Volume 4 of 4. Encompassing the whole milieu of early Islamic civilization, this major work of Western orientalism explores the meaning of the life and teaching of the tenth-century mystic and martyr, al-Hallaj. With profound spiritual insight and transcultural sympathy, Massignon, an Islamicist and scholar of religion, penetrates Islamic mysticism in a way that was previously unknown. Massignon traveled throughout the Middle East and western India to gather and authenticate al-Hallaj's surviving writings and the recorded facts. After assembling the extant verses and prose works of al-Hallaj and the accounts of his life and death, Massignon published La Passion d'al-Hallaj in 1922. At his death in 1962, he left behind a greatly expanded version, published as the second French edition (1975). It is edited and translated here from the French and the Arabic sources by Massignon's friend and pupil, Herbert Mason. Volume 1 gives an account of al-Hallaj's life and describes the world in which he lives; volume 2 traces his influence in Islam over the centuries; volume 3 studies Hallajian thought; volume 4 contains a full biography and index. Each volume contains Massignon's copious notes and new translations of original Islamic documents. Herbert Mason is University Professor of Religion and Islamic History at Boston University. He is also a poet and novelist; his version of the Gigamesh epic was a nominee for the National Book Award in 1971. Bollingen Series XCVIII. Originally published in 1979. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

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.

Security for Holy Places is the first comprehensive security guide for religious associations and organizations. While focused on houses of worship (and schools and centers connected to them), the guide also provides important information on securing religious summer camps and its guidance can be used for any faith-based organization, senior center, day care, or school. The book includes chapters on: overall threat types of weapons used by intruders perimeter and inside security where to get professional help how to build a security plan what to know when hiring guards armed versus unarmed guards & volunteers gun laws mental health issues how to use volunteers effectively to strengthen security information on technology that can strengthen the protection of holy places and their immediate surroundings security for day and overnight camps guidance on how to organize security committees to strengthen security checklists for congregations and camps to use immediately

Gives You The Facts You Need To Make Important Decisions To Be Successful. 15 Top Time Wasters / 20 Keys For Job and Career Success / A 7-Question Job Analysis. You Will Wonder How You Ever Managed Without This Book!

Augustine of Hippo is history's best-known Christian convert. The very concept of "conversio" owes its dissemination to Augustine's "Confessions," and yet, as Jason BeDuhn notes, conversion in Augustine is not the sudden, dramatic, and complete transformation of self we likely remember it to be. Rather, in the "Confessions" Augustine depicts conversion as a lifelong process, a series of self-discoveries and self-departures. The tale of Augustine is one of conversion, apostasy, and conversion again.In this first volume of "Augustine's Manichaean Dilemma," BeDuhn reconstructs Augustine's decade-long adherence to Manichaeism, apostasy from it, and subsequent conversion to Nicene Christianity. Based on his own testimony and contemporaneous sources from and about Manichaeism, the book situates many features of Augustine's young adulthood within his commitment to the sect, while pointing out ways he failed to understand or put into practice key parts of the Manichaean system. It explores Augustine's dissatisfaction with the practice-oriented faith promoted by the Manichaean leader Faustus and the circumstances of heightened intolerance, anti-Manichaean legislation, and pressures for social conformity surrounding his apostasy.Seeking a historically circumscribed account of Augustine's subsequent conversion to Nicene Christianity, BeDuhn challenges entrenched conceptions of conversion derived in part from Augustine's later idealized account of his own spiritual development. He closely examines Augustine's evolving self-presentation in the year before and following his baptism and argues that the new identity to which he committed himself bore few of the hallmarks of the orthodoxy with which he is historically identified. Both a historical study of the specific case of Augustine and a theoretical reconsideration of the conditions under which conversion occurs, this book explores the role religion has in providing the materials and tools through which self-formation and reformation occurs.

The NASB Preacher's Premier Collection Bible is the ideal combination of readability and elegance. The easy-to-read print, thick, opaque paper, and a line-matched double-column layout bring the words into clear focus. Featuring a supple goatskin leather cover, raised spine hubs, and stunning red and gold art-gilded page edges makes it a top choice for any preacher. Pairing the NASB Preacher's Premier Collection Bible with the NASB Pew and Worship Bible unlocks its true design ingenuity. While each Bible retains its distinct font and page layout, they were skillfully crafted so that the pages of these two different Bibles begin and end with the same word. That means you no longer have to preach from a pew Bible to be on the same page as your congregation. Universally recognized as the gold standard among word-for-word translations, the beloved New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition, is now easier to read with Zondervan's exclusive NASB Comfort Print (R) typeface. Features: The full text of the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition Matches page-for-page with the NASB Pew and Worship Bible Hand-bound in a supple goatskin leather cover with raised spine hubs Smyth-sewn and edge-lined construction for flexibility Art Gilt red-under-gold page edging, with gilt line and perimeter stitching Three satin ribbon markers, each 3/8-inch wide Premium European Bible paper, 36 gsm Black-letter, line-matched text Double-column, verse-by-verse format Exclusive Zondervan NASB Comfort Print typeface 10-point print size

M Fethullah Gulen gives his unique interpretation of Prophet Muhammad, based on a lifetime of personal study and struggle to live up to the ideal standards realised by one of the most fascinating figures ever to emerge in our midst.

This self-study manual gives a comprehensive overview of the three major factors (processing, time, and leader response patterns) that interweave together as God shapes a leader spiritually, ministerially, and strategically over a lifetime to bring about His purposes and resulting ultimate contribution. (456 p.)

"How To Be A More Effective Church Leader: A Special Edition for Pastors and Other Church Leaders." This book defines the purposes, and the results of your leadership. It will do this by introducing various leadership styles, and situations that are intended to: 1. Assist you to arrive at a definition of leadership vs. management; 2. Introduce you to leadership styles that you may employ in your work as the leader; 3. Help you define the purposes of your leadership; 4. Assist you to take a survey of your own leadership styles 5. Assist you to apply your learning to various leadership situations.

Whether at home or abroad, communicating with people of other cultures is difficult. It requires new ways of thinking and interpreting the world. When conflict arises, as it often does, the issues become even more confusing. Without a good understanding of how different cultures handle conflict, our best intentions may only make matters worse. With a particular focus on Asian and Hispanic cultures (at home and around the world) and on African culture, Duane Elmer walks readers through various types of conflict and shows how they can be handled effectively and appropriately. Elmer gives numerous stories and examples from his experience and from others' to show how handling conflict well builds solid relationships. With an eye out for biblical principles, he looks at a variety of sticky questions in Scripture. This is a book not just of theory but of practical models of conflict resolution. Pastors, evangelists, businesspeople, missionaries, students--anyone who wants to communicate more effectively with neighbors and colleagues--will find this book immensely helpful.

Su iglesia puede tener muchos miembros, pero, ?tiene cada miembro un proposito? En La iglesia como un equipo, el pastor Wayne Cordeiro recalca que los miembros de la congregacion son insignificantes si no se involucran. No obstante, si trabajan unidos en equipo con una meta claramente definida, todo es posible y ademas todos comparten el gozo y la gratificacion del exito.

In very practical and helpful terms, Rosalind Brown explores what it means to be a deacon in today's church. All too often the time spent as a deacon is seen simply as the prelude to priestly ordination. Yet the Bible defines three orders of ministry -deacon, priest, and bishop - each with its own distinctive characteristics and responsibilities. In Being A Deacon Today, Brown explores the three places where deacons minister (the church, the world, and at the margins), the three strands of their ministry (in liturgy, in pastoral care, and as catechists), and the three actions of their ministry (praying, loving, and remembering). This book, excellent for classroom use and for transitional and permanent deacons, will restore a fuller understanding of the diaconal ministry and nurture deacons in their work and spiritual life."

Lift Your Vision High
Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. Visioneering, according to bestselling author Andy Stanley, is "a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be." With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his God-given vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. He shows how the life of this great ancient visionary, determined to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem, reveals principles that can prepare us to find and follow God's multifaceted vision for our own lives. Now this bestseller is again available in an attractive, affordable paperback
Everybody ends up somewhere in life.
You can end up somewhere on purpose
"Visioneering" is the engineering of a vision. It's the process one follows to develop and maintain vision. "Vision," writes Andy Stanley, "is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it "should "be."
In the bestselling "Visioneering, " Stanley builds a compelling case for the necessity of a clear, God-ordained vision for each of the roles of your life. Whether you're a parent with a vision for your children or a CEO pursuing a corporate vision, "Visioneering" is the perfect tool to help you develop and maintain God's unique purpose for your life.
""Visioneering "is the best book on vision I've seen. It will put you on track to discovering God's purpose for your life. In my course "The Vision of the Leader," I quote from Andy's book more than any other. "Visioneering" should be on the bookshelf of every pastor, business leader, and parent in America . I heartily endorse it "
"--Dr. Bruce Wilkinson"," "
"Chairman, Dream for Africa"
Story Behind the Book
Andy Stanley, the pastor of more than 15,000, knows a lot of people, and is well aware of the overwhelming and mutual desire nearly every Christian holds to find and fulfill God's purpose for their lives. This book was written to stir these hearts and move people forward by providing tangible steps to getting from Point A to Point B. "As Christians," states Stanley, "we do not have a right to take our talents, abilities, experiences, opportunities, and education and run off in any direction we please." This book was written to provide a specific plan for going in the right direction. It truly is "God's blueprint for developing and maintaining personal vision."

Change is an essential part of life. How we meet that change is where it can get interesting. When a person goes through a conversion experience, there is an automatic assumption that they have it all figured out immediately, and they know exactly what God wants them to do. This is not the case. We only have to look at St. Paul. While his conversion was dramatic, Paul tells us in his letters that he had to spend considerable time in the wilderness pondering what had happened to him, and figuring out what exactly God wanted him to do. The same is true of St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Ignatius had a dramatic conversion which shattered not only his leg but all his previous dreams and aspirations. Such a change was not easy to get his head around, and he was forced to enter into his own period in the wilderness. This time of reflection not only brought him closer to God, but it also gave him a greater insight into himself. In this booklet, you will be able to witness the transformation which took place in the life of Ignatius from a vainglorious young man obsessed with his own success, to one who put the service of God and other people before anything else. This transformation, while dramatic, was not immediate. It took time and reflection and took him across various locations. In all of his travels, Ignatius was focused on one thing, what was God calling him to do? Ignatius conversion will allow the reader to get a perspective on how Ignatius faced the challenges which transformed his life, and hopefully, the reader may be able to make time in their own life to explore things which brought about changes in their life and see how God was operating within this change.