While there have been various studies examining the contents of the evangelistic proclamation in Acts; and various studies examining, from one angle or another, individual persuasive phenomena described in Acts (e.g., the use of the Jewish Scriptures); no individual studies have sought to identify the key persuasive phenomena presented by Luke in this book, or to analyse their impact upon the book’s early audiences. This study identifies four key phenomena – the Jewish Scriptures, witnessed supernatural events, the Christian community and Greco-Roman cultural interaction. By employing a textual analysis of Acts that takes into account both narrative and socio-historical contexts, the impact of these phenomena upon the early audiences of Acts – that is, those people who heard or read the narrative in the first decades after its completion – is determined. The investigation offers some unique and nuanced insights into evangelistic proclamation in Acts; persuasion in Acts, persuasion in the ancient world; each of the persuasive phenomena discussed; evangelistic mission in the early Christian church; and the growth of the early Christian church.

Concurrent systems are generally understood in terms of behavioral notions. Models for Concurrency analyzes the subject in terms of events and their temporal relationship rather than on global states. It presents a comprehensive analysis of model theory applied to concurrent protocols, and seeks to provide a theory of concurrency that is both intuitively appealing and rigorously based on mathematical foundations. The book is divided into three main sections. The first introduces the required concepts from model theory, details the structures that are used to model concurrency, gives an in-depth description and explanation of the semantics of a simple language that allows concurrent execution of sequential programs, and deals with the question of resolving executions into higher-level and lower-level granularities. The second and third sections apply the theory developed to practical examples, and an exposition of the producer/consumer problem with details of two solutions is given. The author also deals with message passing, as opposed to shared memory.

The Kelso/McIvey rehab center is a place of hope and healing for its patients--and for the dedicated staff who volunteer there. But David McIvey, a brilliant surgeon whose ego rivals his skill with a scalpel, wants to change all that. His plan to close the clinic and replace it with a massive new surgery center--with himself at the helm--means that the rehab center will be forced to close its doors. Since he is poised to desecrate the dreams of so many, it's not surprising to anyone, especially Oregon lawyer Barbara Holloway, that somebody dares to stop him in cold blood. When David McIvey is murdered outside the clinic's doors early one morning, Barbara once again uses her razor-sharp instincts and take-no-prisoners attitude to create a defense for the two members of the clinic who stand accused. And in her most perplexing case yet, Barbara is forced to explore the darkest places where people can hide--the soul beneath the skin.

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today’' context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections: Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible. Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved. This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

Encouraging and powerful, Awaken Me offers a uniquely written, 365-day devotional journal that can help remind you of the importance of staying focused on God. Because it is undated, you can start this journal at any time of the year. Each page includes a daily prayer guide, an assortment of wonderful and gripping phrases from the Old and New Testaments, a suggested Bible reading, and a daily workbook format for your thoughts and prayers. Cast aside the worlds values and let God become the major influence in your life. Perfect for teenagers and adults, this devotional prayer journal seeks to help you transform into the person God designed you to be. Awaken Me will help give focus and direction to both of our prayer lives, stirring Gods Word into the mix in an inspiring way. Donna and Roger Vann, Family Life, United Kingdom Prayer is the heartbeat of the Christians life. Its impossible to have a growing relationship with God while having a weak prayer life. I would encourage anyone that wants to be used by God to invest in their prayer life. Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal is a great tool to help you tune-in to God and make a difference in your world. Coby Colley, Director of Development and Operations, Asian Partners International