Religion Books

Book SynopsisHand-picked reflections from the teachings of the highly respected and influential Christian leader, Sandy Millar.

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Book SynopsisThe Tortoise Usually Wins is a delightful exploration of the theory of quiet leadership. Written for reluctant leaders, it interacts with three key biblical images of leadership - the leader as servant, shepherd and steward - and links them with some of the key virtues of quiet leadership - modesty, restraint, tenacity, interdependence and other-centeredness. Exploding the myth that the good is the enemy of the best, it argues that the reverse is more often true, with images of unattainable perfection crippling competent people from getting on with the task of doing genuinely good things. The book strips leadership of some of its mystique, arguing that the bulk of leadership is about helping groups decide the right things to do and then getting on and doing them in an atmosphere that brings the best out of others. Brian Harris is the principal of a highly regarded theological seminary and also pastors a thriving local church, so the book carries the wisdom of both professor and pastor, satisfying the reader both intellectually and practically. These insights are supplemented by interviews with significant quiet leaders from around the world, ensuring a rich feast for prospective and current reluctant leaders. 'Books on leadership are today two a penny. Just occasionally, however, one of these books might stand head and shoulders above most of the others, and to my delight The Tortoise Usually Wins falls into that category. Furthermore, so many books on leadership are written for natural leaders; whereas, as the author makes clear, most churches are led by "quiet leaders" who know they are not great, but nonetheless, are "tenacious and committed to the task and willing to work co-operatively with others to achieve it". I can see many church leaders benefitting from this book. I warmly commend this unusual book.' Paul Beasley-Murray, Senior Minister, Central Baptist Church, Chelmsford; Chair of Ministry Today UK

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Book SynopsisIt's no easy journey disentangling the good news of the gospel from the toxic theologies that have rendered Jesus unrecognizable. It's no wonder the church has sent many walking. In The Road Away from God, Jonathan Martin reimagines Luke's story of two disillusioned disciples walking the Emmaus road away from the holy city where they had watched their hope die a gruesome death right before their eyes. For anyone who is feeling their faith unravel, reckoning with religious trauma, or walking the long road of deconstruction, Martin speaks compassionate hope into the journey of today's disillusioned disciples, revealing that the resurrected Christ is profoundly present with them--even on what seems to be the road away from God. With "a pastor's heart and poet's touch," as Rachel Held Evans once wrote of Martin, this is a book to help you feel seen in your spiritual journey and all its complexities, and to find resurrection even where you least expect it.

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Book SynopsisWe live in the midst of a crisis of home. It is evident in the massive uprooting and migration of millions across the globe, in the anxious nationalism awaiting immigrants in their destinations, in the unhoused populations in wealthy cities, in the fractured households of families, and in the worldwide destruction of habitats and international struggles for dominance. It is evident, perhaps more quietly but just as truly, in the aching sense that there is nowhere we truly belong. In this moment, the Christian faith has been disappointingly inept in its response. We need a better witness to the God who created, loves, and reconciles this world, who comes to dwell among us. This book tells the "story of everything" in which God creates the world as the home for humans and for God in communion with God's creatures. The authors render the story of creation, redemption, and consummation through the lens of God's homemaking work and show the theological fruit of telling the story this way. The result is a vision that can inspire creative Christian living in our various homes today in faithfulness to God's ongoing work.Table of ContentsContentsPrelude: The Arrows of Our LongingOverture: A Story of HomePart 1: Exodus1. Out of the House of Bondage2. Life in God's HouseholdPart 2: The Word of Life3. God Coming Home4. Life and LightPart 3: The Spirit of Life5. Coming Home6. Life in the HouseholdPart 4: The Fullness of Life7. The Transition8. Babylon9. The New JerusalemPostlude: The ChoiceIndex

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Book SynopsisTheology through mythology J. R. R. Tolkien was many things: English Catholic, father and husband, survivor of two world wars, Oxford professor, and author. But he was also a theologian. Tolkien's writings exhibit a coherent theology of God and his works, but Tolkien did not present his views with systematic arguments. Rather, he expressed theology through story. In Tolkien Dogmatics, Austin M. Freeman inspects Tolkien's entire corpus--The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and beyond--as a window into his theology. In his stories, lectures, and letters, Tolkien creatively and carefully engaged with his Christian faith. Tolkien Dogmatics is a comprehensive manual of Tolkien's theological thought arranged in traditional systematic theology categories, with sections on God, revelation, creation, evil, Christ and salvation, the church, and last things. Through Tolkien's imagination, we reencounter our faith.

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Book SynopsisThe KJV Word Study Reference Bible balances deep study of the biblical languages with clear application to help transform the way you live. Uncover a wealth of meaning in Scripture with more than 2000 Greek and Hebrew word studies.Bring the words of Scripture to life and discover the richness and significance of the original languages of the Word of God. The KJV Word Study Reference Bible includes in-text subheadings and 2,000 easy-to-use word studies with select Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words explained in every chapter from Genesis to Revelation. By looking into these ancient texts, we are able to read scripture as it was originally written and passed on from generation to generation. In addition, this Bible’s Topic-by-Topic studies give a practical framework for understanding scripture, along with more hel

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Book SynopsisAccording to the Buddha’s teaching in the Anapanasati Sutra, maintaining awareness of our breathing is a means of awakening to the true nature of all things and arriving at spiritual liberation. Breathe, You Are Alive outlines 16 exercises of conscious breathing that were taught by the Buddha, together with commentaries and further exercises for practicing them every day and in any situation. Thich Nhat Hanh’s insights and explanation give the reader access to the profound nourishment available when we slow down and get in touch with our in-breath and out-breath. He walks the reader through the progression of exercises—from awareness of the physical plane, to the mental and spiritual planes—in a clear and concise manner that is easy to implement. This 20th anniversary edition includes Thich Nhat Hanh’s most recent commentaries and practices on the awareness of breathing meditation, as well as his “Breathing and Walking” Gatha (practice verse) set to music.

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Book SynopsisIndividuals, groups and organizations find themselves in a process of continual change, transformation and growth. Margarete van den Brink suggests all people, whether individually or in groups, experience the same archetypal process of development, consisting of seven steps. Giving practical examples, she describes how these steps or phases can be recognized in individuals, in relationships and groups, and even in commercial and voluntary organizations. A knowledge of the various steps allows for clarity and vision, helping to prepare for the sorts of challenges and rewards we might face. In addition to the external aspect of these processes there is the internal aspect. The author indicates that the process of growth through the seven phases is, in essence, a process of spiritual development. Spirit manifests itself in the human being and determines the meaning and direction of our lives, giving impulses for change and direction. These impulses are also at work in groups and organizations, and knowledge of them allows for greater insight. Van den Brink's approach offers a refreshingly new and dynamic way forward in contrast to the 'rationalist' methodologies of much of mainstream consultancy and personal development.

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Book SynopsisInternational speaker Terry Virgo explains how he discovered the life-transforming truth of God's lavish grace for himself. This wonderful survey of the impact and outworking of God's grace in the life of the believer will revitalise the most threadbare faith. In his early years as a Christian, Terry Virgo experienced "zealous but rather condemnation-driven Christianity". Then, one day, he explains, "I began to grasp the wonder of God's glorious grace. I gave myself to fresh study, and then began to preach God's grace with new freedom, joy and certainty, having personally experienced the complete transformation of my own Christian life."Trade Review"Few books come along that I could recommend so wholeheartedly." -- Rev. Dr R.T. KendallTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgements 7Preface 91. The way in 112. So what is the law for? 213. The free gift of righteousness 314. Shall we carry on sinning? 435. Are you free or not? 536. A conscience cleansed from dead works 637. What have I done to deserve this? 778. By the grace of God I am what I am 899. Grace and the prevailing culture 9910. Grace teaches us to say “No” 11111. The grace of discipline 11912. Keep in step with the Spirit 12913. The grace of giving 13914. D.I.Y. 15315. Grace that will not let go 16316. Future grace 177Bibliography 188

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Book SynopsisIn this novel perspective on a much-maligned figure, Michal Biran explains the monumental impact Chinggis Khan has had upon the Islamic World, both positive and negative. Often criticised as a mass-slaughterer, pillager, and arch-enemy of the faith, Biran shows that his constructive influence upon Islam was also considerable - his legacy apparent in Central Asia even today. Covering Chinggis Khan's early career, his conquests, the enduring power of his descendents, and the numerous ways he is presented in different Muslim contexts, this accessible book provides a fascinating insight into one of the most notorious men in history.Trade Review"Michal Biran's study is thorough and extemely thought provoking… As an introduction to its subject, it should be considered as first choice" * Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society *Table of ContentsList of Maps, Figures and Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: Why Chinggis? 1: Asia, the Steppe and the Islamic World on the Eve of the Mongols 2: Temüjin’s Mongolia 3: World Conquest: How Did He Do It? 4: The Chinggisid Legacy in the Muslim World 5: From the Accursed to the Revered Father and Back: Changing Images of Chinggis Khan in the Muslim World 6: Appropriating Chinggis: A Comparative Approach Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Quran with Christian Commentary includes the full text of the Quran along with notes and articles that explain its contents and analyze its important themes.Trade Review'Dr. Gordon Nickel displays an encyclopedic intimacy with the Quran and the tradition of classical commentary that ambushes its margins. He brings a committed Christian perspective without compromising high standards of detached scholarly engagement. At times combative, always clear and eloquent, and never evasive, this learned commentary on the entire Islamic scripture will both provoke and inform thoughtful Muslim and Christian readers alike. Believers eager to probe and question but not too ready with stereotypical answers shall find in it a treasure of insights. Dr. Nickel notes and assesses the Quran's high 'Quranology,' that is, its many self- referential verses about its uniquely miraculous status. He ultimately rejects the book's claims and finds its assessment of its two rival faiths exaggerated and unwarranted. He emphasizes that the Quran, despite appearances, endorses the scriptural and textual integrity of its two revealed biblical predecessors. However, he concludes that despite its confident claims to the contrary, the Quran fails to be an adequate sequel to the Bible. Dr. Nickel has placed both Muslim and Christian scholars in his debt with this remarkable work of Christian advocacy, offered in the spirit of Christian humility and courtesy. This is a major contribution to critical quranic scholarship, a discipline not found among the traditional sciences of the Quran approved by Islamic orthodoxy.' * SHABBIR AKHTAR, faculty of theology, University of Oxford, author of The New Testament in Muslim Eyes *'Gordon D. Nickel's Christian commentary on the Quran fills a gap in the Christian book market, allowing non-Arabic speakers to get deep insight into the contents and theology of the Quran. All 114 surahs of the Quran are translated and commented on with a focus on quranic statements about Christianity. This much-desired work is the fruit of a life-long study of Islam and interaction with Muslim friends--a must-have for all who aim at obtaining a deeper understanding of Islam and engaging with Muslims.' * CHRISTINE SCHIRRMACHER, professor of Islamic studies and Middle Eastern languages, Department of Oriental and Asian Studies, Universität Bonn *'In this commentary on the scripture of Islam, Gordon Nickel has performed a great service for Christians who wish to know about Islam. The Quran presents distinctive accounts of stories familiar from the Bible and directly denies fundamental Christian doctrines. Nickel's unfailingly respectful yet unmistakably Christian responses present the similarities and differences between the quranic and biblical traditions with unflinching directness. He has produced a reliable and accessible resource for both students studying the Quran and general readers.' * DAVID THOMAS, FBA, emeritus professor of Christianity and Islam, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom *'In this landmark study, Dr. Nickel carefully explains the meaning of the text of the Quran for non-Muslim readers. Dr. Nickel is a highly respected authority on the Quran, and his knowledge of its content, historical context, and the history of its interpretation by Muslim commentators is astounding. He writes with a gracious respect for the Quran and for Muslims, but he also raises important questions for thoughtful readers to consider. This is a treasure trove of information and insight, and it will undoubtedly become the standard work on the subject for years to come.' * HAROLD NETLAND, professor of philosophy of religion and intercultural studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *'Nickel reads the Quran primarily as a rhetorical text engaged in polemics, mostly against Jews and Christians. His reading is done largely through the lens of--and to some extent in response to--classical Muslim exegesis, though he does not often refer to the classical occasions of the revelation as the Quran's exclusive historical setting. This, in my view, is very commendable, for it allows him to adopt a fresh reading of the text. He does, nevertheless, often assume this classical rhetorical reading, and in this sense his commentary is often a response to classical interpretation. Nickel's reading resists the temptation of being driven by a polemical agenda, and indeed he allows himself to be positively surprised by the Quran's primary meaning, even when he shows awareness of more classical polemical readings. By doing so, Nickel reflects a desire to discern in the Quran a more positive and apologetic stance towards earlier scriptures and their recipients, removing himself from a negative polemic. By doing so, he is, in my view, imminently fair to the text. The occasional articles on specific issues, interspersed throughout his commentary, such as on the tampering with the scriptures, jihad, apocryphal references in the Quran, the death of Jesus, manuscripts of the Quran, or the Quran's language of love, are useful to varying degrees. Some contain a more polemical edge than others, reflecting more or less faithfulness to the spirit of the Quran. Overall, Nickel's Christian commentary on the Quran is a very helpful work that offers the contemporary English reader a useful entry into a text that can otherwise appear as rather opaque to the uninitiated.' * MARTIN ACCAD, associate professor of Islamic studies, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California *'One can hardly think of a more important book for Christians to appear this year. This translation of the Quran contains commentary by Gordon Nickel, a foremost scholar of Islam who lived among Muslims for many years. The commentary is immensely informed, fair, and accessible. Every class on Islam ought to use this text.' * GERALD R. MCDERMOTT, Anglican chair of divinity, director of the Institute of Anglican Studies, Beeson Divinity School *'The text of the Quran is reproduced here in the excellent translation of Droge and supplemented by a substantial introduction, many explanatory notes, and several focus articles that shed light on various key themes of the Quran. Gordon Nickel has done very fine work in providing the Christian reader precious keys for approaching the quranic text and interreligious dialogue with Muslims.' * GUILLAUME DYE, professor in Islamic studies, Université libre de Bruxelles *'This admirably comprehensive commentary explains the contents of the Quran to non-Muslim readers. In analyzing and interpreting key verses and passages that address the 'People of the Book,' namely Christians and Jews, Gordon Nickel, along with his team of top-ranking scholars, brilliantly opens up the varied historical contexts, meanings, and implications of the Quran to a wider readership. Muslims and non-Muslims alike will benefit immensely from the erudition and exegesis that this commentary manifests, resulting in a more accurate understanding of how Islam fundamentally stands apart from the other Abrahamic faiths.' * GRANT HAVERS, chair, Department of Philosophy, Trinity Western University *Table of Contents114 surahs (chapters) in the Quran 6,236 ayat (verses) The Quran with Christian Commentary will include either a public domain English translation of the Quran or, if we can obtain rights, the translation that HarperOne commissioned for its Study Quran. The Quran will include the following types of notes: - a general introduction to the history, significance, and place within Islam that the Quran holds - overviews of the history and content in each surah - summaries of the interpretive history and theological significance of key ayat, passages, and surahs - highlighting of ayat and surahs that are commonly featured within Muslim worship - explanations of ayat that directly address Christians and Jews - discussions of ayat and surahs that are similar to the Bible or confirm/contradict passages within the Bible - comparisons of doctrines derived from the Quran to core Christian doctrines - textual criticism of ayat, passages, and surahs In addition, The Quran with Christian Commentary will include 20 standalone short articles throughout the book, written by quality contributors, on topics such as: - folk Islam - main sects of Islam - Five Pillars of Islam - textual criticism - and more

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Love, Longing, Intimacy and Contentment is the thirty-sixth chapter of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali''s Revival of the Religious Sciences. This was the first treatise which established not merely the possibility but the necessity for the love of God. Ghazali argues that all the virtues and spiritual stages that precede love, like repentance, patience and thankfulness, lead to love; and all the spiritual stages that follow on from love are a result of it. Out of Ghazali''s pioneering treatment would emerge not only new trends in Sufi theory and practice, but an entire body of mystical poetry including that of the great Persian poets Rumi and Hafiz. The translation is preceded by an extensive introduction which sets the work in its historical and spiritual context.

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Book SynopsisThis book won't try to get you to vote for a particular party. It isn't going to try to get you to vote at all. Something far better. It's going to show you that you could be voted for. That it could be your name on the ballot paper. Or that you could be working with someone whose name is, influencing your community more than you ever imagined. From food banks to debt counselling, soup vans to street pastors, the church is doing an amazing job treating the victims of a flawed system. But it's never going to be enough. Unless we also get involved in the decision-making process. God cares deeply about the heart of our state, as well as the state of our hearts. And, as Bart Simpson once famously discovered, the vote is won - and history is made, and the kingdom advanced - by those who show up.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is a must-have for all scholars of religions in antiquity. . . . Schäfer has collected decisive proof in the form of a wide range of Jewish texts from the Bible to the Bavli that are not only discussed, but provided in the form of extensive quotations that makes the book a handy reference work."---Lieve M. Teugels,, Journal for the Study of Judaism

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This carefully researched book provides a thorough analysis . . . [as well as] a new perspective on the study of Muhammad and makes a significant contribution to the scholarly literature. Recommended." * CHOICE *"This book should be required reading for any scholar or graduate student of early Islam or Late Antiquity." * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments The Caliphs, 632–809 Introduction: The Making of the Historical Muhammad PART I. BEFORE THE SIRAH-MAGHAZI LITERATURE 1. The Earliest Evidence Three Early Non-Muslim Testimonies to Muhammad Revisiting the Doctrina Iacobi The “Keys to Paradise” in Late Antique Religious Discourse The “Keys to Paradise” in Early Islamic Preaching The Doctrina Iacobi and the Historical Muhammad 2. Muhammad the Merchant The Earliest Depictions of Muhammad as a Merchant Muhammad’s Occupation in the Hadīth and Sīrah-Maghāzī Literature Muhammad as a Trader in Arabic Sources Muhammad and the Monk The Merchants of Mecca PART II. THE BEGINNINGS OF HTE SIRAH-MAGHAZI LITERATURE 3. The Beginnings of the Corpus The Umayyads and the Beginnings of the Sīrah-Maghāzī Tradition `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān and `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr 4. The Letters of `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr The Chains of Transmission for `Urwah’s Letters A Translation of the Letters Attributed to `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr Letter 1. From the Persecutions in Mecca to the Hijrah to Yathrib Letter 2. Khadījah’s death and the Prophet’s marriage to `A'ishah Letter 3. The Battle of Badr Letter 4. On al-Hudaybiyah, a Gloss on Q. Mumtahinah 60:10–12 Letter 5. The Conquest of Mecca and al-Tāʾif Letter 6. On the Hums Letter 7. `A'ishah’s Accusers Letter 8. On Khuwaylah, the wife of Aws ibn al-Sāmit, a Gloss on Q. Mujādalah 58:1–4 Letter 9. On the Prophet’s Marriage to a Sister of al-Ash`ath ibn Qays 5. The Court Impulse Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī and the Umayyads The Corpus of Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī Ibn Ishāq and the Abbasids The Corpus of Ibn Ishāq PART III. LOCATING THE SIRAH-MAGHAZI LITERATURE IN LATE ANTIQUITY 6. Prophecy and Empires of Faith Prophecy and the Rhetoric of Empire The Vision of Heraclius Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī’s Christian Source Translatio Imperii in the Early Sīrah-Maghāzī Literature 7. Muhammad and Cædmon Cædmon’s Call and The Iqraʾ Narrative From Muhammad’s Call to Cædmon’s Call Mechanisms of Narrative Influence The Iqra' Narrative—Early, but not Historical Excursus: Alternative Accounts of Muhammad’s First Revelation Epilogue: The Future of the Historical Muhammad Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe new book from Pete Greig - his first since 2007 - which continues the story of 24-7, the global prayer movement he founded, as begun in Red Moon Rising.

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Book SynopsisThe Distaff Gospels (Les Évangiles des Quenouilles), a fascinating fifteenth-century collection of more than 250 popular beliefs, constitutes a kind of encyclopedia of late medieval women’s wisdom. The women’s beliefs and experiences are recounted within the narrative frame of traditional gatherings where women meet with their spindles and distaffs to spin. They share advice on such important matters as how to control errant husbands, how to predict the gender of future offspring, how to cure common diseases, and ways to deal with evil spirits, providing a rare look into the intimate lives of medieval peasant women.This edition includes a facing-page translation (the first in English since 1510) of the two Old French manuscripts of the text. The critical introduction discusses the literary context, textual history, and cultural significance of The Distaff Gospels, while the rich selection of appendices includes translations of the names of the women storytellers and excerpts from works by Giovanni Boccaccio, Jean de Meun, François Villon, and Christine de Pizan.Trade Review“This first English modern translation of The Distaff Gospels gracefully renders the somewhat recondite late medieval French of the original into elegant and faithful yet contemporary prose. The editors’ introduction frames well and cogently the issues germane to the production of this text, including transgendered expression, the culture of the ‘World Upside Down’ in which women may have their say, archeological information about practices of midwifery in the era, and the folkloric aspect and popular content of short narrative. The book is simultaneously inter-disciplinary, an inventive reconstruction, and a scholarly edition, and succeeds admirably at all three.” — Catharine Randall, Fordham UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionA Note on the TextIllustrationsThe Distaff Gospels (Paris Manuscript: BnF 2151) The Distaff Gospels (Chantilly Manuscript: Musée Condé)The Distaff Gospels: Translations of the Spinsters’ NamesAppendix A: From Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron (ca. 1351)Appendix B: From Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meung, The Romance of the Rose (late 13th century)Appendix C: From The Fifteen Joys of Marriage (anon., early 15th century)Appendix D: From François Villon, Testament (mid 15th century)Appendix E: From Christine de Pizan, Ballad 26 and The Book of the Three Virtues (early 15th century)Appendix F: From Bartholomaeus Anglicus (Bartholomew the Englishman), On the Properties of Things (mid 13th century)Select BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisA Pulitzer Prize nominee and the bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence bridges modern science with the spiritual wisdom of the East This extraordinary series of encounters between the Dalai Lama and prominent Western psychologists, physicians, and meditation teachers sheds new light on the mind-body connectionCan the mind heal the body? The Buddhist tradition says yes—and now many Western scientists are beginning to agree. These discussions between the Dalai Lama and this group of prominent physicians, psychologists, philosophers, and behaviorists could not be more timely. The book is a record of the third Mind and Life Conference, a meeting that took place in Dharamsala, India, gathering Buddhist teachers and Western scholars to discuss questions that provide a framework for an ongoing dialogue between psychology and Buddhism. Edited with a new foreword by Daniel Goleman, this exploration of stress, death, meditation, self-compassion—and much more—underscores the timeliness and significance of working together, across scientific and religious aisles, for the greater benefit of humankind.

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Book SynopsisAt the age of 30, Kaoru Nonomura left his family, his girlfriend, and his job as a designer in Tokyo to undertake a year of ascetic training at Eiheiji, one of the most rigorous Zen training temples in Japan. This book is Nonomura's recollection of his experiences. After writing Eat Sleep Sit, Kaoru Nonomura returned to his normal life as a designer, but his book has maintained its popularity in Japan, selling more than 100,000 copies since its first printing in 1996. Beautifully written, and offering fascinating insight into this culture.Trade Review"Here is an unusually fine translation of a most unusual best-seller. . . We sometimes have the odd idea that Zen means simply sitting around until satori happens. . . . It is much more, as novice Nonomura discovered when he joined the beginners at Eijeiji, one of the most rigorous temples in Japan. . . . a boot camp of a place that would make even brave marines quail. . . .Nonumura stood the strain. He stayed a year. . . . This painful route, then, is the true Zen path. . . . Almost as painful must have been the translation of this book with its extraordinary width of styles – from the arcane Zen tracts of Dogen and others, to the diary-like grumbles of the clueless young Nonomura. Here, translator Juliet Carpenter not only stays the course, she defines it….here is a particularly felicitous translation, especially in the handling of the colloquial within the religious context." –DONALD RICHIE, in The Japan Times"It is difficult to adequately praise this book. To begin with, Kaoru Nonomura is a great writer. The description of his experiences Is precise, detailed and unsparingly honest, yet giving sudden glimpses of the heart and soul of a poet and mystic. The translation is superb. The story is riveting. . . . a treasure for anyone on any spiritual path." – Light of ConsciousnessTable of ContentsCONTENTSPART ONE The End and the Beginning Resolve 11 Jizo Cloister 17 Dragon Gate 25 Main Gate 29 Temporary Quarters 34 Lavatory 38 Facing the Wall 46 Buddha Bowl 47 Evening Service 53 Evening Meal 56 Night Sitting 61PART TWO Etiquette is Zen JMorning Service 69 JMorning Meal 74 JCleaning the Corridors 81 JDignified Dress 84 JWashing the Face 89 JVerses 96 JNoon 97 JStick 101PART THREE Alone in the Freezing Dark JEntering the Hall 111 JMonks’ Hall 115 JCommon Quarters 120 JWake-up Bell 129 JBell Tower 133 JSelf-reflection 143 JFood Server 150 JMonks’ Food 153 JShaving the Head 159 JDaikan 164 JHunger 169PART FOUR The Passage of Time JEscape 177 JRegistration Ceremony 180 JFirst Bath 185 JBeginning Intensive Training 189 JManual Labor 195 JPenance 201 JMain Lecture 207 JTransfer 211PART FIVE The Source of the Warmth of Life JNew Job 219 JSales 223 JDistribution of Goods 229 JGuest Pavilion 233 JInspection 238 JWashrags 242 JEnding Intensive Training & 247PART SIX The Colors of the Peak, the Echo in the Valley JAttendant to the Director 253 JConference Room & 256 JIn Attendance 259 JMorning Session 263 JIncense Bearer & 267 JPreparations for Winter 271 JIntensive Sitting 275 JYear-end Cleaning 280 JNew Year’s Day 283 JNew Arrivals 286 JJust Sit 290 JDeparture Survey 294 J Leaving 300Afterword to the Japanese First Edition 311Afterword to the Japanese Paperback Edition 315Notes 323

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Book SynopsisA collection of short inspirational readings by "one of the world''s wisest women"--O, the Oprah Magazine.Pema Chödrön, beloved Buddhist nun and best-selling author, offers this treasury of 108 short selections from her more than four decades of study and writings. Here she presents teachings on breaking free of destructive patterns; developing patience, kindness, and joy amid our everyday struggles; becoming fearless; and unlocking our natural warmth, intelligence, and goodness. Designed for on-the-go inspiration, this is a perfect guide to Buddhist principles and the foundations of meditation and mindfulness.This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts.The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman.The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compactformat that is collectible, reader-friendly, andapplicable to everyday life.

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Book SynopsisThis “gem of a book” reveals how we can go beyond mindfulness to connect with the ultimate happiness within us and transform our lives (Rick Hanson, Buddha’s Brain)The true nature of our mind is brilliant, clear, and joyful. But we don’t experience this reality amid the swirl of stresses, thoughts, and emotions of day-to-day life. Our Pristine Mind is a practical guide to uncovering our naturally comfortable state of mind and reconnecting with the unconditional happiness that is already within us. Using straightforward, accessible language, Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche leads us through the path of Pristine Mind meditation, a practice from the profound teachings known as Dzogchen. This book presents the entire journey of meditation, from the very beginning all the way to the complete happiness of enlightenment. It is a realistic, natural process that can be practiced and experienced by anyone.

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Book SynopsisThis pioneering guide to zazen—Zen-style seated meditation—provides practical instructions on how to begin or elevate your practice and progress along the Zen path Zen Training is a comprehensive handbook for zazen, seated meditation practice, and an authoritative presentation of the Zen path. The book marked a turning point in Zen literature in its critical reevaluation of the enlightenment experience, which the author believes has often been emphasized at the expense of other important aspects of Zen training. In addition, Zen Training goes beyond the first flashes of enlightenment to explore how one lives as well as trains in Zen. The author also draws many significant parallels between Zen and Western philosophy and psychology, comparing traditional Zen concepts with the theories of being and cognition of such thinkers as Heidegger and Husserl.

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Book SynopsisThis cutting-edge theory of spirituality for today’s global society honors the truths of modern science and postmodern culture while incorporating the wisdom of the great world religionsApplying his highly acclaimed integral approach, Ken Wilber formulates a theory of spirituality that honors the truths of modernity and postmodernity—including the revolutions in science and culture—while incorporating the essential insights of the great religions. He shows how spirituality today combines the enlightenment of the East, which excels at cultivating higher states of consciousness, with the enlightenment of the West, which offers developmental and psychodynamic psychology. Each contributes key components to a more integral spirituality.On the basis of this integral framework, a radically new role for the world’s religions is proposed. Because these religions have such a tremendous influence on the worldview of the majority of the earth’s population, they are in a privileged position to address some of the biggest conflicts we face. By adopting a more integral view, the great religions can act as facilitators of human development: from magic to mythic to rational to pluralistic to integral—and to a global society that honors and includes all the stations of life along the way.

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Book SynopsisGenuine art has the power to awaken and liberate. The renowned meditation master and artist Chögyam Trungpa called this type of art “dharma art”—any creative work that springs from an awakened state of mind, characterized by directness, unselfconsciousness, and nonaggression. Dharma art provides a vehicle to appreciate the nature of things as they are and express it without any struggle or desire to achieve. A work of dharma art brings out the goodness and dignity of the situation it reflects—dignity that comes from the artist’s interest in the details of life and sense of appreciation for experience. Trungpa shows how the principles of dharma art extend to everyday life: any activity can provide an opportunity to relax and open our senses to the phenomenal world. An expanded edition of Trungpa''s Dharma Art (1996), this book includes a new introduction and essay.

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Book SynopsisChristianity Today Book Award Winner The digital revolution has ushered in a series of sexual revolutions, all contributing to a perfect storm for modern relationships. Online dating, social media, internet pornography, and the phenomenon of the smartphone generation have created an avalanche of change with far-reaching consequences for sexuality today. The church has struggled to address this new moral ecology because it has focused on clarity of belief rather than quality of formation. The real challenge for spiritual formation lies in addressing the underlying moral intuitions we carry subconsciously, which are shaped by the convictions of our age. In this book, a fresh new voice offers a persuasive Christian vision of sex and relationships, calling young adults to faithful discipleship in a hypersexualized world. Drawing from his pastoral experience with young people and from cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines, Jonathan Grant helps Christian leaders understand the cultural forces that make the church's teaching on sex and relationships ineffective in the lives of today's young adults. He also sets forth pastoral strategies for addressing the underlying fault lines in modern sexuality.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by James K. A. Smith1. Adjusting Our Vision: Christian Formation and Relationships in a Sexualized AgePart 1: Mapping the Modern Sexual Imaginary2. Seeking the Truth Within: Love, Sex, and Relationships within the Culture of Authenticity3. Three Paths to Freedom on the Road to Nowhere: The Dead End of Modern Liberty4. We Are What We Acquire: Consumerism as a Corrupting Dynamic5. The Hypersexual Self: Sex and Relationships as Happiness Technologies6. Churches without Steeples: The Loss of Transcendence and the Atomistic WorldviewPart 2: Charting a New Course for Christian Formation7. Searching for Truth That Transforms: Introducing a Christian Social Imaginary8. Seeing the Good Life and Becoming What We See: The Role of Vision within Sexual Formation9. Getting to the Heart of Things: Redeeming Desire and Becoming Our True Selves10. Living the Gospel Story: Narrative Discipleship within the Narrative Community11. Becoming What We Do: The Formative Power of PracticesEpilogue: Melodies of HeavenIndex

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Book SynopsisThis is a new English translation of St. Thomas Aquinas’s Treatise on Law, found in Questions 90–108 of the First Part of the Second Part of the Summa Theologiae. In fact, it is the only free-standing English translation of the entire Treatise, which includes both a general account of law (Questions 90–92) and also specific treatments of what St. Thomas identifies as the five kinds of law: the eternal law (Question 93), the natural law (Question 94), human law (Questions 95–97), the Old Law (Questions 98–105), and the New Law (Questions 106–108). All other extant editions of Treatise on Law stop with the human law, and are thus approximately one-third the size of the full Treatise. St. Thomas’s account of law is firmly embedded within a general moral theory that begins with a rich conception of human flourishing, i.e., the good for human beings (Questions 1–5). This good consists, first and foremost, in our ultimate and intimate union with the Persons of the Blessed Trinity – a union that in our present state we can grasp intellectively and pursue affectively only with God’s supernatural assistance. It is within this framework that we order our loves and pursue the more proximate goals they open up to us as human beings in this life. Given the appropriate goals, the next question is how we can get from where we are, in the grips of the consequences of Original Sin, to where we want to be. The answer is: by means of (a) human actions that are good, i.e., rightly ordered toward our ultimate end and (b) the habits that these actions either engender or flow from. In analyzing human actions (Questions 6–21) and their relation to the passions (Questions 22–48), St. Thomas gives a general account of what he calls the ‘intrinsic principles’ of human actions and their associated habits – both virtues (Questions 49–70) and vices (Questions 71–89). It is only then that he turns to what he calls the ‘extrinsic principles’ of good human actions, viz., law (Questions 90–108) and grace (Questions 109–114). According to St. Thomas, law, far from supplanting virtue as a basic principle of action, serves as an independent principle of action that complements virtue and is itself capable of being factored into practical deliberation. The reason is that all of God’s precepts, prohibitions, and punishments are aimed at promoting the good of the whole universe and, more particularly, the good for human beings, both individually and within the various forms of social life. Because of this, law serves as both a restraint on bad actions and a spur to good action, i.e., a restraint on actions that take us away from virtue and genuine human flourishing and a spur to actions that promote virtue and flourishing. There are many benefits of having the whole treatise rather than just the first few questions, as has been the standard practice in previous editions of the Treatise on Law. To mention just a few of these benefits, the question on the moral precepts of the Old Law (question 100) helps to illuminate in many different ways the earlier questions on natural law and human law (questions 94–97). Again, the questions on the ceremonial and judicial precepts of the Old Law (questions 101–105) demon-strate in depth the symbiotic relationship that St. Thomas takes to obtain between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The questions on the New Law provide an introduction to the Christian way of life that will be described in incomparable detail in the Second Part of the Second Part, the bulk of which is structured around the treatment of the three theological virtues and the four cardinal virtues.

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Book SynopsisAn entrée into the world of Tantric Buddhism—a unique collection of texts, concepts, and meditation practices presented by Tibetan masters teaching in the WestThe “Vajra World” (vajradhatu in Sanskrit) is a realm of indestructibility, the level of reality beyond all thought and imagination, all impermanence and change, which a fully realized person knows and inhabits. Used metaphorically, “Vajra World” refers to the traditional culture of Tibet and the unique spirituality that is its secret strength.Secret of the Vajra World is the companion volume to the author’s earlier book, Indestructible Truth: The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism. While that book focuses on the history, cosmology, philosophy, and practice of the more public, exoteric side of Tibetan Buddhism, this work treats its more hidden and esoteric aspects as they take shape in Vajrayana. Together, the two volumes provide a broad introduction to the major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.Topics include:• The tantric view of human nature and the external world• The special role of the guru, or tantric mentor• The preliminary practices that prepare the student for full initiation• The major dimensions of Vajrayana practice, including visualizations, liturgies, and inner yogas• The tradition of the tulku, or incarnate lama• The lore surrounding the death of ordinary people and of saints• The practice of solitary retreat, the epitome of traditional Tibetan Buddhism

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Book SynopsisDainin Katagiri (1928–1990) was a central figure in the transmission of Zen in America. His first book, Returning to Silence, emphasized the need to return to our original, enlightened state of being, and became one of the classics of Zen in America. In You Have to Say Something, selections from his talks have been collected to address another key theme of Katagiri''s teaching: that of bringing Zen insight to bear on our everyday experience. "To live life fully," Katagiri says, "means to take care of your life day by day, moment to moment, right here, right now." To do this, he teaches, we must plunge into our life completely, bringing to it the same wholeheartedness that is required in Zen meditation. When we approach life in this way, every activity—everything we do, everything we say—becomes an opportunity for manifesting our own innate wisdom. With extraordinary freshness and immediacy, Katagiri shows the reader how this wisdom not only enlivens our spiritual practice but can help make our life a rich, seamless whole.

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Book SynopsisOver the past twenty-five years A. H. Almaas—widely recognized as a leader in integrating spirituality and psychology—has been developing and teaching the Diamond Approach, a spiritual path that integrates the insights of Sufism, Buddhism, Gurdjieff, and other wisdom traditions with modern psychology. In this new work, Almaas uses the metaphor of a 'spacecruiser' to describe a method of exploring the immediacy of personal experience—a way of investigating our moment-by-moment feelings, thoughts, reactions, and behaviors through a process of open-ended questioning. The method is called the practice of inquiry, and Spacecruiser Inquiry reveals what it means to engage with this practice as a spiritual path: its principles, challenges, and rewards. The author explores basic elements of inquiry, including the open-ended attitude, the focus on direct knowledge, the experience of not-knowing, and the process of questioning. He describes the experience of 'Diamond Guidance'—the inner wisdom that emerges from our true nature—and how it can be realized and applied. In this process Almaas looks at many of the essential forms of Diamond Guidance, including knowing, clarity, truth, love, intelligence, compassion, curiosity, courage, and determination. Also included are exercises and questions and answers from the original talks by Almaas on which the book is based.

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Book SynopsisA new edition of a Buddhist classic, an accessible introduction to the stages of the path (lamrim)--including 14 hours of downloadable audio meditations.The Stages of the Path, or lamrim, presentation of Buddhist teachings (a step-by-step method to tame the mind) is a core topic of Buddhist study. The lamrim meditations remind us that the process of transforming the mind, unlike so much of our frantic modern society, is a slow and thoughtful one. Best-selling author and Buddhist teacher Thubten Chodron here provides clear explanations of the stages of the path, as well as an accompanying downloadable audio program containing over fourteen hours of guided meditations on each of the topics covered in the text. Chodron discusses how to establish a daily practice and presents the meditations in detail, followed by advice for newcomers, instructions for working with distractions, antidotes to mental afflictions, and suggestions on how to deepen Dharma practice. Each practitioner will find meaning and insight according to their own skill level.

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Book SynopsisJoin D. A. Carson in a year of studying the Bible, developing your theology, and growing in prayerfulness.

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Book SynopsisIn Common Grace Abraham Kuyper presents to the church a vision for cultural engagement rooted in the humanity Christians share with the rest of the world. Kuyper fills a gap in the development of Reformed teaching on divine grace, and he articulates a Reformed understanding of God's gifts that are common to all people after the fall into sin. This first volume contains Kuyper's demonstration of the biblical basis for common grace and how it works. This new translation of Common Grace, created in partnership with the Kuyper Translation Society and the Acton Institute, is part of a major series of new translations of Kuyper's most important writings. The Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology marks a historic moment in Kuyper studies, aimed at deepening and enriching the church's development of public theology.

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Book SynopsisFrom the pyramids in the north to the temples in the south, ancient artisans left their marks all over Egypt, unique marks that reveal craftsmanship we would be hard pressed to duplicate today. Drawing together the results of more than 30 years of research and nine field study journeys to Egypt, Christopher Dunn presents a stunning stone-by-stone analysis of key Egyptian monuments, including the statue of Ramses II at Luxor and the fallen crowns that lay at its feet. His modern-day engineering expertise provides a unique view into the sophisticated technology used to create these famous monuments in prehistoric times. Using modern digital photography, computer-aided design software and metrology instruments, Dunn exposes the extreme precision of these monuments and the type of advanced manufacturing expertise necessary to produce them. His computer analysis of the statues of Ramses II reveals that the left and right sides of the faces are precise mirror images of each other and his examination of the mysterious underground tunnels of the Serapeum illuminates the finest examples of precision engineering on the planet. Providing never-before-seen evidence in the form of more than 280 photographs, Dunn's research shows that while absent from the archaeological record, highly refined tools, techniques and even mega-machines must have been used in ancient Egypt.Trade Review"I never cease to be astonished by Christopher Dunn's knowledge of ancient Egyptian technology. I believe he knows more of it than any man alive." * Colin Wilson, author of Atlantis and the Kingdom of the Neanderthals, June 2010 *“This is an extremely important and original book. Christopher Dunn indisputably demonstrates that the ancient Egyptians were much more technologically advanced than the vast majority of modern Egyptologists, archaeologists, and historians ever dared imagine.” * Robert M. Schoch, Ph.D., author of Voyages of the Pyramid Builders and Pyramid Quest *“Christopher Dunn makes a stunningly convincing case that the makers of the ancient Egyptian stone monuments and images possessed sophisticated technologies rivaling our own in terms of their precision and capabilities.” * Michael A. Cremo, author of Forbidden Archeology and Human Devolution *“Christopher Dunn is an expert in his field. He knows a great deal about stone-cutting tools and has spent many years studying the ancient Egyptian monuments, sculptures, and artifacts. His findings are revolutionary. His word carries weight. If he is right, our perception of who the ancient Egyptians were may completely change. Read this book!” * Robert Bauval, author of The Orion Mystery, Message of the Sphinx and The Egypt Code *“Christopher Dunn’s painstaking work, literally, makes the ‘stones’ of the Egyptian gods speak. He provides profound archaeological evidence that shows an engineering consistency, suggesting an advanced intelligence, which understood the supreme science of sacred geometry. A must-read book for those who wish to understand the advancement of Egyptology in the world of today.” * J. J. Hurtak, Ph.D., author of The Book of Knowledge: the Keys of Enoch *“Utilizing almost 50 years of professional experience in engineering, manufacturing, tool-making, and space-age precision, Chris Dunn has provided an in-depth analysis of ancient Egyptian statuary, temples, and manufactured artifacts that has never been presented previously. This outstanding book, supremely well researched, amply illustrated, and complete with detailed photographs, will be cited as a major paradigm shift and reference source in the field for many years to come.” * Stephen S. Mehler, M.A., director of research, Great Pyramid of Giza Research Association *“Admirers of Egyptian art and architecture are most fortunate that Christopher Dunn directs his experienced engineer’s eye toward the Egyptians’ ancient stonework. By noticing the most minute details he reveals sophisticated craftsmanship and immense significance for all areas of Egyptology. Mathematicians will appreciate the amazing three-dimensional geometry made manifest in very hard stone. Dunn points the way for geometers to uncover sharper, more accurate analyses of the proportions of Egyptian design. This book is an important contribution to scientific scholarship by showing how archaeology can firmly rest on a measurable foundation.” * Michael S. Schneider, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe *“In this book, Christopher Dunn has brought to the field of Egyptology a new approach, which has been needed for decades. His ability as an engineer and master craftsman has given him the insight to discover ancient technologies and techniques that have been missed by traditional Egyptologists. This book is a paradigm change for the way of thinking about our ancient history and ancestors. I highly recommend this beautiful illustrated book to both academic and alternative researchers and for anyone interested in new ways of thinking about our ancient past.” * John DeSalvo, Ph.D., author of The Lost Art of Enochian Magic and director of the Great Pyramid of G *“As with Newton and the apple, Chris Dunn got a vision when visiting Egypt. His engineering background allowed him to unleash incredible facts, and thanks to this highly detailed book, we can now share the same marvels.” * Alain Hubrecht, architect, writer, professor, and founder of the Association Transpersonnelle Belge *“If you want to see the precise high technologies ancient Egyptians really had, read this book. It is a serious donation to Egyptian legacy and an opus for the future of this planet.” * Antoine Gigal, author, researcher, and president of Giza for Humanity *“I believe, as Chris Dunn superbly details in this book, that ancient Egyptian sculptors and architects were so precise and their works so monumental that they must have used sophisticated technology, probably hidden in their time and now lost to ours.” * Mike Leckie, stone sculptor *"Whether you can fully grasp the intricacies of what he says, he makes it very easy to look at ancient monuments with new eyes, and a greater appreciation for the effort involved in creating them." * Michael Gleason, Reviewer, August 2010 *“. . . Chris Dunn, with over 20 years of investigation, possessing unique technical skills, and showing a keen, perceptive eye for detail, has unlocked the door to knowledge that will eventually overturn established thinking about the civilization we call ‘Ancient Egypt’.” * Alan Glassman, New Dawn Magazine, January 2011 *Table of Contents Foreword: Shifting Paradigms by Arlan Andrews Sr., ScD Foreword: Recognizing the Brilliance of Ancient Manufacturing by Judd C. Peck, Esq. Photographic Credits Acknowledgments Introduction One The Shadows of Luxor Two The Shadows of Ramses Three The Ramses Challenge Four The Shadows of Karnak Five The Shadows of the Serapeum Six The Shadow of the Sphinx Seven The Shadows of Denderah Eight Sticks and Stones: Tools of the Trade Nine In the Shadow of an Obelisk Ten In the Shadow of Egyptian Megamachines Eleven Walking in the Shadow of William F. Petrie Twelve Suspending Disbelief Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —1 Peter 5:5 A battle rages within every one of us every day. It’s the clash between our sense of stubborn self-sufficiency and God’s call to recognize that we’re really nothing without Him. It’s pride versus humility. And it’s a fight we can’t win without looking repeatedly to Christ and the cross. C. J. Mahaney raises a battle cry to daily, diligently, and deliberately weaken our greatest enemy (pride) and cultivate our greatest friend (humility). His thorough examination clarifies misconceptions, revealing the truth about why God detests pride and turns His active attention to the humble. Because pride is never passive, defeating it demands an intentional attack. The blessing that follows is God’s abundant favor. “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit.” —Isaiah 66:2, ESV God clearly states that He is drawn to the humble. He’s also clear that He opposes the proud. These two, humility and pride, cannot coexist. Where one is fostered, the other is defeated. Which will you pursue? When you acknowledge the deception of pride and intentionally humble yourself, you become free to savor abundant mercies and unlikely graces. You will find a new life is yours—a life God richly favors. A God-glorifying life you don’t want to miss.

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Book SynopsisCrusade Against the Grailis the daring book that popularized the legend of the Cathars and the Holy Grail. The first edition appeared in Germany in 1933 and drew upon Rahn’s account of his explorations of the Pyrenean caves where the heretical Cathar sect sought refuge during the 13th century. Over the years the book has been translated into many languages and exerted a large influence on such authors as Trevor Ravenscroft and Jean-Michel Angebert, but it has never appeared in English until now. Much as German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann used Homer’s Iliadto locate ancient Troy, Rahn believed that Wolfram von Eschenbach’s medieval epic Parzival held the keys to the mysteries of the Cathars and the secret location of the Holy Grail. Rahn saw Parzivalnot as a work of fiction, but as a historical account of the Cathars and the Knights Templar and their guardianship of the Grail, a “stone from the stars.” The Crusade that the Vatican led against the Cathars became a war pitting Roma (Rome) against Amor (love), in which the Church triumphed with flame and sword over the pure faith of the Cathars.Trade Review"A better study of the Cathar spirituality could not be found. And beyond delving into it uniquely and sympathetically, Rahn uses it like a prism to bring out the religious conflicts of the time." * Henry Berry, The Midwest Book Review, Nov 2006 *"This is a superb introduction to the Cathars and Grail mysticism and we are privileged to have it at last available in English." * Living Traditions Magazine, Feb 2007 *"[This] is the book that popularized the legend of the Holy Grail: its first edition appeared in Germany in 1933 and presented the author's own account of his explorations. Its appearance in a new updated edition is a 'must' for understanding the history and legend of the Gail, searches for its truth, and the involvement of the medieval epic Parzival in the Cathar/Grail saga." * Diane C. Donovan, California Bookwatch, Feb 2007 *"Crusade Against the Grail is indeed a daring and audacious book that opens many doors to the wisdom of the Cathars, and certainly makes a trip to the hidden fortresses of the Cathars even more inviting." * Lesley Crossingham, New Dawn, May-June 2007 *Table of Contents Translator’s Foreword Map of Southern FrancePrologue Part One Parsifal Part Two The Grail The Golden Fleece Gwion’s Cup How the Bard Taliesin Came to the World The Legend of the Bard Cervorix The “Pure Ones” and Their Doctrine The Caves of Trevrizent Close to the Fountain Called La Salvaesche Monmur, the Enchanted Castle of Oberon Muntsalvaesche and Montségur Repanse de Schoye Part Three The Crusade Part Four The Apotheosis of the Grail Appendix: Observations on the Theoretical Part Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAfter his overwhelming and life-altering encounters with Shams of Tabriz, Rumi, the great thirteenth-century mystic, poet, and originator of the whirling dervishes, let go of many of the precepts of formal religion, insisting that only a complete personal dissolving into the larger energies of God could provide the satisfaction that the heart so desperately seeks. He began to speak spontaneously in the language of poetry, and his followers compiled his 44,000 verses into 23 volumes, collectively called the Divan. When Nevit Ergin decided to translate the Divan of Rumi into English, he enlisted the help of the Turkish government, which was happy to participate. The first 22 volumes were published without difficulty, but the government withdrew its support and refused to participate in the publication of the final volume due to its openly heretical nature. Now, in The Forbidden Rumi, Will Johnson and Nevit Ergin present for the first time in English Rumi’s poems from this forbidden volume. The collection is grouped into three sections: songs to Shams and God, songs of heresy, and songs of advice and admonition. In them Rumi explains that in order to transform our consciousness, we must let go of ingrained habits and embrace new ones. In short, we must become heretics.Trade Review“For the past fifty years Nevit Ergin has been working to bring into English the entirety of Rumi’s vast Divani Shamsi Tabriz. This last volume is the most incendiary and it clearly dissolves the boundaries of organized religion and national ego that keep us from the table of friendship that Rumi invites us to. . . . We are very grateful to Dr. Ergin for his life’s work.” * Coleman Barks, translator of The Essential Rumi *"It takes a great deal of courage to read The Forbidden Rumi as it may press a lot of buttons, not only about your own pathway to God, but your views and prejudices about love, religion, heresy and Islam. "All of Rumi’s poems have enjoined us to release the rules and open our hearts to our inner treasure of love, but these most controversial poems cut to the bone. "This final book of Rumi’s poems is a must-read for any serious student of spiritual ecstasy. They pose questions that make us wonder and re-evaluate our views about a religion that is portrayed as governed by extremists. They reveal a hidden face of Islam that may surprise even moderate Islamists. "Most importantly, these poems reveal that Islam too has always had a mystical, transcendent element that is its purest gift." * Lesley Crossingham, New Dawn, Mar-Apr 2007 *Table of ContentsIntroductionSongs to Shams, Songs to GodHe Took Me Under His Arm Split Wide OpenI Won’t Repent His LoveHow Can I Fool Him?WaterStay with MeConversations with God The Greatness of AbsenceHow Happy a TimeWhat a Bird!Love Letter to ShamsDeath Is Life for You More Than TheseWhat Can I Do?Give Up YourselfI Keep Smiling Why Are You Deceiving Me?He Embraced Me Like His Own Soul The Placeless PlaceEveryone Else Is a StrangerBeautiful OneThe Promise Is SweetStill Say NothingFlying High On Your WineOffer Your WinePlease Don’t GoIt Wasn’t Like ThatShamseddinThe Road Is Narrow Don’t Go AwayLifting the CurtainHis TraceWherever You AreDon’t Go Anywhere Without MeYour Blessing Is UnconditionalSongs of Advice, Songs of AdmonitionSearch ThereThe Best NourishmentFastingDivine RoadChoose LoveGod’s OceanWatch How God Opens the DoorThe Journey Starts HereAscend the Mountain of Love Don’t You Recall?These Two WorldsOutside the SackA Rascal in the BazaarJust Do It Your Overflowing SecretsThe Drunks of UnionAhead of the ThoughtThe Land of AbsenceLove Is Its Own Proof Advice to the Drunk at Heart Light and Shadow Words into DustTime to JourneyCome as You AreThe Language of the HeartFree WineThe Perfect Host A Helper of HeartsA Life Without Art God’s ArtistryAll That Is GoodOpen the DoorDonkey and OxCheckmateThe Caravan’s BellsSteal PearlsThis Temporary WorldSome AdviceMusic at the Tavern of Eternity The Eggshell of the BodyOpen Your Door Heaven’s DoorRebornSubmerged in AbsenceLife Is Coming to the Rose GardenThe Path in the HeartThe Rose’s PleaWhy Are You So Reasonable?You Are in His HandCries of ConfirmationWords of the SecretsHidden from the EyesYou Snatched My HeartThe Moon’s SlaveCut It ShortSongs of HeresyYou Can’t Get AwayI Came Back to YouEveryone Is Welcome to This SchoolA Stranger to Myself I Am the One!Wake Up from Your SleepHe Is Beyond PraiseTranslator’s Afterword

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Book SynopsisA path-breaking scholar's insightful reexamination of the resurrection of the body and the construction of the self When people talk about the resurrection they often assume that the bodies in the afterlife will be perfect. But which version of our bodies gets resurrectedyoung or old, healthy or sick, real-to-life or idealized? What bodily qualities must be recast in heaven for a body to qualify as both ours and heavenly? The resurrection is one of the foundational statements of Christian theology, but when it comes to the New Testament only a handful of passages helps us answer the question What will those bodies be like? More problematically, the selection and interpretation of these texts are grounded in assumptions about the kinds of earthly bodies that are most desirable. Drawing upon previously unexplored evidence in ancient medicine, philosophy, and culture, this illuminating book both revisits central textssuch as the resurrection of Jesusand mines virtually ignored passages Trade Review"[An] excellent new book"—The Catholic Herald“In this informed, witty, and provocative study… Professor Moss presents a timely challenge to modern sense and sensibilities.”—John Saxbee, Church Times“There is a tremendous wealth of learning and reflection in the short 200 pages of this book…Definitely one to read.”—Matthew V. Novenson, Journal for the Study of the New Testament“Why does Christianity see bodily resurrection as salvation? How do ideas about embodied eternity encode time-bound cultural values concerning health, wealth, beauty, sex, and self? Candida Moss’s lithe essay investigates all these questions with lively erudition, with humor and with insight. Divine Bodies is divine reading.”—Paula Fredriksen, author of When Christians Were Jews“With enormous learning and gentle sensitivity Candida Moss explores the intricate pathways of the Christian imagination. In the process she skillfully and insightfully reveals the complex ironies of a hoped for future life and the ways it often mirrors an unexamined present.”—Harold W. Attridge, Yale Divinity School“Are our bodies ourselves? Candida Moss shows how culturally constructed notions of human perfection and beauty have shaped New Testament passages about the resurrected body—and modern biblical scholarship as well. A thought-provoking work of intellectual and cultural history.“—David Brakke, The Ohio State University“This fresh, careful study will change our classical images of bodily resurrection. Shining new light on both well-known texts and more neglected sources, Candida Moss shows how earthly disabilities are an integral part of resurrected, glorified bodies.”—Christoph Markschies, Humboldt-University Berlin“In this thought-provoking book, Candida Moss invites readers to rethink our views about the resurrection and critically question our (often implicit) assumptions of the perfect and impaired bodies.”—Ismo Dunderberg, University of Helsinki

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