Looking at both historical and contemporary contexts, the author argues that religion has played a major role in suppressing scientific pursuit.

Jacob is a Jewish peddler living in eighteenth-century France; Leslie and Deirdre Senzatimore are a settled American couple; and Masha is an alluring, young, ultra-Orthodox Jew who is gravely ill. In Jacob’s Folly, these four individuals will find their fates intertwined and the courses of their lives irrevocably altered when Jacob is reincarnated as a housefly in contemporary Long Island. Through the unique lens of Jacob’s consciousness, Miller explores transformation in all its different guises—personal, spiritual and literal. As she considers the hold of the past on the present, the power of private hopes and dreams, and the collision of fate and free will, Miller’s world—which is our own, transfigured by her startlingly clear gaze and by her sharp, surprising wit—comes to vibrant life. Leslie’s desire to act as hero and rescuer; Jacob’s disastrous marriage to the childlike Hodle, and his intense obsession with Masha—Miller sketches her characters’ interior lives with compassion, subtlety and an exceptionally light touch. Jacob’s Folly is wildly inventive, and ultimately moving; it will leave the reader, no less than its characters, transformed.

'A Private and Public Faith' is a heartfelt protest against the self-serving religiosity that characterizes so much of religion in contemporary American society, and which affects to such a large degree the life of the churches of American Protestantism. Stringfellow's protest is motivated by a passionate concern that the authentic life of the Word of God should operate freely in the church and in the world. His exposition of this life for individual, church, and society is profound yet simple. An excerpt on discerning God's presence: In other words, the most notorious, plain, and victorious truth of God is that God participates in our history -- even yours and mine. Our history -- all our anxieties -- have become the scene of His presence and the matter of His care. We are safe. We are free. Wherever we turn we shall discover that God is already there. Therefore, wherever it be, fear not, be thankful, rejoice, and boast of God."

When you stand before your congregation, what do you hope to accomplish when you preach the Word? If people have Bibles and the freedom to read and pray on their own—why do they need you? In short, what do you bring to the table? Author, pastor, and professor John Koessler answers those questions and many more. Why does one sermon have a powerful effect on the audience while another falls flat? Why should listeners heed what the preacher says? Is human language adequate for facilitating an encounter with God? What is the point of preaching a sermon? Folly, Grace, and Power is a must-read for pastors, seminarians, and lay leaders charged with the task of preaching God’s word. This essential book is both a stern reminder of the sacredness of the awesome “job” of being a preacher, as well as a how-to that reveals the key to speaking powerfully on God’s behalf.

An enduring debate among scholars has focused on the degree to which Shakespeare's plays are indebted to the Christian culture in which they were created and the manner of demonstrating that indebtedness. R. Chris Hassel, Jr. points out informed allusions to familiar Pauline and Erasmian Christian passages and themes present in Love's Labor's Lost, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and The Merchant of Venice. He argues that not only did Shakespeare's audience understand these allusions but also that these allusions led the audience to recognize their pertinence to the playwright's uniquely Christian comic vision. Furthermore, Hassel feels this understanding of the relationship between Shakespeare's comic artistry and Christianity leads to a greater appreciation of the plays.

An amazing story of a missionary couple's journey into the toughest places on earth is combined with stories about remarkable people of faith they encountered to challenge and inspire those curious about the sufficiency of God.

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God""-Psalms 14:1 "Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?-1 Corinthians 1:20 Is the Bible engaging in name-calling? Definitely not! The Bible refers to the "fool" as someone who is morally deficient, dense, and refuses to accept the truth. The unbeliever is foolish because he rejects God's Word. The wisdom of the world is foolish because God has made it so. This foolishness is not only moral or religious, but intellectual as well! Without God, man is utterly lost both morally and philosophically! This is because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ! (Colossians 2:3) The Folly of Unbelief presents the strongest possible defense of Christian belief. Going on the offensive, it shows that all forms of unbelieving thought end up in intellectual and philosophical foolishness! The unbeliever has no place to stand intellectually in his war against the Christian faith. The Folly of Unbelief explores and illustrates the various philosophical failures of unbelieving thought. It is the Christian worldview alone, based on God's Word, that can guarantee the coherence of all human experience! Therefore all the unbeliever's attempts to argue against Christianity are futile. The failures of unbelieving systems of thought are presented in a fashion that is easy to understand and a clear style that can be followed by anyone regardless of their philosophical training. Only the Christian faith is rational and defensible, all contrary systems end in foolishness and futility of thought! The Folly of Unbelief is a philosophical expression of a fundamental Christian truth. GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!