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Freddie's Fast-Cash Getaway: The Parable of the Prodigal Son
by Andy J. Smith Bill MyersWhen an ant decides he can live a better life alone than with his family on the worm farm, he takes his inheritance and sets off for the glitz of the big city. When he finds himself penniless and doing dangerous work cleaning the cat cage at the circus, he decides to humble himself and return to the family farm. Children will learn about one of the best-known parables in the Bible, retold with humor and poignancy in an imaginative world of today.
Frederick: A Story of Boundless Hope
by Frederick Ndabaramiye"My God won't let me do that."These seven words of boundless hope would irreversibly change the life of the teenage boy who spoke them.On April 7, 1994 the life of Frederick Ndabaramiye and his family changed forever as the Rwandan genocide erupted in their homeland. When Frederick faced those same genocidaires a few years later, he noted the machete that hung from the right hand closest to him and wondered if his would soon be added to the layers of dried blood that clung to the blade. Either way, young Frederick knew that he wouldn't be able to carry out the orders just given to him, to raise that blade against the other passengers of the bus, regardless of the race marked on their identity cards.That bold decision would cause Frederick to lose his hands. But what the killers meant for harm, God intended for good. The cords that bound him served as a tourniquet, saving his life when his hands were hacked away. This new disability eventually fueled Frederick's passion to show the world that disabilities do not have to stop you from living a life of undeniable purpose. From that passion, the Ubumwe Community Center was born, where "people like me" come to discover their own purposes and abilities despite their circumstances.Through miraculous mercy and divine appointment, Frederick forgives those who harmed him and goes on to fully grasp his God-given mission. In this extraordinary true story of forgiveness, faith, and hope, you will be challenged, convicted, and forever converted to a believer of the impossible.
Frederick Douglass: America's Prophet
by D. H. DilbeckFrom his enslavement to freedom, Frederick Douglass was one of America's most extraordinary champions of liberty and equality. Throughout his long life, Douglass was also a man of profound religious conviction. In this concise and original biography, D. H. Dilbeck offers a provocative interpretation of Douglass's life through the lens of his faith. In an era when the role of religion in public life is as contentious as ever, Dilbeck provides essential new perspective on Douglass's place in American history. Douglass came to faith as a teenager among African American Methodists in Baltimore. For the rest of his life, he adhered to a distinctly prophetic Christianity. Imitating the ancient Hebrew prophets and Jesus Christ, Douglass boldly condemned evil and oppression, especially when committed by the powerful. Dilbeck shows how Douglass's prophetic Christianity provided purpose and unity to his wide-ranging work as an author, editor, orator, and reformer. As "America's Prophet," Douglass exposed his nation's moral failures and hypocrisies in the hopes of creating a more just society. He admonished his fellow Americans to truly abide by the political and religious ideals they professed to hold most dear. Two hundred years after his birth, Douglass's prophetic voice remains as timely as ever.
Frederick Douglass, a Psychobiography: Rethinking Subjectivity In The Western Experiment Of Democracy (Black Religion/womanist Thought/social Justice Ser.)
by Danjuma G. GibsonIn the extreme context of the American slavocracy, how do we account for the robust subjectivity and agency of Frederick Douglass? In an environment of extremity, where most contemporary psychological theory suggests the human spirit would be vanquished, how did Frederick Douglass emerge to become one of the most prolific thinkers of the 19th century? To address this question, this book engages in a psychoanalytic examination of all four of Frederick Douglass’ autobiographies. Danjuma Gibson examines when, how, and why Douglass tells his story in the manner he does, how his story shifts and takes shape with each successive autobiography, and the resulting psychodynamic, pastoral, and practical theological implications.
Free: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most
by Mark ScandretteIf you already own a copy of Free, use the password found in the Group Learning Guide to access eight supplementary videos. Why does chasing the good life make us feel so bad? We dream big and spend our money and time chasing our dreams—only to find ourselves exhausted, deeply in debt and spiritually empty. Mark and Lisa Scandrette realized at the beginning of their lives together that what they want, what they need and what they were being told to want didn't sync up. In Free Mark (with a little help from Lisa) shares the secrets of how they bought a home and raised a family debt-free in the most expensive city in the United States—and how they've enjoyed good relationships, good adventures and good food along the way. Packed with helpful exercises for getting a handle on your money story, and designed for healing and generative money conversations with friends, Free gives you a path to financial freedom and spiritual flourishing that awakens your heart and energizes your soul.
Free and Fully Alive: Reclaiming the Story of Who You Were Created to Be
by Karrie GarciaA dynamic, practical guide to embracing your past and discovering a deeper connection to yourself, God, and others so you can reclaim who God created you to be.Many of us yearn for a sense of purpose, but we wonder how we can overcome the trauma and mistakes of our past. We keep doing and doing for God, hoping to erase our story so we can find our true calling.Free and Fully Alive is a powerful reminder that our stories hold the key to our true purpose, and it's who we are in those stories, not what we do, that is the secret to living the abundant life God promises.As author Karrie Garcia draws on her own experiences and her expertise as a life coach, she shows us why God's redemptive purpose for our lives doesn't begin once we're free from pain, and as we are vulnerable with God, ourselves, and others, we find that we are already who God created us to be.A vibrant guide to getting unstuck, Free and Fully Alive equips you to:Ditch the behavior modification strategies and focus on true heart transformationStop chasing external achievements when what you long for is internal changeSilence that inner critic and find the voice of truth through the Word of GodRealize that God's love for you has nothing to do with all you accomplish todayUnderstand that your past does not disqualify you from God's purpose Feel fully alive in the story you're living. You are meant to be here. In fact, that's the greatest purpose of all.
Free and Locked Up!: Essays Delivered at the Lutheran Study Days 2020 Conference in Bergen, Norway
by John HoyumThe theme of freedom is ever-present for those who inhabit the modern western world. To be free, most people assume, means to be free over and against the state and one's neighbor. But Luther's conception of freedom is decidedly different from the usual story we tell about what it means to be a free human being. For Luther, to be free doesn't mean isolation from or opposition to one's neighbor, but freedom is the kind of liberty that empowers human beings to service of those around them. True freedom comes only from the promise of free grace in Jesus Christ delivered through the preaching of the gospel and the delivery of the sacraments. To be free in Christ involves a rediscovery of God's creation: that God has made us vessels of his goodness for those he has placed into our lives.
Free at Last?: The Gospel in the African American Experience (The IVP Signature Collection)
by Carl F. Ellis Jr.The words of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech have become enshrined in US history. But after the end of King's generation of leadership, what happened to the African American struggle for freedom?Free at Last?
Free at Last: Experiencing True Freedom Through Your Identity in Christ
by Tony EvansThis reader says it best: 'Tony Evans explores the problem of Christians who continue to sin and who do not fully utilize the freedom they have received in Christ. He compares Satan to a plantation owner who knows that legally his slaves have been freed, but who tries to convince them that they'll never make it in this world without him. He says that sometimes we need to make it to rock bottom before we realize that 'Christ IS the Rock at the bottom.' This is a very inspiring and encouraging book, both for those who have not confessed Christ and for those who have been Christians for many years.
Free at Last: Experiencing True Freedom Through Your Identity in Christ
by Tony EvansThis reader says it best: 'Tony Evans explores the problem of Christians who continue to sin and who do not fully utilize the freedom they have received in Christ. He compares Satan to a plantation owner who knows that legally his slaves have been freed, but who tries to convince them that they'll never make it in this world without him. He says that sometimes we need to make it to rock bottom before we realize that 'Christ IS the Rock at the bottom.' This is a very inspiring and encouraging book, both for those who have not confessed Christ and for those who have been Christians for many years.
Free Book: I am a fanatic about freedom. I'm tired of seeing people beaten down by the world's systems and by religion. God's offering real freedom. Get yours.
by Brian Tome"I am a fanatic about freedom. And I'm fanatical about coming at you hard in this book."Maybeyou're not as free as you think you are. Even worse, you may have beenduped into believing that a "balanced" life is the key to happiness (itisn't) or that a relationship with God is about layering on rules andrestrictions (nope).Whether it's media-fueled fear, something a parent or teacher said that you just can't shake, or even the reality of dark spiritual forces bent on keeping you down, something is holding you back from the full-on freedom God intends for you.The Bible says, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, thereis freedom." Not fear. Not guilt. Not morality. Freedom. You can havethe sort of joy you thought only kids could have. The day of freedom ishere.
Free by Divine Decree: Living Free of Guilt and Condemnation
by Paul JohanssonThe Apostle Paul writes the Book of Romans as a legal document to justify the believer's freedom. "Free by Divine Decree" takes you inside the court room to witness how the case for your freedom was argued and decided. The final verdict from the Supreme Judge is that "in Christ" you are righteous not by achieving but by believing. The truth in this book will set you free—free indeed. No further appeal! Your freedom is not a feeling it is a fact. The Verdict Is In: Condemnation is OUT.
Free Byrd: The Power of a Liberated Life
by Paul ByrdCleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd gives an honest account of how he has kept his faith in God despite all the trials and temptations associated with the major league Baseball lifestyle. Paul Byrd has experienced many struggles, victories, and life lessons both on the diamond and off. Throughout his life, the one thing that has kept him focused on walking clean is the glimpses he has received of God's goodness. He addresses the issues he has faced -- such as the temptation to cheat while pitching, the unhealthy desire to cheer against fellow teammates so he could benefit from their failure, and his personal battle with pornography. Byrd gives readers Major League insight into the lifestyle of top-tier baseball players while showing how, even through a struggle, he was able to pick himself up and continue to believe and trust in a God who deeply loves us all. Paul's focus remains on the people we relate to every day and the significant conversations and interactions we can have with those we love, learning to build them up rather than tear them down. In Free Byrd, readers see how Paul's life was changed through the lessons he was taught, and how he discovered a freedom he never imagined through a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. And, most importantly, he invites everyone to experience the same transformation.
Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System
by Cyntoia Brown-LongIn her own words, Cyntoia Brown shares the riveting and redemptive story of how she changed her life for the better while in prison, finding hope through faith after a traumatic adolescence of drug addiction, rape, and sex trafficking led to a murder conviction. Cyntoia Brown was sentenced to life in prison for a murder she committed at the age of sixteen. Her case became national news when celebrities and activists made the hashtag #FreeCyntoia go viral in 2017. She was granted full clemency after having served fifteen years, walking out a free woman on August 7, 2019. This is her story, in her own words. In these pages, written over the fifteen years she was incarcerated, Cyntoia shares the difficult early life that lead to that fateful night and how she found the strength to not only survive, but thrive, in prison. A coming-of-age memoir set against the shocking backdrop of a life behind bars, Free Cyntoia takes you on a spiritual journey as Cyntoia struggles to overcome a legacy of family addiction and a lifetime of feeling ostracized and abandoned by society. Born to a teenage alcoholic mother who was also a victim of sex trafficking, Brown reflects on the isolation, low self-esteem, and sense of alienation that drove her straight into the hands of a predator. Though she attempts to build a positive path and honor the values her beloved adoptive mother taught her, Cyntoia succumbs to harmful influences that drive her to a cycle of promise and despair. After a fateful meeting with a prison educator turned mentor, Cyntoia makes the pivotal decision to take classes at Lipscomb University and strive for a better future, even if she’s never freed. For the first time ever, Cyntoia shares the details of her transformation, including a profound encounter with God, an unlikely romance, and an unprecedented outpouring of support from social media advocates and A-list celebrities, which ultimately lead to clemency and her release from prison. Giving a rare look at the power of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery in the darkest of places, Free Cyntoia is a deeply personal portrait of one woman’s journey for redemption within a system that had failed her from childhood.
Free Exercise of Religion and the United States Constitution: The Supreme Court’s Challenge (ICLARS Series on Law and Religion)
by Mark P. StrasserThe United States is extremely diverse religiously and, not infrequently, individuals sincerely contend that they are unable to act in accord with law as a matter of conscience. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the free exercise of religion and the United States Supreme Court has issued many decisions exploring the depth and breadth of those protections. This book addresses the Court’s free exercise jurisprudence, discussing what counts as religion and the protections that have been afforded to a variety of religious practices. Regrettably, the Court has not offered a principled and consistent account of which religious practices are protected or even how to decide whether a particular practice is protected, which has resulted in similar cases being treated dissimilarly. Further, the Court’s free exercise jurisprudence has been used to provide guidance in interpreting federal statutory protections, which is making matters even more chaotic. This book attempts to clarify what the Court has said in the hopes that it will contribute to the development of a more consistent and principled jurisprudence that respects the rights of the religious and the non-religious.
The Free Exercise of Religion in America: Its Original Constitutional Meaning
by Ellis M. WestThis book explains the original meaning of the two religion clauses of the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law [1] respecting an establishment of religion or [2] prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” As the book shows, both clauses were intended to protect the free exercise of religion or religious freedom. West shows the position taken by early Americans on four issues: (1) the general meaning of the “free exercise of religion,” including whether it is different from the meaning of “no establishment of religion”; (2) whether the free exercise of religion may be intentionally and directly limited, and if so, under what circumstances; (3) whether laws regulating temporal matters that also have a religious sanction violate the free exercise of religion; and (4) whether the free exercise of religion gives persons a right to be exempt from obeying valid civil laws that unintentionally and indirectly make it difficult or impossible to practice their religion in some way. A definitive work on the subject and a major contribution to the field of constitutional law and history, this volume is key to a better understanding of the ongoing constitutional adjudication based on the religion clauses of the First Amendment.
Free Exercise of Religion in the Liberal Polity: Conflicting Interpretations (Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy)
by Emily R. GillThis book addresses the challenge of providing for the free exercise of religion without allowing religious exercise by some individuals and groups to impinge upon the conscientious convictions of others. State neutrality toward religion is impossible, because neutrality means inattention to religion for some, but leveling the playing field through accommodations or exemptions for others. Both formal and substantive neutrality have a place in addressing particular conflicts. One such example is public funding for religiously affiliated social service programs, for which neither type of neutrality is satisfactory and thus some restrictions are justifiable; conversely, private voluntary organizations that do not receive direct public funding should be allowed wide latitude regarding their practices. This title also examines the expansive free exercise claims that are now made by those who argue that following the law impinges upon their beliefs, as exemplified by the ministerial exception and the Hobby Lobby and Masterpiece Cakeshop Supreme Court cases. It concludes by analyzing the relationship between neutrality and marriage as a civil status, which impacts a variety of commitment types and plural marriage.
Free Grace Soteriology
by David R. Anderson James S. ReitmanWhile nearly all branches of Christianity would lay claim to grace as the primary foundation for our future in heaven, there is wide divergence of opinion on just what that means. The author holds that grace is a free gift with no strings attached, in contrast to Arminian or Calvinistic soteriology which add requirements on the "front end" or "back end" of salvation.
Free Guide: A Companion Guide to Brian Tome's Free Book
by Brian TomeThisisn't your typical workbook. It's not homework. It's not one-size-fits-all. This companion guide to Brian Tome's Free Book is an interactive tooldesigned to help you discover what's holding you back from the free, full lifeGod intends for you.What you choose to do about that thing is up to you. But know this: God reallywants you to be free, and he's got more than enough power to make it happen. Hewants you to experience the kind of freedom and joy you thought only kids couldhave. But simply reading a book about freedom won't make youfree--beginning and continuing the journey is up to you.God's offering real freedom.Ready to get yours?
Free In Christ: Your complete handbook on the ministry of deliverance
by Paolo BottariBe prepared to discover the incredible joy, power, healing and anointing that is yours as a child of God! This book leads you through the steps of preparation for the ministry of deliverance that awaits you. You'll also discover how to help others enjoy complete spiritual freedom. You'll learn how to break the chains that have kept many young believers sick, afflicted, unhappy, tormented and bound by the enemy. And you'll understand why the ministry of deliverance goes hand in hand with the ministry of evangelism, fulfilling the church's great commission. Bottari's life goal is to train mature Christians to help others experience complete freedom and release to fulfill God's divine purposes.
Free Inside and Out (Women Of Faith Ser.)
by Marilyn Meberg Luci SwindollIn Free Inside and Out, Marilyn Meberg and Luci Swindoll remind you that God's grace is your source of freedom, and that you can claim that freedom right now, no matter what your circumstances.Two very different women offer insights on what freedom really means and show you how to:find freedom by getting to know and like yourselfescape from the prison of past pain, personal flaws, and old woundsunderstand the free gift of grace God has given youlove and honor others while honoring yourself with healthy boundariesexchange the bondage of legalism for the liberty of gracemake choices that will help you live a life of love, laughter, and personal fulfillmentFrom dealing with debt and personal doubts to expressing yourself in delightful new ways, Free Inside and Out offers practical wisdom and witty insight from two of Women of Faith's® most beloved speakers.
Free Markets and the Culture of Common Good
by Juan Andrés Mercado Martin SchlagRecent economic development and the financial and economic crisis require a change in our approach to business and finance. This book combines theology, economy and philosophy in order to examine in detail the idea that the functioning of a free market economy depends upon sound cultural and ethical foundations. The free market is a cultural achievement, not only an economic phenomenon subject to technical rules of trade and exchange. It is an achievement which lives by and depends upon the values and virtues shared by the majority of those who engage in economic activity. It is these values and virtues that we refer to as culture. Trust, credibility, loyalty, diligence, and entrepreneurship are the values inherent in commercial rules and law. But beyond law, there is also the need for ethical convictions and for global solidarity with developing countries. This book offers new ideas for future sustainable development and responds to an increasing need for a new sense of responsibility for the common good in societal institutions and good leadership.
The Free Mind: Finding Clarity in a Digitally Distracted World
by Dza Kilung RinpocheReduce the distractions, clutter, and anxiety of your digital lifestyle and achieve inner and outer harmony with mind training practices, meditations, and advice from a Tibetan Buddhist master.This book offers a refreshing approach to understanding the role of digital technology in our world and how we can better manage our relationship to it. Our engagement with digital devices connects us to people and ideas, but it also causes anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. Rather than a digital detox, we can train our minds to leverage our negative habits and digital temptations to deal with life more effectively, improve our attention span, reduce mental fatigue, and deepen our happiness.Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author of The Relaxed Mind, skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward a wide audience. In twelve short chapters, he offers straightforward strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from living fully and with clarity. The book also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindness and compassion.The practices and meditations in this book will appeal to anyone who suffers from a distracted &“monkey mind.&” By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth.
Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace
by Miroslav VolfWe are at our human best when we give and forgive. But we live in a world in which it makes little sense to do either one. In our increasingly graceless culture, where can we find the motivation to give? And how do we learn to forgive when forgiving seems counterintuitive or even futile?A deeply personal yet profoundly thoughtful book, Free of Charge explores these questions--and the further questions to which they give rise--in light of God's generosity and Christ's sacrifice for us. Miroslav Volf draws from popular culture as well as from a wealth of literary and theological sources, weaving his rich reflections around the sturdy frame of Paul's vision of God's grace and Martin Luther's interpretation of that vision.Blending the best of theology and spirituality, he encourages us to echo in our own lives God's generous giving and forgiving. A fresh examination of two practices at the heart of the Christian faith--giving and forgiving--the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lenten study book for 2006 is at the same time an introduction to Christianity. Even more, it is a compelling invitation to Christian faith as a way of life."Miroslav Volf, one of the most celebrated theologians of our day, offers us a unique interweaving of intense reflection, vivid and painfully personal stories and sheer celebration of the giving God . . . I cannot remember having read a better account of what it means to say that Jesus suffered for us in our place." -- Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
A Free People's Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future
by Os Guinness"If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." Abraham Lincoln Nothing is more daring in the American experiment than the founders' belief that the American republic could remain free forever. But how was this to be done, and are Americans doing it today? It is not enough for freedom to be won. It must also be sustained. Cultural observer Os Guinness argues that the American experiment in freedom is at risk. Summoning historical evidence on how democracies evolve, Guinness shows that contemporary views of freedom--most typically, a negative freedom from constraint-- are unsustainable because they undermine the conditions necessary for freedom to thrive. He calls us to reconsider the audacity of sustainable freedom and what it would take to restore it. "In the end," Guinness writes, "the ultimate threat to the American republic will be Americans. The problem is not wolves at the door but termites in the floor." The future of the republic depends on whether Americans will rise to the challenge of living up to America's unfulfilled potential for freedom, both for itself and for the world.