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Book SynopsisA new and better society has been the constant dream of men and women. Responding to this dream, John Stott has been attracted back again and again by Paul's letter to the young church at Ephesus. It portrays a new society of Christ's making that stands out in bright relief against our colourless world of oppression, heartache, separation and division. Paul's letter, with its exultant vision of a renewed human community, has, says John Stott, 'stirred me deeply'. John Stott expounds Paul's theme of uniting all things in Christ by uniting his church and breaking down all that separates us from God, one ethnic group from another, husband from wife, parent from child, master from slave. Paul's insights are for all who want to build the church into the new society God has planned it to be.

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Book SynopsisTruth matters. The apostle Paul’s passion for truth runs throughout his Pastoral Letters - that it may be faithfully guarded and handed on. John Stott is at pains to convey Paul's passionate concern for the future of the gospel, and for younger pastors charged with its care. Contemporary culture, John Stott points out, is being overtaken and submerged by relativism and pluralism - an attitude that all so-called 'truth' in fact can make no demand that others be converted to its particular view. The apostle's unambiguous commitment to the definite truth of the gospel is in stark contrast to the contemporary spirit, and his concern for its future needs to grip us today.

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Book SynopsisWithin the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Samuel we find some of the most well-known stories of the Bible – those of Hannah, David, Absalom and many more which have been fruitful sources of inspiration for classic artworks and musical compositions, as well as innumerable Sunday school lessons. Yet often we only consider these stories in a way that’s disconnected from our everyday faith. In this accessible and stimulating commentary, Mary Evans guides us through The Message of 1 & 2 Samuel in the conviction that they are a vital part of God's Word, full of teaching that is dynamically relevant for all Christian believers. Exploring the narratives and creatively bringing out their application, she shows us how we can interpret and respond to them today in a way that is both challenging and exciting. With questions for further reflection that can be used by individuals and small groups, this is an invigorating study that will help you better understand the meaning of 1 & 2 Samuel and their continued relevance for today. Part of the much loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of 1 & 2 Samuel offers a thoughtful and readable exposition of the Biblical text as well as considering the lessons Christians can still learn from it today. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who are looking to delve more deeply into the riches of Scripture. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of 1 & 2 Samuel will be helpful for anyone looking for commentaries on Samuel that will give them a better knowledge and understanding of its meaning both for its original audience and for modern Christians.

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Book SynopsisDallas Willard's 'Renovation of the Heart' has become established as a classic guide to the spiritual life. In this abridged version, Don Simpson makes its riches more easily available for devotional use. The authors believe that we fail in the spiritual life mainly through neglect of the roles played by the various elements of our personality. They reflect on each of these elements - heart, mind, body, social life and soul - and invite us to understand its role, train it in new patterns, and expose it to God's transforming power. This holistic approach will, they suggest, produce new ways of responding to life, and will result in profoundly changed character. This accessible distillation of an award-winning work can be read as an ordinary book, or used for personal study and prayer or on retreat. Suggestions for meditation and response appear at the end of each chapter.

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Book SynopsisA short reading for every day. Spurgeon wrote this selection of readings to encourage believers to enter into the full provision that their relationship to Jesus entitled them to realise, on a daily basis. He explains we have to present the promises of Scripture to God in prayer and faith, anticipating that he will honour what he has said. Beautiful volume in tan and burgundy.

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Book SynopsisAdvent is close, expectation is holding its breath. The angels hover high above. Come, begin your journey - Hope Was Heard Singing can be used as part of a daily discipline for Advent, or as a book to dip into. It is a collection for personal reflection, and a rich resource, from an original voice, for congregations and small groups searching for material relevant to the 21st century. There are prayers, meditations, poems, a few wee plays thrown in for good measure and Bible readings on Advent themes. Much of the material was tried and tested at Dunblane Cathedral, where Sally is Associate Minister. On the hillsides, hope was heard singing unexpected Hallelujahs. In a Bethlehem backwater, hope hovered and love was born. And now, as the wise journey and the powerful start to pace the floor and mumble into sleepless nights, we gather - the light of the world is here. The job now is to keep it burning.

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Book SynopsisNEWDarlene Deibler RoseSet during World War II, this is the gripping true story of a courageous missionarys faith and her remarkable triumph over the hardships of life in the New Guinea jungles and a Japanese internment camp. 224 pages, from OM.Trade Review'The challenge of a totally dedicated life, the excitement of adventure, the satisfaction of accomplishment plus dogged determination - try this and see if you can put it down!' Ruth Bell Graham

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Book SynopsisA unique book addressing the biblical requirement for apostles and their role in shaping todays church in fathering leaders and motivating mission. One of the sad factors of church life is that many pastors are lonely and their heart cry is for a fathering style of relationship, where they can be cared for pastorally, as well as mentored in the development of gifts and practical skills for their ministry.

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Book Synopsis"Thou hast redeemed us from the curse of the Law by Thy precious Blood. By being nailed to the Cross and pierced with the Spear, Thou hast poured immortality on mankind. O our Saviour, glory to Thee." - Troparion for Holy FridayAtonement is a contested but inescapable term in contemporary English-language theological discussion. The doctrine of atonement has received little attention in Orthodox Christian circles since the work of Fr Georges Florovsky, who labored to clarify and promulgate the Orthodox teaching on atonement on the basis of his theological leitmotifs of neo-patristic synthesis and encounter with the West. Florovsky saw the doctrine of the person of Christ as the key to apprehending the pattern and the unity of God’s redemptive work. Hence he always sought to follow the Church Fathers in weaving together the themes of creation and fall, incarnation and atonement, deification and redemption, liturgy and asceticism, in the variegated yet seamless robe of true theology.The present volume is inspired by Florovsky’s legacy. It is composed of two parts. The first is a collection of papers on atonement by contemporary scholars from a patristic symposium in honor of Florovsky held at Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University in 2011. The second part is a collection of writings on atonement by Florovsky himself, including previously unpublished manuscripts and other works otherwise hard to access. This book offers incisive and informed neo-patristic voices to any contemporary discussion of atonement, thus responding to the perennial legacy and task to which Fr Georges Florovsky exhorted Orthodox theological reflection.Table of ContentsPreface Abbreviations Part I: Proceedings of the First Annual Symposium of the Fr Georges Florovsky Orthodox Theological Society at Princeton Introduction Marcus Plested A Sacrifice for Life: Atonement in the Orthodox Liturgical Tradition Irenei Steenberg Irenaeus on “Atonement” John Behr Creation and Salvation in St Athanasius of Alexandria Khaled Anatolios Theology of Salvation in St Gregory the Theologian John McGuckin Atonement in the Ascetic Fathers Alexis Torrance In Ligno Crucis: Atonement in the Theology of Fr Georges Florovsky Matthew Baker Part II: Georges Florovsky on Atonement, Unpublished and Republished Materials Introduction Matthew Baker and Seraphim Danckaert In Ligno Crucis: Ad Lectorem Georges Florovsky In Ligno Crucis (A Summary from Sweden) Georges Florovsky Redemption (Précis of a Planned Book) Georges Florovsky The Stumbling-Block Georges Florovsky Contributors

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Book SynopsisEvery year we celebrate a cycle of seasonal holidays. The ancient Greeks called this cycle “The Dance of the Horae,” after the mythical divinities who represented the seasons. What myths sit at the foundation of our own holiday celebrations? This interdisciplinary book explores the myths and symbols that underlie our major seasonal holidays and give them their meaning. Arthur George also shows how America’s own mythmaking has shaped some holidays. This mythological approach reveals how and why holidays arose in the first place, how and why they have changed over the centuries, why they have remained important, and finally how we can celebrate them today in a more meaningful manner that can enrich our lives and better our society. George devotes particular attention to the depth psychological aspects of holidays and their corresponding myths, as well as to the insights of modern biblical scholarship for key holidays such as Easter and Christmas.Table of Contents1. Introduction: Why We Have Holidays The Nature of Things Holy, Including Days The Sociology and Psychology of Holidays Archetypal Ritual Traditions in Holidays The Development of Holidays in Pre-Literate Societies The Inevitable Fate of Holidays and their Rituals The Structure of the Course of the Seasons and this Book 2. New Year’s Day: Creation Renewed and Re-lived How Do We Decide When Is the New Year? A Holiday of Recreation, Beginnings and Endings, and Transformations Archetypal Patterns in New Year’s Rituals New Year’s Festivals in the Ancient World Babylon Egypt Israel Greece Rome New Year’s in Post-Roman Europe Celtic New Year’s The Effect of Christianization New Year’s in the British Isles Our New Year’s 3. Groundhog Day: Prophecy, Rebirth, and Renewal Why We Celebrate February 2nd The Original Meaning of the Holiday, and How it Came to Involve a Groundhog Mythology in the Film Groundhog Day 4. Valentine’s Day: How a Saint Became Eros Eros in Ancient Greece Saint Valentine Myth and Valentine’s Day Traditions 5. Unmasking Carnival Holidays of Dissolution and Reversal Ancient Greek Origins of Carnival Roman Origins of Carnival The Origins of Carnival Time in the Roman Calendar The Late-February Roman Festivals Carnival in Europe and America 6. Easter and Our Resurrection Myth and the Holiday’s Name Myth and the Original Eastertime Events Myth and the Passion of Christ Myth and the Resurrection of Christ The Evolution of Easter in Europe Easter Symbols Easter Eggs The Easter Bunny Easter Lamb New Clothes and Easter Bonnets Easter Lilies The Modern Mytho-Psychological Meaning of the Resurrection The Evolution of the God Image Christ as a Symbol of the Self, and the Meaning of the Incarnation Christ’s Suffering The Meaning of the Resurrection 7. May Day: Beltane Fires and the May Queen-Goddess The Goddess Mythology Behind May Day The Bonfire Rituals of May Eve May Day Maypole and Related Rituals The Return of the Goddess of May Day 8. National Myth: The Goddess Behind America’s Independence Day The Goddess Liberty in Ancient Times Mythical Women and Goddesses as Allegorical Personifications of Nations The Female Personification of America 9. Halloween: Eve of Transformation Greek and Roman Precedents The Anthesteria in Athens Roman Festivals of the Dead Enter Christianity All Saints’ Day All Souls’ Day The Celtic Mythical Background: Samhain The Otherworld and its Inhabitants Samhain Myths and Rituals The Transformational Communal Bonfire Feasting on Transformational Food Intoxication on Transformational Drink Divination Recitations of Poems and Reenactments of Myths No Apparent Focus on Dead Ancestors The Emergence of Halloween in Europe Halloween in North America Halloween and Transformation 10. Thanksgiving: Our American Mythmaking in Action The Nature of the “First Thanksgiving” The Development of Thanksgiving Before 1841 Thanksgiving after the Rediscovery of the “First Thanksgiving” Thanksgiving and Historical Myth 11. Christmas: New Beginnings and the Birth of the Divine Child-Hero Is the Christmas Story a Myth? Why Were the Infancy Myths Created? The Underlying Archetypal Mythology of the Christmas Story Jesus and the “Birth of the Hero” Motif The Nature and Role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’s Birth The Virginal Conception The Star The Magi, the Massacre of the Innocents, and the Flight to Egypt The Shepherds and Angelic Choir in Luke The Ending of Luke’s Infancy Story Why Did Christians Decide to Celebrate Jesus’s Birth with a Holiday, and to Hold it on December 25? How Christmas Mythology and Ritual Evolved to What We Have Today The Mythmaking behind St. Nicholas and Santa Claus The Evolution of Christmas Myth and Ritual in Europe and the United States Psychological and Modern Spiritual Aspects of the Christmas Myth The Holy Spirit and the Incarnation The Birth of Jesus and the Divine Child Motif

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Book SynopsisA brand new edition of the renowned New American Standard Bible, reflecting the best traditions of Cambridge Bible typography and production values. Cambridge''s original Pitt Minion Bibles were notable for their use of a compact typeface designed for Cambridge University Press in the heyday of hot-metal composition. They have been a feature of the Cambridge list for over half a century. The NASB Pitt Minion Reference Edition now follows in this historic tradition, using a stylish modern digital typeface which like its predecessor combines utility and elegance. It uses the Lexicon typeface, carefully chosen for its economical use of space. This is the font used for dictionaries and encyclopaedias because it accommodates a lot of characters in a small space. The result is a classic Bible for the twenty first century produced in a remarkably compact yet readable form. Cambridge''s NASB Pitt Minion Bibles feature red-letter text for the words of Christ and full cross-references. Printe

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The world’s most famous hymn book has undergone a complete revision and now offers the broadest ever range of traditional hymns and the best from today’s composers and hymn/song writers. 150 years since its first publication and after sales of 170 million copies, this brand new edition contains over 840 items, ranging from the Psalms to John Bell, Bernadette Farrell and Stuart Townend. The guiding principles behind this collection are: • congregational singability • biblical and theological richness • musical excellence • liturgical versatility • relevance to today’s worship styles and to today’s concerns New features include added provision for all the seasons of the Church year, new items for carol services and other popular occasions where the repertoire is in need of refreshing, more choices for all-age worship, fresh translations of some ancient hymnody, beautiful new tunes, short songs and chants – alleluias, kyries, blessings etc. and music from the world church. A full range of indexes (including biblical and thematic) and a helpful guide to choosing hymns for every occasion will help to make Ancient & Modern the premier hymn collection of choice. This is the Melody edition.

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Book SynopsisNeil Douglas-Klotz offers a radical new translation of the words of Jesus Christ with Prayers of the Cosmos. Reinterpreting the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes from the vantage of Middle Eastern mysticism, Douglas-Klotz, the Sufi Founder of the worldwide network of the Dances of Universal Peace, reveals a mystical, feminist, cosmic Christ. Prayers of the Cosmos is a spiritual revelation—and in the words of Science of Mind, “When you read this book, you will have no further doubt that God loves you infinitely and unconditionally.”

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Book SynopsisJesus Listens, the newest 365-day devotional prayer book from Sarah Young, bestselling author of Jesus Calling, takes you on a year-long journey to develop a meaningful prayer life. Devotional prayers based on scripture will lead you into a deeper, richer relationship with God.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the joy and well-being that comes with the daily expression of gratitude. Join New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp to create a rhythm of gratitude that permeates every area of your life, every day of the year.Gifts and Gratitudes is a daily companion that urges you to savor every moment by recognizing and listing only three things you are grateful for each day. This life-altering practice will allow you to record and reflect upon more than one thousand gifts of blessing throughout the year. Multiple studies show that expression of gratitude helps: Lower stress levels Benefit relationships Improve physical and mental health Help deal with adversity Support and improve mental health and overall wellbeing  Through the daily and healing practice of gratitude, you can discover a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of living that i

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans embarks on a quest to find out what it really means to be part of the Church.

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Book SynopsisHow did Christianity become the dominant religion in the West? In the early first century, a small group of peasants from the backwaters of the Roman Empire proclaimed that an executed enemy of the state was God’s messiah. Less than four hundred years later it had become the official religion of Rome with some thirty million followers. It could so easily have been a forgotten sect of Judaism. Through meticulous research, Bart Ehrman, an expert on Christian history, texts and traditions, explores the way we think about one of the most important cultural transformations the world has ever seen, one that has shaped the art, music, literature, philosophy, ethics and economics of modern Western civilisation.Trade Review‘This is the work of a great scholar…a book full of learning and nuance.’ * Tom Holland, Spectator *‘Reading about how an entire culture’s precepts and traditions can be overthrown without anyone being able to stop it may not be heartening at this particular historical moment. All the more reason to spend time in the company of such a humane, thoughtful and intelligent historian.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘Ehrman handles splendid raw materials very deftly to produce an engrossing read.’ * Catholic Herald *‘Drawing on a wealth of ancient sources and contemporary historical research, Bart Ehrman weaves complex questions into a vivid, nuanced, and enormously readable narrative.’ -- Elaine Pagels, National Book Award-winning author of The Gnostic Gospels‘How did a small, provincial Jewish sect called Christianity convert the mighty pagan Roman Empire? Bart Ehrman answers this baffling question with the same wit, passion, and rigorous scholarship that have made him one of the most popular religion writers in the world today. The Triumph of Christianity is a marvellous book.’ -- Reza Aslan, New York Times bestselling author of Zealot‘Bart Ehrman is the leading expert on early Christian texts and here he takes the story on into the fourth century in a vivid and readable narrative that explores why Christianity “triumphed” as a world religion. The work is particularly valuable for its critical survey of the work of other scholars in the field.’ -- Charles Freeman, author of A New History of Early Christianity‘A lucid and convincing account of the growth of Christianity in the Roman world…[Ehrman’s] careful synthesis of existing scholarship creates an approachable study of the early church… Well worth reading.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘One of Christian history’s greatest puzzles after the age of the apostles is how a tiny band of mostly-illiterate outsiders converted the proud and massive Roman Empire in just three centuries – a historical blink of an eye. In The Triumph of Christianity, Ehrman brings impressive research, intellectual rigor, and an instinct for storytelling to this extraordinary dynamic.’ -- David Van Biema, former religion writer at Time and author of the forthcoming Speaking to God‘The value of Ehrman’s book, as is so often the case with his writings, is in his ability to synthesize complex material and distill it into highly readable prose.’ * Booklist *‘An accessible and intriguing…history of the growth of Christianity.’ * Kirkus *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Time Line Introduction Chapter 1 The Beginning of the End: The Conversion of Constantine Chapter 2 Back to the Beginning: The Conversion and Mission of Paul Chapter 3 The Religious World of Conversion: Roman Paganism Chapter 4 Reasons for the Christian Success Chapter 5 Miraculous Incentives for Conversion Chapter 6 The Growth of the Church Chapter 7 Christians Under Assault: Persecution, Martyrdom, and Self-Defense Chapter 8 The First Christian Emperor Chapter 9 Conversion and Coercion: The Beginnings of a Christian Empire Afterword Gains and Losses Appendix Notes Index

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Book SynopsisAre we living in the end times? If so, what does that mean for me? Max Lucado's optimistic, accessible, and non-sensational guide to what the Bible says about heaven's timeline will empower readers to face the future with faith.

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Book SynopsisFounder of the 40-Day Sugar Fast guides readers through 40 days of prayer and fasting to help them break free from their dependence on sugar in order to taste and see God's goodness.

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Book Synopsis Advent, says Fleming Rutledge, is definitely not for sissies. As the midnight of the Christian year, Advent is rife with dark, gritty realities. In this book Rutledge spotlights the rich significance of the Advent season not just as transitional but as vibrant and profound in its own right. With her trademark wit and wisdom, Rutledge explores Advent as a time of such paradoxes as waiting and hastening, suffering and hope, justice and mercy, now and not-yet. Showing how Advent at once celebrates Christ's incarnation and his second coming, Rutledge masterfully unfolds the ethical and eschatological implications of this special season.

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Book SynopsisA marvelously readable translation of the great Middle English classic of Christian mysticism—now part of the beautifully designed Shambhala Pocket Library collection This anonymous fourteenth-century text is the glory of English mysticism, and one of the most practical and useful guides to finding union with God ever written. Carmen Acevedo Butcher’s new translation is the first to bring the text into a modern English idiom—while remaining strictly faithful to the meaning of the original Middle English. The Cloud of Unknowing consists of a series of letters written by a monk to his student or disciple, instructing him (or her) in the way of Divine union. Its theology is presented in a way that is remarkably easy to understand, as well as practical, providing advice on prayer and contemplation that anyone can use. Previous translations of the Cloud have tended to veil its intimate, even friendly tone under medieval-sounding language. Carmen Butcher has boldly brought the text into language as appealing to modern ears as it was to its original readers more than five hundred years ago.

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Book SynopsisIn Revelation for the Rest of Us, world renowned New Testament scholar and author Scot McKnight explores the timeless message of Revelation and how it disciples readers into dissidents of the ways of the world and empire, calling them to the courageous challenge of faithful, or allegiant, witness.Trade Review'A brilliant, fast-paced narrative that does so much more than make an incomprehensible book comprehensible. It shows us how white evangelicals lost our theological grounding, becoming the very monster we were supposed to resist; it emboldens us to become dissident disciples, leaving team dragon and returning to the side of the Lamb; and it gives us hope that a world where justice rolls down like water will one day be more than a dream. This is the most powerful interpretation of Revelation I have ever read, reorienting us away from bizarre prophecies and fiction bestsellers back to the truth of the gospel. You do not want to miss it.' * Beth Allison Barr, James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth *'A fascinating and engrossing book about one of the most puzzling--and hopeful--books of the Christian Bible. Revelation is about how to live as dissidents in the Babylon of our time, how to hope actively for the New Jerusalem, the home of God and the goal of creation.' * Miroslav Volf, Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology, Yale Divinity School, founding director, Yale Center for Faith & Culture, and coauthor of The Home of God *'Finally, someone makes sense of the confoundingly beautiful mystery that is the book of Revelation. McKnight and Matchett's Revelation for the Rest of Us not only debunks speculative, spectacular, and specious interpretations, it explains Revelation's prophetic message of God's justice and peace, the way of the Lamb. Reading Revelation is a trumpet call to 'dissidents,' God's people, to faithful public discipleship in today's 'Babylon' built by arrogance, greed, exploitation, and militarism. McKnight and Matchett refocus attention on the true center of Revelation: worshiping God on the throne and the Lamb.' * Lynn H. Cohick, provost/dean of academic affairs, Northern Seminary *'If Revelation is not a book for speculation about the antichrist and the millennium, what is it? Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett have gifted the church, especially (but not only) its evangelical wing, with a revelation about Revelation. It is a call for dissident discipleship. This challenging but also pastoral book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the new forces of Babylon confronting the church and the world today.' * Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, St. Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore *

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Book SynopsisCults are bigger than ever, with broad ramifications for national and international terrorism. This edition reveals what cults are and how they work, focusing on the coercive persuasion techniques of charismatic leaders seeking money and power.Table of ContentsForeword xi Acknowledgments xv Introduction to the Revised Edition xvii Introduction to the First Edition xxi Part 1 What Are Cults? 1 1. Defining Cults 3 Definitions and Characteristics Cult Types Who Joins Cults? Why Do They Join? 2. A Brief History of Cults 29 Cults in the 1800s The 1960s: Fertile Ground for Cults The 1970s: Cults to Expand Awareness The 1980s: Psychological, Occult, and Prosperity Cults Examples of New Cults Cause for Concern 3. The Process of Brainwashing, Psychological Coercion, and Thought Reform 52 Historical Examples of Brainwashing Packaged Persuasion Attacking the Self How Thought Reform Works Producing a New Identity Impermissible Experiments 4. What's Wrong with Cults? 83 Cults Threaten Legitimate Institutions Cults Harm Our Children and Tear Apart Our Families Cults Are Violent Cults Engage in Conspiracy and Fraud Small Cults Can Be Just as Harmful as Large Cults Take Away Our Freedom Cults Take Away Our Possessions Cults Escape Scrutiny What Is to Be Done? Part 2 How Do They Work? 103 5. Recruiting New Members 105 First Approach Invitation First Cult Contact Follow-Up: Gaining Greater Commitment Young and Old Alike Are Vulnerable The Double Agenda 6. Physiological Persuasion Techniques 125 Mass Marketing of Experiential Exercises Techniques Producing Predictable Physiological Responses Meditation May Not Always Be Good for You 7. Psychological Persuasion Techniques 150 Trance and Hypnosis Trickery Revision of Personal History Peer Pressure and Modeling Emotional Manipulation Psychotherapy Cults 8. Intruding into the Workplace 182 Clarification of New Age A Clash in the Workplace Violation of Civil Rights What Goes On in an LGAT? Development of a New Age Training Program: A Case Example Problems with Being "Transformed" at Work Psychological Casualties Buyer Beware: Thought-Reform Processes at Work 9. The Threat of Intimidation 209 Co-opted Professionals Intimidation and Harassment of Critics Part 3 How Can We Help Survivors to Escape and Recover? 241 10. Rescuing the Children 243 Children of Jonestown Children of Waco Children of Other Cults Role of the Cult Leader Role of Cult Parents What Children Learn in Cults After the Cult Children Are Survivors 11. Leaving the Cult 266 Why It's Hard to Leave Ways of Leaving the Cult Deprogramming and Exit Counseling 12. Recovery: Coming Out of the Pseudopersonality 295 Recovering from Cult Aftereffects Practical Issues Psychological and Emotional Difficulties Cognitive Inefficiencies Social and Personal Relations Philosophical and Attitudinal Issues Helpful Tasks for Individuals Leaving Cults There Is Life After the Cult Postscript to the First Edition: The Millennium, Cults, and the End of the Century 335 Postscript to the Revised Edition 339 Chapter Notes 357 Resources and Organizations 379 Further Reading 383 The Author 385 Index 387

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Book SynopsisJohn Piper invites readers to turn from the dulling effects of food and other appetites to the all-satisfying glory of God through fasting and prayer. Redesigned with a new foreword by David Platt and Francis Chan.

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Book SynopsisOne of a major new Classics series - books that have changed the history of thought, in sumptuous, clothbound hardbacks.The son of a pagan father and a Christian mother, Saint Augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting faiths and world views. His Confessions, written when he was in his forties, recount how, slowly and painfully, he came to turn away from his youthful ideas and licentious lifestyle, to become instead a staunch advocate of Christianity and one of its most influential thinkers. A remarkably honest and revealing spiritual autobiography, the Confessions also address fundamental issues of Christian doctrine, and many of the prayers and meditations it includes are still an integral part of the practice of Christianity today.

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Book SynopsisBorn in the Castilian town of Avila in 1515, Teresa entered the Carmelite convent of the Incarnation when she was twenty-one. Tormented by illness, doubts and self-recrimination, she gradually came to recognize the power of prayer and contemplation—her spiritual enlightenment was intensified by many visions and mystical experiences, including the piercing of her heart by a spear of divine love. She went on to found seventeen Carmelite monasteries throughout Spain. Teresa always denied her own saintliness, however, saying in a letter: There is no suggestion of that nonsense about my supposed sanctity. This frank account is one of the great stories of a religious life and a literary masterpiece—after Don Quixote, it is Spain's most widely read prose classic.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best Table of ContentsThe Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself - Translated with an Introduction by J. M. Cohen Introduction[The Saint's Prepatory Note]1. How the Lord began to rouse her soul in childhood to a love of virtue, and what a help it is in this respect to have good parents2. How she came gradually to lose these virtues, and of the importance of associating in childhood with good people*3. How good company reawakened her desires, and how God began to shed some light for her on the illusions under which she laboured*4. How the Lord helped her to force herself to take the habit, and of the many illnesses which His Majesty began to send her*5. She continues to speak of the great infirmities that she suffered, of the patience which the Lord gave her, and of how she derived good out of evil, as will be seen from one incident which happened in the town where she went to be cured*6. Of her great debts to the Lord for making her resigned to her great trials, of how she took St. Joseph, the glorious, as her mediator and advocate, and of the great profit that she derived from this *7. How she began to lose the graces the Lord had given her, and of the evil life she began to lead. A description of the dangers arising from the lack of strict enclosure in convents*8. Of the great profit that she derived from not entirely abandoning prayer, for fear that she might lose her soul. She describes the excellence of prayer as a help towards winning back what is lost, and exhorts everyone to practise it. She tells what great gains it brings and how very beneficial it is even for those who may later give it up, to devote some time to anything as good*9. Of the means by which God began to rouse her soul, to give it light in its great darkness, and to strengthen her virtues, so that she should not offend Him*10. She begins to explain the favours which God gave her in prayer, telling the extent to which we can help ourselves, and how important it is that we shall understand the favours God is granting us. She begs those to whom this book is to be sent to keep the rest of it secret, since they have ordered her to describe in detail the favours that she has received from God*11. She explains why we cannot attain the perfect love of God in a short time, beginning with a comparison which sets out the four stages of prayer. Here she says something about the first, which is very profitable for beginners and for those who receive no consolations in prayer*12. More about the first state. She tells how far we can, with God's help, progress by ourselves, and speaks of the danger of seeking supernatural and extraordinary experiences until the Lord bestows them on us*13. She continues to speak of this first stage, and gives advice concerning certain temptations that the devil sends at times. This chapter is very useful*14. She begins to explain the second stage of prayer, in which the Lord already grants the soul more special consolations. These she describes in order to show that they are supernatural, and this is a most noteworthy chapter*15. Continuing the same subject, she gives certain advice on behaviour during the prayer of quiet. She tells how there are as many souls that advance to this stage, but few who pass beyond it. The matters touched upon here are most essential and profitable*16. She treats of the third stage of prayer, and continues to explain things of a very lofty nature, telling what the soul that has come so far can do, and what are the effects of such great favours from the Lord. This is a subject most likely to uplift the spirit in God's praise, and to give great comfort to those who have come so far*17. She continues to explain the third stage of prayer, and completes her account of its effects. She tells of the hindrances caused in this state by the imagination and the memory*18. She treats of the fourth stage of prayer, and begins an excellent explanation of the great dignity to which the Lord raises the soul in this state. This is meant to spur those who practise prayer to make efforts to reach this exalted state, which it is possible to attain on earth, though not through our merits, but only by the goodness of God. This chapter must be read with great care, since the argument is most subtle, and contains some most noteworthy observations*19. Continuing the same subjecct, she begins to describe the effects upon the soul of this stage of prayer. She earnestly exhorts those who have attained it not to turn back, even if they should afterwards fall, nor ever to give up prayer. She describes the harm that they would suffer if they did so. All this is most noteworthy and will be of great comfort to the weak and to sinners*20. She treats of the difference between union and rapture, and explains what a rapture is. She also says something about the good that a soul derives from being, by the Lord's goodness, brought to it. She speaks of its effects*21. She continues and concludes her account of this last stage of prayer, telling what the soul who has reached it feels when it returns to live in the world. She describes the light God throws on the world's deceits. All of this is good doctrine*22. She shows how safe a path it is for contemplatives not to raise their spirits to lofty things, and how the approach to the most exalted contemplation must be by way of Christ's humanity. She tells of an incident in which she was herself deceived. This is a very profitable chapter*23. She returns to the history of her life, and tells how she began to strive for greater perfection. This is profitable matter for those who have to direct souls engaged in the practice of prayer, and teaches them how to deal with beginners. She tells of the profit that she derived from this knowledge*24. She continues the same subject and tells how her soul went on improving, once she had begun to obey; also how little use it was for her to resist God's favours, since His Majesty went on giving them to her in more liberal measure*25. She treats of the means and manner whereby these words that God speaks to the soul are perceived without being actually heard, and of some possible descriptions in regard to them. She tells how false locutions are to be distinguished from true. This is a most profitable chapter for any who may have reached this stage of prayer, because the explanation is very clear and contains much teaching *26. She continues with the same subject, relating and describing certain events which rid her of her fears, and convinced her that the spirit which spoke to her was a good one*27. She describes another way in which the Lord teaches the soul and, without speech, makes His will known to it in a wondrous manner. She also speaks of a vision and of a great favour, which was not imaginary, that the Lord granted her. This is a most noteworthy chapter*28. She tells of the great favours that the Lord bestowed on her, and of His first appearance to her. She defines an imaginary vision, and speaks of the great effects and signs produced by one that is from God. This is a most profitable and noteworthy chapter*29. She continues, and describes some great favours which the Lord showed her, relating also what the Lord said to her, to reassure her and enable her to answer those who argued against her*30. She returns to the story o her life, and tells how the Lord greatly relieved her trials by bringing her a visit from that holy man, Friar Peter of Alcantara of the Order of the glorious St. Francis. She speaks of the great temptations and inner trials which she sometimes suffered*31. She speaks of certain outward temptations and appearances of the devil, and of the torments which she suffered from him, and also offers some excellent counsel to persons travelling the way of perfection*32. She tells how it pleased God to carry her in the spirit to a place in hell that she had deserved for her sins. She describes a tithe of what was shown her there, and begins to tell of the ways and means by which the convent of St. Joseph was founded on its present site*33. She continues her account of the foundation of the glorious St. Joseph's, telling how she was commanded to let it drop, how for a time she gave it up, and how she suffered various trials in the course of which she was comforted by the Lord*34. She tells how at this time she had to leave the town. She gives the reasons and tells of her superior's command that she should go and comfort a very great lady who was in serious distress. She begins to describe what happened to her there, and to tell how the Lord in His mercy made her the instrument whereby His Majesty roused a very important person to serve him in earnest, also to say how she afterwards found help and protection from Him. This is a very noteworthy chapter*35. She continues the story of the foundation of this house of our glorious father, St. Joseph, and of the way in which the Lord ordained that holy poverty should be observed there. She gives her reasons for leaving the lady with whom she was living, and describes several other things that happened to her*36. She continues with the previous subject, and describes ho the foundation of this convent of the glorious St. Joseph was concluded. She speaks of the great opposition and many persecutions which the nuns had to endure after taking the habit, of the great trials and temptations which she herself underwent, and of how the Lord delivered her victoriously from them all, to His own praise and glory*37. She describes the effects that remained with her after the Lord had granted her a favour, and gives much sound teaching as well. She speaks of the efforts that we must make to attain one more degree of glory, and of the high value we must set on it, allowing no trial to deprive us of a blessing that is eternal*38. She describes certain great favours that the Lord bestowed on her, by graciously revealing to her some of the secrets of heaven, and by vouchsafing her further great visions and revelations. She speaks of the effects which these had upon her and of the great benefit that they did to her soul*39. She continues with the same subject, and recounts the great mercies which the Lord has shown her. She tells of His promises to help those persons for whom she might pray, and some outstanding instances in which his Majesty has favoured her in this way*40. She continues her account of the great favours that God granted her, from some of which excellent lessons can be obtained. For instruction, as she says, after obedience and the recording of such favours as will be of profit to souls, has been her principal motive in writing. With this chapter the account of her life comes to an end. May it be for the glory of the Lord. Amen

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Book SynopsisAuthor Max Lucado delivers an important message about our true identities through the story of Punchinello's struggle with the latest fad in Wemmicksville. Part of the Max Lucado's Wemmicks series.

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Common Prayer is the old and well-loved prayer book of the Church of England, in use since the 16th century. In this revised 1662 form, it has also become one of the classic English texts, its prayers and expressions helping to mould the English language into what it is today. Cambridge''s new editions of the Prayer Book have been freshly typeset for the 21st century, using a modern digital typeface to give a clear printing image and greater readability. Nevertheless its fomat and page layout follows the previous version of the Standard Edition Prayer Book (originally produced in the early 20th century) page for page. It provides the complete 1662 services including the traditional forms of the baptism and marriage services which have together influenced much of the English language. This book comes in a blue imitation leather hardback binding, and is ideal for use in the pew.

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Book SynopsisIf the Bible isn''t a science book or an instruction manual, what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she embarked on a journey to better understand what the Bible is and how it''s meant to be read. What she discovered changed her--and it can change you, too.Evans knows firsthand how a relationship with the Bible can be as real and as complicated as a relationship with a family member or close friend. In Inspired, Evans explores contradictions and questions from her own experiences with the Bible, including: If the Bible was supposed to explain the mysteries of life, why does it leave the reader with so many questions? What does it mean to be chosen by God? To what degree did the Holy Spirit guide the preservation of these narratives, and is there something sacred to be uncovered

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Book SynopsisThis handy, easy-to-carry book will providethe reader with a strictly visual approach to reading the architecture of thechurch.Table of ContentsIntroduction Building Types Church Types A Grammar of Styles Materials Floor Plans The Nave Apses & Sanctuaries Choirs & Stalls Vaulting & Buttresses Domes & Cupolas Façades & Portals Baptisteries & Fonts Windows & Tracery Towers & Spires Altars & Tabernacles Stained Glass Ornaments & Symbols Glossary Resources Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisSuited to high school and college students, the ESV Student Study Bible is also a versatile resource for anyone engaged in serious study of God's Word. Contains introductions, study notes, and more.

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Book Synopsis

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