Rich Stearns takes us on a breathtaking journey to rediscover the critical mission of Christ in our world today and the richness of God's calling on our lives.

Kingdom Outposts is about relief & development ... and it's about church planting, biblical theology, apostolic leadership, the kingdom of God, and a distinctive kingdom economics. "Relief & development" as usually presented is actually NOT in the Bible.This would seem to be a problem for developing a fresh theology of relief & development! But Kingdom Outposts does frame up the implications of Jesus' gospel of the kingdom for a distinctive economics, and for the way of Christ and his apostles for relief and development. Churches--rightly understood as Kingdom Outposts--are not sources of money and manpower for relief & development done by outside agencies. They ARE relief & development!

in 1985 Simon Winchester, struck by a sudden need to discover exactly what was left of the British Empire, set out across the globe to visit the far-flung islands that are all that remain of what once made Britain great. He travelled 100,000 miles back and forth from Antarctica to the Caribbean, from Mediterranean to the Far East, to capture a last glint of imperial glory. His adventures in these distant and forgotten ends of the earth make compelling and often funny reading and tell a story most of us had thought was over: a tale of the last outposts in Britain's imperial career and of those who keep the flag flying. With a new introduction and additional material in many of the chapters, this revised edition tells us what happened to these extraordinary places while the author's been away.

"This is the first comprehensive, single-author history of the eastern Roman empire (or Byzantium) to appear in over a generation. It begins with the foundation of Constantinople in 324 AD and ends with the fall of the empire to the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth century, covering political and military history as well as all major changes in religion, society, demography, and economy. In recent decades, the study of Byzantium has been revolutionized by new approaches and sophisticated models for how its society and state operated. The book's core is an accessible and lively narrative of events, free of jargon, which incorporates new findings, explains recent models, and presents well-known historical characters and events in new light. Two overarching themes shape the narrative. First, by projecting accountability the Roman state persuaded its subjects that it was working in their interests and thereby forestalled separatist movements. To do so, it had to restrain the tendency of elites to extract ever more resources from the labor-force. Second, the effort to sustain a common identity, both Roman and Christian, was subject to powerful forces of internal division and put under severe strain by western Europeans in the later Middle Ages. The book explains in detail the alternating periods of success and failure in the long history of this polity. It foregrounds the dynamics of Christian identity, asking why it tended to fracture along lines of doctrine, practice, and ultimately over Union with the Catholic West"--

In this ESBT volume, Stephen Dempster traces the themes of kingship and kingdom throughout Scripture, illuminating the challenges, pain, and ultimate hope that the Bible offers. The story of God's kingship is ultimately the fulfillment of a promise to defeat sin and death and to establish a world of peace and justice.

Cross-cultural partnerships in today’s global environment are both challenging and necessary. Misunderstanding and miscommunication often lead to conflict between culturally diverse groups. Christians must understand and evaluate their own culture, the culture of others, and the text of Scripture itself, while remaining faithful to Scripture and relevant to culture. Unmediated tensions combined with relational isolation lead to a myriad of problems. This study proposes cross-cultural missional partnership as a relationship that mediates these tensions, thereby encouraging mutual, faithful engagement in the mission of God. Cross-cultural tensions may never disappear, but within a healthy partnership, partners can assist one another in understanding and responding faithfully to Scripture. Partners help one another more faithfully interpret and apply Scripture, leading to obedience to God’s will and engagement in God’s mission within unique and diverse contexts.

4 complete novels, over 1,000 pages in print, full-color artwork. Enter a world of titans and dragons, men and elves. The #1 Fiction bestseller! From #1 bestselling author Robert Stanek, the complete fantasy series that has been read and enjoyed by readers all over the world. BOOK #1 - Three unlikely heroes have the power to change everything. This powerful fantasy novel will delight the young and the young at heart. Inside, you'll discover the breathtaking world of Ruin Mist where the mystical and the magical abound, and you'll fall in love with a boy who would become a mage, a princess who is fleeing a dying kingdom, and a warrior elf who undertakes an epic journey. BOOK #2 takes us deeper into the unraveling mysteries of a world being torn apart by unseen hands and ancient prophecies. Thirteen-year-old Adrina finally got her wish to journey beyond Imtal, but at a cost that weighs upon her soul. Vilmos’s epic journey into manhood continues. Though he was forced to confront the powers within himself and to flee the only home he’s ever known, he trudges on. Meanwhile, betrayed by his own people, Seth fights to survive against all odds. BOOK #3 takes us one step further into the unraveling mysteries of a world being torn apart by ancient prophecies and the machinations of warring peoples. Galan, the beautiful lady elf, is dying. Her life hangs by the barest of threads and only Seth can save her. Vilmos’s decision to train as a mage has come at a great price and now he must journey with Xith to the Mouth of the World. BOOK #4 brings to a close the epic fantasy adventure of Adrina, Vilmos and Seth. Vilmos finds himself lost to the darkness within himself and at odds with everything he has even known. Back in Imtal, Adrina and Valam work together to turn more kingdomers and council members to the cause of the elves. Meanwhile, Emel has undertaken a journey to find answers about the Orb of Power. *** Fully linked and cross-linked with links to individual books and chapters within books. Extras: Lost chapters and scenes restored; the meeting of Xith and Vilmos as originally written; the story of Ruin Mist completely unaltered to hint at the story's origins in ancient myth and legend. "Sure to attract fans of graphic novels and classic Tolkien alike. Stanek will likely draw a cult following. This guarantees fans, and those fans will be ready to wield their swords against the Dark Lord in Stanek's next installment." -- VOYA, the leading magazine for Young Adult librarians. "Robert Stanek is one of our most featured and respected Kids & Young Adults authors." -- The Audio Book Store "Word of mouth turned it into a bestseller. Very satisfying." -- The Fantasy Guide "A breathtaking world and an excellent epic fantasy series! This wonderful adventure reminds me of a cross between J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Tad Williams, and C. S. Lewis." "Stanek [has] a penchant for clear and simple prose. He also prefers swift, action-oriented scenes. Solidly built. Stanek moves among his main characters with ease, always switching at a climactic moment to maintain suspense. The accessible, brisk language keeps things moving." --Foreword Magazine