What's actually in the least-read bestseller of all time? A typical Bible is virtually impenetrable to a casual reader. Except for the cherry-picked "good parts," most Christians have very little familiarity with their supposed holy book. Those who have slogged their way through it, page by tortuous page, usually come out the other end with little comprehension of what they've read. That's because the Bible is a grossly repetitive, horrendously overwritten and sloppily edited book of staggering length. The HBNE has stripped away the flummery and nebulous prose to reveal the cold, hard narrative: It's shocking. It's hilarious. It's deeply disturbing. And yet despite all that, the Bible is a VASTLY entertaining read when you actually understand what it's saying. With handy commentary incorporated into the text, the reader will instantly grasp the point of entire chapters in mere minutes. Discover the Bible your clergy wish you would ignore, and which your friends and family never knew existed.
The Naked Gospel is a chapter-by-chapter assault on the churchy jargon and double talk of our day. It puts forth a message that is simple but life-changing. With a fresh take on Scripture and unapologetic style, The Naked Gospel will challenge you to re-examine everything you thought you already knew.
Highly regarded Old Testament scholar John Goldingay offers a substantive and useful commentary on the book of Genesis that is both critically engaged and sensitive to the theological contributions of the text. This volume, the first in a new series on the Pentateuch, complements the successful Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Wisdom and Psalms series (series volumes have sold over 55,000 copies). Each series volume will cover one book of the Pentateuch, addressing important issues and problems that flow from the text and exploring the contemporary relevance of the Pentateuch. The series editor is Bill T. Arnold, the Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary.
The truth about demons is far stranger—and even more fascinating—than what's commonly believed. Are demons real? Are they red creatures with goatees holding pitchforks and sitting on people's shoulders while whispering bad things? Did a third of the angels really rebel with Satan? Are demons and "principalities and powers" just terms for the same entities, or are they different members of the kingdom of darkness? Is the world a chaotic mess because of what happened in Eden, or is there more to the story of evil? What people believed about evil spiritual forces in ancient biblical times is often very different than what people have been led to believe about them today. And this ancient worldview is missing from most attempts to treat the topic. In Demons, Michael Heiser debunks popular presuppositions about the very real powers of darkness. Rather than traditions, stories, speculations, or myths, Demons is grounded in what ancient people of both the Old and New Testament eras believed about evil spiritual forces and in what the Bible actually says. You'll come away with a sound, biblical understanding of demons, supernatural rebellion, evil spirits, and spiritual warfare.
After two years, Shula still cant believe her husband, Seth, is gone. In an effort to live again and to feel again, she accepts an offer to counsel women about marriage, love and fulfillment at Namaans, a Christian spa and retreat center designed to meet the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical needs of women. It all begins with Shulas first week-long retreat, Naked and Unashamed, where she leads four women on a journey, exploring the ins and outs of the big S. Barbaras husband just retired and has finally joined her at home. Shes dreamed of this moment but so far nothings changed. Barb reasons there must be passion after sixty, and shes hoping shell discover ways to spice things up in more ways than adding cayenne pepper to her chicken tetrazzini. Lindsey hopes to boost her confidence as her wedding draws near. Shes done it rightvirgin til I doyet the man she loves took an alternate route. How will Lindsey measure up to Gabriela, the mother of her fiancs son, and how on earth will she fare as a stepmother and new wife? Then theres Savannah, who believes she has the perfect marriage. So why did her husband, Reed, suggest she attend this retreat? Savannahs hoping some new moves in the kitchen and bedroom will solve her problems. But Shulas hoping she can help Savannah uncover the root of her struggles and do what it takes to penetrate the wall that guards her heart. And finally theres Alex. Shes already determined divorce is the answer. She makes six figures, six figures more than her husband, and runs her home single handedly. Shes convinced she really has no need for a husband and wonders why she married him in the first place. This week is her last-ditch effort to salvage her marriage, or at least give the illusion that she gave it her all before giving the loafer the boot. These four very different women united by Shulas unusual therapeutic tactics as well as the amazing staff, services and food at Naamans, make unexpected discoveries about marriage, love, and more importantly, themselves. Surprising truths are revealed, past wounds are healed, and precious relationships are made, all while learning to live freefree of guilt, pain, fear, sorrow, shame, and the lies of the enemyfree to live naked and unashamed.
In all your boyhood dreams of growing up, did you dream of being a "nice guy"? Eldredge believes that every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. That is how he bears the image of God; that is what God made him to be.
