The renowned biblical scholar, author of The Misunderstood Jew, and general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus’ most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Amy-Jill Levine offers a fresh, timely reinterpretation of Jesus’ narratives. In Short Stories by Jesus, she analyzes these “problems with parables,” taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. Levine reveals the parables’ connections to first-century economic and agricultural life, social customs and morality, Jewish scriptures and Roman culture. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us—and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.

In When God Makes Lemonade, author Don Jacobson has collected real-life stories from around the world that show everyday folks discovering unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour circumstances. Some are funny, others are sobering, and more than a few will bring tears of amazement. But these true stories all have one thing in common: hope.

Sometimes a lost love is found years later and other times divine intervention is the only explanation for A Match made In Heaven! Then as now we find ourselves in a world where news of the spectacular and the sensational often overshadows the small but special moments of greatness, of extraordinary acts by ordinary men and women. Such is the story of a German war bride and an American soldier, or an 85 year old doctor who thought she was only wedded to her work, or a widow with three children and very little money, or a workaholic who couldn't find love right under his nose. . .read on and learn to believe again that life is full, exhilarating and love is all around us

Four Bestselling Authors Team Up for Thrilling Supernatural Suspense Gathering four stories from four bestselling author friends, Invitation is the first collection in the ongoing Harbingers series. In "The Call" by Bill Myers, four strangers are drawn together to help a student at the mysterious Institute for Advanced Psychic Studies. His gifts are supposedly being honed to assist world leaders . . . but there are some very disturbing strings attached. Frank Peretti's "The Haunted" confronts a supernatural mystery, a case of murder, and an exploration into the darkness of the human heart, all centering around a mysterious house. In Angela Hunt's "The Sentinels," animals around the world are mysteriously dying. What could it mean? When the tragedy begins to touch Andi's dreams, she discovers a terrifying theory. "The Girl" by Alton Gansky is a gripping tale of a young barefoot girl found holding a scroll in the snowy Oregon mountains. She is sweet, innocent--apparently not of this world--and something wants to kill her.

A wonderfully new approach to an age-old discussion. God: Stories offers insight and pleasure not only to the faithful but also to spiritual seekers -- and to those who simply love fine stories. Gathered by an esteemed editor of The Atlantic Monthly, these twenty-five dazzling short stories by eminent writers of varying persuasion, including Tobias Wolff, Louise Erdrich, Philip Roth, James Joyce, Flannery O'Connor, and John Updike. deal with the question of faith -- both its presence and its absence.

Remembering Yesterday is a collection of inspirational short stories with a Christian flavor. Stories of the past, present, and future fill these pages; stories that are filled with love, hope, compassion, and forgiveness. These are stories that address the heart and soul of Christianity; the most important commandment of all---love God, and love people. You can find yourself or someone you know in the characters of these stories, because we are all different in so many ways, but we are all alike in one---at one time, or another, we all need hope.

Readers will discover the remarkable stories of those who have suffered for the cause of Christ throughout the course of history. This volume reveals what inspired the great heroes of faith and drove them to give their all.

If the world is right, then I am crazy. And crazy is dangerous. In a world where nothing supernatural exists, Tess Eckhart is positive she’s going crazy. After her complete freakout at a high school party, her family is too. So much that they pack their bags and move across the country, next to a nationally-renowned facility for the mentally ill. Tess is determined to fit in at her new school, despite the whispers and stares. But when it comes to Luka Williams, a reluctantly popular boy in her class, she’s unused to a stare that intense. Then the headaches start, and the seemingly prophetic dreams that haunt her at night. As Tess tries harder to hide them, she becomes increasingly convinced that Luka knows something—that he might somehow be responsible. But what if she’s wrong? What if Luka Williams is the only thing separating her from a madness too terrifying to fathom?

At last! Short works by some of CBA's best-loved fiction authors-including Jerry Jenkins, Randy Alcorn, Terri Blackstock, Deborah Raney, and Angela Elwell Hunt-are compiled in one gripping volume (now available in this paperback version)! These masterfully told short stories promise to transport readers around the globe with amazing tales of international romance, mystery, and humor. A short bio accompanying each story allows readers to "meet" their favorite author. And the book even has a philanthropic element: all contributors are donating their royalties to The JESUS Film Project, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International.

Explore the Bible, one incredible story at a time. From the tears of Eve to the bond of Priscilla and Aquilla, this Bible Fiction Devotional takes you on an immersive journey through the pages of scripture. Deepen your familiarity of biblical figures and find inspiration for your own journey in theirs. Written for lovers of Christian Fiction, this devotional pulls the emotion from the gripping stories in the Bible while staying grounded in scripture. Rally your 300 men with Gideon, brave the king's displeasure with Esther, and trust in God's acceptance with Rahab. Entertainment and education unite through story comments that add both historical context and relevance for today, and discussion questions follow every story so you can dig deeper with group study. It's time to travel through the biblical world and discover the amazing events that are woven into God's plan for all mankind.