Transforming Power

Based on a thorough exploration of Scripture and decades of real-world experience, Robert Linthicum's model of relational power provides sound, practical strategies for changing individuals, communities, structures and systems.

The apostle Paul writes that we are to be transformed, but for many Christians, figuring out how to approach spiritual transformation can be elusive. Best-selling author Jerry Bridges helps us understand that we have available to us the ultimate power source for true spiritual growth: the gospel. In The Transforming Power of the Gospel, Bridges guides you through a thorough examination of: What the biblical meaning of grace is and how it applies to your life How Jesus' work in His life and death applies to the believer in justification and adoption Why basic spiritual disciplines are necessary for spiritual growth What role the Holy Spirit plays in both definitive and progressive sanctification

In Transforming Power, veteran activist Judy Rebick champions new ways of achieving political goals by emphasizing co-operation and consensus over confrontation and partisanship. Rebick argues that today's combination of environmental crisis, globalization, and rapid technological innovation is producing profound new ideas about social and political life, and that this groundswell is truly the vanguard of a global movement to change the way we live our lives, from the ground up.

This book is about power — power in the classroom, in our schools, and in our society. Schools, teachers, students, and teaching exist in a churning cauldron of interrelated institutions and social forces. Power relations in schools reflect these larger societal forces and the interconnections of our institutions. This book is also about empowerment — the empowerment of teachers and students. It explores the process through which people develop more control over their lives and acquire the skills and dispositions necessary to be critical and effective participants in our society. The heart of this book, and Kreisberg's unique contribution to the empowerment literature, is his elucidation of the difference between power over and power with in his search to understand the nature of power that can empower individuals and communities. Kreisberg draws upon educational, political, feminist, and psychological theory, and, especially, the voices of teachers, in his framing of the question: What are the dynamics of power that we as teachers can create in our relationships with our students that will be empowering for both our students and ourselves?

The key to transformation is different for each individual, group, or congregation. Hugh Ballou has brought together a collection of over 25 articles and stories from individuals who have experienced real-life transformations of themselves or their institution. The inspiration offered from the words will enlist a sense of hope and perseverance during difficult times of change. Discover inspiration and transformation through the struggles of other leaders raging from children's ministry to being in prison, from making Hollywood movies to winning football games, to being leaders who truly lead.

How does an infinite God relate to finite human beings? How does the death of Jesus Christ bring about human salvation? How are Christians able to actively address the world's ills while maintaining their citizenship in the kingdom of God? These are questions the church grapples with today, as it always has. Yet, according to Thomas C. Oden, contemporary theology has neglected the church's traditional answer to these questions: the doctrine of grace. All too often modern theologians either ignore the doctrine of grace or relate it to the achievement of a particular political agenda. Oden asserts that only by reclaiming the centrality of grace--defined as God's self-giving through Jesus Christ in personal encounter with the individual human will--can Christian theology be true to the gospel. In order to reclaim the doctrine of grace, the author reaches back, beyond the fragmentation of theology that took place during and after the Enlightenment. He draws upon the ecumenical consensus held by early Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant theologians, councils, and creeds regarding this cardinal Christian doctrine. By adducing this ancient unity, Oden challenges modern assumptions concerning the sources and methods of the theological enterprise and calls contemporary Christians to discern what their forebears in the faith knew to be essential to the gospel: that to be a Christian is to be formed, nurtured, and upheld solely by divine grace.

Pain doesn’t last always Sometimes only for a night Try not to resist It hurts the more we fight Overcoming life’s difficulties is daunting. At times, it seems the burdens that we bear are too painful to overcome. They keep us from even trying to accomplish the things we want most. It seems the only way to outlast the pain is to ignore it, when, in truth, the only way to discover the unlimited potential inside of us all is to embrace the pain, face the Authentic Self at our core, and use the strength therein to triumph over any obstruction in our way. Based on his powerful, true journey from a childhood rife with poverty, incarceration, addiction and rage to the successful adult life he achieved, award-winning performer, writer, and motivational speaker Daniel Beaty presents the tools that readers need to overcome any obstacle and tap into their full capabilities. By outlining an alternative mode of thinking, especially for the modern African-American man bombarded by negative stereotypes in the media, Beaty empowers the individual and encourages readers of all backgrounds to learn from their cultural and family heritage while forgiving and letting go of the negative so that only the positive remains. Beaty’s story, supported by deeply personal advice from notable mentors such as Bill Cosby, Leontyne Price, Sydney Poitier, Ossie Davis, and Ruby Dee, serves as a strong reminder that success is ultimately possible, not in spite of struggles but as a result of lessons learned and power drawn from those lessons.