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Book SynopsisWe live in a broken world. Amid the daily realities of sickness and isolation, disappointment and pain, it can be profoundly difficult to grasp the real goodness of God. But this is where God breaks into our darkness with beauty. In the wonder of creation, in art or film, story or song, in the kindness of his people and the good they create, God breaks into our pain in a tangible way, teaching us to trust his kindness and hope for his healing. Beauty is a voice singing into our suffering, beckoning us toward restoration. In This Beautiful Truth, Sarah Clarkson shares her own encounters with beauty in the midst of her decade-long struggle with mental illness, depression, and doubt. In a voice both vulnerable and reflective, she paints a compelling picture of the God who reaches out to us in a real and powerful way through the "taste and see" goodness of what he has made and what he continues to create amid our darkness. "To recognize and trust God's gift in pain," she writes, "empowers us to create and love as powerful witnesses to God's healing love in a hopeless world." If you want to renew your capacity to recognize and encounter God's beauty in your life, this hope-filled book will show you the way.

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Book SynopsisIn this accessible book, Ian J. Vaillancourt gives Christians a helpful introduction to the Pentateuch as the essential first act in the Bible's grand story of redemption.

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Book SynopsisFOURTEEN CENTURIES AGO, the final revelation descended upon Muhammad (PBUH). This message, Islam, spread rapidly across Arabia to nearby lands, and across the world. Today, over a billion people believe in and follow his message. But who was Muhammad (PBUH) and how can we develop certainty that he was the true messenger of God?In this book, Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy shares the multitude of proof surrounding Muhammad’s  prophethood. There are abundant comprehensive rational pathways that lead to this one certain conclusion: Muhammad (PBUH) was indeed the final messenger of God to this world.Table of ContentsCONTENTSForeword viiPreface ixQuenching a Parched World ixThe Proof Within Us xiThe Multiple Forms of Proof xiv1 Humanity’s Need for Prophethood 11. The Spiritual Necessity of Prophethood 12. The Moral Necessity of Prophethood 43. The Historical Necessity of Prophethood 64. The Biblical Necessity of Prophethood 8i. A Gentile Prophet Like Moses 8ii. John the Baptist and the Awaited Prophet 10iii. God’s Servant Where Kedar Lives 10iv. Jesus and the Comforter 12v. Zamzam and the Flourishing City 132 The Prophet’s Character 171. His Honesty and Integrity 202. His Simplicity and Humility 243. His Mercy and Compassion 284. His Clemency and Forgiveness 315. His Bravery and Valour 356. His Generosity 377. His Perseverance and Trust in God 39iv The Final Prophet3 The Prophet’s Accomplishments 471. A Love Larger than Life 512. History’s Greatest Success Story 563. Restoring the Unity of God 604. Revolutionizing Human Rights 625. Molding a Model Generation 674 The Prophet’s Message 751. Pure Monotheism 772. Faith in Destiny 803. The Ritual Prayer (Ṣalāh) 834. Devotional Fasting (Ṣiyām) 875. Prohibiting Extramarital Relations 896. Prohibiting Interest-Based Lending 917. Prohibiting Alcohol Consumption 938. Healthy Eating and Personal Hygiene 979. Science and Medicine 1025 The Prophet’s Prophecies 1071. The Byzantines will Rebound 1082. The Abode of Abū Lahab 1093. The Globalization of Islam 1094. Undeterred by Time or Distance 1115. Six in Sequence 1126. Counting the Conquests 1137. Security will Prevail 1158. The Last Emperors 1169. A Whisper in His Daughter’s Ear 11610. The Longest Arm 11711. The Martyrdom of ʿUmar and ʿUthmān 11812. Inevitable Infighting 11913. Tensions Among the Prophet’s Household 12014. The Fate of ʿAmmār 12115. ʿAlī Suppressing the Khārijites 12216. Repairing the Rift 12317. Cycling Back to Virtue is Promised 124Contents v18. Asmā’ Sends a Tyrant Home 12419. Umm Ḥarām’s Date with Destiny 12520. Preempting the Questioner 12621. An Unforgettable Sermon 12722. The Emergence of Selective Textualism 12723. A Horrific Wildfire 12724. Prosperity and Hedonism Before the End Times 12825. Competing in Materialism 12926. The Unavoidability of Interest (Ribā) 13027. An Increase in Brutality and Killing 13028. The Plunge into Immorality 13229. Muslims Becoming Easy Prey 13330. The Immortality of His Nation 13531. Never Thought You Would Speak 1366 The Prophet’s Physical Miracles 1391. The Possibility of Miracles 1412. The Demonstrability of Miracles 1453. Specific Miracles Performed by the Prophet 148i. Splitting the Moon 149ii. The Night Journey 152iii. The Weeping Tree 155iv. The Talking Stones 156v. Increasing the Water Supply 158vi. Increasing the Food Supply 159vii. Answered Prayers 1637 The Inimitable Qur’an 1691. A Literary Masterpiece 170i. Muhammad or Shakespeare? 1732. Knowledge of the Inaccessible Past 178i. Pharaoh’s Body Will Survive 179ii. The Heavens Did Not Grieve for Pharaoh 180iii. Joseph’s King Wasn’t a Pharaoh 180iv. Was Muhammad Spoon-Fed Biblical History? 1833. Preserved as Promised 184vi The Final Prophet4. An Extraordinary Potency 1875. Echoes of a Prophet 192A Parting Word on the Journey of Faith 199Bibliography 203English Sources 203Arabic Sources 209Index 215

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Book SynopsisYou can know a lot about Jesus and not know him at all.We’re not meant to simply know a lot of facts about Jesus. Truly knowing someone requires personal knowledge coming from being with someone over time and building trust. Knowing about someone is just the first step toward truly knowing them. It’s the same with God: we come to know Him personally when we spend time with Him, when we build trust in Him, when we share our life with Him.Join Megan Fate Marshman in this eight-week invitation to respond to and really get to know Jesus in a personal and intimate way. This study through the Gospel of John will focus on dissecting His seven “I Am” statements, where we come to learn what Jesus wants us to know most about His character and love for us.This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself—with discussion questions, group act

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Book SynopsisA compact New Testament allows you to read and share God’s Word wherever you go. This edition is published in KJV Comfort Print type, which was designed exclusively for Thomas Nelson to be the most readable at any size.Thomas Nelson’s KJV Pocket New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs is as easy to read as it is to carry! The unique compact size makes this Bible portable enough to fit in a pocket, purse, suitcase, backpack, or briefcase. A great gift idea and perfect traveling companion, this small New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs allows you to read and share God’s Word no matter where you go.Features include: The Presentation page is a special place to record a memory or note to your recipient Words of Christ in red help you quickly identify Jesus’ teachings and statements Subject heads in the text

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Book SynopsisAre natural rights ''nonsense on stilts'', as Jeremy Bentham memorably put it? Must the very notion of a right be individualistic, subverting the common good? Should the right against torture be absolute, even though the heavens fall? Are human rights universal or merely expressions of Western neo-imperial arrogance? Are rights ethically fundamental, proudly impervious to changing circumstances? Should judges strive to extend the reach of rights from civil Hamburg to anarchical Basra? Should judicial oligarchies, rather than legislatures, decide controversial ethical issues by inventing novel rights? Ought human rights advocates learn greater sympathy for the dilemmas facing those burdened with government?These are the questions that What''s Wrong with Rights? addresses. In doing so, it draws upon resources in intellectual history, legal philosophy, moral philosophy, moral theology, human rights literature, and the judgments of courts. It ranges from debates about property in medieval Christendom, through Confucian rights-scepticism, to contemporary discussions about the remedy for global hunger and the justification of killing. And it straddles assisted dying in Canada, the military occupation of Iraq, and genocide in Rwanda.What''s Wrong with Rights? concludes that much contemporary rights-talk obscures the importance of fostering civic virtue, corrodes military effectiveness, subverts the democratic legitimacy of law, proliferates publicly onerous rights, and undermines their authority and credibility. The solution to these problems lies in the abandonment of rights-fundamentalism and the recovery of a richer public discourse about ethics, one that includes talk about the duty and virtue of rights-holders.Trade Reviewa welcomed addition to the current discussion. Biggar's previous work on the ethics of war gives him a unique angle to approach cases of rights talk, focusing on specific instances such as torture and killing in war. He makes a strong case for making rights the conclusion of a process of moral consideration rather than a foundational starting point to which everything else must yield. * Todd A. Scacewater, Journal of Language, Culture, and Religion *This is a scholarly book worth reading and a critique worth constructively engaging with. * Ethna Regan, Studies in Christian Ethics *Courageous ... What's Wrong With Rights? is a rich and challenging book. Not everyone will agree with Biggar's views, but anyone writing about human rights who wishes to be taken seriously will need to engage with his arguments. * Jonathan Sumption, The Times *I...commend this book for its clarity of reasoning and its engagement with fundamental issues with which we should all be discussing. * John Duddington, Law and Justice *A brilliant, provocative and intelligent book. * Simon Heffer, The Daily Telegraph *A thought-provoking work of scholarship... [a] compelling challenge to sloppy rights-thinking. * Craig Purshouse, Times Literary Supplement *This encyclopaedic study provides a marvellous survey of the complex field of rights and raises important questions as to the growing use of rights language. * R. Dean Drayton, International Journal of Public Theology *...A powerfully reasoned intellectual history of the sceptical tradition from the 1780s to the present day. [Biggar is] a discriminating guide rather than an anti-rights ideologist, and his analysis of these traditions is intricate, exacting and fair. While clearly Christian in his perspective, he keeps claims from authority, especially divine authority, firmly in their place * Michael Ignatieff, Literary Review *It is a rigorously reasoned argument and ... Biggar succeeds brilliantly in deflating the inordinate claims made for rights today...Along with being a profound study in moral and political philosophy, this is also a devastating and highly topical attack on the belief that ethical dilemmas can be resolved by 'an oligarchy of judges' expanding existing rights and conjuring up new ones...Over the past two decades, Biggar has produced a body of work of the highest intellectual quality which has made him one of the leading living Western ethicists. * John Gray, New Statesman *Quietly, cautiously, and with careful scholarly integrity, Professor Biggar has derailed a gravy train. Should the UK withdraw from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights? Should it repeal or redraft the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010? The result would surely be petitions, denunciations, hostile crowds, the toppling of statues, the banning of speakers, self-righteous lawyers. But all this happens already; what is there to lose? Thanks to Biggar, we see how much there is to gain. It is time for philosophical arguments, won in the pages of this important book, to be translated into legislation. * Jonathan Clark, The Critic *This scholarly, but nonetheless most readable, book makes an important contribution to the debate about to be had when the UK Government takes forward its promised (some would say threatened) new Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Human Rights. No stranger to controversy, Professor Biggar argues in effect that the assertion of human rights has got out of hand. He pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. This is a penetrating examination of the relationship between rights and responsibilities and reflects many of the concerns expressed in Jonathan Sumption's 2019 Reith Lectures. * Lord Simon Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood *What's Wrong With Rights? isone of the most remarkable scholarly achievements I know of:it deftly addresses a wide variety of theoretical and practical problems of great normative importance; it engages with a vast and complex legal, philosophical, and theological literature about the morality of rights; it articulates plausible assessments of the most important contributions to that literature; and perhaps most importantly, the topics it addresses are at the very heart of political discourse in contemporary liberal polities. I cannot recommend it more highly. * Christopher Eberle, Professor of Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis *With the noble post-World War II human rights project increasingly imperiled by misunderstanding and manipulation, Nigel Biggar's new book is a major contribution to clear thinking about what we mean when we speak of rights. Whether or not they agree with his conclusions, friends of human rights everywhere should welcome this timely and informative analysis of what's wrong with rights and what needs to be done to put them right. * Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard University and author of Rights Talk (1991) *Despite its eye-catching title, this book is neither a rejection of rights as such nor of natural morality, but a keen-eyed critique of natural rights in particular. In a discussion both dazzlingly wide-ranging and compellingly concrete, Nigel Biggar shows how natural rights talk undermines appropriate acknowledgement of the contingent, circumstantial character of political and ethical judgments. We do well to recognize that rights are paradigmatically legal and enrich ethical discourse by attending to virtues and duties as much as to rights. What's Wrong with Rights is the most significant Christian ethical contribution to reflection on rights since Nicholas Wolterstorff's Justice: Rights and Wrongs. * Jennifer Herdt, Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian Ethicsat Yale Divinity School *What's Wrong With Rights? is magisterial, combining theology, intellectual history, and detailed attention to particular cases and examples. Biggar is not afraid of making controversial judgements and works towards them in a manner that is honest and transparent, always commanding respect. At a deeper level, his book invites the reader to engage in debates about rights, maybe to disagree, but to do so from within a richer moral tradition, which gives more opportunity for insight, nuance, and dissent. The possibility arises of not only better judgements, but better disagreements. Both robust and generous, this landmark book represents a leading theological ethicist writing at the height of his powers. * Christopher Insole, Professor of Philosophical Theology and Ethics at Durham University *Rights talk has dominated public discourse for the past seventy years. But our political disagreements are worse than ever. Nigel Biggar not only explains what happened, he also proposes a comprehensive way forward. We need to move beyond "rights fundamentalism", and retrieve a richer public discourse that emphasizes duty, virtue, and the concrete challenges facing a political community. Crossing the boundaries of theology, philosophy, history, and law, Biggar's incisive analysis shows why talking about "natural rights" isn't helpful: defining, defending, and balancing rights always requires well-functioning legal institutions. * Cathleen Kaveny, Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology at Boston College *What's Wrong with Rights?is a finely crafted review of the history of rights and an insightful assessment of contemporary discussions across a range of disciplines and contexts. Nigel Biggar raises important basic questions for theology, ethics, and law, and this book will reshape our ways of thinking about rights in all three fields. * Robin W. Lovin, Cary M. Maguire University Professor Emeritus of Ethics at Southern Methodist University, Dallas *This is a critique of one of most fashionable and incoherent notions of our time, the idea that there are enforceable rights, 'natural' or 'human', that exist independently of collective human choice. It is original, thought-provoking, and carefully reasoned. Such rights have many supporters, and always will have. But they should not be taken seriously unless they are willing to engage with the ideas in this impressive book. * Lord Jonathan Sumption, QC, former Justice of the Supreme Court of the UK *What's Wong With Rights? is a timely, wide-ranging, and historically informed book that subjects the prevailing human rights culture, in its various manifestations, to a strong dose of Burkean scepticism. Philosophers will be provoked by his thesis that rights are paradigmatically the creatures of law and form no part of natural morality. Lawyers will be challenged by the vigorous criticisms of what Biggar views as the illegitimate employment of rights vocabulary as a mean of enforcing the moral and political views of an "oligarchy of judges". This is an iconoclastic book that deserves to be reckoned with in the serious conversation about the nature and limits of rights that we desperately need. * John Tasioulas, Yeoh Professor of Politics, Philosophy, and Law at King's College London *This is a cleverly titled, crisply written, and largely clear-eyed engagement with the history, concept, and limits of rights and right talk in the Western tradition and beyond.Nigel Biggar brings a big analytical mind and deft pen to the task — and a pair of sharp elbows too. He engages a substantial library of human rights scholarship and case law with critical acuity and philosophical originality, concluding with a cautious and conditional endorsement of rights. * John Witte, Jr, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law and McDonald Distinguished Professor, Emory University School of Law, and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University *Biggar's method in discussing the intellectual history of rights is to distil the most notable expressions of the 200-year-old British tradition of scepticism about natural rights into a set of main objections. * Esther D. Reed, University of Exeter, Modern Believing *Biggar's method in discussing the intellectual history of rights is to distil the most notable expressions of the 200-year-old British tradition of scepticism about natural rights into a set of main objections. * Esther D. Reed, University of Exeter, Modern Believing *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1: Are there Natural Rights? 1: The Sceptical Tradition 2: Are there Natural Rights? 2: The Sceptical Critique and Rights before 1776 3: Are there Natural Rights? 3: The Sceptical Critique and Rights after 1776 4: Are there Natural Rights? 4: The Sceptical Critique and the modern Roman Catholic Tradition 5: Are there Natural Rights? 5: The Sceptical Critique and Contemporary Theories 6: What's Wrong with Subjective Rights? 7: Are there Absolute Rights? 8: Are Human Rights Universal? 9: What's Wrong with Rights in Ethics? 10: What's Wrong with (some) Judges? 1: Al-Skeini, Al-Jedda, Smith, and the Fog of War 11: What's Wrong with (some) Judges? 2: Carter and the Invention of a Right to 'Physician-assisted Dying' 12: What's Wrong with (some) Human Rights Lawyers? Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisEach moment that you''re given is a precious gift from God. You can choose to have a thankful attitude and live each moment full of joy, simply because God is good. In The Power of Thank You, renowned Bible teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer encourages us to take a look at ourselves and the importance of being thankful.Living life with a heart of gratitude for who God is and what He has done lifts your burdens and allows you to see everything in a different light. Regularly giving thanks to God not only helps you fully realize how He''s working in your life, it gives you a new perspective-your mind is renewed, your attitude is improved, and you''re filled with joy.Things will certainly happen to you that don''t seem fair, and it''s much easier to make excuses and feel sorry for yourself. Keep saying, I trust You, God, and I believe You will work it all out for my good. If you find The Power of Thank You in every situation, truly believing thTrade Review'Meyer uses heartfelt, personal examples and biblical stories to encourage choices that will result in a life lived to its fullest.' * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisFrom the prize winning and bestselling author of Lullaby and Adele: a fascinating and witty collection ofessays on the lives of women grappling with sexual politics in a deeply conservative culture.Trade Review'Slimani trusts in her outrage, in the force of her own voice, and the voices of the women she listens to.' - Guardian'This book of impassioned pleas, and of human impulses that resonate, is one step to more women breaking free.' - Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisThe renowned translator Bhikkhu Bodhi has crafted this anthology of suttas from the Samyutta Nikaya to enable students of Early Buddhism to penetrate into the heart of the Buddha’s teachings on the four noble truths and the eightfold path as directly and clearly as possible. The aim is to attain direct insight into foundational Buddhist teachings on liberation.Brilliantly translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi, this anthology of suttas from the Samyutta Nikaya takes us straight to the heart of the Buddha’s teaching on liberation through the four noble truths and the noble eightfold path—the two mainstays of Buddhist doctrine that illuminate the nature of things by generating direct insight into the teachings. These suttas all pertain to the ultimate good, the attainment of nibbana, or liberation. They illuminate the Buddha’s radical diagnosis of the human condition—and more broadly, the condition of all sentient existence—in light of the four noble truths. They underscore the pervasive flaws inherent in the round of rebirths, trace our existential predicament to its deepest roots, and lay out the path to unraveling our bondage and winning irreversible release. Ven. Bodhi arranged the chapters, each with its own introduction, to provide an overview of the Dhamma that mirrors the four noble truths, thus enabling students of Early Buddhism to see into the heart of the Buddha’s teachings as directly and clearly as possible. 

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Book SynopsisFrom 1563 to 1736 Scotland put thousands of women to death for witchcraft. Their supposed crimes have much to tell us about attitudes to women in the past, and in the present day. This book introduces sixteen women who lost their lives or lived in the long shadow of the persecutions.'Witches' who, like MARGARET AITKEN, confessed, implicated others, even aided the hunters before they were burned.Nonconforming women like MARY MACLEOD, who saw their reputations tarnished when they did not bend to society's expectations.Creatures of the imagination, like Robert Burns's NANNY, who embody deep-seated associations between womanhood and the occult.Weaving fiction with the facts where these are known, We Are All Witches invites the reader to explore the forces at work in one of the darkest episodes of Scotland's history and consider their echoes in the present day.Trade ReviewSpringing directly from the pioneering Witches of Scotland campaign, Kidd has imagined lively and convincing voices from the past to commemorate the lost lives of Scotland's witches, reminiscent of Jenni Fagan's Hex. * Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists *We Are All Witches is a compelling, moving book that invites the reader to consider not only the background to the Scottish witch trials and the mythology surrounding witches, but also the lives of those affected. * Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women *

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Book Synopsis"This book almost didn't exist. I was about to write a serious, heavy book entitled How To Save Western Civilization, as a sequel to my book How To Destroy Western Civilization and Other Ideas from the Cultural Abyss. But writing it was not making me happy, and reading it was not going to make anybody else happy either. And then I stopped just long enough for my guardian angel to squeeze through that tiny window of opportunity that I had opened up by my silence and to whisper this commonsense question into my subconscious: "Why not make them happy instead?" (Angels specialize in common sense.) I started thinking: Western civilization is neither healthy, happy, nor holy. Humor is all three. Humor is not only holy, it's Heavenly. And if you are surprised to be told that humor is Heavenly, you need to read this book because you reveal your misunderstanding of both humor and Heaven. If you ask, 'Is there laughter in Heaven?' my answer is: 'You can't be serious!'" Trade Review... Probably the shortest, funniest philosophy book you’ll ever read — Sarah Schutte, National Review

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Book SynopsisIn this clear, compelling call to reformation, Michael Reeves helps believers reject pharisaism and embrace gospel integrity through biblical revelation, redemption, and regeneration.

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Book SynopsisWith the captivating story of a little girl whose parents mistakenly leave her at church, this TGC Kids picture book illustrates Jesus's command to love one another, showing children ages 37 that God has provided the church to be their loving community.

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Book SynopsisA 50th anniversary revised edition of the beloved classic, God is Red. First published in 1972, Vine Deloria Jr.'s God Is Red 50th Anniversary Edition remains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate. Celebrating three decades in publication with a special 30th-anniversary edition, this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world." It is time again to listen to Vine Deloria Jr.'s powerful voice, telling us about religious life that is independent of Christianity and that reveres the interconnectedness of all living things.

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Islamic Psychology: The Basics is a jargon-free and accessible introduction that explores psychology from an Islamic perspective, and provides a foundation level overview of the fundamental principles and practices of Islamic psychology. The book introduces concepts, models, approaches, themes, and theories you need to know to study the mind, soul, and behaviour based on Islamic scripture.Offering an overview of Islamic psychology and what Islamic psychologists do, chapters address key topics including the history of the evolution of the science of the soul, and the psychology of human behaviour and experiences. Rassool examines the concepts of the Fitrah, the Nafs (Self), the Aql (Intellect), the Ru? (Soul) the Qalb (Heart), and the concept of Islamic healing and spiritual interventions. Other themes include the Qur'an and psychology, models and approaches in Islamic psychology, interpreting Islamic psychology for modern times, and the contemporary scope of the prac

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Book SynopsisFlowers are found in magic traditions around the world, from ancient Egypt, China, and India to the Norse and Native Americans. Yet many of today’s well-established flower traditions--like bridal bouquets--originated in the Druidic magical lore of Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. As fifth-generation Druid Jon G. Hughes explains, flowers hold a preeminent position in Druidic folk magic with their own special branch of magical workings. In this practical guide, Hughes details how to use flowers in magical practice, focusing on flowering plants with a long history of magical use going back to Druidic times yet many of which are commonly found throughout the world such as buttercup, blackberry, and dog rose. He discusses what type of flower and form of flower magic is best for specific enchantments and rituals in the areas of love and sex magic, healing and focusing, and protection. He looks at the magical use of fresh flowers and provides detailed instruction on every stage of the harvesting, crafting, and practical use of flower magic potions, including a comprehensive herbarium of all the flowers that may be used. Examining the complex relationship between flowers and bees, the author looks at the physical and spiritual gifts of bees, such as honey, propolis, and bee’s wax, and the importance of bee culture in Druidic flower magic, including the tradition of the honeymoon, the significance of the hexagram, and medieval beekeeper lore. Inviting you into the gentle yet powerful realm of Druidic flower magic, the author also details how to plan, plant, and take care of your own magical flower garden with all the botanicals you will need to pursue the path of flower magic.Trade Review“A valuable handbook that details a pre-Celtic tradition of flower lore and essential magic. Jon G. Hughes also comprehensively lists 149 flowering plants and their attributes and their uses in magical practice as well as the spiritual nature of bees and how to create a physic garden.” * NIGEL PENNICK, author of Elemental Magic *“Flower Magic of the Druids is a lovely book that offers instruction on how to infuse and extract herbal preparations in harmony with the seasons to energetically capture the subtle essences of individual flowers and other plant portions to enhance love, protection, and good fortune. Flower Magic of the Druids is a reminder that the power of nature with intention can be a tool for transformation.” * Brigitte Mars, author of The Sexual Herbal *Of special interest to students of flower based magic in general, Druid magic in particular, Flower Magic of the Druids: How to Craft Potions, Spells, and Enchantments by Jon G. Hughes is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a section of full color photographs and is deftly organized into three major sections: The Ancient Art of Flower Magic; Flower Magic Workbook; The Druid's Garden. Exceptionally well written and presented, Flower Magic of the Druids is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and Druid practitioners that Flower Magic of the Druids is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99). * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION The Wonders That Surround UsPART 1 The Ancient Art of Flower MagicONE Origins of Druidic Flower Magic TWOOther Flower Traditions and Practices THREE Basic Precepts of Druidic Flower Magic PART 2Flower Magic Workbook FOUR Identification, Selection, and HarvestingFIVE Methods for Extracting the Three Cardinal Essences SIX Crafting and Casting Potions SEVEN Stocking the Flower Magic PantryPART 3 The Druid’s Garden EIGHT Bees, Flowers, and Druids: A Symbiotic Relationship NINE Building a Physic Garden TEN Directory: The Attributes of Flowering Plants CONCLUSION An Unbroken Lineage of Practical MagicIndex

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Book SynopsisTwo-thirds of men and a third of women who attend church regularly say they struggle with pornography. Yet only 7% of churches offer specific resources and support to their congregations. Pastors and church leaders are well aware of the issue of pornography—thanks to decades of studies and Christian blog and magazine articles—however the local church is caught in a painful trap. When Christians are too ashamed to admit their struggle, church leaders aren’t able to directly support those who are actively struggling; when church attendees do find the courage to seek help, they often receive ineffective support from pastors and ministry leaders due to lack of proactive planning.As a former journalist and current Director of Recovery Education for Covenant Eyes, Sam Black understands the stronghold pornography can have on an individual’s life. His writing in The Healing Church actively addresses these issues and provides clear guidance for ministry leaders as they support those who seek to live in freedom.In The Healing Church, ministry leaders will discover how to create safe spaces and apply processes that restore those trapped in compulsive behaviors with pornography. Sam Black outlines the most successful examples from churches currently providing meaningful aid and includes stories of Christians who found healing from porn strongholds, as evidence of the type of healing that pastors and church leaders can provide. In researching this book, Sam Black conducted more than 70 interviews not only with pastors, counselors, and ministry leaders, but also with everyday people who recovered from a secret life of sin and are helping others who feel trapped by porn and unwanted sexual behaviors. The Healing Church affirms how those who experience true brokenness and surrender to discipleship and life change become strong servants to the Body of Christ and healthier as people overall. When the selfish become selfless, when the idolators learn to worship Christ, when the prideful become meek, they become more fulfilled as servants and filled with purpose.Today, the local church has choices. It can largely ignore the problems of pornography because they are too unseemly. It can chastise, rebuke, and cast out, which sends more people into hiding. Or it can lead people through a grace-filled process to the foot of the Cross, where strongholds are crushed and where stronger servants arise.

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Book SynopsisReceived wisdom has it that Buddhism disappeared from India, the land of its birth, between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, long forgotten until British colonial scholars re-discovered it in the early 1800s. Its full-fledged revival, so the story goes, only occurred in 1956, when the Indian civil rights pioneer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with half a million of his Dalit (formerly "untouchable") followers. This, however, is only part of the story. Dust on the Throne reframes discussions about the place of Buddhism in the subcontinent from the early nineteenth century onwards, uncovering the integral, yet unacknowledged, role that Indians played in the making of modern global Buddhism in the century prior to Ambedkar's conversion, and the numerous ways that Buddhism gave powerful shape to modern Indian history. Through an extensive examination of disparate materials held at archives and temples across South Asia, Douglas Ober explores Buddhist religious dynamics in an age of expanding colonial empires, intra-Asian connectivity, and the histories of Buddhism produced by nineteenth and twentieth century Indian thinkers. While Buddhism in contemporary India is often disparaged as being little more than tattered manuscripts and crumbling ruins, this book opens new avenues for understanding its substantial socio-political impact and intellectual legacy.Trade Review"This is the first comprehensive study in any language of the revival of interest in Buddhism in nineteenth and twentieth-century India. It transforms the way we view modern Indian religious and political life. Through careful archival investigation, Douglas Ober uncovers numerous sources and topics that have been ignored or dealt with in piecemeal fashion. He uses this array of materials to create a compelling argument for the vital of importance of Buddhism in modern Indian religious life, politics, intellectual history, and culture. By highlighting the contributions of Indian scholars, advocates, and practitioners to the revival of Buddhism in twentieth-century India, Ober gives us a much more accurate picture of modern global Buddhism. This is a major, foundational contribution to religious and Buddhist history."—Richard Jaffe, author of Seeking Sakyamuni: South Asia in the Formation of Modern Japanese Buddhism"This is a book I've been waiting for—a powerful account of the contestations and challenges that marked the return of Buddhism to the public sphere. It forces us to think of the role of human agency in shaping the present and future in India—perhaps even in the world."—Uma Chakravarti, author of The Social Dimensions of Early Buddhism"It is a fantastic read, almost like a detective novel in parts, and you turn the page wondering how Buddhism was discovered, how it fared in various contexts. Douglas Ober's mastery of sources, his adept linking of various geographies, ideas, and events are so effortlessly done that they belie the immense labor and reading and writing that have no doubt gone into the making of this book."—V Geetha, author of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and the Question of Socialism in India "This splendid book overturns the standard but faulty story of Buddhism's supposed disappearance from India by the thirteenth century. It completely recasts our understanding of modern Buddhism and its role in nineteenth and twentieth-century India. A marvelous combination of history, philosophy, and story-telling, Dust on the Throne is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand Buddhism in our world today."—Evan Thompson, author ofWaking, Dreaming, Being andWhy I Am Not a Buddhist"An engrossing and lively account of how modern India 'rediscovered' and re-engaged with Buddhism in the last two centuries, featuring a cast of compelling historical characters.Going far beyond standard assumptions and understandings about the decline and revival of Buddhism in India,Dust on the Throne is a must-read for all who are interested in south Asian history, both recent and ancient."—Tony Joseph, author of Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From"Dust on the Throne offers a new perspective on the history of Buddhism in India during the colonial period and early years of Independence. Marshalling an array of evidence that foregrounds the role of individuals and institutions (some known, some forgotten) in the context of subcontinental and global networks, it dispels many long-cherished notions about Buddhism's decline and revival in its homeland, offering a convincing alternative narrative."—Upinder Singh, author of History of Ancient and Early Medieval India"Douglas Ober's Dust on the Throne weaves a fascinating history of individuals, institutions, and events that animated modern Buddhism. The book provides rare insights into a range offorgotten Indianswhose contributions were as impressive as those of better-known colonials.Its exploration of the footprint of Buddhist discourses among the masses is equally captivating. This will remain a definitive study on the many streams that constituted the quest for Buddhism inModern India."—Nayanjot Lahiri, author of Ashoka in Ancient India"[Dust on the Throne] is vast and dense, shining light on many of the Indian historians, scholars, translators, ethnographers, and laborers whose engagement with ancient and modern Buddhism galvanized 19th- and 20th-century public discourse. Rather than fragmented, however, the confluence of geographies, perspectives, and demographics demonstrate how dynamic and complex local expertise and agency in the resurgence of Buddhism within India have been."—Liesl Schwabe, Los Angeles Review of Books"Ober's exhaustive survey assembles Buddhism's disparate histories from different regions of modern India and contextualizes the formation of its multiple stands. He effectively dismantles the idea of European discovery of Buddhism and challenges the overemphasis on the contribution of Dharmapala and Ambedkar's scholarship."—Abishek Singh Amar, Tricycle"Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India, an erudite study by the historian Douglas Ober, is an exception to the brahmin-centric trend, and an outstanding intervention for many reasons. Right from its thoughtful title – which captures the deep history and 'revival' of the region's Buddhist past – the book tells us a different story than the brahmin-centric narratives of so much other scholarship. Ober shows how the widespread notion that Buddhism in the Subcontinent had died by the thirteenth century or earlier, and showed no trace of life into the modern period, is at most a 'useful fiction', if not a foolish conclusion outright."—Gajendran Ayyathurai, Himal SouthasianTable of Contents0. Introduction 1. The Agony of Memory 2. Dispelling Darkness 3. Banyan Tree Buddhism 4. Brahmanizing Buddhism 5. The Snake and the Mongoose 6. When the Buddha met Marx 7. The Buddha Nation Conclusion: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisA Catholic Classic -- UPDATED AND EXPANDED!For 2,000 years, Catholicism—the largest religion in the world and in the United States—has shaped global history on a scale unequaled by any other institution. Triumph offers an accessible, affirmative, and exciting entry into that history. Inside, you'll discover the spectacular story of the Church from Biblical times and the early days of St. Peter—the first pope—to Pope John Paul the Great (already a saint), Pope Benedict XVI (a master theologian), and the controversies surrounding Pope Francis. It is a sweeping drama of Roman legions, great crusades, epic battles, toppled empires, heroic saints, and enduring faith, as well as Dark Age skullduggery, the Inquisition, the Renaissance popes, and the Protestant Revolt. A classic for twenty years -- now updated and expanded -- Triumph is a brawling, colorful history full of inspiring pageantry and spirited polemic that will exhilarate, amuse, and infuriate as it extols the power and the glory the Catholic Church and the gripping stories of some of its greatest men and women.

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Book SynopsisThere is magick in things that grow, and this guide is the perfect companion to cultivate your own green witchcraft practice and harness the magical power of plants. Within these pages, you'll discover spells for cleansing, protection, healing, and banishment, while also deepening your relationship with the natural world. You'll learn the language of lavender, chamomile, and cedar, uncover old secrets, and reconnect with that which is wild and beautiful.Whether drawing in a new relationship by sweetly whispering your romantic desires to your basil plant each day, writing a wish on a bay leaf, or working to lift your spirits by harvesting calendula under a bright, midday sky, the abundant wisdom of herbs guides our growth and unearths deep understanding of the inherent magick in all of nature.From understanding intention and magickal preparation, to a practical collection of spells and accompanying herbal compendium, The Green Witch's Guide to Herbal Magick empowers you to live the magickal life you've always wanted.

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Book SynopsisThe Dhammapada is the most widely read Buddhist scripture in existence, enjoyed by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. This classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. The text presents two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life: the first is attaining happiness in this life (or in future lives); the second goal is the achievement of spiritual liberation, freedom, absolute peace. Many of the key themes of the verses are presented in dichotomies or pairs, for example, grief and suffering versus joy; developing the mind instead of being negligent about one''s mental attitude and conduct; virtuous action versus misconduct; and being truthful versus being deceitful. The purpose of these contrasts is, very simply, to describe the difference between what leads to desirable outcomes and what does not. For centuries, this text has been studied in its original Pali, the canonical language of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. This fresh new translation from Insight Mediation teacher and Pail translator Gil Fronsdal is both highly readable and scholarly authoritative. With extensive explanatory notes, this edition combines a rigorous attention to detail in bringing forth the original text with the translator''s personal knowledge of the Buddhist path. It is the first truly accurate and highly readable translation of this text to be published in English.

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Book SynopsisAn investigation of The Eye of Revelation, a system of inner alchemy meant to awaken the subtle powers of the human body and mind. This book examines in detail a short book, often referred to as The Five Tibetans that was published in 1939 teaching a simple yet effective set of five exercises for health and longevity, the Five Rites. Certain dietary rules and lifestyle principles accompanied the Rites, so did a Sixth Rite that worked the diaphragm muscles and redirected sexual energies, and also a set of teachings about seven energy centers or vortices in the body, though not the same as the well-known seven chakras along the spine. These vortices are among the most distinctive things about the system, and are found in only a scattered handful of sources elsewhere. It is by awakening the vortices to their normal rate of spin, the book claims, that the Rites achieve their effects. John Michael Greer follows each of these threads back as far as possible, to reveal something of the landscape of ideas and practices that gave rise to these remarkable exercises. He then spins the threads back together, putting the Five Rites in as much of their original context as he can, and describing in detail the practice of the broader system in which the Rites have their place—a system of inner alchemy meant to awaken certain subtle powers of the human body and mind. The book also includes the complete original text of The Eye of Revelation.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1. The Teacher 2. The Exercises 3. The Currents 4. The Waters 5. The Vortices 6. The Glands 7. The Chakras 8. The Inner Sun 9. The Third Eye 10. The Secret Preliminaries Stage One Stage Two Stage Three The Eye of Revelation by Peter Kelder (1939) Foreword Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Appendix 1: The Simplified Method Stage One Stage Two Stage Three Additional Practices Appendix 2: The Carey Protocol Bibliography Peter Kelder’s Text Other Source Material Online Archives INDEX

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Book SynopsisJohn Geometres’s Life of the Virgin Mary, a work of outstanding theological sophistication animated by deeply felt devotion to the Mother of God, remains largely unknown today. This new edition of the Byzantine Greek text and the first complete translation in a modern language presents a masterpiece of early Marian writing to new audiences.

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Book SynopsisThis sweeping collection of new translations paints a brilliant picture of the development of Ch?an (Zen) Buddhism, China?s most radical philosophical and meditative tradition.In this landmark anthology of some two dozen translations, celebrated translator David Hinton shows how Ch''an (Japanese: Zen)?too long considered a perplexing school of Chinese Buddhism?was in truth a Buddhist-inflected form of Taoism, China''s native system of spiritual philosophy. The texts in The Way of Ch?an build from seminal Taoism through the ?Dark-Enigma Learning? literature and on to the most important pieces from all stages of the classical Ch?an tradition. Guided by Hinton?s accessible introductions, readers will encounter texts and authors including: I Ching (c. 12th century BCE) Lao Tzu (c. 6th century BCE Bodhidharma (active c. 500-550 CE) Sixth Patriarch Prajna-Able (Hui Neng, 638-713) Cold Mountain (Han Shan: c. 8th-9th centuries) Yellow-Bitterroot Mountain (Huang Po, d. 850) Blue-Cliff Record (c. 1040) Through this steadily deepening and transformative reading experience, readers will see the profound and intricate connections between native Chinese philosophy, Taoism, and Ch?an. Contemporary Zen students and practitioners will never see their tradition in the same way again.

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Book SynopsisBeing the twenty-sixth book of The Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'ulum al-din), The Book of the Censure of This World (Kitab Dhamm al-dunya) seeks to persuade its reader of the folly of worldly pleasures and possessions.To do so, al-Ghazali begins with a collection of Islamic primary-source texts that speak to the dangers of this world from a variety of angles. He then adds to this collection fourteen metaphors for this world that illustrate its perfidious nature. In a third subsection, al-Ghazali provides an original rationale for renouncing worldly enjoyments, and he furnishes his reader with a blueprint for determining what constitutes 'this world' in its most dangerous sense. In a fourth and final subsection, al-Ghazali applies a sociological theory to enumerate the essential human vocations and identify the mechanisms through which these lead people away from God.

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Book SynopsisFor a period in time that gave us Sappho and the love affair of Achilles and Patroclus, the Ancient Greek relationship with queer folk is more complicated that at first glance. Tales as old as antiquity persevere, whether the goddess of love Aphrodite, Tiresias, the prophet who spent time as both man and woman, or the infamous Heracles. But, what can these ancient stories offer our contemporary world? Historian Jean Menzies dives into the world of queer retellings and the Greek myths being told anew by LGBTQ+ writers. From explorations of gender and identity across millennia, to celebrating queer love in its many forms, All the Violet Tiaras invites readers to discover the power to be found in remaking these myths, time and again, carving a space for queer stories to be told with all the complexity and tenderness they deserve, with a goddess or two for good measure.

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Book Synopsis"In this twenty-fifth anniversary edition, you will find John a "soul friend" on your own journey through life, offering support and solace, clarity, and consciousness-expanding narratives that invite you to experience relationships with people, nature, and even your inner world in new ways that nurture well-being and resilience in these challenging times." -Daniel J. Siegel, MD, Neuropsychiatrist and New York Times Bestselling AuthorA special twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the classic work of Celtic spirituality and mysticism by beloved poet and philosopher, John O'Donohue, with a new introduction by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, an afterword by the late author's brother, Pat O'Donohue, and insightful material from O'Donohue's circle of close friends.In this revered classic, John O'Donohue excavates themes of friendship, belonging, solitude, creativity and the imagination, among many others. Widely recognized for bringing Celtic spirituality into modern dialogue, his unique insights from the ancient world speak with urgency for our need to rediscover the thresholds of the soul.With lyrical wisdom and fluency, O'Donohue encourages pathways of discovery to come home to the natural rhythm in ourselves in sacred connection with one another and the landscapes we inhabit. This timeless collection nourishes the heart and elevates the spirit. It is "a book to read and reread forever." (Irish Times)Trade ReviewAnam Cara is a rare synthesis of philosophy, poetry, and spirituality. This work will have a powerful and life-transforming experience for those who read it. -- Deepak Chopra, author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of SuccessJohn O'Donohue is a man of the soul. His scholarly meditation on the continuing relevance of Ireland's spiritual heritage has become a publishing phenomenon... This poetic meditation has become a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic... A lyrical prayer * The Times *Words of wisdom... a heady mixture of myth, poetry, philosophy... profound and moving * Independent *This book is a phenomenon in itself... a book to read and reread forever, its style of varied narration responds to our times * Irish Times *John O'Donohue's unique voice and heart and his exquisitely elevating poetic imagination are immortalised in these pages, saturated as they are with his lyrical and contagious love of life and love for people and nature. Even reading it at random is profoundly healing and affirming, especially in hard moments. * Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Meditation is Not What You Think and the bestselling classic, Wherever You Go, There You Are *The moment I read Anam Cara... I felt like I had found a kindred spirit. I love everything John has written. It comes from such a deep, profound, wise, and insightful space. * Maria Shriver, author, advocate, and journalist *What a profound joy it is rereading Anam Cara, John O'Donohue's glorious book of teachings about nature, human life, friendship, love, and loss. Anyone who ever spent time with John came away changed, as do his readers. * Diane Ackerman, bestselling author and poet *In this twenty-fifth anniversary edition, you will find John a 'soul friend' on your own journey through life, offering support and solace, clarity, and consciousness-expanding narratives that invite you to experience relationships with people, nature, and even your inner world in new ways that nurture well-being and resilience in these challenging times. * Daniel J. Siegel, MD, bestselling author, neuropsychiatrist *With this twenty-fifth anniversary of Anam Cara, John's fervent call to dignify each other reverberates in every corner of our beautiful broken world with more urgency and presence. * Ellen Wingard, Advocate for Social Impact Leadership *A lively spiritual companion to all Celts-or to those who are Celtic in their hearts. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *For almost twenty years the poetic and prophetic words of John O'Donohue have held sacred space and holy weight in my heart. * Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor-Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago, Illinois) *Anam Cara is a radiant source of wisdom, a link between the human and the divine. This work is a blessed, rare gem. * Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Be Careful What You Pray For, Prayer Is Good Medicine, and Healing Words *John O'Donohue is an unassuming man with a grand sense of humor. . . charming. * Joy Redfield Kwapien, author of The Celestine Journal *John brightens the way for you, if you have the courage to go there--he was obviously sent here with the light. * Davy Spillane, Grammy Award-winning musician/composer at North Atlantic Music Studios (Ireland) and Producer of Anam Cara Audiobook *John O'Donohue's book of Celtic wisdom comes at you like a blast of fresh wind rushing above the din of modern noise and cynical contemporary conversations, revitalising the spirit to effectively face this turbulent world. Indeed we need John's wildly original and provocative voice more than ever. * Gail Straub, Co-Founder--Empowerment Institute, Author of The Rhythm of Compassion *From the very first sentence, Anam Cara takes us on an exhilarating journey through the human soul and its many wondrous and mysterious labyrinths, and John O'Donohue is the perfect guide to light the way--a radiant soul full of deep wisdom, true compassion, and boundless joy. * Andrew Carroll, New York Times bestselling author and co-founder, with Nobel Laureate Joseph Brodsky, of the American Poetry & Literacy Project *Anam Cara has accompanied me on my spiritual journey from its very inception. I have returned to this book often, for solace, wisdom and --most of all--to be reminded that I am not alone in what I desire for myself and for our world. John O'Donohue has been my "soul friend" for years, and his brave revelations of his mind and heart have changed my life. Get ready for a life-altering journey. * Edward L. Beck, Roman Catholic Priest, CNN Faith and Religion Commentator *In the age of social media in which we add and discard friends with the tap of a screen, we need more than ever John O'Donohue's vital words of wisdom on how the right relationships can lift a life and feed the soul. This book is about deep love, belonging, and honoring nourishing ties that crush small-minded concepts of what friendship can be. A must read for all on the spiritual journey. * Sophfronia Scott, author of The Seeker and the Monk and Love's Long Line *John blew away the dust of many years of spiritual disillusionment and blessed the world with an ancient message infused with beauty, love and divine truths. This was a man formed from the wildness of clay and rock of the West coast of County Clare. It was a privilege to know John and to witness him enliven weary souls in search of the divine spark. He was and continues to be an Anam Cara (soul friend) to those of us blessed to have known him and for all who continue to walk the path through his inspired writings. * Áine Minogue, Irish Musician *

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Book SynopsisAre you or someone you love desperate for a miracle? As witnessed through Scripture, the God who was and is and is to come has been performing miracles from the beginning of time---so you can trust that Jesus wants to do something miraculous in your life today.

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Book SynopsisMany of us may be unaware that some things that we do, are actually sins - acts of disobedience to Allah (swt). Even when we are aware of them, we don't think that our sins can have negative consequences for us, in our relationship with Allah (swt), other people, and even the world.Learning about sins is an eye-opening, transforming experience that changes your heart and mind. Furthermore, it makes you look at the world from a new perspective which can change your life forever. Discover, dissect and digest how to prevent and even overcome that which poisons the heart of the believer. Table of ContentsChapter 1 - Part 1 - The poison that kills the heartChapter 2 - Part 2 - The poison that kills the heartChapter 3 - Sins and deprivation of knowledgeChapter 4 - Sins weaken and ultimately sever my relationship with Allah

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Book SynopsisJourney into Arthur's kingdom through the 22 Greater Powers of the Arthurian realm, together with the 56 Lesser Powers depicting the landscapes of Logres, the ancient Arthurian kingdom that lies outside of time. The book includes a complete meditation course leading you around the year, with the characters of the Arthurian world as your guides and teachers, along with detailed card meanings, divination methods and a wide selection of consultation spreads.By following the seasonal quest for the Hallows – the ancient treasures of the Goddess of the Land – you discover the spiritual empowerments of your soul's purpose. Meditate on the suits of Sword, Spear, Grail and Stone to assimilate the teachings of the cards and establish your own access to the realms within the timeless kingdom of King Arthur and his court.Table of Contents240-page book, with 78 colour cards.

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Book SynopsisDiane Apostolos-Cappadona is Professor Emerita of Religious Art and Cultural History and Haub Director in the Catholic Studies Program, Georgetown University, USA.Trade ReviewBoth biblical scholars and general readers can benefit from Mary Magdalene: A Visual History, as it is simultaneously accessible and engaging. ... could easily be used to great benefit for anyone teaching or preaching the Gospels * Bulletin for Biblical Research *Mary Magdalene has long deserved the extended gaze of a good art critic. Diane Apostolos-Cappadona … takes us, very ably and learnedly, through the 2,000–year history of her visual representations. -- Michael Glover * The Tablet *Diane Apostolos-Cappadona’s concise art historical account of the Magdalene charts her transformations and offers a guide to the motifs associated with her various manifestations … Apostolos-Cappadona leads our eye to her, illuminating Mary Magdalene as a more distinct figure. -- Hettie Judah * Art Quarterly *Apostolos-Cappadona’s engaging and intelligent appraisal of artistic interpretation reminds the reader that the Magdalene is a subject that matters still. -- Siobhan Jolley * The Art Newspaper *This is a lavishly illustrated, informative survey of how 2,000 years of Christian history has curated the memory of Mary Magdalene … There is much here that will inform. -- John Woods * Inspire *… a visual feast of one hundred and thirty eight images of Mary Magdalene from the very earliest of 240 AD to the present. The author notes the transformations in Mary Magdalene’s imagery in response to changes in ‘cultural and theological perceptions’ over the centuries and adds a comprehensive scholarly discussion of written records. The result is this fascinating book. -- Mary Sokol * New Directions *It is made for those who wish to experience a wonderful immersion into the power of art to portray a person in all of their complexity. * Women's Alliance For Theology, Ethics And Ritual *Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty. * Choice *Informative and fascinating. . . . Filled with good spiritual art and lessons. . . . [A] delightful history of this figure in literature, devotion, and art. . . . [Apostolos-Cappadona] uses gorgeous images (65 total) and sensitive artistic and literary readings to show how Mary Magdalene was understood and represented throughout the history of the Church. * Catholic World Report *[A] lovely work. . . . Made for those who wish to experience a wonderful immersion into the power of art to portray a person in all of their complexity. * Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual *Diane Apostolos-Cappadona excellently demonstrates the essential nature of the visual in understanding the multiplicity of Mary Magdalene. Where do all her contrasting images come from? This wonderfully accessible and beautifully illustrated book takes you on a thoroughly-researched journey to find out. * Lieke Wijnia, University College Utrecht, the Netherlands *This is a wonderful book, written by a real expert in the field. It represents a lifetime of studying images of the Magdalene, and manifests deep reflection not only about cultural history but also the changing dimensions of spirituality and devotion. We are presented with a ‘Magdalene mosaic’ that allows readers to gain a rich appreciation of both the iconography of the Magdalene but also her shifting significance. * Joan E. Taylor , King’s College London, UK *This beautiful book is the achievement of a scholar who not only comprehends her subject thoroughly, but is passionate about it. Every chapter is a rich and meticulously crafted compilation of texts, artworks, traditions, and lived practices. When brought together, they capture the complex character of Mary Magdalene whose multifaceted and often contradictory representations are simultaneously true and false, but, most of all, incomplete without the others. A brilliant achievement! * Robin Jensen, University of Notre Dame, USA *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface: A Perilous Journey Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: Mary Magdalene: Toward A Visual History 1. Scripture Sources 2. Patristic Sources 3. Eastern Christian Narratives and Traditions 4. Western Christian Narratives and Traditions 5. Symbols and Devotions 6. Mary Magdalene through Christian Art 7. Coda Part Two: Selected Motifs 8. Sinner/Seductress 9. Penitent 10. Anointer 11. Weeper 12. Witness 13. Preacher 14. Contemplative 15. Reader 16. Patron 17. Feminist Icon Afterword: A Reflection on Exhibitions Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA re-evaluation of the mysterious "charms" found in Anglo-Saxon literature, arguing for their place in mainstream Christian rites. Since its inception in the nineteenth century, the genre of Anglo-Saxon charms has drawn the attention of many scholars and appealed to enthusiasts of magic, paganism, and popular religion. Their Christian nature has been widely acknowledged in recent years, but their position within mainstream liturgical traditions has not yet been fully recognised. In this book, Ciaran Arthur undertakes a wide-ranging investigation of the genre to better understand how early English ecclesiastics perceived these rituals and why they included them in manuscripts were written in high-status minsters. Evidence from the entire corpus of Old English, various surviving manuscript sources, and rich Christian theological traditions suggests that contemporary scribes and compilers did not perceive "charms" as anything other than Christian rituals that belonged to diverse, mainstream liturgical practices. The book thus challenges the notion that there was any such thing as an Anglo-Saxon "charm", and offers alternative interpretations of these texts as creative para-liturgical rituals or liturgical rites, which testify to the diversity of early medieval English Christianity. When considered in their contemporary ecclesiastical and philosophical contexts, even the most enigmatic rituals, previously dismissed as mere "gibberish", begin to emerge as secret, deliberately obscured texts with hidden spiritual meaning.Trade ReviewThe book represents a major advance to our knowledge about Anglo-Saxon ritual practice, for Arthur's study permits us now to take charms and secret writing seriously as much for their theological and devotional depth as for their popular significance. Rare is the event - and to be celebrated - when one comes across a book that opens up an entire genre for new appreciation -- EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPECiaran Arthur's overview of this fascinating corpus of literature, with each example scrutinized in its manuscript context and set against the background of a learned Latinate tradition, contributes much to our understanding of the relations between magic and liturgy in late Anglo-Saxon England. * SPECULUM *Scholars and students of Anglo-Saxon England will find this book an invaluable re-assessment of many of the Anglo-Saxon texts that have been labelled `charms', and it will also interest scholars concerned with folklore more generally. * ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW *Provocative and erudite [its] arguments are consistently stimulating, discerning, and persuasive. This book makes a major contribution to knowledge, as it sheds an enormous amount of light on the least well-understood corpus of writings from Anglo-Saxon England. * ANGLIA *[F]or researchers focusing on the belief systems of early medieval England, or of early medieval Europe more broadly, this must be very strongly recommended. Any university library with a collection on medieval religion needs to obtain a copy. * READING RELIGION *Table of ContentsIntroduction Kill or Cure: Anglo-Saxon Understandings of Galdor By the Power Vested in Me: Galdor in Authorised Rituals Ite Missa Est: The Liturgical Nature of 'Charms' Crops and Robbers: A Case Study of the Vitellius Psalter In the Beginning Was the Letter: The Cosmological Power of 'Gibberish' Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA short guide to help young Christians defend their faith. It’s good to be prepared for hard questions. And if you’re a Christian, hard questions are going to come. The Bible says we should be prepared to give an account of our faith, and so Stephen Nichols has written this short book to help you defend what you believe. Read, and make sure you’re ready.Trade Review… every Christian needs to defend what he or she believes about God, about Jesus. And every Christian needs to know how best to do it. And here, in this short primer, Nichols has given you a gem. It might even change your life. So be prepared to be changed, challenged, convicted, and encouraged. -- Derek W. H. Thomas (Senior Minister of Preaching and Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina)At last! An apologetics book that is practical rather than academic, biblical rather than philosophical, entertaining rather than boring, short rather than long, and, most importantly, Christ–centered rather than Christless. This engaging and enjoyable book will not only defend your faith but help you defend and share the faith with others. -- David Murray (Senior Pastor, First Byron CRC, Byron Center, Michigan and author of ‘The StoryChanger’ and ‘Jesus on Every Page’)This little book on apologetics from my friend Stephen Nichols is packed full of big, life–altering truths that will equip you to both find and give answers to the hard questions of faith and life. -- Walt Mueller (President, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding)

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Book SynopsisThere was probably only one past, but there are many different histories. As mental representations of narrow segments of the past, 'histories' reflect different cultural contexts and different historians, although 'history' is a scientific enterprise whenever it processes representative data using rational and controllable methods to work out hypotheses that can be falsified by empirical evidence. A History of Biblical Israel combines experience gained through decades of teaching biblical exegesis and courses on the history of ancient Israel, and of on-going involvement in biblical archaeology. 'Biblical Israel' is understood as a narrative produced primarily in the province of Yehud to forge the collective memory of the elite that operated the temple of Jerusalem under the auspices of the Achaemenid imperial apparatus. The notion of 'Biblical Israel' provides the necessary hindsight to narrate the fate of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah as the pre-history of 'Biblical Israel', since the archives of these kingdoms were only mined in the Persian era to produce the grand biblical narrative.The volume covers the history of 'Biblical Israel' through its fragmentation in the Hellenistic and Roman periods until 136 CE, when four Roman legions crushed the revolt of Simeon Bar-Kosiba.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Part I: The Pre-History of Biblical Israel 1. From Merenptah to Ramses 2. From Ephraim to Mamre 3. From Saul to Jeroboam I 4. From Omri to Jeroboam II 5. From Tiglath-Pileser to Ashurbanipal 6. From Nabopolassar to Nebuchadnezzar Part II: The Formation of Biblical Israel 7. From Nebuchadnezzar to Xerxes I 8. From Artaxerxes I to Ptolemy I Part III: Disintegration of Biblical Israel 9. From Ptolemy II to Antiochus III 10. From Antiochus III to Salome Alexandra 11. 'Pax' Romana and Jewish Wars Glossary

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Book SynopsisA richly detailed guide to parish life in England from medieval to Victorian times, based on a wide range of churchwardens' accounts and other records. It describes the parish and church our ancestors knew - a world of rood lofts and Easter sepulchres, of Maypoles and Midsummer bonfires, of foundlings and frankincense. With over 350 illustrations.Trade Review'Perhaps the most engrossing book I have read, it brims with details of church life through the centuries ... A masterpiece' (Fergus Butler-Gallie, Church Times); 'I was educated while being delighted' (Christopher Howse, Daily Telegraph); 'This great, fat, sumptuously illustrated book has a fascinating anecdote on every page ... Here is a treasure house of information, history, meticulous detail and fascinating revelations. This is what church history should be like ... Caution: think twice before you pick up this book. You might never be able to put it down again.' (The Oldie); 'A fascinating collection' (Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine); 'Such an engaging book, particularly given its huge scope ... with numerous insights into parish life over the centuries' (The Local Historian); 'Eminently successful ... At once a pleasure to read and a valuable work of reference' (Ecclesiology Today)

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Secret History of the World, an exploration of the mystical forces that shape and protect usThe Sacred History is an account of the workings of the supernatural in history. It tells the epic story of angels, from Creation, to Evolution through to the operations of the supernatural in the modern world. This tale of how people and peoples have been helped by angels and other angelic beings is woven into a spellbinding narrative that brings together Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Elijah, Mary and Jesus, Mohammed, Joan of Arc, the angels who helped Hungarian Jews persecuted by the Nazis, and stories from African, Native American and Celtic traditions. Told from the spiritual point of view, The Sacred History relates every betrayal, every change of heart, every twist and turn, everything that looks like a coincidence, every portent, every clue, every defeat, every rescue moments before the prison door clangs shut. This is the angelic version of events.Trade Review'A new bible for the New Age, weaving mystical traditions from East and West, astrology, alchemy and angels into one amazing, life-enhancing story' Gyles Brandreth. * Gyles Brandreth *'A masterpiece. From the moment I began reading this book, I knew Booth had accomplished a remarkable feat of repositioning ancient knowledge in such a way that we see truth through yet another lens. I absolutely loved this book' Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Sacred Contracts. * Caroline Myss *'An aesthetic delight. But, more importantly, it deserves to be studied and read. Black is that rare thing: an author who is at once deeply esoteric and highly accessible. With The Secret History and The Sacred History, Black is doing for spirituality what The God Delusion and God is Not Great have done for materialism. Let's hope he opens the floodgates' Sevak Edward Gulbekian, New Review. * New Review *'The Sacred History is unlike any book I have ever read about spirituality. It challenged my beliefs from the very beginning and has renewed my faith in the fundamentally spiritual nature of reality' Philip Carr-Gomm, Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. * Philip Carr-Gomm *Table of ContentsPreface. Introduction: The Mystic Vision. Softly Falls the Dew... Mother Earth and Father Time. The Angel Michael and the Serpent. The Spider Woman Weaves her Spell. Isis and the Mystery of the Perfect Fit. Godly Lovers and Angelic Wives. Odin and the Angelic Theory of Evolution. The Story of the Previous Ring. The Mighty Men, the Men of Renown. The Gods Turn to Humans for Help. Orpheus, the Sphinx and the Timelock. Noah and the Waters of Forgetfulness. Rama and Sita - the Lovers in the Forest. Krishna, Snow White and the Seven Maids. Gilgamesh and the Elixir of Immortality. Abraham, the Father of Thinking in the Head. Moses and the Gods of War. Solomon, Sex and Beauty. Elijah in between the Worlds. The Buddha's Story. Socrates and his Daemon. Jesus Turns the World Inside Out. The Sun at Midnight. The Age of Miracles. The Mountain Comes to Mohammed. Charlemagne and the Paladins of Pain. Perceval Makes a Fool of Himself. Tales of the Arabian Nights. St Francis Takes the Gospels Seriously. The New Arabian Way of Loving. Dante, the Templars and the Road Less Travelled. Christian Rosencreutz and the Birth of Yoga. Joan and the Key to the Small Door. The Fairies Want our Juice. Paracelsus and the Mysteries of Spiritual Healing. The Cobbler Has Another Way of Knowing... Shakespeare and the Rosicrucians. Supernatural Stories in the Age of Science. Napoleon - the Great Magnet of the Age. Abraham and Bernadette. The Nabob of Odd. The Great Secret of This World. The Story of Life after Death. Jung and his Daemon. Fatima and the Secrets of the Guardian Angel. Hitler and the Hungarian Angels. The That Without Which. Lorna Byrne and the Mysticism of Everyday Life. Conclusion. Notes. Selected Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.

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Book SynopsisIn his 100th work, Joel Beeke writes on the power and beauty of true, secure assurance of faith: the heartfelt conviction that one belongs to Christ through faith and will enjoy everlasting salvation. This title opens up Dr. Beeke’s expertise and learning for anyone ‘trapped in a background of easy believism or trapped in the opposite fear of assurance being the certain mark of being presumptuous and so crushing the young shoots of hope and assurance as they appear.’Trade ReviewHere is a book that every person should read, whether they are a believer or an unbeliever. Joel Beeke has once again done a masterful job of presenting a thorough biblical case on this important subject. -- Steven J. Lawson (President, OnePassion Ministries and Professor of Preaching,The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, California)Here in this book, with perspicuity and simplicity, and informed by a lifetime of reflection and study of this subject, Dr Beeke lays out the New Testament witness that so thrilled the hearts of the Reformers and our Evangelical forebears. I highly recommend it. -- Michael A. G. Haykin (Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)Here is a book that will bring comforting peace, thrilling joy, and a defiant hope to the heart of any child of God battered by waves of unbelief in the high seas of life. Read it and be blessed! -- Conrad Mbewe (Pastor, Kabwata Baptist Church, Kabwata, Zambia; Founding Chancellor, African Christian University, Lusaka, Zambia)I'm delighted to see this book make Dr. Beeke's expertise more widely accessible, and hope that many more will now benefit from it as I did. To be fruitful, healthy and happy in Christ, Christians need to know the truths laid out for us here. -- Michael Reeves (President and Professor of Theology, Union School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales)As one who has personally benefitted from Dr. Beeke's teaching on assurance over the years, I'm delighted that the mature fruit of his thinking, writing, and speaking about this vital topic is now being made more available and accessible in this simple guide to such a profound and practical subject. May many discover through these pages, "I am His, and He is mine." -- David Murray (Senior Pastor, First Byron CRC, Byron Center, Michigan and author of ‘The StoryChanger’ and ‘Jesus on Every Page’)

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Book SynopsisThe tenets of Islam cannot be grasped without a proper understanding of the Qur'an. In this important new introduction, Muhammad Haleem examines its recurrent themes - life and eternity, marriage and divorce, peace and war, water and nourishment - and for the first time sets these in the context of the Qur'an's linguistic style. Professor Haleem examines the background to the development of the surahs (chapters) and the ayahs (verses) and the construction of the Qur'an itself. He shows that popular conceptions of Islamic attitudes to women, marriage and divorce, war and society, differ radically from the true teachings of the Qur'an.Trade Review'Has a breadth of reading and attention to style that readers will welcome ... Articulately presents ways in which contemporary Muslims understand their scriptures.' - Choice; 'Understanding the Qur'an is a priceless book, and I use it enthusiastically for my classes. For many of my students, Muhammad Abdel Haleem's introduction is their first contact with Qur'an interpretation, so it is really important to be able to assign them such an excellent piece of scholarship that is so easily readable and accessible.' - Natana J. DeLong-Bas, Lecturer in Theology, Boston College, and Visiting Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Brandeis UniversityTable of ContentsPreface The Qur’an Al-Fatiha: the Opening of the Qur’an Water in the Qur’an Marriage and Divorce War and Peace in the Qur’an Tolerance in Islam Life and Beyond Paradise in the Qur’an The Face, Divine and Human, in the Qur’an Adam and Eve in the Qur’an and the Bible The Story of Joseph in the Qur’an and the Bible The Qur’an Explains Itself: Surat al-Rahman Dynamic Style: Iltifat and Some Other Features Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisWe can spend a lot of time looking for happiness when the world right around us is full of wonder. But our hearts and minds are so full of noise that we can’t always hear the call of life and love. To hear that call and respond to it, we need silence. In his beautiful new book, Buddhist monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh explains how mindfulness is the practice that stops the noise inside. With gentle anecdotes, simple Buddhist wisdom and practical exercises, he shows us how to live mindfully so that all the internal chatter ceases and we are left with the eloquent sound of silence. Now, at last, we can answer the call of the beauty around us. Through silence, Thich Nhat Hanh reveals, we are free to hear, to see - and just be.Trade Review[Thich Nhat Hanh] shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on earth -- The Dalai LamaThich Nhat Hanh writes with the voice of the Buddha -- Sogyal RinpocheThich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout...a scholar of immense intellectual capacity -- Martin Luther KingMindfulness has become a serious movement, now with champions among policy makers as well as Buddhists. Thich Nhat Hanh is one of its guiding spirits * The Times Literary Supplement *

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