Autobiography: religious and spiritual Books

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Book SynopsisWritten by a professor of clinical psychology, this book is accessible to thoughtful readers interested in the relation between spirituality and mental disorders. It comprises two main parts: The first part tells the story of how a psychologist-cum-patient performs a self-study of "madness" in great detail. It belongs to the long tradition of ideographic studies that attend to the uniqueness of each individual. The author says: "During episodes, manic symptoms are manifest. Yet, I become more colorful, sensitive, generous, and loving. I see beauty everywhere and delight in the simple things of life. I glimpse into mystical magnanimity. All these inform me that my quest for spirituality is wedded to madness. Now, I can bear testimony that on balance the creative energy of madness may enrich rather than damage one's life. It is possible to retain a measure of madness in dignified living and of dignity even in a state of madness."Adhering to the nomothetic traditioTrade Review"This book is the author’s remarkable journey into the borderlands of madness and ordinary life. The reader is deeply enlightened by his power of integrating Oriental and Occidental perspectives within one inquisitive mind." —Jaan Valsiner, Niels Bohr Professor of Cultural Psychology, Aalborg University"Ho is a relentless bridge-builder: His Chinese and Western selves are literal bridges between East and West, psychiatry and spirituality, poetry and prose, and internal struggle and cultural evolution." —Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, Unitarian Universalist Minister"David Ho shows that the over application of psychiatric diagnoses has the undesirable effect of viewing deviant experiences as dysfunctional and counterproductive. The account of his unusual mood elevations prompts us to realize that creativity and abnormality are rather mutually inclusive." —Hubert Hermans, Emeritus Professor, Creator of Dialogical Self TheoryThis extraordinary book, written by an extraordinary person, transforms the reader into a new and more dignified person. It shows how the forces of madness may be harnessed to serve creative purposes. Ho is a brilliant storyteller who entertains the reader with adventurous tales of his life as a spiritual journey. He is also a dialectical thinker who has succeeded in linking insights derived from his personal self-study with the science of mental illness versus health in diverse cultures. —Evelin G. Lindner, Founding President, Human Dignity and Humiliation StudiesTable of ContentsContents: Part 1. Discoveries from a Self-Study of Madness: Tales from My Two Worlds –Episodes of Madness: All of Exuberance, None of Depression – Madness Has Enriched My Life – From Psychiatry to Spirituality – Glimpses of Enlightenment in the Midst of Madness – In Search of Transcultural Spirituality-in-Communion – Epilogue. I’m Getting There – Part 2. Transcending the Clash of Opposites: Thematic Group 1. Normality Versus Abnormality: Madness as Creative Energy: Self-Observations – Psychiatric Diagnosis and its Pitfalls – Psychopathology of Religious Luminaries – Thematic Group 2. Individual Versus Collective Madness: Societal Mental Health Crises in America and China – Values Underlying Mental Health Practice – The Trump Phenomenon and the Politics of an Unholy Alliance – Thematic Group 3. Eastern Versus Western Culture: Two Ways of Life: Chinese and American – Growing Up in the People’s Republic of China: Culture, Ideology, and Policy – Family Pathology in Literature: Reinterpreting the Oedipal Myth – Thematic Group 4. Spirituality Versus Spiritual Emptiness: Transforming Madness for Dignified Existence – Spirituality and Spiritual Emptiness: Toward Transcultural Applicability – References – Appendix A. Multidimensional Evaluation of Spirituality (MES) – Appendix B. Strategies of Coping – Appendix C. Highlights of 22 Episodes of Madness, and a Free Association – Appendix D. Expressive Dance to Music: A Royal Road to Holistic Health – Appendix E. The Undiscovered Illness: The Opposite of Depression

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Book SynopsisNearly twenty years after they happened, the ATF and FBI assaults on the Branch Davidian residence near Waco, Texas remain the most deadly law enforcement action on American soil. The raid by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents on February 28, 1993, which resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians, precipitated a 51-day siege conducted by the FBI. The FBI tank and gas assault on the residence at Mount Carmel Center on April 19 culminated in a fire that killed 53 adults and 23 children, with only nine survivors. In A Journey to Waco, survivor Clive Doyle not only takes readers inside the tragic fire and its aftermath, but he also tells the larger story of how and why he joined the Branch Davidians, how the Branch Davidian community developed, and the status of survivors. While the media and official reports painted one picture of the Branch Davidians and the two assaults, A Journey to Waco shares a much more personal account of the ATF raid, the siegeTrade ReviewRight or wrong, for many people the word Waco has become shorthand for massacre. In April 1993, an FBI assault on the Branch Davidian residence in Waco, Texas, resulted in a fire that took 76 lives (nearly half of them children). Doyle, this book’s primary author, is a survivor of the events at Waco—the fire was the final incident in nearly two months of conflict between the Branch Davidians and the FBI—but the book isn’t, as many might expect, a condemnation of the FBI and the American government. Of course, there is criticism and a certain amount of finger-pointing, but, mainly, this is the author’s personal story—a story of his faith, his chosen way of life, and his relationship with David Koresh, the community’s charismatic and controversial leader. The events at Waco, even though they took place two decades ago, haven’t faded into memory yet, and the book should see immediate interest from readers seeking a better understanding of what happened and why. * Booklist *This gem of a book helps us understand a nightmare. It keeps alive painful memories that we might wish to forget, but that we would forget out our peril. . . .This carefully constructed work is a must-read work for students of the Branch Davidians. * Nova Religio: The Journal Of Alternative And Emergent Religions *Clive Doyle’s description of the events during the 51-day siege in Waco and its aftermath is both gripping and tragic. Catherine Wessinger fills in the facts of the story with scrupulous notes, while Matthew Wittmer brings Mount Carmel vividly to life with graphic reconstructions of the site. Yet it is Doyle’s unassuming voice that carries the story through, from his youth in Australia, to his participation in the Branch Davidians, to his actions on the final day. -- Rebecca Moore, emerita, San Diego State UniversityThe federal assault on the Branch Davidian community will forever remain an ignominious moment in American religious history. This book offers a personal account of Branch Davidian life and the tragic demise of the Branch Davidian community by one of its important surviving members. Clive Doyle's witness, as told to Catherine Wessinger and Matthew Wittmer, is a welcome and necessary corrective to official legitimations of those fateful events. -- David G. Bromley, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityThe Branch Davidians have been demonized in the popular mind as dangerous, or at least deluded, fanatics. Clive Doyle now shows us just how wrong that view is. Telling his story, he shows just how human and normal his fellow members were, and how they were victimized by overly zealous law-enforcement agents. -- Timothy Miller, University of KansasAs one of the few remaining survivors of the catastrophic federal siege of the Branch Davidian sect in 1993, Clive Doyle provides us with a humanizing and sometimes humorous biographical narrative, as well as a deeply compelling story of those who lived and died at Mt. Carmel. Catherine Wessinger and Matthew Wittmer are to be commended for giving voice to a key figure in this tragic incident. It provides a starkly different portrait of the Branch Davidians than the self-serving version offered up by government officials in the days and weeks after the worst federal law enforcement disaster in U.S. history. -- Stuart A. Wright, Lamar UniversityThis is not an academic book, but it is a book that academics and anyone, who has ever wondered how the terrible tragedy at Waco in 1993 could have come about, should read. The book does not answer this question, but it does give a remarkably gripping account of how one of the 'survivors' came to join David Koresh's Branch Davidians, what their life was like, what Koresh taught, and how the siege and fire were experienced from inside the compound. -- Eileen Barker, London School of EconomicsThe autobiography offers an authentic and fresh look into the history and culture of one of the most important new religious movements in America of the late 20th century. It also provides a compelling insider’s account of the events that led to the demise of the group, which is very different than the official federal reports. Doyle’s memories are more than worth reading. They are instructive and enlightening. Catherine Wessinger has written an excellent introduction, in which she has placed Clive Doyle’s life and autobiography within its larger historical setting, offering a short but critical and articulate summary of the developments and belief system of the Branch Davidians and the events, in 1993, in which the group’s home was destroyed and many of its members killed. It is one of the more interesting autobiographies of its kind. I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in the history of new religious movements, their communal lives and the manner they are received by the larger society. -- Yaakov Ariel, The University of North Carolina at Chapel HillClive Doyle’s haunting story is an unparalleled contribution to our understanding of a religious group and the tragic events that have come to define it. With straightforward style and accessible prose, Doyle offers a courageous and moving account of the Branch Davidian community, especially its final weeks under siege, as only a firsthand observer can express. Supplementary material compiled by editors Wessinger and Wittmer enhances this text for academically-minded readers. -- Marie W. Dallam, University of OklahomaAn excellent and compelling portrait of a new religious movement through change, evolution, crisis, and rebuilding. Through Doyle's recollection, we finally hear the voices of Branch Davidians. Highly recommended. -- Douglas E. Cowan, Renison University College at University of WaterlooClive Doyle's engaging and gripping account of his life as a Branch Davidian follower of David Koresh, long before, as well as after, the Waco tragedy in 1993 has given us all an invaluable record of the way things truly were. Stereotypical labels such as 'cult,' with their associated charges of 'brainwashing' and 'deception,' suddenly melt away and we are invited to get to know what really lay at the heart of the this remarkable religious community and their conflict with the U.S. government authorities. The book is moving, thoroughly human, and informative at every turn. Catherine Wessinger and Matthew D. Wittmer have done us an incalculable service in producing this finely written and well documented volume. Finally, at last, the real story of 'Waco' is emerging through their work and that of others who have devoted years of careful study to the subject. -- James D. Tabor, chair, Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; author of The Jesus DynastyCatherine Wessinger has done more than anyone else to document the lives of the surviving Branch Davidians and to enrich and complicate the historical record of a group that has frequently been vilified and widely misunderstood. That is all the more important since, as Clive Doyle poignantly notes in this oral history, the first generation of David Koresh's students is rapidly dwindling. In direct and plainspoken prose Doyle describes how he came to be associated with the dissident Seventh-Day Adventist traditions of the Davidians and Branch Davidians, his long tenure at the Mount Carmel Center under several different leaders, his understanding of David Koresh's distinctive theology, his anguished memories of the original BATF raid and the fifty-one day siege conducted by the FBI in 1993, and his reactions to the subsequent trials, lawsuits, and efforts of the survivors to reconstruct their broken lives. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the Branch Davidians and in the interactions of sectarian groups with American society. -- Eugene V. Gallagher, Rosemary Park Professor of Religious Studies, Connecticut CollegeTable of ContentsA Short Introduction to the Branch Davidians and Clive Doyle – Catherine Wessinger CHAPTER ONE – Telling My Story and the Story of the Branch Davidians CHAPTER TWO – From Australia to Texas—Meeting the Branch Davidians CHAPTER THREE – Living with the Branch Davidians CHAPTER FOUR – What the Branch Davidians Believe CHAPTER FIVE – The Mount Carmel Conflict—The ATF Raid, the 51-day Siege, and the FBI Assault CHAPTER SIX – Jail, Two Trials, and Changes at Mount Carmel CHAPTER SEVEN – Survivors of the Siege—Where We Are Today APPENDIX - Reconstructing Mount Carmel Center: Proportion and Memory – Matthew D. Wittmer

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Book SynopsisThis powerful memoir chronicles the life of one of America's most celebrated rabbisRabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi, or Reb Zalman as he is fondly known to friends and followers. The book traces his life from a youth in the shadow of the Nazis through the tumultuous 1960s in America to his position as a renowned religious leader today.Often controversial for his attraction to cultural mavericks and religious rebels, Reb Zalman's colorful lifetime includes a striking cast of characters across faith traditions, including Timothy Leary, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Thomas Merton, the Dalai Lama, and more. The book traces Reb Zalman's work creating the vibrant Jewish Renewal movement that emphasizes spiritual experience and continues to touch Jews around the world today. Reb Zalman often illustrates his talks with anecdotes from his life, and My Life in Jewish Renewal brings together the life story of this beloved leader for the first time.Reb Zalman often illustrates his talks with stories frTrade ReviewIn this wonderful and important memoir, we see why Reb Zalman is viewed by so many as one of the key Jewish figures and influencers of the last century. In intimate detail, the book affords us glimpses into the friendships, relationships, and shared experiences he has had with some of the most compelling (and at times lesser known) spiritual teachers and leaders of this era, as well as his own experiences and personal history--and how those many and varied interconnections have shaped his worldview and inner life. I recommend this book very highly to anyone interested in the evolution of a soul and the formation of a modern mystic. -- Rabbi Niles Goldstein, director of external relations at the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions; author of Gonzo Judaism: A Bold Path for Renewing an Ancient FaithWhile there are many Jews who never heard of "Jewish Renewal" or Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter- Shalomi, the impact of Reb Zalman, and the movement he has been instrumental in birthing, have been extraordinary. In fact, hundreds of synagogues in the United States and elsewhere, whether its congregants are aware of it or not, have benefited from the nourishing impact of Jewish Renewal and Reb Zalman's rare, inspired creativity. If you do not know Reb Zalman, get ready for a deeply personal memoir about an exceptional personality and important teacher in our generation. If you do know Reb Zalman, get ready for a "can't put this book down" experience. When a gifted writer and teacher like Dr. Edward Hoffman teams up with Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi, the result is one of those rare books that are truly important. -- Arthur Kurzweil, author of Kabbalah for Dummies and On the Road with Rabbi SteinsaltzJudaism is a living religion of endless reinvention. From Abraham to Moses, and Moses to Micah, and Micah to Hillel, and Hillel to Luria, and Luria to the Baal Shem Tov, and the Baal Shem Tov to Reb Zalman ours is a civilization rooted in creativity, innovation, imagination, and experimentation. Reb Zalman’s story is a testament to Jewish creativity rooted in the richest soil of the past and fearlessly branching out into the as yet unknown dimensions of the future. If there is hope for a Jewish future, Reb Zalman carries it; if there is a rabbi for the 21st Century, Reb Zalman is it. -- Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of The Sacred Art of LovingkindnessReb Zalman is a deeply beloved, unique figure, founder of the Jewish Renewal movement, who has single-handedly inspired several generations of Jews to rediscover their own rich heritage. In this compelling memoir, Reb Zalman (assisted by Edward Hoffman) recounts his remarkable life story, revealing the personal evolution that made it possible for him to serve as an authentic Hasidic rebbe in the modern era. This fascinating book is like a long, delicious visit with Reb Zalman as he recounts, with exceptional honesty and affection, the events that have shaped his life. -- Howard Schwartz, Author of Tree of Souls: The Mythology of JudaismReb Zalman, the Master Teacher of Jewish Renewal has given us access to the wisdom of the past appreciation of the technological present and insights for a luminous future now he is giving us the inside view of his amazing life presented as an engaging personal narrative those who have enjoyed his teachings will find this a ‘must read’ book. -- Rabbi Leah Novick, author of On the Wings of Shekhinah: Rediscovering Judaism's Divine FeminineTo be in the presence of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shlom is to be in the presence of a fountain that is forever bubbling up with new nsights and fresh discoveries. The next best thing to being with him is to have this book which describes the fascinating journey that Reb Zalman has travelled in his life—so far. The Lubavitcher Rebbe and the Dali Lama, the diamond cutters of Antwerp and the Trappist monks of Kentucky, Shlomo Carlbach and Timothy O’Leary are among some of the travelling companions whom he introduces us to, as he tells us of the adventures he has lived through in his travels from world to world in search of Truth. It is hard to think of a spiritual insight, a new way of understanding reality, a new approach to the tradition, or a fresh idea that he has not been involved in learning and in teaching in his journey. He has raised a generation of disciples, and has done more than anyone I know to touch the minds and souls of young people in our time. Now, in this fascinating autobiography, he enables us to travel along with him, and to learn at his side. This is a book that anyone who wants to understand the twists and turns of the spiritual life of our time simply has to read. -- Rabbi Jack Riemer, editor of The World of the High Holy Days and So That Your Values Live OnWhat a marvelous collection of memories, told with warmth and affection! We who know and love Reb Zalman have all heard parts of his story, but seeing it all together is quite magnificent. May he live to write still more unexpected chapters! -- Art Green, Hebrew CollegeRabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi is the greatest living spiritual teacher of our time. He has been a master and innovator of Kabbalah and Hasidism, whose wisdom and charisma played a preeminent role in creating a Jewish renewal that is the best hope for Jewish continuity in the 21st century—and a powerful model for spiritually alive people in every religious tradition. My Life in Jewish Renewal gives a vivid picture of the courage and challenges that Reb Zalman has faced—and his life detailed in this book reflects his integrity and creativity. -- Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor, Tikkun Magazine; author of The Left Hand of God:Taking Back our Country from the Religious RightIn this radiant book, Reb Zalman Schachter accompanied by Edward Hoffman, take us on the majestic tour of Reb Zalman's exhilarating life. This tour comprises a treasure-trove of wise and diversified souls, beginning with Reb Zalman himself, from his discoveries as a youth in Hitler's Vienna to his education as a rabbi to his meetings with some of the most remarkable minds of the past 100 years. And weaved throughout we are gifted with the clarification and articulation of Reb Zalman's crowning theological achievement—Jewish Renewal—and the hope for a more inclusive, awe-based, and appreciative world. -- Kirk Schneider, author of Existential-Humanistic TherapyFew writers have so accurately described Jewish boyhood in Vienna, the doubts and fears, the fascination with a world that overnight turned from friendly Gemütlichkeit to hostility and hatred. And none that I know of has had such accurate recall of names, places, people and happenings as Reb Zalman. What this revered rabbi became has much to do with what he was as a boy. After decades of sharing with us thoughts, views, insights and teachings, I am grateful that he has decided to share the journey of his life. -- Theodore Bikel, actor, musician, YiddishistZalman Schachter-Shalomi has written a robust and creative memoir with Edward Hoffman, author of The Kabbalah Reader and other books. Known by friends and students as ‘Reb Zalman,’ he has left his mark on Judaism by founding the Jewish Renewal movement….This book also tracks this open-minded and open-hearted rabbi's fascination with pastoral psychology, Sufism, conscious aging, and a variety of spiritual experiences…. he has served as a scout for all of us, leading us into new territory and exposing us to fresh teachings and wisdom coming from many different places. Only an incredibly busy and productive seer could end his memoir with a section on ‘My Unfulfilled Projects.’ Reb Zalman has given all he has in service of others and we are the richer and wiser for it. * Spirituality and Practice *This absorbing memoir presents the life of one of the most important spiritual leaders and teachers today, the founder of the Jewish Renewal movement...Black and white photographs of Reb Zalman at different stages of his life and some of the people who influenced him are included, and the text is interspersed with quotes from Reb Zalman’s writings and other relevant documents...This memoir has broad appeal, and it is recommended for all types of Jewish libraries, and Judaica collections, starting from high school. It is a valuable resource for understanding the growth and development of Jewish Renewal, and a notable contribution to American Jewish history. * Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments A Visionary Introduction to My Life Quest Part I: My Boyhood &Youth Before the Holocaust Chapter 1. Origins Chapter 2. A Viennese Boyhood Chapter 3. Austria Under Hitler Chapter 4. Diamond-Cutting & Hasidim in Antwerp Chapter 5. French Internment Camps Chapter 6. Revelations in Marseilles Chapter 7. Freedom Voyage to America Chapter 8. Encountering the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe Chapter 9. The Making of a Chabad Hasid Part II: Initiating Jewish Restoration in America Chapter 10. A Fledgling Rabbi: Outreach in New Haven Chapter 11. Raising the Klippot in Rochester, New York Chapter 12. A Pulpit of My Own in Fall River, Massachussetts Chapter 13. Caribbean Travels: Voodoo & Mitzvah Missions Chapter 14. Widening Horizons: From New Bedford to Boston University Part III: Planting Seeds of Jewish Renewal Chapter 15. Jewish Innovation in Manitoba Chapter 16. Adventures with Catholic Monasticism Chapter 17. My First Trip to the Holy Land Chapter 18. Qumran, USA: My Plan for Jewish Communality Chapter 19. Hasidic Counseling: New Explorations Chapter 20. Psychedelics with Timothy Leary Chapter 21. My Friend Thomas Merton and the Ecumenical Quest Chapter 22. Walks with Abraham Maslow Chapter 23. Abraham Joshua Heschel: My Mentor & Friend Chapter 24. Leaving Chabad: The Fallout from My Washington, DC Lecture Chapter 25. The San Francisco Counter-Culture and Neo-Hasidism Chapter 26. Relocating to Philadelphia Chapter 27. Epilogue: Whither Jewish Renewal? Appendix: Brief Reminiscences A. Gerald Heard, My “Irish Rebbe” B. Rabbi Heschel Matt C. Breakthroughs in Milwaukee D. The Dalai Lama E. My Unfulfilled Projects Glossary Related Books by the Authors Index About the Authors

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Book SynopsisThe inspiring, unflinching true story of “blind” faith, as Major Scotty Smiley awakes in a hospital bed and realizes his world is permanently dark he must stretch his faith like never before. Courageous, heartfelt, and honest, Hope Unseen challenges readers to question their doubts, not their beliefs, and depend upon God no matter what.A nervous glance from a man in a parked car. Muted instincts from a soldier on patrol. Violent destruction followed by total darkness. Two weeks later, Scotty Smiley woke up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, helpless . . . and blind. Blindness became Scotty’s journey of supreme testing. As he lay helpless in the hospital, Captain Smiley resented the theft of his dreams—becoming a CEO, a Delta Force operator, or a four-star general. With his wife Tiffany’s love and the support of his family and friends, Scotty was transformed—the injury only intensifying his indomitable spirit. Si

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Book Synopsis In 1980s America, coming out as gay as a father and husband was a significant journey for anyone to make. Coming out as gay as a priest guaranteed immersion into controversy, contradiction, and challenge. This book tells of the Reverend Canon Ted Karpf''s navigation of new social and romantic journeys, all within the context of his priestly vocation in the Episcopal Church. Covering from 1968 to 2018, Karpf recounts his vivid memories, life-changing dreams and resonant reflections on living a life of faith in a socially and politically tumultuous period. His narratives are crafted as poetic meditations on enduring values and meaning, which can remind any reader that we are neither abandoned nor alone, and that forgiveness is a fulfilling way of living in a world of contradictions.Trade ReviewTed Karpf is an international journeyman of hope. Acts of Forgiveness: Faith Journeys of a Gay Priest offers a rare glimpse into the life of a man who in the face of death, betrayal, and loss has been given every reason to abandon the God who loves him and yet he pilgrimages onwards. More than a memoir, Ted's testament to the power of grace shows how abiding faith neither leaves nor abandons God but finds hope in the unavoidable tensions of the life we all share." —The Reverend Joshua Case, Associate Rector, Christ Church, Charlotte, North CarolinaTable of Contents Foreword by Ray L. Hart 1 Preface 3 I. Home Going 7 II. Forgiveness and Loving 23 III. ­Self-Acceptance and Mentoring 45 IV. Identity and Kindness 62 V. Conscience and Confidence 80 VI. Calling and Commitment 89 VII. Resilience and Resolve 114 VIII. Death and Life: Will the Circle Be Unbroken? 137 IX. Generativity: Parenting 157 X. Prayer and Faithfulness 187 XI. Hope for the Future 206 Acknowledgments 213 Bibliography 217 Index 219

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Book SynopsisThe greatest nightmare a parent faces is the loss of a child. On June 17, 2014, this nightmare became a reality for the Onwuzurike family when their oldest son, Ike, drowned while hanging out with friends. The 18-year-old had just graduated from an all-boys Catholic high school and was on his way to Washington University in St Louis on a full-ride scholarship to study pre-med. Ike lived a life of dedication to God and service to others, putting God first at all times, and he touched many lives in his short time on Earth. Ike''s family found comfort in the fact that Ike was able to live for God by really getting to know who God is, by spending time with Him in prayer and reading His Word. They knew it was impossible to love someone if you didn''t know who that person was, and Ike''s love for God was genuine and heartfelt. Some losses are unimaginable, but Losing Ike to God and How God Comforted Us reminds us that with the grace of God and His healing, even the unthinkable loss of a chil

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Book SynopsisSynopsis coming soon.......Trade Review"Isaiah is an amazing young man with a very inspiring, and compelling story that is a must read!" -- Carmelo Anthony“People talk about how Isaiah “lost his dream,” but as his friend I have learned to see it differently. This is why everyone should read this book: We all have dreams that are really important to us. Most of us can relate to how hard it is when things happen and those dreams slip away. But, very few people I’ve known understand what it means or what it requires to really dream again. Isaiah Austin has a lot to teach us about the toughness, faith, and trust in God it takes to find new dreams. . . . I truly believe that Isaiah’s faith has placed him right where God needs him the most. I think my friend’s story has the power to inspire you, strengthen your faith, and help you learn what it means to dream again in your life.” -- Robert Griffin III * Heisman Trophy Winner *Isaiah Austin is an inspiration to me and the entire NBA family. Despite losing his sight in one eye at the age of fourteen, Isaiah worked his way to a potential first-round selection in the NBA Draft. When a diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome cut his basketball career short, he devoted himself to raising awareness about the condition and encouraging others to pursue their passion. With this book, Isaiah’s story of perseverance will resonate far beyond the world of basketball. -- Adam Silver * NBA Commissioner *“Coaching is a very difficult profession—I am sure that most coaches would agree with me on that. At the same time, I don’t think that there is a more rewarding way to spend life than working with young men on a daily basis. Being able to coach Isaiah Austin has truly been a blessing. In fact, I believe that I have learned more from that experience than I was able to teach him—I know that he inspired me beyond measure. Isaiah is a success story! He is the definition of perseverance—a true overcomer and an inspiration to all. Isaiah’s story is told beautifully in this book, and anyone reading it will truly be blessed. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to witness some of Isaiah’s story firsthand, and because of that I am a better man.” -- Coach Scott Drew * Baylor University Head Basketball Coach *

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Book SynopsisIn Pure, Linda Kay Klein uses a potent combination of journalism, cultural commentary, and memoir to take us “inside religious purity culture as only one who grew up in it can” (Gloria Steinem) and reveals the devastating effects evangelical Christianity’s views on female sexuality has had on a generation of young women.In the 1990s, a “purity industry” emerged out of the white evangelical Christian culture. Purity rings, purity pledges, and purity balls came with a dangerous message: girls are potential sexual “stumbling blocks” for boys and men, and any expression of a girl’s sexuality could reflect the corruption of her character. This message traumatized many girls—resulting in anxiety, fear, and experiences that mimicked the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—and trapped them in a cycle of shame. This is the sex education Linda Kay Klein grew up with. Fearing being marked a JeTrade Review"Linda Kay Klein takes us inside religious purity culture as only one who grew up in it can. She shows us how the system of mind-and-body shaming works within a religious movement so culturally and politically influential that it must be understood by us all." —Gloria Steinem"Linda Kay Klein’s PURE is an important book for this moment in history, as women come to the collective understanding that the institutions we spend our lives serving are not created to serve us. Women are canaries in religious coal mines—and PURE emboldens us to escape toxic misogyny and experience a fresh breath of freedom." —Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of LOVE WARRIOR and founder of Together Rising"Klein’s book will get God up doing a standing ovation in creation for revealing that God’s message is to love all of ourselves—mind, body, and spirit. This is to embrace the gift of life and to live in freedom with integrity and joy. Any form of purity that does not celebrate this, does not celebrate God working in our lives." —Emilie M. Townes, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University Divinity School"More and more young adults are speaking openly about the harm done to them by churches that treated sex as if it were an illicit drug. When 'Just say no' was their only message, and when the language of purity was their main ethical category, deep and lasting personal damage were inevitable. That's why Linda Kay Klein's new book is so important. It pulls back the covers on 'purity culture' and the harm it has done to a whole generation. An important book from an important new voice." —Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration"Linda Kay Klein’s book about the devastating effects of Christianity’s obsession with purity culture is a revelation... Part memoir and part journalism, Pure is a horrendous, granular, relentless, emotionally true account." * The Cut *“A potent account of purity culture that deserves our attention.” * Library Journal, starred review *“A young woman raised as a conservative Evangelical Christian reflects on her community's sexual shaming and the psychological scars that it left… Klein's personal story is fascinating, but it is the larger context that makes the book important… Timely and relevant, particularly in the age of Trump and #MeToo.” * Kirkus Reviews *“Klein explores how purity culture within evangelical Christianity causes girls and young women to feel shame about sex and sexuality… will surely cause debate within evangelical circles.” * Publishers Weekly *"Eye-opening....compelling....For those who seek spiritual community without gender bias, Klein offers empathy and new choices." * BookPage *"Pure is above all for those who came out of the purity movement ---a guidebook for survivors...its final message is healing through the movements that have arisen to combat purity culture." * Women's Review of Books *"She combines memoir with survivor interviews and research on shame, sexuality, and religion to effectively argue that the evangelical sexual purity movement has done lasting harm to many of the women who embraced its message as teens in the ‘90s and early 2000s." * Rewire.news *"Riveting and important... The relevance for this both inside and outside of the Christian community is immense, and this is a book that should stir intense thought about the way we all live." * Santa Barbara News-Press *"Klein’s jarring reporting is impossible to forget." * Bust.com *"Pure is a thorough and focused study on the effects of the purity movement’s rhetoric on women and girls, but Klein stresses that her findings aren’t relevant only to religious conservatives. Rather, they represent an extreme microcosm of a broader culture of gendered sexual shaming to which we should all be paying attention." * Vice Broadly *"Linda Kay Klein is the perfect woman for the job, with her personal experience with the subject matter, willingness to critically examine long-held beliefs, and deep empathy for her interview subjects. Every woman–in fact, every person, religious or not–would do well to read this heartbreaking but hopeful book." * Splash Magazine *“To those outside the church, Klein offers a well-researched insider’s point of view. To those affected by the purity movement, Klein offers a healing balm through personal testimony. To both she offers an invitation to further discourse as we seek to make our culture a safer place for all people.” * Chapter 16 *

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Book SynopsisAs trusted pastor Dr. Charles Stanley comes to the later years of his life, he is ready to share his personal story—on a more intimate level than ever before. As he walks us through his ups and downs, he shares how the biblical principles he’s taught all his life affected the way he’s actually lived.In this new book from Dr. Charles Stanley, he looks his readers in the eye and says, This is how my faith has worked for me at the most challenging times of my life and how it has led me to the victories God had in store for me. As Dr. Stanley looks back over his long life of ministry, he is now ready to share how his personal faith choices directed his every step. He shares how God walked with him through his most difficult days as a pastor when he faced internal conflict in a church he’d led for years. He bravely shares painful family issues that brought him to his knees and taught him to look to God for answers when life wasn’t simple a

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisConfessions (401) is the work of Saint Augustine, a Roman theologian and bishop responsible for some of the core doctrines of today’s Catholic church. His literary works, including The Confessions, The Enchiridion, and On Christian Doctrine, are commonly viewed as foundational works of Christian theology and Western philosophy. Bishop of Hippo Regius—in modern day Algeria—from 395 to his death in 430, Augustine helped to justify and consolidate the role of Christianity in the Roman Empire and was canonized as a saint for his efforts. A young man does poorly in school, steals from his neighbor’s orchard, and has a son with a woman to whom he is not married. These are some of the core personal experiences detailed by Augustine in his autobiographical and theological work Confessions, in which he grows from a life of sin to accepting God and the Christian faith. Interspersed with stories of his life and conversion are descriptions and critiques of Neoplatonism, Manichaeism, and astrology, systems of belief and understanding which, for Augustine, fall short of the vision of humanity and salvation offered by Christianity. Throughout this text, Augustine encourages readers—especially those who have led troubled lives—not only to convert to Christianity, but to understand the inherent imperfection of all humanity and to envision the ultimately hopeful message of transformation and forgiveness offered by faith in God. Confessions is at heart a Christian text, but it is also essentially human. Augustine is remembered not just as a saint and Christian leader, but as a figure who precipitated the evolution of Western thought. Augustine’s Confessions is a foundational work of autobiographical and philosophical writing, influencing such writers as Blaise Pascal, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Aquinas, Bertrand Russell, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Its personal nature and depth of honesty are considered formal innovations in autobiography and memoir writing, and its meditations on God and human nature have made it an essential text for philosophers and theologians for centuries. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Saint Augustine’s Confessions is a classic of autobiography and Christian theology reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Collected Meditations of Mrs. Maria W. Stewart (2021) compiles the speeches and writings of Maria W. Stewart. This groundbreaking collection includes some of the best works from across Stewart’s career as the first African American public lecturer, including Meditations from the Pen of Mrs. Maria Stewart, her 1832 speech delivered at the Franklin Hall, her address delivered before the African American Female Intelligence Society, and her lecture delivered at the African Masonic Hall in 1833. “Many will suffer for pleading the cause of oppressed Africa, and I shall glory in being one of her martyrs; for I am firmly persuaded that the God in whom I trust is able to protect me from the rage and malice of mine enemies, and from them that will rise up against me; and if there is no other way for me to escape, He is able to take me to himself…” In the brief span of five years, Stewart became one of Boston’s most prominent lecturers on abolition and women’s rights, passionately condemning the institution of slavery while calling attention to the racism faced by free African Americans living in the north. This collection places some of her best-known speeches alongside her highly regarded meditations, personal reflections on life as a Black woman in nineteenth century America. A keen observer of political events and a powerful voice against oppression of all kinds, Maria W. Stewart remains relatively unknown despite her prominent role in the movements for abolition and women’s rights. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Collected Meditations of Mrs. Maria W. Stewart is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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