Ministry on the Fireline


Book Description

"The best theory for fighting fires comes from actually engaging in the battle against the flames," Ray Anderson writes. "For the thousands of pastors and church leaders who are on the 'firelines' of God's mission in the world, we need a theology that sings, even as it stings, igniting the mind and stirring the heart." In these pages, then, Anderson passionately sets forth a vision of the church's work and mission based on its birthday: Pentecost. At Pentecost, Christians were given the Holy Spirit in order to understand the incarnation and come alive to God. So this key event directs and empowers the church in its service to the world. In the light of Pentecost we learn that we can come to know God only in praxis -- truth discovered through action. In the process of elucidating this praxis, Anderson seeks to construct a theology that not only truly respects and aids ministers on the firelines, but will also heal the breach between Pentecostal and mainline church theology.




On Being Human


Book Description

¥ What does it mean to be human? ¥ How does a right understanding of personhood affect decisions on critical life situations? ¥ What implications does a biblical perspective on personhood have for the pastoral ministry of healing and hope? In answering these questions, Ray S. Anderson focused on the person as determined by and sustained by the creative power of God. He explored the the implications of a biblical understanding of personhood for such critical issues as human sexuality, family relationships, abortion, and death. He broke new ground in relating pastoral care and counseling to contemporary issues which challenge Christians and their understanding of the meaning of human life.




The Soul of Ministry


Book Description

Ray Anderson offers an inspiring call for Christian leaders to view Jesus as a model for their own ministry today. The Soul of Ministry explores the idea of ministry across denominations and discovers its soul in God's love for the world. Designed for pastors of all denominations, this book combines social biblical theology with numerous real-life anecdotes from Anderson's teaching and ministry.




Minding God’s Business


Book Description

Pastors, leaders of Christian organizations, and lay persons will find an invaluable guide and spiritual wisdom in this book. Focusing primarily on the what rather than the how of managing Christian organizations, Ray Anderson clearly presents a biblical and theological basis for understanding the unique characteristics of Christian organizations and what it means to manage such organizations in a Christian way. Anderson emphasizes the role of leadership for pastors and those who manage Christian organizations, providing helpful teaching on issues such as strategic planning, the development of mission statements as a definition of the organization's goals, and what it means to use biblical principles, prayer, and dependence on the Holy Spirit in carrying out the organization's goals.




Who is Present in Absence?


Book Description

What transpires when Classical Pentecostals pray for God to intervene within their suffering, but God does not? Traditionally, Classical Pentecostals center on encountering God as demonstrated through the relating of testimonies of their experiences with God. In seeking to contribute to a theology of suffering for Pentecostals, Pam Engelbert lifts up the stories of eight Classical Pentecostals to discover how they experienced God and others amidst their extended suffering even when God did not intervene as they had prayed. By valuing each story, this qualitative practical theology work embraces a Pentecostal hermeneutic of experience combined with Scripture, namely the Gospel of John. As a Pentecostal practical theological project it offers a praxis (theology of action) of suffering and healing during times when we experience the apparent absence of God. It invites the reader to enter into the space of the other’s suffering by way of empathy, and thereby participate in God’s act of ministry to humanity through God’s expression of empathy in the very person of Jesus.




Refining Fire


Book Description

This is a book for healing wounded churches. When a church experiences conflict, it results in a wounded people. Healing for the church involves a healing of the people involved. The process is essentially the same for both. That is because the church is Gods vessel for healing the deep wounds of the human soul. The healing process set forth in this book is the application of biblical principles of grace that actually work. They have been tested and found to be amazingly effective. Damaged churches can experience renewal and become effective vessels of grace to their community. Wounded believers can experience renewal and restoration, discovering a dimension of Gods presence either forgotten or never before known. Understanding the reasons for conflict and division, rediscovering the healing impact of Jesus mission, catching a new vision of what it means to be the church in todays world, and designing a local fellowship so that healing grace defines worship and ministry is the focus of this book. As such, it is both a manual for personal healing of the deep wounds of the soul and for healing the wounded church.




Line on Fire


Book Description

The India–Pakistan border in Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed repeated ceasefire violations (CFVs) over the past decade. As relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated, CFVs have increased exponentially. It is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of these violations owing to their potential to not only cause a crisis but also escalate an ongoing one. Line on Fire, part of the Oxford International Relations in South Asia series, postulates that the incorrect diagnosis of the reasons behind CFVs has led to wrong policies being adopted by both India and Pakistan to deal with the recurrent violations. Using fresh empirical data and first-hand accounts, the volume attempts to understand the reason why CFVs continue to take place between India and Pakistan despite consistent efforts to reduce the tension between the two nations. In doing so, it recontextualizes and enriches the prevailing arguments in contemporary literature on escalating dynamics and unenduring ceasefire agreements between the two South Asian nuclear rivals.







Leading the Congregation


Book Description

A complete and definitive guide to the practice of church leadership--newly revised




Predicting, Monitoring, and Assessing Forest Fire Dangers and Risks


Book Description

To understand the catastrophic processes of forest fire danger, different deterministic, probabilistic, and empiric models must be used. Simulating various surface and crown forest fires using predictive information technology could lead to the improvement of existing systems and the examination of the ecological and economic effects of forest fires in other countries. Predicting, Monitoring, and Assessing Forest Fire Dangers and Risks provides innovative insights into forestry management and fire statistics. The content within this publication examines climate change, thermal radiation, and remote sensing. It is designed for fire investigators, forestry technicians, emergency managers, fire and rescue specialists, professionals, researchers, meteorologists, computer engineers, academicians, and students invested in topics centered around providing conjugate information on forest fire danger and risk.