"Here's what intrigues me about the high priestly prayer. It's the record of the petitions Jesus made to his heavenly Father an hour or so before he was arrested. He spoke aloud, and John pieced together a remembrance of the Lord's final intimate conversation with both God and his disciples. Here's an opportunity to overhear what pressured the Savior's heart as he moved quickly and finally toward the immense sacrifice he was called to make. Surely, what he said publicly at that moment is important for you and me to understand." Larry Armstrong from the "Preface" to In the Shadow with Jesus
About the Author: Larry L. Armstrong is a retired Presbyterian minister who served churches in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He was educated at Grove City College in Pennsylvania and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. He is the founder of FaithProbe Publications and carries on an active writing and speaking ministry. In 2005, Larry received a liver transplant to replace his original liver which was destroyed by a congenital condition. Since then, he served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Jeannette, PA until his retirement in July 2011. Other books by Larry Armstrong include Patience: Harvesting the Spirit's Fruit and the forthcoming The Good News Reader, a collection of his shorter writings. About his writing, Armstrong says, "I love to write, because it stretches my awareness of who I am. When I wrote sermons every week, I learned and grew more than my congregations. Now that I'm writing books, I find that the self-examination continues." Regarding his transplant, he explains that God revealed his grace and kindness in many ways, and many people. "From church members to doctors and hospital staff, I sensed the Lord's presence as I looked for healing in one of three ways--a miracle, a transplant, or in a way my wife wouldn't let me speak." His faith in Christ's goodness carried him through that time. He and his wife Elizabeth are the parents of four adult children, who live around the country. They also have a very energetic dog named Finnegan, who is a "whatzit hound." They and the dog make their home in Latrobe, PA and at a cottage north of Pittsburgh.
