In this volume of the For Today series, author and pastor James Howell takes us on an engaging exploration of the Beatitudes. Howell considers each of the well-known phrases in these passages from Matthew and creatively applies Jesus' teachings to our contemporary world and Christian lives.

The For Today series was designed to provide reliable and accessible resources for the study and real life application of important biblical texts, theological documents, and Christian practices. The emphasis of the series is not only on the realization and appreciation of what these subjects have...

Prayer is not easy, yet learning to pray can be learned. The Beautiful Work of Learning to Pray is a brief but probing guide into the life of prayer. James Howell examines the many barriers to prayer (such as our busyness, how uncomfortable with silence we are, our doubts and fears) and invites the reader to take a fresh approach to the devotional life.

Each lesson begins with a scripture passage and the author draws comfortably and appropriately from a rich array of other sources (Annie Dillard, St. Augustine, Henri Nowen, Kathy Mattea, Madeleine L'Engle, Dietrich...

This book is designed to help preachers find and use the riches of the Psalms for preaching.

The authors address the perception that the Psalms often go neglected in preparing for one of the central acts of worship: preaching. McCann and Howell demonstrate that the Psalms offer the preacher broad, rich possibilities for the congregation's engagement with the Scripture. Each chapter concludes with a brief sample.

If you were able to talk to St. Francis of Assisi, what would you ask him? "Perhaps," says James Howell," the first question I'd want to ask Francis would be something like this: How did you do it? Were you real? How much of your story really happened? And I'm asking because I am wondering how I might do it: could I somehow grab a share of the life you had? The marvel in Francis's story is that all he did seems entirely doable - but then, at the same time, ridiculously impossible. As I survey the bare facts of his life, it all seems so manageably simple, and yet unquestionably what...

The Second Edition of Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency: A Comprehensive Framework aims to inform students about the latest research and the most promising and effective programs and provides a wealth of information for understanding, preventing and controlling juvenile delinquency.

Key Features

• Examines the history of current juvenile justice system policies and practices, including the juvenile violence "epidemic"
• Discusses key myths about juvenile violence and the ability of the juvenile...

How are we to know the will of God? In this honest discussion, veteran pastor and theologian James C. Howell considers a number of issues relating to God's will, how it is known, how it is done, and how we respond when bad things happen and we feel God is absent or has turned away from us. In this sensitive presentation, Howell explores these questions and provides ways of recognizing the true things to which we can hold in the midst of hard times. Howell proceeds simply and practically to consider personal understandings of God, God's will for our lives, and ways in which God's will is...

This introductory-level book on Christianity looks clearly at what the church believed and taught throughout its history. Hard questions about the Bible, theology, and the Christian life are dealt with. As author, veteran scholar, and pastor James Howell puts it, "Great hope rests in thinking through these questions." In doing so, he explores what it means to live as a Christian, as part of the church community, and also what it means to live with the hope Christian faith provides, even for those who "previously believed there was no hope. Study questions for discussion are included.