Gift And Giver

Affirms the validity of spiritual gifts while seeking to restore a biblical emphasis on why the gifts are given.

In Gift and Giver, leading New Testament scholar Craig Keener takes a probing look at the various evangelical understandings of the role of the Holy Spirit in the church. He explores topics such as spiritual gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, the Spirit's power for evangelism, and hearing God's voice. His desire is for Christians to "work for consensus, or at least for unity in God's work despite our differences on secondary matters." Employing a helpful narrative approach and an ample number of stories, Keener enters into constructive dialogue with Pentecostals, moderates, and cessationists, all the while attempting to learn from each viewpoint. He seeks to bridge the gap between cessationists and Pentecostals/charismatics by urging all Christians to seek the Holy Spirit's empowerment. His irenic approach to this controversial issue has been endorsed by charismatics and non-charismatics alike. Sure to provoke helpful dialogue on a topic that has caused unfortunate divisions within the church, Gift and Giver will be a valuable addition to college and seminary courses on pneumatology. It will also be helpful to lay readers interested in a balanced discussion of spiritual gifts. This repackaged edition includes an updated preface and a substantive new afterword.

A Relational Approach to Fundraising For many people, fundraising has become a dirty word. Conjuring images of guilt-inducing gimmickry, the predominant model saps the joy from both the donor and the receiver. But what if fundraising has the potential to be good for the giver, not just the recipient? What if it's about love and service, not just "What's in it for me?" These are the questions that Peter Greer, president and CEO of Hope International, and David Weekley, one of America's most influential philanthropists, answer in The Giver and the Gift. Based upon their own relationship and experiences, The Giver and the Gift outlines a Kingdom perspective on fundraising. Instead of guilt, there is gratitude. Instead of obligation, joy. It's time to dismantle certain shaky beliefs and practices, energizing a new generation of generosity. "How does fundraising become a Kingdom partnership, instead of just the transfer of funds? As a person who has spent years in the middle of these partnerships, I found the book fresh, clear, and extremely helpful." --Denny Rydberg, president of Young Life

The year she is in fifth grade, Doris meets a special friend in her Bronx neighborhood.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV Joe and Tahni Cullen’s life spun into supernatural mode when their seven-year-old, nonverbal autistic son, Josiah, who had never been traditionally taught to read or write, suddenly typed his first independent sentence on an iPad: God is a good gift giver. As told in the book Josiah’s Fire, God unlocked Josiah’s spiritual senses to the deep joys of heaven—renewing their hope, joy, and excitement for God’s Word, power, and presence. Josiah’s gems on their Josiah’s Fire Facebook page delight people from around the world with his wise, thought-provoking insights. This 21-day devotional unites three inspired voices—Tahni Cullen, Josiah Cullen, and Cheryl Ricker—as they share Josiah’s revelatory quotes, personal stories, Scripture for meditation, and prompts for reflection. You will see that blessings come in unexpected forms, personally prepared for you by the good gift giver himself. When received as gifts, these blessings will increase your gratitude, joy, and hope.

On Christmas Eve a boy stirs from sleep to find an old man, in the living room, dressed in red with a bag full of gifts. Excitement soon gives way to disappointment as he finds he has received fewer gifts than expected. The old man sees the young boy's protest and tells the story of his origins and his motives. As the boy becomes privy to this mystery, a question comes to his mind: is it by magic that the old man accomplishes his task, or is it something else... The lesson he learns will change the way he views Christmas forever! If you are a fan of The Polar Express, and T'was the Night Before Christmas, you will love The Gift Giver.

Living in a "perfect" world without social ills, a boy approaches the time when he will receive a life assignment from the Elders, but his selection leads him to a mysterious man known as the Giver, who reveals the dark secrets behind the utopian facade.

The 12th and 13th chapters in this book feature a twelve year old boy, David, who was inspired to connect with the roots of his Christian faith through his inquiries of the events of Israel today compared to its biblical history. He was so charged with interest and fascination in his Sunday School studies with all of the stories regarding Moses leading the Hebrew people to the Promised Land that he was beyond ecstatic when his father, Pastor Jon St. John announced to the family that they were going on a trip to Israel. And while in Jerusalem, he had an encounter with an Angel. When they returned home after the trip, and attended a formal dinner with the fellowship pastors and their family, Pastor St. John called his son David up before everyone to tell about his experience in Israel. During his talk, he presented a challenge to all of the pastors there. "Every time we open our Bible to study, to teach, to preach, every time we open our Bible should be a reminder to pray for peace in Israel."