In high medieval France, men and women saw the world around them as the product of tensions between opposites. Imbued with a Christian culture in which a penniless preacher was also the King of Kings and the last were expected to be first, twelfth-century thinkers brought order to their lives through the creation of opposing categories. In a highly original work, Constance Brittain Bouchard examines this poorly understood component of twelfth-century thought, one responsible, in her view, for the fundamental strangeness of that culture to modern thinking.Scholars have long recognized that dialectical reasoning was the basic approach to philosophical, legal, and theological matters in the high Middle Ages. Bouchard argues that this way of thinking and categorizing--which she terms a "discourse of opposites"--permeated all aspects of medieval thought. She rejects suggestions that it was the result of imprecision, and provides evidence that people of that era sought not to reconcile opposing categories but rather to maintain them. Bouchard scrutinizes the medieval use of opposites in five broad areas: scholasticism, romance, legal disputes, conversion, and the construction of gender. Drawing on research in a series of previously unedited charters and the earliest glossa manuscripts, she demonstrates that this method of constructing reality was a constitutive element of the thought of the period.
In high medieval France, men and women saw the world around them as the product of tensions between opposites. Imbued with a Christian culture in which a penniless preacher was also the King of Kings and the last were expected to be first, twelfth-century thinkers brought order to their lives through the creation of opposing categories. In a highly original work, Constance Brittain Bouchard examines this poorly understood component of twelfth-century thought, one responsible, in her view, for the fundamental strangeness of that culture to modern thinking.Scholars have long recognized that dialectical reasoning was the basic approach to philosophical, legal, and theological matters in the high Middle Ages. Bouchard argues that this way of thinking and categorizing—which she terms a "discourse of opposites"—permeated all aspects of medieval thought. She rejects suggestions that it was the result of imprecision, and provides evidence that people of that era sought not to reconcile opposing categories but rather to maintain them. Bouchard scrutinizes the medieval use of opposites in five broad areas: scholasticism, romance, legal disputes, conversion, and the construction of gender. Drawing on research in a series of previously unedited charters and the earliest glossa manuscripts, she demonstrates that this method of constructing reality was a constitutive element of the thought of the period.
Handel's Messiah is one of the most beloved musical works of the western world, playing an especially sentimental role in many people's Christmas traditions. The libretto of the work, taken directly from the King James text of fourteen books of the Bible, has turned many otherwise forgettable phrases into memorable, singable, cherished lines of Scripture. This gift-worthy book will delight and inspire classical music fans and those for whom Messiah is a beloved Christmas tradition with essays exploring the theological, historical, and pastoral implications of the Scriptures that make up Handel's Messiah. Forty reflections journey in order through the oratorio, taking the reader deeper into less-often studied texts like Malachi 3:3 and bringing new light to oft-recited passages like Luke 2:9-14. Each reflection offers the libretto from Messiah, the same passage in NRSV, and a brief commentary on the text, written by a respected scholar or pastor. Readers can peruse the book at leisure or examine one reflection per day throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.
In four years at a Southern Baptist university, we wrote our theses. Mine was about the “Silence of Jesus.” After graduation, my paper was converted to “Messianic Prophecies, Cross-Examined,” a book nominated for the Erik Hoffer Award. In this riveting divine drama, unlike His Sanhedrin trial, and after two millennia of silence and guilty verdict, Jesus is represented by a defense council that energetically defends Him against the opposing council, Caiaphas' interrogations. It will energize your heart, mind, and soul! A pleasure to read, a one-stop. The thesis concluded with the fifth chapter, but the book has a sixth chapter about His Second Coming, so read it last. Will the Son of Man return by the same Name? Will His followers be known as Christians, or will they be given a new Title? The combined force of sixty-five Bible (KJB) texts removes all uncertainty concerning His potential New Name. The sixth chapter discusses these and other thought-provoking subjects. This book discusses forty-nine topics that our preachers are unable to address in their sermons. In words of one reader, Messianic Prophecies, Cross-Examined, shifted my consciousness.
The purpose of the wilderness is about what God wants to do in our life. Ever since the fall recorded in Genesis, man has lost their identity, power and authority given to them by God. Without this power and authority, man will never be able to take dominion in this world. When our identity, power and authority have been restored, then He wants to prepare us for the work ahead. The reason why God brings us into the wilderness is to prepare each believer to be able to release their potential. Before we are able to be used by God mightily, He wants to change our character and filter out all the unnecessary things that we have learned in this world. It is a time where man has to learn how to be dependent upon God. This dependence starts in the wilderness where there is absolutely nothing. God wants all of us to put our total trust upon Him and that He will provide all the necessities that we need. God wants His people to experience the supernatural provision that He offers. This is especially true for people who desire to be future leaders in the Kingdom. This does not only refer to people in leadership but also people who live their life in the marketplace. People need to know and understand how God provides in their life and how He wants to use them in their field. In order for people to understand how God works, they need to be transformed through a season of testing. This season of testing is where God actually wants to build up our character. Our character needs to be changed to that of God. Without a character transformation, we will always reflect what we learn in the world. We need to get rid of everything that was attached to our life that doesnt reflect the characteristics of God. This is done in the wilderness because in the wilderness, since there is nothing, we cant help but rely on God. As we rely on God more, then the things that have been attached to our life will start to fall off. Everything that was attached has to come off. When everything comes off, then God will put His Words and traits upon our life. That is why character is so important. It reflects Gods traits. People never look at character as an important aspect in life. Character is often ignored or overlooked. However, to God, it is an important quality. When we are ultimately changed by God, then as we come out of our wilderness experience, we will come out with supernatural power to establish His Kingdom here on earth. Since we learn of His supernatural provision, we will also learn of His supernatural power.The whole process of the wilderness experience is receiving the anointing of God upon our life. With the anointing of God, we will be able to accomplish much. When the world says it takes talents and skill to accomplish much, to God it is all about the anointing. Our wilderness experience will release the anointing that is upon our life. The anointing is very crucial in a believers life. Just as Jesus was anointed to fulfill His purpose while on earth, we need to be anointed to fulfill the purpose of God in our life. This cant happen unless we are totally changed and dependent upon God. Everyone needs to go through their wilderness experience to receive the anointing of God.
