The Renaissance is one of the most celebrated periods in European history. But when did it begin? When did it end? And what did it include? Traditionally regarded as a revival of classical art and learning, centred upon fifteenth-century Italy, views of the Renaissance have changed considerably in recent decades. The glories of Florence and the art of Raphael and Michelangelo remain an important element of the Renaissance story, but they are now only a part of a much wider story which looks beyond an exclusive focus on high culture, beyond the Italian peninsula, and beyond the fifteenth century. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Renaissance tells the cultural history of this broader and longer Renaissance: from seminal figures such as Dante and Giotto in thirteenth-century Italy, to the waning of Spain's 'golden age' in the 1630s, and the closure of the English theatres in 1642, the date generally taken to mark the end of the English literary Renaissance. Geographically, the story ranges from Spanish America to Renaissance Europe's encounter with the Ottomans-and far beyond, to the more distant cultures of China and Japan. And thematically, under Gordon Campbell's expert editorial guidance, the volume covers the whole gamut of Renaissance civilization, with chapters on humanism and the classical tradition; war and the state; religion; art and architecture; the performing arts; literature; craft and technology; science and medicine; and travel and cultural exchange.

"5th Anniversary - Updated & Expanded Edition
With foreword by Francis Chan"
Ever Wonder What it Would Be Like to Live Homeless?
Mike Yankoski did more than just wonder. By his own choice, Mike's life went from upper-middle class plush to scum-of-the-earth repulsive overnight. With only a backpack, a sleeping bag and a guitar, Mike and his traveling companion, Sam, set out to experience life on the streets in six different cities--from Washington D.C. to San Diego-- and they put themselves to the test.
For more than five months the pair experienced firsthand the extreme pains of hunger, the constant uncertainty and danger of living on the streets, exhaustion, depression, and social rejection--and all of this by their own choice. They wanted to find out if their faith was real, if they could actually be the Christians they said they were apart from the comforts they'd always known...to discover first hand what it means to be homeless in America.
Mike and Sam's story is gritty, challenging, and utterly captivating. What you encounter in these pages will radically alter how you see your world--and may even change your life.

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, paying particular attention to the downtrodden and the poor. As followers of Jesus, Christians are called to imitate his example and reach out to those who have the least. This book offers biblical guidelines and practical strategies for reaching those on the margins of our society with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authors - both pastors with years of experience ministering among the poor - set forth helpful "dos" and "don'ts" related to serving in the midst of less-affluent communities. Emphasizing the priority of the gospel as well as the importance of addressing issues of social justice, this volume will help pastors and other church leaders mobilize their people to plant churches and make an impact in "hard places" in their own communities and around the world.

Coach. Entrepreneur. Mentor. Executive. Servant. Visionary. Everyone has a different idea of what a leader should be. How can any one person be everything? Scott Rodin brings unity and clarity to this confusing, demanding picture of leadership. He offers a comprehensive model that brings together a biblical understanding of holistic stewardship with the best in leadership studies. Whether in churches, not-for-profit ministries or in business the need for sound leadership is readily apparent. Drawing on his years of experience in development and fundraising and his extensive theological training, Scott Rodin offers a new paradigm--a transformational approach to leadership that is biblically sound, theologically rich and practically compelling.

There has long been a tradition in the Christian church which has discerned in the scriptures an imperative towards radical political action. Beginning with the Fathers and their writings on the community of goods, it can be traced through the mystics of the middle ages and radical reformers and Puritans of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to Christian socialists, liberation theologians and social activists of more recent times.

Though remarkable for their incisiveness, originality and distinctive theological perspective, these writings have often failed to reach a wide readership. Bradstock and Rowland have now brought more than sixty extracts together in this one volume, including some which have been newly translated and many which have long been unavailable. This has resulted in a unique and immensely valuable resource, which includes letters, sermons, poems, liturgies and other writings from the third- to the twenty-first century.

This volume, which fills a gap in the current literature, will be an essential resource for third-year undergraduates and above in Biblical studies, political theology, Church history and political theory.

This study explores the conflicting perceptions that Christians held of the meaning and significance of Jewish books at the beginning of the 16th century ? a time when, following their general expulsion from many countries and territories, there were fewer Jews in western and central Europe than in the previous thousand years. This account tells the story of the so-called ?Pfefferkorn affair?: a tenacious campaign led by the German Johann Pfefferkorn ? previously a Jew and now a convert to Christianity ? to confiscate and burn all Jewish post-biblical literature in the Holy Roman Empire in the years 1509?10. The author follows the fate of the confiscated books and their examination by a commission of experts, exploring how Christians perceived Jewish scholarship and knowledge and the consequences of those perceptions.

The busy pastor, Bible student, or teacher will find many "seeds" in these outlines that can lead to sermons or lessons filled with a deeper understanding of the truth of God's Word. They are expository in nature.

Why are some leaders more effective than others? Effective leaders follow The Leadership Strategy of Jesus personally and in the organizations they lead. In the gospels, Jesus demonstrates the key elements necessary to advance His kingdom-in life, church, and work. The Leadership Strategy of Jesus shows leaders how to live out these principles and positively impact the world. As a seasoned ministry leader, Dr. Rich Halcombe's, The Leadership Strategy of Jesus, is designed to help leaders discover their personal purpose in order to better serve their communities. Halcombe encourages leaders to establish a clean plan for future growth and invest time and energy into those plans, while remaining open to continuous improvement and adjustment. The Leadership Strategy of Jesus will increase any leader's effectiveness by identifying the strategies of Jesus and applying them to everyday experiences.

The busy pastor, Bible student, or teacher will find many "seeds" in these outlines that can lead to sermons or lessons filled with a deeper understanding of the truth of God's Word. They are expository in nature.

What can Christianity as a tradition contribute to the struggle to secure the future well-being of the earth community? This collaborative volume, the third in the series on religions of the world and the environment, announces that an ecological reformation, an eco-justice reorientation of Christian theology and ethics, is prominent of the ecumenical agenda. The authors explore problematic themes that contribute to ecological neglect or abuse and offer constructive insight into, and responsive imperatives for, ecologically just and socially responsible living.