by Jon C. Swanson (Author)
Nehemiah is a brief book in the Bible. Nehemiah is also a man steeped in religious tradition and working for a foreign government. When bad news arrives, he finds an impossible purpose for his life: rebuild Jerusalem. This book is a series of conversations with Nehemiah exploring how he followed God and led people.In these conversations, Jon Swanson explores prayer, opposition, distraction, injustice, and staying faithful to the end of life. The conversational style reaches beyond the book of Nehemiah and teaches us a way to explore the Bible. A Great Work is not a typical commentary on the Bible, it's a conversation with the Bible.
Author Biography
Jon Swanson is passionate about helping people emotionally understand God's work. He is a husband, father, and associate pastor living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has worked in higher education in Texas and Indiana. He and Nancy have been married more than thirty years and have two children, Andrew (married with Allie) and Hope. Jon is ordained by the Missionary Church and has a PhD in communication studies (UT-Austin). He writes regularly at http: //300wordsaday.com. Since 2000, Jon has worked as an associate pastor at two different churches. He has produced videos, talked with people needing financial help, married and buried people, and helped other people understand how to accomplish their work. Since 1995, he has taught communication and management courses for college credit. He has taught many Sunday school classes and small groups and preached. Rather than teaching from study guides, he walks people through books of the Bible, including extensive studies of Malachi, Nehemiah, Philippians, Psalms, Colossians, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 John. During the past two years, he has taught an online course for pastors studying church administration and is developing two more. Jon is the author of three ebooks: Lent for non-Lent People, Learning a New Routine, and Anticipation: an Advent Reader.