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Book SynopsisWhy American missionaries started building schools, colleges, medical schools, hospitals, and YMCA chapters in China before 1900Trade Review“In this exceptionally well-argued and carefully documented study, John Haddad shows that many of the American missionaries to China were anything but uncritical agents of empire, capital, and churchly authority. Transformed by their direct experience with the Chinese people, missionaries became major institutional players in modern Chinese history within terms set largely by the Chinese themselves.”—David A. Hollinger, Preston Hotchkis Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the World but Changed America“Beautifully written and convincingly articulated, Cultures Colliding is a must-read for anyone who is interested in American missionary history in China or in overall Sino-American relations. With a focus on individuals, Haddad sheds light on fascinating shared journeys, experiences, dreams, nightmares, and frustrations between Chinese and Americans during the critical moments in China and the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. The book examines the twisted path from American missionaries’ initial zeal to change China to eventually focusing on something that the Chinese wanted. We all should read Cultures Colliding today during the challenging times in Sino-American relations.”—Xu Guoqi, Professor of History at the University of Hong Kong, and author of Chinese and Americans: A Shared History"This thoroughly researched work is highly recommended for readers interested in the history of Christian missions to China. The inclusion of biographical information for many of the people involved enhances the text."—Library Journal"American missionary history is frequently seen as one-sided persuasion. The models created were new to the Christian church and extended to many large institutions, some of them (for example, Beijing University) still existing. American missionary Henry Luce...was a part of this effort in China. He employed an 'institutions model' of missionary work that went beyond the simple 'convert the heathen' model of the traditional church. Haddad argues that this change in approach can be attributed to life in rural China. This book is well argued and well documented.... Summing Up: Recommended."—Choice"Haddad’s eminently readable book traces what he calls a 'seismic shift' in the decades between 1860 and 1900 as American Protestant missionaries sought to bring China to Christ. Through twelve chapters of hair-raising stories of danger, hardship, and more than occasional pig-headedness, Haddad shows how missionaries shifted from preaching Christ to building hospitals, schools, and voluntary organizations that met Chinese needs and welcomed Chinese leadership.... Haddad’s narrative charts a remarkable shift in Chinese missions that began with a collision and ended with cooperation. That’s a story the world still needs to hear."—Pacific Historical Review

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Book SynopsisTimothy Radcliffe holds a unique position in the modern Catholic Church. As Master of the Dominican Order in Rome for nine years, he held one of the most senior and influential appointments the Catholic Church has on offer. But he is a member of an Order of Preachers and is thus truly apostolic. The order''s motto consists of one word, Veritas (Truth), and it is the vigorous pursuit of intellectual and emotional truth which is the hallmark of his writing. This new book will not disappoint his admirers. Here, Fr Radcliffe argues that Christianity will only thrive today, overcoming the challenges of secularism and religious fundamentalism, if we rediscover the beauty of baptism. It touches the deepest dramas of human life: birth, growing up, falling in love, daring to give oneself to others, searching for meaning, coping with suffering and failure, and eventually death.Trade ReviewIn this wide-ranging, wise and engagingly written book, Fr Radcliffe initially deals with many of the practical questions that people ask about Baptism, and then proceeds to discuss not only the various elements of the baptismal liturgy, but also the nature and challenge of the Christian vocation. In doing so he displays a deep understanding of sacramental theology, but also a deep compassion and pastoral concern for people. He has a broad and inclusive approach, finding support for his position in the Gospels as well as Church teaching, and is always clear-sighted and honest. * Spirituality *Take the Plunge is a must-read not only for priests and deacons, but also for religious education catechists and those conducting pre-baptism sessions for parents and sponsors. Readers will want to approach this book with a yellow highlighter in hand. To bypass this book would be like stumbling upon a gold mine and mistaking its ore for coal. -- Alfred J. Garrotto * US Catholic Magazine *Take the Plunge is a spirituality book based on living initiation, so its appeal is not limited to sacramental preparation or explicitly baptism-based programs. It would be a helpful resource for preaching, for faith formation of adults or young adults, and for any interested lay reader. Though written from a Catholic perspective, the ecumenical consensus on initiation may make it ecumenically useful as well. -- Kimberly Hope Belcher, University of Notre Dame * Worship *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. This Child? 2. What Name? 3. Commandments and Claim 4. Listening to the Word 5. The Community of Saints 6. Fight the Good Fight 7. The Oil of Gladness 8. A Fertile Word 9. The Moment of Choice 10. Stripped 11. Take the Plunge 12. God's Anointed 13. God's Holy People 14. The Paradoxes of Sanctity 15. Seeing in the Dark 16. Did you receive the Spirit? 17. Growing Up Epilogue Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Song of Songs is redolent with poetic imagery, featuring as it does the love songs of a man and a woman as they explore their relationship. Down the centuries it has often been interpreted either as a sexually-charged love story or an entirely metaphorical imagining of the relationship between God and his people. In this deeply-felt book Charlie Cleverly argues that both interpretations are critical to a true understanding of this book that lies right at the heart of the Bible. If our relationships with one another and with God are not both fully in tune with our humanity, in all its richness, and with our spirituality in its highest form, then we will fall short of all we can be in our lives.Drawing on a wide range of sources, literary and theological and across the ages, Charlie Cleverly makes the case for a new, rounded understanding of this important book.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent book... I had come to it with very high expectations because of the author's reputation, and I was not disappointed... A short review can only begin to convy the quality of this marvellous book, I wholeheartedly recommend its purchase. * The Church Times *A masterly look at a book some people have seen as a love song, other as description of the relationship between God and his people. * The Church Newspaper *The author invites the reader to be open in their longing for a full relationship with God... this book provides much food for thought, and could be used either for a house group, or a sermon. * The Reader *There is much here to challenge and inspire the reader to a deeper intimacy with God. * Preach Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe King James Bible has often been called the Book of Books both in itself and in what it stands for. Since its publication in 1611 it has been the best selling book in the world, and many believe, had the greatest impact. The King James Bible has spread the Protestant faith. It has also been the greatest influence on the enrichment of the English language and its literature. It has been the Bible of wars from the British Civil War in the seventeenth century to the American Civil War two centuries later and it has been carried into battle in innumerable conflicts since then. Its influence on social movements - particularly involving women in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - and politics was profound. It was crucial to the growth of democracy. It was integral to the abolition of slavery and it defined attitudes to modern science, education and sex. As THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH explored the history of our language, so THE BOOK OF BOOKS reveals the extraordinaryTrade Review'Bragg's strengths as a novelist yield an account that is personal and imaginative, full of excitement and energy...I have never read an account of the Bible quite so compelling'. * David Crystal, The New Statesman *What gives this book its particular power, beyond Bragg's own reputation as a broadcaster, novelist and one of our foremost public intellectuals, is that he separates the importance of the King James Bible from the role of Christianity itself. Bragg tells the history of the King James with the vigour and pace of a storyteller rather than the dry precision of an academic. * Independent *I am inclined to accept his final word: that the KJB's impact "has been immeasurable and it is not over yet". * John Cornwell, Financial Times *'Bragg takes a well known tale and tells it with easy eloquence'. * Scotland on Sunday *'vivid and accessible'. * Scotsman *'As popular history, this is great stuff'. * Scotsman *Bragg is 'our most trusted intellectual interpreter'. * David Sexton, Evening Standard *Bragg's tribute is of value because he has an aptitude for storytelling. He is breezily readable where other studies can feel dense and recondite. His turn of phrase is dramatic. Bragg's prose reverberates with scriptural certainty. Mostly this is an affectionate book. * Henry Hitchings, Observer *'Naturally Bragg pays eloquent homage to the literary grandeur of the scriptures that shaped his own outlook. But this heartfelt and far-reaching tribute makes its special mark in tracing the links between the KJB and the revolutions in science, politics and society'. * Independent *The two main strands of Bragg's career - intellectual mediator and bestselling popular novelist - are perfectly fused in THE BOOK OF BOOKS. It's an energetic work with enormous intellectual range that manages to turn the history of the King James Bible into a pacey adventure story. * Guardian *It is difficult to see how this book could be bettered; Bragg's narrative is sweeping, his prose dramatic, his enthusiasm infectious. * Independent on Sunday *'A real education about the King James Bible - Protestant, striving to be fair'. * The Tablet *

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Book SynopsisAdrian has been trying to keep a low profile at church but his son Gerald is now an Anglican vicar and the two churches are getting together for a joint weekend away. Now Adrian''s been volunteered to run it...From the confusion of arrival when Anne is allocated to the top bunk with a schizophrenic recovery group, and Adrian is in a low-ceilinged ''pod'' at the top of the tower, to the hugs and tears of departure, this is typical Plass, humorous and heartwarming in equal measure. Adrian has a simple conversation about birdlife that ends with him being accused of harassment, Leonard Thynn and his wife turn up just in time to leave again after falling out with the SatNav lady, and Gerald''s wit just keeps getting the better of him.There are as many questions as answers, of course. Will poor Sally, the unwilling nomad of the community, ever find a proper bed to sleep in? What exactly is it about Adrian''s twinkle that Minnie Stamp ''lovey-doves'' so very much? And how dTrade ReviewThe book is equal parts heart-warming as humorous and shows God's love for the mixed-bag of people in a church. * Church of England Newspaper *I enjoyed it from the very first to the very last page... He writes with such warmth and good humour... I loved this story and its characters so much. I would highly recommend it to anyone. * Reflections Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'If you want to understand better the perspectives and theology that frame THE SHACK, this book is for you.' - Paul Young, author of THE SHACKTrade ReviewBaxter has taken on the incredible task of exploring the nature and character of the God who met me in my own shack... If you found hope and encouragement through THE SHACK, this book will help you take more steps in knowing the love of Papa, Sarayu and Jesus. * Wm Paul Young, author of THE SHACK *

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Book SynopsisWritten by Alister McGrath, one of Britain''s most admired and insightful biblical scholars, the NIV Bible Handbook is designed to be read alongside the New International Version as a comprehensive guide to Scripture. McGrath''s in-depth commentary is complemented by introductions to and outlines of every Bible book, explaining the authorship, context and purpose with which each book was written. The commentary is interspersed with over sixty feature articles addressing difficult questions arising from the Bible, such as, ''What does the Bible say about homosexuality?'' and ''Did God really command all that killing?'' A number of helpful maps and charts also aid appreciation of biblical narrative and history.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the bestselling The Dawkins Delusion - an accessible account of the biggest questions around science and faith, grounded in the very best scholarship.Trade ReviewMcGrath's style is scholarly yet accessible and engaging, and he presents a convincing case for replacing the old "narrative of conflict"... Anyone with an interest in the science-religion debate, whatever their level of expertise, will welcome this balanced and thoughtful contribution. -- The Independent * Adrian Read *Anyone, Christian, atheist or wavering, could gain from it. * Reform Magazine *It's a tour de force..the lovely thing for me, given his enormous intellect, is his humility. * Engage Magazine *A warm approach that invites us to move beyond the conflict narrative... The main purpose of the book is... to win partners into what McGrath calls a 'narrative of enrichment. * Scottish Christian Broadcast *He uses brilliant logic and arguments from morality, logic and ethics to show that reality only makes sense in a Christian worldview. * Families First Magazine *

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Book SynopsisChristianity is in crisis, and its founder is often misunderstood and misinterpreted. This book presents the real Jesus: a rebel, a radical, and a revolutionary.What did Jesus -- the original Jesus -- say about the pressing issues of his and our day? He didn''t mention homosexuality but did call for the poor and marginalized to be protected and championed; he never spoke of abortion but did criticize the wealthy and complacent; he didn''t side with the rulers and wealthy but did condemn those who judged and exploited others and turned their eyes away from those in need and from the cry for justice. This was Jesus the rebel, Christ the radical, who turned the world upside down and demanded that his followers do the same. Too many of those followers, tragically, seem to have misplaced that vital lesson.Trade ReviewIntegrity, wit and passion. A fine advocate for the best of Christian thought and a faith that encompasses the human as well as the divine. * Stephen Fry *In an era when hysteria and hate-filled anger are seeking a new respectability in public discourse, Michael Coren is a welcome voice of sanity, reminding us that God is worshipped as a God of love. * Rev. Prof. Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford *Coren’s blunt writing style may stretch the ideas of his conservative readers while bolstering those of his more progressive audience; the personal anecdotes sprinkled throughout the text complement his conclusions. For thoughtful theologians and laypeople alike. * Booklist *Christianity today often comes in two forms: ignorance on fire or intelligence on ice. Michael Coren offers a different route. His theology enters the mind via the heart. His belief is in a God who loves us as we are but who doesn't want us to stay like that. Faith is the 'sandpaper of the soul', amending the human self in order to edit the world into somewhere more just and livable. If religion for you is just the bland leading the bland, then stop. Pick this book up and give it a go. It just might be that you too will become, in the spirit of Christ, a rebel with a cause. * Rev. Canon Mark Oakley, Dean of St John's College, University of Cambridge *Michael Coren’s new book The Rebel Christ is an inspired pleasure to read. It’s clear and well-paced arguments reveal a refreshingly fierce optimism, and an indignation that springs from Coren’s passion for Christianity’s potential. * The Charity Report *Table of ContentsContents Author’s Note Introduction 1: Church, Community, the Divide, and the Debate 2: Jesus Hates Commies 3: God Made People Gay, He Didn’t Make Them Gay-Hating 4: Life Begins at … Being Really, Really Angry About Abortion A Last Word Bibliography About the Author

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Book SynopsisThis book is intended to provide a quick introductory overview of the Tiberian Masoretic tradition of the Hebrew Bible and its background. It was this tradition that produced the great Masoretic codices of the Middle Ages, which form the basis of modern printed editions of the Hebrew Bible.

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Book SynopsisThis volume sets out an exposition of the seven key iconic moments of Christian intellectual history that formulate the classical profession of Jesus Christ as the Word of God Incarnate.

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Book SynopsisThis new history of the Christian right does not stop at national or religious boundaries. Benjamin Cowan chronicles the advent of a hemispheric religious movement whose current power and influence make headlines and generate no small amount of shock in Brazil and the United States.

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Book SynopsisTakes the reader deep inside faith and character-based correctional institutions, analysing the subtle meanings and difficult choices with which the incarcerated, prison administrators, staff, and chaplains grapple every day.Trade Review[A] vibrant study. . . . an intelligent take on an under-the-radar niche in the American prison system, and one that will raise eyebrows with readers interested in the intersection of faith and justice." —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA daily guide to prayer in our everyday lives.In Say it to God Luigi Gioia provides a welcome encouragement to all those who feel the need to freshen their practice of prayer. For Gioia, prayer is not about methods or techniques, but trusting that God is truly interested in everything that happens to us and wants to hear about it. The book leads the reader into the theological aspects of prayer and how it relates to Christ, to the Holy Spirit and to the Church. This is done without using complex theological concepts but simply through scriptural quotations. Chapters are kept brief intentionally to make the book suitable for daily reading over the Lenten period.With a foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Say it to God demonstrates that the everyday, even the most mundane of tasks and situations, can be applied in deepening our practice of prayer.Trade ReviewSay it to God will take the reader on a prayer journey that lasts way beyond the 40 days of Lent ... This book is an ideal companion and study book for Lent but it’s far more than that, it could well be a book for life as you return to it again and again as you go deeper into your prayer journey. -- Kath Cope * Together *Table of ContentsForeword Any scrap of wood Blessed crisis Closing the door A presence we discover in us Saving time Meaning words Something mysterious Unexpected glimpses Fine-tuning An ever-flowing river A room not of our making The right posture Overcoming suspicion A larger picture Reclaiming our freedom A new day A new heart As for me, I trust in you Throwing mountains in the sea Delays The wings of a dove A whisper The shepherd’s whistle Afraid of disappointment These words I could not say Say it to God Afterword

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Book SynopsisThe definitive book on miracles from the New York Times bestselling author of Bonhoeffer, Eric Metaxas.Trade ReviewMetaxas has an engaging, witty and lucid style that captures interest from the start...He has a gift for intelligent story telling . * Reflections Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''Very interesting, it''s all about not alienating people before they even think about crossing the threshold of where you worship.'' Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2Do you feel more at home on the edges of faith than at the centre? Would you call yourself a bit of a black sheep? Too often Christian spirituality has been associated with conformity, or a subculture where people don''t feel able to ask questions. But Dave Tomlinson, author of How to be a bad Christian, doesn''t think it has to be like this; instead, our spiritual communities can be ''laboratories of the Spirit'' - places where we can explore issues of faith and spirit with openness, imagination and creativity. Welcome to black sheep spirituality - where doubts and questions are an essential part of faith; where difference of opinion is a sign of a secure community; where divine revelation is embraced wherever it is found - in the arts, science and the natural worldTrade ReviewI finished Black Sheep and Prodigals impressed by the work of Dave Tomlinson, and I would be a difficult person to win over: here is a priest who celebrates holy communion with Hobnob biscuits and communicates the unbaptised ... what shines through is Tomlinson's commitment to people whom the Church has missed, or grasped all too eagerly and burnt in the process. - The Church Times

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Book SynopsisGlobalisation and consumerism affect every area of our lives. But it''s not just about shopping; these powerful forces shape our personal lives, how we relate to one another, how we view the world - and they are having a seriously detrimental impact both on the lives of the global poor, and on the health of the planet itself. Every Christian in every generation down through the history of the church has had to work out what it means to be a follower of Jesus in their particular culture; for us in the twenty-first century, we must think about discipleship in a globalised, consumerist context. Environmentalist and theologian Ruth Valerio examines these issues in a book that is intellectually rigorous yet practical, and as inspiring as it is challenging.Trade ReviewA book that is as inspiring as it is challenging. * The Methodist Recorder *Prophetic and challenging... this is an important book, as key as 'Rich Christians in an age of hunger' was forty years ago. * The Reader *An enjoyable and informative read... She cheerfully guides the reader through the different sections of the book in a down-to-earth kind of way, which is appealing... I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to engage with these important issues from a Christian viewpoint. * Together Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''An exciting, engaging and intellectually serious book'' Dr Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury ''I think it''s brilliant!'' Bishop Stephen CottrellHow is it that a faith that began in 1st century Palestine with a handful of followers has become the largest movement the world has ever known? Christianity: A Complete Introduction traces the story of the Christian faith from sandals to cyberspace. It describes the origins and key ideas of Christianity and gives an account of how it looks in the modern world. Socially, scientifically, economically and politically, Christianity today inhabits a very different world from that of Jesus of Nazareth and his early disciples. Yet it seems to possess an inherent ability to survive and thrive in the face of great change. It remains a compelling and powerful faith in the modern world, with a rich and diverse heritage. Whether you are preparing for an essay, studying for an exam, orTrade ReviewExciting and engaging... This 'Teach Yourself' book is quite remarkable. * Reflection Magazine *John Young's addition to the series has provided many people with an introduction to Christianity. * The War Cry *The book is a fascinating combination of history, biblical studies and cultural references that provides an overview of Christianity [...] this is an accessible, challenging and helpful introduction. * Christian Today *A comprehensive introduction... in a format which can easily be dipped into. * Methodist Recorder *

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Book SynopsisWhen we seek God''s voice, God is far from silent.In this profound spiritual testimony, Joyce Huggett draws on many years'' experience of prayerfully listening to God to offer practical guidance and advice for anyone seeking a new dimension of prayer.Offering encouragement to start out on the journey, she tackles common difficulties honestly, and points towards a thrilling new relationship with God.This book, described as ''a spiritual classic'' has over thirty years provided invaluable help to many thousands of people seeking greater depth in their spiritual life. This edition contains a chapter looking at what we can learn from the different streams of Christian spirituality.Trade ReviewA classic... full of wisdom, humility and honesty. * Families First *

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Book Synopsis''A compelling biography of one of the greatest men of the modern age. Stanford is particularly brilliant on the tensions inside Luther''s private and spiritual life. This is a very fine book, written with a flourish.'' Melvyn BraggThe 31st of October 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther pinning his 95 ''Theses'' - or reform proposals - to the door of his local university church in Wittenberg. Most scholars now agree that the details of this eye-catching gesture are more legend than hammer and nails, but what is certainly true is that on this day (probably in a letter to his local Archbishop in Mainz), the Augustinian Friar and theologian issued an outspokenly blunt challenge to his own Catholic Church to reform itself from within - especially over the sale of ''indulgences'' - which ultimately precipitated a huge religious and political upheaval right across Europe and divided mainstream Christianity ever after.A new, popular biography froTrade ReviewPeter Stanford's timely biography gives a vivid portrait of a deep flawed man. * The Daily Mail *Of all the books published this year to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this is probably the most important and one and the best for a mass market. He has endeavoured to create a painstakingly researched profile of Luther himself, offering important background on the world he lived in and the theological and political context of the time in which he lived. The result is a popular and lively biography. * Life and Work Magazine *Stanford is the author of Martin Luther - Catholic Dissident, which among many other things seeks to humanise a man who did more than most to shape the modern world. * Christian Today *An accessible, easy-to-read biography which introduces the reader to complex theology, history, and sociology ... This is a biography for those who wish to dip their toes in Christian history without wading in too deep, and thus is a book for priests and people alike. * Churchman *

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Book SynopsisIn this 365 day devotional New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer explores the life-changing power of a grateful heart. Through uplifting Scripture, Joyce illustrates God''s never-ending love, inexhaustible grace and always-accessible presence in our lives. As we develop a renewed outlook, we will better recognize and be further blessed by God''s abundant goodness.Each devotion will also include a prayer of thanks, so that we may begin every day ready to receive the transforming power of a thankful heart.Trade ReviewThere is a 'feel good' factor about this book that encourages an attitude of gratitude for God's abundant goodness. * Reflections Magazine *

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Book SynopsisGripping story of the events that led up to the sailing of the MayflowerTrade ReviewThis is a rattling good read. Stephen Tomkins conveys the sweep of Reformation history through the hair-raising, sometimes hilarious and often tragic stories of the men and women who suffered or survived it. There's a startling sense of déjà vu as the reader is confronted with the dedication and vehemence of those who pursued their dream ofa perfect church. -- The Archbishop of York, Dr John SentamuThe Journey to the Mayflower is a riveting story; it is impeccably researched history but more than this, it is an account that allows us to trace the essential elements of western democracy and liberalism to the key struggle for religious freedom. Stephen Tomkins's work reminds us that individual liberty as we understand it today would nothave been possible without the experience of those who fought for their freedom to believe. Well written, engaging and entertaining, this book serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding religious freedom in our current age. -- Tim Farron MPHere is a gripping and informed account of the people and pressures that launched the Mayflower. Stephen Tomkins is a capable historian, but never dull, and a respectful yet critical friend of the early puritans. This is an important chapter in England's Christian story, and America's too, very well told. -- John Proctor, General Secretary of the United Reformed ChurchAs a Mayflower descendant and a religious leader committed to a fervent faith that seeks new pathways to old truths, I find this book enlightening and delightful. It tells the story of those whose courage rekindled a faith made stale by practices and doctrines more material than spiritual: a reminder that we are always reforming, always keeping pace with a Holy Spirit whose work it is to rescue the Church from its inhibiting complacency and misplaced ambition. -- Rev. Dr John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of ChristIt is an informative and lively account, based on thorough research * Methodist Recorder *vivid, fast-paced prose . . . At the heart of Tomkins's book is the thought that the arguments these puritans developed against the imposition of idolatry and superstition upon themselves would soon become broader arguments for thepossibility of dissent, for liberty and religious choice. * Church Times *Puritanism was not a pretext for the 'reformation of manners': it was a spiritual epiphany. * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisThe traffic is backed up, the kids are screaming, and the car is making a funny noise again. Any one of these challenges can test our temperament and rob us of joy. Our impulse is to write today off and hope for a better tomorrow. However, this creates a hard pattern to break. One terrible day easily turns into many-and soon we''re living a life far from what God has in mind for us. A new, transforming sense of excitement, happiness, and contentment in our lives is possible when we pursue God''s goodness each day. In 20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER, Joyce Meyer shares biblical illustrations, actionable advice, uplifting stories, and the encouragement we need to start enjoying the life God created for us.

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Book SynopsisAll the gospels bring us close to the person of Jesus Christ and encourage us to follow him. But Matthew''s Gospel is a powerful summons for disciples of Jesus to become disciple-makers in the nations.In this lively and accessible commentary, Ben Cooper highlights the missionary purpose that shapes the Gospel from start to finish, while drawing our attention to Matthew''s rich theology. In this Gospel there is treasure new and old, rest for our souls and teaching for a life of service.About the Hodder Bible CommentaryThe Hodder Bible Commentary is a comprehensive 50-volume Bible commentary series. Doctrinally sensitive and globally aware, its goal is to encourage a deepened knowledge and understanding of Scripture.Accessible and insightful expository commentary explores the timeless message of the Bible and applies it to the challenges of today''s world. Written by a range of authors and supported by consultant editors from around the world, it

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Book SynopsisTaking the analysis of worldwide Christianity to a deeper level of detail, this volume focuses on Christianity in East and Southeast Asia, covering every country and offering both reliable demographic information and original interpretative essays by indigenous scholars and practitioners.

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Book SynopsisThis exhaustive reference volume covers the state of Christianity in every country in Oceania, offering reliable demographic information and original interpretative essays by indigenous scholars and practitioners. It maps patterns of growth and decline, assesses major traditions and movements, analyses key themes and examines current trends.

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Book SynopsisIf Todd''s first book, Heaven Is for Real, was about the then and there of heaven, GOD IS FOR REAL is about the here and now on earth:Why are there are so many hypocritical church people? Why do Christians make such a big deal about the cross? Why doesn''t God seem to answer our biggest prayers?People are tired of pat answers offered up in churchy language explaining away their questions; we want the down-and-dirty truth. What bothers us about life and faith is real and gritty. We need a plain-spoken voice to offer God''s answers to difficult struggles and painful doubts.Todd charges into these subjects with a fireman''s courage, a small-town friend''s vulnerability, and a local pastor''s compassion. He helps articulate the questions people have, then gives them relevant biblical wisdom for taking their next steps in faith.God is ready to meet you! Are you ready to meet Him?

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Book Synopsis**FINALIST, 2022 PROSE Award in Theology & Religious Studies**An innovative exploration of religion''s influence on communication networksWhen Samuel Morse sent the words what hath God wrought from the US Supreme Court to Baltimore in mere minutes, it was the first public demonstration of words travelling faster than human beings and farther than a line of sight in the US. This strange confluence of media, religion, technology, and US nationhood lies at the foundation of global networks.The advent of a telegraph cable crossing the Atlantic Ocean was viewed much the way the internet is today, to herald a coming world-wide unification. President Buchanan declared that the Atlantic Telegraph would be an instrument destined by divine providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world through which the nations of Christendom [would] spontaneously unite. Evangelical Protestantism embraced the new technology as indicatTrade ReviewWhen the Medium Was the Mission excavates the entire assemblage surrounding the first transatlantic undersea cable, typically thought of as marking the birth of network culture in 1858. Rather than build on the conventional definition of a network — which favors the technological structure connecting nodes — Supp-Montgomerie begins with the premise that networks have always been 'first and foremost imaginaries' or enactments of 'particular forms of social and material life.' This framing makes clear that whatever we currently believe about the inherent affordances of networks is in fact what our network environment allows us to believe. * LA Review of Books *As refreshingly original as it is persuasive, Supp-Montgomerie’s media history traces the entwined trajectories of religious affect and network-oriented thinking as they emerged in reference to American telegraphy. Her stories of fervid missionaries, Bible communists, and Protestant utopians—as of failed connections and togetherness defeated—should resonate for readers today who are steeped in Silicon Valley evangelism. -- Lisa Gitelman, author of Paper Knowledge: Toward a Media History of DocumentsSupp-Montgomerie models how to integrate the study of human and non-human actors in American religious history, offering us a fascinating account of infrastructure’s work to animate religious life and of the politics such religious infrastructure enabled. -- Judith Weisenfeld, Agate Brown and George L. Collord Professor of Religion, Princeton UniversityNets consist mostly of holes: that’s what makes them nets. This insight drives Jenna Supp-Montgomerie’s revisionist genealogy of our network-intoxicated present. With a rich social-theoretical imagination and generous interpretive brush, she shows how technological dreamers conjure tales of rapture and sizzle from facts of rupture and fizzle. Networks, like Penelope’s loom, unravel as they ravel. This insight is both foundational for media history and a moral truth of the first order. -- John Durham Peters, Yale UniversityTheoretically sophisticated and written in an engaging style,When the Medium Was the Mission describes a heady world of invisible affects, circulating discourses, and utopian fantasies, quickened by (though not quite reliant on) the cables corroding at the bottom of an ocean. * American Religion *Interdisciplinarity is one of Supp-Montgomerie’s particular strengths in this book. When the Medium Was the Mission cleverly blends history (including impressive archival finds) and theory from several fields, such as communication studies, media studies, history, and religious studies. * Media Industries *

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Book SynopsisHow embryo adoption advances the Christian Right's political goals for creating a Christian nationIn 1997, a group of white pro-life evangelical Christians in the United States created the nation's first embryo adoption program to save the thousands of frozen human embryos remaining from assisted reproduction procedures, which they contend are unborn children. While a small part of US fertility services, embryo adoption has played an outsized role in conservative politics, from high-profile battles over public investment in human embryonic stem cell research to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Based on six years of ethnographic research with embryo adoption staff and participants, Risa Cromer uncovers how embryo adoption advances ambitious political goals for expanding the influence of conservative Christian values and power.Conceiving Christian America is the first book on embryo adoption tracing how this powerful social movement draws on white saviorist troTrade Review"A stunning portrait of how the reproductive politics of ‘saving’ embryos is closely tied to contemporary right-wing politics of ‘saving’ lives through abortion bans. A must-read." -- Marcia Inhorn, author of Motherhood on Ice: The Mating Gap and Why Women Freeze Their Eggs"Beautifully written and thoroughly researched. Conceiving Christian America is a brilliant tribute to the tradition of feminist cultural analysis out of which it emerges. This book will surely become an instant classic." -- Sarah Franklin, Director, Reproductive Sociology Research Group, University of Cambridge"Remarkable and timely. . . . Cromer brings nuance and sophistication to understanding what lies behind the polarizing politics of the culture wars around reproduction in America." -- Faye Ginsburg, co-editor, Conceiving the New World Order: The Global Politics of Reproduction"Brimming with riveting stories . . . Cromer presents a compelling look inside a growing social movement that aims to transform how we think about embryos, reproduction, and the nation. Conceiving Christian America offers invaluable insight for clinicians and policymakers, andmakes a powerful contribution to feminist social science on the reproductive politics of American conservatism." -- Lynn Morgan, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Mount Holyoke College"Cromer emphasizes her encounters with many individuals who support embryo adoption yet reject these associations–and in fact draw on their faith tradition to oppose these distorted values. Her final reflections, however, invite us to a more sobering conclusion: the entrenched patterns of white innocence and white saviorism operating in embryo adoption fuel the larger project of the far right, which has greater ambitions and threatens devastating consequences." * Center for Genetics and Society *

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Book SynopsisAn engaging look into the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, queer activists devoted to social justice The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence make up an unlikely order of nuns. Self-described as twenty-first century queer nuns, the Sisters began in 1979 when three bored gay men donned retired Roman Catholic nuns' habits and went for a stroll through San Francisco's gay Castro district. The stunned and delighted responses they received prompted these already-seasoned activists to consider whether the habits might have some use in social justice work, and within a year they had constituted the new order. Today, with more than 83 houses on four different continents, the Sisters offer health outreach, support, and, at times, protest on behalf of queer communities. In Queer Nuns, Melissa M. Wilcox offers new insights into the role the Sisters play across queer culture and the religious landscape. The Sisters both spoof nuns and argue quite seriously that they are nunsTrade ReviewWilcox (religious studies, Univ. of California, Riverside) has a sterling record of scholarship on queer theory in religion. Here she offers a history and critical assessment of the work of LGBTQ activists who consider themselves nuns … Readers benefit from not only the author’s extensive field work but also her commitment to critical theory and ability to see power dynamics. -- CHOICEWilcox, chair of Religious Studies at UC-Riverside, has written an ambitious analysis of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a worldwide “order” of drag queens that originated in San Francisco in the late 1970s as the gay rights movement was gaining momentum -- The Gay & Lesbian QuarterlyIn this interdisciplinary tour de force, Melissa M. Wilcox draws from history, sociology, queer studies, and religious studies to understand the origins, cultural politics, and religious landscape of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a network of men who describe themselves as “queer nuns” dedicated to “‘the promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt’” (their mission, as quoted on p. 15). Since their formation in 1979, the Sisters have been at the forefront of queer activism. Wilcox’s detailed and analytically rich account of the Sisters’ history, activism, and growth draws from an array of archival records and an impressive number of interviews. In addition, Wilcox’s development of the theoretical concept of “serious parody” charts how religious studies and queer studies can intersect in unexpected ways. -- Resources for Gender and Women's StudiesWilcox beautifully demonstrates how serious political and social engagement can emerge from queer religious camp. In short, this book piles fascinating and novel theoretical engagement upon great historical and sociological narrative--it's a must read! -- Anthony M. Petro,author of After the Wrath of God: AIDS, Sexuality, and American ReligionA serious study of serious parody. Melissa Wilcox shows how the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have combined a certain lightness of being with a definite seriousness of purpose to create performative politics and religious practices that open onto a very different world than the one in which we find ourselves. Wilcox brings a scholarly richness and wonderful intelligence to the Sisters stories, offering a lesson about how to live in times when parody is the best, if not the only, way to communicate with any seriousness. -- Janet Jakobsen,Claire Tow Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Barnard College, Columbia UniversityAn important contribution to queering religious studies [...] this book will prove equally useful (in whole or in part) within introductory courses on religious studies (“in America” or “and politics,” for instance) and queer studies as well as upper-level investigations of theory and method for the study of religion. Students will find this text both outrageously entertaining and thought-provoking, and Wilcox is especially adept at coherently synthesizing and making use of concepts from across the academy—like “disidentification” and “homonormativity”—as well as terms and practices from queer life and activism. * Religious Studies Review *Wilcox’s study demonstrates how much scholars of religion have to learn about religion by attending to its parodic representations. This book is therefore essential reading in American religions and in queer studies. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Wilcox’s study is rigorously researched, beautifully crafted and highly readable. It invites us to rethink what it is to queer spirituality, to be religious and do religion in the 21st century.. * Journal of Religion, Media, and Digital Culture *

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Book SynopsisIt's time to plan some unforgettable moments with your family! Containing sections for each month of the year, this companion resource to The Lifegiving Home is a planner full of creative ideas that will help you be intentional about creating times and spaces for your family to relax, celebrate, and simply enjoy one another all year long. You'll learn how to cultivate special times that will speak to your family's hearts . . . and inspire cherished memories that you will all treasure.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever looked into the faces of the people who call you mom and wondered what in the world you got yourself into?If you're like many Christian moms today, you've been reading the headlines and watching the rapid-fire changes in our culture with frustration and fear. Let's face it: Moms today are facing questions that previous generations didn't even see coming, and even our right to determine what is best for our own children is under fire. Popular speaker and blogger Heidi St. John (The Busy Mom) believes that today's mothers need a special kind of strength. We need to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We dare not rely on human strength for the battles we're facing right now. In Becoming MomStrong, Heidi has a powerful message just for youthe mom in the midst of it all. Through encouragement, practical prayer points, and authentic me-too moments, Heidi equips you for a job that only you can do: to train your children to hear God's voice and

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Book SynopsisMatthias Smalbrugge compares modern images to plays without a script: while they appear to refer to a deeper identity or reality, it is ultimately the image itself that truly matters. He argues that our modern society of images is the product of a destructive tendency in the Christian notion of the image in general, and Augustine of Hippo''s in particular. This insight enables him to decode our current scripts' of image. As we live in an increasingly visual culture, we are constantly confronted with images that seem to exist without a deeper identity or reality but did this referential character really get lost over time? Smalbrugge first explores the roots of the modern image by analysing imagery, what it represents, and its moral state within the framework of Platonic philosophy. He then moves to the Augustinian heritage, in particular the Soliloquies, the Confessions and the Trinity, where he finds valuable insights into images and memory. He explores within Trade ReviewIn this volume, Matthias Smalbrugge argues convincingly that we have lost track of the fundamentally referential nature of images. That images are referential at best, Smalbrugge argues, is demonstrated by Augustine’s doctrine of mankind’s fall. By stressing the dogma that sin broke the image of God that mankind possessed in paradise, Augustine focused on dissimilarity, or deconstruction, on an epistemological, moral and ontological level. In the time since Augustine, however, the West has forgotten the notion of the constructive relation of similarity that binds an image and its original. Consequently, we approach images as realities that stand on their own and have lost sight of the originals that stand behind them. This essay – erudite, eloquent, and thoroughly researched – is highly recommended both for specialists in Augustine and ancient thought as well as for anyone who wants to reflect on the history of Western thought and contemporary culture. It invites us to imagine, to hold our images up to the light, and to see them for what they really are. -- Anthony Dupont, KU Leuven, BelgiumTable of Contents1. Introduction: A Play without a Script 2. The Image as a Shadow: Plato’s Cave 3. Augustine and the broader focus on Image 4. The Different Forms of Similarity 5. De Trinitate 6. The Final Question: It’s all about Language Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBy both its supporters and detractors, neoliberalism is usually considered an economic policy agenda. Neoliberalism's Demons argues that it is much more than that: a complete worldview, neoliberalism presents the competitive marketplace as the model for true human flourishing. And it has enjoyed great success: from the struggle for "global competitiveness" on the world stage down to our individual practices of self-branding and social networking, neoliberalism has transformed every aspect of our shared social life. The book explores the sources of neoliberalism's remarkable success and the roots of its current decline. Neoliberalism's appeal is its promise of freedom in the form of unfettered free choice. But that freedom is a trap: we have just enough freedom to be accountable for our failings, but not enough to create genuine change. If we choose rightly, we ratify our own exploitation. And if we choose wrongly, we are consigned to the outer darkness—and then demonized as the cause of social ills. By tracing the political and theological roots of the neoliberal concept of freedom, Adam Kotsko offers a fresh perspective, one that emphasizes the dynamics of race, gender, and sexuality. More than that, he accounts for the rise of right-wing populism, arguing that, far from breaking with the neoliberal model, it actually doubles down on neoliberalism's most destructive features. Trade Review"In all of the hubbub about neoliberalism, one often feels that there is not much more to say. Adam Kotsko's premise—that the devil and the neoliberal subject can only ever choose their own damnation—is as original as it is breathtaking. Everyone should read this book." -- James Martel * San Francisco State University *"It's been a long time since I've read something so acutely in tune with its political moment. Both wide-ranging and impressively concise, this book offers one of the most compelling critical analyses of neoliberalism I've yet encountered, understood holistically as an economic agenda, a moral vision, and a state mission." -- Peter Hallward * Kingston University London *"[An] important book....Useful to scholars and students in subfields ranging from philosophy of religion and theology to contingently grounded studies of the politics and law....Critical analysis here lays the grounds for constructive work, with Kotsko gesturing toward an as-yet-unknown eschatological future." -- Spencer Dew * Religious Studies Review *"Neoliberalism's Demons is a concise and persuasive account of the political, economic, and moral universe we inhabit, and is therefore essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand their own condition." -- Jonathan Megerian * New Books Network *Table of ContentsContents and Abstracts1The Political Theology of Late Capital chapter abstractThis chapter begins by recognizing that pairing neoliberalism and political theology is counterintuitive. On the one hand, most accounts of neoliberalism leave little room for the conventional themes of political theology. On the other hand, Schmitt's initial formulation of political theology denigrates the economic concerns that are ostensibly the sole concern of neoliberalism. Hence this chapter shows that the conventional themes of political theology emerge persistently in the existing accounts of neoliberalism and provides grounds in Schmitt's text for a broader vision of the field that could include a phenomenon like neoliberalism. This more general political theology would ask about attempts to answer the ultimately unanswerable question that is expressed theologically as the problem of evil and politically as the problem of legitimacy. The chapter concludes by sketching a political theology of neoliberalism centered on the core legitimating principle of freedom. 2The Political and the Economic chapter abstractThis chapter makes the case for overcoming political theology's traditional hostility toward the economic realm. Drawing on the work of Wendy Brown, Giorgio Agamben, and Dotan Leshem, it traces this binary opposition back to the work of Hannah Arendt, who famously opposes the two realms and privileges the political over the economic. It then argues that "Arendt's axiom" is false: there is no pregiven distinction between the political and the economic; in fact, each political theological paradigm—very much including neoliberalism—reconfigures that binary for its own ends. Along the way the chapter holds up a variety of examples of alternative approaches to the relation of the political and the economic, including those of Marie-José Mondzain, Mark C. Taylor, Philip Goodchild, Joshua Ramey, and Eric Santner. 3Neoliberalism's Demons chapter abstractThis chapter provides an account of neoliberalism as a political-theological paradigm that governs every sphere of social life—not just the state and the economy but religion, family structure, sexual practice, gender relations, and racialization—by means of a logic of demonization. Drawing a parallel between the shift to neoliberalism and the origins of capitalism, it argues that capitalist ideologues have tended to find common cause with reactionary Christians because both adhere to a worldview centered on divine providence, which is in turn inextricably intertwined with demonization as a logic of moral entrapment. The difference between neoliberalism and neoconservatism is more often one of degree than of kind, with the former leaving more room for redemption and the latter opting more often for total, irreversible demonization for subject populations. 4This Present Darkness chapter abstractThe political theological account of neoliberalism developed in the previous chapter serves as the basis for an investigation of the reactionary populist wave represented by the Brexit vote and the Trump presidency. Rather than attempt to directly answer the question of whether it makes sense to view these phenomena as betokening the "end" of neoliberalism, the chapter begins by asking what the advent of the reactionary wave tells us about the intrinsic vulnerabilities of neoliberalism, focusing on the areas of electoral legitimation, the politicization of expertise, and the vision of society as a perpetual competition. It concludes by arguing that reactionary populism is a "heretical" version of the political theology of neoliberalism, which pushes core neoliberal values to near-parodic extremes. Conclusion: After Neoliberalism chapter abstractThis chapter begins by consolidating the new concept of political theology developed in the preceding chapters. It then asks what the general shape of a true break with neoliberalism might look like, drawing clues from the collapse of the Fordist regime that preceded it. It argues that Fordism's downfall came from its decision to preserve and tame capitalist structures—including structures of race, gender relations, and family—which were intended to legitimate the Fordist regime but were ultimately instrumental in its downfall. Any attempt to rebuild Fordist welfare state structures or even state-run industries would be vulnerable to a similar overthrow as long as the market economy remained the foundation of society. Hence, the only way to create a durable alternative to neoliberalism will require abolishing the "invisible hand" and taking control of the process of production through conscious, collective deliberation and decision making.

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Book SynopsisReligious commitments can be a powerful engine for progressive social change, and in this new book, Raúl E. Zegarra examines the process of articulation of religious beliefs and political concerns that takes place in religious organizing and activism. Focusing on the example of Latin American liberation theology and the work of Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, Zegarra shows how liberation theology advocates have been able to produce a new balance between faith and politics that advances an agenda of progressive social change without reducing politics to faith or faith to politics. Drawing from theologian David Tracy's method of critical correlation, the book focuses on key historical, philosophical, and theological shifts that have allowed liberation theologians to produce a new interpretation of the relationship between faith and politics in the Christian tradition, especially when issues of social justice are at stake. The book further approaches liberation theology's contributions to theorizing social justice through an unconventional path: a critical dialogue with the work of philosopher John Rawls. This dialogue, as Zegarra contends, allows us to see more clearly the contributions of liberation theology to the cause of progressive social change. Ultimately the book stands between "public religion" and "public reason," offering something of a blueprint for theological innovation and for how to remain committed to one's faith while respecting and defending the core values of democracy. Trade Review"This is the best book on public theology I have read in a long time. A compelling read on every page, A Revolutionary Faith offers a highly original reflection on liberation theology and its relevance for our secular age."—José Casanova, Georgetown University"How do religious people articulate their theological commitments to social justice? A Revolutionary Faith offers a lucid and insightful account. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the convergence of faith and politics."—Mayra Rivera, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisIn this powerful narrative, bestselling author Sarah Price takes us on the dark road to addiction. Laura Reese is losing control. Compassionate and conscientious, she excels as a post-op nurse, but her new supervisor doesn’t care how much she needs time off. Although she’s a selfless wife and mother, news of her husband’s promotion only fills her with anxiety. The country-club lifestyle he craves triggers memories of the dysfunctional family she came from, and of her own mother’s single-minded ambition to climb the social ladder. Laura has reached a breaking point. For her, there’s only one way to pull it all together, to balance the demands of her family and job, and to keep pleasing everyone she loves. But her little blue pills are pushing her closer to the edge…

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