Christian tradition holds that an individual's ability to respond to God's graceto love both God and neighboris not wholly vulnerable to earthly contingencies, such as victimization. Today, however, trauma theory insists that situations of overwhelming violence can permanently damage a person's capacity for responsive agency. For Christians, this theory raises the very troubling possibility that humans can inflict ultimate harm on each other, such that some individuals' eternal destiny can be determined not by themselves but by those who do great harm.
Jennifer Beste addresses the challenges that contemporary trauma theory and feminist theory pose to deeply-held theological convictions about human freedom and divine grace. Do our longstanding, widespread beliefs regarding ones access to Gods grace remain credible in light of recent social scientific research on the effects of interpersonal injury? With an eye toward the concrete experiences of trauma survivors, Best carefully considers the possibility that one can be victimized in such a way that his or her receptiveness to Gods grace is severely diminished, or even destroyed.
Drawing on insights present in feminist and trauma theory, Beste articulates a revised Rahnerian theology of freedom and grace responsive to trauma survivors in need of healing. Her thinking is characterized by two interconnected claims; that human freedom to respond to Gods grace can in fact be destroyed by severe interpersonal harm, and that Gods love can be mediated, at least in part, through loving interpersonal relations. Offering crucial insights that lead to a more adequate understanding of the relation between Gods grace and human freedom, Bestesimportant theory reconfigures our visions of God and humanity and alters our perceptions of what it means to truly love ones neighbor.

Why and How Should I Tell Others is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Questions of Life, and the thirteenth talk on Alpha. Nicky Gumbel discusses how telling others about our faith can be a natural part of our relationship with God. This booklet may be given to a guest who missed this Alpha talk. Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family, and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith, and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.

The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? has inspired and changed tens of millions of lives … more than any modern book.

Rick has updated and expanded the book with new chapters on the greatest barriers to living your purpose, plus 42 video introductions to each chapter theme, and 42 additional audio messages that go deeper into each chapter.

He has also created a new small group curriculum and new sermon series for pastors, and new follow-up events to conserve the evangelistic and discipleship results you will experience.

In the original 40 Days of Purpose campaign, churches averaged 28% growth in attendance, and over 100% growth in small group Bible study! People WANT to know their purpose in life!

The Purpose Driven Life will enable a new generation in your church to discover God’s purposes for their lives and empower your church with a fresh new wind of hope, joy, and vitality!

Today we are facing a global crisis when it comes to families. Marriages are under
more pressure than ever. Many children are growing up without experiencing the
security of their parents' love and commitment to each other-and consequently are
finding it harder to receive God's unconditional love. There is an urgent need to invest
in marriage and family life, for strong societies are built on strong families, and
strong families are built on strong marriages.

The Marriage Course, developed by Nicky and Sila Lee of Alpha, has been revised and
updated to provide practical tools to help couples at every stage of their relationship.

This update includes talks from experts including Dr. Gray Chapman, Dr. Henry Cloud,
and Dr. Sue Johnson on topics such as money, sex, love languages, healthy
boundaries, and building connections. The course will also cover how couples can:

• Better understand each other's needs
• Communicate more effectively
• Grow closer by learning methods to resolve conflicts
• Recover from the way they may have hurt each other
• Recognize how their upbringing has affected their relationship
• Improve relationships with parents and in-laws
  

This is a wake up call and vivid warning to readers through a vision of an avalanche that God gave Steve Hill, which represents the false and heretical teachings from pastors and teachers that are spreading to Christians worldwide. Hill shares how every aspect of his vision relates to Christians today. The snow represents the false teaching that is steadily falling on the ears of many Christ followers, covering with many layers the solid foundational truth of Christ. Heresies including universalism, the deification of man, overemphasized grace, and many more that will ultimately destroy the spiritual lives of many.What happens when snow keeps falling, creating the dangerous threat of an avalanche? Those who heed the warnings are saved, but those who fail to listen are caught in a deadly trap.Readers will be challenged to understand these dangers and what they can do to help tear down these false teachings in order to secure a layer of solid, biblical instruction that will establish "truth" in the work of the Gospel, and help us avoid spiritual destruction.

Hoe en wat ons dink, het ’n geweldige invloed op ons verstandelike, emosionele en selfs fisieke welsyn. Om die waarheid te sê, ons denke kan ons beperk tot dit wat ons glo ons kan doen, of dit kan ons dinge laat ervaar waarvan ons nooit kon droom nie. Wanneer ons ’n denkwyse kies wat ons vermoëns verruim, sal ons groter intellektuele satisfaksie, emosionele beheer en fisieke gesondheid ervaar. Die vraag is net: Hoe?

Dr. Caroline Leaf gebruik wetenskaplike navorsing en Bybelse insig om lesers te inspireer om beheer te neem van hulle gedagtes sodat hulle sodoende beheer kan neem van hulle lewens. Hierdie praktiese boek bevat die volgende:

• ’n 5-stap-leerprogram om geheue te verbeter en effektief te leer
• ’n profiel om die unieke manier te ontdek waarop elke leser inligting verwerk
• ’n gids om hulle gedagtewêreld optimaal te leer benut

There are many reasons to have fear, but God can conquer them all!

Find the peace you long for amid the things that frighten you with the help of this collection of 60 prayers from Stormie Omartian. Each prayer is paired with a Scripture verse so you can steady your heart and mind on the truth of God's Word as you call upon the Lord to drown out all anxiety-inducing thoughts.

Whether you're facing fear of loss, fear of evil, fear of rejection, fear of pain, or fear of the future, this little book gives you the inspiration you need to pray powerfully to God and be liberated from all that.

Why are so many 20- and 30-something Christians disappearing from the church?They are told how much the church wants young people, yet there is growing suspicion among young believers about who is in and who is out of the scope of Christian orthodoxy. Through this suspicion, a rift between the generations has emerged. In the face of frustration, of being cut out because they don't seem to fit, young believers often take their gifts and leave the church.This book helps those who feel displaced by this generational collision to find a sense of place and welcome with a church that is still becoming all that God wants it to be. If you are a young person who wonders if there is a place in the church for someone like you, or if you want to know if your own church can be the kind of body in which young people are welcome, A Seat at the Table will give you a new personal and kingdom perspective. Embrace the challenge to re-imagine your relationship with the church in light of this generational collision, not seeing it as an unredeemable rift, but as an opportunity to give and receive hospitality.

How Can I Resist Evil? is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Questions of Life, and the twelfth talk on Alpha. Reading the newspaper we see evil all around us. This booklet sheds light on how to resist evil. It may be given to a guest who missed this Alpha talk. Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.

An Unlikely Missionary Dispels the Myth That
Miracles Happen Only in Africa
Michele Perry may be an unlikely person to start a missionary orphanage in war-torn Sudan. Born without her left hip and leg, she is no stranger to overwhelming impossibility. She's learned from childhood to rely fully on God, who constantly surprises her--and she and her Sudanese children, more than one hundred of them, have witnessed him moving in miraculous and wondrous ways again and again.
Here she shares some of these amazing, inspiring stories. More than that, she shows how readers can genuinely, fully experience God in their everyday lives--whether in Africa or at home, wherever they are. She helps them understand what he looks like, what it means to hear his voice, what it's like to see a vision, and how to recognize the holy in the ordinary. With these practical keys, believers will be able to open the floodgates of life changing, supernatural encounters with God.

The Holy Spirit booklet includes three chapters from the Questions of Life book and the compilation of the talks about the Holy Spirit, taught on Alpha by Nicky Gumbel. These chapters are the main talks from the Alpha weekend or day away. They are grouped together, both on the weekend and here, as each relates to the subject of the Holy Spirit. The talks are designed to be informative but also highly practical, as we discover how each of us can be filled with the Holy Spirit and how he can help us to develop our relationship with God. This booklet may be given to a guest who missed the Alpha weekend. Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.

How does it happen that two people can be experiencing the same circumstances and conditions on their mission trip, and one person is having a great time, while the other is miserable as can be? And how can one short term mission team prepare so diligently for the practical ministry they'll be doing and be so ineffective as a group, while another team that seems less polished or skilled makes a huge mark in the culture they visit? Could it be that the heart preparation is more important than it is given credit for? In "Before You Go," experienced short term mission leader and trainer Jack Hempfling takes you on a 40 day journey that will bring you face to face with attitudes and issues that if not addressed, can make you or your group ineffective on the field. Get the most for your short term mission effort, finances, and preparation by getting your hearts ready. Walk with the Lord through this devotional and be equipped, informed, and made ready to joyfully pierce the darkness with all that you do. "I wish someone had given me a copy of Jack's book when I was first starting out" - Peter Warren, Director, Youth With a Mission, Denver "Wonderfully done ... I would highly recommend that every missionary candidate prayerfully use this devotional tool, and by so doing, avoid many difficulties, and increase their fruitfulness" - Tom Brazell, International Ministries Director, Elim Fellowship "Each day the devotionals keep getting better" - Don Richter, Director, Harvest Preparation International Ministries "I will require every future team member to purchase and read "Before You GO," before we go!" - Pastor Carol Missik, Living Word Church and Operation Capital City