Looking Back to Move Forward

Embracing Setbacks for Greater Fruitfulness

By: Terry Nightingale

Narrated by: Maxx

Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Everyone has setbacks. Most of us know what disappointment feels like. Some of us know the bitter taste of failure. There are times when life has not gone the way we hoped it would. We may feel responsible, or we may feel we are the victim, but, either way, how can we find closure and move on? This book suggests that intentional reflection on past experiences in the presence of God may be the key that is needed for future fruitfulness. In other words, to effectively move forward in the purposes of God, we may first need to look back.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Terry is an Englishman living with his lovely wife Sue in Western Australia. He loves listening to progressive rock music, and he likes to think he is a good cook. Terry is a pastor of a small church in the southern suburbs of Perth, and he writes a weekly blog called "The Best Is Yet to Come" - bite-size devotions to challenge and encourage. You can find it at https://pastorterry4.wixsite.com/website.

©2020 Terry Nightingale (P)2021 Terry Nightingale

Critic reviews

"While facing our past is sometimes daunting, Terry Nightingale builds a convincing case of why it is valuable, even transforming, especially when done in the conscious presence of God. This is a book filled with hope, encouragement, and biblical insight. I take great pleasure in commending it to you." (Dr. Brian Harris, Principal, Vose Seminary, Perth, Australia. Author of The Big Picture: Building Blocks of a Christian World View, Paternoster, 2015, and The Tortoise Usually Wins, Paternoster, 2013)

"It’s easy to become disillusioned when looking back and seeing a string of painful experiences and failures. In his book, Terry takes a different approach; he encourages us to learn from these experiences and grow by them and through them. Drawing on his own long experience in Christian life and ministry, Terry bravely shares his stumbles and disappointments. In doing so he draws from Scripture to demonstrate a pathway forward using the stumbles as stepping stones to current and future growth in Christ. Growth in Christian faith is an oft-neglected topic in our busy and distracted lives. Here is a book which helps to fill part of this gap. Thanks, Terry, for your valuable input here. (Richard B Roy, PhD, itinerant Baptist minister, erst-while Senior Minister, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Perth, WA, and former Principal of Tabor College, Perth, WA. Author of The Practice: Issues of Faith in Daily Life, Nothing Less: A Call to Rediscover Christ and the Gospel and Hear My Voice (pub: MT Pleasant Baptist Community College).

"Personal, inspirational, scriptural, and a good read, are descriptions that come to mind as I reflect upon Terry’s book: Looking Back to Move Forward. It has been a privilege for me to journey with Terry as he has written this book, referring to his own life and ministry experiences as well as Biblical stories. In my current role as Church and Ministry Support for Churches of Christ in Western Australia, I believe that Terry's book has the potential to be a genuine support for both church pastors and church members as Terry encourages and invites us to face and embrace our failures in order to better move forward in positive, constructive and healthy ways. I am pleased to offer my recommendation for this book. (Bill Addison, Church and Ministry Support for Churches of Christ in Western Australia)