Jesus' parting words to his followers were for them to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19). This being the case, shouldn't we be concerned with gaining a full understanding of discipleship from the entire New Testament corpus? Many scholars recognize that the theme of discipleship is found throughout the New Testament, even in Revelation, with all of its symbolism and bizarre imagery. But how does it do this? The focus of this study, through the use of content analysis methodology, is to demonstrate that the theme of discipleship is not only found in the Apocalypse, but is also exceedingly relevant for Christians today. In many parts of the world Jesus' disciples are facing opposition and persecution for their testimony to Jesus Christ. It would do Christians well to read the book of Revelation once again. As they read it this time through the eyes of the oppressed, the content of the book will prove extremely valuable to aid disciples of Jesus in their efforts to "follow the Lamb wherever he goes" (Rev 14:4), no matter what the cost.

Explores the relationship between revelation and reason in medieval Islamic intellectual history. In this original study, Elizabeth R. Alexandrin examines the complex relationships that can be inscribed between medieval Ismā'īlī thought as an intellectual tradition with a devotional practice of reliance on the imām, and as a politico-esoteric system that redefined governance during the Fāṭimid caliphate in the eleventh century. Alexandrin's work is a departure from recent Western scholarship that focuses on similarities among early Islamic traditions. She argues instead that, under the guidance of the Fāṭimid Ismā'īlī chief missionary al-Mu'ayyad fī al-Dīn al-Shīrāzī (d. 1078 CE), the concept of walāyah (divine guidance) became closely associated with religio-political authority, on the one hand, and the perfection of the individual human being, on the other. By signaling and affirming how the Fāṭimid caliph-imām's were the heirs of walāyah and by proposing new definitions of the "seal of God's friends" (khātim al-awliyā' Allāh), al- Mu'ayyad broadened the contexts of making esoteric knowledge public and shifted the apocalyptic frameworks of Islamic messianism.

Following Rabbi Jesus is a surprising exposure of who the Jesus we find in the Gospels really is, what he teaches those who dare to follow him, and how he models what it means to live God's radical-kingdom way. The reader of the book will discover in this exploration a very different Jesus from the celebrity or hero of much popular church culture, the tame, ineffective Jesus of compromised Christianity, and the inaccessible, conceptual Christ of much academic theology. The reader who takes the chance of honestly engaging the Jesus we meet in the Gospel stories may find an engaging and liberating contrast to the life he is now living. He may even want to make a turn or two, and start over.

The Sacred Books of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism: The Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, The Analects of Confucius, The Dhammapada This is a must-have book for anyone studying foundational philosophical belief systems of China and the East. It introduces the reader to Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism through their central texts. Presented together in a cohesive copy, the reader can easily consult the different texts to study how, coexisting, they influenced, converged, and diverged from one another. Inquiring minds will also be able to assess the degree to which ancient eastern philosophies influenced the belief systems of the modern West. The fact that these classical works from eastern philosophical schools of thought also contribute to positive spiritual development and self-improvement is an added bonus for the keen reader. Lao-Tse. Tao Te Ching Chuang Tzu Confucius. The Analects The Dhammapada

Just over one inch thick, The Message Thinline slips easily into your bag, your desk, and your life; it's a high-quality reading Bible without being bulky. The Message translation awakens longtime Bible readers and welcomes new believers into the passion and personality that fill God's Word. What features make this a great reading Bible? A single-column layout lets you enjoy reading the Bible as much as your favorite book. Two satin ribbon markers help you keep your place. An easy-to-read type size allows for a comfortable reading experience. "The Story of the Bible in Five Acts" shows you the big picture. The Message is a reading Bible translated from the original Greek and Hebrew Scriptures by scholar, pastor, author, and poet Eugene H. Peterson. Thoroughly reviewed and approved by twenty biblical scholars, The Message combines the authority of God's Word with the cadence and energy of conversational English.

Coroner Sir John finds more than he bargains for when he investigates a case of suicide, in this engrossing instalment in the Crowner John medieval mystery series, set in twelfth-century England. Christmas Eve, 1194. County coroner Sir John de Wolfe gratefully escapes his wife Matilda’s party to examine the body of a canon who has been found hanged. Suicide is suspected, but it is soon apparent there’s more to this case than meets the eye. As always, John's investigations are hampered by his unpleasant brother-in-law, Sheriff Richard de Revelle. But when a local lord is killed, John begins to suspect the cases are linked – and that Sir Richard’s reasons for delaying the investigation may be more serious than his usual acts of petty vengeance. Desperately trying to deflect Sir Richard’s plots against him, John is soon at loggerheads with both Matilda and his beloved mistress Nesta. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers a deadly conspiracy that could cost him far more than the women in his life . . .

This new book by Sister Aquinata Böckmann discusses the Prologue and chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the Rule of St. Benedict. In a lectio regulae she plumbs the depths of Benedict's vision. Listen, the first word of the Prologue, is a keyword that describes the main stance of the individual monastic, the superior, and the entire community. Listening to the Scriptures and in them to Christ guides individuals and the community on how to "run on the way of God's commandments" toward the goal of communal life in and with Christ. The first three chapters of the Rule concretize the principles of this communal spirituality of listening: the importance of a rule and a pastor for maintaining the community's attentiveness to life; the superior's responsibility to listen to individuals within the community; and the mutual listening between leader and community members, regardless of their age. As in her earlier books Sister Aquinata proves to be a true guide into the spirit of Benedict's Rule, which provides sound principles for listening in common in a community of life.