Struggle--of both the small and staggering sort--is woven throughout all our lives. It can erode our faith, strip us of hope, rob us of joy, extinguish our vitality, and diminish our capacity to love. But because God is always present and at work, seeds of redemption lie as hidden treasure buried in the ground of struggle. By taking a deeply human look at various figures in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1, Andy White shows us that the people we once may have considered unlike us because of thousands of years of separation suddenly come close in their pain, loss, and failures. He, too, comes close as a man who has faced hardships, to offer others a hand when their feet are unsteady. By digging into the lives of these biblical sojourners, White unearths hidden treasures, guides readers on a journey of self-discovery, and points the way forward, showing us ways to cultivate tenacious hope, stronger faith, and greater capacity to live and love as participants in God's ongoing redemption story.
To love someone is to know someone ... but only what they want you to know. Marcus and his research team are looking for something so secret, they don't even know what they're looking for. Deep within the jungle, they discover an extraordinary world--a secret new reality. But Marcus and his team will soon learn that when we mess with nature, we are messing with the unknown ... Marcus and his team will have to find the strength to overcome what they face, and Marcus just might find true love along the way. Seeds of Redemption is an engaging debut novel filled with surprises.
Seed of Redemption presents a riveting, overarching commentary through which the reader can begin to appreciate the extraordinary depth and scope of this small Megillah, which touches on the very foundations of humanity and Klal Yisroel. This deep and greatly inspiring sefer is sweeping in scope, and yet it takes note of every detail; it is built almost entirely on Chazal and flows seamlessly with the text of the Megillah. Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky, author of Ben Torah for Life and Golden Apples, as well as other works in both English and Hebrew, has rendered this sefer as an English adaptation of the sefer Nachlas Yosef. It preserves the original insights while striving for the same readability in English as the original version provides in Hebrew.The sefer Nachlas Yosef is one of the most well-liked Hebrew commentaries on Megillas Rus. It was written by Rav Yoseph Lipowitz zt"l, a talmid of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt"l, the Alter of Slobodka.
In the heartwarming Christian fiction novel, "A New Beginning," embark on a transformative journey of faith, redemption, and second chances. Follow the captivating story of Sarah Montgomery as she navigates the intricate tapestry of life, learning to heal from broken hearts and shattered dreams while discovering the power of forgiveness, grace, and the beauty of new beginnings. Sarah's life takes an unexpected turn, propelling her onto a road less traveled-a path filled with challenges, but also brimming with hope and the promise of a brighter future. Along her journey, she encounters divine encounters that ignite a flicker of hope in her heart, revealing glimpses of a brighter tomorrow. Guided by the power of grace, Sarah learns the importance of embracing forgiveness, both for herself and others. As she faces her own inner demons, she discovers a newfound strength that empowers her to confront the darkness within and find healing and redemption. Amidst the trials and tribulations, Sarah finds solace in the support of a loving community and the friendships she forms along the way. Their encouragement and the power of their collective faith become sources of inspiration and serve as a reminder of the strength that lies within unity and shared growth. Through divine provisions and unexpected blessings, Sarah learns to trust in the unfolding of her journey, even when faced with the unknown. She unearths hidden lessons in the wilderness and discovers the transformative power of embracing the unknown future, surrendering to a higher purpose, and finding her true calling. In the midst of her struggles, Sarah encounters love's unexpected arrival-a beacon of light amidst the challenges she faces. This love reminds her of the power of connection, the healing that can be found in vulnerability, and the potential for love to flourish even in the most unlikely circumstances. Throughout the book, Sarah grapples with her faith, testing its boundaries and learning to stand firm in the face of doubt. She discovers that faith is not an escape from challenges but a source of strength and resilience that enables her to overcome the storms that threaten to consume her. "A New Beginning" is a heartfelt story that explores the power of restoration, the transformative nature of hope, and the beauty that emerges from embracing the unknown. It is a powerful reminder that, no matter the past, every day holds the potential for a new beginning-one filled with endless possibilities, growth, and the unwavering love and grace of a Higher Power. Prepare to be inspired, uplifted, and moved by this compelling Christian fiction novel that invites readers to reflect on their own journeys of faith and find solace in the message that redemption and new beginnings are always within reach.
The state of public discourse in America is dismal, reflecting an extreme us-versus-them tribalism where "me and my folks" have the full truth about the contentious issue at hand and "those other folks" are devoid of any truth and can even be demonized as evil. Rather than just cursing this darkness, Harold Heie presents what he considers to be a "better way" for those who disagree about contentious issues to respectfully engage one another, a way that is deeply informed by his Christian faith perspective; a way that reflects his understanding that to listen carefully to those who disagree with you and to then talk respectfully about your disagreements is a deep expression of the love for others to which Jesus calls all those who claim to be his followers. But this book is not just an abstract consideration of the nature of civil public discourse. Rather, drawing on his successes and failures, the beautiful and the ugly, in his attempts to orchestrate respectful conversations on contentious issues, both online and in small-group face-to-face meetings during the past decade, Heie presents practical, concrete proposals for how to talk to one another about significant disagreements, particularly in Christian churches that have tragically succumbed to tribalism.
At a hundred years old, Holocaust survivor Wolf Gruca turned to his grandson, Rabbi Aaron Starr, and asked, “Where was God?” Don’t Forget to Call Home is a grandson’s attempt to respond to a weeping grandfather, and it’s a clergyman’s effort to help the modern person deepen a relationship with the Divine. With warmth and wisdom, Rabbi Starr sets out to answer the question, “Where is God, and what does God want of us?” Perhaps God is no longer the Law Giver or Judge, the Warrior or even the Miracle Maker. Perhaps God is an Empty-Nester Parent, expecting us to live with gratitude, obligation, joy, and hope. Perhaps, like a loving parent whose children are now grown-up, God desires us to act like adults by emulating our Heavenly Parent. Perhaps, too, God and Grandpa are reminding us: “Don’t forget to call home.”
In this first of three volumes, Dorrien identifies the indigenous roots of American liberal theology and demonstrates a wider, longer-running tradition than has been thought. The tradition took shape in the nineteenth century, motivated by a desire to map a modernist "third way" between orthodoxy and rationalistic deism/atheism. It is defined by its openness to modern intellectual inquiry; its commitment to the authority of individual reason and experience; its conception of Christianity as an ethical way of life; and its commitment to make Christianity credible and socially relevant to modern people. Dorrien takes a narrative approach and provides a biographical reading of important religious thinkers of the time, including William E. Channing, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Horace Bushnell, Henry Ward Beecher, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Charles Briggs. Dorrien notes that, although liberal theology moved into elite academic institutions, its conceptual foundations were laid in the pulpit rather than the classroom.
Calling to YOU the Brethren! "That these Words thereof are from He who sent me; and all willingness be of thine My Most Holy". That day of December 25, 1983 forever changed our lives. Connie had received many visions of Christ as a young girl, but now as an adult something changed. A new Visitation unlike any of the previous encounters with God. The Vision was in the form of a Golden Book located in Heaven with small and minute in script and in delved upon Gold of the purest form. The writing was on Pearl of white paper. As I inquired to the Lord about the nature of the Book God revealed to us "Therefore this thy Book of True Revealing be restored yet unto Her which is to say "My Jerusalem". And also adhering to Gods command. "Neglect not the Work of Mine Hand that is upon ye; For that which I have spoken shall come to pass and at "this place that ye harbor" shall I release The Prophecy of Written Word....as that which was spoken of in Scripture as a "Overture" to come. And so now you have it to read, and Overture comes. It is written in Revelation 11.3: "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days... These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of the prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them into blood, and smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will". These Testaments reveal great earthquakes, Wars, and The Plague of Ephods that threatens 25% of mankind with extinction! The Earth toppling on its axis, as a final judgment! We have no weapons, no guns, no poisons, no armies, to fight with to arrest those committing high crimes and treason against humanity. As moses was at the back of the mountain tending his ship and was summoned to Gods Holy Mountain and there was told he must go and free God's people from bondage with only a staff so we have found ourselves in similar circumstances... We have the Spirit of Prophecy, Gods secret weapons to set against those wishing to oppress Israel and God's people. The earth is deserving.
Using the wisdom of the Jewish tradition to better understand and deal with the pain of loneliness in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Long description: Loneliness is pervasive in our society but is rarely addressed. It comes in many forms, from the loneliness of loss to that of sickness; from single life to marriage to divorce. In fact, even the most successful among us are not immune. Even achievement can be an avenue to loneliness. Through sensitivity, compassion and insight, this book provides the stories and tools we need to begin addressing loneliness in our lives and the lives of those we love. With masterful storytelling, Rabbi Marc Katz uses the pains of our ancestors to show us the unique ways loneliness appears in our lives. Drawing on the stories of Isaac and Rachel, King Uzziah and Tamar, Jeremiah and Honi, Hagar and Aaron, Rabbi Katz helps readers understand the nuances of loneliness in their own lives. He helps them understand that although their pain may feel like an island, others have walked there before them. Thoughtful insights on loneliness also help family and friends have a better sense of how and why their friends, children, parents and co-workers suffer. Then, using the tools of the Jewish tradition, Rabbi Katz looks at concrete ways as individuals and as community members we may help those who are lonely in our midst. This book is for anyone who is or has suffered from the pain of loneliness as well as those loved ones who stand on the sideline feeling ill equipped to address the alienation they see.
