Christian life and practice Books

Book SynopsisStirrers and Saints provides biblical, theological and pastoral pointers to help all involved in church leadership become both spiritually mature and effective leaders.

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Book SynopsisIn Grief Notes Tony Horsfall charts the first year of his grief journey since the death of his wife from cancer. Month by month he tells the unfolding story of walking with and through loss, weaving this together with biblical teaching on grief and insights gained from grief counselling. With a poignant mix of honesty and humour, Tony shares the challenges of rebuilding his life and reflects on how he has seen God meet his needs as he wrestled with grieving in a time of lockdown and pandemic. Praise for Resilience in Life and Faith: 'This book will have a ministry-wide impact.' Dr Laura Mae Gardner, former International Vice President for Personnel for Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International

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Book SynopsisPrayer is at the heart of BRF’s work, and this special illustrated anniversary collection is a celebration of prayer for BRF’s centenary year. It can be used in a range of different settings, from individual devotions to corporate worship. Including sections on prayers of preparation, seasonal prayers, and themed prayers for special times and hard times, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey. Part 1: Approaching God Part 2: Prayers for the journey Part 3: Seasons of the Christian year Part 4: Together through the generations Part 5: How should we live?

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Book SynopsisAn exciting new series written with the aim of equipping churches and church-planting teams with the theory and practical knowledge needed to develop significantly new approaches to mission. This first book in the series presents a thought-provoking foundation for contemporary mission. Drawing on key theological, missiological and social scientific ideas it discusses the fundamentals that provide a basis for place-dependent, reflexive praxis amongst people occupying social margins. This fascinating work re-energises debate around questions of why and how mission in marginal places should be planned and implemented.

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Book SynopsisA little while ago, concerned that the next time they got together, one of them would be in a coffin, Jeff Lucas and Adrian Plass decided to start exchanging letters and this book is the result. Breathtakingly honest, funny, moving and immensely enjoyable, Seriously Funny is a celebration of 21st century Christianity as well as a no-holds barred expose of its sillier side. And they are equally hard on themselves their most embarrassing moments are a joy to read. Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas are renowned for their ability to express the silly side of Christian culture, and to cut through our pretensions and foibles with incisive wit. In this candid, moving, hilarious book, they join comedic forces to challenge and entertain us.

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Book SynopsisA Himalayan journey of faith and mission. The seventh monsoon was the hardest of them all. I sat on the back porch of our Himalayan home and stared as the rain streamed down all around me. I had never felt so hemmed in by the constant rain, by the effects of the civil war and by the demands of home-school. As I sat there and listened to the pounding on our tin roof, I wondered whether I would make it through. I wondered whether I would cope with another 120 days of rain. And in doing so, I began to long for another season ... From the view point of her seventh monsoon, Naomi Reed takes time to look back on the seasons of her life. As she does so, she shares with us her journey of faith and mission and reveals poignant truths about God and the way he works his purposes in our lives through seasons.

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of one church community's journey into faith. A template for the miraculous and living in the reality of the kingdom of God now. Simon Holley is the pastor of the King's Arms, a church in Bedford, UK, which has seen God move in remarkable ways in healing. Here he tells the fascinating story of their church community's journey into faith. As he and others in the church learn to hear God and trust that he will keep his promises, they find themselves in exciting encounters with his healing power both inside the church and while going about their day-to-day lives. From many years of reaching out for more of God's blessings while keeping his feet firmly on the ground, Simon shares simply and honestly what he and his church have learned. 'Having journeyed with Simon Holley and the supernatural community at the King's Arms Church, Bedford, for more than five years now I am so happy to see this book in print. It is a template for the miraculous and living in the reality of the kingdom of God now. I know of no other person more qualified to write on the subjects covered in this book than Simon Holley. His insights and theological truths are matched by his experience of living and developing a people who are more aware of God's presence and his ability to act than they are of the possibility of defeat. These are robust, practical and deeply moving words which will change your life and your church forever. Simon Holley is the most authentic person I know and what is contained in here will leave you wanting more of God and greater displays of his power! This book is a must for pastors, leaders and anyone who wants to see heaven invade earth.' Julian Adams, Founder of Frequentsee Trust, speaker and author

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Book SynopsisIn God''s Hands is the 2015 Archbishop of Canterbury''s Lent Book.In this little gem of a book, Archbishop Desmond Tutu distils the wisdom forged through a childhood of poverty and apartheid, an adulthood lived in the glare of the world''s media, and the long and agonising struggle for truth and reconciliation in South Africa, into the childlike simplicity which Jesus tells us characterises the Kingdom of God.Archbishop Tutu has produced a meditation on the infinite love of God and the infinite value of the human individual. Not only are we in God`s hands, he says, our names are engraved on his palms. Throughout an often turbulent life, Archbishop Tutu has fought for justice and against oppression and prejudice.As we learn in this book, what has driven him forward is an unshakeable belief that human beings are created in the image of God and are infinitely valuable. Each one of us is a God-carrier, a tabernacle, a sanctuary of the Divine Trinity. God loves us not because Trade ReviewThis is a cracking book. Buy it. It will change your Church * Church of England Newspaper *Table of ContentsForeword by the Archbishop of Canterbury PART ONE 1 The Subversiveness of the Bible 2 We are created for Complementarity, for Togetherness, for Family 3 The Biased God 4 You Are Loved 5 It's All of Grace 6 In the Beginning, God; At the End, God PART TWO 'Arch' in Conversation: A Spiritual Retrospective Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisHis street name was Daylight. But he was a nightmare. On the streets of New York, darkness and violence reigned. Dimas Daylight Salaberrios popped his first pill when he was eleven years old, and just days later, he was selling drugs to his schoolmates. By fifteen, he was facing time at the notorious Rikers Island Prison. It was never safe to turn your back, and Dimas saw only one chance to survive: to become a street god. He would be the richest, most powerful ruler in the hood . . . or die trying.But in one terrifying moment, with a gun pointed at his head, Dimas had to decide: How far would he go? Was he finished taking reckless chances to rule as a god of the streets? Would he dare to entrust his life to the real Godan even riskier path? Because that God would send Dimas back down the darkest streets he'd ever known on a rescue mission after those still in danger.Street God is the true story of one man's against-all-odds journey from the streets to

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Book SynopsisFrom the founder of Mary's Meals and the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Shed That Fed a Million Children, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow travels the world encountering startling acts of charity and the power of generosity.Few people in the world are better placed to understand the role of charity and generosity than Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow. As the founder and CEO of Mary's Meals, Magnus helps feed and educate millions of children in 18 different countries across the world every year.In a time when some charitable organisations have been rocked by scandal and many are questioning their effectiveness in the modern age,Givetakes us on an epic journey to rediscover the beauty and transformative power of authentic charity.Powerful and inspiring,Givecelebrates the impact of charity in all our lives, illustrating how the act of sharing and even sacrifice is the key to a life of joy.Trade Review‘Such an inspiring and thoughtful rediscovery of the sheer beauty of charity. The loveliest book I’ve read this year.’ – Bishop John Keenan ‘A must read for everyone who has a heart to make a difference in the world.’ – Cheryl Weber, Host of 100 Huntley Street

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Book SynopsisI am grateful to Lewis for having the courage to yell, to doubt, to kick at God in angry violence. This is a part of a healthy grief which is not often encouraged. - Madeline L''Engle?Written with love, humility, and faith, this brief but poignant volume was first published under a pseudonym, as it was considered too raw. Written moment-to-moment as Lewis processed the loss of his wife to cancer, this is more than a mere book on grief, but a visceral hand outstretched in the darkness, a reluctant guide through the mad midnight moments of mourning and loss. ?Key learnings that Lewis discusses are:       Pain is instrumental in the process of spiritual growth       Through hardship we often gain the best wisdom       Memories are treasures that will comfort you tomorrow

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Book SynopsisAn account which compares the contemporary anorexic teenager, counting every calorie in her single-minded pursuit of thinness, and the ascetic medieval saint, examining her every desire.

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Book SynopsisHow do people practice religion in their everyday lives? Courtney Bender spent more than a year working as a volunteer for a non-profit organisation called God's Love We Deliver, helping to prepare food for people with AIDs, this volume tells the story of that time.

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Book SynopsisIn 2001, a collection of open and affirming churches with predominantly African American membership and a Pentecostal style of worship formed a radically new coalition. The group, known now as the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries or TFAM, has at its core the idea of radical inclusivity: the powerful assertion that everyone, no matter how seemingly flawed or corrupted, has holiness within. Whether you are LGBT, have HIV/AIDS, have been in prison, abuse drugs or alcohol, are homeless, or are otherwise compromised and marginalized, TFAM tells its people, you are one of God's creations. In Filled with the Spirit, Ellen Lewin gives us a deeply empathetic ethnography of the worship and community central to TFAM, telling the story of how the doctrine of radical inclusivity has expanded beyond those it originally sought to serve to encompass people of all races, genders, sexualities, and religious backgrounds. Lewin examines the seemingly paradoxical relationship between TFAM and traditional black churches, focusing on how congregations and individual members reclaim the worship practices of these churches and simultaneously challenge their authority. The book looks closely at how TFAM worship is legitimated and enhanced by its use of gospel music and considers the images of food and African American culture that are central to liturgical imagery, as well as how understandings of personal authenticity tie into the desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Throughout, Lewin takes up what has been mostly missing from our discussions of race, gender, and sexualityclose attention to spirituality and faith.

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Book SynopsisIt's not a process, one pastor insisted, rehabilitation is a miracle. In the face of addiction and few state resources, Pentecostal pastors in Guatemala City are fighting what they understand to be a major crisis. Yet the treatment centers they operate produce this miracle of rehabilitation through extraordinary means: captivity. These men of faith snatch drug users off the streets, often at the request of family members, and then lock them up inside their centers for months, sometimes years. Hunted is based on more than ten years of fieldwork among these centers and the drug users that populate them. Over time, as Kevin Lewis O'Neill engaged both those in treatment and those who surveilled them, he grew increasingly concerned that he, too, had become a hunter, albeit one snatching up information. This thoughtful, intense book will reframe the arc of redemption we so often associate with drug rehabilitation, painting instead a seemingly endless cycle of hunt, capture, and release.

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Book SynopsisScholars have made urban mothers living in poverty a focus of their research for decades. Offering an analysis of how faith both motivates and at times constrains poor mothers' actions, this book reveals the ways it serves as a lens through which many view and interpret their worlds.Trade Review"Living Faith offers a thoughtful parsing of religious 'coping' as a multidimensional and multidirectional phenomenon. It usefully conceptualizes religious practices that are salient to the book's subjects as well as to broader religious publics. This highly original treatment of the role of religion in the lives of low-income women will be read widely, and for a very long time, by students of inequality, religion, gender, urban institutions, welfare policy, and more." (Omar McRoberts, University of Chicago)"

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Book SynopsisAngel Park is a Mormon fundamentalist polygamous community where plural marriages between one man and multiple women are common. Based on many years of in-depth ethnographic research, Illicit Monogamy considers the plural family from the points of view of husbands, wives, and children, giving a balanced account of its complications and conflicts.Trade ReviewIllicit Monogamy focuses on the polygamous community Angel Park, giving readers a real feel for the society. Jankowiak is superb at treating his subjects with fairness, so that we don't care about who is 'best,' but rather what universal factors shape people's responses. This is a wonderful book—I'd be proud to have written it. -- Elaine Hatfield, author of What's Next in Love and Sex: Psychological and Cultural PerspectivesJankowiak explores in detail the nature of polygynous relationships from the points of view of husbands, wives, and children. The ethnography is very rich and complex, and he is deeply sympathetic to these families in the almost inevitable clash they experience between religious ideology and human emotion and is able to deeply explore their often-conflicted perspectives. Jankowiak is masterful at this—I feel that I can truly understand from this book what it must be like to live in a plural-family household, in both its happiness and its tensions. -- Gordon Mathews, coauthor of The World in Guangzhou: Africans and Other Foreigners in South China’s Global MarketplaceThis original study of the fundamentalist Mormon polygamous community draws on the background of Jankowiak's cross-cultural and ethnographic research on romantic and companionate love, marriage, and sex in Mongolia, China, and elsewhere. Based on a six-year ethnographic project, the author presents rich details from the individual lives of men, women, and children as they adapt to a patriarchally-based polygamous form of family. Simultaneously the ethnographer discerns general patterns and regularities based on systematic collective norms drawn from religious sources. Jankowiak's brilliant synthesis of ethnography and theory throughout his lucid and engaging presentation will interest anthropologists, sociologists, social workers, and religious studies scholars everywhere. -- Raymond Scupin, author of Cultural Anthropology: A Global Perspective, Tenth EditionTable of ContentsA Note to Residents of Angel ParkAcknowledgments1. Plural Marriage and What It Means to Be Human2. Fundamentalist Polygamy: Contextual Background3. In the Name of the Father: Public Adoration Private Qualification4. Different Philosophies for Organizing a Family5. Placement Marriage or Self Choice: Finding Your Soul Mate6. Managing a Marriage: Expectation, Duty, and Preference7. Cowife Jealousy, Regret, and Cooperative Exchanges8. Family Politics Revealed Through Naming Practices9. Theology and Mother Care: Full-Sibling and Half-Sibling Bonding10. Theological Parenthood and the Making of the Good Polygamous Teenager11. The Lonely World of Polygamous MenConclusion: Themes and TrendsNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Michael MacKay utilizes a humble and penetrating method in his Prophetic Authority: Democratic Hierarchy and the Mormon Priesthood. It is in the details of early Mormon history that MacKay truly excels." --Mormon Studies Review"A welcome and overdue contribution to the short list of publications on authority in the Church. . . . MacKay does not disappoint. . . . MacKay has given us a well-researched and thought-provoking examination of authority both preceding and following the 1830 organization of the Church." --BYU Studies Quarterly​"MacKay's account of priesthood authority should come as a relief to Mormon historians who have struggled to make the restoration of priesthood orderly and consistent. . . . In telling this complex story, MacKay is respectful and admiring and, for his readers, always illuminating." --Journal of Arizona History​"MacKay's excellent command of the subject matter makes this a necessary resource." --Choice​"A unique blend of scholarship, research, and historical retelling that goes well beyond accounts . . . MacKay's reconstruction can easily sustain the fabric of faith." --Interpreter​"The existence of this text should be heralded as an important milestone." --Juvenile Instructor​”Was early Mormonism excessively democratic, representative of a newly disestablished society? Or deeply theocratic, echoing the skeptical backlash against those same liberating impulses? In this exhaustively researched and sophisticatedly argued book, Michael MacKay argues that it is not an 'either, or' but 'yes, and.' And in doing so, MacKay digs into some of founding—and foundational—paradoxes concerning religion in the early American republic.”—Benjamin E Park, author of American Nationalisms: Imagining Union in an Age of Revolutions, 1783–1833”In Prophetic Authority, MacKay gives us the most thorough and painstaking description of the slow blossoming of the Mormon priesthood hierarchy available, embedding the story in the raucous context of antebellum American democracy. Valuable for anyone who wants to understand either of those worlds better.”—Matthew Bowman, author of Christian: The Politics of a Word in America

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Book SynopsisThe Mormon tradition's emphasis on prophetic authority makes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unique within America's religious culture. The religion that Joseph Smith created established a kingdom of God in a land distrustful of monarchy while positioning Smith as Christ's voice on earth, with the power to form cities, establish economies, and arrange governments.Michael Hubbard MacKay traces the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' claim to religious authority and sets it within the context of its times. Delving into the evolution of the concept of prophetic authority, MacKay shows how the Church emerged as a hierarchical democracy with power diffused among leaders Smith chose. At the same time, Smith's settled place atop the hierarchy granted him an authority that spared early Mormonism the internal conflict that doomed other religious movements. Though Smith faced challenges from other leaders, the nascent Church repeatedly turned to him to decide civic plansTrade Review"Michael MacKay utilizes a humble and penetrating method in his Prophetic Authority: Democratic Hierarchy and the Mormon Priesthood. It is in the details of early Mormon history that MacKay truly excels." --Mormon Studies Review"A welcome and overdue contribution to the short list of publications on authority in the Church. . . . MacKay does not disappoint. . . . MacKay has given us a well-researched and thought-provoking examination of authority both preceding and following the 1830 organization of the Church." --BYU Studies Quarterly​"MacKay's account of priesthood authority should come as a relief to Mormon historians who have struggled to make the restoration of priesthood orderly and consistent. . . . In telling this complex story, MacKay is respectful and admiring and, for his readers, always illuminating." --Journal of Arizona History​"MacKay's excellent command of the subject matter makes this a necessary resource." --Choice​"A unique blend of scholarship, research, and historical retelling that goes well beyond accounts . . . MacKay's reconstruction can easily sustain the fabric of faith." --Interpreter​"The existence of this text should be heralded as an important milestone." --Juvenile Instructor​”Was early Mormonism excessively democratic, representative of a newly disestablished society? Or deeply theocratic, echoing the skeptical backlash against those same liberating impulses? In this exhaustively researched and sophisticatedly argued book, Michael MacKay argues that it is not an 'either, or' but 'yes, and.' And in doing so, MacKay digs into some of founding—and foundational—paradoxes concerning religion in the early American republic.”—Benjamin E Park, author of American Nationalisms: Imagining Union in an Age of Revolutions, 1783–1833”In Prophetic Authority, MacKay gives us the most thorough and painstaking description of the slow blossoming of the Mormon priesthood hierarchy available, embedding the story in the raucous context of antebellum American democracy. Valuable for anyone who wants to understand either of those worlds better.”—Matthew Bowman, author of Christian: The Politics of a Word in America

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis volume is as enriching as it is ground-breaking. It will definitely be a companion to students of religion and Eastern Orthodoxy from various disciplines, complementing the theological and historical approaches to Eastern Christianity. * Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies *These essays advance the understanding of Eastern Orthodox spiritual practices from a religious studies perspective, and they will likely stimulate new directions for research and teaching in this largely neglected area. * Reading Religion *This collection could well be a principal text in courses on contemporary spirituality and church life. And equally it could be used for retreats and for personal spiritual reading as well. It is a welcome addition to other fine work that explores popular spirituality. * St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly *[T]he contributors to this volume offer a number of valuable insights into questions of personhood, mediation, tradition, authority, publicity, intimacy, belonging, and the theological valences we attach to the human sensorium. Their collective labor demonstrates that Eastern Christianity is rich soil for anthropological inquiry from a number of vantage-points and for a host of theoretical interests. * AnthroCyBib *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The Senses of Prayer in Eastern Orthodox Christianity / Sonja Luehrmann Part I: Senses1. Becoming Orthodox: The Mystery and Mastery of a Christian Tradition / Vlad NaumescuA Missionary Primer / Ioann Veniaminov 2. Listening and the Sacramental Life: Degrees of Mediation in Greek Orthodox Christianity / Jeffers Engelhardt Creating an Image for Prayer / Sonja Luehrmann3. Imagining Holy Personhood: Anthropological Thresholds of the Icon / Angie HeoSyriac as a lingua sacra: Speaking the Language of Christ in India / Vlad Naumescu4. Authorizing: The Paradoxes of Praying by the Book / Sonja LuehrmannPart II: Worlds5. Inhabiting Orthodox Russia: Religious Nomadism and the Puzzle of Belonging / Jeanne Kormina Baraka: Mixing Muslims, Christians, and Jews / Angie Heo6. Sharing Space: On the Publicity of Prayer, between an Ethiopian Village and the Rest of the World / Tom Boylston Prayers for Cars, Weddings, and Well-Being: Orthodox Prayers en route in Syria / Andreas Bandak7. Struggling Bodies at the Crossroads of Economy and Tradition: The Case of Contemporary Russian Convents / Daria Dubovka Competing Prayers for Ukraine / Sonja Luehrmann8. Orthodox Revivals: Prayer, Charisma, and Liturgical Religion / Simion PopEpilogue: Not-Orthodoxy/Orthodoxy's Others / William A. Christian Jr.GlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis volume is as enriching as it is ground-breaking. It will definitely be a companion to students of religion and Eastern Orthodoxy from various disciplines, complementing the theological and historical approaches to Eastern Christianity. * Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies *These essays advance the understanding of Eastern Orthodox spiritual practices from a religious studies perspective, and they will likely stimulate new directions for research and teaching in this largely neglected area. * Reading Religion *This collection could well be a principal text in courses on contemporary spirituality and church life. And equally it could be used for retreats and for personal spiritual reading as well. It is a welcome addition to other fine work that explores popular spirituality. * St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly *[T]he contributors to this volume offer a number of valuable insights into questions of personhood, mediation, tradition, authority, publicity, intimacy, belonging, and the theological valences we attach to the human sensorium. Their collective labor demonstrates that Eastern Christianity is rich soil for anthropological inquiry from a number of vantage-points and for a host of theoretical interests. * AnthroCyBib *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The Senses of Prayer in Eastern Orthodox Christianity / Sonja Luehrmann Part I: Senses1. Becoming Orthodox: The Mystery and Mastery of a Christian Tradition / Vlad NaumescuA Missionary Primer / Ioann Veniaminov 2. Listening and the Sacramental Life: Degrees of Mediation in Greek Orthodox Christianity / Jeffers Engelhardt Creating an Image for Prayer / Sonja Luehrmann3. Imagining Holy Personhood: Anthropological Thresholds of the Icon / Angie HeoSyriac as a lingua sacra: Speaking the Language of Christ in India / Vlad Naumescu4. Authorizing: The Paradoxes of Praying by the Book / Sonja LuehrmannPart II: Worlds5. Inhabiting Orthodox Russia: Religious Nomadism and the Puzzle of Belonging / Jeanne Kormina Baraka: Mixing Muslims, Christians, and Jews / Angie Heo6. Sharing Space: On the Publicity of Prayer, between an Ethiopian Village and the Rest of the World / Tom Boylston Prayers for Cars, Weddings, and Well-Being: Orthodox Prayers en route in Syria / Andreas Bandak7. Struggling Bodies at the Crossroads of Economy and Tradition: The Case of Contemporary Russian Convents / Daria Dubovka Competing Prayers for Ukraine / Sonja Luehrmann8. Orthodox Revivals: Prayer, Charisma, and Liturgical Religion / Simion PopEpilogue: Not-Orthodoxy/Orthodoxy's Others / William A. Christian Jr.GlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBrennan's ethnography is a wonderful contribution to the scholarship on African Christianity. * Ingernational Journal of African Historical Studies *Given the ever-expanding scope of the study of the visual and expressive arts of Africa, this book offers another perspective and one that accesses the activities of one of Africa's adapted churches. * African Studies Association *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsNote on Language and Translation1. Singing the Same Song2. Onward Christian Soldiers3. The Voice of the Spirit4. Take Control5. Straight to Heaven6. In His Steps7. Living in the Spirit8. Show the Glory of GodEpilogueGlossary of Yoruba TermsBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBrennan's ethnography is a wonderful contribution to the scholarship on African Christianity. * Ingernational Journal of African Historical Studies *Given the ever-expanding scope of the study of the visual and expressive arts of Africa, this book offers another perspective and one that accesses the activities of one of Africa's adapted churches. * African Studies Association *Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsNote on Language and Translation1. Singing the Same Song2. Onward Christian Soldiers3. The Voice of the Spirit4. Take Control5. Straight to Heaven6. In His Steps7. Living in the Spirit8. Show the Glory of GodEpilogueGlossary of Yoruba TermsBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThrough a thoughtful interrogation of the effects of faith and religion on our lives, our relationships, and our country, God Land investigates whether our divides can ever be bridged and if America can ever come together.Trade ReviewLenz holds light to the hypocrisy she finds. And her overall conclusions — that so much of this boils down to white supremacy and white privilege — is not what I was expecting from this book, but so helpful to me. By no means is Lenz, a middle class white woman, the first to point out white supremacy in American Christianity. But I found the structure of her arguments incredibly compelling and straightforward, for me, also an upper middle class white woman. * She Can't Stop Reading *God Land is a courageous narrative account of the religious and political divides that threaten to rip America down its middle. * Foreword Reviews *God Land is a gritty, insightful tour guide into some of the realities of the American Midwest. In this highly readable book, journalist Lyz Lenz provides her reader with a window into her own lived experiences as an Iowa transplant, a victim of sexist evangelical church cultures, a divorcee and a mother—a woman entangled with broader cultural histories of white Protestant America, nostalgia, and loss in the heartland. . . . Highly recommended. -- Kristy Nabhan-Warren * Indiana Magazine of History *This work will resonate with any readers interested in understanding American landscapes where white, evangelical Christianity dominates both politics and culture. * Publishers Weekly *[Lenz's] sharp, insightful prose and deep compassion help illuminate many facets of a complicated region and its ties to Christianity. And like the people she meets, Lenz can't quite give up her stubborn longing for a big-hearted faith and an even bigger God. The result is an incisive, sober-eyed yet hopeful look at a vital aspect of American culture. * Shelf Awareness *Table of Contents Dangerous Speculation The Heart of the Heartland Yearning for Better Days The Pew and the Pulpit The Church of the Air Room at the Table A Muscular Jesus The Asian American Reformed Church of Bigelow, Minnesota Bridging the Divide A Den of Thieves Satanists Potluck Reclaiming Our Faith The Fire Outside

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Book SynopsisTo a deplorable extent, Christians accept Church rituals as sacred but baffling heirlooms from the Church's past. It is to remedy this situation that Father Daniélou has written this book. The Bible and the Liturgy illuminates, better than has ever before been done, the vital and meaningful bond between Bible and liturgy. Father Daniélou aims at bringing clearly before his reader''s minds the fact that the Church''s liturgical rites and feasts are intended, not only to transmit the grace of the sacraments, but to instruct the faithful in their meaning as well as the meaning of the whole Christian life. It is through the sacraments in their role as signs that we learn. So that their value will be appreciated, Daniélou attempts to help us rediscover the significance of these rites so that the sacraments may once again be thought of as the prolongation of the great works of God in the Old Testament and the New.Trade Review"No serious student of the Liturgy, no cleric especially, will want to miss the depths of meaning conveyed by the sacramental signs which this book reveals." —The Catholic World"Daniélou examines the sign-language of the Sacraments and of the Feasts...as this language is explained by the Fathers, who, in turn, based their interpretration on those given in the New Testament and in Tradition. The present study is published in the hope, therefore, that it will prove of great value to all who are interested in learning, and in instructing others in, the meaning of Christianity." —Michael A. Mathis, C.S.C., Editor, Liturgical Studies“Father Daniélou shows a life-long, intimate friendship with the early fathers of the church. With an amazing ease and dexterity he will call upon these holy writers to explain the early origin as well as the deeper and more primitive meaning of the sacramental rites. . . . [The Bible and the Liturgy] will provide a much deeper understanding of our principal liturgical rites in themselves and in their relation to the Passion. . . . There is much profit and inspiration in this book, so wonderfully rich in patristic lore.” —The Passionist“Daniélou offers us a rich synthesis of the profound meaning of the sacramental rites and feasts. The book is written most properly for a wide public; its contents are intended for the members of God’s people who, whether in parishes or cloisters, celebrate the feasts of the Church and take part in her sacraments. It is of high importance for pastoral liturgy and catechetical instruction.” —Worship“[T]he book awakens the reader to the depth and dimension and unity that characterize divine activities.” —Religious Education

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Book SynopsisThe author of this book challenges the contemporary view of God and suffering. Calling upon scripture, and the philosophical and theological tradition of the Fathers and Aquinas, he advocates the incarnational truth that the Son of God actually does experience human living, including suffering.Trade Review“This theologically erudite and pastorally sensitive study is an essential work for any theologian concerned with the question of divine suffering.” —Theological Studies“Weinandy’s book is such a compelling treatment of central Christian doctrines that one is eager to see his thesis formulated in a way that presents no temptation to those who might be inclined to repeat the sins of the anti-Jewish past.” —Commonweal“Weinandy’s book is a strong statement of the grammar of orthodoxy with respect to the question of God’s impassibility and an extremely useful resource for study of the history of the question.” —The Journal of Religion“This is theology as it should be done. Throughout, Weinandy imaginatively engages the Christian tradition in a way that respects the truths of faith as a ‘mystery’ to be explored rather than as ‘problems’ to be solved, thus giving to his entire work the character of intelligently believing humility. For those who are ready for a very thorough intellectual and spiritual workout, this book is warmly recommended. —First Things“In... chapters, Thomas Weinandy walks briskly and intelligently through... two extremes, showing how a perfect and immutable God can be said to suffer alongside and because of human sin, not out of any deficiency, but out of his fullness. ...[T]his represents the best of post-conciliar theology: rooted firmly in the tradition while drawing from the best of contemporary thought, sympathetic to diverse positions without ever forfeiting a critical gaze....” —Homiletic & Pastoral Review“It is to the author’s credit that he has presented difficult philosophical and theological material in a manner that is easily accessible to a general readership and still quite useful to the advanced student.” —Modern Theology“The only defense of God in the face of a suffering world must be a dogmatic one which asks who he is as he is made known through his Church in the midst of the earth and how He responds in this identity to our suffering. Weinandy’s book is a rare and strong example of a traditional dogmatic response to it, we would all do well, therefore, to follow his argument closely both in order to understand how the Church expressed the mystery of the cross in the past and in order to understand why another approach to the question of Christ’s cry might be needed now.” —St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly

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Book SynopsisIn Lubianka’s Shadow chronicles the life of a Catholic priest, Father Léopold Braun, who was a pastor near the Lubianka political prison in the heart of Moscow, witnessed Stalin’s purges and the Soviet government’s campaign against organized religionTrade Review"Father Braun's memoir is a remarkable document, a compelling testimony to faith and personal courage. At the same time these recollections present a unique window through which to view life in Russia during that country's most difficult times—the Stalinist terror and the Great Patriotic War." —Richard G. Robbins, Jr., Professor of History, University of New Mexico“This memoir is one of the most remarkable historical documents to come to light in an era of major archival revelations in Soviet history. Because of the unique nature of the circumstances of Father Braun's tenure in Moscow, his memoir reveals a previously unilluminated side of Soviet existence. Father Braun's personal commitment and courage enabled him to achieve a familiarity with Soviet society and officialdom that leads to incidents, by turns, movingly affirmative of human capacity for nobility and selflessness, chillingly reminiscent of the worst sides of human nature, amusing in a Kafka-esque fashion, and breathtaking from an historian's perspective for the internality and intimacy they reveal.” —Thomas Sanders, United States Naval Academy“In Lubianka’s Shadow is the apt title given to the memoirs of Father Leopold Braun, A. A., the American Assumptionist priest who served in Moscow during the Stalin era at the Roman Catholic church of Saint Louis. This was at one point the only Catholic church open in all Russia and stands next the fearsome Lubianka, headquarters of the Soviet secret police and prison for thousands of people. . . . The book gives us an eyewitness account of the fierce antireligious campaigns; of the dedicated faith of ordinary people; of the determination of the Soviets to destroy Father Braun by any means; of life under constant police surveillance; and a rare account of the panic that gripped the Soviet government as it packed up and fled east as the German forces drew near in 1941.” —The Catholic Historical Review"This is an astonishing memoir: astonishing for the story it tells of the ordeal of an American priest in sustaining the only Catholic church in Moscow during the terrible years of the Great Terror and World War II; astonishing for its account of 'Soviet reality' in those years, perhaps unparalleled in range and depth among foreigners' memoirs of this period; and astonishing for the author's unsuccessful attempts to get his Moscow memoir published during his lifetime, as recounted in Gary Hamburg's expert introduction." —Terence Emmons, Professor of Russian History, Stanford University (emeritus)"Fr. Leopold Braun has long last received his due, some forty-two years after his death, with the publication of the memoirs of his long service to the American Embassy Community of Moscow and especially to his beloved Russian Catholic Community during the most trying of times and in the most dire of circumstances. . . . In Lubianka's Shadow is an honest, generally very accurate, though not completely unbiased, and true historical account of life and politics in Moscow and the Soviet Union during twelve years of grim government-sponsored terror and turmoil, and World War II.” —The Russian Review“Braun's memoirs provide historians with a remarkable view into both how the Soviet state attempted to crush organized religion during the 1930s and how the Russian public reacted. Braun's account gives the reader some wonderful insights into Soviet life and religion during the Stalinist era. The most fascinating parts of the book deal with Braun's experiences. His critique is most powerful when he lets the evidence speak for itself.” —American Catholic Studies“The Assumptionist priest Léopold Braun . . . was right about Soviet responsibility for the Katyn massacre, Soviet post-war intentions and the squalid realities of a police state . . . in some passages-the desecrations, meetings with implacable secret police and an obtuse American ambassador, a soldier's wedding deep in the forest, and a visit by General de Gaulle (for which the church was repaired, properly lit and heated for twelve hours)—he shows us a strange, distant world.” —Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisCatholic Greg Bourke''s profoundly moving memoir about growing up gay and overcoming discrimination in the battle for same-sex marriage in the US.In this compelling and deeply affecting memoir, Greg Bourke recounts growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, and living as a gay Catholic. The book describes Bourke's early struggles for acceptance as an out gay man living in the South during the 1980s and '90s, his unplanned transformation into an outspoken gay rights activist after being dismissed as a troop leader from the Boy Scouts of America in 2012, and his historic role as one of the named plaintiffs in the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Obergefell vs. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. After being ousted by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), former Scoutmaster Bourke became a leader in the movement to amend antigay BSA membership policies. The Archdiocese of Louisville, because of its vigorous opposition to marriage equalityTrade Review“Recounting confrontations with the Catholic Church to the Boy Scouts and then fighting the state of Kentucky all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, Gay, Catholic, and American is the powerful story of a man and his family fighting tirelessly for positive change rooted in their belief in the fullness of charity.” —Jim Obergefell, co-author of Love Wins “Gay, Catholic, and American is a delightfully written journey of a fellow Notre Dame gay alum. I am proud to have played a small part in his journey calling for equal rights for the LGBTQ Catholic community.” —Jack Bergen, ND ’77, past chair of the Gay and Lesbian Alumni of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College “Greg Bourke’s story is one of perseverance and tenacity, of refusing to settle for less and daring to dream big. LGBTQ Catholics and those who desire more welcoming institutions will be encouraged and inspired by reading this book.” —Michael J. O’Loughlin, national correspondent for America: The Jesuit Review "Gay, Catholic, and American reads as a modern 'passion' story—it is a familial and compelling story of two faith-filled men and their two children who tasted life’s bittersweet moments in their unrelenting pursuit of justice, trusting in the power of faith to guide their journey and seeking to make fullness and completion in God’s charity palpable in our country. This story witnesses the triumph of love and perseverance." —Miguel Humberto Díaz , former United States ambassador to the Holy See “Gay, Catholic, and American is a moving story about profound life, deep love, and authentic faith. Greg Bourke models for readers what it means to recognize God’s call for justice and respond with a commitment to divine love that refuses to be co-opted by others who seek to dismiss or demean difference. Through the compelling personal journey of one man, this book helps bring needed attention to the millions of other LGBTQ+ Catholics who faithfully practice their faith and love their families as much as their straight neighbors and deserve inclusion.” —Daniel P. Horan, OFM, author of A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege"Gay, Catholic, and American is a richly detailed memoir of Gregory Bourke’s life. Throughout, the reader is struck by Bourke’s conciliatory attitude toward his opponents, his unassuming tone, and his humility—despite an impressive list of accomplishments and accolades." —Joseph Mello, author of The Courts, the Ballot Box, and Gay Rights"Greg Bourke’s memoir combines his and his family’s journey with the paths taken by the federal judiciary toward marriage equality, his local Catholic Church toward a warm embrace of gay and lesbian couples, and the Boy Scouts toward acceptance of openly gay scoutmasters. All heartwarming stories told with charity toward all, malice toward none." —William N. Eskridge, Jr., author of Equality Practice"The events described in this book could be seen as ordinary and unremarkable: a man finds a partner, forms a family, gets married, forges a career, and becomes a leader in his community, all while devotedly practicing his religious faith. But it becomes an extraordinary and exceptional story when you read what it took to pursue happiness, acceptance, and equality in all those arenas of his life while still remaining steadfast in that faith. In this way, Greg Bourke’s Gay, Catholic, and American is also both universal and personal, providing a compelling read for any audience." —Christine Becker, author of It’s the Pictures That Got Small"Greg Bourke’s remarkable memoir Gay, Catholic, and American is about how he and his husband became plaintiffs in one of the most pivotal Supreme Court cases in LGBTQ+ history. . . . Bourke’s story is directed by perseverance, grit, and faith. Throughout, he refuses to accept that his sexual orientation and his religion cannot coexist. His text is inspirational, humble, and engaging." —Foreword Reviews"In the Beatitudes, Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for justice will be satisfied. Gay, Catholic and American is the story of one family’s journey in that quest. Greg Bourke weaves in the struggle, fear and hope of the journey to be recognized as a family and a full participant in our society. He engagingly recounts the struggles, fears and hopes of that journey that results in a compassion we can all learn from." —Simone Campbell, SSS, author of Hunger for Hope“Bourke, one of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage, shares his story of activism and devout Catholicism in this detailed . . . debut. . . . . [His] smooth, tidy narrative of activism pulls back the curtain on one of the most influential Supreme Court cases of modern American history.” —Publishers Weekly"Living as an out gay man in the 1980s and ’90s, Bourke struggled to find acceptance, but he did not become an activist until his ouster as a Boy Scout troop leader in 2012. His memoir chronicles a personal journey that became public with Bourke at the forefront of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case, Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide." —Notre Dame Magazine"Gay, Catholic and American is a book about both past and ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ equality, and reminds readers that these battles are important, even, and perhaps especially, when they are being waged at the most local level." —New York Journal of Books“I want to get to LGBTQ Catholics, those who have been hurt, who feel like they’ve been marginalized, who have given up, and I want to encourage them not to do that,” Bourke says. “I want to give hope to people, that they don’t have to choose between their identity as a queer person and their identity as a Catholic—they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I hope I presented an example of what it might look like to be able to have both.” —Greg Bourke, We Are ND"Readers curious about how one devout Catholic lives with the tension among official church teaching, his personal spiritual experience and his sexual orientation will find Bourke’s detailed account thought-provoking. Gay, Catholic, and American can inspire both L.G.B.T. and straight Catholics who seek reconciliation." —America"Bourke’s memoir tells one story of how LGBTQ+ Catholics in the U.S. have navigated complexity and contradiction along the way: with faith, perseverance, and the belief that their families are equal and blessed." —New Ways Ministry"Gay, Catholic, and American is recommended for colleges, seminaries, and parish libraries where the subject is discussed, positively or negatively." —The Catholic Library World“A story that has the potential to disrupt some stereotypes.” —Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender DiversityTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Early Years – Ready for the 80s 2. Time in New England 3. My Old Kentucky Home Again 4. Family Matters 5. Introducing the Infant to Our Church 6. The Freedom to Marry 7. Married with Children 8. Scouting 9. Back in The Closet 10. Crossing Over to Boy Scouts 11. Suffocating in the Scout Closet 12. Ousted 13. Live United 14. Scouts in Protest 15. Inclusive Scouting Summit 16. Windsor and Prop 8 17. Bourke vs. Beshear 18. Judge Heyburn’s Decision 19. Preparing for Round Two 20. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals 21. Reversal 22. Road Trip To DC 23. Michael’s Birthday, and Oral Arguments Too 24. Going Home 25. Marriage Equality Day 26. Meet the Press 27. New York Pride 28. Back to Work Scouting for Equality 29. An Audience with The Archbishop 30. Life After Scouting 31. Notre Dame Our Mother 32. PrideCats 33. Catholic Persons of the Year 34. Catholics For Fairness 35. The Freedom to Bury 36. Summer Break 37. Adoption Day – The Sequel 38. Pilgrimage of Mercy 39. Reconciliation 40. The Ancient Order of Hibernians 41. Scouting on the Fringe 42. Bourke DeLeon LGBT Catholic Endowed Scholarship 43. Notre Dame Law Forum 44. Time to Reflect 45. What Would That Even Look Like?

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Book SynopsisA guide to a variety of retreats on offer, including Ignatian, Myers Briggs and Enneagram. The book covers the purpose of retreats, who can benefit from them, the difference between group and individual retreats and between directed and undirected retreats.

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Book SynopsisHelps us recognize that the visible world of matter and the invisible world of spirit are not two worlds but one. This book contains chapters that end with mediations, readings and prayers.Trade ReviewThis is a wise and valuable book by a very experienced pastor and man of prayer. -- Revd Douglas Dales * Church Times *Thoughtfully presented, each chapter ends with meditations, readings and prayers and is designed to ensure time is set aside on a regular basis to truly discover and feel the presence of God and experience for ourselves the invisible but discernible spirituality that surrounds us. -- Lynne McNeil * Life and Work *

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Book SynopsisThe faith we proclaim on Sunday is just as relevant to the rest of the week, but contemporary British Christianity is failing to remove the sacred - secular divide. We need to close the gap between sacred and secular, and that's what this book aims to help us do.Trade ReviewThis is a very good book by a very exceptional leader. John Pritchard puts himself into what he writes, and the result is accessible, encouraging and fun, with a steel core that not only makes one think but takes one back to the face of Christ and the realities of Christian discipleship. John is never cheaply comfortable but always reassuringly real. I am very glad to have read Living Faithfully. -- Justin Welby, Archbishop of CanterburyWise, honest and realistic, Living Faithfully joins the dots in a lively and compelling way between the core of Christian teaching and contemporary human experience. -- Christina Rees, broadcaster and writer[John Pritchard’s] style is easy, readable, and funny. Important things are wrapped in digestible prose . . . [But he] does not offer any easy answers, and rightly so. The reader is properly left to work out what the questions raised might mean in his or her context. What does it mean to follow Christ in your everyday life? Working out the answer is what we might call "theology". * Church Times *In this short, well-organized, rich and shrewd book, the Bishop of Oxford provides even the weary traveller with a lifetime’s worth of reflection and down-to-earth advice. * Search: A Church of Ireland Journal *

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Book SynopsisExplores the great theme of the Christian hope, and the way in which this transforms and sustains the Christian life.Trade ReviewHighly recommended. * Church of England Newspaper *Again and again, Alister McGrath elegantly performs that central task of any teacher: to enable his students and readers, starting from the familiar ground of what they already know, to go on to explore new territory, and begin to see an expanded horizon. * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisJoin Tom Wright on a journey through the New Testament as he explores the meaning of Jesus: the highs and lows of his earthly life, the power of his teaching and his victory over sin and death.Trade Review"Brilliant devotional theology for the everyday Christian." -- Christianity"Tom Wright is one of the great biblical commentators of our day, whose writing on the Bible will stand the test of time." -- Amy Boucher Pye, in Woman Alive"Wright's insights are always worth reading. . . His engaging writing style grips the reader from the opening pages." -- Life and Work"Again and again, Tom Wright manages to bring his colossal intelligence and immense scholarship together in an extraordinarily accessible manner to produce books which are a joy and inspiration to read." -- Church Times

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Book SynopsisEncouragement for young girls to know their true beauty, value and purpose in a world obsessed with self-image and social media.Trade ReviewThis book brings us girls together as we overcome our common doubts and worries and are released in to the freedom of truth! It's relatable, thought provoking and gives practical wisdom that we can apply to everyday life -- Emma Borquaye, Founder of Girl Got FaithThis book challenges us to question where we’ve got our ideas about beauty and identity from. It's a gentle and encouraging read which will leave you feeling uplifted! -- Meg Cannon, author and founder of www.thekokostory.comJessie is the big sister every girl needs - full of empathy, wisdom and giggles. Her book invites girls to dream bigger about who they are and how they will live their one, wild life. -- Rachel Gardner, Author and Director of National Work at YouthscapeA gentle and encouraging read, Jessie writes as if she’s your best friend offering advice and guidance but also offers words of caution and challenges the reader to step out their comfort zone, going a day without wearing makeup or deactivating their Instagram account for a period of time. -- Laura White * Eden website blog *Table of ContentsContents Introduction 1 Value - Am I who I know? - friendships/popularity/family/boys - Am I what I achieve? - school - Am I what I look like? - we are more than our image Be You: You are a Masterpiece (illustration and exploration) 2 Beauty - Am I enough? - model culture - nobody's perfect - Am I pretty? - Instagram perfection culture, comparison - Am I a selfie queen? - social media Be Beautiful: You are a Masterpiece (illustration and exploration) 3 Purpose - Am I what has happened to me? - Am I happy? - inner critic, don't worry... - Am I significant? - future plans, dreaming, the journey Be a Dreamer: You are a Masterpiece (illustration and exploration) 4 #AskJessie - social media wave, final advice, further support

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Book SynopsisA beautifully produced through-the-year devotional for young women

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Book SynopsisAn invitation into a real, raw and occasionally ridiculous life of being a mum in ministry in the 21st century.

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Book SynopsisA guide for young people on coping with the loss of a loved one. Packed with real-life stories, advice from doctors, counsellors, authors and others, this book will let readers know they are not alone.

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Book SynopsisDiscovering You is the teenage girl’s interactive guide to living a fabulous, fulfilling and faith-filled life from the multi-award winning platform Girl Got Faith, featuring Naomi Scott, Letitia Wright and Griff.Trade ReviewThis book is a beautiful accompaniment for any girl seeking to live an empowered life with Jesus at the centre. -- Rachel Gardner, author, speaker and Director of National Work, YouthscapeI believe that this book will be a welcome breath of fresh air for young women around the world who are on a journey to understand who they are. -- Lily-Jo, Founder of the Lily-Jo ProjectPractical, honest, life-giving, fun, relatable, encouraging, full of truth, real talk, real stories and real gals. Big fan of the activities too, I’m a sucker for activities. Ohhhh one more thing, I LOVE Emma’s notes throughout, feels like an older sister checking in to see how you’re taking it all in! I hope you love it just as much as I did - so brilliant! -- Ele Limebear, worship leader and songwriterWhat I love about this book and the author Emma is that Emma is so passionate about us knowing who we are in God. When we know who we are in God, we are limitless. -- Michelle Williams, music artist and mental health advocate

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Book SynopsisThe official workbook for Spring Harvest 2021, Worshipping invites readers to rethink worship as more than singing songs, and instead as a way of life.

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Book SynopsisBishop Jill Duff's long-awaited volume, based on her hugely influential talks, asks, what does it look like to have a faith that transforms society?Trade ReviewA high-energy fix of joy . . . -- Philip North, Bishop of BurnleyI love the way that everything [Bishop Jill] does seems to focus outwards on those beyond the walls of the church, and upwards towards the Lord in prayer. -- Pete Greig, Founder, 24-7 Prayer InternationalThis book IS a beacon - it gives us hope, it shines a light, it is a warning and it is a comfort. All are wrapped seamlessly into every glorious page . . . -- Professor Dame Sue Black, Baroness Black of StromeI am especially grateful to Bishop Jill for her inspirational insights in promoting ordination for those trapped underground by racism, intellectualism, or elitism. -- Nicky Gumbel, Alpha InternationalA beautiful book with engaging stories to warm the soul of those on the edge of faith and those for whom faith is an old, but mysterious friend. -- Rev Kate Bottley, Radio 2 presenterA must read for any who are curious, or on the brink of losing heart . . . -- Dr Amy Orr-Ewing, Author, Speaker, Theologian and Honorary Lecturer in Divinity at the University of AberdeenSimple language. Clear purpose, to inspire faith. -- Paul Swarbrick, Roman Catholic Bishop of LancasterDeeply grounded in a gritty sense of place, yet alert to the signs of God's presence in our culture . . . breathes the kind of hope and longing that will lift your eyes and your heart. -- Graham Tomlin, theologian, author and McDonald Agape Director of the Lambeth Palace LibraryThe vision Jill describes of beacons of light filling our communities is exactly what the church has been praying and longing for hundreds of years. -- Debra Green OBE, Executive Director, Redeeming Our CommunitiesBe brave. Read this magnificent book and then simply pray this prayer: "Not my will but yours be done." And watch your miracle happen. -- Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive, Premier Christian Media Trust

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Book SynopsisThis year's Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Guide for 2023, Failure by Emma Ineson reframes how we view the times we mess up and what Jesus says about it.Trade ReviewA superb book on failure . . . humorous, realistic and absolutely not judgemental. -- Justin Welby on FAILUREBe encouraged by Bishop Emma's advice and inspired by her wisdom and humour. -- Justin Welby, on AMBITIONIneson's gentle humour, honesty, and obvious faith help us to begin to work out why Donald Trump's dividing of people into "winners" and "losers" is an evil humiliation and shaming of those who do not sit at influential tables or whose fragilities and fractures run deep. Ineson is, at the end of the day, a theologian of sensitive hope. * Mark Oakley, Church Times on FAILURE *An incisive, persuasive and refreshing take on leadership, Ambition reflects wide experience and scholarly depth yet is topical and accessible to all. Emma redefines the meaning of ambition in the life of a Christian, redeeming the concept from its associations of success measured in numbers. -- Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, on AMBITIONBishop Emma Ineson provides an antidote to current approaches to success, ambition and effectiveness . . . Leaders of all denominations will find her approach refreshing, performance anxiety reducing and deeply practical as she outlines how the "beatitudes for ambitious leaders" can keep us Kingdom focused and Christ-centric in the most demanding of roles. -- Simon Barrington, Founder and Director, Forge Leadership Consultancy, on AMBITIONEmma writes with insight, honesty, passion and humour on big themes, such as ambition, power and authority, helping us look at them through the lens of faith. -- Kate Wharton, Assistant National Leader for New Wine, on AMBITIONCourageous, witty and self-effacing . . . if you have ambition to live as if the kingdom is near – read this! -- Bishop Jill Duff, on AMBITION

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Book SynopsisFlipped: Life in the upside down Kingdom by Rev Malcolm Duncan paints a vision of what is possible when ordinary people catch a glimpse of God's radical call to follow the Lord Jesus and fully grasp the power and beauty of his upside-down kingdom. Flipped is the official theme book for Spring Harvest 2023.Trade Review"This book is a phenomenal exploration of the Kingdom of God and one that I will be recommending for years to come. Malcolm not only explores what the upside-down kingdom looks like but also invites us into a life living it out as a reality. My highlighter literally ran out with so many stand-out paragraphs and phrases. I am excited to recommend this book." -- Cris Rogers, Pastor, Author, Making Disciples Podcast, Chair of the Spring Harvest Planning Group"Malcolm’s timely exploration of what it means to live today in the upside-down kingdom of God is moving, challenging and inspiring. Malcolm not only writes brilliantly but he is also a man who walks his talk and knows his stuff. From the very first page my heart and mind were totally engaged, and I have no doubt that Flipped is a book many of us will return to again and again. It is more than an excellent resource - it is a tool God will use to transform our hearts and minds towards living the Jesus way. I can’t recommend it highly enough." -- Cathy Madavan, Author, Speaker, Broadcaster and member of the Spring Harvest planning group

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Book SynopsisA brand new and interactive course that offers a library of exciting, multi-media resource material - both printed and online - to bring the faith of the Church alive.

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