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Journals and memoirs, Christianity, Death and bereavement
The blogger behind Confessions of a Funeral Director—what Time magazine called a "must read"—reflects on mortality and the powerful lessons… death holds for every one of us in this compassionate and thoughtful spiritual memoir that combines the humor and insight of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes with the poignancy and brevity of When Breath Becomes Air.Death. It happens to everyone, yet most of us don’t want to talk about this final chapter of existence. Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde intimately understands this reticence and fear. The son of an undertaker, he hesitated to embrace the legacy of running his family’s business. Yet he discovered that caring for the deceased and their loved ones profoundly changed his faith and his perspective on death—and life itself. "Yes, death can be bad. Yes, death can be negative," he acknowledges, "but it can also be beautiful. And that alternate narrative needs to be discussed."In Confessions of a Funeral Director, he talks about his experiences and pushes back against the death-negative ethos of our culture, opening a thoughtful, poignant conversation to help us see the end of life in a positive and liberating way. In the wry, compassionate, and honest voice that has charmed his growing legions of blog readers, Wilde offers an intimate look inside his business, offering information on unspoken practices around death such as the embalming process, beautiful and memorable stories about families in the wake of death, and, most importantly, a fresh and wise perspective on how embracing death can allow us to embrace life.Confessions of a Funeral Director is the story of one man learning how death illuminates and deepens the meaning of existence—insights that can help us all pursue and cherish full, rich lives.
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Asian history, Politics and government, Social issues
In The Making of a Human Bomb, Nasser Abufarha, a Palestinian anthropologist, explains the cultural logic underlying Palestinian martyrdom operations… (suicide attacks) launched against Israel during the Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000-06). In so doing, he sheds much-needed light on how Palestinians have experienced and perceived the broader conflict. During the Intifada, many of the martyrdom operations against Israeli targets were initiated in the West Bank town of Jenin and surrounding villages. Abufarha was born and raised in Jenin. His personal connections to the area enabled him to conduct ethnographic research there during the Intifada, while he was a student at a U. S. university. Abufarha draws on the life histories of martyrs, interviews he conducted with their families and members of the groups that sponsored their operations, and examinations of Palestinian literature, art, performance, news stories, and political commentaries. He also assesses data--about the bombers, targets, and fatalities caused--from more than two hundred martyrdom operations carried out by Palestinian groups between 2001 and 2004. Some involved the use of explosive belts or the detonation of cars; others entailed armed attacks against Israeli targets (military and civilian) undertaken with the intent of fighting until death. In addition, he scrutinized suicide attacks executed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad between 1994 and 2000. In his analysis of Palestinian political violence, Abufarha takes into account Palestinians' understanding of the history of the conflict with Israel, the effects of containment on Palestinians' everyday lives, the disillusionment created by the Oslo peace process, and reactions to specific forms of Israeli state violence. The Making of a Human Bomb illuminates the Palestinians' perspective on the conflict with Israel and provides a model for ethnographers seeking to make sense of political violence.
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Journals and memoirs, Social issues
On January 6, 2017, a lone gunman took five lives and wounded eight people at Fort Lauderdale Airport. This book… is about the Lauderdale shooting told from the perspective of bestselling author William Hazelgrove, who just happened to be there with his wife and children.Though focused on one terrifying incident that the author witnessed, this story is also a prototype of American shootings showing the interplay of victims, police, media, the shooter, and what constitutes this peculiar American form of violence. The author documents the perverse chain of events that set the stage for this tragedy: the failure of police and the FBI to stop this troubled Iraq War veteran, who had earlier approached them and said point-blank that he was hearing voices telling him to kill others; the incredible fact that his weapon was taken and then given back to him, the very gun that would kill five people and shut down a major airport for forty-eight hours; and the circumstances of American society that allowed this gun to be checked through airport security as a legal firearm and then delivered to the killer, who casually strolled into a bathroom, loaded the pistol, and returned to the baggage claim area to start his murderous rampage. Interweaving his dramatic telling of his own experiences with a history of comparable shootings in America, the book presents both an anatomy of these horrifying events and the basis for understanding why they happen and what can be done to stop them.
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Christianity
Discover God's Gift for You: Unconditional Love! Every bit of God's power and love is available to you-today! And you… aren't just one of the crowd. God loves you as if you were the only person on Earth. The problem is that, like most people, you may not understand it...or if you know it with your head, you may not feel it with your heart. Now you can. The powerful message in this inspiring book will show you: * How to Recognize God's Love Inside You * How to Stop Wondering If You're Good Enough for God * How You can Experience an Amazing Revelation of God's Love * How to Find God Even During Life's Painful Circumstances * How God's Love will Change You Forever. Sharing her insights and the revelation that transformed her own life, Joyce Meyer brings you Scripture and other words of wisdom that can open up the window to God's love...and let its light shine on you, personally!
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Psychology, Religion, Social issues
A chilling expos of youth suicide driven by faith Tony Frost Tribune … Child and teen suicide is no stranger to this author I recall gazing at the stillness of my childhood friend in a coffin and the nun telling me that God had taken him back because he had been made of sin He had killed himself because word got out that he had been born out of wedlock Then there was that girl in my high school class who took the easy way out when she found herself with child A few months after I released my biography of John Paul I a gay teen called me and told me that my book had saved his life He had planned to take his life on that day because his faith condemned the person he happened to be During my years with the Children s Home and Hospital School I ve shared in the grief left in the wake of children s notes I have gone to live with Jesus Thousands of mentally and physically impaired among countless others have left the same legacy behind Then we have tragedies like F tima where two little children are saints today because their faith encouraged them to advance their deaths in slow and agonizing ways to suffer and die for sins of the flesh against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and a Catholic world that thinks it wonderful While through the years the preacher s hatred has taken its greatest toll in unwed mothers gay and transgender teens and other outcasts of religion his lure of heaven remains the leading cause of pre-puberty suicide today As for F tima I give you much more than the Vatican s beatification investigation which found these children tortured themselves with abrasive ropes and stinging nettles and abstained from drinking water on hot days As for me I must live out my days haunted by children s lives snuffed out by the preacher s irresponsible bluff because I had not acted sooner Thousands of tiny coffins lowered into the ground so that the preacher can sell his condominiums in the sky to sheep who lust for more Lucien Gregoire Though the author dismantles traditional concepts of heaven as peddled by preachers he leaves us with far greater opportunity as he proves the salvation tenet of the 33-Day Pope Don t knock yourself out over smart monkeys and Adam and Eve Each of us is responsible for our own evolution We can either choose to remain as mortal men or we can evolve as Gods
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Christianity
A Disciple s Path is an engaging approach to discipleship from a distinctly Wesleyan perspective that is perfect for a… new member class or other small group The six-week program guides individuals to take the next step in discipleship and become dynamic followers of Jesus Christ and engaged vital members of the local church The study combines a Wesleyan understanding of our growth in God s love and grace with the time-tested practices of spiritual discipline expressed in the membership vows to uphold the church with our prayers presence gifts service and witness Participants will develop spiritual practices discover their unique gifts and become engaged in ministry that brings transformation in their own lives the lives of others and the world This Companion Reader provides invaluable insights that enable both participants and leaders to dig deeper into the spiritual practices essential to the life of discipleship Each chapter corresponds to a week in the Daily Workbook providing biblical and theological background on the week s theme from a distinctively United Methodist perspective Perfect for enhancing personal or group study and reflection answering questions and providing material for worship planning during a congregation-wide emphasis Endorsements A Disciple s Path has transformed countless new members into deeply committed disciples people who are using their gifts praying in new ways worshipping regularly and not only when it s convenient giving sacrificially of their financial resources and seeking to be a witness to Christ s love and light in the world I am deeply grateful for this resource and recommend it wholeheartedly Donna Claycomb Sokol Pastor of Mount Veron Place United Methodist Church and author of A New Day in the City A Disciple s Path has the potential to revolutionize the way we view our participation in the church Following this path can transform us from wanderers into pilgrims Dr Steve Harper Retired Professor of Spiritual Formation author of Five Marks of a Methodist and Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition For churches transforming their invitation to membership into an opportunity for a discipleship journey Lovett H Weems Jr author and Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership and Director Lewis Center for Church Leadership Wesley Theological Seminary Deeply grounded in the rich theology of the Wesleyan tradition and packed with practical suggestions Roger Scholtz Senior Pastor Kloof Methodist Church South Africa and professor at Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary A very useful explanation of the traditional Wesleyan view of Christian discipleship strengthened in particular by its stress on the balanced approach of the Methodist way Dr Richard P Heitzenrater Duke University Divinity School
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Christianity
Prayers presence gifts service and witness this is what we commit to when we… become members of The United Methodist Church and it s a big step But A Disciple s Path helps us look beyond membership presenting an engaging approach to discipleship from a distinctly Wesleyan perspective Discipleship is ongoing so the 6-week study is perfect for new-member groups but also works well in small groups of long-time members It helps you develop spiritual practices discover your unique gifts and engage in ministry that brings transformation to your own life and to the lives of others and the world The Daily Workbook offers six weeks of daily readings five per week Scripture a message for the day and prompts for personal reflection Endorsements A Disciple s Path has transformed countless new members into deeply committed disciples people who are using their gifts praying in new ways worshipping regularly and not only when it s convenient giving sacrificially of their financial resources and seeking to be a witness to Christ s love and light in the world I am deeply grateful for this resource and recommend it wholeheartedly Donna Claycomb Sokol Pastor of Mount Veron Place United Methodist Church and author of A New Day in the City A Disciple s Path has the potential to revolutionize the way we view our participation in the church Following this path can transform us from wanderers into pilgrims Dr Steve Harper Retired Professor of Spiritual Formation author of Five Marks of a Methodist and Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition For churches transforming their invitation to membership into an opportunity for a discipleship journey Lovett H Weems Jr author and Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership and Director Lewis Center for Church Leadership Wesley Theological Seminary A very useful explanation of the traditional Wesleyan view of Christian discipleship strengthened in particular by its stress on the balanced approach of the Methodist way Dr Richard P Heitzenrater Duke University Divinity School
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History, Christianity, Religion
The medieval church was founded on and governed by concepts of faith and trust--but not in the way that is… popularly assumed Offering a radical new interpretation of the institutional church and its social consequences in England Ian Forrest argues that between 1200 and 1500 the ability of bishops to govern depended on the cooperation of local people known as trustworthy men and shows how the combination of inequality and faith helped make the medieval church Trustworthy men in Latin virifidedigni were jurors informants and witnesses who represented their parishes when bishops needed local knowledge or reliable collaborators Their importance in church courts at inquests and during visitations grew enormously between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries The church had to trust these men and this trust rested on the complex and deep-rooted cultures of faith that underpinned promises and obligations personal reputation and identity and belief in God But trust also had a dark side For the church to discriminate between the trustworthy and untrustworthy was not to identify the most honest Christians but to find people whose status ensured their word would not be contradicted This meant men rather than women and usually the wealthier tenants and property holders in each parish Trustworthy Men illustrates the ways in which the English church relied on and deepened inequalities within late medieval society and how trust and faith were manipulated for political ends
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Christianity
How should one approach the task of theology The question of methodology is increasingly one of interest among… theologians who recognize that the very manner in which we approach theology informs both the questions we ask and the conclusions we reach This volume in IVP s Spectrum Multiview series brings together five evangelical theologians with distinctly different approaches to the theological task After presenting the approaches which include appeals to Scripture context missions interdisciplinary studies and dogmatics each contributor responds to the other views Emerging from this theological conversation is an awareness of our methodological commitments and the benefits that each approach can bring to the theological task Contributors Sung Wook Chung John R Franke Telford C Work Victor Ifeanyi Ezigbo Paul Louis Metzger
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Christianity
Most introductory textbooks in theology see their primary task as explaining Christian doctrines that no one quite understands anymore … While this is one of theology s jobs it is by no means the only nor even the most important one Theology has also been called to change the world to help people connect deeply rooted beliefs about the world s source and goal to questions of personal meaning and communal thriving Theology is here to help us make sense of the complex flawed world into which we ve been thrust and to assist us in our attempt to love our neighbors and live toward the common good For more than forty years the Workgroup on Constructive Theology has brought the liberal and liberationist theological traditions into creative encounter with lived human experience In this introduction to the methods and tasks of theology they invite a new generation of readers many who will have little or no exposure to Christian doctrine to see theology as a partner in the struggle for a better world They demonstrate how theological ideas have legs playing themselves out not only in religious communities but in the public square as well Theology the authors tell us is constructive when it joins in God s work of building human lives and human societies Readers will learn to think about all of life in light of their religious commitments and to see theology as an essential tool for a life well lived
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Christianity
His was a ministry of incarnation touching the infected dining with sinners defending the defenseless … The sick needed a physician and the Physician had come Enter into the greatest story ever told In this carefully researched retelling of the story of Jesus pastor Russ Ramsey invites us to rediscover our wonder at Jesus sinless life brutal death and glorious resurrection Featuring forty short chapters recounting key episodes from Jesus time on earth this book expands on the biblical narrative in a fresh and creative way giving us a taste of what it would have been like to walk next to Jesus and experience his earthly ministry firsthand Also including The Advent of the Lamb of God and The Mission of the Body of Christ the Retelling the Story series explores the narrative arc of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation in compelling language that is faithful to the text of Scripture The stories are told afresh to help readers hide God s word in their hearts by way of their imaginations
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Inspirational and family life, Christianity
Reclaim God s vision for your life Many Christians fall victim to one of two main problems when it comes… to work either they are idle in their work or they have made an idol of it Both of these mindsets are deadly misunderstandings of how God intends for us to think about our employment In The Gospel at Work Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert unpack the powerful ways in which the gospel can transform how we do what we do releasing us from the cultural pressures of both an all-consuming devotion and a punch-in punch-out mentality - in order to find the freedom of a work ethic rooted in serving Christ You ll find answers to some of the tough questions that Christians in the workplace often ask What factors should matter most in choosing a job What gospel principles should shape my thinking about how to treat my boss my co-workers and my employees Is full-time Christian work more valuable than my job Is it okay to be motivated by money How do you prioritize - or balance - work family and church responsibilities Solidly grounded in the gospel The Gospel at Work confronts both our idleness at work and our idolatry of work with a challenge of its own - to remember that whom we work for is infinitely more important than what we do
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Inspirational and family life, Christianity
"Lord, teach us to pray"--the petition of the most intimate followers of Jesus--remains the heartfelt petition of every Christian disciple… down to the present day. The divine gift of the "Our Father" is the foundation of our life of prayer, but it is only the beginning of how Jesus leads us through himself to the Father. Shane Kapler's Through, With, and In Him offers practical ways to open up this vital dimension of our spiritual lives, instructing us in how the Church's sacraments and private devotions unite us to the prayer continually issuing forth from the heart of Christ. In this, as in all things, Christ is the Door. This new book by the author of The God Who is Love brings us to the threshold of that Door, and beyond.
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Christianity
Meyer explores the myriad ways readers can experience a life overflowing with tranquility. She maintains that by submitting ones life… to God, a peace-filled life is ensured and, ultimately, the only way to true happiness.
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General non-fiction, Social issues
In this powerful and culminating work about a group of inner-city children he has known for many years Jonathan… Kozol returns to the scene of his prize-winning books Rachel and Her Children and Amazing Grace and to the children he has vividly portrayed to share with us their fascinating journeys and unexpected victories as they grow into adulthood For nearly fifty years Jonathan has pricked the conscience of his readers by laying bare the savage inequalities inflicted upon children for no reason but the accident of being born to poverty within a wealthy nation A winner of the National Book Award the Robert F Kennedy Book Award and countless other honors he has persistently crossed the lines of class and race first as a teacher then as the author of tender and heart-breaking books about the children he has called the outcasts of our nation s ingenuity But Jonathan is not a distant and detached reporter His own life has been radically transformed by the children who have trusted and befriended him Never has this intimate acquaintance with his subjects been more apparent or more stirring than in Fire in the Ashes as Jonathan tells the stories of young men and women who have come of age in one of the most destitute communities of the United States Some of them never do recover from the battering they undergo in their early years but many more battle back with fierce and often jubilant determination to overcome the formidable obstacles they face As we watch these glorious children grow into the fullness of a healthy and contributive maturity they ignite a flame of hope not only for themselves but for our society The urgent issues that confront our urban schools - a devastating race-gap a pathological regime of obsessive testing and drilling students for exams instead of giving them the rich curriculum that excites a love of learning - are interwoven through these stories Why certain children rise above it all graduate from high school and do well in college while others are defeated by the time they enter adolescence lies at the essence of this work Jonathan Kozol is the author of Death at an Early Age Savage Inequalities and other books on children and their education He has been called today s most eloquent spokesman for America s disenfranchised But he believes young people speak most eloquently for themselves and in this book so full of the vitality and spontaneity of youth we hear their testimony
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Christianity
Many people are facing life-threatening diseases terminal illness and the long-term care of elderly parents but have… few resources to rely on in these difficult times They often keep their challenges private only to suffer in silence with no real support system This book delivers practical solutions to the problems everyone must deal with when they are experiencing the degradation of the quality of their life or the potential loss of a loved one Based on experiences derived from 25 years of prayer ministry Bertram s Hidden Treasures provides insight and guidance to equip patients family members and friends to walk through these challenging times with foresight looking for and expecting to see God at work in many miraculous ways It offers sound advice grounded in the truths found in Scripture and the wisdom revealed through real-life stories and case studies This book helps those who have ever wondered If God is good why are we going through this What will our family do during this crisis How do we fight the fear that is trying to consume us How can we encourage reconciliation in our family Where can we find peace in the journey What happens when we die Is there life after death What is heaven like Hidden Treasures will inspire motivate and encourage loved ones to begin to walk the road to heaven without the fear and anxiety associated with death and dying They ll discover that the Word of God has answers to the questions that seem to have no answer and that comfort awaits as they begin to view their situation from a heavenly perspective Ultimately it reveals that hope is available death with dignity is possible and there are hidden treasures to embrace along the way
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Christianity, Inspirational and family life
P In his first official book published as Pope in celebration of his Jubilee of Mercy Pope Francis… here addresses all humanity in an intimate and personal dialogue At the center of this book is the subject closest to his heart--mercy--which has long been the cornerstone of his faith and is now the central teaching of his papacy These pages resonate with a desire to reach all those souls who are looking for meaning in life a road to peace and reconciliation and the healing of physical and spiritual wounds P In this conversation with Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielli Francis explains--through memories from his youth and moving anecdotes from his experiences as a pastor--his reasons for proclaiming a Holy Year of Mercy He reiterates that the Church cannot close the door on anyone--that on the contrary its duty is to find its way into the consciousness of people so that they can assume responsibility for and move away from the bad things they have done P And to those who already count themselves among the ranks of the just Francis counsels Even the Pope is a man who needs the mercy of God P The Name of God Is Mercy is being published in more than eighty countries around the world Translated by Oonagh Stransky P b A New York Times Bestseller b
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Religious texts, Christianity
This nine-session LifeGuide Bible study covers some of the surprising and interesting questions Old Testament characters heard from God … such as when he asked Where are you of Adam and Eve As we consider the questions God asked others we are guided inward to reflect on the same questions in our own lives For over three decades LifeGuide Bible Studies have provided solid biblical content and raised thought-provoking questions making for a one-of-a-kind Bible study experience for individuals and groups This series has more than 130 titles on Old and New Testament books character studies and topical studies
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Christianity
Every woman was once a little girl And every little girl holds in her heart her most precious dreams… She longs to be swept up into a romance to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure to be the beauty of the story Those desires are far more than child s play They are the secret to the feminine heart And yet-how many women do you know who ever find that life As the years pass by the heart of a woman gets pushed aside wounded buried She finds no romance except in novels no adventure except on television and she doubts very much that she will ever be the Beauty in any tale Most women think they have to settle for a life of efficiency and duty chores and errands striving to be the women they ought to be but often feeling they have failed Sadly too many messages for Christen women add to the pressure Do these ten things and you will be a godly woman The effect has not been good on the feminine soul But her heart is still there Sometimes when she watches a movie sometimes in the wee hours of the night her heart begins to speak again A thirst rises within her to find the life she was meant to live-the life she dreamed of as a little girl The message of Captivating is this Your heart matters more than anything else in all creation The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel as a woman are telling you of the life God created you to live He offers to come now as the Hero of your story to rescue your heart and release you to live as a fully alive and feminine woman A woman who is truly captivating
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Christianity
In fifty-six short narratives GodStories explores the beautiful triumphant often heartbreaking and always glorious stories that make… up the gospel of God GodStories Just as we have one God in three persons and one church made up of many people so in Scripture we have one gospel made up of many stories Inside readers will rediscover the glorious mission of God freedom from sin and how the promises of God never fail Andrew Wilson brings these GodStories to life with fresh and relevant insights on how the stories of Scripture profoundly affect your faith and theology Prepare to be stunned and in total amazement at the many-faceted gospel story the greatest story ever told