Honoring God in Red or Blue SAMPLER


Book Description

Enjoy these SAMPLE pages from Honoring God in Red or Blue- As our nation approaches a decision of another presidential election, they're also faced with the great challenge of discussing political issues with grace, truth, and love. Many believers fall into one of two traps: becoming so outspoken that their political fervor becomes a detriment to their Christian testimony or fearing controversy to the point of silence on important issues of faith and community. Dr. Black brings a sensibility and urgency to the issue with this nonpartisan guidebook for debating key issues with respect and conviction. For anyone frustrated until they're red in the eyes or blue in the face--or those who bite their tongues or withdraw completely from the discussion, this book is a critical manifesto to improving both our government and our sense of civility in the discourse.




Honoring God in Red or Blue


Book Description

Politics isn’t a four-letter word. Everyone’s been at that dinner party. The conversation takes a political turn. The arguments start, the atmosphere grows tense, and all that remains is a hopeless stalemate and an awkward silence. Makes you wonder . . . is thoughtful and productive dialogue about politics even possible? In Honoring God in the Red or Blue, Dr. Amy Black addresses the debaters as well as those intimidated or annoyed by the debaters; political junkies and the contented uninvolved. She explains the purposes and limitations of our system and helps readers create realistic expectations for government. While God’s truth is perfect, human application of it is not, a reality that shouldn’t deter us from engaging in debate and staying informed. Rather, it should challenge us to raise our standards for how we speak about the issues—and those in office. It’s time to approach political divides with an extra measure of grace. Success begins with seeking God’s honor first and foremost, regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum. Don’t limit yourself to chatting about the weather.




Hearing God in Conversation


Book Description

"I picked it up out of curiosity and I couldn’t put it down."--Eugene Peterson Christians are comfortable saying that Christianity is about a relationship with God. Yet many might also say that they sense little meaningful relationship with God in their own lives. After all, the foundation of good relationship is communication—-but conversation with God often seems to go only one way. We may sing of walking and talking with God in the garden, His voice falling on our ears, but few have heard that beloved voice themselves. Sam Williamson acknowledges the fundamental human longing to hear God’s voice and offers a hopeful supposition: God is always speaking—-we’ve just never been taught how to recognize His voice. Williamson handles this potentially heady topic with his characteristic straightforwardness and leavening humor. This book deftly bridges the gap between solid biblical theology and practical application, addressing topics such as how to truly pray without ceasing, how to brainstorm with God, how to navigate our emotions, how to answer God’s questions, and how to hear God’s voice for others. Hearing God in Conversation offers simple, step-by-step lessons on how to hear God. Williamson begins with Scripture meditation. He then expands the practice of listening for that voice everywhere—in the checkout line, on the job, in a movie theater, and even in silence. From there, he demonstrates how to hear God’s guidance when making any decision. By the end, readers’ eyes and ears will be opened to the limitless methods through which God speaks.




Red State, Blue State


Book Description

The presidential election of 2004 demonstrated that the United States is divided in a number of ways--not only, by the ever-present alienation between conservatives and liberals. Religion and politics have become intertwined and a new trend is sweeping the nation that accompanies the ever-widening rift between conservative and liberal Christians. We are a divided nation. In Red State, Blue State, author John Grevstad challenges the ideals and morality of the conservative right. How would the traditional moral values of the Red State conservative hold up to the words and philosophy of Jesus Christ himself? Grevstad both asks and answers the question. Citing Biblical text, Grevstad alleges that Jesus was a "card-carrying liberal" whose message has been destroyed by Red State conservatives. Additionally, Grevstad uses a humorous tone and clever insights as he compares the lifestyle, values, and culture of Red States and Blue States. These comparisons are intelligent, controversial, and enlightening. Red State, Blue State is an entertaining and eye-opening contribution to the cause of the American liberal. It offers profound insights while being a clever, highly volatile, and courageous attempt to speak out and do something about the political and religious climate of this country. Red State, Blue State is filled with words of wisdom the country needs to hear.










Agent_Zero


Book Description

The Final Volume of the Groundbreaking Trilogy on Agent-Based Modeling In this pioneering synthesis, Joshua Epstein introduces a new theoretical entity: Agent_Zero. This software individual, or "agent," is endowed with distinct emotional/affective, cognitive/deliberative, and social modules. Grounded in contemporary neuroscience, these internal components interact to generate observed, often far-from-rational, individual behavior. When multiple agents of this new type move and interact spatially, they collectively generate an astonishing range of dynamics spanning the fields of social conflict, psychology, public health, law, network science, and economics. Epstein weaves a computational tapestry with threads from Plato, Hume, Darwin, Pavlov, Smith, Tolstoy, Marx, James, and Dostoevsky, among others. This transformative synthesis of social philosophy, cognitive neuroscience, and agent-based modeling will fascinate scholars and students of every stripe. Epstein's computer programs are provided in the book or on its Princeton University Press website, along with movies of his "computational parables.? Agent_Zero is a signal departure in what it includes (e.g., a new synthesis of neurally grounded internal modules), what it eschews (e.g., standard behavioral imitation), the phenomena it generates (from genocide to financial panic), and the modeling arsenal it offers the scientific community. For generative social science, Agent_Zero presents a groundbreaking vision and the tools to realize it.







Congressional Record


Book Description

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)




One in a Million


Book Description

The Egyptians in Exodus 1 were intent on enslaving the Israelites, wearing them down so that God’s chosen people would become disillusioned and not live up to their destiny. Of the original two million Israelites who received God’s invitation to enter the Promised Land, only two actually entered it! Similarly, modern day Christians often hear and understand the promises of God each Sunday morning at church but then rarely choose to experience them in everyday life. In One in a Million, Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer invites us to change that pattern for good, living beyond our circumstances and expecting to see God move in miraculous ways day after day. Without a doubt, we can find and follow God’s purpose for our journey. We can make it to the Promised Land!