The Invitation System

"Almost all who claim to be Christians are agreed on the need for evangelism. However, evangelicals are still distinguished by their authoritative proclamation of man's state in sin, necessitating a personal response to Christ in repentance and faith. As distinct from vaguer conceptions, evangelicals believe in the new birth of individuals. In recent years, however, the pattern in which such conversions are most frequently expected to occur has been linked with the practice of calling people to the front during an evangelistic service. This is 'the invitation system' characteristic of modern mass evangelism." --from back cover.

This text is designed for those who wish to study mathematics beyond linear algebra but are unready for abstract material. Rather than a theorem-proof-corollary exposition, it stresses geometry, intuition, and dynamical systems. 1996 edition.

This book provides readers with peer-reviewed research papers presented at the 5th International Conference on Clean Energy and Electrical Systems held in Tokyo, Japan, from April 1 to 4, 2023. This proceedings mainly covers theoretical, technical, and practical methods and practices on clean energy and electrical systems. And it includes nuclear energy and "renewable energy." With the continuous growth of energy demand and the increasing awareness of environmental protection in countries around the world, it is urgent and imperative to establish a clean energy innovation research and development, promotion, and application system. The book also covers electricity, fuel, thermal, transportation, and water infrastructures and their development and deployment in different regions around the world. The book includes future development trends with analysis of lifecycle and economical models for successful implementation projects.

God's invitation that must be extended to all is not synonymous with man's invitation system. Only since the 1800s has this system been employed to bring men to Christ. Since that time, this system has been refined and employed to such an extent that many today equate "coming to faith" with "coming down the aisle." Such an equation is not only inaccurate, it is dangerous because it deceives many into resting their faith on a "profession" rather than on Christ, who alone is "able to save to the uttermost." - p. 5.

This volume constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Second International Conference on Adaptive Instructional Systems, AIS 2020, which was due to be held in July 2020 as part of HCI International 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The conference was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1439 papers and 238 posters have been accepted for publication in the HCII 2020 proceedings from a total of 6326 submissions. The 41 papers presented in this volume were organized in topical sections as follows: designing and developing adaptive instructional systems; learner modelling and methods of adaptation; evaluating the effectiveness of adaptive instructional systems. Chapter "Exploring Video Engagement in an Intelligent Tutoring System" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com. Chapters “An Ambient and Pervasive Personalized Learning Ecosystem: “Smart Learning” in the Age of the Internet of Things“ and “Exploring Video Engagement in an Intelligent Tutoring System" are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Japan is heterogeneous and culturally diverse, both historically through ancient waves of immigration and in recent years due to its foreign relations and internationalization. However, Japan has socially, culturally, politically, and intellectually constructed a distinct and homogeneous identity. More recently, this identity construction has been rightfully questioned and challenged by Japan’s culturally diverse groups. This book explores the discursive systems of cultural identities that regenerate the illusion of Japan as a homogeneous nation. Contributors from a variety of disciplines and methodological approaches investigate the ways in which Japan’s homogenizing discourses are challenged and modified by counter-homogeneous message systems. They examine the discursive push-and-pull between homogenizing and heterogenizing vectors, found in domestic and transnational contexts and mobilized by various identity politics, such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, foreign status, nationality, multiculturalism, and internationalization. After offering a careful and critical analysis, the book calls for a complicating of Japan’s homogenizing discourses in nuanced and contextual ways, with an explicit goal of working towards a culturally diverse Japan. Taking a critical intercultural communication perspective, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of Japanese Studies, Japanese Culture and Japanese Society.

How do we assess the effect of an evangelistic meeting or campaign? Are we right to judge its success or failure by the number of people who go forward or sign a card? There can, of course, be no greater or more important invitation to men and women than that of the gospel. The preacher should never feel any inhibitions in declaring the free offer of salvation in Christ. But does this mean that we are at liberty to use any method that appears to get results? Is the appeal or altar call a justified method of encouraging that final commitment, or is it an unwarranted addition to the inherent power of the gospel? This is controversial and may come as a shock to many who have never considered the rights or wrongs of the invitation system before. The authors desire is that all Christians think the issue through and ensure that the Great Invitation of the gospel is not based on modern trends or cultural pressures for instant success, but on the sure foundation of the Word of God.