Religious and spiritual figures Books

Book SynopsisIn this accompanying Participant's Guide to The Present Future DVD Collection, best-selling author Reggie McNeal offers a hands-on workbook for church leaders to use throughout the DVD sessions and their own church development. The Participant''s Guide includes the following: A brief introduction to the main issues the DVDs address, to help orient you to the questions and challenges it raises. Conversation Starters, questions designed to spark thinking and insight (as well as conversations with your fellow participants) as you ponder your responses to viewing the DVD sessions. Questions that you may consider between sessions. *The Present Future DVD Collection: Six Tough Questions for the Church by Reggie McNeal contains 1 copy of the Participant's Guide.Table of ContentsPreparing for the Future! Introduction to the DVD Curriculum: What Are You Looking At? New Reality Number One: Generational Cultures and the Collapse of the Church Culture. New Reality Number Two: The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth. New Reality Number Three: A New Reformation: Releasing God’s People. New Reality Number Four: The Return to Spiritual Formation. New Reality Number Five: The Shift from Planning to Preparation. New Reality Number Six: The Rise of Apostolic Leadership. What’s Next? The Author.

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Book SynopsisNot all definitions of leadership are equal. This book helps pastors minister effectively by understanding the unique nature of being a Christian leader.

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Book SynopsisWhy is it important to rethink the church? Today many leaders focus on how their ministries can be run more efficiently. But the foundational question, according to James Emery White, should be Why do we have this ministry? and then, Why do we do this ministry the way we do? Is it effective? Rethinking the Church helps pastors and lay leaders work through questions that must be answered if a church is to rethink evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship, community, and the structure of the church. Break old molds, check assumptions, and be sensitive, says White. He uses the language and aims of 'seeker-targeted' churches but urges readers not to tie themselves to any model without understanding the individual purpose of their church. Now thoroughly revised and expanded, Rethinking the Church contains more emphasis and key material on how to move from rethinking to transition. White blends biblical reflection and hands-on experience and uses the early church as descr

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Book SynopsisTraining the next generation of leaders is crucial to spreading the gospel, yet most churches have no formal way of doing this. Why? Tight budgets, small staffs, and a lack of know-how are just a few reasons suggested by church consultants Aubrey Malphurs and William Mancini in this groundbreaking book. Building Leaders provides real-life examples of ways churches can unleash their true ministry potential by training staff members and laypeople to lead. With step-by-step instructions that can be applied to any church or parachurch ministry, Building Leaders shows readers how to: - empower, not just train, leaders - overcome obstacles to developing leaders- identify emerging leaders - use biblical models for training leaders- form a leadership training program to fit any size or budget Packed with surveys, discussion questions, and a leadership development guide, Building Leaders will encourage leaders to 'duplicate themselves' in orde

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Book SynopsisStephen J. Shoemaker investigates contradictory traditions about the end of Muhammad's life in the Islamic and non-Islamic sources of the seventh and eighth centuries.Trade Review"[Shoemaker] develops [previous ideas] substantially, discusses them in the light of recent publications, and also offers highly instructive parallels with the situation in (and scholarship on) early Christianity. . . . [He] has done a very good job of highlighting the issues and giving them sophisticated and thorough discussion, and [The Death of a Prophet] is a worthwhile addition to the fast-expanding body of material on Islamic origins." * Journal of the American Oriental Society *"A work of utmost importance, and one that has profound implications for our understanding of how Islam began." * Fred Donner, University of Chicago *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. "A Prophet Has Appeared, Coming with the Saracens": Muhammad's Leadership during the Conquest of Palestine According to Seventh- and Eighth-Century Sources Chapter 2. The End of Muhammad's Life in Early Islamic Memory: The Witness of the Sira Tradition Chapter 3. The Beginnings of Islam and the End of Days: Muhammad as Eschatological Prophet Chapter 4. From Believers to Muslims, from Jerusalem to the Hijaz: Confessional Identity and Sacred Geography in Early Islam Conclusion: Jesus and Muhammad, the Apostle and the Apostles Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisVirginia Burrus explores one of the strongest and most disturbing aspects of the Christian tradition, its excessive preoccupation with shame. While Christianity has frequently been implicated in the conversion of ancient Mediterranean cultures from shame- to guilt-based and, thus, in the emergence of the modern West's emphasis on guilt, Burrus seeks to recuperate the importance of shame for Christian culture. Focusing on late antiquity, she explores a range of fascinating phenomena, from the flamboyant performances of martyrs to the imagined abjection of Christ, from the self-humiliating disciplines of ascetics to the intimate disclosures of Augustine. Burrus argues that Christianity innovated less by replacing shame with guilt than by embracing shame. Indeed, the ancient Christians sacrificed honor but laid claim to their own shame with great energy, at once intensifying and transforming it. Public spectacles of martyrdom became the most visible means through which vulnerability to Trade Review"An intellectually rich exploration of the theological dimensions of shame in early Christian literature." * David Brakke, Indiana University *"[Burrus's] findings . . . will give scholars pause to rethink some of the fundamental assumptions that we often bring to the study of this topic and period. Her work shows that there is still plenty of intellectual room to roam in the landscape of Greco-Roman and late antique Christian scholarship." * The Medieval Review *"Burrus presents a provocative thesis that should encourage scholars to rethink their readings of early Christian sources. Her use of the shame-pride axis successfully demonstrates that Christians embraced shame and transformed it into a distinct form of identity politics. Additionally, she effectively illustrates that confessions were exhibitions of Christian shame designed to temper numerous sins, including pride, in hope of receiving God's loving mercy." * Speculum *"The sophistication of [Burrus's] interdisciplinary research on shame in affect psychology and related social scientific disciplines is readily self-evident. Saving Shame is a cogent apologia for reinterpreting the multiple faces of shame not only for historians of antiquity and early church history, but for social and intellectual historians of medieval, early modern, and modern church history as well as for historical theologians." * Sixteenth Century Journal *

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Book SynopsisJason David BeDuhn reconstructs Augustine's decade-long adherence to Manichaeism, apostasy from it, and subsequent conversion to Nicene Christianity.Trade Review"A major contribution to Augustine studies." * Journal of Religion *"BeDuhn's prose is, as usual, lucid and engaging. He brings a historical and methodological sophistication to his work that is sorely lacking in many studies of the patristic period. BeDuhn's deep knowledge of primary Manichaean sources and ritual procedures, along with his formidable grasp of his subject, makes him uniquely qualified to tackle the central importance of Manichaeism within a figure that looms so large in western intellectual tradition, but whose story is so often incompletely told." * Journal of Early Christian Studies *"What did Augustine see in Manichaeism? Why did he stay so long? . . . BeDuhn's richly explored answers are worth a cover-to-cover read, presenting as he does such treasure culled from every aspect of Augustine's relationship with Manichaeism from his conversion to that sect to his apostasy from it." * Church History *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Becoming Manichaean Chapter 2. Inhabitation Chapter 3. Indoctrination Chapter 4. Faustus Chapter 5. Exile Chapter 6. The Apostate Chapter 7. Conversion Chapter 8. Rationalizing Faith Chapter 9. A New Man? Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRebillard has thoughtfully and effectively attempted to retranslate, redate, and reshape the way that we think about and use ‘authentic’ accounts of martyrdom in the telling of Christian history… Though brief, The Early Martyr Narratives leaves its reader with much to chew over and digest…[Rebillard’s] arguments have wide-reaching ramifications for text criticism and early Christian history and challenge us to rethink why and in what ways we talk about the past. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Rebillard’s radical discussion is a significant contribution to the study of early Christian martyrdom. Not every scholar in this field will give up the quest for original versions of the martyr texts, but this volume is a must read for everyone who is interested in early Christian martyrdom. Rebillard has persuasively argued for a fundamentally new and principally literary approach to early Christian martyrdom writings, * Review of Biblical Literature *A breakthrough work. Éric Rebillard is uniquely and eminently qualified to confront the problem of the dual legacy of the Protestant-Catholic polemics of the Reformation that focused on the 'genuine' status of the accounts of saints and martyrs on the one hand, and of the emerging concerns of 'scientific historiography' of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries on the other. * Brent Shaw, author of Sacred Violence: African Christians and Sectarian Hatred in the Age of Augustine *At both the macro and micro level, in respect not only to broad literary questions but also to debates about the transmission and editing of individual texts, The Early Martyr Narratives makes significant contributions to our understanding of the real roles played by these accounts in the life of the Roman empire's Christian communities. * Dennis Trout, author of Damasus of Rome: The Epigraphic Poetry *

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Book SynopsisThis volume discusses the earliest papal decretals, covering the period from the end of the 4th century to the end of the 9th century. It begins with the first papal letters and describes their transmission and reception into the canonical tradition up to Gratian's ""Decretum"" (1140).

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Book SynopsisA Pernicious Sort of Woman provides examination of the writings of canon lawyers in the late Middle Ages as they come to terms with women who were not, strictly speaking, religious, but who were thought of as such. It studies the ways that jurists categorized these women and clarifies the ambivalent canons relating to their lives in the community.

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Book SynopsisAuthoritative and reliable editions of the Arabic and modern, lucid English translations introducing treasures of the Arabic literary heritageTrade ReviewCooperson's translation is uncommonly deft...On the whole, this translation is a grand success. It will be valuable for teachers to illustrate early Islamic piety, early Islamic law, early Sunni theology, and everyday life in Baghdad. -- Christopher Melchert * Journal of Islamic Studies *Michael Cooperson's fluid translation is accompanied by substantial notes and a glossary of names and terms. * Banipal Magazine *Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in ḥadīth, history, theology, and law, and to anyone who appreciates a good read. * Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt *This second and final volume recounts Ibn Hanbal’s confrontation with the Abbasid caliphate as he refused to accept rationalist doctrine...Ibn al-Jawzi’s book gives a comprehensive account of Ibn Hanbal’s life and experiences. -- Abdul Adil * The Muslim News *Table of ContentsTable of Contents Chapter 51: His Love of Poverty and His Affection for the Poor 2 Chapter 52: His Humility 4 Chapter 53: His Accepting Invitations and His Withdrawal upon Seeing Things He Disapproved Of 12 Chapter 54: His Preference for Solitude 14 Chapter 55: His Wish to Live in Obscurity and His Efforts to Remain Unnoticed 20 Chapter 56: His Fear of God 22 Chapter 57: His Preoccupation and Absentmindedness 26 Chapter 58: His Devotions 28 Chapter 59: His Performances of the Pilgrimage 36 Chapter 60: His Extemporaneous Prayers and Supplications 40 Chapter 61: His Manifestations of Grace and the Effectiveness of His Prayers 46 Chapter 62: The Number of Wives He Had 52 Chapter 63: His Concubines 58 Chapter 64: The Number of His Children 62 Chapter 65: The Lives of His Children and Descendants 64 Chapter 66: How and Why the Inquisition Began 72 Chapter 67: His Experience with al-Ma ?mun 76 Chapter 68: What Happened after the Death of al-Ma ?mun 86

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Book SynopsisPrelude explores the gay female experience through a poetic reconstruction of the girlhood and adolescence of Saint Catherine of Siena

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Book SynopsisApproaching the Bible in an original waycomparing biblical heroes to heroes in world literatureElliott Rabin addresses a core biblical question: What is the Bible telling us about what it means to be a hero? Focusing on the lives of six major biblical charactersMoses, Samson, David, Esther, Abraham, and JacobRabin examines their resemblance to hero types found in (and perhaps drawn from) other literatures and analyzes why the Bible depicts its heroes less gloriously than do the texts of other cultures: * Moses founds the nation of Israeland is short-tempered and weak-armed. * Samson, arrogant and unhinged, can kill a thousand enemies with his bare hands. * David establishes a centralized, unified, triumphal governmentthrough pretense and self-deception. * Esther saves her people but marries a murderous, misogynist king. * Abraham's relationships are wracked with tension. * Jacob fathers twelve tribesand wins his inheritance through deceit. In the end, is God the reTrade Review"[Rabin's book is] wonderful to read and ponder."—Steven Kepnes, Jewish Observer"As Rabin’s excellent volume so expertly teaches us, the Bible's portrayal of its heroes inspires us today 'To have high expectations of our leaders and to tolerate their imperfections . . . Biblical heroes are role models precisely because of the difficulties they encounter, both out in the world and inside themselves.'"—Stu Halpern, Jewish Book Council"A fascinating and deceptively accessible look at the commonalities of biblical heroes and heroines with each other and with the heroes of the more modern literary tradition (e.g., Shakespeare, Austen, Whitman, Richard Wright, and Quentin Tarantino). Rabin's book is a witty and knowledgeable take on biblical heroism, and it is highly recommended to all readers."—Janelle Peters, Reading Religion"Whether you are Jewish or Christian or someone outside these two faith traditions, there will be a great reward from reading [The Biblical Hero]. . . . This is a book you'll want to add to your reading list and dive into it as soon as possible."—bobcornwall.com“In this passionate, erudite, beautifully written book, Elliott Rabin makes a compelling spiritual and literary case for the flawed biblical hero. Drawing on sources ranging from rabbinic commentators to Shakespeare, he reminds us why generations of Jews over the millennia have embraced the biblical heroes as contemporaries, urging human beings in all our brokenness to aspire to spiritual greatness.”—Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, Jerusalem“Elliott Rabin’s delightful and highly readable exploration of biblical narratives and their counterparts in ancient myths offers us fresh insights into Abraham, Samson, Esther, and other characters and forever changes how we experience their triumphs and struggles. Ultimately, The Biblical Hero is a story about us: complex human characters who, in heroic fashion, struggle with our imperfections.”—Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, CEO, Hadar Institute, and author of Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities“The book is both superbly written and easily readable. The subject matter is engaging, the world literature references are enlightening, and scholars and laypeople alike will benefit from the many insightful readings of familiar biblical texts.”—Gary A. Rendsburg, Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History, Rutgers University“The Biblical Hero offers us creative archetypes for understanding some of the most significant figures in biblical history and, arguably, Jewish life. Even more, it opens up a critical conversation about the hero’s role in society at a time when we need heroes more than ever.”—Erica Brown, associate professor, George Washington School of Education and Development“What does it mean to be a hero? In this accessible volume, Elliott Rabin explores well-known biblical figures through the cultural and literary lenses of ‘heroes’ to unpack multiple dimensions of their characters. Readers who are curious about what biblical study has to offer students of leadership, character, and human fallibility will enjoy this examination of the complex lives of some of the Bible’s key figures.”—Miriam Heller Stern, national director, School of Education, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion“The Biblical Hero invites the reader to experience a broad array of biblical characters as both heroes in their own time and paradigms of heroism that have echoed throughout literature and time. Rabin’s work is a rich examination of the intersection of power, influence, leadership, achievement, failure, and identity. I highly encourage readers of all ages to delve into this wonderful book.”—Marc Kramer, founder, Kramer Education GroupTable of ContentsPreface: The Need for Heroes Acknowledgments Author’s Note Introduction: Heroic-Unheroic Heroes, the Biblical Model 1. Moses: Prototype 2. Samson: Strongman 3. Esther: Queen 4. Abraham: Pilgrim 5. Jacob: Trickster 6. David: King 7. God: Archetype or Antitype? Conclusion: The Biblical Hero Today Notes Bibliography General Index Source Index

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Book SynopsisDoes this ancient faith still carry the power to change people's lives?Table of ContentsContentsAbout the Author 9Acknowledgments 10Foreword 11Introduction 13Part I: A Confident Gospel 191. Understanding the issues 202. Two world views 423. A gilded cage 584. The search for more 785. Telling a different story 1006. The response of the Church 1217. Thinking a new world 140Part II: The Tools of Our Trade 1578. The Word of God 1589. Entering into conversation 18610. The Spirit of God 21411. The Word on the wind – confidence in creation 239Part III: Doing Things Differently 25712. Living beautiful lives 25813. Reimagining church 276Appendix: Further resources 306Notes 313Bibliography 357Index 365

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Book SynopsisRevised and updated edition of the classic work on spiritual leadership In A Work of Heart, bestselling author and missional expert Reggie McNeal helps leaders reflect on the ways in which God is shaping them by letting us see God at work in the lives of four quintessential biblical leaders: Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul.Table of ContentsAbout the Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series ix Preface to the Updated Edition xi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction: Looking for God in All the Right Places xix Part One How God Shaped Moses, David, Paul, and Jesus for Leadership 1 1. Moses: A Heart on a Mission 3 2. David: A Heart After God 21 3. Paul: A Heart Captured by God 36 4. Jesus: The Heartbeat of God 51 Part Two Recognizing God’s Shaping Work in Our Own Lives 71 5. Culture: Meeting the World 73 6. Call: Figuring Out Why We Are Here 94 7. Community: Connecting with Others’ Hearts 114 8. Communion: Rehearsing for Eternity 137 9. Conflict: Learning to Die So We Can Live 154 10. Commonplace: Discovering That the Ordinary Is Extra-Ordinary 175 Conclusion: Collaborating with God’s Heart-Shaping Project 187 References 193 The Author 195 Index 197

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Book SynopsisA Leadership Network Publication With this much-needed handbook, the authors brilliantly combine their experience guiding dozens of churches through the change process with both the study of Christian disciplines and the sophisticated understanding of such important business thinkers as John Kotter on leading change and Peter Senge on learning organizations. In this eminently readable book the authors have distilled their insights and practices into simple but powerful concepts for leading congregations, whether long established or recently formed, through profound change. Leaders using this guide will also be interested in the companion Leading Congregational Change Workbook, which offers assessment questions, planning worksheets, activities, and case examples for each stage of the process.Trade Review"Leading a church to change from being tradition- or program-driven to being purpose-driven is a task filled with all kinds of potentially explosive and divisive issues. This is a book you ought to read before you change anything." —Rick Warren, author, The Purpose-Driven Church "This is a landmark book for churches and change. Effecting change is never easy in congregations. Leading Congregational Change is a practical guide for congregational leaders that includes spiritual wisdom and its application from the best thinkers of our day." —Bob Buford, founding chairman, Leadership Network "This book spotlights the universal principles for navigating the rapids of change between chaplaincy and mission. Identifying the simplicity-within the complexity-of this challenging leadership role, pastors and leaders learn how to go from hopeful to possible." —Herb Miller, editor, The Parish Paper "A creative and helpful guide for assisting congregations through the necessary process of change by weaving together firm biblical foundations, the best of what's available from the social sciences, and insightful examples from the years of experience the authors have had in working with churches." —Craig Van Gelder, professor of congregational mission, Luther Seminary, ELCA "Leaders will appreciate the insight of these three writers." (The Clergy Journal, 1/02)Table of ContentsAbout Leadership Network ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xvii Learning to Lead Change: A Transformational Journey 1 Spiritual and Relational Vitality: The Driving Force in Congregational Change 16 Laying the Groundwork for Change 28 Discerning and Communicating the Vision 49 Achieving and Maintaining Widespread Impact 69 The Disciplines of Transformational Leadership 95 Discipline One: Generating and Sustaining Creative Tension 100 Discipline Two: Harnessing the Power of Mental Models 113 Discipline Three: Enabling Team Learning 128 Discipline Four: Practicing Systems Thinking 143 The Art of Transformational Leadership 158 Resource: An Annotated Bibliography of Useful Publications 163 References 167 The Authors 169 Index 173

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Book SynopsisAn application-intensive approach to seeking out and developing qualified church leaders. Thoughtful analysis of key passages in Acts and 1 Timothy are balanced with practical action points in a contemporary context.

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Book SynopsisUsing his extensive leadership experience, Kraft identifies the top ten most fatal (and commonly unaddressed) mistakes leaders make to help readers avoid these errors and have ministries and relationships that last.

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Book SynopsisThis definitive 14-volume set brings together for the first time all of Piper's published writings from 1970 to 2015, featuring the latest editions of each of his fifty books along with his hundreds of articles and chapters, compiled in one beautifully designed resource.

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Book SynopsisThis book speaks to a common struggle Christian leaders facebalancing ministry and family priorities. Ajith Fernando equips leaders to cultivate a God-centered home, covering topics such as disciplining children, dealing with disappointment, and more.

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Book SynopsisHow did a thirteenth-century Italian friar become one of the best-loved saints in America? Drawing on a dazzling array of art, music, drama, film, hymns, and prayers, Patricia Appelbaum explains what happened to make St. Francis so familiar and meaningful to so many Americans.Trade Review“Representative of the best of modern historical scholarship. . . . The volume will undoubtedly be of interest to scholars, educated laity, atheist, agnostic, and religionist alike.”- American Historical Review“Appelbaum’s narrative is vigorous, and her analysis of the ways in which Francis has been read and contested is convincing.”- Church History and Religious Culture“Achieves success as both a work of careful scholarship and a delightful read.”- Choice“Makes an important contribution to American history of religion and to the field of Franciscan studies. . . . A must-read for historians of American religion and the Franciscan tradition alike.”- American Catholic Studies“A cultural history of how the medieval monk has been represented in U.S. culture over the past two hundred years.”- Journal of American History“An entertaining read [that] helps us separate the real figure from folklore- Francis the popular icon from Francis the man.”- Episcopal Journal“This well-researched biography is recommended as a case study of how the perceptions of historical individuals change over the course of time to fit and speak to contemporary issues.”- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThe Life of Ibn ?anbal is a translation of the biography of Ibn Hanbal by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597/1200), newly abridged for a paperback readership by translator Michael Cooperson. A?mad ibn ?anbal (d. 241/855), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadithsthe reports of the Prophet's sayings and deedsis a major figure in the history of Islam. He was famous for living according to his own strict interpretation of the Prophetic model and for denying himself the most basic comforts, even though his family was prominent and his city, Baghdad, was then one of the wealthiest in the world. Ibn ?anbal's piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after he resisted the attempts of two caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging is one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history, and his principled resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of SunniTrade ReviewCooperson's translation is uncommonly deft. On the whole, this translation is a grand success. It will be valuable for teachers to illustrate early Islamic piety, early Islamic law, early Sunni theology, and everyday life in Baghdad. -- Christopher Melchert * Journal of Islamic Studies *Michael Cooperson's fluid translation is accompanied by substantial notes and a glossary of names and terms. * Banipal Magazine *Gives readers a unique vantage point into the life and piety of the namesake of the Hanbali school of Sunni law...Ibn al-Jawzi, drawing on earlier reports, reconstructs the life and morality of his hero as a complex, earnest, and playful man; Coopersons dynamic and accessible translation brings this last quality to the surface to an extent that would surprise many modern readers with preconceptions about Hanbalism. * Marginalia *Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in ḥadīth, history, theology, and law, and to anyone who appreciates a good read. * Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt *

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Book SynopsisProvides a detailed, verse-by-verse interpretation of the Third Evangelist’s Gospel. Michael Wolter’s commentary fully complements the great tradition of Handbooks of the New Testament published by Mohr Siebeck.Table of Contents Introduction 1. Textual Tradition and Early Reception 2. Author, Date, and Provenance 3. Sources 4. The Lukan Story of Jesus as an Episodic Narrative 5. Intended Readers 6. The Theological Place of the Story of Jesus in Luke–Acts 9.51–18.34: The Journey to Jerusalem 9.51-56: An Inhospitable Samaritan Village 9.57-62: Consequences of Discipleship 10.1-16: The Commission of the Seventy-Two 10.17-24: The Return of the Seventy-Two 10.25-37: The Scribe and the Merciful Samaritan 10.38-42: Martha and Mary 11.1-13: On Prayer 11.1-4: The Prayer of the Disciples 11.5-13: Jesus's Speech on Prayer 11.14-28: Jesus and the Evil Spirits 11.29-32: "This generation is an evil generation" 11.33-36: The Eye as Lamp of the Body 11.37-54: The Woes against the Pharisees and Scribes 12.1–13.9: Jesus and the Disciples in the Midst of a Huge Crowd 12.1-12: The Encouragement of the Disciples to Public Confession 12.13-21: On the Worthlessness of Earthly Riches 12.22-34: Do not Be Anxious but Seek the Kingdom of God 12.35-48: On the Watchfulness and Reliability of Service Personnel 12.49-53: Fire That Destroys Families 12.54-59: This Kairos as the Time of Decision 13.1-9: Last Call to Repentance 13.10-21: On the Sabbath in a Synagogue 13.10-17: Sabbath III 13.18-21: Two Parables on the Kingdom of God 13.22-35: Travelling to Jerusalem 13.22-30: Outside before the Narrow Door 13.31-35: Herod and Jerusalem 14.1-24: As a Guest at the House of a Leading Pharisee 14.1-6: Sabbath IV 14.7-11: "Whoever exalts himself will be lowered" and Vice Versa 14.12-14: The Nullification of the Principle of Symposial Reciprocity 14.15-24: The Parable of the Rejected Invitation 14.25–18.34: Somewhere on the Way 14.25-35: Conditions for Discipleship 15.1-32: The Controversy Dialogue over the Repentance of Tax Collectors and Sinners 15.1-3: Exposition 15.4-10: The Double Parable of the Lost Sheep andthe Lost Drachma 15.11-32: The Parable of the Prodigal Son 16.1-31: On Rightly Dealing with Money and Possessions 16.1-13: The Speech to the Disciples 16.14-31: The Speech to the Pharisees 17.1-10: Another Speech to the Disciples 17.11-21: The Thankful Samaritan and the Question of the Pharisees 17.11-19: The Thankful Samaritan 17.20-21: The Question of the Pharisees 17.22–18.8: When the Son of Man Comes 17.22-37: The Day of the Son of Man 18.1-8: The Parable of the Judge and the Widow 18.9-14: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector 18.15-17: The Children and the Kingdom of God 18.18-30: Riches and Discipleship 18.31-34: Jesus's Second Announcement of the Passion and the Resurrection 18.35–19.46: The End of the Peregrination 18.35–19.28: Jericho 18.35-43: The Healing of a Blind Man before Jericho 19.1-10: Zacchaeus 19.11-28: The Parable of the Throne Claimant 19.29-46: The Entrance into Jerusalem 19.47–21.38: "And he was teaching daily in the temple" 19.47-48: Initial Frame 20.1-26: Jesus as Teacher of the Jewish People and His Opponents 20.1-8: The Questioning of Jesus's Authority 20.9-19: The Parable of the Tenants of the Vineyard 20.20-26: The Question about the Tax for Caesar 20.27-40: The Question about the Resurrection of the Dead 20.41-44: Is the Messiah David's Son? 20.45-47: Warning against the Scribes 21.1-4: The Gift of the Widow 21.5-36: Jesus's Last Public Speech 21.37-38: Concluding Frame 22.1–24.52(53): Passion and Easter 22.1-6: The Prelude: The Agreement between Judas and Jesus's Opponents 22.7-65: On the Day of Unleavened Bread 22.7-13: The Preparation for Passover 22.14-38: The Last Supper 22.14-20: Passover Meal, Breaking of Bread, and the New Covenant 22.21-23: The One Who Hands Over 22.24-30: On Serving and Ruling 22.31-34: The Announcement of the Denial 22.35-38: Coats to Swords! 22.39-53: On the Mount of Olives 22.39-46: Jesus Prays and the Disciples Sleep 22.47-53: The Handing Over 22.54-65: In the House of the High Priest 22.54-62: The Denial 22.63-65: Mocking 22.66–23.56: On the Next Day 22.66-71: Jesus before the Sanhedrin 23.1-25: Jesus before Pilate 23.1-5: Accusation and Trial 23.6-12: The Transfer to Herod Antipas 23.13-25: The Dispute over the Verdict 23.26-49: Crucifixion and Death 23.50-56: Burial and Preparation for the Anointing of the Dead 24.1-52(53): On the First Day of the New Week 24.1-12: The Empty Tomb 24.13-35: The Emmaus Disciples Encounter the Risen One 24.36-52(53): Jesus Appears to All the Disciples in Jerusalem Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the charismatic leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement and its designated Messiah. Yet when he died in 1994, the messianic fervor he inspired did not subside. Through traditional means and digital technologies, a group of radical Hasidim, the Meshichistim, still keep the Rebbe palpably close—engaging in ongoing dialogue, participating in specific rituals, and developing an ever-expanding visual culture of portraits and videos. With Us More Than Ever focuses on this group to explore how religious practice can sustain the belief that a messianic figure is both present and accessible. Yoram Bilu documents a unique religious experience that is distinctly modern. The rallying point of the Meshichistim—that the Rebbe is "with us more than ever"—is sustained through an elaborate system that creates the sense of his constant and pervasive presence in the lives of his followers. The virtual Rebbe that emerges is multiple, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized, the epicenter of a truly messianic movement in the twenty-first century. Combining ethnographic fieldwork and cognitive science with nuanced analysis, Bilu documents the birth and development of a new religious faith, describing the emergence of new spiritual horizons, a process common to various religious movements old and new.Trade Review"In this fascinating study, Yoram Bilu, Israel's foremost scholar of Jewish popular religion, has succeeded in penetrating the world of Chabad's messianic subculture. He offers a brilliant analysis of how these Hasidim use visual media, apparitions, and letters to their deceased leader to create an 'apotheosis' of the Rebbe." -- David Biale * University of California, Davis *"This ethnographic exploration of the religious imagination in Chabad demonstrates that there is no one better equipped than Yoram Bilu to provide a theoretically sophisticated and phenomenologically sensitive account of the movement's messianic devotion to its deceased yet ever-present Rebbe." -- Thomas J. Csordas * University of California, San Diego *"With Us More than Ever is an important book for readers interested in Chabad, Hasidism, and contemporary Judaism. Its focus on the 'messianic ecology' yields a nuanced and dispassionate image of the acute messianism of the Meshichists—a community, or, perhaps, a state of mind, that has been discussed, criticized, and ridiculed, but hardly ever researched either quantitatively or qualitatively." -- Wojciech Tworek * Association for Jewish Studies Review *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: Introduction chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has not subsided following the death in 1994 of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last president of Chabad and the designated Messiah in the eyes of most Hasidim. Since then, the movement has been able to maintain its popularity and dominance despite the catastrophic loss. Focusing on the Meshichistim ("messianists"), the radical Hasidim who deny the Rebbe's death, the introduction documents the means they employ to fill the void of the Rebbe's "occlusion." The book makes use of a media-studies approach to examine how these means fill the critical role of making the absent Rebbe present. The data are based on interviews with Meshichists, participant observations in their gatherings, and meticulous perusal of messianic publications, primarily periodicals. The discussion includes a description of the charged interrelationships that developed between the author and the Hasidim during fieldwork. 1Chabad and the Messianic Idea chapter abstractThe chapter follows the vicissitudes of the messianic idea in Chabad from the movement's inception to the stormy years of the seventh and last leader, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. As shaped by its founder, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Chabad was less prone to messianic tension than were other Hasidic sects. The fifth admor, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, resorted to messianic discourse in the late 19th century in order to battle the lure of secular ideologies such as communism and Zionism. His son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, viewed the horrors of the Holocaust as messianic tribulations. But it was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson who generated acute messianic turbulence by advancing to his Hasidim the notion of imminent redemption. The Rebbe's messianic vision, kept alive by the Hasidim after his departure, forms the background for the means and practices that constitute the messianic ecology in contemporary Chabad. 2Meshichist Sociology chapter abstractThe chapter presents the major sociological features of the Meshichists. The Meshichists are more prevalent in the movement's periphery. Of Chabad's two main centers, they are more strongly represented in Israel than in the U.S. and more among the younger Hasidim in either place. –. In accord with the enthusiasm and high commitment typically displayed by religious immigrants and converts anywhere, new Chabadniks, coming from secular or other religious backgrounds, are overrepresented among the Meshichists. As a result of their outreach activities, Chabadniks anywhere tend to be more socially and politically involved in the wider society than are other ultraorthodox Jews, and the Meshichists all the more so. One indication of their assimilation into Israeli society is their use of military language in articulating their ideas and activities. 3Writing to the Rebbe: The Holy Letters Oracle chapter abstractThis chapter discusses the bibliomantic device the Hasidim developed to continue the dialogue with the absent Rebbe. The technique is based on inserting a petition randomly into one of the thirty-two volumes of the Rebbe's collected letters. Even though these letters were written to other people at other times, the petitioners maintain that the answers they receive are germane to their own pleas. The veridicality of the answers is redoubled when they play out in the real world. Following the miraculous stories associated with the Holy Letters Oracle, the chapter discusses its growing popularity and accounts for its success. The popularity and success of the technique seem to confirm the assertion of the Meshichistim that despite his occlusion, the invisible Rebbe is more accessible than ever. 4Sensing the Rebbe: Traces and Practices of Embodiment chapter abstractHow do the Hasidim perceive the absent Rebbe as close and involved? This chapter discusses a broad range of signs or "traces" of the Rebbe, such as the Rebbe's abode, his armchair, the dollar bills he distributed for charity, and the water from his ritual bath, which the Hasidim are adamant to keep intact and, where possible, to replicate. Primarily in Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights, but also in Chabad Houses all over the world and in the Meshichists' homes, these artifacts serve as focal points for ritual practices that involve the Rebbe as an active participant. The traces and practices interweave to produce a "messianic ecology" that actualizes the Rebbe among his followers. In the religion-media paradigm, these traces and practices are conductors of his presence. 5Seeing the Rebbe I: Chabad's Visual Culture chapter abstractChapter Five is devoted to Chabad's visual culture as evidenced by the widespread use of still photographs and film footage of the Rebbe, which bolster his visual salience to an unprecedented extent in Judaism. The elaborate cult that has been developing around the Rebbe's images borders on iconophilia. The pictures serve as focal points for this wide-ranging visual cult. They are used as amulets, thwarting threats and curing maladies; as magnets drawing and attaching passersby to the Rebbe; and as icons triggering the elaborate ritual encounters between the Rebbe and his devotees. The chapter discusses the Rebbe's iconic picture, in which he is shown waving his hand in encouragement, and how it has taken on a life on its own. 6Seeing the Rebbe II: Dream and Waking Apparitions chapter abstractChapter Six maps the Rebbe's apparitions in dreams and then moves to reports of apparitions in normal waking states. The author proposes a psychocultural model to account for these apparitions, deeming them evidence of contextual accomplishment rather than psychopathological deficit. Two distinct clusters of apparition experiences emerge, one associated with ritual and the other with mundane settings. In comparison to Christian visionary experiences, the Rebbe's apparitions are hyper-realistic, literal reinforcements of the claim that the Rebbe is alive. While this claim is audacious ontologically, it limits the epistemological horizons of the messianic imaginary and detracts from its significance as a "taste" of the redemption. 7Schneersoncentrism: The Rebbe Steers the World chapter abstractFor the Meshichistim, the invisible Rebbe is the center of the world. Chapter Seven conveys this conviction through the notion of "Schneersoncentrism," the belief that the Rebbe steers the world and navigates its events. It discusses two broad domains where the Rebbe's imprint on the world is indelible, according to the Hasidim: natural disasters, which the Rebbe is able to stop, and manmade political upheavals, which the Rebbe can rectify. According to his followers, the Rebbe's fingerprints are evident in key historical moments such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Exodus of its Jews, and the American victory in the second Gulf War. 8The Apotheosis of the Rebbe chapter abstractChapter Eight deals with the sensitive issue of the Rebbe's deification, a corollary of his centrality in the universe. While the Chabad mainstream argues that attempts to deify the Rebbe are limited to the movement's lunatic fringes, it shows that activists in the Meshichist camp are not hostile to these attempts and, under special circumstances, are even willing to give them a voice. The mystical doctrine of the tzadik in Hasidism, which views him as part of the divine system of emanations, and the messianic shturem in Chabad today help attenuate the deep-seated resistance in Judaism to glorifying a human being. 9"To Make Many More Menachem Mendels": Creation and Procreation in Messianic Chabad chapter abstractChapter Nine illustrates the divine role accorded to the Rebbe in the fantasy lives of some of his followers by zooming in on his alleged role in one domain of human misery: infertility and birth problems. Drawing on a small sample of dreaming and waking apparitions, the chapter shows how the childless Rebbe "reproduces" himself by providing childless couples with children in his image. In these reports the Rebbe appears as a creator no less than as a progenitor. 10Holy Place and Holy Time in Meshichist Chabad chapter abstractChapter Ten discusses the spatial and temporal dimensions of holiness in the messianic religion. For the Meshichists, who ordinarily refrain from frequenting the Rebbe's sanctuary in Old Montefiori Cemetery in Queens, the most sacred site is the Rebbe's abode on 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, dubbed "770." Viewed as the house of the Messiah and a wing of the future third Temple, 770 is the Meshichist hub, where the life routine with the Rebbe is kept intact. Replicas of 770 have been built in scores of places across the globe. The Meshichist emphasize two dates in Chabad's ritual calendar: Yod-Aleph (11) Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday, and Gimel Tammuz, the date of the Rabbi's disappearance, euphemistically called the Day of Redemption. 11The Omnipresence of Absence: Messianism in the Technological Age chapter abstractChapter Eleven discusses the present-absent virtual Rebbe, maintained in part by the magic of technology. In analyzing the properties of his virtuality, it is suggested that the Rebbe is multiple (reproduced), close and palpable, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized. The fact that the virtual Rebbe can be directly accessed and equally shared by all Hasidim poses a potential threat to Chabad's hierarchical structure and cohesion. 12Meshichists, Christians, Sabbateans, and Popular Culture Heroes chapter abstractThe dynamic common to past and present messianic movements is the focus of Chapter Twelve. It considers the struggles of Chabad's messianism in light of the Christian and Sabbatean precedents. It also poses a speculative comparison between the cult of the Rebbe that emerges from Chabad's visual culture and the adoration of charismatic entertainment and political celebrities in global popular culture. 13From Tzadik to Messiah: Comparing Chabad and Bratslav chapter abstractChapter Twelve proposes a systematic comparison of Chabad and Bratslav Hasidism. Both of these Hasidic movements lack the defining feature of a classic Hasidic sect, a serving tzadik-admor, yet they are enjoying unprecedented success. Can the flourishing of these two movements be attributed to the messianic expectations they both nurture? In support of this supposition, the chapter seeks to decipher the enigma of the growing popularity of these two "anomalous" Hasidic sects by dwelling on their propensity for border-crossing in various domains. Conclusion chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has created the opportunity for studying the religious imagination at large, and as a subject in its own right. Messianic movements expand the boundaries of proper religious conduct and bring to the fore modes of action and experience the religious establishment shuns as extreme or subversive. The media and the practices that Meshichists employ to make the absent Rebbe present were born in this fertile, enabling ecology. More daring and pronounced than ordinary institutionalized religious beliefs and rites, they differ only in degree. The conclusion discusses the unprecedented extent to which the Rebbe-cum-Messiah is glorified, the boundless energy his elevated status generates in his followers, and their capacity to cope with the disappointment of his occlusion by sustaining a virtual Rebbe that is palpable and close.

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Book SynopsisA leading New Testament scholar provides an easy-to-navigate resource for studying and understanding the Gospels. Written with classroom utility and pastoral application in mind, this accessibly written volume summarizes the content of each major section of the biblical text to help students, pastors, and laypeople quickly grasp the sense of particular passages. The series, modeled after Baker Academic's successful Old Testament Handbook series, focuses primarily on the content of the biblical books without getting bogged down in historical-critical questions or detailed verse-by-verse exegesis. The book covers all four Gospels and explores each major passage, showing how Jesus is the central figure of each plot. It also unpacks how the Old Testament informs the Gospels.Table of ContentsContentsSeries PrefaceAuthor's Preface1. The Gospel of Matthew2. The Gospel of Mark3. The Gospel of Luke4. The Gospel of JohnIndexes

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Book SynopsisTod Bolsinger challenges Christians to rediscover the essential nature of God as a Triune community. By doing so, says Bolsinger, the church will recover its vitality as a truly life-transforming communion. Focusing on daily living issues, the book engages writers including John Calvin and Richard Foster. Reclaiming a true trinitarian practical theology will allow Christians to reawaken and nourish a spirituality that is communal, not merely consumerist or individualistic. It will create Christian communities in which God transforms believers together into the likeness of Christ. It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian is designed for pastors, worship leaders, evangelists, and other church leaders.

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Book SynopsisGrowing an Engaged Church offers unique, research-based, often counterintuitive solutions to the challenges facing churches today, including declining congregant participation, decreasing contributions, and slumping membership. Ministers, priests, and church boards will find the evidence and answers in this book provocative, eye-opening, and, most importantly, actionable. What if members of your congregation... were 13 times more likely to have invited someone to participate in your church in the past month? were three times as satisfied with their lives? spent more than two hours per week serving and helping others in their community? tripled their giving to your church? What would your church — your parish — look like? And how would you go about creating this kind of change? One thing is certain: Church leaders are never going to inspire more people to be actively and passionately involved in their congregations by doing the same things over and over again. Pastors and lay leaders need something fresh. Something new. The last thing they need is “just another program” or to set up a laundry list of new activities for members. Based on solid research by The Gallup Organisation, Growing an Engaged Church will appeal to both Protestant and Catholic clergy and lay leaders who are looking for a way to be the Church instead of just “doing church.”

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Book SynopsisA volume in Advances in Workplace Spirituality: Theory, Research, and Application Series Editor Louis W. (Jody) Fry, Texas A&M University - Central Texas INNER PEACE-GLOBAL IMPACT describes underlying principles of Tibetan wisdom traditions relevant for successful leadership in the 21st century as well as Tibetan teachers whose entrepreneurial actions were critical to the development of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. With first-person narratives, personal stories, scholarly research, and commentaries by noted social scientists, this book is written for everyone who wants ideas to revitalize leadership. It is rich with vivid pictures of deep personal experience. Long-time Western Tibetan Buddhist practitioners describe how their practice has influenced them in fields as diverse as scientific research, social work, art, dance, and university teaching. The Dalai Lama is seen through the eyes of his long-time friend, eminent author Huston Smith, as well as through the experiences of Thupten Jinpa, his 25-year English translator. Sogyal Rinpoche shares his vision for transforming traditional ways of studying, while Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, a 10th generation Tibetan yogi, reflects on the challenges of teaching in a Western culture where perspectives differ so vastly from those of Tibet. With insights from Tibetan lamas and Western thought leaders including Peter Senge, Bill George, and Margaret Wheatley, this book creates new visions for leadership and the workplace.

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Book SynopsisTwo accounts of the life of Saint Colette of Corbie. Saint Colette of Corbie (1381–1447) was a French reformer of the Franciscan Order and the founder of seventeen convents. Though of humble origin, she attracted the support of powerful patrons and important Church officials. The two biographies translated here were authored by Pierre de Vaux, her confessor and mentor, and Perrine de Baume, a nun who for decades was Colette’s companion and confidant. Both accounts offer fascinating portraits of the saint as a pious ascetic assailed by demons and performing miracles, as well as in her role as skillful administrator and caring mother of her nuns. This is the first English translation of two biographies in Middle French of the most important female figures of the Middle Ages. Trade Review“Saint Colette of Corbie is one of the most important reformers of the late-medieval and early modern period, one of the most influential of all pre-modern European women in terms of institutional impact, and a fascinating French figure in the era of the Hundred Years War. She has never quite received her historiographic due, very likely because her two French ‘lives’—the second of the two authored by a woman—have not been available in English translation, while even the French edition is difficult to access. Blumenfeld-Kosinski, one of America’s great medievalists and leading specialists in medieval French, is just the right scholar to make these compelling lives of Saint Colette available to a contemporary audience.” -- Sean L. Field, Professor of History, University of VermontWinner -- SSEMWG 2022 Award for a Scholarly Edition in TranslationTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Illustrations Introduction Saint Colette in Her World Schism and Division The Franciscans and Reform A Brief Biography of Colette of Corbie The Sources Early Life and Religious Exploration Franciscan Reformer Colette and Ecclesiastical Politics Colette in Her Cloister—and on the Road Writing and Living Reform Devotional Life Illnesses Miracles Demons, Ghosts, and Other Apparitions The Life of Saint Colette, by Pierre de Vaux The Life of Saint Colette, by Sister Perrine de Baume Letters by, to, and about Colette Map Chronology Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAll of us are tempted to believe lies about ourselves. For many pastors, the lies we're tempted to believe have to do with our identity: that God has called us to lead a movement, that we must sacrifice our home life for our ministry life, or that our image as holy is more important than our actual pursuit of holiness.In Lies Pastors Believe, pastor and professor Dayton Hartman takes aim at these and other lies he has faced in his own ministry and seen other pastors struggle with. With a winsome and engaging style, Hartman shows current and future pastors why these lies are so tempting, the damage they can do, and how they can be resisted by believing and applying the truth of the gospel.

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Book Synopsis "And the Word became flesh"John's Gospel famously opens with a poetic prologue about the Word. However, after these initial verses, the theme of God's Word incarnate seems to fade.The silence is only apparent. In The Word from the Beginning, Bruce G. Schuchard reunites John's prologue with the rest of his Gospel. What Jesus does in the Gospel embodies who Jesus is in the prologue. Jesus's words and actions reveal and unfold his unique identity as the Word. Jesus is indeed God's Word enfleshed.This theological reading of John's Gospel unifies Jesus's identity, words, and work, opening up implications for Johannine Christology.

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Book SynopsisWhat makes a wise, effective leader? For the answer, Derek Tidball turns to Moses’ successor, Joshua. While leading God’s people at a key time in their history, Joshua needed every ounce of wisdom for the challenges he faced. Through exploring the great man’s story in the book of Joshua, Dr Tidball uncovers 24 leadership lessons that are still highly relevant today. ‘Will prove hugely beneficial to those just starting out as well as those with lots of experience.’ Gavin Calver ‘Cultures and situations change: the principles that underpin godly leadership do not . . . Provides a rich resource for those intent on pursuing twenty-first century leadership with integrity.’ Jill Garrett ‘Chock-full of practical wisdom and powerful application.’ Marcus Honeysett ‘Offers insights that will help in the wonderful privilege and complex demands of leadership.’ James Lawrence ‘In this fast-changing world, the church needs leaders with their heads screwed on and hearts on fire, who draw inspiration from deep wells of prayer and from reflecting on Scripture. In this brilliant book, Derek Tidball has given us a feast . . . I commend this fantastic book to you with enthusiasm.’ Mark RussellTrade Review`Will prove hugely beneficial to those just starting out as well as those with lots of experience.’ Gavin Calver; `Cultures and situations change: the principles that underpin godly leadership do not . . . Provides a rich resource for those intent on pursuing twenty-first century leadership with integrity.’ Jill Garrett; `Chock-full of practical wisdom and powerful application.’ Marcus Honeysett; `Offers insights that will help in the wonderful privilege and complex demands of leadership.’ James Lawrence; `In this fast-changing world, the church needs leaders with their heads screwed on and hearts on fire, who draw inspiration from deep wells of prayer and from reflecting on Scripture. In this brilliant book, Derek Tidball has given us a feast . . . I commend this fantastic book to you with enthusiasm.’ Mark Russell

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Book SynopsisJesus' words from the cross are not Jesus’ last words on earth. Jesus appeared to his fearful and questioning disciples, encouraged them, and gave them his final instructions after his resurrection from the dead. In various settings and at different times, Jesus interacted with many of his followers to show them he was alive. His post resurrection dialogues with these women and men truly are Jesus’ last words! You may have questions or doubts about faith. You may have discussed spiritual topics or talked with others about Jesus. You may sometimes feel religiously locked into past concepts or socially locked out from people—even embarrassed or fearful about how others perceive you and your spiritual beliefs or questions. You may wonder, Can Jesus really impact my life?

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Book SynopsisContemporary models of Christian leadership are often shaped more by culture than by Christ. Ineffective leadership, overbearing authority and burnout are endemic. In stark contrast, John Stott urges that our view of leadership must be determined by our view of the Church, and not the other way round. He demonstrates that the theme of 'power through weakness' is central. He expounds the role of the Holy Spirit in God's revelation, and he examines four of Paul's most striking models of ministry, each of which is an aspect of humility. In contrast to seductive styles of leadership being advocated by the wisdom of the world, John Stott urges Christian leaders to be characterised above all else by 'the meekness and the gentleness of Christ'.

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Book SynopsisFrom 1642 to 1654 Isaac Aboab da Fonseca was the hakham (Torah scholar) and spiritual leader of the oldest Jewish community in the New World. As a Hebrew grammarian, a poet, and a mystic, as well as an excellent and very popular preacher, Aboab da Fonseca (born 1605) was not only one of the most interesting Jewish personalities of the seventeenth century, but his writings are an invaluable historical resource with regard to many aspects of Jewish life in Dutch Colonial Brazil, the local attitudes towards Jews, and corroboration of events outlined in contemporary literary sources. His forebears were so-called New Christians, having undergone compulsory conversion to Catholicism in Portugal. In order to be able to live freely as professing Jews, the family moved in about 1612 to Amsterdam. There, Hakham Isaac Uziel of Fez became his Talmud teacher; among his colleagues was Menasseh Ben Israel. In 1638 he was confirmed as one of the four hakhamim of the new congregation Talmud Torah of Amsterdam. In 1641/42 he accepted the nomination for hakham of the growing Jewish community in Recife, Brazil, where he was in charge of all rabbinical functions and gave lectures in Talmud and Hebrew. In the interim he wrote the Hebrew grammar Melekhet ha-Dikduk, published here in translation for the first time. Aboab da Fonseca enjoyed a few prosperous years until the Portuguese rebellion caused the economic ruin of the Jews of Dutch Brazil. His salary much reduced, he nevertheless remained to lead and help his people until the occupation of Recife by Brazilian-Portuguese troops on January 26, 1654. Upon returning to Amsterdam, his inclination toward mysticism made him one of the leading believers in the false messiah Shabbetai Zvi. But his writing and scholarship remained undiminished: In 1646 he wrote Zekher asiti leniflaot El, in which he described events in Dutch Brazil after the outbreak of the war; he also published a Hebrew translation of the Spanish cabbalistic works of Abraham Cohen Herrera, Casa de Dios y Puerta del Cielo, under the title Shaar ha-Shamayim (The Gate of Heaven). This first scholarly monograph on Isaac Aboab da Fonseca and his intellectual and spiritual contributions, includes discussion of his commentary on the Pentateuch entitled Parafrasis Comentada sobre el Pentateuco, as well as a consideration of Aboab's involvement in the ban of Spinoza.Trade Review‘In this study, Moisés Orfali poses the question of what can be learned from this episode and the role Aboab played about leadership in times of crisis… This book is a welcome contribution to our knowledge of the Jewish communities of the early modern New World, and Orfali can be recommended to have undertaken this important job.’ Daniël Metz, Studia Rosenthaliana

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Book SynopsisSa’adyah Gaon was an outstanding tenth-century Jewish thinker—a prominent rabbi, philosopher, and exegete. He was a pioneer in the fields in which he toiled, and was an inspiration and basis for later Jewish writing in all these areas. The last major English-language study of his work was published in 1921, long before Genizah research changed the understanding of the time in which he lived. Robert Brody’s masterly work, covering Sa’adyah’s biography and his main areas of creativity in an accessible way, is therefore a much-needed reassessment of an outstanding figure. The opening chapter, on the geonic period that formed the background to Sa’adyah’s life (a period on which there are few works in English), is followed by an overview that brings out the revolutionary aspects of his work and the characteristic features of his writings. Subsequent chapters consider his philosophical works; his Bible commentaries; his pioneering linguistic work; his poetry; his halakhic activity (including an examination of his use of the Palestinian Talmud compared to that of the Babylonian Talmud); and his activity as a polemicist, notably against the Karaites. An Epilogue sums up his importance in medieval Jewish culture. Particularly valuable features of the book are the copious quotations from Sa’adyah’s works, which facilitate familiarity with his style as well as his ideas; the clarity in presenting complex and difficult concepts; the constant assessment of his relationship to his predecessors in his various fields of study and his own unique contributions to each field; and the contextualization of his contribution within the political, cultural, and religious climate of his times so that both revolutionary and conservative elements in his thought can be identified and evaluated.Trade Review'Gives you a sense of who Sa'adyah was, and the impact of his works. It's a fascinating work, about one of the most fascinating personalities in Jewish thought.'Ben Rothke, The Times of IsraelTable of Contents1 The Geonic Period and the Background of R. Sa'adyah Gaon's Activities2 The Revolutionary Champion of Tradition3 The Philosopher4 The Biblical Commentator5 The Linguist6 The Poet7 The Man of Halakhah8 Sa'adyah, Polemicist and PublicistBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book is intended to contribute model bases on a faith-inspired, biblically based perspective that is consistent with the needs of strategicorganizational leadership. We address the spiritual leadership and spirituality at work literature from a Christian perspective. We argue that it is critical for organizations to reconcile workplace spirituality with strategic thinking and business operations because religious identity is still very important in the United States, and we present a model to accomplish this reconciliation. While we are not theologians, in presenting our model we do engage in the theological discussion of the relationship between man and God particularly in the context of business. While we review the evolution of the spiritual leadership and spirituality at work literature along with the limited literature that examines these concepts from a Christian perspective, we identify significant obstacles that have thus far kept these concepts on the fringes of general management thinking and practices. After identifying the challenges associated with a Christian approach to the spirituality literature, we offer a model with four principles for Strategic Spirituality based on a Christian perspective of biblical interpretations that also offer the requisite pragmatism for strategic thinking and organizational implementation.The four principles include: 1. Subsidiarity with Solidarity – Subsidiarity is a principle of decentralization coming for the Catholic social tradition whereby decision-making done at the organizational level with the greatest familiarity and the individual empowerment and is moderated by solidarity or a unity of common mission. 2. Stewardship – requires resources and opportunities be dutifully managed in order to promote sustainability and social well-being. 3. Support and Empowerment – relates to the creation of an organization with Christian principles where Christian and Non-Christians are supported and empowered for individual growth and organizational success. 4. Synergy – allows organizations to remain focused on their ideals but flexible in their implementation.

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Book SynopsisThis book is intended to contribute model bases on a faith-inspired, biblically based perspective that is consistent with the needs of strategicorganizational leadership. We address the spiritual leadership and spirituality at work literature from a Christian perspective. We argue that it is critical for organizations to reconcile workplace spirituality with strategic thinking and business operations because religious identity is still very important in the United States, and we present a model to accomplish this reconciliation. While we are not theologians, in presenting our model we do engage in the theological discussion of the relationship between man and God particularly in the context of business. While we review the evolution of the spiritual leadership and spirituality at work literature along with the limited literature that examines these concepts from a Christian perspective, we identify significant obstacles that have thus far kept these concepts on the fringes of general management thinking and practices. After identifying the challenges associated with a Christian approach to the spirituality literature, we offer a model with four principles for Strategic Spirituality based on a Christian perspective of biblical interpretations that also offer the requisite pragmatism for strategic thinking and organizational implementation.The four principles include: 1. Subsidiarity with Solidarity – Subsidiarity is a principle of decentralization coming for the Catholic social tradition whereby decision-making done at the organizational level with the greatest familiarity and the individual empowerment and is moderated by solidarity or a unity of common mission. 2. Stewardship – requires resources and opportunities be dutifully managed in order to promote sustainability and social well-being. 3. Support and Empowerment – relates to the creation of an organization with Christian principles where Christian and Non-Christians are supported and empowered for individual growth and organizational success. 4. Synergy – allows organizations to remain focused on their ideals but flexible in their implementation.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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