{"product_id":"the-backside-of-god-and-other-sermons-9781535189217","title":"The Backside of God: and Other Sermons","description":"\u003cp\u003eBishop John S. Thornton is a thoughtful writer and preacher, a man of faith who can both raise attendance at any Episcopal Sunday worship service and flood the church office phones with demand for copies of his rousing sermons.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter publishing two collections of sermons-\u003ci\u003eThe Backside of God\u003c\/i\u003e (2013) and \u003ci\u003eConsider the Lilies\u003c\/i\u003e (2014)-and selling hundreds of autographed copies by hand to his local followers, Bishop Thornton published a third book, \u003ci\u003eGood Seed and Zizania\u003c\/i\u003e, in 2016, using a different platform and extending its reach to readers on Amazon.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis new print-on-demand technology incited the author's willingness, indeed his enthusiasm, to republish \u003ci\u003eThe Backside of God\u003c\/i\u003e. In the process, he decided to lengthen the book by adding, first three, then four, then five new sermons-all preached at Episcopal churches in either Lebanon or Salem, Oregon-as well as another, a sixth, preached at the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho in 1991.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll in all, this is another must-have and must-read book by a priest and bishop beloved by many in the Episcopal Church. Order a copy for yourself and a friend. You will be touched and blessed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Stuart Thornton was first ordained in the Congregational Church (now the United Church of Christ) and served in Pinedale, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah. He completed his theological training at the San Francisco Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) in San Anselmo, California and was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 1960.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOrdained deacon and priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming in 1962, he served as Curate of St. Peter's Church in Sheridan. In 1964, he was called to be Rector of Christ Church in Sausalito, California and, in 1969, was called to be Rector of St. Stephen's Church in Belvedere-Tiburon, California. In 1982, he and his wife, Jan, moved to a small farm near Scio, Oregon, from which he served as Vicar of Christ the King on the Santiam in Stanton.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn 1990, he was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho and retired in 1998. While serving as bishop, he founded St. Francis of the Tetons in the Teton Valley of Idaho and Wyoming. In 1997, he and Jan founded the Lillian Vallely School, a day school for children who live on the Fort Hall Reservation in eastern Idaho.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn his retirement, Bishop Thornton has served churches in Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, and Washington.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Createspace Independent Publishing Platform","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50352120725778,"sku":"9781535189217","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_9a73c796-8c79-4fb3-a72b-276e6f005266.jpg?v=1728273221","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-backside-of-god-and-other-sermons-9781535189217","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}