This book is designed to help students of all denominations learn how to do theology for themselves! It's not your usual textbook which only represents the theology of the author. Drawing on his rich ecumenical, international experience, his years of working with the Black church, and dialoguing with Evangelicals, Mark Ellingsen introduces readers to all the major theological options for explaining the Church's doctrine which have appeared in the history of Christianity. He offers empathetic description and critical evaluation of each option (strengths and weaknesses) in such a way that unless you have read his other books you'll never figure out where he stands. Whether you're mainline Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical, or Eastern Orthodox, this is a book to help you determine which options make the most sense for you and your church, and then helps you decide what you believe. A feature unique to this publication are the charts in the back of the book - handy tools to orient you to all of the major theological options which will help you locate where you stand on each doctrine and what great theologians of the past are your allies. Along with the simplicity and convenience of the charts, reading the chapters will reflect the kind of scholarship and nuance one expects from a textbook, the careful work the academy has come to expect from Ellingsen, and ample Biblical authorization for most of the positions considered.

The doctrine of biblical eldership is very important for all church members to understand. This small, abridgment of the full text was written to put the doctrine of biblical elder within reach of every member of the church body.

The contributors, who each work with spiritual issues, either explicitly as spiritual directors or accompaniers, or as an implicit part of their therapeutic work, offer a psychologically-informed approach to Spiritual Accompaniment and Direction, and to working with others on a spiritual level more generally. They explore what it means to be attuned to the spiritual process of another, discuss what makes an effective relationship in Spiritual Accompaniment and counselling, and consider how best to work with spiritual crisis, spiritual abuse, and pain. The unconscious process informing the work, forgiveness, changing spiritual needs over the life-span, and models of supervision that can inform the practice of Spiritual Accompaniment are also explored. A case study is presented, providing psychological and theological insights into the accompaniment process. Grounded in work with the spiritual dimension of others and aspiring to improve encounters at a spiritual level, this concise book has important implications for the practice of counsellors, psychotherapists, and spiritual accompaniers and directors.

This book examines the history of sexuality as a sacramental act. In spite of our culture's recent sexual liberalisations, sexual intimacy often remains unfulfilling. Georg Feuerstein instructs that the fulfilment we long for in our sex lives can only be attained once we have explored the spiritual depths of our erotic natures. Feuerstein delves into a wide variety of spiritual traditions--including Christianity, Judaism, goddess worship, Taoism, and Hinduism--in search of sacred truths regarding sexuality. He reveals that all of these great teachings share the hidden message that spirituality is, in essence, erotic and that sexuality is inherently spiritual. From the erotic cult of the Great Mother and the archaic ritual of heiros gamos (sacred marriage) to the institution of sacred prostitution and the erotic spirituality practiced in the mystery traditions, Feuerstein offers a wealth of historical practices and perspectives that serve as the bases for a positive sexual spirituality suited to our contemporary needs.

Why meditate? To let go of stress? To become more focused? To fathom life's mysteries? Whatever your purpose, Jinananda is a clear, experienced and friendly guide who can help you start meditating - right now. Find everything you need to begin your exploration of meditation: how to sit, simple instructions to two traditional practices that develop clarity, peace of mind and positive emotions, troubleshooting tips and ideas on how to take your practice further. This new edition is realistic, witty, and very inspiring.

Explains the phenomenon of "shaktipat, " the spiritual transmission of power from a teacher to a devotee
- Shows how technology has eroded personal power and how insight and awareness can play a higher role in our lives
- Reveals how insight is the vehicle for profound self-transformation
"Shakti" is the creative force, the bonding power, that holds the universe together. "Shaktipat" is the moment when enlightenment is conferred upon a student instantaneously by his master's touch. The guru conferring "shaktipat" creates a bond of power in those who have accepted him or her as their teacher. In "Spiritual Initiation and the Breakthrough of Consciousness "Joseph Chilton Pearce describes his experience of "shaktipat "from his teacher Swami Muktananda. From this awakening Pearce experiences a dramatic shift of mind and comes to the realization that perception is reality and that insight is our only vehicle for profound self-transformation.
Oneness with God is the birthright of every individual, though we are culturally vaccinated to resist experiencing this higher consciousness. Our search for objective truth has lead us not to wholeness, but instead to the belief that we have no bond to each other, to God, or to an inanimate, physical world. Our technology reduces our ability to experience revelation and leads us instead toward the chatter of confused thinking. The challenge faced by modern humanity, which is the challenge Muktananda gave to his students, is to passionately gather up the scattered fragments of our lives and channel them into the creative realm, where with insight or revelation we will be able to become more than ourselves.

In The Jewish Dietary Laws in the Ancient World Jordan D. Rosenblum explores how cultures critique and defend their religious food practices. In particular he focuses on how ancient Jews defended the kosher laws, or kashrut, and how ancient Greeks, Romans, and early Christians critiqued these practices. As the kosher laws are first encountered in the Hebrew Bible, this study is rooted in ancient biblical interpretation. It explores how commentators in antiquity understood, applied, altered, innovated upon, and contemporized biblical dietary regulations. He shows that these differing interpretations do not exist within a vacuum; rather, they are informed by a variety of motives, including theological, moral, political, social, and financial considerations. In analyzing these ancient conversations about culture and cuisine, he dissects three rhetorical strategies deployed when justifying various interpretations of ancient Jewish dietary regulations: reason, revelation, and allegory. Finally, Rosenblum reflects upon wider, contemporary debates about food ethics.

Dennis and Barbara Rainey, founders of FamilyLife, help couples establish the important daily habit of praying together, offering personal stories and answering questions about the dynamics of prayer. Daily entries -- including a short devotion, questions for reflection, and a prayer -- take husband and wife through topics related to prayer, spiritual growth, and key marital issues.
""Sweetheart, let's pray." "
In the press of daily living, preserving a private moment to pray with "and for" your life-partner can be tough. Yet joining hearts before God is the single most transforming, intimate experience in marriage--a simple act that will fill your life, your relationship, and your home with wondrous love.
"A time to listen, a time to touch, a time to connect with what matters... "
Dennis and Barbara Rainey tell how a decision to pray together daily strengthened their understanding of one another, reduced conflict, and knit their hearts together in a deep, spiritual bond. Their thirty days of reflections can do the same for "your" relationship--"starting today "

There's wonder and magic in Christmas, and this little book from illustrator Becky Kelly captures it perfectly. "And Then In A Twinkling" offers both a celebration of the season and a gentle reminder to keep the true spirit of Christmas in our hearts. Becky's ethereal and radiant watercolors illustrate an upbeat and inspiring message written in rhyming verse, like: "Don't miss the wonder, while lost in to-dos, because, in a twinkling...this day will be through." This beautiful little book is sure to be a holiday favorite for years to come.
Author's web site: www.beckykelly.com/

"A beautifully patterned tapestry that sheds light on our own hidden fears and dreams, a light that nourishes the seeds of holiness in our souls. This whole creation will give courage and hope to so many people trying to recover from any of the many shades of darkness endured." (From the foreword by Fr Daniel O'Leary) Here is a story of transformation lived out through the ordinary events of the everyday. From the peace of her poustinia (prayer place) Judy invites the reader to share an experience lived out through the twelve months of the year. The seasons of nature reflect those of the heart as we journey from darkness and pain to the light of the present. Poustinia is the Russian word for desert and a poustinia is a small sparsely furnished cabin, which is the perfect place for silence and listening, for communing with nature, and for developing a philosophy of life. Judy's words and poetry, her experiences and insights, and most importantly her faith, have all been honed by the time she has spent here. The wisdom she has learnt here and the spirituality that infuses this place are described and explained in this book. It is this, combined with her understanding of Christian teaching, which is at the heart of her message.

The gospel of Mark is a regular staple in most churches. People gravitate towards it because of its brevity, action-packed nature and familiar content. However, we must be careful that familiarity and assumption doesn't blind us to the great depth, priceless treasure and awe-filled wonder there are within its pages. This gospel is all about The King, his cross and his word. This volume, Teaching Mark, will be a great guide for you as you read, study and teach the gospel of Mark. It will help you keep Mark's big purpose in view and help you see what is really there. Teaching Mark is a great addition to the growing 'Teaching the Bible' series. Robin will be a terrific guide as your enjoy the privilege of teaching or preaching this amazing book. Whether you are a small group leader, preacher, your worker or someone who simply wants help with the personal Bible study, this book will be an invaluable help as you seek to comprehend and communicate the message of Mark.

Also Available as a Time Warner Audiobook and eBook

"When I clear a quiet space for my family, I make room for our souls to grow."
-Katrina Kenison

As mothers today we are faced with daunting responsibilities and increasing pressure to do and have it all. How easy it is to rush headlong through our lives, slaves to our daily obligations—and to rush our children through their childhoods in the process. But there is another way...

In MITTEN STRINGS FOR GOD, Katrina Kenison shares her own search for a more satisfying balance in her life. The result is a lyrical, heartfelt series of reflections, interwoven with gentle suggestions and practical advice, that remind us what happens when we slow down and become fully present in our lives. Suddenly there is room for joy and play and intimacy, space for wonder and reverie, time to awaken to the beauty of the world and rediscover the sacred in the ordinary. Coming home to ourselves, we are able to offer our children the one thing they need more than anything else: our own quiet presence. And we receive something priceless in return—the chance to savor our lives and the precious people in them.

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM WARNER BOOKS

EVERY WOMAN HAS A STORY™
Many Voices, Many Lessons, Many Lives
True Tales Compiled by Daryl Ott Underhill
When Daryl Ott Underhill put out a call to women everywhere for their personal stories, she received hundreds of wonderful replies. Now in this compilation of the most inspiring essays she received, you will meet women of all ages who, amid tears and laughter, honestly share the truest and most important moments of their lives. From turning thirty to realizing you're metamorphosing into your mother...from joyfully watching children grow to the bittersweet letting go when they leave the nest...here are the rites of passage that link us all.

"There's something meaningful and enjoyable here for women of every age."
-Chattanooga Free Press

I'D RATHER LAUGH
How to Be Happy Even When Life
Has Other Plans for You
by Linda Richman
"It's one thing to hear your $150-an-hour (excuse me, fifty minutes) shrink say that if you do this, this, and this, you'll laugh again. It's another, I think, to hear it from me." A tragic childhood, agoraphobia, and the death of a beloved son…Linda Richman has suffered more hurt, loss, and rejection than any person ought, yet she still has the power to find joy in living. In this candid and hilarious book, Linda shares her unbelievable losses and setbacks, and offers readers guidance with the uplifting, often uproarious ways she's dealt with them.

"The Jewish mother you wish you had-full of wisdom and wit....She's managed to find humor in even her darkest moments—and her hilarious, moving memoir will inspire you to do the same."
-Glamour

EVERYDAY I LOVE YOU MORE
(Just Not Today)
by Nancy Shulins
In this touching, perceptive, and often hilarious book, Nancy Shulins casts a warm and compassionate eye on the moments that make up married life. She offers insightful answers to questions about grown-up love and she shows you how to give and forgive and what to remember and what to overlook. Heartfelt and wise, here are stories from real life that will bring new hope and light to any married life, proving that while passion may pass, true love is really here to stay.

"Should be required reading for every 15-year-old girl who dreamily doodles 'Mrs.' all over her algebra notebook-and for every 35-year-old woman trying to remember why she ever did."
-Patt Morrison, columnist, L.A. Times, and commentator, NPR

What is the heart? We know it as not only the beating thing in our chests that sustains life, but as the wellspring of all faith, hope, and love. In this remarkable book, critically acclaimed author Gail Godwin takes us on a breathtaking journey that spans the history of human civilization, combining myth, art and religion to understand how humans have conceived of the heart through time. From the first valentine to the first stethoscope, from the Ancient Egyptians to the Buddha, from the heart of darkness to heart-to-heart talks, Godwin weaves her own stories of heartbreak and hope through it all.

Inspired by the richest of lore, Godwin ultimately arrives at what every culture must discover anew: we cannot let the head alone rule our lives. In this colorful history of the organ of life itself, she discovers a template for a more heart-filled life.

"This is a book on theological hermeneutics. It is a plea for being hermeneutical about theology and for being theological about hermeneutics. It is an argument for treating the questions of God, Scripture and hermeneutics as one problem. This one problem defines what I call 'first theology.' " (from the Preface) In thirteen chapters, Kevin Vanhoozer explores various dimensions of doing first theology and illuminates not only how we can talk about God but how we can begin with the Word of God and act on the basis of that Word. Blazing a pathway for recovering the unity of biblical studies and theological reflection, he addresses the challenges presented by the contemporary so-called postmodern situation, especially deconstructionism. Not only does a way of doing God-centered biblical interpretation come to light through Vanhoozer's explorations, but the triune identity of a God who is communicative, loving and sovereign also comes into focus. This is a book for students, pastors and teachers who have an interest in the character of God, the nature of Scripture, Christian theology, our approach to hermeneutics and how they are all necessarily interrelated to the glory of God.

Children from around the world show us God in ways that we may have forgotten

"When I looked out my window at the changing seasons, I didn't really see anything at all. My eyes were focused on my work and all the tasks I had to do each day.... Then one morning...racing to get to work, I caught a glimpse of the fiery red leaves of a Japanese maple tree in late autumn. For a moment I stopped in my tracks. It was a wake-up call. 'There is a world out there, ' I thought, 'and a world beyond that world. And you, ' I said to myself, 'are missing both. If this is what it means to be an adult, you need to find a way to see the world more like a child.'"from the introduction

What does God do? How do we let God in? If you met God, what would you say?

Here are the "theological" answers of young spiritual thinkers from around the world, representing more than twenty different religious traditions. In sharing how they see God, they'll help you to see God in new ways.

In a poetic language of images all their own, these children re-awaken us to the mysteries and wonders of the universe, and lead us to our own understanding of the spiritual.

Sufism is typically thought of as the mystical side of Islam. In recent years, it has been held up as a supposedly peaceful alternative to the spread of forms of Islam associated with violence, an embodiment of democratic ideals of tolerance and pluralism. Are Sufis in fact as otherworldy and apolitical as this stereotype suggests? Modern Sufis and the State brings together a range of scholars, including anthropologists, historians, and religious-studies specialists, to challenge common assumptions that are made about Sufism today. Focusing on India and Pakistan within a broader global context, this book provides locally grounded accounts of how Sufis in South Asia have engaged in politics from the colonial period to the present. Contributors foreground the effects and unintended consequences of efforts to link Sufism with the spread of democracy and consider what roles scholars and governments have played in the making of twenty-first-century Sufism. They critique the belief that Salafism and Sufism are antithetical, offering nuanced analyses of the diversity, multivalence, and local embeddedness of Sufi political engagements and self-representations in Pakistan and India. Essays question the portrayal of Sufi shrines as sites of toleration, peace, and harmony, exploring cases of tension and conflict. A wide-ranging interdisciplinary collection, Modern Sufis and the State is a timely call to think critically about the role of public discourse in shaping perceptions of Sufism.