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Let the Bird Fly: Life in a World Given Back to Us
by Wade JohnstonIt's easy for Christians in our day to become fearful and confused. From doctrinal debates to culture wars, some Christians feel like they move from one crisis to another. Christ didn't die and rise for us to live afraid, however, and our crucified and risen Savior ascended to rule all things for our good. We are not a people without hope. We have Christ. Let the Bird Fly reminds readers that we are a free people, bought with the price of Christ's own blood. We are free to weigh the issues of the day, to engage our neighbor, to live out our callings, and know who we are no matter what: redeemed children of God. At the heart of the Christian life is a spoken word, God's absolution, the declaration that Christ's righteousness is our own through faith. From this our Christian life flows and in this we find our confidence to live, love, and labor for our neighbor. Law and gospel become lenses through which we see our world and others. Together with the two kinds of righteousness, civil and divine, Christians have a sort of diagnostic tool for navigating life in a world given back to us as a penultimate gift. We are graced to live beyond ourselves and the here and now. We are gifted to consider and look forward to more than those live without the optimism and freedom of sins forgiven. We are turned outside of ourselves and grounded, even as we are made new and set loose to dare to live as though there is more to life than this life. In short, precisely when fear seems most tempting, Christ calls us to let the bird fly.
Woman: The Forgotten Story
by Cindy KochFor any woman, identity is important. The question, "who am I?" will haunt her every decision. Along the pathway of life, many will tell her a story of who she is. She might be lucky enough to hear the pure and simple truth, but more often than not she will be told and believe a variety things. Consequently, both men and women have become confused, afraid, angry, and bitter towards the story of woman in our culture because, tragically, we have forgotten the ancient story spoken by God's Word. Discover again the old story of a beautiful identity, a story of love and sacrifice. Uncover this story of new hopes and amazing dreams that are actually real. The story offers incredible comfort, gives guidance, and teaches everyone who listens a wisdom that saves lives. From the creative voice of God, through the death of a Savior, to the walk of Wisdom, hear and remember the forgotten story of woman.
A Path Strewn With Sinners: A Devotional Study of Mark's Gospel & His Race to the Cross
by Wade Johnston"Mark doesn't waste words in his Gospel. His Jesus, the Jesus, is a man on a mission, determined, racing. Mark doesn't waste words, but his words pack a punch and his brief descriptions beg for deep reflection. Like a passenger in a car driving quickly, we can easily miss the details of the landscape if we don't pay careful attention. Mark sets us on a race, but it's important to stop along the way. A Path Strewn with Sinners sets us on Jesus' race to the cross, but it also insists we take time to ponder, to notice what Mark notes, and what he doesn't. A master storyteller, Mark leaves room for us to ask questions of the text while at the same time giving us enough information to make that profitable. In so doing, He introduces us to Jesus in a most useful and unique way and makes our race well worth the effort, as A Path Strewn with Sinners shows."
With My Own Eyes
by Bror Erickson Bo GiertzBo Giertz wrote this book drawing upon the exegetical insights that he received from his mentor Anton Fridrichsen before, during and after his trip to Palestine in the early 1930's. The book is a third-person retelling of the gospels that brings into account various Old Testament references and the contemporary interpretations of those passages by the Jews of Jesus' day as well as contemporary events throughout the Roman Empire, but most especially those directly affecting the Jewish people of Israel at the time, so that the gospel stories take on new life and meaning for the reader. It's both a harmonization of the gospels, and a commentary on them, but much richer. The perspectives change depending on the episode. Sometimes the perspective is from that of a disciple, sometimes from that of a person being healed or a bystander observing. The Christmas story is told from the perspective of Shepherds, the crucifixion scene dwells on the perspective of Simon of Cyrene.
Being Dad: Father As A Picture of God's Grace
by Scott Leonard Keith Rod RosenbladtEvery person is born with a deep longing for a father. Being Dad deals with the way fathers, and the subject of biblical fatherhood, are treated in modern culture. Dr. Keith brings his experience with family, students, great mentors, and friends to bear on a subject that is crying out for attention. Equally, he brings his Christian faith, a scholarly eye for detail, and an ear for story along on the journey and works with the reader to navigate a path to a better country where the Father blesses His children and is honored.Forgiven fathers are a gift from God, for they have the gospel to proclaim to their families. This approach leads to gracious fathers that can now display a shadow of the love of their Heavenly Father so that children may be drawn into saving faith.
Called To Defend: An Apologetics Handbook for the Middle School Student
by Valerie ThurWhy do you believe what you believe? Aren't you arrogant for thinking that you're right and everyone else is wrong? Isn't Christianity just a bunch of mythology? These questions won't wait until high school. They won't wait until college, and they definitely won't wait until you decide you're ready to answer them. The world into which you were born is a world at war. The Enemy won't wait until you're ready before he attacks, but thankfully, neither did your Savior. The battle for your soul is complete, and now the Spirit calls you to be a vessel through which He touches a bleeding world. Called to Defend provides middle school students with an interdisciplinary introduction to defending the faith. Using subjects of mathematics, computer science, history, and creative writing, students will be taught to defend the faith courageously, humbly, and respectfull. Is it possible to be unapologetically Lutheran and a staunch apologist, even at a young age? In Christ, the answer is a resounding yes, as the Holy Spirit calls, sanctifies, and enlightens us to believe, confess, and defend the faith to a world at war.
Romans: A Devotional Commentary
by Bror Erickson Bo GiertzFans of The Hammer of God and With My Own Eyes will enjoy this devotional commentary on Romans from Pastor, Bo Giertz. The beloved 20th-century bishop takes readers through Paul's letter to the Romans; pointing to God's grace in Christ and forgiveness for the sinner at every turn.Known as the "C.S. Lewis of Sweden," Bo Giertz, unerringly reveals the fountain of good news in every Romans passage. Giertz delivers part commentary by thoroughly dissecting each passage, and part devotional as he keenly directs readers to comforts won for them by Christ crucified in all His saving glory.
Meeting Melanchthon: A Brief Biographical Sketch of Philip Melanchthon and a Few Samples of His Writing
by Scott Leonard KeithMost scholars consider Melanchthon to be a Reformation enigma. He, the developer of the Reformation doctrine of forensic justification, is contrarily condemned as a synergist. Known well as the Protestant preceptor of Germany, he was Martin Luther's lifelong friend, colleague, teacher of Greek, and fellow reformer. Upon arriving at Wittenberg, Melanchthon was a theologian neither by trade nor by training. He was a classically trained expert in classical languages, neo-Latin poet, textbook author, Greek scholar, humanist, and above all, an educatorThough he was offered a doctorate on several occasions, he was not a doctor of theology. Yet his influence on the protestant reformation of the 16th century is profound, both through the Loci Communes (the first Lutheran systematic theology) and the Augsburg Confession both of which came from his pen.Dr. Scott Keith, who has spent much time studying and translating this great reformer, has written this short biography by way of introduction. Also, Melanchthon speaks for himself in fresh translations of his work.
The Sinner / Saint Devotional: 60 Days in the Psalms (The Sinner/Saint Devotional Series)
by Daniel Emery PriceThere is a Psalm for just about everything. Defeated? It's there. Joyful? That's is there too. Angry with God? There are a lot of Psalms for that. Some of them give us great comfort, and some of them make us uncomfortable, but in the end, all of them point us to Jesus.This is a 60-day devotional that deals with us right where we are because that is where the Psalms deal with us. You won't find a bunch of platitudes or Christian fluff. The Psalms are too gritty and honest for that. This devotional is written by and for real sinners in daily need of a God offering real promises of forgiveness, grace, and hope.
The New Testament Devotional Commentary, Volume 1: Matthew, Mark, and Like (New Testament Devotional Commentaries)
by Bror Erickson Bo GiertzBo Giertz was a serious biblical scholar who avoided the ivory tower. He studied classics in undergrad before taking up theology in preparation for the ministry. In 1930 he spent time on an archeological dig in Palestine and travelled the country with his exegetical professor Anton Fridrichsen who insisted on "Biblical Realism," which avoided fundamentalism and yet refused to succumb to higher criticism. In these commentaries, Bo Giertz takes what he learned from a lifetime of such study and application in in sermons and visits with people to open Scripture to anyone who wants to grow in their faith. He never avoids the hard questions concerning the texts, and yet tackles them in such a way as to restore confidence in God's word. Here, he is concerned with what the text meant to those who first wrote it and heard it so he can deliver the same goods to us today.
The Pastoral Prophet: Meditations on the Book of Jeremiah
by Steve KruschelWhen the Lord called Jeremiah to be his prophet, he called a man grappling with insecurities and weaknesses. He made a prophet out of a struggling sinner. God strengthened Jeremiah to preach to his family who betrayed him, his king who wanted him dead, and to false prophets trying to drown out his message. His words speak to you, too.These devotions based on Jeremiah's words and experiences are meant to help encourage you as a pastor, a teacher, a church leader, and a parishioner. Watch as Jeremiah holds the mirror of God's law up to your heart and witness God's beautiful gospel message as his prophet speaks it directly to you.
Faithless to Fearless: The Event that Changed the World
by David AndersenUsing the minimal facts every scholar accepts about Jesus, this book uniquely blends current New Testament thinking and research from the fields of psychology, neurology, and social sciences to argue that Jesus' physical resurrection from the dead is the most probable explanation for the appearance claims of the disciples and St. Paul. The book shows that the disciples and St. Paul were in no position to invent the appearances, especially as Jesus was executed as a criminal and Messianic pretender. With the resurrection the last thing they expected, and with no evidence of any evolutionary development, only the sudden appearances of Jesus explains their explosive transition from faithless to fearless.
Crisis in Lutheran Theology, Vol. 3: The Validity and Relevance of Historic Lutheranism vs. Its Contemporary Rivals (Crisis in Lutheran Theology)
by John Warwick MontgomeryAll Three volumes deal with the issue of biblical inerrancy (that the Bible is completely true and accurate, not only when it speaks to ideas of religious belief, but also when it speaks about factual elements of history and science, properly understood). This issue rocked the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, prompting the release of the first two volumes. Volume one consists of essays by John Warwick Montgomery himself, and is addressed primarily to theologians. Volume two consists of an anthology by eight separate Lutheran contributors and is addressed to laymen as well as professional theologians. Volume 3 contains new, never before published material and consists of essays by Dr. Montgomery outlining a new challenge along the same lines. Dr. Jeffery Kloha suggested a few years ago with the latest critical edition of the New Testament (Nestle-Aland 28th Edition), because of the interchangeability of some variant readings, that we now had a "plastic text". Dr. Montgomery goes up against this assertion with everything he has. Though obviously addressing themselves primarily to Lutheranism, the materials are, to a large degree, equally applicable to many of the other Christian communions and will be found to be extremely valuable in assessing the needs of a variety of denominations.
Who Am I?: Exploring Your Identity through Your Vocations
by John J Norton Scott Ashmon Adam S Francisco Edward Mendez Ken Sundet Jones Jeff MallinsonWho am I? What's my purpose in life? How should I live? This book invites you to explore your identity through your callings, to imagine living virtuously for others, and to discover deep meaning and satisfaction in life. You'll look at many vocations that young people have or will have later in life. Callings covered include being a student, citizen, neighbor, worker, care-taker of nature, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, parent, child, sibling, saint and priest, and friend. Chapters on these callings examine the nature and responsibilities of these roles in light of human and divine wisdom found in the liberal arts tradition and the Bible. You'll also entertain the role that avocations play in life and how such enthusiastic pursuits can renew and equip you. Each chapter contains exercises for reflection and discussion that can be done privately, with a partner, or in a group.
Paul and the Resurrection: Testing the Apostolic Testimony
by Joshua A. PagánFor the contemporary believer, Paul's role in the historical setting of the Resurrection is far more than a matter of theological curiosity. The Christian justification for rational belief in the Resurrection is in large part anchored in Paul's justification for rational belief in the authenticity of his own experience. In Paul we find the earliest and best attested documentary evidence for a historical investigation of the miraculous event. Moreover, his epistles are an indispensable source of independent corroboration of the gospel narratives. Opponents of Christianity have formulated a variety of hypotheses to account for Paul's experience on the Damascus Road. Some propose that Paul was deceptive; others argue that he was deluded; and still others contend he came to believe a legendary development. Yet according to the Christian hypothesis, Paul's claim to have encountered the risen Jesus is dependable, and his testimony can be shown to withstand the scrutiny of critics. In this innovative, interdisciplinary study, PagÁn combines the analytic tools of history and philosophy to explore and evaluate competing explanations of Paul's belief in the Resurrection of Jesus.
The Oppermanns
by Lion FeuchtwangerWritten in real time, as the Nazis consolidated their power over the winter of 1933, The Oppermanns captures the fall of Weimar Germany through the eyes of one bourgeois Jewish family, shocked and paralyzed by an ideology they cannot comprehend.In the foment of Weimar-era Berlin, the Oppermann brothers represent tradition and stability. One brother oversees the furniture chain founded by their grandfather, one is an eminent surgeon, one a respected critic. They are rich, cultured, liberal, and public spirited, proud inheritors of the German enlightenment. They don&’t see Hitler as a threat. Then, to their horror, the Nazis come to power, and the Oppermanns and their children are faced with the terrible decision of whether to adapt—if they can—flee, or try to fight. Written in 1933, nearly in real time, The Oppermanns captures the day-to-day vertigo of watching a liberal democracy fall apart. As Joshua Cohen writes in his introduction to this new edition, it is &“one of the last masterpieces of German-Jewish culture.&” Prescient and chilling, it has lost none of its power today.
Creation Basics and Beyond
by Dr John D. Morris Dr Henry M. Morris III Dr Randy J. GuliuzzaCreation or evolution? It is extremely important we understand the truth about origins. <p><p> Christians especially need to know whether the Genesis account of creation is truth or myth. After all, if the Bible is false on its very first page, then how can we have confidence in what follows? You don't need to be an expert to unravel the evidence. <p><p> Creation Basics & Beyond offers a thorough introduction to the basic issues involved in the creation-evolution debate. <p><p> Written by ICR's team scientists and scholars, this revised and expanded edition offers the most up-to-date science impacting the questions of origins. Readers will discover an abundance of useful information showing how science confirms the Bible's accuracy and authority on all matters. Covering the fields of biology, geology, astronomy, and more, this book demonstrates that not only does the scientific evidence not support evolution, it strongly confirms the biblical account of creation. <p><p> Creation Basics & Beyond clearly shows that the Bible really is what it claims to be -- the inspired Word of the living God.
Therapy According to G-d: A Rabbi and a Psychologist Discuss Life
by Rabbi Mordechai Wecker Michael S. WeissmanThe Torah is the Blueprint for the Universe. It is the owner's manual to life. Our mission is to learn G-d's Torah and strive to be closer to Him. Still, the Torah is even more than that. It is G-d making Himself known to the world. It has been our lifeblood for over three thousand years. It's what sustains us, keeps us alive, and gives us our sense of purpose in the world. It is eternal. It is also high drama. It is the story of relationships, conflict, and (sometimes) resolution. The Torah shares its stories to help us understand who we are and where we come from - and how we must live and grow and evolve, constantly improving ourselves, refining our character traits, and developing healthier and better relationships. Thousands of years ago and today, people have dealt with difficult issues such as anxiety, loneliness, depression, anger issues, family conflict and substance abuse. In this book, we attempt to show how eternal Torah principles can be incorporated into our daily lives - and how we can find healing and connection.
Handbook Of Torah And Mental Health
by David Rosmarin Saul HaimoffThe present volume includes a brief collection of Torah sources on Cognitive behavioral therapy Dialectical behavior therapy General psychotherapy Anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, and depression Parenting Mental health and well-being
Exploring Creation with General Science
by Jay WileIn this book you will learn about the history of science, how to do science, the history of life, how your body works, and some of the amazing living creatures that exist in God's Creation.
Exploring Creation with Marine Biology
by Sherri SeligsonThis book is an award-winning, college-preparatory high school science course for homeschool students. <p><p> This updated second edition is even more user-friendly. This is the softcover student textbook, only. <p><p> This homeschool Marine Biology course is rigorous and thorough. We recommend it as an upper-level high school course as it requires knowledge of general biology and assumes that students have previously participated in biological lab activities such as experiments, dissections, and microscopy. God’s oceans are an amazing ecosystem full of fascinating, even bizarre creatures with cool abilities that are extremely intriguing. <p><p> The author’s own excitement about the world of marine biology is contagious and draws students into that underwater realm to explore with her. This is one of the few homeschool science courses that includes an entire education on ecology. The creator-God designed the earth’s astonishing ecosystem for his glory and the needs of his creatures, and it is a crucially important science for Christians in our day to understand accurately.
Exploring Creation with High School Astronomy
by Damian LudwiczakThis course was designed as an elective course for high school students in 9th – 12th grades. Trusting in the providence of our God, Exploring Creation with High School Astronomy uses the scientific and mathematical constants of the universe to reveal the beauty of creation. This course is authored by Damian R. Ludwiczak who is the Chief of the Mechanisms and Tribology Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center. Exploring Creation with High School Astronomy is a journey that starts with the mysteries of the universe. What are space, matter, antimatter, cosmic rays, dark matter, dark energy, black holes, and wormholes? It goes back in time to investigate the history of astronomy. What did the early stargazers see and understand? How did technology advance what we see and investigate? How does that technology work? And how does this change our model of our solar system and our knowledge of the universe? It then investigates the science of our Sun, planets, and other astronomical objects that reside in our solar system, galaxy, and the universe. It ends with a lesson on celestial navigation, learned from stargazers long ago but still a valuable tool today.
Exploring Creation with Earth Science
by Rachael YunisLet’s dig in the dirt, not just talk about it. What is it? How did it get made? Why is it different depending on where you dig? What will you find living in it? <p><p> Let’s realize that we don’t get deliveries from outer space so everything we need, literally everything, is given to us and made fresh with the systems created to keep life forms alive throughout time. How does the Earth replenish its resources again, and again, and again? Join us in Exploring Creation with Earth Science and find out! <p><p> Your young explorer will begin this course with an overview of our cosmic address in the observable universe and then grow in knowledge of what, in the entire universe, makes Earth special and capable of sustaining life. <p><p> An awareness of the world will develop as students interact with the Earth’s geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. By digging deeper into the many different layers of the Earth and the cycles that renew the face of the Earth, your student will acquire not only wisdom that will endure for a lifetime but also an appreciation for our Creator.
A Baptist Preacher's Buddhist Teacher: How My Interfaith Journey with Daisaku Ikeda Made Me a Better Christian
by Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.In this inspiring, soul-stirring memoir, Lawrence E. Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, shares his remarkable quest to experience King's "beloved community" and his surprising discovery in mid-life that King's dream was being realized by the Japanese Buddhist philosopher and tireless peace worker Daisaku Ikeda. Coming of age on the cusp of the American Civil Rights Movement, Carter was personally mentored by Martin Luther King Jr. and followed in his footsteps, first to get an advanced degree in theology at Boston University and then to teach and train a new generation of activists and ministers at King's alma mater, Morehouse College. Over the years, however, Carter was disheartened to watch the radical cosmic vision at the heart of King's message gradually diluted and marginalized. He found himself in near despair—until his remarkable encounter with the lay Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International and a life-changing meeting with Ikeda, its president. Carter knew that King had been inspired by Gandhi, a Hindu, and now Ikeda, a Buddhist, was showing him how King's message of justice, equality, and the fundamental dignity of life could be carried to millions of people around the world. What ensued was not a conversion but a conversation—about the essential role of interfaith dialogue, the primacy of education, and the value of a living faith to create a human revolution and realize at last Martin Luther King's truest dream of a global world house. In these dark and frustrating times, the powerful dialogue between Carter and Ikeda gives hope and guidance to a new generation of reformers, activists, and visionaries.
The New Human Revolution, Vol. 2 (The New Human Revolution)
by Daisaku IkedaThrough this novelized history of the Soka Gakkai-one of the most dynamic, diverse, and empowering Buddhist movements in the world today-readers will discover the organization's goals and achievements even as they find inspiring and practical Buddhist wisdom for living happily and compassionately in today's world. <P><P>The book recounts the stories of ordinary individuals who faced tremendous odds in transforming their lives through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and in bringing Buddhism's humanistic teachings to the world. This second volume focuses on the establishment of many new chapters throughout Japan in 1960 as the Soka Gakkai helps hundreds of thousands of new members find new hope. This inspiring narrative provides readers with the principles with which they can positively transform their own lives for the better and realize enduring happiness for themselves and others.