The Magi

Matthew's Gospel reveals little about the three wealthy visitors said to have presented gifts to the infant Jesus. Yet hundreds of generations of Christians have embellished that image of the Three Kings or Magi for a myriad of social and political as well as spiritual purposes. Here Richard Trexler closely examines how this story has been interpreted and used throughout the centuries. Biblically, the Journey of the Magi presents a positive image of worldly power, depicting the faithful in progress toward their God and conveying the importance of the gift-giving laity as legitimators of their deity. With this in mind, Trexler explains in particular how Western societies have molded the story to describe and augment their own power--before the infant God and among themselves. The author demonstrates how the magi as a group functioned in Christian society. For example, magi plays, processions, and images taught people how to pray and behave in reverential contexts; they featured monarchs and heads of republics who enacted the roles of the magi to legitimate their rule; and they constrained native Americans to fall in line behind the magi to instill in them loyalty toward the European world order. However, Trexler also shows these philosopher-kings as competitive among each other, as were groups of different ages, races, and genders in society at large. Originally modeled on representations of the Roman triumphs, the magi have reached the present day as street children wearing crowns of cardboard, proving again the universality of the image for constructing, reinforcing, and even challenging a social hierarchy. Originally published in 1997. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

PART I: "The Magi's Gold" will bring the Gospel to life for even the most skeptical readers. From Joseph's dilemma with his new young bride, to Herod's reckless slaughter of the innocents, you'll follow the unfolding of events as God brings His Own son into this material world. Here is a realistic drama of how the world's greatest adventure began, with motivated characters in a difficult ancient setting. This smallest of the four Gospel novels, part of the "God Becomes Man" series, will set the stage with depth and clarity for an adventure that continues to this day. Without sacrificing reverence, this fictional dramatization of the Christmas story can enhance the reader's familiar bond with the living Jesus. Every parent should make this dramatic Gospel story available to their teenagers.

The stalemate is over. After their loss at Battle of Brigham Field, the Reds are fleeing back to their America, the Soviet Socialist People's Republic of America, west of the mountains. But the War has only just begun. The Soviet Sickle has been broken, but their Hammer remains – a super, secret weapon, so powerful that it obliterated Denver in the blink of an eye. What is the Hammer? Only Fate Troop is reequipped and prepared to take on the daring mission, far behind enemy lines, to find out. Can Gunny and the others stop the Hammer before the Reds turn it on another American city? TANK: The Magi’s Advent is the final installment in the exciting action/adventure series TANK. Follow Gunny and the crew of number Seventy-Seven as they battle the Soviets in an alternate Twenty-First Century.

Looking to discuss the purpose of the Magi in the Gospel this book turns to tradition and iconography and draws conclusions about the Magi in the religious imaginations of Christians from the earliest times of Christianity until the Protestant Reformation, as well as, considers what the Magi could possibly mean for today.The Magi become more than simple characters on a page, and communicate a larger truth to the people of every age. Whether they existed as three men, two men, a caravan of peoples, or literary devices, the Magi communicate a deep desire for something outside of ourselves. They call for change and renewal in the lives of people in the act of giving to something much more then themselves.

Mr. Sennewald’s first book was a fictional novel about foreign cars, namely a Volkswagen. He was offered a story line buyout because a producer wanted the story for a motion picture. Sennewald declined the generous offer. For years friends, family, and colleagues have talked about the story with its totally surprising ending and have complained about his failure to write more fictional works. The real demand for his work has been in writing textbooks on management, consulting, shoplifting, and criminal investigations. To satisfy the complainants, he’s been writing short stories that are fun to read and invariably have surprising and/or unexpected endings. This book is a collection of those great stories between two covers. If the reader likes to or tries to outguess the stories’ endings, he or she will enjoy every page of this book. They will agree that this collection is an interesting journey indeed.

A husband and wife sacrifice treasured possessions in order to buy each other Christmas presents.

Each year, the Christmas double issue of the Church Times offers a feast of seasonal reading. News of Great Joy draws together the best Christmas writing by outstanding authors and poets over twenty years to create an ideal Christmas gift and a wealth of material for all who preach or lead worship at Christmas. Its many highlights include: • the eminent biblical scholar John Barton on how to understand the Old Testament prophecies of the nativity; • Barbara Brown Taylor on the prologue of John’s Gospel which is always read on Christmas Day; • Margaret Barker on the legends that have become part of the Christmas story; • an unpublished short story by Evelyn Underhill; • a piece on the origins of the Nine Lessons and Carols; • poetry and reflections on the season’s lectionary readings, and more besides.