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

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Book SynopsisIn a world that views absolute truth and divine judgment as being either outdated or subject to one's own definition, the need for Christians to read the Bible is critical.

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Book SynopsisThis introductory textbook establishes theatrical improvisation as a model for Christian ethics, helping Christians embody their faith in the practices of discipleship. Clearly, accessibly, and creatively written, it has been well received as a text for courses in Christian ethics. The repackaged edition has updated language and recent relevant resources, and it includes a new afterword by Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. Wayman that explores the reception and ongoing significance of the text.Table of ContentsContentsPreface to the 2018 EditionIntroductionPart 1: Plowing1. Ethics as Theology2. Theology as Narrative3. Narrative as Drama4. Drama as ImprovisationPart 2: Planting5. Forming Habits6. Assessing Status7. Accepting and Blocking8. Questioning Givens9. Incorporating Gifts10. Reincorporating the LostPart 3: Reaping11. A Threatening Offer: Human Evil12. A Threatening Offer: Flawed Creation13. A Promising Offer: Perfectible Bodies14. A Promising Offer: Unlimited FoodEpilogueAfterword Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. WaymanIndexes

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Book SynopsisFoundational to believers' salvation is their union with Christ. In this accessible introduction, Johnson argues that this neglected doctrine is the lens through which all other facets of salvation in the New Testament should be understood.

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Book SynopsisOnly one concordance includes the best of Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words---The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.

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Book SynopsisFor decades students, professors, clergy, and general readers have relied on The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha as an unparalleled authority on the Apocrypha. This fifth edition remains the best way to study and understand the material at home or in the classroom. This thoroughly revised and substantially updated edition contains the best scholarship informed by recent discoveries and anchored in the solid Study Bible tradition. Introductions and extensive annotations for each book by acknowledged experts in the field provide context and guidance. Introductory essay on the Apocrypha gives readers an overview that guides more intensive study. Maps and diagrams within the text contextualize where events took place and how to understand them. A timeline, calendar, and essay on the Persian and Hellenistic Periods help to contextualize the books.A volume that users will want to keep for continued reference, The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha continues the Oxford University Press tradition of providing excellence in scholarship for the general reader. Generations of users attest to its status as the best one-volume Bible reference tool for any home, library, or classroom.Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: Carol A. Newsom Introductions and Annotations Tobit: Amy-Jill Levine Judith: Lawrence M. Wills Esther (Greek): Mary Joan Winn Leith Wisdom of Solomon: Michael Kolarcik Sirach: Benjamin G. Wright Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah: Matthew Goff Add Daniel (Azariah, Song of Three, Susanna, Bel): Amy C. Merrill Willis 1 Maccabees: John R. Bartlett 2 Maccabees: Daniel R. Schwartz 1 Esdras: Tamara Cohn Eskenazi Prayer of Manasseh: David Lambert Psalm 151: Judith H. Newman 3 Maccabees: John J. Collins 2 Esdras: Theodore A. Bergren 4 Maccabees: David A. de Silva

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Book SynopsisIf the modern world can be characterised by one thing it is probably the enormous increase in the number of words around – but that increase has also been accompanied by a seemingly corresponding decrease in understanding. J. I. Packer is a master wordsmith. He is also gifted with the ability of showing where truth lies in complicated reasoning. These skills combine to make 18 Words a fascinating read – and a life–changing one.Trade Review"A doctrinal Solomon... Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions." -- Time Magazine"This is a good book for young Christians seeking a more profound understanding of doctrine and a good refresher course for older hands" -- The Gospel Magazine

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Book SynopsisBest known for his Buddhist teachings, Thich Nhat Hanh has lived in exile from his native Vietnam since 1966. These remarkable early journals reveal not only an exquisite portrait of the Zen master as a young man, but the emergence of a great poet and literary voice of Vietnam. From his years as a student and teaching assistant at Princeton and Columbia, to his efforts to negotiate peace and a better life for the Vietnamese, Fragrant Palm Leaves offers an elegant and profound glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most beloved spiritual teachers.

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Book SynopsisIn this definitive book on the real, historical Jesus, one of our foremost biblical scholars meticulously sifts the evidence of 2,000 years to portray neither a rural magician nor a figure of obvious power, but a marginal Jew.

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Book SynopsisThe Act of Consecration of Man is the communion service of The Christian Community. In this fascinating book, experienced priest Tom Ravetz weaves together contemplations inspired by Rudolf Steiner with insightful commentary on the meaning and purpose of the ritual itself.The book will be valuable for both new worshipers and people who have been taking part in the communion service for many years.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Steven Ozment’s Age of Reform remains provocative, magisterial, and incisive; the indispensable guide to the complex web of deep continuities and radical changes in the religious and intellectual history of medieval and Reformation Europe.”—Christopher Boyd Brown, General Editor of the American Edition of Luther’s Works“This new edition of Steven Ozment's work is crucial and timely. His expansive vision of the Reformation challenges us to reconsider how seismic changes in the sixteenth century influenced the development of religion in the West.”—Bruce Gordon, Yale University"The Age of Reform remains the go-to textbook for a masterful account of the religious and intellectual histories of Reformation Europe framed within their medieval context. Its penetrating insights, alongside its eloquence and clarity, make it an enduring treasure."—G. Sujin Pak, Duke Divinity School“Few historians have had the capacity to reach so large an audience with a study of such subtlety and originality. Steven Ozment brought to his work a restless search for truth and has given generations of students a window into a world undergoing a profound intellectual transformation.”—Andrew Pettegree, University of St. Andrews

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Book SynopsisHow to start and grow contextual churches using the Fresh Expressions approach. What form of church does your context need?Trade Review“Mike Moynagh’s life time work has been to assess the way the world is evolving and also the church as a witnessing community. He shows how they can join up in practice in this book which is peppered with stories. His characteristic skill is to pull together many strands, to distil wisdom from them and add that Moynagh dash of interpretative flavour. In a post Christendom age, he shows how it is possible to put the church back in the public sphere through holistic service and Christ centred witness. He longs to earth theory in practice and this book does just what the title says.” -- Canon Dr George Lings, Church Army“This book wonderfully combines a depth of insight with a simplicity of practice which makes it a must read for anyone wanting to start a witnessing community.” -- Dave Male, Ridley Hall, Cambridge“The combination of his knowledge and enthusiasm will encourage and inspire you to think afresh about how you can become a mission-shaped pioneer.” -- Canon Phil Potter, Pioneer Ministry“Being Church Doing Life offers both the whys and hows of developing 'witnessing communities', with many encouraging stories of people like you and me seeing gospel transformation as they step out on God's great adventure.” -- Gareth Robinson, church planter and worship leader“We're called to go and tell, but too often the church becomes complacent, failing to see the mission outside itself. In Being Church, Doing Life, Michael Moynagh provokes us to search outside of the church walls, seizing opportunities for Christian witness. It will challenge your thinking and push you toward mission.” -- Ed Stetzer, President, Lifeway Research"This is a book for CAN DO people. Grounded in practical experience, this is a must-read for all who are passionate about seeing the church alive in the everyday." -- Francis Brienen, Deputy General Secretary designate - Mission for the United Reformed Church“Mission today has to be incarnational. The church has to be where people are, not just where they live. Mike Moynagh's insightful book extends our understanding of fresh expressions of church and puts the possibility of involvement within the reach of many Christians in their everyday lives.” -- Bishop Graham Cray“Michael Moynagh shows how small witnessing communities, lovingly serving their neighbours, can offer a tantalizing `taste of church’ and intentionally plant signposts to Jesus. Read Being Church for renewed vision!” -- Grace Sears, Past President of The Order of the Daughters of the King"This book is full of ideas to stir your imagination. Michael's wide knowledge of creative ideas for mission and evangelism helps the ordinary Christian to see their situation through new eyes." -- Dr Martin Robinson, Together in Mission“In his new work Being Church, Doing Life, Dr Moynagh lays out a thought-provoking and compelling argument as to how the church can expand its reach in an increasingly post-Christian society. Doing life in witnessing communities is what takes Jesus out of the sacred buildings and propels us into the real world the way that God intends. If the church desires to be a relevant force in today's world, we must learn to live on mission in community as disciples who make disciples. Loaded with practical stories and ideas, this book is a true gift to the church today.” -- Rob Peabody, Awaken“Simple, practical, encouraging and full of examples. Mike enthuses about the possibilities of witnessing in daily life such that it is hard to resist having a go.” -- Jonny Baker, Church Mission Society“This both sets a real challenge, and provides ample inspiration and encouragement to the Church. A tremendously encouraging read.” -- Lesley Hamilton-Messer, Team Leader, Church Without Walls“Fresh expressions of church are beginning and multiplying at an extraordinary rate. Michael Moynagh's very practical book, Being Church, Doing Life is full of stories and lessons from this increasingly influential movement. This is a must read for those any of us that are serious about living out the Jesus Mission in everyday life.” -- Dave Ferguson, Lead Pastor, Community Christian Church, Chicago“Once again Mike Moynagh provides the kind of inspirational stories, practical insights and sound thinking that equip and encourage Christians to live out winsome and whole lives in the twenty-first century. Excellent stuff!” -- Martyn Atkins, Chair of Fresh Expressions and General Secretary, Methodist Church of Britain“Explains simply how every Christian can be involved in effective mission. Let’s read it together, apply it together, and see new dimensions of the life of Jesus transforming our networks and neighbourhoods with the yeast of the Kingdom!” -- Bob and Mary Hopkins“If you want to tear down the disconnect between church and life, if you want to find exciting and do-able ways to add kingdom value to your passion and if you want to witness to Jesus with other Christians rather than on your own, I warmly commend Being Church, Doing Life.” -- Alan Hirsch, in his forewordTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgments 11Foreword 13Introduction – Wanting to make a difference 17Part 1 – Why communities in life? 251. Communities in life 262. Seven reasons why 543. Ideas to stir the imagination 87Part 2 – Tools for developing witnessing communities 1174. One secret you should know 1185. Getting started 1506. Making disciples 1807. Multiplying disciples 211Part 3 – Tools for the wider church 2378. How can my church get involved? 2389. What should my denomination or network do? 27310. The keys to success 307Appendix: How to evaluate progress 319Bibliography 345Index 349

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Book SynopsisUnleash your leadership potential with this need-to-know guide, direct from the playbooks of America''s most trusted leadership expert, John C. Maxwell.No matter who you are, you can lead—and lead well. That is the message New York Times bestselling author John C. Maxwell gives in this power-packed guidebook.The consummate leader offers a succinct and inspiring framework for enhancing the leadership abilities you already possess.In Leadership 101, Maxwell will teach you how to: Follow your vision and bring others with you Produce a lasting legacy Grow the loyalty of your followers Make continual investments in the quality of your leadership Increase your ability to influence others Determine your leadership lid Empower others through mentoring Create a foundation of trust Use self-discipline to improve your character—and your results

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Book SynopsisPresents a perspective on the historical development of the Gospels. This volume includes a section devoted to Christology, as well as a section on the representation of Jews in the "Gospel of John".Trade Review"A bittersweet read! Intended as the introduction to a major revision of the landmark Anchor Bible commentary on John, but sadly cut off by his death in 1998, this work stands alone as a magnificent survey of major issues in the study of the Fourth Gospel. With his accustomed thoroughness and respect for the work of others, even in disagreement, Brown updates and often moves beyond positions first articulated over three decades ago. Scholars will be long in debt to Francis Moloney for his own insightful introduction and conclusion as well as for signposts along the way which point to shifts in Brown's work along with developments subsequent to his death, and current bibliography. This eminently readable work will extend the influence of Brown well into the present century."—Fr. John Donahue, Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies, St. Mary’s Seminary and University

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Book SynopsisNewly repackaged, Making All Things New is an eloquent and simple explanation of the spiritual life from Henri J.M. Nouwen, author of Letters to Marc About Jesus and A Letter of Consolation and one of the best-loved spiritual writers of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisThe Reformation restored the Scriptures to the people, but the job was only halfway finished. Today the church is awakening to the truth that ministry is not just the domain of clergy, but belongs to the entire body of Christ. God is moving her to complete her unfinished business of placing the ministry back in the hands of the people. Unfinished Business has played a pivotal part in helping the church reclaim ministry at the grassroots level. First published in 1990 as The New Reformation, it has become a classic resource for church life. Expanding on and updating the original material with fresh examples and references to eight key important movements, this new edition lays foundations for the church to move from: · Passive to active · Maintenance to mission · Clergy to people of God · Teacher/caregiver to equipping enabler Pointing us back to the church as an organism, not an institution, author Greg Ogden shows how each of us is called to help finish Trade Review'Ogden writes with clarity and passion....[he] makes a compelling case...[that] helps pastors shift ministry from passive to active, from maintenance to mission, from clergy to laypeople....' * enrichment *

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Book SynopsisExposing the religious roots of our ostensibly godless age, this study reveals that modernity is much less secular than conventional wisdom suggests. Beginning with the collapse of the medieval world, it argues that from the very beginning, moderns sought not to eliminate religion but to support a new view of religion and its place in human life.Trade Review"Bringing the history of political thought up to date and situating it against the backdrop of contemporary events, Gillespie's analyses provide us a way to begin to have conversations with the Islamic world about what is perhaps the central question within each of the three monotheistic religions: if God is omnipotent, then what is the place of human freedom?" - Joshua Mitchell, Georgetown University "This book is an excellent complement to Charles Taylor's A Secular Age and a powerful counterpoint to Mark Lilla's The Stillborn God. All three hold that the story of modern philosophy is both superficial and hollow if its theological/metaphysical components are denied. Highly recommended." - Choice"

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the Twelve Steps and their unique benefits for Christians.

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Book SynopsisIn this new and substantially expanded Third Edition, Philip Jenkins continues to illuminate the remarkable expansion of Christianity in the global South--in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Drawing upon the extensive new scholarship that has appeared on this topic in recent years, he asks how the new Christianity is likely to affect the poor, among whom it finds its most devoted adherents. How should we interpret the enormous success of prosperity churches across the Global South? Politically, what will be the impact of new Christian movements? Will Christianity contribute to liberating the poor, to give voices to the previously silent, or does it threaten only to bring new kinds of division and conflict? Does Christianity liberate women, or introduce new scriptural bases for subjection?Acclaim for previous editions of The Next Christendom:Named one of the Top Religion Books of 2002 by USA TodayNamed One of the Top Ten Religion Books of the Year by BooklistWinner of the Christianity TTrade ReviewGracefully written and skillfully argued, The Next Christendom shows the many changes Christianity has undergone and its capacity to survive. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ; List of Tables ; Preface ; Maps ; Chapter One: The Christian Revolution ; Chapter Two: Disciples of All Nations ; Chapter Three: Missionaries and Prophets ; Chapter Four: Standing Alone ; Chapter Five: The Rise of the New Christianity ; Chapter Six: Coming to Terms ; Chapter Seven: God and the World ; Chapter Eight: The Next Crusade ; Chapter Nine: Coming Home ; Chapter Ten: Seeing Christianity Again for the First Time ; Index

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Book SynopsisHow do we know if we're following our true callings? How do we sharpen our senses to cut through the distractions of everyday reality and hear the calls that are beckoning us? is the first book to examine the many kinds of calls we receive and the great variety of channels through which they come to us. A calling may be to do something (change careers, go back to school, have a child) or to be something (more creative, less judgmental, more loving). While honoring a calling's essential mystery, this book also guides readers to ask and answer the fundamental questions that arise from any calling: How do we recognize it? How do we distinguish the true call from the siren song? How do we handle our resistance to a call? What happens when we say yes? What happens when we say no?Drawing on the hard-won wisdom and powerful stories of people who have followed their own calls, Gregg Levoy shows us the many ways to translate a calling into action. In a style that is poetic, exub

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Book SynopsisFinally, you can understand her! This updated edition of the groundbreaking classic explains how to achieve better communication with your girlfriend, fiancée, or wife?from the authors of For Women Only. More than 2 million copies sold in the series! ?Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn have unearthed a treasure chest of insights that are not only eye-opening, but life-changing.??Andy Stanley, senior pastor, North Point Community Church If you?re like most men, you?ve burned up lots of energy trying to figure out what a woman wants, what makes her tick, how to make her happy.The good news: success is simpler than you ever thought. In For Men Only, Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn reveal the eye-opening truths and simple acts that will radically improve your relationship with the woman you love. For example:? Why she can?t ?just not think about? something that?s bothering her?How to get her real answers without games?How your provider instinct can actually cause her heartache?and what to do about it?Why listening to her feelings is so hard for a guy, and a fix-it plan that works?Why her ?I do? at the altar will always mean, ?do you?? and the answer that rocks her worldNow updated with the latest scientific research to explain the fabulous female brain plus an all-new chapter that shows how to decode her most baffling behavior, For Men Only is your roadmap to making her happy.

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Book SynopsisThe Bible is filled with passages that are so baffling we tend to ignore them. Yet the passages that seem weird might be the most important. This collection of essays from Bible Study Magazine will shock you, intrigue you, and completely change the way you view the Bible. Dr. Michael S. Heiser visits some of the Bible's most obscure passages, unveiling their ancient context to help you interpret them today. Read this book, and you'll never be bored by the Bible again.Part One: Old TestamentThe Ancient's Guide to the GalaxyWalk Like an IsraeliteEven the Bible Needed UpgradingSpellchecking the BibleWhy Circumcision?The Abandoned Child and the Basket CaseA Tale of Courage We Never TeachCounting the Ten CommandmentsIs There Really a Sin Offering?There's a Devil in the DetailsLove Potion: Numbers 5Is My Bible Right?The Most Horrific Bible StoryRighting a WrongWhen Giants Walked the EarthThe Divine ArrowPromise Undelivered?Sanctified Dirt1003 BC Census: Who Authorized It-God or Satan?Cookin' the BooksSlaying the Sea MonsterDoes God Need a Co-Signer?The Witness in the CloudsWho Wrote the Book of Proverbs?Immanuel's Mother: Virgin or Not?Standing in the CouncilJeremiah: Double Vision?Why the Ark of the Covenant Will Never Be FoundHe, Him, Me, Myself, and IBizarre Visions for the Worst of TimesDo the Dead Sea Scrolls Answer the Canon Question?Part Two: New TestamentBurying HellMy Guardian AngelThe New Testament Misquotes the Old Testament?"I Saw Satan Fall like Lightning": When?The Healing SerpentWho Took Verse 4 out of My Bible?What Walking on Water Really MeansBorn Again ... and Again and Again?Dumbledore Meets Philip & PeterPaul's Lost LettersDestiny & DestinationA Female ApostleSigned, Sealed, and Delivered-to Satan?Treason & TranslationCharlton Heston Had CompanyWhen Abraham Met JesusHow Many Times Is Jesus Coming Back?What's Jesus Waiting For?God's Right-Hand Woman? Wisdom in HebrewsBaptism as Spiritual WarfareJesus Is God: Jude and Peter Tell Me SoWhen Angels Do TimeTough LoveJesus, God, a.k.a., The Name666: What Theories Add Up?Perspective Changes EverythingConstantine, Conspiracy, and the Canon

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Book SynopsisAn eminent theologian’s original and compelling study of how images of Jesus through history reveal each era’s temper and valuesTrade Review"An enlightening and often dramatic story. . . . As a succinct account of the image of Christ before faith began to falter, in the indubitably Christian centuries, it is as stimulating as it is informative."—John Gross, New York Times"Mr Pelikan, who is the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University, writes for a broad readership. What he offers us in Jesus Through the Centuries is a rich and expansive description of Jesus' impact on 'the general history of culture. . . . Jesus Through the Centuries seems to me unique among current publications in bridging scholarly and popular discourse on the prophet from Nazareth over the past 2,000 years. Believers and skeptics alike will find it a sweeping visual and conceptual panorama. Mr. Pelikan is particularly adept at discerning the political implications in various Jesus images."—John Koenig, front page, New York Times Book Review"Pelikan here draws on his commanding grasp of Christian history not to try his own hand at one more 'life' of Jesus, but to lay before us the principal images that have appeared, sometimes recurrently, from the 1st century to the 20th. Starting with 'The Rabbi' and moving with precision and balance through 18 well-crafted chapters, he uses stained glass and statuary, hymns and doggerel, creeds and exposes, to carry the reader finally to 'The Man Who Belongs to the World.' The final chapter demonstrates conclusively that if imaging Jesus ever was the monopoly of the 'Christian West,' it surely is no longer."—Harvey Cox, front page, Washington Post Book World"Celebratory study of Jesus' impact on Western art, thought and culture over the last 2,000 years."—New York Times Book Review"Writing for the general reader, eminent church historian Pelikan proposes that, while the figure of Jesus provides the chief continuity in the history of Christianity, each age has depicted him in accordance with its own character."—Library Journal"[Pelikan] offers an elegantly written and handsomely illustrated account of the changing ways in which, over the last 19 centuries, men and women have seen Jesus, and worshipped him as 'the Christ.'"—Peter Fuller, New Society"Jaroslav Pelikan is encyclopedic in learning and universal in sympathy. . . . To read this study of Jesus is to receive a humane education, and few will fail to make some new discoveries about the richly varied story of reactions to him."—J.L. Houlden, Theology"This book, from one of the foremost historians of Christian culture, is a delight to read."—ChurchmanWinner of the 1986 Logos Bookstores Award given by the Association of Logos Bookstores"Jaroslav Pelikan has one of the most seminal minds in this generation. Nowhere is this more evident than in his most recent volume, Jesus Through the Centuries. It is not a doctrinal study nor a volume on the life of Christ but, rather, an analysis of some eighteen images of Jesus as he has been perceived through the centuries, images running from the Rabbi to the man who belongs to the world. Pelikan shows the enormous influence of Jesus on human culture, illustrating this through history, literature, philosophy, and art. It is a book that could only have been written by a mature scholar, but it can be read with profit and joy by anyone interested in the place of Jesus in the formation and development of culture from the first century until today. It is highly recommended."—James I McCord, Chancellor, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton"Like a master jeweler working with hard but valuable material, Jaroslav Pelikan has given distinctive shape to a great subject. He has chiseled eighteen surfaces, each with a different image of Jesus Christ affecting human culture. The result is an often glittering intellectual history that illuminates important chapters of human sensibility with flashes of light and color from Eastern as well as Western Christianity. Jesus Through the Centuries invites us to go beyond narrow scholarship in our study of that historical record and to reexamine what we are in the light of what Jesus was."—James H. Billington, author of Icon and the Axe and Fire in the Minds of Men"With learned insight and readable style, Pelikan traces the cultural incarnations of Jesus through nineteen centuries. . . .He concludes that Jesus now belongs to the whole of humanity, far beyond the reach of the organized Church and ecclesial theology. And I agree."—Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame"Jesus Through the Centuries reflects the deep faith and spirituality of the noted historian and theologian Jaroslav Pelikan expressed with Apostolic simplicity and clarity. It expresses sound scriptural doctrine and profound cultural history of the last 2,000 years which can also serve as a blueprint for examining the images of Jesus through the study of politics, society, and economic events in history. Through its contents, the book evinces a profound understanding between tradition and innovation through each particular age marked by intellectual vigor, theological substance, humanity and warmth. Even more, Professor Pelikan emits an historical faith that is unabashedly Christocentric, straightforward and poetic, which will make the book appeal to a wide audience because of its rich humanism, and its informed use of references to writers and philosophers from St. Gregory of Nyssa to Albert Schweitzer. His book should be read by not only historians and theologians, but by all Christians who wish to seek ways of coming closer to one another through an understanding of Christ down through the ages."—His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America

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Book SynopsisThis book decodes some of the Bible''s most enigmatic, yet oft-cited epochs. The author''s lively and easygoing style makes for a smooth entrance into the depths of perception, where one changes one''s world simply by contemplation and desire. While reading, you will gently rise beyond the level of physical events as they are described in the Bible, and you will find Pharaoh, Moses, Adam and Eve that lie within you.

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Book SynopsisThis book attempts to understand Calvin in his sixteenth-century context, with attention to continuities and discontinuities between his thought and that of his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Richard Muller is particularly interested in the interplay between theological and philosophical themes common to Calvin and the medieval doctors, and in developments in rhetoric and method associated with humanism. He shows that Calvin''s theology evidences the impact of humanist philology and rhetoric, of patristics, and also - both positively and negatively - of the categories of medieval scholastic thought. Calvin''s conclusions, together with those of a group of contemporary Reformed and Lutheran thinkers, famously became the basis of much later Protestant theology. But understood in its sixteenth-century context, Muller argues, Calvin''s theology proves both intriguing and intractable to twentieth-century concerns. This intractable and unaccomodated Calvin, he says, is importaTrade ReviewMuller's scholarship is so strong and his arguments so convincing that future Calvin scholars will only be able to ignore this book at their peril ... essential reading for anyone wishing to study Calvin's theology and exegesis, both as a model of critical historical methodology and for it's illumination of Calvin's program and the development of his thought. * Sixteenth Century Review *Muller begins this extraordinary book by doing something modern scholars too seldom do: he puts John Calvin and his thought back into their sixteenth-century historical context ... Muller shows how Calvin's view of faith was not radically different from that of medieval scholastics such as Thomas Aquinas. This buttresses Muller's assertion that many of Calvin's attacks were aimed not so much as scholastics as at theologians of Paris in his day ... stimulating and impressive analysis. * American History Review *

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Book SynopsisThe Holy Grail and its quest is a legend that has had a powerful impact on our civilization. The Grail is an ancient Celtic symbol of plenty, and a Christian symbol of redemption and eternal life, the chalice that caught the blood of the crucified Christ. This book presents this legend as a living myth that is profoundly relevant to modern life.Trade Review"The Grail Legend is a beautifully sustained application of Jungian theory to a whole story rather than merely to isolated motifs or archetypes. The work is far better researched than many other Jungian studies, and is written with a spritely, charming touch. A delightful volume."—Robert Segal, University of Lancaster, editor of Jung on Mythology and The Gnostic JungTable of ContentsForeword7IIntroduction9IIPerceval's Early History, according to Chretien de Troyes39IIIThe Defeat of the Red Knight and the Meeting with Blancheflor52IVPerceval's First Visit to the Grail Castle66VThe Sword and the Lance79VIPerceval's Task98VIIThe Central Symbol of the Legend: The Grail as Vessel113VIIIThe Grail as Stone142IXThe Table, the Carving Platter and the Two Knives161XThe Continuation of Perceval's Quest173XIThe Suffering Grail King187XIIThe Figure of Gauvain; Perceval's Return to Christianity213XIIIGauvain's Adventures228XIVPerceval's Further Adventures253XVThe Redemption of the Grail Kingdom; Perceval's End290XVIRobert de Boron's Roman de l'Estoire dou Graal302XVIIThe Problem of the Trinity317XVIIIThe Figure of Adam331XIXThe Trinity: The Problem of the Fourth338XXThe Figure of Merlin347XXIMerlin as Medicine Man and Prophet357XXIIMerlin and the Alchemical Mercurius367XXIIIMerlin's Solution of the Grail Problem379XXIVThe Disappearance of Merlin390Bibliography401Index419

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Book SynopsisAll couples deal with anger. How they respond to it makes all the difference in their relationships and their lives. In From Anger to Intimacy, couples learn how to:· resolve conflict, hurt, and pain in a healthy way· overcome feelings of anger, frustration, and rage· learn how to forgive and nurture a forgiving spirit· craft the perfect apology· break sexual addiction and heal after an affair· and much moreThis life-changing book is now available in trade paper.

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Book SynopsisGreen Mass is a meditation on—and with—twelfth-century Christian mystic and polymath Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Attending to Hildegard's vegetal vision, which greens theological tradition and imbues plant life with spirit, philosopher Michael Marder uncovers a verdant mode of thinking. The book stages a fresh encounter between present-day and premodern concerns, ecology and theology, philosophy and mysticism, the material and the spiritual, in word and sound. Hildegard's lush notion of viriditas, the vegetal power of creation, is emblematic of her deeply entwined understanding of physical reality and spiritual elevation. From blossoming flora to burning desert, Marder plays with the symphonic multiplicity of meanings in her thought, listening to the resonances between the ardency of holy fire and the aridity of a world aflame. Across Hildegard's cosmos, we hear the anarchic proliferation of her ecological theology, in which both God and greening are circular, without beginning or end. Introduced with a foreword by philosopher Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback and accompanied by cellist Peter Schuback's musical movements, which echo both Hildegard's own compositions and key themes in each chapter of the book, this multifaceted work creates a resonance chamber, in which to discover the living world anew. The original compositions accompanying each chapter are available free for streaming and for download at www.sup.org/greenmassTrade Review"Michael Marder brings Hildegard's creativity to light and to life, highlighting what is unique about her and, especially, what makes her such a needed voice that should be heard today."—Willemien Otten, University of Chicago Divinity School"A brilliant meditation on viriditas, where materiality and spirituality meet, and truly a 'resonance chamber' of themes that explore the full range of Hildegard's thinking, from roots to flowers."—Charles M. Stang, Harvard Divinity School"The wordviriditas is important to understand here. The author explains that it literally means 'the greening green,' and figuratively it means 'a self-refreshing vegetal power of creation ingrained in all finite things.' That's a mouthful, but it's also rich and beautiful. Take a moment to ponder such a world. This is St. Hildegard of Bingen's vision of what we inhabit, whether we realize it yet or not... Michael Marder points to the transformational quality of such teachings, for Christians and everyone who seeks to integrate the physical and the spiritual in their lives."—Jon M. Sweeney, Spirituality & Practice"I consider this to be one of the—if not the—most significant books of ecotheology to have appeared in recent years... Rather than attempt to explain Hildegard's many-layered analogies between divine spirit and vegetal mattering, Marder seeks to narrate the conditions under which those analogies could be true. The result is a book that is at once faithful to Hildegard's words (Green Mass is a close reading that cites source texts in detail, and dispenses with footnotes) and promiscuous in hermeneutic."—Simone Kotva, Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology"This is an extraordinary work of ecotheology. Not only is it a book, it is also a meditation at the meeting point of materiality and spirituality, a resonance chamber of Peter Schuback's musical compositions, and an invitation to encounter the present world through medieval mindsets."—Luke Penkett, The WayTable of ContentsPrelude Verges Analogies Resonances Missives Ardencies Anarchies Kisses Postlude

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