U.S. representative and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan outlines his vision for a budget that will "renew confidence in the superiority of human freedom"--P. [4] of cover.

In the decades following World War II, a movement of clergy and laity sought to restore liberal Protestantism to the center of American urban life. Chastened by their failure to avert war and the Holocaust, and troubled by missionaries’ complicity with colonial regimes, they redirected their energies back home. Renewal explores the rise and fall of this movement, which began as an effort to restore the church’s standing but wound up as nothing less than an openhearted crusade to remake our nation’s cities. These campaigns reached beyond church walls to build or lend a hand to scores of organizations fighting for welfare, social justice, and community empowerment among the increasingly nonwhite urban working class. Church leaders extended their efforts far beyond traditional evangelicalism, often dovetailing with many of the contemporaneous social currents coursing through the nation, including black freedom movements and the War on Poverty. Renewal illuminates the overlooked story of how religious institutions both shaped and were shaped by postwar urban America.

This new contributed volume from Steven Hook and James Scott introduces students to the conduct of foreign policy under the Obama administration. Its twelve original essays, written by a stellar cast of experts in the field, address whether the Obama administration’s strategy represents a “renewal” of U.S. engagement. To what extent has this administration succeeded in building both the domestic and international constituencies needed to implement its foreign policy goals? How exactly have Obama’s policies regarding drone strikes, prisoner abuse, extraordinary rendition, and climate change differed from Bush-era policies? Contributors provide detailed assessments of these and many other key questions. Designed to fit easily into courses on U.S. foreign policy, the volume’s first part looks at policy formulation, while the second part tackles policy domains. An extensive bibliography makes a great student resource for further research.

"In The Road to Renewal: Private Investment in U.S. Transportation Infrastructure, R. Richard Geddes surveys the current state of the American transportation system and finds that, like the roads themselves, the existing policy approach is in desperate need of repair. Drawing on the basic economic principles behind supply, demand, competition, and incentives, Geddes argues that a shift toward increased use of public-private partnerships (PPPs)--contractual agreements between public agencies and private parties that allow private participation in the design, construction, operation, and delivery of transportation facilities--could significantly improve the quality of America's transportation infrastructure. By learning to see themselves as customers and investors--rather than mere users--of roads and highways, Americans should expect to receive a reasonable return on their investment: thorough, effective maintenance of America's transportation infrastructure. The Road to Renewal shows how incorporating increased private participation can halt the deterioration of America's transportation system and become the foundation for a safer, more efficient transportation future."--P. [4] of cover.

Cycles are part of nature, our personal lives and the social fabric of our country. Just as the four seasons progress through the year, and repeat each year, so is there a rhythmic cadence to social change in America. The social cycle, like nature, has four seasons (periods) within it, lasting a total of about seventy to eighty years. We will explore the changes in the social, political, economic and foreign affairs in the United States since 1945 during these four periods with a look toward the start of a new cycle and what that may bring. Each generation in America has a crucial and unique role in shaping each period, as well as precipitating the change to a new period within the cycle. America has been immersed in a 'Crisis' period since September 11, 2001. The period has given new meaning and importance to heroes. Our social, political, economic and foreign policy foundations have shifted. But this 'Crisis' period will end soon and we will enter a new American 'High' period, reminiscent of the period after World War II but incorporating the changes in our country since then. This new 'High' period will be a time of greater optimism, cooperation and community. Generation X, Millennials, and the newly emerging Gen Z will drive this new era forward, each with their own unique persona and world view. Baby Boomers will gradually withdraw from the stage, having made their own important generational contribution to social change in America. This new High period will affect your personal life and our country in many ways.

The United States of America is becoming a divided nation and it needs help. Americans need new ways of thinking which will allow them to vigorously advocate for their own deeply held beliefs while at the same time remaining true to a common overarching story. This is deeper than just having civil discourse. This is deeper than just respecting the other side. This is deeper than agreeing to disagree. This cuts to the very core idea of how the country can transform into the best possible version of itself; to be successful as a cohesive whole beyond what any one individual or group could possibly imagine.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives presents his design for an economic, political, cultural, and educational renewal of America that emphasizes personal motivation and faith

"This budget serves as a blueprint for American Renewal. Its principled reforms empower individuals with greater control over their future. It places great faith in the wisdom of the Founders and promises to renew confidence in the superiority of human freedom. The choice of two futures presented in this budget is premised on the wisdom of the American people to build a prosperous future for themselves and for generations of Americans to come." - Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Member of Congress, First District of Wisconsin In its entirety, through the use of clearly constructed charts, graphs, visuals and text, you will come to understand Ryan's vision for "The Path to Prosperity" including: - A Blueprint for American Renewal - Providing for the Common Defense - Restoring Economic Freedom - Repairing the Social Safety Net - Strengthening Health and Retirement Security - Pro-Growth Tax Reform - Changing Washington's Culture of Spending - Lifting the Crushing Burden of Debt With an introduction by Paul Ryan. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

This book argues that Christians have a stake in the sustainability and success of core cultural values of the West in general and America in particular. Steven M. Studebaker considers Western and American decline from a theological and, specifically, Pentecostal perspective. The volume proposes and develops a Pentecostal political theology that can be used to address and reframe Christian political identity in the United States. Studebaker asserts that American Christians are currently not properly engaged in preventing America’s decline or halting the shifts in its core values. The problem, he suggests, is that American Christianity not only gives little thought to the state of the nation beyond a handful of moral issues like abortion, but its popular political theologies lead Christians to think of themselves more as aliens than as citizens. This book posits that the proposed Pentecostal political theology would help American Christians view themselves as citizens and better recognize their stake in the renewal of their nation. The foundation of this proposed political theology is a pneumatological narrative of renewal—a biblical narrative of the Spirit that begins with creation, proceeds through Incarnation and Pentecost, and culminates in the new creation and everlasting kingdom of God. This narrative provides the foundation for a political theology that speaks to the issues of Christian political identity and encourages Christian political participation.