Ernest Ray Winburn, a Southern Baptist pastor, has written “Beyond the Issues: The Essentiality of Authority, Truth, Values and Spirituality,” a new release from Courier Publishing.

Winburn examines the social and political issues that dominate the news headlines and offers a quartet of “timeless and universal” realities that should inform a Christian’s response. He identifies authority, truth, values and spirituality as transcendent realities that have their origin in God and are expressed daily in the lives of men and women.

“Beyond the Issues” journeys into the world of public debate and is at times both philosophical and sociological. Always returning to Scripture, however, Winburn seeks a holistic approach that seeks to “honor the distinction between personal opinion and authority” — authority that moves the reader to a higher realm than that of opinion.

After serving three churches in South Carolina and Louisiana for 41 years, Winburn retired from full-time ministry in 2009. Since then he has served in churches as interim or transitional pastor. He earned an associate bachelor of arts degree from Wingate College, a bachelor of arts degree from Coker College, and master and doctor of ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

“Beyond the Issues” is available for $14.95 (plus $4 for shipping) by writing to the author at 1032 Wellington Drive, Hartsville, S.C., 29550. The book is also available at BaptistCourier.com/publishing, as well as at BarnesAndNoble.com, Amazon.com and other major book providers.