Noble Lord, Good Shepherd


Book Description

The bishop was a figure of unparalleled importance in the tenth and eleventh centuries, as he married the advantages of his noble birth to the sacramental and pastoral role of bishop, drawing upon the resultant range of powers to intervene in all areas of life. Scholarship on the episcopate in this period, however, has tended to cluster around two themes: the role of bishops in the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire and the critiques of these bishops levied by certain church reformers. This book moves beyond these subjects and examines the full scope of bishops activities in southwest France, as they ruled their cathedrals, interacted with lay powers, patronized religious communities, and wrestled with the complex nature of their office.




Church Leadership


Book Description







Lead Like a Shepherd


Book Description

Pastor, author, and leadership consultant unpacks instruction for church leaders found in 1 Peter 5:1-4 where they are exhorted to shepherd the flock among them. Some instruction is timeless. Regardless of the age in which we live, certain instruction carries no expiration on its relevance. Pastor, author, and leadership consultant, Larry Osborne has discovered this to be the case with instruction on how to be a good leader. The best, most practical advice comes from the Bible, and in particular, 1 Peter 5:1-4. It's in this short passage where leaders are exhorted to shepherd the flock among them. Unfortunately, most modern leaders have precious little experience tending sheep, and many of the implications that were well understood when Peter penned these words are lost on today's reader. Osborne finds the parallels to be numerous, well-worth reviewing and understanding anew. A shepherd leads them to water even when they fear it. A shepherd never allows one sick lamb to destroy the flock. A shepherd lays down his life for his sheep . . . When leaders truly understand Peter's words of exhortation to lead like a shepherd, then they will begin to see the path that leads them to Leading Well.




PASS THE LEGACY


Book Description

With 80 million grandparents in the United States, you are one of many seniors searching for help in being a Godly grandparent. Pass the Legacy: 7 Keys for Grandparents Making a Difference is a book to encourage, inform and equip you in your important role while living in a culture that tells you your purpose is minimal. Many seniors desire to be Godly grandparents of their families. They simply do not know how. As you read this book, you will be empowered to live into the utmost calling God has on your life: to pass a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ to your grandchildren. What an awesome calling for someone living in a generation that struggles to find purpose in life. As you grab “The Seven Keys”, prepare to run an amazing race with the Lord. You will be living into His calling for you. Are you worried about your lovely granddaughter as she navigates this tumultuous world? Maybe you are concerned about your grown son. He seems to be moving farther and farther from the Lord. Then check out these “Seven Keys”. They are basic steps that can propel you towards leaving the most precious legacy of all: a legacy of faith in the Lord. FIRST KEY: Surrender Your Heart to Jesus Christ In order to pass a legacy of faith you must BE a person of faith! People are in one of three categories: those living in Egypt, those wandering around the desert or those abiding in the Promised Land. Discern which category describes you and learn the next step towards a life surrendered to the Lord. SECOND KEY: Read the Bible Daily Since we live in a noisy world, we must choose to set aside Quiet Time. By daily resting in God’s Word, we strengthen our spirits. Learn effective ways to delve into the Bible so that you can implement these Godly truths into your life. Then you will be powerfully prepared to encourage faith in your loved ones. THIRD KEY: Pray Fervently “Babushka Time”! Be like the Russian grandmothers in World War II who fell to their knees praying fervently for their loved ones. Discover powerful ways to prayerfully protect and guide the children and grandchildren the Lord has placed in your life and under your care. FOURTH KEY: Pursue Healthy Relationships with Loved Ones In a culture crowded with smart phones, computers and heavy schedules; relationships are diminished. This key encourages and equips grandparents and parents with grown children to run hard after healthy relationships with their children so that they can pass faith in Christ to the next generation. FIFTH KEY: Heal Broken Relationships We live in a tumultuous world. Many of us have strained, or broken, relationships with our children and grandchildren. Learn three steps towards resolving issues and mending broken relationships with loved ones. SIXTH KEY: Leave a Well-Written Legacy of Love With the world becoming heavily infiltrated by technology, the written word is decreasing. Study ways to write letters, create journals and scribe blessings to family members such that you communicate God’s love to your children and grandchildren. SEVENTH KEY: Pass Your Faith Every person has a God-story to tell. Maybe your story is how you accepted the Lord when you were eight years old, or forty eight years old. Maybe your God-story is that you have always struggled with faith in Christ. Regardless, you have a story that is worthy to be told to your children and grandchildren. God’s highest vision for grandparents is to pass a legacy of faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, to your loved ones. In this world where most seniors retire, God is calling YOU to become a life-changer in the lives of your children and grandchildren. You can make a difference by impacting their hearts for the Lord. Grab these keys and run the race marked divinely for you by God. Never has there been a more important job to do. Never has the need been more urgent.




A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23


Book Description

Travel the Shepherd's path to the green pastures and cool, refreshing waters of Psalm 23. As a shepherd himself, W. Phillip Keller shares his insights into the life and character of sheep--and of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 will give new meaning to the ageless Shepherd Psalm, enriching your trust in and love for the Lord who watches closely over you. Keller infuses new hope into our relationship with Christ. Part of the Timeless Faith Classics series, this installment: Is perfect as a treasured self-purchase or gift for any occasion Showcases Scripture which has been the topic of countless books, articles, and featured on a multitude of gift products Delivers new insights on one of the most familiar and popular chapters in the Bible Is a trusted inspirational resource for personal and spiritual growth and reflection As we lie down in green pastures or walk through the shadowy valley, we're assured that whatever our path, whatever our stumbling, the Shepherd will lovingly guide, carry, and protect us. We can depend on His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Readers will find comfort, guidance, and reassurance with A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.




Cemeteries and Society in Merovingian Gaul


Book Description

Bundeling van de zeven belangrijkste essays over de sociale interpretatie van de Merovingische begraafplaatsen-archeologie.




Rethinking Reform in the Latin West, 10th to Early 12th Century


Book Description

This collection of studies investigates how people of the 10th to early 12th century experienced and represented processes of intentional change in the Church, and what the consequences are of modern scholars’ reliance on ‘reform’ to describe and interpret these processes. In 11 thematic chapters it takes stock of the current state of research and offers suggestions to deepen our understanding of the ideological, institutional, and cultural dynamics at play. Contributors are Julia Barrow, Robert F. Berkhofer III, Gordon Blennemann, Katy Cubitt, Nicolangelo D'Acunto, Anne-Marie Helvétius, Ludger Körntgen, Rutger Kramer, Brigitte Meijns, Diane Reilly, Rachel Stone, and Steven Vanderputten.




Bounded Wilderness


Book Description

In Bounded Wilderness, Kathryn Jasper focuses on the innovations undertaken at the hermitage of Fonte Avellana in central Italy during the eleventh century by its prior, Peter Damian (d. 1072). The congregation of Fonte Avellana experimented with reforming practices that led to new ways of managing property and relations among clergy, nobles, and the laity. Jasper charts how Damian's notion of monastic reform took advantage of the surrounding topography and geography to amplify the sensory aspects of ascetic experiences. By focusing on monastic landscapes and land ownership, Jasper demonstrates that reform extended beyond abstract ideas. Rather, reform circulated locally through monastic networks and addressed practical concerns such as property boundaries and rights over water, orchards, pastures, and mills. Putting new sources, both documentary and archaeological, into conversation with monastic charters and Damian's letters, Bounded Wilderness reveals the interrelationship of economic practices, religious traditions, and the natural environment in the idea and implementation of reform.




The Cambridge History of Medieval Canon Law


Book Description

Canon law touched nearly every aspect of medieval society, including many issues we now think of as purely secular. It regulated marriages, oaths, usury, sorcery, heresy, university life, penance, just war, court procedure, and Christian relations with religious minorities. Canon law also regulated the clergy and the Church, one of the most important institutions in the Middle Ages. This Cambridge History offers a comprehensive survey of canon law, both chronologically and thematically. Written by an international team of scholars, it explores, in non-technical language, how it operated in the daily life of people and in the great political events of the time. The volume demonstrates that medieval canon law holds a unique position in the legal history of Europe. Indeed, the influence of medieval canon law, which was at the forefront of introducing and defining concepts such as 'equity,' 'rationality,' 'office,' and 'positive law,' has been enormous, long-lasting, and remarkably diverse.