Restoration Run Amuck

John chapter seventeen records Jesus prayer for unity among his followers, which did not appear to be answered in the affirmative. In the eighteenth century a movement began in the eastern United States to address the obvious division of Christendom. This Restoration Movement was inclusive, inviting people to leave Christian denominations and return to the Bible alone for spiritual guidance. Thus, speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent became their mantra. In 1801 this movement kindled a large revival centered at the Cane Ridge Meeting House (cover of book) near Paris, Kentucky. Churches birthed by this movement grew and spread rapidly to both the frontier and the cities. However, within fifty years, conflict and division began to arise in these churches as some became more sectarian and others more legalistic, resulting in three primary groups: the Disciples of Christ, the Independent Christian Church, and the Church of Christ. Of these groups, the Church of Christ was the most conservative, with many congregations taking silence of the Scriptures as prohibitive of everything not written in the two thousand-year old text, resulting in more conflict and division. Thus, the Restoration Movement had run amuck, becoming mired in its own swamp of legalism. This book seeks to identify what went wrong, and what changes in attitude, behavior, and conversation are necessary to get the unity train back on its track.

John chapter seventeen records Jesus' prayer for unity among his followers, which did not appear to be answered in the affi rmative. In the eighteenth century a movement began in the eastern United States to address the obvious division of Christendom. This Restoration Movement was inclusive, inviting people to leave Christian denominations and return to the Bible alone for spiritual guidance. Thus, "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent" became their mantra. In 1801 this movement kindled a large revival centered at the Cane Ridge Meeting House (cover of book) near Paris, Kentucky. Churches birthed by this movement grew and spread rapidly to both the frontier and the cities. However, within fi fty years, conflict and division began to arise in these churches as some became more sectarian and others more legalistic, resulting in three primary groups: the Disciples of Christ, the Independent Christian Church, and the Church of Christ. Of these groups, the Church of Christ was the most conservative, with many congregations taking silence of the Scriptures as prohibitive of everything not written in the two thousand-year old text, resulting in more confl ict and division. Thus, the Restoration Movement had run amuck, becoming mired in its own swamp of legalism. Th is book seeks to identify what went wrong, and what changes in attitude, behavior, and conversation are necessary to get the unity train back on its track.

How can one be assured of his or her salvation? This question has worried many Christians for centuries. Yet, the answer provided by the teachings of the New Testament is that every Christian can be certain that eternity will be spent with Christ and the Heavenly Hosts. Modern evangelical doctrine typically states that once a person recites the sinners prayer and accepts Jesus, there is nothing he or she can do to be eternally lost. Unfortunately, that idea is not supported by what one reads in the New Testament. Although Jesus said concerning His disciples I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand, he also warned If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. Thus, the idea presented is that as long as one chooses to remain in Christ no force will be able to separate him or her from Gods grace. However, one does retain the freedom to walk away from Jesus and walk into being separated from His grace. Jesus effectively summarized His expectations in His message to the church at Smyrna: Be faithful until death. A second question concerning salvation is What does it mean to be faithful? In the New Testament, John answers this question saying that a Christian needs to walk in the light, meaning that we live our lives within the light of Christ by following Him, maturing in Him and keeping His commandments. As we walk in the light several things happen to us to pull us away from being carnal beings. We are transformed by the renewing or our minds. We develop a Christian personality, which is not centered on self. We learn to worship and serve our Creator. We find peace and contentment that surpasses human understanding. In totality, we discover the best way to live the few years we have been given upon the earth.

Jesus is by far the most influential human to ever walk the earth. He was and still is a polarizing figure, with people either praising or excoriating him. As fully God and fully man Jesus had a unique perspective on life that was usually at odds with the thinking of most people. Therefore, the results of an encounter with Jesus were often unpredictable. In "Encounters with Jesus" the effects of Jesus on the lives of twenty-six people in the New Testament are examined. Each chapter begins with a soliloquy of the persons thoughts prior to and after meeting Jesus. Following the soliloquy there is a discussion of the experience based on relevant New Testament Scriptures. Questions are located at the end of each chapter to aid the reader or class to make appropriate applications to their lives. Encounters with Jesus is a useful book for personal Bible study that is also appropriate for class or small group settings. In each of these situations the readers will discover how Jesus has affected their lives as they come to appreciate a better way of being human.

Traditional software development methods struggle to keep pace with the accelerated pace and rapid change of Internet-era development. Several "agile methodologies" have been developed in response -- and these approaches to software development are showing exceptional promise. In this book, Jim Highsmith covers them all -- showing what they have in common, where they differ, and how to choose and customize the best agile approach for your needs.KEY TOPICS:Highsmith begins by introducing the values and principles shared by virtually all agile software development methods. He presents detailed case studies from organizations that have used them, as well as interviews with each method's principal authors or leading practitioners. Next, he takes a closer look at the key features and techniques associated with each major Agile approach: Extreme Programming (XP), Crystal Methods, Scrum, Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Lean Development, Adaptive Software Development (ASD), and Feature-Driven Development (FDD). In Part III, Highsmith offers practical advice on customizing the optimal agile discipline for your own organization.MARKET:For all software developers, project managers, and other IT professionals seeking more flexible, effective approaches to developing software.

A comprehensive reference presents over five hundred full essays on authors and a variety of topics, including censorship, genre, patronage, and dictionaries.

No other German has shaped the history of early-modern Europe more than Martin Luther. In this comprehensive and balanced biography we see Luther as a rebel, but not as a lone hero; as a soldier in a mighty struggle for the universal reform of Christianity and its role in the world. The foundation of Protestantism changed the religious landscape of Europe, and subsequently the world, but the author chooses to show not simply as a reformer, but as an individual. In his study of the Wittenberg monk, Heinz Schilling - one of Germany's leading social and political historians - gives the reader a rounded view of a difficult, contradictory character, who changed the world by virtue of his immense will.