Vital Apologetic Issues Vital . . . pertaining to life; essential; of critical importance. Apologetic . . . a systematic defense of the authenticity and authority of Christian truth. Issues . . . a point or matter, the decision of which is of special or public importance. When it comes to giving a reasoned defense of one's faith, just knowing definitions isn't enough. It helps to have reliable guidance through the critical issues of apologetics such as philosophical questions regarding the Christian faith or biblical reliability. Vital Apologetic Issues: Examining Reason and Revelation in Biblical Perspective draws upon the insights and study of numerous evangelical scholars and writers to address crucial questions in the field of Christian apologetics. Some of the chapters included are: "The Nature and Origin of Evil" by Robert Culver "Biblical Naturalism and Modern Science" by Henry M. Morris "Ebla and Biblical Historical Inerrancy" by Eugene H. Merrill "Theological Problems with Theistic Evolution" by David H. Lane Christian readers, church leaders, and pastors will appreciate the insight and guidance of Vital Apologetic Issues.

Vital . . . pertaining to life; essential; of critical importance. Theological . . . pertaining to the study of God, of His nature and will. Issues . . . a point or matter, the decision of which is of special or public importance. A dictionary can define the terms, but the tough questions faced by pastors, teachers, missionaries, and Christian leaders are the real test of one's theological understanding. Vital Theological Issues: Examining Enduring Issues of Theology draws upon the insights and study of leading evangelical scholars and writers to address enduring theological questions. Included are articles by Lewis Sperry Chafer, J. Ronald Blue, John F. Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie, and Roy B. Zuck. Some of the issues discussed in this volume include: If God is in control, why should I pray? What difference does it make that Jesus was sinless? Can a person be saved who has never heard of Jesus? Has Lordship salvation really been taught throughout Christian history? Christian readers, church leaders, and pastors alike will appreciate the practical insights and spiritual focus of Vital Theological Issues.

Vital . . . pertaining to life; essential; of critical importance. Biblical . . . in or according to the Bible. Issues . . . a point of mater, the decision of which is of special or public importance. A dictionary can define the terms, but deciding on the proper interpretation of tough biblical passages demands skillful study and mature reflection on the Scriptures. Vital Biblical Issues: Examining Problem Passages of the Bible draws upon the insights and study of numerous evangelical scholars and writers to address difficult interpretive issues from both the Old and New Testaments. Included are articles by Merrill F. Unger, Gleason F. Archer Jr., Michael P. Green, and S. Lewis Johnson Jr. Some of the issues discussed in this volume include: "Did God curse one race of people?" "Did the Old Testament prophesy the Virgin Birth?" "What about the violence of the book of Psalms?" "Should Christian women cover their heads in worship?" Christian readers, church leaders, and pastors alike will appreciate the insights and scholarship of Vital Biblical Issues.

The inerrancy of God's Word has been attacked throughout church history. Today's assaults are unique since neo-evangelicals now surrender to post-modernistic ideas of history and historical-critical ideologies that assault this vital doctrine. They seek to redefine the orthodox meaning of inerrancy. Since the signing of the Chicago Statements, troubling signs have once again appeared in recent years among many who either did not fight the battles for the inerrancy of Scripture as did the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, or who do not remember the troubling times that caused their development. The nature and definition of "inerrancy" are now being changed to include ideas of fallibility. History is forgotten. The need arises for sounding the alarm for Vital Issues in Inerrancy. Evangelical schools and churches that broke away earlier to defend inerrancy surrender now to academic prestige and scholarly fads instead of faithfulness to God's inerrant Word. The contributors pray that the Lord will raise up a new generation with the spiritual fervency of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy to uphold the inerrancy of God's Word: Isaiah 40:8--"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever."

Vital Post-Secular Perspectives on Chinese Philosophical Issues presents a number of contemporary philosophical issues from a wide range of Chinese philosophical texts, figures, and sub-traditions that are usually not addressed in English studies of Chinese philosophical traditions. Lauren F. Pfister presents new perspectives in three parts: the first part offers critical perspectives on the life and works of one of the most significant 20th century Chinese philosophers and historian of Chinese philosophical traditions, Feng Youlan (1895-1990); the second part explores questions related to Ruist (“Confucian”) theism and the complicated textual developments within two canonical Ruist texts, ending with a critique of a 21st century translation and interpretation of one of those two classical texts; the third part presents philosophical assessments of 20th and 21st century cultural issues that have had immense social and interpretive impacts in contemporary Chinese contexts – Chinese utopian projects, Chinese netizens in “Human Flesh Searches,” and questions about the links between sageliness and saintliness in Ruist and Christian communities.

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

The publication is an international standard on the design and operation of an efficient and accurate vital statistics system at national level. It provides guidelines on collection, compiling and disseminating vital statistics. More specifically it contains (a) basic principles for a vital statistics system; (b) uses of vital statistics and civil registration records; (c) topics to be covered in a vital statistics system; (d) sources of vital statistics and how they function; (e) quality assurance in the vital statistics system and (f) strategies in improving civil registration and vital statistics systems in countries. It also informs policy makers and the general public on the importance of vital statistics and hence further improving the vital statistics system.