David Atkinson

The Generative AI revolution is driven by corporations demanding legal superpowers. If we allow it to continue unchecked, the implications will be profound. This urgent, critical book exposes the unprecedented push by trillion-dollar companies to build AI on billions of unauthorized human works and redefine fundamental areas of law, including copyright, contract, and free speech. Written by an industry insider who turned from AI champion to AI critic, this highly accessible work promotes AI literacy and provides essential tools to pierce the hype. Readers will learn how to assess AI's profound societal risks to democracy and autonomy and ensure that we are the architects of-and not bystanders in-our artificial future.

The Generative AI revolution is driven by corporations demanding legal superpowers. If we allow it to continue unchecked, the implications will be profound. This urgent, critical book exposes the unprecedented push by trillion-dollar companies to build AI on billions of unauthorized human works and redefine fundamental areas of law, including copyright, contract, and free speech. Written by an industry insider who turned from AI champion to AI critic, this highly accessible work promotes AI literacy and provides essential tools to pierce the hype. Readers will learn how to assess AI's profound societal risks to democracy and autonomy and ensure that we are the architects of-and not bystanders in-our artificial future.

Chester's history goes back two thousand years, from the Romans to recent times, and in the course of the centuries has witnessed many dark deeds and events. Chester's historical buildings and streets were part of this history and in this book local writer and tourist guide David Atkinson investigates the darker side of Chester's past. With help from experts in their fields, he reveals stories behind Chester Cathedral's stones, the famous Rows and pubs and churches in the city, with ghosts, poltergeists and an apparent visit by the devil. The entertainment in the amphitheater played an often brutal role in Roman Chester, public executions were held in the city with heads displayed on spikes, the local museum has a spooky side to its doll collection, and plague and pestilence were regular visitors. All these tales and much more will be of interest to all those who have lived in the city or know it well. Join David for a walk on the dark side.

"Children" of all ages learn about Happiness, Consequences, Contentment, Endurance, Generosity, Thankfulness, Wisdom and Self-Control. Three of the four characters in this illustrated book are mascot players. Cassie and Grandmuhmaw live in The Village that has lots of humans. But right next to The Village there is The Forest that has all kinds of characters including a huge lion called The King, a gullible lamb named Lambkin and a disobedient and trouble-making feline creature called The Cat. At the end of each chapter there are interactive questions which offer opportunities for parents and teacher to apply each lesson.

ON BROKEN WINGS draws from both biblical and secular history to demonstrate that the strength and power of one's usefulness arises out of a breaking experience earlier in life. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, H. G. Spafford, Samuel Rutherford, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt each had experiences that broke them from being dependent on the good will and strength of human beings. The typical characteristics of brokenness and unbrokenness are viewed through the lens of Scripture, and the path of brokenness is described. This book is not hard to read. But its premise is hard to accept. All people of influence lead out of the wellsprings of various degrees of brokenness or unbrokenness. Completely unbroken people are repulsive and always, sooner or later, "meet their Waterloo."

Despite the centuries which separate us from the authors of these proverbs, the everyday realities of human existence remain: making friends, coping with sexuality, handling money, responding to poverty, making a living, learning through loss, muddling through difficulties, facing death. David Atkinson shows how Proverbs addresses all these issues. Wisdom, he argues, is about helping to cope; about seeing the world in a fresh way to five new resources for living; about working out what living for God means in the very ordinariness of daily life. These sayings, he explains, bring such concerns to life in vivid, imaginative, often humorous pictures, linking the cosmic and the homely. The ancient book puts a mirror up to our behaviour, and asks: 'Are you like this? Is there not a better way to live?' The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today’s world.

In the Book of Job we meet a man who is afflicted physically and emotionally. We encounter friends who do their best, but make things worse. We are brought face to face with intellectual puzzles. Through all this, and because of it, we find Job struggling with his faith in God. In this compelling study, David Atkinson guides through The Message of Job to show that Job’s story has the power to reach into our human situation, and to engage with our human needs. Although facing suffering, both personally and on a wider scale, can be challenging, in the Book of Job we can find comfort and reassurance that God is with us through it all. A revised edition in the much loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Job offers an encouraging and thoughtful pastoral exploration of Job’s struggles. It will be of particular help for those involved in ministry and counselling who are supporting others in their suffering. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to better get to grips with Scripture and deepen their understanding its original context as well as its continued relevance in the twenty-first century. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of Job is perfect for anyone looking for stimulating, readable commentaries on Job that will broaden their understanding of how they can learn from it today.

The Book of Ruth is a tale of charm and delight, providing a contrast to the concurrent anarchy depicted in the book of Judges. Telling the simple story of a family who are struck by tragedy, but experience love and acceptance in unexpected ways, in Ruth’s narrative we are clearly shown God’s guiding hand as everything endured leads to the births of both King David and, finally, Jesus Christ. David Atkinson illuminates The Message of Ruth in this encouraging and thoughtful commentary, showing us how theologically the story of Ruth is a story about God’s providence. From Naomi and Ruth herself to Boaz, he guides us through the narrative and explores how each character fits into God’s purposes for history and what that means for us living as Christians today. A revised edition in the much-loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Ruth offers a thorough, readable exposition of both the Biblical text and what it can teach modern Christians. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to broaden their knowledge and understanding of Scripture and its continued relevance in the twenty-first century. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of Ruth will be helpful for anyone looking for accessible commentaries on Ruth that explore it more deeply, considering its meaning both for its original audience and for Christians reading it today.

Where do we come from? What is our purpose? The early chapters of Genesis proclaim the origin of the world, and of human life on earth. In The Message of Genesis 1-11, David Atkinson explores how the first eleven chapters serve as an overture to the rest of the Bible. They evoke wonder as God is portrayed in his creative power and beauty. They reveal his loving mercy and salvation even in his terrible judgment of those who turn from him and despoil the harmony of creation. With vivid, provocative insight, Atkinson illuminates how the meaning of Genesis is still resonant today – providing the insight that allows us to understand both the greatness and the tragic flaw inherent in human beings. Although it was written thousands of years ago, the message of Genesis is one of timely urgency for the modern world: we are responsible participants in God's creation who must, like Noah, confront the possibility of global catastrophe. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Genesis 1-11 offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Genesis and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text. Readable and reliable, The Message of Genesis 1-11 will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the Genesis that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

What did the Psalmists of Israel believe? How did they practice their religion? What impact did their faith in God have on the way they handled the struggles and uncertainties of life? How does this speak to us today? This book explores some themes which underlie the faith of the psalmists: for example, covenant, creation, law, justice, humanity, suffering, lament, restoration, and pilgrimage. Holding these together is the overarching theme of God's steadfast love throughout their history. The psalms are prayers and praises, often used in temple worship, some intimate and personal, many corporate and full of thanksgiving. Some are celebrations of the kingly rule of God over all creation. How do we Christians today approach this ancient hymn book, which is full of poetic imagination and deep spirituality? How can it help our own journeys on our pathways of faith and hope? This side of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, can we hear in the psalms words of comfort for our struggles of faith, as well as joy in our worship, in today's confusing world?

The strange Book of Revelation, written in about 95 AD, opens up a world in which Christian people were under threat from the Roman Empire; some were suffering for their faith. Was it easier to fall in with the ways of the empire in all its wealth and prosperity, as well as cruelty, than to hold fast in their faith? The prophet John records a vision of the risen Jesus which opens up for him God's perspective on the Christian assemblies and on the empire. Written in the sort of poetic literature sometimes called ""apocalyptic,"" John conveys his message encouraging the Christians to stay strong in their witness, while at the same time opening up the demonic realities behind the workings of totalitarian empire and looking towards God's ultimate victory over all that is evil, in the establishment of God's kingdom. Today we are subject to the allurements of many different sorts of godless ""empires,"" tempting us to put other gods in the place of Jesus Christ. Can Revelation encourage us in our struggles and our witness in our very different world?

The strange Book of Revelation, written in about 95 AD, opens up a world in which Christian people were under threat from the Roman Empire; some were suffering for their faith. Was it easier to fall in with the ways of the empire in all its wealth and prosperity, as well as cruelty, than to hold fast in their faith? The prophet John records a vision of the risen Jesus which opens up for him God's perspective on the Christian assemblies and on the empire. Written in the sort of poetic literature sometimes called ""apocalyptic,"" John conveys his message encouraging the Christians to stay strong in their witness, while at the same time opening up the demonic realities behind the workings of totalitarian empire and looking towards God's ultimate victory over all that is evil, in the establishment of God's kingdom. Today we are subject to the allurements of many different sorts of godless ""empires,"" tempting us to put other gods in the place of Jesus Christ. Can Revelation encourage us in our struggles and our witness in our very different world?

The bestselling author of Love Byte is back with this laugh-out-loud hilarious rom com! Getting hit by a bus was the best thing that ever happened to him… When one wrong step – and the poor timing of the number 19 bus – send Nathan Jones to the Edinburgh morgue his story should have ended…but then he went and woke up. Returned to real life Nathan finds a wife disappointed that he’s miraculously returned from the dead and an unshakeable attraction for mortuary technician Kat – the woman who brought him back to life, in more ways than one. Now, as his world implodes and Kat leads him down an unexpected path, Nathan somehow finds himself having the time of his second life… A hilarious, uplifting story of second chances, death defying hijinks and motorhome mayhem – Mhairi McFarlane meets Eleanor Oliphant!

Among the many causes of anxiety in today's world are global concerns to do with social and economic inequality, the importance of sustainable development, and climate change. These raise human--that is moral and spiritual--questions about who we are, our destiny, how we can be helped to flourish, and what we hope for. Hope Rediscovered is about being re-oriented in the face of such challenges, Bishop David Atkinson, who has an abiding interest in Christian ethics, pastoral theology and science, has put some key questions to the Gospel of John--a text which says much about human flourishing, and which draws on the Wisdom themes of the Hebrew Bible, about misunderstanding our place in creation, and about practical living. Like his followers, Jesus was beset with conflicts within 'the world'. The first century Christian community, to which the Gospel was addressed, discovered how to live hopefully in the way of Wisdom, energized by God's Spirit. The focus of this timely book is deep practical wisdom for a troubled world. ""A treasure trove of wise insights and reflection"" --Dave Bookless, A Rocha International Bishop David Atkinson undertook research in organic chemistry before being ordained. He served as Fellow and Chaplain of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was a Canon of Southwark Cathedral and Archdeacon of Lewisham before becoming Bishop of Thetford in 2001. He retired in 2009.