From Widows to Warriors

Download From Widows to Warriors PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN 13 : 1611649773
Total Pages : 230 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (116 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis From Widows to Warriors by : Lynn Japinga

Download or read book From Widows to Warriors written by Lynn Japinga and published by Westminster John Knox Press. This book was released on 2020-08-25 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For too long the women of the Bible have been depicted in one-dimensional terms. On one side are saints, such as Mary, while on the other are "bad girls," such as Eve and Jezebel. Just as often, the female characters of the Bible are simply ignored. However, the women of the Bible are complex, multidimensional individuals whose lives are inspiring, funny, and tragic in ways too many of us never hear. In this first of two volumes, Lynn Japinga acquaints us with the women of the Old Testament. From flawed heroes like Ruth and Rahab to fierce fighters like Deborah and Jael to tragic characters like Jephthah's daughter and the unnamed concubine of the book of Judges, readers will encounter a wealth of foremothers in the faith in all their messy, yet redeemable, humanity. This Bible study introduces and retells every female character who contributes to one or more Old Testament stories, diving deeply into what each woman's story means for us today with questions for reflection and discussion.

Widow Warriors

Download Widow Warriors PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Dynamite
ISBN 13 : 1606902024
Total Pages : 114 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (69 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Widow Warriors by : Lloyd Chao

Download or read book Widow Warriors written by Lloyd Chao and published by Dynamite. This book was released on 2011-12-13 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over a thousand years ago, the great kingdom of China was under constant threat of invasion by powerful tribes and warring states along its rugged western border. For generations, one fiercely-patriotic clan of warriors - the "Yang" - battled bravely in the nation's defense. The widows of the clan pleaded with the Emperor, whose own court had become weakened by corruption and greed, to send reinforcements. But none came. Soon, the last remaining Yang soldiers were overwhelmed by a sea of bloodthirsty invaders. Distraught and incensed, the Yang widows - a few hundred strong and many of whom also seasoned warriors - took arms and set off to the western border. But even before reaching the enemy, the journey itself would be fraught with peril. In their determination to avenge the deaths of their loved ones, the Widow Warriors would face the full fury of nature's most destructive forces, a vast enemy army with sorcery and monsters on its side, and perhaps most powerful of all, the demons within themselves! Pat Lee's return to comics! Collecting the four-issue series, plus bonus material and cover gallery in one volume.

The Widow and the Warrior

Download The Widow and the Warrior PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781950659739
Total Pages : 330 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (597 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Widow and the Warrior by : John Wemlinger

Download or read book The Widow and the Warrior written by John Wemlinger and published by . This book was released on 2020-08-25 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The latest from award-winning author John Wemlinger, The Widow and the Warrior is set in Frankfort, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Michigan. It tells the story of one wealthy family's tragic 130-year history. Anna Shane, national political editor for The Washington Post, is poised on the brink of turning her family's tragedies into triumph until a secret society and a greedy relative conspire to see her murdered. Shawn O'Toole, an ex-Special Forces operator, retired from the Army rather than face war crimes charges. For the last year he has lived in a self-imposed exile, until a call from his father calls him home to Frankfort and a chance to save Anna's life, using some of the very same vigilante tactics that cost him his military career.

From Daughters to Disciples

Download From Daughters to Disciples PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Presbyterian Publishing Corp
ISBN 13 : 164698000X
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (469 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis From Daughters to Disciples by : Lynn Japinga

Download or read book From Daughters to Disciples written by Lynn Japinga and published by Presbyterian Publishing Corp. This book was released on 2021-02-09 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For too long the women of the Bible have been depicted in one-dimensional terms. On one side are saints, such as Mary, while on the other are "bad girls," such as Eve and Jezebel. Just as often, the female characters of the Bible are simply ignored. However, the women of the Bible are complex, multidimensional individuals whose lives are inspiring, funny, and tragic in ways too many of us never hear. In this second of two volumes, Lynn Japinga acquaints readers with the women of the New Testament. From faithful forerunners like Anna and Elizabeth to female disciples like the sisters Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene to first-generation followers like Lydia and Dorcas, readers will encounter a wealth of foremothers in the faith in all their messy, yet redeemable, humanity. This Bible study introduces and retells every female character who contributes to one or more New Testament stories, diving deeply into what each woman's story means for us today with questions for reflection and discussion.

The Flawed Family of God

Download The Flawed Family of God PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Presbyterian Publishing Corp
ISBN 13 : 1646980387
Total Pages : 181 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (469 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Flawed Family of God by : Carolyn B. Helsel

Download or read book The Flawed Family of God written by Carolyn B. Helsel and published by Presbyterian Publishing Corp. This book was released on 2021-02-09 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The best stories in the book of Genesis involve families. The issues these stories raise—married vs. single life, sibling rivalry, infertility, family relocation, blended families, and the like—are startlingly relevant to families of today. This Bible study examines the families of Genesis, starting with how the Adam and Eve story encompasses far more ways of being family than most of us think. It looks at the sibling rivalry of the Cain and Abel story, pointing to the jealousy and violence to which the whole human family seems addicted. It uses the ups and downs of the relationship between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael can help us understand the complicated dynamic of blended families. Carol Helsel and Suzie Park invite readers these and many other connections as they reexamine the joys and complications of modern family life. This engaging Bible study includes questions for individual reflection or group use.

The Mystic Warriors of the Plains

Download The Mystic Warriors of the Plains PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Da Capo Press
ISBN 13 : 9781569245385
Total Pages : 620 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (453 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Mystic Warriors of the Plains by : Thomas E. Mails

Download or read book The Mystic Warriors of the Plains written by Thomas E. Mails and published by Da Capo Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 620 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mystic Warriors of the Plains offers readers an extraordinarily detailed view of the daily activities of the peoples of the North American plains, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Nez Perce, Comanche, and many others. Used by Kevin Costner as a resource text for the motion picture Dances with Wolves, this is an extraordinarily in-depth examination of the day-to-day lives of the North American plains Indians, with over one thousand illustrations and thirty-two four-color plates. Covering everything from social customs, personal qualities, and government to types of weaponry, achievement marks, and the training of Indian boys, The Mystic Warriors of the Plains is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Plains Indian lore that will delight and inform everyone interested in understanding the native peoples of the Plains. "Magnificently and accurately ... conveys both the tragic ironies and splendors of the rich plains civilization." —Newsweek "Fascinating detail that gives a better idea of the plains people than mere description can do...."—Navajo Times

Worries of the Heart

Download Worries of the Heart PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226554228
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (265 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Worries of the Heart by : Kenda Mutongi

Download or read book Worries of the Heart written by Kenda Mutongi and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2008-09-15 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Growing up in the Maragoli community in Kenya, Kenda Mutongi encountered a perplexing contradiction. While the young teachers at her village school railed against colonialism, many of her elders, including her widowed mother, praised their former British masters. In this moving book, Mutongi explores how both the challenges and contradictions of colonial rule and the frustrations and failures of independence shaped the lives of Maragoli widows and their complex relations with each other, their families, and the larger community. Throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, rates of widowhood have been remarkably high in Kenya. Yet despite their numbers, widows and their families exist at the margins of society, and their lives act as a barometer for the harsh realities of rural Kenya. Mutongi here argues that widows survive by publicly airing their social, economic, and political problems, their “worries of the heart.” Initially aimed at the men in their community, and then their colonial rulers, this strategy changed after independence as widows increasingly invoked the language of citizenship to demand their rights from the new leaders of Kenya—leaders whose failure to meet the needs of ordinary citizens has led to deep disenchantment and altered Kenyans’ view of their colonial past. An innovative blend of ethnography and historical research, Worries of the Heart is a poignant narrative rich with insights into postcolonial Africa.

Preaching the Women of the Old Testament

Download Preaching the Women of the Old Testament PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Westminster John Knox Press
ISBN 13 : 1611647894
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (116 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Preaching the Women of the Old Testament by : Lynn Japinga

Download or read book Preaching the Women of the Old Testament written by Lynn Japinga and published by Westminster John Knox Press. This book was released on 2017-02-16 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Take an in-depth look at over twenty fierce, faithful, and strong women featured in the Old Testament with Preaching the Women of the Old Testament. Inside this unique resource author Lynn Japinga interprets the stories of various biblical women, including Eve, Rebekah, Dinah, Tamar, Miriam, Deborah, Jael, Abigail, Bathsheba, and Vashti. Along with providing an interpretation, Japinga demonstrates how the character's story has been read in Christian tradition and offers sermon ideas that connect contemporary issues to each story. This book is ideal for pastors who want to know more about the many women of the Old Testament and learn how to better incorporate them into their sermons.

Widows are Warriors! A Walk Through the Wilderness of Widowhood: Daily Encouragement from a Widow's Perspective

Download Widows are Warriors! A Walk Through the Wilderness of Widowhood: Daily Encouragement from a Widow's Perspective PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Xulon Press
ISBN 13 : 9781630507121
Total Pages : 118 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (71 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Widows are Warriors! A Walk Through the Wilderness of Widowhood: Daily Encouragement from a Widow's Perspective by : Cynthia Mascarenhas

Download or read book Widows are Warriors! A Walk Through the Wilderness of Widowhood: Daily Encouragement from a Widow's Perspective written by Cynthia Mascarenhas and published by Xulon Press. This book was released on 2020-03-12 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Widowhood is a life-changing experience that can bring you to your knees, no matter whether your loss was sudden or anticipated. Each day is filled with challenges, questions, and fears. Each day you will have to find the strength to move beyond your fears and tears and step into the unknown. Your own strength will fail you, however, you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you! This book is a compilation of my writings over a year and half since I lost my husband unexpectedly. As I walk this journey, I identify the various emotions and challenges that are innate to widowhood. Some of us struggle with understanding these emotions or how to deal with them; most of us think something is wrong with us because we feel the way we do. The truth is these emotions are a common thread in the lives of a widow or widower. The narrative is real and visceral. It is not made to sound pretty or palatable; there is nothing pretty or palatable about widowhood! We are not here because we volunteered for the position; we are here because we were drafted into the position of widow or widower. Accepting this new identity is not easy. Yet, accept it we must. Deep within each of us is a strength we do not know we have because we have never been called upon to use it. I am confident that you will draw strength and encouragement from the words shared in this book; although written from a widow's perspective, the truth expressed applies to both widows and widowers.

Women and Weapons in the Viking World

Download Women and Weapons in the Viking World PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxbow Books
ISBN 13 : 1789256666
Total Pages : 536 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (892 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Women and Weapons in the Viking World by : Leszek Gardela

Download or read book Women and Weapons in the Viking World written by Leszek Gardela and published by Oxbow Books. This book was released on 2021-11-30 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Viking Age (c. 750–1050 AD) is conventionally seen as a tumultuous time when hordes of fierce warriors from Scandinavia wreaked havoc across the European continent and when Norse merchants travelled to distant corners of the world in pursuit of slaves, silver, and exotic commodities. Until relatively recently, archaeologists and textual scholars had the tendency to weave a largely male-dominated image of this pivotal period in world history, dismissing or substantially downplaying women's roles in Norse society. Today, however, there is ample evidence to suggest that many of the most spectacular achievements of Viking Age Scandinavians - for instance in craftsmanship, exploration, cross-cultural trade, warfare and other spheres of life - would not have been possible without the active involvement of women. Extant textual sources as well as the perpetually expanding corpus of archaeological evidence thus demonstrate unequivocally that both within the walls of the household and in the wider public arena women’s voices were heard, respected and followed. This pioneering and lavishly illustrated monograph provides an in-depth exploration of women's associations with the martial sphere of life in the Viking Age. The multifarious motivations and circumstances that led women to engage in armed conflict or other activities whereby weapons served as potent symbols of prestige and empowerment are illuminated and interpreted through an interdisciplinary approach to medieval literature and archaeological evidence from Scandinavia and the wider Viking world. Additional cross-cultural excursions into the lives and legends of female warriors in other past and present cultural milieus - from the Asiatic steppes to the savannas of Africa and European battlefields - lead to a nuanced understanding of the idea of the armed woman and its embodiments in Norse literature, myth and archaeological reality.

The Self-Made Widow

Download The Self-Made Widow PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 0593191293
Total Pages : 401 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (931 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Self-Made Widow by : Fabian Nicieza

Download or read book The Self-Made Widow written by Fabian Nicieza and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-06-21 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the cocreator of Deadpool and author of Suburban Dicks comes a diabolically funny murder mystery that features two unlikely sleuths investigating a murder that reveals the dark underbelly of suburban marriage. After mother of five and former FBI profiler Andie Stern solved a murder—and unraveled a decades-old conspiracy—in her New Jersey town, both her husband and the West Windsor police hoped that she would set aside crime-fighting and go back to carpools, changing diapers, and lunches with her group of mom-friends, who she secretly calls The Cellulitists. Even so, Andie can’t help but get involved when the husband of Queen Bee Molly Goode is found dead. Though all signs point to natural causes, Andie begins to dig into the case and soon risks more than just the clique’s wrath, because what she discovers might hit shockingly close to home. Meanwhile, journalist Kenny Lee is enjoying a rehabilitated image after his success as Andie’s sidekick. But when an anonymous phone call tips him off that Molly Goode killed her husband, he’s soon drawn back into the thicket of suburban scandals, uncovering secrets, affairs, and a huge sum of money. Hellbent on justice and hoping not to kill each other in the process, Andie and Kenny dust off their suburban sleuthing caps once again.

Women Warriors

Download Women Warriors PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Beacon Press
ISBN 13 : 0807064327
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (7 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Women Warriors by : Pamela D. Toler

Download or read book Women Warriors written by Pamela D. Toler and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 2019-02-26 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who says women don’t go to war? From Vikings and African queens to cross-dressing military doctors and WWII Russian fighter pilots, these are the stories of women for whom battle was not a metaphor. The woman warrior is always cast as an anomaly—Joan of Arc, not GI Jane. But women, it turns out, have always gone to war. In this fascinating and lively world history, Pamela Toler not only introduces us to women who took up arms, she also shows why they did it and what happened when they stepped out of their traditional female roles to take on other identities. These are the stories of women who fought because they wanted to, because they had to, or because they could. Among the warriors you’ll meet are: * Tomyris, ruler of the Massagetae, who killed Cyrus the Great of Persia when he sought to invade her lands * The West African ruler Amina of Hausa, who led her warriors in a campaign of territorial expansion for more than 30 years * Boudica, who led the Celtic tribes of Britain into a massive rebellion against the Roman Empire to avenge the rapes of her daughters * The Trung sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, who led an untrained army of 80,000 troops to drive the Chinese empire out of Vietnam * The Joshigun, a group of 30 combat-trained Japanese women who fought against the forces of the Meiji emperor in the late 19th century * Lakshmi Bai, Rani of Jhansi, who was regarded as the “bravest and best” military leader in the 1857 Indian Mutiny against British rule * Maria Bochkareva, who commanded Russia’s first all-female battalion—the First Women’s Battalion of Death—during WWII * Buffalo Calf Road Woman, the Cheyenne warrior who knocked General Custer off his horse at the Battle of Little Bighorn * Juana Azurduy de Padilla, a mestiza warrior who fought in at least 16 major battles against colonizers of Latin America and who is a national hero in Bolivia and Argentina today * And many more spanning from ancient times through the 20th century. By considering the ways in which their presence has been erased from history, Toler reveals that women have always fought—not in spite of being women but because they are women.

The Widow Queen

Download The Widow Queen PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Forge Books
ISBN 13 : 1250217989
Total Pages : 640 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (52 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Widow Queen by : Elzbieta Cherezinska

Download or read book The Widow Queen written by Elzbieta Cherezinska and published by Forge Books. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 640 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Elzbieta Cherezinska's The Widow Queen is the epic story of a Polish queen whose life and name were all but forgotten until now. The bold one, they call her—too bold for most. To her father, the great duke of Poland, Swietoslawa and her two sisters represent three chances for an alliance. Three marriages on which to build his empire. But Swietoslawa refuses to be simply a pawn in her father's schemes; she seeks a throne of her own, with no husband by her side. The gods may grant her wish, but crowns sit heavy, and power is a sword that cuts both ways. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Iron Widow

Download Iron Widow PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 086154210X
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (615 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Iron Widow by : Xiran Jay Zhao

Download or read book Iron Widow written by Xiran Jay Zhao and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-10-07 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Instant New York Times No.1 Bestseller. A YA Pacific Rim meets the Handmaid’s Tale retelling of the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. I have no faith in love. Love cannot save me. I choose vengeance. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises – giant transforming robots that battle aliens beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that their female co-pilots are expected to serve as concubines and often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, her plan is to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But after miraculously surviving her first battle, Zetian sets her sights on a mightier goal. The time has come to stop more girls from being sacrificed. ‘This is the historical-inspired, futuristic sci-fi mash-up of my wildest dreams.’ Chloe Gong ‘Raging against the patriarchy in spectacular style.’ Observer, best books of the year ‘Zetian is unstoppable, and I dare you not to cheer her on.’ Elizabeth Lim, author of Spin the Dawn

Warriors and Wenches

Download Warriors and Wenches PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : History Snapshots
ISBN 13 : 9781473899360
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (993 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Warriors and Wenches by : Michelle Rosenberg

Download or read book Warriors and Wenches written by Michelle Rosenberg and published by History Snapshots. This book was released on 2019-09-19 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world is full of women we don't know whose stories have been overlooked or airbrushed from history. Often faced with limited life choices, this book proudly showcases those women who took matters into their own hands and became forces to be reckoned with. These are women you SHOULD know about. Love them or loathe them, they made their mark. From cross dressing soldiers to scheming mistresses and courtesans, _Warriors and Wenches_ offers up an indulgent romp through centuries of history, from widows turned tank drivers bent on bloody vengeance and fierce martial arts fighters, to women who magnificently and outrageously turned their social lot in life to their advantage: the mistresses, courtesans and uniquely French maitresse-en-titres who wielded incredible power and influence in the sumptuous courts of Europe. _Warriors and Wenches_ doesn't seek to decide whether these women were 'good' or 'bad'; we'll leave it up to you to make up your own minds. But these are just some of the women who, through military skill, incredible courage and loyalty, scandal, poison plots and sexual debaucherie, have crossed over into the realm of legend and myth and become powerful symbols of feminist power. "When the destiny of a nation is in a woman's bedroom, the best place for the historian is in the antechamber." Charles-Augustin Sainte-Reuve

Feminism and Christianity

Download Feminism and Christianity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 168 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Feminism and Christianity by : Lynn Japinga

Download or read book Feminism and Christianity written by Lynn Japinga and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some have raised the question: Is it possible, at the same time, to be a Christian and a feminist? Japinga asks the question a bit differently: Is it possible not to be? Like the other titles in the Essential Guides series, the purpose of this book is simple: to introduce college and seminary students to the basic questions and issues that arise from a feminist interpretation of Christianity. The author explores the central ideas of Christian feminism, including its critique of patriarchy in Christianity and its recovery of the presence, actions, and ideas of women. What has been troublesome in Christianity for feminists and why? How have Christian feminists dealt with these issues? What resources are there in Christianity for the empowering and encouragement of women? Beginning with an examination of women and the Bible, the book explores biblical texts which define women negatively as well as those which emphasize women's strengths and ability, and then outlines the various feminist approaches to the interpretation of Scripture. It then moves to an overview of women in the history of Christianity and, specifically, of religion in America, presenting both prevailing attitudes about women and the (usually unheard) stories of women. After surveying the main questions a feminist method brings to the study of theology, Japinga then explores certain theological questions--How do we speak of God? Who is Christ? What does it mean to be human? Written from a moderate feminist perspective, this book provides a broad overview of feminist approaches to theological disciplines. It emphasizes consensual scholarship rather than points of controversy. It acquaints students with feminist analysis by way of the central themes common to feminist approaches to several disciplines and introduces readers to this material in ways that lessen the possibility that they will be threatened, intimidated, or angered by it. While the book offers professors an affordable and accessible textbook choice, it is also accessible for lay study groups in congregations.

Loyalty and Loss

Download Loyalty and Loss PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ISBN 13 : 9780802870681
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (76 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Loyalty and Loss by : Lynn Japinga

Download or read book Loyalty and Loss written by Lynn Japinga and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. This book was released on 2013-06-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offering a meticulously researched yet also deeply personal history of the Reformed Church in America throughout much of the twentieth century, Lynn Japinga's Loyalty and Loss will be of intense interest to the members of the RCA, reminding them of where they have come from, of the bonds that have held them together, and of the many conflicts and challenges that they have together faced and ultimately surmounted. For those outside the RCA the questions of identity raised by this book will often sound very familiar, especially, perhaps, in its account of the church's struggle throughout recent decades to reconcile the persistently ecumenical spirit of many of its members with the desire of others within the denomination to preserve a real or imagined conservative exclusivity. Others may find the conflicts within the RCA reflective of their own experiences, especially as they relate to such issues as denominational mergers, abortion, the Viet Nam war, and women's ordination.