Esther

Esther PDF

Author: Charles R. Swindoll

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: 1997-09-26

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 1418515469

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Everyone loves a transformation story. Rags to riches. Plain to beautiful. Weak to strong. Esther's story is that, but it is much more. It is a thought-provoking study of God's invisible hand writing silently and unseen across the pages of human history. Perhaps most of all, Esther's story is the account of godly attributes like courage, dignity, wisdom, and strength?attributes that blocked an evil plot, overthrew an arrogant killer, and replaced terror with joy in thousands of Jewish homes. Author Chuck Swindoll interweaves the ancient, real-life story with insight not only into the virtues of Queen Esther, but also into how the qualities that formed and empowered her can be ours. Esther is the second volume of Charles Swindoll's best-selling series, which examines great lives from God's Word and reveals the strengths and weaknesses that make God's men and women both great . . . and human. Many of the most beloved biblical heroes were ordinary folks. Shepherds. Fishermen. Servants. Widows. Even harlots and petty thieves. One by one, they changed the course of history. Swindoll explains that these men and women did not become great in their own strength but were empowered by God when they surrendered their lives to Him. To live such a life that God considers great is within the reach of everyone who submits to Him.

Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther

Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther PDF

Author: Michael V. Fox

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2010-04-01

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1725227975

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Widely praised as a seminal contribution to the study of the Old Testament when it first appeared, Michael V. Fox's Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther is now available in a second edition, complete with an up-to-date critical review of recent Esther scholarship. Fox's commentary, based on his own translation of the Hebrew text, captures the meaning and artistry of Esther's inspiring story. After laying out the background information essential for properly reading Esther, Fox offers commentary on the text that clearly unpacks its message and relevance. Fox also looks in depth at each character in the story of Esther, showing how they were carefully shaped by the book's author to teach readers a new view of how to live as Jews in foreign lands.

Esther and Her Elusive God

Esther and Her Elusive God PDF

Author: John Anthony Dunne

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2014-02-12

Total Pages: 171

ISBN-13: 1620327848

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What if the way the book of Esther has been taught to us in church and retold to us in films, cartoons, and romance novels has missed the original point of the story? Far from being models of piety and devotion, Esther and Mordecai seem indifferent to the faith of their ancestors. How then did this story become part of the Bible and gain the broad acceptance that it has? If the church should not neglect the story, how should it be read? Esther and Her Elusive God calls Christians to avoid the common attempts to make Esther more palatable and theological, and to reclaim this secular story as Scripture. Readers will be encouraged to see in Esther a profound message of God's grace and faithfulness to his wayward people.

What Queen Esther Knew

What Queen Esther Knew PDF

Author: Connie Glaser

Publisher: Rodale Books

Published: 2003-05-23

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9781579546908

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". . . practical strategies to help you become the queen you deserve to be." The story of Queen Esther, the orphan girl who became Queen of Persia and saved her people, has inspired millions and is the focus of a joyful celebration of thanksgiving--but there's more to Esther's story than meets the eye. Connie Glaser and Barbara Steinberg Smalley found something remarkable--Esther's tale contains the ingredients every woman needs to succeed in the business world today. From Esther's start as a contestant in the ancient world's largest beauty pageant to her triumph over the evil Haman, the authors use her example as a strategist, a risk-taker, and a persuasive speaker to provide a new archetype for contemporary women's success in business. Along the way, they answer questions such as: - Do I really need a mentor, and if so, how do I find one? - What can I do to be taken more seriously? - How can I get the credit and recognition I deserve--without seeming pushy or aggressive? - How important is risk-taking to my career success? Smart, savvy, and strategic, Queen Esther provides an impressive role model for women today.

Esther in Ancient Jewish Thought

Esther in Ancient Jewish Thought PDF

Author: Aaron Koller

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2014-01-09

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1107048354

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This book situates the book of Esther in the intellectual history of Ancient Judaism and provides a new understanding of its purpose.

Where God Was Born

Where God Was Born PDF

Author: Bruce Feiler

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2005-09-13

Total Pages: 419

ISBN-13: 0060574879

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At a time when America debates its values and the world braces for religious war, Bruce Feiler, author of the New York Times bestsellers Walking the Bible and Abraham, travels ten thousand miles through the heart of the Middle East—Israel, Iraq, and Iran—and examines the question: Is religion tearing us apart ... or can it bring us together? Where God Was Born combines the adventure of a wartime chronicle, the excitement of an archaeological detective story, and the insight of personal spiritual exploration. Taking readers to biblical sites not seen by Westerners for decades, Feiler's journey uncovers little-known details about the common roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and affirms the importance of the Bible in today's world. In his intimate, accessible style, Feiler invites readers on a never-in-a-lifetime experience: Israel Feiler takes a perilous helicopter dive over Jerusalem, treks through secret underground tunnels, and locates the spot where David toppled Goliath. Iraq After being airlifted into Baghdad, Feiler visits the Garden of Eden and the birthplace of Abraham, and makes a life-threatening trip to the rivers of Babylon. Iran Feiler explores the home of the Bible's first messiah and uncovers the secret burial place of Queen Esther. In Where God Was Born, Feiler discovers that at the birth of Western religion, all faiths drew from one another and were open to coexistence. Feiler's bold realization is that the Bible argues for interfaith harmony. It cannot be ceded to one side in the debate over values. Feiler urges moderates to take back the Bible and use its powerful voice as a beacon of shared ideals. In his most ambitious work to date, Bruce Feiler has written a brave, uplifting story that stirs the deepest chords of our time. Where God Was Born offers a rare, universal vision of God that can inspire different faiths to an allegiance of hope.

National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States

National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States PDF

Author: Catholic Church. National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishops' Committee on the Permanent Diaconate

Publisher: USCCB Publishing

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 9781574553680

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The national directory addresses the dimensions and perspectives in the formation of deacons and the model standards for the formation, ministry, and life of deacons in the United States. It is intended as a guideline for formation, ministry, and life of permanent deacons and a directive to be utilized when preparing or updating a diaconate program in formulating policies for the ministry and life of deacons. This volume also includes Basic Standards for Readiness for the formation of permanent deacons in the United States, from the bishops' Committee on the Diaconate, and the committee document Visit of Consultation Teams to Diocesan Permanent Diaconate Formation Programs.

The Communicator's Commentary

The Communicator's Commentary PDF

Author: Mark D. Roberts

Publisher: W Publishing Group

Published: 1993

Total Pages: 442

ISBN-13: 9780849904165

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"Ezra and Nehemiah address issues that make the front pages of our newspapers - and they speak to the yearnings of our hearts". This is why the author of this volume, Dr. Mark Roberts enthusiastically encourages Christian communicators to explore these somewhat obscure Old Testament texts. For much the same reason the author believes modern pastors and Bible students can benefit from careful study in the often-maligned book of Esther. He emphasizes the book's contemporary relevance, stating, "Esther encourages us to grapple with pressing moral issues in light of God's wisdom". As a pastor with a passion for communicating God's truths to young people and to the unchurched in our world, Dr. Roberts shares his personal success in using the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther to address contemporary needs. Not only is this commentary well-written and carefully researched, but, as an added plus, Dr. Roberts' deep faith and his dynamic relationship with Christ shine through every page. As Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie says in the editor's preface, the author of this fine volume "is vulnerable, open and honest about how the Scriptures he explains have impacted his own life". Marked by the excellence you have come to expect in the Communicator's Commentary series, this latest volume wrestles with difficult questions, such as the rightful place of Esther in the canon and the puzzling roles of Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel; provides a wide range of quotations and anecdotes from modern and classical sources to help us communicate God's message today; and offers balance of exegetical, historical, and literary analysis along with penetrating applications of the truths reflected in these texts. "As communicators",Dr. Ogilvie says, "we all long for those magnificent moments in our preparation when we are gripped with an inspired insight into a passage of Scripture that prompts us to exclaim, 'that will preach!' We are filled with excitement and enthusiasm to share what we've discovered. This is exactly what will happen as you study this commentary. It is power-packed and brimming over with new insight into familiar passages".