This series is designed to free scholars to write outside the artificial constraints which too commonly separate the scholar and the saint. In this series, we are inviting seasoned scholars to write for the masses. We invite these scholars to write about what they care about, to write in the idioms of their everyday lives and to write for the reflective non-specialist. This series is designed to connect the scholar with the saint in pursuit of accessible insight. Thomas E. Phillips, series editor Those within the church should focus upon becoming more welcoming, more hospitable, more loving-as they would want to be loved…. To everyone, I say welcome, just as Jesus welcomes you. Christianity should be known for welcoming all people… This message of hospitality may seem too good to be true, and, in reality, it is not always the case among Christians and churches. But with Jesus, it is always true. Jesus welcomes everyone. Don Thorsen From the first chapter