Böcker av Tony W. Cartledge

Returning to the ground of the highly successful first volume in the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary, Walter Brueggemann's 1 & 2 Kings, scholar, writer, and preacher Tony Cartledge explores the beginnings of kingship in Israel.From the counsel of Samuel through the determination of Saul to the towering figure of David, this commentary thoughtfully considers the debt that our religious and literary heritage owes to the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Cartledge describes and analyzes the events in these books as central to the preservation of the traditions that influence the remainder of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Written in commentary form with the addition of numerous insights and visuals drawn from the worlds of art, archaeology, literature, history, and geography, 1 & 2 Samuel opens up the biblical text in signficant and faithful ways.Written by accomplished scholars with all students of Scripture in mind, this innovative new commentary series is designed to make quality Bible study more accessible. Pastors, professors and students of Scripture are discovering that this commentary is a wonderful new tool for enhancing interpretation.

Spring cleaning is never a pleasant task, but it is a necessary one. Sometimes we can no longer consider a room, garage, or even a house a livable space unless we engage in the practice of deciding what to keep and what to throw away. Only then can the spring cleaner see what needs to be cleaned. Removing the junk has a way of unveiling corners with cobwebs, revealing dust bunnies requiring dispatching, and sometimes finding long-forgotten treasures. The origin of the word "Lent" comes from the Anglo-Saxon "lencten" and literally means "spring." Since the season is one of spiritual preparation-examining our devotion to the Christ whose life, teachings, and ministry should guide and shape us-one approach to these Lent-Easter sessions is to think of them as a sort of spring cleaning.To see Jesus as the Gospel of John sees him, as "the light of the world," means first allowing light to shine into our own selves. To continue with the spring cleaning analogy, the light is able to fill a room more readily if the windows have first been cleaned and the mirrors shined to reflect the light into all corners. So it is with our lives. If we are first prepared to receive the light, then it can be reflected to others and indeed light the world.For centuries, the church has engaged in the practice of "giving up" something for Lent. In its purest form, it is a conscious recognition that not everything we have taken into our lives is necessary. This unit helps us continue that Lenten practice by reflecting on John's portrait of Christ during the time of his Passion, examining the empty tomb, and moving on to the early preaching and ministry of the Christian church. By focusing on all of these Lent-Easter aspects, we can come to a more holistic understanding of Jesus the Christ.To see not only the painful aspects of Jesus' life but the transcendent power and presence gained by his earliest followers is the goal of our unit. The hope is that by engaging in this study and using it to deepen your own spiritual journey, you can usher in spring