{"title":"OBS2026","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"coming-home","title":"Coming Home: Ministry That Matters with Veterans and Military Families","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/moon-zachary\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eZachary Moon\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/ComingHome-preview.pdf?599\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBOOK PREVIEW\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComing home from military service is a process of reconnection and reintegration that is best engaged within a compassionate community. Zachary Moon, a commissioned military chaplain, has seen the unique challenges for those adjusting to post-war life. In this book, he prepares congregations to mobilize a receptive and restorative ministry with veterans and their families. \u003cem\u003eDiscussion questions and other resources included will help support small-group dialogue and community building.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eListen to Zachary answer \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/quakerspeak.com\/how-can-pacifists-support-our-troops\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHow Can Pacifists Support Our Troops\u003c\/a\u003e at QuakerSpeak.com. Coming home from military service is a process of reconnection and reintegration that is best engaged within a compassionate community. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere are almost 20 million veterans and service members living in the United States, including more than one million Americans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. Post-war life can be challenging unless there are communities responding with compassion and hospitality. How churches welcome and respond will be critical to the well-being of our nation’s veterans, their families, our local communities, and our nation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eZachary Moon, a commissioned military chaplain, has seen the unique challenges for those adjusting to post-war life. In this book, he prepares congregations to mobilize a receptive and restorative ministry with military service members and their families. Designed to be accessible to both clergy and laypersons, this is an ideal resource for individuals or small groups interested in addressing the opportunities and challenges facing veterans and their families. \u003cem\u003eDiscussion questions and other resources included will help support small-group dialogue and community building.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cominghomechurch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJoin the community conversation at ComingHomeChurch.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Do you have a combat veteran in your congregation? If the answer is yes—buy this book. Is there a combat veteran in your family? If the answer is yes—buy this book. Do have a combat veteran as a friend and you are trying to understand him or her? If the answer is yes—buy this book. For the past few years I have toyed with the idea of writing an update to the 1945 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Church and the Returning Soldier.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Now I can set that idea aside – Zachary Moon has done it. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is timely, accessible, informative, and practical. Developed with input from a variety of combat veterans, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e overcomes the ‘genuine understanding’ obstacle, which causes so many well-intentioned books to falter. The author has created a valuable format of presenting a concept, followed by a Bible Study, followed by reflective discussion questions. Finally, the book is concise. It lends itself to a quick read through for the purpose of orientation and then an extended engagement as the Bible Study and reflective discussion questions are fully explored. What will you gain from reading this book? Many needed insights: Why do young men and women join the military; how that service shapes the very identity of the men and women who serve; why honorable service can leave the service member feeling betrayed or worse; why, ‘Thank you for your service’ often triggers a negative rather than positive response; why the typical ‘victim\/prey’ based PTSD definition is inadequate when responding to combat veterans struggling with issues stemming from their combat exposure. These issues and more are explored in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Most importantly in reviewing these concerns, the reader is given tools to answer the vital question of how the concerned friend\/pastor\/priest\/etc. can respond in an appropriate way.....The author rightly states, ‘We all need a reminder of God's grace sometimes, and every one of us can be that reminder for someone in the way we listen and respond.’ But to do that one must have at least a working knowledge of the unique challenges that combat veterans face which create the need for grace. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e will provide the reader with the needed insights to make inroads with combat veterans. In the much earlier \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Church and the Returning Soldier,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe author stated that the church would get one chance to properly welcome the returning veteran and thereby be allowed to make a difference in their lives. The same is true today. Equip yourself for this vital task; read \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e―Steven G. Rindahl, Academy of Parish Clergy, Course Developer\/Instructor, Department of Pastoral Ministry Training, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSharing the Practice: The Journal of the Academy of Parish Clergy,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJune 2015\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Congregations using this guide will discover how to be better friends to all those we love, and we will become stronger communities in the process. We will more deeply incarnate a lifegiving, transformative wholeness in a larger society anxious about the future, reactive to threats, resigned to disposable relationships, and distracted by consumerism. ... Readers will find in these pages a valuable guide to being a better friend to those who, like my own father, serve their country and come home from war forever changed. If this book had existed in 1968, my relationship with my father, our entire family, and my adult life would have been very different—and, I know with certainty, transformed for the better. I am glad this book has finally been written. We all need it.\" \u003cbr\u003e—Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, Research Professor of Theology and Culture and Founding Co-Director of the Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"I was deployed to the Middle East, as an Army Reserve chaplain, in August 2005 and redeployed home over sixteen months later. Most of the wounds of war that I dealt with, while I served as a chaplain, were of the mind, heart and soul. Upon my return home I gave myself about five weeks to reintegrate, get my life together and to return to the local church that I was serving. I thought, after all that should be long enough, I am a chaplain and I am in the business of making it right. I was wrong; it was not nearly long enough. ... A volume such as Zachary Moon’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e would have been invaluable upon my return. I would have handed a copy to every member of my congregation. It is not that they were not loving, caring, accepting, and welcoming but more that we all just wanted to get back to 'normal' as quickly as possible. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e would have shown us, and given us the permission, to take our time.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—Rev. Stephen B. Boyd, CH (COL-ret), US Army Reserve, United Church of Christ\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home: Ministry that Matters with Veterans and Military Families\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is THE book for people of faith who want to start a ministry to military personnel and their families. The theological reflections coupled with practical suggestions and resources make this book an ideal study guide for small groups or individuals. I wish this book had been available for the congregations I served as pastor!\" \u003cbr\u003e—Col. Robert C. Leivers, Chaplain, US Air Force Reserve (ret)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an excellent resource for individuals, study groups, mission committees, and congregational care teams in faith communities who want to engage in informed and caring relationships with military service persons, veterans, and their families. Moon offers a compelling and richly thoughtful invitation into such ministries. He helps readers recognize that walking beside those coming home from war and their families gives congregations opportunities to deepen faith and practice.\" \u003cbr\u003e—Dr. Nancy J. Ramsay, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Care, Brite Divinity School\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Zachary Moon shows us how to build bridges where gulfs and gaps often exist between congregations and veterans and their families. Moon paves a way to bring the resources and strengths arising from military service into congregational life. He links the rich resources of congregations to veterans coming home. This well-written and usable book takes veterans and congregations into territory that they will be relieved to discover and inhabit together.\" \u003cbr\u003e—Dr. Larry Kent Graham, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care, Iliff School of Theology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Home, as a metaphor, describes that which is worth living for and dying for simultaneously. Using the metaphor of 'coming home,' which is as much a metaphor for the inward faith journey as it is a physical journey from one geography to another, Moon offers a great gift to the nation as he walks both congregants and veterans alike through a much needed paradigm shift on how to develop ministries for our returning military men and women. Presenting a comprehensive picture of the psycho-social-spiritual dynamics and witness of military personnel and their families, he carefully sensitizes the reader to the cultural nuances of military life as he introduces helpful perspectives on how returning veterans and congregants can, through mutuality, both find the way home as people of faith.\" \u003cbr\u003e–Dr. Lee Butler, Professor of Theology and Psychology and Founder, Center for the Study of Black Faith and Life, Chicago Theological Seminary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Within the peace-church tradition, so many of us are completely ill-equipped to respond lovingly or helpfully to members of the military or their families. Because of our inability to see beyond the war and violence we reject, we miss the opportunity to see individuals who may actually share our passionate quest for peace, purpose, community—and God. Zachary Moon’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eComing Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e refocuses our attention on the person now home from battle and wondering if there is a place for them in our congregation. The combination of story, bible study, and reflection questions makes this a very useful resource for faith communities interested in learning to accompany military personnel along a healing and transformation journey we all need.\" \u003cbr\u003e–Colin Saxton, General Secretary, Friends United Meeting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"This book will help congregations 'bring military service members and their families home'—really home. For such homecomings both congregations and service members need to be transformed. This book will guide in that process toward healing and wholeness. We've been waiting for this book.\" \u003cbr\u003e–Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhole: A Call for Unity in Our Fragmented World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264619462753,"sku":"9780827205383","price":4.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/images_2_b7f6e0cd-9ff7-4c05-aca8-76097bbf9209.jpg?v=1575869997"},{"product_id":"cosmopolitan-theology","title":"Cosmopolitan Theology: Reconstituting Planetary Hospitality, Neighbor-Love, and Solidarity in an Uneven World","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/kang-namsoon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNamsoon Kang\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eCosmopolitan Theology\u003c\/i\u003e, Namsoon Kang proposes a theology that embraces and at the same time moves beyond collective identity position and group-based allegiances. It crosses borders of gender, race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and ability. Kang offers a vision of a global community of radical inclusion, solidarity, and deep compassion and justice for others. Blending theology with philosophy, she crosses borders of academism and activism, and the discursive borders of modernism, postmodernism, feminism, and postcolonialism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCosmopolitan Theology\u003c\/i\u003e sheds a new light both in academia and the community of Christian believers by providing a public relevance of Jesus' teaching of neighbor-love, hospitality, and solidarity in our world today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"If Kang’s convivial cosmopolitics lead the way to a ‘public theology to-come’ –and it just im\/possibly might–what good news for a world of boundless diversity. This is a work of visionary wisdom and conceptual brilliance, plying theory and its practice with the attractive force of a hospitable cosmos.\" –Catherine Keller, professor of constructive theology, Drew University, author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn the Mystery\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and co-editor of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePolydoxy: Theology of Relation and Multiplicity.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"In \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCosmopolitan Theology\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Namsoon Kang forges a powerful and well informed argument for cosmopolitanism, not as a faceless universalism but as a universality of the singular and unique. Invoking the ancient Biblical motif of neighbor love which is joined with a postmodern meditation on singularity, alterity and hospitality, the result is an engaging and engaged plea for planetary political solidarity and religious compassion--what she describes as a 'public theology to come.' A book for everyone and about everyone.\" –John D. Caputo, professor emeritus, Syracuse University\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"As we can no longer deny the cosmopolitan reality in which we find ourselves, for good or for ill, the question is which cosmopolitan perspectives to embrace. In this book, Namsoon Kang provides helpful roadmaps and constructive proposals. What is the place of the fashionable cosmopolitanisms of multiculturalism and easygoing difference and of the alternative cosmopolitanisms of global justice, compassion, and love? Theology becomes a guide to new forms of solidarity, illuminating the flows of power that characterize the different options.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e–Joerg Rieger, Perkins School of Theology, SMU\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264619888737,"sku":"9780827205345","price":8.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/9780827205345coverCosmoTheo.png?v=1706102494"},{"product_id":"disciples-and-theology","title":"Disciples and Theology: Understanding the Faith of a People in Covenant","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/chalicepress.com\/pages\/sprinkle-stephen-v\"\u003eStephen V. Sprinkle\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDespite consciously avoiding formal creeds, throughout the history of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), adherents have formulated their thought in distinctive theological ways. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a denomination that has recognized the need for clearer self-identification and a deeper understanding of its theological convictions. Despite traditionally characterizing themselves as indifferent to theology and avoiding the use of theological terms, Disciples of Christ have always been theological in nature. The challenge lies in articulating their distinctive theological thought and acknowledging its practical implications. A more recent period of fruitful theological thought since 1977 has paved the way for the development of a written theology that takes responsibility for covenant theology within the Disciples of Christ tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe final chapter offers a constructive proposal for ongoing theological reflection that identifies current trends and focuses on the theme of a people in covenant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eStephen V. Sprinkle is the former director of field education and supervised ministry and lecturer in practical theology at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“While written primarily for persons in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), there is something of value in this succinct volume for all heirs of the Stone-Campbell Movement, not the least of which is its call to articulate a systematic theology.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Stone-Campbell Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264625786977,"sku":"9780827206243","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/Disciples_and_Theology.jpg?v=1575888701"},{"product_id":"introduction-to-the-psalms","title":"Introduction to the Psalms","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/declaisse-walford-nancy-l-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNancy L. deClaissé-Walford\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/Introduction_to_the_Psalms.pdf?720\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBOOK PREVIEW\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIntroduction to the Psalms: A Song from Ancient Israel\u003c\/i\u003e seeks to provide the reader with a solid introduction to the Hebrew Psalter, one that is informed by an interest in its shape and shaping. The author, Nancy deClaiss\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eé\u003c\/span\u003e-Walford, provides an up-to-date study on the poetic style of the psalms in the Psalter, their \u003cem\u003egattungen\u003c\/em\u003e or genres, the broad shape of the book, and the history of its shaping. She introduces each of the five books of the Psalter, providing a detailed examination of those individual psalms that are either key to the shaping of the Psalter or interesting studies in poetic style. In the final chapter, deClaiss\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eé\u003c\/span\u003e-Walford draws conclusions about the shape of the Psalter and about its story and message. She proposes a way to read the Psalms as a unified whole and in relationship to one another rather than as individual pieces, giving an inclusive, all-encompassing shape to the Psalter. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Included are two appendices that provide a listing of the superscriptions and \u003cem\u003egattungen\u003c\/em\u003e (form) of the psalms in the Hebrew Psalter and an explanation of many of the technical terms found in their superscriptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Rather than examine the content of the Psalms, deClaissé-Walford charts the canonical shape of the entire Psalter and the editorial process that led to that shape. Her interest in individual psalms is primarily literary, identifying the Gattung (form) of each. Influenced by the hypothesis of Walter Brueggemann, she draws theological conclusions from the canonical ordering of the forms. Emphasizing the poetic nature of the Psalms, she provides concise explanations of several characteristics of Hebrew poetry, such as parallelism, chiasm, inclusion, etc. Her brief history of the ordering of the Psalms and their final compilation is quite informative.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—The Bible Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"This introduction invites the student to move away from seeing the psalms only as liturgical material and to also see the psalms as text that tells a story. This is a much-needed perspective that translates the most recent trends of psalms scholarship into a usable classroom resource. Both theological students and church groups can benefit from this thoughtful and timely presentation.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Beth LaNeel Tanner, New Brunswick Theological Seminary\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264645021793,"sku":"9780827216235","price":6.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/9780827216235IntrotothePsalms.png?v=1703025108"},{"product_id":"living-pulpit-the","title":"The Living Pulpit: Sermons that Illustrate Preaching in the Stone-Campbell Movement 1968-2018","description":"\u003ch4\u003eedited by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/mulligan-mary-alice\"\u003eMary Alice Mulligan\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/LivingPulpit_preview.pdf?387\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBook Preview\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFifty years of preaching excellence in one volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Living Pulpit\u003c\/em\u003e collects sermons from representative preachers in the Stone-Campbell Movement--pastors affiliated with the Churches of Christ, the Christian Churches\/Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)--over the past 50 years. The fourth volume in a series that began in 1868, this collection of sermons from 40 ministers, reviewed by a diverse team of scholars, captures the theological themes and changing approaches to preaching across the Movement’s three streams. Emerging from an era of mutual suspicion, the three streams have developed a better understanding, shared mutuality and respect for each stream’s unique qualities, and cooperated in many venues, qualities reflected in this collection. \u003cem\u003eThe Living Pulpit\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003e2018\u003c\/em\u003e helps preachers and scholars recognize where preaching has been--and why it has been there--in each stream, and where preaching appears to be going in a new mission field for Christianity and the Unity Movement.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeneral Editor: Mary Alice Mulligan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributing Editors: Ronald Allen, Dave Bland, David Fleer, Joseph Grana II, Tim Sensing, Bruce Shields, Casey Sigmon, Richard Voelz\u003cbr\u003e Contributors: Jimmy Allen, Lynn Anderson, Gene Appel, Dean Barham, Batsell Barrett Baxter, Russell Blowers, Laura Buffington, Delores Carpenter, Janet Casey-Allen, Mike Cope, Fred Craddock, Lisa Davison, Glenn Elliott, Mark Frost, Joseph Grana II, Andrew Hairston, Cynthia Hale, Allen Harris, Jodi Hickerson, Cal Jernigan, Sandhya Jha, David Kagiwada, Michael Kinnamon, Roy Lawson, Marshall Leggett, Jim McGuiggan, Bob Mink, José Morales, Ronald Osborn, Derek Penwell, Norman Reed, Mary Louise Rowand, Rob Russell, Landon B. Saunders, Mark Scott, Tim Sensing, Bob Shannon, Rubel Shelly, Bruce Shields, Casey Sigmon, Myron Taylor, Samuel Twumasi-Ankrah, Richard Voelz, Paul Watson, J.S. Winston\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hardcover edition also available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Living-Pulpit-Illustrate-Preaching-Stone-Campbell\/dp\/0827221886\/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1524060039\u0026amp;sr=8-1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e and Ingram.\u003cbr\u003eE-versions available through your favorite e-book supplier (Amazon, Barnes \u0026amp; Noble, Kobo, etc.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"gtx-trans\" style=\"position: absolute; left: 411px; top: -16.2617px;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gtx-trans-icon\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264649248865,"sku":"9780827221857","price":8.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/Living_Pulpit_cover_really_final.jpg?v=1575181855"},{"product_id":"native-americans-the-mainline-church-and-the-quest-for-interracial-justice","title":"Native Americans, the Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/hansen-david-phillips\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDavid Phillips Hansen\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/Native_Americans_the_Mainline_Church_and_the_Quest_for_Interracial_Justice.pdf?750\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBOOK PREVIEW\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Native American drive for self-governance is the most important civil rights struggle of our time — a struggle too often covered up.\u003c\/strong\u003e In \u003cem\u003eNative Americans, The Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice\u003c\/em\u003e, David Phillips Hansen discusses the church’s role in helping America heal its bleeding wounds of systemic oppression.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e While many believe the United States is a melting pot for all cultures, Hansen asserts the longest war in human history is the one Anglo-Christians have waged on Native Americans. Using faith as a weapon against the darkness of injustice, this book will change the way you view how we must solve the pressing problems of racism, poverty, environmental degradation, and violence, and it will remind you that faith can be the leaven of justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Hansen has created a well-researched, clearly written, succinct and nuanced handbook that churches and other institutions can use for reparative work that Hansen describes as urgent....Hansen ably shows how the church worked hand in glove in the colonization process, supporting and benefiting from land grabs and the destruction of millions of Native lives. He shows in painful detail how the church was part of an ideological war—Christianizing people who had their own religious beliefs and practices, especially through boarding schools.....\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNative Americans, the Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a book that offers churches a road to conciliation, provided they have ears to hear and are willing to pay the cost of discipleship. Hansen has shown how every mainline church owes a debt to indigenous people in the US.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvangelical churches, too, owe a debt; however, the emphasis in evangelicalism on individual salvation can make it more difficult for those bodies to recognize the existence of institutional responsibility. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHansen and others have pointed out that in general, evangelicals are opposed to individual racism but have a difficult time, because of that orientation, recognizing institutional racism and the need to take responsibility for reconstruction and reparation. This book can be a guidebook for changing that.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e” ― ‘Recognition, Responsibility, Reconstruction, Reparation: A Review of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNative Americans, the Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e‘ by Anna Redsand, Evangelicals for Social Action (evangelicalsforsocialaction.org)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"David Hansen’s life and work provide a model for how the institutions of settler-colonialism can be challenged in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples’ liberation movements. His book is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ea beautifully told story and a guide for the ecumenical community.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e―Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNative Americans, the Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a stunning achievement!\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn insider to a mainline church, David Phillip Hansen powerfully blends theological insight, rigorous history and personal experience to illuminate hard truths about the church's often repressive interactions with Native Americans in \"Christianity's collusion with conquest.\" But his account is far more than critique. It is also a conceptually grounded pragmatic call to the church to engage with present-day Native Americans around acts of reconstruction (fundamentally remaking relationships) and reparation (repairing persisting cultural, economic and land-related damage). Moving all toward social healing through justice. Truly an essential read for all concerned about indigenous peoples and social justice.” ― Eric K. Yamamoto, University of Hawaii School of Law\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eChurches who seek to become open to others are on the right track, yet in order to make progress they need the guidance provided in this book.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Little will change without digging deep into our histories of conflict, exploring genuine forms of non-patronizing relationships, and fundamentally transforming both church and world in the encounter with others. As the mainline begins to reshape its still troubled relationships with Native Americans, many other relationships will be reshaped as well.” ― Joerg Rieger, Cal Turner Chancellor Chair in Wesleyan Studies and Distinguished Professor of Theology, Vanderbilt University, and author (with Rosemarie Henkel-Rieger) of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eUnified We Are a Force\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Hansen captures in his book \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNative Americans, the Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the first steps that must be taken in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ea conversation that is far past due for members of mainline Christianity.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHansen’s book illumines the gradual and painstaking actions of the church to recognize the harms inflicted throughout history and more importantly harms being inflicted in this present moment. Without recognizing the sinful motivations of a society built on exploitation, true wellness and harmony cannot exist. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNative Americans, the Mainline Church, and the Quest for Interracial Justice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a vital first step in putting together the pieces necessary for our society to achieve racial justice.\" —Rev. Glen Chebon Kernell, Jr., Executive Secretary of Native American \u0026amp; Indigenous Ministries, Justice \u0026amp; Relationships, United Methodist Church\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264651214945,"sku":"9780827225282","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/9780827225282NativeAmericans_ca190a5f-0784-48e2-a19b-ec073f962d8f.png?v=1698100895"},{"product_id":"offering-meditations","title":"Offering Meditations","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/miles-ray\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRay Miles\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEighty brief meditations are designed to be used as part of an ongoing stewardship approach. A separate section offers meditations for holidays and special occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264651837537,"sku":"9780827227095","price":2.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/Offering_Meditations.jpg?v=1576035129"},{"product_id":"preaching-in-the-era-of-trump","title":"Preaching in the Era of Trump","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/allen-jr-o-wesley\"\u003eO. Wesley Allen, Jr.\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/Allen_PreachingTrump_sample.pdf?365\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBook Preview\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNow more than ever, it’s time to preach. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The election of Donald Trump left countless faith leaders across the country speechless. Now that he is president, silence must give way to prophetic preaching.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Christians have long debated whether politics should be addressed from the pulpit. Following Donald Trump’s controversial, divisive rise to power and the sweeping changes his fledgling administration have already proposed, that’s no longer a question--political preaching will be the order of the day, even for pastors who try to steer clear of controversy. It’s up to preachers to make the church great again by leading it to embrace and embody God’s concern for those whose lives are at stake in a Trump administration. Veteran teacher, preacher, and author Wes Allen offers a blueprint for addressing current events through a Gospel lens, persuasively and pastorally--without engaging in divisive, antagonistic rhetoric. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e Wes Allen discusses how shifts in socio-political situations require new applications of the gospel in \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithforward\/2017\/02\/preaching-era-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e this post for Patheos.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e \u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Talking politics from the pulpit is always a risky proposition. ...One who took up the challenge is Wesley Allen, a homiletics professor at Perkins School of Theology and President of the Academy of Homiletics. He is also an ordained United Methodist minister. Soon after the election, colleagues encouraged him to take up the mantle and offer a response to the question of the hour. How should the church respond? How should preachers respond? This book is the result of those early conversations. The book went to the printer not long after the inauguration, and so this book was written prior to Donald Trump taking office. It was written based on Trump's campaign promises and speeches, along with the way he had comported himself in the past. ... As for the author, he is upfront about his political inclinations.... Nonetheless, this is about more than politics. This is about being faithful to the Gospel and pursuing justice and mercy and kindness. It's about standing up for those who are being persecuted and treated inappropriately. This is about welcoming the stranger. ... Allen's book provides those of us who preach some wisdom for addressing the issues of the day. He names them and helps us formulate a way forward. He closes the book on a hopeful note: 'I pray that the era of Trump leads to a revival of preaching related to social justice themes of God's good news that essentially makes the era of Trump null and void in reshaping the diverse landscape of American society' (p. 111). Only time will tell. In the meantime, we who preach must remain vigilant and deeply rooted in the Gospel so that our preaching might be faithful to the call. It won't end with the close of the Trump era, for each era has its own challenges and will require its own word of wisdom. For now, Wesley Allen offers us a word to take hold of, regarding 'preaching in the Era of Trump.' \"―Robert Cornwall, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bobcornwall.com\/2018\/01\/preaching-in-age-of-trump-o-wesley.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\"Ponderings on a Faith Journey\" review,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e01\/22\/18\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"If there is a theme sentence for this book, it can be found in this statement which is repeated in several forms throughout: '…it is not the preacher’s job simply to preach the gospel; it is the preacher’s job to get the gospel heard, then believed, then lived'. Allen has faith that good, gospel preaching can counter the unethical and unjust public rhetoric of any era. But the pastoral prophet (or prophetic pastor?) should know that speechifying is not enough. God is at work in preaching to shape a people who can make their own confessions and take their own ethical actions. Allen is clear: you don’t have to agree with him and his diagnosis, but we preachers dare not sit safely on fences nor imitate the rhetorical violence of our commander in chief and his ilk. Wes Allen reveals a more excellent way unfolding before us, if we are but bold enough to walk it.\" ―Sam Persons Parkes, Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/blog.smu.edu\/pcpe\/preaching-in-the-era-of-trump-by-o-wesley-allen-jr\/?ref=1155\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\"Must Reads\" blog,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJuly 2017\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Wes Allen has done American churches a huge favor by writing \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePreaching in the Era of Trump.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e He names the elephant in the room and gives pastors wise guidance for shoveling out the manure and seizing the moment. If you're a pastor, buy a copy and read it before Sunday. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf you're a member of a congregation, buy two copies and give one to your pastor, and then make a breakfast date to talk about it together.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"―Brian D. McLaren, author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Great Spiritual Migration\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Wes Allen has written a forthright, practical guide for those who preach during the presidency of Donald Trump. But, he really speaks to the timeless challenge clergy always face of speaking about God's love in the face of injustice, sin, and hate. He offers less judgment than challenge. He offers anecdotes, lessons, and practical strategies for preaching the ethic of love in the face of hate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eI wish Wes Allen was the pastor of my congregation.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"― Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“It’s a safe bet that 'The Donald' won’t hear any of the sermons instigated by this book. And there’s the pity. Donald’s not big on church and has heard few sermons in his lifetime. However, some of the folks who put their trust in Trump may attend to sermons and therefore may be urged to think like Christians about the age in which we live. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eI love Wes Allen’s conviction that the elevation of Trump is a call for better preaching.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur national mistake, when viewed through the eyes of faith, is great opportunity to reflect more engagingly upon the gospel. If you are a preacher, wondering what to say in the Age of Trump (and I hope you are) this book is a godsend. Thanks, Wes.” ―Will Willimon, Duke Divinity School, United Methodist Bishop (retired), and author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWho Lynched Willie Earle? Preaching to Confront Racism\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Preaching in the Age of Trump\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis like a much needed urgent-care facility for preachers reeling from the election and its aftermath.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWes Allen offers not only an accurate diagnosis for how our country and the church has found itself in this place of crisis, but prescribes effective strategies for preachers to address the fear, turmoil, prejudices, hatred, and divisiveness of this time, as well as the need for proclaiming prophetic justice. While never mincing words about the staggering array of evil now before us, Allen also reminds us in this must-have book that the preacher’s task is to address the humanity of our congregations, even while casting out the demonic forces that hold us in thrall.\" ― Leah D. Schade, Lexington Theological Seminary and Author, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCreation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"All preaching is contextual. All Preaching has its own urgency. All preaching is the interaction of people with one another. All preaching matters. There are time when these reality seem to be in vivid color - almost surreal color. Many of us feel that the age of Trump has put an “instagram-like filter” on our context, urgency, and interactions so that it matters all the more what we say and how we say it. Many of us recognize that something has to change - that something has changed. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWes Allen’s insights, passion and pastoral heart is what so many of us need at this time.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis books modern-day “pastoral epistle feel” makes this a book we need. And, we need the kinds of preaching Allen calls for.\" ―Doug Pagitt, Pastor of Solomon’s Porch and Author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePreaching Reimagined\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“President Donald J. Trump has ushered in a new era of post-truth, alternative facts, and intimidation tactics targeting everyone from the intelligence community to national media. His tweets spew racism, hate, and intolerance, and his orders have separated families, desecrated tribal lands, and closed America’s doors to the refugee. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThese harrowing times demand that the prophetic voice of the pulpit arise and resist. Dr. Allen has masterfully and insightfully provided a way forward to accomplish this.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e” ―Michael W. Waters, founder and Senior Pastor of Joy Tabernacle A.M.E. Church in Dallas, Texas and author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eStakes Is High: Race, Faith, and Hope for America\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Many ministers are struggling with how to proclaim the gospel of Christ in congregations polarized by partisan politics, racial tensions and fake news. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eO. Wesley Allen, Jr. takes on the challenge of how to give voice to not only the gospel but relate it to the world outside the church walls.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAllen's examination and clarity of several homiletical strategies crossing a wide range of pertinent issues and policy decisions will help ministers and the Church respond to the widening rift in our society and congregations with meaningful, Christ centered conversations.\"― Rev. Evan M. Dolive, author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSeeking Imperfection: Body Image, Marketing and God\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Wes Allen has written a timely and important book that addresses one of the fundamental questions the church faces in what feels like a cultural crossroads: How do we preach faithfully in a world where so many congregations are divided over the issue of a Donald Trump presidency? \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWalking a fine line between the pastoral and the prophetic, Allen offers practical wisdom sure to challenge all preachers in search of authentic ways to navigate these uncertain times.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a book all preachers need right now.―Derek Penwell, Douglass Boulevard Christian Church (Louisville), author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Mainliners Survival Guide to the Post-Denominational World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"It would be hard to imagine a more timely or important book. As the church awakens to the reality of fascism at home and abroad, the prophetic timidity of mainline clergy must bear some of the blame. Preachers have been sleeping through history, our voices muzzled by phony arguments about politics in the pulpit and faith as a purely individual affair. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWes Allen has made it clear that now is the time to clear our throats and speak truth to power again.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLet’s hope we are not too late. If we are, let’s go down preaching.\" ―Rev. Robin R. Meyers, Mayflower UCC Church (Oklahoma City) and author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSpiritual Defiance: Building a Beloved Community of Resistance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264656228449,"sku":"9780827231481","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/Preaching_in_the_ERA_of_Trump_cover_final_dc0dc8ec-61a7-4b6b-b112-05a708632e80.jpg?v=1575181563"},{"product_id":"reflections-on-my-call-to-preach","title":"Reflections on My Call to Preach","description":"\u003ch4 class=\"pp_author\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bookcontributors\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eby \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/chalicepress.com\/pages\/craddock-fred-b\" class=\"bookcontributor author\"\u003eFred B. Craddock\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pp_author\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bookcontributors\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pp_author\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bookcontributors\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/Reflections_preview.pdf?753\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBOOK PREVIEW\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"pp_author\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"bookcontributors\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTravel with revered preacher and author Fred Craddock through his early years as he considers what made him take to the pulpit. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“For some reason, I felt I had to say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the ministry so I could feel free again. My siblings and friends talked almost casually about options and preferences as to careers, but with no evident sense of urgency. Not so with me. I did not then nor do I now know whether the burden of choice was a trait of personality, a kind of super-conscientiousness, whether the calling to ministry itself carried a weight, a burden, peculiar to the task itself. Rightly or wrongly, when I thought of possibly becoming a journalist, that would be a choice, 100 percent mine. When I considered becoming a minister, that was not totally my decision; I was responding to God’s will for me. Of course, I had been told that journalists, lawyers, teachers, merchants, farmers—all could understand their lives as a vocation, a calling, but what I am telling you is that I perceived, I felt, I experienced the idea of being a preacher as different, and that difference was sobering, even burdensome. That’s why advice about not being in a hurry, taking my time, was not helpful even if wise. If it was my decision, why could I not make it now; if it was God’s decision, why did not God tell me, or at least tell my father or my mother? I prayed for the ache to leave me.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Excerpt from \u003cem\u003eReflections on My Call to Preach\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e“Fred Craddock traces his path to ministry with vivid sketches of parents, siblings, teachers, and the hidden insistences of God. Craddock keeps it accessible without any highfalutin words like ‘providence.’ But he lets us glimpse the ‘hoverings’ that are beyond explanation. Without any special effort Craddock offers what is ‘portable’ from his life to that of his reader, so that the reader, as well as the author, may reflect on the surplus of purpose that wells up in our lives. Our thanks to Fred for helping us to tell our stories by way of his.”\u003cbr\u003e—Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In this account of a summoned life, we are privileged to hear the life story of a master teller of stories. With his considerable charm, wit, and gentle witness, Fred enables us to peer into the earliest years of an extraordinary preacher in the making. Fred, the great storyteller, sure knows how to tell the story that is his life.”\u003cbr\u003e—Will Willimon, Bishop, the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“For two generations, Fred Craddock has been the single most influential voice in preaching in North America and throughout the world...Beginning with Craddock’s ancestral roots and going to the day he enrolled in Bible college, this autobiography invites us into the rich, nuanced life-forces that helped shape this evocative preacher. In the end, it is not so much a story about Fred, but a story about God working through family, friends, and congregations in shaping a life around the gospel.”\u003cbr\u003e—Ronald J. Allen, Christian Theological Seminary\u003c\/em\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264658948193,"sku":"9780827232570","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/9780827232570ReflectionsonMyCalltoPreach.png?v=1707350443"},{"product_id":"sustaining-hope-in-an-unjust-world","title":"Sustaining Hope in an Unjust World: How to Keep Going When You Want to Give Up","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/murphy-timothy-charles\"\u003eTimothy Charles Murphy\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/a\/2031\/9780827235434\"\u003eBookshop\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e | \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9780827235434\"\u003eIndiebound\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e | \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sustaining-Hope-Unjust-World-Going\/dp\/0827235437\/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1\u0026amp;keywords=sustaining+hope\u0026amp;qid=1587405947\u0026amp;sr=8-2\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e | \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/sustaining-hope-in-an-unjust-world-timothy-charles-murphy\/1129073859?ean=9780827235434\"\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/when-kids-ask-hard-questions-bromleigh-mccleneghan\/1130792956?ean=9780827243309#\/\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.booksamillion.com\/p\/Sustaining-Hope-Unjust-World\/Timothy-Charles-Murphy\/Q763685386?id=4760472893772\"\u003eBooks-A-Million\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e | \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.christianbook.com\/sustaining-unjust-world-going-give-ebook\/timothy-murphy\/9780827235441\/pd\/101881EB?product_redirect=1\u0026amp;Ntt=101881EB%20or%20101881EB\u0026amp;item_code=\u0026amp;Ntk=keywords\u0026amp;event=EBRN\"\u003eChristianbook.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/SustainingPreview.pdf?376\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBook Preview\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cem\u003e\"Gripping stories, unpretentious wisdom, and down-to-earth God-talk: this is an indispensable guidebook for activists who need re-activating.” ―Catherine Keller, Professor of Constructive Theology, Drew University\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhere is God when we're losing the fight?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn our faithful work toward building a better world, we may often feel we're losing the battle. The poor get poorer, the vulnerable continue to be abused, and justice for all is a distant dream. No matter how hard we work, nothing changes. Somedays, we wonder if God is even still with us in the fight.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut what happens, in our striving for social justice, when we discover that God offers us something entirely different than the promise of victory? In this love letter to the disheartened activist, pastor Timothy Murphy reflects on his own journey of disappointments and despair to rediscover a faith--and a God--who inspires us to continue fighting, even when it feels like we're losing the battle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" width=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vbybv8eyvOs\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Gripping stories, unpretentious wisdom, and down-to-earth God-talk: this is an indispensable guidebook for activists who need re-activating. When your hope flags, grab this book and read!\"\u003cstrong\u003e―Catherine Keller, Professor of Constructive Theology\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Murphy has thought deeply and honestly as he lived out his calling to liberate and seek justice. Other Christian activists will resonate to much that he has said. He recognizes unflinchingly the depth of resistance to reform from others, from the system, and from our own weariness and despair. In the context of repeated failure and hopeless odds, he calls us to keep on keeping on.\u003cspan\u003e We are not likely to be victorious. But our faithfulness will make a difference, a difference worth making. Thank you, Tim, for calling us, without self deception or false expectation of divine intervention, to lives of faithfulness, hopefulness, and love.\"\u003cstrong\u003e―John B. Cobb, Jr, Founding Co-Director of the Center of Process Studies and Press and Faith\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Tim Murphy's new book is just what I needed. If you need encouragement, perspective, and solid reasons to keep going in the struggle for justice, get \u003ci\u003eSustaining Hope in an Unjust World.\u003c\/i\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003e―Brian McLaren, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Great Spiritual Migration\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ever struggle keeping faith when evil wins, love fails, and you lose a fight for justice and peace? Then this book is written for you!\u003cspan\u003e Murphy’s stories and insights offer a powerful new look at activism and hope from a progressive Christian perspective.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e― Wm. Andrew Schwartz, Ph.D. Executive Director, Center for Process Studies\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Timothy Murphy's \u003ci\u003eSustaining Hope\u003c\/i\u003e could not be more timely, as all who struggle for justice now face overwhelming and urgent challenges. Dr. Murphy invites us to find hope in the very essence of what it means to be faithful. His style is warm and engaging, his arguments lucid and convincing, and his book is perfectly fashioned and formatted for fueling rich small group conversation. \u003cspan\u003eTimothy Murphy gives us the powerful and accessible theology and ethics that this 21st century desperately needs. A great resource for these difficult days.\"\u003cstrong\u003e―Rev. Peter Laarman, Former Director, Progressive Christians Uniting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264667926625,"sku":"9780827235434","price":4.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/Sustaining_Hope_final_cover.jpg?v=1575181666"},{"product_id":"the-bush-was-blazing-but-not-consumed","title":"The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/law-eric-h-f\"\u003eEric H.F. Law\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest-selling author Eric Law shows how to work with the dynamics of diverse cultures to create a truly inclusive community.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264670023777,"sku":"9780827202221","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/products\/The_Bush_was_Blazing_new_cover.jpg?v=1582315621"},{"product_id":"the-word-at-the-crossings","title":"The Word at the Crossings: Living the Good News in a Multicontextual Community","description":"\u003ch4\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.chalicepress.com\/pages\/law-eric-h-f\"\u003eEric H.F. Law\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/The_Word_at_the_Crossings.pdf?628\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBOOK PREVIEW\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEric Law believes that we are called by God to actively seek encounters with people who are different from us because at the crossings of our differences of race, culture, gender, sexual orientations, ability, economic class, and theology, lies the opportunity to widen our understanding of the gospel. But how do we open our hearts and our minds to such pluralism and live as God intends us to live? How can we be transformed by our differences as we seek to align ourselves with God? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Eric Law invites readers to follow him on a journey of discovery, a path to connect with Christ's way, truth, and life. He encourages us to stop denying the conflicts that arise out of the differences within us and between us and to name these conflicts, allowing differing perspectives to affirm, enrich, or challenge one another. He proposes practical disciplines, models, and techniques to help us communicate openly, honestly, and without judgment with ourselves, with others, and with nature. Law shares his personal stories and experiences and calls us to explore our own stories, frameworks, and God-concepts that we may grow in and live the Good News. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor those called to serve in God's church, \u003ci\u003eThe Word at the Crossings\u003c\/i\u003e includes an appendices with specific exercises and techniques for Christian educators and pastors, including a sermon preparation model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The Word at the Crossings is a provocative book that leads the reader to ponder a wide array of pastoral and theological issues that otherwise may not even come to mind. Read it and wrestle with the issues it raises.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Dr. Pablo A. Jiménez, National Pastor for Hispanic Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Word at the Crossings offers practical ideas, resources, models, and techniques for all involved in building inclusive communities in multicontextual environments.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Edith Prendergast, RSC, Director of the Office of Religious Education, Archdiocese of Los Angeles\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Eric Law has opened a whole new dimension in the discussion of pluralism, and he has done it with fascinating stories and dramas drawn from his own experience as a Chinese American. He calls these experiences ‘crossings,’ and he finds them in the fourfoldness of the Gospels and the constant communications across the divides that have separated us from other Christians and other religions. Eyeopening.”\u003cbr\u003e—Walter Wink, Author of The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The Word at the Crossings is a treasure, full of fresh insight, moving narratives, and practical ideas. Eric Law once again has blessed us with a book to help us preach, teach, pray, and, most of all, live as faithful Christians in God's richly, wonderfully diverse world.”\u003cbr\u003e—Marjorie Procter-Smith, Perkins School of Theology\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chalice Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31264672022625,"sku":"9780827242449","price":5.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/9466\/8129\/files\/9780827242449cover.jpg?v=1692644144"}],"url":"https:\/\/chalicepress.com\/collections\/obs2026.oembed","provider":"Chalice Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}