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Millennial Nuns: Reflections on Living a Spiritual Life in a World of Social Media
By The Daughters of Saint Paul. 2021
Discover how to engage in a faith-filled life in the era of social media from a group of young, consecrated…
Catholic sisters.Friend. Artist. Writer. Businesswomen. Advocate. Scholar. The women whose pieces are included in this book hold many different titles. But they all share two important characteristics. First, they are all young women. Second, they are all consecrated religious of the Catholic order the Daughters of Saint Paul. They are millennial nuns.More and more people—especially millennials—are turning to religion as a source of comfort and solace in our increasingly chaotic world. But rather than live a cloistered life of seclusion, the Daughters of Saint Paul actively embrace social media, using platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to evangelize, collectively calling themselves the #MediaNuns.In this &“funny and poignant&” (Colleen Carroll Campbell, award-winning author of The Heart of Perfection) memoir, eight of these Sisters share their own discernment journeys, struggles, and crises of faith that they&’ve overcome, and episodes from their daily lives. Through these reflections, the Sisters also offer practical takeaways and tips for living a more spiritually-fulfilled life, no matter your religious affiliation.In a collection as diverse and varied as the Daughters of Saint Paul themselves, Millennial Nuns will appeal to anyone looking to discover more about balancing faith with the modern age.Seeing the Unseen
By Joe Beam. 1994
Spiritual warfare is real, and your faith is at stake. Based on Biblical principles, Seeing the Unseen helps you fight…
back against the enemy. In today&’s world, Satan seems to be everywhere, and he seems to have the advantage. But the enemy is not of this world, and the war is in the spiritual world. Satan is trying to attack you and destroy your faith, and the only way to defeat him is to fight back.In this newly revised and updated bestseller, Joe Beam reveal Satan's powerful weaponry—his lies, deceptions, and manipulations—and unmasks his strategy to destroy your life and those you care for. This book will show you his plans and tactics, and teach you where he is likely to strike next and how to fight him.Based on a dedicated study of God&’s word, this book is filled with stories of tragedy and triumph and will give you the tools you need to defeat the enemy.In this incendiary new work, the controversial author and speaker Peter Rollins proclaims that the Christian faith is not primarily…
concerned with questions regarding life after death but with the possibility of life before death.In order to unearth this truth, Rollins prescribes a radical and wholesale critique of contemporary Christianity that he calls pyro-theology. It is only as we submit our spiritual practices, religious rituals, and dogmatic affirmations to the flames of fearless interrogation that we come into contact with the reality that Christianity is in the business of transforming our world rather than offering a way of interpreting or escaping it. Belief in the Resurrection means but one thing: Participation in an Insurrection."What Pete does in this book is take you to the edge of a cliff where you can see how high you are and how far you would fall if you lost your footing. And just when most writers would kindly pull you back from edge, he pushes you off, and you find yourself without any solid footing, disoriented, and in a bit of a panic…until you realize that your fall is in fact, a form of flying. And it's thrilling."--Rob Bell, author of Love Wins and Velvet Elvis"While others labor to save the Church as they know it, Peter Rollins takes an ax to the roots of the tree. Those who have enjoyed its shade will want to stop him, but his strokes are so clean and true that his motive soon becomes clear: this man trusts the way of death and resurrection so much that he has become fearless of religion." --Barbara Brown Taylor, author of Leaving Church and An Altar in the World“Rollins writes and thinks like a new Bonhoeffer, crucifying the trappings of religion in order to lay bare a radical, religionless and insurrectional Christianity. A brilliant new voice—an activist, a storyteller and a theologian all in one—and not a moment too soon.” --John D. Caputo, Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion Emeritus, Syracuse University“What does it mean when the Son of God cries out, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me’? Brilliantly, candidly, and faithfully, Rollins wrestles here with that question. You may not agree with his answers and conclusions, but you owe it to yourself and to the Church at large to read what he says.” --Phyllis Tickle, author, The Great Emergence"Excellent thinking and excellent writing! I hope this fine bookreceives the broad reading it deserves. It will change lives, andour understanding of what religion is all about!"-- Rohr,O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation; Albuquerque, New MexicoShould religion and politics be kept apart? What should be the relationship between the church and the state? M.Y. Ciftci…
answers these questions by studying the most important event in the recent history of the Catholic Church: The Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The book provides a new interpretation of the Council’s teaching on church-state relations to better appreciate its flaws and need for reform. By paying attention to the (often overlooked) importance given by the Council to the lay apostolate, it reveals how the Council did not reform, as is often thought, but retained a flawed conception of the laity’s role in politics. It then proposes a new framework for understanding church-state relations using the ressourcement method of returning to scripture and tradition, and by a critical dialogue with Oliver O’Donovan and various Protestant biblical scholars of the Powers in the New Testament. Ciftci shows how fruitful an self-consciously ecumenical approach can be for political theology. As most ressourcement theologians have overlooked political issues, and since ecumenical theology rarely touches on issues of church-state relations, this work makes an original contribution to the ressourcement project and to ecumenism.The Masks of Christ: Behind the Lies and Cover-ups about the Life of Jesus
By Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince. 2008
From the gnostic gospels to the Nativity, religious mythology immortalized Jesus -- his personality, his actions, his words -- but…
what if they didn't tell the truth? Although an entire religion is based on his teachings, Jesus himself did not record any written accounts of his life or faith. He taught his followers orally, and our only sources about what Jesus actually said and believed, the Gospels, were written long after his lifetime. But the Gospel authors had their own agendas to promote and most certainly altered -- even distorted -- their leader's message. In The Masks of Christ, bestselling authors Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince peel away layers of mythology, canonical revisions, Church propaganda, and censorship in order to reveal who Christ really was -- and discover his true message to the followers of Christianity. Stripping away centuries of misinformation, Picknett and Prince dispel religious myths, unearth historical truths, and uncover the real stories behind some of the Bible's most famous tales -- including how Christ's long-hidden relationships with John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene shaped his beliefs and religious mission. Drawing on objective research, Picknett and Prince present the living, breathing Jesus and provide a context for Jesus' teachings in the time and society in which he lived -- and, most important, guidance on what the life and lessons of Jesus Christ mean to everyone today.Santa Claus Is for Real: A True Christmas Fable About the Magic of Believing
By Charles Edward Hall, Bret Witter. 2014
A heartwarming and inspirational fable from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Santa based on his own personal journey of discovering…
the magic of Christmas.Every year, over a million people attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, where they have the pleasure of seeing Charles Edward Hall don a red suit and become the world&’s most famous Santa Claus—a role he has played for over thirty-five years.But Hall wasn&’t always such a jolly old soul. Believe it or not, this Santa was once a Scrooge—literally. For the first time, Charles tells the inspiring story of his own transformation, from a wide-eyed child who once caught a glimpse of Santa through a frosty windowpane, to a young man who lost his faith in jolly old Saint Nick.It wasn&’t until fate intervened, in the form of an unexpected role, a stage malfunction, and hundreds of letters from children, that Charles rediscovered his Christmas spirit. Ultimately, he discovered two life-changing lessons: this was his life&’s work, and that Santa is real. When Charles needed him most, Santa was there, with kind words and a special gift.As this delightful true-life fable proves, he is there for everyone. All it takes is a good heart, an honest joy, and a belief in the magic of Christmas.The Everything Bible Study Book: All You Need to Understand the Bible—On Your Own or in a Group (The Everything Books)
By James Stuart Bell, Tracy Sumner. 2007
A complete package for individual or group bible study!Studying the Bible can be a daunting prospect—but with The Everything Bible…
Study Book, reading and understanding this great work has never been easier. This unique, nonsectarian guide has everything you need to study the Bible, either on your own or in the company of your peers.Beginning with an overview of the various methods of Bible study, this fascinating and informative book takes you step by step through the important sections of Scripture, beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelations.Every Scripture reference includes: -Brief summaries of each biblical book -Critical historical and background information -Interpretations relevant to today -Ways to apply Bible teachings to daily lifeThe Everything Bible Study Book provides fifty lessons and discussion topics designed for a full year of Bible study. The accompanying CD includes lesson plans, study guides, readings, and other ready-to-print handouts. Whether you&’re studying solo or starting your own Bible study group to accompany you, you&’ll be ready for the spiritual journey of a lifetime with The Everything Bible Study Book.The Shattered Spectrum: A Survey of Contemporary Theology
By Lonnie D. Kliever. 1981
The Seven Deadly Sins: Jewish, Christian, and Classical Reflections On Human Psychology
By Solomon Schimmel. 1997
All of us are engaged in a personal, ongoing battle with sin and vice. The seven deadly sins--lust, greed, envy,…
anger, pride, gluttony, and sloth--are our main antagonists in this struggle. They are primary causes of unhappiness and immorality, and because of their pervasive nature, have been of perennial interest to religious thinkers, philosophers, dramatists, and poets. Although our anger doesn't make most of us murderers, our lust doesn't make most of us rapists, and our greed and envy don't make most of us outright criminals, they, together with gluttony, arrogance, and sloth, often make us, and those who have to live with us, miserable. One need only read the daily paper to see that these seven sins are alive and well, deadlier than ever, spawning violence and suffering, illness and anxiety, loss of meaning, and depression. An arrogant yuppie considers suicide after losing his job on Wall Street, which had been the fragile basis of his false pride. A distinguished senator and a prominent judge destroy their careers and wound their female victims with their lust. Millions of men and women, distraught about their body image, subject themselves to liposuction, breast and hair implants because of their gluttony or vanity. People at the pinnacle of economic power fall into the abyss of prison because they could not control their avarice. In The Seven Deadly Sins, Solomon Schimmel explains why psychology must incorporate many of the ethical and spiritual values of religion and moral philosophy if it is to effectively address the emotional problems faced by modern men and women, be they believers or agnostics. Drawing on the psychological insights of the Bible, Aristotle, Maimonides, Aquinas, and Shakespeare, among others, he shows how all of us can learn from them about the relationship between virtue and psychological well-being and vice and emotional distress. This insightful and fascinating work guides us to master our passions rather than be enslaved by them so that we can become more humane and build a happier, caring society.Vows: The Story of a Priest, a Nun, and Their Son
By Peter Manseau. 2005
The 1950s was a boom time for the Catholic Church in America, with large families of devout members providing at…
least one son or daughter for a life of religious service. Boston was at the epicenter of this explosion, and Bill Manseau and Mary Doherty -- two eager young parishioners from different towns -- became part of a new breed of clergy, eschewing the comforts of homey parishes and choosing instead to minister to the inner-city poor. Peter Manseau's riveting evocation of his parents' parallel childhoods, their similar callings, their experiences in the seminary and convent, and how they met while tending to the homeless of Roxbury during the riot-prone 1960s is a page-turning meditation on the effect that love can have on profound faith. Once married, the Manseaus continued to fight for Father Bill's right to serve the church as a priest, and it was into this situation that Peter and his siblings were born and raised to be good Catholics while they witnessed their father's personal conflict with the church's hierarchy. A multigenerational tale of spirituality, Vows also charts Peter's own calling, one which he tried to deny even as he felt compelled to consider the monastic life, toying with the idea of continuing a family tradition that stretches back over 300 years of Irish and French Catholic priests and nuns. It is also in Peter's deft hands that we learn about a culture and a religion that has shaped so much of American life, affected generations of true believers, and withstood great turmoil. Vows is a compelling tale of one family's unshakable faith that to be called is to serve, however high the cost may be.When God Builds a Church: 101 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church
By Bob Russell, Rusty Russell. 2000
Pastor Bob Russell shares the ten principles upon which Southeast Christian Church, one of the largest and fastest growing churches…
in America, was founded. He shares not only the story of one of the most amazing churches in America, but also what your church can become if you follow the principles and allow God to build your church.Can the church truly be the "city on a hill that cannot be hidden" that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount? Can it grow large enough to attract throngs of seekers and yet be loving enough to care for each individual that comes? Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church—one of the largest and fastest growing churches in America—says that it most certainly can. But it can only be done when we are submissive to God's will and allow Him to build that church. In the pages of this far-sighted, uncompromising book, Bob Russell and his son Rusty share the ten principles upon which this remarkable church was founded. Throughout the book, you will see God's mighty power at work in a church that began in 1962 with only 50 members and has now grown to over 14,000 and has become a bustling "city on a hill" whose beaming faith powerfully impacts its community and the world. This book shares not only the story of one of the most amazing churches in America but also the story of what your church can become as you follow these ten time-tested principles and allow God to build your church.Making Great Decisions: Reflections for a Life Without Limits
By T. D. Jakes. 2009
The star of BETs Mind, Body & Soul, and featured guest speaker on Oprah’s Lifeclass, Potter’s House pastor, T.D. Jakes…
turns his attention to the topic of relationships, guiding you on the right track to making decisions you will benefit from for the rest of your life. In the vein of Joel Osteen’s Become a Better You and Dr. Phil’s Life Strategies, the New York Times bestselling Making Great Decisions (formerly tiled Before You Do) gives you the psychological and practical tools you need to reflect, discern, and decide the next step toward strong relationships in your life. “Remember,” writes T.D. Jakes, “your tomorrow is no better than the decisions you make today.”“My promise is that if you read this book, you will be equipped, you will know all you need to know about making foolproof relational decisions,” writes T.D. Jakes. Choosing the right partner, at home or at work, is one of the most consequential decisions we’ll ever make. How can we be sure that we’re choosing wisely? How do we know if we’re doing the right thing when we change careers? By breaking our decisions down into their five crucial components: Research: gathering informationRoadwork: removing obstaclesRewards: listing choices and visualizing consequences Revelation: narrowing your options and making your selection Rearview: looking back and adjusting as necessary to stay on course Clear-sighted, realistic, and spiritually uplifting, Making Great Decisions is one of those rare books that can change lives.What Would Betty Do?: How to Succeed at the Expense of Others in This World and the Next
By Betty Bowers. 2002
Betty Bowers is a better Christian than you!In a world of reflected glory and shameless name-dropping, no one can touch…
America's most puritanical pundit, Betty Bowers. Betty is so close to Jesus, He's given her His loaves and fish recipe. And only Betty knows how many shopping days there are until the Apocalypse. As she is fond of saying: "If God created me in His image, I have more than returned the compliment!" In Prada and in prayer, Betty has devoted her life to bringing people the Good News: They are going straight to Hell. Thousands have aspired to emulate her joie d'apres vivre by logging on to her popular website, bettybowers.com. But only now, with What Would Betty Do? does she finally reveal her spiritual survival secrets. You'll discover how, come Judgment Day, to be whisked through the 10 Sins or Less express line. But first, you will have to learn how to vote (for God's Own Party, the Republicans), whom to hate (Lie-berals and other non-Baptists), and what to throw (a soirée -- and then a few stones!). "After all," warns Betty, "if Heaven is just going to involve running into all the people you avoided on Earth, what would be the point?"Unchic? Unsaved? Wavering faith? Wandering hands? A pair of $650 Manolo Blahnik pumps that won't go with anything? No problem! Just ask yourself -- What would Betty do?Happiness Is . . .: Simple Steps to a Life of Joy
By A. R. Bernard. 2006
If money doesn't buy happiness, what does? From the founder and spiritual leader of the 28,000-member New York Christian Cultural…
Center comes a powerful tool that can help anyone escape the grip of negativity and achieve the spiritual prosperity that can come only with discipline and wisdom.Drawing on scripture, common sense, and inspirational quotes from an army of luminaries that includes Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, Quincy Jones, and Rick Warren, Happiness Is... explains what happiness is, how to find it, and how to keep it. "Happiness isn't a commodity that can be purchased in a store" counsels Bernard. "It's a by-product of the way you choose to live and the things you choose to think."Happiness Is... teaches you not to worry about things you can't control and instead inspires you to use the talents that God has already given you to lead a purposeful, principled life. Are you ready to celebrate your life today? God's love for you is infinite. Accept it joyfully...and be happy now.The Idolatry of God: Breaking Our Addiction to Certainty and Satisfaction
By Peter Rollins. 2012
You can’t be satisfied. Life is difficult. You don’t know the secret.Whether readers are devout believers or distant seekers, The…
Idolatry of God shows that we must lay down our certainties and honestly admit our doubts to identify with Jesus. Rollins purposely upsets fundamentalist certainty in order to open readers up to a more loving, active manifestation of Christ’s love. In contrast to the usual understanding of the “Good News” as a message offering satisfaction and certainty, Rollins argues for a radical and shattering alternative. He explores how the Good News actually involves embracing the idea that we can’t be whole, that life is difficult, and that we are in the dark. Showing how God has traditionally been approached as a product that will render us complete, remove our suffering, and reveal the answers, he introduces an incendiary approach to faith that invites us to joyfully embrace our brokenness, resolutely face our unknowing, and courageously accept the difficulties of existence. Only then, he argues, can we truly rob death of its sting and enter into the fullness of life.Unexpected Gifts: Discovering the Way of Community
By Christopher L. Heuertz. 2013
In this heartfelt and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we…
join together and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding.“Ironically, as much as we yearn for deep friendships and meaningful communities, many of us seem to be unable to find our way into them. Even if we know we’re made for community, finding one and staying there seems almost impossible. Though we hate to admit it, if we stay long enough in any relationship or set of friendships, we will experience failure, doubt, burnout, loneliness, transitions, a loss of self, betrayal, frustration, a sense of entitlement, grief, and weariness. Yet it’s these painful community experiences, these tensions we struggle to navigate, that hold surprising gifts.” —FROM THE PREFACE IN A STRIKINGLY confessional tone and vividly illustrated through story, Unexpected Gifts names eleven inevitable challenges that all friendships, relationships, and communities experience if they stay together long enough. Rather than allowing these challenges to become excuses to leave, Chris Heuertz suggests that things like betrayal, transitions, failure, loss of identity, entitlement, and doubt may actually be invitations to stay. And if we stay, these challenges can become unexpected gifts. *** Betrayal, failure, loss of identity, doubt. If your relationships have suffered from any of these pitfalls, this book will show you that staying together can create something more—even something beautiful. IN THIS HEARTFELT and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together, and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding. Whether readers are forming a new community, searching for deeper community, or participating in a longtime community, they will find inspiration, caution, guidance, and encouragement as they discover the beauty of pressing in to the ambiguities of growing relationships in this tender and honest testimony about how we are woven together by grace.The Templar Revelation: Secret Guardians of the True Identity of Christ
By Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince. 2004
The most closely guarded secret of the western world is about to be revealed—and you will never see Christianity in…
the same light again. In a remarkable achievement of historical detective work that is destined to become a classic, authors Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince delve into the mysterious world of the Freemasons, the Cathars, the Knights Templar, and the occult to discover the truth behind an underground religion with roots in the first century that survives even today.Chronicling their fascinating quest for truth through time and space, the authors reveal an astonishing new view of the real motives and character of the founder of Christianity, as well as the actual historical—and revelatory—roles of John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene.Painstakingly researched and thoroughly documented, The Templar Revelation presents a secret history, preserved through the centuries but encoded in works of art and even in the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe, whose final chapter could shatter the foundation of the Christian Church.In The Everything Saints Book, you'll learn about the fascinating lives (and sometimes untimely deaths) of more than 85 saints…
and the miracles ascribed to them.In this authoritative new edition of The Everything Saints Book, you'll find rare quotes, little-known facts, and captivating stories of heroism and personal sacrifice, including:-Traditional saints -European, African, and Asian saints -Soon-to-be saints -Disappearing saintsFrom Mary, the mother of Jesus, to early European saints like Saint Valentine, to modern men and women who are now being considered for sainthood, The Everything Saints Book reveals the personalities and piety of these intriguing people-and the ways in which their unwavering devotion to God transformed their lives and the lives of those around them.The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book: From Brian Boru and St. Patrick to Sinn Fein and the Troubles, All You Need to Know about the Emerald Isle (The Everything Books)
By Amy Hackney Blackwell, Ryan Hackney. 2004
There's more to being Irish than kissing a Blarney Stone!Few places on earth match Ireland's romantic attraction and historical legacy.…
Every year, millions of visitors flock to the ancient sites and burgeoning cities of this enchanted island to immerse themselves in its rich literary, musical, and political heritage.The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book introduces readers to the people, places, and events that have shaped the past and given rise to the unique culture of the Irish people. From the Iron Age to the economic renaissance, this comprehensive account familiarizes readers with Ireland's history and acquaints them with the climate, food, language, and sports that make it truly unique.Features exhaustive coverage of:Celtic mythology and ancient folkloreThe Irish literary tradition--from The Book of Kells to UlyssesThe potato famine and the Great HungerThe Irish in America and the immigration experienceThe Troubles and the road to peaceReligion and family life Packed with historical information and cultural insights, The Everything Irish History & Heritage Book is a must-read for anyone interested in the magic and mystery of the Emerald Isle.The case for miracles: A journalist investigates evidence for the supernatural
By Lee Strobel. 2018
New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel trains his investigative sights on the hot-button question: is it really credible to…
believe God intervenes supernaturally in people's lives today? This provocative book starts with an unlikely interview in which America's foremost skeptic builds a seemingly persuasive case against the miraculous. But then Strobel travels the country to quiz scholars to see whether they can offer solid answers to atheist objections. Along the way, he encounters astounding accounts of healings and other phenomena that simply cannot be explained away by naturalistic causes. The book features the results of exclusive new scientific polling that shows miracle accounts are much more common than people think. What's more, Strobel delves into the most controversial question of all: what about miracles that don't happen? If God can intervene in the world, why doesn't he do it more often to relieve suffering? Many American Christians are embarrassed by the supernatural, not wanting to look odd or extreme to their neighbors. Yet, The Case for Miracles shows not only that the miraculous is possible, but that God still does intervene in our world in awe-inspiring ways. Here's a unique book that examines all sides of this issue and comes away with a passionate defense for God's divine action in lives today. Also available: The Case for Miracles Spanish edition, kids' edition, and student edition