Серия "Topical Line Drives"

Prayer is the one essential of the Christian life. In fact, David Moffett-Moore maintains, it is an essential of life itself, as essential to us as spiritual beings as breathing is to us physically. Prayer can be found in any of our activities. It is not something we need to learn, but something we need to remember from childhood. Yet our prayers can mature, and we can be more aware of the presence of God in every place and every moment. The purpose of this book is to help you become more aware.

Why do well-meaning, intelligent people disagree about the Bible? What should I do when people disagree? How can I use disagreement to help me understand the Bible more clearly? If I can't agree with someone on how to read the Bible, does it mean the end of fellowship? How many times have you had a conversation with someone that involved a disagreement over the Bible? And how many times have these conversations led to interruptions of friendships or even extended family disputes? Some of...

What if someone you thought you knew very well started behaving strangely? What would you do? Now suppose the person acting strange was — God? Jonah thought he knew God. In fact, he was a prophet. He knew he heard God’s voice. Life might have its difficulties, but no matter what happened, he could count on his God. Then one day God started saying things he couldn’t possibly mean.

A pastor says, «If you think you understand the trinity, you've probably fallen into heresy.» An expert in biblical studies says, «The trinity is one of the best ways ever invented to say, 'We don't have a clue!'» Many people say the trinity is not found in the Bible, so what is it doing as a doctrine? This lively and challenging book asks you to think about the trinity, what it means, how it came to be, and what value it might have in Christian conversation today. If you...

Climate Change has become a major topic of debate in today’s politics, with some advocating serious changes in policy in response to it, and others suggesting that scientists and politicians are misreading, misrepresenting, and misapplying the data. Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. is not afraid to challenge scientific orthodoxy, and in fact believes it is very important that we do so. In this little book, he gives an introduction to a number of problems that he and others see with the apparent consensus...

What is it like in that church across the street? When «that church» is Protestant and the person asking the question is a Roman Catholic, this question can be very hard to answer. In this book Bob LaRochelle will list for you the key beliefs and practices that distinguish Protestants from Roman Catholics. But this book is not just a catalog of differences and similarities. He approaches this topic with a serious interest in dialog, in learning from one another, and in ecumenical outreach. This...

The doctrine of the trinity is probably the most complex and mysterious topic in Christian theology, yet it impacts our understanding of many other doctrines. Pastor/Theologian Robert D. Cornwall brings his knowledge of church history to the task of examining this doctrine, looking at how it developed and what justifies its presence in Christian theology. He uses the history of his own Disciples of Christ tradition as one of the expressions of the Stone-Campbell movement, which avoids creeds...

How does one read the literature of a patriarchal society in a 21st century context? Where can one find good role models for girls and women in the Bible? All too often these questions are answered by presenting the answers given by patriarchal society and not by looking for liberating, examples. It is all too easy to let God's message of setting the captives free ring forth, but directed to a limited audience. But Ruth and Esther provide strong counter-examples of women who had to struggle...

There are few topics where good advice is more needed than that of Christian marriage. At the same time there are few topics about which the answers given are as scattered and unclear. In this short but comprehensive volume, Elgin Hushbeck, Jr., tackles one of the most disputed passages in the New Testament, Ephesians 5, and its discussion on Marriage. On the one hand, this passage tends to scandalize some liberals, and, on the other, gets interpreted in a very patriarchal way by some...

There is little disagreement that our world is as close to self-destruction as it has ever been, humanity included. It is unnecessary to list the wars, political conflicts, diseases, ecological disasters, and the like; we are all too familiar with a daily rehearsal of our plight. What there is little or no agreement on is the way out. How will we, as the human race, find our way out of our mutually shared predicament and into a world of wholeness and abundance that the Hebrews named shalom? Is...

What is it like in that church across the street? When «that church» is Roman Catholic and the person asking the question is a Protestant, this question can be very hard to answer. Do you actually know what Catholics do? Do you know what they believe? What difference does it make? Rev. Dr. Robert LaRochelle is extraordinarily well qualified to answer the question. He grew up and was educated in the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained a deacon. Eventually he chose to move to a Protestant...

The book of James has gotten a bad rap amongst Christians, especially modern protestants. It's often considered not as theologically serious as the writings of Paul, nor as gracious as the gospels. For some it's too works-oriented, for others just a bit obscure. Some have even questioned whether it is truly a Christian book. Let's face it. You're much more likely to see a seminary course on Romans or Galatians than on James, or to hear a sermon, for that matter! Bruce...

Does process theology have something to say about political and social issues and our response to them? In this short book, Bruce Epperly says that it has much to say, and can shape not just the ethics and policies of a better world, but also the way in which we debate and decide those policies. Process theology invites discussion and even guides us toward acceptable and positive compromises. No major political issue of the western world is excluded from this discussion. From immigration to...