Simon Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Jude, Simon, Judas, and Matthias--what happened to the men who answered Jesus call to follow him? What impact did they have on the world? Where did they go and what did they do after Jesus resurrection and ascension? In these fascinating profiles, Dr. McBirnie offers readers a snapshot of the lives of each apostle. His information was compiled by traveling to places where the apostles lived and visited, by studying the Scriptures and biblical history, by listening to local traditions, and by engaging in his own original research. Picking up where the book of Acts leaves off, McBirnie brings these men to life as he explores the legends, traditions, and real lives of the Twelve as they built the foundation of Christianity.

Since its appearance nearly 35 years ago, Black's New Testament Commentary Series has been hailed by both scholars and pastors for its insightful interpretations and reliable commentary. Each book in the series includes: an insightful introduction to the important historical, literary, and theological issues; key terms and phrases from the translation highlighted in the commentary where they are discussed; explanations of special Greek or foreign terms; references to important primary and secondary literature; and a Scripture index.Second Corinthans is one of the most difficult writings in the New Testament to interpret. Yet, this commentary, which follows Barrett's works on Romans and I Corinthians in the same series, is superb in every respect. The author's command of the Greek language, his skillful use of the Old Testament and background writings, and his sensitive handling of complex exegetical problems provide a panorama of a mature scholar's work which is at times almost breathtaking. Moreover, the restrained use of Greek and technical terms makes this commentary as useful for the layman or pastor as it is for the scholar. Review and Expositor

This may seem self-explanatory, but it's helpful to work through this question thoughtfully. Is self-control really that important, or is it better to enjoy the moment and not concern oneself with future outcomes? Besides risking the ability to achieve long-term goals, there are other problematic issues with a lack of self-control. People who lack self-control often give in to impulsive behavior and emotions as well. This means that they may make poor choices that harm themselves or others and react poorly when they don't get what they want. Imagine a toddler who wants something but the parent says no. Often, the initial reaction is to behave impulsively. They may throw a tantrum and hit and scream. Toddlers are still learning to regulate their emotions and respond appropriately when things don't go their way.A person who lacks self-control may be an unstable person, prone to fits of anger and unethical decisions. There's more at stake to a lack of self-control than a forgotten New Year's Resolution--it may mean the difference between a person who is successful in personal relationships and careers, and one who is not.

John Calvin is the most notable figure from the Reformed tradition. Unfortunately, he is often characterized as a stern and cerebral individual who had little concern for practical matters. However, Calvin was actually influential in promoting a profound sense of piety among early Protestantism. In The Soul of Life , Joel R. Beeke presents the life and ministry of Calvin with a special emphasis on Calvin's efforts for cultivating healthy spirituality among the churches. The selections from Calvin's own work will give readers a firsthand look at Calvin's emphasis on godliness, and by God's grace, will be a means for spurring on greater godliness in our day. Table of Contents: The Life of John Calvin The Piety of John Calvin Section One: The Definition and Importance of Piety Section Two: Piety's Supreme Goal, Soli Deo Gloria Section Three: Theological Dimensions Piety's Profound Root: Mystical Union Piety's Double Bond: The Spirit and Faith Piety's Double Cleansing: Justification and Sanctification Section Four: Ecclesiological Dimensions Piety Through the Church Piety of the Word Piety in the Sacraments Piety in the Psalter Section Five: Practical Dimensions Prayer Repentance Self-Denial Cross-Bearing The Present and Future Life Obedience Recommended Books by or about Calvin Series Description Seeking, then, both to honor the past and yet not idolize it, we are issuing these books in the series Profiles in Reformed Spirituality . The design is to introduce the spirituality and piety of the Reformed Profiles in Reformed Spirituality tradition by presenting descriptions of the lives of notable Christians with select passages from their works. This combination of biographical sketches and collected portions from primary sources gives a taste of the subjects' contributions to our spiritual heritage and some direction as to how the reader can find further edification through their works. It is the hope of the publishers that this series will provide riches for those areas where we are poor and light of day where we are stumbling in the deepening twilight.

'But if you wish to know how these things come about ask grace not instruction, desire not understanding, the groaning of prayer not diligent reading, the Spouse not the teacher, God not man, darkness not clarity, not light but the fire that totally enflames and carries us into God by ecstatic unctions and burning affections. This fire is God and his furnace is in Jerusalem...' --Bonaventure, 1217-1274

Arthur W. Pink's The Sovereignty of God has been a benchmark work in explaining how God is always sovereign over all things. Many people in different branches of Christendom have challenged God's authority and ability to be sovereign over evil and other "non-good" activities, but Pink had that all answered when this book was first published back in 1919. This edition is a copy of the final 1929 edition which has become the textbook for explaining God's sovereignty in all things. In a world today, and in a "Christian" church, where God's sovereignty, and the authority and kingship of Christ is consistently under attack, this book needs to be made an everyday book for everyone that claims to submit to Christ's authority. Using the Bible, Pink sufficiently answers all the criticisms concerning freewill and determinism in the sovereign work of God in salvation and redemption from the evil of this world.

The son of burgundian nobility, Bernard admitted after years of struggle that humility remained for him the most elusive of the virtues. Yet the uncompromising vehemence of his love for God made him strive for what monastic tradition taught is indispensable to anyone hoping to share God's perfect love.

The Story of Art, by E. H. Gombrich, is a survey of the history of art from ancient times to the modern era. First published in 1950 by Phaidon, the book is widely regarded both as a seminal work of criticism and as one of the most accessible introductions to the visual arts

This interesting book is for all who enjoy Christian music in church or the concert hall. It introduces us to the history and practice of Christian music, discussing what music is, what it means, Christian music in the past and the music of today. Illustrated.

In this book, Dr. Vos' reflects on the Epistle to the Hebrews and its theological themes. In chapter 1, Vos explains why the outstanding feature of the Epistle is its connection with the Old Testament and why the Old Testament is prominent in it. In Chapter 2, Vos discusses the Epistle's conception of the "Diatheke" - the new covenant, new testament, new organization of relationship between God and humanity - and shows how the Epistle's conception affects the whole of Christianity. In chapter 3, Vos points out that the Epistle presents its own philosophy of redemption and revelation and that it presents a significant, and corrective teaching on the subject of Christian eschatology. In the remaining portion of this chapter the author analyzes the Typology of the Epistle, the Problem of the Inferiority of the Old Testament from the religious point of view, and teh Epistle's doctrine of revelation. In chapter 4, Vos lays out the Epistle's teaching of the Priesthood of Christ and in Chapter 5 he concludes with a discussion of the better sacrifice: the sacrifice of the new covenant. This last chapter also contains helpful notes on the rigual terminology employed by the writer of the epistle. Geerhardus Vos (1862-1949) was born in the Netherlands and emigrated to the USA in 1881. He earned degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the University of Strasbourg (Ph.D. in Arabic). In 1894 he was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in the USA. Before beginning a 39-year tenure on Princeton's faculty, he was professor of systematic and exegetical theology at Calvin for five years. Editor: James T. Dennison Jr. (M.Div., Th.M., Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) is academic dean and professor of church history and biblical theology at Northwest Theological Seminary, Lynnwood, Washington. he is the editor of the English translation of Turretin's three- volume Institutes and author of The Market-Day of the Soul; The Puritan Doctrine of the Sabbath in England, 1532- 1700, as well as numerous scholarly articles.

Is prayer merely a rigorous discipline, a required spiritual exercise? Or is it simply keeping company with God? Houston helps readers view prayer not as a dreary exercise or a skill to be mastered, but as a chance to deepen their friendships with God. He explores the transforming power of prayer, illustrating how prayer begins to change our lives and then how the way we live changes how we pray.

Priceless treasure is within your reach. And with it, liberating joy. In Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle, you'll unearth a radical teaching of Jesus -- a secret wrapped up in giving. Once you discover this secret, life will never look the same. And you won't want it to! Do it. Ask God what's on your mind. Open my eyes, Father. What am I holding on to that's robbing me of present joy and future reward? - Back cover.