Organizations and Institutions Books

There is a lot of debate about whether or not Christians should be involved in politics or culture for the purpose of reforming them. Should we concentrate on evangelism and reaching the unregenerate souls? Or should we try to reform every institution to conform to God's standard? What John Barber's book does is show us that it is not an "either/or" situation. The two elements work together. Reforming culture helps us to evangelize. And evangelizing helps us to reform culture. Interwoven in both endeavors is God's sovereignty and the fact that God is working all things to His glory. Earth Restored is not another book on why America is great because the godly Founding Fathers wanted it that way, so we should strive to bring the country back to its former state. This book is about what the Bible says we as Christians should do in, for, and through the culture around us. It also gives a detailed look at the components of a biblical worldview, very important in having a godly perspective. Mr. Barber's style is very conversational. I enjoyed his personal stories and learned a lot from his wise, clear analysis of theological principles. The practical applications of these principles to a few contemporary issues was just what I needed to help me apply God's Word to the stories I hear in the news each day. It is a well-thought-out and well-written piece of work. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those struggling to understand what God really says about the Christian's role in culture and politics.

The eleven essays in this book are a collection from a symposium of scholars and theologians from Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant traditions. I especially appreciated the attention given to the situation of Christian unity in the Middle East and Jeruslaem in particular. Of course, the opening essay by Jaroslav Pelikan alone makes the book worth buying.

Chapters include:

The Traditions that Divide, the Tradition that Unites by Pelikan

The Churches of the Middle East by Bouwen

The Churches of Jerusalem by Bouwen

Ecumenical Ed and Formation by Cassidy

Present State of Affairs by Aagaard

Jewish-Christian Relations by Singer

The Unity We Seek: An Orthodox Perspective by THomas Hopko

Toward an Ecumenical Ecclessiology of Communion by Tillard

Power and Authority in Ecumenical Theology by Sikes

THere are also a few other essays. This is a well-written collection that should be of interest to those who seek unity and productive dialogue between the various traditions of Christendom without sacrificing confessional identity for the sake of a merely external union.

The works of Yves Congar may also be of interest to you in this regard. Enjoy!

Until we all realize that the schools have largely become vehicles for replicating the status-quo, for producing people who will follow orders and buy products, and maybe even increase prison populations, we will continue our cultural spiral downhill. This book and its very credible authors explain why we should be concerned.

It's sure to provoke thought; and there's precious little of that around when we start talking (usually bashing) America's schools. We need some basic rethinking about purposes, and this is a very good try at that tough subject.

This is a highly recommended book for those who wish to know a level deeper about the Malaysian Education system than just a mere superficial observation of this issue. It provides a very accurate historical background as well as contemporary issues affecting the Malaysian Education system. I was a Malaysian government teacher myself for a number of years before I officially resigned last year. When I read Dr Bakri Musa's book, everything that he wrote was applicable to my own experience as a government teacher. Malaysia needs more intellectuals like Dr Bakri Musa to give an honest and constructive view of what's happening in our system. There are just too many Malaysian teachers out there who would agree with what Dr Bakri Musa had said in his book, but would be too afraid to admit out of fear. We should be able to evaluate our education system without fear I think. And fear should not be the obstacle for us to move forward.

I bought this book in 2005 but I believe this book will continue to be of high relevance to the current state of our situation. "Terima Kasih Dr Bakri Musa. Bukumu umpama pelita lampu yang menyinari dan menerangi dunia pendidikan kita." (Translation: Thank you Dr Bakri Musa. Your book is a lamp that enlightens our the world of our education.)

This is my grandfather so it has to be good. He is a very wise man and his insight into the working of the church and the place that it should take is astounding. It is somewhat dry, but very informative.

I have traveled with this book for years as a minister and worshiper of our Lord Jesus Christ and found it to be a most valuable tool. Really a plumbline of worship for those who are passionate. In this book Dr. Cornwall shares not only his experiances in worship and how they have been shaped by the Holy Spirit of God, but his years of biblical study and the findings through dedicated worship as a lifestyle. I will be using this book as a textbook in my Spring 2001 classes on Worship.

This centenary series of the Complete Works is a major accomplishment. Volume I ('I Have Found God') goes right to the heart of Elizabeth's mystical vocation with a positively riveting General Introduction by Conrad De Meester, O.C. D., followed by a brilliant translation of Elizabeth's writings by Alethia Kane. Elizabeth's four major spiritual treatises being written in the last three months of her life, it's difficult to go anywhere but to the distinct heart of her message. I doubt that I've ever read a more enlightened essay on Elizabeth than De Meester's. If you look to understand who this woman was, read his perfect Introduction; taken together with a brief biography, he produces an ancient Elizabeth in an essential light. His appreciation burns with real insight into an obscured message and an authentic modern mystic. Kane leaves Elizabeth's voice alone, as other translators have not, making Kane's courageous, and ultimately peerless contribution the more valuable by leagues. Highest recommendation for Vols. I & II-- it's a champion series.

When apartheid was dismantled in 1994, South Africa faced the daunting challenge of establishing a working democracy in a country long divided along rigid racial lines. Perhaps no segment of society was more deeply affected by the metamorphosis than public education.

"Elusive Equity" examines the government's attempts to provide equal opportunity to learn for all children. Through in-depth interviews, unpublished documents, and observations at dozens of schools, Edward B. Fiske and Helen F. Ladd present a balanced analysis of the process.

The authors manage to immerse the reader in a way that is both informative and moving by making use of the same reportorial and research skills that they employed so effectively in "When Schools Compete," still the definitive study of school choice in New Zealand. The result is a book that is indispensable for anyone interested in the education of disadvantaged students anywhere. Despite the obvious historical differences between South Africa and the U.S., Fiske and Ladd draw valuable lessons that are instructive for inner-city schools here.

Walt Gardner taught for twenty-eight years in the Los Angeles Unified School District and was a lecturer at the UCLA Graduate School of Education.

"What is wonderfully rewarding about Embracing Midlife is that it is not only enriching as a guide to one's own spiritual growth, it is written as the foundation for a community of faith that wants to join with its members on their midlife pilgrimage," notes Speed B. Leas, Senior Consultant, Alban Institute. Just published by the Alban Institute, Embracing Midlife: Congregations as Support Systems explores ways congregations can serve and support growth at midlife.

According to Lynne M. Baab, the book's author and an associate pastor at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Seattle, people look to their faith communities for reassurance. In Embracing Midlife, Baab addresses special issues faced by many of today's adult in congregations whether experiencing their midlife years as a struggle with gentle but persistent questions, as a welcome change of direction, or as a life-altering period of crisis.

"The voice of midlife can be loud, intrusive, and defiant but it is more likely to be soft, evasive, and sad. It is most often a voice that simply becomes less and less audible as it moves from the front row of the institution to the back row on its way toward an unobtrusive, and often final, exit," notes Nancy Bost Millner-adult development expert-in the foreword of Embracing Midlife. Millner says that Baab assists the reader in recognizing these midlife voices and "offers delightful, realistic stories from people in their middle years."

Rabbi James Mirel, co-author of Stepping Stones to Jewish Spiritual Living: Walking the Path Morning, Noon, and Night, applauds Midlife for addressing "a vital topic that few, if any, have ever addressed." Mirel says, "The human issues of midlife play a significant role in every congregation, whether it be Jewish or Christian, large or small, city or town. Lynne Baab's Embracing Midlife is a unique resource to help congregations support both individuals and groups in the midlife demographic as they explore the new possibilities ahead and come to terms with what has come before." Lynne M. Baab has led seminars in a variety of settings and taught classes at Seattle Pacific University and Christian Bible Institute, Seattle, WA. Baab served from 1993 to 1997 as the religious and spiritual issues interest area consultant for the Association for Psychological Type. She is the author of Personality Type in Congregations: How to Work with Others More Effectively (Alban Institute, 1998).