LITMIR.BIZ

In the last few years I've read rants against the evils of feminism from some of the top Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christian leaders who blame women wanting to go to work, go into ministry, and be equals to their husbands for all the social ills happening in our country. If women would just stay home divorce rates would plummet, no abortions would happen, public schools wouldn't be in trouble, and all the world's ills would come to an end. There's just one little problem: Does the Bible really say all of that? What You Didn't Learn in Sunday School will introduce you to women in the Bible who: Were religious leaders. Disobeyed their husbands to obey Godde. Had careers. Made their own decisions. And guess what? The world did not end. Eight verses have been used to make women second-class citizens, and at times, virtual slaves to their husbands. The rest of the Bible is full of stories of strong women who led their families, their people, and their countries.

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The term «emerging church» causes confusion, conflict, and contention whenever it is used. Still, the emerging movement is spreading across America and around the world. Young adults from the millennial or mosaic generation are flocking back to church in droves, when the church speaks relevantly to them. The impact of emerging churches reaches far beyond the narrow walls of church buildings. The millennial generation is content with nothing less than a holy revolution in society. These eager young people purpose to transform the cities of America and the world through living the life of Jesus. Emerging believers are more concerned with life than with doctrine. They are committed to orthopraxy (true behavior) and not just dead orthodoxy. This propels them into situations foreign to most Christ followers. Their aim is a conquest of cities for Christ, and to that end they live out the Jesus life in every aspect of community. "Authenticity" is their watchword. They are resolved to be real in an unreal world. Members of the emerging churches keep each other honest before God, and they accept nothing less than committed Christian character. The result is a growing revival among the emerging churches.

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Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a built-in dissatisfaction attached to all human endeavor, such that no amount of wealth, pleasure, or success can free us from the nagging suspicion that there simply must be more to life than what we see around us? Whether displayed in film, art, popular music, or in the depths of our own hearts, human frustration with the status quo is inescapable.
Perhaps the reason for this is the fact that God has hardwired us for heaven and instilled within our souls a longing for eternal life that no earthly spoils can satisfy? Perhaps it is our future that defines us, rather than our past? Perhaps it is not the origin, but the destiny of the species that truly unlocks the mystery of who we really are?
It is these and many other questions that Jason Stellman explores in these pages in a way that is simple, provocative, and culturally engaging. If you've ever stopped to ponder the mystery of who we are and why we're here, this book is a must-read.

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The 13 lessons of this study guide help Christians develop an informed faith about supernatural evil and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each lesson refers the reader to significant teachings in Silencing Satan: Handbook of Biblical Demonology. In the book, the authors teach about the nature and strategies of Satan and the demons, and their defeat through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They advocate resisting the devil in his various guises–apparitions, voices, sensations, false doctrine, and immoral temptations–by reflexively turning to Jesus Christ and Scripture. The authors expose the half-truths and lies propagated by popular culture. They caution not to fill in gaps of understanding with extra-biblical sources. Does the study of Satan and the demons increase fear or give him too much attention? In fact, when presented from a biblical perspective, such knowledge can increase faith in Jesus Christ and enable Christians to effectively serve God and his church. Believers are challenged to live a radical life of faith, expressed through love and obedience to Christ. Seminarians, pastors, Bible teachers, Christian counselors, and lay leaders will find this study useful in individual and small group situations. A leaders' guide is available in the appendix.

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R. S. Thomas (1913-2000) was a major poet of the twentieth century. He was respected by luminaries of the literary establishment, recognized with numerous awards, and nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1996. Thomas was also a priest of the Anglican Communion who wrestled ceaselessly with problems of faith and doubt in his poetry. John G. McEllhenney makes R. S. Thomas' poems, ministry, and irascible character come brilliantly alive in his new book, A Masterwork of Doubting-Belief: R. S. Thomas and His Poetry. McEllhenney, who developed a personal relationship with Thomas during the last decade of the poet's life, draws on his conversations and correspondence with Thomas, as well as his experiences as a clergyman and lover of poetry, and offers readers a unique experience that is part biography, part appreciation, and part religious meditation.
A Masterwork of Doubting-Belief is an important new contribution to our understanding of R. S. Thomas and an inspiring source of insights for all who struggle with their faith!

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The contributors to this book address the theme of educating ethical leaders for the twenty-first century. They represent a wide range of fields, including philosophy, theology, law, science, and medicine. They all share the belief, however, that ethical leadership education is necessary in order to provide the next generation of leaders with the tools that they will need to successfully navigate the challenges of today and of the coming decades. These essays identify significant issues and challenges confronting leaders, students, and educators from many different backgrounds, cultures, and communities, who must negotiate the difficult matters of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of difference; and the development of ethical student leaders and educators within specific environments, who will promote habits and practices that create communities of discourse and practice that address the challenges of diversity and culture.
Contributors:
Derek Bell Walter Earl Fluker Shirley Ann Jackson James A. Joseph Melvinia King Preston King Bryant Marks Walter E. Massey David Satcher Tavis Smiley

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"Worship the Lord." Too many churches assume that those in their pews and those who pass through their doors know what worship is and why the Lord commands it. The purpose of this booklet, then, is to educate and acquaint members of Reformed churches but most of all those who inquire within their walls, with a basic knowledge of what Reformed churches mean when they say, «Worship the Lord.» In knowing what to expect, the worshippers' response of praise and thanksgiving will be more active, joyful, and meaningful.

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How can people taking diametrically opposing positions on contemporary issues–dividing both religious communities and society–quote the Bible in support of their views? What does it mean to make a claim that the Bible says or teaches something? Why appeal to the Bible at all? Whose interpretation is the right one? If you've felt confused about the Bible's role or authority in such controversies, this book may help. The author draws upon his more than forty years of pastoral ministry and seminary teaching experience as he examines the Bible–what it is (and isn't), how it came to be a sacred text for Jews and Christians, what kind of authority it has, and how that authority is used or misused. He does not attempt to take a position on the controversial issues themselves, but argues for understanding the Bible as a community product, arising out of the historical life of communities of faith, that then exerts a shaping or normative power in those communities through time, and asks how the Bible and the «Word of God» may be related in constructive ways.

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Can Christians be spiritual and religious? Do they even know the difference between the two? Through a guide for guardian angels entering into basic training for service to «womankind,» Bound, an Earth Walker's handbook overhauls Western Christianity with integrity and clarity.
Tackling subjects such as hypocrisy, racial prejudice, and misogyny, Bound cuts traditional religion back to its healthy roots: love, rigorous honesty, and fellowship. It then draws from contemporary sources, modern science, and an intriguing third-party perspective to graft openness, inclusiveness, and diversity, yielding an authentic way to be Christian today.
Written for the layperson by a layperson, readers will appreciate Charles S. Stone's use of fantasy, humor, and novelty to capture insights that evoke that gratifying sense of «aha!» about good and evil, humanity, and salvation–ultimately seeking to answer life's most basic questions: What is God? Who are we? How should we live?

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Christians are prone to so focus on the realities of Jesus' divinity that we minimize or ignore the realities of his humanity. That he called himself the Son of Man more than any other title emphasizes that Jesus lived humanly in our fallen world, facing our temptations and living out the tensions of being human in the flow of life. He was just like us, human in a sinful world, yet he did not sin.
So what can we learn from Jesus' glorious life about the meaning of our own humanity, about the tensions of being human in a sinful world and the difference between being a sinner and being a finite, flesh-and-blood human being? With this book as a helpful and trustworthy guide, you will begin to see how we can learn from Jesus how to:
– live gracefully in our bodies, even our wounded and dying bodies – live with integrity as finite human beings who are created to enjoy limits – love our family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and enemies – enjoy being alone without being lonely – enjoy the good things of life – wear our scars with hope and dignity – learn to die
As Dr. Russ shows, it is by truly encountering, understanding, and learning from Jesus' humanity that we can become more fully and truly human.

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