The Vinekeeper: Abide
by Jon Barsness

The Vinekeeper is a reflective, narrative-driven exploration of the spiritual life — part fable, part discipleship journey. Through the story of James Porter, a man whose striving faith collapses into a quiet rediscovery of abiding in Christ, readers are gently guided through the seasons of spiritual growth: pruning, resting, and renewal.

When James’s life is interrupted by illness, he meets Thomas, an older gardener who introduces him to the way of the Vine. Their friendship becomes a living parable — showing how the Gardener transforms striving souls into rooted ones.

Drawing from John 15 and other abiding Scriptures, The Vinekeeper weaves story and reflection into a contemplative guide for readers seeking a slower, deeper faith.

Ideal for personal devotion, small group study, or pastoral use, this work continues the tradition of spiritual classics like The Pilgrim’s Progress and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry — inviting believers to live as branches resting in the life of the Vine.

The Call Still Echoes: One Man’s Story, Every Believer’s Invitation explores what it means to follow Jesus in the 21st century through a blend of narrative storytelling and biblical teaching.
The book follows Eric, a modern professional whose life appears successful but feels spiritually empty. When confronted by Jesus’ simple invitation — “Follow Me” — Eric begins a journey that mirrors the path of the first disciples. Through his experiences with work, relationships, community, integrity, and suffering, readers encounter the timeless cost and transformative power of true discipleship.
Each chapter weaves Eric’s story with scriptural insight, drawing parallels between the ancient world of Galilee and today’s fast-paced, distracted culture. The tone is accessible yet reflective, designed for both individual readers and small groups. Reflection and practice sections at the end of the book guide readers from insight to action.
The goal of this book is to move readers beyond belief toward embodied discipleship—to help them hear Jesus’ call not as a metaphor, but as a personal, daily invitation. Ultimately, The Call Still Echoes challenges readers to trade comfort for purpose, control for surrender, and the life they’ve built for the life Jesus offers.

In The Road Still Leads, Jon Barsness continues the journey begun in The Call Still Echoes, following Eric—a man still learning what it truly means to follow Jesus when the road grows long, the cost becomes real, and obedience leads into the unknown.

A year after rediscovering faith, Eric finds himself navigating a season of deeper surrender: his calling at work, his relationships, and his heart are each tested by the question—What happens when following Jesus means letting go of control?

Through woven stories of community, forgiveness, leadership, and faith under pressure, Eric’s discipleship journey reflects the tension every believer faces between comfort and calling. With the voices of those walking alongside him—Sam, Lindsey, Jake, and others—the story reveals how transformation unfolds not in grand moments, but in quiet acts of trust.

Blending rich storytelling with biblical reflection, The Road Still Leads invites readers to walk their own road of obedience—to discover that every surrender is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of becoming more like Christ.

At once heartfelt and practical, this book speaks to anyone seeking to live their faith authentically in the modern world—reminding us that obedience isn’t a destination, but a path that always leads us home.

The Road Home is the moving conclusion to The Echoes Trilogy — a story of obedience, presence, and transformation.
After six months serving in the Philippines, Eric’s journey of following Jesus comes full circle. What began as an act of obedience becomes a deeper lesson in being. In a world that measures success by speed and scale, Eric learns that the truest form of discipleship isn’t about doing more for God — it’s about becoming more like Him.
Across oceans and through seasons of loss, renewal, and grace, The Road Home traces two converging stories: one overseas, one at home in a small Minnesota church. As Eric’s mission unfolds among local pastors and young believers, his friends in Minnesota live out their own quiet callings — mentoring, grieving, rebuilding, and rediscovering faith in the ordinary.
When their roads finally meet again, both communities realize that home isn’t the end of discipleship — it’s where following keeps becoming.

After ten years of pastoring a thriving suburban church, David Harper feels the whisper of a new call — one that leads away from sermons and sanctuaries toward something smaller and riskier: a church built around a table.

As David steps out in faith, his family wrestles with the cost. His wife, Sarah, fears what they’ll lose. His children, Elijah and Lydia, struggle to find their own faith in the midst of change. And around their kitchen table, a few ordinary people begin to discover that discipleship isn’t about attendance — it’s about presence.

Set in coffee shops, diners, and a struggling homeless shelter called The Harbor House, The Church at the Table is a story of calling, surrender, and community — where faith meets bread, grace finds form, and the Church begins again.