Marks of a Worthy Mentor

Apologetic resource for challenges against the Christian worldview on truth, life, power, and suffering. Great inoculation for students.

This book answers key questions that confront our culture: Why is the Christian worldview superior to those embraced by the secular humanist, religious pluralist, and postmodernist? Does objective, absolute truth really exist? If so, is it knowable? If so, How? What or who caused this universe and all that is in it? What keeps it going? Is there a power that transcends matter, energy, space, and time (MEST)? If there really is an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God, then why is there so much suffering in the world? This work proposes apologetic help by focusing on five key concepts that are stated or implied by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:10. Paul states a desire for a deeper knowledge of the person, Jesus. Our study joins Paul’s longing by examining three of Christ’s basic attributes: 1) The Way, 2) The Truth, and 3) The Life. Next, Paul desires to know Christ’s power (a transcendent power, not limited by the matter, energy, space, or time-MEST- of the universe). Finally, in verse ten Paul longs to know the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. Paul acknowledges the reality of suffering and suggests it can have purpose.

George G. Garner was born November 24, 1945, in Little Rock, Arkansas, while his dad, Albert Garner, was attending the Missionary Baptist Seminary. When seven years old, he accepted Christ and was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson, Texas. He surrendered to preach at the ABA National Youth Encampment in 1962, and was ordained to the gospel ministry by Sycamore Baptist Church in Fayetteville, AR in 1967. He has completed the following graduate studies: M.A., University of Arkansas; M.Div., Florida Baptist Seminary; Graduate, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; one-year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education, Institute for Creative Ministry; and a D.Min. in Apologetics, Southern Evangelical Seminary. Dr. Garner retired from the United States Army after twenty years of service in peace and combat as a Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel). He is married to the former Carolyn Faye Sever. They make their home in Lakeland, Florida, where he currently serves as president of the Blessed Hope Foundation, Inc., Chaplain at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, and on the faculty of Emmaus Baptist College (formerly Florida Baptist College).