Cultivating Purity In An Impure World

“Students of rhetoric should appreciate Making Chastity Sexy for the sophistication of its argument about 'counter-public' advocacy. Others will welcome it for keen insights about the recent history of American evangelicals and, even more, Christine Gardner's striking comparisons between chastity rhetoric in the United States and in East Africa.”—Mark Noll, author of The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith “Christine Gardner has written a terrific book that moves beyond tired survey research-based studies to give us a rich and engaging in-depth analysis of the language through which evangelical abstinence movements attempt to persuade teenagers to refrain from having sex. We learn not only about programs in the United States but also in Africa where abstinence has been advocated to prevent HIV/AIDS. Making Chastity Sexy shows clearly the power of rhetoric – and its unanticipated consequences.” —Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University "Written in an engaging, often journalistic style, Making Chastity Sexy offers compelling insight into the rhetorical strategies of contemporary evangelical sexual abstinence campaigns and illuminates a remarkable variety of responses to these campaigns by teens and young adults." —Angela G. Ray, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Northwestern University

We desperately need role models worth following. Authentic heroes. People of integrity. Great lives to inspire us to do better, to climb higher, to stand taller. ?Chuck Swindoll Great Days with the Great Lives is a collection of biographies taken from the Great Lives from God's Word series. Each day provides a Scripture reference and devotional thought based on the experience of some of the greatest heroes of the Bible?men and women whose authentic walk with God will teach us, encourage us, and warn us. These profiles in character from one of America's most beloved teachers, Chuck Swindoll, offer us hope for the future. They show us that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary men and women like us. They teach us what it means to be genuinely spiritual people?people after God's own heart. Join us now for 365 Great Days with Great Lives?an exploration into the hearts and lives of God's heroes who continue to instruct and inspire.

The core of a strong relationship with God is purity. The Goal of our lives must be to attain the highest degree of purity, and so we continue to grow in Godly character - becoming more like Christ today than we were yesterday. We must live in the light of God's love and purity every moment. Purity of heart and life makes you belong to Jesus indeedThis book sheds light on areas of purity such as:? The Value of Purity? The Purity Culture? The Power of Purity? Purity and Purpose? Sexual Purity? Living a Pure Life in an impure world? The Blessings of Purity etc.

Join pastor and bestselling author Charles Swindoll as he explores the lives of 13 biblical hidden figures whose stories have remained in the shadows of history for long enough. Somehow life has taught us poorly. We're trained to think that the most significant people are star athletes, actors, and musicians--the ones we applaud, those whose autographs we seek, or those who have worldly fame. But Swindoll teaches us that most often, the people really worth noting are those who turn from a 'nobody' into a 'somebody' but never receive credit. Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives reminds us of a core truth: success in God's kingdom and in the church depends upon faithful people the public rarely knows. The Old Testament contains numerous fascinating stories of forgotten lives--unsung heroes whose actions, sacrifices, or battles failed to ascribe them worldly applause. These great lives, however, reveal significant people whom God honors in the pages of His Word and, therefore, deserve our serious attention and emulation. From the misfortunes of Esau to the bravery of Abigail, each of these unlikely heroes has four unique elements in common: A selfless sense of devotion A mission A love of harmony A contagious joy Join Swindoll in this eighth volume of the bestselling Great Lives from God's Word series as he examines little-remembered Bible characters and events, helping you discover biblical principles and practical applications for living so that you can be who you already are in God's eyes--a person of true significance.

Seventy percent of American teens have had sex by age eighteen. Richard and Reneé Dur&supl;eld--the parents of four grown children--encourage parents to help their teens resist sexual temptation using the practical "key talk" concept and a covenant with God to remain chaste. Includes how to have a "key talk," questions a child may ask, guidelines and goals for dating, praying for a child's future spouse, and more. Originally titled Raising Them Chaste, this edition includes new information gained from the Durfield's ministry to families.

Exposes worldliness in the church, and promotes the alternatives of genuine piety and holiness. Parts 1-3 are designed for laymen; part 4 for ministers.

Everyday, teen girls are challenged by pop culture to be thinner, smarter, and sexier. But, God calls every girl to a higher standard. Hopefully, this study will challenge girls of every age to live God's standard, and not the cheap imitation society offers. After struggling through the shame someone's sin made me feel, I recognized the pressing need for purity. Purity isn't just about not having sex until marriage; it's about every part of us. What we say, act like, dress like, and think like are all parts. If we claim to be daughter of the Righteous One, we need to reflect that. My prayer for this devotional is that it would touch hearts and minds of those around me. Specifically written for teen girls, it touches on one of the most prevalent issues in culture today: Purity, or the lack thereof. Please, join me in recovering purity in an impure world.

In a world where faith is fading and integrity is rare, the life and legacy of Joseph shine bright, showing us that following God brings hope even in the worst of circumstances. Join bestselling author Charles Swindoll as he sheds light on a man whose tenacious faith kept him strong in the face of temptation, danger, and torment. Great Lives: Joseph presents a fresh look at one of the most intriguing characters in the Old Testament and focuses on the virtue of forgiveness in the face of deceit and betrayal. From his famous multi-colored coat through the jealous rage that prompts his brothers to sell him into slavery to his astounding rise to national power, Swindoll follows Joseph through temptation, imprisonment, his ascension in Egyptian society, and the brothers who deceived him. Despite the incredible challenges he faced throughout his life, Joseph stood firm, exemplifying what's possible when ordinary people maintain their connections with God. In Great Lives: Joseph, the third installment in Swindoll's bestselling Great Lives from God's Word series, Swindoll traces the life and legacy of a man who exemplified grace under pressure, teaching us how to: Be quick to forgive Live with integrity Trust God every step of the way Joseph's story reads like an epic novel, filled with intrigue, tension, temptation, and torrential emotions--but it heartens us as we face the same kinds of difficulties today, proving that we can triumph over whatever life sends our way.

Well Appearing One (Subhuti) said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, as ignorance, action, consciousness, name and form, six sense spheres, contact, reception, craving, grasping, existence, birth, old age, death, worry, sorrow, misery, worry, anxiety, and upset are without arising, without extinction, selfless, nonexistent, empty, formless, without aspiration, far away, tranquil, unattainable, inconceivable, without awareness, and not becoming powerful, we must know that prajna paramita is also without arising, without extinction, selfless, nonexistent, empty, formless, without aspiration, far away, tranquil, unattainable, inconceivable, without awareness, and not becoming powerful. World-Honored One, it is based on this meaning to say that the prajna paramita of great bodhisattva is named great prajna paramita." (Fascicle 179.) Sakyamuni Buddha taught Great Prajna Paramita, the perfection of the unsurpassed wisdom of and beyond the world, in sixteen assemblies in four locations over twenty-two years. It was recorded posthumously by his disciples in six hundred fascicles of approximately five million words and is regarded as the largest canon in Buddhism. The Sanskrit original was translated into Chinese by Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang) during the seventh century (from 660 through 663). This text is now available in English.