SPANISH EDITION. This book will help raise your church's youth ministry to a new level of effectiveness and creativity. The collection of ideas was selected by one of the most witty and innovative youth ministers in the church today.

The oldest Islamic biography of Muhammad, written in the mid-eighth century, relates that the prophet died at Medina in 632, while earlier and more numerous Jewish, Christian, Samaritan, and even Islamic sources indicate that Muhammad survived to lead the conquest of Palestine, beginning in 634-35. Although this discrepancy has been known for several decades, Stephen J. Shoemaker here writes the first systematic study of the various traditions. Using methods and perspectives borrowed from biblical studies, Shoemaker concludes that these reports of Muhammad's leadership during the Palestinian invasion likely preserve an early Islamic tradition that was later revised to meet the needs of a changing Islamic self-identity. Muhammad and his followers appear to have expected the world to end in the immediate future, perhaps even in their own lifetimes, Shoemaker contends. When the eschatological Hour failed to arrive on schedule and continued to be deferred to an ever more distant point, the meaning of Muhammad's message and the faith that he established needed to be fundamentally rethought by his early followers. The larger purpose of The Death of a Prophet exceeds the mere possibility of adjusting the date of Muhammad's death by a few years; far more important to Shoemaker are questions about the manner in which Islamic origins should be studied. The difference in the early sources affords an important opening through which to explore the nature of primitive Islam more broadly. Arguing for greater methodological unity between the study of Christian and Islamic origins, Shoemaker emphasizes the potential value of non-Islamic sources for reconstructing the history of formative Islam.

The contemporary rabbi is influenced by the modern rabbinic establishments throughout the world, including the rabbinate in Israel. The rabbinate's monopoly on opinions and interpretations prevents rabbis from expressing their individual positions out of fear of delegitimisation. The current structure gives the public a negative impression of the rabbinic establishment. The Importance of the Community Rabbi strives to describe and delineate key requirements for a good rabbi (ie: one who can provide socially acceptable halachic solutions within the parameters of Orthodox thinking). Rabbi Sperber elucidates the halachic techniques and mechanisms that may be used toward this goal. These are further illustrated with stories from rabbinic literature and examples from various responsa.

Keshab Chandra Sen (1838-84) was one of the most powerful and controversial figures in nineteenth-century Bengal. A religious leader and social reformer, his universalist interpretation of Hinduism found mass appeal in India, and generated considerable interest in Britain. His ideas on British imperial rule, religion and spirituality, global history, universalism and modernity were all influential, and his visit to England made him a celebrity. Many Britons regarded him as a prophet of world-historical significance. Keshab was the subject of extreme adulation and vehement criticism. Accounts tell of large crowds prostrating themselves before him, believing him to be an avatar. Yet he died with relatively few followers, his reputation in both India and Britain largely ruined. As a representative of India, Keshab became emblematic of broad concerns regarding Hinduism and Christianity, science and faith, India and the British Empire. This innovative study explores the transnational historical forces that shaped Keshab's life and work. It offers an alternative religious history of empire, characterised by intercultural dialogue and religious syncretism. A fascinating and often tragic portrait of Keshab's experience of the imperial world, and the ways in which he carried meaning for his contemporaries.

With a biblically based approach, this groundbreaking textbook for life coaching explores a new coaching model, how-to sections field-tested for more than eight years, custom forms coaches can use, and more.

Why would a leader ever want to be mean? It's all about the vision. Almost every organization has a vision, but few stick to it over time. Even after short-term success, visions tend to blur, drift, and fade. Why does this happen? Accomplishing the vision requires intentionality. It requires consistency. It requires commitment. It requires courage. In Be Mean About the Vision, author Shawn Lovejoy challenges leaders to stay true to the vision-regaining and sustaining its trajectory over time. Lovejoy offers a proven strategy for relentlessly protecting our organization's guiding vision: Develop a vision people are willing to die for Keep the vision alive in us Align everyone around the vision Keep the vision from being compromised or even hijacked One thing is certain-if our church or organization is going to accomplish its mission, we're going to need to be: Determined. Resolute. Intentional. We're going to need to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the vision from being detoured or derailed. Where there is no vision, people perish. They wander off in random directions. On the flip side, when everyone understands and embraces the vision, there is life, passion, growth, and success! And God will be glorified. As a leader the kindest, godliest, thing we can do is Be Mean About the Vision.

How can a Christian leader empower others to lead? A follow up to Aubrey Malphurs' "Being Leaders," the groundbreaking "Building Leaders" provides a biblical blueprint for finding and developing leaders who will carry on and expand the work of your church. Countering the current leadership development crisis, this book is unique in helping leaders to grow other leaders in a local church context. Worried that you don't have time to develop leaders? You're not alone. Tight budgets, small staffs, and endless administrative duties leave many pastors feeling overwhelmed. But without continually "giving the ministry away," churches miss the opportunity to double their efforts to reach the world for Christ. Including a leadership development guide, thought-provoking questions, and surveys, "Building Leaders" will help your church design a unique leadership development model regardless of its size or budget. Aubrey Malphurs is professor of pastoral ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. A nationally recognized expert on leadership issues, he is the author of over a dozen books and the president of The Malphurs Group (www.malphursgroup.com), a training and consulting organization. William Mancini has a Master of Theology degree in pastoral leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary and is a consultant with John Manlove Church Marketing.

Un libro accesible y conciso acerca de las cualidades indispensables del liderazgo eficaz ?Cual es tu sueno? En tu mas fantastica imaginacion, ?que te ves haciendo? ?Que se interpone entre tu y tus suenos? La respuesta es liderazgo. "Todo surge o se desploma por liderazgo", dice el Dr. John Maxwell, autor de numerosos libros sobre el tema, "pero saber dirigir es solo la mitad de la batalla. Entender lo que es ser lider y liderar son dos actividades diferentes". La clave para pasar de entender lo que es un lider a ser un buen lider esta en el caracter. Las cualidades del caracter activan la capacidad de dirigir, !o se interponen en el camino del exito! ?Cuales son las buenas cualidades de un lider? Muchas, pero 21 de ellas son indispensable, y ese es el tema de este libro. Siguiendo la tradicion de su exito millonario Las 21 leyes irrefutables del liderazgo, el autor John C. Maxwell presenta un libro accesible y conciso acerca del liderazgo que le ayuda a los lectores a ser lideres mas eficientes desde adentro hacia fuera. Realza veintiun cualidades esenciales del liderazgo ademas de incluir las secciones "Reflexionando" y "Poniendolo en practica" que les ayuda a integrar y aplicar el material cada dia. Maxwell's concise and accessible leadership book on essential leadership qualities. In the tradition of his best-seller Las 21 leyes irrefutables del liderazgo, author John C. Maxwell now provides a concise, accessible leadership book that helps readers become more effective leaders from the inside out. It highlights twenty-one essential leadership qualities and includes "Reflecting On It" and "Bringing It Home" sections that help readers integrate and apply each day's material.

Neither the morality of human rights nor its relation to the law of human rights is well understood. In this book, Michael Perry addresses three large issues: o There is undeniably a religious ground - indeed, more than one religious ground - for the morality of human rights. But is there a nonreligious (secular) ground for the morality of human rights? o What is the relation between the morality of human rights and the law of human rights? Perry here addresses the controversial issues of capital punishment, abortion, and same-sex unions. o What is the proper role of courts, in a liberal democracy, in protecting-and therefore in interpreting-constitutionally entrenched human rights? In considering this question, special attention is paid to the Supreme Court and how it should rule on hot button issues such as capital punishment and abortion. Toward a Theory of Human Rights makes a significant contribution both to human rights studies and to constitutional theory.

Yes, White people can be saved. In God's redemptive plan, that goes without saying. But what about the reality of white normativity? This idea and way of being in the world has been parasitically joined to Christianity, and this is the ground of many of our problems today. It is time to redouble the efforts of the church and its institutions to muster well-informed, gospel-based initiatives to fight racialized injustice and overcome the heresy of whiteness. Written by a world-class roster of scholars, Can "White" People Be Saved? develops language to describe the current realities of race and racism. It challenges evangelical Christianity in particular to think more critically and constructively about race, ethnicity, migration, and mission in relation to white supremacy. Historical and contemporary perspectives from Africa and the African diaspora prompt fresh theological and missiological questions about place and identity. Native American and Latinx experiences of colonialism, migration, and hybridity inspire theologies and practices of shalom. And Asian and Asian American experiences of ethnicity and class generate transnational resources for responding to the challenge of systemic injustice. With their call for practical resistance to the Western whiteness project, the perspectives in this volume can revitalize a vision of racial justice and peace in the body of Christ. Missiological Engagements charts interdisciplinary and innovative trajectories in the history, theology, and practice of Christian mission, featuring contributions by leading thinkers from both the Euro-American West and the majority world whose missiological scholarship bridges church, academy, and society.

In Religion and the Obligations of Citizenship Paul J. Weithman asks whether citizens in a liberal democracy may base their votes and their public political arguments on their religious beliefs. Drawing on empirical studies of how religion actually functions in politics, he challenges the standard view that citizens who rely on religious reasons must be prepared to make good their arguments by appealing to reasons that are 'accessible' to others. He contends that churches contribute to democracy by enriching political debate and by facilitating political participation, especially among the poor and minorities, and as a consequence, citizens acquire religiously based political views and diverse views of their own citizenship. He concludes that the philosophical view which most defensibly accommodates this diversity is one that allows ordinary citizens to draw on the views their churches have formed when voting and offering public arguments for their political positions.

Evangelicals stand divided in their view of women in the church. On one side stand complementarians, arguing the full worth of women but assigning them to differing roles. On the other side stand egalitarians, arguing that the full worth of women demands their equal treatment and access to leadership roles. Is there a way to mend the breach and build consensus? Sarah Sumner thinks there is. Avoiding the pitfalls of both radical feminism and reactionary conservatism, she traces a new path through the issues--biblical, theological, psychological and practical--to establish and affirm common ground. Arguing that men and women are both equal and distinct, Sumner encourages us to find ways to honor and benefit from the leadership gifts of both.Men and Women in the Church is a book for all who want a fresh and hope-filled look at a persistent problem.

Faith-based organizations continue to play a significant role in the provision of social work services in many countries but their role within the welfare state is often contested. This text explores their various roles and relationships to social work practice, includes examples from different countries and a range of religious traditions and identifies challenges and opportunities for the sector. Social Work and Faith-based Organizations discusses issues such as the relationship between faith-based organizations and the state, working with an organization's stakeholders, ethical practice and dilemmas, and faith-based organizations as employers. It also addresses areas of debate and controversy, such as providing services within and for multi-faith communities and tensions between professional codes of ethics and religious doctrine. Accessibly written by a well-known social work educator, it is illustrated by numerous case studies from a range of countries including Australia, the UK and the US. Suitable for social work students taking community or administration courses or undertaking placements in faith-based organizations, this innovative book is also a valuable resource for managers and religious personnel who are responsible for the operation of faith-based agencies.

The Parish as Oasis is a practical and accessible introduction to how local churches can contribute to the healing the environmental crisis. A notable feature of this book is that it does not engage with that crisis. “Climate change� can be a contentious cultural issue. And “climate despair� can be a pressing pastoral issue. By focusing on practical and accessible “experiments� that any parish can explore according to their own context and capacities, this book seeks to equip people with a hands-on understanding of the ideas unpacked in Laudato Si’. It is a book that aspires to inspire congregations to get their hands dirty, but it also plants those initiatives within a coherent eco-theology and re-locates how we think about faith and the role of church to the margins, serving as an oasis in those parts of our society that are parched and denuded.          It consists of three parts: an introductory essay that situates the theological vision of the book, a practical array of experiments that congregations can undertake to care for our common home, and a conclusion pointing people to further resources. While being intellectually rigorous, it is written in an accessible, non-technical fashion. The practical experiments draw on real-world examples, including interviews, to give each of these sections an easy magazine-like feel. 

Willie Doyle SJ was born in Dalkey on 3 March 1873 to an affluent Catholic family. Willie entered the Society of Jesus in 1891. taking vows, Fr. Doyle embarked on a period of Jesuit formation known as Regency. Fr. Doyle worked in two Jesuit schools Clongowes Wood College and Belvedere College. He was ordained in 1908. His prayerful nature took him into Retreat Ministry after ordination. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a popular way of praying in our time. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, they were almost the exclusive preserve of priests brothers and religious sisters. The Exercises made such a profound impact on Fr. Doyle that he felt they should be available to the largest audience possible. Fr. Doyle also had a great interest in vocations to religious life, and produced two bestselling pamphlets on the priesthood which were published by the Sacred Heart Messenger. In 1915 he volunteered as a Chaplain in the First World War. His time in the war saw him demonstrate great acts of heroism. His death in August 1917 came as a great blow to those who had known him. He died attempting to save injured soldiers from the battlefield at Ypres. His body was initially recovered, but subsequently obliterated by a German shell. Interest in his life was sparked by a book written by Professor Alfred O'Rahilly, which became a bestseller. The book went on to inspire future saints, like Mother Teresa. The desire to have Fr. Doyle declared a saint received much traction in the 1930s, but it lapsed as the Irish Jesuits preferred to give their energies to the cause of Fr. John Sullivan. In recent years the cause has begun to get traction and a lay Association of the Faithful is working to have it promoted.

This book has been written in a year when Parish Pastoral Councils (PPC) could not meet physically due to the Covid 19 pandemic. For many PPCs this meant that some stopped meeting or met on zoom, or at least re-grouped to form the backbone of the parish sanitising committee. It is hoped that those who read this book will have an "aha" moment, where they find that the purpose of PPC’s becomes more clear to them, and they can begin to imagine the part they can play in the pastoral development of their parish.  The role of the PPC is explored relating this to the purpose of the parish community, debunking the myth that the PPC is a committee. It also looks at what can be called the five P’s of the PPC: Pastoral, Prayerful, Partnership, Planning and Participation. The whole notion of discernment for pastoral action is explored and how this relates to the ongoing prayer-filled reflection of the PPC and the parish community. Then there is an in-depth exploration into the whole notion of partnership and the implications for how the PPC relates to the parish community. There are some very practical helps about what makes planning in the PPC pastoral, and how that can be developed as a way of working in all parish groups. The purpose of mission statements is examined and how these can provide a platform for parish renewal and reflection, connecting them to parish assembly and listening together.    

How can company leaders and employees negotiate their different religious and spiritual commitments in the workplace? This analysis proposes constructive solutions based on a concept of respectful pluralism which allows for the expression of individual beliefs and practices. At a time of international debate over religious conflict and tolerance, workforces in various parts of the world are more diverse than ever before. Religion and spirituality are often strongly linked to employees' identities. From the perspective of the employer, however, they can be distracting or divisive influences.

This book explores opportunities and limitations with regard to transferring knowledge and tools from the corporate world to manage monasteries or other types of religious institutions. To do so, the contributing authors analyze both the ideological and practical implications of employing modern organizational theory in the context of religious institutions, and seek to strike a balance between preserving traditions and promoting modernization. In this regard, they draw on experience gained in the course of long-standing collaborations between religious institutions, such as monasteries, and business and management schools.

This is not a book about theory, it is a book about life. This volume is in the excellent Practical Theology Series published by Jessica Kingsley and under the general editorship of John Swinton of Aberdeen University who writes the Foreword. Ray Anderson is an American pastor and academic of many years standing. His starting point is (pre) theoretical, arguing vigorously that practical theology has a particular end in view and therefore differs from the empirical (social) sciences. It is well worth sticking with his argument to see how it works out in practice. Early chapters with phrases in their titles such as "Spiritual Praxis of Practical Theology", "Integrative Gestalt of the Human Self", "Ecological Matrix of the Human Person" and "Social Ecology of Human Spirituality" might seem heavy going at times. Don't be put off! The reader is rewarded with highly relevant contemporary understandings of spirituality illuminating and illuminated by both Scripture and modern theologians and therapists. This book comes highly recommended for anyone involved in the field of mental health care.' - Leveson Newsletter 'This is a book that deserves to be read, and perhaps re-read, by those who deliver spiritual care and wish to reflect on what they do.' - Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy Bridging the gap between clinical and religious professionals, this book examines how both can understand the spiritual needs of the individual, and the importance of this spirituality in bringing about health and wholeness. With an emphasis on mental health, the author explores spirituality in the context of the individual and of society, and discusses how those practicing pastoral or health care can deal with the issues raised outside of any specific religious ideas or practice. Taking an ecological approach to understanding the needs of the individual, Ray S. Anderson shows how professionals can help people move towards a more positive state in the face of pain, distress and illness. Moving religious professionals away from the pursuit of simple edification, and those in health from purely medicalized approaches, Spiritual Caregiving as Secular Sacrament brings together professionals' roles in the context of spirituality to enable them to bring the greatest benefit to those in their care.