Is There a Purpose to Suffering And Loss? We only have to live to see or experience how agonizing life can be. We are surrounded by child abuse and neglect, starving families, premature deaths of those we love, natural disasters and global disease. How could a God worthy of respect and worship allow such a world to exist? There are no simple answers. But there is hope. For, claims author Jim McGuiggan, suffering may in fact be the last thing we expect–an expression of God’s wrath, which in turn is nothing other than his relentless, loving pursuit of us. If this is true, then suffering is a vital part of God’s work to redeem his creation. Give this claim a hearing, and you just might see the suffering world in a new way–a world shot through with glory and hope and assurance.
Although we go to bed at night believing the gospel, we wake up every morning needing to hear it again. Yet most of us don’t have time to dive into a lengthy commentary on the book of Romans—the book Paul wrote in order to showcase the glorious riches of the gospel. Thankfully seasoned counselor and author Elyse Fitzpatrick makes the message of Romans readily accessible in 31 devotional-like chapters on what Martin Luther called “the very purest Gospel.” Perfect for even the busiest of us, Elyse helps us grasp the practicality of the gospel message and experience the deep comforts articulated in the book of Romans.
Jim McGuiggan’s passionate devotional readings draw the reader beyond the commands, the laws, and the history to reveal God’s tender love. Since childhood, you’ve sung the words, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” The tune is as familiar as your own mirrored reflection. But sometimes we have difficulty believing that the creator and sustainer of the universe could be bothered with people like you and me—much less really love us. But when God put on flesh and entered our world, he washed dirty feet, he soothed suffering souls, and he forgave fallen sinners. His message is loud and clear—he loves us! Jim McGuiggan’s passionate, devotional readings draw you beyond the commands, the laws, and the history to paint insightful portraits of God that reveal his tender heart of love.
On a cold February morning in 1987, amidst freezing rain and driving winds, a group of protesters stood outside of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Amherst, Massachusetts. The target of their protest was the minister inside, who was handing out condoms to his congregation while delivering a sermon about AIDS, dramatizing the need for the church to confront the seemingly ever-expanding crisis. The minister's words and actions were met with a standing ovation from the overflowing audience, but he could not linger to enjoy their applause. Having received threats in advance of the service, he dashed out of the sanctuary immediately upon finishing his sermon. Such was the climate for religious AIDS activism in the 1980s. In After the Wrath of God, Anthony Petro vividly narrates the religious history of AIDS in America. Delving into the culture wars over sex, morality, and the future of the American nation, he demonstrates how religious leaders and AIDS activists have shaped debates over sexual morality and public health from the 1980s to the present day. While most attention to religion and AIDS foregrounds the role of the Religious Right, Petro takes a much broader view, encompassing the range of mainline Protestant, evangelical, and Catholic groups--alongside AIDS activist organizations--that shaped public discussions of AIDS prevention and care in the U.S. Petro analyzes how the AIDS crisis prompted American Christians across denominations and political persuasions to speak publicly about sexuality--especially homosexuality--and to foster a moral discourse on sex that spoke not only to personal concerns but to anxieties about the health of the nation. He reveals how the epidemic increased efforts to advance a moral agenda regarding the health benefits of abstinence and monogamy, a legacy glimpsed as much in the traction gained by abstinence education campaigns as in the more recent cultural purchase of gay marriage. The first book to detail the history of religion and the AIDS epidemic in the U.S., After the Wrath of God is essential reading for anyone concerned with the intersection of religion and public health.
Accessible background and insights on each scripture text in the three-year Sunday lectionary cycle. An invaluable resource for preachers, lectors, liturgical musicians, catechists and more.
NEWLY PUBLISHED AND REVISED Job felt as though God had deserted him, in reality God had put his trust in Job's righteousness. God was trusting in Job! Jim McGuiggan leads you on a journey to see the heart of Job and the heart of God, through the pain, the questions, to finally see the greatness of God.
&Lsquo;Chidambaram Illuminates The Crucial Interface Between Economics And Politics . . . His Style Is Simple, Austere, Impressive . . . There Is Much That I Enjoyed In This Book&Rsquo; &Mdash;Meghnad Desai In Indian Express &Lsquo;Economics Is The Science Of The Possible Made To Look Like The Art Of The Impossible&Rsquo; Is A Definition That Would Strike A Chord With Any Finance Minister Of India Who, Every Year, Has To Perform The Great Indian Hope Trick. Otherwise Known As The Budget&Mdash;A Careful Balancing Act Between Revenue And Expenditure, Tax Rates And Tax Sops, Growth And Equity, Reforms And The Status Quo.&Nbsp;Within These Constraints, However, There Is Much That A Finance Minister Can Actually Accomplish, As P. Chidambaram, One Of India&Rsquo;S Most Accomplished Economists And Commentators, Shows In A View From The Outside, A Collection Of Columns That Assesses The Promises And Performance Of The Nda Government In The Period 2002&Ndash;2004. The Columns, Originally Published In The Indian Express And The Financial Express,Reflect The Views Of Chidambaram,&Nbsp;Finance Minister Between 1996 And 1998 And Again From 2004 Onwards, On A Range Of Issues That Remain Important Regardless Of The Government In Power. They Also Provide Snapshots Of The Indian Economy In Good Times And Bad. This Collection Covers Subjects Such As Agriculture, Reforms, Budgets, Forex Reserves, Economic Growth And Tax Policies.&Nbsp;It Also Offers Perceptive Political Analyses And Some Telling Comments On Social Issues. Far More Than Mere Reactions To Developments During That Period, Chidambaram Provides The Reader With An Extraordinarily Clear Understanding Of The Problems Underlying The Indian Economy&Mdash;And Its Politics&Mdash;And Ways Of Solving Them. Reviews &Lsquo;There Is A Lot Of Wisdom In This Book, As Well As Entertainment&Rsquo;&Mdash; Gurcharan Das In Outlook
Many refer to the Book of Revelation as the book of the Tribulation. However, in reality, it is the time for the coronation of King Jesus. Many people ask why God keeps Satan on the earth, but are afraid to read the Book of Revelation which is an account of when Jesus does finally remove him from the earth. The Book of Revelation is the only book where God ensures a blessing to those who read it. Gods plan was always to know Him and dwell with Him. God has been long suffering as He has given every opportunity to every generation to come to Him and make their dwelling place with Him (Col 1:23). No one knows the day or the time when Christ will come for His Church (Mt 24:36), but that will be the time of the Book of Revelation. The Greek word for Revelation is apokalypsis and means an unveiling. The word is singular; only one person is revealed: Christ. Throughout the New Testament we saw Jesus as our Savior, but now He comes to rule the world. It is only now that Jesus receives His inheritance as the King of the Kingdom of God. The Church, the bride of Christ, will rule and reign with King Jesus throughout the Millennium. The bride will share in the inheritance of King Jesus. This book has an overview in the introduction, and before each chapter, to understand how everything fits chronologically in time sequence. The intent is that it is easy to read and the focus is to see the big picture before the details are explained. All Scripture in Revelation is included, as well as Scriptures within the Bible that prophesy each event that will occur.
Find freedom from life’s hurts, hang-ups, and habits. The NIV Celebrate Recovery Study Bible is a powerful and positive ally. This Bible is based on eight recovery principles found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and on the underlying Christ-centered twelve steps of the proven Celebrate Recovery program. This Bible and all of its added content lifts you up and shows you how to walk, step by attainable step, on a path of healing and liberty. Based on the proven and successful Celebrate Recovery program developed by John Baker and Rick Warren, the NIV Celebrate Recovery Study Bible offers hope, encouragement, and, through developing a relationship with Jesus Christ, empowerment to rise above your struggles. Celebrate Recovery is a biblically-based program that helps those who are struggling by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through the recovery process. The Celebrate Recovery program is offered in thousands of churches worldwide. Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) Articles explain eight recovery principles and accompanying Christ-centered twelve steps Over 110 lessons unpack eight recovery principles in practical terms Recovery stories offer encouragement and hope 30 days of recovery-related readings Over 50 full-page biblical character studies are tied to stories from real-life people who have found peace and help with their own hurts, hang-ups, and habits Book introductions Side-column reference system keyed to Celebrate Recovery’s eight recovery principles Topical index “I’m excited you’re beginning the journey to recovery. Your life will change. You’ll experience freedom from your sinful habits, hang-ups, and hurts as you give up control and allow Jesus to be Lord in every area of your life.” From the foreword by Dr. Rick Warren, senior pastor, Saddleback Church “Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see God’s heart for celebrating recovery! This collection will help you experience and celebrate that journey, one step at a time. Jump in and see how recovery and spiritual growth are one and the same.” Dr. Henry Cloud, Christian psychologist, author, and speaker
