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mag: MOTHER JONES... Nov/Dec 2006... Evolve or Die... Is Impeachment Insane?... Secret Pasts Revealed of Karl Rove, Brad Pitt, Michael Moore and Oprah... ... Read more

Product Description
The Passionate Steward: Recovering Christian Stewardship from Secular Fundraising is a forthright and critical review of the assumptions and practices of secular philanthropy as these have been adopted and applied by the Christian Church. The Church has often been enthralled by the promise of more money, particularly if it is "easy" money, and has thus fallen into the arms of secular fundraisers, without subjecting secular methods and operative principles to the scrutiny of its own theological and biblical agenda. Archbishop Edward W. Scott’s foreword uses his experience and wisdom as parish priest, bishop and later Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada to make clear just how important and ground breaking this book is for the Church today.

The Passionate Steward parses the practice of fundraising as it is frequently experienced in Churches, and finds it wanting. The author re-establishes a firm biblical and historical basis for a more theologically grounded approach, and argues convincingly for a recovery of the fullness of "passionate stewardship". The book is thoroughly researched, and moves easily and cogently between statistical analysis, theological assessment, practice, and anecdotal integration.

The Passionate Steward (as can be seen from the multi-denominational praise of Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican/Episcopalians to Protestants and Evangelical experts in the field of stewardship) stands alone in its ecumenical reach and appeal. Not only does it treat the uniqueness and similarities within the range of mainline Churches: it also provides a much needed indication of how those issues are played out in both the United States and Canada. Moreover, in these trying times of sin threatening the well being of the Church (the scandal of sexual abuse in the U.S., and Residential Schools litigation bankrupting the major Christian denominations in Canada), The Passionate Steward is both timely and timeless in its relevance.

O’Hurley-Pitts, MichaelThe Passionate Steward: Recovering Christian Stewardship from Secular Fundraising (1st Edition) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

More Relavent Today Than Ever!
Three years after being publishing, this fine work continues to fly off bookstore shelves - already in its 4th printing.I was first introduced to the Passionate Steward as a seminary text.When I arrived in my first parish it was already in use for our entire parish council and stewardship committee.Our Diocese gives a copy to every parish!The Passionate Steward is clearly written, concise and easy to read - but the thoughts it provokes are profound.The Church owes a debt of gratitude to O'Hurley for challenging conventional wisdom in pursuit of true discipleship!

The Heart of Stewardship
The Passionate Steward is an insightful, well-researched resource for anyone interested in the theological and spiritual principles of stewardship in general and as it should inform the Church's fund-raising activities.O'Hurley-Pitts demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the topic and challenges the reader to reshape and revision current understandings and practices.He gets to the heart of what stewardship is truly about as he presents a holistic vision of Christian stewardship.I give this book to stewardship leaders in our Diocese and recommend it to anyone who is serious about discipleship and the life and mission of the Church.-Robert CammarataOffice of Parish Stewardship - Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY

A More Excellent Way
There are few books which can make a well-read, highly educated and experienced Church leader stop and reconsider so much of what they have accepted and embraced in the past. This is one of those iconic and timeless books.

O'Hurley-Pitts writes in uniquely clear, compelling and persuasive manner. The Passionate Steward is suitable for individual reading; a parish training and education manual; professional guide; and academic text all at the same time and equally well. Written from years of experience and academic training, this book cuts through years of accepted practices driven by errant conventional wisdom and re-grounds stewardship in the reality of parish life, sound theological precepts and biblical tradition with a view towards the theology and spirituality of stewardship.

The Passionate Steward brakes the mold of books that are mere step-by-step "stewardship" guides and truly parses the issues that create impediments for both parish leaders and the faithful in embracing true Christian stewardship. Concise writing, easy to understand graphs and charts, historic comparisons and helpful critiques allow the reader to get to the heart of the issues. Significant reasearch, good footnoting and a brilliant index makes the book highly accessible.

Although a Roman Catholic, O'Hurley-Pitts' book has been selected by the Episcopal Book Club as one of their four 2003 selections. Promotional cover quotes from Evangelicals to Greek Orthodox religious leaders alike demonstrates that The Passionate Steward crosses all barriers and focuses on the essential truths of Christian stewardship.

The Passionate Steward is an essential tool for everyone in the practice of ministry, parish and diocesan leadership at a very inviting price.

Indispensably Honest and Challenging
Few books have been honest enough to challenge the conventional wisdom that we have embraced in the name of raising money for ministry. The Passionate Steward does exactly that in a concise and forthright manner, and goes even further, treating the gift of time and talent as equally essential to Christian stewardship. The use of reliable sources and the true depth of the book marks it as far above what passes for the run-of-the-mill stewardship or fundraising works now in print. Before you read a "how to" book - read a "why" to book faithful to our biblical and traditional values and gives practical advise for implementation as well.

O'Hurley-Pitts' fine book, full of gravitas for people in ministry today, is pleasingly easily read, clear and inviting. There are few books on the practice of ministry that will reach this level of excellence or relevence for any Church and for the development of the faithful's wholistic understanding that our lives as stewards is intrinsically part of our vocation as Christians! Whether a minister or member of the laity, or a person involved in charitable work at the volunteer or professional level, this book can change your life and therefore the Church's by helping us better explore how secular fundraising has deprived us all of our more worthy Christian and philanthropic values of generosity and caring.

Please don't just stop there.
O'Hurley-Pitts did a wonderful job in his book "The Passionate Steward". Our church has taken this path for the past five years in focusing on the spiritual meaning of stewardship instead on the budget. As a result, each year our pledges increased by double digits. Two years ago, we hired a volunteer ministry director and mission coordinator to formalize our volunteer efforts. We still have a long way to go as a main-line church to bring God closer to our everyday life. But we are getting there!

I'd encourage Michael not to stop there and help us dig deeper into the spirituality of stewardship. ... Read more

Product Description
William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806) was the youngest ever Prime Minister, and the second longest-serving one. Dominant in British politics for over twenty years, at a critical time in the his-tory of Britain, Europe and the world, he presided over the reforms that set up modern government in Britain (including the introduction of income tax). He also orchestrated Britain's response in the early stages of the war against the French Revolution and Napoleon, living to see British command of the sea established for over a hundred years at the battle of Trafalgar.

Pitt the Younger is the story of an extraordinary career. The son of Britain’s war leader in the Seven Years War, William Pitt the Younger was a born politician who dedicated his life to the exercise of power. His superb oratory, personal probity, and deep understanding of politics enabled him to overcome a lack of bonhomie and a chaotic private life. Michael Turner shows what Pitt achieved and how he achieved it, providing a clear and readable assessment of Pitt’s career.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Pitiful
A book only for the most committed scholar of William Pitt's political life. Written in an arid style, Professor Turner'sbook neglects the broader context. The general reader is offered no feel of the interesting times in European history within which Pitt the Younger operated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Walking prehistory told through megaliths
Fascinating. Eerie. Magnificent. Whatever words you choose to describe the architectural landscape of Avebury (in England not far from Stonehenge), you will stand amazed. Avebury is more than just a stone circle: it is a complex of standing stones, burial grounds, ditches, and a mysterious giant hill whose meaning has never been determined.

Using this book as our guide, let's walk the history of these megaliths and surrounding structures. "Built to house the bones of important people" (2), the West Kennet Long Barrow was the first structure. Other barrows dot the countryside. Several ditches and banks appear here and there. At one time a wooden fortress and a small village were enclosed atop the banks.

The most puzzling structure is Silbury Hill. Made "entirely of tightly rammed chalk," Silbury Hill is the tallest structure in prehistoric Europe. Yet, its purpose remains "one of the great unsolved mysteries of prehistory" (14). On the other hand, historic peoples had their use for it. Romans used some of its chalk to build roads, the Saxons built a fort on top, and locals used it as a site for partying. During the Victorian period locals used many of the megaliths as building stone for their houses and shops to the sickening dismay of later historians.

The rest of Avebury consists of stone circles, avenues of megaliths leading to specific stones, deep ditches now two-thirds filled with silt, with houses, shops, and a church now occupying much of Avebury.

This little book is a guide filled with photographs, both historical and current, maps, charts, illustrations, sketches, and other pertinent kinds of information necessary for a real excursion through history. As you walk the book, you will have a keen sense of what man is willing to do to leave his mark on the world. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Managerial Issues, published by Pittsburg State University - Department of Economics on September 22, 1998. The length of the article is 6594 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Toward validation of partner goal achievement as a measure of joint venture performance.
Author: Louise Hatfield
Publication: Journal of Managerial Issues (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1998
Publisher: Pittsburg State University - Department of Economics
Volume: v10Issue: n3Page: p355(18)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more