G. Ronald Murphy offers an insightful examination of the lasting significance of Yggdrasil in northern Europe, showing that the tree's image persisted not simply through its absorption into descriptions of Christ's crucifix, but through recognition by the newly converted Christians of the truth of their new religion in the images of their older faith.

Winner of the 2014 Mythopoeic Myth & Fantasy Studies Award At the heart of the mythology of the Anglo-Scandinavian-Germanic North is the evergreen Yggdrasil, the tree of life believed to hold up the skies and unite and separate three worlds: Asgard, high in the tree, where the gods dwelled in their great halls; Middlegard, where human beings lived; and the dark underground world of Hel, home to the monstrous goddess of death. With the advent of Christianity in the North around the year 1000, Yggdrasil was recast as the cross on which Christ sacrificed himself. G. Ronald Murphy offers an insightful examination of the lasting significance of Yggdrasil in northern Europe, showing that the tree's image persisted not simply through its absorption into descriptions of Christ's crucifix, but through recognition by the newly converted Christians of the truth of their new religion in the images and narratives of their older faith. Rather than dwelling on theological and cultural differences between Christianity and older Anglo-Scandinavian beliefs, Murphy makes an argument internal to the culture, showing how the new dispensation was a realization of the old. He shows how architectural and literary works, including the Jelling stone in Denmark, the stave churches in Norway, The Dream of the Rood, the runes of the futhark, the round churches on Bornholm, the Viking crosses at Middleton in Yorkshire and even the Christmas tree, are all indebted to the cultural interweaving of cross and tree in the North. Tree of Salvation demonstrates that both Christian and older Northern symbols can be read as a single story of salvation.

This is a study of the evidence in art, artifact, architecture, and poetry that the myth of Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree of life associated with the gods, the runes, fate, and ragnarok in Norse/Germanic mythology, was associated in northern Christianity with the cross of Christ. The events of the story of Yggdrasil were seen as a kind of foreshadowing for the events in the New Testament, especially the crucifixion and resurrection, and the ultimate salvation of human beings from death and their corpses from the Nidhogg.

A landmark in the conversation about race and religion in America. "They put him to death by hanging him on a tree." Acts 10:39 The cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African American community. In this powerful new work, theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnection in the history and souls of black folk. Both the cross and the lynching tree represent the worst in human beings and at the same time a thirst for life that refuses to let the worst determine our final meaning. While the lynching tree symbolized white power and "black death," the cross symbolizes divine power and "black life" God overcoming the power of sin and death. For African Americans, the image of Jesus, hung on a tree to die, powerfully grounded their faith that God was with them, even in the suffering of the lynching era. In a work that spans social history, theology, and cultural studies, Cone explores the message of the spirituals and the power of the blues; the passion and of Emmet Till and the engaged vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.; he invokes the spirits of Billie Holliday and Langston Hughes, Fannie Lou Hamer and Ida B. Well, and the witness of black artists, writers, preachers, and fighters for justice. And he remembers the victims, especially the 5,000 who perished during the lynching period. Through their witness he contemplates the greatest challenge of any Christian theology to explain how life can be made meaningful in the face of death and injustice.

"Walks through ten accounts in the Bible to provide an overview of God's vast, epic plan of salvation. Covers both Old and New Testaments, from creation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, to His return on the Last Day when He will judge the living and the dead and live together with all believers in His restored creation forever. Includes reflection questions"--

This book will help you understand that a true relationship with Jesus Christ is what makes us right with God. It will help you better understand the difference between the lawful way of living (picking from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) versus having a right relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ (picking from the Tree of Life). Through my years as a Christian, I noticed the more I focus on obeying the laws (Ten Commandments) caused me to sin more and more each day. Most days I would get up each morning and say to myself, "I am not going to sin today." Each time I told myself this, I failed. Romans 7:6 (NLT) "But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit." This relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ requires reading His word, putting it in practice, and praying, which builds our faith to keep believing and trusting in Him. Having this relationship has made a huge change in my life. The person I used to be, I am no longer because of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" Choosing the Tree of Life, Jesus Christ, has truly changed me on the inside and outside."

It has been an amazing journey, trying my hardest, to walk in the path towards the light, where Jesus Christ would want me. I am so grateful for second chances. I am thankful for third chances. And in my case, I am thankful for fourth, fifth, and sixth chances. That is the beauty of the atonement. This is the beauty of Jesus Christ. As long as we believe in Him and accept him as oursavior, we have an infinite number of opportunity to change for the better. I am so thankful to have these chances and to get the opportunity to grow in the process. I have learned through trial and error what is important in life, what makes me happy, and what it requires of me to be the best version of myself. I have also learned that having a father in heaven be there by my side to guide me, is real power that has truly worked miracles in my life. Also, I've noticed that His power can only work properly in me whenever I am doing what is expected of me to keep God by my side. This is where I find the atonement important to help fix my mistakes when I mess up and bring light back into my life. This book is just a portion of my life, through events that I have gone through, and how they have formed me into who I am today. Most of these trials that I have gone through have mostly came through my decisions to use drugs and alcohol, in a way that became a problem, revolving most of my time and energy focused around these substances. I have learned that having this lifestyle and way of thinking has given me many fallbacks in life. It has led me to be in even many dangerous situations and incidences that have happened to me because places and people that I chose to be around. It is a miracle that I am even still alive to share this story. I write this story of my life in hope that others may not have to go through what I have gone through. I also write this to also show even if you are dealing with any form of addiction that may be harming your life, there is still hope and a time to change if you really have the desire to change for the better. There is a father in heaven who loves you a great deal, who knows you by name, and gives us these trials so that we can be used in this life and the life to come for a direct purpose. I find it amazing that the creator of the universe created us to be His children. I find it amazing that we are created in His image. This makes me feel like we are an important part of the universe, being on the planet where the Creator has His children! I know that we live in a competitive world; a place where appearance, social media, and money means everything. It can sometimes be difficult to have an optimistic outlook on life. Also, we live in a world where religion is slowly decreasing, and people are losing hope. I believe that religion means everything and even helps explain why we are even here. My biggest issue with religion is that each religion tries to convert rather than accept. There is too much dilemma on who is right and who has the exact answers of complete truth. When in reality, each religion believes in a creator and a purpose of us all being here (Christian or not). This is just my personal opinion, but there seems to be too much arguing on truth that it pulls away from what religion teaches. And in my opinion, it should only express LOVE! I love having a testimony of life and the opportunity to strengthen my testimony in religion. Our Father in heaven means everything to me. You mean everything to me as well""being my spiritual family for being another human being. I know that we live in a difficult world but have hope in everyone here that we will each find our direct purpose. I believe my direct purpose was to experience a life of drugs and alcohol so that I could recover and share my experiences of the dangers of messing with these substances in a world that strongly revolves around this style of living, even considering them cool and fun. I'm still working on what else is expected on me but know by having faith and keeping our Father in heaven in my heart, he will guide me in what next to do. What's your purpose? I know that you have one; believe in yourself, believe in a Creator that knows you by name. Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. And that is a promise that comes from the HEAVENS! That is a promise that comes from GOD!