This work consists of eight essays selected from papers given at the Twelfth International Byron Symposium. Much of Byron's poetry is examined, but the focus is on the Mysteries and Don Juan. The subjects include the Cain figure, Byron's skepticism, his attitude toward Christianity and religion in general, and his literary use of the Bible.
Rick Warren famously wrote, “It’s not about you.” But much of the Western church seems to disagree, having settled for a self-centered message of personal fulfillment. With incisiveness and a passionate love for the church, pastor and author Byron Forrest Yawn offers a compelling call away from narcissism and back to the powerful and transforming gospel of Jesus. He shows the difference between... Sunday-morning life coaches selling self-help seminars, and preachers proclaiming God’s redemptive work through Christ promises of prosperity and comfort, and a realistic and helpful perspective on suffering escape from unbelievers and their godless world, and redemptive engagement with people As Byron exposes the false gospel of “suburbianity,” he offers readers a better alternative: to look beyond themselves and embrace God’s call to be His image-bearers and ambassadors, partnering with Him as He restores people and all creation to His original design.
I (Still) Believe explores the all-important question of whether serious academic study of the Bible is threatening to one’s faith. Far from it—faith enhances study of the Bible and, reciprocally, such study enriches a person’s faith. With this in mind, this book asks prominent Bible teachers and scholars to tell their story reflecting on their own experiences at the intersection of faith and serious academic study of the Bible. While the essays of this book will provide some apology for academic study of the Bible as an important discipline, the essays engage with this question in ways that are uncontrived. They present real stories, with all the complexities and struggles they may hold. To this end, the contributors do two things: (a) reflect on their lives as someone who teaches and researches the Bible, providing something of a story outlining their journey of life and faith, and their self-understanding as a biblical theologian; and (b) provide focused reflections on how faith has made a difference, how it has changed, and what challenges have arisen, remained, and are unresolved, all with a view toward the future and engaging the book’s main question. engaging the book’s main question.
George Gordon, the sixth Lord Byron (1788-1824), was one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic period, as well as a peer, politician and global celebrity, famed not only for his verse, but for his controversial lifestyle and involvement in the Greek War of Independence. In thirty-seven concise, accessible essays, by leading international scholars, this volume explores the social and intertextual relationships that informed Byron's writing; the geopolitical contexts in which he travelled, lived and worked; the cultural and philosophical movements that influenced changing outlooks on religion, science, modern society and sexuality; the dramatic landscape of war, conflict and upheaval that shaped Napoleonic and post-Napoleonic Europe and Regency Britain; and the diverse cultures of reception that mark the ongoing Byron phenomenon as a living ecology in the twenty-first century. This volume illuminates how we might think of Byron in context, but also as a context in his own right.
In More God, Less Crime renowned criminologist Byron R. Johnson proves that religion can be a powerful antidote to crime. The book describes how faith communities, congregations, and faith-based organizations are essential in forming partnerships necessary to provide the human and spiritual capital to effectively address crime, offender rehabilitation, and the substantial aftercare problems facing former prisoners. There is scattered research literature on religion and crime but until now, there has never been one publication that systematically and rigorously analyzes what we know from this largely overlooked body of research in a lay-friendly format. The data shows that when compared to current strategies, faith-based approaches to crime prevention bring added value in targeting those factors known to cause crime: poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. In an age of limited fiscal resources, Americans can’t afford a criminal justice system that turns its nose up at volunteer efforts that could not only work better than the abysmal status quo, but also save billions of dollars at the same time. This book provides readers with practical insights and recommendations for a faith-based response that could do just that.
OneCry: A Call to Spiritual Awakening is a challenge, a plea for readers to shake off spiritual apathy and wake up to the hope of God moving with extraordinary power in our day. It paints a picture of both desperation and hope; without spiritual revival our country has no hope, but when it comes we will need no other hope. Drawing on an abundance of stories from ordinary people who have experienced the power of life-changing revival in their own lives, this books provides a contemporary roadmap for spiritual awakening and real revival. Passionate and story-rich, OneCry engages readers to seek God urgently at this moment in history, it inspires them with hope for what God can do, and it invites them to join a growing movement of believers who are uniting in one cry for revival and spiritual awakening. It is a summons to join together in a single focus: passionate prayer for revival in our nation like hasn’t been seen in nearly two hundred years.
Byron’s Religions is the most comprehensive study yet of the poet’s deep, diverse and eclectic attitude to religion. The articles, by several well-known and distinguished scholars, cover many of his poems and plays, taking in Anglicanism, Catholicism, Blasphemy, Calvinism, Gnosticism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. The tentative conclusion is that Byron was never the atheist which the cliché has him to be, but a man whose profound need for a faith clashed always with an equally profound scepticism.
"Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!" Isaiah 21:11-12 Did you ever wonder what it would be like to live as part of biblical times, and to have your life as part of the story? Wonder no more. You are. In all of the Bible the most talked about generation is not that of Moses or Joshua or even the Lord Jesus, the most talked about generation is the generation alive at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. An enormous amount of the Bible is written just to that generation. It is true that application of the teaching applies to many issues between the first and second coming of Jesus, but the focus is the last generation, our generation. This book will share the biblical and historical reason for such a statement to be made and why it is obvious that Jesus wants us to know the generation of His return. We will explore not only why Jesus wants us to know, but what He wants us to do in response. We each have the opportunity to choose our place in the biblical history by our responses. In Old Testament walled cities, the watchman bore an important responsibility. While the people of the city slept, it was the watchman's responsibility to stay awake and keep watch on the city walls. He would watch for the danger of approaching enemies. He would watch for internal dangers, such as an outbreak of fire. The watchman's responsibility was to warn the city of danger and mobilize them for response. As the watchman of Isaiah 21:11,12 keeps watch, someone asks him, "Watchman, what of the night?" It was a typical question. The hoped for answer is, "All is well." As the watchman answers back, though, he gives a response that seems a contradiction. The watchman reports signs indicating both morning and night are coming. How could the watchman be looking at the same signs and see both the coming of dawn and the coming of night? Yet the answer to that question, is the same answer which causes us to look to our world and see the evidence in the Bible and current affairs that reaches the same conclusion. The morning comes and also the night. As we will look at the fulfillment of signs from the Bible in our generation, they tell us, "Morning is coming!" The promise of Jesus that one day He will return and take the church home as His bride is about to be fulfilled. What has been the blessed hope of the Christian since Jesus left, is now about to happen. We are told in 2 Peter 1:19, "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts"; The long time of living in what C. S. Lewis calls the "Shadowlands" is about over. Any moment now, Jesus will come back with those who have passed through death as believers in Christ, and resurrect His church, and take her home as His bride. "Watchman, what of the night? ...The morning comes..." The watchman also said the same signs indicate night is coming. The Day of the Lord is about to happen. It is a day of darkness. It is a day of judgment. God is about to judge this world. The warning signs of the coming of judgment are all around us. The same signs that indicate Jesus will soon take His church home, also indicate that the Tribulation and seven years of increasing horrors and the reality of God's judgment are about to come. We will see why God wants us to take the warnings of the judgments of Revelation with great seriousness. Revelation is not fairy tales. It is deadly serious history about to happen. I remember after the fall of the Soviet Empire, and the establishment of many independent republics in what was once the Soviet Union, an interview of a justice in the equivalent of the Russian Supreme Court. The interviewer noted a painting prominently displayed in the
Are you dealing with a loss, fear and anxiety, heartbreak or facing a giant? There is hope. True story of struggle and yet great victory in Jesus.From the AuthorWe live in a world that is so busy, with everyone competing for our attention.So why should you stop and look at this book? What's so special about it and what gives me the right to speak into your life? Well, please allow me to tell you. This book wasn't written because I wanted to be an author. It wasn't written because I am qualified or wanted a platform. It was written because God put it on my heart to tell people about my story so my testimonies can help those who are still going through the "test" part of their future testimonies. It's to encourage those of you who are stuck, stuck in life, and stuck in a rut. It's for those who are camping in the valley of the shadow of death instead of walking through it and into the feast that God has prepared for them. It's to encourage those who have been through a loss, those who have been rejected, those who have struggled with fear and anxiety, those who are facing financial lack and those who are up against a giant right now and can't see a way around it. There is hope, and God knows the path out. I've been through a lot of struggles. I've lost my sister, had my heart broken, been in an accident, been held up at gunpoint, had significant health struggles, and been through lots of battles, but through it all, I've seen Jesus and heard His voice. And He has always led me out into victory. I've also seen the deliverance of the Lord. I've seen God do miracles. I've seen God come through in impossible situations. I've seen heaven come to earth on many occasions and have seen God redeem situations that were meant for our harm and made them for our good. I've seen God speak and we responded and saw the victory He promised. GOD IS REAL, and when the Holy Spirit breathes on it, the Bible comes alive, and God shows you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. He is your deliverer, protector, comforter and friend. His word is the light to the path that shines the way and shows you where to go. So, I want to share my stories with you in hope that God can use them to lift you up and pull you out of the pit. Reminding you that you are a child of the King, you were born for a purpose, and you belong in a palace. Take my testimonies and hold onto them. Begin to phophesy the same victories into your life too. The same God who is in me is in you. What God has made available to me is also available to you. He has no favourites, but He does respond to faith. So, take him at His word and hold onto Him and when you feel like backing down, giving up or hiding away from life. Remind yourself that He is Good and He is God. He is for you and not against you. Have faith in God, He's got you and will never let go of you. So, go ahead and take a look at this book. Give it a try. What do you have to lose? God's waiting for you and calling you deeper into His presence. His victories are hidden for you and not from you. But you have to seek Him a little deeper. Oh, and by the way, 25% of the profits of this book will go to the family of a dear friend who's gone to be with Jesus (because life doesn't always go the way we want). But we can trust God to redeem and restore, and we can trust that somehow, He will always work things out for the good of those who love him. Book Accolades During the month of its launch, almost 3100 free copies of "Testimonies of a good God" were downloaded with the book reaching #1 status in 2 separate Amazon categories.Recently, "Testimonies of a Good God," was featured on "UCB2" radio, where Byron and Tammie spent half an hour chatting about their story on the Ruth O'Reilly-Smith show. United Christian Broadcasters (UCB2) are one of the largest Christian broadcasters in the United Kingdom and broadcast to over 50 million UK homes through DAB radio.
The many names of God used by men and women of the Bible to refer to their individual confrontations with Him or His messengers reveals God as nothing else can. In His Excellent Name my father has selected thirty names from the Bible which emphasize God's unique attributes and character traits. The thorough analysis and application of these names to contemporary believers make this book both informative and inspirational. The thirty day devotional format chosen makes reading easy and gives daily encouragement. There is also the option of selecting and studying any name of interest by referring to the helpful Table of Contents. Through the prayerful study of the names of God included in this book, Divine involvement in every detail of your life can be discovered and experienced every day. For the treasure of God's Word and the ministry of my father I am thankful. Charles Byron Allen, PhD Dr. Byron Allen, Jr. is a retired Baptist pastor (SBe of over 60 years experience. He received a Bachelor Degree from Howard Payne University, a Master of Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry (Summa Cum Laude) from Bethany Theological Seminary. He pastored churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. Dr. Allen is the father of five children all of whom are active in the ministries of their churches. His three sons have served church staff positions in music, education and administration. Dr. Allen has studied the Biblical languages and has the ability to explore fresh and special meanings which reside in Bible words, especially in the names of God. His previously published works include Pray Like This (Essence Publishers). Dr. Allen has an extremely strong desire to help Christians develop a close personal relation with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
