Religious and spiritual figures Books

Book SynopsisA guide for applying the best of business insight for church leadership In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership explores the issues involved in bringing secular leadership knowledge into the world of church leadership.Table of ContentsAbout the Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series ix Preface xi 1 Is Great the Enemy of Godly? 1 2 Where Should You Begin? 20 Part One: Tools for Great and Godly Leadership 33 3 Is God in Your Plans? 37 4 Are Your Plans Fruitful? 59 5 Who Is on the Bus? 74 6 Do You Measure What Matters? 97 7 How Will You Finance the Dream? 117 8 Are “All Systems Go”? 135 Part Two: Beyond the Tools 147 9 Is Everyone on the Same Page? 149 10 Why Is Culture Important? 168 11 Are You Prepared to Change? 184 12 Are You Guarding Your Heart? 205 Appendix A: The People Behind the Stories 221 Appendix B: Practical Tips for Managing People 231 Appendix C: Practical Ideas for Measurement 235 Notes 241 Annotated Bibliography 249 Acknowledgments 253 The Author 257 Index 259

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Book SynopsisValla (1407-1457) was the most important theorist of the humanist movement. His most famous work is the present volume, an oration in which Valla uses new philological methods to attack the authenticity of the most important document justifying the papacy's claims to temporal rule.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Bowler (Everything Happens for a Reason), professor at the Duke Divinity School, explains in this excellent analysis how some evangelical women have managed to become mega-ministry celebrities by transforming the limited roles allotted to women in evangelical culture into positions of power. Framing these women's work as that of wives, mothers, homemakers, and teachers—rather than pastors or business leaders—Bowler reveals how figures including Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, and Victoria Osteen wield enormous power in their husbands' ministries, both on stage and behind the scenes. . . . [This] wonderful work provocatively considers what women gain and lose in becoming 'market-ready' for evangelical communities." * Publishers Weekly, starred review *"A fascinating examination of the way conservative Christian women wield power in an ultimately patriarchal faith." * Library Journal *"Bowler, the author of the wildly popular Every­thing Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved, is a thorough researcher and witty writer."---LaVonne Neff, Christian Century"[Bowler writes] with empathy and also humour. . . . This book opens up for many of us a new world. It shows the pressures faced by talented evangelical women and raises by implication questions about how women in general, religious or not, are treated today."---Paul Richardson, Church of England Newspaper"Bowler brings forward fresh evidence and significant insights. . . . An interesting read and an important contribution to itssubject area."---G. M. Ditchfield, Politics, Religion & Ideology"Written with wit and empathy . . . Bowler brilliantly unveils the complex negotiation of power by preachers’ wives in the spotlight."---Lieke L. Schrijvers, PentecoStudies"This is a book well-worth reading if one wants a broader understanding of the many evangelical movements as a whole and the rise of the religious celebrity"---Andrea Johnson, Pneuma"Well-researched. . . . A fascinating read and well worth the time."---Scott M. Gibson, Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society

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Book SynopsisIn his quest for the historical Muhammad, Zeitlins chief aim is to catch a few reliable glimpses of the birth of Islam and the role played by its extraordinary founder. The result is a rich and highly illuminating portrait of Muhammad that places him within the historical context of his time.Trade Review“Zeitlin’s approach is novel and intriguing.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute "This book will be of value to serious students of Islamic history as well as educated readers generally. Both groups will be well able to navigate the historical and historiographical landscapes of the rise of Islam – with the foundational qualities that enabled it to develop into a world religion. The pursuit of certainty in discerning and understanding Muhammad’s historical biography and the rise of his religious movement is ongoing, and Irving Zeitlin has provided a clear, balanced, and plausible account using traditional sources and modern scholarly theories and interpretations." Frederick M. Denny, University of Colorado at Boulder "It is very important for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to understand the importance of the Prophet Muhammad because he is so central to Islam. The Historical Muhammad contributes significantly to the discussion of the life of the Prophet, a subject highly relevant to our time." Akbar S. Admed, American University, Washington DCTable of ContentsPreface Introduction and Overview of the Life of Muhammad Donner’s Reply to the Skeptics Enter Muhammad: An Overview The Battle of the Trench Chapter One Ibn Khaldun’s Social and Economic Theory Bedouins and Sedentary Peoples Asabiyah Chapter Two Pre-Islamic Arabia The Hijaz on the Eve of the Rise of Islam Pre-Islamic Religion Chapter Three The Role of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael Who was the Sacrificial Son? The Islamic Theory that Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar Traveled to the Valley of Mecca Abraham, Ishmael and the Kaaba William Muir on the Abrahamic Question Muir on the Founding of Mecca and the Abrahamic Legend Chapter Four Recent and Current Scholarship The Religion of Mecca The Kaaba and Its Devotees Hanifiya and the Religion of Abraham G.E. von Grunebaum, “The Nature of Arab Unity Before Islam” M.J.Kister, “Al-Hira: Some Notes on Its Relations with Arabia” Joseph Henninger, “Pre-Islamic Bedouin Religion” Moshe Gil, “Jews of Yathrib” Fazlur Rahman, “Pre-Foundations of the Muslim Community in Mecca” Uri Rubin, “Hanifiyya and Ka ‘ba: An Inquiry into the Arabian Background of Din Ibrahim” More on Pre-Islamic Religion in the Arabian Peninsula Hamilton A.R. Gibb, “Pre-Islamic Monotheism in Arabia” W. Montgomery Watt, “Belief in a ‘High God’ in Pre-Islamic Mecca” Uri Rubin, “The Kaaba: Aspects of Its Ritual Functions and Position in Pre-Islamic and Early Islamic Times” Chapter Five Possible Influences on Muhammad’s Inspiration Jewish Historians on the Jews of Arabia Baron on Pre-Islamic, Arab-Jewish Relations in Arabia Chapter Six The Jews of Arabia: A Recent Re-Examination Chapter Seven Richard Bell’s Origin of Islam in its Christian Environment Chapter Eight W. Montgomery Watt’s Muhammad at Mecca The Daughters of Allah or the So-called Satanic Verses More on the “Daughters of Allah” Affair A Sociological Argument W. Montgomery Watt’s Muhammad at Medina Chapter Nine Muhammad at Medina: William Muir’s Analysis Muhammad and the Jewish Tribes of Medina The Battle of Badr Current Research on the Massacre of the B. Qurayza The Conquest of Khaybar Chapter Ten Muhammad and the Jews Muhammad and the Jews: G.D. Newby’s Re-Examination of the Evidence Chapter Eleven Concluding Sociological Reflections Abu Bakr and the Ridda Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn his quest for the historical Muhammad, Zeitlin's chief aim is to catch glimpses of the birth of Islam and the role played by its extraordinary founder. Islam, as its Prophet came to conceive it, was a strict and absolute monotheism.Trade Review“Zeitlin’s approach is novel and intriguing.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute "This book will be of value to serious students of Islamic history as well as educated readers generally. Both groups will be well able to navigate the historical and historiographical landscapes of the rise of Islam – with the foundational qualities that enabled it to develop into a world religion. The pursuit of certainty in discerning and understanding Muhammad’s historical biography and the rise of his religious movement is ongoing, and Irving Zeitlin has provided a clear, balanced, and plausible account using traditional sources and modern scholarly theories and interpretations." Frederick M. Denny, University of Colorado at Boulder "It is very important for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to understand the importance of the Prophet Muhammad because he is so central to Islam. The Historical Muhammad contributes significantly to the discussion of the life of the Prophet, a subject highly relevant to our time." Akbar S. Admed, American University, Washington DCTable of ContentsPreface Introduction and Overview of the Life of Muhammad Donner’s Reply to the Skeptics Enter Muhammad: An Overview The Battle of the Trench Chapter One Ibn Khaldun’s Social and Economic Theory Bedouins and Sedentary Peoples Asabiyah Chapter Two Pre-Islamic Arabia The Hijaz on the Eve of the Rise of Islam Pre-Islamic Religion Chapter Three The Role of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael Who was the Sacrificial Son? The Islamic Theory that Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar Traveled to the Valley of Mecca Abraham, Ishmael and the Kaaba William Muir on the Abrahamic Question Muir on the Founding of Mecca and the Abrahamic Legend Chapter Four Recent and Current Scholarship The Religion of Mecca The Kaaba and Its Devotees Hanifiya and the Religion of Abraham G.E. von Grunebaum, “The Nature of Arab Unity Before Islam” M.J.Kister, “Al-Hira: Some Notes on Its Relations with Arabia” Joseph Henninger, “Pre-Islamic Bedouin Religion” Moshe Gil, “Jews of Yathrib” Fazlur Rahman, “Pre-Foundations of the Muslim Community in Mecca” Uri Rubin, “Hanifiyya and Ka ‘ba: An Inquiry into the Arabian Background of Din Ibrahim” More on Pre-Islamic Religion in the Arabian Peninsula Hamilton A.R. Gibb, “Pre-Islamic Monotheism in Arabia” W. Montgomery Watt, “Belief in a ‘High God’ in Pre-Islamic Mecca” Uri Rubin, “The Kaaba: Aspects of Its Ritual Functions and Position in Pre-Islamic and Early Islamic Times” Chapter Five Possible Influences on Muhammad’s Inspiration Jewish Historians on the Jews of Arabia Baron on Pre-Islamic, Arab-Jewish Relations in Arabia Chapter Six The Jews of Arabia: A Recent Re-Examination Chapter Seven Richard Bell’s Origin of Islam in its Christian Environment Chapter Eight W. Montgomery Watt’s Muhammad at Mecca The Daughters of Allah or the So-called Satanic Verses More on the “Daughters of Allah” Affair A Sociological Argument W. Montgomery Watt’s Muhammad at Medina Chapter Nine Muhammad at Medina: William Muir’s Analysis Muhammad and the Jewish Tribes of Medina The Battle of Badr Current Research on the Massacre of the B. Qurayza The Conquest of Khaybar Chapter Ten Muhammad and the Jews Muhammad and the Jews: G.D. Newby’s Re-Examination of the Evidence Chapter Eleven Concluding Sociological Reflections Abu Bakr and the Ridda Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWith reports of financial impropriety and clergy misconduct makingheadlines, accountable leadership and sound management practiceshave become priority concerns in congregations of every faith.Accountable Leadership speaks to congregation leaders, both clergyand laity, and to individuals who love the worshiping community andseek the tools that can enable everyone in it to better care forone another. This is a practical compAndium of resources for creating andmanaging a sound, effective, and fair congregation. This newedition has been extensively revised and updated to includecontemporary topics such as disturbing trAnds in reduced giving,new church-state issues, clergy misconduct and troublesome members,and legal issues associated with the congregation''s role asemployer and provider of pastoral counseling.Trade Review"This book filled an important gap in congregational studies whenit was first published, and four years later this much enlargededition is even better. In a world where church finances, law, andethics are so much more complicated than ever, leaders can't affordto be without it." --Loren Meade, founder, The AlbanInstitute "This book is a plea for congregational leaders to be competent,informed, accountable, and in touch with contemporary reality.Reading it will enrich both the life and the ministry of everyleader who accepts the need to be accountable. It is an ideal studybook to be read by every member of the governing board." --Lyle E.Schaller, Church Consultant "Chaffee is thorough, reasonable, and pastoral in his approach toan important subject rarely covered adequately in a seminary."--Your ChurchTable of ContentsOne: Becoming an Accountable Leader 1. Courage and the Responsibilities of Leadership 2. What the Law Requires 3. The Role of the Governing Board Two: Accountability, Administration, and the Shared Life of theCongregation 4. Developing Life-Support Systems for the Corporate Body 5. Responsible Financial Management 6. Employment Practices That Safeguard Communal Values 7. Contracting with Service Providers from Inside and Outside theCongregation Three: TAnding to Invisible Wounds Within the Congregation 8. Zero Tolerance for Abusive Behavior 9. Preventing Clergy Misconduct 10. Healing the Wounded Congregation

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Book SynopsisKennon Callahan shares a new understanding of leadership, and helps missionary pastors grow their leadership by cultivating new understandings and practices in seven key areas. Callahan guides pastors and key leaders in building on their creativity and imagination in order to revitalize their local churches and advance their missions.Table of ContentsTHE DAY OF MISSION. The Missionary Pastor. The Mission Field. The Mission Outpost. THE NATURE OF LEADERSHIP. Life and Leadership. Life Is a Search. Leadership, Discovery, Fulfillment. FOUNDATIONAL SEARCHES, EMERGING TRENDS, AND CONSEQUENCES. The Search for Individuality. The Search for Community. The Search for Meaning. The Search for Hope. THE HEART OF THE MATTER. Leadership Values. The Leadership Environment. A Constructive Perspective. The Evaluation Process. Leadership Structures. Missional Structures. Church Development. CONCLUSION. The Way Forward.

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Book SynopsisMalony identifies the eight central paradoxes that all religious leaders must confront, showing how when viewed as either/or choices they can tear a ministry apart and how embracing the truth of both assertions can enable religious leaders to deal successfully with seeming conflicts in their roles.Trade Review"Individuals who are in religious leadership positions will immediately recognize the dilemmas or paradoxes described in this book. The good news is that Malony offers sound practical advice on how to deal with them. This book is accurately descriptive and helpfully prescriptive." (Douglas Lewis, Wesley Theological Seminary) "Malony suggests ways to turn destructive conflict into creative tension. A helpful guide for every religious leader struggling to make sense out of the colliding interests that buffet many congregations and other not-for-profit institutions." (William E. Hull, Samford University) "Dr. Malony presents a helpful analysis using insights from psychology, theology, management theory, conflict resolution, practical experience, love of Church, and an ironic spirit. Anyone reading this study will no longer see conflict as an interruption of the Church mission, but an opportunity to be in ministry." (Mark Trotter, First United Methodist Church, San Diego, California)Table of ContentsForeword by Max de Pree. The Persistent Paradox of Religious Leadership. PARADOXES IN THE LEADER'S ROLE. Person and Position: Being True to Oneself and to Congregational Expectations. Prophet, Priest, and King: Playing Three Roles at Once Without Confounding Them. PARADOXES OF PERSPECTIVE. Inclusivity and Exclusivity: Appreciating Both Uniqueness and Universality in Faith Convictions. Timely and Timeless: Applying the Bible's Eternal Truths to Present Circumstances. PARADOXES BUILT. For-Profit and Not-for-Profit: Balancing the Books While Serving a Larger Purpose. Person and Organization: Running an Efficient Organization in Which People Feel Deeply Recognized. PARADOXES OF CONGREGATIONAL MISSION. Product and Process: Valuing Ends and Means Equally. Mission and Maintenance: Moving the Congregation Toward Achieving Its Goals While Fostering Goodwill and Group Cohesion. Conclusion: Leading Others to Double Vision.

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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.Table of ContentsAbout This Workbook xi Part 1 Vitality and Leadership Disciplines 1 1 Spiritual and Relational Vitality: The Driving Force of Transformational Change 3 2 Discipline One: Generating and Sustaining Creative Tension 8 3 Discipline Two: Harnessing the Power of Mental Models 12 4 Discipline Three: Enabling Team Learning 16 5 Discipline Four: Practicing Systems Thinking 21 Part 2 The Eight-Stage Change Process 27 6 Stage 1: Making Personal Preparation 29 7 Stage 2: Creating Urgency 34 8 Stage 3: Establishing the Vision Community 38 9 Stage 4: Discerning the Vision and Determining the Visionpath 44 10 Stage 5: Communicating the Vision 50 11 Stage 6: Empowering Change Leaders 55 12 Stage 7: Implementing the Vision 61 13 Stage 8: Reinforcing Momentum Through Alignment 67 Resource A Resource Organizations 74 Resource B An Annotated Bibliography of Useful Publications 78 Resource C Questionnaires, Inventories, and Other Data-Gathering Resources 81 Resource D Congregational Bodylife Model 95 Resource E Congregational Self-Assessment 98 References 103 The Authors 104 About Leadership Network 107

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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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