Biblical and progressive. Mainline and charismatic. Faithful and questioning. This book is not what you think it is. The story of the Exodus is told in parallel with testimonies, sermons, and personal reflections from a congregation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, challenging the reader to a journey of faith. Along the way, it becomes clear that open and affirming ministry transcends LGBTQIA+ inclusion. It is also about race relations, poverty, generational change, divorce, immigration, and any other human-created barrier to loving God and neighbor. Tools for the journey. Finding a new voice amid profound social change is a difficult and vitally important task. Many congregations and entire denominations are in the process of figuring out how to express a new voice of faith, particularly in our understanding of sexuality and gender. Christians are experiencing nothing less than a holy disruption caused by the Spirit among us. The book concludes with a discussion of challenges to community and ministry. Helpful appendices provide congregational resources and discussion questions for group study. The stories in this book include experiences of and with persons in many denominational settings: Roman Catholic, Unitarian-Universalist, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Metropolitan Community Church, United Church of Christ, United Brethren, Church of the Brethren, Society of Friends (Quakers), and United Methodist. This is truly an ecumenical journey.
Biblical and progressive. Mainline and charismatic. Faithful and questioning. This book is not what you think it is. The story of the Exodus is told in parallel with testimonies, sermons, and personal reflections from a congregation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, challenging the reader to a journey of faith. Along the way, it becomes clear that open and affirming ministry transcends LGBTQIA+ inclusion. It is also about race relations, poverty, generational change, divorce, immigration, and any other human-created barrier to loving God and neighbor. Tools for the journey. Finding a new voice amid profound social change is a difficult and vitally important task. Many congregations and entire denominations are in the process of figuring out how to express a new voice of faith, particularly in our understanding of sexuality and gender. Christians are experiencing nothing less than a holy disruption caused by the Spirit among us. The book concludes with a discussion of challenges to community and ministry. Helpful appendices provide congregational resources and discussion questions for group study. The stories in this book include experiences of and with persons in many denominational settings: Roman Catholic, Unitarian-Universalist, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Metropolitan Community Church, United Church of Christ, United Brethren, Church of the Brethren, Society of Friends (Quakers), and United Methodist. This is truly an ecumenical journey. ""In this book Darryl Stephens not only explains the relevancy of the Book of Exodus to the realities that many churches face as they become 'welcoming and affirming, ' but he also inspires congregations that choose to take this journey through what can be a traumatic transition."" --Tony Campolo, Eastern University ""The biblical story of Exodus is one of movement: from Egypt to Sinai, from slavery under Pharaoh to relationship with God, and from degrading oppression to true freedom. This volume wonderfully works and unpacks these texts to show how we, ourselves, can move: from hardness of heart to compassion, from rigid ways of thinking to openness of heart and mind, from exclusion to invitation, . . . and eventually onward to respect and love. It should be on every Christian's bookshelf, both those who are working for full inclusion and those who are struggling along the way. A wonderful resource for the church "" --Roy L. Heller, Associate Professor, Perkins School of Theology ""This is such an important work. In Out of Exodus, Stephens challenges our narrow notions of what the Bible teaches about our LGBTQIA+ family. He reminds us that we are all precious, anointed, and beloved children created in the image of the Divine. This book teaches us that we are all on the journey together and that we must stay in this struggle together, in the name of God."" --M. Garlinda Burton, Executive Director, Nashville Freedom School Partnership ""Out of Exodus is an engaging spiritual journey about Christians seeking to be in ministry with people of diverse sexual orientations and perspectives. Darryl Stephens, a person of deep faith and scholarly intellect, has written a book that includes Biblical groundings, pastoral reflections and personal stories . . . As a pastor who has been engaged in this journey for over 40 years, I believe Out of Exodus will be a helpful tool for assisting churches in their desire to be in ministry with people of diverse sexual orientations."" --Jim Bankston, Retired Clergy, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas ""Out of Exodus offers poignant insight into the various perspectives of those with whom we worship. These personal stories offer opportunities for the reader's self-reflection, and I would recommend this work to those wishing to explore issues of faith and inclusion within the congregation of believers."" --Michelle Daniels, Christ Servant Minister, The United Methodist Church ""In a time when entire denominations are threatening to split o
This book is a follow-up to the introductory text written by the same authors. The primary emphasis on this book is linear and nonlinear partial differential equations with particular concentration on the equations of viscous fluid motion. Each chapter describes a particular application of the finite element method and illustrates the concepts through example problems. A comprehensive appendix lists computer codes for 2-D fluid flow and two 3-D transient codes.
Nearly two thousand years ago a young Jewish rabbi known as Jesus of Nazareth was nailed to wooden beams and hoisted above the skyline of the city of Jerusalem. Christians ever since have proclaimed that this event, symbolized by the cross, lies at the very center of their faith. Indeed, they have claimed that in the cross event God has actually "saved the world." But how could a single man's execution centuries ago have anything to do with us in the twenty-first century? In these meditations, Darrell Johnson probes the mystery and majesty of the cross, exploring it from various angles and illuminating this core belief of Christian faith in its multiple dimensions. Darrell W. Johnson has served as a professor at Regent College, Vancouver, since the Fall of 2000, teaching in the areas of preaching, worship and pastoral theology. He is known for his faithful and engaging exposition of Scripture. Before joining the Regent faculty, he served as pastor of a number of Presbyterian congregations in the United States, as well as Union Church of Manila, Philippines. He is the author of Experiencing the Trinity, Fifty-Seven Words That Change the World (on the Lord's Prayer) and Discipleship of the Edge (on the book of Revelation).
You simply say, "Oh, no, this can't be cancer " You talk to God like never before. And you realize it is time to get in touch with your inner self to learn who you really are. You ask questions like: "How will I come out of this, mentally and spiritually?" "Will I make it?" "Will my family make it? Have I prepared them for such a bumpy road?" Through it all, you learn to lean on God like never before, as well as on your praying friends. When treatment is over and good reports start coming in, you realize that you are a changed person. You have a new attitude about yourself; you realize you have a caring concern for others going through a similar trial. My desire is to reach out to those hurting "others", to give them hope and brighten their days. Perhaps, ultimately, even to encourage them in their personal relationship with God. Darrell Parrish is the only child of Dr. Fuchsia Pickett, renowned Bible teacher and author. Darrell was born and raised in Eden, North Carolina. He married and raised four children. He excelled as a self-taught businessman, receiving promotions from his first job selling ladies' shoes at age thirteen, to 20 years as general manager of sales and operations for the Trucking Industry. In 1982, he relocated to the Dallas area to become Business Administrator for his mother's church, which included a Bible College and other outreaches. In 1989, Darrell remarried and became the owner of the Queen of Hearts Costume and Magic Shop in Plano, Texas, which has enjoyed great success since 1982. Darrell's story is about a man who achieved much success, while enduring many physical problems throughout his life. Winning his battle with cancer inspired him to share his journey in the hope that he can encourage others.
Methodist Morals offers keen insight into the public church, interpreting the United Methodist Social Principles as a dynamic discourse about morality and human rights in light of faith. Revised every four years by the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Social Principles exposes the moral deliberations of this distinctly American and increasingly “worldwide” church as it struggles to achieve community across multiple languages and cultures. Perhaps no other document provides as rich a depiction of Protestants participating in the moral argument of public life. This is the first full-length study of Methodist social teachings in over fifty years. Examining official Methodist teachings from institutional, historical, and cross-cultural perspectives, Darryl Stephens provides a rich analysis of this case study of Protestant social witness, drawing on his expertise in church polity, Methodist history, and Christian social ethics. A wide range of comparisons— with documents of the United Nations, with moral debate in Germany and Zimbabwe, and with historical Methodist statements of social witness—shows the Social Principles to be a unique form of social witness. The issues of war,abortion, human sexuality, and marriage illustrate the messiness of democratic deliberation in an ecclesial context and the evolution of a people ever concerned with the sin of “worldliness” even as they become more attuned to transforming social structures. Stephens also contrasts this conception of the public church with the ecclesiologies of prominent Methodist ethicists Stanley Hauerwas and Paul Ramsey.Intended for students of Methodism, ecumenical church leaders, and scholars of Christian social ethics and contemporary US mainline religion, this work reveals the challenges to and possibilities for achieving moral community in an increasingly global and diverse world.
“The daily roller coaster for an entrepreneur can include both terror and exhilaration. Small Business Big Pressure reminds us success does not come from luck, wishes, or dreams, but from careful planning directed by godly wisdom.” - Dan Miller, New York Times bestselling author of 48 Days to the Work You Love Your small business is controlling you; take back what you rightfully own. Small businesses make our country great. However, the challenges facing entrepreneurs and small business owners can be overwhelming. Business schools don’t prepare owners for the real world. As a result, entrepreneurs may experience worry, pressure, and confusion. It is then just a matter of time before the entrepreneur suffers a breakdown. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Small Business Big Pressure is a collision of wisdom and knowledge designed for the 20-year business veteran or the soon-to-be entrepreneur. When a business owner aligns all facets of his company with God, something special happens. In the context of aligning with God’s will, with Small Business Big Pressure you will be able to: Build a mission and vision statementAccomplish personal and professional goalsRead and apply financial statementsHire, train, and fire employees effectivelyBuild a company identity and inspire your team Not only will this book give you solid principles, a real tested-in-the trenches entrepreneur shows you how to put these principles into practice immediately! You will be compelled to keep the book close by through your entire career, both as a unique reference and a source of inspiration. DARRYL W. LYONS, ChFC, CFP®, is one of America’s most successful and respected financial advisors and cofounder and CEO of PAX Financial Group, which has been recognized multiple times as one of the fastest-growing and best places to work by the San Antonio Business Journal . Lyons, recipient of numerous awards from Fortune 100 Companies for production and recruiting, is also cofounder of the Financial Mythbusters radio show and is considered one of San Antonio’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars.” He and his wife, Caresse, have four children.
A large shift in financial resources is currently underway. Learn how to position yourself to make effective money moves that will have a lasting impact on America’s future.Biblical Responsible Investing is for Christians who want to become more intentional, resourceful, and collaborative with their money, as well as how to use the financial markets to increase their return. Additionally, it explores various ways to become involved in the latest trends in the money market.Originally designed as a manuscript for Wall Street executives to gain insight into Christian approaches to money decisions, Biblical Responsible Investing documents eleven principles that, when understood, will bring a fresh and essential perspective to the table. The revised manuscript is tailored to the needs of everyday people, providing practical direction on how the trends identified can be applicable to their personal financial decisions. Inside the shadowboxes found at the end of each chapter are the tools for Christians to confidently make their financial decisions with a focus on helping their own community and faith.
Many people play lotteries of various kinds. Lotteries are big business. People use lots of different strategies for choosing number combinations to play in these lotteries, but if any of those strategies really worked, the lottery business would shut down. However, although there are no really good strategies for winning lotteries, there are lots of really bad strategies, strategies that give the player an even worse chance of winning than if they were to simply choose random entries with no strategy at all. The basic rule is to avoid entering duplicates of possible winning combinations. This book provides computer programs that identify collections of possible lottery entries with minimal duplication of combinations.
Reckoning Methodism addresses the brokenness of The United Methodist Church (UMC) in the United States. Homosexuality is but one of several fault lines with decades-long histories in this predominantly White denomination. Demographic shifts, racism, and imperialism are heavily implicated in the current state of division. What, then, is the true nature and mission of this church? The UMC is the public church divided. Distinct missional theologies arise from competing commitments and priorities. When Methodist programmatic initiatives--such as vital congregations, environmental witness, and volunteers in mission--fail to account for these differences, denominational unity is weakened. Constructively, this book seeks historical clarity, collective repentance, charismatic learning, and institutional courage as United Methodists reckon with inherited animosities and divisions. This book provides no answers or programmatic fixes. Rather, it provides possibilities for repairing past harms as United Methodists seek ways to continue living out their Wesleyan faith. Reckoning with the public church divided, we glimpse the nature and mission of the church--not only as it has been but also as it could be.
The Grand Money Chasm is included in the new Morgan James Mini division (small, pocket sized books that are all content, no fluff!) Many grandparents are concerned about their grandkids view of money. Because of today’s abundance, there is a general concern about the lack of appreciation for hard work. However, grandparents can only say so much without overstepping parental boundaries. The Grand Money Chasm will give practical ideas for how grandparents can reframe the way grandkids look at money.
ALIEN HUNTEREVIDENCE AND TRUTH ABOUT ALIEN IMPLANTS This book is for those who are weary of hearing repetitive worn-out information regarding alien beings. Get ready for a fresh look at the subject of human/alien contact from an authority. Derrel Sims has spent well over forty years researching the matter. He possesses firsthand knowledge and has experienced multiple personal encounters with these entities. As a Private Investigator, Sims is a professionally trained observer. He used his area of focus, Evidence of Human/Alien Contact, to guide the reader through the maze of the strange world of alien beings. This book answers questions and provides information such as: What is known about surgically removed implants from the human body?What evidence of human/alien contact has been uncovered?Do aliens have implants?Sims' creation of a unique and involved response from the alien.Various types of implants- visible and invisible.Genetics- a look at transgenic beings, hybrids and genetic blending.
This is a Book that Chronicles the events that led up to the Trump Presidency and all the trusted men that have now fallen in his inner circle, to the point of others trying to bring down the Presidency itself at any cost. It also shows how one political party of power is willing to us the power of their Offices, to collude, disrupt and obstruct the Democratic processes that have governed our Country since its inception. It is a powerful look from an unbiased factual account of the true nature of Politics.
