Nazarene Dream

In Nazarene Dream, key events in the life of Joshua (Jesus) unfold and reveal the motivation behind his mission, how he meets his disciples, and how he gets in trouble with the authorities. Above all, they show how Joshuas followers come to mistake a thoroughly human Galilean rabbi for a divine, miracle-working messiah. Decades later, after Joshua fails to return in time to prevent the Romans defeat of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem, a proto-Christian Jewish community in Syrian Antioch has a crisis of faith. Within this community, popular rabbi Ariel must confront his flocks doubts, disillusionment, and desertion of the cult of Joshua. But Ariel still believes. His observations and experiences of the wars atrocities convince Ariel that the war is the fulfillment of signs revealed by Joshua himself. Ariel resolves to persuade his community that their messiah saw the war coming and will return as promised.

This is the story of a young white leopard growing up in the most tempting time in history. She receives a dream from the Shepherd that tells her that she will "defeat the maned one with the voice of thunder." However, as she grows up her life becomes unstable and she begins to question her purpose. Stress and strife dominate her life, and eventually, doubt begins to rule her thoughts, allowing bitterness to envelop her heart. Dreams and visions, though, also dominate her mind as they foreshadow future events. As she tries to figure out each vision, heavenly signs also appear unto the white leopard, signs that she knows only come from the Lord of heaven and earth. Eventually, these visions come to pass. Four sore plagues — war, famine, death, and wild beasts — devastate a fourth part of the earth, changing the landscape of the world. In an attempt to restore peace and safety, the kingdoms of the earth come together to form a ten-kingdom coalition called the New Kingdom. With this New Kingdom comes new rules and laws that contradict the holy laws established by the Lord of heaven and earth. While most suspect nothing of the kingdom's true plans, the white leopard senses that the time of great tribulation is at hand. In order to survive, she must trust the Lord to bring her through all trials and show her the path for strength in fulfilling her purpose while also overcoming emotional bondages that have hampered her spiritual freedom.

The only novel written by the legendary songwriter and performer, Johnny Cash—the incredible story of the apostle Paul. In this historical novel about the life of Paul before and after his conversion, discover the passionate, fiery, and destructive man once known as Saul of Tarsus. Paul's encounter with Jesus, the Man in White, knocked him to the ground and struck him blind. It also turned him into one of the most influential men in history. See the apostle Paul as you've never seen him before—through the creative imagination of one of the greatest singer-songwriters America has ever known. You'll also see Johnny Cash, the man in Black, as you've never seen him before—a passionate novelist consumed with the Man in White. Praise for Man in White: “[Johnny did] extensive research and study of the life of the apostle Paul, and amazed [me] as he talked about Paul and we shared the Scriptures together. When [Man in White] was first published several years ago, my wife and I both read it—then read it again!” —Billy Graham Biographical fiction exploring the life of Saul, the man who became the apostle Paul Painstakingly researched and historically accurate Draws on Old and New Testament references as well as cultural background information Includes an afterword by John Carter Cash, Johnny Cash’s son

This book fundamentally changes the game for the Church of the Nazarene. A growing number of people are calling for fresh conversations about sexuality and gender. And many want fundamental change. This book gives voice to those people. There are strong reasons the Church of the Nazarene should become fully LGBTQ+ affirming. The writers of these essays – whether queer or straight – lay out those reasons, share their experiences, and explain why change is needed. Love rests at the heart of the denomination’s view of God. And yet its statement about human sexuality does not support the ways of love. At least in America, the Church of the Nazarene is rapidly shrinking. Many people are leaving the denomination because of its views on LGBTQ+ matters. According to research, in fact, the holiness movement is the worst at keeping young people. This book offers hope. Hearing the voices of queer people, allies, and scholars is a crucial step toward transformation. For love to win in the Church of the Nazarene, change is needed. ENDORSEMENTS “We Nazarenes have a peculiar origin story. The pioneers of our movement didn't agree. Even where some of the most important tenets of faith are concerned, our founders couldn't and didn't agree. But they prioritized being (and staying) together, in the hopes that what united them would be stronger than what would divide them. In that same spirit of hopeful inclusiveness, these writers dream of a tent large enough to house our differences. May we learn again the power of dignity, inclusion, diversity, breadth, and love.” - Jon Middendorf, Senior Pastor at Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene “These essays are the start of a much needed conversation for the church and LGBTQIA+ community. At times they are not easy to read - you may agree with some things and not with others. But the generations coming behind us (some as authors in this book) need us to hear and engage with their hearts. Read them, let their emotion soak in. And then start talking about it!” - Bruce Barnard, Elder in the Church of the Nazarene ABOUT THE EDITORS Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord has been an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene for more than 30 years, taught at two Nazarene institutions of higher education, and published many books through the denomination’s publishing house. A best-selling author, Oord currently directs doctoral students at Northwind Theological Seminary. Website: thomasjayoord.com Alexa MacKenzie Oord is a graduate of Harvard University and Simmons University. Oord currently serves as an Administrative Assistant in Undergraduate Student Life at Columbia University in New York. She also works as Senior Editor at SacraSage Press. Website: sacrasagepress.com

In a world that screams Be Seen! Be Known! and often measures value by likes and shares and follows, it's easy to feel invisible, unheard, unloved. But God's Word offers a powerful and freeing counternarrative: true treasure is actually found in the "hidden" life of Christ. Somewhere along the way, we've confused our level of visibility with our value. We've mixed up fame with fruitfulness. We've equated exposure with excellence. But what if we stopped trying so hard to be seen, recognized, and affirmed by the world around us? What if there's a different way of living altogether? Seen, Secure, Free unpacks the great promise in Colossians 3:3: "Your life is hidden with Christ in God" and reminds us that when God hides us in himself, he provides a non-negotiable, never-ending source of contentment, identity, and worth. Join Bible teacher Allison Allen as she explores the incredible power of hiddenness in nature, history, and Scripture, which will help you: Let go of the pressure to be recognized and praised by others; Release the resentment that comes from feeling unseen or misunderstood; Find contentment in a loving God who knows you deeply; Find security in a powerful God who establishes your identity, worth, and purpose; Reset your motivations and goals to align with his kingdom; and Feel freed to pursue new adventures with Jesus No more striving to be seen or wondering if you matter; no more pressure to perform or be visible to the world. Instead, rest assured that God truly sees, knows, and loves you more than any person ever could. And let him lead you into the freedom, joy, and transformative power of a life hidden in him.

Lion of Judah, the Christmas story; with historians and Scriptural explanation why God dealt differently with Mary and Joseph identifying two different sects of the Jewish religion they were raised under and a forbidden love; they accidentally overcome by the common belief on the age of the virgin in Isaiah 7:14; MaryaEUR(tm)s and JosephaEUR(tm)s age caused trouble. Reader will learn about the Jewish wedding custom and wedding feast. Information concerning Jewish practice of the law dealing with a husband and his wife, being pregnant, that the child was not his. The records of criminal activities during RomeaEUR(tm)s first taxation, shows who protected Mary during her trip to ElisabethaEUR(tm)s and how Joseph protected her in the journey to Bethlehem. Correct transportation a carpenter would provide for his wife to travel almost eighty miles, carrying his Christ. Bible and historians describe Levi and his father being RomeaEUR(tm)s tax collectors. At JesusaEUR(tm)s birth, Levi was a teenager and his father was BethlehemaEUR(tm)s chief tax collector. Historians and Bible describes Lucas and his father being physician. At JesusaEUR(tm)s birth, Lucas was a teenager and his father was an army physician at Bethlehem.RomeaEUR(tm)s historical records of medical schools throughout the empire (with there being two where Lucas was born) and development of the Military Physician Core by the year Augustus first taxation was in force, gives strong evidences of two teenage boys (a Jew and a Gentile), could meet Mary and Joseph, then witness events, that did not mean a thing to them at the time, until both were born again. Read St. Matthew first and second chapters; St. Luke first and second chapters; you will have to read Lion of Judah to have a broader perspective and complete picture of the fulness of time God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

People around the world are experiencing dreams and visions at an alarming rate. And God Chose Dreams gives valuable insight on why dreams are increasing at this alarming rate. Learn why dreams have significant value for you, and why God chose this method to increase His communication to humanity in the changing times we live in.

Pontius Pilate is the governor and prefect of Judea. He has been given the authority to rule the province by the emperor of Rome. Pilate lives up to his reputation as a harsh and cynical leader, and it has put him at odds with the people of Judea, especially the religious sect known as the Sanhedrin. The tension further escalates when members of the Sanhedrin arrive at Pilate's court one Friday morning to have him authorize the execution of another man they've deemed as a threat to their agenda, a man known as Jesus of Nazareth. As Pilate presides over the trial, he notices something unique about Jesus and secretly tries to spare him from the trap set by their common enemies and from the wrath of the Roman Empire. The pressure mounts as Pilate becomes torn between his duties as governor and his growing convictions about Jesus. But he soon realizes that he is a part of a Divine Plan that will change his life and the rest of the world.