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.
The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.
Discover the Bible's ancient wisdom on these challenging people - who they are, how they got that way, how to deal with them, and God's final word on it all. If you're checking out this book, there is a good chance you - or someone you care about - have experienced some of the more damaging consequences of genuine narcissism. Maybe you didn't realize you were dealing with a narcissist at first, but the pain and damage caused by this selfish, arrogant, condescending, and domineering person might have driven you to search for answers about what was going on, and how to deal with them. As you searched online or in books, you collected the conventional wisdom available, but feel there is still more to it. While the Bible does not use the exact term "narcissism" - a word from Greek mythology - it most certainly speaks to the subject. In fact, if you look carefully, you might be surprised at just how much and how directly Scripture speaks about narcissism and narcissistic people. The First Will Be Last: A Biblical Perspective on Narcissism is just what the title says - an A-Z look at the Biblical perspective on these toxic people; including who they are, how they got that way, and how to deal with them. From key words to Biblical case studies, it will unlock a new perspective and provide a framework in your search for truth. CONTENTS LET'S BEGIN How to Read this Book WHO SHOULD I LISTEN TO? The Range of Perspectives The Secular Perspective on Narcissism There's Another Option THE BIBLICAL PROFILE OF A NARCISSIST Painting the Biblical Picture Layer 1 - Key Words and Definitions Layer 2 - Key Word Usage Layer 3 - Case Studies in the Bible Enhancing the Portrait Additional Case Studies THREE QUESTIONS #1 - Can A Narcissist Be a Christian (& vice versa)? #2 - Do They Really "Get Away With It"? #3 - Can A Narcissist Ever Change? CAUSES - ONE ROOT, SEVERAL BRANCHES The Root Cause Four Examples Ultimately They Look In, Not Up A PATH TO GENUINE CHANGE The Foundation God's Radical Revelations Making it Real Choices COPING WITH NARCISSISTS God's Responsibility...and Ours Protect Yourself Be Smart in Your Interactions Learn to Pray in the Situation Practical Solutions ... and God's Grand Plan FROM WHY, TO HOPE, TO LOVE Asking "Why" God's Plan for A Purpose of Love The Four Pillars of Trust Turning Tears into a Life-giving Spring Why to Hope to Love YOUR JOURNEY FORWARD Crying Out, Seeking God Praying Walking Forward Coming Full Circle Written by someone who understands the journey, this book starts with discovery, and ends with comfort. NOTE: The Amazon "Look Inside" formatting does not accurately represent the much higher quality format of the actual Kindle book.
Heritage Edition—Over 100 illustrations of a century ago. Unabridged, original text consisting of inspiring and profound lessons from the stories and parables which Jesus told. Christ the Great Teacher gave much of His instruction as He walked with His disciples through the hills and valleys of Palestine or rested by the lake or river. In His parable teaching He linked divine truth with common things and incidents, as may be found in the experiences of the shepherd, the builder, the tiller of the soil, the traveler, and the homemaker. Familiar objects were associated with thoughts true and beautiful—thoughts of God’s loving interest in us, of the grateful homage that is His due, and of the care we should have one for another. Thus lessons of divine wisdom and practical truth were made forcible and impressive. The Scripture says, “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; . . . that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 13:34, 35. Natural things were the medium for the spiritual; the things of nature and the life-experience of His hearers were connected with the truths of the written word. Leading thus from the natural to the spiritual kingdom, Christ’s parables are links in the chain of truth that unites man with God, and earth with heaven. In this volume the parables are grouped according to their subjects, and their lessons are developed and illustrated. The book is full of gems of truth, and to many readers it will give a richer meaning to the common surroundings of everyday life.
This volume--the work of a lifetime--brings together all the Joseph Smith Translation manuscript in a remarkable and useful way. Now, for the first time, readers can take a careful look at the complete text, along with photos of several actual manuscript pages. The book contains a typographic transcription of all the original manuscripts, unedited and preserved exactly as dictated by the Prophet Joseph and recorded by his scribes. In addition, this volume features essays on the background, doctrinal contributions, and editorial procedures involved in the Joseph Smith Translation, as well as the history of the manuscripts since Joseph Smith's day.
Many recent studies recognize the feature of reversal in individual narratives in Luke. What contribution do they make to Luke's eschatology, and how do they enable us to define the historical audience of Luke's Gospel? York's study focuses on the numerous sayings, parables, and narratives in Luke that exhibit a double or 'bi-polar' reversal of fortunes. It concludes that this rhetorical form is a fundamental element in Luke's understanding of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the nature of life in the Kingdom inaugurated by Jesus.
This is the diary of the author's tumultuous journey from childhood to adulthood. The road she has traveled has been full of many unexpected twists, turns, detours, and cliff-hangers. Her trip itinerary has included poverty, sickness, molestation, rejection, domestic violence, betrayals, divorces, single-parenthood, being a first lady, and many other treks. I believe that you will be captivated by the author's many excursions, some self-directed and some led by others, some good and some not so good. She experienced the contrast of being on a ship like Jonah running from God and being on a ship like Paul in the will of God. But they all drove her into the arms of the blessed Savior, who took what was meant to cause her life to be permanently shipwrecked and used it to make her more resilient for the voyage ahead. I trust that you will be intrigued by how the author reveals the cycles in her life as she explains how the last became first, and the first became last, relating it to the scripture in Matthew 20:16. We all can relate with the alternating cycles in our lives of being last and then first, and first and then last. These seasons affect the just and the unjust, but they are weathered so much better with the Lord on our side. He works it all together for the good for those that love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The writer believes that the Lord led her to be transparent and to share her life experiences as a means to inspire, motivate, encourage, and challenge her readers to keep running the race that has been set before them, regardless of the obstacles they may encounter. Remember, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver us out of them all (Psalm 34:19).
In this completely revised edition of his acclaimed book, Donald B. Kraybill says Jesus calls us to foster an Upside-Down Kingdom favoring those suffering at society's margins. The King is Jesus, who wins by serving and triumphs by losing.
The national directory addresses the dimensions and perspectives in the formation of deacons and the model standards for the formation, ministry, and life of deacons in the United States. It is intended as a guideline for formation, ministry, and life of permanent deacons and a directive to be utilized when preparing or updating a diaconate program in formulating policies for the ministry and life of deacons. This volume also includes Basic Standards for Readiness for the formation of permanent deacons in the United States, from the bishops' Committee on the Diaconate, and the committee document Visit of Consultation Teams to Diocesan Permanent Diaconate Formation Programs.
