'Liberating Grace' is an important book on God's presence to human life that relates the new liberationist perspective to the best of the great theological tradition. The author unfolds the meaning of Christian grace in the light of the Latin American experience of dependency and exploitation. He shows that the turn to political involvement does not produce a detachment from the religious roots.--Gregory BaumMcGill UniversityLeonardo Boff's 'Liberating Grace' is a remarkable work. Against the background of traditional interpretations which may have fit the medieval or ancient world, Boff insists that grace must be understood within history and in terms of the kinds of experience we have today. Grace is no longer thought of as a substance but is discovered in the experience of relationships. God's liberating presence in the world permeates both personal and social relations, and this points to the political and economic arenas as keys to understanding God's free gift of love for humanity. Theology from Brazil has the aroma, flavor, and stimulation of something genuine, a grace which permeates all aspects of personal and social experience within the natural world. Boff works this view into various aspects of doctrine, including views of the Incarnation, Holy Spirit, and the Trinity. Chiefly, however, he makes 'grace' into a relevant doctrine for twentieth century living in the Third and other worlds.--Randolph Crump MillerHorace Bushnell Professor of Christian NurtureYale University Divinity School

It's no secret that we are addicted to control. We work to control our time, our TVs, our weight, and even our faith lives. We strive for efficiency and quantifiable results. But all that control, we soon find out, is exhausting. And it is contrary to God's plan for us. In Chaos and Grace, Mark Galli offers readers freedom from the need for control and order by reintroducing them to the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit. In this insightful book, Galli exposes our individual mistakes and the church's foibles and points the way to grace--which, as it happens, usually lies through chaos and crisis. Through Scripture he shows us that this problem is not unique to modern believers and helps us learn from the stories of God's people through the ages as they gave up and gave in to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

Lindell shares his journey to discovering the truth of God's amazing gift of grace and how it revolutionized his life. He takes you on a life-changing adventure through the Book of Romans, uncovering the transforming truth that is often unexplained. -- adapted from jacket

In this subtle and illuminating study, Kimberly Rae Connor surveys examples of contemporary literature, drama, art, and music that extend the literary tradition of African-American slave narratives. Revealing the powerful creative links between this tradition and liberation theology's search for grace, she shows how these artworks profess a liberating theology of racial empathy and reconciliation, even if not in traditionally Christian or sacred language. From Frederick Douglass's autobiographical writings through Richard Wright's imaginative reconstruction of slavery to Ernest Gaines's Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the candescent novels of Toni Morrison, slave narratives exhort the reader to step into the experience of the dispossessed. Connor underscores the broad influence of the slave narrative by considering nonliterary as well as literary works, including Glenn Ligon's introspective art, Anna Deavere Smith's one-woman performance pieces, and Charlie Haden's politically engaged Liberation Music Orchestra. Through these works, readers, listeners, and viewers imagine grace on two levels: as the liberation of the enslaved from oppression and as their own liberation from prejudice and "willed innocence." Calling to task a complacent white society that turns a blind eye to deep-seated and continuing racial inequalities, Imagining Grace shows how these creative endeavors embody the search for grace, seeking to expose racism in all its guises and lay claim to political, intellectual, and spiritual freedom.

Since its emergence in the sixties of the last century, liberation theology in Latin America has paid little attention to the areas of aesthetics and art. At the same time, theological aesthetics seldom has been directly and explicitly concerned about the reality of the poor and the struggle for justice. This mutual disinterest between liberation theology and theological aesthetics is regrettable, because discerning a correlation between them would benefit both theological disciplines in their attempt to understand the saving action of God in the world. It is the intention of this book to fill that gap. A Theological Aesthetics of Liberation correlates liberation theology and theological aesthetics, exploring different themes such as the liberating power of art, and how the Spirit of God is involved in the process of liberation in and through art. This study is a critical reflection upon the question of the beauty of Jesus Christ, especially in relationship with the event of the cross, and upon its meaning for Christian life. This book analyzes such topics in conversation with important theologians: Gustavo Gutierrez, Jon Sobrino, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Edward Schillebeeckx, and other contemporary Christian theologians who have explored these themes.

There are two fundamentally different approaches to living life in relation to God. The first approach is to jump up and down, trying to impress Him. The second is to relate to Him on the basis of grace. Though the first approach makes sense at first glance (since it is the way we get noticed), it comes with a whole load of baggage: guilt, shame, fear, pride. The way of grace is more subtle but is the way God actually has chosen to work. Grace is like breathing clean air. When you are surrounded by grace you flourish. Graceless living is like breathing carbon monoxide. You may not even realize it is killing you spiritually until it is too late. These reflections are easy to read, and often entertaining. But they are full of wisdom - and will show you how to live in the grace of Christ, day by day.

Reformed theology has made a welcome return to the church. With its resurgent emphasis on justification, unfortunately, has come confusion over the biblical pattern of sanctification. Rather than turning to the plain biblical language of faith, humility, and obedience, many are turning inward and measuring genuine love and obedience by their emotional experiences. Affection for God-submissive love rooted in humble faith-is being defined almost exclusively as emotional sensations of joy. In a culture driven by feelings, obeying out of duty is derided as legalism, and striving to be holy is considered a work of the Law. Many in the church are wondering, "Am I really obeying if I don't feel like it?" None of us desire to become the hypocrites Jesus warned of in Matthew 15:8, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me." Influential leaders in the church today aren't helping when they challenge believers to cease all striving and simply reflect on the fact of their justification. In this book, Jerry Wragg and Paul Shirley call us back to Scripture's manifest blueprint for becoming conformed to the image of Christ. With balance and warm-hearted clarity, they demonstrate that God's grace empowers us for every good deed. They show us that our justification doesn't liberate us from being diligent in our efforts to trust and obey, but rather it gives us power to withstand temptation and walk with the Lord in victory. Because of grace, we are under obligation to the Word of God and now have resurrection power flowing through our spiritual veins, strengthening every discipline of grace and growing fruit that remains forever. Through faith-filled submission of our will to the Word of God, we "work out [our] salvation," knowing "it is God who is at work in [us], both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13).

The Bible teaches, and history confirms, that to the degree that nations have applied the principles of the Bible in all spheres of life is the degree to which they have prospered, been free, and acted justly. Learn biblical principles as they apply to various spheres of life. Examine the role of the church, the family, the media, and civil government in a nation, and learn what you can do to bring Godly reform.

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Don’t just do the right actions. Build habits—and watch your life be transformed. Many books try to help you do the right actions. But the real key to life transformation—for yourself and then for others—is building habits that become part of your life. Because habits don’t just dictate what you do. They reflect who you are. In 8 Habits for Growth, Darryl Dash wants to show you the eight long-term practices—all very doable—that will lead to permanent growth if you incorporate them into your life. You’ll learn why it’s important to: Make time Rest Read or listen to the Bible Pray Pursue worship and community in a church Care for your body Simplify your spiritual life Build a rule of life Personal growth doesn’t happen overnight. But it does happen, slowly, as you build God’s habits into your life. So what are you waiting for? Start your new habits today and let God transform who you are . . . and who you can become.