We all go through tough times. Feelings and emotions run high, thoughts and questions overwhelm us, and we can’t see past the present moment. But the followers of Jesus Christ can work through these tough times differently than the world around them. Tender Poems for Tough Times is a collection of Christian poetry written over a twenty-five-year period. The poems can provide a portrayal of current reality, a phrase that resonates, or a key verse of Scripture that touches readers in a tender way and fixes their gaze on their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His presence and promises. Organized alphabetically, topics range from aging to hopelessness to sin, and the poems are written in a variety of formats. A relevant and inspiring offering, Tender Poems for Tough Times will be a blessing and encouragement to Christians everywhere.
The Christian pathway is a personal one and a pilgrim’s journey. Those who are committed to Jesus Christ will develop a set of values, face challenges in their choices, and eventually develop Christlikeness in their character. These poems are for followers of Jesus Christ who love Him as Saviour and Lord, who want to live a life that pleases Him, and are facing challenges counter to the flow of current society. The poems can be used as a devotional and a source of meditation to encourage faithful following of our Lord. This collection, written over a twenty-five-year period, offers the honest reflection of one follower's angst, turmoil, devotion, and hope as he travelled on his journey. Count Your Blessings is the third in the Poems for the Pilgrim Pathway series.
The Christian pathway is a personal one and a pilgrim one. Those who are committed to following Jesus Christ will develop a set of values, face challenges in their choices, and eventually develop Christlikeness in their character. This inspiring collection of poems, written over a twenty-five-year period, offers the honest reflection of one follower’s angst, turmoil, devotion, and hope as he travelled on his journey. God Moments is the first in the Poems for the Pilgrim Pathway series. “Our Lord never promised us that it would be easy, but He did say that the destination made it worthwhile.
The Christian pathway is a personal one and a pilgrim one. Those who are committed to following Jesus Christ will develop a set of values, face challenges in their choices, and eventually develop Christlikeness in their character. This inspiring collection of poems, written over a twenty-five-year period, offers the honest reflection of one follower's angst, turmoil, devotion, and hope as he travelled on his journey. Reasons for Praise is the second in the Poems for the Pilgrim Pathway series. "Our Lord never promised us that it would be easy, but He did say that the destination made it worthwhile.
The Christian pathway is a personal one and a pilgrim’s journey. Those who are committed to Jesus Christ will develop a set of values, face challenges in their choices, and eventually develop Christlikeness in their character. These poems are for followers of Jesus Christ who love Him as Saviour and Lord, who want to live a life that pleases Him, and are facing challenges counter to the flow of current society. The poems can be used as a devotional and a source of meditation to encourage faithful following of our Lord. This collection, written over a twenty-five-year period, offers the honest reflection of one follower's angst, turmoil, devotion, and hope as he travelled on his journey. Count Your Blessings is the third in the Poems for the Pilgrim Pathway series.
The Christian pathway is a personal one and a pilgrim one. Those who are committed to following Jesus Christ will develop a set of values, face challenges in their choices, and eventually develop Christlikeness in their character. This inspiring collection of poems, written over a twenty-five-year period, offers the honest reflection of one follower's angst, turmoil, devotion, and hope as he travelled on his journey. Reasons for Praise is the second in the Poems for the Pilgrim Pathway series. "Our Lord never promised us that it would be easy, but He did say that the destination made it worthwhile.
The Christian pathway is a personal one and a pilgrim one. Those who are committed to following Jesus Christ will develop a set of values, face challenges in their choices, and eventually develop Christlikeness in their character. This inspiring collection of poems, written over a twenty-five-year period, offers the honest reflection of one follower’s angst, turmoil, devotion, and hope as he travelled on his journey. God Moments is the first in the Poems for the Pilgrim Pathway series. “Our Lord never promised us that it would be easy, but He did say that the destination made it worthwhile.
Every generation faces unique challenges. The first-century Church had Caesar’s lions and the Colosseum. And, while it might seem like an unlikely comparison, the challenge of living with popular culture may well be as serious as persecution was for the saints of old. Today we witness the tremendous power of pop culture to set the pace and priorities of our lives. We simply cannot afford to be indifferent about culture’s influence—nor can we escape it, glibly condemn it, or Christianize it. Cultural expert Ken Myers helps us to engage pop culture from a historical and experiential perspective so that we can live in it with wisdom and discernment.
Do you struggle to connect the dots between the Bible and your life? While Christians instinctively want to apply Scripture, we encounter difficulties that can discourage us and diminish our engagement with God’s Word. Indeed, biblical application has suffered in various ways in the church—everything from neglect to abuse to contempt. Responding to such challenges, Beyond Chapter and Verse provides a biblically based rationale for the practice of application and then proposes a biblically consistent method for application. The book is substantive but accessible, relevant for believers generally as well as preachers. It begins by sketching the broad theological context of Bible application, relating it to the gospel generally and to sanctification specifically. The heart of the study then synthesizes key Old and New Testament passages relative to the process of application. Building on this foundation, the book sets forth a sensible approach for arriving at legitimate applications of Scripture. A rich assortment of positive and negative case studies illustrates the method, motivating believers to apply the Scriptures for themselves.
Northern Japan is home to an ancient, esoteric tradition of self-mummifying Buddhist monks, little known to the outside world. Long after death, these ascetics continue to be revered as Living Buddhas. This first English-language work on the subject recounts the process by which these monks starve themselves for a decade, bury themselves alive with only a small breathing tube, and meditate until death. After three years, the mummified body is exhumed and displayed. The biographies of various monks are presented within, as is an examination of the religious beliefs involved, an amalgamation of three distinct religious traditions. Also explored is the role of asceticism in religion, and beliefs about life and death shared by the Buddhist sects involved in self-mummification.
Ken Qualls Just Thinking Out Loud is a compilation of articles about various aspects of Christian thought and life. It takes a look at our foibles, follies and flaws and gently encourages us to remember that we are ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious the author stands firmly on the Word of God and understands the grave responsibility Christians have to rightly interpret it. He strongly believes that we owe it to the world to be equipped to give an intelligent, well-reasoned explanation for the faith we profess. This book inspires, admonishes, encourages and edifies. The reader will quickly sense the passion Qualls has for the Bible and his compassion and respect for both fellow believers and unbelievers. Ken Qualls is an ordained Southern Baptist bi-vocational pastor. While a junior in high school he answered the call to preach which was a surprise to his pastor and his wife, Ferdie and Margaret Shimpf, who thought that God would use Ken as a professional comedian. Ken attended Union University, Jackson, TN where he sang with an amateur gospel quartet known as Living Proof. His first article appeared in the July 8, 1981 Illinois Baptist as a guest editorial and for the next thirty years people throughout the Midwest have enjoyed reading Qualls insightful articles. He is now pastoring Blaze Chapel Baptist Church where he began his pastoral ministry many years ago. Through Reigning In Life Ministries he hopes to encourage small, struggling churches to be about the Father's business regardless of their size or circumstances.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how important are you? What was the first number that came to mind? Seven? Four? Maybe nine? Be honest, you're human, so you probably think and act as though you're pretty important most of the time. Now take a good look at yourself through God's perspective: You reside on the topside of this grand planet we call Earth, with nearly 7 billion other people. If that fact alone doesn't make you feel insignificant, try this on for size: it would take 7 quadrillion (7,000,000,000,000,000) earths to fill the largest known star . . . in the Milky Way Galaxy. And, as you might have heard, there are lots of galaxies in the universe. Feel invisible yet? Ah, but somehow God loves you as if you were the only person inhabiting all those galaxies. What a peculiar point of view! Ken McFarland explores some curious, and sometimes unconventional, thoughts on God, life, the world around us, and the world to come. Not surprisingly, his conclusions don't usually jive with the l
Written by two leading scholars, this book is an accessible overview of the global political consequences of the 9/11 terror attacks. The War on Terror has defined the first decade of this century. It has been marked by the deaths of thousands of people, political turmoil, massive destruction, and intense fear. Regardless of the name it goes under, the long war on terror will continue to affect lives across the world. Its catalyst, 9/11, did not have to happen, nor did the character of the responses. This book offers a set of novel interpretations of how we got here, where we are, and where we should be heading. It is organised around twelve penetrating and readable essays, full of novel interpretations and succinct summaries of complex ideas and events. In their examination of those aspects of global order touched by terror, the authors argue that the dangers of international terrorism are not overblown. Future 9/11s are possible: so is a more just and law-governed world. Terrorism cannot be disinvented, but with more intelligent policies than have been on show these past ten years, it can be overcome and made politically anachronistic. This book will be essential reading for all students of terrorism studies, international security, war and conflict studies and IR in general, as well as of much interest to well-informed lay readers.
If we are Christians, we have a command from the Lord to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, to everyone! How many of us, though, really do? How many of us actively share our faith? Perhaps, if we're honest, not many of us are doing much to fulfill the Great Commision. Enter Ken Gaub. This "witnessing dynamo" has spent the past half-century enthusiastically obeying our Lord. Ken is a man with rare communication skills, an evangelist traveling the globe to increase the Kingdom. He relates practical ways to overcome social barriers, awkwardness, and roadblocks of all kinds to effect a bold change in a person's witnessing habits. You might not have had the opportunity to approach a stranger in the Philippines, or Jerusalem, or Topeka, Kansas, as Ken has, but this book will help you become a soul-winner in your hometown! Through humor, biblical principles, and a zealous heart for people, Ken Gaub is lighting a clear path to sharing the Good News one-on-one!
Celestial phenomena were often harnessed for use by clerics in early modern Germany. Kurihara examines how and why interest in these events grew in this period, how the clergy exploited these beliefs and the role of sectarianism in Germany at this time.
Church planting is one of the most challenging yet rewarding adventures you can embark on. Often zealous planters and their teams launch their new church prematurely, without taking time to lay a firm foundation for long-term fruitful ministry. Failure to do so often results in a weakened new church, or even the new church closing after a few years. Rather than focusing on methodology, the how to's of church planting, this book gives attention to six foundational concerns wise planters will need to nail down before they ever plant: -Biblical foundations, -Theological foundations, - Ecclesiological foundations, - Missiological foundations, -Spiritual foundations, -Practical foundations. Although helpful for a wide range of planting leaders, this book is particularly written for four specific groups: -those who feel called to plant and are making preparations; -their planting teammates and launch leaders; -those exploring church planting; -those who coach and train church planters. Foundations for Fruitful Church Planting serves as a comprehensive resource that will guide you to think strategically, plan carefully, and prepare thoroughly to birth a healthy, growing, and reproducing congregation. Each chapter includes recommended resources, discussion questions, and follow-through exercises.
As the producer of the Grammy Awards show, author Ken Ehrlich has seen it all. From Barbra Streisand to Bono, he has dealt with every major super-talent in music, making key decisions, solving problems, and putting on the most spectacular awards ceremonies in the history of television. For the first time he tells his story - the best and the worst of the rock stars, the divas, and the flash in the pans; the tear-jerkers and heartbreakers; the near-disasters; and of course the wild successes that are all part of Music's Biggest Night.
From the time they’re born, boys are given a “code” to live by: don’t cry, don’t play with dolls, don’t be a wimp...you get the picture. For a middle school guy, it’s tough enough to figure out what it means to just be yourself—let alone how to become a man. Breaking the Code is an eight-week study that will help them discover what it really means to be a man. With fun, interactive activities and age-appropriate discussion questions, you’ll find that this study will help small groups of middle school guys learn how they can become the men God created them to be. In this study, you’ll help guys:• critically examine what they’ve been taught about what it means to be a man• explore the rich heritage of men in the Bible• discover their identity in God• find new ways to feel confident Help the guys in your group begin the journey to manhood with a clear perspective on what it means to be a man. Help break the code.**After you’ve helped guys break the code, you can help them study the ultimate man—Jesus, in Breaking the Code (book 2). Focusing on the life of Christ, they will learn to deal with the issues most guys face.
If you were asked how you know the Bible is true, do you have an answer? Over 29 issues addressed, including: Who made God; where did God come from? Has Noah’s ark been found? Hasn’t Bible text been changed over the years? Is Hell real? Did the ten plagues of Egypt really happen? We are an increasingly skeptical society — whether it comes to politics, science, or even faith. People see conflict everywhere, even about fundamental aspects of the Bible. When church leaders are at odds about biblical truth and scriptural authority, believers are left confused and uncertain, needing clear biblical truth. Addressing topics from popular culture like the Shroud of Turin, or “missing” books of the Bible, and even what makes God’s Word unique among holy books, How Do We Know the Bible is True? Vol. 2 is a “must have” resource for churches, libraries, and home study.
Asserting that spiritual abuse in the church is more common than we realize, Ken Blue examines the causes of spiritual abuse, identifies abusive patterns, offers healing to those who have suffered abuse and describes how leaders should model the gospel of grace.
I am going to Burma, God knows how often I have been there already, but I keep returning, for it is full of charming people, because it is mysterious and difficult to figure out, because its mountains are marvellous and its temples are splendid, and because many of my role models have been there. Before I depart, my realpolitiker guardian angel (can realpolitik be reconciled with angels?) slips a note with the keywords under my nose: dictatorship and civil war; a Babel-like entanglement of languages; incurable belief in superstition; exaggerated religiosity (which is as close to real Buddhism as Voodoo to Christianity); only we count, us the men!; and a mask with an unwipeable smile on the faces. From this instruction manual I easily memorise what I have already experienced myself on the Balkan, but I forget the rest more and more, as I am taken over by the magic of the journey and my belief that West and East think similarly. As often as I tend to be proven wrong about the latter, I recall Parkinson’s best-selling classic and in it the chapter which compares the British and the Chinese method how to choose among the applicants. I have read the text several times, until I realised: you cannot decide, no matter whether your method is Asian or European, it is the almighty who does so instead of you. This is a country where the people who own nothing donate thick golden coats to the temples, fill the caves with thousands of splendid statues and keep the spirits (who are organised by "profession" and should look out for all of us) happy with little gifts. And this is the country where everyday life and high politics are both determined by fortune-tellers and perhaps this is why the mutual killing does not stop since the last World War. But it is also a place where wonders happen constantly and the most eagerly awaited one, peace, is definitely going to arrive ... But when? In the evening, at a quiet monastery in Mandalay, when the sun was disappearing behind the mountains (like a stage performance), I dreamt of the large bells accompanying the scene with their music. Not far from me a barefooted, haggard figure wrapped in a purple robe was praying and glancing at me. Suddenly it raised itself and at this moment the bells began sounding. The old monk had read my thoughts, – I thought -, and as a thank you I gave him a piece of chocolate. Deeply moved he shoved a collection of blue beads on a black string into my hand, prayer beads. So that we could keep praying together for the desired peace?
There is arguably no more critical and pressing topic than the relation of science and religion in the modern world. Science has given us the methods for discovering truth, while religion remains the single greatest force for generating meaning. Yet the two are seen as mutually exclusive, with wrenching consequences for humanity. In The Marriage of Sense and Soul, one of today's most important philosophers brilliantly articulates how we might begin to think about science and religion in ways that allow for their reconciliation and union, on terms that will be acceptable to both camps. Ken Wilber is widely acclaimed as the foremost thinker in integrating Western psychology and the Eastern spiritual traditions. His many books have reached across disciplines and synthesized the teachings of religion, psychology, physics, mysticism, sociology, and anthropology, earning him a devoted international following. The Marriage of Sense and Soul is his most accessible work yet, aimed at guiding a general audience to the mutual accord between the spiritual, subjective world of ancient wisdom and the objective, empirical world of modern knowledge. Wilber clearly and succinctly explores the schism between science and religion, and the impact of this "philosophical Cold War" on the fate of humanity. He systematically reviews previous attempts at integration, explaining why romantic, idealistic, and postmodern theories failed. And he demonstrates how science is compatible with certain deep features common to all of the world's major religious traditions. In pointing the way to a union between truth and meaning, Ken Wilber has created an elegant and accessible book that is breathtaking in its scope.
A comprehensive introduction to Christian ethics addressing today's most challenging moral issues Invitation to Christian Ethics is an indispensable guide for helping pastors, counselors, and everyday Christians navigate today's difficult moral questions. Readers will benefit from Ken Magnuson's survey of ethics from a biblical perspective as well as contemporary theories of moral reasoning. This survey is followed by twelve chapters devoted to some of the thorniest issues Christians encounter today, such as: Sexuality, including homosexuality, sexual identity, and gender Marriage and divorce Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies Abortion Physician-assisted suicide Race relations Creation care Capital punishment Just war, pacifism, and the use of lethal force Magnuson provides biblical insight into each topic and presents key moral considerations. He also answers specific, practical questions that arise and concludes with a summary of his recommended approach to each issue. Readers will learn how to grapple with difficult moral questions and will receive guidance for some of life's most challenging ethical conundrums. "Ethics will continue to be a line in the sand that separates Christians. In this volume, Magnuson gives us a biblically-based, logically-sound, historically-rooted, and future-aware guide that the church so desperately needs in the face of sexual revolution, moral relativism, and advancing technology." --Brian Arnold, President of Phoenix Seminary
Human beings are embedded in a set of social relations. A social network is one way of conceiving that set of relations in terms of a number of persons connected to one another by varying degrees of relatedness. In the early Jesus group documents featuring Paul and coworkers, it takes little effort to envision the apostle's collection of friends and friends of friends that is the Pauline network. The persons who constituted that network are the focus of this set of books. For Christians of the Western tradition, these persons are significant ancestors in faith. While each of them is worth knowing by themselves, it is largely because of their standing within that web of social relations woven about and around Paul that they are of lasting interest. Through this series we hope to come to know those persons in ways befitting their first-century Mediterranean culture. Paul's network is a complex collection of people, many of whom receive only the slightest acknowledgment in the New Testament. While Titus receives more than a cursory mention, the writings that include him come from different generations of Jesus followers. In Titus: Honoring the Gospel of God, Ken Stenstrup makes the distinction between these generations of writings and, by employing social-scientific methods, uses Titus to shed light on Paul as a change agent and leader. As one of Paul's coworkers, Titus provided stability and guidance to early Jesus groups. He was welcomed by these groups and reported their hospitality toPaul. Stenstrup emphasizes the collectivistic culture of the first century and explains how this influenced the relationships betweenPaul, Titus, and the early Jesus groups. Ken Stenstrup teaches a variety of introductory level Scripture courses at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. For several years he has been a member of the Social Sciences and New Testament Interpretation task force of the Catholic Biblical Association.
Jewish Communities in Exotic Places examines seventeen Jewish groups that are referred to in Hebrew as edot ha-mizrach, Eastern or Oriental Jewish communities. These groups, situated in remote places on the Asian and African Jewish geographical periphery, became isolated from the major centers of Jewish civilization over the centuries and embraced some interesting practices and aspects of the dominant cultures in which they were situated.
The blueprint for becoming the man you were made to be—in marriage, family, work, friendships, with God in all of life. “If you want a no-nonsense guide to getting manhood right, this is it.”—Evander Holyfield, four-time world heavyweight champion Guys often approach life like it’s a pickup football game. They make up the rules as they go. They are sloppy rather than disciplined. Many lose interest and simply watch from the sidelines. Yet a man who knows who he was made to be and what he’s pursuing is a powerful force indeed. In Rise of the Servant Kings, Ken Harrison, the chairman of Promise Keepers and a former Los Angeles police officer, gives men the keys to success and gets them into the battle. He explains what we’re fighting for and the path that will lead to victory by reinforcing the importance of holiness, humility, courage, generosity, masculinity, marriage, parenting, prayer, and more. Through scriptures, stories, and an energizing discussion guide, Harrison helps men remember what matters, defeat the Enemy, and pursue their God-given goals with intensity and passion. God’s plan for you as a man is bigger than you’ve dared to imagine. Stop settling for simply getting by and prepare to rise up as a servant king in every area of life.
An edifying view of Buddhism from one of today's leading philosophers: a look at its history and foundational teachings, how it fits into modern society, and how it (and other world religions) will evolve. What might religion look like in the future? Our era of evolution in social consciousness and revolution in science, technology, and neuroscience has created difficulties for some practitioners of the world’s great spiritual traditions. How can one remain true to their central teachings while also integrating those teachings into a new framework that is inclusive of ongoing discoveries? Taking the example of Buddhism to explore this key question, Ken Wilber offers insights that are relevant to all of the great traditions. He shows that traditional Buddhist teachings themselves suggest an ongoing evolution leading toward a more unified, holistic, and interconnected spirituality. Touching on all of the key turning points in the history of Buddhism, Wilber describes the ways in which the tradition has been open to the continuing unfolding and expansion of its own teachings, and he suggests possible paths toward an ever more Integral approach. This work is a precursor to and condensed version of Wilber’s The Religion of Tomorrow.
I see Jesus everywhere! Jesus was there from the beginning, before creation. Explore the word of God to study such things as: — Is God the toughest teacher? — Is there really a hell, and did Jesus spend time there for us? — The Easter Story told—using the Old Testament only. — What was Jesus thinking while on the cross? — What do the Song of David and Song of Moses prophesize? — Does the Bible speak of dinosaurs? — Can we trust God literally created the universe in six days? — What is the real meaning of 'Our Lord our God is one Lord'? — What do the Seven Feasts of Israel teach us about Jesus? — In keeping the Ten Commandments—do you fair any better than I? The love story of God is awaiting you. It is the most important message you could ever hear!
In 1946, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) undertook Operation Dixie, an initiative to recruit industrial workers in the American South. Elizabeth and Ken Fones-Wolf plumb rarely used archival sources and rich oral histories to explore the CIO's fraught encounter with the evangelical Protestantism and religious culture of southern whites. The authors' nuanced look at working class religion reveals how laborers across the surprisingly wide evangelical spectrum interpreted their lives through their faith. Factors like conscience, community need, and lived experience led individual preachers to become union activists and mill villagers to defy the foreman and minister alike to listen to organizers. As the authors show, however, all sides enlisted belief in the battle. In the end, the inability of northern organizers to overcome the suspicion with which many evangelicals viewed modernity played a key role in Operation Dixie's failure, with repercussions for labor and liberalism that are still being felt today. Identifying the role of the sacred in the struggle for southern economic justice, and placing class as a central aspect in southern religion, Struggle for the Soul of the Postwar South provides new understandings of how whites in the region wrestled with the options available to them during a crucial period of change and possibility.
Grace and Grit is the compelling story of the five-year journey of Ken Wilber and his wife, Treya Killam Wilber, through Treya's diagnosis of breast cancer, treatments, and finally, death. During this period, Ken put his own work on hold in order to offer full-time support to Treya. In fact, it would be nearly ten years before he published a new full-length theoretical study (Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, Volume Six of this series). Nonetheless, this personal narrative contains a wide-ranging commentary, including critiques of both conventional and New Age approaches to illness. Ken's account of the couple's struggle to integrate this catastrophic event into their spiritual practice, combined with excerpts from Treya's journals, produces an unforgettable portrait of health and healing, wholeness and harmony, suffering and surrender. The book contains a new introduction and index.
Antebellum culture celebrated the home as the site of nurture, affection, and equality; indeed, the middle-class home became the model of American institutions and values. Narratives from the American Renaissance, however, reveal that this was a conflicted, strained ideal. Stories from the culture represent intense social, political, and literary rivalry. Thus, writers such as Cooper, Douglass, Stowe, Melville, and Southworth projected competing visions of "the American family," visions that challenged the claims of other writers. Building upon theories of Poe, Bakhtin, and Bloom, this study carefully traces the intertextual struggles over the nation's meaning.
We all go through tough times. Feelings and emotions run high, thoughts and questions overwhelm us, and we can’t see past the present moment. But the followers of Jesus Christ can work through these tough times differently than the world around them. Tender Poems for Tough Times is a collection of Christian poetry written over a twenty-five-year period. The poems can provide a portrayal of current reality, a phrase that resonates, or a key verse of Scripture that touches readers in a tender way and fixes their gaze on their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His presence and promises. Organized alphabetically, topics range from aging to hopelessness to sin, and the poems are written in a variety of formats. A relevant and inspiring offering, Tender Poems for Tough Times will be a blessing and encouragement to Christians everywhere.
With graceful skill, Jones juxtaposes stories about Little League and other slices of modern life with vignettes of Jesus from the Gospels. As he follows Christ's climb--first down from Heaven to take his place among men, and then higher and higher until the summit of the cross--Jones creates unforgettable images of what total commitment looks like.
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