Religion and beliefs Books

Book SynopsisWell known author, Norman Geisler, offers students of the Bible an introduction to the content, structure, and teaching of the entire New Testament.

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Book SynopsisThe Sanctuary of Eleusis, near Athens, was the center of a religious cult that endured for nearly two thousand years and whose initiates came from all parts of the civilized world. Looking at the tendency to "see visions," C. The author examines the Mysteries of Eleusis from the standpoint not only of Greek myth but also of human nature.Trade Review"This book is fascinating reading and serves as a meaningful complement to George E. Mylonas's magisterial work, Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries."--Library Journal

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to Christian spirituality. This text includes an analysis of the relationship between theology and spirituality, focusing on five major themes and offers coverage of the Christian spiritual tradition, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Evangelicalism.Trade Review"This book ably and accurately provides information that will help those unfamiliar with the Christian tradition to engage with classical texts on spirituality." Amy M. Hollywood, Professor of Religion, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire "This study really is an 'introduction' and is well suited to the needs of undergraduate students in universities, theological colleges, and seminaries. The book will also be useful for adult education courses, and will appeal in addition to a more general readership. There is a need for a reliable, basic, introductory textbook like this that doesn't make too many assumptions about its readers." Philip Sheldrake, Vice-Principal, Sarum College, Salisbury "I am sure that this book will have a wide readership, particularly among theologians and students of theology. It should also have a wider readership among Christians more generally. Existing works of spirituality often have limited scope and make assumptions about their readers' knowledge. The author's concern to fill gaps and provide adequate explanations and contexts is admirable." Robert Swanson, Reader in Medieval History, University of Birmingham "[The book's] considerable advantage in accessibility and in the structured ordering of ideas makes it ideal as an undergraduate textbook or a committed interest-reader's introduction. It includes frequent invitations and injunctions to read and explore more deeply. The book is written with superb clarity and very considerable breadth of reference...As a working textbook, this has everything one could wish for: interaction with the reader in the form of suggested tasks and internal cross-references; good management of the interrelationship with theology and clarification of terms; window-box texts; a glossary; a list of websites. For university courses and libraries this is a must. For enquirers it is a scholarly and accessible guide." International Journal of Children's Spirituality "This book is highly recommended as a college or seminary textbook on the spiritual life or sanctification. In addition, anyone interested in delving into the tradition of Christian spirituality will find this a useful guide." Bibliotheca SacraTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. How to Use this Book. Part I: Introduction:. 1. Defining 'Spirituality'. 2. Defining 'Christian Spirituality'. 3. Clarifying Terms: Mysticism and Spirituality. Part II: Types of Christian Spirituality: . 4. Spirituality, Theology and Personality. 5. Denominational Considerations. 6. Attitudes to the World, Culture and History. Part III: Theological Foundations for Spirituality: Basic Issues: . 7. The Nature of Theology. 8. The Relation of Theology and Spirituality. Part IV: Theological Foundations for Spirituality: Case Studies:. 9. Creation. Human Nature and Destiny. 10. The Trinity. Incarnation. 11. Redemption. 12. Resurrection. 13. Consummation. 14. For Further Reading. Part V: Biblical Images and Christian Spirituality:. 15. The Bible as a Resource for Spirituality. 16. Biblical Images and Spirituality. Part VI: Faces, Places and Spaces: Visualization and Spatialization in Christian Spirituality:. 17. The Visualization of the Divine. 18. Telling the Story: Faith and Life. 19. The Rhythm of Faith: Structuring Time. 20. Spiritual Geography: Structuring Space. Part VII: Christian Spirituality: Engaging the Tradition:. 21. Conclusion: Where Next?. 22. Christian Spirituality: Internet Resources. Glossary of Terms. Sources of Citations. For Further Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisExplore the nature of our material world in a unique sourcebook, conceived by the Dalai Lama, collecting the scientific observations found in classical Buddhist treatises. Under the visionary supervision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics brings together classical Buddhist explorations of the nature of our material world and the human mind and puts them into context for the modern reader. It is the Dalai Lama’s view that the explorations by the great masters of northern India in the first millennium CE still have much that is of interest today, whether we are Buddhist or not. Volume 1, The Physical World, explores the nature of our material world—from the macroscopic to the microscopic. It begins with an overview of the many frameworks, such as the so-called five aggregates, that Buddhist thinkers have used to examine the nature and scope of reality. Topics include sources of knowledge, the scope of reason, the nature and constituents of the material world, theories of the atom, the nature of time, the formation of the universe, and the evolution of life, including a detailed explanation of the early Buddhist theories on fetal development. The volume even contains a brief presentation on early theories about the structure and function of the brain and the role of microorganisms inside the human body. The book weaves together passages from the works of great Buddhist thinkers such as Asanga, Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna, Dignaga, and Dharmakirti. Each of the major topics is introduced by Thupten Jinpa, the Dalai Lama’s principal English-language translator and founder of the Institute of Tibetan Classics.

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Book SynopsisA practical program for developing a deeper, more authentic relationship with God Written for anyone who wants to develop a deeper more meaningful relationship with God, Mansions of the Heart offers a step-by-step guide through a spiritual formation road map based on Teresa of Avila''s Seven Mansions. The book includes a Mapping Tool that will help you discern your place on your spiritual journey and offers church leaders a process for helping church members to grow into spiritual maturity. Contains a spiritual program based on the writings of Teresa of Avila, one of Christianity''s most profound and beloved mystical teachers Offers a complete, step-by-step program for spiritual growth Includes information for leading others in their spiritual journeys Appropriate for all kinds of Christians Table of ContentsForeword. Preface. Acknowledgments. Pager: please add space per specs/sample. 1 Is This All There Is? 2 Common Myths That Lead Down Dead-End Roads. 3 Your Journey into the Love of God. 4 New Beginnings: The First Mansion. 5 Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Second Mansion. 6 Following Jesus: The Third Mansion. 7 Discovering the Love of Jesus: The Fourth Mansion. 8 Longing for Oneness with God: The Fifth Mansion. 9 The Long Dark Corridor: The Dark Nights of the Soul. 10 The Passion of God's Love: The Sixth Mansion. 11 A Life of Love in the Trinity: The Seventh Mansion. 12 Your Unique Journey. 13 Spiritual Formation and the Church. 14 Our Call to Action. Pager: please add space per specs/sample Notes. The Author. Index.

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Book SynopsisChristian psychiatrist Dr. Tim Jennings corrects our fundamental misunderstandings about God's love, enabling us to escape negative cycles, and experience love that changes people, heals broken hearts, and transforms lives.

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Book Synopsis“On the long road it’s good to have Nouwen and his divining rod. Deftly he bends toward the drop of spiritual wisdom caked in the most ordinary things.”—Helen Prejean, C.S.J., author of Dead Man Walking Henry J.M. Nowuen, one of the greatest of all spiritual writers, invites us to search deeply for the well-springs that nourish true ministry in his classic The Way of the Heart. Interweaving the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fifth-century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality, The Way of the Heart not only leads us to a fuller encounter with God, but to a more creative ministry with our fellow human beings. Here is one of the most profound works from a writer known for his fresh and perceptive insights—and who stands alongside C.S. Lewis and Thomas Merton as an essential Christian scholar and thinker.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing a translation of the "First Corinthians", this work explains the religious meaning of this Pauline epistle. It discusses many of the usual introductory problems associated with the epistle, including issues of its authorship, time of composition, and purpose.Trade Review"This is a measured, erudite work with all the hallmarks of a seasoned scholar drawing upon a lifetime of research and writing." —Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society * Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society *"This noteworthy addition to the Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries is destined to join the elite of scholarly commentaries on I Corinthians. It provides thorough analysis and well-researched, careful examination of virtually all issues. The entire work reflects the author's wide-ranging knowledge of classical, biblical, extrabiblical, and scholarly literature." —Roger Mohrlang, Theology Today -- Roger Mohrlang * Theology Today *"This commentary will take its place as perhaps one of the best historical and literary works on 1 Corinthians and a worthy companion to the Anchor Bible commentary on 2 Corinthians."—Wendell Willis, Restoration Quarterly -- Wendell Willis * Restoration Quarterly *

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Book SynopsisWritten by the author who is internationally regarded as a dean of New Testament scholars.Trade Review"Father Raymond Brown has a strong claim to be the most distinguished of American New Testament scholars, and he has few competitors worldwide."—The New York Times"A stunning array of fresh insights into how the passion stories came into being and what—scene by scene—the four Evangelists really say about the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus."—Newsweek"Breathtaking! Raymond E. Brown's The Death of the Messiah crowns two millennia of Christian scholarship pondering the 'scandal of the crucifixion.' Brown has once again demonstrated his position as Father, Rabbi and teacher to us all."—Burton L. Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary of America"The supreme achievement of a deeply pastoral scholar."—Sandra M. Schneiders, Jesuit School of Theology and Graduate Theological Union"The benchmark by which any future study of the Passion Narratives will be measured."—John P. Meier, University of Notre Dame"These volumes are a treasure that spans the ages."—Phyllis Trible, Wake Forest University Divinity School

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Book SynopsisHighly creative and interactive, this apologetics resource helps readers identify and evaluate 21 different worldviews through engaging yes-or-no questions and easy-to-understand descriptions. Appendices include answers to common questions and suggestions for further reading.

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Book SynopsisThis book walks readers through relevant Scripture passages on the topic of conciencea largely neglected topic in the church todayto offer guiding principles and practical advice for aligning our consciences with God's will.

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Book Synopsis40 guided scripture meditations practising the Lectio Divina on the theme of knowing Christ deeper.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Why Meditate on Scripture? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Part One: What Does God Think of Me?1 Knowing God as Love 212 Sought After, No Matter What 263 Knowing I Am Loved . 304 God’s Compassion for the Rebellious 345 God’s Compassion for the Outwardly Compliant . . . . 38Meditation Is Different from Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Part Two: Who Am I and How Do I Fit In?6 Blessed with Every Blessing . . . . . 437 One in Whom Christ Dwells . . . 48The “Sanctified” Imagination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528 An Identity Completely Changed . . . . 539 Life in the Spirit . . . . . . . . . 5810 Blessed to Be a Blessing . . . 63Scripture Study and Meditation Work Together . . . . . . . . . . 68Part Three: Living in the Reality of God’s Kingdom 11 Relying on the Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6912 Relying on the Kingdom, Illustrated . . . . 74Openness to the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8013 The Hidden Yet Powerful Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . .8214 The Hidden Yet Powerful Kingdom of God, Illustrated . . . . . . . 8715 The Good and Peaceable Kingdom of God . . . . . . . . . 93Am I Hearing God or Making Things Up?. . . . . . . . . . . . 98Part Four: Being Transformed into Christ’s Likeness16 Abiding in Christ . . . . . . . . . 9917 From Gangster to Giver (. . . . . . . 105When Your Mind Wanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10918 Letting Go of the Old Self . . . . . 11119 Embracing the New Self . . . . 11620 Dying to Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121A Huge Maturity Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Part Five: Facing Fears, Frustrations and Discouragement21 Finding Courage in the Storm . . . . 128Diving Board Lectio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13322 Moving Through a Fearful Journey . . . . . 13423 Seeing Jesus in Anger, Grief and Mercy . 14024 Moving from Cynicism to Hope . . . . . 145What If Nothing Comes to Me?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15025 Hearing God in the Midst of Discouragement . . . . . . . 151Part Six: Healing Life’s Wounds26 Being Freed from Infirmities . . . . . 15827 Knowing That God Hears Me . . . . . 16328 Are You Willing to Be Healed? . . . . 169Writing Your Prayers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17329 Moving from Mourning to Dancing . . . . 17430 Receiving Jesus’ Words to Caregivers . . 180Part Seven: Having the Heart of Christ for Others31 Loving Others in Truth and Action . . 18532 Moving from Self-Absorption to Humility . . . . . . . . . . 190Meditation Leads to Transformation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19633 Loving the “Stranger” . . . . . . . . 19734 Choosing Relationship over Judgment . . . . . 20335 Stepping Out in Compassion . . . . . . . . . . 209Part Eight: Partnering with God in Ministry36 Cooperating with the Power of God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21437 Responding to the Passion God Puts in Our Hearts . . . .. . . . 22038 Relating to God in Failure . . . . 22639 Drinking the Cup of Suffering . 23240 Doing Nothing on My Own . . . . . 237How to Meditate on Your Own. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

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Book SynopsisReading, David Mikics says, should not be drudgery, and not mere information-gathering or escape either, but a way to live life at a higher pitch. Slow Reading in a Hurried Age is a practical guide for anyone who yearns for a more meaningful, satisfying reading experience, as well as sharper reading skills and improved concentration.Trade ReviewLike [Charles] Lamb, Mikics understands how modern culture discourages reading for pleasure--especially in an Internet world of short-lived but insistent information. Inviting readers into a less frenetic, more rewarding world, Mikics explores a series of literary masterpieces, showing how getting lost in a book is still the best way to find joys we really want...Readers acquire stimulating perspectives on individual works by Homer and Whitman, Dickens and Cather, Shakespeare and Chekov. But they also develop the intellectual poise to set one work into play with others, across boundaries of nationality, style, and history. An exceptional book whetting readers' appetites for the savoring of many more. -- Bryce Christensen * Booklist (starred review) *Mikics writes accessibly and with infectious enthusiasm on an impressively eclectic range of classic and contemporary texts. The reader who picks up this volume will likely already have been won over to Mikics's argument, but the book's pedagogical value for students is considerable. * Publishers Weekly *There is nothing else like Slow Reading in a Hurried Age. Mikics's fourteen rules are quite wonderful, and I will in teaching adopt them myself. -- Harold BloomThere is much solid wisdom and penetrating advice in these pages. David Mikics is an inspired teacher, and he has brought his rich pedagogic imagination to life in this book, which teaches us to fall in love again with great literature. The examples are wonderfully apt and wide-ranging. -- Phillip Lopate, Hofstra UniversityIt may seem counterintuitive to read a book on slow reading in order to help you read more efficiently. But that's exactly what you stand to gain by (slowly) reading...Mikics' wise, common-sense guide to getting the most out of real reading--totally immersive reading...I can't recommend this book highly enough. * West Australian *Mikics insists that we are not in a world of declining reading, but quite the opposite. People are inundated with words that they feel compelled to read--in email, in tweets, in posts to social networking sites, in text messages--so much so that they can barely keep up. So we read fast and carelessly and we prize brevity at the expense of substance, a habit that is making all of us increasingly unable to concentrate on what is directly in front of us, constantly distracted as we are by pop-ups, embedded links, and the whole range of digital items that make constant demands on our time and attention...The choice of materials is eclectic but one of the finest achievements of the volume is how compellingly, but undogmatically, it makes the case for a literary canon, one not born of professorial or other fiat but of merit...The greatest strength of the volume is that in modeling slow reading of exemplary works of literature, it fosters exactly the qualities that such reading requires: sustained attention, attentiveness to detail, a willingness and ability to accommodate a gradually building realization of the significance of a given work. -- James Williams * PopMatters *A step-by-step guide to reading books amid the rushing world of an information-obsessed era. The book guides the reader through what amounts to a sort of extended independent study with a very approachable and patient professor. -- Ian Stansel * Ploughshares online *This addition to the growing store of literary how-to books opens with the stuff of countless essays and op-ed pieces: too much information, not enough concentration, it is time to slow down. All this functions as a preamble to advice about what to do after the smartphone is turned off: read more patiently and thereby rescue interior depth from the decentering storm of digital text. So although it serves as an introduction to practical criticism, it is also a work of moral improvement, primarily aimed not at students, the captive goal-oriented audience with teachers to please, but at adults with demanding, other-directed lives that hem in the room for contemplation. David Mikics’ relaxed point that we like to identify with characters in novels puts it plainly: reading is done self to self. -- Owen Richardson * Sydney Morning Herald *The problem [Mikics] addresses is very real, the rules he proposes make sense, and he is a perceptive reader…Expect a run on this book; it should prove popular in English classes at all levels, from high school and up. -- David Keymer * Library Journal (starred review) *Beautifully and unabashedly edifying…Mikics is up to something more than just technical instruction. What separates Slow Reading in a Hurried Age from other popular or academic how‐to guides is Mikics’s urgent reverence for literature, which he wants to impress upon the reader. To read well, he clearly believes, is not just to master a skill; it is to become a certain kind of person…Mikics, in calm, authoritative prose, lays out the case that the way we read now is in many cases the enemy of reading as it is supposed to be…Slow Reading in a Hurried Age is a guide to becoming a great reader. This is a very hard thing to teach: so much of what happens when we read is internal and instinctive, and it is hard to transform reactions into rules. But Mikics manages to do exactly that… The gift of Mikics’s book at the right moment could lead to a lifetime of good, slow reading. -- Adam Kirsch * Barnes & Noble Review *[Mikics] prizes the kind of ‘slow reading’ that allows us to appreciate the rhythms and voices and atmosphere of a book, to take it apart as one might a clock, in order to figure out how it works. -- Joanna Scott * The Nation *

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Book SynopsisExperience the kind of vibrant faith held by Corrie ten Boom with 365 brief, profound reflections from her life that illustrate Bible promises.

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Book SynopsisBestselling Author Helps Readers Know God''s Will for Their LivesInternationally known speaker Dutch Sheets shares how God has had a unique vision for each one of His children since before they were born. Sheets shows readers how to recognize and fulfill their God-given calling. A powerful, story-driven message for anyone looking for a new direction or needing assurance they are on the path God intended for them.'Dutch offers us a way to rekindle the dream if it has waned, or stoke the flames if it is roaring in our spirits.'--Jane Hansen Hoyt, Aglow International

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Book SynopsisA seamless, straightforward, and chronological narrative of all the events in the Bible--without commentary--from creation to the New Testament church.

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Book SynopsisFrançois Mauriac''s masterpiece and one of the greatest Catholic novels, Thérèse Desqueyroux is the haunting story of an unhappily married young woman whose desperation drives her to thoughts of murder. Mauriac paints an unforgettable portrait of spiritual isolation and despair, but he also dramatizes the complex realities of forgiveness, grace, and redemption. Set in the countryside outside Bordeaux, in a region of overwhelming heat and sudden storms, the novel''s landscape reflects the inner world of Thérèse, a figure who has captured the imaginations of readers for generations.Raymond N. MacKenzie''s translation of Thérèse Desqueyroux, the first since 1947, captures the poetic lyricism of Mauriac''s prose as well as the intensity of his stream-of-consciousness narrative. MacKenzie also provides notes and a biographical and interpretive introduction to help readers better appreciate the mastery of François Mauriac, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1952. This volume alTrade ReviewAimed at the American English ear, MacKenzie's syntax restores the Jazz Age punch of Mauriac's original. Thanks to MacKenzie's introduction, notes, and translated first draft of Mauriac's text ('Conscience'), Therese's sexuality is also restored, making her once again an ambivalent 'new woman' [la garçonne] of the 1920s and a scandalous protagonist for a 'Catholic novel.' As a result, the interwar 'Catholic revival' [renouveau catholique] also recovers its punch with Mauriac's challenge to bourgeois Catholicism. With new eyes and ears, another generation of readers can now wade with Therese Desqueyroux into 'the human river.' -- Stephen Schloesser, author of Jazz Age Catholicism: Mystic Modernism in Postwar Paris, 1919-1933An invaluable volume for those exploring Mauriac or his place in the French Catholic renaissance. MacKenzie's fresh, highly readable translation of Mauraic's disturbing masterpiece includes translator's notes and an excellent introduction. His inclusion of Mauriac's first draft permits rare insights into the startling evolution of the eponymous heroine. -- William Bush, Professor Emeritus of French Literature at the University of Western Ontario, CanadaIt is safe to say that Francois Mauriac's Thérèse Desqueyroux has achieved the most coveted form of 'immortality' that any writer could hope for: inclusion on countless university and secondary school reading lists for both courses and exams. Only a few French novels share this distinction. Thus, Professor MacKenzie's excellent translation is well timed, for Thérèse, a great novel by any criterion, will be read by many throughout the rest of the new century. The Gerard Hopkins translation, competent and reliable in its day, nonetheless shows signs of wear. The English language, particularly in North America, has evolved considerably in the intervening three quarters of a century since its publication, and a fresh new translation in today's idiom is most welcome. This bright new translation is a valuable addition to Mauriac studies, and will add to the luster of Mauriac's reputation in the English-speaking world. Thanks to Professor MacKenzie, a new generation of readers in the English-speaking world will be able to have a direct, lively and utterly reliable interaction with Mauriac 's great novel. -- David O'Connell, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Georgia State UniversityTable of ContentsPart 1 Foreword Part 2 Introduction Part 3 Thérèse Desqueyroux 4 Conscience, The Divine Instinct

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Book SynopsisPaul Badham explores the grounds on which the hope of immortality, central for Christian doctrine, can be revitalized today. He suggests that the possibility of a relationship between God and human beings is confirmed by our religious experience, and that resurrection and immortality need each other.

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Book SynopsisThe figure of the feminine side of Christ is widely present in art and in feminist theology, but the risen Christa has not so far been explored. Nicola Slee, using reflection, poetry and images, revisits many of the central narratives of the gospels and key Christological themes, re-imagining them through the figure of the Christa.

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Book SynopsisA confirmation course to use with adults, designed to cover a range of learning styles. It covers the traditional ground of such courses, beginning from the questions adult confirmation candidates bring to faith development.

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Book SynopsisA book full of hope to inspire us to keep going and to finish life wellTrade ReviewFor a Christian, life is full of preachers, sermons, and books. Let’s be honest. The fact is that many of them are quite boring. Since I was a teenager still at school, my father would tell me about one preacher who was different, one preacher you could listen to who was not boring, one preacher you could trust with every word because he was rather "sound." Years later he would become a good friend, and I would become famous as the man who took him to see another friend of mine—President Yasser Arafat. It has been an incredible journey we have taken together over the years, but it has not finished yet. He may be retired, he may have left his famous Westminster Chapel, but he has not stopped, and God has not finished with him yet. As you read this book, you will see that R. T. Kendall is not retired but re-fired. Re-fired with the glorious anointing of the Spirit of the living God. As you study this book, you too will have the opportunity to have your faith, life, and trust in the Almighty re-fired. This book out of his many writings is an absolute must. Because "it ain’t over till it’s over." -- The Revd Canon Dr. Andrew P. B. White, Vicar Emeritus of BaghdadIt Ain’t Over Till It’s Over exudes profound experience of Christ, proven spiritual truth, and ever-increasing knowledge of God. R. T. Kendall gives you all it takes to run humbly, yet confidently to the finishing line. No one, no matter how young or old, should be without this book. -- The Revd Colin Dye Senior pastor, Kensington Temple LondonI was blessed to witness two of God’s servants meet for the first time: baseball great Yogi Berra, and renowned theologian Dr. R. T. Kendall. From that meeting came the Hall of Famer’s endorsement of It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over. Not only an apt description of the Hall of Famer’s indomitable spirit, but also of Dr. Kendall’s biblically based explanation of how we all can "finish well," being admitted to the greatest Hall of Fame there is: heaven. -- James "JB" Brown CBS NFL sportscasterCongratulations to RT on his eightieth birthday. I hope he writes many more books, but should this be the last, it’s a brilliant Last Will and Testament! -- Lyndon Bowring CARE, London

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Book SynopsisMaking the Most of your Church Wedding is a short, attractive, full-colour guide to the Anglican wedding service aimed at couples planning to get married and planning a church wedding.Trade ReviewThough I knew Ally aimed Making the Most of Your Church Wedding at the couples themselves, I ordered it thinking it might shape our new preparation evenings. By a few pages in however, I had decided to gift it to each couple we marry. * Revd Kate Boardman, Heworth St Mary, Gateshead *

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Book SynopsisPublished here for the first time in English, this is Carl Schmitt's last book. Carl Schmitt is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important and influential political theorists of the 20th Century. His work has been taken up and much discussed by political theorists in the last few years.Trade Review“Why study Schmitt? Like the great thinkers of all ages, he addressed issues that transcend the moment. Political philosophers and political theorists, constitutional lawyers and legal theorists, international relations theorists ideologues of all colors find answers to burning political questions that revolve around the concept of sovereignty.” George Schwab, National Committee on American Foreign Policy and The City University of New York (City College and Graduate Center) “The publication in English of Carl Schmitt’s Political Theology II constitutes an important event in the Anglo-American reception of Schmitt’s thought. In the late 1960s, as the Roman Catholic Church reconciled itself with secular modernity and West Germany’s liberal democracy resorted to extra-legal measures in the midst of political crisis, Schmitt decided to revisit the questions that motivated his thinking in the early Weimar Republic: can morality only find justification in transcendental theological sources and must political authority rest ultimately with an extraordinary sovereign authority? Obviously, these questions still haunt our world as we move further into the 21st century.” John P. McCormick, University of Chicago “Every student of Schmitt will need to probe his post-1945 writings and will be fascinated by this superb new translation which brings out Schmitt’s self-imposed continued wrestling, despite opposition, with the relation between the political and theological realms. The Introduction gives a full account of why this thoroughly disturbing thinker continues to mean so much to both Right and Left.” Jeremy Tambling, The University of Manchester "The importance of this text lies not simply in the arguments herein, important as they are, but especially as an additional means of situating some of the central concerns that continuously provoked Schmitt's writings." Polticial Studies ReviewTable of ContentsEditors’ Introduction. Notes on the Translation. Guideline for the reader. Introduction. I. The Myth of the Ultimate Theological Closure. 1. The Content of the Myth. 2. Hans Barion’s Critique of Political Theology. 3. The Contemporary Significance of the Myth of Closure. (Hans Maier – Ernst Feil – Ernst Topitsch). II. The Legendary Document. 1. The Genesis and the Historical limits of the Matter. 2. Politico-theological Interpolation: le roi règne il ne gouverne pas. 3. The Limits of the Matter and Question from the Political Side: Monarchy. 4. The Limits of the Matter and Question from the Theological Side: Monotheism. 5. Eusebius as the Prototype for Political Theology. 6. The Confrontation between Eusebius and Augustine. III. The Legendary Conclusion. 1. The Claims of the Conclusion. 2. The Assertive Power of the Conclusion. Postscript. On the Current Situation of the Problem: The Legitimacy of Modernity. Appendix: ‘Peterson’s conclusion and concluding footnote.’. Index

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Book SynopsisEarl Creps is known for his work in connecting the younger generation of postmoderns with their Boomer predecessors. The author of Off-Road Disciplines, Creps, in this new book, takes up the topic of how older church leaders can learn from younger leaders who are more conversant with culture, technology, and social context. In addition to making the benefits of what he calls reverse mentoring apparent, he also makes it accessible by offering practical steps to implement this discipline at both personal and organizational levels, particularly in communication, evangelism, and leadership. Creps'' new book is a topic of interest both inside and outside the church as older leaders realize that they''re not getting it when it comes to technologies (iPod, IM, blogging) or cultural issues such as the fact that younger people see the world in an entirely different way. Creps has been personally involved in reverse mentoring for several years and has spoken and written on the subjectTrade Review"Full of timely examples that can help keep ministry fresh and relevant." – The Living Church (January 2009) "I enjoyed reading Earl Creps’ Off Road Disciplines, but I was enthralled by Reverse Mentoring….Through these extremely personal and detailed stories Creps gives the reader a window into the emerging world with all of its new language, technology, music, and quirkiness." –Easum-BandyTable of ContentsAbout Leadership Network. Introduction: It Takes a Child to Raise a Village. Part One: Facing Reality. Chapter 1 Identity: “I Am Not Cool”. Chapter 2 Culture: “I Don’t Get It”. Chapter 3 Ministry: “I Am Not Relevant”. Part Two: Cultivating Spirituality. Chapter 4 Vision: Seeing Beyond Ourselves. Chapter 5 Wisdom: Knowing Beyond Our Information. Chapter 6 Relationship: Befriending Beyond Our Peers. Part Three: Experiencing Practicality. Chapter 7 Evangelism: Learning from Outsiders. Chapter 8 Communication: Learning from Listeners. Chapter 9 Leadership: Learning from Followers. Part Four: Developing Reciprocity. Chapter 10 Protégés: Developing R-Mentoring Relationships. Chapter 11 Processes: Embedding R-Mentoring in Organizations. Chapter 12 Interview: Joel and Rachel Mentor Earl and Janet. Epilogue I Was So Much Older Then; I’m Younger Than That Now. Notes. Acknowledgments. About the Author. Index.

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Book SynopsisOffers a comprehensive study of the life, teachings, and following of the controversial Indian guru known in his youth as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and in his later years as Osho (1931-1990). Based on extensive ethnographic and archival research, it is suitable for anyone interested in religion and globalization.Trade Review"This book is a must... Smoothly written and accessible, without bias." OshoNewsTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Introduction: Gurus, God-Men, and Globalization 1. "India's Most Dangerous Guru": Rajneesh and India after Independence 2. "Beware of Socialism!" The "Anti-Gandhi" and the Early Rajneesh Community in the 1970s 3. "From Sex to Superconsciousness": Sexuality, Tantra, and Liberation in 1970s India 4. "The Messiah America Has Been Waiting For": Rajneeshpuram in 1980s America 5. "Osho": The Apotheosis of a Fallen Guru in 1990s India 6. OSHO(R)? The Struggle over Osho's Legacy in the Twenty-First Century Conclusion: The Spiritual Logic of Late Capitalism Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Blackwell Companion to Paul presents a distinctive dual focus approach that encompasses both the historical Paul and the history of Paul's influence. In doing so, expert contributors successfully address the interests of students of early Christianity and those of Christian theology.Trade Review“In sum, this companion deserves a place on the shelf of every student, pastor, and scholar. It will be of more use to the former two, but even the scholar may reap some insights from this volume, especially in the sections that are more foreign to one’s field. I highly recommend this work.” (Exegeticaltools.com, 23 December 2015) “The volume offers an up-to-date survey of major themes and current scholarship on Paul. Its attempt to bridge the gap between Paul and the reception of him through the ages and in theology is welcome.” (Biblical Interpretations, 2015) “He has not only succeeded in making that conversation possible but has also produced a comprehensive work on Paul that will be of great benefit to all who open its pages for many years to come.” (Religious Studies Review, 12 September 2014) “This broad and handsome volume is arguably the most comprehensive introduction to Paul ever produced … There is insight aplenty for every reader. Westerholm has assembled a stellar cast of scholars with a brief to elucidate the content and impact of Paul’s message through history ... A very worth-while collection of mostly top-notch articles by a group of scholars at the heights of their powers ... These essays could set the agenda for Pauline studies in some areas for many years to come and all will offer every student of Paul – expert and novice alike – much food for thought and further reflection.” Regent's Reviews “This is a handsome, important volume that will be of great value to most students of the New Testament and early Christianity ... Highly recommended: upper-division undergraduates and above.” Choice “Despite the mountain of books on Paul, including some substantial single-authored overviews, there are, to my knowledge, no major, multi-author companions of the length and scope of this new addition to the Blackwell Companions series ... The book offers a wealth of material to inform and stimulate the study of Paul’s impact on the history of theology ... The editor has assembled an international and high-quality team of expert contributors, whose essays are well written and well informed ... An important reference point for students of Paul – and, equally, students of Paul’s impact on the history of Christian theology – for some time to come.” Theology “The contributors are first rate; the essays are concise, stimulating and informative; this is a very interesting and useful companion volume.” Journal for the Study of The New TestamentTable of ContentsNotes on Contributors xi Acknowledgments xvii Introduction 1 Stephen Westerholm Part I Paul and Christian Origins 7 1 Pauline Chronology 9 Rainer Riesner 2 Paul and the Macedonian Believers 30 Todd D. Still 3 Paul and the Corinthian Believers 46 Craig S. Keener 4 Paul and the Galatian Believers 63 Stephen Chester 5 Paul and the Believers of Western Asia 79 John Paul Heil 6 Paul and the Roman Believers 93 Beverly Roberts Gaventa 7 The Pastoral Epistles 108 I. Howard Marshall 8 The Portrait of Paul in Acts 124 Stanley E. Porter 9 The Gospel According to St. Paul 139 James D. G. Dunn 10 Paul and Scripture 154 J. Ross Wagner 11 Paul’s Christology 172 Simon J. Gathercole 12 Paul, Judaism, and the Jewish People 188 John M. G. Barclay 13 Paul and the Law 202 Arland J. Hultgren 14 The Text of the Pauline Corpus 216 Dirk Jongkind 15 Rhetoric in the Letters of Paul 232 Jean-Noël Aletti 16 The Social Setting of Pauline Communities 248 Gerd Theissen 17 Women in the Pauline Churches 268 Margaret Y. MacDonald 18 Paul and Empire 285 N. T. Wright Part II Readers of Paul 299 19 Marcion 301 Heikki Räisänen 20 Origen 316 Peter Widdicombe 21 Chrysostom 330 Christopher A. Hall 22 Augustine 345 Lewis Ayres 23 Aquinas 361 Matthew Levering 24 Luther 375 Mickey L. Mattox 25 Calvin 391 Anthony N. S. Lane 26 John and Charles Wesley 406 John R. Tyson 27 Barth 424 Richard E. Burnett 28 Recent Continental Philosophers 440 P. Travis Kroeker 29 Jewish Readings of Paul 455 Daniel R. Langton 30 Orthodox Readings of Paul 472 Theodore G. Stylianopoulos 31 African Readings of Paul 488 Grant LeMarquand Part III The Legacy of Paul 505 32 Art 507 Robin M. Jensen 33 Literature 531 David Lyle Jeffrey 34 Christian Theology: Sin and the Fall 546 Marguerite Shuster 35 Christian Theology: The Spirit 561 Ralph Del Colle 36 Christian Theology: Ethics 576 Gilbert Meilaender 37 Christian Theology: The Church 589 Nicholas M. Healy Index 605

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Book SynopsisSuitable for scientists, theologians, people of faith and people of no faith, as well as general readers eager to understand the God Debate, this title demolishes the 'superstitious' view of God held by most atheists and agnostics, and offers in its place a revolutionary account of the Christian Gospel.Trade Review"'Terry Eagleton's intervention into the debate sparked by Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion is, by turns, thought-provoking, infuriating, inspiring and very, very funny.' London Review of Books 'a gloriously rumbustious counter-blast to Dawkinsite atheism... paradoxes sparkle throughout this coruscatingly brilliant polemic... This is, then, a demolition job which is both logically devastating and a magnificently whirling philippic... Much of what it says is too true.' Paul Vallely, The Independent 'Eagleton's book began as a series of lectures delivered at Yale University. They must have been a riot... He's fantastically rude all round, about 'Ditchkins', about religion itself... It's terrific polemic.' Melanie McDonagh, Evening Standard"

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Book SynopsisShows how our debates are rooted in the many controversies surrounding the birth of the religion and the earliest attempts to resolve them. This title explores the ambiguities and contradictions that underlay Christian theology and the unavoidable compromises enforced in the name of doctrine.Trade Review"Freeman has a gift for crafting a compelling story out of the messy details of history, painting nuanced portraits of key figures through compelling quotations and precise historical observation."—Steve Young, Library Journal"This book will help us to new understandings and insights . . . It makes the events of this early period clear and accessible, and succeeds in showing how the Church developed its character and identity."—John Binns, Church Times"[Freeman] has found a fresh approach to the subject, from the birth of Christ to the death of the Roman Empire . . . Freeman gives one of the best explanations of the Arian controversy . . . that I have come across. And it is the way Freeman explores such issues that gives this book its modern relevance."—Nigel Nelson, Tribune"This [book] brilliantly evokes the intellectual excitement and spiritual ferment when a sect of enthusiasts was turning itself into a church."—Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman"Freeman writes well and his narrative is clear and swift with fine flashes of insight."—Eric Ormsby, Standpoint"Freeman writes very well and he always takes the trouble to read deeply in the scholarly literature. This book is a rattling good read and you’ll encounter all sorts of fascinating facts and stories."—Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald"Charles Freeman’s splendid and wide-ranging account of the birth of Christianity came out to rave reviews a couple of years ago. This paperback edition should make this important book available to more people."—Catholic Herald"This new and fascinating account shows how a distinct but diverse and exceptionally vibrant movement was brought into line with a unifying theology and what was lost in the process."—Good Book Guide"A History of Early Christianity is a masterful book, and a pleasure to read. Freeman narrates the development, diversity, and spread of Christianity with originality and verve. It is a story that brims over with fascinating accounts, intriguing quotations from figures in the ancient Mediterranean, and illuminating historical analysis. It is also a crucial resource for our understanding of ongoing cultural negotiations of religious and political spheres, all those theologico-political paradoxes that face us now more than ever. I do not think there exists a more engaging and illuminating history of early Christianity than this one."—Ward Blanton, University of Glasgow"Even those who are adherents to Christianity may be puzzled by the tensions which exist in its primary sources, and this meticulous attempt to probe its origins and development is to be welcomed. Charles Freeman embraces the different kinds of approaches and positions which are found in the ancient texts, Christian and otherwise, painting a vivid picture of the nature of Christianity in all its diversity in the earliest centuries of its existence."—Christopher Rowland, author of Christian Origins "This is a bold and imaginative historical synthesis which fills an important need. For the first time, Freeman makes the complex story of Christianity's birth and early development available in concise, lively, eminently readable form. A tragic story in many ways, but a great pleasure to read."—Richard Rubenstein, author of When Jesus Became God

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Book SynopsisEsther, the biblical book named after the beautiful Jewish woman chosen by the Persian King Xerxes to be queen, is a story of love, political intrigue, and religious faithfulness. This volume offers a treatment of scholarly issues and provides an explanation of the popular Jewish festival of Purim.

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Book SynopsisThe significance of the "First Letter of Peter" for the formation of Christianity stands in sharp contrast to its brevity. This volume sets the letter into context, covering its literary, historical, theological, and linguistic elements. It illuminates the social and cultural influences on the Church in its initial years.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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