Life as Advent - Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." "Every Christmas I'm reminded of the longing I felt growing up as I would anticipate this special day. And while I recognize that I was more excited about opening gifts than anything else, the longing is still appropriate. The days leading up to Christmas- Advent, or 'waiting'- are about anticipation, reflection, feeling the weight of the Coming of the Christ-child. And though we immerse ourselves in the spiritual practice of waiting, we know that Jesus has already come. It's this tension that we live in, the already and the not yet. This season of Advent is a reminder of the broader groaning and anticipation we experience all life-long, for the restoration of this broken world. The Christian life is an advent - a patient longing for renewal and destination, for when there is finally no curse and our souls are at rest. May the peace of Jesus bring light to the darkness that threatens to overwhelm."- Jars Of Clay Peace Is Here: Christmas Reflections is a printed collection of thoughts and reflections by three time GRAMMY award winners Jars of Clay. The essays within explore the true essence of the Advent season and what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Like postcards sent from a long journey, Peace is Here marks the path of contemporary Christian life.

An African-American theologian presents this timely critique of the "victimology" theme within black liberation theology and its long-standing spiritual and social implications.

In this interdisciplinary, biblical critique of the black experience in America, Anthony Bradley introduces audiences to black liberation theology and its spiritual and social impact. He starts with James Cone's proposition that the "victim" mind-set is inherent within black consciousness. Bradley then explores how such biblical misinterpretation has historically hindered black churches in addressing the diverse issues of their communities and prevented adherents from experiencing the freedoms of the gospel. Yet Liberating Black Theology does more than consider the ramifications of this belief system; it suggests an alternate approach to the black experience that can truly liberate all Christ-followers.

God owns everything. That is is the biblical view: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it” (Ps. 24:1). God delegated ownership and dominion of property to his Image, man (Gen 1:26–28). God sanctioned the protection of private property in His law—the Ten Commandments—including a prohibition of theft (Ex. 20:15). Jesus (Matt. 19:18) and the Apostles (Acts 5; Eph. 4:28) upheld this law.

The biblical witness is clear: God believes in private property, and He not only desires us but commands us to live by that rule as well. Socialism is the belief that private property is a bad idea. Socialists believe that governments should own most or all property and distribute it as government experts, scientists, politicians, or occasionally voters see fit. Under socialism, the State puts itself in the place of God and says, “The earth is the State’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”

Between these two systems—private property and socialism— there exists fundamental conflict. They are fundamental rival religious systems. Choosing one, you reject the other. Either God commands and judges man, or man commands and judges man. This book illustrates this war of worldviews in the economic and political realm, and argues the necessity and superiority of choosing God over humanism’s false god, socialism, in
all its many forms.

A new enlarged edition of this classic work has been released that is useful for public, private and family worship. An esteemed collection of 1,156 hymns of rich theological content, many of which are not found in any
other current hymnal. Contains: Gadsby's original hymns;
1st and 2nd supplements; Hart's hymns and occasional hymns.
A wealth of meditation for one's own devotions.

Churches and individual Christians typically have faulty assumptions about the causes of poverty, resulting in the use of strategies that do considerable harm to poor people and themselves. When Helping Hurts provides foundational concepts, clearly articulated general principles and relevant applications. The result is an effective and holistic ministry to the poor, not a truncated gospel.

A situation is assessed for whether relief, rehabilitation, or development is the best response to a situation. Efforts are characterized by an "assest based" approach rather than a "needs based" approach. Short term mission efforts are addressed and microenterprise development (MED) is explored.

Often times when we believe we are doing good, we are in fact doing harm. When this happens we may all stand back and shout "I was only trying to help!" but the damage is done, and often cannot be reversed. Such is the case with many of the ways local congregations have contributed through their various projects such as short-term missions. This book, "When Helping Hurts", discusses ways in which Christians can help those in poverty without harming those who are already suffering, and how to keep themselves from getting hurt. Beyond helping those in need, it is also the call of very Christian to act responsibly and wisely, while yet being "innocent as doves". In a world of increasing violence and hunger this book is quite timely and will help churches be more effective in both helping the poor ad spreading the gospel.

The Center for Faith and Culture on the campus of South Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008 held the first- ever conference in honor of Dr. Francis Schaeffer. The conference was more than an historical inquiry into the life and ministry of Schaeffer; it was about how Schaeffer might inform Christians in the 21st century on reaching culture with biblical and philosophical integrity. Schaeffer s view of people was that they belonged to humanity---broken humanity, yes---but nonetheless humanity made in the image of God. This was more than a point of doctrine for Schaeffer; it was the ground on which he treated each person with significance and respect. This book supports the belief that Francis Schaeffer s word to the Christian community is as relevant today, and maybe more so, than in his own lifetime.

Language is not only the centerpiece of our everyday
lives, but it gives significance to all that we do.
It also reflects and reveals our all-sustaining Creator,
whose providential governance extends to the intricacies
of language. Writes Vern Poythress, "God controls and
specifies the meaning of each word-not only in English but
in Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Italian, and every other
language. When, in our modernism or postmodernism, we
drop him from our account of language, our words suddenly
become a prison that keeps us from the truth rather than
opening doors to the truth. But we will use our words more
wisely if we come to know God and understand him in relation
to our language."

It is such biblically informed insights that make "In the Beginning Was the Word" especially valuable. Words are
important to us all, and this book-written at a level that
presupposes no knowledge of linguistics-develops a positive,
God-centered view of language. In his interaction with
multiple disciplines Poythress offers plenty of application,
not just for scholars and church leaders but for any Christian
thinking carefully about his speech.

Christmas is a strange, beautiful time. Making this
record has been more challenging than we expected. We
had to remain in a season of Advent though our hearts
wandered, and that has been difficult. But we are proud
of these songs. They have stood the test of time, and
they will be here many years after we have gone. We tried
to stay out of the way and honor these timeless melodies
as best we could. We hope you like them, and we hope they
remind you of Advent.

Merry Christmas.

When John Calvin first began writing his Institutes of the Christian Religion, he had in mind a short handbook or manual which would set out the essentials of the Christian faith. Although the persecution of Protestants in France led him in time to accentuate the apologetic nature of the book, the Institutes, as first published in 1536, remained a work of Christian instruction, intended, as Calvin says, for those who were ‘touched with some zeal for religion’, and principally for those among his French compatriots who ‘were hungering and thirsting for Christ’, and who ‘might be shaped to true godliness’.

The ESV Study Bible was created to help people understand the Bible in a deeper way--to understand the timeless truth of God's Word as a powerful, compelling, life-changing reality. To accomplish this, the ESV Study Bible combines the best and most recent evangelical Christian scholarship with the highly regarded ESV Bible text. The result is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published--with 2,752 pages of extensive, accessible Bible resources.

Have you ever thought money, power, or love would bring you happiness? Discover how only God can wholly satisfy our cravings! Keller explores Scripture to demonstrate how our hearts can turn good, wholesome things into idols that drive us. Using classic Bible stories, he reveals the key to understanding our society and transforming our own minds.

The Bible tells us that the human heart is an "idol- factory," taking good things and making them into idols that drive us. In "Counterfeit Gods", Keller applies his trademark approach to show us how a proper understanding of the Bible reveals < the unvarnished truth about societal ideals and our own hearts. This powerful message will cement Keller’s reputation as a critical thinker and pastor, and comes at a crucial time -for both the faithful and the skeptical.

Publisher's Description

Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God’s will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill—something that any person can develop and improve, especially with the guidance in this book.

Written by a leading evangelical blogger, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is an uplifting, scripturally grounded work that explains the need for discernment, its challenges, and the steps that will cultivate it. Author Tim Challies does not do the discerning for readers; he simply shows them how to practically apply scriptural tools, principles, and wisdom so that their conclusions about everything—people, teachings, decisions, media, and organizations—will be consistent with God’s Word.

When did the good news become just good advice? Christianity doesn't work as just a moral philosophy or code of ethics. It makes sense only when it is built upon the foundation of the gospel, the good news. The simple message that God has done everything he requires to reconcile sinners to himself is not just the church's slogan, but its lifeblood. In this candid and hopeful book, Michael Horton challenges us to reorient our faith and our practice toward the transformative, Christ-centered gospel--both in the church and in the world

Song Listing:

1. Flood
2. Love Song For A Savior
3. Like A Child
4. Worlds Apart
5. Crazy Times
6. Frail
7. Unforgetful You
8. I Need You
9. Show You Love
10. Amazing Grace
11. God Will Lift Up Your Head
12. Dead Man (Carry Me)
13. Work
14. Love Is The Protest (Brand NEW Song)

Liberal Fascism offers a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics. Publisher Comments "Fascists," "Brownshirts," "jackbooted stormtroopers"--such are the insults typically hurled at conservatives by their liberal opponents. Calling someone a fascist is the fastest way to shut them up, defining their views as beyond the political pale. But who are the real fascists in our midst? "Liberal Fascism" offers a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics. Replacing conveniently manufactured myths with surprising and enlightening research, Jonah Goldberg reminds us that the original fascists were really on the left, and that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to FDR to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler's National Socialism and Mussolini's Fascism. Contrary to what most people think, the Nazis were ardent socialists (hence the term "National socialism"). They believed in free health care and guaranteed jobs. They confiscated inherited wealth and spent vast sums on public education. They purged the church from public policy, promoted a new form of pagan spirituality, and inserted the authority of the state into every nook and cranny of daily life. The Nazis declared war on smoking, supported abortion, euthanasia, and gun control. They loathed the free market, provided generous pensions for the elderly, and maintained a strict racial quota system in their universities--where campus speech codes were all the rage. The Nazis led the world in organic farming and alternative medicine. Hitler was a strict vegetarian, and Himmler was an animal rights activist. Do these striking parallels mean that today's liberals are genocidal maniacs, intent on conquering the world and imposing a new racial order? Not at all. Yet it is hard to deny that modern progressivism and classical fascism shared the same intellectual roots. We often forget, for example, that Mussolini and Hitler had many admirers in the United States. W.E.B. Du Bois was inspired by Hitler's Germany, and Irving Berlin praised Mussolini in song. Many fascist tenets were espoused by American progressives like John Dewey and Woodrow Wilson, and FDR incorporated fascist policies in the New Deal. Fascism was an international movement that appeared in different forms in different countries, depending on the vagaries of national culture and temperament. In Germany, fascism appeared as genocidal racist nationalism. In America, it took a "friendlier," more liberal form. The modern heirs of this "friendly fascist" tradition include the" New York Times," the Democratic Party, the Ivy League professoriate, and the liberals of Hollywood. The quintessential Liberal Fascist isn't an SS storm trooper; it is a female grade school teacher with an education degree from Brown or Swarthmore. These assertions may sound strange to modern ears, but that is because we have forgotten what fascism is. In this angry, funny, smart, contentious book, Jonah Goldberg turns our preconceptions inside out and shows us the true meaning of Liberal Fascism.

"In the past two decades, a small cottage industry of
important new scholarship has emerged documenting the
distinctive Calvinist contributions to the development of
Western theories of law, democracy, and human rights.
In this engaging volume, David Hall offers a crisp
distillation of the latest scholarly findings and a clarion
call to reclaim the Calvinist pedigree of some of our most
cherished political ideas and institutions."

John Witte, Robitscher Professor of Law,
Director, Center for the Study of Law & Religion, Emory Law School

2009 marks the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth,
and throughout the year scholars from around the world are
gathering to discuss Calvin and his influence. Calvin's
Institutes is one of the great classics of Christian theology.
Here a leading Calvin expert offers an affordable guide to
reading the Institutes (keyed to the McNeill/Battles translation).

The book includes annotations to selected readings that offer
readers a streamlined introduction to the heart of Calvin's
theology. Dividing the Institutes into thirty-two portions,
the author has chosen an average of eighteen pages to be read
from each portion to cover the whole range of the Institutes
and provide readers with passages critical to understanding
Calvin's theology. The notes guide readers through the text,
concentrating on the sections chosen for reading, summarizing
the material, and drawing attention to the most significant
footnotes in the McNeill/Battles edition. An introduction
and questions at the beginning of each portion direct the
reader's attention to important points, and a brief guide
at the end of each portion suggests further reading. The book
will serve professors and students of the Institutes, courses in
Calvin, Reformed theology, and historical theology; and
readers seeking a guide to the Institutes.

Endorsements:

"A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes" makes a first- time
read of John Calvin's Reformation classic more efficient by
highlighting its most important sections. Tony Lane provides
sufficient summaries, teasers, directions, and assessments
to make the study of Calvin's magnum opus stimulating and
enlightening. Though few will agree with all of Lane's
assessments of Calvin, even areas of disagreement can be
used as a springboard for further research. I, for one,
hope to keep this handy reference tool beside my McNeill-
Battles edition of the Institutes.

--Joel R. Beeke, president, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

A concise yet meticulous guide to the Battles translation
of the Institutes. Tony Lane admirably succeeds in identifying
its structure & in highlighting its arguments. This guide
will be an invaluable help to new readers of Calvin's great work.
--Paul Helm, teaching fellow, Regent College, Vancouver

"Tony Lane is one of the world's most well-respected Calvin scholars. In this book, he draws on his impressive knowledge of the Reformer to provide contemporary readers with a careful guide to the structure, argument, and content of the 1559 edition of the Institutes. After an introductory essay setting the work in context, the author guides the reader through the complexities of the text in a sure-footed and accessible way. This work clearly supersedes previous reading guides and is likely to become the standard overview.

--Carl Trueman, professor of historical theology and church history, Westminster Theological Seminary

The pro-life message can compete in the marketplace of
ideas—provided Christians properly understand and
articulate that message. This book helps pro-life
Christians make a persuasive case for the lives of the unborn.

Pro-life Christians, take heart: the pro-life message can
compete in the marketplace of ideas—provided Christians
properly understand and articulate that message. Too many
Christians do not understand the essential truths of the
pro-life position, making it difficult for them to
articulate a biblical worldview on issues like abortion,
cloning, and embryo research.

"The Case for Life" provides intellectual grounding for the
pro-life convictions that most evangelicals hold. Author
Scott Klusendorf first simplifies the debate: the sanctity
of life is not a morally complex issue. It’s not about
choice, privacy, or scientific progress. To the contrary,
the debate turns on one key question: What is the unborn?
From there readers learn how to engage the great bio-tech
debate of the twenty-first century, how to answer objections
persuasively, and what the role of the pro-life pastor should be.

A user-friendly narrative of the formation of the doctrine
of Scripture in the modern age, interspersed with primary
source materials. Covers modern challenges to three main
subject areas: the authority, sufficiency, & interpretation of Scripture.

Belief in the Bible as God’s authoritative revelation to
humanity forms the bedrock of the Christian faith, laying
the groundwork for nearly everything in the practice of
theology. For the last 150 years or so, this doctrine has
been put under the microscope of the modern age, with focused
attention—and criticism—falling on three main subject areas:
the authority of Scripture, the sufficiency of Scripture,
& the interpretation of Scripture.

"Ancient Word, Changing Worlds" tells the story of these
developments in the doctrine of Scripture in the modern
age, combining in one volume both narrative chapters and
chapters devoted to primary source materials. This new genre
of historical theology will appeal to general readers, who
will be drawn in by the book’s prose style, and students,
who will benefit from features like timelines, charts,
explanations of key terms, and introductions and explanatory
notes for the primary source documents.

A manifesto calling Christians to adopt children and to
equip Christian families going through the process. Offers
biblical foundations for adoption and identifies adoption
as a Great Commission priority in evangelical churches.

A stirring call to Christian families and churches to be a
people who care for orphans, not just in word, but in deed.

The gospel of Jesus Christ—the good news that through Jesus
we have been adopted as sons and daughters into God’s
family—means that Christians ought to be at the forefront
of the adoption of orphans in North America & around the
world.

Russell Moore does not shy away from this call in "Adopted for Life",
a popular-level, practical manifesto for Christians
to adopt children and to help equip other Christian
families to do the same. He shows that adoption is not
just about couples who want children—or who want more
children. It is about an entire culture within evangelicalism,
a culture that sees adoption as part of the Great Commission
mandate & as a sign of the gospel itself.

Moore, who adopted two boys from Russia and has spoken
widely on the subject, writes for couples considering
adoption, families who have adopted children, and pastors
who wish to encourage adoption.

In "Money, Greed, and God", Jay Richards has written the
definitive case for capitalism, a crisply written and
incisive discourse on wealth and poverty, money and morality
for the 21st century."
(George Gilder, co-founder of the Discovery Institute & author of "Wealth and Poverty")

"Jay Richards understands the objections to capitalism,
and here explains why they do not convince him. The empirical
findings revealed in "Money, Greed, and God" run against
those objections." (Michael Novak, Chair in Religion &
Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute)

Does capitalism promote greed? Can a person follow Jesus'
call to love others and also support capitalism? Was our
recent economic crisis caused by flaws inherent to our free
market system? Jay Richards presents a new approach to
capitalism, revealing how it's fully consistent with Jesus'
teachings and the Christian tradition, while also showing
why this system is our best bet for renewed economic vigor.

The church is bombarded with two competing messages about money and capitalism: wealth is bad and causes much of the world's suffering wealth is good and God wants you to prosper and be rich Richards exposes these myths, and other common misconceptions about capitalism, and reveals the surprising ways that capitalism is, in fact, the best system to respond to the biblical mandates of alleviating poverty and protecting the environment. Money, Greed, and God equips readers to take practical steps in their own lives to conduct business, worship God, and serve others without falling into the "prosperity gospel" trap.

Miller offers a practical real-life approach to prayer for
busy families! His honest down-to-earth advice shows you
how to practice praying in the midst of daily routine.
You'll learn to pray like a child, live your Father's
story, understand unanswered petitions, and more. Includes
tips on using tools such as prayer cards and journaling.

Sin has ravaged the house that God created. This world
sits slumped, disheveled, and in pain, groaning for the
restoration that can only be accomplished by the hands of
him who built it in the first place. The bad news is that
you and I are living right in the middle of the restoration
process. The good news is that the divine Builder will not
relent until everything about his house is made totally new
again. Emmanuel lives here with us, and he is at work
returning his house to its former beauty.

Someday you will live forever in a fully restored house,
but right now you are called to live with peace, joy, and
productivity in a place damaged by sin. How can you be an
active part of the restoration at the heart of God's plan?
The book in your hands will teach you to live productively
in the here and now.

Ten African-American leaders in the church tell their
stories of how they embraced Reformed theology and what
effect it has had on their lives and ministries.

The ten men who have contributed to this book are often
asked, “How did you come to embrace Reformed theology?”
With the recent surge in popularity of Reformed theology in
the broader evangelical world and the growing interest among
African-Americans, it shouldn’t seem curious that more and
more African-American churchmen are embracing Reformed
theology. But the question remains, and "Glory Road" provides
an answer, using personal accounts tracing their conversion
to Christianity, their introduction to and embrace of Reformed
theology, and this theology’s effect on their lives and
ministries. Ultimately, Glory Road is about the glory of
God in providentially bringing men and women to the
truths of salvation.

In addition to the book’s editor, Anthony J. Carter, "Glory Road" includes contributions from such notable pastors
as Thabiti Anyabwile, Ken Jones, Michael Leach, & Eric Redmond.

High-profile bailouts, controversial economic stimulus
packages, universal health care . . . are we slipping into
socialism? Senator DeMint says yes---but it's not too late
to reverse course! Offering a comprehensive action plan, he
shows how conservative legislation can reduce debt, fix
Social Security, provide tax credits to pay for health
insurance, stop America's cultural decline, and more.

The United States—the world’s great bastion of freedom—is
sliding toward socialism. Recent high-profile bailouts show
the walls between government and the private sector are
getting thinner each day. Federal control now extends in
various ways to education, healthcare, financial markets,
real estate, businesses, and religion. And as out-of-
control government spending and debt increase accordingly,
America is drained of the economic and political strength
its people fought and worked so hard to achieve. But it
isn’t too late to save the land of the free.

"Saving Freedom" is Senator Jim DeMint’s firsthand account
of the unsettling socialist shift—behind-the-scenes actions
in Congress that are changing the character of our nation.
He illuminates key principles of freedom and how they are
being compromised by big government. More important, DeMint
lays out a complete action plan to reclaim America’s
freedom based on legislation that would reduce debt, fix
Social Security, and provide a tax credit for every family
to buy health insurance. The plan also emphasizes reversing
America’s cultural decline by restoring a strong spirit of
God and country.

After 343,203 online votes on the Mars Hill Church website,
nine questions for Pastor Mark Driscoll emerged as the ones
most urgently calling for answers.

Inspired by 1 Corinthians, in which Paul answers a series
of questions posed by the people in the Corinthian church,
Pastor Mark Driscoll set out to determine the most
controversial questions among visitors to the Mars Hill
Church website. In the end, 893 questions were asked and
343,203 votes were cast. The top nine questions are now
each answered in a chapter of "Religion Saves".

After an introductory chapter devoted to the misconception
that religion is what saves us, Driscoll tackles nine
issues: birth control, humor, predestination, grace, sexual
sin, faith and works, dating, the emerging church, and the
regulative principle.

Because the purpose of this book is to address commonly
asked questions, all readers will find relevant, engaging
material, written in Driscoll’s distinctively edgy, yet
theologically sound style.

"Finally, here is a contemporary, definitive biography of
James Boyce, the nineteenth-century, visionary founder of
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Boyce served
as chairman of the faculty, and as professor of systematic
and practical theology, and church government. Tom Nettles
shows how Boyce gave his life to training Baptist theological
students in orthodox, Reformed, experiential theology.
Nettles does with Boyce what Iain Murray did with Dr. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones. Without resorting to hagiography, Nettles offers
fascinating details of God’s great work through Boyce’s
intriguing relationships with other notables, such as
Archibald Alexander, Samuel Miller, Charles Hodge, Basil
Manly Jr., Francis Wayland, F. B. Meyer, John A. Broadus,
William Williams, and C. H. Toy. Ultimately this captivating
biography moves us to worship God. Make it your must-read
biography this year."

--Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President,
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids

In this timely collection of essays, sixteen Southernjk
Baptist leaders address key issues of theology, polity,
and practice to ascertain the future of the Southern
Baptist Convention in particular and evangelicalism in general.

What was once a small, southern, predominantly white
denomination has become America’s largest evangelical
denomination. Yet with the Southern Baptist Convention’s
growth have come the challenges of increasing fragmentation,
theological controversy, and sweeping cultural change.
These challenges have caused leaders and members to ask:

-What does it mean to be a Southern Baptist in the twenty- first century?
-How can a fresh consensus be established from within?
-What are the core biblical convictions that must be upheld, the key practices that must be sustained, to reach the lost in this age of cultural accommodation?

These essays by editor David Dockery, Al Mohler, Timothy
George, Russell Moore, Paige Patterson, and eleven other
SBC leaders address these important issues and themes from
several perspectives. Their observations will illuminate the
way not only for fellow Southern Baptists but for all
evangelicals facing similar challenges in the twenty- first
century and beyond.

Taking into account the latest developments in Bible translation, Leland Ryken expertly clarifies the issues that underlie modern Bible translation by defining the terms that govern this discipline and offering a helpful Q&A. He then contrasts the two main translation traditions— essentially literal and dynamic equivalence—and concludes with sound reasons for choosing the former, with suggestions for using such a translation in the church.

The church's worship has always been shaped by its
understanding of the gospel. Here Bryan Chapell, author of
the well-regarded text "Christ-Centered Preaching", provides
churches with a Christ-centered understanding of worship
to enable them to transcend the traditional/contemporary
worship debate and unite in ministry and mission priorities.
Churches will learn how to shape their worship based on Christ's
ministry to and through them and will be challenged to let
the gospel shape every element of their corporate worship.

"Christ-Centered Worship" brings historical and biblical
perspective to discussions about worship, demonstrating that
the gospel has shaped key liturgical traditions and should
also shape contemporary worship. It then addresses practical
issues, looks outward to the church's mission, and provides
resources for worship planning, encouraging readers to identify
their church's specific gospel calling as the basis of making
decisions about worship. The book will be useful to worship
and ministry professors and students at the seminary level,
pastors, worship leaders, worship planning committees,
and missionaries.

One of the most comprehensive attacks on secularism yet
attempted argues that advocates of secularism misunderstand
the borders between science, religion, and politics and
cannot solve the problem of religious difference.

University scholars have spent decades subjecting religion
to critical scrutiny. But what would happen if they turned
their focus on secularism? Hunter Baker seeks the answer to
that question by putting secularism under the microscope
and carefully examining its origins, its context, its claims,
and the viability of those claims.

The result of Baker's analysis is "The End of Secularism".
He reveals that secularism fails as an instrument designed
to create superior social harmony and political rationality
to that which is available with theistic alternatives. Baker
also demonstrates that secularism is far from the best or
only way to enjoy modernity's fruits of religious liberty,
free speech, and democracy. "The End of Secularism" declares
the demise of secularism as a useful social construct and
upholds the value of a public square that welcomes all
comers, religious and otherwise, into the discussion. The
message of The End of Secularism is that the marketplace
of ideas depends on open and honest discussion rather
than on religious content or the lack thereof.

Endorsements:

"Hunter Baker's volume is a much-welcomed addition to the
debate on the role of religion and faith in the public square.
To the confusion regarding matters of religion and politics,
Baker brings illuminating clarity. To the ambiguity
regarding the meaning and place of pluralism, he provides
thoughtful analysis. To the directionless arguments for
secularization, he offers an insightful and discerning
response. This much-needed volume provides a readable,
historically-informed, and carefully-reasoned case for
the place of faith in our public deliberations. It is
with great enthusiasm that I recommend it."
--David S. Dockery, President, Union University

"Hunter Baker is one of the sharpest thinkers in contemporary
American Christianity. This work will provoke the same kind
of conversation ignited by Richard John Neuhaus's "The Naked
Public Square." Read this book slowly with a highlighter and
a pen in hand as you think about questions ranging from
whether the Ten Commandments ought to hang in your local
courthouse to whether there's a future for public Christianity."
--Russell D. Moore, Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Difficult times beg questions about God's goodness and
power. Offering compelling true stories, fresh answers,
and biblical insights, Alcorn challenges the logic of
disbelief and reveals the big picture of who God is and
what he's doing in the world---equipping you to share your
faith clearly with those experiencing pain and fear.

1-By Thy Mercy 2-Jesus, Lord We Look to Thee 3-A Prayer for the Broken-Hearted 4-Rock of Ages 5-Greater than Our Hearts 6-Salvation to the Lamb 7-Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah 8-Great God from Thee 9-My God, My father, Blissful Name 10-Lo, the Storms of Life are Breaking 11-Arise, My Soul, Arise 12-O Love that Will Not Me Go

Some of the leading voices in evangelical Christianity
reaffirm the importance of preaching biblical theology for
the health of our churches.

Loving, teaching, and rightly dividing the Word of God is
every pastor’s privilege and responsibility. If a pastor
understands what the Word says about God, man, and the
curse, about Christ and his substitutionary atonement, and
about the call to repentance and sacrifice, he will develop
and preach a sound theology. And sound theology is, in the
words of Ligon Duncan, essential to faithful pastoral ministry.

Proclaiming a theology that is centered on Christ’s
atonement is especially critical, for by this atonement,
Christians have been brought from death to life, and by it
a church lives or dies. In this penetrating sequel to
"Preaching the Cross", John Piper, R. C. Sproul, John
MacArthur, and Thabiti Anyabwile join authors Mark Dever,
Ligon Duncan, C. J. Mahaney, and Albert Mohler in exploring
the church’s need for faithful proclamation and calling
pastors and churches to cross-centered, scripturally-
saturated thinking.

If God has spoken, then the highest human aspiration must
be to hear what the Creator has said. God has indeed
spoken, through the Ten Commandments, and Al Mohler
explores this revelation of God and the implications for
His people. The promise is to hear, to obey, and to live.
These "Ten Words" tells us who God is and what His people
should look like. Each chapter takes the reader from the
Word to personal story to personal application.

What is the Church? If we want to minister to today's
broken world we need to understand what Scripture means by
the Church. New Testament writes about the body of Christ
and the Kingdom of God. For the writer to the Hebrews, the
Church of today finds its most proper definition in terms
of the historical experience of the old covenant people of
God "in the wilderness" during the days of Moses. For him,
the Church is: God's people in the wilderness. His unifying
perspective on this vital question of the Church's self-
definition provides fresh insight into the nature of the
Church--an insight that has the promise of reviving and
redefining the life of Christ's people even today. Rooted
in the redemptive experience of the old covenant people of
God, this life-shaping self-definition may provide much-
needed aid to the confused state of churches in Christ for
the 21st century. Palmer Robertson will help us consider
the nature and mission of the people of God in today's
world as defined by Hebrews.

"This work will serve well as a textbook for college- and
seminary-level ethics courses and as a trustworthy guide
for pastors, lay leaders, and all ministry professionals
who desire to apply faithfully the texts of Scripture to
many of today's crucial ethical issues. I highly recommend
this superb volume."
--Robert V. Rakestraw, Bethel Seminary

Situational ethics, made popular in the 1960s, teaches
that "all we need is love." Loving is how we should be,
but it does not tell us what to do. A biblical ethic can
provide guidance and begins with the light of Scripture.
But how applicable is the Bible's moral standard to the
complex issues we face today, such as stem cell research,
euthanasia, racism, gambling, and environmental care? And
how does a person use Scripture in making or evaluating
ethical decisions?

Trusted Bible scholar and teacher Walter Kaiser answers
these questions by connecting eighteen tough ethical issues
to eighteen key teaching Scriptures, including, for
example, poverty with Isaiah 58, genetic engineering with
Genesis 1:26-30 and 2:15-25, substance abuse with Proverbs
23:29-35, cohabitation with 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and war
with Deuteronomy 20:1-20 and Romans 13:1-7. Through
authoritative teaching from Scripture, suggested
expositional outlines, and insights from years of teaching
this material at Gordon-Conwell and Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School, Kaiser demonstrates how to connect
Scripture to ethical issues and train congregations to
think biblically about ethics. The result is a vital text
for teaching pastors, a stimulating resource and guide for
preaching, and a foundation for developing Bible studies.

"Evangelicals Engaging Emergent" is a first of its kind
treatment of the controversial emergent church movement.
Drawing from a broad spectrum of evangelical thinkers, this
informative, respectful guide examines what "emergent"
means, why the movement originated, where it is headed, and
where emerging church participants sometimes waver toward
relativism. Contributors to this book include Norman
Geisler, Darrell Bock, Thom Ranier, and Ed Stetzer.

John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, Mark Driscoll, and other leaders from Desiring God’s 2008 conference examine the life-altering power of our words and their impact in sharing the gospel Words carry immeasurable significance: The universe was created with a word; Jesus healed and cast out demons with a word; rulers have risen and fallen by their words; Christians have worshiped through words of song, confession, and preaching. Even in our technological age, politics, education, business, and relationships center on words. Since the tongue is such a powerful force—for good or evil—we are wise to ask: What would homes, churches, schools, even the public square be like if we used words with Christian intentionality and eloquence? "The Power of Words and the Wonder of God" seeks to answer
this difficult question. In these chapters, derived from
Desiring God’s 2008 national conference, John Piper,
Sinclair Ferguson, and Mark Driscoll team with worship
pastor Bob Kauflin, counselor Paul Tripp, and literature
professor Daniel Taylor to help readers harness their
tongues and appropriately command their silences for the
glory of God and the ministry of the gospel.

TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING! This work has long been anticipated. Glean from the wisdom and spiritual depth of the Puritans during 2010 through these 365 daily readings. Over the past fifty years there has been a great resurgence of interest in the writings of the Puritans. The reading of their works has brought great benefit to the people of God in many lands. Christians from many different backgrounds and cultures owe a great debt of gratitude to those faithful pastors and preachers who continue to speak through their writings even though they have long since entered into their heavenly reward. The Puritans really knew how to teach and apply God’s Word in the Spirit’s power!

Richard Rushing has compiled this book of daily devotional readings from his favourite Puritan authors because of the great help he has gained from their Works. ‘How thrilling it has been for me to read the Puritans on the glory and attributes of God, divine providence, fellowship with God, holiness of life and the mortification of indwelling sin, heavenly mindedness, prayer, evangelistic zeal, and trust in the Lord during times of affliction. At every turn these truths are eloquently taught, faithfully applied, and kindly offered as the subject of sweet spiritual meditation.’

This book is sent forth with the prayer that it will open a door to the vast stores of treasure to be found in the writings of the Puritans and that it will stimulate further exploration of this rich spiritual inheritance.

What marks the difference between assurance, and license? The church seems to be populated by people who either don't seem to care about sanctification or look at it and fear for their salvation. How can we tread the pathway between being confident in our preservation without falling into apostasy? Peterson shows us how to understand this vital doctrine through investigating 4 key elements.

Conventional scholarship holds that the theology and social ethics of the Reformed tradition stand at odds with concepts of natural law and the two kingdoms. But David VanDrunen here challenges that status quo through his careful, thoroughgoing exploration of the development of Reformed social thought from the Reformation to the present.

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they’re really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.

Each story in "Mighty Acts of God" is retold in lively, modern-day language from a Reformed perspective, and is followed by an application section with several discussion- sparking questions and prayer points. By moving chronologically through both the Old and New Testaments, parents and children glimpse the person of God as one of consistency, vibrancy, passion, and love.

In the same tradition as Raising a Modern-Day Knight, this book is designed to equip parents to cultivate strong relationships with their adolescents. Raising a Modern-Day Princess stresses the importance of creating a rite of passage for teen girls-a defining moment in which girls can be blessed by significant adults in their lives, and a call for their families and communities to celebrate and support them as they enter womanhood. This book offers practical help in raising a generation of women to see themselves as God sees them-as daughters of the King.

Obama’s national healthcare mandate will undoubtedly lead to the largest expansion of government in the history of the United States and will cost taxpayers around $1 trillion over ten years. And that’s just the beginning, says Sally Pipes, author of The Truth About Obamacare.
By carefully analyzing the most insidious piece of legislation ever passed, Pipes lays bare every anti- freedom, anti-business detail the Obama administration doesn’t want you to see. As president of the Pacific Research Institute and a native of Canada, Pipes knows exactly how this socialized form of health care will negatively affect our society—because it already has in Canada.
While a majority of Americans are outraged over the law, most people do not have the specific ammunition they need to lead the fight for repeal. The Truth About Obamacare provides a close look at the dangerous course Obama has set for the country, illustrating beyond a doubt the potential for financial ruin and decreased quality of life.
Here’s what the Democrats in Congress don’t want you to know about Obamacare:
-The “46 million uninsured” people Obama cites is a gross exaggeration—the actual number is closer to 10 million.
-Obamacare = taxes. It will cost $2.5 trillion between 2014 and 2024, and to pay for it, we’ll get the biggest tax increase in the nation’s history: $569 billion over the next decade.
-Obamacare = red tape. It creates 159 new offices, agencies, and commissions, and requires 16,000 new IRS agents to enforce the insurance mandates.
-Obamacare = uninsured seniors. Medicare Advantage, a popular and successful program, will be slashed and phased out over the next two to six years, leaving millions of senior citizens without insurance.

About the Author:
Sally C. Pipes is president and chief executive officer of the Pacific Research Institute and a renowned expert on health care and economic issues. A former Canadian, and a refugee from Canada’s government run health care system, she lives in California, is a frequent guest on network and cable news shows, from The Today Show to The O’Reilly Factor, from The Glenn Beck Show to 20/20 with John Stossel, is a columnist for the Examiner newspapers, Chief Executive, and Investor’s Business Daily, and has written for many other newspapers, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. -Obamacare = lower quality of care. It will inflate the total number of people on Medicaid to 84 million, a 37% expansion Exposing the lies and rhetoric that have dominated the discussion about healthcare, The Truth About Obamacare offers the cold, hard facts—and 10 specific ideas for real healthcare reform that won’t usurp our individual rights and empty our pockets.

The problems with Open theism lie deeper than most critiques suggest. This book interacts not only with the truth claims of Open theism but also its distorted aesthetic and ethical assumptions that do so much work in their program.

Open theists like to picture the God of classical Christian theism as a distant, despotic, micromanaging sovereign. The god of Open theism, on the other hand, is ready to enter into new experiences and to become deeply involved in helping us cope as we, with him, face things we simply did not know would happen. They insist that God has knowledge, but not all knowledge, certainly not knowledge of the future acts of free beings. Such Open theistic inferences reveal a deep-seated devotion to Enlightenment categories and narrow unpoetic imaginations.

Ideas have destinations, and one of the consequences of our trying to read the Scriptures without any poetry in our souls will be the eventual destruction of any possibility of ministering to souls. Just imagine the hymn writer try-ing to lift up the downcast—“I know not what the future holds, but I know Who also doesn’t know much about it either.”

“Allah has bought from the Umma—the true believers of Islam—their selves and their substance in return for Paradise; they fight in the way of Allah, killing and being killed. Their promise is written in the blood of the moon.” —From the Koran, chap. 9, v. 112

The conflict between Islam and the West existed long before the destruction of the World Trade Center and the other events that recently touched America. It goes back hundreds, even thousands, of years. Yet the struggle is upon us now as never before. In this well-reasoned, accessible book, Middle East expert George Grant answers the troubling questions on many believers’ minds. Who are the followers of Islam, and what do they believe? What could have motivated those who carried out the acts of terror on September 11? Why has there been tension between Islam and the West for centuries? What are the true meanings of terms such as Ji’had, Intifada, and Dhimma? And is there any hope for peace? The call upon believers now—as always—is to prepare and equip ourselves so that we may stand fast. The Blood of the Moon will help readers better understand the history of Islam and its struggle with the Western world, as well as how Christians can share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with the followers of Allah.