Children are often touted as the “future” of the church, but their role in the church today is less frequently considered. In The Gifts They Bring, New Testament scholar, pastor, and mother Amy Lindeman Allen challenges readers to reconsider the way we view children in the church, focusing on our present life together as a diverse, inclusive community of faith. To do this, Lindeman Allen looks to the past, rereading familiar Gospel accounts with an eye to the experience of childhood in Jesus’ world, highlighting both the gifts that children brought to Jesus’ ministry as well as those they received from him. Through this lens, she invites readers to reconsider the age and relationship of well-known and lesser-known Bible characters, including the Bethlehem shepherds; James and John, the two disciples who followed Jesus alongside their mother; and the young boy whose lunch Jesus used to feed the five thousand. In the process, Lindeman Allen reconsiders ministry with children today, moving away from a transactional model of imparting wisdom to children to a dialogical model of learning and serving together with children. Each chapter reads a different Gospel story in conversation with experiences of real children in the church today, bringing into focus the varied gifts that children bring in a practice of inclusive ministry. These gifts include participation, proclamation, advocacy, listening, sharing, and partnership. Readers will grow more attuned to recognize the gifts that we each bring—children and adults—as essential members working together as one community in the body of Christ and so to share in the gift of Christ together.

Instead of being passive observers of the drama of worship, these resources involve the congregation each week. By asking people to bring simple items or certain attitudes, Oliver involves church members in creating meaningful worship, included in each week's material is an introductory statement explaining how the item will be used, an order of worship, a sermon, and a prayer.

Does it feel like you work in a "red ocean filled with sharks?" Eat or be eaten. Fierce competition. Continual battling over scarce resources. What if there was another path? What if you could create your own blue oasis where profits are higher, marketing is as natural as breathing, and competition is nearly nonexistent? This nirvana can be a reality when you practice the principles of Giftology. In this unusual un-marketing resource you'll discover... *Why Giftology isn't an expense...it's an investment that can pay off with huge dividends. *How to practice Giftology on a tight budget... it's easy and very effective. *How Giftology turns existing clients into your best salespeople. *Why (and how) gifts with a relatively low value can trump something expensive. *When is the best time to send gifts? (The answer may surprise you.) *How to unleash a "Referral Factory," a small army of influencers vouching for you--no gimmicks, no catches. *Find out how Giftology can transform your supply chain. *The ten worst gifts... definitely avoid these. (This info's available in the expanded bonus resource. Just click the link inside! It's my gift to you.) The average person is hit with at least thirty thousand messages a day, courtesy of that "red ocean filled with sharks." Giftology neutralizes that deadly philosophy and equips you with every tool you need to make your message a priority. Every time. Get your copy today!

THE GREKS WERE PEOPLE-HATERS They came to Earth in their space ship, bearing fabulous gifts - such as machines that did any day job automatically, and fertilizer that made plants shoot up overnight. But they presented their gifts with contempt, and with a look in their eyes that made people feel "creepy". Still, because of the brave new world they promised, they Greks could be forgiven anything - until they left and people discovered the machines were breaking down. Then their only choice was to beg the Greks to come back, on their own terms. And they knew the terms would be hard...

New York Times best seller Ever since Gabrielle Stanley Blair became a parent, she’s believed that a thoughtfully designed home is one of the greatest gifts we can give our families, and that the objects and decor we choose to surround ourselves with tell our family’s story. In this, her first book, Blair offers a room-by-room guide to keeping things sane, organized, creative, and stylish. She provides advice on getting the most out of even the smallest spaces; simple fixes that make it easy for little ones to help out around the house; ingenious storage solutions for the never-ending stream of kid stuff; rainy-day DIY projects; and much, much more.

Includes the four most popular translations: KJV NKJV NIV NLTse Preachers, Bible study leaders and participants, students of the Scriptures, and general readers that are curious about how different translations render their favorite verses will delight in this volume. The same set of verses for all four translations is located on facing pages two translations to a page making text comparison a snap. King James Version The dignified, poetic language of this word-for-word trans-lation has made it the favorite of countless readers for over four centuries. New King James Version A completely updated translation that s faithful to the ac-curacy and beauty of the KJV, while using contemporary and readable language. New International Version Scholarly accuracy and easy readability combine to help readers understand and apply the intended meaning of the biblical text. New Living Translation Second Edition Includes marginal notes that explain word choices, plus a more consistent rendition of ancient terms into their modern English equivalents. "

Read the Bible cover to cover in just 12 pages a day! The NIV Bible in 90 Days guides you through Scripture by using bite-sized pieces, so what may have seemed to be an overwhelming challenge is now doable and enjoyable. Insights and encouragement from creator Ted Cooper, Jr., founder of The Bible in 90 Days program, and William P. Campbell, President of Scripture Awakening, the ministry that shepherds the program, help you get the most out of your reading experience. Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) Start and end markers help you know where to begin and end each day’s reading Front matter articles