There's nothing quite like the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to start your day. And what better way to spend those first few morning moments than in quiet reflection with God? In a warm, casual, conversational style, Sarah Arthur takes you on a transformational journey as she explores both the subtle and the startling ways God transforms us through daily spiritual routines such as prayer and living simply. Part personal story and part spiritual search, "The One Year Coffee with God" will fill your cup with plenty of brew for thought.

Composed in Germany in the early thirteenth century by Judah ben Samuel he-hasid, Sefer Hasidim, or "Book of the Pietists," is a compendium of religious instruction that portrays the everyday life of Jews as they lived together with and apart from Christians in towns such as Speyer, Worms, Mainz, and Regensburg. A charismatic religious teacher who recorded hundreds of original stories that mirrored situations in medieval social living, Judah's messages advocated praying slowly and avoiding honor, pleasure, wealth, and the lures of unmarried sex. Although he failed to enact his utopian vision of a pietist Jewish society, his collected writings would help shape the religious culture of Ashkenazic Judaism for centuries. In "Sefer Hasidim" and the Ashkenazic Book in Medieval Europe, Ivan G. Marcus proposes a new paradigm for understanding how this particular book was composed. The work, he contends, was an open text written by a single author in hundreds of disjunctive, yet self-contained, segments, which were then combined into multiple alternative versions, each equally authoritative. While Sefer Hasidim offers the clearest example of this model of composition, Marcus argues that it was not unique: the production of Ashkenazic books in small and easily rearranged paragraphs is a literary and cultural phenomenon quite distinct from anything practiced by the Christian authors of northern Europe or the Sephardic Jews of the south. According to Marcus, Judah, in authoring Sefer Hasidim in this manner, not only resisted Greco-Roman influences on Ashkenazic literary form but also extended an earlier Byzantine rabbinic tradition of authorship into medieval European Jewish culture.

No matter what your life journey is like on a given day, you can trust in one solid fact: Jesus is there with you. If you allow him to, he will use your circumstances-even difficult ones-to make you more like him.

These daily readings are for those who want to go further in their journey with Jesus. Dare to get close to him; fiercely guard those moments you spend at his feet. There you will be instructed, strengthened, encouraged, and challenged. And as you draw near, you will be increasingly conformed to the image of the Master.

"It is possible to be a Christian without showing the mark, but if we expect non-Christians to know that we are Christians, we must show the mark." Christians have not always presented an inviting picture to the world. Too often we have failed to show the beauty of authentic Christian love. And the world has disregarded Christianity as a result. In our era of global violence and sectarian intolerance, the church needs to hear anew the challenge of this book. Decades ago Francis Schaeffer exhorted, "Love--and the unity it attests to--is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father." More than ever, the church needs to respond compassionately to a needy world. More than ever, we need to show the Mark.

In third-century CE Palestine, the leading member of the rabbinic movement put together a highly popular wisdom treatise entitled Tractate Avot. Though Avot has inspired hundreds of commentaries, this book marks the first comprehensive effort to situate Avot within the context of the Graeco-Roman Near East. Following his novel interpretation of Avot, Amram Tropper relates the text to ancient Jewish literary paradigms as well as to relevant socio-political, literary, and intellectual streams of the contemporary Near East. Through comparisons to ancient wisdom literature, the Second Sophistic, Greek and Christian historiography, contemporary collections of sayings, and classical Roman jurisprudence, Tropper interprets Avot in light of the local Jewish context as well as the ambient cultural atmosphere of the contemporary Near East.

The book The Spirit Power: Volume I explains and teaches about the power of the Holy Spirit from the beginning of all creation. In this book you will learn about the exposition of the Spirit's action in the lives of the people who believe in Jesus Christ and have received the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says: God is a Spirit those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. The Spirit of God dwells inside the believer, guiding and directing them in their daily lives. Come learn, understand and experience God s faithfulness to us through the power of the Spirit in your daily life. This is a comprehensive, must-read that will empower you to live a life of freedom and abundance in the things of God.

Jesus te llama es un devocional excepcional lleno de tesoros inspirados del cielo para cada dia del ano. Cada fragmento esta escrito desde el punto de vista de Jesucristo proporcionando al lector bellas redacciones que contienen deseos y verdades del corazon de Dios para el, basadas en las Escrituras. Despues de muchos anos de escribir en su diario de oracion, la misionera Sarah Young decidio "escuchar" a Dios con pluma en mano, poniendo por escrito cualquier cosa que El le decia. Estos encuentros escritos le ayudaron a crecer en su acercamiento a Dios y asi lo han hecho para miles de personas mas. Este devocional esta lleno de palabras de tranquilidad, consuelo y esperanza; palabras que dirigen al lector a estar en todo tiempo consciente de la presencia de Dios y a disfrutar de Su paz. Es un libro que ha pasado la prueba del tiempo y es preferido por muchas personas alrededor del mundo. Contiene redacciones cortas y faciles de comprender. Sugiere la lectura de fragmentos de la Biblia que complementan las redacciones. Ideal para uso personal, familiar o para regalo. Jesus Calling Jesus Calling is an exceptional devotional filled with heavenly inspired treasures for every day of the year. Each fragment is written from Jesus' point of view, providing the reader with beautiful writings that contain wishes and truths from the heart of God for him, based on the Scriptures. After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to "listen" to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever He said to her. These written encounters helped her grow in her approach to God and have done so for thousands of others. This devotional is full of words of tranquility, comfort and hope; words that direct the reader to be aware of the presence of God at all times and to enjoy His peace. It is a book that has stood the test of time and is preferred by many people around the world. It contains short and easy-to-understand essays. Suggest reading passages from the Bible that complement the essays. Ideal for personal, family or gift use.

This collection of leading scholars presents reflections on both wisdom as a general concept throughout history and cultures, as well as the contested nature of the category of Wisdom Literature. The first half of the collection explores wisdom more generally with essays on its relationship to skill, epistemology, virtue, theology, and order. Wisdom is examined in a number of different contexts, such as historically in the Hebrew Bible and its related cultures, in Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as in Patristic and Rabbinic interpretation. Additionally, wisdom is examined in its continuing relevance in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian thought, as well as from feminist, environmental, and other contextual perspectives. The second half of the volume considers "Wisdom Literature" as a category. Scholars address its relation to the Solomonic Collection, its social setting, literary genres, chronological development, and theology. Wisdom Literature's relation to other biblical literature (law, history, prophecy, apocalyptic, and the broad question of "Wisdom influence") is then discussed before separate chapters on the texts commonly associated with the category. Contributors take a variety of approaches to the current debates surrounding the viability and value of Wisdom Literature as a category and its proper relationship to the concept of wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. Though the organization of the volume highlights the independence of wisdom as concept from "Wisdom Literature" as a category, seeking to counter the lack of attention given to this question in the traditional approach, the inclusion of both topics together in the same volume reflects their continued interconnection. As such, this handbook both represents the current state of Wisdom scholarship and sets the stage for future developments.

This devotional by theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps you see that it is possible to impact that world if we allow ourselves to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Experience the power of Bonhoeffera (TM)s words in a way that challenges us to live out our discipleship daily--combining personal spirituality with an active concern for those around us.
a [ 365 meditations

We all struggle to escape bad habits that overrun our lives. "The One Year Recovery Prayer Devotional" is for those who are seeking freedom and recovery from unhealthy habits and addictions. This daily devotional, which features the Twelve Steps for Believers, will help you experience a life-changing breakthrough, releasing you from harmful patterns of behavior. Each day, the devotional encourages you to bring your struggles to God in prayer, asking for strength. The recovery process is not one you should try alone. You need partners and companions. "The One Year Recovery Prayer Devotional" is one of your companions, giving you daily encouragement on your path toward purpose.

By integrating conversations across disciplines, especially focusing on classical studies and Jewish and Christian studies, this volume addresses several imbalances in scholarship on reading and textual activity in the ancient Mediterranean. Contributors intentionally place Jewish, Christian, Roman, Greek and other reading circles back into their encompassing historical context, avoiding subdivisions along modern subject lines, divisions still bearing marks of cultural and ideological interests. In their examination, contributors avoid dwelling upon traditional methodological debates over orality vs. literacy and social classifications of literacy, instead turning their attention to the social-historical: groups of people, circles and networks, strata and class, scribal culture, material culture, epigraphic and papyrological evidence, functions and types of literacy and the social relationships that all of these entail. Overall, the volume contributes to an emerging and important interdisciplinary collaboration between specialists in ancient literacy, encouraging future discussion between two currently divided fields.

A fascinating comparative account of sacred languages and their role in and beyond religion written for a broad, interdisciplinary audience Sacred languages have been used for foundational texts, liturgy, and ritual for millennia, and many have remained virtually unchanged through the centuries. While the vital relationship between language and religion has been long acknowledged, new research and thinking across an array of disciplines including religious studies, sociolinguistics, sociology, linguistics, and even neurolinguistics has resulted in a renewed interest in the area. This fascinating and informative book draws on Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Judaic, and Buddhist traditions to provide a concise and accessible introduction to the phenomenon of sacred languages. The book takes a strongly comparative, wide-ranging approach to exploring ways in which ancient religious languages, such as Latin, Pali, Church Slavonic, and Hebrew continue to shape the beliefs and practices of religious communities around the world. Informed by both comparative religion and sociolinguistics, it traces the histories of sacred languages, the myths and doctrines that explain their origin and value, the various ways they are used, the sectarian debates that shadow them, and the technological innovations that propel them forward in the twenty-first century. * A comprehensive but succinct account of the role and importance of language within religion * Takes an interdisciplinary approach which will appeal to students and scholars across an array of disciplines, including religious studies, sociology of religion, sociolinguistics, and linguistics * Provides a strongly comparative exploration, drawing on Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Judaic, and Buddhist traditions * Uses numerous examples and ties historic debates with contemporary situations * Satisfies the rapidly growing demand for books on the subject among both academics and general readers Sacred Languages of the World is a must-read for students of religion and language, scripture, religious literacy, education and language, the sociology of religion, sociolinguistics. It will also have strong appeal among general readers with an interest comparative religion, history, cultural criticism, communication studies, and more.

Scripture as Logos Rabbi Ishmael and the Origins of Midrash Azzan Yadin "This is perhaps the most significant and innovative scholarly work on the halakhic midrashim in the past thirty years. The claims are extremely convincing, the scholarship is rigorous, and the writing is engaging. The conclusions repeatedly break new ground and dispel mistaken ideas that have been accepted among scholars. Most impressive, Yadin consistently displays a command of both textual expertise and theory."--Jeffrey L. Rubenstein, New York University The study of midrash--the biblical exegesis, parables, and anecdotes of the Rabbis--has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. Most recent scholarship, however, has focused on the aggadic or narrative midrash, while halakhic or legal midrash--the exegesis of biblical law--has received relatively little attention. In "Scripture as Logos," Azzan Yadin addresses this long-standing need, examining early, tannaitic (70-200 C.E.) legal midrash, focusing on the interpretive tradition associated with the figure of Rabbi Ishmael. This is a sophisticated study of midrashic hermeneutics, growing out of the observation that the Rabbi Ishmael midrashim contain a dual personification of Scripture, which is referred to as both "torah" and "ha-katuv." It is Yadin's significant contribution to note that the two terms are not in fact synonymous but rather serve as metonymies for Sinai on the one hand and, on the other, the rabbinic house of study, the bet midrash. Yadin develops this insight, ultimately presenting the complex but highly coherent interpretive ideology that underlies these rabbinic texts, an ideology that--contrary to the dominant view today--seeks to minimize the role of the rabbinic reader by presenting Scripture as actively self-interpretive. Moving beyond textual analysis, Yadin then locates the Rabbi Ishmael hermeneutic within the religious landscape of Second Temple and post-Temple literature. The result is a series of surprising connections between these rabbinic texts and Wisdom literature, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Church Fathers, all of which lead to a radical rethinking of the origins of rabbinic midrash and, indeed, of the Rabbis as a whole. Azzan Yadin teaches in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Divinations: Rereading Late Ancient Religion 2004 248 pages 6 x 9 ISBN 978-0-8122-3791-7 Cloth $69.95s 45.50 ISBN 978-0-8122-0412-4 Ebook $69.95s 45.50 World Rights Religion, History

How is a free faith expressed, organised and governed? How are diverse spiritualities and theologies made compatible? What might a religion based in reason and democracy offer today's world? This book will help the reader to understand the contemporary liberal religion of Unitarian Universalism in a historical and global context. Andrea Greenwood and Mark W. Harris challenge the view that the Unitarianism of New England is indigenous and the point from which the religion spread. Relationships between Polish radicals and the English Dissenters existed, and the English radicals profoundly influenced the Unitarianism of the nascent United States. Greenwood and Harris also explore the US identity as Unitarian Universalist since a 1961 merger, and its current relationship to international congregations, particularly in the context of twentieth century expansion into Asia.

Expanded-language texts for references to God General softening of language to avoid masculine nouns and images in Psalms and other texts Can be used by clergy and lay people, across denominations, who are looking for a daily regimen of prayer and Bible reading Special appeal to women and men who are sensitive to issues of inclusive language Offers the full beauty of structured monastic prayer in the Anglican tradition Designed for use with the Bible, in a translation of personal choice Can also be used as a manual of devotion without Bible readings The rich tradition of monastic prayer, dating back to the earliest days of the desert hermits in the third century, has been the foundational daily prayer of the Church for most of its existence. Many individuals who are not members of religious communities cherish this tradition and use elements of it for their own daily prayer, and adapted breviaries have been popular sellers to targeted markets for more than a century. Over the past several years, the Order of Saint Helena, a community of women in the Episcopal Church, spent a great deal of time and energy in revising their office book. High on the list of priorities for the revision was the broadening of language to avoid masculine imagery when referring to God. This personal edition of The Saint Helena Breviary has been adapted for use by individual readers who set aside one or more times for prayer in the midst of their busy lives. CONTENTS Daily morning prayer, noonday prayer, evening prayer, and compline based on the Book of Common Prayer, with enrichments from the Order of Saint Helena All prayers for the days of the week and the church year, from the Book of Common Prayer, adapted for expansive language All daily and seasonal canticles (song texts), adapted for expansive language The complete Psalter (psalms), in an expansive language adaptation from the Book of Common Prayer translation (also published separately by CPI as The Saint Helena Psalter) Complete two-year schedule of Bible readings, with all major and minor holy days, from the Book of Common Prayer lectionary, designed for use with a Bible of reader's choice

Viewed as antiquated and remote, the Old Testament is frequently neglected in the preaching and teaching ministry of the church. But contrary to the prevailing attitude, might the Old Testament contain relevant and meaningful application for today? Renowned author and scholar Walter Kaiser shows why the Old Testament deserves equal attention with the New Testament and offers a helpful guide on how preachers and teachers can give it the full attention it deserves.
Growing out of his teaching material from the last decade, "Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament "demonstrates Kaiser's celebrated straightforward exposition. Offering an apologetic for the Christian use of the Old Testament, the opening chapters deal with the value, problem, and task of preaching from it. Following a discussion of the role of expository preaching, Kaiser provides a practical focus by examining preaching and teaching from the texts of various genres. A final chapter explores the relevance of the Old Testament in speaking to a contemporary audience.
Bible teachers, pastors, seminary students, and professors will appreciate Kaiser's practical focus and relevant applications. Additional helps include a glossary and suggested outlines and worksheets for expository preaching.

Revive Your Spirit
Does the abundant Christian life you're "supposed" to have feel more like a chore than reality? Impoverished and
stale, is your spirit crying out for recharging?
One of the most powerful voices of the past two hundred years, Andrew Murray wrote extensively about this age-old struggle. This treasury of 365 gems of biblical wisdom is presented here in contemporary English by best-selling
author Bruce Wilkinson.
Each day will lead you deeper into God's presence. Your spirit is yearning for it. Don't delay. Let these timeless
secrets of a more meaningful spiritual life invigorate your soul.

This textbook introduces and explores the ideas, practices and philosophy of engaged Buddhism. The movement holds that suffering is not just caused by the cravings of the mind, but also by political and social factors; therefore, engaged Buddhists 'engage' with social issues to achieve liberation. Paul Fuller outlines the movement's origins and principles. He then offers a comprehensive analysis of the central themes and issues of engaged Buddhism, offering new insights into the formation of modern Buddhism. The range of issues covered includes politics, gender, environmentalism, identity, blasphemy and violence. These are illustrated by case studies and examples from a range of locations where Buddhism is practised. Discussion points and suggested further reading are provided at the end of each chapter, which will further enrich undergraduates' grasp of the topic.