Biography: religious and spiritual Books

Book Synopsis''I wish to remain single, for I have made a vow of virginity.''This is the remarkable story of the twelfth-century recluse Christina, who became prioress of Markyate, near St Albans in Hertfordshire. Determined to devote her life to God and to remain a virgin, Christina repulses the sexual advances of the bishop of Durham. In revenge he arranges her betrothal to a young nobleman but Christina steadfastly refuses to consummate the marriage and defies her parents'' cruel coercion. Sustained by visions, she finds refuge with the hermit Roger, and lives concealed at Markyate for four years, enduring terrible physical and emotional torment. Although Christina is supported by the abbot of St Albans, she never achieves the recognition that he intended for her.Written with striking candour by Christina''s anonymous biographer, the vividness and compelling detail of this account make it a social document as much as a religious one. Christina''s trials of the flesh and spirit exist against a ba

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderlying Sergei O. Prokofieff's life's work was a fundamental research-theme to which he returned to repeatedly: the individuality of Rudolf Steiner as manifested through his past incarnations on Earth. Beginning in 1982, inspired by a visit to an exhibition on The Epic of Gilgamesh, Prokofieff planned a full-scale spiritual biography with the intention of finding an answer to the question: Who is Rudolf Steiner? In a sequence of five past incarnations - as indicated by Steiner himself - and culminating in the life of Rudolf Steiner, Prokofieff searched for the inner thread between the six stages of this great, all-encompassing life. His intention was to find not only the outer connections in this sequence but also the deeper, more esoteric stream that offers the key to the unique significance of this individuality. In 1984, Prokofieff began to write the first chapter about Rudolf Steiner's incarnation as Enkidu in Sumer. Sadly, many obstacles in his path were to prevent him finalising the project. However, the author returned to the book in his final months, preparing a Preface that outlines its conception together with a summary chapter on Rudolf Steiner's evolutionary journey. This precious 'fragment' of a biography features valuable additional material, including: a full introduction to the relationship of the anthroposophical movement to other occult streams of esoteric Christianity and their Masters; a detailed spiritual-scientific interpretation of the Epic of Gilgamesh that establishes Rudolf Steiner's connection with the being of Jesus of Nazareth, and an exploration of Steiner's relationship to the Nathan soul, the Luke Jesus child. Serious students of anthroposophy will welcome these final writings from the pen of one of Rudolf Steiner's most faithful and insightful disciples.Table of ContentsForeword by Astrid Prokofieff - Note to the English Edition - Preface - 1. The Teachers of Humanity and the Mission of Rudolf Steiner - 2. A Spiritual-Scientific Interpretation of the Epic of Gilgamesh - 3. Enkidu and the Nathan Soul - 4. A Brief Summary of Rudolf Steiner's Evolutionary Journey/from Enkidu to Rudolf Steiner - Notes - Picture Credits - Bibliography

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Superbly researched and enormously entertaining... One of the outstanding books of the year'' The TimesAn epic story of empire-building and bloody conflict, this ground-breaking biography of one of history's most venerated military and religious heroes opens a window on the Islamic and Christian worlds' complex relationship.WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZEWhen Saladin recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187, returning the Holy City to Islamic rule, he sent shockwaves throughout Christian Europe and the Muslim Near East that reverberate today.It was the culmination of a supremely exciting life. Born into a significant Kurdish family in northern Iraq, this warrior and diplomat fought under the banner of jihad, but at the same time worked tirelessly to build an empire that stretched from North Africa to Western Iraq. Gathering together a turbulent coalition, he was able to capture Jerusalem, only to tTrade ReviewSuperb, highly readable and definitive ... One of the world’s leading crusades scholars ... Phillips's narrative of Saladin's career is vivid and judicious, punctuated by set pieces that charge along like battle scenes from Game of Thrones -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *Superbly researched and enormously entertaining ... one of the outstanding books of the year -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *An authoritative and brilliantly told account of the life of one of the world’s greatest – and most famous – military leaders. Jonathan Phillips leaves no stone unturned in this impressive and lively history of the genius who was Saladin -- PETER FRANKOPAN, author of The Silk RoadsOutstanding. Jonathan Phillips has written a compelling account of arguably the most inspirational of Islamic military heroes -- CHRISTOPHER DE BELLAIGUE, author of The Islamic EnlightenmentFascinating, authoritative and intelligent * Spectator *This illuminating and fascinating biography of Saladin could not be timely. Today political figures often inspire little admiration, but Saladin’s career at the height of the Crusades reminds us that moral charisma and integrity can be recognised and honoured by people on both sides of a vicious conflict. His concluding account of the intense emotion that the memory of Saladin still inspires in the Middle East today reveals the sensitivity and pain that underlies so many of the region’s unresolved problems -- KAREN ARMSTRONG, author of Fields of BloodBeautifully researched and authoritative, Jonathan Phillips's very fine biography of this fascinating historical character underlines how serious history made accessible to the general reader is invaluable if we hope to understand our world today -- JASON BURKE, author of The 9/11 WarsVivid and authoritative, with glistening details on every page. Phillips explains Saladin’s ability to mesmerise not just through the achievements of his lifetime but through his inspiration of Arab leaders, including Nasser, Assad and Saddam Hussein, ever since -- JAMES BARR, author of A Line in the SandJonathan Phillips explores new themes and makes use of various underused or wholly neglected Arabic sources ... vivid and convincing -- Robert Irwin * Literary Review *More than just a biography ... this book paints a rich, absorbing picture of the 12th-century Middle East ... gives expert accounts of the many hard-fought battles and sieges ... vividly describes the Crusader fightback ... One major lesson of this book is that the facts about the distant past are much, much more interesting than the opportunistic uses made of them by anyone in the present * Telegraph *Phillips produces an absorbing, readable narrative… an excellent introduction to the life of Saladin by a scholar who is respected around the world for his work on the sultan and the crusades… an invaluable guide -- Helen Nicholson * BBC History *Phillips’s careful scrutiny of the surprisingly numerous contemporary sources underlies an impressive piece of historical reconstruction -- Michael Prodger * New Statesman, *Books of the Year* *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book Mohammad Akram reviews the life and legacy of Abu Hanifa, and surveys the evolution of the Hanafi school in different regions of the Islamic world. His argument is based on the traditional sources and faithfully reports both history and legend about the man. However, the main focus of the book is the approach, and pattern of reasoning that distinguish Abu Hanifah's fiqh.Trade Review"The author has successfully delivered his promise to understand as to 'why' and 'how' Abu Hanifa came to deserve the title 'Al-Imam al-A'zam'; it now remains the duty of the scholars to imbibe Abu Hanifa's teachings in trying to understand the Qur'an and Sunna holistically in both letter and spirit." Dr M Mansur Ali - Cardiff UniversityTable of ContentsPreface1. Introduction: background to the first development of the law2. His life3. His fiqh4. His works and his students5. His achievement and legacy6. Sources and Further readingIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this riveting true story, Dr. George Ritchie shares some of the most stunning and detailed descriptions of life after death ever recorded. You'll encounter other non-physical beings, travel through different dimensions of time and space, discover a series of worlds, and witness his transformational meeting with the Light of the world, the Son of God.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMhaimbhat’s God at Play, or Līḷācaritra, is a remarkable biography of the medieval religious figure Chakradhar Svami, considered by the Mahanubhavs to be an incarnation of the supreme god. The first volume of this new English translation, accompanied by the Marathi text, describes Chakradhar’s early life, wanderings, and the gathering of disciples.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEmeritus Pope Benedict commanded both adulation and unremitting criticism. To millions, he was a beacon of light in a turbulent modern world. In this second volume of Peter Seewald's authoritative biography, the story continues from the Second Vatican Council (19658) right up to his resignation in 2013. We see how Benedict was influenced by the Council and the ensuing political unrest all over Europe to move from a liberal perspective on the Church and the modern world to one that was profoundly conservative. Appointed in 1981 as prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith, and quickly nicknamed God's Rottweiler', he proved to be intransigent on the controversial issues of abortion, contraception, gay rights and gay marriage. But elected Pope in 2005, his tenure of office was so riven with shocking revelations of controversy and scandal that it seemed that by the time of his resignation in 2013 he was incapable of handling the complexities of the Church in the modern world. Trade ReviewSeewald's passionate biography makes one sympathise with the bookish Bavarian. * Daniel Rey, Literary Review *An insight into hard times. * The Tablet *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Part one professor 1 Tübingen 2 Deeply Afraid 3 1968 and the Myth of the Change 4 The Catholic Crisis 5 A Fresh Start 6 Tensions 7 The Vision of the Church of the Future 8 Reconquest 9 The Doctrine of Eternal Life 10 Archbishop 11 The Year of Three Popes 12 The Küng Case 13 The Legacy of Munich Part two prefect 14 The Prefect 15 Ratzinger’s Report 16 The Fight over Liberation Theology 17 Teamwork 18 The Collapse 19 The Long Suffering of Karol Wojtyla 20 Millennium 21 Agony 22 Conclave 23 Habemus Papam Part three pope 24 The First Pope of the Third Millennium 25 In the Shoes of the Fisherman 26 Benedetto Mania 27 The Regensburg Speech 28 Deus caritas est 29 Salt of the Earth, Light of the World 30 The Rupture 31 The Condom Crisis 32 The Abuse Scandal 33 The Shepherd 34 Human Ecology 35 Desecularization 36 The Betrayal 37 The Resignation 38 The Beginning of a New Era Afterword: Final Questions to Benedict XVI Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis acclaimed biography charts the progress of the brilliant, prolific writer, C. S. Lewis.C. S. Lewis was a deeply complex man, capable of inspiring both great devotion and great hostility. This acclaimed biography charts the progress of the clever child from the Little End Room' of his Ulster childhood and adult life, exploring Lewis's unwilling conversion to Christianity, the genesis of his writing, and the web of his relationships.Trade Review‘The more biography he writes, the better he gets – his life of C. S. Lewis is his best yet. It’s a vivacious and compassionate book. Wilson’s range of interests – religious, literary, human-gossipy and Oxfordian – make him an ideal match for the subject.’ Andrew Motion, Observer ‘Passionate, perspicacious, funny and inevitably partisan.’ Selina Hastings, Telegraph ‘Wilson’s biography is admirable, probably the best imaginable … Mr Wilson is a brilliant biographer.’ Anthony Burgess, Independent ‘It seems fitting that A. N. Wilson should now have written the definitive biography of Lewis, and it is a superb job.’ John Bayley, Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisNathan Söderblom (1866-1931), was not only a profoundly influential figure in Swedish church history, but also one of the great pioneers of the modern ecumenical movement. Elected Archbishop of Uppsala, the head of the Lutheran church in Sweden, in 1914, he was a ceaseless advocate for peace during the first world war. His collaboration with George Bell laid the foundations for intercommunion between the Church of Sweden and the Church of England. Finally, in the year before he died, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Despite this, until this landmark biography he was largely neglected by historians, the subject of only a few partial studies. In Nathan Söderblom: His Life and Work, Bengt Sundkler corrects this, with new analysis of Söderblom''s meticulously preserved correspondence and interviews with his family, friends and former students. The resulting image is of a man deeply committed to his leadership of ecumenical projects, most significantly his movement of ''Life and Work'',Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword 1. The Student 2. Pastor and Scholar 3. Professor and Pastor 4. Swedish Archbishop 5. The Archbishop and the War 6. Finding the Way 7. Uppsala and Catholicity 8. His Stockholm Conference 9. Great European Some Important Dates Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis''In Italy, they call him il Papa, which means The FATHER'. Until his unprecedented 2013 election, author and friend Elisabetta Piqué called him Padre Jorge. He may have changed his name to become Pope Francis, but it did not change their friendship.Written in a style that brings the man to life and reveals fascinating and decisive episodes that shed light on his influential character and personality, Pope Francis: Life and Revolution offers unique insights into how the Pope thinks and feels; his work for the poor; and his vision for the Church. Piqué reveals the personal side of Pope Francis his freedom, courage, humility, humanity, and humour and the profoundly spiritual influence his Jesuit formation has had on the man who now leads the Catholic Church.Above all else, Pope Francis: Life and Revolution reveals a man consistent in his beliefs and actions. He is a spiritual leader unwavering in his love for God, whose inner joy and peace move him and can inspire us to serve the lea

Read more less

Book SynopsisSt Cuthbert, monk and bishop of Lindisfarne, was a preacher, teacher and pastor. Drawing out the qualities which make Cuthbert so important, this work celebrates the saint's sense of God's presence and eager response to nature.Trade ReviewDrawing out the qualities which make Cuthbert so important in our own time, Fire of the North celebrates the saint’s ready sense of God’s presence and eager response to nature. The narrative is complemented throughout by prayers specially composed to help us experience the direct force of Celtic spirituality for ourselves. -- Christian Marketplace * Christian Marketplace *This little book will make you appreciate a great saint. -- Barry Vendy * The Good Book Stall *Cuthbert, who for some years was both monk and bishop of Lindisfarne is obviously a great source of inspiration for writer David Adam, who himself was vicar of that same Holy Island for some 13 years. Having researched his subject well, the author presents us with a fascinating and evocative story, which draws us into the life and times of this important Christian figure. -- John Birch * Faith and Worship - Christian Prayers and Resources *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis biography offers a portrait of the great Christian thinker and martyr, drawing on writings only recently made accessible - including the correspondence between Bonhoeffer and his teen-age fiance, Maria von Wedemeyer.Trade ReviewA good biography takes a reader beyond the life of its subject into the times and places in which they lived. A great biography can leave us with the impression we know a stranger better than we know our friends. Charles Marsh’s biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer does all these things. No recent biographer of Bonhoeffer knows his theology or his historical and intellectual context better than Charles Marsh who has, for the past two decades, been the finest Bonhoeffer scholar of his generation. Yet none of this would matter if one did not want to turn the pages. Strange Glory tells Bonhoeffer’s story with accuracy and insight but more than that, it is a joy to read. * Stephen J. Plant, Dean of Trinity Hall, Cambridge *Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my heroes – a Christian theologian and pacifist who was nevertheless involved in the July 1944 plot to kill Hitler and was brutally hung in the last weeks of the war. This new biography gave me a much less heroic man, and yet a more deeply inspiring one. Bonhoeffer was born in 1906 into upper middle class wealth; his family were nominally Lutheran (the Prussian state church). An older brother returned from the trenches an atheist, but Dietrich chose academic theology and obtained his first doctorate at 21. Bonhoeffer loved to walk in the hills and thirsted for new experiences. His church placements in both Barcelona and London saw young people attracted to him because he took them seriously. Through his travels, Bonhoeffer built up an ecumenical network of contacts and friends. Hitler’s 1933 Aryan laws forbidding Jewish Christians to attend worship outraged Bonhoeffer theologically – theology was always his starting point. Within those few Confessing Church congregations who resisted the new laws, he founded a training school for ministers where he met Eberhard Bethge – the friend (perhaps love) of his life. The school was soon closed down; ministers were called up, or shot if they refused. All the time Bonhoeffer was writing theology on how to live as a Christian in those circumstances and what the future of Church might be given its current betrayal of the Gospel. Due to his family contacts with senior army figures, who employed him to travel abroad – trying, unsuccessfully, to get support from the Allies for an army coup – Bonhoeffer avoided call up and arrest until 1943. He acted as pastor to the plotters, wrestling theologically with the tension between Christian faith and a plot to kill. In prison, Bonhoeffer was pastor to other prisoners and even to guards. The inspiring thing about this unlikely hero is that, the more he was stripped of his privileged life – of his career, his ministry, family, friends, even of a clear conscience – the more free and even joyful he became. That is true Christian freedom. -- Sheila Maxey * Reform Magazine *Charles Marsh’s new venture into biography has produced a thoroughgoing work of scholarship which has the distinction of being at the same time both a page-turner for Bonhoeffer students, in that it has finally shed light upon vast swathes of Bonhoeffer’s lifewhich have hitherto been veiled in obscurity, but,muchmore than even this, it is also a highly accessible and enjoyable read for anyone coming to the subject for the first time. The field of Bonhoeffer scholarship is introduced through this work to a character one always sensed was there, but never quite had the courage (and evidence) to acknowledge. Marsh has exposed the virtually impenetrable interpretative framework of Eberhard Bethge’s terrific loyalty, with the consequence that in this biography we are introduced to a man who actually behaves poorly at times, can be overly demanding and has moments of pique, yet remains thoroughly believable. Marsh records that for Bonhoeffer, when on his pre-ordination parish stint in Barcelona, ‘if his theology was being stretched and shaken, certain habits of mind did not change at all. He would continue to cajole his parents for money.’ Marsh is too polite to point out the stark contrast this affords with Bethge’s version of events which depict Bonhoeffer as unswervingly a man of unstinting generosity. Although Bethge is reputed to have had the gift of ‘clear, open and reverent seeing’ it has taken Marsh to bring us the reality of this Bonhoeffer who (while in Barcelona) was prone to ‘drink hardly any water, but rather exclusively wine . . . spent most of his day in the bathtub, and fretted mightily over his wardrobe’ (p. 81). Bonhoeffer’s time in London brings up further discrepancies between Bethge and Marsh where the former depicts him as a workaholic oppositional pastor and the latter as one whose evenings were for the theatre and the cinema, followed by drinks and dinner and more conversation, often continuing until well after midnight, the flow of meditation, music, theology and storytelling ‘all following one another, blending into one another till 2 or 3 a.m.’ (p. 201). Marsh then goes on to describe in unforgettable terms one of the Bonhoeffer/Barth wartime meetings in Switzerland: not so well timed, which he (Bonhoeffer) gathered from the fretful demeanour of Barth’s wife, Nelly, when she greeted him at the front door. Things were uneasy within the plain three-storey house on the Bruderholtzallee, for the great Reformed theologian, who, as noted earlier, had single-handedly retrieved the language of Christian Orthodoxy from its modernist reductions, had performed an even more astonishing feat: he had managed to move his beautiful assistant, Charlotte von Kirschbaum, [with whom he was having an affair] into the household. (p. 311) The reader is left reeling in shock at the thought of arguably the greatest theologian of the last century living almost openly in a me´nage a` trois. Not only this, Marsh, in scholarly fashion, makes the case that the Bonhoeffer/ Bethge relationship was for Bonhoeffer an affaire du coeur, reciprocated only so far by Bethge. Details that hitherto have seemed only trivial suddenly appear in a wholly new light when the full implications of this assertion are taken into consideration. There is sufficient depth of analysis provided to unsettle the reader’s previously held convictions (or assumptions) regarding Bonhoeffer’s inner life as details of their ‘bromance’ are laid bare. Marsh’s related contention about Bonhoeffer’s engagement to Maria von Wedemeyer is shocking in its straightforwardness: Bethge ‘left’ Bonhoeffer to become engaged to a seventeen- year-old young woman and Bonhoeffer’s response was to ‘get hitched’ so as to ‘get even’ or ‘back in favour’. Those who find this too hard to digest will take small comfort from the details of Bonhoeffer’s will, which Marsh adduces as powerful evidence in favour of his contention. Along similar lines, readers of every persuasion will welcome the debunking (finally!) of the previously accepted fabrication and sanitization of the actual details of Bonhoeffer’s death. For me, this publication is an excellent companion to Bethge. Here, time has perhaps cleared minds, and the perspectives Marsh provides are welcome. Indeed, with the advent of Strange Glory, has Bonhoeffer biography turned from the phraseological to the real? -- John H. McCabe * Theology journal *This is a prestigious and exhilarating book – a study of Bonhoeffer’s life by a scholar, in Charles Marsh, who has been through in his research. It had been endorsed by significant people in the field and I add my few words with humility. It is a long book, with extensive notes to assure the reader of the veracity of the sources of information. At first I questioned the detail in the writing and wondered at its significance. But, as I read further, Bonhoeffer came alive, as a person, in the descriptions of events, places and people. Bonhoeffer was born into a wealthy German family and experienced the level of financial support and comfort throughout his life that many of us can only dream of. Even in his final days in prison he was still being supplied with suitable clothes, food, writing materials and books that he requested. His family stood by him although they could not have expected that he would become a theologian. He was not a devout Christian as a child. His studies at University took him into philosophy and hence to theology. His doctoral thesis was titled "Sanctorum Communio" – The Communion of Saints, with a sub-title "A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church". He defended this and was awarded his doctorate in 1927. During his early life Bonhoeffer travelled significantly and his time in Italy and America was influential in the development of his views on Christianity. He moved between academics study and his work as a pastor (in London for a time), never really settling to be completely one or the other. He wrote extensively; letters to friends, papers of his developing views, and much of his writing has been preserved. The picture of his early family life gives an understanding of how he became the person he was. He was a twin, having a twin sister Sabine, and they were 6 and 7 of a family of 8. He was loved and protected and somewhat indulged, whilst also being given the opportunity to become his own self. At first my own feelings were that he has a very easy life and that the lack of deprivation would not have given him insight into the suffering of others. But what it did do was to give him the luxury of time to reflect and to study, safe from the trails of having to earn a living. He did work for payment but was always supplemented with resources from his parents. For me the most startling and interesting part of the book is in the explanation of the rise of Hitler and the attitude towards the Jewish people. We all know that Hitler hated Jews and set about exterminating them but I don’t think I had previously understood that this was linked to a denial of the Old Testament and the supremacy of Jesus Christ. The birth of the German Christian Church under Hitler (previously Lutheran) was not dissimilar to the establishment of the Church of England, with the head of state as head of the Church. But Hitler took this a stage further to claim that the Jewish people were the murderers of Christ and therefore not the people of God and must be removed. The descriptions in the Marsh book help us to see the insanity in Hitler and the way he used his charismatic power to control everyone. In the end there was only one choice for German people – obey or die. Leading academics and people of influence plotted to kill Hitler in order to defend people who could not defend themselves. The plot was discovered and many people, including Bonhoeffer, were imprisoned. It was to take two years before an incriminating letter was found, but when it was, he was executed. Marsh has captured the essence of Bonhoeffer in his writing. He has charted the development of the German Christians, connecting to Luther and assisting in deeper understanding. The book is called Strange Glory and it is while Bonhoeffer is in prison that he writes to his close friend Bethge to summarise what he has learned by the age of 38, that "the word of God does not ally itself with the rebellion of mistrust, but reigns in the strangest of glories". This led to the title of the book and the culmination of the years of study which took Bonhoeffer to his position of acceptance of the mystery of God and the "strange glory" of knowing that we don’t know, we can only accept and trust. It felt daunting to pick up a book of such weight (literally as well as figuratively) and moment. Bonhoeffer has left us with many valuable wrintings, some of which have fallen into regular parlance. The seventeen volumes of his work are essential reading for serious theologians. His indivudal works provide inspiration for all in their meditations with God. His journey to faith and acceptance that God’s will be done is captured beautifully by Charles Marsh and we should thank him for this. -- Pat Frankish * Faith and Freedom *

Read more less

Book SynopsisConcise historical introduction to Thomas More and his continuing influence on the world and how we see itTrade ReviewA miniature jewel on Thomas More - what a treat this little book is. -- Diarmaid MacCulloch * The Tablet *A lively and learned little book. * Catholic Herald *John Guy has done more towards the scholarly reappraisal of More’s greatness than most other English historians of the last fifty years. * Eamon Duffy *An excellent starting point for anyone beginning a course of study on the Reformation. * The Reader *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"In A Thoroughly Mischievous Person, Alan Kennedy shows how Ransome's magical Swallows and Amazons novels are far more than stories of holiday adventure. Full of allusion to myth, fairy tale and the difficulties of his own family, and largely ignored by his biographers, they are in fact a hidden autobiography and set out to resolve the psychological tensions in his own conflicted life." Julian Lovelock, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham and author of Swallows, Amazons and Coots. "Alan Kennedy presents a multi-layered psychological analysis of Ransome's literary genius. Experimental research is combined with psychoanalytic insights to show how individual characters, objects, and events capture the reader because they are pointers to deeper universal experiences. The book also offers a fascinating perspective on Ransome's complex personality, and on his use of fiction to reach a child that he could not reach in real life." Albrecht Inhoff, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University "Sharing lodgings at different times with the nature poet Edward Thomas and the Bolshevik agent Karl Radek, Arthur Ransome moved with apparent ease through many different worlds. Alan Kennedy brings both a lifetime's admiration and psychological interpretation to bear upon this fascinating and enigmatic character, exploring his life and character in the light of a psychoanalytic reading of his novels that opens up some of the darkest places of the man and the century." Stan Smith, Emeritus Professor of English, Nottingham Trent University and author of Edward Thomas "The best piece of writing on Ransome to have come out in years." Peter Willis, Signals, p38, August 2021

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat does a Bishop, having declared himself a pacifist, do when his country goes to war?Trade Review“Edward Lee Hicks gets few mentions in the literature of World War One. G. R. Evans brings to life a forgotten hero, one who considered the war to be unjustified… but whose compassion for war participants was genuine.” -- BOB HOLMAN, author of Woodbine WillieTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 8Preface 9Section 1. The Man and the JobChapter 1: Beginnings 13Chapter 2: Parish Priest and Married Man 26Chapter 3: New Directions 40Chapter 4: Passions and Preferment 60Chapter 5: What is a Bishop For? 69Chapter 6: A Hard Act to Follow 79Section 2. Learning to Be a BishopChapter 7: Enthronement and Getting Started 91Chapter 8: Diocesan Business 102Chapter 9: Overwork and its Consequences 122Chapter 10: Return to the Fray 128Chapter 11: Settling into Harness: The Pre-war Years 146Chapter 12: The Last Year of Peace and the Run-up to War 159Edward Hicks: Pacifist Bishop at War ContentsSection 3. Being a Bishop in WartimeChapter 13: War Breaks Out 179Chapter 14: Not Over by Christmas 197Chapter 15: Army Chaplains and Conscientious Objectors 217Chapter 16: National Mission 230Chapter 17: The Loss of a Son 244Chapter 18: Looking to a Post-war World 269Chapter 19: Conclusion: The End of the War and the End of a Life 288Timeline 294Further Background to the StoryLincoln High School for Girls and Lucie Savill 295Henry Scott Holland, Hastings Rashdall and the Christian SocialUnion 296Nursing: Vera Brittain, Daisy Dobbs and the VADs 299The Bloomsbury set tries not to go to war 303Women’s suffrage: The key issues 307Edith Picton-Turvill and the ordination of women 308Canon Foster and the Lincoln Record Society 310More About Some of the CharactersHugh Stowell Brown 313Will Crooks 314Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1903–28 314Charles Gore 314Margaret Haig 315John Edward Hine 317A. S. Duncan-Jones 317Leifchild Leif Jones 318Ronnie Knox 318Hastings Rashdall 319Maude Royden 321Frederick Tryon 321Archdeacon Wakeford 322Places to Visit 325Further Reading 326Index 329

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe faith of Charles Dickens, the most influential and popular author of the Victorian era.Trade Review“The complexity of Dickens’s life and character never diminished his Christian charity and advocacy of the poor. Hooper’s new biography reveals a different Dickens, one who wrote “expressly for his children” The Life of our Lord. At the heart of this is a man who loved Jesus, acknowledging that there was none so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for people who did wrong. Hooper gives us a Dickens who, in the midst of his complex and divided life struggled to translate his faith into practical social good.” -- Revd Canon Professor David Jasper, Professor of Literature and Theology, University of GlasgowTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgments 7A Timeline of Charles Dickens’s Life 8Introduction 121 Lady of John Dickens Esq. a Son 172 The Workhouse, the Theatre, and Royalty 243 The Happy Dream of Childhood 294 The Reader, the Watcher, and the Learner 395 Disturbing Shadows of Debt and Despair 466 The Prisoner and the Pupil 557 I Begin Life on My Account 648 The Actor, the Reporter, and the Writer 739 Sketches By Boz and Sparks on Sunday 9110 Charitable Angels and the Invisible World of Poverty 10111 Oliver Twist: The Parable of the Good Samaritan and Female Angels 11112 Nicholas Nickleby: Charitable and Female Angels 12613 The Old Curiosity Shop and the Ticking of the Clock 13414 Death, the Resurrection, and Child Angels 14015 A Christmas Carol 15016 The Chimes 16217 The Simple Faith of Dickens 17018 The Private and Public Charity of Dickens 17919 The Battle of Life 18820 Telescopic Philanthropy and Original Sin 19821 Law, Grace, and Feet of Clay 20722 The Triumph of His Latter Years 217The End 231Select Bibliography 239

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow available in trade paper!New York Times Bestseller!  Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel the authors of the New York Times best seller The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi bring you an exciting new life-changing message that will help you read the Bible with new eyes and take you into the heart of God''s people in Scripture – from Abraham to Ruth to Jesus and His early followers.In The God of the Way, Rabbi Jason shares wisdom from his Jewish heritage and helps us read Scripture in the cultural context of biblical times. Kathie Lee adds personal stories and reflections from her spiritual journey and studies, serving as a companion as you go deeper in your own relationship with God.You will experience:The God of the How and W

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis comprehensive historical and literary introduction to the lives of the apostles underscores their impact on the growth of the early church.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: The Quest1. The Path2. Peter: The Rooster3. Andrew: The Saltire4. James: The Scallop Shell5. John: The Eagle6. Philip: The Bread7. Bartholomew: The Knife8. Thomas: The Builder9. Matthew: The Publican10. James: The Lesser11. Jude: The Exorcist12. Simon: The Zealot13. Matthias: The Elected14. Paul: The Sword15. The DiscoveryIndexes

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the story of the world's exploitation motorway, the girls, the truckers who use them - and the brave few seeking to change thingsTrade Review"This is a truly important book." -- Steve Chalke"Compelling and poignant reportage that painstakingly exposes Brazil’s darkest secret.Matt Roper is that rare journalist who didn’t turn his back on the trauma and misery he witnessed for the adrenaline rush of the next deadline. In parts heart-breaking, in others uplifting, this is a story that needs to be told." -- Oliver Harvey * The Sun *"Few journalists remain this committed to exposing an issue. Once you get your headlines it is all too easy to move on to the next big expose. Not only is this a dark side of Brazil that Matt continues to highlight with passion, but his writing takes you so vividly into children's' lives. You are unable to stop thinking about them. Few books can do that." -- Chris Rogers * BBC Panorama *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis remarkable tale from missionary Chrissie Chapman shows God's protection and power when it is needed most.Table of ContentsContentsForeword 9Acknowledgments 11Why I Wrote this Book 13Burundi 15Chapter1 The Sound of Silence 182 The Night the Angels Came 363 The First War Baby Arrives 424 How I Found God in the Middle of This Mess 595 CRIB (Children Rescued in Burundi) 776 Miracle After Miracle 987 A Bad Week 1078 Empty the Storehouse 1219 The King’s School 13910 The Next Generation 156Epilogue 181About the Author 185

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe words and example of Gautama (often known by the title, ''Buddha'') have affected billions of people. But what do we really know about him? While there is much we cannot say for certain about the historical Gautama, this persuasive new biography provides the fullest and most plausible account yet. Weaving ancient sources and modern understanding into an engaging narrative, Vishvapani Blomfield examines Gautama''s words and impact to shed fresh light on his culture, his spiritual search and the experiences and teachings that led his followers, to call him ''The Awakened One''. This book draws on the myths and legends that surround him to illuminate the significance of his life. It traces Gautama''s investigations of consciousness, his strikingly original view of life and his development of new forms of religious community and practice. Blomfield''s insightful and thought-provoking biography will appeal to anyone interested in history and religion, and in the BudTrade Review'Master of clarity and simplicity, Vishvapani presents through the life of Buddha an understanding of Buddhism of immense relevance to the way we live now' Dorothy Rowe, author of Beyond Fear and Depression: The Way Out of Your Prison. * Dorothy Rowe *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements. Introduction: Gautama and the Buddha. A World in Ferment. The Search for Wisdom. Nirvana. The Awakening Moment. Dialogue. The Homeless Community. A Holy Man in the World. Crisis. The Final Journey. Gautama's Legacy. Appendix: An Outline of Buddhist History. Select Bibliography. Glossary of Terms, Names and Places. Notes. Index.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first volume of Peter Seewald's authoritative biography. By any reckoning, the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI was extraordinary, with moments of high drama. Not the least of these was his resignation from office in February 2013, the first papal resignation in 500 years. But who was Joseph Ratzinger? In this definitive biography, based on meticulous historical research and many hours of taped interviews with his subject, Peter Seewald shows the exceptional circumstances in which the exceptionally talented son of a Bavarian policeman became the first German pope for 950 years. In this first volume, covering the years 19271965, we witness Joseph Ratzinger's early days, living above his father's police station. Ratzinger came to adulthood through the years of National Socialism. Though hostile to the rise of Hitler, his family knew well about Dachau and Ratzinger himself was conscripted into the Hitler Youth. Joseph Ratzinger proved to be a man of exceptional intellectual gifts and bTrade ReviewStimulating ... Readers will enjoy the thorough investigation of Ratzinger’s intellectual development * Publishers Weekly *Seewald artfully weaves together politics, church history, philosophy, and theology to show how these influenced and shaped the man who would become Pope Benedict XVI ... An engaging portrait that engrosses the reader in the subject. * Library Journal *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword Part one the boy 1. Easter Saturday 2. The Impediment 3. The Dreamland 4. 1933: ‘Holy Year’ 5. The ‘German Christians’ 6. With Burning Concern 7. The Calm before the Storm 8. The Seminary 9. War 10. Resistance 11. The End Part two the master student 12. Zero Hour 13. The Scholars’ Mountain 14. Guilt and Atonement 15. Upheaval in Thinking 16. The Glass Bead Game 17. Augustine 18. Storm and Stress 19. The Key Reading 20. The Major Orders 21. The Curate 22. The Examination 23. The Abyss 24. The New Heathens and the Church Part three the council 25. A Star is Born 26. The Network 27. Council 28. The Battle Begins 29. The Genoa Speech 30. The Spin Doctor 31. The World on the Brink 32. Seven Days That Changed the Catholic Church For Ever 33. German Wave 34. Power Sources 35. In the School of the Holy Spirit 36. The Legacy Notes Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen we rewind history back to Abraham's era, we encounter people who concocted false superstitions to explain the unexplainable. Powerful kings claimed to be gods, building massive pyramids to achieve immortality. Out of this mass of misunderstandings, one man emerged. The man we know today as Abraham not only claimed that one true Creator existed but also staked his entire life on this belief. Why, thousands of years later, are we still discussing the faith of this desert nomad? One of America's most popular Bible teachers Pastor Chuck Swindoll answers that question and many more in this compelling and insightful biography that will inspire your own faith.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis biography offers an in-depth look at R. C. Sproul's life and ministry, detailing his contributions to the trajectory of the Reformed tradition and his influence on American evangelicalism.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, John Piper celebrates the lives and ministries of 27 leaders from church history, offering a close look at their perseverance amidst opposition, weakness, and sufferinginspiring readers toward a life of Christ-exalting courage, passion, and joy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPreparing for her husband''s retirement from his parish, Michele Guinness, author of The Guinness Legend, decided to clear out the attic and in doing so rediscovered a trunk of letters, diaries, journals and notebooks, over one hundred years old, belonging to Grace Guinness, Peter''s grandmother.Most famous for her unconventional marriage to renowned speaker and evangelist Henry Grattan Guinness, Grace''s journals reveal an extraordinary woman who in many ways was before her time: a rebel against the constraints of her narrow religious upbringing, unconventional in her choice of husband, defiant of a society that frowned on a well-bred single mother going out to work, a businesswoman who ran her own hotel, and an early feminist who believed in birth control.She worked until she was in her seventies, read The Times every day, got through at least one book a week and could comment eruditely on politics, science, philosophy, theology, music and literaturTrade Review...this fascinating narrative of a truly remarkable lady... a superb social commentary of her times. * The Irish Catholic *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this “story of hope—an affirmation of the promise, the potential, and the reality of the American Dream,” (Nancy Pelosi), the first Muslim to be elected to Congress speaks out about what divides Americans—and what can bring us together.As a Black, Latino, and former Catholic who converted to Islam, Keith Ellison is the first Muslim elected to Congress—from a district with fewer than 1 percent Muslims and 11 percent Blacks. With his unique perspective on uniting a disparate community and speaking to a common goal, Ellison takes a provocative look at America and what needs to change to accommodate different races and beliefs. Filled with anecdotes, statistics, and social commentary, Ellison touches on everything from the Tea Party to Obama, from race to the immigration debate and more. He also draws some very clear distinctions between parties and shows why the deep polarization is unhealthy for America. Deeply patriotic, with My

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A compelling biography of one of the greatest men of the modern age. Stanford is particularly brilliant on the tensions inside Luther''s private and spiritual life. This is a very fine book, written with a flourish.'' Melvyn BraggThe 31st of October 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther pinning his 95 ''Theses'' - or reform proposals - to the door of his local university church in Wittenberg. Most scholars now agree that the details of this eye-catching gesture are more legend than hammer and nails, but what is certainly true is that on this day (probably in a letter to his local Archbishop in Mainz), the Augustinian Friar and theologian issued an outspokenly blunt challenge to his own Catholic Church to reform itself from within - especially over the sale of ''indulgences'' - which ultimately precipitated a huge religious and political upheaval right across Europe and divided mainstream Christianity ever after.A new, popular biography froTrade ReviewPeter Stanford's timely biography gives a vivid portrait of a deep flawed man. * The Daily Mail *Of all the books published this year to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this is probably the most important and one and the best for a mass market. He has endeavoured to create a painstakingly researched profile of Luther himself, offering important background on the world he lived in and the theological and political context of the time in which he lived. The result is a popular and lively biography. * Life and Work Magazine *Stanford is the author of Martin Luther - Catholic Dissident, which among many other things seeks to humanise a man who did more than most to shape the modern world. * Christian Today *An accessible, easy-to-read biography which introduces the reader to complex theology, history, and sociology ... This is a biography for those who wish to dip their toes in Christian history without wading in too deep, and thus is a book for priests and people alike. * Churchman *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCyprian of Carthage’s story is one of incredible perseverance for the sake of the gospel. Living through a time of terrible persecution towards Christians, Cyprian wrestled with questions surrounding the church and contributed greatly to the writings on its importance as the bride of Christ. He dealt first–hand with the effects which persecution has on church bodies and offered many insights which are becoming increasingly relevant in the West today.Trade ReviewArnold purposes neither to re-make Cyprian in his own image nor to discard the Carthaginian bishop on the ash heap of history. Arnold rather insists that Cyprian can serve as a stimulating conversation partner within the contemporary context. -- Paul Hartog (Professor of Theology, Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, Ankeny, Iowa)A fascinating, stimulating and easy to read book on a theologian who loved church. It is a book about a great man that should change and challenge and bring joy every time you meet with and think about your church. -- Steve Levy (Pastor, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Swansea, Wales)Brian Arnold guides us to a compelling voice from the past at a time when we desperately need wisdom for the present. This is a valuable book for those seeking a formative conversation with the Church Fathers. We would do well to listen. -- Megan DeVore (Associate Professor of Church History and Early Christian Studies, Colorado Christian University, Colorado)Immensely rewarding and full of exquisite detail, this book is a winner in every respect. More, please. -- Derek W. H. Thomas (Senior Minister of Preaching and Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina)

Read more less

Book SynopsisColumba’s name dominates the narrative of early Scottish Christianity. What was established on Iona through Columba’s astonishing leadership, and through a succession of energetic and resourceful abbots, exerted a unique influence on the development of Christianity in Scotland and beyond. Bruce Ritchie’s analytical biography is the key to understanding the real Columba, his theology, his spirituality, and the faith that drove him across the sea.Trade ReviewBruce Ritchie has written a new, scholarly, ground–breaking biography of St Columba, weaving together historical narrative and theological exploration in a masterful way. We encounter the man, his times, his life, his teaching, and his legacy, set before us with depth, detail, and colour. This now surely has to be the starting point for all future studies of the Scottish saint. In my judgment, the book deserves the widest possible circulation among all serious students of Scottish church history. -- Nick Needham (Lecturer in Church History, Highland Theological College, Dingwall, Scotland)Dr Bruce Ritchie’s depiction of Columba as an ‘Island Soldier’, fighting the good fight of faith against the world, the flesh and the Devil, is both a pleasure to read and a thoroughly refreshing study of the saint’s theology and beliefs as recorded in primary sources. Dr Ritchie presents us with a robust figure who is something of contrast to the soft, sentimental and acquiescent ‘Columba’ of popular imagination. -- Donald Meek (Professor Emeritus, Scottish and Gaelic Studies, Edinburgh University)In this scholarly and comprehensive account of Columba, Bruce Ritchie combines historical, theological and spiritual insights into his work. Deserving of a wide readership, his accomplished study will enrich our understanding of one of the great figures in Scottish church history. -- David Fergusson (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)Living as he did in the twilight of antiquity, the memory of the remarkable Celtic Christian leader Columba has been both obscured by legend and claimed by various communities, which has only further obscured the real man. In this new study, Bruce Ritchie has put all who love the story of the Celtic Church in his debt as he untangles what we can truly know about Columba, his life in Ireland before coming to Iona, the Iona mission, and his thought. A solid historical monograph marked by scholarly heft, Ritchie’s biography is also eminently readable—a rare combination and a delight to recommend. -- Michael A. G. Haykin (Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)

Read more less

Book SynopsisI think there is real hope to be found, in the middle of our deepest traumas, in the good news about Jesus Christ. I also think that there is a place for us to find hope and community within the church. Because of these two beliefs, I truly think, distant though it may be, that we may even get to a place of peace within our souls and a place of forgiveness for those who hurt us so much. This is a book that has no easy answers and will offer none. This is a book that tries to get behind the tough questions of why God permits such abuses to occur in this world. Using his own story of childhood abuse, Mez McConnell tells us about a God who is just, sovereign and loving. A good father who knows the pain of rejection and abuse, who hates evil, who can bring hope even in the darkest place. ‘It’s not a pagan rags to Christian riches story. It’s real, raw and radical. I suspect that there will be as many people shocked by the Bible teaching that Mez wrestles with, as there will be those shocked by the abuse he suffered. With chapters like ‘The glorious, wonderful reality of Hell’ and ‘The terrible reality of Heaven’, there is no chance of this book being perceived as comfortable.’ – David Robertson, Christian Today https://christiantoday.com/article/my-favourite-christian-book-of-2019/133774.htm Trade ReviewPainfully raw and profoundly helpful, this is a book that speaks into the depths of our darkness and offers extraordinary hope for both the abused and the abusers. If you feel ashamed, hopeless and bitter – or you know someone who does – you must read this. -- Michael Reeves (President and Professor of Theology, Union School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales)With honesty and grace, Mez McConnell weaves together the scope of his abuse and recovery with the scope of Jesus’ person and work. In short, accessible chapters he outlines the hope of the Gospel available to both survivors and abusers. Highly recommended. -- Eric M. Schumacher (Podcaster; songwriter; author, ‘Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriages’)Mez writes with courage and compassion. The courage to tell his painful story. And compassion to point us to the place of healing. Read the book and expect to be shocked with depravity and deliverance. -- Erik Raymond (Senior Pastor, Redeemer Fellowship Church, Boston, Massachusetts)This book is heart–wrenching but necessary. It applies the gospel in the worst of contexts and demonstrates its power to save and restore. It is written for those who are hurting and for those who long to minister to them. These pages are void of whitewash, trite answers and cliché, but full of the gospel! -- Paul Washer (Founder and Missions Director, Heart Cry Ministry, Radford, Virginia)… the hero of the book is not Mez or some nice person or the social gospel: It’s doctrine, including God’s sovereignty and Christ’s atonement. … Those who have hit bottom need not soothing words but the hard Gospel truths of sin and deliverance. -- Marvin Olasky (Editor in Chief, World Magazine)Never have I experienced a book that is for the abused and abuser; the victimized and the tormentor. And the power of the gospel being the answer for all. Stunningly accessible and beautifully written, this book is sure to be a healing balm to the soul of many abuse survivors and a defining book for a generation. -- Brian Croft (Pastor, Auburndale Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky and Founder, Practical Shepherding)… a painfully raw, sweetly pastoral, and deeply theological word to those who have suffered abuse. This is a book that will speak to the hearts of many, and that will also open the hearts of many to understand the ravages of abuse and the healing power of the Saviour. You don’t just read this book; you experience it. -- Greg Gilbert (Senior Pastor, Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, Author of What is the Gospel? )Raw. Real. Redemptive. The story of Mez McConnell’s childhood abuse, interestingly, neither centres on himself or his tormentors, but rather on God’s good and sovereign providence, and a suffering Saviour who gave himself for Mez, and all who trust in him. It could have been just crushing, but instead it is filled with hope. -- Ligon Duncan (Chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary)The Creaking On The Stairs is a relentlessly evangelistic book. If you struggle to imagine a good God due to past abuse, Mez wants you to know you are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are deeply loved. He can testify to that firsthand. -- Matt Smethurst (Editor, The Gospel Coalition)The beauty of the book is that Mez tells the story of his own suffering and folds it into the bigger story of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is heartbreaking, empathetic, accessible, and pastorally wise. Moreover, it presents the reader with the sovereign, holy and merciful God of the Bible who alone can bring lasting light and hope into darkness and despair. Anyone can read this. Everyone should. -- Gavin Peacock (Former professional footballer and Director of International Outreach, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.)It’s been said that we’re all ‘soaked with the sense of exile’ and long for restored Eden. The hope for the abused and the abuser alike is in Jesus Christ who is indeed making all things new (Rev. 21:5). Born of unimaginable pain, this book will surely be a gospel balm to many. -- Chris Larson (President and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, Orlando, Florida)… a deeply personal, gut–wrenchingly candid account of his own struggle with bitter emotions and smouldering resentment. Writing with unvarnished honesty, he describes the conflict between righteous anger and forgiveness—and he points the way to liberty and triumph in the grace of God. -- Phillip R. Johnson (Executive Director, Grace to You Ministries, Sun Valley, California)Reading about the reality of child abuse in the life of someone you know is gut wrenching. Realising the prevalence of abuse in our world is overwhelmingly distressing. Mez’s personal account of his life is a hard read, but as the grace and mercy of God is put on display in his life, it proves also to be a hopeful read. On the bleak and dark canvas of abuse, the gospel can shine. It shines brightly on these pages as Mez wonderfully notes hope for the abused and the abuser, as well as for ministers seeking to shepherd both. -- Anthony Mathenia (Pastor, Christchurch, Radford, Virginia)This is the most disturbing book that I have ever read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. -- Rosaria Butterfield (Author of ‘The Gospel Comes with a House Key’ and ‘The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert’)I finished it with the sober but thankful realisation that in its pages Mez has given us something incredibly valuable: truth and hope. He has given us truth that can be applied to even the most broken situations, and hope for that day when there will be no more weeping and no more tears. For that reason and many more, I can’t recommend this book enough. -- Aileen Challies (Pastor’s Wife)For those who have been acquainted with abuse, a new song of freedom and healing will resonate as you hear the message of Jesus’ work on the cross. Mez has carefully crafted a theologically rich, pastorally gentle, Christ–exalting tool. This is much needed in Christ’s global church. Get it, read it, teach it, and heed it. -- Doug Logan (Director of the Diversity Initiative, Acts 29 & Co–director of Church in Hard Places)… even if every question is not answered, you will finish this book knowing these things for sure: You are not alone, God loves you intimately, and Jesus will make all things new. The two–fold testimony of Mez’s vulnerability and Christ’s sufficiency will certainly aid in bringing healing to the broken. -- Matthew Z. Capps (Senior Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, Apex, North Carolina)With vivid personal stories, well–stated research, and a storehouse of scripture, Mez takes the grievous and gut–wrenching reality of abuse and holds it up to the light of grace. While I wish this book didn’t have to exist, I’m thankful it does. It’s a powerful and redemptive resource. -- Emily Jensen (Co–Founder of Risen Motherhood, Co–Author of ‘Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments’)Few things are more horrific than for a child to be tortured by someone who was supposed to love them. Scars of abuse go deeper than burn marks or lashes can leave. Somehow abuse scars the soul and tempts the heart to never risk letting people get close. Yet, in The Creaking on the Stairs, Mez bravely invites you into his painful past and gives hope through the grace of Jesus who entered into our pain–riddled world. Whether you are a believer in God or not, whether you have suffered abuse or not, I cannot more highly commend this work to you. -- J. Garrett Kell (Pastor, Del Ray Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe figures associated with Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s ministry are staggering. Between his preaching and the printings of his sermons, he reached hundreds of thousands of people, in his lifetime and in the years since. But he was not an itinerant preacher or writer or philanthropist. He faithfully served the Metropolitan Tabernacle from his arrival in 1854 to his death in 1892. Undergirding everything else was this central responsibility: Spurgeon was the pastor of a church. What was Spurgeon’s ecclesiology and how did it affect how he ordered and led his local church? Chang examines Spurgeon’s Reformed ecclesiology and Baptist polity and looks at how they were shaped by his militant church outlook.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBorn in the northeast of Scotland, John Ross arrived in Manchuria in 1872 and spent 40 years of his life there. He left behind an amazing legacy of culturally sensitive evangelism, established presbyterian churches, innovative missionary principles, valuable publications, and a rich vein of translations, including the first version of the New Testament in Korean. John S. Ross’s riveting biography tracks not only his life, but also the social, political and spiritual influences which shaped his life and work. God is still using John Ross’s labours to grow his Kingdom in South and North Korea today.Trade ReviewFor the first time in the English language, we finally have a comprehensive retelling of the life and work of John Ross, the important Scottish missionary to Manchuria (Northeast China) and Korea (then, the ‘Hermit Kingdom’). This is a meticulously researched and immensely readable book that weaves together the fascinating biography of the man John Ross with the social, religious, and imperial history and context which shaped him and his mission. We are told of the ways he relied on and empowered local Chinese and Korean coworkers in the work of the Gospel, the intellectual contributions he and his collaborators made—not least the first Korean New Testament—and the enduring legacy which has been left behind. This is such a wonderfully captivating read. -- Alexander Chow (Senior Lecturer of Theology and World Christianity, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, and editor of Scottish Missions to China (Brill 2022).)Packed solid with carefully documented information, the author has written in a narrative style which draws you to read on. With its many helpful theological and cultural insights, it is a book set to become a classic. -- David Ellis (An engineer, former minister of the Church of Scotland and Director of OMF International UK)This is a thrilling story, taking the reader through the God–given successes of Ross’s labours, as well as the immense challenges he faced, including the Boxer Rising. It is a thoroughly worthy memorial to Ross, the missionary and translator, but supremely a timeless and inspiring testimony to the fruit which follows the faithful sowing of Gospel seed. -- Donald Meek (Professor Emeritus, Scottish and Gaelic Studies, Edinburgh University)… an inspiring, engaging and realistic portrait of a missionary namesake who left a profound legacy in the Chinese and Korean churches. -- Donald John MacLean (Adjunct Professor of Historical Theology, Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Newcastle )… goes well beyond a simple biographical statement of his life, but thoroughly sets him and his missionary work in the church, social, and cultural context of his time, both in the Scotland, and in China. This is a must read for anyone interested in missions and Christianity in East Asia. -- James H. Grayson (Professor Emeritus, School of East Asian Studies, The University of Sheffield)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Gurvsy family arrived in China during 2017. Two years later they were back home, reeling from the experience and asking, ‘What happened?’. After being sent out to missional work, the Gurvsys look back at newsletters, diaries, examining memories and their culture shocks; all with the prayer–fuelled awareness of God, His ways, His Word and His promises. This book is a narrative made possible by reflection. It’s a story of waiting, action and benching. It’s less an account of missional life in Asia. Rather, a story which reflects the complexities, challenges, choices and changes humanity experiences while here on earth. It’s a letter to all who are called to go, be it at home, in work or overseas.Trade ReviewThis page–turning account of God calling one family to serve in an extraordinary way will open your eyes to both the darkness and gospel opportunity in foreign lands. -- Pat Daly (Vice President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, South Carolina)The fullness of God’s grace produces surprising fruit when crises become ministry opportunities, barriers turn into blessings, and isolated conditions yield unexpected occasions for fellowship. -- John R. Muether (Dean of Libraries and Professor of Church History, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando)… demonstrates all the benefits and all the pitfalls of modern mission work: the ability to be on the field in less than a day (as opposed to weeks), but also the dangers and frustrations of working in a country antagonistic to the gospel. Welcome to the real world of modern missions. -- Ben Shaw (Professor of Old Testament, Reformation Bible College)A compelling read. The writer’s honesty, passion and struggles are refreshing … The book should be essential reading for all missionary candidates but also for church/mission leaders, especially in not rushing the process. You will benefit from reading this excellent book! -- D. Eryl Davies (Elder, Heath Evangelical Church, Cardiff)

Read more less

Book SynopsisKnown primarily for his allegorical work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan was also a preacher, a gifted theologian and interpreter of Scripture. Academically, he was not a learned man, but when it came to practical and experiential mastery of the Scriptures and their theology, he was as gifted as anyone. His writings have a beauty and practicality not often found. He teaches that the greater the Christian’s understanding of truth, the stronger their own passion for Jesus will be, and the greater their worship and doxology will become. Jacob Tanner’s enlightening biography traces Bunyan’s life from his humble beginnings to his calling home to the Celestial City. From his debaucherous youth to glimpses of grace and eventual calling to ministry. There are lessons here for any twenty–first century Christian. He can teach men to be mature, fathers to be loving, husbands to be faithful, pastors to be tender, saints to suffer well, Christians to be steadfast. One of his greatest lessons to modern Christians is how to live faithfully for Christ in a world that is antagonistic to God.Trade ReviewFull of life, intrigue, and expressiveness, Tanner’s biography on John Bunyan gives us an even–handed yet sympathetic treatment of one of Puritanism’s most well–loved heroes. Warmly recommended! -- Nate Pickowicz (Pastor, Harvest Bible Church, Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire)The Tinker’s Progress is the kind of autobiography we need: brief, bold, and beautiful. … dive in … and learn of the grace abounding to the chief of sinners. -- Chris Marley (Senior Pastor, Miller Valley Baptist Church; guest lecturer, Institute of Pastoral and Theological Training, Egbe, Nigeria )Perhaps no single pastor has shaped the Christian imagination more than John Bunyan, but few today know much about this tinker–turned–pastor. Jacob Tanner beautifully tells the story of Bunyan’s life and ministry, allowing us to observe and be shaped by Bunyan’s progress down the pilgrim’s path. -- Scott Aniol (Executive Vice President and Editor–in–Chief, G3 Ministries; Professor, Pastoral Theology, Grace Bible Theological Seminary, Conway, Arkansas )In his excellent book … Jacob Tanner has given the Church a great gift: a timeless treasure of Bunyan’s life and ministry. -- Dave Jenkins (Executive Director, Servants of Grace Ministries)This work provides insightful reflections on historical events used by God to produce one of my spiritual heroes. I highly commend this work to anyone who desires to get to know the man who gave us ‘The Pilgrims Progress’ better. -- J. Garrett Kell (Pastor, Del Ray Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia)We owe Jacob Tanner a debt of gratitude for his fresh work on Bunyan. Through this new book, Bunyan lives again. -- Ray Rhodes, Jr. (Pastor, Grace Community Church, Dawsonville, Georgia; author, ‘Susie; The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon’)

Read more less

Book SynopsisDavid Livingstone was one of the most consequential individuals who lived in the nineteenth century. An unpretentious Scottish missionary doctor, explorer and abolitionist, he opened the door for Christianity in southern Africa. Vance Christie’s biography is the most comprehensive and accurate ever written about Livingstone. During his lifetime he was a hero in Britain and beyond, and gained a degree of respect, trust, appreciation and even affection with many African people. He was a man who overcame many deprivations and discouragements, and displayed the utmost measure of courage, self–control, faith, wisdom and ingenuity. Christie takes a balanced look at Livingstone’s amazing achievements, but also at his very real flaws. This gripping in–depth biography is a must–read insight into a fascinating man.Trade ReviewComprehensive and judicious, intended for edification, it is now the best place to start for people looking for a detailed description of this titan’s life and work interpreted in relation to the history of the modern British Empire and Western colonialism. -- Douglas A. Sweeney (Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama)David Livingstone was truly one of the towering figures of his time. And though the times have changed, his name lives on. That makes him a fitting subject for a biography of this magnitude—one that recounts his story and considers his impact on his nation, on this world, and on the history of Christian missions. -- Tim Challies (Author, ‘Seasons of Sorrow’)For all the faults of Livingstone and those around him, the story speaks of a man who sought to serve God faithfully and the impact that his life had on Africa. -- Alistair Wilson (Lecturer in Mission and New Testament, Edinburgh Theological Seminary, Scotland)While sympathetic to Livingstone, Christie provides us with an honest portrayal of the renowned missionary–explorer of southern Africa, and through Livingstone, gives a window into 19th century African history, colonialism, and wider missionary endeavor. -- William VanDoodewaard (Professor of Church History, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Greenville, South Carolina)I thank God for this fresh biography of David Livingstone, the pioneering missionary explorer of central Africa. He died in 1873 and his heart was buried in Zambia. On the centenary of his death, Zambians held commemorative events in several stadia in honour of this man. Also, the only town in Zambia that remains with a foreign name after its political independence from Great Britain is Livingstone. If you want to understand why a people who were once steeped in spiritual darkness should honour a Christian missionary in this way, read this definitive biography! -- Conrad Mbewe (Pastor, Kabwata Baptist Church, Kabwata, Zambia; Founding Chancellor, African Christian University, Lusaka, Zambia)By setting Livingstone in the context of his times and through exhaustive, scrupulous reliance on well–attested primary sources, Christie brings “the Doctor” to life as a historical figure, but also as a worthy example for our times as well. -- Mark A. Noll (Author of ‘America’s Book: The Rise and Decline of a Bible Civilization, 1794–1911’)

Read more less

Book SynopsisBite–sized biographies of inspirational Christian women. Spanning two millennia and multiple continents, these stories will introduce you to great women in the history of the Christian faith. From Mary in first century Judea, to Catherine Booth in nineteenth century Britain, to Gladys Aylward in twentieth century China. Perpetua and Jane Grey lived brief lives cut short by their conspicuous and brave fidelity to Jesus, while Corrie ten Boom, although no less courageous, lived a long life that testified to God’s compassion and forgiveness. For all their differences, each one of these women has left an indelible legacy on our collective intergenerational Christian consciousness. Each are worth knowing. To know someone’s story is a privilege. We hope you’re encouraged in your Christian walk as you read of theirs. The women whose stories are included in this book are: Mary Perpetua Catherine of Siena Jane Grey Anne Hutchinson Anne Dutton Selina, Countess of Huntingdon Catherine Booth Gladys Aylward Corrie Ten Boom Trade ReviewThe authors are right: you should really know about these 10 Dead Gals and what God has done in their extraordinary lives. Here is an impressive cloud of witnesses, from every era of church history, testifying to the power of the gospel to transform human beings. -- Michael P. Jensen (Rector, St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point, New South Wales and Honorary Research Associate, Sydney College of Divinity)This book is a well–researched, engagingly written, and insightful read that is sure to captivate readers and encourage them personally. As the subtitle suggests, the carefully curated stories of these ten women (who range from Mary the mother of Jesus, to twentieth–century missionary Gladys Aylward) mesh together to tell a bigger story. -- Nicole Starling (Lecturer in Church History, Morling College, Sydney)… a brilliant and contrasting gallery of subjects, from Mary the mother of Jesus through Catherine of Siena, to Anne Hutchinson, and Gladys Aylward; every chapter reveals an individual powered by faith and determined to act upon it. The vivid and arresting language in which these women are described, and the solid scholarship of the authors, will guarantee a wide readership for the book. -- Carole Cusack (Professor of Religious Studies, The University of Sydney)I benefited from the book not only because of its historical insights, but also for the many challenges that I received from encountering these women. Rachel Ciano and Ian Maddock have done a great job of combining fresh scholarship and spiritual wisdom. -- Leonardo De Chirico (Church planter in central Rome)Like the ten guys in the first book, these women were stellar examples of faithfulness, fearlessness, steadfastness, and fruitfulness. May you be challenged by their lives as their stories come alive for us today! -- Gregg R. Allison (Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)… with the historical, theological, and geographical terrain covered in Ten Dead Gals, Ciano and Maddock have certainly enriched our conversation about the blessing of women in God’s church! -- Mark Earngey (Head of Church History and Lecturer in Christian Thought, Moore Theological College, Sydney)This book is essential reading for Christians of all ages and backgrounds: women and men, girls, and boys. You will be humbled, encouraged, and awe–struck by the courage and witness of these ten incredible women in Christian history. -- Sarah Irving–Stonebraker (Associate Professor of History, Western Civilisation Program, Australian Catholic University)Fresh. Fascinating. Faith–building. … not just a chronicle of their lives: we learn about the theological debates that they engaged in, the social pressures they faced, and the ways their ministries have been interpreted. -- Rhys Bezzant (Senior Lecturer, Ridley College, Melbourne & Director, Jonathan Edwards Center Australia)

Read more less