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.

Forji has the magical knack of showing the world as it appears through the eyes of a young person. His words first introduce the reader to Cameroon's diverse society as an infant sees it; and then we peer with him through the anxious lens of adolescence. Forji's is an authentic Cameroonian voice that helps the reader understand how things were for a youngster in his country in the 1980s and 1990s. Claire George PhD Stunning and unique not just for the unconventional storyline but also the ingenuity with which Forji tells it. ...an interesting read that chronicles life in a typical African setting as well as the complexities of polygamous family circles. Dr. Edinam K. Glover, University of Helsinki A prosaic masterpiece packed with memorable events. ...an illuminating African story. Tchoumi Leopold, Author of Des Amours Sans Papiers

All that I have seen, the magic of life with all its colors. With the pushing and pulling of our lives capturing us one by one only to find that too late, we are all playing catch up. This bright blue marble, small she is, is making us realize that we are all so much alike. This and all that I have experienced are causing this author to release a flow of spirited emotions. The warming of winters chill. The flavors of holidays still simmering amidst the red ambers of time. Unlocking the hidden beat that's been playing hide and seek from all only to become a memory. This story came to be when this sleeping Giant awoke inside of me. With each beat of life beginning to flow through me as I lay my hands against pad and pencil.

The Church Ritual Handbook provides pastors with a meaningful tool for the services they perform as shepherds of the flock of God. Covering a wide array of services, from less common rituals to the more known practices, this updated and expanded edition gives pastors immediate practical helps to service prepartion. This helpful resource includes: Includes instructions, an order of service, suggest hymns, Scripture readings and recitations for: The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper The Reception of Church Members The Sacrament of Baptism Marriage Installations Includes Calls to Worship, Offertories Ideas and Prayers and lesser known rituals: John Wesley's Covenant Service A Service of healing Service of Reconciliation Seasonal services including Advent, Easter, and Christmas

Based on the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2 provides liturgical pieces used in preparing for worship. Written and compiled by an ecumenical team of 11 seasoned liturgy writers, this resource offers a multitude of poetic prayers and responsive readings for all parts of worship and is meant to complement existing denominational resources. In addition, the weekly entries include questions for reflection and household prayers for morning and evening that are drawn from the lectionary, allowing churches to include them in their bulletin for parishioners to use throughout the week.During times of the year when two different tracks of Old Testament texts are offered by the RCL, this resource offers an entire set of materials for each track. Also, a CD-ROM is included with each volume that enables planners to easily cut and paste relevant readings, prayers, and questions into worship bulletins. Liturgy writers include the following: Kimberly L. Clayton, Director of Contextual Education, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, Kentucky; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Daniel M. Geslin, Pastor, Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ, Denver, Colorado; United Church of Christ Kimberly Bracken Long, Associate Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) L. Edward Phillips, Associate Professor of Worship and Liturgical Theology, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia; United Methodist Church Melinda Quivik, Liturgical Scholar, Houghton, Michigan; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Carol L. Wade, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington, Kentucky; Episcopal Church

Ignatius of Antioch gives us meaningful insights into his high regard and use of deacons. These insights have been historically documented and carried forward to the application of the office of Diaconate in today's world. Polemic from both ordained offices of Priest and Deacon are analyzed and placed in today's context without prejudice. The challenge from the past, seeks further involvement both from Directors of Diaconate Programs and a challenge to their Bishops.

The author is writing these documents in response to the need for a concise and simple presentation of how to properly identify and understand the types found in the tabernacle. The framework of the study is a general knowledge of the tabernacle. The author will explain why an understanding of the tabernacle is important to Christians. The history of the tabernacle will be pointed out. The materials and construction of the tabernacle will be studied. Also, the author will discuss the Levitical priesthood and the important subject of typology. Continued studies will be explained concerning three areas of the tabernacle and their furnishings: the outer-court, the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. There will be pointed out in this study items such as: the court of the tabernacle, the laver, the Mercy-Seat, the Ark of the Covenant, the Shewbread, the Golden Altar, the Holy Place, the Holy of Holies, the gate or the door, the priesthood and the function of the priesthood; which includes the offerings and the atonement. The altar, the offering and sacrifice, along with the atonement will be especially displayed. Also, though the tabernacle was built for Israel while in the wilderness, its believed that it was also a shadow of things to come. Because of that, there is consideration given to some study on sin, the veil and Jesus Christ. The tabernacle is scantly preached or taught in Churches today. Therefore, few people realize the great importance given to the tabernacle throughout scripture. Believers should study the tabernacle for the following reasons: 1. The study of the tabernacle is necessary for a proper understanding of God's redemptive program, which is progressively revealed throughout the Scriptures. 2. A study of the tabernacle with an understanding of it will inform sinful people about the holiness of God. 3. The study of the priesthood is foundational to an understanding of Christ's priestly ministry. 4. The study of the sacrificial system within the tabernacle teaches the great importance that God placed on the need for a blood sacrifice to atone for sin. The author wishes that the readers of this study not only use this study for knowledge, but also to find and gain a closer relationship with God.