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Readings of the Platform Sutra (Columbia Readings of Buddhist Literature)
by Schlutter Morten Teiser Stephen F.The Platform Sutra comprises a wide range of important Chan/Zen Buddhist teachings. Purported to contain the autobiography and sermons of Huineng (638–713), the legendary Sixth Patriarch of Chan, the sutra has been popular among monastics and the educated elite for centuries. The first study of its kind in English, this volume offers essays that introduce the history and ideas of the sutra to a general audience and interpret its practices. Leading specialists on Buddhism discuss the text's historical background and its vaunted legacy in Chinese culture. Incorporating recent scholarship and theory, chapters include an overview of Chinese Buddhism, the crucial role of the Platform Sutra in the Chan tradition, and the dynamics of Huineng's biography. They probe the sutra's key philosophical arguments, its paradoxical teachings about transmission, and its position on ordination and other institutions. The book includes a character glossary and extensive bibliography, with helpful references for students, general readers, and specialists throughout. The editors and contributors are among the most respected scholars in the study of Buddhism, and they assess the place of the Platform Sutra in the broader context of Chinese thought, opening the text to all readers interested in Asian culture, literature, spirituality, and religion.
Readings of the Vessantara Jātaka (Columbia Readings of Buddhist Literature)
by Steven CollinsThe Vessantara Jataka tells the story of Prince Vessantara, who attained the Perfection of Generosity by giving away his fortune, his children, and his wife. Vessantara was the penultimate rebirth as a human of the future Gotama Buddha, and his extreme charity has been represented and reinterpreted in texts, sermons, rituals, and art throughout South and Southeast Asia and beyond. This anthology features well-respected anthropologists, textual scholars in religious and Buddhist studies, and art historians, who engage in sophisticated readings of the text and its ethics of giving, understanding of attachment and nonattachment, depiction of the trickster, and unique performative qualities. They reveal the story to be as brilliantly layered as a Homeric epic or Shakespearean play, with aspects of tragedy, comedy, melodrama, and utopian fantasy intertwined to problematize and scrutinize Theravada Buddhism's cherished virtues.
Readings of Śāntideva's Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Columbia Readings of Buddhist Literature)
by Jonathan C. Gold Douglas S. DuckworthŚāntideva’s eighth-century work, the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Bodhicaryāvatāra), is known for its eminently practical instructions and its psychologically vivid articulations of the Mahāyāna path. It is a powerful, succinct poem into which are woven diverse Buddhist traditions of moral transformation, meditative cultivation, and philosophical insight. Since its composition, it has seen continuous use as a ritual, contemplative, and philosophical manual, making it one of the crucial texts of the Buddhist ethical and philosophical tradition.This book serves as a companion to this Indian Buddhist classic. The fifteen essays contained here illuminate the Guide’s many philosophical, literary, ritual, and ethical dimensions. Distinguished scholars discuss the historical significance of the text as an innovative piece of Indian literature, illuminate the important roles it played in shaping Buddhism in Tibet, and bring to light its contemporary significance for philosophy and psychology. Whether experienced or first-time students of Buddhist literature, readers will find compelling new approaches to this resonant masterpiece.
Ready As You Are: Discovering a Life of Abundance When You Feel Inadequate, Uncertain, and Disqualified
by Brittany Maher Cassandra SpeerBrittany Maher and Cassandra Speer, leaders of the online community Her True Worth, issue a liberating call to stop waiting for permission to pursue your God-given purpose and to step into your calling today with what you already have in hand.Are you eager to walk in the calling and purpose God has for your life but are feeling uncertain? Maybe you're not sure if you're educated enough, or if it's the right time, or if you even have the authority to take a step forward. Perhaps you're at a standstill and are holding out for ideal conditions, or even an invitation, before you act.In Ready As You Are, Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer say it's time to stop waiting to live on mission. God wants to use you now, right where you are, with the tools you already have. In this book, they'll help you . . .Discover that obedience is rarely about feeling prepared or confident but about doing scary things scaredUnderstand the difference between your macro purpose and your micro purposeExplore four biblical ways to combat your natural trauma responses when the Enemy tries to sidetrack youRecognize what you already have in your hand and what God can do when you offer that up to Him God wants yielded vessels, not perfect ones with the just-right set of qualifications. If you desire to live a life of abundance and mission, Ready As You Are will help you walk forward in surrender and make much of your little. God will fill in the gaps, as you choose to believe that He is who He says He is and He does what He says He'll do.
Ready Set Teach!: Training and Supporting Volunteers in Christian Education
by Delia HalversonEach Person In This Classroom Is A Child Of God. Each Person Has A Right To Be Loved As God Loves
Ready for Anything: Preparing Your Heart and Home for Any Crisis Big or Small
by Kathi LippThere are those who've prepared, and those who wish they had. Let Ready for Anything be your go-to guide for facing any unexpected crisis with confidence.Bad stuff happens all the time--big stuff like hurricanes, wildfires, or national emergencies, and smaller-scale yet no less devastating disasters like a sudden health scare, job loss, or a computer crash. But this doesn't mean we have to live in constant fear.Whether you&’re in the midst of difficulty right now or being proactive rather than reactive, Ready for Anything gives finite simple steps for preparing your mind, your heart, and your home for any unfortunate circumstance. Full of stories and humor along with facts, tips, and lists, Kathi offers a down-to-earth guide that will show you how to face the unexpected with confidence, relying on God's strength and plan rather than giving in to our fear and anxiety. Her step-by-step plan is easy to implement and will help any Christian be a better steward of their resources, as well as the neighbor who helps in a crisis rather than needing help themselves.For anyone who falls somewhere between "I'll just trust God" and stocking a ten-year supply of canned pinto beans in the pantry, Ready for Anything will show you:How to prep your pantry for two weeks of meals, plus recipesEssential tips for creating an emergency kit and stocking your suppliesPractical strategies for taking stock of your financials and building an emergency fundHow to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepare and parent your kids in any crisisHow to create a five-minute plan and why you need itIndispensable tips for safeguarding your physical and digital valuablesAnd so much more!
Ready for Kindergarten: An Award-Winning Teacher's Plan to Prepare Your Child for School
by Sharon WilkinsYou are the most important teacher your child will ever have. Filled with 156 fun activities designed to equip boys and girls for school success, this unique little book can show you how to help your child lay the foundation for developing healthy friendships and a love for God. In addition, it can help you give your child a giant head start in such core subjects as math, reading, science, art, and music! Through three simple, creative activities per week, you can laugh and play with your child while teaching important skills. Let an award-winning kindergarten teacher with twenty-four years of classroom experience show how exciting activities -- from making your initials out of Play Doh to building a cardboard train out of boxes -- can make your child Ready for Kindergarten!
Ready or Not: Leaning Into Life in Our Twenties
by Drew Moser Jess FankhauserDiscerning a calling is a messy undertaking. You are already involved in many good things now, even as you are being called to many good things in your future. The good life―good work, good relationships, good citizenship, good faith―is to be enjoyed now and pursued on every horizon. We are living out the Kingdom of God even as we seek it. <p> <p> Ready or Not is a much-needed resource for young people on exploring the complexity of vocation in empowering, not prescriptive, ways. After exploring four foundational questions for emerging adulthood―Who is God? Who am I? How have I been shaped? What are my contexts?―you will work through interactive chapters covering the contours of adulthood, including: spirituality, family, community, and work. <p> <p> Explore the full depths of your twenties with bravery and vulnerability! With insight into life skills, personal growth, and spirituality, Ready or Not will set you on a faithful trajectory for a good and meaningful life.
Ready to Live, Prepared to Die: A Provocative Guide to the Rest of Your Life
by Amy HarwellA Provocative Guide to the Rest of Your Life
Ready to Protect (Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit #2)
by Valerie HansenFrom USA TODAY bestselling author Valerie Hansen A K-9 must safeguard a witness and her baby at all costs After witnessing a congresswoman&’s murder, wildlife photographer and mother-to-be Jamie London is forced into the protective custody of K-9 cop Ben Sawyer and police dog Shadow. Ben&’s Wyoming cattle ranch is the perfect place to hide and wait for the trial to start—until they&’re tracked down by the assassin. Are Ben and Shadow enough to guarantee Jamie will make it to the hearing alive?From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit
Ready to Return
by Ken Ham Britt Beemer Jeff KinleyHaving grown up in church, an alarming percentage of people have now traded in the timeless beliefs of Scripture for a more comfortable, postmodern faith or secular worldview. They have waded so deep into the culture that the current has swept them away with the pluralism of biblical compromise and secular indoctrination. Ready to Return explores: Why this is happening, and more importantly, what can be done about it to help bring back a godly generation New persuasive research that clearly reveals shocking details about views on the Church and faith by people in their 20s, known as millennials Conclusive evidence we cannot ignore, showing a lack of effective biblical apologetics in homes and churches, compromise with secular beliefs, secular education, and failures on the part of previous generations, contributes greatly to this dilemma. Within these pages is more than just a clinical diagnosis of the Church's current condition and how we got here. It's a simple and powerful call to return to the Church's fundamental mission to reach the world! If we are to bring back this lost generation, we need a proven strategy and willingness to present truth, a biblical battle plan, and spiritual soldiers.
Ready to Rise: Own Your Voice, Gather Your Community, Step into Your Influence
by Jo SaxtonA powerful call to step into your full potential that biblically affirms the need for women to rise up and work together to make a better world. "Jo is one of my most trusted voices in Christian leadership. . . . She leads auditoriums full of people, and she leads me one-on-one."—Jen Hatmaker Have you ever questioned the roles you find yourself in, wondering if you were made for more but unsure of the rocky path before you? Have you had a clear vision for your life, but along the way, insecurity and fear weighted your dreams and silenced the voice within you? You&’re not alone. Many amazing women like you have experienced the same struggles. Whether you&’re moving into leadership, discovering your calling, fighting for change, or doing all three, leadership coach and speaker Jo Saxton affirms that God designed women for influence and impact. But are you living up to your full potential? Ready to Rise tackles the real-life issues—from harassment and sexism to self-doubt and loneliness—that can discourage and derail women from leading in the areas God has called them to. With insights from her own journey and powerful biblical examples, Jo offers practical advice to empower and equip women to transform their communities. If you&’ve ever longed to uncover your true potential, own your voice, and boldly advance God&’s goodness in the world, now is the time to start. Get ready to rise!
Ready to Trust (Hearts of Oklahoma #2)
by Tina RadcliffeProving he’s a changed man could be his biggest challenge yet. Rancher Reece Rainbolt’s shocked to learn he’s inherited half of Claire Ballard’s family farm—and that he’s a father. Now Claire’s determined to break ties with the man who once left her behind. But Reece will buy her half only on one condition: she must stay in town to help with the harvest…and let him get to know his little girl.
Ready to Wed (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn #39)
by Melody CarlsonIt's a cold May in Acorn Hill. Jane is putting pansies in the front garden for a splash of spring cheer when a big pink Cadillac parks in front of the inn. Out jumps Belle from Georgia looking for a room. Within minutes, she divulges the reason for her trip. "God gave me a dream that I would meet the man I am meant to marry right here in Acorn Hill. We will be married the first weekend of June. " Jane and her sisters teeter between disbelief and awe as Belle sets off to meet all the eligible bachelors in beautiful Cascade Mountains. Will it be Pastor Kenneth? Wilhelm, owner of Time for Tea? Don and Ron, the twins staying at the Inn? Then Jane gets a letter from Justin, her ex-husband, asking if he can visit. What could he want after all this time? As Jane faces the mistakes of her past, the whole town helps Belle prepare for her wedding . . . but to whom?
Ready, Set, Change!
by Darold A. ReinerStudy and leader's notes on a Biblical study of change in one's life and family
Ready, Set, Find Bible Stories: 22 Look and Find Stories (Ready, Set, Find)
by ZondervanGet ready to read through 22 of the most famous Bible stories in the Ready, Set, Find Storybook Bible, the next book in the beloved Ready, Set, Find brand. Children will be immersed and engaged in each story as they look for more than 190 different objects to be found in this exciting book. Featuring classic stories including the Creation Story, Noah and the Ark, the birth of Jesus, and more, this lively and colorfully illustrated Bible is sure to be a favorite for young readers to ready, set, find!
Ready, Set, Find David and Goliath (Ready, Set, Find)
by ZondervanDavid is only a young boy, but he is about to fight a giant! Even though Goliath the giant is big, strong, and scary, David isn&’t afraid. He knows God is on his side. And guess what? You can help David too! See if you can spot the 48 hidden items in this book—like a slingshot and stones—so David can defeat Goliath.Ready, Set, Find as you read the story of David and Goliath in this interactive book for young readers.
Ready, Set, Find Noah's Ark (Ready, Set, Find)
by ZondervanA faithful retelling and exploration of the story of Noah and the Ark for young children, Ready, Set Find Noah&’s Ark follows Noah as he does an important job for God. Noah has an important job. He needs to build a huge ark and fill it with animals too. Now there are things and animals along the way he needs your help to find, like the hammer, the hen, and the hedgehog. Are you ready to help Noah? If so, on your mark, Ready, Set, Find! Read the classic story of Noah&’s Ark in this engaging look-and-find book for young children.Ready, Set Find Noah&’s Ark:Perfect for families to share in the storytelling processIncludes Scripture references for further readingChildren will love the interactive component of finding the hidden objects
Ready, Set, Lead! - eBook [ePub]: The New Pastor's Guide to Starting Ministry
by Lynda C. Ward Steven P. BreyChurch LeadershipPacked with practical tips, reproducible pages, checklists, and suggested resources, this ready-to-use resource will help first-time pastors or those new to an established church get started the first day and the first Sunday. This book leads the new pastor through creative ideas and concrete suggestions for getting started in church ministry by providing worksheets for planning and organizing worship, weddings, and funerals; questions to ask during pastoral visits to help both the pastor and parishioner feel at ease; suggestions for managing conflict; and ways to create opportunities for fellowship, study, outreach, and mission in the church--and much more."Ward and Brey address the questions a new pastor may not even have thought to ask: 'How do I plan a wedding?' 'How hard can I push for change?' or simply, 'Should I phone first or just stop by to talk?' Their guidance is simple and useful, allowing for a diversity of ministerial styles. The book will be a gift to anyone anxious about starting a pastorate."The Reverend Glenn Schwerdtfeger, Pastor, Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church, Columbus, Ohio"I wish I’d had this resource when I began pastoral ministry over twenty-five years ago. It would have shortened the learning curve considerably. This book cuts across denominational lines as well as different faith perspectives. Like a good constitution it provides a strong framework; in this case, a framework for caring and enduring ministries in the name of Jesus Christ." Frank Ramirez, Pastor of the Everett (PA) Church of the Brethren, Everett, Pennsylvania "Emphasizing self-awareness and purposeful action, Ward and Brey have compiled a helpful set of advice, direction, checklists, and resources. Refreshingly practical, this beginners' book offers detailed insight to successfully working in partnership with a congregation."Mary L Hubbard, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Portage, Indiana"Ready, Set, Lead is packed with practical advice on how to get a good start in ministry with a congregation. It raises the right questions for a new pastor to consider. I commend this book as a primer for ministers of every denomination."Richard L. Hamm, Church Consultant/Coach and former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Steven P. Brey is pastor of Spring Lake United Methodist Church in Spring Lake, North Carolina.Lynda C. Ward is a freelance writer, and holds an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School and a certification in Spiritual Direction from Neumann College.
Ready-Made Family (Wings of Refuge #3)
by Cheryl WyattAmelia North needs refuge, and finds it-in Refuge, Illinois. Stranded there after a car wreck, the single mother expects to be cold-shouldered. After all, she's already been rejected by her parents, her church and her daughter's father. Instead, she finds a town full of people with open hands and open hearts...including pararescue jumper Ben Dillinger. Ben wants to help Amelia and her daughter find safety and stability. Instead, he finds himself free-falling-right into love with the ready-made family.
Ready-to-Go Devotions for Mission and Service
by Mark RayReady-to-Go Devotions for Mission and Service is a toolkit of daily devotionals for youth mission trips. The devotions in this book address every aspect of the mission experience, from leaving home and sleeping on the floor to dealing with language barriers and grumpy teammates. Each devotion includes a relevant Bible story, a commentary that connects that story to the mission experience, and a section that challenges the reader to take specific actions on the trip, back home, or both. The book includes devotions in preparation for, during, and after the mission trip or service project. The ready-to-go format allows the youth worker to quickly assemble a customized devotional journal for participants, matching each day’s selection to what’s likely to happen that day. The devotions could also be used in a group setting, which would allow the youth worker to pick devotions based on what has happened during the trip or event. Either way, the devotions point to the larger biblical and personal significance of mission trip or service project happenings . What if you held a mission trip and nobody changed? It’s a haunting, daunting question, one that youth workers and researchers across America are beginning to ask. Short-term mission trips (STM) have exploded in popularity since the mid-1990s, thanks in part to the Internet, which makes connecting with mission agencies and mission recipients easier than ever. Sociologist Kurt Ver Beek estimates that the number of North American short-term missionaries grew from 125,000 in 1989 to as many as four million in 2003. Many of those short-termers are teenagers. According to Christianity Today, more than two million American teens enter the mission field every year. Pollster George Barna reports that 15 percent of U.S. Christian teens have done a short-term mission trip, while the National Study of Youth and Religion found that 29 percent of all teens had participated in a short-term mission trip or religious service project. Unfortunately, the impact of short-term mission trips may be short-term as well, both for those who go on mission trips and for those who receive mission teams. Ver Beek recently surveyed North Americans who worked in Honduras after a 1998 hurricane, as well as those who were served by them. He found that the North American work teams had "little or no lasting impact" on the communities they served and that missionaries reported only "a small, positive, lasting change" in their own lives. The situation isn’t hopeless, however, according to Robert Priest, associate professor ofmission and intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. "In research with Ph.D. students at Trinity," he wrote in Christianity Today, "I’ve been impressed that while STM may not always or automatically produce desired results, the right sorts of STM, carried out in the right sorts of ways, and accompanied by the right sorts of reflections, have potential for good." Unfortunately, youth workers don’t always build "the right sorts of reflections" into their mission trips. At best, they allot time in the daily schedule for reflection or debriefing. At worst, they just hope and pray that their students will somehow be transformed by the mission experience. The existing literature isn’t much help. Books on mission-trip planning offer plenty of advice on selecting a mission agency, raising money, coordinating transportation, handling emergencies, entering closed countries, and re-entering the "normal" world, but they offer precious little advice on using the mission experience to impact the participants’ lives. The handful of available mission-focused devotional guides offer some assistance, but they typically take a one-size-fits-all approach. Usually presented as mission journals, these guides assume trips will be a certain length or include certain elements, such as dealing with non-English speakers. Ready-to-Go Devotions for Mission and Service fills the void, offering targeted, topical devotionals that can help
Ready-to-Go Fundraisers
by Todd OutcaltReady-MadeFundraising Packages . . . Just Add Youth Group FULLY LOADED All Youth Fundraising Activity Options, Extras, and Side Items IncludedThese ready-made fundraising packages are completely accessorized with everything you need to easily prepare and smoothly execute youth ministry fundraising activities that utilize youth participation. You can spend less time on planning activity details, and more time directly involving your teens.These plans cover every detail for you. Think of the convenience. Think of all the up-front prep time you can save.The unique benefit of the Ready-to-Go series is that these activity materials go beyond merely offering ideas. Ready-to-Go resources, instead, provide fully developed activity and event plans. These allow the youth leader to host youth activities of substance and quality, with a minimal up-front time investment. It's like offering a baked cake, instead of a cake recipe and ingredients. Or offering a fully-assembled ready-to-use playground set, instead of loose components in a box, with assembly instructions. Ready-to-Go Fundraisers provides youth ministers with a variety of fun and effective fundraising ideas, including - . . . old standards and digital-age alternatives. . . from embarrassingly simple to exhaustingly complex. . . projects that foster fellowship and community to projects that have a global impactThis resource includes a chapter on grant-writing, by longtime Abingdon writer Todd Outcalt, and a CD-ROM loaded with spreadsheets, fliers, forms, and other useful resources.Just add youth.
Ready-to-Go Retreats & Lock-Ins
by Beth MillerReady-Made Event Packages ...Just Add Youth Group FULLY LOADED All Youth Event Options, Extras, and Side items IncludedThese ready-made event packages are completely accessorized with everything you need to easilyprepare and smoothly execute fun and instructive retreats & lock-ins. You can spend less time on planning event details, and more time directly engaging your teens.These plans cover every detail, even laying out hour-by-hour schedules for you. Think of the convenience. Think of all the up-front prep time you can save. The unique benefit of the Ready-To-Go series is that these activity materials go beyond merely offering ideas. Ready to Go resources instead provide fully developed activity & event plans. These allow the youth leader to host youth events of substance & quality, with a minimal up-front time investment. It's like offering a baked cake instead of a cake recipe & ingredients. Or, offering a fully-assembled ready-to-use playground set...instead of loose components in a box with assembly instructions.Ready-to-Go Retreats & Lock-Ins provides 16 complete guides for retreats and lock-ins.The first section focuses on planning retreats and lock-ins, including -- Creating a schedule Finding a facility Safety guidelines Transportation Food Registration and Publicity Recruiting counselors Insurance issues Get acquainted games The second section covers strategies for successfully executing retreats and lock-ins, including -- Behavior covenants, expectations and guidelines Creating rituals Assembling resources How to combine junior and senior highs on a retreat Resources for games and music Room and van assignments Each Retreat includes two individual morning meditations, detailed program notes for small groups with three to four sessions per retreat, ideas for a worship service and evening devotional, and fun, group-building activities. Provided meditations, counselor notes, handouts, and worship flyers are photocopiable.Each Lock-In is theme-based and has games, small group time, worship ideas, and sleep time.Includes reproducible handouts, preparation lists, and bonus material on CD-ROM.Ready-To-Go resources are equipped with event themes that target contemporary issues teens face in the real world. These relevant messages are delivered with impact, through coordinated devotional plans, discussion frameworks, and captivating activities. All the event accessories you need, down to publicity fliers and parental forms are included. Just add youth.
Ready-to-Go School's Out: Youth Ministry Ideas for School Breaks and Summer Vacation
by Todd OutcaltOne of the biggest challenges in youth ministry is finding effective ways to minister to teenagers during school breaks and summer vacations—those times when the usual routines of education and structure aren’t there. Families are vacationing. Youth groups get smaller. And very often youth ministry takes a noticeable dip in attendance and excitement.Ready-to-Go School’s Out!: Youth Ministry Ideas for School Breaks and Summer Vacation by Todd Outcalt is a book that can help. Here youth workers can find support and practical ideas that can help them minister to teens during the “down times” such as:· Fall & Spring Breaks· Summer Vacation· Christmas Break· Special Days such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving· New Years EveReady-to-Go School’s Out! will be a welcome addition to the youth leader’s arsenal of resources. It includes learning activities, outings, games, worship services, and suggestions for the busy youth worker—in addition to renewal activities for tired youth leaders—all collected in one resource.
Ready-to-Go Service Projects
by Susan Ragsdale Ann SaylorThis ready-to-go tool will help youth groups find meaningful ways to connect and make a difference in their communities through service-learning. Practical and interactive activities will help youth consider the connection between faith and service, discover the ways they are uniquely designed to serve, and explore service project ideas. It also profiles activities and conversation starters to help you tap into the power of service-learning for building character, challenging perceptions, and shaping leaders. It's easy for a youth leader to scan and it's flexible enough to use with diverse groups from middle school to college. Part One: The Basics What you need to know about service-learning - the definition, the benefits, the process, and how to make the move from volunteer service to service-learning. Part Two: Readying Your Hands 17 easy-to-use activity plans to help youth realize the value of service, discover what scripture says about serving others, identify what gifts each person brings to the group, and begin to explore the community. Part Three: Hands in Action 17 topical issues that include sample service project ideas, reflection questions, prayers, scriptures, stories about youth in service, and resources for further study. Find our more about the book, the authors, and training opportunities at www.theassetedge.net.