Making Wise The Simple

Too long restricted to children's storybooks and cinematic extravaganzas, the Torah -- comprising the first five books of the Bible -- is an underappreciated mother lode of divine instruction, vitally important for Christians and the church. Convinced that both those who take the Torah too literally and those who neglect it are guilty of a naïve simplicity, Johanna van Wijk-Bos presents guidelines to help ordinary Christians recover this treasure in their faith and practice. Having lived in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation, van Wijk-Bos recognizes that after the attempted annihilation of the Jews from Christian Europe, it cannot be business as usual for Christianity. In light of the Holocaust, Christians must commit themselves to the restoration of just relations between Christians and Jews. This commitment to address all that fractures human relations undergirds van Wijk-Bos's call for Christians to reengage the Torah. Making Wise the Simple points out how God's care for and engagement with the whole world in the Torah set the tone for the entire biblical story. The book pays special attention to how our treatment of strangers lies at the heart of the Torah's teaching. Without attempting a purely Jewish reading of the Torah, van Wijk-Bos reclaims the Torah as a vibrant word for the Christian community in covenant with God. Written in a personal style conversant with current scholarship but sprinkled with anecdotes, this book is for everyone who has a hunger and enthusiasm for what the biblical text may convey, the courage to ask disturbing questions of the text, and an openness to old words that may bring forth new things, perhaps even making one wise.

Too long restricted to children's storybooks and cinematic extravaganzas, the Torah -- comprising the first five books of the Bible -- is an underappreciated mother lode of divine instruction, vitally important for Christians and the church. Convinced that both those who take the Torah too literally and those who neglect it are guilty of a naïve simplicity, Johanna van Wijk-Bos presents guidelines to help ordinary Christians recover this treasure in their faith and practice. Having lived in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation, van Wijk-Bos recognizes that after the attempted annihilation of the Jews from Christian Europe, it cannot be business as usual for Christianity. In light of the Holocaust, Christians must commit themselves to the restoration of just relations between Christians and Jews. This commitment to address all that fractures human relations undergirds van Wijk-Bos's call for Christians to reengage the Torah. Making Wise the Simple points out how God's care for and engagement with the whole world in the Torah set the tone for the entire biblical story. The book pays special attention to how our treatment of strangers lies at the heart of the Torah's teaching. Without attempting a purely Jewish reading of the Torah, van Wijk-Bos reclaims the Torah as a vibrant word for the Christian community in covenant with God. Written in a personal style conversant with current scholarship but sprinkled with anecdotes, this book is for everyone who has a hunger and enthusiasm for what the biblical text may convey, the courage to ask disturbing questions of the text, and an openness to old words that may bring forth new things, perhaps even making one wise.

Words of Hope is a daily devotional created to help you find rhythm and space. You'll take comfort in examining topics very familiar to you. You'll come across items you haven't thought about in a long time, or ever. You'll always have the chance to reflect on scripture and the meaning within each Word of Hope. Seizing the opportunity to spend time in thoughtful reflection and prayer will improve the way you approach both your daily routine and long-term outlook. From the author: I believe imagination is a great gift from our Creator. Using it, several years ago, I began to explore a question that captivated me: How can I inspire my granddaughter even if she lives two thousand miles away? I started emailing her a few hope-inspiring thoughts. With encouragement from my wife Susie, soon I had sent some 50 messages and contemplated starting a daily blog for my Words of Hope. Why? Because they seemed to have a real impact on the lives they touched as I continued to expand my audience. I've written over 600 Words of Hope and am excited to place many of these into book form that I hope will inspire you. In life, there is a drive, there is rhythm, and there is space. I believe most Americans are working too long and hard under too much pressure. Taking pride in our work is needful, but we don't have the right rhythm because we don't create space for rest. People often say, "I'm too busy and don't have enough time." I'm there with you. My wife Susie says, "Fred, slow down the bus," meaning I need to have peaceful, reflective time. Words of Hope slows down your bus and allows you to focus on what is vital. How do I want to live? How do I want to spend my time? By developing a daily habit of reading Words of Hope, you can quiet life's pace and generate reflective space that will increase your energy and joy

The Psalms are wonderful. They have been read, repeated, chanted, sung, studied, wept over, rejoiced in, expounded, loved and praised by God's people for thousands of years. The most ancient of these productions is now [1866] three thousand three hundred and twenty-six years old. The least ancient of them is two thousand four hundred and fifty-three years old. The difference in date between the most ancient and the most modern of them is eight hundred and seventy-three years. They were all written in Asia, so that we in this Western world can have no national pride respecting them. Yet pious people here and all over the earth have found and can find no compositions more suitable for delineating their devout emotions, and for expressing their pious sensibilities than those of inspired Psalmists. If to any man these songs are unsavory, the reason is found in the blindness and depravity of the human heart. Hengstenberg: "The Psalms are expressions of holy feeling, which can be understood by those only, who have become alive to such feeling." Other things being equal, he who has the most heavenly mind, will be the most successful student of the Psalms. - Introduction

What does the gift giver say about the gift He gave? This book will help you overcome the arguments, fears, and anxieties related to this gift. FEATURES AND BENEFITS Shares the author's personal testimony and spiritual journey with speaking in tongues Examines the history of this gift in the church for the past two thousand years Interacts with those who have denied that this gift is valid for today's church Speaks to the relationship between Spirit baptism, Spirit filling, and the gift of tongues Few other issues have separated the church more than the issue of tongues. Sam Storms focuses on this controversial subject with his signature insights to theology and the gifts of the spirit. What does the gift giver say about the gift He gave? Storms seeks to bring balance to this subject in The Language of Heaven as he wrestles with this sensitive issue experientially as well as theologically. He ultimately provides a platform to allow God to speak for Himself as he addresses every text of Scripture on the subject and engages with every theological issue that speaking in tongues provokes. As a pastor, Storms knows the questions that the typical churchgoer is asking and provides clear and accessible answers to them all, including: Is the gift of tongues for every Christian or only some? How does the gift of tongues operate in the life of the believer individually in private practice? How does the gift of tongues operate in the corporate assembly of God's church? How is the Christian edified and strengthened by praying in tongues? How do I pray for the gift and prepare my heart to receive it? You can overcome the arguments, fears, and anxieties related to this spiritual gift. Remember, God gives only good gifts, and it is His intention that His church utilize all that He has provided so that we might experience all that He is.