|
Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian institutions & organizations > Christian social thought & activity
A cry that touches our hearts and awakens our desire to help - in
some way - the hundreds of thousands of children around the world
who are at risk. Overwhelmed by poverty, war, hunger and separation
from family, they are not allowed to be children. They carry guns,
they sell themselves to buy food, they live on the streets. Donald
Dunson tells the stories of our children from New Orleans to the
Sudan. Each chapter profiles three or four individuals as it probes
an issue affecting children children including hunger and poverty,
was and sexual exploitation, homelessness and the need for love. No
Room at the table concludes with a list of resources for
involvement and action. It is an eye - and heart - opening work.
The poor will always be with you, Jesus said - but that doesn't
mean Christians have ever figured out how to be with the poor. Pope
Francis has emphasized a vision of a "Church that is poor and for
the poor." But growing economic inequality continues to spread
across the globe. This book takes a fresh look at the role of
churches, and individual Christians, in relating to poverty and the
poor among them. A strong focus is placed on the biblical and
theological roots of the Church's commitment to care for the poor.
At times praised as a virtue and blessed as a condition, poverty
easily confuses us, and we are often left doing little to nothing
to make a difference with and for the poor. As a social evil and a
burden, poverty has elicited many kinds of reactions among the
followers of Christ. It is time for Christians to figure out what
to do about it. Contributors include Pope Francis, Pheme Perkins,
Sandra M. Schneider, and Thomas Massaro SJ.
Billy Graham, Eugene Peterson, William Willimon and other
well-known church leaders teach you how to connect with the
congregation through your preaching. Beyond the 'how-to's' of
preaching, The Pastor's Guide provides a foundation for embodying
God's grace and holiness as a means of communicating His message.
Great preachers of our time will teach you how to: Plan an extended
preaching schedule Keep your congregation engaged in what you're
saying Improve your delivery Develop ideas for content And much
more!
Some people have called epilepsy the disability towards which
Christianity has been most antagonistic, partly because of the
Church's tendency to attribute demon possession to the condition.
Drawing on the very latest thinking in this area, Roy McCloughry,
who is committed to supporting the increasing participation of
people with disabilities in Christian communities and in society at
large, reveals how people's lives are still being blighted by such
attitudes, though there is much to celebrate too. This engaging
book aims to encourage people to become involved with people with
disabilities, as friendship is one of keys to breaking down the
barriers which lead to stereotypes and fear.
What meaning does my life have? What hope is there for the Church?
How can I see beyond the media hype and false images I am bombarded
with every day? Where can I find God in all this noise and turmoil?
Combining moving stories from the inner city with a fresh approach
to the Gospel, Faith in Dark Places explores the revolutionary idea
that the good news of God's love is being spoken to a tired and
damaged world by those rejected as worthless: the homeless and the
poor. This radically revised edition, incorporating powerful new
insights and reflections, draws on recent theological research and
the author's own experience of urban poverty. It examines key
biblical texts, such as the Lord's Prayer as a prayer for the poor
(in particular the implications of kingdom, bread and trespasses);
the Magnificat; and the causes of the crucifixion.
Where does technology belong in the biblical story of redemption?
Believers and unbelievers alike are saturated with technology,
yet most give it little if any thought. Consumers buy and upgrade
as fast as they can, largely unaware of technology's subtle yet
powerful influence. In a world where technology changes almost
daily, many are left to wonder: Should Christians embrace all that
is happening? Are there some technologies that we need to avoid?
Does the Bible give us any guidance on how to use digital tools and
social media?
An experienced Web developer and writer on technology and
culture, John Dyer answers these questions and more by walking
through the story of the Bible and introducing key ideas about how
technology and culture interact. Dyer first analyzes the biblical,
theological, and philosophical foundations of technology and then
studies several examples that show how technology can influence the
spiritual life. For youth pastors, college-aged readers, and anyone
interested in understanding how technology fits with faith, "From
the Garden to the City" fills a gap for biblically-informed
literature in a technological world.
"The burgeoning field of internet possibilities has very little
written from a Christian perspective, much less from a gifted
artist like John Dyer."--J. Scott Horrell, Professor of Theological
Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary
"Of all the voices speaking and writing on the subject today,
John Dyer's is among the voices I most respect. His] unique
combination of technological and theological passion, insight, and
credentials make him an author and thought leader that people of
faith need to hear from."--Scott McClellan, editor, "Collide
Magazine"
Based in the riches of Christian worship and tradition, this brief,
eloquently written introduction to Christian thinking and worldview
helps readers put back together again faith and reason, truth and
beauty, and the fragmented academic disciplines. By reclaiming the
classic liberal arts and viewing disciplines such as science and
mathematics through a poetic lens, the author explains that unity
is present within diversity. Now repackaged with a new foreword by
Ken Myers, this book will continue to benefit parents,
homeschoolers, lifelong learners, Christian students, and readers
interested in the history of ideas.
Amidst the many voices clamoring to interpret the environmental
crisis, some of the most important are the voices of religious
traditions. Long before modernity's industrialism began the rape of
Earth, premodern religious and philosophical traditions mediated to
untold generations the wisdom of living as a part of nature. These
traditions can illuminate and empower wiser ways of postmodern
living. The original writings of Worldviews and Ecology creatively
present and interpret worldviews of major religious and
philosophical traditions on how humans can live more sustainably on
a fragile planet. Contributors include Charlene Spretnak, Larry
Rasmussen, Noel Brown, Jay McDaniel, Tu Wei-Ming, Thomas Berry,
David Ray Griffin, J. Baird Callicott, Eric Katz, Roger E. Timm,
Robert A. White, Christopher Key Chapple, Brian Swimme, Brian
Brown, Michael Tobias, Ralph Metzner, George Sessions, and Mary
Evelyn Tucker and John Grim. Insights from traditions as diverse as
Jain, Jewish, ecofeminist, deep ecology, Christian, Hindu, Bahai,
and Whiteheadian will interest all who seek an honest analysis of
what religious and philosophical traditions have to say to a
modernity whose consciousness and conscience seems tragically
narrow, the source of attitudes that imperil the biosphere.
There are a great many Christians involved in politics today, both
in and around parliament and at a local level. This book offers
some serious resources to help them understand what the role of
government should be.
"Where does discipleship end and evangelism begin? How does one fit
with the other?
Joining the two together properly is a challenge. Both are
important and both are necessary.
Missional Discipleship offers a holistic vision that effectively
incorporates discipleship with evangelism. Thoroughly Wesleyan in
its emphasis on God's ever-present grace and the possibility of
human response, this approach demonstrates that education and
formation go hand-in-hand with mission and witness.
Written by a cadre of scholars and seasoned ministers, this
book is an accessible resource to assist pastors and leaders as
they introduce to their churches and small groups the vision of
mission discipleship. With topics ranging from service and
compassion to discipleship and the family, this invaluable guide
encapsulates what it means to engage a community of faith in
embodying the gospel and equipping Christians to participate in the
restorative and redemptive mission of God in the world."
|
|