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Lydia: A Novel
by Lois T. HendersonBestselling author Lois Henderson weaves the brief New Testament account of Lydia, the seller of purple in Acts 16:14, into a colorful and biblically accurate novel. Creatively filling in the gaps and vividly portraying this drama of faith and salvation, the author tells a story that pulses with excitement, while giving us a fascinating look at the life and times of ancient Macedonia. Lydia was a successful and influential businesswoman in Philippi--a beautiful town thriving under Roman rule. But more significantly, she was the seeker after truth who became Paul's first Christian convert in Europe. It was her home that nurtured the church of Philippi, whose members were later referred to by Paul as his "joy and crown." And it was to her home that Paul and Silas came after their miraculous release from prison. The author's familiarity with the period adds authenticity to the story, supplying true-to-history details of everyday life and sparkling dialogue for the very human characters. Dramatic and gripping, Mrs. Henderson's narrative portrays Paul's impact on one part of the Roman world as seen by the first Christian to carry the Message through Europe and westward. "Through the pages of Lydia, the reader steps into the New Testament town of Philippi to experience the conflicts and joys of her newfound faith in God. Mrs. Henderson has written a convincing account of Lydia's salvation and her subsequent ministry of hospitality to Paul and his fellow travelers."--Virtue Lois T. Henderson is the popular and respected author of such biblical novels as Ruth, Hagar, and Abigail. She is much in demand as a lecturer and has written numerous articles and short stories for Guideposts, Reader's Digest, Redbook, Woman's Day, and Family Circle.
Lying Awake: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)
by Mark SalzmanMark Salzman's Lying Awake is a finely wrought gem that plumbs the depths of one woman's soul, and in so doing raises salient questions about the power-and price-of faith.Sister John's cloistered life of peace and prayer has been electrified by ever more frequent visions of God's radiance, leading her toward a deep religious ecstasy. Her life and writings have become examples of devotion. Yet her visions are accompanied by shattering headaches that compel Sister John to seek medical help. When her doctor tells her an illness may be responsible for her gift, Sister John faces a wrenching choice: to risk her intimate glimpses of the divine in favor of a cure, or to continue her visions with the knowledge that they might be false-and might even cost her her life.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Lying Down Mountain
by Heyoka MerrifieldIn this third volume of the White Buffalo Woman Trilogy, Heyoka Merrifield continues the story of White Buffalo Woman and her journey through the land of the Lying Down Mountain. Set in the home of the peaceful Hopi Nation and based on Hopi culture and mythology, Lying Down Mountain contains sacred wisdom of peace and spirituality that can bring tranquility to today's turbulent Mother Earth. The Native American saga begins with the first two volumes in the series, Eyes of Wisdom and Painted Earth Temple.
Lying and Christian Ethics
by Christopher O. TollefsenLying and Christian Ethics defends the controversial "absolute view" of lying, which maintains that an assertion contrary to the speaker's mind is always wrong, regardless of the speaker's intentions. Whereas most people believe that a lie told for a good cause, such as protecting Jews from discovery by Nazis, is morally acceptable, Christopher Tollefsen argues that Christians should support the absolute view. He looks back to the writings of Augustine and Aquinas to illustrate that lying violates the basic human goods of integrity and sociality and severely compromises the values of religion and truth. He critiques the comparatively permissive views espoused by Cassian, Bonhoeffer, and Niebuhr and argues that lies often jeopardize the good causes for which they are told. Beyond framing a moral absolute against lying, this book explores the questions of to whom we owe the truth and when, and what steps we may take when we should not give it.
Lying and Truthfulness: A Thomistic Perspective
by Stewart ClemIn this book, Stewart Clem develops an account of truthfulness that is grounded in the Thomistic virtue of veracitas. Unlike most contemporary Christian ethicists, who narrowly focus on the permissibility of lying, he turns to the virtue of truthfulness and illuminates its close relationship to the virtue of justice. This approach generates a more precise taxonomy of speech acts and shows how they are grounded in specific virtues and vices. Clem's study also contributes to the contemporary literature on Aquinas, who is often classified alongside Augustine and Kant as holding a rigorist position on lying. Meticulously researched, this volume clarifies what set Aquinas's view apart in his own day and how it is relevant to our own. Clem demonstrates that Aquinas's account provides a genuine alternative to rigorist and consequentialist approaches. His analysis also reveals the perennial relevance of Aquinas's thought by bringing it to bear on contemporary social and ethical issues.
Léon Blum
by Pierre BirnbaumLéon Blum (1872–1950) was many things: a socialist and political activist, leader of the Popular Front; a dedicated statesman who served as France's prime minister three times; a hero who courageously opposed anti-Semitism, Nazi aggression, and the pro-German Vichy government; a passionate lover of women, art, and life. A tireless champion for workers’ rights, Blum dramatically changed French society by establishing the forty-hour work week, paid holidays, and collective bargaining on wage claims. He was also a proud Jew and Zionist, and a survivor who endured the horrors of Buchenwald and Dachau. Unlike previous biographies that downplay the significance of Blum’s Jewish heritage on his progressive politics, Pierre Birnbaum’s portrait depicts an extraordinary man whose political convictions were shaped and driven by his religious and cultural background. The author powerfully demonstrates how Blum’s Jewishness was central to his milieu and mission from his earliest entry into the political arena in reaction to the Dreyfus Affair, and how it sustained and motivated him throughout the remainder of his life. Birnbaum’s Léon Blum is a critical chapter in the larger history of Jews in France.
Líderes Posmo: Un año entero con los héroes de la Biblia
by Felix OrtizLa vida cristiana transcurre dentro de un contexto, y el nuestro es la postmodernidad, una de cuyas características es el cambio constante y acelerado que nos hace cada vez más difícil orientarnos para saber vivir como seguidores de Jesús en el mundo actual. «Líderes Posmo» nos acercará a diferentes personajes de la Biblia; veremos las situaciones y los retos a los que se tuvieron que enfrentar. Así nos daremos cuenta del increíble paralelo existente con la vida actual. De los principios que ellos llevaron a la práctica, obtendremos la sabiduría que necesitamos para vivir como seguidores de Jesús en estos complejos tiempos.
Límites con los adolescentes: Cuando decir 'sí', cómo decir 'no (Boz Ser.)
by John TownsendEn este libro, usted aprenderá las técnicas y habilidades sencillas que todo padre de adolecentes necesita conocer: saber cuándo decir que sí, cómo decir que no. O sea, cómo implementar y hacer cumplir límites saludables y amorosos para sus hijos adolescentes.Adopte una posición activa de una vez por todas en el mundo de su adolescente. ¡Relájese! Su cordura sobrevivirá a estos complicados años de la adolescencia, y de la misma forma sus hijos, siempre y cuando usted determine límites saludables que trabajen en beneficio de ellos y de usted mismo. Límites con los adolescentes le enseña cómo hacerlo.El Dr. John Townsend, autor de libros de éxitos en ventas y consejero, comparte su experimentada perspicacia y le brinda la guía que usted necesita a fin de ayudar a sus adolescentes a ser responsables con sus acciones, actitudes y emociones, así como también a adquirir una apreciación y un respeto más profundos, tanto por usted como por ellos mismos. Con sabiduría, el Dr. Townsend aplica principios de base espiritual para la tarea y el desafío de guiar a los hijos a través de su adolescencia. Nos muestra cómo: ? Enfrentar las actitudes irrespetuosas y la conducta imposible de su adolescente.- Establecer límites saludables y consecuencias realistas.- Ser amorosos y afectuosos mientras se establecen reglas.- Determinar estrategias específicas para manejar problemas grandes y pequeños.En este libro, usted aprenderá las técnicas y habilidades sencillas que todo padre de adolecentes necesita conocer: saber cuándo decir que sí, cómo decir que no. O sea, cómo implementar y hacer cumplir límites saludables y amorosos para sus hijos adolescentes.
Límites en el noviazgo: Cuándo decir sí. cuándo decir NO. tome el control de su vida
by Henry Cloud John TownsendEntre la soltería y el matrimonio hay un camino llamado noviazgo. ¿Quieres hacerlo más hermoso? Establece límites saludables y mantenlos en tu relación; limites que te ayuden a crecer en libertad, integridad y autocontrol.Reglas para el noviazgo que le ayudaran a Encontrar el amor de su vida. Entre la soltería y el matrimonio hay un camino llamado noviazgo. ¿Quieres hacerlo más hermoso? Establece límites saludables y mantenlos en tu relación; limites que te ayuden a crecer en libertad, integridad y autocontrol. Si experimentas un noviazgo difícil Límites en el Noviazgo puede revolucionar la manera en que lidias con tu relación.Y si marcha bien, los aportes queque hallarás en este libro enriquecerán aun más esta etapa de tu vida. Escrito por los autores de bestsellers como Límites, Límites para los hijos, El Factor Mamá, esta obra es tu guía para alcanzar una clase de noviazgo gratificante que te lleve de unos simples encuentros solitarios a una vida completa con el alma gemela que tanto esperas.
Límites para Nuestros Hijos: Cuándo decirles que sí, Cuándo decirles que no, para poder ayudar a sus hijos a controlar su vida
by Henry Cloud John TownsendLo que el galardonado Límites ha hecho por las relaciones entre adultos, Límites para nuestros hijos lo hará con ustedes y sus hijos. Aquí está la ayuda que necesita para criar a unos hijos que tomen responsabilidad por sus actos, actitudes y emociones. Los doctores Henry Cloud y John Townsend les guiarán por la complicada travesía de formar un carácter en sus hijos que los ayude tener una vida adulta balanceada, productiva y llena de satisfacción. APRENDA A: • Fijar limites manteniéndose como un padre amoroso • Traer control a una vida familiar que esta fuera de control • Aplicar la 10 leyes de limites paternales • Definir los limites y las consecuencias adecuadas para sus hijos… y mucho más.
Límites saludables para tu adolescente: Pautas basadas en el amor y la disciplina
by June Hunt Jody CapehartEstablecemos límites para nuestros hijos porque queremos mantenerlos sanos y salvos, y queremos enseñarles a tomar buenas decisiones. Si bien los límites pueden cambiar a medida que nuestros hijos vayan creciendo, la necesidad de ellos es la misma. Los padres necesitan consejos para navegar por los escenarios complejos y difíciles que puedan surgir con sus hijos adolescentes.June Hunt y Jody Capehart proporcionan esta clase de asesoramiento en Límites saludables para tu adolescente. Basándose en principios bíblicos, enseñan a los padres a establecer límites apropiados en cuatro áreas críticas de la vida de un adolescente: en casa y en la escuela, y en su vida personal y social. Cada capítulo se inicia con un escenario de la vida real seguido de consejos específicos sobre qué decir y las medidas disciplinarias a tomar, si las hubiera, con su hijo. Práctico y realista en sus pautas, el libro muestra continuamente cómo la disciplina y los límites son catalizadores útiles para sanas relaciones en la familia.We provide our children with boundaries because we want to keep them safe and we want to teach them to make good decisions. While the boundaries themselves may change as our children grow older, the need for them does not. Parents need advice to navigate complex and difficult scenarios that may arise with their teen.June Hunt and Jody Capehart provide such advice in Bonding with Your Teen Through Boundaries. Drawing on biblical principles, they show parents how to provide appropriate boundaries in the critical areas of a teen's life: at home and at school, in both their personal and social lives. Each chapter opens with a real-life scenario followed by concrete advice on what to say and what disciplinary action, if any, to take with your teen. Practical and realistic in its tone, the book continually shows how discipline and boundaries are helpful catalysts for healthy bonding.
Límites saludables para tus hijos
by June HuntEn este libro, la consejera bíblica June Hunt, junto a Peggy Sue Wells, combinan esperanza bíblica y ayuda práctica para motivar a los padres a establecer límites saludables. Descubre el rol fundamental de los límites, cómocontribuyenaldesarrollodelcarácterdeunniño y cómo los equipan para un aprendizaje de por vida. Los capítulos prácticos de “cómo hacer” ilustran cómo lograr que los límites trabajen, guiando a los padres mientras ellos cultivan hogares felices y construyen relaciones saludables con sus hijos.In Bonding with Your Child through Boundaries, biblical counselor June Hunt, along with PeggySue Wells, combines biblical hope and practical help to motivate parents to set healthy boundaries. Discovertheessentialroleofboundaries,howthey contribute to the development of a child’s character, and how they equip kids for a lifetime of learning. Practical “how-to” chapters illustrate how to make boundaries work—guiding parents as they cultivate happy homes and build healthy relationships with their children.
Límites saludables, despedidas necesarias: Ama a los demás sin perder lo mejor de ti
by Lysa TerKeurstLysa TerKeurst, autora best seller del New York Times, ayuda a los lectores a detener la disfunción de las relaciones no saludables al mostrar formas bíblicas de establecer límites y, cuando sea necesario, decir adiós, sin perder lo mejor de lo que son.Has escuchado todos los consejos. Pero estás empezando a darte cuenta de que, si la otra persona no quiere cambiar lo que está roto en la relación, no puedes cambiarlo tú solo. ¿Y ahora qué?Lysa TerKeurst entiende este baile con la disfunción y quiere ser tu amiga perspicaz y compasiva que te enseñará que establecer un límite no es falta de amor, y que no es poco cristiano decir adiós. Te sentirás aliviado al saber que los límites no son solo una buena idea, son una idea de Dios.Límites saludables, despedidas necesarias te ayudará a:Comprender los cinco factores que hay que tener en cuenta a la hora de poner límites saludablesDeterminar la cantidad adecuada de acceso personal y emocional que alguien tiene hacia ti, en función de lo responsable que sea con ese accesoDejar de ser engañado y paralizado emocionalmente por pasajes bíblicos mal interpretados que perpetúan dinámicas poco saludables en las relaciones difícilesSuperar el frustrante ciclo de establecimiento de límites ineficaz con guiones realistas y estrategias prácticas que te ayuden a comunicar, mantener e implementar patrones más saludablesEstar equipado para decir adiós sin culpa cuando una relación ha pasado de ser difícil a destructiva y ya no es sostenibleEste libro revelador lleno de sabiduría bíblica nació de las propias luchas personales de Lysa con los límites, una extensa investigación teológica y las experiencias terapéuticas que transformaron la forma en que definió y persiguió las relaciones saludables. Lysa ahora está más comprometida que nunca con amar bien a las personas sin perder lo mejor de sí misma. Ella quiere ayudarte a hacer lo mismo.Good Boundaries and GoodbyesNew York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst helps readers stop the dysfunction of unhealthy relationships by showing them biblical ways to set boundaries--and, when necessary, say goodbye--without losing the best of who they are.You've listened to all the advice. But you're beginning to realize that if the other person doesn't want to change what's broken in the relationship, you can't change it on your own. So now what?Lysa TerKeurst understands this dance with dysfunction and wants to be your insightful, compassionate friend who will teach you that it isn't unloving to set a boundary, and it isn't unchristian to say goodbye. You'll be relieved to learn that boundaries aren't just a good idea, they're a God idea.Good Boundaries and Goodbyes will help you:Understand the five factors to remember when implementing healthy boundariesDetermine the appropriate amount of personal and emotional access someone has to you based on how responsible they'll be with that accessStop being misled and emotionally paralyzed by wrongly interpreted or weaponized scriptures that perpetuate unhealthy dynamics in difficult relationshipsOvercome the frustrating cycle of ineffective boundary-setting with realistic scripts and practical strategies to help you communicate, keep, and implement healthier patterns.Be equipped to say goodbye without guilt when a relationship has shifted from difficult to destructive and is no longer sustainable
L’Uomo Retto e il Rapporto con Yahweh
by Aldivan Teixeira Torres Alessia Erika CasellaQuesta storia dà consigli pratici sulla relazione con il padre ed incoraggia l'ottimismo e la perseveranza. Se ti trovi in un momento difficile, questo è il momento migliore per leggerla e ricominciare a sperare.
L’empio cammino di un avventuriero riluttante
by Dr Rosie KuhnNeanche in un milione di anni avrei sognato una vita simile per me. Da bambina immaginavo solo di sposarmi il prima possibile, avere dei figli e vivere per sempre felice e contenta. Fine della storia. Qualcuno, non so chi, deve avermi lanciato una maledizione, quella che dice: "Che tu possa avere una vita interessante". Per quale altro motivo una brava ragazza cattolica dovrebbe finire per avere una vita come questa? Cosa avrebbe spinto la figlia di un medico del Midwest a fare il tipo di scelte che ho fatto io? Scegliere una vita come madre non affidataria di bambini, attraversare l'Oceano Atlantico su una goletta di ventotto metri, acquisire tre lauree magistrali e un dottorato e scrivere un libro sull'autoimprenditorialità... Cosa è successo al mio sogno di essere una mamma felice che gioca con i suoi figli? Sono abbastanza sicura che sia stata una maledizione. Raramente siamo in grado di comprendere lo svolgersi della nostra storia finché non cogliamo l'opportunità di guardarci indietro e di esserne testimoni.
L’enlèvement de Jenny
by Ellen GableAprès trois fausses couches déchirantes, Tom et Jenny Callahan anticipent avec joie la naissance de leur sixième enfant. Un voisin, cependant, est en train de mettre au point un sinistre complot dans lequel verra Jenny et son bébé se battre pour leur vie.
L’histoire du bouddhisme depuis ses origines jusqu’à son déclin en Inde: n/a
by Willem Brownstok Tobias Lanslor Yuri GalbinstL’histoire du bouddhisme peut être suivie au VIème siècle av. J. -C. Le bouddhisme trouve son origine dans le Royaume Magadha (situé aujourd’hui à Bihar, en Inde) dans l’ancien Est de l’Inde et aux alentours, et son fondement se base sur la religion Siddhartha (Siddhārtha Gautama). La religion s’est propagée depuis le nord-est du sous-continent indien à travers l’Asie Centrale, l’Asie de l’Est et l’Asie de Sud-Est. À un certain moment, cela a affecté la majeure partie de l’Asie. En plus, le bouddhisme est caractérisé par de nombreux mouvements, des schismes et écoles, dont on mentionne Theravāda, pendant laquelle la période de développement est en contraste frappant avec l’expansion et la retraite des traditions.
L’osservatore della Genesi
by Alberto Canen Aldo IngenitoPiù di 300.000 libri venduti! La scienza dietro la storia della creazione La Genesi, i sette giorni della creazione ... da dove viene il testo che costituisce la prima parte della Bibbia? Il suo testo è un semplice poema introduttivo ... o è una narrazione? Cosa c'è dietro le sue parole? Alberto Canen ha trovato un modo alternativo per rispondere a queste ed altre domande sulla Genesi. Ha trovato un percorso che nessuno altro aveva intrapreso prima, e invita il lettore a scoprirlo e condividere i suoi risultati con lui. L'autore ha scoperto che, nascosto sul fondo della trama, c'è qualcuno. Qualcuno che osserva. Qualcuno che racconta. Qualcuno che racconta quello che osserva. E un luogo, una posizione da cui egli osserva. La posizione dell'osservatore. La chiave di un puzzle emozionante. La Genesi è stata un mistero per migliaia di anni. Nessuno era riuscito mai a capire di cosa parlasse il testo, se era solo una poesia introduttiva alle Sacre Scritture, o conteneva in realtà informazioni sulla creazione. Il testo della Genesi ha separato le acque dei creazionisti e degli scienziati fino a oggi. Con questo libro spero di diluire questa separazione tra scienziati e creazionisti, poiché ho scoperto la chiave che unisce entrambi i mondi. Penso che la chiave per svelare il mistero della Genesi è capire che viene narrato da qualcuno. Un narratore della Genesi. Qualcuno che testimonia la visione che Dio gli dà e racconta ciò che ha visto, e lo vede dalla sua posizione umana e terrena. Questa precisa posizione terrena è la chiave per comprendere la Genesi.
M46 Crash Course: Dads Fighting for the Hearts of Their Children
by Kenny Dallas Tim SextonThe M46 Crash Course Participant&’s Guide is for fathers ready to start a world-changing revolution in their home as they journey through the free M46 Online Video Crash Course with other dads who want to break the cycle of generational woundedness and fight for the hearts of their children. Malachi 4:6 in the Old Testament promises that the hearts of fathers and children will be turned toward each other. M46 draws on these powerful words to equip dads to be the spiritual leaders of their homes in a world in which fathers often feel powerless to make a difference in their families. Corresponding with nine free online video sessions, this participant&’s guide calls men into community, and reveals how to dig deep as together they explore how their own childhoods affect their parenting; how to break free from destructive relational patterns; and how to act out positive, biblical fatherhood. Complete with prayer prompts, real-life challenges, compelling visuals for each lesson, and a link to a leader&’s guide, the M46 Crash Course gives dads the hope and guidance they need to make life-giving changes in their home starting today.
MC: God Calls His People Back to Him
by Gary HollowayDiscover God’s love and grace through the discipline of his people. The book of Isaiah has many words about God’s anger and his judgement of his people. Why read a book about anger and judgement? Because God’s words of judgement are still words of grace. He has not completely abandoned his people, for he is still speaking to them! God shows his grace by speaking honestly to them (and to us), telling his people how far they have placed themselves from him. Yet he does this so they (and we) will draw near. And these are words of grace because they help God’s people make sense of their situation. When Isaiah writes, some of God’s people have already been exiled while others face exile to come. In that setting, it is easy to wonder if the Lord has completely cut ties with them. The words of judgment show he has not. So as painful as these words of punishment sound, we should hear them today. Our God wants a relationship with us, but he will not share us with other gods. He calls us to return to him alone. We are his beloved children, but the Lord alone is our Father and Mother.
MC: God Creates His People
by Gary HollowayThe spirituality of Genesis centers on God as Creator and God as a Faithful Partner.“In the beginning, God . . .” The Lord makes all things. He is therefore the God of all power and wisdom. What’s more, he creates everything good. Very good. And when they go bad, he still works his good will. Things are not the way they were supposed to be. Genesis begins the story of a God who is working to make things right.When humans abandon their proper place and rebel against the Lord, he punishes them as any loving father would. But he does not abandon humanity or the rest of his creation. Genesis tells the story of how God works in surprising ways through human choices, good and bad, to reclaim and restore his creation.Genesis tells of a faithful God. And the Lord in turn expects his people to be faithful. That means trusting him, especially when his ways do not make sense. Abraham is willing to sacrifice his own son. Joseph trusts even when he is a slave and a prisoner. As we meditate on these stories of those who trusted, followed, and wrestled with God, let us open ourselves to his Spirit. Let us trust his inscrutable ways. Let us believe God so he might, through his covenant of love, count us as righteous.
MC: God Delivers His People
by Gary HollowayGOD never abandons his people—even when we fail to trust him. He delivers us from evil. Joshua is the story of the promised land. The Lord promised Abraham the land and now —many years later—he keeps his promise. The book of Joshua makes it clear that the conquest is the work of God. No human plan or might could have allowed Israel the victory. These stories remind us that our strength is in God alone. Judges tells the story of what happens when God’s people are blessed. Often (as Moses warned them), Israel forgets who gave them the land. They go after other gods—the defeated idols of the countries they had conquered. Thus, there is a cycle to the stories in Judges. God’s people follow idols. God sends a nation to punish them. They turn back to the Lord, and God raises up a military deliverer (called a judge) to set Israel free. Soon, they again forget their allegiance is to the Lord alone, and they go back to idols. And the cycle continues. The good news in this discouraging cycle of disobedience is that the Lord does not abandon his people. When we return, he saves. Ruth tells a smaller story. While Joshua and Judges speak of rulers and nations, Ruth tells of an Israelite woman, Naomi, and her Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth, who is faithful to Naomi. She follows her back to Israel. She meets a distant relative who is also loyal to God and to his obligations to his relatives. Out of their faithfulness, Naomi’s fortunes are restored. And out of this small story of the faithfulness of little people comes the great King David. God is the hero of the story of Ruth, even though his name is rarely mentioned. The Lord works through the lives of those the world considers little people to bless the entire world.
MC: God Disciplines His People
by Gary HollowayEven during exile, the Lord speaks through the faithful. Jeremiah and Lamentations give us a spirituality of judgment, punishment, and discipline. The Lord brings justice. Turning from the Lord has consequences. But the Lord loves his people, so he disciplines them for their own good. There are profound words of hope in these books, but hope comes only after God’s people have returned to the Lord. Ezekiel has amazing visions from God—heavenly chariots, a new Jerusalem, and dry bones brought back to life. What is unique about his prophetic life are the symbolic acts, many of them strange, that he does. He eats a scroll, lies on one side for more than a year, then lies on the other side for forty days. He not only speaks the word of the Lord, he enacts it. The spirituality of Ezekiel focuses on the faithfulness of God. Although Israel and Judah have repeatedly been unfaithful to the Lord, he welcomes them back and restores them to life with him. Most people remember the stories in Daniel—the fiery furnace and the lion’s den. These stories reflect the spiritual practices that sustained the faith of Daniel and others during the exile. Even more significant for Christian readers are Daniel’s visions, especially the vision of the Ancient of Days and the son of man. Daniel points us both to spiritual practices of the present while giving us pictures of a glorious future under the reign of the Lord.
MC: God Gives His People Wisdom
by Gary HollowayIn a world bombarded with information, what we long for is knowing how to live well-what the Bible calls wisdom. Meditate on the Wisdom books of the Bible to hear the source of wisdom-the God who made us. In these meditations we will hear the established wisdom passed down from earlier generations. These nuggets of wisdom are found in the book of Proverbs. A proverb is a traditional saying, and as such, proverbs are didactic, optimistic, practical, and conservative. Ecclesiastes contains a different kind of wisdom, built on the wisdom of Proverbs, but which asks what happens when proverbial wisdom fails. Ecclesiastes looks at the mysteries of life. It is reflective, speculative, pessimistic, and creative. It asks the hard questions, like how does life make sense? It explains that often, it doesn't. Plans fail. Fools triumph. We must trust God especially when things don't make sense. That deeper spirituality is put to the test in Job. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." This is a repeated theme in Proverbs. Job experiences a deeper fear of the Lord, one based on trust alone. By meditating on the ordeals of Job, we are brought closer to a God we might not like and do not understand. The only God we have. Meditating on these books will at times be a joy. At other times, meditation will be a challenge. Wisdom does not come easy. But it is a marvelous gift of God.
MC: God Gives Hope to His People
by Gary HollowayThe Lord reigns—through his judgment, righteousness, mercy, and forgiveness. Along with strong warnings of punishment, these twelve prophets give amazing comfort and hope to God’s people. That hope is based on their repentance. These prophets call them to turn to or return to the Lord. No matter what they have done to abandon their allegiance to God, the Lord is still faithful to the covenant. All they must do to receive the abundant blessings God promises is to turn back to him. This turning must be more than words or fasting or sacrifice. They must return to him with their actions. Only by this constant repentance can they truly be God’s people. The Lord reigns. That is the theme that encompasses all the messages of these prophets. It includes God’s judgment, righteousness, mercy, and forgiveness. Because the Lord is King, he demands the exclusive allegiance of his people. As King, he expects his people to reflect his justice and mercy toward their enemies. And he is King not only of Israel and Judah but of the whole earth. The twelve prophets point to a time when the universal reign of the Lord is embraced by every nation and all people.