LITMIR.BIZ

Deolito Vistar brings a new perspective to the interpretation of the temple incident–a key event in Jesus' life–by approaching the subject not from the «historical Jesus» point of view but from that of the authors of the Gospels. Using composition criticism as a method, Vistar sensitively analyzes the four Gospels' accounts of the incident and shows areas of commonalities and crucial areas where the four evangelists have their own distinctive understanding of what Jesus meant by his protest in the temple. This book is a helpful example of the use of composition analysis in the exegesis of Gospel texts. It is also a helpful study of what is now generally taken for granted in Gospel scholarship: that the four evangelists were both historians and theologians.

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This is the story of a woman overcoming the odds to minister to a suffering community outside the church. The model of Spiritual Accompaniment, which she developed for her ministry, changed her own life, along with the lives of those with whom she ministered. For those experiencing a call to ministry and wondering where to go beyond «the age of belief,» here is a story that will inspire and point the way toward sharing a journey into belovedness.

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At Pentecost there was no fire. The divided tongues like fire came down to each one of the disciples and they spoke different languages so that all the people there could understand what they said without translators. In the OT times, God appointed his prophets by touching their mouths and putting his word into their mouths so that they might declare it to his people. Therefore, a prophet was the spokesman of God, and is usually called «the mouth of the Lord.» Jesus, called the Word as well as God, came into this world as the great prophet for the ministry of the word. He taught the kingdom of God to his people and trained his disciples to be prophets after his departure. The risen Christ appointed his disciples to be prophets, giving them the ministerial task of the word and asking the Father to seal them as his prophets. Thus, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was the installation ceremony for the disciples to be the new covenant prophets, as it was for the prophets of OT times. The disciples were to go out to the ends of the earth to proclaim his word. Those baptized by water are simultaneously baptized by the Holy Spirit and are given the office of the new covenant prophet.

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The essays collected here, prepared by a think tank of the Elijah Interfaith Academy, explore the challenges associated with sharing wisdom–learning, teachings, messages for good living. How should religions go about sharing their wisdom? These chapters, representing six faith tradition (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist), explore what wisdom means in each of these traditions; why and how it should be shared, internally and externally; and the role of love and forgiveness in sharing. This book offers a theory that can enrich ongoing encounters between members of faith traditions by suggesting a tradition-based practice of sharing wisdom, while preserving the integrity of the teaching and respecting the identity of anyone with whom wisdom is shared.
Contributors: Pal Ahluwalia, Timothy Gianotti, Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Sallie B. King, Anantanand Rambachan, Meir Sendor, Miroslav Volf

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Are you struggling with the storms of this life? Do you feel overwhelmed with the constant onslaught? This book is your help to withstand the ambushes of an enemy that wants you to give up your faith. At seventy-one years of age, my life has endured the onslaught of many storms (trials of my faith), and through them I have gained insight as to how to overcome. This book uses scriptural and personal examples. I use a sound biblical foundation to build the chapters. Only the word of God can teach the truth that is needed in this trying and overwhelming time that we live in. The faith of many Christians is being attacked, and they do not know how to rise above. This book is compiled as a result of enduring the attacks that have been directed at me by a cunning and crafty enemy. It is through the storms assailed against me that I have learned how to surmount the ambushes. It is my prayer that my years of endurance will teach others how to do likewise. It will take an effort on their part to read the book to the end, but they should come away with an understanding of God's love, with the knowledge of how to overcome the storms, and how to be standing when the storm has ceased.

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This collection of poems honors the Sabbath, a sacred time of rest decreed by God. The Sabbath is a legacy from my parents, and theirs was a bequest from their ancestors. I pass on my inheritance to friends and family of now and those yet to be. The verses reach deep into the depths of ourselves and awaken reverent feelings we stockpile during the week. Not only do these variations on a theme delve into the deep crevices of our souls, but they uplift, dignify, enhance, and ennoble us. The Sabbath is a sparkling gem in the history of time–its facets are many, and its sheen glosses our lives. The poems presented here reflect the singular, endless, and diverse aspects of the Sabbath.

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Between the world of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Christianity there appears to be the widest difference. Coates's brief comments on Christianity in his highly acclaimed Between the World and Me make clear that religious faith is alien to his own experience. Still, Christian audiences from congregations to theological schools engaged the text for its analysis of the state of race relations in the United States. In September 2015, Ta-Nehisi Coates tweeted, «Best thing about #BetweenTheWorldAndMe is watching Christians engage the work. Serious learning experience for me.» This volume takes that tweet as an invitation to theologians, ethicists, and religious studies scholars to engage the book, and as a challenge to do so in a way that is a learning experience for Coates, the authors, and readers.

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The New Testament contains numerous statements by Jesus and New Testament authors that seem to suggest that Jesus was coming back soon, in their lifetime! But two thousand years later here we still are. How do we handle this apparent «failed prophecy»? Did Jesus and his followers get it wrong? Did they miscalculate the timing of Jesus' return? Or were Jesus and the authors of the New Testament anticipating something else? The purpose of this book is to examine this issue by looking in detail at the New Testament texts that seem to promise that Christ is coming back right away. It will provide a possible answer to these questions in light of the tension between the promised imminent return of Christ and its delay.

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Contrary to popular belief, the biblical prophets do far more than predict the future. They speak truth to power, they tell the truth about the uncomfortable past, they indict empty religiosity, they advocate for poor people and working people while seeking justice–all at tremendous risk to themselves. In Walking in the Prophetic Tradition Jason Bembry argues that the prophets have too often been domesticated by cultural impulses that reduce the prophetic message to prediction about Jesus or the end times. This book highlights themes addressed by the Old Testament prophets and connects each theme to modern people who exemplify passion for those same ideals. In this sense the prophetic tradition comes to life in the lived testimony of Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Myles Horton, Cesar Chavez, and Cornel West–moderns who stand courageously in this tradition. This book is a guide for all who seek a fuller understanding of the Old Testament prophets and who want to continue their work in the present.

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This story takes place in the supernatural world of Oralee. It centers on the Elfdins who have forgotten how to use their supernatural powers and have reverted to natural or physical means for warfare. The lack of knowledge causes them to be beaten by their evil enemy. However, an awakening begins with them desiring to find the Gold Temple, the humans, their sacred books, and learn how to gain back their supernatural powers. This is quite a dangerous endeavor that takes them through unknown territory controlled by their enemy.
This story is an allegory that reveals what happens to Christians who forget about God and his power, and they attempt to fight a supernatural enemy with natural or physical effort.

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