Do The Right Thing America Pay Your Debt God Is Watching

In January 1865, President Abraham Lincoln approved Executive Order, Special Field Orders Number 15. It was an order carried out by the military to divide 400,000 acres of land or confiscated plantations into forty-acre parcels and give them to the heads of the former slave family. I am sure we have all heard of 40 acres and a mule. In April of 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated (only three months later). Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in and did not honor that executive order. Special Field Orders Number 15 was reparations for the recently freed slaves America had held in servitude and subjugation for over 200 years. This book spells out the justification, the ability to pay, and an actual plan to execute reparations for the children of American slaves.

Innovative pastor Jay Bakker thought he knew God: the God who rigorously patrolled every aspect of his life, the God who chose sides, the God who was always disappointed in him. But through the transformative power of grace, he discovered the God who loved and accepted unconditionally, freeing him to ask the hard questions and delve into one of Christianity's greatest taboos: doubt. In Faith, Doubt, and Other Lines I've Crossed, Jay voices the questions that Christians are thinking but won't ask as he chronicles his doubt about God, the Bible, heaven and hell, church, society, relationships, grace, and love. In the process he encourages all of us to welcome "the other", to read the Bible differently but better, to draw together in community, and to seek an unknown God of limitless grace. Brutally honest but full of grace, Jay invites everyone to cross the line, to dig deeper, and to discover a faith that is beyond belief.

12th Annual Outreach Resource of the Year (Social Justice) "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 If you're working to make the world a better place, you might find yourself discouraged. Needs are overwhelming, resources are limited, opposition is real and progress is slow. How do we persevere when the novelty wears off and our enthusiasm runs out? We all want change in the world. But as C. S. Lewis put it, we don't get second things by placing them first; we get second things by keeping first things first. As Christians, we don't just aim at change; we aim at faithfulness, and out of faithfulness comes fruitfulness. Activist Ben Lowe renews our mission with key postures and practices for sustaining faithful social action. What makes social action distinctively Christian includes such things as living out Jesus? love, having a prophetic witness, building bridges with opponents, repudiating idolatries, and practicing repentance and sabbath. Moving beyond theory, Lowe showcases practical examples of what it looks like to persevere in faithful activism and advocacy today. Take heart. As you work for God, God is at work in you to keep your hope alive.

We all have a responsibility to acknowledge the divine calling or passion to serve God and then to pursue it through prayer, the Word of God, and counsel. In an inspiring testimony, Christine Villasenor brings a personal perspective to following the will of God and venturing into full-time ministry as she encourages and guides those who feel called to a new adventure in life. Through applicable biblical passages and timely advice, Villasenor helps others prepare to fulfill the calling of God by using their talents and gifts, praying for guidance, allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work, and ultimately accepting the challenges that come along the way. Villasenor’s personal insight into how God moved in awesome ways in her own life will motivate others to be still, expectant, and victorious in their own walks with the Lord. Preparation before Presentation provides guidance for anyone who hears God’s calling and wants to draw Him near in order to fulfill their true purpose.