ethos – table of contents

Hey everyone, this is a sneak peek at the table of contents to the book I have been writing. I am putting the finishing touches on a rough draft, the next step will be editing and then hopefully publishing. ethos a book by Ryan Marcum I. simple II. follow the Leader III. who is Jesus? IV. the Great Commission V. the Great Commandment VI. a Faith Community VII. the Last Things love God love People The Greek definition of ethos is character; more specifically the character of a specific person, people, culture, or movement. A few questions I asked myself before writing this book were: What does the Christian life look like? What is the Christian life modeled after? What is the purpose of a Christian ethos? How is that purpose lived out? Do all Christians act the same? What happens next? This is not an exhaustive book on the subject of the Christian life, nor is it meant to be a theology book it is simple and at the same ...

Simple Ethos Chapter 4 snippet

Jesus, in Matthew 5 addresses the crowd with this statement, You have heard it said.[i] Jesus was pointing back to the Old Testament, and giving updated meaning to the commands passed down from generation after generation. In the same way we are passing down our traditions and culture to the next. The question is, what are we passing down? Are we passing down a message of fear of the different? Are we passing down a mindset that says do not go downtown! Do not go to the under privileged! Do not. Do Not. DO NOT. I see a current mindset of believers comfortable with giving money so others can go into the dark places but not willing to go and love. We have heard it said…. Emma is four years old now and I am constantly reminded that I have no idea what I am doing. I am new at this Parenting thing. She often asks questions of all types and lately has been asking more deep thinking ones. She recently asked me if children die. I reluctantly said, Well, some children die. I saw tears begin to well up in her eyes and she looked at me once again ...

Simple Ethos Chapter 3 snippet

Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is? I mean really sat down and thought it through. Take a child for instance the meaning of life is probably in the neighborhood of everything is mine and is meant to make me happy. Take an adolescent the meaning of life might be boys, girls, music, having the most friends on facebook. But then we get older and suddenly the meaning of life becomes about finances and a bigger house finding the right husband or wife and “these things will make me happy.” And suddenly we become seniors and life becomes about memories and leaving a legacy behind. What is the meaning of life? Where do you find meaning? Are you trapped in a cycle of possessions and living from pay check to paycheck, or maybe your stuck in a scheduling nightmare that controls your every moment… The book of Ecclesiastes gives us great insight on the wisest man ever, and the life he lived in pursuit of the meaning of life. In the beginning of the book Solomon says, that everything is meaningless, wisdom, work, pleasure, toil, wealth…everything is meaningless. Then with perfect harmony lays out wisdom that brings everything ...