Saint Paul Lives Here (In Minnesota)
Unabashedly local and particular, these poems bring alive the sights, sounds, and people of Minneapolis and Saint Paul–the «twin cities» of Minnesota. In addition, they aim to think and feel their way through one of the most painful episodes in the history of the local church, the revelations of cover-up surrounding the sexual abuse of children by priests. The poet's words present one mode of healing in a difficult hour, some nourishment as a community moves forward into a new day.
The Secret Transcript of the Council of Bishops
What would Wesley say? United Methodists have always looked to their founder for an example or a quick quote to justify their actions. The Secret Transcript of the Council of Bishops takes the readers inside the debate over homosexuality and church unity with John Wesley as their guide. Homosexuality raises a host of related questions about the nature and mission of the church, the meaning of membership, and the role of the episcopacy. The Secret Transcript of the Council of Bishops explores what Wesley had to say that can show us a more loving way to move forward.
Written as a dialogue among a group of fictitious United Methodist bishops, The Secret Transcript of the Council of Bishops explores the real-life implications of homosexuality on church unity. Every perspective in this complex and contentious debate is examined and respected as the reader explores how God might be speaking to us through the insights of John Wesley.
Witness to the Word
Karl Barth's lectures on the first chapter of the Gospel of John, delivered at Muenster in 1925-26 and at Bonn in 1933, came at an important time in his life, when he was turning his attention more fully to dogmatics. Theological interpretation was thus his primary concern, especially the relation between revelation and the witness to revelation, which helped to shape his formulation of the role of the written (and spoken) word vis-a-vis the incarnate Word.
The text is divided into three sections – John 1:1-18, 19-34, 35-51, with the largest share of the book devoted to the first section. Each section begins with Barth's own translation, followed by verse-by -verse and phrase-by-phrase commentary on the Greek text. Although Barth's interpretation is decidedly theological, he does take up questions of philology and textual criticism more thoroughly than in his other works.
Much has happened in Johannine scholarship since these lectures were first delivered, yet they remain valuable today – 100 years after Barth's birth – both for their insights into the gospel and into Karl Barth.
Credo
This important book, by a theologian regarded as the most eminent of this century, explains the Apostle's Creed as a foundation of the Christian religion.
Embedded
Steve Stanton, the Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the World Observer Gazette, has been covering events of the Middle East for many years. Stanton's adventures begin when he receives a priority assignment from his Managing Editor: «Our sources tell us of a new national movement sweeping Judea. Apparently the king pin of this movement, is Yeshua bar Joseph of Nazareth See what is going on in Judea and report back!» Stanton was as intrigued as he was excited about the assignment. The country was «abuzz» about this upstart movement and activity around Jerusalem was making the local leaders nervous. From the moment he accepted the assignment, trouble was literally at his door. Following a trail of leads, from eyewitness shepherds in Bethlehem, to religious leaders of the Jews, and even Roman soldiers and other twists and turns, Stanton catches up with and becomes «embedded» within the cluster of disciples. However, Stanton's task will not be easy. There are those who want to block his story. One man will warn him that his whole meaning of his existence will be to stop Stanton's mission. Many face-to-face encounters ensue, all to prevent the story of Yeshua from getting to the outside world. At almost every turn, there are attempts to stop him. The «embedded» journalist rubs elbows with the disciples of Yeshua and learns more, sees more, experiences more than any other person around, maybe even more than the closest of Yeshua's disciples. His 'exclusive' access allows Stanton insight which will help explain why there is such a furor in Judea. Embedded co-mingles historical data, with plot twists, and characters that could have happened. Does Yeshua's fate bring the end of the story? The Stanton Adventures may not end here, but what direction will they go? You know what the verses in the Bible say; now let the Stanton adventures tell you what went on between the verses!
God In Action
In this series of lectures delivered in the period immediately preceding World War II, Barth addresses the major topics of systematic theology. The reader gets a glimpse of the depth of Barth's thinking in these brief discourses, which he expanded upon greatly in his major work, 'Church Dogmatics.' In an Appendix, Barth answers question from the audience regarding the last essay.
Contents 1. Revelation 2. The Church 3. Theology 4. The Ministry of the Word 5. The Christian as Witness Appendix
Star Death
Star Death is a science-based fiction book depicting «sun death» as revealed by the Prophets and as depicted by the Apostle Peter in the Holy Bible. It also parallels scientific estimations of solar entropy as forecast by major astrophysicists who have pushed Relativity Theory to its applicable limits. This book, based on real scientific theorization, is fresh in perspective and presents the laws of thermodynamics in a way never entertained before. The sun, reacting to inputs from the outer reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy, must therefore «negotiate» the «tugs of entropy»; it stretches its electromagnetic curtain to envelop the whole heliosphere into tumultuous radiation eruptions that extend even to the outer periphery of the solar system. Jupiter, Mercury, and the Earth convulse under tremendous pressures that impinge upon their mass and magnetic fields, respectively, to produce turbulence and perturbations uprooting the relative tranquility of the solar system. On the Earth, there is life, human life. Gravi-metric processes become chaotic and erratic so as to disrupt the daily routine of productive life. With impending «star death» came the imperative necessity to create a permanent, safe, space habitation for the human family. As «sun death» affected the whole human species, countries undertook to cooperate internationally in order to alleviate human suffering in the light of the possible extinction of the family of Man.
Romantic Trapezoid
In this witty and ironic novel, Melissa and Dave claim to love each other, but clash as to how the relationship should proceed. Their predicament is complicated by Beth, who brazenly asserts her own amorous intentions. Add a provocative element of mystery, and the result is a subtly subversive comedy about contemporary romance.