Janet Hodgson traces the life of Xhosa prophet Ntsikana (1780–1821) from his birth through his years as a Christian convert, evangelist, and composer of enduring hymns.

Ntsikana is known as one of the first Christians to adapt Christian ideas to African culture, writing hymns in isiXhosa and translating concepts into terms that resonated with his Xhosa community.

Even today, his hymns are among the most important in the amaXhosa churches, and he is regarded as an important symbol of both African unity and Black Consciousness.

Theologians and leaders from many Churches and from the major world religions, including the last four popes, have acknowledged as unique in Christian history the spiritual gifts poured forth through Chiara Lubich. Her spirituality of unity has the ultimate goal of contributing to the unity for which Jesus prayed to his Father: May they all be one (Jn 17:21). This volume gathers her essential writings and for the first time presents them in a systematic fashion. It is a summa of the charism of unity, which will lead readers to ponder, understand and experience a spirituality particularly suited to the era in which we live. The history of the Church has seen many radicalisms of love ... that of Francis of Assisi, of Ignatius of Loyola. There is also Chiaras radicalism ... which seeks to make this love victorious in every circumstance. Pope John Paul II

Acts of caring and compassion can make all the difference in a grieving child's life. Adults can often worry about saying and doing the right thing, too often giving children quick answers instead of the support they really need.Widely-recognized grief specialist Harold Ivan Smith explains that quick answers are not what children need when they are grieving. They need support, and most of all they need to be allowed to grieve-for as long as it takes.With an ABC-like approach, Smith offers insights and activities for the parent, teacher, or friend-anyone that loves a child and wants to offer his or her support. This new and revised edition of When a Child You Love is Grieving will help ensure that the child is receiving the healthy and necessary outlets during the loss of a loved one.

This fascinating history, based on meticulous research into the correspondence and documentation of the founding fathers leading up to and encompassing the crafting of the Declaration of Independence, sheds light on how the Judeo-Christian worldview motivated America's founding fathers, influenced national independence, inspired our foundational documents, and established the American nation. Written with the pacing and drama of an enticing drama, "Forged in Faith" is crafted for popular appeal with a compelling mix of dramatized story and action-driven narrative, yet with the authenticity and academic verity of historian Rod Gragg.

'A rare and personal glimpse of the sacrificial discipleship that marked John Stott's life so deeply.'Peter Harris What is a life of radical discipleship? At root, it means we let Jesus set the agenda of our lives. We aren't selective. We don't pick and choose what is cosy and stay away from what is costly. He is Lord of all of life. In the last book by a Christian leader who was himself a radical disciple, John Stott opens up what it means at root to be a follower of Jesus. He explores eight aspects of Christian discipleship that we need to pay much closer attention to. The message is simple, classic and personal: Jesus is Lord. He calls. We follow.

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Yeah, right. Sabbath-keeping seems quaint in our 24/7, twenty-first century world. Life often feels impossibly full, what with work, to-do lists, kid activities, chores, and errands. And laundry... always and forever laundry. But the Sabbath isn't just one of the ten commandments; it is a delight that can transform the other six days of the week. Join one family's quest to take Sabbath to heart and change their frenetic way of living by keeping a Sabbath day each week for one year. With lively and compelling prose, MaryAnn McKibben Dana documents their experiment with holy time as a guide for families of all shapes and sizes. Tips are included in each chapter to help make your own Sabbath experiment successful.

Your words are like seeds. Every time you say them, they're taking root and growing. Are you planting good seeds? Are you seeing the increase, the health, the relationships, and the happiness you dream about? If not, check out what you’re saying. Whether you realize it or not, the words you speak today are setting the direction for the rest of your life.

In Speak the Blessing: Send Your Words in the Direction You Want Your Life to Go, New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen offers you unique insights into this profound truth: Your words have creative power. When you discover the power of speaking what God says about you, you give those words the right to come to pass. There is a miracle in your mouth. There is healing in your mouth, freedom in your mouth, and new levels in your mouth. But nothing happens until you speak the blessing.

Your words become your reality. Start blessing your future today. Use the words you speak to unlock the power within and create the life you were designed to live. The life-changing possibilities are limitless.

Teenage girls and soccer moms. Housewives and corporate executives. Young professionals and those who are retired. No matter their professions or responsibilities, women of all ages and all walks of life often struggle with an all-consuming issue-self-image. We as Americans are continually obsessed with the grass-is-greener, anything-else-is-better-than-what -we-have philosophy. And that is never truer for women than when it comes to our bodies and our self-images. The media and the world around us tell us that we should be perfect in every way. But this kind of scrutiny and obsession with perfection leaves women feeling unloved, unattractive, frustrated, and even depressed.

In The Real Me, contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Natalie Grant is on a mission to especially help young women deal with this struggle and to find acceptance in how God created them. And this struggle is something that Natalie understands fully-she gives the reader an inside look at her own struggle with image issues that led her on the path to bulimia. In acknowledging her pain and sharing her struggle, she offers practical help and hope to women of all ages.

While praying for his community on the Island of Iona, the Celtic monk St. Columba described his experience as a thin place- a location where heaven and earth seemed only thinly separated.In the same way, God's kingdom is being realized here on earth with stories of restoration and redemption. Our God moved into the neighborhood, seeking to invite us into his story of reconciliation, and commission us to missionally engage our neighborhoods with the good news of the kingdom.Joining the concepts of monasticism and mission, author Jon Huckins will walk you through six postures of missional formation: listening, submerging, inviting, contending, imagining, and entrusting. As you begin to employ these postures, become apprentices of Jesus who are committed to living in and experiencing the thin places.Through Thin Places, create a fertile soil to commune with God, live in deep community with others, and extend the good news of the kingdom in your local contexts.

The purpose of this book is to guide you step by step through my plan for effective prayer. You will discover your unique, God-given level of prayer power and God will release the prayer anointing upon your life, says Dr. Larry Lea. You'll discover exciting new insights into Jesus' model prayer that will create a newfound joy in your prayer life. Dr. Lea can help you reach your full spiritual potential and to better fulfill your God-ordained purposes and destiny in life. A perfect selection for groups studying prayer.

This book, now in its second edition, brings together the best available understandings of human development from a multidisciplinary perspective. Uniquely inclusive of the moral and faith dimensions of context and life-cycle development, Human Development and Faith examines the interplay of mind, body, family, community, and soul at every stage of development. It addresses two central questions: What are the "good-enough" conditions of parenting, family, and community in each phase of life, from birth to death, that support growth and development? What gives life adequate meaning as development proceeds? If human development describes the normative and hoped-for passages of life, then faith provides the necessary component of meaning. Throughout the various perspectives offered in this volume is the premise that faith is that quality of living that makes it possible to fully live. The Journal of Pastoral Theology called the first edition of Human Development and Faith "an excellent text for pastoral theology courses, because it fulfills its ambitious goal of bringing a holistic faith perspective to the usual topics of development." This second edition includes a new chapter on infancy, updates reflecting our growing awareness of cultural diversity, and a new preface.

Pastor's wife, Kirstie Donovan, lives life in a fishbowl, so when she hops on the back of a bright pink motorcycle, tongues start to wag at the conservative, century-old First Independent Christian Community Church of Eels Falls. Kirstie loves roaring down a road less traveled by most women over forty, but she's not just riding her bike for the fun of it. Kirstie has a ministry. However, certain church members have secrets to hide, and when God uses Kirstie's ministry to fill the pews with leather-clad, tattooed bikers, those secrets could be exposed...and some will stop at nothing to hide the truth. Join Kirstie and her motorcycle "gang" - two church matrons and a mouthy, gum-smacking non-church member - as they discover that road-toughened bikers are quite capable of ministering to others, and faith is fortified in the most unexpected ways.

Discover a life of resilient hope and develop the endurance you need to keep moving forward in life--one mountain at a time--through this 100-day devotional journey from bestselling author, speaker, and activist Christine Caine.

Christine learned firsthand from the joys and challenges of hiking California's mountains that endurance is key to finishing any difficult climb. Drawing on life lessons learned from those mountain trails, Christine offers Resilient Hope for times when:

• You've experienced one disappointment after another
• Life hasn’t turned out like you expected
• You need encouragement to keep moving forward in the face of overwhelming fatigue, stress, and pressure
• You want to stay focused on God and His purpose for your life
• You are looking for the courage to do what seems impossible

With 100 thoughtful devotions, a ribbon marker, and a presentation page, Resilient Hope is a beautiful gift for anyone looking for inspiration to endure a difficult time; loved ones who need renewed hope after loss; Mother's Day, birthdays, Christmas, and Easter; Hikers, mountain lovers, and athletes.

Christine invites you to grow stronger and build endurance through each day’s devotion featuring a Bible verse, reflections and stories from Christine, and a prayer––all so you can fulfill your God-given purpose in the face of setbacks and disappointments.

Women of every culture and society are facing the dilemma of identity. Traditional views of what it means to be a woman and changing cultural and marital roles are causing women conflict in their relationships with men. Women are under tremendous stress as they struggle to discover who they are and what role they are to play today—in the family; the community; and the world. In this expanded edition of Understanding the Purpose and Power of Women; now including helpful study questions following each chapter; best-selling author Dr. Myles Munroe examines societies’ attitudes toward women and addresses vital issues such as:

•Are women and men equal?

•How is a woman unique from a man?

•What does the Bible really teach about women?

•Is the woman to blame for the fall of mankind?

•What are the purpose and design of the woman?

•What is a woman’s basic communication style?

•What are a woman’s emotional and sexual needs?

•Are women meant to be leaders?

•What is a woman’s potential?

To live successfully in the world; women need a new awareness of who they are and new skills to meet today’s challenges.Dr. Myles Munroe (1954–2014) was an international motivational speaker; best-selling author; educator; leadership mentor; and consultant for government and business. Traveling extensively throughout the world; Dr. Munroe addressed critical issues affecting the full range of human; social; and spiritual development. He was a popular author of more than forty books; including The Power of Character in Leadership; The Purpose and Power of Authority; The Principles and Benefits of Change; Becoming a Leader; The Most Important Person on Earth; The Spirit of Leadership; The Principles and Power of Vision; Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer; Understanding the Purpose and Power of Woman; and Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men. Dr. Munroe was founder and president of Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI); a multidimensional organization headquartered in Nassau; Bahamas. He was chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the International Third World Leaders Association; president of the International Leadership Training Institute; and the founder and executive producer of a number of radio and television programs aired worldwide.

Interpersonal relationships can make or break a leader.

Being a leader means working with people, and that’s not always easy. Interpersonal relationships can make or break a leader – whether in the office, the church, the community, or elsewhere. That’s why it’s so important to be a “people person” and develop skills in tapping that most precious of all resources – people.

Author John Maxwell understands the principles of developing people, and he shares those principles in this book. It will help readers to:

- Develop the qualities of an effective leader.

- Understand and help people with difficult per­sonalities.

- Use the skills discussed in the book to inspire others to excellence and success!

Este es un libro profundo y a la vez sencillo, que debe leerse con detenimiento y oracion. En una epoca en que los cimientos de la autoridad corren peligro de desmoronarse en la iglesia, en el hogar, en la sociedad y en otros aspectos de la vida en general, el autor nos ofrece consejos y ensenanzas que podran ser norte y guia en nuestra vida. 'Que vuestra autoridad no exceda vuestro ministerio', nos aconseja Watchman Nee en una de sus paginas."

Sacred Pathways reveals nine distinct spiritual temperaments--and their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies--to help you improve your spiritual life and deepen your personal walk with God. It's time to strip away the frustration of a one-size-fits-all spirituality and discover a path of worship that frees you to be you. Experienced spiritual directors, pastors, and church leaders recognize that all of us engage with God differently, and it's about time we do too. In this updated and expanded edition of Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas details nine spiritual temperaments and--like the Enneagram and other tools do with personality--encourages you to investigate the ways you most naturally express yourself in your relationship with God. He encourages you to dig into the traits, strengths, and pitfalls in your devotional approach so you can eliminate the barriers that keep you locked into rigid methods of worship and praise. Plus, as you begin to identify and understand your own temperament, you'll soon learn about the temperaments that aren't necessarily "you" but that may help you understand the spiritual tendencies of friends, family, and others around you. Whatever temperament or blend of temperaments best describes you, rest assured it's not by accident. It's by the design of a Creator who knew what he was doing when he made you according to his own unique intentions. If your spiritual walk is not what you'd like it to be, you can change that, starting here. Sacred Pathways will show you the route you were made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God. A Sacred Pathways video Bible study is also available for group or individual use, sold separately.

Becoming a Better Leader Starts with a Transformed Inner Life Do you feel too overwhelmed to enjoy life, unable to sort out the demands on your time? Are you doing your best work as a leader, yet not making an impact? Have you ever felt stuck, powerless to change your environment? In The Emotionally Healthy Leader, bestselling author Peter Scazzero shows leaders how to develop a deep, inner life with Christ, examining its profound implications for surviving stress, planning and decision making, building teams, creating healthy culture, influencing others, and much more. The Emotionally Healthy Leader contains: Concise assessments for leaders and teams to measure their leadership health Practical, proven strategies that have been developed over a 28-year period spent both in the local church and in equipping leaders around the world Helpful applications of how to face your shadow, lead out of your marriage or singleness, slow down, and embrace endings for new beginnings Going beyond simply offering a quick fix or new technique, The Emotionally Healthy Leader gets to the core, beneath-the-surface issues of uniquely Christian leadership. This book is more than just a book you will read; it is a resource you will come back to over and over again.

Sometimes, people mess up. They get addicted to drugs or alcohol, abandon their child, or just leave. This book is for those who want to step in and help, specifically the grandparents of those abandoned.Over six million children live in grandparent-headed households in the United States today. The number continues to rise. More than 80% of these cases occur because of drug or alcohol addiction. Grandparents raising grandchildren occurs in all ethnic and socio-economic groups.But where do you start? There s court proceedings, lawyer bills, sometimes hospital bills, and not to mention emotional needs of the children and grandparents alike. Raising Your Children's Children is a first reader of fast, accurate answers to sudden questions from the world of child neglect and abuse, court proceedings, custody arrangements, and drug addiction grandparents never knew existed.Your world may have just changed drastically, but you re not alone. Let us help.