From a hovel in a North Korean town and the status of beggar that is total destitution, through dungeon, fire, and sword, to a place of high respect and honor, Dr. Hong's story will make you laugh, cry, and sigh. -Pastor Donald Sheley So begins the story of Dr. Woo Jun Hong. When he was living in a humble home in the village of Um-Jang Ni in North Korea, Woo Jun Hong had no idea what sweet and bitter roads lay ahead. He would experience imprisonment and persecution at the hands of the North Korean Communists; a daring escape to freedom in South Korea; trials and successes in starting a new life; the desire to help all the hungry, war-orphaned children; and the need to share his belief in Christ with all who would listen. With unwavering belief, Woo Jun Hong kept sight of his goals and opened what has become the largest Christian school in the world. The true story of this remarkable man and his work will be an inspiration to all who read it. The personal words of faith will provide encouragement for those who face life's challenges.

Flowing from Jesus's parable of the banquest feast, this practical and challenging call to a more inclusive church shows why disabled people--the mentally retarded, the physically impaired, and others--must be part of congregational life, along with how, where, and what to do. Essential for parents, teachers, and the disabled themselves.

A Scripture-based exploration of the Christian story of salvation as a food story which provides nourishment for those engaged in living out the food and justice challenges of the Gospel. The book highlights the power of our Biblical and theological traditions to name the root issues of our day, shape our hope and define the horizons for action. It is a resource for study and prayer. The author explores in her ministry how individuals and parishes may live out the food and justice dimensions of the Gospel.

The wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers lies in their experiences of solitude, prayer, community life, work, and care for their neighbors. Their goal was transformation of their lives through openness to the presence and energy of God in Christ. They taught by example and by sharing narratives and sayings that reflect the deep human psychological and spiritual aspects of their journey toward authentic human life. The venue for their transformation was the whole person 'body, mind, and spirit. They emphasized self-knowledge, humility, purity of heart, and love of God and neighbor. Far from being naïve, their sayings and narratives reflect honest struggles, temptations, and failures. They also demonstrate the disciplines of prayer and meditation that kept them centered in God as their only source of strength. The daily reflections in Desert Banquet introduce readers to a variety of these early Christian mentors and offer reflections on the significance of their wisdom for life in the twenty-first century. David G. R.Keller, an Episcopal priest, is adjunct professor of ascetical theology at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. He is co-steward, with his wife, Emily Wilmer, of Oasis of Wisdom: An Institute for Contemplative Study, Practice, and Living based in Asheville, North Carolina (www.oasisofwisdom.net). He is the author of Oasis of Wisdom: The Worlds of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Liturgical Press) and Come and See: The Transformation of Personal Prayer (Morehouse Publishing).

One very cold, winter morning, Pitney Key Knowles arrives at work and prepares to give a briefing to her management team. Her mind isn't on her presentation; she keeps thinking about the 'bad" weather. In order to regain focus, she decides to take a ten-minute break to try and forget about the nagging questions percolating in her head about the weather. Before her break is over, Pitney finds herself sitting under a willow tree with a strange creature called Weather approaching her. Weather has four different personalities-spring, summer, fall, and winter-and he is the mastermind, guide, and host of the Season's Banquet. The guests of this banquet will undergo a physical transformation in preparation to inherit their place beyond the confines of the stars. Pitney's summons to this banquet is the beginning of her transformation and journey into the outer reaches of the Universe where she and others of her kind will find the reason for their existence.

In this powerful new interpretation of the book of Revelation, the late, revered author and translator of The Message Bible offers timely insights into how we can lean into growth, not in spite of challenging times, but because of them. “Insightful and inviting . . . This is Eugene at his pastoral best.”—Rev. Dr. Glenn Packiam, associate senior pastor at New Life Church and author of Blessed Broken Given The book of Revelation is filled with angels and dragons, fantastic beasts and golden cities, bottomless pits and mysterious numbers. It’s dramatic, sure—but what exactly does that have to do with the tests we face today? Actually, a lot. When the apostle John penned the book of Revelation, believers lived in a time of deception and injustice. But his message doesn’t just reflect their cries for things to be made right; it reveals heaven’s perspective of the bigger picture. In this never-before-published work, Eugene H. Peterson traces the dramatic symbolism found in John’s letters to the seven churches, uncovering Christ’s instructions to these ancient communities. Along the way, encounter seven key tests, of our love, suffering, truth, holiness, reality, witness, and commitment, tests from Christ that can deepen our faith and even shape our future. This Hallelujah Banquet is your personal invitation to grow deep and begin living now in a generous, abundant, and hopeful reality in Christ.

Starting life in the gutter, Jean-Marie d'Aumout rises through the ranks of eighteenth-century French society propelled by his wits and an obsession with finding the perfect taste. But beyond the palace walls, revolution is in the air and the country is clamouring with a hunger of a different kind.