The congregational title Shearith Yisrael -- Remnant of Israel -- is frequently used for the first congregation established in a far-flung corner of the Diaspora. However, this remnant, established just five years after the birth of Melbourne, was indeed to prove enduring. The foundation of Victorian Jewish life was to become its cornerstone.

Finalist for the Hugo Award • “Ofelia—tough, kind, wise and unwise, fond of food, tired of foolish people—is one of the most probable heroines science fiction has ever known.”—Ursula K. Le Guin For forty years, Colony 3245.12 has been Ofelia’s home. On this planet far away in space and time from the world of her youth, she has lived and loved, weathered the death of her husband, raised her one surviving child, lovingly tended her garden, and grown placidly old. And it is here that she fully expects to finish out her days—until the shifting corporate fortunes of the Sims Bancorp Company dictates that Colony 3245.12 is to be disbanded, its residents shipped off, deep in cryo-sleep, to somewhere new and strange and not of their choosing. But while her fellow colonists grudgingly anticipate a difficult readjustment on some distant world, Ofelia savors the promise of a golden opportunity. Not starting over in the hurly-burly of a new community . . . but closing out her life in blissful solitude, in the place she has no intention of leaving. A population of one. With everything she needs to sustain her, and her independent spirit to buoy her, Ofelia actually does start life over–for the first time on her own terms: free of the demands, the judgments, and the petty tyrannies of others. But when a reconnaissance ship returns to her idyllic domain, and its crew is mysteriously slaughtered, Ofelia realizes she is not the sole inhabitant of her paradise after all. And, when the inevitable time of first contact finally arrives, she will find her life changed yet again—in ways she could never have imagined. . . . “Pure satisfaction from cover to cover.”—Anne McCaffrey

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections: Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible. Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved. This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

Dive into Bible Study Guide: Romans, a life-changing journey through one of the Bible's most profound letters. Paul's Epistle to the Romans isn’t just a book; it's a blueprint for understanding faith, grace, salvation, and the daily walk with Christ. In this guide, you’ll uncover the deep theology, practical wisdom, and life-giving hope that has inspired believers for centuries. Explore each verse in the context of Paul’s world, his mission, and his heart for the early church—experiencing how this ancient letter speaks directly to us today. Whether you're a seasoned Bible student or opening Romans for the first time, this study guide offers insights that connect Paul’s message to your everyday life. You’ll wrestle with questions that challenge, apply powerful truths to your spiritual journey, and deepen your understanding of the gospel's impact on humanity. Let Bible Study Guide: Romans bring new life to your faith and equip you to live out the gospel with confidence and grace.

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Princess Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape--and even less of being together--as the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs crumble beneath her while she wrestles with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people, and her own destiny.