Blues and Yellows just don't mix, and that's how it's always been. No one remembers why. But then comes the day Midnight Blue takes a tumble along the road. His friends Navy and Powder Blue don't even stop to help! It's only when a Yellow comes along that everything changes forever. This creative story is sure to prompt rich conversations, encouraging new ways of seeing our neighbors and ourselves. A note for parents and educators is included.
The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.
An "expert in the law" once asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life--and his question initiated a very interesting conversation. The Law says to "love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus pointed out, so the next logical question is, "Who is my neighbor?" Rather than offering an exhaustive list of neighbors and non-neighbors, Jesus told a story . . . the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Out of that famous parable, Dr. Wayne Gordon draws more than forty characteristics of the man who was beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the road to Jericho--the character Jesus created to show Christians how to recognize their neighbors. Dr. Gordon brings that character vividly to life in Who Is My Neighbor?, and helps readers use Jesus' parable as a reference point for their interactions in their community and the world. And as readers catch Jesus' vision of neighborliness, they will also find practical suggestions for meeting needs and changing the lives of those around them . . . that is, their neighbors!
An exhaustive study in Ethnicity, Culture, Immigration, and Social Inequality In Church and Western History.From the Foreword: Some time ago the West has lost its way in the order of things. This Way was a long known set of experiences concerning how the world operates and on being human. The modern mind imagines such a grand diversity of interpretations of these once-given axioms. With such variance comes uncertainty of truth and skepticism of knowledge claims. These, in turn, misdirect our political and social life from objective and formalized to subjective and relativized. Once strong structures guided our being in the world, but now all that is solid melts into air. C.S. Lewis' Abolition Of Man argued against this pluralist, subjectivized view, claiming that all humans have known some things to be universally true. This universal Way he called the natural law or the Tao. Once known to all humans, modern sentiments challenge this Way, deny it, and replace it with new, abstract ideas of theory or Right. More recently, late modernity replaces it with nothing but perceived reality. To prove this universal Way and lead us back to it, the appendix of Lewis' book contains an index of universally acknowledged norms among all human societies. Our present work picks up just one of the themes in his work and continues it more exhaustively in an area particularly under attack in our time: natural social relations.About the Authors:Thomas Achord lives in the rural South with his wife and four children. He has an M.Div. from Southern Seminary and is the headmaster of a Christian Classical school. He has published "The Soul And The City", an anthology on political and moral thought. He is also the co-host of Ars Politica podcast.Darrell Dow lives with his wife and children in flyover country. His formal education is in history and economics and he presently works as a statistician. Darrell has contributed to various politically-right magazines and journals. You can find his work at Chronicles, American Remnant, and Antiwar.
"I want to love my neighbor, but I don't know how." Most of us feel guilty about Christ's command to love our neighbor, but let's be honest--we don't even know most of the people living around us. How can we love people we don't even know? Besides, doesn't it count as "loving our neighbor" when we send money to missionaries and put out yard signs for our church? Are we supposed to just knock on our neighbors' doors and tell them about Jesus? "They'll think I'm weird." How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird helps you overcome fears about getting to know your neighbors and sharing your faith. You'll learn simple, practical ways to get to know your neighbors, using your God-given personality. As you venture out of the comfort of your living room and into the lives of your neighbors, you'll form authentic friendships, create a safer community, and find fulfillment in obeying Christ's #2 command. Loving your neighbor isn't a random command; it's God's perfect plan. "A very timely book for a very isolated culture. Amy Lively offers practical help and guidance in the neglected practice of hospitality."--Dr. Dennis Rainey, president, FamilyLife "This ministry is changing lives. Amy has followed God's leading into an untapped area of people that need Jesus. What a simple idea of reaching out to your neighborhood--the area that God placed you in for His purposes. Amy's ideas and excellent resources have offered a no-excuse zone for this ministry. The Lord said, 'Love me and love your neighbor.' He chose Amy to show us the way. Thank you for this amazing resource!"--Chrissy Dunham, director of women's ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas "Amy knows God has given each of us a corner of the world to share the love of Jesus and the hope found in His Word. Her book equips women, spiritually and practically, to answer this call and open their hearts and homes to friends and neighbors."--Wendy Blight, Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and author "Amy's brilliant approach to engaging our neighbors is natural, fun, and life-changing! She provides every single thing you will need, including courage. This book and practice is a must for everyone desiring to honor and obey the Lord."--Debbie Stuart, church and leadership development director, Women of Faith " Amy gives us the keys to really connect with those who live around us--not with an agenda, but with a heart toward real relationships. A must-read for anyone who believes that 'Love thy neighbor' really starts at your front door."--Kathi Lipp, coauthor of The Cure for the Perfect Life and author of The Husband Project "With hundreds of friends on social media, why are we so lonely? In her amazing book, Amy Lively identifies the heart-need for deep connection that's not being met through a screen and offers a simple solution: Actually meet the people who live near you. Amy's openness to share her successes and failures at reaching out will inspire you to try it yourself.'"--Glynnis Whitwer, author of Everyday Confetti; executive director of communications, Proverbs 31 Ministries "Amy shows us, step-by-step, how to conquer our fears, connect with our neighbors, and have fun too! Highly recommend!"--Cindy Bultema, speaker, Bible teacher, and author of Red Hot Faith "What does 'love your neighbor as yourself' really mean? In this book, Amy Lively will give you the tips, tools, and techniques you need to love your neighbor in your own unique way."--Jennifer Rothschild, author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark; founder of Fresh Grounded Faith events and womensministry.net
An ''expert in the law'' once asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life - and his question initiated a very interesting conversation. The Law says to ''love your neighbor as yourself,'' Jesus pointed out, so the next logical question is, ''Who is my neighbor?'' Rather than offering the lawyer an exhaustive list of neighbors and non-neighbors, Jesus told a story . . . a story we know as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Out of that famous parable, Dr. Wayne Gordon draws more than 40 characteristics of the man who was beaten, robbed and left for dead on the road to Jericho - the character Jesus created to show Christians how to recognize their neighbors. Dr. Gordon brings that character vividly to life in Who Is My Neighbor?, and helps readers use Jesus' parable as a reference point for their interactions in their community and the world. And as readers catch Jesus' vision of neighborliness, they will also find practical suggestions for meeting needs and changing the lives of those around them . . . that is, their neighbors.
Writing in response to our current “constitutional crisis,” New York Times bestselling author and Christian activist Jim Wallis urges America to return to the tenets of Jesus once again as the means to save us from the polarizing bitterness and anger of our tribal nation. In Christ in Crisis Jim Wallis provides a path of spiritual healing and solidarity to help us heal the divide separating Americans today. Building on “Reclaiming Jesus”—the declaration he and other church leaders wrote in May 2018 to address America’s current crisis—Wallis argues that Christians have become disconnected from Jesus and need to revisit their spiritual foundations. By pointing to eight questions Jesus asked or is asked, Wallis provides a means to measure whether we are truly aligned with the moral and spiritual foundations of our Christian faith. “Christians have often remembered, re-discovered, and returned to their obedient discipleship of Jesus Christ—both personal and public—in times of trouble. It’s called coming home,” Wallis reminds us. While he addresses the dividing lines and dangers facing our nation, the religious and cultural commentator’s focus isn’t politics; it’s faith. As he has done throughout his career, Wallis offers comfort, empathy, and a practical roadmap. Christ in Crisis is a constructive field guide for all those involved in resistance and renewal initiatives in faith communities in the post-2016 political context.
Despite being part of one of the most mobile societies in history, it's easy for us to feel stuck where we are. Whether because of a recent move or because we're still in the exact same place we've been for years, many of us just aren't where we thought we'd be or doing what we thought we'd be doing. Sometimes we may wonder if God knows what he's doing. How can this be part of his plan? With enthusiasm and contagious joy, Shauna Pilgreen assures readers that, yes, God does have a plan and a purpose for them--right where they are. In fact, he sent them there. She invites readers to "live sent," showing them how to see their surroundings with fresh eyes and renewed energy. Weaving her own remarkable story with biblical habits readers can incorporate into their daily routines, Pilgreen equips us to reach out into our communities with God's love, knowing that our efforts are never in vain.
In all the noisy rhetoric currently surrounding immigration, one important question is rarely asked: What ethical responsibilities do immigrants and citizens have to each other? In this book Tisha Rajendra reframes the confused and often heated debate over immigration around the world, proposes a new definition of justice based on responsibility to relationships, and develops a Christian ethic to address this vexing social problem.
