inner voice of conscience as well as revealing its limitations and showing how you can bring you conscience more in sync with God's will. It's great to see this neglected area being so helpfully explained and I'm sure this book will be a blessing to many people.'

  • Tim Chester 'This rare treatment of a complex practical issue shines clear Biblical light into the dark areas of our thought and behaviour, with lucidity and great pastoral relevance. It will make you think and do you good. I warmly commend it.'
  • David J Jackman, Past President of the Proclamation Trust. 'In an age when so much attention is paid to our physical well-being, here is a liberating and nourishing book that addresses the urgent need of our souls. Whether we are haunted by past failure, paralysed by sinful habits, hardened by disobedience, or longing for the joyful freedom of a conscience cleansed and a life lived by God’s grace, we all need to engage with this timely book.'
  • Jonathan Lamb, Director, Langham Preaching; Chairman, Keswick Ministries 'Few things are worse than a troubled conscience. Christopher Ash peels back the layers to understand the mysteries of the human conscience. This book will help you to be happy inside, inviting you to come to Christ and enjoy the warmth of his sunshine. This book doesn't just take the reader for a suntan, for skin-deep spirituality, but aims to shine the light of Christ all the way down to our conscience.'
  • Dave Bish, UCCF Team Leader 'Over the past few decades we have witnessed a revival of expository biblical teaching in our churches. Now we need a renaissance of biblically-shaped pastoral care and counsel which takes that Word into the furthest corners of the human heart. Of course we can still learn from, and integrate, the best that psychology and psychiatry have to teach us. But the pages of scripture rustle with insights into the human 'heart' and with 'cures' for the aching soul. Christopher Ash's book on conscience, full of practical wisdom and advice, is an important stepping stone toward realising this vision. I hope it will inspire and equip a new generation of 'doctors of the soul'.'
  • Glynn Harrison, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of Bristol
Avg Rating
4.09
Number of Ratings
82
5 STARS
30%
4 STARS
50%
3 STARS
17%
2 STARS
2%
1 STARS
0%
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Author

Christopher Ash
Author · 21 books
Christopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust in London as director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is also writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and is the author of several books, including Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the Book of Job and Teaching Romans. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and one daughter.
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