"I was supposed to have been aborted... but that is not my identity. I was abandoned, abused, and kidnapped - all before I was five years old... but that is not my identity. I hear folks talk about their identity in terms of their heredity - I am English or I am a Choctaw Indian. I am both of those things... but that is not my identity. Some say, "I was adopted" or "I was orphaned" or "My father was a drunk and my mother insane," and that is their identity. I could, myself, use those phrases to describe my life... but that is not my identity. "I was divorced" and "I lost my kids" and "I made some terrible choices" are all monikers that some use to describe their essential personhood... but not me, even though I could utter those hard confessions to you now. "I was a successful businessman, a 'golden-haired fast tracker,' grooming for the vice-presidency of a major corporation. That is who I am." I was that, too... but that is not who I am..."My identity is, quite simply, completely related to Jesus Christ. Some reading this will not like my saying that. They will want more. They will want "depth." They will want "irony." But He is all there is to me. I am as deep as this: I have only Him. There is no mystery, irony, or feature about me that is amazing or even interesting but that He chose me and I am His. That is the story of stories as far as I can tell. You need to know that I am not a religious man, as one might think of that term, even though I am an ordained Presbyterian minister. I am simply a disciple, a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Sometimes I follow him closely and sometimes I don't, to my own hurt and my own shame. But I am His. And He is mine-in the sense that He has given His life to me."
Praise: for What God Starts, God Completes:
"In this self-disclosing autobiography, Dr. Mike Milton embraces the paradox of strength in weakness. The one who reads this volume runs the risk of finding freedom in captivity to Christ and power in the declaration of dependence on Christ."-Robert Smith, Jr. ~ Assoc Professor, Beeson Divinity School of Samford University
"The key word I would use to describe this book is 'encouragement'. Mike Milton's story is challenging, stimulating but above all an encouragement which enables us to see the grace of God in the life of one individual. It is open, warm and realistic. Read and be encouraged."-David Robertson ~ Pastor of St Peter's Free Church of Scotland, Dundee
"Mike Milton has taken the risk to tell us his story, all of it. The parable of his life, like yours and mine, was composed by the creator and is only understandable in His light. It is a story of grace, gracefully told."-Michael Card ~ musician and author
Michael Milton is President and Professor of Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. He is also a chaplain in United States Army Reserve and adjunct Professor of Knox Theological Seminary. Prior to moving to Charlotte, Michael was the Senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga.
Where to Buy:
What God Starts, God Completes is available at any good Christian bookstore. If you don’t have a Christian bookstore near you, you may want to consider purchasing a copy from one of the online book retailers listed below:
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