Kelly Minter - No Other Gods: Confronting Our Modern-Day Idols

What people are saying about

I have loved Kelly Minter as a songwriter, worship leader, and wise teacher, but now I love her as an amazing author. No Other gods is fresh writing, biblical truth, and vulnerable, story-driven application. This book just became the next book I have to get for everyone.

A NGELA T HOMAS , BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND SPEAKER

False gods. Theyre all around us, invading the crevices of our hearts and minds with such cunning maneuvers that we are often unaware of their presence. Thank the Lord for Kelly Minter. She unapologetically exposes the reality of modern-day idol worship in all of us. This book, combining her personal journey and the power of Scripture, should be read by every believer who is ready to live fully and whole-heartedly for the one true God.

P RISCILLA S HIRER , AUTHOR AND SPEAKER

With an engaging style and endearing vulnerability, Kelly Minter skillfully weaves timeless biblical truths together with practical, personal applications. Her words are sure to challenge and encourage many, no matter what their age or stage.

J ERUSHA C LARK , AUTHOR OF E VERY T HOUGHT C APTIVE , I NSIDE A C UTTER S M IND , AND T HE L IFE Y OU C RAVE

In a time when Christian lives are becoming increasingly watered down, No Other gods reminds us of the one true God who is calling us into a relationship that is not only satisfying to our deepest longings, but also freeing to the secret parts of us that cry out for wholeness. This book inspires us to go to a depth of relationship with our Maker that is fresh and challenging.

D EBBIE A LSDORF , FOUNDER OF D ESIGN 4L IVING M INISTRIES AND AUTHOR OF D EEPER : L IVING IN THE R EALITY OF G OD S L OVE

With our current society so focused on discovering the next idol, we are easily drawn into believing we can find fulfillment in fame, money, or success. In No Other gods, we come face-to-face with our own small gods that we believe can give us true satisfaction. Through Kellys authenticity in her own journey, we are invited to take inventory of our hearts and urged to let go of idols keeping us from embracing the one true God.

C INDY W EST , DIRECTOR OF W ORSHIP A RTS ,
W OODMEN V ALLEY C HAPEL , AND AUTHOR OF S AYING Y ES ( FORTHCOMING FROM D AVID C. C OOK , FALL 2008)

In No Other gods, Kelly Minter has written a beautiful, personal account of a journey, the one we all take from time to time that seductively leads us away from peace in pursuit of things that cannot satisfy. By drawing light onto the unseen and often overlooked impediments of her own, Kelly bravely leads the charge on the many areas we all share in common; taking no prisoners along the way, she gently encourages us to wholeness by example. Fast paced, well-written, honest, and practical, No Other gods presents a bridge from where you are to where you could be. Great work.

M ARGARET B ECKER , SONGWRITER AND AWARD-WINNING RECORDING ARTIST

NO OTHER GODS
Published by David C Cook
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David C Cook Distribution Canada
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David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights.

The Web site addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you.
These Web sites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C. Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Italics in Scripture quotations have been added by the author for emphasis. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.)

Lyrics on pages 2021: First in My Heart by Kelly Minter 2007 ThankYou Music.

Some excerpts taken from: The Living Room Series: No Other Gods: Confronting Modern Day Idols 2007 Kelly Minter (Nashville: LifeWay Christian Resources).

LCCN 2008920367
ISBN 978-0-7814-4897-0
eISBN 978-1-4347-0294-4

2008 Kelly Minter

The Team: Andrea Christian, Karen Lee-Thorp, Theresa With, Jack Campbell, and Karen Athen Cover/Interior Design: The Visual Republic, Alexis Goodman
Cover Photos: fStop Photography/Veer; DigitalVision/Getty Images; Jacky Simanzik, Photocase.com

First Edition 2008

Theres a certain theme in my life, one that continues to cycle around no matter how old or wise I become. Its one of those lifelong lessons Ive never fully mastered, the kind that God will not recant on, a lesson hes not afraid to deliver to me over and over again in different packaging: Oh wow, its you again.

I dont know if you have one of these, that running area of life that seems to be the target of every sermon, Scripture, and circumstance. Its an area of growth you cant seem to get away from, the one that God is always prodding and pruning even at the most inconvenient of times, like holidays. Can I not just eat my turkey without my character being refined? Its a phenomenon, but God doesnt even take Thanksgiving off, except perhaps in the rest of the world where they dont celebrate it.

Never does he slumber; he is always working on this recycling theme: No gods before God. Its the first of the Ten Commandments and one of the most fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. How hard can this be? Yet just as I think I have a handle on it, another false god is exposed in my life. And Im not talking about a physical statue that I accidentally stumble upon in the recesses of my closet, or a stone idol that I occasionally pray to. Nothing like that. But sort of like that.

The other day I coerced one of my self-employed friends, Alli, to justify my neglect of work by heading with me to the Frist Museum in the middle of the day. Its essential to take others down with you when playing hookythere are certain delinquent behaviors that must be done in groups. Fortunately Alli was an easy sell, since shes far more hip than I am and holds a season pass. With a mere phone call, work was tabled and we were off to Egyptat least to the bits they could fit in the Frist.

We followed each other around with headsets and MP3 players that gave us the history of each piece. I kept making Alli pause her machine so I could comment, as if I had something to add to the British historian eloquently whispering in our ears. There were all sorts of wild displays, from standard mummies to childrens games whose stakes were a little higher than I was comfortable witheternal damnation for the loser. Hadnt they heard of Candyland? We saw ornate jewelry, fine paintings, and a tiny wooden chair over two thousand years old. It intrigued me to think of all the history that little chair had made it throughthe crumbling of massive empires, the birth of Christ, and Im guessing a lot of family squabbles. Im sure it was very tired of being sat on. I cant remember our favorite exhibit, though I do recall us tarrying over a mummified cat that looked strangely like a hot dog. Not something I would have tried to preserve, but thats just me.