Although we are all familiar with Joseph - from a legion of retellings of the Christmas story - he remains, for many, a shadowy figure about whom we know very little and who is rarely given much thought, if any. This beautiful meditative fable, imagined as it might be told by the archangel Gabriel, helps us to understand who Joseph was and how he might have felt about the part he was called to play in the Greatest Story Ever Told.Joseph and the Three Gifts follows Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, in hiding in Egypt and a return to his carpentry in Nazareth as Jesus grows from boy to man to messiah. And it asks what Joseph might have done with the Magi's gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh.A wonderful story for all ages, perfect for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
The publication of the King James version of the Bible, translated between 1603 and 1611, coincided with an extraordinary flowering of English literature and is universally acknowledged as the greatest influence on English-language literature in history. Now, world-class literary writers introduce the book of the King James Bible in a series of beautifully designed, small-format volumes. The introducers' passionate, provocative, and personal engagements with the spirituality and the language of the text make the Bible come alive as a stunning work of literature and remind us of its overwhelming contemporary relevance.
My Utmost for His Highest has been a proven, best-selling devotional for many years. Over the past century, Oswald Chambers’s writings have inspired countless people to drink deeply from the biblical truths that he so passionately championed. His words are simultaneously penetrating and invigorating, and they trigger something in your soul leaving you forever changed. The biblical thoughts and themes that Chambers delivers in this updated-language edition will resonate with you as you seek to grow your faith. We have also included the topical section
"The perfect Christmas gift for anyone interested in the historical background behind the birth of Jesus of Nazareth." — Robert J. Hutchinson, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible, The Dawn of Christianity, and Searching for Jesus. "Utterly refreshing and encouraging." — Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Martin Luther "The best book I know about the Magi." — Sir Colin John Humphreys, Ph.D., author of The Mystery of the Last Supper Modern biblical scholars tend to dismiss the Christmas story of the “wise men from the East” as pious legend. Matthew’s gospel offers few details, but imaginative Christians filled out the story early on, giving us the three kings guided by a magical star who join the adoring shepherds in every Christmas crèche. For many scholars, then, there is no reason to take the gospel story seriously. But are they right? Are the wise men no more than a poetic fancy? In an astonishing feat of detective work, Dwight Longenecker makes a powerful case that the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem really happened. Piecing together the evidence from biblical studies, history, archeology, and astronomy, he goes further, uncovering where they came from, why they came, and what might have happened to them after eluding the murderous King Herod. In the process, he provides a new and fascinating view of the time and place in which Jesus Christ chose to enter the world. The evidence is clear and compelling. The mysterious Magi from the East were in all likelihood astrologers and counselors from the court of the Nabatean king at Petra, where the Hebrew messianic prophecies were well known. The “star” that inspired their journey was a particular planetary alignment—confirmed by computer models—that in the astrological lore of the time portended the birth of a Jewish king. The visitors whose arrival troubled Herod “and all Jerusalem with him” may not have been the turbaned oriental kings of the Christmas carol, but they were real, and by demonstrating that the wise men were no fairy tale, Mystery of the Magi demands a new level of respect for the historical claims of the gospel.
John Shelby Spong, bestselling author and Episcopal bishop of Newark, NJ, challenges the doctrine of the virgin birth, tracing its development in the early Christian church and revealing its legacy in our contemporary attitudes toward women and female sexuality.
By all rights, insight, knowledge, and plain old common sense I should be dead. If past usage of beer, marijuana, and cocaine didnÆt do the trick, then certainly dilated cardiomyopathy should have. Instead, I am alive, clean and sober, and a functioning Catholic priest after finally overcoming addiction. For fifteen years I functioned as a sober priest before my heart gave out from the same heart disease that killed my father. Another miracle came my way, and I was blessed to receive a new heart. I could my blessings every day, every hour, every minute. How many of us have received a second, third, and fourth chance at life? IÆve been granted the blessing of faith, sobriety, a new heart, and a fulfilling ministry... much more than I deserve. This is my testimony to what can happen when a confused and bitter young man opens his life and spirit, and allows God and GodÆs people to do for him what he simply could not do for himself. Book jacket.
- Features Foreword by Nancy KissingerA uniquely talented and visionary creative leader in the world of retail, Joseph Cicio's high-profile positions brought him into contact with leading celebrities of the day. He became close friends with figures such as Lady Nancy Slim Keith, Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, The Kissingers, and Joan Rivers, earning him a fascinating insight into the private lives of people who most can only read about and few were privileged to know intimately. Friends**Bearing Gifts is about these relationships and the unmatched experience of remembering each one through the beautiful objects they each gave to him. Featuring stunning photography of Cicio's Connecticut home, which has been published several times, and individual essays on each friend and their gifts - the book deeply emphasizes the importance of relationships, and is a reflection on a life filled with friends, objects, and ultimately, exceptional memories. Contents: Foreword; Introduction; The Garden; The House; Acknowledgments; Index.
In 1540, Zamumo, the chief of the Altamahas in central Georgia, exchanged gifts with the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto. With these gifts began two centuries of exchanges that bound American Indians and the Spanish, English, and French who colonized the region. Whether they gave gifts for diplomacy or traded commodities for profit, Natives and newcomers alike used the exchange of goods such as cloth, deerskin, muskets, and sometimes people as a way of securing their influence. Gifts and trade enabled early colonies to survive and later colonies to prosper. Conversely, they upset the social balance of chiefdoms like Zamumo's and promoted the rise of new and powerful Indian confederacies like the Creeks and the Choctaws. Drawing on archaeological studies, colonial documents from three empires, and Native oral histories, Joseph M. Hall, Jr., offers fresh insights into broad segments of southeastern colonial history, including the success of Florida's Franciscan missionaries before 1640 and the impact of the Indian slave trade on French Louisiana after 1699. He also shows how gifts and trade shaped the Yamasee War, which pitted a number of southeastern tribes against English South Carolina in 1715-17. The exchanges at the heart of Zamumo's Gifts highlight how the history of Europeans and Native Americans cannot be understood without each other.
You were made to reign in every way! Author, evangelist, and pastor, Joseph Prince uncovers the secret to reigning over adversity, lack, and destructive habits. Discover how to experiencing the success, wholeness, and victory that God created to enjoy. In this powerful book, Joseph Prince reveals that Its not about what you must accomplish. Its about what has been accomplished for you. Its not about a list of rules. Its about Gods secret to reigning effortlessly in life. Its not about your will-power to change. Its about His power changing you. Start reigning over sickness, financial lack, broken relationships, and destructive habits! Discover how you can reign in life today!
