Ruth's story is one of God's amazing grace and awesome power. As a child born into Ugandan poverty, Ruth was orphaned at nine years of age and passed from family to family. She suffered through Ugandan President Idi Amin's rule of terror. She was raped, treated as a slave, married to a Muslim man, then widowed when he died of HIV/AIDS. Then she discovered she also had AIDS. After two years of treatment, when medications no longer offered hope, at death's door and no longer able to walk, God healed her completely! Today she has an international ministry and ministers to more than 3,000 Ugandan widows and orphans.
Orphanology unveils the grassroots movement that's engaged in a comprehensive response to serve hundreds of millions of orphans and "functionally parentless" children.You'll see a breadth of ways to care with biblical perspective and reasons why we must. Heartwarming, personal stories and vivid illustrations from a growing network of families, churches, and organizations that cross culture show how to respond to God's mandate. The book empowers:- churches--to plan preaching, teaching, ministering, missions, funding adoption, supporting orphans;- individuals and families--to overcome challenges and uncertainties;- every believer--to gain insights to help orphans in numerous ways. Discover how to - adopt;- assist orphans in transition;- engage in foster care;- partner with faith-based fostering agencies;- become orphan hosts.Along with their families' adoption stories, Merida and Morton give steps for action and features on churches doing orphan ministry, faith-based children's homes, orphan-hosting groups, and other resources.
Since the 1950s, more than 100,000 Korean children have been adopted by predominantly white Americans; they were orphans of the Korean War, or so the story went. But begin the story earlier, as SooJin Pate does, and what has long been viewed as humanitarian rescue reveals itself as an exercise in expanding American empire during the Cold War. Transnational adoption was virtually nonexistent in Korea until U.S. military intervention in the 1940s. Currently it generates $35 million in revenue—an economic miracle for South Korea and a social and political boon for the United States. Rather than focusing on the families “made whole” by these adoptions, this book identifies U.S. militarism as the condition by which displaced babies became orphans, some of whom were groomed into desirable adoptees, normalized for American audiences, and detached from their past and culture. Using archival research, film, and literary materials—including the cultural work of adoptees—Pate explores the various ways in which Korean children were employed by the U.S. nation-state to promote the myth of American exceptionalism, to expand U.S. empire during the burgeoning Cold War, and to solidify notions of the American family. In From Orphan to Adoptee we finally see how Korean adoption became the crucible in which technologies of the U.S. empire were invented and honed.
Thomas Keating has spent more than fifty years in sustained practice and devotion to the spiritual life. The results of this creative, humble activity are now summarized in this remarkable book, Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit. As Father Keating says, the spiritual journey is a gradual process of enlarging our emotional, mental, and physical relationship with the divine reality that is present in us, but one not ordinarily accessible to our emotions or concepts. The spiritual journey teaches us, first, to believe in the Divine Indwelling within us, fully present and energizing every level of our being; second, to recognize that this energy is benign, healing, and transforming; and third, to enjoy its gradual unfolding step-by-step both in prayer and action.
Author Biography: Paul Tillich (1886-1965), an early critic of Hitler, was barred from teaching in Germany in 1933. He emigrated to the United States, holding teaching positions at Union Theological Seminary, New York (1933-1955); Harvard Divinity School (1955-1962); and the University of Chicago Divinity School (1962-1965). Among his many books are "Theology of Culture, Dynamics of Faith," and the three volumes of "Systematic Theology."
From Christina Baker Kline comes a novel about two women: one about to age out of the foster care system, the other 90 years old and carrying both a tremendous secret and a story of a life formed by a part of American history almost entirely forgotten: the Orphan Trains Molly Ayer has one last chance, and she knows it. Close to being kicked out of her foster home -- just months from turning 18 and “aging out” of the system -- Molly should be grateful that her boyfriend found her a community service project: helping an old lady clean out her home. Molly can’t help but think that the 50 hours will be tedious, but at least they’ll keep her out of juvie, and right now that’s all she cares about. Ninety-one-year-old Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine for decades. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are keys to a turbulent past. Molly is about to discover -- as she and Vivian unpack her possessions, and memories -- that Vivian’s story is a piece of America’s tumultuous history now largely forgotten: the tale of a young Irish immigrant, orphaned in New York City and put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other orphaned children whose destiny would be determined by luck and chance. As Molly digs deeper, she finds surprising parallels in her own experience as a Penobscot Indian and Vivian’s story -- and Molly realizes that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life. Rich in detail and epic in scope, THE TRAIN RIDER is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendships, and of the secrets we carry with us that keep us from finding out who we are.
Using practical, firsthand stories that offer helpful, portable takeaways, Pastor Boyd looks at the interweaving of his journey from spiritual orphan to treasured son, offering candid stories and freeing insights for every Christian still longing to come home. The truth is, many of us as Christians still strive to “fit in” with God even when our Father offers us the identity of beloved daughters and sons. We’ve already been admitted, approved, and accepted—but we aren’t living that way. In Sons and Daughters, Pastor Boyd looks at the interweaving of God’s grace and our daily lives: How do those who know they are God’s children think, speak, and act differently? How do they function as leaders and friends? How do they walk through pain? You—and the purposes God has for you—are a cause for celebration, a reason to be both fearless and faithful. Come discover how to live like you belong.
What is a jealousite, you might ask? The term jealous means very watchful or careful in guarding or keeping, resentfully suspicious of a rival or a rival's influence, resentfully envious, resulting from such feelings, requiring exclusive loyalty. An "ite" is a native inhabitant, or citizen of; a descendent from or offspring of; an adherent of, believer in, or member of. A jealousite is anyone that God wants to deal with who is in need of cleansing from jealousy and envy in your territory and life, even if it's yourself. So, you've fallen into the pit of sin and jealousy and envy has a hold on you. Is it to late for you or those in your territory or life who may be struggling with this sin? The answer is no. So many are stuck or at a stand still in life, while others are watching enviously at those who are pursuing ahead. We can no longer ignore this crisis for it affects our relationships on all levels. Whether it be in your home, in the workplace, in your school, in your church, in your family, in your friendships or in your nation. Jealousy and envy is lurking through the eyes and hearts of those who are in need of a God-sized transformation. If you are tired of living an average, defeated, self-consumed and insecure life, this book was designed with you in mind. You don't have to sit back and watch others get to the finish line. You can get in the race and finish your course also. No longer do you have to compare yourself to others but you can find peace with God and others by accepting your value and worth. You, yes you, are called to make a difference and a contribution in the lives of others. This book's message is a beckoning call for healing, deliverance, restoration and forgiveness to the broken hearted. If you've been desiring to get ahead in life, to advance beyond the pain, sufferings and struggles you've been experiencing, this is your time.
Meet Mallory Weggemann: a Paralympic gold-medalist, world champion swimmer, ESPY winner, and NBC Sports commentator whose extraordinary story will give you the encouragement you need to rise up to meet any challenge you face in life. On January 21, 2008, a routine medical procedure left Mallory paralyzed from her waist down. Less than two years later, Mallory had broken eight world records, and by the 2012 Paralympic Games, she held fifteen world records and thirty-four American records. Two years after that, a devastating fall severely damaged her left arm. But despite all of the hardships that Mallory faced, she was sure about one thing: she refused to give up. After two reconstructive surgeries and extended rehab, she won two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships. And even better, she found confidence, independence, and persevering love. She even walked down the aisle on her wedding day against all odds. Mallory's extraordinary resilience and uncompromising commitment to excellence are rooted in her resolve, her faith, and her sheer grit. In Limitless, Mallory shares the lessons she learned by pushing past every obstacle and expectation that stood in her way, teaching you how to: redefine your limits remember that healing is not chronological be willing to fail lean on your community embrace your comeback write your own ending Mallory's story reminds us that we can handle whatever challenges, labels, or difficulties we face in life, and we can do it on our own terms. Because when we refuse to accept every boundary that hems us in--physical, emotional, or societal--we become limitless.
