This is the very first study made in depth and detail of over forty Anglican preachers in the Golden Age of the English Pulpit. There have been individual studies of the sermons of Donne and Andrewes, but none of the metaphysical preachers as a whole. It is the aim of this book to introduce to the reader some of the less familiar preachers: men such as John Hacket and Ralph Brownrig, Calvinist preachers in the metaphysical style such as the Elizabethan Henry Smith (known as silver-tongued for his oratory), or Thomas Adams, who was styled the prose Shakespeare of Puritan theologians. These men, and others, were widely admired in their day and, in many cases, their contemporary popularity challenged that even of Donne. This study provides explanations for the popularity of the metaphysical style, and incidentally proves untenable the stereotype that all the metaphysical preachers were of the Arminian persuasion, since a fair proportion of the group were Calvinists who rejected the Puritan plain style in favor of a metaphysical mode of expression. One explanation of the popularity of this style for a period of some fifty years is that practically every metaphysical divine was also a poet, and that daring imagery, wit, and arcane knowledge were the chief differentia of this style of poetry. Furthermore, James I and Charles I were great admirers of wit and learning. They chose royal chaplains for these qualities: learning made them good apologists, and their wit kept the captive congregations at court intrigued. Equal attention is given to the biographies of the preachers, the themes of their sermons, and the techniques of preaching and sermon construction, with separate chapters on learning and eloquence, wit and imagery, and the uses to which they were put. The result is a full picture of the group of seventeenth-century divines who preached like angels from a cloud.

As an earthling, Merk thought that life after death would be endless peace and relaxation on Cloud 9. Surprise! He found himself on Cloud 3, the physical fitness cloud, spending all his precious time training fat angels to slim down. Hed been a fitness nut on earth; how fair is that? Besides, no matter what Merk does, calamity ensues: a simple fitness walk under the stars leads to a war between angels and pirates and, since romance isnt a part of life after death, why is he so attracted to Quiggy? Follow Merk and his companions other-worldly adventures through the cloud-world of the afterlife in Merk.

The Revelation to John by Stephen Smalley is a magisterial interpretation of John's Apocalypse as a grand drama, which can only be properly understood in light of John's Gospel and letters and in the context of the Johannine community. As such, it offers the reader a significantly different approach to this enigmatic text than that offered by most contemporary commentaries. Working directly from the Greek text, Smalley offers a masterful analysis of the critical and literary dimensions of the Apocalypse for students and scholars alike. Contents include an in-depth, critical analysis of the Greek text of Revelation a wealth of scholarly interaction with other commentaries and interpretations of Revelation a canonical assessment of Revelation in light of other Johannine texts a historical understanding of Revelation in the context of the Johannine community an interpretation of Revelation as cosmic drama Here is a fresh contribution to the scholarly study of this captivating but often perplexing book of the Bible. Smalley demonstrates that the Apocalypse speaks directly to any situation in any age and offers a portrait of God's loving justice that is relevant to our own society.

"In this study, Aaron Milavec comprehensively examines how the first-century pastoral manual known as the Didache enumerated the step-by-step training of converts for the full, active participation in the earliest Jewish-Christian communities. Milavec shows how the Didache can, in turn, illuminate our understanding of how these first Christian men and women organized their community life socially, religiously, and politically in order to safeguard its members from the challenges of the surrounding Roman, pagan society of the first-century Mediterranean basin. He argues not only that the Didache's textual and contextual clues demonstrate the document's organic unity from beginning to end, but also that it dates from a period before the gospels were written and had gained acceptance."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This book is divided into four parts. The first part about my journey into Angelic Therapy. I have talked about how it all began for me, what did I do, where did I go, the people I met, the workshops I attended, the work that I did to get where I am today as a successful teacher in Angelic Therapy. The second part of this book is about the theoretical tools in Angelic Therapy where I have discussed about Angels, Archangels, Ascended Masters, Fairies, Spirit Guides, and so on and then the third section leads my readers to the use of Angelic Therapy in their day to day lives. I have given some very useful meditations, invocations, some prayers, guidelines on how to do an oracle or angel card reading, so on and so forth. The fourth and final section of this book talks about how a person can get started with their practice and profession as an Angelic Therapy Practitioner.

This book explores the career of Abraham Abulafia (ca. 1240–1291), self-proclaimed Messiah and founder of the school of ecstatic Kabbalah. Active in southern Italy and Sicily where Franciscans had adopted the apocalyptic teachings of Joachim of Fiore, Abulafia believed the end of days was approaching and saw himself as chosen by God to reveal the Divine truth. He appropriated Joachite ideas, fusing them with his own revelations, to create an apocalyptic and messianic scenario that he was certain would attract his Jewish contemporaries and hoped would also convince Christians. From his focus on the centrality of the Tetragrammaton (the four letter ineffable Divine name) to the date of the expected redemption in 1290 and the coming together of Jews and Gentiles in the inclusiveness of the new age, Abulafia's engagement with the apocalyptic teachings of some of his Franciscan contemporaries enriched his own worldview. Though his messianic claims were a result of his revelatory experiences and hermeneutical reading of the Torah, they were, to no small extent, dependent on his historical circumstances and acculturation.

A Bible for kids on the go. The new Kids Thinline Reference Bible in the New Living Translation is designed for the active lifestyle of kids ages 8-12. With fun cover designs and a compact size that's easy to carry, your kids will be thrilled to take it everywhere--to school, church, or camp! Key features for an enriching experience: A Presentation page to personalize this special gift. A handy ribbon marker to keep their place. Words of Jesus in red, making His teachings stand out. Thousands of cross-references for deeper understanding. Quality lay-flat, Smyth-sewn binding for durability. The Tyndale Verse Finder for easy navigation. An engaging map set to bring Bible stories to life. Comfortable, easy-to-read 8.75-point font for smooth reading. The New Living Translation - Where Truth Comes Alive: The New Living Translation (NLT) is an authoritative Bible translation crafted by 90 leading Bible scholars. The NLT's scholarship and clarity breathe life into even the most difficult-to-understand Bible passages--but even more powerful are stories of how people's lives are changing as the words speak directly to their hearts. That's why we call it "The Truth Made Clear." The New Living Translation's accessibility makes this children's Bible easy to understand and an excellent option for the young reader. A Meaningful Gift for Kids: This beautiful Bible for kids is the perfect gift choice for your children. It nurtures their spiritual growth and helps them embark on a journey of faith like never before. Its lightweight size is convenient and portable, easily slipping into a backpack--it won't slow them down when they're on the go! Invest in your child's spiritual development and surprise them with the Kids Thinline Reference Bible --where meaningful truths await!