Over the course of an extraordinary year, Zev Chafets--former New York "Daily News" columnist and onetime director of the Israeli government press office--traveled the world to explore the improbable confluence of Jews and evangelicals. He spent quality time with Jerry Falwell, visited Jewish cadets at West Point, attended the world's biggest Christian retail show, embarked on a road trip with the rabbi with the largest gentile following since Jesus, journeyed to the Holy Land with a band of repentant Christian pilgrims, and broke bread with George W. Bush and five hundred fellow Jewish Republicans.

"A Match Made in Heaven" is the penetrating, engaging, and often hilarious narrative of Chafets's determined quest to get to the root of a very serious question: Why do evangelicals support Israel so strongly? Equal parts history, comedy, travelogue, and political tract, it is a smart and adventurous odyssey along a rapidly changing religious and political border.

Holiness theology didn't begin with John Wesley. Holiness theology began with Christ. In Wholeness in Christ, holiness theologian and former general superintendent William M. Greathouse examines both the Old and New Testament roots of the holiness doctrine. Greathouse takes an in-depth look at the historic doctrine of entire sanctification, the mandate to holy living, and such often-misunderstood Holiness terms as 'perfect.' This masterfully researched work is a valuable resource to those who wish to examine more deeply the biblical foundations of the heartfelt experience of heart cleansing and holy living. Kivar.

This Bible study shows how God used his servant Isaiah to call His people to repentance. In workbook format, it provides exercises for students, questions for discussion, memory verses, and much more. Wisdom of the Word was founded in 1986 by Jeannie McCullough in Bethany, Oklahoma. It began as a weekly Bible study at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. In the first year the study grew to over 400 members, and people from other churches and the community began joining. The local enrollment of Wisdom of the Word eventually exceeded 1,000. Wisdom of the Word has been an instrument in uniting the community of believers as well as reaching the unchurched and the lost. It is now ministering to thousands through videos and cassette tapes and other programs such as Children of the Word, prison ministries, and missions.

Faithful Dissenters tells the stories of people who took risky stands and sometimes paid heavily. Yet the benefits of their dissent have unquestionably enriched the church and all of us. They include:
-- Catherine of Sienna
-- Thomas Aquinas
-- Matteo Ricci
-- Hildegard of Bingen
-- John Henry Newman
-- Mary Ward
-- Yves Congar

All of these men and women had one thing in common: they loved the church. And the church they helped change now holds all of them in high esteem.

Cathedrals and abbeys are the most beautiful and iconic buildings of the British Isles, and have formed the bedrock of our nation for centuries. This absorbing collection of amazing and extraordinary facts opens the doors of these fascinating structures to reveal their rich historical and architectural heritage. From stories of English Popes, martyred archbishops and renegade bishops to iconoclastic kings, power-hungry nobles and architectural dynasties, as well as the role of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, we explore how the people and religion in Britain have shaped these buildings over the last 2,000 years. Also read about the architectural heritage of British cathedrals, from troublesome spires, stained glass wonders and buy-a-brick campaigns to abbeys in the sea, fortified castle-cathedrals and mass graves. Along with tales of famous memorials and artefacts, fascinating folklore and architectural feats, these intriguing and diverse facts will provide something for every enthusiast to dip into and relish.

This Bible study focuses on Paul's letter to the church of Corinth--a church that was struggling to stay focused on the message of Christ. In 2 Corinthians, Paul focuses on the new life that comes with faith in Christ, the importance of faithful stewardship, and power of God to work through everyone willing to serve Him. This Bible study comes in workbook form and provides exercises for students, questions for discussion, memory verses, and practical applications. The Wisdom of the Word Bible Study books are great resources for Sunday School classes, small-groups, independent Bible studies, or anyone interesting in deepening his/her understanding of the Bible and the amazing truth found in the Christian faith. Jeannie McCullough, a pastor's wife in Bethany, Oklahoma, founded Wisdom of the Word in 1986. It began as a weekly Bible study at a local church and within the first year grew to more than 400 members. Today, Wisdom of the Word continues to thrive in churches and in home groups around the country and has proven to be an effective instrument in uniting believers as well as reaching the unchurched and the lost.

From the pages of Fellowship magazine, this volume highlights the writings of some of the preeminent peacemakers of our century. These seventy original and classic essays offer a comprehensive reader in nonviolence while also chronicling the struggle for peace and justice in the twentieth century. For students, activists, and all who share an interest in building a more just and peaceful world.

This fascinating book introduces the mysterious and extraordinary world of Celtic Christianity. Timothy Joyce, a Benedictine monk of Irish descent, evokes the distinctive spirituality that drew on pre-Christian beliefs and culture. He shows how this style of Christianity changed, was subordinated, and gave way to the larger Roman church, and yet how elements endured. Finally, he explores what Celtic spirituality has to offer today to the church as well as spiritual seekers.

Celtic spirituality is holistic -- a joyful, mystically-inclined spirituality that affirms the goodness of creation, urges respect for women's gifts, and finds expression in poetry, myth, and song. Joyce recounts the heroic stories of such saints as Patrick, Bridget, Columcille, and Columba. But he goes beyond other treatments to explore how this tradition was gradually subsumed by a more rigid style of "Irish Catholicism, " and he reflects on the centuries of suffering that have left an indelible mark on the Irish consciousness and spirit. Yet ultimately Joyce shows how the recovery of this ancient tradition of Christianity might rejuvenate the church and contribute to spiritual renewal today.

A century ago in central Europe, a small group of Rudolf Steiner's theology students, with the help of Steiner himself, established The Christian Community as a movement for religious renewal. From its founding they published a regular journal containing articles from the movement's key figures, including Emil Bock, Evelyn Capel, Alfred Heidenreich and Rudolf Frieling, as a way to share knowledge and insight and develop ideas and practice. Published in celebration of the centenary of The Christian Community, this landmark compendium gathers a wide-ranging selection of important articles spanning one hundred years of The Christian Community journal from 1922 to 2022. The articles include contemplations on the Bible and festivals of the years, essays on the lives and work of artists and writers, and explorations of ideas about science, the natural world and the earth as a living entity. This fascinating collection shows the changing concerns of a growing community, from its early pioneering days through the turbulent early decades and the outbreak of the Second World War, to its position in our modern, globalised society. The book includes a foreword by Tom Ravetz, Lenker of The Christian Community in Great Britain and Ireland and the current editor of Perspectives, the UK's quarterly Christian Community journal.

St. Thomas More, the light-hearted but heroic Chancellor of England, comes to life in this biography by Elizabeth M. Ince from the acclaimed "Vision Books" series of saints for youth 9 - 16 years old. Raised in the London of the late 1400's, Thomas was a bright student eager for knowledge. When serving as a page for Cardinal Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury noticed his bright wit and sent him to Oxford. There young Thomas became a scholar of great repute, and later one of the greatest lawyers that England had ever seen. Going on to serve his King, Thomas More soon became one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisors. But then the unthinkable happened. King Henry VIII defied Rome and set himself up as the head of the Church in England, commanding all of his subjects to acknowledge him as such. Sir Thomas resigned as Chancellor rather than betray his faith, but his defiance came at a price. King Henry had him arrested and charged with treason. On July 6, 1535, Sir Thomas More was beheaded for high treason and became a martyr for the Church.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE Are you struggling with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness? Are you feeling depressed and overwhelmed with financial problems, relationship difficulties, the end of a relationship, or the death of a loved one? Are you questioning whether life is even worth living anymore? Almost any unfortunate experience can make someone consider a drastic solution. Would it surprise you to learn that by this time tomorrow, an average of 117 people will have died from suicide? Beyond the deaths that are recorded as completed suicides, an estimated 2,900 people will have attempted to end their lives. In the United States, more than 42,000 people die each year by suicide*. Suicide is a whispered word--a taboo subject. Yet this may be what you are contemplating. If that's the case, the most important thing you can do is tell someone about how you're feeling. Don't become another statistic. People with failed suicide attempts relate that they tried to take their own lives because they couldn't get away from themselves and their disturbing thoughts. They weren't choosing death as much as choosing an end to their seemingly unbearable pain. The first thing you need to know is that you can't solve your problems on your own. GOD UNDERSTANDS He knows when we are losing our grip and on the brink of disaster. He is offering his hand to you this very moment. He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. GOD LISTENS He wants you to pour out your innermost feelings to him. You think life has given you a raw deal? Tell God. You can't endure the grinding poverty, the painful illness, the distressing loneliness, the awfulness of whatever it is that has you so down? God's invitation is: "Come to me . . . and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). THE BIBLE SAYS "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31) GOD SPEAKS The Bible is the sourcebook for help and hope. When we ignore what God wants us to hear, we deprive ourselves of that which can enable us to hang on when the going gets tough. "Fear not, for I am with you," God says. "Be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). GOD SAVES The Bible assures us that God will not ignore a broken, humble heart (Psalm 41:17). If you truly want to be helped, confess to God that you've wandered from him, and acknowledge that Jesus is the only way back. Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins, and he rose again to offer you new life. Perhaps you've never accepted the truth about Jesus, but you can trust him now. Ask him to come into your life and give you guidance, strength, wisdom, and right thinking. Turn your life over to Jesus--he will save you, forgive you, and empower you with a new and eternal life. GOD HEALS God changes people and changes situations. When you trust him as your Savior, you can become a truly new person. God keeps his promises. You'll find that the Bible is a magnificent story full of promises that God has made and fulfilled. PROMISE OF PSALM 40 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:1-3) GOD LOVES YOU God's love is best demonstrated through his Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus was born to Mary, he was human in every form but without sin. By the sacrifice of Jesus's death, we are able to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. God's love is also visible in his people. Seek the help and friendship of other Christians. If you don't know any Christians, find a local Christian church--God will help to place the right people in your path. When you are suicidal, your perspective freezes and logic becomes confused. Many underlying tensions have pulled you down. But the good news is that you don't have to stay that way! Whatever has brought you this low will NOT remain forever. By placing yourself in God's care--you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including a present, a future, and an eternity that will be better because God, and you, are in it. God can change your life if you let him. Call out to God in a prayer such as this: Dear God, I have come to the end of myself.I have nothing left, and I want to turn to you to save me. I believe your only Son, Jesus, died and rose again to pay for my sins. I receive your love and forgiveness based on what he did for me. Help me, God, to become whole, so that I may have a relationship with you and become a new person for eternity. Amen. * Suicide statistics taken from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2016: www.afsp.org.

From a renowned historian who writes with "maximum vividness" ("The New Yorker") comes the most authoritative, readable single-volume history of the brutal struggle for the holy land

Nine hundred years ago, a vast Christian army, summoned to holy war by the Pope, rampaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterranean, seizing possession of Jerusalem, a city revered by both faiths. Over the two hundred years that followed, Islam and Christianity fought for dominion of the Holy Land, clashing in a succession of chillingly brutal wars: the Crusades. Here for the first time is the story of that epic struggle told from the perspective of both Christians and Muslims. A vivid and fast-paced narrative history, it exposes the full horror, passion, and barbaric grandeur of the Crusading era, revealing how these holy wars reshaped the medieval world and why they continue to influence events today.

A collection of Lewis's essays against 'the new morality' - a fine collection representing Lewis at his most brilliant. Published shortly after his death, aiming to make available some of his writings which were not at that time publicly accessible, and to counter the prevailing new morality of the sixties, 'Christian Reflections' gives a robust defence of the Christian Gospel. Now, fifty years later, when Christian communities are, in our own day, struggling to come to terms with a shifting morality, this little volume will be a comforting reminder of the never-changing truths of the faith. As ever, Lewis's clear and eloquent mind gives plenty of food for thought, especially as he aims his intellectual ammunition at the modern myths still so prevalent in our post-modern culture.

Stories retold by Dave and Neta Jackson from the Martyrs Mirror, these stories reflect a cross-section of the thousands of men and women who lost their lives because of their faith during the 16th century. 184 pages.

'[an] exploration of Scotland's past through the eyes of a scholarly hiker ... Magnificent' - New Statesman, Books of the Year Fourteen centuries ago, Irish saints journeyed to the Hebrides and Scotland's Atlantic shore. They sought spiritual solitude in remote places, but their mission was also to spread the word of God to the peoples of Scotland. Columba was the most famous of these pioneers who rowed their curraghs towards danger and uncertainty in a pagan land, but the many others are now largely forgotten. Alistair Moffat sets off in search of these elusive figures. As he follows in their footsteps, he finds their traces not so much in tangible remains as in the spirit and memory of the places that lay at the very edge of their world.

A compendium of fascinating information about Christianity, including important plants, symbolic animals, common variations on the cross, and much more A concise and convenient book about Christianity, this pocket book is perfectly formatted for anyone interested in learning more about religion on-the-go. It is clearly and simply designed for accessible browsing, and includes time lines, biographies, critical biblical moments, and many other aspects of Christianity aptly explained.

First Published in 1963, the book Pilgrim in the Modern World tries to answer fundamental questions like does the Christian faith meet intellectual, moral, and spiritual needs of the contemporary situation or it is like the irreducible surd in a mathematical problem- present as a fact but to be ignored in use? L. J. Baggott has had a long experience in the ministry of the Church of England, from work in the slums to that of Abbey, Minster, and Cathedral; from a chaplaincy of the Tower of London to the vicariate of large industrial parishes; from a visiting lectureship to the parochial tasks peculiar to four great seaports; from the supervision of Ordinands to the archdeaconship of a hundred peaceful Norfolk villages. Throughout it has become increasingly clear that man is indeed the 'Eternal Pilgrim of the Infinite'. Christianity is an historical religion of which 'redemption of man' is the central and ruling thought. For twentieth century man, his pilgrimage is set in most challenging era that man has ever known, a scientific era and a temporal order in which his most important problems take their rise and shape his life. In the light of new knowledge and discovery, the book offers what the author believes the only valid and satisfying answer to the question of relevancy of the Christian faith for modern times. This is a must read for scholars of religion and Christianity.

This readable survey on the history of missions tells the story of pivotal turning points in the expansion of Christianity, enabling readers to grasp the big picture of missional trends and critical developments. Alice Ott examines twelve key points in the growth of Christianity across the globe from the Jerusalem Council to Lausanne '74, an approach that draws on her many years of classroom teaching. Each chapter begins with a close-up view of a particularly compelling and paradigmatic episode in Christian history before panning out for a broader historical outlook. The book draws deeply on primary sources and covers some topics not addressed in similar volumes, such as the role of British abolitionism on mission to Africa and the relationship between imperialism and mission. It demonstrates that the expansion of Christianity was not just a Western-driven phenomenon; rather, the gospel spread worldwide through the efforts of both Western and non-Western missionaries and through the crucial ministry of indigenous lay Christians, evangelists, and preachers. This fascinating account of worldwide Christianity is suitable not only for the classroom but also for churches, workshops, and other seminars.

This is the first book in the author's series on Christian maturity.

This book brings home the dramatic identity of ritual and the religious significance of all kinds of theatre. Historically speaking, religious ritual and theatre appear to have evolved together. But what is the relationship between catharsis and liturgy? How liturgical is theatre, and how theatrical is liturgy? Liturgy's purpose is dramatic; like theatre it is a kinetic medium focusing upon the presence of the other person, whether divine or human. The book explores the characteristics of liturgical experience -- concentration, single mindedness, intentionality, emotional catharsis and above all, the quality of encounter on which personal environment depends -- an exploration which leads into the dramatic shape underlying both liturgy and theatre, that of the rite of passage itself. Examples are given of such rites, understood from the point of view of their theatrical nature and purpose. This involves looking at liturgical structure from a point of view which up to now has largely been neglected by scholars, although its relevance emerges with striking force, as the drama of the incursion of the divine into human lives. Many have spoken and written of the 'drama of religious ritual' and been content to leave it at that. Roger Grainger takes a cliche and examines the often misunderstood truth it expresses.

The old saying about being condemned to repeat the history we don't know applies to Church history as much as to anything else. But we are often at a loss to know how to approach it. Much of what passed once for Church history was propagandist; and much of the best now written is brilliantly done but apparently detached from the Church's present needs. We need a theological approach to Church history but not one that is just partisan. In seeking to explore this need, Rowan Williams offers some reflection on how we think about the past in general - a complex issue in today's culture. Emerging from this is a sense of the importance of Church history as something that deepens our present thinking and obliges us to think with more varied and resourceful analogies about our present problems.

Have you ever wanted accessible introductions to key figures and periods of Christian history? Augustine and His World Augustine is one of the giants of the Christian church. From his birth in North Africa and his days as a relatively permissive young man, through his midlife conversion to Christianity and career as bishop of Hippo, his story has intrigued and inspired every generation for over 1,600 years. As a thinker, teacher, writer and debater, Augustine's greatness lay in his ability to relate the philosophies of Ancient Greece and Rome to the precepts of the Christian faith. Augustine also saved the church itself from disintegrating into rival factions by forging sound doctrine in the fires of controversy. This immersive account of Augustine's life helps readers understand the world he came from and the enormous contribution he made to the church, both of his day and of the future. Francis of Assisi and His World Francis of Assisi is one of the world's most popular religious figures, and also one of the most misrepresented. In this lively and engaging account of Francis's story - from his hedonistic youth to his emergence as a Christian leader of great charisma and intensity - Mark Galli attempts to strip away the modern gloss in order to discover the real man and the world in which he lived. The saint revealed here is not the romantic free spirit of popular imagination, but a contentious figure who combined a deep mysticism with radical commitment and, above all, sought to glorify God, the creator.