Before Jesus was a teacher and a healer-before his life changed the world - he was a carpenter. Woodworking was his occupation for most of his time on earth, and the years he spent in Jospeh's shop clearly shaped his message and ministry. Now, by gaining an understanding of first-century carpentry, you can see how Jesus rebuilt broken people and constructed a new world. His workmanship still amazes all who put themselves in his hands, and his principles for constructing a solid life are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.

A look at Israel's history can tell us just how wicked a nation can get when it forsakes the Lord. If our nation hasn't gotten there yet, it's probably not far from it. The longer mankind exists, the farther he strays from God. The message for every generation is ôrepent.ö

Bestselling author Jon Gordon returns with his most inspiring book yet—filled with powerful lessons and the greatest success strategies of all. Michael wakes up in the hospital with a bandage on his head and fear in his heart. The stress of building a growing business, with his wife Sarah, caused him to collapse while on a morning jog. When Michael finds out the man who saved his life is a Carpenter he visits him and quickly learns that he is more than just a Carpenter; he is also a builder of lives, careers, people, and teams. As the Carpenter shares his wisdom, Michael attempts to save his business in the face of adversity, rejection, fear, and failure. Along the way he learns that there's no such thing as an overnight success but there are timeless principles to help you stand out, excel, and make an impact on people and the world. Drawing upon his work with countless leaders, sales people, professional and college sports teams, non-profit organizations and schools, Jon Gordon shares an entertaining and enlightening story that will inspire you to build a better life, career, and team with the greatest success strategies of all. If you are ready to create your masterpiece, read The Carpenter and begin the building process today.

Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Buried beneath two thousand years of theology and dogma lies a real historical person who founded a movement that evolved into the largest religion in the history of the world. But is it possible to know what he really said, did, and believed? This book applies the Marxist conception of history to the study of the historical Jesus. It focuses on class, material conditions, and textual analysis to extract the authentic sayings and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth. The implications are far-reaching for followers of Christ wishing to base their faith in reason and science. They also offer guidance and inspiration for modern activists and revolutionaries wishing to challenge the same unjust systems of power that Jesus faced in his own lifetime.

Is there a War on Christmas? This book surveys the history of the world's most popular festival and the never-ending battles it has engendered ever since its hotly-contested invention in the Roman Empire.

These little known teachings of Jesus from the Gospel of Thomas, the "Book ofQ" and other lost sources offer a radical message of spiritual awakening.

He thought Christianity was a sham. Then it changed his life. Skeptic Josh McDowell thought Christians were out of their minds. He ridiculed and insulted them, then decided to combat them with his own thorough research to disprove the claims of Jesus Christ. To his surprise, he discovered that the evidence suggested exactly the opposite--that Jesus, instead of being simply a first-century Hebrew carpenter, truly was the God he claimed to be. Josh went on to write the inspirational work on Christian apologetics, More Than a Carpenter, which has sold over 15 million copies. In this revised and updated edition, with over 15 million copies in print since its original publication, More Than a Carpenter has changed countless lives. Now, in this revised and updated edition, Josh is joined by his son, Sean, as they tackle the questions that today's generation continues to ask: "Can I be spiritual without believing in God?" "How can I make sure that my life counts for something?" "Is it really possible to know anything for sure about God or Jesus?" This edition is an accessible read for seekers and a great evangelism tool.

What is humanity’s ultimate destiny? Could there be life beyond the grave? What is genuine spirituality? These questions and many more are answered by a carpenter’s son, Jesus, born in ancient Judaea two thousand years ago. He healed thousands, yet never received medical training. He taught in streets, homes, and temples, yet never achieved scholarly status. He demanded perfection, yet chose the imperfect to follow him. He spoke of the arrival of an eternal kingdom, yet he never ran for political office or led a nation. He spoke of peace and love, yet led the greatest counter-revolutionary effort in human history. Despised by his critics and revered by society’s lowest members, Jesus still speaks to our deficiencies as well as our weaknesses, and assures a redemption we could never achieve on our own. Out of an original rebellion, we all face a self-imposed defeat by pointlessly attempting to establish our own kingdoms despite confronting the same abysmal fate. Yet, God has achieved the greatest comeback in history by conquering death, and in doing so, has prepared for us a victory we could not possibly imagine, for to lose all is to gain all.

Amy Sherman unpacks Proverbs 11:10--"When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices"--to develop a theology and program of vocational stewardship. Here is practical help for churches, ministries and other faith communities to navigate the complex process of following Jesus in those places where we happen to prosper.