“Unexpected Transformation: Being Conformed to the Image of Christ” by Bob Leland is now available for purchase
“This attitude toward our circumstances and their purpose in our lives, to mold us into Christ’s image, is a perspective that I sense lacking among many Christians; a perspective which, if adopted, could lead them to greater peace between them and themselves, others, and their circumstances; a perspective that would align them with God’s great purpose for their lives. Many problems would literally melt away, and Christians would begin growing as never before, if they would only own for themselves God’s goal for their lives.”
– an excerpt from book
Author Reputation Press is honored to publish “Unexpected Transformation: Being Conformed to the Image of Christ” by Bob Leland. Many books about Christ state that we should become like him but never tell us how. The purpose of this book is to take the reader beyond the “should” to the “how,” as is found in Romans 8:28. God is working for our good in all things (all circumstances—vs. 28) according to his purpose—to make us like his Son (vs. 29). Therefore, how we react to those circumstances will show us where we are like Christ and where we are not. The book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARP website.
This masterpiece presents lessons with both study and application questions. This is not an exhaustive study since much more could be said about each characteristic, name, or title of Christ, and no doubt there is more that could be added. But the author will leave these further details to the reader as the Holy Spirit applies the Word and enlightens the mind.
Dr. Robert J. Leland, the oldest of five children, was born in 1942 to Gordon and Edith Leland and grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. He accepted the Lord as his Savior when he was just four years old and dedicated his life to foreign missions when he was six.
He received his B.A. degree in Secondary English Education from Northern Illinois University in 1966, his M.A. in Biblical Education from Columbia International University in 1971, and his D.Min. from Trinity International University in 1994.
He and his wife, (Ruth) Amber (married in 1966), served in Papua, Indonesia from 1971-2002 as church planters in the Citak (CHEE-tuck) tribe on the south coast, house parents at TEAM’s hostel for missionary children in Sentani (Sen-TAH-nee) on the north coast near the Papua New Guinea border, office administrator (Bob) and bookkeeper (Amber) in Manokwari (MAH-no-KWAH-ri), and the last nineteen years of their service at the Erikson-Tritt Theological College near Manokwari. They also spent nine months in Singapore (1996), teaching at the Asian Cross-Cultural Training Institute while awaiting their visa renewal for Indonesia.
His major project for his D.Min., Conformed to His Image, was translated into Indonesian and published in Indonesia. Upon his return from the field in 2002, he translated Mounce’s The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament from English into Indonesian, which has since been published in Indonesia for use in Bible schools and seminaries where Greek is taught.
He and Amber have also been teaching extension courses from the New England Bible College and Seminary (formerly Grace Evangelical College and Seminary, located in Bangor, Maine) up in Aroostook County, Maine, where they now reside.
As the US Review of Books commended Bob Leland’s work and highlighted:
“This extremely thorough and wide-ranging devotional encourages readers to study the Bible in pursuit of learning the characteristics of Christ in hopes of implementing Christ-like behavior in all of life’s situations. Dr. Leland offers firm and loving guidance throughout this study as he organizes each chapter by identifying a characteristic of Christ, followed by scripture-based examples of how Christ demonstrated it. Making the teaching personal, Dr. Leland also gives examples from his own life and ministry that show the characteristics or recalls examples from history, friends, and other biblical encounters. Finally, each chapter is also a call to action and asks readers to consider how they can demonstrate a specific characteristic in their own lives. With wisdom and experience, Dr. Leland carefully ministers to readers with thoughtful, biblical insight and probing questions that foster reflection and inspire action. He hopes all readers and followers of Christ will align themselves with God’s purpose through careful study and attention to the activities of Christ. This devotional is replete with Bible verses that serve as the foundation for the truths identified and explained with the hope that readers will “pursue and apply the truths of this study.” For those seeking to strengthen their faith and connect to Christ, this collection of lessons offers clear guidance and a way forward from confusion and uncertainty about God’s purpose. Reading and following these lessons will likely help readers conform to the image of Christ. Dr. Leland offers a deep understanding of Christ’s characteristics and believes with unwavering faith that lives in pursuit of Christ can be transformed. With over 300 characteristics to consider, readers can delight in the multitude of teachings and continuously seek Christ through his words and actions.”
“Unexpected Transformation: Being Conformed to the Image of Christ” by Bob Leland is now available for purchase via ARP Bookstore: https://authorreputationpress.com/products/unexpected-transformation-being-conformed-to-the-image-of-christ.