The big story of the Bible speaks of God's great rescue project for lost people. The theme of the story is grace (undeserved love) and God's method - shock and awe. This is a God of surprises who chooses unlikely people and works in unusual ways. Our studies through this season of Advent will help us dip into that story and see first-hand what it involves.'In these Advent and Christmas readings, Ian Coffey explores our amazing, all-loving, all-powerful God and how he reaches out to save us - if we only put our trust in him.Starting with Abraham and concluding with the heavenly vision of Revelation, Shock and Awe considers what it means to be people of faith, trusting God's promises and encountering him in new ways in our daily lives. It reflects on some of the gifts that grace brings and shows what it means practically to live as followers of Christ and as people of hope.Each of the daily readings, which cover 1 December to 6 January, concludes with a thought or prayer, and a study guide has also been included for those who may wish to compare notes with a wider group.An ideal book for those wanting daily Advent readings on the theme of God's grace. If you like the style of writing of Tom Wright and David Winter, you'll like this.
God often seems most distant when we are going through our hardest times. And yet many people have found that it is exactly at the moments of their greatest struggle that they have met God most closely. Through vivid retellings of the stories of eight biblical characters who met God at points of extremity in their lives, Ian Coffey offers us inspirational ways of making the struggles we face an opportunity for growth. By sharing both modern examples of people who have faced the same sorts of struggles, and events in his own life, he gives us practical help and hope in our hardest moments. Esther & courage Jeremiah & inadequacy John & doubt Paul & fear Peter & imprisonment Ruth & loss Elijah & despair Mark & failure Full of rich reflection and thought-provoking questions, it will help us to discover the God who walks with his people through their darkest moments.
Can welding a gatepost bring glory to God? Does ironing your children's uniforms help you grow as a disciple? Will your new crime prevention strategy do anything to further the kingdom? To all three Ian Coffey says a resounding 'yes'. With lively Bible teaching and drawing on a wealth of real-life stories, he shows how work was part of God's good plan for men and women - given to us so we can make a creative contribution in his world. Whatever your work, God is interested in it, God can transform it, and God wants to use it - for his glory.
Bridges span gaps and help us get to the other side. It is what they do. This book spans what can often seem to be a gap between the Bible and everyday life.In short five-minute reflections, Ian Coffey helps us to ground our Christian faith in reality, as he considers current affairs, life issue and events.The book comprises 80 short readings, ideal to dip into and mull over as you sip your morning coffee.
A sequel to Windows on the World from the Word, this title features devotional material for those so busy that they can only spare a few moments for reading and reflection. It takes the theme of doorways as a start for Bible-related thoughts on a wide range of issues both secular and sacred. life, the pieces in the text are arranged in themes and each is linked to a Scripture passage and concludes with a prayer.
This collection of thought for the day reflections is aimed at those who want to connect their everyday lives with Bible teaching but don't feel they have enough time to do it. For use on a daily, weekly or occasional basis, it offers God thoughts on issues in today's world, showing how Christian faith can be earthed in the reality of the challenges and situations that each of us, in our different ways, have to face. Comments are linked to Bible passages and conclude with a prayer or thought for reflection, while a themed index helps to track down relevant teaching. Each piece is short enough to read in ten minutes.
For many years, government policy has associated young people 'being NEET' (Not in Education, Employment or Training) with educational underachievement, worklessness, generational poverty, poor health, antisocial behaviour, and reduced life expectancies. Researchers and policymakers continue to debate whether young people become NEET as a result of their own choices (i.e. their personal agency), or as a result of external factors (i.e. social, political and economic structures). Most recognise that the truth is somewhere between the two, but a clear understanding of how each interacts in causing young people to become NEET has so far been elusive, making the development of effective policy and practice problematic. Agency, Structure and the NEET Policy Problem makes headway against this problem through an original approach that draws on social cognitive theory and the lived experiences of young people themselves. Investigating the lives of NEET young people between the ages of 17-21 in London, this book elucidates the interactions between agency and structure that lead to them becoming NEET, and in doing so, offers a new perspective on the phenomenon. It offers a valuable critique of existing policy, providing both breadth and detail on the factors affecting the trajectories of young people in their transitions to continued education, training, or employment. It offers a way forward for all who are interested in developing, supporting and implementing a revitalised approach to NEET policy and practice, and a framework around which a coherent multidisciplinary approach to addressing NEET could be developed.
This book explores the doctrine of the church among English Calvinistic Baptists between 1640 and 1660. It examines the emergence of Calvinistic Baptists against the background of the demise of the Episcopal Church of England, the establishment by Act of Parliament of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, and the attempted foundation of a Presbyterian Church of England. Ecclesiology was one of the most important doctrines under consideration in this phase of English history, and this book is a contribution to understanding alternative forms of ecclesiology outside of the mainstream National Church settlement. It argues that the development of Calvinistic Baptist ecclesiology was a natural development of one stream of Puritan theology, the tradition associated with Robert Brown, and the English separatist movement. This tradition was refined and made experimental in the work of Henry Jacob, who founded a congregation in London in 1616 from which Calvinistic Baptists emerged. Central to Jacob's ideology was the belief that a rightly ordered church acknowledged Christ as King over his people. The christological priority of early Calvinistic Baptist ecclesiology will constitute the primary contribution of this study to the investigation of dissenting theology in the period.
Key Issues in Corrections is an engaging textbook critically analyzing the most important challenges affecting the correctional system in the USA. Written by a highly respected expert in the field, and building on his best-selling book Special problems in corrections, it examines long-standing and emerging issues, grounding the discussion in empirical research and current events. Updates to this edition include: • Integrating new scholarship, lawsuits, and the use of technology • The introduction and evaluation of new policies and practices • New sections on “The Privatization of Prisons” and “The Death Penalty” Primarily written for undergraduate students who have already had an introduction to the topic, the book offers a no-nonsense approach to explaining the problems of correctional officers, correctional managers, prisoners, and the public.
Bringing key developments and debates together in a single volume, this book provides an authoritative guide for students and practitioners embarking on qualitative research in social work and related fields. Frequently illustrated with contemporary and classic case examples from the authors’ own empirical research and from international published work, and with self-directed learning tasks, the book provides insight into the difficulties and complexities of carrying out research, as well as sharing ‘success’ stories from the field. Shaw and Holland have long experience of writing for practitioners and students and in making complex concepts accessible and readable, making this an ideal text for those engaging in qualitative social work research at any level. Ian Shaw is a Professor of Social Work at the University of York and at the University of Aalborg. Sally Holland is a Reader in Social Work at the School of Social Sciences in Cardiff University.
Written in association with the EBEA, this authoritative text provides a comprehensive and insightful study of current curriculum development and classroom practice with business education. Up-to-date, practical and covering the very latest issues, it presents: * Advice on planning courses and managing the curriculum * The latest developments in 14-19 * Guidance on the emerging work-related curriculum * A focus on key topics such as enterprise education, e-learning and citizenship * A teacher-reviewed annotated resource guide of text-based and web-based resources.
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