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Synopsis:In the midst of partial, competing, and often hostile forms of human solidarity, David Bosch challenged the church to be the Alternative Community called to live in the in-between of various opposing socio-political, economic, and ecclesiastical polarities. Girma Bekele explores and renews that call in the context of Ethiopia. Acute poverty and the lingering question of the balance between ethnic distinctiveness and national unity, together constitute a two-edged challenge to Christian identity. Constructive dialogue that fosters unity is intrinsic to effective response to the plight of the poor. This means a turning away from institutional self-preservation towards a contextually relevant mission that crosses all human-made frontiers. Taking Ethiopia as the immediate context, Dr. Bekele offers important insight to the church in the majority world and beyond.Endorsements:"This is a remarkable book, vast in scope and rich in content. It offers a developed model of the interaction of the general and the particular. On the one hand, it is a comprehensive study of the great encyclopedic mission theologian of the twentieth century, David Bosch; on the other, a sensitive interpretation of Ethiopian Christianity, past and present, in both its Orthodox and Protestant-Evangelical expressions, and of what Bosch would have called their paradigm shifts. These two themes are kept in constant and illuminating dialogue, and their wide relevance for today''s worldwide church is made evident. A book not to be missed."-Andrew F WallsUniversity of Edinburgh and Liverpool Hope University "In this thought provoking and courageous work, Dr. Bekele critically and creatively reads David Bosch and his socio-political and ecclesiastical context to address pressing missiological issues, particularly in Ethiopia. It persuasively calls Christians everywhere to be the in-between people. Well presented!"-Kevin LivingstonAssociate Professor of Pastoral MinistryTyndale Seminary"Girma Bekele''s work combines the commitments and sensitivities of an evangelist, an ecumenist, and a social activist. His theology is missiological holism at its best, and I warmly commend it."-George Sumner, Principal and Helliwell Professor of World Mission, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto"If you have a heart for Africa and its suffering people this book will inspire you with Christian hope . . . Dr. Bekele understands the history and the tremendous challenge for the Ethiopian church in the twenty-first century well, and he engages it with Christian hope and practical experience. This is how theology should grow out of a real and living context!"-Charles J. Fensham, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Knox College, University of Toronto"This book offers a startling glimpse into a world alien to most Western Christians: the suffering church of Christ in Ethiopia . . . Employing the missional theology of David Bosch, Grima Bekele lays out an eloquent vision of the church as witness to Christ and agent of reconciliation. A fascinating and important work!"-Joseph Mangina, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Wycliffe College, University of TorontoAuthor Biography:Girma Bekele, Adjunct Professor of Missions and Development Studies at Wycliffe College in the University of Toronto, is a Missions and Church Leadership Consultant.

Synopsis:Accosted by hatred and living out a dismal existence in Dirt Place, we humans have tried and failed to find the source of love. Many philosophies of love have proved powerless in satisfying our need for this pure and true thing. One after another, the world''s religions fail to illuminate its reality and beauty. All the while, the overwhelming presence of evil has forced love into the shadows of elusiveness. But through the barrage of attempts to explain love''s source, it is the Christian God alone who has brought meaning, value, and eternal significance to this oft-misunderstood virtue. It is the Christian God alone whose divine and perfect love was revealed in all its splendor in the cross of Jesus Christ. In Leaving Dirt Place, Jonah Haddad explores a multitude of philosophies and religions whose flawed accounts of love must ultimately yield to the truth of Christianity. This thoughtful and challenging apologetic presents a clear case for the true God of love. Endorsements:"If true love exists, it must have a transcendent and personal source. How can that source be best explained? Not, Haddad argues, by the worldviews of naturalism, pantheism, or a number of theistic religions. Love''s best and only final explanation is Christian theism. Haddad''s argument is clear, detailed, rational, and compelling. Helpful for every evangelist, apologist, or biblically literate Christian."--James W. Sireauthor of The Universe Next Door "While humans speak of love, yearn for love, give love, receive love, and have their hearts broken (and break other hearts) by the manifold betrayals of love, the very fact of love is often unexplained or (worse yet) explained away by philosophies that cannot bear its bittersweet weight. Haddad, however, does not shrink from this daunting task, but rather marshals the theological and philosophical resources required to set forth a compelling case that only the Christian vision of existence can give love its proper meaning, value, and significance--even (or especially) amidst all the tears, blood, and fears of a world ''east of Eden.''"--from the Foreword by Douglas Groothuisauthor of Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of PostmodernismAuthor Biography:Jonah Haddad received his MA in Philosophy of Religion from Denver Seminary. He lives and works in Lyon, France.

In the struggle between the sexes, Ronald and Beverly Allen are peacemakers. With feminists they feel fully the past and present pain, the yearning for new freedom and fulfillment. But they also trust the Bible-the source for all that is oldest and best in male-female traditions. To open your mind to what really matters in the women's movement, the Allens take you everywhere: to the incomparable events in Eden and to Paul's perplexing directives in the New Testament; to Betty Friedan in the sixties and a different Betty Friedan in the eighties; to Sarah and Steinem, to Deborah and deBeauvoir, to Proverbs 31 and Archie Bunker. The result is a call to balance, to help you rise from the ruts of injustice and insensitivity, and yet stay in the safe confines of God's design.

In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Friesen uncovers the the spiritual and psychological implications for the treatment of Multiple Personality clients. A useful and educational source book for equipping Pastors, therapists and lay counselors in their understanding of Multiple Personality Disorder.

Synopsis:For too long the story of history''s most infamous terrorist, Yeshua Bar-Abbas, has been mistold.The only way to get justice from the Roman Empire is to steal it. By travelling to the Judean capital and avenging his brothers, Yeshua has achieved precisely that. However, the newfound friends who unexpectedly came to his aid have now blocked his way home to Egypt. An alcoholic archer, an over-zealous rabbi, a nervous shepherd boy, and an overweight farmer have further plans for Yeshua and his brother, Theudas. Each of them will discover that the kind of justice you win depends on how you fight for it. Violent revenge, passive resistance, or reluctant acts of terror? Each will bear its own fruit.Endorsements:"Two young Jewish traders, sons of a rabbi, set out to avenge the murder of their two brothers. Their actions in an ancient quest for justice tie them up with rebels who chafe under the oppression of Roman occupation in Judea and Galilee. Many deaths follow as plans to assassinate the prefect unfold. On their journey to Jerusalem they meet Yeshua of Nazareth, are betrayed by a trusted member of the group, and rob a tax collector. The young assassin named Yeshua is renamed Bar-Abbas as his leadership develops.The picture of first century Palestine is rich and accurate. The challenge to twenty-first century people is insightful as Bar-Abbas addresses modes of injustice.The central theme of justice is woven throughout, but is most richly developed in letters, son to father, and father to son, prior to the expected crucifixion of the assassin. Justice is revealed to be as complex and elusive as the human family. Justice must finally give way to mercy and love." -Dr. Robert L. DotyProfessor of Literature EmeritusCampbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KY"Perry''s work is a masterpiece of creativity. He has skillfully blended events of historical veracity with speculations as to how those events unfolded, so as to keep suspense high. His knowledge of Jewish customs, social and political realities, along with Rome''s attitude toward Jews, is commendably broad. For the mystery buff who knows something about the Bible, they cannot go wrong in choosing this book."-Joe E. Lunceford, Professor of Religion, Georgetown College, KY "Simon Perry brings action to one of the worlds greatest narratives. He invokes a world that most of us think we know something about, and through a rare blend of scholarship and storytelling blows away our preconceptions in a whirlwind of adventure and intrigue; when the dust clears, the man left standing, now as then, is Bar-Abbas and this is his story. Set in the Middle East, in the early first century, this tale is for you if you watched Defiance and cheered for the underdog."-Dien WoolerRoyal Air Force"A thrilling story of intrigue, treachery, and forgiveness. From start to finish there are issues of morality, right and wrong, actions without understanding the consequences. Fascinating to see how four simple sentences can color our minds and blind us from objectivity. This book takes a well known story and serves it up in a dramatic and encapsulating manner in order that we might think. Excellent."- Iain HoskinsBristol Baptist CollegeAuthor Biography:Simon Perry is a former soldier, a single parent, and has a PhD in Biblical Hermeneutics. He lives near Cambridge, UK, with his four children.

CONTRIBUTORS:FERGUS KERR OPCharity as Friendship SIMON TUGWELL OPPrayer, Humpty Dumpty and Thomas Aquinas BRIAN DAVIES OPClassical Theism and the Doctrine of Divine Simplicity DAVID B. BURRELL CSCDistinguishing God from the World DENYS TURNERFeuerbach, Marx and Reductivism ANTHONY KENNYAquinas on Knowledge of Self P. J. FITZPATRICKSome Seventeenth-Century Disagreements and TransubstantiationHUGO A. MEYNELLFaith, Objectivity, and Historical FalsifiabilityMARGARET DAVIESThe Genre of the First GospelTIMOTHY RADCLIFFE OP'The Coming of the Son of Man': Mark's Gospel and the Subversion of 'The Apocalyptic Imagination' BRIAN WICKERTaking Away the Sin of the WorldJ. M. CAMERONThe Theory and Practice of Autobiography ENDA MCDONAGHPrayer, Poetry and PoliticsEditor Biography:Brian Davies is Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University, New York.

Can someone please explain this "New Perspective on Paul"? Where did it come from and will it help or hinder Christian interpreters to grasp the apostle's writings more clearly? In The New Perspective on Paul: An Introduction, Kent Yinger provides concise, readable, and authoritative answers to these and other questions currently exercising students of Paul.

Synopsis:Pastors and ministers have one of the most challenging jobs on Earth. Of all their tasks, one responsibility they cannot neglect is teaching the word of God. Unfortunately, church leaders seldom have enough time to prepare Bible studies for their congregation. This book is a quick resource to help fill that gap. These thematically arranged Bible studies each contain an introduction to a topic and a list of relevant Scripture readings for that topic. Pastors can use the introduction to spark discussion within small groups or to focus on the specific themes during sermon writing. This book will prove to be an invaluable resource for years to come.Endorsement:"These Bible study lessons are an excellent resource on a variety of relevant topics and sermon preparation. This resource book should be in every pastor''s and minister''s library. It is destined to be a classic for years to come."-James C. DavisSenior PastorNollies Chapel Missionary Baptist Church"Dr. Davis, the consummate colleague, shares with busy pastors and Christian educators the fruit of his sincere devotion to the Bible and considerable experience as a teaching pastor. You will find him, as I have, a trustworthy journey partner through the scriptures and a no-holds-barred prophet in addressing the times and requirements of the times. The ''Introduction'' alone is well worth your attention; the studies, worth mining for years to come. Welcome to his workshop!"-James B. Johnson IIPastorWilliamsburg Baptist ChurchAuthor Biography:Reginald F. Davis (PhD, Florida State University) is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He has been a frequent radio guest and lectures at colleges, universities, and churches across the nation. He currently lives in Williamsburg, Virginia with his wife and three children. He has authored two other books in the field of theology and religion.

This book offers a way to engage with the Bible as a set of sacred texts that can serve as a song sheet for believers in exile-those people Bishop John Shelby Spong calls the ""church alumni association."" This includes those internally displaced persons of faith who have not yet become spiritual refugees but who feel the pressure to conform to traditional expressions of faith that no longer serve as springs of living water for the journey of life.These ancient texts come from another world and another time, but they can serve as maps for the journey of life. They can best do this when the sacred wisdom of the Bible is accepted as permission to voice the new questions we face today in the confidence that authentic faith has always required such boldness. Religious progressives are people who live the questions, not dodge them. Our task is not to guard a set of traditional answers, but to live life boldly, taking risks for God's sake and our own. One of the hallmarks of this book is that the problems posed by the Bible are acknowledged. In particular, the contributions of recent critical scholarship are embraced, rather than being ignored or neutralized by pious ambivalence.The intended reader of this book is not a traditional believer, secure in her assumptions about God and salvation, but someone struggling to live with integrity in a time when traditional religion seems increasingly irrelevant. The goal is not to persuade the reader that the Bible is credible but-more modestly-to offer an account of the Bible that may encourage religious progressives to reclaim the Bible as a valued part of our spiritual baggage.

This thesis by Gonzalo Haya-Prats, written in the Catholic interpretive tradition under the supervision of Johannine scholar Ignace de la Potterie at the Gregorian University in Rome, reflects a faith tradition that historically remained open to the miraculous and resisted regulations on activities of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. Accordingly, Haya-Prats interprets the workings of the Spirit from a perspective of narrative sensitivity. He is deliberately diligent to exercise due care so as not to obscure narrative flow and connectivity, despite any ecclesial or interpretive precedents that might be of influence to the contrary. His exegetical method is to let the original meaning be discerned and discovered according to the author's intention as closely as possible. With this sound interpretive approach Haya-Prats achieves a remarkable degree of freshness and insightful vision that all readers of Luke-Acts will welcome. Students and scholars alike should find this timely and thoughtful thesis to be a valuable and long-lasting contribution to New Testament studies.This English edition is made more accessible by including translations of all contemporary foreign languages, and editor Paul Elbert offers occasional explanatory notes that engage current scholarship relevant to Haya-Prats's presentation.

Everywhere the church is rediscovering Jesus' call to live under God's rule. What the world needs, however, is not just greater kingdom awareness but more kingdom action. How can the church stabilize families, revitalize, neighborhoods, create just societies and a peaceful world? How can we hasten the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord?

--Has modern science made philosophy obsolete? --Is the soul real? --Do we have a free will? --Why should we be moral? --Does God exist, and if so, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world? --What is the relation between faith and reason? Ric Machuga takes a holistic approach to these questions. No philosophical idea, no matter how small, can live alone. Ideas always gain their force, power, and life from their surroundings--their ""ecosystem."" The ecosystem of ideas defended in this book comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and his medieval interpreter, Thomas Aquinas. The ongoing relevance of their philosophical thought to twenty-first century issues is opened up in fascinating ways. Life, the Universe, and Everything is the product of thirty years of teaching introductory courses in philosophy. Assuming no prior background, it only requires of readers an enquiring mind and a willingness to think carefully. An ideal guide to the big questions we face.

Synopsis:When the leadership of Patterson Park Church looked for a book explaining the process of transitioning from a board-run church to an elder led form of church government, a structure they had come to believe was more in line with Scripture, they found none. God honored their efforts and two of their elders decided a book still needed to be written. Elder Governance: Insights into Making the Transition examines church government from a biblical and historical context and tells the story of Patterson Park's transition. The authors are hopeful that God will use their experience to help others considering such a transition. Endorsements:"This thoughtful expression of process for moving a congregation to elder governance also weaves together the biblical qualifications and functions of elders in the community of the redeemed in an expansive manner. What makes the book distinctive in the literature and thus worthy of high recommendation is the integration of process with theology."-James M. Grier Distinguished Professor of Theology Grand Rapids Theological Seminary "For those churches who are attempting to make the difficult transition to a plural elder led form of church governance, this book fills a void that has long existed: assistance in how to navigate those treacherous waters. Through their own experiences in helping their church work through this metamorphosis, the authors have gleaned valuable insight that they have shared with us."-Alexander StrauchAuthor of Biblical EldershipAuthor Biography:Dan Evans is a non-vocational elder at Patterson Park Church and is currently pursuing a MAR in Christian Leadership. He is a physician and has published a number of articles and chapters in medical journals and books. Joe Godwin is a vocational elder and a teaching pastor at Patterson Park Church. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry at Ligonier Academy. Joe has served in the pastorate for over twenty-five years.

Is it possible to make a case that the Gospel of Mark was not composed by a single man from scattered accounts but in a process of people's telling Jesus' story over several decades? And what can we say about the tellers who were shaping this story for changing audiences?After an introduction showing the groundwork already laid in oral tradition research, the case begins by tracing the Mark we know back to several quite different early manuscripts which continue the flexibility of their oral ancestors. The focus then turns to three aspects of Mark, its language, which is characterized as speech with special phrases and rhythms, its episodes characterized by traditional forms, and its overall story pattern that is common in oral reports of the time. Finally several soundings are taken in Mark to test the thesis of performance composition, two scenarios are projected of possible early tellers of this tradition, and a conclusion summarizes major findings in the case. Mark's writer turns out to be the one who transcribes the tradition, probably adhering closely to it in order to legitimate the new medium of writing.

New Testament theology ought to be both descriptive and constructive-this is the argument of New Testament Theology: Extending the Table. According to Isaak, New Testament theology is descriptive in that it deals with the accounts that people narrate of their experience with Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the light of Easter. It is constructive in that it joins the diverse testimonies of the New Testament writers into a textured and thick space within which contemporary followers of Jesus continue to be shaped by the ancient yet living Spirit of God. Isaak's approach is historical, thematic, and theological in orientation. It explores the conversation taking place "around the table," where the writers of the NT share their guiding vision of God's saving work among them, and their passion for the Christian church engaged in God's mission. The differing perspectives of the New Testament authors are held together without reduction, forming a deep and rich space within which ongoing community reflection and praxis can take place.

In searching, sensitive, and stunningly thorough essay, supplemented with case studies and poetry, and drawing lucidly on important psychological theorists, Capps portrays hope as the fundamental nucleus and engine of human experience. He wants to remind pastors that fueling this hope is their distinctive and distinctively Christian calling. James Dittes, Yale University Don Capps has written a lucid and persuasive account of the one task unique to the ministry: to be an agent of hope. His eschatological imagination pops up repeatedly in his case studies and phenomenology of hoping, translating into concrete terms the promise of a God of hope for people in the most hopeless of situations. A book rich in insights and a pleasure to read. Robert A. Johnson, Wellesley College This book is an intelligent reclamation of the theological virtue of hope, which goes to the very heart of the psychology and spirituality of pastoral ministry. Patricia Howery Davis, Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University

Synopsis:This book offers an important new perspective on the Western tradition of musical aesthetics through an examination of Anicius Boethius and Immanuel Kant. Within the trajectory illuminated by these two thinkers, musical meaning is framed by and formed through the concept of beauty--a concept which is shaped by prior understandings about notions of the self and the world. Beauty opens up a space within which the boundary between the self and the world, subject and object, is negotiated and configured. In doing so, either the subject or the object is asserted to the detriment of the other, and to the physicality of music. This book asserts that the uniqueness of music''s ontology emerges from its basis in sound and embodied practice. It suggests that musical beauty is generated by the mutuality of subject and object arising within the participation that music encourages, one which involves an ekstatic mode of attention on the part of the subject.Endorsements:"Musical Beauty is an interesting and original contribution to theological aesthetics."--Patrick SherryLancaster University, UK"Here is a fresh and impressive new voice in the burgeoning conversation between music and theology. With considerable skill, Dr. Stone-Davis negotiates two of the most important figures in Western aesthetics. She emerges with striking proposals about the interrelation of beauty, physicality, and musical perception that have far-reaching consequences, affecting every aspect of the way we hear and listen to music in our own time."--Jeremy BegbieThomas A. Langford Research Professor of Theology, Duke University"The philosophy of music is finally starting to emerge from the straitjacket imposed by the analytical tradition. Férdia Stone-Davis'' Musical Beauty makes a vital contribution to the growing realization that music is a resource for philosophical thinking, rather than simply an object to be defined by philosophy."--Andrew BowieProfessor of Philosophy and GermanUniversity of London"Beauty leads to more than just pleasure. This elegant new study argues that it can reveal epistemological insights as well, and that musical beauty in particular can help us better understand our relationship to the world around us. As Stone-Davis argues, musical beauty is the most abstract, problematic, and, for that very reason, the most revealing of all varieties of beauty in art. She brings both historical and contemporary perspectives to this wide-ranging account."--Mark Evan BondsBoshamer Distinguished Professor of MusicUniversity of North CarolinaAuthor Biography:Férdia Stone-Davis holds a doctorate from the University of Cambridge and a masters in performance from Trinity College of Music, London. She is an interdisciplinary academic working in the fields of music, theology, and philosophy. She is also an accomplished performer of both baroque and contemporary recorder repertoire.

How does biotechnology touch on human destiny? What are its promises and challenges? In search for a response, the present volume turns to the thought of Hans Jonas, one of the pioneers and founding fathers of bioethics. The continued relevance of his ideas is exemplified by the way Jurgen Habermas applies them to the current debate. The chief promise of biotechnology is to increase our freedom by overcoming the limits of the human condition. The main risk of biotechnology, as both Jonas and Habermas see it, is to diminish or outright abolish our capacity for responsibility and morality. It is argued that the greater freedom is not simply freedom from constraints but freedom for our destiny: the freedom to be the benevolent, responsible, and spontaneous authors of our lives, capable of communion and love. The touchstone for evaluating any biotechnological procedure has to be this greater freedom.

Dying Is Not Death examines from a traditional humanistic position the act of dying. The author views death as a universal experience that can and perhaps should force us to explore various technological intrusions upon it. Each chapter is an independent narrative, and some chapters tell stories of those struggling to die when confronted with the medical system's technological artifacts. Recounting different persons' experiences of death, Lee Hoinacki suggests that the medical system's conventional approaches to dying and death can distort our preparation for this most important experience.Borrowing from Jacques Ellul and Ivan Illich, Hoinacki acknowledges technology as an all-embracing system with powerful symbolic effects on the human condition and argues to a conflict between faith and technology. Indeed, with Ellul, he holds that in order to criticize technology, one must find some ""place"" outside the technological milieu that would act as a kind of Archimedean lever. One must somehow get to the Beyond to judge where one stands in the world.

Synopsis:For centuries Augustine''s theory of free will has been used to explain why God is not the author of evil and humans are morally responsible for sin. Yet, when he embraced the doctrines of unconditional election and operative grace, Augustine began modifying his theory of free will. His final works claim his evolved notion of free will remained consistent with his early view, but this claim has provoked significant debate. Some scholars take him at his word, interpreting his teachings on free will in light of his later predestination teachings. Others reject his claim of continuity and warn of great inconsistencies between his early and later works. Few have undertaken a thorough study of Augustine''s works to compare his early notion of free will with his later theory of predestination. Free To Say No? is a detailed study of Augustine''s work that presents clear evidence in Augustine''s own words for a significant discontinuity between his early and later theories--especially the disappearance of the will''s freedom to say "No"--and offers some fascinating insights as to why Augustine proposed such drastic changes.Author Biography:Eric L. Jenkins (MPhil, London School of Theology) has been a missionary for twenty years, including serving as the Director of a Bible School in Algeria--the land of Augustine.

Synopsis:Daniel Hankore argues that the story of Genesis 28:10--35:15 has been misunderstood and mistranslated for two thousand years. He seeks to shed new light on it from Ethiopia''s Hadiyya culture, revealing Genesis 28:10--35:15 to be a votive narrative. Making use of relevance theory Hankore tries to reconstruct the intended message of the story from the narrator''s point of view. Genesis 28:10--35:15 is presented as a coherent narrative unit and each episode of the story, including the Dinah story, is a part of the building blocks of the discourse structure of this coherent votive narrative. Hankore shows that a correct understanding of the Hebrew concept נדר (vow) in the context of the ancient Israelite''s social institution is fundamental for the reading and translating of Genesis 28:10--35:15.Endorsements:"This is a fresh and original contribution to the interpretation of Genesis. It also contains a full and thorough evaluation of more traditional, critical, and historical approaches to the issues raised by Genesis 25-35. It deserves to be taken most seriously by future scholars trying to understand these chapters of Scripture."--Gordon Wenham, Tutor at Trinity College, Bristol"Hankore''s effort to bring together cultural assumptions in modern Ethiopia, the Hebrew Bible, and the ancient Near East is convincing. I recommend it to Bible translators and scholars alike."--R. J. Sim, Professor of Linguistics and Translation, Africa International University"This work is a stimulating example of what reading from a non-Western perspective can add to biblical exegesis, uncovering links Western eyes can easily miss, in this case the central role of vows in the Jacob narrative, including the story of Dinah. Hankore also breaks new ground in his careful analysis of vows and oaths in biblical Hebrew."--Maik Gibson, Senior Sociolinguistics Consultant, SIL International and Africa International University, Nairobi"Daniel Hankore offers readers an important and stimulating contribution to the interpretation of the Jacob narratives. His discussion of the nature of vows, the structure of the Genesis text, and Dinah''s abduction advance the discussion in helpful new ways." Robin Parry, author of Old Testament Story and Christian Ethics: The Rape of Dinah as a Case StudyAuthor Biography:Dr. Daniel Hankore is Bible Translation Consultant at SIL Ethiopia Branch.

In this commentary Kanagaraj examines how John projects the church as God's ""new covenant community,"" which, is characterized by two virtues: love and obedience. Impossible to exhibit under the old covenant based on Moses' Law, these qualities became possible by the initiative grace and faithfulness of God revealed in Jesus and demonstrated by the power of the Spirit.God's new community is an inclusive and progressive community because its witness to Jesus in a world that hates and persecutes it has the power to bring in all people so that they may become one flock under one shepherd. Kanagaraj argues that the idea of founding and nurturing a new community was in God's heart even before the time of creation and not just at the time of incarnation.

The Holy Spirit's ministry of illumination is a commonly misunderstood doctrine, both pragmatically and theologically. As a result, this divine activity is often neglected, but it should be recognized that it is indispensable for the hermeneutical endeavor. This distinctive work seeks to take an apparently abstract concept and make it concrete by establishing proper categories and definitions for the doctrine of illumination while reemphasizing the cooperation of Word and Spirit. In doing so, this book treats issues such as the relationship between illumination and other hermeneutical doctrines, the accessibility of the Spirit's illumination when interpreting the Scriptures, and the question of unregenerate biblical interpretation.Accordingly, Illumination and Interpretation presents a biblical-theological evaluation of the Spirit's work of illumination for the transformative purpose of understanding how to appropriate this vital hermeneutical doctrine into one's faith and practice.

In this warm, sensitive, fact-filled book, Paul Tournier deals specifically with many aspects of aging: society's attitude towards the elderly; second careers; the quality of life; financial difficulties; boredom; health; loneliness; and facing death. He believes we must all learn to grow old, and that the process is most successfully accomplished when we prepare and plan for it throughout life.Tournier offers a variety of suggestions to help make growing old not an end but a new beginning, filled with purpose and hope. He suggests ways to remain active and to use leisure to its best advantage without letting it become a tyrant. He also provides insights on taking up new interests, such as becoming involved with young people and new ideas, and learning to pray, to meditate, to acquire wisdom, and to draw increasing strength and inspiration from the reality of divine presence and power.

No one has the right to equate Christianity with weakness or to imagine that the Bible teaches us always to surrender. The biblical message proclaims the sovereign greatness of God which transcends all lesser principles or standards which we might wish to draw from it. Man's great temptation is to want to know by himself what is good and what is evil. He wants to know whether he should withstand or not, but without needing any counsel from God. What is good in the Bible is not this thing or that. It is not a matter of resisting or giving in. It is doing what God wants and when he wants it: it is total dependence upon his person, not upon a moral code.

In the light both of the Bible and of modern science we are confronted not with an abstract and generalized man, but with men who are concrete and personal. They are always in their context, in a certain relationship to the world, to others, and to God. They are always changing. This changing is made up of seasons, stages in their lives, each of which has its own characteristics and peculiar laws. It is in this life story that God's plan may be accomplished. This is what is intimated by the title The Seasons of Life: a man in movement, continually undergoing change, a man living in history, unfolding from his birth until his death. The very movement implies meaning in life.

When we give something to someone we enter into a many-sided relationship, for in return we hope for the gift of love.

The human spirit seems incapable of being stagnant, ever pushing the boundaries of knowledge and experience. We try to understand life through questions regarding our own existence, the nature of the universe, and the nature of God. The question of our collective heart is the external manifestation of an internal longing--a quest, if you will. This thirst to understand reality can be seen in superstructures that are scientific, social, political, and especially religious.When considering the doctrines, institutions, and rituals of religions, we observe certain core aspirations expressed by the people of these communities. These aspirations generate from an underlying quest which seeks a way out of our perceived predicament: a salvific quest. Regardless of whether we view ourselves as religious, pre-religious, post-religious, or non-religious, we find ourselves involved in such a quest; it seems to be an integral part of our human personhood. Using a unique framework of analysis, this book explores Christ's relevance to the quest expressed by the communities of eight major living religions--a relevance that neither degrades Christ nor demeans other ""saviors."" Christ is not part of the human quest, but is well equipped to satisfy that quest.

All of us yearn for a peaceable and just world, but some roll up their sleeves and set to work to make the dream real. Blessed Peacemakers celebrates 365 of them, one for each day of the year.Their stories are richly diverse. They share a commitment to peace and justice, but the various contexts in which they work make each of their stories uniquely instructive. The peacemakers include women, men, and children from across the globe, spanning some twenty-five hundred years. Many are persons of faith, but some are totally secular. Some are well known, while others will be excitingly new. They are human rights and antiwar activists, scientists and artists, educators and scholars, songwriters and poets, film directors and authors, diplomats and economists, environmentalists and mystics, prophets and policymakers. Some are unlettered, but all are wise. A few died in the service of the dream. All sacrificed for it.The world is a better place for the presence of blessed peacemakers. Their inspiring stories embolden readers to join them in nonviolent resistance to injustice and the creative pursuit of peace.