Baker Books

This book puts work and Christian living in perspective. I found practical and applicable guidance on how to be successful in the corporate world, or on any job, and not compromise my Christian integrity. Kim Hackney takes integrity on the job to another level...character building. When you read this book you realize you don't have to succumb to worldly ways to get ahead; it is already in God's plan to give us a hope and a future. If we do things His way He will give us favor with man.

The style of this book is candid, personal, and easy to follow.
The self reflection sections at the end of each section promote personal growth. I think this book is wonderful for personal or group study.

Buy one for yourself and a few to give as gifts.

Kim's approach to the subject of Christians in the workplace is very real and practical. After reading the book, I actually have bible-based insight and answers to address the many circumstances that all Christians face in the workplace everyday. I now have a whole new perspective of "Why" God has placed us, Christians, in the workplace. My job is no longer just a place where I go to work and earn money, it is now my mission field. Excellent reading!

I was searching for a book that specifically excludes Paul's views, or pre-dates Paul. For once I did not wish to hear what Paul had to say.

The Apostles of the Lord were 'with Him from the beginning' and they formulated the oral and written traditions as they obviously had an important influence on the NT development. They also defined what was normative for the NT Church, and it was in relation to this that I wanted to hear them clearly and unambiguously import Christ's teaching.

Enter Adolf Schlatter. With the precision of a theologian, he incisively went to work on my request. The whole book is profound and Christ-honouring. Every second sentence asks to be re-read. Schaltter's honesty in being truthful to the text makes this an absolute pleasure to read and study. He does engage with other greats from his time, people who have become famous for their unique interpretation of Holy Writ. And yet I experienced him to be above those esteemed by a certain fraternity in Europe. He is not to be confused with the Enlightenment school in any way.

The content of this tome is pure and sound. It is uncluttered by today's
syncrystic standards of theology. I humbly recommend you read it. Thank you, Dr Kostenberger.

'For the Spirit's work consists in subjecting the community to the Christ.' pg 104

'Jude does not fight for a body of fixed doctrines whose possession made one a Christian and whose denial was the Gnostic's sin. He measures solely the orientation of a person's will. Religion is not theory but action, and an individual becomes guilty or righteous by his deeds.' pg 105

Echoing Calvinism:

'It derives its importance from the fact that it comes into being, not as the believer's own accomplishment, be it by decision or insight, but as the gift given to him by God. Therefore faith is exceedingly holy, because it links the community directly with God.' pg 105

'At the present time, the community experiences Jesus' rule by possessing the Spirit. Since it has Him thru its union with Christ...' pg 106

'Alongside Scripture, the community has its foundation in the word of Jesus' messengers. Jude thinks of a closed circle of such messengers and does not include himself among them.' pg 107

'By uniting knowledge with love John also clarifies its relation to faith. Since selfish longings are, however, completely separated from faith, answers are denied to questions that hanker after no more than knowledge.' pg 129

'For this reason theological speculation has always gratefully appropriated Johannine knowledge but always supplemented it with its own ideas. All these theories fail to stop where John does, because his statements do not satisfy their intellectual curiosity. John considered what he wrote to be sufficient, since he wrote in order to establish faith, not speculative theories.' pg 129

'Thus Jesus' messianic ministry merges entirely with His function of revealing God. From this John gains both the complete separation from all forms of piety opposing Jesus in the power of His union with Him. There cannot be any share in the love of God that is not rooted in union with the Son. Following Jesus, brings about inclusion in the love of God, and thus one has passed from death to life. Since believers perceive Jesus to be in the Father, they know that His fellowship with them grants them union with God. Those who believe in Him therefore consider it to be the highest good that they know Him, remain in Him, and are where He is. John 5:24, 6:56, 15:4-7, 17:24' pg 131

In recent years there has been an increase of interest in the writings of Adolf Schlatter. This book is a good example of how a first rate late 19th century (and early 20th century) theologian rises above the prevailing liberalism (esp. the exegetical liberalism) of his day to produce more conservative works. The strongest element in Schlatter's work is the fact that he remains true to the biblical text.

In this text, Schlatter focuses his attention on what the Apostle's writings are communicating. For instance, Schlatter discusses the Apostle's theology regarding God, the Lord's Table, The New Church, Christ and His work, etc. Several Apostle's are given special attention (i.e. Paul and Peter)and James' writings are a major focus as well. Moreover, a brief examination of the Gospels of Mark and Luke, as well as the early Church is brought forth in this text.

Some of the added features of this work include a very nice and informative Preface on the reception of Schlatter's work (1909-23), a subject index and an exhaustive Scripture index. This text is a great place to begin if you are interested in New Testament theology or studying the Apostle's letters and theology. It is also a nice companion volume to Schaltter's work titled "The History of the Christ" (also available here at Amazon).

the illustrations in this book give the western reader a spectacular glimpse at some of the visual spendor of Tibet. the actual writing only gives a basic analysis of tibetan medicine, but this book is a must have for both well-studied practicioners and people with a passing interest.

Age, behavior, diet, personality, physical environment, and season all have a part in health: all disease is caused by jarring the flow between body and world and by not understanding that a self-identity is not fixed or lasting. Good health balances diet, lifestyle, and mental and seasonal conditions. A good diet is the particular basis of all Tibetan medical treatment, with the emphasis on butter, milk, roasted barley flour, and tea. Tibetan medicine wants health kept or restored by internally balancing body and mind: aging shows up with mental and physical stress, and we are poisoned by attachment, aversion, dullness, envy and pride. However, a good doctor has the advantage when strong on compassion, medical understanding, and wisdom: THE TIBETAN ART OF HEALING draws heavily on being sensitive to internal energy flow and knowing plants. Ian Baker's book of 79 medical paintings by Nepalese artist Romio Shrestha backtracks to the Blue Beryl commentary on Tibetan Buddhist health, which is also a concern of John F. Avedon's equally impressive BUDDHA'S ART OF HEALING. I find it helpful to have two other books by the same author: CELESTIAL GALLERY, with the same illustrator, and THE DALAI LAMA'S SECRET TEMPLE, with all the special meditative artwork.

I love the book it was real like someone could have been in your family that was going through that. When I have a little girl I would love her to read this series. I hope very little girl or adult reads these books.

Matt and Julie are approaching their first anniversary, and Julie, pregnant with their first child, couldn't be happier.

Then one day, with a sense of freedom she knew she wouldn't have for much longer, she is in a car wreck that knocks her unconscious. Matt, concerned about possible injuries to the baby, signs the papers to go ahead and have the baby delivered 2 1/2 months early. As a result of being premature, the baby does not make it. Naturally Matt blames himself and Julie sinks into depression and goes back to her parents.

I don't want to give away the ending! It's not as bad as you may think! A grande finale to a wonderful series!!

I am continually impressed and enlightened by Williams' approach to the tradition of the Roman and Eastern Christian communions as a way to build bridges for Protestants to better understand and appropriate their own often unacknowledged theological foundations. The past really does matter, and there are no theological wheels that need to be reinvented.

I purposely do not say "patristic tradition", although it is a perfectly adequate term in the proper context, since that would imply that it is somehow "out there" and we can just latch onto it without also participating in the liturgy and sacramental life which all of the Fathers accepted as normative and necessary. A strong argument can be made that thinking otherwise would be to fundamentally misunderstand the very heritage that this book is trying to promote and sustain, but you may see my other reviews for that discussion (basically, saying you feel French doesn't make you French, and to feel connected to the past doesn't actually connect you to its living present reality, to paraphrase Schaeffer). There is more to it than an intellectual assent. That said, this primer is a fantastic way to start thinking about why the past matters if you are a Christian of any denominational persuasion, and why a serious student of theology cannot assume that what forms the Christian tradition is merely a byproduct of people sitting down and reading their bibles that magically appeared in their midst, without any reference to the Tradition of the Church out of which those very same scriptures were written and interpreted. Everything the Church Fathers wrote is not of the same worth or quality, but you may certainly find a straight line of continuity there concerning worship and doctrine, as they go hand in hand.

To start off with this book is great, and the rest of Williams' works are fantastic and highly recommended. Just don't forget the liturgical context and theology behind that context when you read the Fathers.

Enjoy!
The following books may also be of interest.

Reading Scripture With the Church Fathers

Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement

The Relevance of the Fathers

By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition

Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity for the American Christian

With extensive use of writings from the early church fathers, Dr. Williams takes us into the church's approach to scripture through the interpretive lense of apostolic tradition. This, in itself, is not at all surprising since the writings of the early church fathers team with such "insight." What is surprising is that this text was written by and for the evangelical "bible alone" Christians who deny apostolic tradition as a necessary presupposition for biblical interpretation. This insight coming from such a distinguished professor is refreshing and enlightening in the direction that evangelical thought may be going.

The texts included in this work demonstrate clearly that tradition and scripture are not a dichotomy between two authorities. Dr. Williams' deep insight is that indeed they are necessary parts of a whole. Scripture is part of that all encompassing apostolic tradition that has been handed down to us from the beginning. The scriptures belong to the church and can only be interpreted through the church's authority and tradition. The church is the pillar and foundation of truth that determines the meaning of scripture from the context of what the church has always taught from the beginning. Any other approach to scriptural interpretation must be suspect.

Dr. Williams approaches this topic with extensive use of writings from the church fathers and very short summary commentaries on a few of those texts. The short commentary is always insightful and enlightening and always bringing us back to the context of the historical early church. Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians alike will find the work instructive and rich with historical context. This is an important and invaluable resource for any library of patristics or early church history. Very well done and very highly recommended.

Unlike most autobiographies of WWII, this one was written before the War was even over. It was written sometime between Scapa Flow, and Prien's loss in action in 1941. If you are looking for a blow by blow account of convoy battles, or even the raid into Scapa Flow, then you will be disappointed. BUT, if you are looking for a fascinating glimpse into the German mindset at the beginning of the 1940's, this is the book for you.

The book spends relatively little time discussing Prien's adventures in WWII, but concentrates on his coming of age as a 16 year old cabin boy in the Merchant Marine and Labor Corps.

Prien's memoir has more in common with those of Herzen, Tolstoy, and Gogol, than those of Doenitz, Werner, or Guderian. Extolling the Germanic virtures of loyalty, honor, and perseverence in the face of hardship, Prien describes how his traditional upbringing made him a great man and war hero.

And, on page 2, he is already talking about black-eyed, pointy-nosed merchants....

A must read for the student of German social history. I wonder if this is the basis for the u-boat captain in "Cat and Mouse"?

What a hidden gem this book turned out to be! It appears from the outside to be just a run of the mill naval warfare book, but it is actually one of those rare biographical accounts that leave you feeling like you understand a man on a higher level. The book is full of honest emotion, and gives you a very insightful portrait of the desperation of pre-Nazi Germany. It leaves no question about why the National Socialists were so supported.

My favorite passage from the book, after a young man commits suicide: "We examined his locker. There was a bundle of letters from a girl, the last of them three days old. She wrote, "I have been waiting for four years and now I can't wait any longer. You can't get a job and I will be an old woman by the time we can marry..." It was always the same. Want, misery, despair and the future merciless and grey. You had to be tough to stick it."

Tragic..

This is, and will always be, one of my favorite books. Gunther Prien is a hero.

I'm a imaging doctor. But i don't find out so many book about ultrasound. So I very wish to read it.

I'm a imaging doctor. But i don't find out so many book about ultrasound. So I very wish to read it.

As American women degrade their own bodies, good honest men find it more difficult to find true love.

The things I have read in the book are amazing! Half of the things that were written by Roy, I saw within myself and boy did it hurt. It's unbearable, but its true!

As a single adult pastor, I have been looking for a book that would be a guide in casting a vision for our ministry for the next 1, 3, and 5 years. Values Driven ministry does an excellent job of taking the reader back to see what drives a God-given vision--it is our biblically based values. (I strongly suggest you also read Malphurs' book: Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century--it is an incredible companion to this one). Since each of has been uniquely made in God's image we will "see" things differently and, yet, our biblically based values shape and are our basis for ministry. This is where in our uniqueness we are actually drawn together for the glory of God. The book does an excellent job of discussing in chronological order the following leadership and vision matters. CH.1: The Importance of Core Values; Ch. 2: The Definition of Core Values; Ch. 3: The Discovery of Core Values; Ch. 4: The Development of Core Values; Ch. 5: The Communication of Core Values; Ch. 6: The Implementation of Core Values; Ch. 7: The Preservation of Core Values. What is especially helpful is that both personal and corporate core values are blended together in discussion format. Two levels are being addressed at the same time; one, is to help leaders define their own personal vision for ministry; two, leaders are being guided to define their ministry's core values as well. This book has been an oasis for this thirsty pastor! I would have liked to have been able to study it in a seminary leadership class.

I haven't read a book yet by Malphurs I haven't liked. Here, in the second edition of this title, he presents a road map for discovering individual and institutional core Christian values. He defines core values as those unique intangibles that drive people and ministry organizations, and highlights their critical nature in planning for future undertakings. This book elaborates upon the core values chapter found in his wider-focused title, "Advanced Strategic Planning: A New Model for Church and Ministry Leaders."

Discovering individual and institutional core values is an invaluable part of ministry planning, and this book offers a wealth of insight on the topic. This work is definitely worth the affordable price.

Note: the first edition of this title is also available to purchase here on Amazon. Both editions are good, but I recommend this second one.

I really enjoyed how this book looked very practically at the arts and the evolution of them within the church. It gives not only a historical requirement to continue to press for more artistic use and involvement in the modern movement of the church, but also gives practical ways in which to do so. If you're involved in creative arts ministry in any capacity, you probably should read this book in order to get your berings.

This book brings a whole new perspective to the table of Christianity and the arts. Dyrness is able to argue that such things are an essential part of Christian life, especially if we are to live holistically. I enjoyed it very much.