A Cry Instead Of Justice

Within a book widely touted as the path to peace, violence has incongruously been central to the Bible and how it is used. This collection book examines the manifestations of violence in Scripture, and the ways that Scripture itself - whether violent in content or not - can be used to justify violence and aggression in specific social circumstances today. The book is divided into two parts. The first half explores some incidents of Biblical violence that, rather than appearing at the forefront of the narrative, reflect that ancient Jewish culture (including the early Christian movement recorded in the New Testament) treats violence as an undeniable fact of the social world in which biblical figures live. In these essays, psychological theory and interpretation focus on the effect of this culture of violence in the behavior, expectations, and failures of Biblical figures, in order to re-evaluate the messages of these texts in light of their accepted, but largely unacknowledged,aggression. The second half uses psychological models to understand how Biblical doctrine and ideals shape the world in which we live, and introduce patterns of aggression and acceptance of violence into family, cultural, and political situations. Altogether, this collection of essays seeks to shed light on how the Bible relates to violence - and how many people relate to violence, consciously or not, through the stories and dynamics.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible proclaims justice and abundance for the poor. Yet these powerful passages about poverty are frequently overlooked and misinterpreted. Enter the Poor People's Campaign, a movement against racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism, and religious nationalism. In We Cry Justice, Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the campaign, is joined by pastors, community organizers, scholars, low-wage workers, lay leaders, and people in poverty to interpret sacred stories about the poor seeking healing, equity, and freedom. In a world roiled by poverty and injustice, Scripture still speaks. Organized into fifty-two chapters, each focusing on a key Scripture passage, We Cry Justice offers comfort and challenge from the many stories of the poor taking action together. Read anew the story of the exodus that frees people from debt and slavery, the prophets who denounce the rich and ruling classes, the stories of Jesus's healing and parables about fair wages, and the early church's sharing of goods. Reflection questions and a short prayer at the end of each chapter offer the opportunity to use the book devotionally through a year. The Bible cries for justice, and we do too. It's time to act on God's persistent call to repair the breach and fight poverty, not the poor.

In A Cry for Justice, Shelley Hundley uses her story as a backdrop to show how she found healing from the pain, guilt, and shame of the abuse she endured as a child and how she came to know Jesus in a new way--as a righteous judge who fights for His people and takes upon Himself the burden of our injustices and pain.

n many Christian circles this may be a taboo subject-spoken of in hushed tones or behind closed doors. But it is a very real problem that must be brought into the light of Scripture. Abuse in the church takes different forms, but it is alive and active even in "nice" families in our churches. Typically, the abuser is male, usually a husband--and his character is that of a manipulating deceiver! Countless women and children even many faithful pastors--have been abused by these deceivers. Have you, or someone you know, been a victim? Has an abuser: Threatened physical violence if he does not get away? Intimidated you with abusive language? Denied you affection? Denied you medical attention? Manipulated friends and acquaintances in order to gain allies? Pastor Jeff Crippen uses his over thirty years of experience to rip the lid off this most insidious behavior that is often hidden in plain sight. He not only maintains that Bible believing churches have ignored or failed to face the problem, he insists that when they do counsel a victim of abuse, they get it all wrong! The result is that the victim gets pulled into deeper-even life threatening-danger! This book will come as a life-saver in a raging sea for those under the thumb of an abusive spouse of "friend". The Lord Jesus Christ wants you to be free in him: spiritually, emotionally, and, yes, physically. Every pastor also needs to read this book, either because they too have been a victim, but, more importantly, so that they properly counsel those caught in a cycle of abuse.

On March 22, 1991 after a 14-day trial in Rockingham County Superior Court, New Hampshire, my daughter Pamela Smart was wrongfully found guilty in the murder of her husband, Gregory Smart. She was convicted of being an accomplice to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and witness tampering. Only 22 years old at the time, she was given a life without parole sentence. My daughter did not commit these crimes. I'm not saying this because she's my daughter, but there was no credible forensic evidence to prove she had any role in Gregory's murder. This trial spiraled into a media circus and the un-sequestered jury believed all the lies that the local news stations were saying about Pamela's role. Billy Flynn who testified at trial that he physically pulled the trigger, as well as testifying against Pamela at trial, he ended up pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 40 years to life, with the option to shave 12 years off if he behaved himself in prison. He was released in 2015. Flynn was 16 when he shot my 24-year-old son-in-law Gregory Smart to death, and accused Pamela of telling him to carry out this heinous act. Nicole's Kidman's portrayal of Pamela's life in the cult film "To Die For" is just one example of the way the media has exploited her pain, our family tragedy. I've bottled up my feelings for 30 years now and finally decided to release personal and revealing letters between Pamela and myself, to share with the public so people can see the truth behind all the lies. This is the first journal I am releasing. We have lots more to come.I will continue to fight for Pamela's freedom because she's innocent and has so much left of her life to offer society. I want her home before I die and will continue to file petitions to get the executive council of New Hampshire to free Pamela. This is my book. This is our story. This is what I live for.