THE RENOWNED TEACHER AND AUTHOR'S SPIRITUAL MEMOIR, AS TOLD THROUGH HIS LIFELONG ENCOUNTERS WITH ANIMALS AND NATURE "I love this book. It feels like a secret treasure bequeathed by Stephen Levine to be opened after his death -- an overflowing vessel of insight, humor and literary genius. Animal Sutras may be the best book Stephen Levine ever wrote." -- Mirabai Starr, Wild Mercy "Stephen was a profound healer of the heart, writer and meditation teacher. In Animal Sutras, his other gifts shine, as a wise poet-naturalist and Dharma storyteller-philosopher, offered here in a lyrical, quirky, playful, and inviting collection." -- Jack Kornfield, A Path With Heart For Stephen Levine, "animal-people" were his greatest teachers. So, at age seventy, he began collecting animal spirit stories and transcendent moments in nature from throughout his life -- from the green snake who taught him to meditate as a boy to the generous hen whom predators would not harm, and many more. "Animals have a natural mindfulness," Levine writes. "They know what they are doing. Humans, who are full of confusion and seldom wholly in touch with their mind/body, need encouragement and technique to live in the present." Stephen Levine (1937-2016) was an American poet, author, and spiritual teacher best known for his work, with his wife Ondrea, on death and dying. He is one of a generation of pioneering teachers who made Theravada Buddhism more widely available to students in the West. Like the writings of his colleague and close friend Ram Dass (formerly Richard Alpert) , Levine's work is also flavored by the devotional practices and teachings of the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba. Levine spent many years in the Southwest, including one tending a wildlife sanctuary in southern Arizona, and among the mountains of New Mexico, where Ondrea still lives. His many books include Who Dies?, A Year to Live, Unattended Sorrow, and Healing into Life and Death.
Monkfish Book Publishing
|
9781948626064
|
Hardcover
What Are Biblical Values?
By Collins, John
An illuminating exploration of the Bible and many of our most contentious contemporary issues Many people today claim that their positions on various issues are grounded in biblical values, and they use scriptural passages to support their claims. But the Bible was written over the course of several hundred years and contains contradictory positions on many issues. The Bible seldom provides simple answers; it more often shows the complexity of moral problems. Can we really speak of "biblical values"? In this eye-opening book, one of the world's leading biblical scholars argues that when we read the Bible with care, we are often surprised by what we find. Examining what the Bible actually says on a number of key themes, John Collins covers a vast array of topics, including the right to life, gender, the role of women, the environment, slavery and liberation, violence and zeal, and social justice. With clarity and authority, he invites us to dramatically reimagine the basis for biblical ethics in the world today.
Yale University Press
|
9780300231939
|
Hardcover
Free to Believe
By Goodrich, Luke
A leading religious freedom attorney, veteran of multiple Supreme Court battles, helps people of faith understand religious liberty in our rapidly changing culture--why it matters, how it is threatened, and how to respond with confidence and grace. Many Americans are concerned about rising threats to religious freedom. They feel the culture changing around them, and they fear that their beliefs will soon be marginalized as a form of bigotry. Others, younger Christians in particular, are tired of the culture wars, and they wonder whether courtroom battles are truly worthwhile, or even in line with the teachings of Jesus. Luke Goodrich offers a reasoned, balanced, gospel-centered approach to religious freedom. He applies biblical understanding to a number of the most hot-button cultural issues of our day. He also offers practical steps Christians can take to respond to religious freedom conflicts in an informed, responsible, and graceful way.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780525652908
|
Hardcover
The Lost Art of Scripture
By Armstrong, Karen
Today the Quran is used by some to justify war and acts of terrorism, the Torah to deny Palestinians the right to live in the Land of Israel, and the Bible to condemn homosexuality and contraception. The significance of scripture may not be immediately obvious in our secular world, but its misunderstanding is perhaps the root cause of many of today's controversies.In this timely and important book, one of the most trusted and admired writers on the world of faith examines the meaning of scripture. The sacred texts have been coopted by fundamentalists, who insist that they must be taken literally, and by others who interpret scripture to bolster their own prejudices. These texts are seen to prescribe ethical norms and codes of behavior that are divinely ordained: they are believed to contain eternal truths. But as Karen Armstrong shows in this chronicle of the development and significance of major religions, such a narrow, peculiar reading of scripture is a relatively recent, modern phenomenon. For most of their history, the world's religious traditions have regarded these texts as tools that enable the individual to connect with the divine, to experience a different level of consciousness, and to help them engage with the world in more meaningful and compassionate ways.At a time of intolerance and mutual incomprehension, The Lost Art of Scripture shines fresh light on the world's major religions to help us build bridges between faiths and rediscover a creative and spiritual engagement with holy texts.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780451494863
|
Hardcover
God's Hand on America
By Medved, Michael
The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America's destiny. "A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways." - Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of Founding Brothers Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow - on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls - astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic's providential protection. In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including: * A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln's secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin's knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States. * A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, beginning in 1881, coincides with America's rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those blessing Abraham's children will themselves be blessed. * Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life. * At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan's fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them. * A behind-the-scenes "conspiracy of the pure of heart" by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president - an unstable Stalinist - with future White House great Harry Truman. These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved's bestseller about America's remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God's Hand on America confirms that the founders were right about America's destiny to lead and enlighten the world.
CROWN
|
9780451497413
|
Hardcover
Welcoming the Unwelcome
By Chodron, Pema
From the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart, an open-hearted call for human connection, compassion, and learning to love the world just as it is during these most challenging times. In her first new book of spiritual teachings in over seven years, Pema Chodron offers a combination of wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and the signature mix of humor and insight that have made her a beloved figure to turn to during times of change. In an increasingly polarized world, Pema shows us how to strengthen our abilities to find common ground, even when we disagree, and influence our environment in positive ways. Sharing never-before told personal stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful everyday practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema encourages us all to become triumphant bodhisattvas--compassionate beings--in times of hardship. Welcoming the Unwelcome includes teachings on the true meaning of karma, recognizing the basic goodness in ourselves and the people we share our lives with--even the most challenging ones, transforming adversity into opportunities for growth, and freeing ourselves from the empty and illusory labels that separate us. Pema also provides step-by-step guides to a basic sitting meditation and a compassion meditation that anyone can use to bring light to the darkness we face, wherever and whatever it may be.
Shambhala
|
9781611805659
|
Hardcover
I See You
By Lester, Terence
We don't care about what we don't see. Countless people are invisible to us. We overlook the poor and homeless, partly because we don't share much space with them. More seriously, we often choose not to see the realities around us. We hold misconceptions about who is deserving or not, or make false assumptions about people's poverty being their own fault. Terence Lester calls us to see the invisible people around us. His personal encounters and real-life stories challenge Christians to become more informed about poverty and homelessness, and to see the poor as Jesus does. When we see people through God's eyes and hear their stories, we restore their dignity and help them flourish. And when we recognize our own inner spiritual poverty, we have greater empathy for others, no matter their circumstances. Let love open your eyes. Discover how seeing leads us to act with compassion and justice -- as God intends.
IVP Books
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9780830845729
|
Paperback
Jesus, King of Strangers
By Hamilton, Mark W.
Recovering the churchs native language for migrantsNationalistic tribalism is on the rise around the world. How we treat strangers (foreigners, immigrants, migrants) is a prominent political, economic, and religious issue. Drawing on his personal experiences and expertise as a biblical scholar, Mark Hamilton argues that Scripture describes Gods people as strangers who are called to show grace and hospitality to others.The church has often identified itself as a community of strangers. This was the story of the church during much of its early history. In many parts of the world, it still is. In a world in which 240 million persons are voluntary immigrants and another 60 to 70 million are refugees, the urgency of the churchs recovery of its native language on immigration remains vital. Jesus, King of Strangers examines the Bibles key ideas about human movement and the relationship between migrants and their hosts. Hamilton argues that reclaiming the biblical language will free the church from hypernationalism and fear-driven demagoguery.
Eerdmans
|
9780802876621
|
Paperback
That All Shall Be Saved
By Hart, David Bentley
A stunning reexamination of one of the essential tenets of Christian belief from one of the most provocative and admired writers on religion today The great fourthcentury church father Basil of Caesarea once observed that, in his time, most Christians believed that hell was not everlasting, and that all would eventually attain salvation. But today, this view is no longer prevalent within Christian communities. In this momentous book, David Bentley Hart makes the case that nearly two millennia of dogmatic tradition have misled readers on the crucial matter of universal salvation. On the basis of the earliest Christian writings, theological tradition, scripture, and logic, Hart argues that if God is the good creator of all, he is the savior of all, without fail. And if he is not the savior of all, the Kingdom is only a dream, and creation something considerably worse than a nightmare. But it is not so. There is no such thing as eternal damnation; all will be saved. With great rhetorical power, wit, and emotional range, Hart offers a new perspective on one of Christianity's most important themes.
Yale University Press
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9780300246223
|
Hardcover
The Book of Ichigo Ichie
By Garcia, Hector
Learn to make every moment a once-in-a-lifetime experience with this definitive guide to the Japanese art of ichigo ichie (pronounced itchy-GO itchy-A) , from the bestselling authors of Ikigai.Every moment in our life happens only once, and if we let it slip away, we lose it forever--an idea captured by the Japanese phrase ichigo ichie. Often spoken in Japan when greeting someone or saying goodbye, to convey that the encounter is unique and special, it is a tenet of Zen Buddhism and is attributed to a sixteenth-century master of the Japanese tea ceremony, or "ceremony of attention," whose intricate rituals compel us to focus on the present moment.From this age-old concept comes a new kind of mindfulness. In The Book of Ichigo Ichie, you will learn to.
Penguin Books
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9780143134497
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Hardcover
The Day Is Now Far Spent
By Sarah, Cardinal Robert
In this powerful book by the acclaimed spiritual leader and best-selling writer, one he calls his "most important", he analyzes the profound spiritual, moral and political crisis in the contemporary world. He says that he "considers that the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril.""At the root of the collapse of the West, there is a cultural identity crisis. The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations."In these words, Cardinal Sarah summarizes the theme of his book. His finding is simple: our world is on the brink of the abyss. Crisis of faith and of the Church, decline of the West, betrayal by its elites, moral relativism, endless globalism, unbridled capitalism, new ideologies, political exhaustion, movements inspired by Islamist totalitarianism.... The time has come for an unflinching diagnosis.While making clear the gravity of the crisis through which the West has gone, the Cardinal demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the hell of a world without God, a world without man, a world without hope.After the great international success of his first two books, God or Nothing and The Power of Silence, Cardinal Sarah offers a wide-ranging reflection on the crisis of the contemporary world while teaching many important spiritual lessons.
Ignatius Press
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9781621643241
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Paperback
The Election of Pope Francis
By O'connell, Gerard
Here is a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of history in the making-- the election in 2013 of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope to choose the name Francis. The author, a friend the Pope, now reveals what actually happed inside the secret conclave.
Orbis Books
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9781626983199
|
Hardcover
The Handy Christianity Answer Book
By Ph.d., Stephen A. Werner
The Handy Christianity Answer Book provides detailed descriptions of the teachings of Jesus, Christian beliefs about Jesus, explications of ceremonies, symbols, rituals, observations, customs, leaders, and organization of the world's largest religion. It clearly and eloquently explains how different Christians think and explores the richness of the Christian tradition. This engaging, user-friendly primer looks at the significance of the Bible, Jesus, the Apostles, the Trinity, the Eucharist, historical schisms, divisions and different denominations, worship, sacraments, prayer, and much more. This is an important reference that answers nearly 900 questions and offers fun facts that cover Christian history, religious practices, and cultural perspectives, including Why are there so many different kinds of Christians? What were the last words spoken by Jesus? What did Jesus say about loving one's enemies? Did Jesus have brothers? What is the Nicene Creed? Is Heaven up and Hell down? Who was Joan of Arc? Why do most churches have organs? What is the earliest major film about Jesus?.
Visible Ink Press
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9781578596867
|
Paperback
The Hannah Anointing
By Mcclain-walters, Michelle
A resilient spirit is born when God makes you wait.In The Hannah Anointing Michelle McClain-Walters reveals a special kind of spiritual power that stands unwaveringly in the face of recurring disappointment and the enemy's taunts.With her unique and empowering prophetic, McClain-Walters tackles issues women face on the road to their destiny and purpose, including how to:* Release the cry of the barren, pray in faith, and get God's attention* Overcome jealousy, rejection, temptation to compromise, critical spirits, and shame* Find healing and purity of heart* Get the right perspective of God's sovereignty and find strength to persevere* Maintain three spiritual postures that guarantee victory* Make a new vow to God and unlock an overflow of multiplication and increase These are the women who will see the promise of God in their lives and in generations to come.
Charisma House
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9781629995670
|
Paperback
The In-Betweens
By Ptacin, Mira
A young writer travels to Maine to tell the unusual story of America's longest-running camp devoted to mysticism and the world beyond.They believed they would live forever. So begins Mira Ptacin's haunting account of the women of Camp Etna -- an otherworldly community in the woods of Maine that has, since 1876, played host to generations of Spiritualists and mediums dedicated to preserving the links between the mortal realm and the afterlife. Beginning her narrative in 1848 with two sisters who claimed they could speak to the dead, Ptacin reveals how Spiritualism first blossomed into a national practice during the Civil War, yet continues -- even thrives -- to this very day. Immersing herself in this community and its practices -- from ghost hunting to releasing trapped spirits to water witching -- Ptacin sheds new light on our ongoing struggle with faith, uncertainty, and mortality.
Liveright
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9781631493812
|
Hardcover
The Irony of Modern Catholic History
By Weigel, George
A powerful new interpretation of Catholicisms dramatic encounter with modernity, by one of Americas leading intellectuals. . Throughout much of the nineteenth century, both secular and Catholic leaders assumed that the Church and the modern world were locked in a battle to the death. The triumph of modernity would not only finish the Church as a consequential player in world history; it would also lead to the death of religious conviction. But today, the Catholic Church is far more vital and consequential than it was 150 years ago. Ironically, in confronting modernity, the Catholic Church rediscovered its evangelical essence. In the process, Catholicism developed intellectual tools capable of rescuing the imperiled modern project. . . A richly rendered, deeply learned, and powerfully argued account of two centuries of profound change in the church and the world, The Irony of Modern Catholic History reveals how Catholicism offers twenty-first century essential truths for our survival and flourishing.
Basic Books
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9780465094332
|
Hardcover
The Most Important Thing
By Adyashanti,
From esteemed teacher Adyashanti, a collection of writings on the search for the ultimate reality beneath the narrative of our lives"Our inner lives are every bit as astonishing, baffling, and mysterious as the infinite vastness of the cosmos." -- Adyashanti We all define our lives through the lens of stories. Whether we see ourselves as heroes or victims, good people or bad, everyone lives according to interwoven strands of narrative. "And yet," teaches Adyashanti, "the truth is bigger than any concept or story." Drawn from intimate, deep-dive talks, The Most Important Thing presents writings devoted to the search for the ultimate reality of a self that exists beyond the bounds of storytelling. Here you will find vivid anecdotes and teaching stories that illuminate the felt experience of Adyashanti's teachings -- those moments of grace in which every stone, tree, ray of light, and fraught silence reveal that none of us is alone and no one is ever truly isolated from the whole of existence. These selections consider:Exploration of the true meaning of birth, life, and death* Why grace can arrive both through struggle and as an unexpected gift* Meditation as the art of "listening with one's entire being"* Why a good question can be far more powerful than a concrete answer* How the things you choose to serve shape your life* Discovering the wisdom found in surprise, sadness, and uncertainty* Embodying your innate and inextricable connection with the total environment* The nature of ego and the ways it manifests* The moments of grace upon which all great religions pivotWhat is the story of your life? Is it happy or adventurous? Sad or lonely? In The Most Important Thing, Adyashanti shows you how to look past your personal narratives, delve inward, and connect with the truths that fundamentally animate all of us.
Sounds True
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9781683641919
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Hardcover
The Power of Favor
By Osteen, Joel
Learn how declaring God's love will bless you with favor and fulfillment in this uplifting book--perfect for anyone who is determined to find success and spiritual inspiration. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #454545} God helps you accomplish what you couldn't manage on your own. With His blessings, you stand out in the crowd and get breaks that you didn't deserve. The psalmist said, "God's favor surrounds us like a shield." That means that everywhere you go, you have an advantage, a divine empowerment, and a key to open up the right doors. With Joel's encouragement, you'll see how God's goodness uplifts you every day. He wants you to reach new levels of fulfillment, new levels of increase, new levels of promotion, new levels of victory. You have been called out, set apart, and chosen to live a distinctively favored life.When you realize you have been marked for blessings, you will feel the force of His favor and overcome challenges that you can't face on your own.
Publisher: n/a
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9781455534333
|
Hardcover
The Success Commandments
By Franklin, Devon
DeVon Franklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Wait and prominent Hollywood producer, reveals that secular and spiritual success are not opposites. To have one, you need the other.Are you tired of living a life paralyzed by fear? Are you anxious to break free of the "beware mentality" that has kept generations of well-meaning people living beneath the fullness of their calling?You're unfulfilled because you've been convinced that you would lose your faith if you pursued the secular ambitions God has put in your heart. However, until you pursue those ambitions you will miss out on the fullness of God and the success you were created to have.For too long there's been a line drawn between the spiritual and the secular, and we have been conditioned to believe that if we cross this line in either direction, we will have gone too far. It's time to break down this barrier so you are free to go further than any believer has gone before. The Success Commandments combines spiritual teachings with secular strategies to help you achieve unprecedented success and live the life you were destined to live.
HarperOne
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9780062684271
|
Paperback
To Hell With the Hustle
By Bethke, Jefferson
New York Times bestselling author Jefferson Bethke delivers a call to resist our cultural worship of connectivity and achievement before we lose the essentials that make us distinctly and deeply human. Our culture makes constant demands of us. Do more. Accomplish more. Buy more. Post more. Tweet more. And in following those demands, we have indeed become more--more anxious, more tired, more hurt, more depressed, more frantic. What we are doing isn't working because, Jefferson Bethke argues, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, the things that anchor our lives, providing us with roots and meaning.In this highly anticipated new book, Jefferson Bethke delivers a wake-up call to resist our culture and embrace the slowness of Jesus. To stop doing and start becoming by proactively setting up boundaries in our lives and cultivating disciplines within them. He shows his readers how to find landmarks, anchors, and rhythms that provide depth and meaning and that push back against the demands of contemporary life. And he reveals that what the world teaches us to avoid at all costs--things such as silence, obscurity, solitude, and vulnerability--are the very things that can give us the meaning, depth, order, and the richness we are truly looking for.
Thomas Nelson Inc
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9780718039202
|
Paperback
Unpunishable
By Silk, Danny
Living with humans is messy. Our children make messes. Our spouses and friends make messes. So do our coworkers, bosses, pastors, and presidents . . . and so do we. Messes are scary, painful, and offensive. And whether we're dealing with the pain of a personal failure, the frustration of a disrespectful child, the devastation of a major betrayal, the stress of a workplace conflict, or the fallout of larger social injustices, classically we react the same way--with fear, shame, and punishment. These reactions are understandable . . . but they don't do anything to fix the problem. In fact, they only perpetuate a culture of fear, unforgiveness, retribution, and disconnection. Jesus came to show us a better way to respond to human messes--the way of repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.
Loving On Purpose
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9781947165762
|
Paperback
Wounded Shepherd
By Ivereigh, Austen
Following his critically acclaimed The Great Reformer, Austen Ivereigh's colorful, clear-eyed portrait of Pope Francis takes us inside the Vatican's urgent debate over the future of the church in Wounded Shepherd.This deeply contextual biography centers on the tensions generated by the pope's attempt to turn the Church away from power and tradition and outwards to engage humanity with God's mercy. Through battles with corrupt bankers and worldly cardinals, in turbulent meetings and on global trips, history's first Latin-American pope has attempted to reshape the Church to evangelize the contemporary age. At the same time, he has stirred other leaders' deep-seated fear that the Church is capitulating to modernity -- leaders who have challenged his bid to create a more welcoming, attentive institution.Facing rebellions over his allowing sacraments for the divorced and his attempt to create a more "ecological" Catholicism, as well as a firestorm of criticism for the Church's record on sexual abuse, Francis emerges as a leader of remarkable vision and skill with a relentless spiritual focus -- a leader who is at peace in the turmoil surrounding him.With entertaining anecdotes, insider accounts, and expert analysis, Ivereigh's journey through the key episodes of Francis's reform in Rome and the wider Church brings into sharp focus the frustrations and fury, as well as the joys and successes, of one of the most remarkable pontificates of the contemporary age.
Animal Sutras
By Levine, Stephen
THE RENOWNED TEACHER AND AUTHOR'S SPIRITUAL MEMOIR, AS TOLD THROUGH HIS LIFELONG ENCOUNTERS WITH ANIMALS AND NATURE "I love this book. It feels like a secret treasure bequeathed by Stephen Levine to be opened after his death -- an overflowing vessel of insight, humor and literary genius. Animal Sutras may be the best book Stephen Levine ever wrote." -- Mirabai Starr, Wild Mercy "Stephen was a profound healer of the heart, writer and meditation teacher. In Animal Sutras, his other gifts shine, as a wise poet-naturalist and Dharma storyteller-philosopher, offered here in a lyrical, quirky, playful, and inviting collection." -- Jack Kornfield, A Path With Heart For Stephen Levine, "animal-people" were his greatest teachers. So, at age seventy, he began collecting animal spirit stories and transcendent moments in nature from throughout his life -- from the green snake who taught him to meditate as a boy to the generous hen whom predators would not harm, and many more. "Animals have a natural mindfulness," Levine writes. "They know what they are doing. Humans, who are full of confusion and seldom wholly in touch with their mind/body, need encouragement and technique to live in the present." Stephen Levine (1937-2016) was an American poet, author, and spiritual teacher best known for his work, with his wife Ondrea, on death and dying. He is one of a generation of pioneering teachers who made Theravada Buddhism more widely available to students in the West. Like the writings of his colleague and close friend Ram Dass (formerly Richard Alpert) , Levine's work is also flavored by the devotional practices and teachings of the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba. Levine spent many years in the Southwest, including one tending a wildlife sanctuary in southern Arizona, and among the mountains of New Mexico, where Ondrea still lives. His many books include Who Dies?, A Year to Live, Unattended Sorrow, and Healing into Life and Death.
What Are Biblical Values?
By Collins, John
An illuminating exploration of the Bible and many of our most contentious contemporary issues Many people today claim that their positions on various issues are grounded in biblical values, and they use scriptural passages to support their claims. But the Bible was written over the course of several hundred years and contains contradictory positions on many issues. The Bible seldom provides simple answers; it more often shows the complexity of moral problems. Can we really speak of "biblical values"? In this eye-opening book, one of the world's leading biblical scholars argues that when we read the Bible with care, we are often surprised by what we find. Examining what the Bible actually says on a number of key themes, John Collins covers a vast array of topics, including the right to life, gender, the role of women, the environment, slavery and liberation, violence and zeal, and social justice. With clarity and authority, he invites us to dramatically reimagine the basis for biblical ethics in the world today.
Free to Believe
By Goodrich, Luke
A leading religious freedom attorney, veteran of multiple Supreme Court battles, helps people of faith understand religious liberty in our rapidly changing culture--why it matters, how it is threatened, and how to respond with confidence and grace. Many Americans are concerned about rising threats to religious freedom. They feel the culture changing around them, and they fear that their beliefs will soon be marginalized as a form of bigotry. Others, younger Christians in particular, are tired of the culture wars, and they wonder whether courtroom battles are truly worthwhile, or even in line with the teachings of Jesus. Luke Goodrich offers a reasoned, balanced, gospel-centered approach to religious freedom. He applies biblical understanding to a number of the most hot-button cultural issues of our day. He also offers practical steps Christians can take to respond to religious freedom conflicts in an informed, responsible, and graceful way.
The Lost Art of Scripture
By Armstrong, Karen
Today the Quran is used by some to justify war and acts of terrorism, the Torah to deny Palestinians the right to live in the Land of Israel, and the Bible to condemn homosexuality and contraception. The significance of scripture may not be immediately obvious in our secular world, but its misunderstanding is perhaps the root cause of many of today's controversies.In this timely and important book, one of the most trusted and admired writers on the world of faith examines the meaning of scripture. The sacred texts have been coopted by fundamentalists, who insist that they must be taken literally, and by others who interpret scripture to bolster their own prejudices. These texts are seen to prescribe ethical norms and codes of behavior that are divinely ordained: they are believed to contain eternal truths. But as Karen Armstrong shows in this chronicle of the development and significance of major religions, such a narrow, peculiar reading of scripture is a relatively recent, modern phenomenon. For most of their history, the world's religious traditions have regarded these texts as tools that enable the individual to connect with the divine, to experience a different level of consciousness, and to help them engage with the world in more meaningful and compassionate ways.At a time of intolerance and mutual incomprehension, The Lost Art of Scripture shines fresh light on the world's major religions to help us build bridges between faiths and rediscover a creative and spiritual engagement with holy texts.
God's Hand on America
By Medved, Michael
The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America's destiny. "A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways." - Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of Founding Brothers Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow - on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls - astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic's providential protection. In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including: * A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln's secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin's knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States. * A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, beginning in 1881, coincides with America's rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those blessing Abraham's children will themselves be blessed. * Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life. * At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan's fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them. * A behind-the-scenes "conspiracy of the pure of heart" by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president - an unstable Stalinist - with future White House great Harry Truman. These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved's bestseller about America's remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God's Hand on America confirms that the founders were right about America's destiny to lead and enlighten the world.
Welcoming the Unwelcome
By Chodron, Pema
From the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart, an open-hearted call for human connection, compassion, and learning to love the world just as it is during these most challenging times. In her first new book of spiritual teachings in over seven years, Pema Chodron offers a combination of wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and the signature mix of humor and insight that have made her a beloved figure to turn to during times of change. In an increasingly polarized world, Pema shows us how to strengthen our abilities to find common ground, even when we disagree, and influence our environment in positive ways. Sharing never-before told personal stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful everyday practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema encourages us all to become triumphant bodhisattvas--compassionate beings--in times of hardship. Welcoming the Unwelcome includes teachings on the true meaning of karma, recognizing the basic goodness in ourselves and the people we share our lives with--even the most challenging ones, transforming adversity into opportunities for growth, and freeing ourselves from the empty and illusory labels that separate us. Pema also provides step-by-step guides to a basic sitting meditation and a compassion meditation that anyone can use to bring light to the darkness we face, wherever and whatever it may be.
I See You
By Lester, Terence
We don't care about what we don't see. Countless people are invisible to us. We overlook the poor and homeless, partly because we don't share much space with them. More seriously, we often choose not to see the realities around us. We hold misconceptions about who is deserving or not, or make false assumptions about people's poverty being their own fault. Terence Lester calls us to see the invisible people around us. His personal encounters and real-life stories challenge Christians to become more informed about poverty and homelessness, and to see the poor as Jesus does. When we see people through God's eyes and hear their stories, we restore their dignity and help them flourish. And when we recognize our own inner spiritual poverty, we have greater empathy for others, no matter their circumstances. Let love open your eyes. Discover how seeing leads us to act with compassion and justice -- as God intends.
Jesus, King of Strangers
By Hamilton, Mark W.
Recovering the churchs native language for migrantsNationalistic tribalism is on the rise around the world. How we treat strangers (foreigners, immigrants, migrants) is a prominent political, economic, and religious issue. Drawing on his personal experiences and expertise as a biblical scholar, Mark Hamilton argues that Scripture describes Gods people as strangers who are called to show grace and hospitality to others.The church has often identified itself as a community of strangers. This was the story of the church during much of its early history. In many parts of the world, it still is. In a world in which 240 million persons are voluntary immigrants and another 60 to 70 million are refugees, the urgency of the churchs recovery of its native language on immigration remains vital. Jesus, King of Strangers examines the Bibles key ideas about human movement and the relationship between migrants and their hosts. Hamilton argues that reclaiming the biblical language will free the church from hypernationalism and fear-driven demagoguery.
That All Shall Be Saved
By Hart, David Bentley
A stunning reexamination of one of the essential tenets of Christian belief from one of the most provocative and admired writers on religion today The great fourthcentury church father Basil of Caesarea once observed that, in his time, most Christians believed that hell was not everlasting, and that all would eventually attain salvation. But today, this view is no longer prevalent within Christian communities. In this momentous book, David Bentley Hart makes the case that nearly two millennia of dogmatic tradition have misled readers on the crucial matter of universal salvation. On the basis of the earliest Christian writings, theological tradition, scripture, and logic, Hart argues that if God is the good creator of all, he is the savior of all, without fail. And if he is not the savior of all, the Kingdom is only a dream, and creation something considerably worse than a nightmare. But it is not so. There is no such thing as eternal damnation; all will be saved. With great rhetorical power, wit, and emotional range, Hart offers a new perspective on one of Christianity's most important themes.
The Book of Ichigo Ichie
By Garcia, Hector
Learn to make every moment a once-in-a-lifetime experience with this definitive guide to the Japanese art of ichigo ichie (pronounced itchy-GO itchy-A) , from the bestselling authors of Ikigai.Every moment in our life happens only once, and if we let it slip away, we lose it forever--an idea captured by the Japanese phrase ichigo ichie. Often spoken in Japan when greeting someone or saying goodbye, to convey that the encounter is unique and special, it is a tenet of Zen Buddhism and is attributed to a sixteenth-century master of the Japanese tea ceremony, or "ceremony of attention," whose intricate rituals compel us to focus on the present moment.From this age-old concept comes a new kind of mindfulness. In The Book of Ichigo Ichie, you will learn to.
The Day Is Now Far Spent
By Sarah, Cardinal Robert
In this powerful book by the acclaimed spiritual leader and best-selling writer, one he calls his "most important", he analyzes the profound spiritual, moral and political crisis in the contemporary world. He says that he "considers that the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril.""At the root of the collapse of the West, there is a cultural identity crisis. The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations."In these words, Cardinal Sarah summarizes the theme of his book. His finding is simple: our world is on the brink of the abyss. Crisis of faith and of the Church, decline of the West, betrayal by its elites, moral relativism, endless globalism, unbridled capitalism, new ideologies, political exhaustion, movements inspired by Islamist totalitarianism.... The time has come for an unflinching diagnosis.While making clear the gravity of the crisis through which the West has gone, the Cardinal demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the hell of a world without God, a world without man, a world without hope.After the great international success of his first two books, God or Nothing and The Power of Silence, Cardinal Sarah offers a wide-ranging reflection on the crisis of the contemporary world while teaching many important spiritual lessons.
The Election of Pope Francis
By O'connell, Gerard
Here is a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of history in the making-- the election in 2013 of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope to choose the name Francis. The author, a friend the Pope, now reveals what actually happed inside the secret conclave.
The Handy Christianity Answer Book
By Ph.d., Stephen A. Werner
The Handy Christianity Answer Book provides detailed descriptions of the teachings of Jesus, Christian beliefs about Jesus, explications of ceremonies, symbols, rituals, observations, customs, leaders, and organization of the world's largest religion. It clearly and eloquently explains how different Christians think and explores the richness of the Christian tradition. This engaging, user-friendly primer looks at the significance of the Bible, Jesus, the Apostles, the Trinity, the Eucharist, historical schisms, divisions and different denominations, worship, sacraments, prayer, and much more. This is an important reference that answers nearly 900 questions and offers fun facts that cover Christian history, religious practices, and cultural perspectives, including Why are there so many different kinds of Christians? What were the last words spoken by Jesus? What did Jesus say about loving one's enemies? Did Jesus have brothers? What is the Nicene Creed? Is Heaven up and Hell down? Who was Joan of Arc? Why do most churches have organs? What is the earliest major film about Jesus?.
The Hannah Anointing
By Mcclain-walters, Michelle
A resilient spirit is born when God makes you wait.In The Hannah Anointing Michelle McClain-Walters reveals a special kind of spiritual power that stands unwaveringly in the face of recurring disappointment and the enemy's taunts.With her unique and empowering prophetic, McClain-Walters tackles issues women face on the road to their destiny and purpose, including how to:* Release the cry of the barren, pray in faith, and get God's attention* Overcome jealousy, rejection, temptation to compromise, critical spirits, and shame* Find healing and purity of heart* Get the right perspective of God's sovereignty and find strength to persevere* Maintain three spiritual postures that guarantee victory* Make a new vow to God and unlock an overflow of multiplication and increase These are the women who will see the promise of God in their lives and in generations to come.
The In-Betweens
By Ptacin, Mira
A young writer travels to Maine to tell the unusual story of America's longest-running camp devoted to mysticism and the world beyond.They believed they would live forever. So begins Mira Ptacin's haunting account of the women of Camp Etna -- an otherworldly community in the woods of Maine that has, since 1876, played host to generations of Spiritualists and mediums dedicated to preserving the links between the mortal realm and the afterlife. Beginning her narrative in 1848 with two sisters who claimed they could speak to the dead, Ptacin reveals how Spiritualism first blossomed into a national practice during the Civil War, yet continues -- even thrives -- to this very day. Immersing herself in this community and its practices -- from ghost hunting to releasing trapped spirits to water witching -- Ptacin sheds new light on our ongoing struggle with faith, uncertainty, and mortality.
The Irony of Modern Catholic History
By Weigel, George
A powerful new interpretation of Catholicisms dramatic encounter with modernity, by one of Americas leading intellectuals. . Throughout much of the nineteenth century, both secular and Catholic leaders assumed that the Church and the modern world were locked in a battle to the death. The triumph of modernity would not only finish the Church as a consequential player in world history; it would also lead to the death of religious conviction. But today, the Catholic Church is far more vital and consequential than it was 150 years ago. Ironically, in confronting modernity, the Catholic Church rediscovered its evangelical essence. In the process, Catholicism developed intellectual tools capable of rescuing the imperiled modern project. . . A richly rendered, deeply learned, and powerfully argued account of two centuries of profound change in the church and the world, The Irony of Modern Catholic History reveals how Catholicism offers twenty-first century essential truths for our survival and flourishing.
The Most Important Thing
By Adyashanti,
From esteemed teacher Adyashanti, a collection of writings on the search for the ultimate reality beneath the narrative of our lives"Our inner lives are every bit as astonishing, baffling, and mysterious as the infinite vastness of the cosmos." -- Adyashanti We all define our lives through the lens of stories. Whether we see ourselves as heroes or victims, good people or bad, everyone lives according to interwoven strands of narrative. "And yet," teaches Adyashanti, "the truth is bigger than any concept or story." Drawn from intimate, deep-dive talks, The Most Important Thing presents writings devoted to the search for the ultimate reality of a self that exists beyond the bounds of storytelling. Here you will find vivid anecdotes and teaching stories that illuminate the felt experience of Adyashanti's teachings -- those moments of grace in which every stone, tree, ray of light, and fraught silence reveal that none of us is alone and no one is ever truly isolated from the whole of existence. These selections consider:Exploration of the true meaning of birth, life, and death* Why grace can arrive both through struggle and as an unexpected gift* Meditation as the art of "listening with one's entire being"* Why a good question can be far more powerful than a concrete answer* How the things you choose to serve shape your life* Discovering the wisdom found in surprise, sadness, and uncertainty* Embodying your innate and inextricable connection with the total environment* The nature of ego and the ways it manifests* The moments of grace upon which all great religions pivotWhat is the story of your life? Is it happy or adventurous? Sad or lonely? In The Most Important Thing, Adyashanti shows you how to look past your personal narratives, delve inward, and connect with the truths that fundamentally animate all of us.
The Power of Favor
By Osteen, Joel
Learn how declaring God's love will bless you with favor and fulfillment in this uplifting book--perfect for anyone who is determined to find success and spiritual inspiration. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #454545} God helps you accomplish what you couldn't manage on your own. With His blessings, you stand out in the crowd and get breaks that you didn't deserve. The psalmist said, "God's favor surrounds us like a shield." That means that everywhere you go, you have an advantage, a divine empowerment, and a key to open up the right doors. With Joel's encouragement, you'll see how God's goodness uplifts you every day. He wants you to reach new levels of fulfillment, new levels of increase, new levels of promotion, new levels of victory. You have been called out, set apart, and chosen to live a distinctively favored life.When you realize you have been marked for blessings, you will feel the force of His favor and overcome challenges that you can't face on your own.
The Success Commandments
By Franklin, Devon
DeVon Franklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Wait and prominent Hollywood producer, reveals that secular and spiritual success are not opposites. To have one, you need the other.Are you tired of living a life paralyzed by fear? Are you anxious to break free of the "beware mentality" that has kept generations of well-meaning people living beneath the fullness of their calling?You're unfulfilled because you've been convinced that you would lose your faith if you pursued the secular ambitions God has put in your heart. However, until you pursue those ambitions you will miss out on the fullness of God and the success you were created to have.For too long there's been a line drawn between the spiritual and the secular, and we have been conditioned to believe that if we cross this line in either direction, we will have gone too far. It's time to break down this barrier so you are free to go further than any believer has gone before. The Success Commandments combines spiritual teachings with secular strategies to help you achieve unprecedented success and live the life you were destined to live.
To Hell With the Hustle
By Bethke, Jefferson
New York Times bestselling author Jefferson Bethke delivers a call to resist our cultural worship of connectivity and achievement before we lose the essentials that make us distinctly and deeply human. Our culture makes constant demands of us. Do more. Accomplish more. Buy more. Post more. Tweet more. And in following those demands, we have indeed become more--more anxious, more tired, more hurt, more depressed, more frantic. What we are doing isn't working because, Jefferson Bethke argues, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, the things that anchor our lives, providing us with roots and meaning.In this highly anticipated new book, Jefferson Bethke delivers a wake-up call to resist our culture and embrace the slowness of Jesus. To stop doing and start becoming by proactively setting up boundaries in our lives and cultivating disciplines within them. He shows his readers how to find landmarks, anchors, and rhythms that provide depth and meaning and that push back against the demands of contemporary life. And he reveals that what the world teaches us to avoid at all costs--things such as silence, obscurity, solitude, and vulnerability--are the very things that can give us the meaning, depth, order, and the richness we are truly looking for.
Unpunishable
By Silk, Danny
Living with humans is messy. Our children make messes. Our spouses and friends make messes. So do our coworkers, bosses, pastors, and presidents . . . and so do we. Messes are scary, painful, and offensive. And whether we're dealing with the pain of a personal failure, the frustration of a disrespectful child, the devastation of a major betrayal, the stress of a workplace conflict, or the fallout of larger social injustices, classically we react the same way--with fear, shame, and punishment. These reactions are understandable . . . but they don't do anything to fix the problem. In fact, they only perpetuate a culture of fear, unforgiveness, retribution, and disconnection. Jesus came to show us a better way to respond to human messes--the way of repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.
Wounded Shepherd
By Ivereigh, Austen
Following his critically acclaimed The Great Reformer, Austen Ivereigh's colorful, clear-eyed portrait of Pope Francis takes us inside the Vatican's urgent debate over the future of the church in Wounded Shepherd.This deeply contextual biography centers on the tensions generated by the pope's attempt to turn the Church away from power and tradition and outwards to engage humanity with God's mercy. Through battles with corrupt bankers and worldly cardinals, in turbulent meetings and on global trips, history's first Latin-American pope has attempted to reshape the Church to evangelize the contemporary age. At the same time, he has stirred other leaders' deep-seated fear that the Church is capitulating to modernity -- leaders who have challenged his bid to create a more welcoming, attentive institution.Facing rebellions over his allowing sacraments for the divorced and his attempt to create a more "ecological" Catholicism, as well as a firestorm of criticism for the Church's record on sexual abuse, Francis emerges as a leader of remarkable vision and skill with a relentless spiritual focus -- a leader who is at peace in the turmoil surrounding him.With entertaining anecdotes, insider accounts, and expert analysis, Ivereigh's journey through the key episodes of Francis's reform in Rome and the wider Church brings into sharp focus the frustrations and fury, as well as the joys and successes, of one of the most remarkable pontificates of the contemporary age.