Is the virtual charter public school a viable alternative to traditional education? Virtual Charter Schools and Home Schooling is a rich and insightful study that undertakes a comprehensive investigation to answer this important question. It strongly makes the case for this idea with one of the first comprehensive investigations of the relationship between virtual charter schools and home schooling. Benefits as well as drawbacks or limitations to both parties are examined using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. "This book is exactly what we need to know about the potential and current results of one type of charter, virtual, home schooling network. Her research adds much to our current understanding and can serve as a model for more inquiry and reasoned dialogue. There is much to be learned by studying all aspects of alternative school efforts--Dr. Klein, a public school educator, with more than 20 years of experience, is to be congratulated for the clarity and insight she brings to the discussion." - Mary Poplin, Professor of Education, Claremont Graduate University

The Shepherd of Hermas is a Greek visionary text written in Rome during the 2nd century CE with the aim to exhort men to change life and repent for their sins, taking advantage of the last chance given by the Lord before world's end. The Shepherd is a very important witness of history of the early Christian thought and it was so widely-read that it was immediately translated into Latin and other languages. Despite the considerable amount of Greek textual witnesses of the Shepherd (more than twenty-five written between the 2nd and the 14th century), its complete text did not survive until today, therefore its translations in other languages are of crucial importance for the constitutio textus. Among the various translations, the Latin Vulgata stands out for its antiquity, accuracy and links with some important Greek witnesses like the Papyrus Bodmer 38 (4th/5th century) and the Codex Athous Grigoriou 96 (14th century). The last critical edition of the Vulgata was made by H.A. Hilgenfeld in 1873 and is still quoted by scholars today. The Shepherd of Hermas in Latin offers a more modern and complete philological study through an investigation of new unknown textual sources from 9th to 14th century and gives new philological and textual data with the aim to replace the accurate but not updated edition of Hilgenfeld.

Margaret - The Pope's Cat - is back! Illustrated in full color. Bang! Slam! Boom! Loud sounds in St. Peter's Square had been going on for nearly an hour already. Margaret was annoyed, because as you may know, cats like to sleep. A lot. The apartment where Margaret lives with the Pope, ever since he adopted her off the streets of Rome, looks out onto St. Peter's Square. And the noises down there kept waking Margaret up. She rolled over, covering her ears with her paws. A few minutes later, the sounds began again, as more trucks arrived to unload even more chairs. Beep, beep, beep, beep went the trucks as they backed up to where men in yellow jackets were waiting to unload them. Then came Bang! Slam! Boom! all over again, as the men arranged the chairs in rows facing the portico of St. Peter's Basilica. All of this was in preparation for a special event to take place the following day, Christmas. ____________ In this delightful new story from their lives, the Pope takes Margaret on a tour of St. Peter's. But when he's called away to work, Margaret gets lost in the world's largest church. She meets saints, children, tourists, and the artist Michelangelo's famous statue, The Pieta, before being reunited with the Pope as Midnight Mass is about to begin.

It's possible to learn how to live with a faith that is so confident in God that it can't be shaken--even in the most unpredictable and chaotic times. In this five-session video Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), bestselling author and teacher Christine Caine invites you to move into a deeper intimacy with God than you have ever known--and let him heal your heart and take away your fear. Including video discussion questions, Bible exploration, and personal study material, Caine points out the way to developing a relentless faith so that the next time life throws you a curve ball--and life likely will--you will be able to navigate your way through, still living the adventure he planned for you...and maybe even a version of the adventure that's beyond what you could ever have imagined. Sessions include: Expect the Unexpected - Embracing God's control over our own. Unexpected People - Learning how to look and see what God is doing. An Unexpected Assignment - How God interrupts our carefully made plans and why. Unexpected Endings Bring New Beginnings - Focusing on what God has been up to in our lives. Unexpected Resurrection - Renewing our faith in the final hope. Many of us have been trained to fear the unexpected and want everything to be "under control," but God wants us to anticipate the unexpected with a faith-filled perspective rooted in trust. He has never been taken by surprise. Designed for use with the Unexpected Video Study (9780310089322) sold separately.

In this book Dr Ludlow compares and assesses two advocates of the belief that in the end God will save all people. It asks whether this idea of 'universal salvation' is a truly Christian concept. If it is a 'second tradition' in Christian theology, how has that tradition developed? What difficulties with the idea still remain?

For more than forty years, Evidence That Demands a Verdict has encouraged and
strengthened millions of people around the world. It has convinced skeptics of the
Bible's reliability, helped believers articulate their faith, and given them the vital facts
they need to defend God's Word and lead others to faith in Jesus. The book has now
been revised and updated to include newly uncovered historical documentation, recent
scholarship, and new and expanded chapters to address recent attacks on Christianity.

In this new six-session video study (DVD/digital downloads sold separately), Josh and
his son, Sean, help believers in Christ understand how the books of the New Testament
came into being, how they differ from "Gnostic" and non-biblical texts, and why they
can be sure that the New Testament books are historically reliable. They also examine
how believers can know that Jesus existed, why the claims he made about himself are
true, how he fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about himself, and how believers can
know the resurrection took place.

This study is for anyone who has ever been stumped by someone's arguments against
Christianity or the Bible-or has wondered for themselves if the Bible's depiction of Jesus
is true and not just a made-up fairy tale. It has been specifically created to help
Christians know what they believe, why it is true, and how they communicate biblical
truth to a skeptical world.

This study guide is designed for use with the Evidence That Demands a Verdict Video
Study (sold separately).

In this six-session video-based small group Bible study, bestselling author Carol Kent gives proof that you can experience grace and joy during even the lowest moments of your life. This Participant's Guide helps you decide where you stand when you are caught between a rock and a hard place: Will you place yourself in a posture of humility and complete dependence on God, or will you just "try harder" and stumble over what could be a transforming encounter with grace? Carol Kent and her husband, Gene, are living what some would call a heartbreaking life-their son, Jason, a young man who initially had so much promise, is now living out a life sentence for murder in a maximum security prison. All their appeals have been exhausted. But despite their hopeless situation, the Kent's live a life full of grace. With hope, joy, and a sense of humor, Carol helps you find God's "grace places" in the midst of your worst moments. This Participant Guide provides individual and group activities, additional background material, and between-session personal studies that will enhance your experience of the video sessions. Sessions include: Grace in the Hardest of Places - Surprised by Faith Angels in Disguise - Surprised by Mercy Longing for a Better Me - Surprised by Contentment The Secret Power of Gratitude - Surprised by Thanksgiving Why Do You Weep? - Surprised by Joy Dwelling in the Great Place - Surprised by Freedom Designed for use with the Between a Rock and a Grace Place Video Study (sold separately).

Had Satan known that he could knock me down but he could not knock me out... Had he known that I would lie there on life's battlefield for a moment, lick my bloody wounds, then get up and fight with the warrior spirit which had been given to me-just so I could ride a wavecrest... Had he known exactly who he was "messing" with... Then perhaps he never would have stopped by my house to pick a fight with me. My enemy had no idea that God had ordained my pea patch to be turned upside down and inside out that night. Neither did he know God had already given me the victory The devil actually did nothing to me but oh, so much for me As for you, my pea patch friend, Satan's interference into the affairs of your life means that you, too, can now step beyond the boundaries you have set for yourself or that somebody else has set for you. The kingdom of God is being advanced through you and into the lives of all you touch. Today, you can have a victorious pea patch in Jesus Christ in every area of your life It all starts with your decision to forgive those who have harmed you in any way. Don't forget to tell yourself that you have a kingdom spirit living inside of you, and that makes you not only a winner but also a champion-just like Shammah and just like me. Never resign yourself to listen to noises that would tell you otherwise.