We cannot tell—it is highly improbable that we ever shall know—from whence came the original inhabitants of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Men living on the sea-coasts of the great quadrant of continental land which fronts these islands, would, when the art of navigation got beyond the raft and canoe, venture to cross the narrow seas, and form insular settlements. It is indeed possible that, before that subsidence of the land of Western Europe which separated our islands from th...

How often do we stumble through life repeating habits that ultimately do us no good? This book examines eighteen habits that we could all do without.

In "Bygone Scotland: Historical and Social," David Maxwell intricately weaves a tapestry of Scotland's past, blending meticulous historical research with a narrative style that is both scholarly and engaging. This work encapsulates Scotland's rich social fabric from ancient times through the modern era, providing readers with a comprehensive analysis of its cultural evolution. Maxwell's adept use of primary sources, alongside his vivid storytelling, immerses readers in the lived experience...

For a country of comparatively small extent, and with a large proportion of its soil in moor and mountain, histories of Scotland have been numerous and well-nigh exhaustive. The present work is not a chronicle of events in order and detail, but a series of pictures from the earlier history, expanding into fuller narratives of the more striking events in later times. And it includes portions of contemporaneous English history; for the history of Scotland can only be fully understood through...

David Livingstone's visit to Cambridge in 1857 was seen as much as a scientific event as a religious one. But he was by no means alone among missionaries in integrating mission with science and other fields of research. Rather, many missionaries were remarkable, pioneering polymaths.This collection of essays explores the ways in which late-nineteenth- and twentieth-century missionaries to Africa contributed to various academic disciplines, such as linguistics, ethnography, social a...

In 1937, supermarket owner Sylvan Goldman noticed a fundamental flaw in his business model: customers stopped buying food the moment their hand-held baskets got too heavy. His solution was brilliantly simple but initially despised. He bolted two wire baskets to a folding chair with wheels, inventing the shopping cart. But the public hated it. Men found it effeminate, and women felt it resembled pushing a baby carriage. Goldman's genius wasn't just the invention; it was the psychological ma...

David Livingstone's visit to Cambridge in 1857 was seen as much as a scientific event as a religious one. But he was by no means alone among missionaries in integrating mission with science and other fields of research. Rather, many missionaries were remarkable, pioneering polymaths.This collection of essays explores the ways in which late-nineteenth- and twentieth-century missionaries to Africa contributed to various academic disciplines, such as linguistics, ethnography, social an...

Recent events in the United States have demonstrated the urgent need not only to discuss issues of racism in this country but to move toward meaningful antiracist work. Protestors in the street demand demonstrable change, and around the country, pastors, congregations, and other concerned Christians are looking for ways to clarify terms and issues around racism and discern how to respond.Originally published in 2016 as Race in a Post-Obama America), this updated edition of...

Christianity has transformed many times in its 2,000-year history, from its roots in the Middle East to its presence around the world today. From the mid-twentieth century onward the presence of Christianity has increased dramatically in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and the majority of the world’s Christians are now nonwhite and non-Western. The Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South traces both the historical evolution and contemporary themes in Christianity in more than 150...

As the country moves toward marriage equality for gays and lesbians, couples and pastors are in need of updated language for marriage services. This sourcebook not only provides inclusive marriage services, taking into account a variety of situations, but also provides guidance for couples and pastors to take into account for all couples. In addition, it includes prayers for a number of situations that happen around many weddings, such as rehearsal dinners, the wedding participants before ...

Step into the tumultuous world of the Reformation with "The Reformation Collection Volume 4," a gripping audiobook anthology curated by esteemed theologian John Bradford and his contemporaries. Through a series of profound essays, letters, and sermons, delve deep into the transformative era that reshaped the course of Western civilization. Witness the intellectual fervor and spiritual fervency of luminaries like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others as they challenge the established norms...

If we could see in a magic mirror the country now called Scotland as it was when the Romans under Agricola (81 A.D.) crossed the Border, we should recognise little but the familiar hills and mountains. The rivers, in the plains, overflowed their present banks; dense forests of oak and pine, haunted by great red deer, elks, and boars, covered land that has long been arable. There were lakes and lagoons where for centuries there have been fields of corn. On the oldest sites of our towns were...