Queer Omissions
Queer Omissions uses biographical case studies of two unmarried, childless women, Frances Levvy (1831-1924) and Constance Duncan (1896-1970), to critique the writing of Protestant religious histories in Australia, asking why those outside a heteronormative framework have been relegated to the margins.
Judeophobia and the New Testament
An essential resource for understanding the troubling role of the Christian scriptures in anti-Semitism This eye-opening collection of essays is essential reading for anyone concerned about the ways that Christian scripture has been used--both in the past and the present--in service of anti-Semitism. The authors seek to identify, contextualize, and problematize New Testament "Judeophobia," a broad heading that encompasses anti-Semitism, supersessionism, and various discriminatory practices against Jews at different points in history. In the first half of Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts, readers engage with the subject matter through thematic essays. In the second half, readers engage with text-based essays that focus on individual books of the New Testament as well as relevant non-canonical literature. Throughout, the book's goal is to educate readers about the ways that New Testament texts have been used to engender Judeophobia from the early church to today. While the book is designed primarily as a resource for teachers and students, it also aims to help New Testament scholars account for Judeophobic interpretations, take responsibility for them, and encourage the discipline to work against its own role in rising anti-Jewish rhetoric and violence. Contributors Matthew R. Anderson Jeremiah Bailey Mary Ann Beavis Chance E. Bonar Tom de Bruin Christy Cobb Cavan Concannon David L. Eastman Scott S. Elliott Sarah Emanuel Emily Gathergood Mark Godin Jill Hicks-Keeton Meira Z. Kensky Kyu Seop Kim Brian Yong Lee Harry O. Maier Shelly Matthews James F. McGrath Hugo M矇ndez Mark D. Nanos Sara Parks Shaily Shashikant Patel Adele Reinhartz Michael Scott Robertson Sarah E. Rollens Justin Jeffcoat Schedtler Nathan Shedd Shayna Sheinfeld Ekaputra Tupamahu Eric Vanden Eykel Alana M. Vincent Meredith J. C. Warren Taylor M. Weaver
Pulling Back the Curtain on the Former Soviet Union
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Iron Curtain, the vast expanse of the Soviet Union became accessible to the outside world. Suddenly, the Church of the Nazarene was confronted with exciting and challenging opportunities for ministry and missions. Among those spearheading this pioneering missionary work were Franklin Cook and Carla Sunberg, the authors of Pulling Back the Curtain on the Former Soviet Union. Written with compassion, enthusiasm, and a bit of humor, this book recounts the adventures and misadventures of the missionaries as they secure resources, learn new customs, acquire daily living skills, and, most importantly, minister to people and introduce them to the gospel. Also available in packs of 5.
English Public Theology
This study commends the public theology of the English Reformation as a fruitful though neglected resource for a critical analysis of the contradictions of freedom that riddle late-modern liberal democracies and a constructive response to them. Drawn from the key legal, liturgical, homiletic and confessional elements of the English Reformation, this foundational Anglican tradition provides a theological vantage point for understanding current moral and political impasses in the western legacy of natural rights. The extensive development of natural rights in pre-modern scholastic theory and practice and its continuity with theoretical development from the 17th century onward make the Reformers' criticisms of scholastic moral, political, and ecclesial thought germane to identifying the problematic features of the prevailing modern tradition and to furnishing a theological alternative to them. These features are: an individualistic and voluntarist conception of moral agency, a regulative and juridical orientation to human relationships, and an anthropocentric concentration on human rather than on divine right, judgement, and freedom. The humanity they portray is detached from its created ordering to Christological perfection and bound within a self-enclosed ethical and political self-understanding. This is effectively countered by the English reformers' presentation of the salvation of creation in Christ, faith working through love, the spiritual fellowship of the church, and the provisional character of political jurisdiction.
The Sage in Relation
The Jewish sage Ben Sira links the partnership of the sage with personified Wisdom to his overall teaching on marriage and family. This study provides a detailed analysis of this connection, first, by describing the overlapping characteristics of fathers in families and sages among their students as seen through an examination of Ben Sira's use of metaphorical family language, whereby the sage takes the role of father in the pedagogical setting. This study then describes the spousal relationship between the sage and personified Wisdom, particularly as it appears alongside the marital instructions in Sir 23:16-26:18. This study further considers Ben Sira's privileged social position to influence the religious conviction of next generation Judaism and to strengthen Jewish youth against rising Hellenistic pressures that may tempt them away from Torah adherence. Ben Sira's solution then is found in his proposed vision of families, modeled after his pedagogical setting. Finally, Ben Sira's teaching is compared to other Second Temple texts, showing the importance of his context for his conception of family and the needs of his time. Thus, this study shows the relevance of Ben Sira's teaching for families as well as his distinctiveness among other Jewish texts.
Bible Promises for Mom
Moms need all the support they can get. Bible Promises for Mom gathers the wisdom of the Bible to guide them on the journey through modern motherhood. Presented in a beautiful heat-stamped, vegan leather cover, this devotional is one moms will turn to again and again. With scriptures centered around 60 themes important to mothers, this helpful devotional includes: Reflections on important matters of faithA curated collection of verses that speak to a mother's daily experiencesAppealing design that makes daily prayer a pleasureAn ideal gift for any mother of faith, Bible Promises for Moms provides spiritual comfort, respite, and sustenance. This portable devotional is destined to become a go-to spiritual tool in a mother's life.
In Search of the Common Good
ECPA Christian Book Award Finalist - Faith and CultureChristianity Today Book of the Year Award, Politics and Public LifeCommon life in our society is in decline.Our communities are disintegrating, as the loss of meaningful work and the breakdown of the family leave us anxious and alone-indeed, half of all Americans report daily feelings of loneliness. Our public discourse is polarized and hateful. Ethnic minorities face systemic injustices and the ever-present fear of violence and deportation. Economic inequalities are widening.In this book, Jake Meador diagnoses our society's decline as the failure of a particular story we've told about ourselves: the story of modern liberalism. He shows us how that story has led to our collective loss of meaning, wonder, and good work, and then recovers each of these by grounding them in a different story-a story rooted in the deep tradition of the Christian faith.Our story doesn't have to end in loneliness and despair. There are reasons for hope-reasons grounded in a different, better story. In Search of the Common Good reclaims a vision of common life for our fractured times: a vision that doesn't depend on the destinies of our economies or our political institutions, but on our citizenship in a heavenly city. Only through that vision-and that citizenship-can we truly work together for the common good."In Search of the Common Good offers a vision for life together that is deep, compelling, and wise. This is a profound and important work by an exceptional writer." Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well and Fierce Convictions
The Holy Days
Returning the Biblical Festivals to the Disciples of Jesus.God has set dates for meeting with his people. The Holy Days explores the relationship between Jesus, his followers, and the Jewish observance of the biblical festivals. Discover how the LORD's appointed times point to the Messiah and God's plan of redemption. More than just theology and eschatology, Lancaster offers practical guidance and explanations for both Messianic Jews and Gentile disciples as they incorporate the celebration and observance of the biblical calendar into practical discipleship: The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: These are the appointed festivals of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed festivals.- Leviticus 23:1From the IntroductionWhy would disciples of Jesus keep the Jewish holy days? In a previous book in this series titled From Sabbath to Sabbath: Returning the Holy Sabbath to the Disciples of Jesus, I made the argument for a Christian observance of the weekly Sabbath. The same argument applies to the rest of the Bible's holy days: Passover, Pentecost, the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Festival of Booths, and the Eighth Day. This book builds on the premises established in the earlier book, extending the same logic to cover all the Bible's festivals or appointed times.The holy days have their own merit and rewards. The Jewish people regard them as sanctuaries in time, opportunities to engage in the spiritual world, enter holy time, and receive blessings from the Almighty. They are days of elevated holiness, set aside for prayer, study, and worship. They create an annual cycle of sanctification that keeps us on track with God, growing and maturing in Messiah from year to year. For disciples of Jesus, the Bible's holy days offer opportunities for connecting with our Master and holy Savior, the living Son of the Almighty.
Biblically Kosher
A Messianic Jewish Perspective on KashrutRevealing the Biblical Sources of Dietary Laws in JudaismThere is much more to the Bible's food laws than saying, "Hold the bacon." Learn what the Bible, ancient rabbis, and the apostles teach about eating. Did Jesus put ham, shrimp, and snails back on the table? See how a Messianic Jewish perspective provides important cultural context and uncovers the true meaning of New Testament passages about eating. Find out what it really means to eat biblically.This book will change the way you think about the Bible and food. It will bring you closer to the ancient Jewish way of life that Jesus and his disciples practiced. Discover how the simple act of eating can become an expression of worship!You will discover: Whether the Bible requires separating meat and dairyThe real meaning of Peter's visionSecret additives that contaminate foodWhat Paul meant by the term "nothing is unclean"Why beef and chicken are not always kosherHow food being organic might make it less kosherWhether Islamic Halal is kosher
Faith and Science Teacher's Guide A Journey into God's Mystical Love
From Sabbath to Sabbath
Returning the Holy Sabbath to the Disciples of JesusWhy don't most churches today keep the biblical Sabbath?Was the seventh-day Sabbath canceled, changed, fulfilled, replaced, made obsolete, hijacked-or simply forgotten?Even if you think you know the answer, you'll want to read this book.From Sabbath to Sabbath offers a bold Messianic Jewish perspective that challenges long-held assumptions. Author D. Thomas Lancaster walks readers through the New Testament texts that most Christians believe justify Sunday worship, dismantling common objections to Sabbath observance and revealing what the Bible truly teaches about God's appointed day of rest.In this book, you will discover: The origin, purpose, and enduring beauty of the seventh-day SabbathWhat Jesus and the apostles practiced and taught about SabbathWhy the early church shifted from Sabbath to SundayHow modern disciples of Jesus can reclaim the Sabbath as a blessing, not a burden"The reward for keeping the Sabbath is that we get to keep the Sabbath. The biblical, seventh-day Sabbath creates a weekly cycle of encounters with holiness... a sanctuary in time where our souls can find spiritual rest and nourishment."Let this book challenge your assumptions, deepen your discipleship, and invite you into the rhythm of rest that God intended-from Sabbath to Sabbath."From Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD." - Isaiah 66:23
In Eve’s Attire
Does modernity trample on tradition, or can it in fact be a vehicle for the sacred?How can one determine whether an interpretation is legitimate, anachronistic or corrupted?Does sexual obsession have a textual origin, and is it woman's destiny to be veiled?In Eve's Attire confronts these questions and more to suggest another interpretation of religious traditions surrounding the female body and the erotic. As current fundamentalist religious discourse expresses a growing fixation on modesty, women are increasingly reduced to those parts of their bodies that arouse desire, effectively "genitalised" until the totality of their bodies becomes taboo. In resistance to such interpretations of religious text, which see even a woman's voice as an erotic organ to be silenced, Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur looks not only at religious texts themselves, but also at their interpreters, as she unpicks readings that make the woman a temptress, and modesty the instrument of her oppression. She shows us how nakedness, as expressed by Adam, Eve or Noah, refers to a culture of desire and not a wish to suppress it and explores how the veil was originally intended: not to reject, but to approach the other. Through her analysis of the meaning of modesty and nudity in Judaism, Delphine Horvilleur explores the societal and religious obsession with the female body and its representation and asks questions about how we can engage more critically with interpretations of sacred texts. Translated from the French by Ruth Diver
Bible Wisdom To Improve Relationships (Volume 1 STAR and RATS)
Everyone marries with the hope of feeling wedding bliss "until death do us part". At the time of writing this book, several sources reported that 60% to 85% of marriages are unhappy, and the Divorce Rate (in Canada) is around 38%; this means that 22% to 47% of married couples remain in unhappy marriages until death do they part.Only 7% of conflicts are due to the words of the message; 93% of conflicts are due to the delivery of the message (quality of voice and body language); it is my intent to help people comprehend and resolve conflicts that are due to a simple misunderstanding of different personality styles - before conflict escalation. With the right rules and the right tools, wedding bliss "until death do us part", is possible for every marriage."Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships" is based on principles from the Holy Bible, but don't let the source of the information turn you away. Almost everyone (Christian, Jewish, other non-Christian religions, and even atheists), with whom, I have shared the information directly (one-on-one, couples, or small groups), has reported back that they have benefited from the information contained in this book.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships uses principles from the Holy Bible to explain: (1) the Negative, as well as the Positive, Personality Styles; (2) how to deal with people who have Negative Personality Styles; (3) how to overcome Negative Personality Styles within ourselves; (4) Safe, Effective, and Calm Conflict Resolution; (5) a comprehensive set of rules to promote the most satisfying relationship for all Interpersonal Relationships.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships Complete (Volumes 1 & 2) contains both Volume 1 (STAR and RATS) and Volume 2 (Tools and Rules) in a single book. If you (the reader) are interested in both Personality Styles and Conflict Resolution with Relationship Rules from the Holy Bible, the Complete version (ISBN-13: 978-1-7778566-3-2 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships Volume 1 (STAR and RATS) explains the different Personality Styles: Positive (STAR) and Negative (RATS) and answers how and why the differences can cause unhappy relationships. If you (the reader) are only interested in Personality Styles, Volume 1 (ISBN-13 978-1-7778566-4-9 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships Volume 2 (Tools and Rules) explains how to establish and nourish Love, Joy, Peace, and Harmony in your relationships with different personality styles - of course, success depends on your commitment to the relationship. If you (the reader) are only interested in Conflict Resolution with Relationship Rules from the Holy Bible, Volume 2 (ISBN-13: 978-1-7778566-5-6 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.
Rabbinic Authority, Volume 6
In this sixth vollume of his groundbreaking series on rabbinic authority, Rabbi Warburg continues to discuss issues related to the modern-day Agunah, such as who has the authority to void a marriage and criminal proceedings against a Jew in a non-Jewish court for get refusal. Accompanying his discussion of rabbinical domestic rulings, which includes collaborative reproduciton and the ownership and market of human tissue, Rabbi Warburg continues to examine rabbinic civil law cases.
Eastern Christians' Engagement with Islam and the Qur'ān
Preaching and Music
In the current conversation around what makes preaching compelling, Williams' voice is distinct: compelling sermons allow music to do its share of the preaching, as only music can. Whether through musically book-ending the sermon, drawing on popular music for illustrations, or turning a hymn into a series of mini-sermons, this volume explores several accessible ways to enrich sermon preparation and delivery by partnering sermon and song. Williams is a worthy guide, with degrees in both church music and homiletics and with sensitivity drawn from her pastoral background. With insightful clarity and practiced wisdom, she engages both preachers and musicians in each chapter. This book is a rich resource for the homiletician's syllabus, the preacher's bookshelf, and the music minister's library.
Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships - (Volume 2 Tools and Rules)
Everyone marries with the hope of feeling wedding bliss "until death do us part". At the time of writing this book, several sources reported that 60% to 85% of marriages are unhappy, and the Divorce Rate (in Canada) is around 38%; this means that 22% to 47% of married couples remain in unhappy marriages until death do they part.Only 7% of conflicts are due to the words of the message; 93% of conflicts are due to the delivery of the message (quality of voice and body language); it is my intent to help people comprehend and resolve conflicts that are due to a simple misunderstanding of different personality styles - before conflict escalation. With the right rules and the right tools, wedding bliss "until death do us part", is possible for every marriage."Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships" is based on principles from the Holy Bible, but don't let the source of the information turn you away. Almost everyone (Christian, Jewish, other non-Christian religions, and even atheists), with whom, I have shared the information directly (one-on-one, couples, or small groups), has reported back that they have benefited from the information contained in this book.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships uses principles from the Holy Bible to explain: (1) the Negative, as well as the Positive, Personality Styles; (2) how to deal with people who have Negative Personality Styles; (3) how to overcome Negative Personality Styles within ourselves; (4) Safe, Effective, and Calm Conflict Resolution; (5) a comprehensive set of rules to promote the most satisfying relationship for all Interpersonal Relationships.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships Complete (Volumes 1 & 2) contains both Volume 1 (STAR and RATS) and Volume 2 (Tools and Rules) in a single book. If you (the reader) are interested in both Personality Styles and Conflict Resolution with Relationship Rules from the Holy Bible, the Complete version (ISBN-13: 978-1-7778566-3-2 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships Volume 1 (STAR and RATS) explains the different Personality Styles: Positive (STAR) and Negative (RATS) and answers how and why the differences can cause unhappy relationships. If you (the reader) are only interested in Personality Styles, Volume 1 (ISBN-13 978-1-7778566-4-9 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.Bible Wisdom to Improve Relationships Volume 2 (Tools and Rules) explains how to establish and nourish Love, Joy, Peace, and Harmony in your relationships with different personality styles - of course, success depends on your commitment to the relationship. If you (the reader) are only interested in Conflict Resolution with Relationship Rules from the Holy Bible, Volume 2 (ISBN-13: 978-1-7778566-5-6 available through AMAZON) is the book for you.
The Sacred Chain
"In this marvelously accessible book, philosopher-Christian Jim Stump provides the reader with new eyes for a journey through time, the origin of the soul, suffering, and morality, and reveals how the latest scientific findings about what it means to be human have led him to a deeper and more authentic faith."--Francis S. Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project and Founder of BioLogos, author of The Language of GodA thought-provoking and eye-opening work by Jim Stump, Vice President at BioLogos and host of the Language of God podcast, offering a compelling argument about how evolution does not have to be at odds with faith, but can actually enrich and deepen it.In this moving and deeply thoughtful book, Jim Stump takes readers with him on his journey to understanding evolution and reconciling it with his faith. The Sacred Chain draws on philosophy, theology, and the latest scientific research to tackle some of the biggest questions facing humanity and people of faith today, such as: How can we hold the Bible as a sacred text and yet reconcile modern science with it?By condensing noteworthy events in the history of our universe into one calendar week, what can we learn about God's creative process and priorities, and where humans fit in?If humans are created in the image of God, what does evolution have to teach us about our species and our place in creation?What about the soul? How can we understand our transcendent qualities if the human body is the product of evolution?How does evolutionary science help us understand how God might use pain and suffering for important and good purposes?Does it have to be one or the other--science or religion--or is there a third way, one that not only preserves faith in the face of modern science, but leads to a stronger, more relevant, and more authentic faith?Deeply researched and a delight to read, The Sacred Chain provides clarity in our uncertain times, revealing a bigger picture of our world and our place within it. It is a panorama consistent with the scientific findings about who we are and where we come from that can actually bolster our faith as it engages our curiosity about ourselves, our universe, and the nature of existence itself.
Pagan Portals - Magick for Empaths
Empaths have a unique vantage point when it comes to magickal and metaphysical work. Although sometimes overwhelming, empathy, the experience of stepping into the emotions of another, is actually of great spiritual benefit. In Pagan Portals: Magick for Empaths, award-winning author Raven Digitalis explores: the spiritual significance of empathy, as well as its biological and evolutionary forces; overcoming empathic challenges and emotional overload; grounding, protection, and shielding; spellcasting techniques and magickal tools for empaths; balancing emotion and cognition; daily energy maintenance; approaching mystical realms as an empath; flow states and artistic expression; connecting with the water element; and so much more... Explore the numerous aspects of the empathic experience and how it relates to magickal spirituality.
Contemporary Arab Thought
In the last third of the twentieth century, the Arab intellectual and political scene polarized between totalizing doctrines--nationalist, Marxist, and religious--and radical critique. Arab thinkers were reacting to the disenchanting experience of postindependence and a widespread sense of malaise, as well as to authoritarianism, intolerance, injustice, failed development, and successive defeats by Israel. The foundational account of these responses, Contemporary Arab Thought illuminates the relationship between cultural and political critique in the work of major Arab thinkers. Elizabeth Suzanne Kassab also connects Arab debates to the postcolonial issues of Latin America and Africa, revealing the shared struggles of different regions. Since its first publication in 2009, this book has stood as the foremost account of contemporary Arab debates on culture, philosophy, modernity, tradition, identity, and liberation. It is widely used in Middle Eastern studies courses, and it has become a classic in the field of Arab intellectual history. Contemporary Arab Thought now features an extensive new introduction that reconsiders post-1967 Arab intellectual history in light of the 2011 uprisings and the upheavals that have occurred over the intervening years. Kassab critically reflects on the book's arguments and the responses it has provoked, and she surveys the new preoccupations that have emerged in Arab debates since 2011. As crises again overtake the Middle East, this landmark work continues to offer indispensable insight into the richness of contemporary Arab thought.
