Invisible Jesus

"He would not say that he was depressed; he would not say that he was discouraged; he would not say that he was unhappy. Whatever he was feeling had been coming for a long time, of that he was sure. He thought for a few moments, trying to put into words why he was sitting there, and then the right word revealed itself to him. He was not tired, he was dead. He had no life, no spark of spirituality in his spirit. He thought of the Jackson Brown song, "Running on Empty," which had been a favorite of his when he was much younger. He had been running for years, and now he realized he had nothing left in the tank. He kept looking at the black leather Bible, unwilling to open it, for the first time in his life wondering if the answer he was looking for was to be found in its pages." Excerpt from Invisible Jesus.

Invisibility persists throughout the Asian American story. On the one hand, xenophobia has long contributed to racism and discrimination toward Asian Americans. On the other hand, terms such as perpetual foreigner and honorific whites have been thrust upon Asian Americans, minimizing their plight with racism and erasing their experience as racial minorities. Even more indiscernible in America's racial landscape are Asian American women. The compounded effects of a patriarchal Asian culture and a marginalizing American culture are formidable, steadily removing the recognition of these women's lives, voices, and agency. Invisibility is not only a racial and cultural issue, but also a profound spiritual issue. The Western church--and its theology--has historically obscured the concerns of Asian Americans. The Asian American church relegates women to domestic, supportive roles meant to uplift male leaders. In Invisible, Grace Ji-Sun Kim examines encounters with racism, sexism, and xenophobia as she works toward ending Asian American women's invisibility. She deploys biblical, sociological, and theological narratives to empower the voices of Asian American women. And she shares the story of her heritage, her family history, her immigration, and her own experience as an Asian American woman. Speaking with the weight of her narrative, she proclaims that the histories, experiences, and voices of Asian American women must be rescued from obscurity. Speaking with the weight of a theologian, she powerfully paves the way for a theology of visibility that honors the voice and identity of these women. As Asian American women work toward a theology of visibility, they uplift the voiceless and empower the invisible, moving beyond experiences of oppression and toward claiming their space in the kin-dom of God.

"How do I relate to a God who is invisible when I’m never quite sure he’s there?"--Philip Yancey Life with God doesn’t always work like we thought. High expectations slam against the reality of personal weaknesses and unwelcome surprises. And the God who we’ve been told longs for our company may seem remote, emotionally unavailable. Is God playing games? What can we count on him for? This relationship with a God we can’t see, hear, or touch--how does it really work? The Reaching for the Invisible God Study Guide gives you a path in your personal quest for answers. Dovetailing with Philip Yancey’s book Reaching for the Invisible God, the twelve sessions are your opportunity to journey toward insights that affirm and dignify your most pressing questions--even the ones you may have found it hard to ask. Get ready to experience the challenges and rewards of relating to God as he is, not as you’ve thought he is. Yancey shifts your focus from questions to the One who offers himself in answer: the God who invites you to reach for him--and find. Includes: * Bible readings * Discussion questions * Personal reflections and applications * Tips for group leaders * Summary excerpts from Reaching for the Invisible God

They began to draw visible boundaries and commenced the complicated process of endowing their communities with the marks of ethnic and cultural distinction.

Author Philip Yancey asks the question: How does a relationship with God work? And then he answers it with an investigation that turns up surprising and satisfying answers about life and communication with an invisible God.

Life is full of twists and turns. Relationships falter, careers fizzle, health fades. We may be faced with choices we never wanted to make or have situations pushed upon us we'd never expected. Yet, in all of it, God is at our side--even when he feels far away. Drawing on her extensive research into women of the Old Testament, novelist Jill Eileen Smith turns her pen to the lessons in trusting God that we can learn today from women like - Eve - Noah's wife - Sarai - Hagar - Lot's wife - Rebekah - Rachel - and more Readers will learn from what these ancient women did right--and even what they did wrong--when faced with dashed expectations and deferred dreams. And they'll come away with the confidence that ours is a faithful God who loves us and is forming us through our trials into the women he longs for us to be.

Andrei Orlov examines early Christological developments in the light of rabbinic references to the “two powers” in heaven, tracing the impact of this concept through both canonical and non-canonical material. Orlov begins by looking at imagery of the “two powers” in early Jewish literature, in particular the book of Daniel, and in pseudepigraphical writings. He then traces the concept through rabbinic literature and applies this directly to understanding of Christological debates. Orlov finally carries out a close examination of the “two powers” traditions in Christian literature, in particular accounts of the Transfiguration and the Baptism of Jesus. Including a comprehensive bibliography listing texts and translations, and secondary literature, this volume is a key resource in researching the development of Christology.

Why does God feel so distant so often, and how do I bridge the gap? Does your hunger for God often seem more frustrating than satisfying? Have you sensed a disturbing disparity between God's promises and life's realities? Have you seen God's promises work, but you've stumbled and want to believe again? Award-winning author Philip Yancey articulates the fundamental questions that confront us all: "How do I relate to a God who is invisible when I'm never quite sure he's there?" Reaching for the Invisible God?offers deep, satisfying insights to the questions you’re sometimes afraid to ask. Honest and deeply personal, here is straight talk on Christian living for the reader who wants more than pat answers to life's imponderables. Ultimately, Yancey shifts the focus from your questions to the One who offers himself in answer. "A brilliant book. It is both profound and simple, the best blend, in my view. Simple is neither shallow, nor simplistic. The sections on doubt and God's 'absence' are classics." — Rick Warren, pastor and author,?The Purpose Driven Life

Andrei Orlov examines early Christological developments in the light of rabbinic references to the “two powers” in heaven, tracing the impact of this concept through both canonical and non-canonical material. Orlov begins by looking at imagery of the “two powers” in early Jewish literature, in particular the book of Daniel, and in pseudepigraphical writings. He then traces the concept through rabbinic literature and applies this directly to understanding of Christological debates. Orlov finally carries out a close examination of the “two powers” traditions in Christian literature, in particular accounts of the Transfiguration and the Baptism of Jesus. Including a comprehensive bibliography listing texts and translations, and secondary literature, this volume is a key resource in researching the development of Christology.

* Preface * Lesson 1: Exploring the Excellencies of God * Lesson 2: The Power of God * Lesson 3: The Goodness of God * Lesson 4: The Wisdom of God * Lesson 5: The Holiness of God * Lesson 6: The Righteousness of God * Lesson 7: The Wrath of God * Lesson 8: The Grace of God * Lesson 9: The Sovereignty of God in History * Lesson 10: The Sovereignty of God in Salvation * Lesson 11: The Nearness of God * Lesson 12: The Immutability of God * Lesson 13: The Joy of God * Lesson 14: The Invisibility of God * Lesson 15: The Forgiving God * Lesson 16: The Truth of God * Lesson 17: The Love of God * Lesson 18: The Glory of God