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What others are saying...As an AG minister, I was especially interested in Dr. Walston''s discussion of this topic. I found his arguments lucid, biblical, exegetical, and convincing.Rev. Kevin Potts, Ph.D. Candidate, ChaplainDr. Walston has thrown a ''big wrench'' into my tongues-as-evidence doctrinal gears. I am now working through what I thought was a foundational doctrine that I also thought was settled long ago. This book should be required reading for people on both sides of this issue.Dr. Denny Nissley, AG minister, Director of Christ in Action MinistriesMany books and articles have been written in defense of speaking in tongues as the unmistakable, physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Through his careful and thorough analysis of the Pentecostal texts in the Book of Acts, Dr. Walston is challenging this view. This book is beyond doubt one of the most thought-provoking analyses on this theme I have ever read.Nils-Olov Nilsson, Th.D., Swedish Missionary and Theologian with the Swedish Pentecostal MovementRick Walston is founder and president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. He pastored for two decades in both Assemblies of God and independent churches. His educational background includes a D.Min. in pastoral studies and a Ph.D. in New Testament theology.

The first thing that you must learn about spiritual gifts is that you have one. You may not realize it, but you function in your gift daily.God has equipped each member of the Body of Christ with a special ability to do His will. This special ability is called a spiritual gift.Many readers of this book will feel a sense of discovery of who they are in Christ. They will discover their spiritual gifts for the first time, and they will learn how to move forward in the ministry that God has entrusted to them.What others are saying about this unique book:Spiritual gifts are to be recognized and celebrated. Dr. Walston takes you on a profound journey, helping you understand your God-given gifts and the gifts of others. This will bless you in the workplace, homeplace, and all your relationships.Dr. Greg Jantz, Director of and professional counselor at The Center for Counseling and Health Resources, Inc.Nothing has caused more chaos and division in the church in the last thirty years than misunderstandings about spiritual gifts. Some have taken the gifts to illogical extremes, others ignore them altogether. Dr. Walston presents a practical, well-balanced biblical approach that will be a help to all who read this book.Rev. Ross Holtz, Senior Pastor, The Summit (EFCA)A well written, expository guide to spiritual/psychological gifts.Rev. Dr. Larry Allen, Southern Baptist bivocational pastor/teacherFinally, a book that explains the gifts of the Spirit biblically. It will help correct the abuse of the gifts, and encourage the correct use of the gifts. This book could not have come at a better time.Rev. Kevin Potts, Ph.D. candidate, Pentecostal chaplainTwenty years of biblical research has established Dr. Walston as an authority on spiritual gifts. Anyone wanting to do in-depth study on the spiritual gifts should acquaint themselves with his works in the field. This book is an excellent place to begin.Dr. Phil Fernandes, President of the Institute of the Biblical Defense, Pastor of Trinity Bible Fellowship (Independent Baptist)Rick Walston is founder and president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary. He pastored for two decades in both Assemblies of God and independent churches. His educational background includes a D.Min. in pastoral studies and a Ph.D. in New Testament theology.

Do you feel that there should be something more to life than what you''re experiencing? Do you wonder what you can do to make your relationship with God more satisfying?In ''The Hunger of the Heart'', Ron DelBene responds to these questions that are in the hearts of so many people today. In his well-known and well-loved style of sharing personal, real-life stories in his writing, the author issues a call to spiritual growth to all persons - regardless of where they are in their spiritual journeys.DelBene describes fourteen stages of spiritual development, using the image of a tree''s growth, rather than the typical ladder image for Christian growth. Based on the experiences of thousands of people he has met and counseled, these stage descriptions serve as guidelines for making sense of the yearnings, doubts, anger, and wonder that enter every Christian''s life.Ron Delbene has been doing spiritual direction and leading programs in the area of spirituality and pastoral care across the country since 1963. He holds a Master''s agree in Theology and a Doctor of Minstry degree in Spirituality and Organizational Systems. He is a poet, artist, author of books and videos and an Episcopal priest. With his wife, Dr. Eleanor McKenzie Delbene, he directs The Hermitage, a non-profit corporation devoted to providing spiritual growth and direction. Ron and Eleanor have two grown children, Paul and Anne. Paul and his spouse, Gayle, have a daughter, Matsue, and a son, Luca. Mary and Herb Montgomery are professional writers who make their home in a suburb of Minneapolis.

Despite his strong emphasis and personal dependence upon the grace of God as manifested in Jesus Christ, Alexander Campbell''s views stood in marked contrast to those of the Reformed tradition, especially as manifested in the revivals of the second Great Awakening in America. A study of his views on this subject has relevance in the present context.William J. Richardson spent forty-one years teaching in college and seminary. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Theology, Northwest Christian College; the Bachelor of Divinity and Masters of Arts, Butler University, and the Doctor of Philosophy, the University of Oregon. Dr. Richardson is retired and living in Turner, Oregon.

Tony Pappas presents a view on stress as the result of conflict between expectation and experience. He explores the creative possibilities for transformation inherent in the clergy stressors in the intrapersonal, interpersonal, role image, congregational, and environmental areas. Discover the Forces, Sources, Recourses, and Resources within stress, and receive ample help with Framing, Naming, and Taming your stress in this new Perspective. Must reading for seminarians and clergy, will also be helpful for judicatory executives in counseling their pastors.Tony Pappas has written a superb book that should be a handbook for every pastor, but also a marvelous example of the reflective practice of ministry. Drawing from the richness of his own eighteen years of experience in his present ministry as well as both contemporary and classic sources, he has given us a gift of insight, wisdom, and even humor. This is an in-depth study of the cost and joy of ministry, valuable not only for clergy, but for pastoral relations committees and judicatory staff as well.Davida Foy Crabtree, Southern California Conference Minister, United Church of Christ, Pasadena, CaliforniaTony Pappas has given us a virtual catalogue of models for understanding pastoral stress at the personal, interpersonal, role-related, congregational, and environmental levels. The stress-challenged pastor will find here not only analytical tools, but concrete practical suggestions, a diversity of resources, real life illustrations, and the wisdom of a well-informed, wrought-in-the-fire effective and faithful pastor.Tex Sample, The Robert B. and Kathleen Rogers Professor of Church and Society, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, MissouriTony Pappas'' ''Pastoral Stress'' brings essential insights and suggestions to all who practice ministry. Tony offers a searching and revealing analysis of the sources of stress that pastors face. He draws on the best insights of contemporary pastoral studies to help pastors understand the roots of pastoral stress. He offers sound, practical suggestions to resolve these stresses. The wealth of insights Tony Pappas has gained from years of service as a pastor, church consultant, and counselor is now available to enhance the ministries of all of us.Douglas Alan Walrath, Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology, Bangor Theological Seminary, Strong, MaineAnthony G. Pappas is area minister for the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and the editor of The Five Stones, a newsletter on small church ministry.

''Healing Relationships: A Christian''s Manual for Lay Counseling'' is designed to equip you, the layperson, to minister to those who are hurting. Stephan Grunlan and Daniel Lambrides, both skilled counselors, explain how you can allow Christ''s love to bring about a healing relationship. Sunday school teachers, youth workers, elders - every church member should have some training in counseling skills so they can turn their interpersonal relationships into healing relationships. In 13 informative chapters, ''Healing Relationships'' presents clear counseling procedures and illustrates a variety of counseling situations for Sunday school discussion, Bible study, or personal application. For those who wish to use the book as a group study, a Leader''s Guide is also available.Stephen Grunlan is Senior Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church in Overland Park, Kansas. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Nyack College and has earned graduate degrees at Wheaton Graduate School and the University of Illinois. He completed his doctoral studies at Luther Theological Seminary. Dr. Grunlan has taught at Moody Bible Institute, Crown College, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Missouri. He has served churches in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.Daniel Lambrides is a graduate of Nyack College and Colgate-Rochester Divinity School. He is an ordained minister of the Baptist General Conference. He has been in practice as a marriage and family therapist. He has served as an adjunct professor at Bethel Theological Seminary. He has been a featured speaker at counseling workshops, seminars, and marriage retreats.

There are two main premises in Roy Oswald''s book: First, be intentional - reach out to others. The myth is that support will find us, but why gamble? Roy has some good clues about how to select your support group. Second, be extradependent - name a leader. Self-selected and group guided support groups can work, but a support group with a designated leader is stronger and more satisfying. This book will help you identify and secure such a leader for your support group. The book is mandatory reading for ordained ministers and lay professionals.Dr. William C. Behrens, Director of Leadership Support, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaThis book tells why there is a morale problem among clergy. Roy Oswald offers clergy a step-by-step ''how to'' guide for developing a workable peer support system. He tells how to begin a support group and outlines the role of facilitators. The author''s insights on developing rituals, finding ''encouragers,'' and enduring crises come from firsthand experience. Clergy and denominational leaders need the wisdom and experience shared in this book.Nancy T. Foltz, Leadership ConsultantRoy Oswald begins his book on support systems for clergy with personal experience. We imagine that support systems come naturally. Through painful experiences we learn that isn''t true. Roy''s stories enrich and inform this valuable book. He adds to his personal research with support groups insights from the Oscillation Theory of the Grubb Institute and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I found myself evaluating my own support system and making plans for changes.C. Leon Hopper, Senior Minister, East Shore Unitarian Church, Bellevue, Washington, President, Unitarian Universalist Ministers AssociationRoy Oswald is a Senior Consultant with The Alban Institute and the author of several publications including ''New Beginnings: a pastorate start up workbook'' and ''The Inviting Church'', which he co-authored with Speed B. Leas.

Who has been the most influential person in your life? Was it a school teacher? An uncle? A parent? A grandmother? A minister? An employer? A coach?Whoever it was, your reason for choosing this person probably had more to do with who they ''were'' and how they ''lived'', than how they looked or what they owned.What you experienced was the result of this significant person''s ability to model inspiring qualities and communicate those qualities to you. How did they do it? What were the ingredients that enabled them to teach so effectively?Down through the centuries, students have learned through careful observation from those more experienced. Apprentices have learned from craftsmen who took them by the hand. Amateurs emulated professionals. Disciples studied masters.As one who has been profoundly influenced by skilled leaders and who has, in turn, motivated many others, Ted Engstrom could be aptly described as a mentor''s mentor.In this book, Ted Engstrom will introduce to you the idea of mentoring. As a leader, you''ll learn that mentoring represents the difference between talking and doing as a student, you''ll learn from the master''s performance as well as his prose.Mentoring used to be the chief learning method in society, where an apprentice spent years at the side of the craftsman, learning not only the mechanics of a function, but the way of life which surrounded it.The good news is that more than a few are waking up to the fact that we have lost something precious in our culture because the mentoring function has been permitted to lapse into semi-obsolescence. There is a renewal of reference to mentoring in the business literature, the world of education, and in social work. And that new alertness has been in evidence, of course, in the Christ-following community also.It''s fitting for Ted Engstrom to write this book because of at least two things. First, he has done the mentoring he writes about. Men and women all over the world will gladly and thankfully attest to that. And secondly, he writes from the perspective of a generation which is in the process of handing its work over to its successors.The mentoring leader (and that is what Ted Engstrom has been) is a scarce human commodity. So I commend to you the thoughts of one of those wonderful rarities: a Christ-like man who has produced Christ-like proteges.From the foreword by Gordon MacDonaldAs a former president and chief executive officer of World Vision (and now President Emeritus) and a active on a number of evangelical boards, Ted W. Engstrom is one of the most influential leaders in American religion andsocial service. He has been the recipient of six honorary doctorates (L.H.D., Taylor University; LL.D., John Brown University, Litt.D., Seattle Pacific University, Sterling College, Bellhaven College and Azusa PacificUniversity.)Before joining World Vision, Engstrom was for six years president of Youth for Christ International. He has been a sought-after management consultant and has conducted the nationwide Managing Your Time seminars with hisformer colleague (deceased) Ed Dayton for more than fourteen years.A prolific editor and author, Engstrom has and published more than fifty books and hundreds of magazine articles. Among his best selling books are The Pursuit of Excellence (Zondervan), The Fine Art of Friendship (Nelson), and Integrity (Word).As President Emeritus of World Vision, Dr.Engstrom continues with a limited load of speaking, writing, and leadership training.

From the Preface:This book is intended as an investigation of the civilization of western Europe from the third to the fifteenth centuries. It presents not only the results, but some of the important problems, of contemporary scholarship in medieval history. It follows a topical treatment of economic, social, political, and cultural history within a chronological framework. Rather than trying to achieve consistently detailed coverage of every aspect of medieval civilization, I have concentrated upon individual or collective examples of important ideas, attitudes, institutions, or events. Discussions of the sources appear in each chapter, and the sources are quoted frequently in the body of the text in order to permit the reader to feel, as well as intellectually to grasp, the nature of medieval life. Pictures and maps are integrated with the text as illustrations of the topics discussed.Jeffrey Burton Russell is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Besides UCSB, he has taught History and Religious Studies at Berkeley, Riverside, Harvard, New Mexico, and Notre Dame. He has published seventeen books and many articles, most of them in his special field, history of theology. His other books include a five-volume history of the concept of the Devil published by Cornell University Press between 1977 and 1988, ''Inventing the Flat Earth'' (1991), and ''A History of Heaven: The Singing Silence'' (1997).

The study of the conflict between religious orthodoxy and heresy in the Middle Ages has long been a controversial field. Though the sectarian differences of the past have faded in intensity, the varieties of academic correctness that today inform historical studies are equally likely to give rise to a number of interpretations, sometimes providing more information about the sympathies of contemporary historians than the beliefs, feelings, and actions of Medieval people.In this book, Jeffrey Burton Russell provides a fresh overview of the subject from the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) to the eve of the Protestant Reformation. The fruit of many years of thought and scholarship, ''Dissent and Order in the Middle Ages'' is a concise introduction to the full range of religious and social phenomena encompassed by the book''s title. While tracing the intellectual battles that raged between the champions of orthodoxy and the partisans of dissent, Russell grounds these conflicts, which often seem rather recondite to the modern reader, in the evolving social context of Medieval Europe. In addition to discussing conflicts within Christianity, Russell sheds new light on such vexing topics as the origin of anti-Semitism and the persecution of alleged witches.More than just an overview, Russell''s study is also an original interpretation of a complex subject. Russell sees the conflict between dissent and order not as a war of binary opposites, but rather as an ongoing dialectic, a creative tension that, despite the excesses it entailed on both sides, was essential to the development of Christianity. Without this creative tension, Russell argues, Christianity might well have stagnated and possibly died. Dissent and order, then, are perhaps best seen as symbiotically joined aspects of a single living, healthy organism.''Dissent and Order in the Middle Ages'' will appeal to, and challenge, all readers interested in European history, from beginning students to seasoned scholars, as well as those concerned with Christianity''s past - and future.Jeffrey Burton Russell is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Besides UCSB, he has taught History and Religious Studies at Berkeley, Riverside, Harvard, New Mexico, and Notre Dame. He has published seventeen books and many articles, most of them in his special field, history of theology. His other books include a five-volume history of the concept of the Devil published by Cornell University Press between 1977 and 1988, ''Inventing the Flat Earth'' (1991), and ''A History of Heaven: The Singing Silence'' (1997).

Dorothy L. Sayers, detective novelist, poet, scholar, playwright, and Christian apologist, spent the last fourteen years of her life reading and translating Dante''s ''Divine Comedy''. The first two volumes of her translation, ''Hell'' and ''Purgatory'', were published during her lifetime, but when she died in 1957 the third volume, ''Paradise'', was unfinished. It was completed by her friend Barbara Reynolds.Thirty years later Barbara Reynolds wrote this book, the first full-length study of this illuminating stage in the creative life of Dorothy Sayers. Drawing on personal reminiscences and unpublished letters, she tells a moving and compelling story. The work explores the dynamic impact of Dante upon a mature mind. New light is shed on Dorothy Sayers'' personality, her relationship with her friends, her methods of work, and her intellectual and spiritual development. Readers of Dante, no less than readers of Sayers, will find this an exciting book.Dr. Reynolds has not told us merely about Sayers'' Dante translations and lectures; she has told us about Sayers'' radio broadcasts on Dante, her proposed Dante novel, her carefully planned study on the Beatrician vision; and she has discussed the part Charles Williams played in guiding Sayers in her Dante study. This book observes a brilliant mind meeting a Great Poet and becoming continuously awed, inspired, and energized by his verse and vision.Ralph E. HoneBarbara Reynolds is an Italian scholar and translator, known for her completion of Dorothy L. Sayers'' translation of Dante''s ''Divine Comedy'' for Penguin Classics. She has also translated Dante''s ''La Vita Nuova'' of which a new edition has recently been issued. Her translation of Ariosto''s ''Orlando Furioso'', also for Penguin Classics, was distinguished by an international award.She is also the author of a highly acclaimed biography, ''Dorothy L. Sayers: Her Life and Soul'' and is the editor of ''The Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers'' in four volumes, plus a supplementary volume of childhood memoirs. She has told the story of Sayers'' commitment to Dante in ''The Passionate Intellect'', now in its second edition.The general editor of ''The Cambridge Italian Dictionary'', she has been honored by the Italian Republic for her services to Italian studies. She also holds three honorary doctorates. She is now residing in Cambridge, England.

Bo Ivar Reicke (1914-1987) was born and schooled in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1933 he matriculated in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Stockholm, transferring, however, in 1935 to the University of Uppsala, where in 1937 he received his degree in the areas of the history of religions and classical Greek and philosophy. From 1938 he continued his studies in the Faculty of Theology of the same university. Graduating in 1941, he became ordained in December of the same year as a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden. He immediately continued with doctoral studies, choosing the exegesis of the Old and New Testaments as his field of research. In May 1946 he presented in print and publicly defended his dissertation, The Disobedient Spirits and Christian Baptism: A Study of 1 Pet. III.19 and Its Context, [Acta Seminarii Neotestamentici Upsaliensis Edenda Curavit A. Fridrichsen, 13] (Lund 1946).In the official statement to the university, his New Testament teacher, Professor A. Fridrichsen, describes the dissertation as a weighty contribution to the solution of an old exegetical problem and goes on to recommend the author for a position on the Uppsala Faculty. In the following years, Reicke taught New Testament exegesis as assistant professor in his home faculty. In September of 1953 he received the call of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Basel, Switzerland, to fill the chair in New Testament. Moving to Basel with his family, Reicke served there for thirty years until his retirement in 1984. In addition to lecturing around the world and training about forty doctoral students, he was the author of a number of books (see below). Still actively writing and lecturing, Bo Reicke died in Basel in May of 1987.

The book should provide a lively counterpoint to both the standard liberal and conservative treatments in courses on Paul''s view of ministry. - Theology TodayEllis'' judicious treatment and penetrating analysis of the relevant biblical material will force many of us...to think more precisely about the concept of ministry in Paul''s writings, how ministry manifested itself in the churches of his day, and what are its implications for us today. - Westminster Theological JournalEllis gives a sound critique of liberation theology and sociopolitical action as ministry. He gives a balanced view of the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit and, on biblical grounds, he defends the ordination of single and, with qualifications, married women. Challenging, but meant for the intelligent church member. -Librarian''s WorldIt''s a gem. It is a delightful summary in popular form of themes that Ellis has been at work on throughout his years of productive scholarship. It is ''copiously footnoted...with concise bibliographies on the points at hand...Hence, this short book becomes encyclopedic. - Calvin Theological JournalA splendid tour de force in the best sense. - James G. D. DunnThese essays...represent in many respects a valuable corrective to much of what passes for biblical theology in our times. - Paul J. Achtemeier

Our entering the new millennium has heightened interest in what the Bible says about the end times, but where can you go to sort out the different ways Christians understand Bible prophecy? The Last Days Handbook is your one-stop guide to understanding the main views evangelical Christians hold about the end times - and how their different methods of biblical interpretation affect their view of prophecies yet to be fulfilled. You will be accurately informed as you decide which views are most convincing, and you will be prepared to study Bible prophecy more effectively. Most importantly, you will better understand Christians who hold different prophetic views. Now updated and expanded, this classic overview of the different views of end-times Bible prophecy features: - answers to 50 Frequently Asked Questions about end-times Bible prophecy - surveys and comparisons of the major evangelical views concerning the rapture and the millennium - illustrated charts and tables, making the information more accessible than ever - a glossary to introduce you to specialized terms - easy-to-use subject and Scripture indexes to find key information quicklyAn invaluable contribution to understanding the doctrine of last things. - J. Dwight PentecostThe author''s emphases...need to be heard and heeded. - Charles C. RyrieA detailed, up-to-date, and mature treatment of prophecy....an accurate and compelling presentation. - John F. WalvoordRobert P. Lightner (Th.B., Baptist Bible Seminary; Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary; M.L.A., Souther Methodist University) is Professor of Systematic Theology Emeritus at DTS. He has taught courses in biblical studies and theology at Baptist Bible Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary for almost 50 years.

From the Introduction:The conceptual boundaries of this study...include all varieties of religious dissent, nonconformity, and tension. The chronological limits are from about 700 to about 1150. Before the eighth century dissent was, in the tradition of the heresy of the early Church, theological and priestly. After the middle of the twelfth century the increasing influence of Eastern dualism under the name of Catharism changed the whole emphasis and style of medieval dissent. Between 700 and the mid-twelfth century, however, dissent was typically medieval in its moral and popular emphasis without yet being adulterated by currents from the East. In this period it was closely connected with the growing intensity and diversification of movements of moral and intellectual reform. With these movements and as part of them, dissent was one of the elements shaping medieval civilization.Jeffrey Burton Russell is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Besides UCSB, he has taught History and Religious Studies at Berkeley, Riverside, Harvard, New Mexico, and Notre Dame. He has published seventeen books and many articles, most of them in his special field, history of theology. His other books include a five-volume history of the concept of the Devil published by Cornell University Press between 1977 and 1988, ''Inventing the Flat Earth'' (1991), and ''A History of Heaven: The Singing Silence'' (1997).

This work examines Thomas Forsyth Torrance''s concern for the modern re-entrenchment of dualism as it has negatively affected the Christian faith and the realist knowledge of God in Christ. Additionally, an analysis is made of Torrance''s program to faithfully restore theological thinking, theological science, and true objectivity out of the Christocentric-Trinitarian self-disclosure of God via the modern return to critical realist epistemology in the physical sciences (e.g., Einstein, Polanyi). The study concludes with a critical examination of the adequacy and completeness of Torrance''s endeavor (the problem of residual dualism) in the light of his own theological and redemptive concerns.John Morrison''s book brings to light the contribution of the most important English language Protestant theologian of this century. Unlike others who have attempted to present Torrance''s oeuvre by means of one or other of his guiding principles, Morrison draws them together into a coherent whole. Morrison''s command of the ideas and spirit of Torrance is masterful. The splendid interrelations and potencies of Torrance''s writing are unfolded in this highly competent work.Kurt Richardson, Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryJohn Morrison has given the theological world a discerning analysis of the theology of one of the seminal thinkers of our time. T. F. Torrance''s theology is so broad and deep in its scope that it is difficult to master, but Dr. Morrison has done an outstanding job of plumbing the depths of this great Scottish theologian.... This scholarly, comprehensive study is a major contribution toward helping us understand the theology of the great Edinburgh theologian.I. John Hesselink, Albertus C. Van Raalte Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Western Theological SeminaryThough Torrance has been hailed by some as ''one of the most substantial figures in recent Western intellectual history,'' he has also been called ''one of the most neglected'' (Alisdair I. C. Heron). Morrison''s new book seeks to correct this imbalance. This is a thorough examination of T. F. Torrance''s theological writings; it is an erudite work that lays bare the very core of Torrance''s thought, places it in context, traces its sources, and seeks to determine its implications for contemporary theology. Balanced as it is between homage and critical analysis, this book should prove indispensable for anyone who is interested in Torrance or in the ever-enduring and ever-changing dialectic between faith and reason.Carlos M. N. Eire, Professor of History and Religious Studies, Yale UniversityThis is a careful, accurate, thorough, and illuminating presentation of T. F. Torrance''s thought together with various positive and negative assessments of his thought. It will be useful to anyone interested in systematic theology (and philosophical theology) because serious questions are raised and analyzed. This book definitely represents competent scholarship. The author wrestles with Torrance''s position, presents his own critique of Torrance with a constructive proposal which, if he is correct, would lead in the direction Torrance has set for himself - toward a unified theology grounded in Christ and thus in the immanent Trinity. He makes his points well and does not shrink from difficult questions. All in all Dr. Morrison writes convincingly.Paul D. Molnar, Professor of Systematic Theology, St. John''s University, New YorkJohn Douglas Morrison was born in Billings, Montana. He holds a B.A. from the University of Montana, an M.Div. and a Th.M. from Western Seminary, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia (Philosophical Theology). He has published journal articles on Kierkegaard, Calvin, Barth, and Torrance. He teaches theology and philosophy at Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia.

Ever since Newton, people - including Christians - have considered matter to be strictly mechanical, uninformed by any ""spirit"" and without sentience. Such a view, says Virginia Owens, ""demotes to mere metaphor"" all the natural imagery of Scripture that calls for creation to participate in the praise of its maker. Now, however, contemporary physical theory offers us an expanded view of the cosmos, which suggests that it is indeed sentient and informed with knowledge. For Christians, Virginia Owens argues in this book, the cosmos bears witness to the Incarnation itself. Owens offers a brief history and exploration of physics, interwoven with vivid and provocative perceptions of the physical world (reminiscent of the writings of Annie Dillard). The heavens really do proclaim the glory of God, Owens insists. ""The prophet''s figure of trees clapping their hands is a living reality."" ""And the Trees Clap Their Hands"" will appeal to all general readers who are interested in the relationship between faith and our understanding of the physical world.""We can no longer be satisfied with a ''religious'' truth that fails to implicate matter - and vice versa....In the last few decades, many writers, not themselves scientists, have interested themselves in the transition from classical to modern physics and its consequences - few of them with such well-considered documentation and none with such abiding verve and personally persuasive emphasis as Virginia Owens."" - Owen BarfieldVirginia Stem Owens has written over fifteen books that include three mysteries and nonfiction on a wide range of topics from media to metaphysics. Her memoir of her grandfather''s last years won the Texas Institute of Letters prize for best nonfiction book in 1990. Living Next Door to the Death House, written with her husband, David, takes readers inside the prison culture that pervades her hometown, Huntsville, Texas.She is on the editorial board of Books & Culture. She also served for seven years as Director of the Milton Center, an institute dedicated to fostering excellence in writing by Christians.

John Keenan''s ''The Gospel of Mark'' is a radically new reading of this most intriguing of the Synoptic gospels - a remarkable feat in the face of the explosion of Markan scholarship over the last twenty years. Keenan accomplishes this by approaching Mark as no other scholar has done: through the lens of Mahayana-Buddhist philosophy. This view stresses the emptying of all preconceived notions of how to begin reading as well as reclamation of such notions in terms of dependent co-arising and Jesus'' assault on the validity of conventional religiosity. ''The Gospel of Mark'' displays an alternative hermeneutical procedure, one generated by the Mahayana understanding of the function of text and doctrine, and informed by Mahayana philosophy.Part One of ''The Gospel of Mark'' provides an overview of different interpretive techniques in Markan scholarship. It describes and argues for the validity of a Buddhist approach to this charter document of the Christian Gospel. Here the author demonstrates a profound grasp not only of scriptural scholarship but of Mahayana philosophy. Keenan discusses themes such as Mark''s elliptical style and the journeying that provides the impetus for the narrative, and explores them through the lens of emptiness and dependent co-arising which are the focal points of a Mahayana reading.In Part Two Keenan gives the reader truly fresh insights into the paradoxical world of Mark''s Jesus. Through a Buddhist lens, the text offers startling and new perspectives on Jesus himself, the experience of the Kingdom, miracle stories and parables, the passion and death, the resurrection and return.Keenan has broken new ground in this study of Mark by asking what we might see when we look at the Gospel through a Buddhist lens. The results reveal to us much about Buddhism and foster new angles of vision on Mark. Keenan is at his best when he unpacks the variety of ways Mark subverts conventional thinking. His work also incorporates a wealth of recent research about Mark.David Rhoads, Lutheran School of TheologyMahayana deconstruction goes beyond post-structuralism in its radicality, and arrives at a serenity that is absent in Western deconstruction. Keenan brilliantly displays how this occurs and what it means for hermeneutics...[and] goes beyond a programmatic call for a Mahayana hermeneutic to a full-fledged commentary on Mark.John B. Cobb Jr.John P. Keenan is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Middlebury College and an Episcopal priest. He is also the author of ''The Meaning of Christ: A Mahayana Theology''.

In this provocative follow-up to his enormously influential '' A Rabbi Talks with Jesus'', Jacob Neusner challenges the apostle Paul to debate the true meaning and significance of Judaism. Drawing new boundaries for Jewish-Christian dialogue, Neusner contends that Paul''s misinterpretation of Judaism - a misinterpretation perpetuated today by many Christians and Jews - has resulted in the widespread perception of Judaism as ethnic and particular, and Christianity as universal. Yet as Neusner clearly demonstrates, just as Christianity presents an option to all of God''s faithful, so too does Judaism''s mediation of the voice of God at Sinai echo across the entire world.Rabbi Neusner challenges not only St. Paul but all of those who mistakenly think that Judaism is an ethnic religion, that is to say, a religion for a specific people without any universality of concern. The Rabbi demonstrates very clearly that this assumption is incorrect. I think St. Paul would be delighted and I know Isaiah would.- Andrew M. Greeley, Professor of Social Science, University of Chicago, and coauthor of ''The Bible and Us: A Priest and a Rabbi Read Scripture Together''More than a contribution to interfaith understanding,...a powerful mediation on religion and ethnicity carried through to the present day. In an age of ethnic conflict, this is a book as timely as it is generous and profound.- Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Great BritainJacob Neusner is Research Professor of Religion and Theology at Bard College and Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard. He has published more than 900 books and unnumbered articles, both scholarly and academic, popular and journalistic, and is the most published humanities scholar in the world. He has been awarded nine honorary degrees, including seven US and European honorary doctorates. He received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1953, his Ph.D. from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in 1961, and Rabbinical Ordination and the degree of Master of Hebrew Letters from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1960.Neusner is editor of the ''Encyclopedia of Judaism'' (Brill, 1999. I-III) and its Supplements; Chair of the Editorial Board of ''The Review of Rabbinic Judaism,'' and Editor in Chief of ''The Brill Reference Library of Judaism'', both published by E. J. Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands. He is editor of ''Studies in Judaism'', University Press of America.Neusner resides with his wife in Rhinebeck, New York. They have a daughter, three sons and three daughters-in-law, six granddaughters and two grandsons.

This engaging exploration of the Joseph story by trusted Bible scholar Ronald Wallace offers a fresh look at Genesis 37-50 and its continuing relevance to life in our modern world.Wallace traces the life of Joseph through his enslavement and subsequent rise to power in Egypt to the place where he would save the nascent tribe of Israel from sure starvation. Throughout these fourteen powerful and important chapters in Genesis, Joseph grapples with jealousy, selfishness, integrity, and other issues that remain pertinent to all believers today.Designing his work with personal or group Bible study in mind, Wallace divides the scriptural text into small, easily digestible sections and provides short yet deeply insightful reflections on each part of the story. In scouring the narrative for its implicit meanings, Wallace uncovers many aspects of the Joseph story, including its ongoing relevance to the development of Old Testament scripture, its significant echoes in the New Testament, and its implications for today''s church.Written and arranged to provoke discussion as it is read, Wallace''s ''Story of Joseph and the Family of Jacob'' is an ideal choice for all who seek substantive and fulfilling Bible study resources.Ronald S. Wallace is retired from teaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He is the author of numerous books, including ''On the Interpretation and Use of the Bible'', ''Readings in 1 Kings'', and ''The Message of Daniel''.

Taking as his starting-point Jesus'' saying in Matt 8:22, ""Let the dead bury the dead,"" Professor Hengel subjects Jesus'' discipleship sayings to a rigorous historical scrutiny. The sharp break with contemporary Jewish mores in Matt 8:22 leads Hengel to a consideration of other contemporary forms of discipleship -- Cynic, Rabbinic, and Zealot. Rejecting the view that Jesus was some kind of rabbi, Hengel argues that there are, despite the obvious fundamental differences, closer similarities between Jesus and the charismatic-prophetic leaders of the Maccabean-Zealot tradition. Both his call to leave all and go after him and his freedom and authority over against the Law place him closer to the Zealots than to the scribes and their disciples whose relationship was foremost that of teacher and pupil. Thus Professor Hengel''s magisterial command of Jewish and Hellenistic first-century material is here brought to bear on the figure of Jesus and we are given a remarkable series of historical insights into the character of Jesus'' ministry and his work with his disciples. What emerges is a picture of Jesus fully as a man of his time but one whose authority is unique and whose call to share his fate in the service of the imminent Kingdom is without equivalent among his contemporaries.It is Professor Hengel''s belief that the way to a proper understanding of Jesus'' teaching can be only through the detailed critical study of the whole body of the synoptic sayings and pericopae. What he offers here takes its starting point in only one such pericope; yet the flood of light that this study sheds on Jesus'' teaching and life is such that this book stands as one of the most important contributions to the continuing enquiry into the historical Jesus.Martin Hengel is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Judaism at the University of Tuebingen, Germany. He is the author of many books including ''Victory Over Violence & Was Jesus a Revolutionist?,'' ''Between Jesus and Paul, Judaism and Hellenism,'' ''Studies in the Gospel of Mark,'' and ''The Hellenization of Judea in the First Century After Christ.'' Hengel''s most recent books include ''Paul Between Damascus and Antioch'' (coauthored with Anna Maria Schwemer) and ''The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ.''

In a world, and in churches, so often caught up in a relentless pursuit of power, Bishop Bennett Sims challenges us all to look afresh at what it means to be servants of one another. It is an invigorating, deeply enriching experience! His conclusions are sometimes radical, and we shall not agree with all of them, but they always stem from his own deep love for God and God''s people. I commend it for study, discussion, and, where appropriate, prayerful action.George Carey, former Archbishop of CanterburyWe need more books like this, those that ask us to boldly rethink our ideas about leadership and power. Bennett Sims guides us through a compelling and spirit-full journey that changes our ideas about how we lead, and how we follow.Margaret J. Wheatley, author of ''Leadership and the New Science''Bennett Sims is a man who practices what he preaches. His Institute for Servant Leadership has illumined the lives of hundreds of leaders, in fields ranging from religion to social change to business and industry. May thousands more read this book and benefit from its wisdom.Parker J. Palmer, author of ''The Active Life'' and ''A Company of Strangers''This book provides the key ingredient to an understanding of what leadership is all about.Amory Houghton, Jr., New York Congressman and former chairman of Corning Glass WorksWith the wisdom of an elder, Bennett Sims redefines servanthood and power. By the time he has explored how they function in history, science, the economy, and theology, it is easy to agree with him that the paradox of servant leadership is our best hope for the future.Barbara Brown Taylor, Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Piedmont College, Demorest, Georgia.Bennett J. Sims is Bishop Emeritus of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and founder and former president of the Institute for Servant Leadership in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Robert Mounce, who was for 21 years a regular columnist in ''Eternity'' as well as the author of several popular articles in such publications as ''Christianity Today'', here demonstrates his scholarship, lucidity, and pastoral heart in this commentary designed to meet the needs of laypersons and pastors looking for a balanced, effective, and relevant interpretation of Peter''s epistles.Mounce sees the keynote of the letters as hope, but the main purpose as hortatory - that is, they were written ""to encourage believers in Asia Minor to expect and endure hardship as a result of their commitment to the Christian faith"" and ""to stimulate them to wholesome thinking"" vis-a-vis false teachers who had risen within the church itself.Central to Mounce''s commentary is the remarkable fact that although the letters are packed with imperatives, they do not merely offer ethical instructions or ""lessons for living,"" but move freely from doctrine to duty and back again. Thus, the purpose of doctrine is seen here as less to instruct than to provide the theological basis for a new way of living. More specifically, because Christians have been born anew to a living hope, there is a serious challenge to holy living. Mounce effectively ""updates"" this challenge, applying it to modern living - and chapter titles such as ""How to Get Along With Your Spouse,"" ""Living in an Alien Society,"" and ""How to Live in the Family of God"" reflect the author''s timely and practical application.Study questions are included to facilitate individual and group Bible study.""These epistles are indispensable antidotes to two chronic ailments which threaten the church. I Peter is a prescription to face suffering, while II Peter is medicine to stave off heresy. Robert Mounce''s expositions are so clear, concise, devout, and thoughtful that they place these healing words within the reach of every Bible student.""David Allan HubbardRobert Mounce, President Emeritus of Whitworth College, is widely known as the author of a number of New Testament commentaries. For the past forty years he has been seriously involved in Bible translation, most recently serving as Assistant New Testament Editor for the English Standard Version.

Why a theology of prayer?Because counterfeit prayer abounds, we need Scripture''s guidance, writes Thomas Constable. Praying as God desires requires considering what God has revealed about it. As we give prayer our careful attention, we gain greater understanding of what he intends it to be.Constable details the different forms of communication God invites us to use. He identifies the counterfeits that pass for prayer, discusses the conditional nature of prayer, and explains why some prayers seem to go unanswered.I could not think of a single aspect of prayer that ''Talking to God'' does not address. Thomas Constable lays out for the reader the plain message of the Bible: God has ordained that we should pray, for our own good, and for that of his kingdom.Duane Litfin, President, Wheaton College''Talking to God'' contains all you ever wanted to know about prayer. The author doesn''t hesitate to deal with the challenging issues involved in attempting communication between sinful man and a sovereign, all-knowing God.Joseph Aldrich, former President, Multnomah College and Biblical SeminaryThomas L. Constable is Senior Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he has taught since 1966.

Robert Coote describes the stages of growth of the book of Amos, discussing the process of the book''s gradual formation. Chapter One introduces Coote''s approach, rationale, and method for his analysis. Chapter Two deals with the oracles of doom, basically the oral legacy of the prophet himself. Chapter Three shows how the words of Amos were reactualized and composed in their seventh century setting. Chapter Four comes to grips with the book of Amos as a theological whole, as it now stands in the biblical canon. This book also serves as a useful resource for understanding pre-exilic prophecy because of the many similarities between Amos''s message and other prophetic traditions which Coote highlights.Robert B. Coote is Professor of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary.

What accounts for Albrecht Ritschl''s profound effect on modern theology? Philip Hefner proposed that he so energetically brought together in his work the elements of his generation, that all theology now stands on his shoulders. Many theologians have attacked Ritschl''s ideas, others vigorously defend him, but all must confront him. The essays presented here will enable students and scholars to experience the force of Ritschl''s writing for themselves.Ritschl was born in 1822 into the intellectual, social, and ecclesiastical elite of Berlin. After finishing his studies at the University of Tuebingen, he taught at Bonn for eighteen years and at Goettingen for twenty-five. Hefner shows that Ritschl spoke a word to his own age that was so appropriate and so in resonance with his contemporaries in Germany that despite its weaknesses it became the dominant theology of his generation. Ritschl''s impact can be traced to three major factors: forceful statement of Christian faith, positive link to tradition, and scientific method. He exhibited a remarkable combination of scholarly integrity and devotion to the Christian life, as seen in his ten-year study of pietism - a movement he opposed. His theology also contributed to much that followed, including historical-critical studies and dialectical theology.These essays offer a balanced sample of Ritschl''s thinking. In the Prolegomena to ''The History of Pietism'' he establishes his method of studying different confessions on the basis of Christian lifestyle. Theology and Metaphysics offers his celebrated rejection of metaphysics in favor of a christocentric approach. Instruction in the Christian Religion, the writing that won for Ritschl his popularity among students, sets forth his specific doctrinal beliefs.Today''s students will discover that Ritschl is both an intriguing historical figure and a thinker worth grappling with. These essays, along with Philip Hefner''s extensive introduction, provide needed material for a reevaluation of Ritschl and of nineteenth century theology.Philip Hefner is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He has written ''The Promise of Teilhard'' and a major work on Ritschl - ''Faith and the Vitalities of History''. He also edited ''The Scope of Grace'' and ''Changing Man: Threat and Promise''.

There is probably nothing in the Christian life which is more advocated and less attempted, more urged and less understood or more praised and less practiced than prayer....The prayer Jesus gave was a model payer His disciples could use....You will find it a powerful reshaper of your priorities in both praying and living....And the place to begin is to take up the position of a disciple of Jesus, praying, ''Lord, teach me to pray.'' - from the IntroductionDonald Williams is a graduate of Taylor University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and the University of Georgia where he earned a Ph.D. in Medieval and Renaissance Literature. An ordained minister of the Evangelical Free Church in America, Dr. Williams currently serves as Professor of English and Director of the School of Arts and Sciences at Toccoa Falls College.

What New Testament book bewilders most Christians? Of course, the book of Revelation. Many people ignore it because it seems unreal and unrelated to Christian living. Others see it as a fascinating enigma, and they propose a variety of schemes to answer every symbolic reference.While fully aware of the various theories of interpretation, Dr. Robbins is primarily concerned in this book with clarifying what the writer was trying to say to his original readers. He provides a practical exposition with little attention given to critical problems. He feels that the basic message is timeless, full of hope and promise in every age. Here is fresh, clear light on a book that has been shrouded by extreme and sometimes fanatic interpreters.Ray F. Robbins was a professor of New Testament at Samford University (1946-1952) and at New Orleans Baptist Seminary (1952-1981). A native of Alabama and a graduate of Mississippi College (B.A.), Southern Baptist Seminary (Th.M., Th.D.), and University of Edinburgh (Ph.D.), Dr. Robbins also worked as a pastor and Bible conference leader.

Liturgy is at the heart of Christian renewal. But what is at the heart of liturgy? The preoccupation with changing forms of worship over the past few years has tended to obscure what these forms were supposed to liberate: Christ living among us. The content of the Mass is now becoming familiar to all who participate in it. Therefore it is opportune and urgent to develop a theology of the eucharist based upon this content. ''His Presence in the World'' is a significant contribution to this vital area of theology. Dr. Lash develops his concept of a dynamic eucharist - a living, acting Christ - in a careful and scholarly manner. He builds on tradition, and in the spirit of the Vatican Council shows how new theology comes from old and fulfills and clarifies what has always been taught. The historical perspective is linked with responsible prophecy to create a relevant theology.Nicholas Lash, born in 1934, is Norris-Hulse Professor Emeritus of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, where he occupied that chair from 1978 until his retirement in 1999. He is the author of some fourteen books and four hundred essays and papers. He was, for eighteen years, a member of the central directorate of the international Roman Catholic journal, ''Concilium'', and is a founding member and past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain. A volume of his sermons is due to be published in London in 2005, by Darton Longman and Todd, who will also publish a volume of his essays in 2006. He is married, with one son, and continues to live in Cambridge.

To articulate a credible doctrine of the atonement in today''s cultural situation is fraught with difficulties. How can we do justice to the central New Testament claim that the work of Christ at one point in history is decisive for God''s relationship to the whole of humanity at every other point in history?Tom Smail takes the connection between the atonement and the Trinity as the underpinning of ''Once and for All''. If we recognize that the work of the cross has to be seen to involve all three persons, and their relationships to one another, we have a structure that enables us to deal with the problems the doctrine of the atonement raises. This presentation of Christ''s atoning work in his cross and resurrection both does justice to its decisive character as a once and for all historical event, and at the same time explores the sense in which a long past historical act can be universally relevant to and effective for everyone.Tom Smail makes contemporary theological thinking on this subject accessible, and also, in investigating the spiritual and pastoral dimensions of the gospel of the cross, gives expression to his personal struggle with it throughout fifty years of ministry. It is his own confession of the cross, guided by the Scriptures and the many diverse strands of the Christian tradition that are precious to him.''Once and for All'' will help us all to understand better, and to enter into, the unique and enduring mystery at the heart of our faith.Tom Smail is now retired. He was formerly Rector of Sanderstead, South London, and previously Vice-Principal of St. John''s College, Nottingham, and a director of the Fountain Trust. He is the author of several highly acclaimed books including ''The Giving Gift'' and ''The Forgotten Father''.