In this attractive illustrated book, Stephen Cottrell reflects on five of the Christ in the Wilderness paintings, and reveals them to be a rich source of spiritual wisdom and nourishment. He invites us to slow down and enter into the stillness of Stanley Spencer's vision. By dwelling in the wilderness of these evocative portraits, Stephen Cottrell encourages us to refine our own discipleship and learn again what it means to follow Christ.

This book weaves story and Bible reflection to trace a journey that begins in rootlessness and despair and takes a wanderer across the sea to a series of islands. These islands are the setting for a series of events and encounters through which emerge a progression from that initial rootlessness, through healing, to a rediscovery of the joy of feeling at the centre of God's loving purpose for our lives.

The Christian canon of scripture, known as the New Testament, excluded many of the church's traditional stories about its origins. Although not in the Bible, these popular stories have had a powerful influence on the church's traditions and theology, and a particularly marked effect on visual representations of Christian belief. This book provides a lucid introduction to the relationship between the apocryphal texts and the paintings, mosaics, and sculpture in which they are frequently paralleled, and which have been so significant in transmitting these non-Biblical stories to generations of churchgoers.

In the history of nineteenth-century religious thought, William Robertson Smith occupies an ambiguous position. More than any other writer, he stimulated the theories of religion later advanced by Frazer, Durkheim, and Freud. Smith himself was not an original scholar, but was rather "clever at presenting other men's theories" within new and sometimes hostile contexts. Smith was an important contributor to two of the most serious challenges to Christian orthodoxy of the last century, the "Higher Criticism" of the Bible and the comparative study of religion, and was also the victim of the last successful heresy trial in Great Britain. Yet he was an utterly devout Protestant, whose views on Biblical criticism (for which he was damned) are now considered as true as his views on totemism and sacrifice (for which he was praised) are now considered false. Despite Smith's enormous significance for the history of religious ideas, he has been written about relatively little, and most of what we know about his life and work comes from a source almost a century old. Originally published in 1882, The Prophets of Israel is a collection of eight lectures, including "Israel and Jehovah;" "Jehovah and the Gods of the Nations," "Amos and the House of Jehu," "Hosea and the Fall of Ephraim," "The Kingdom of Judah and the Beginnings of Isaiah's Work," "The Earlier Prophesies of Isaiah," "Isaiah and Micah in the Reign of Hezekiah," and "The Deliverance from Assyria."A new introduction by Robert Alun Jones discusses Smith's early life, the heresy trial, Smith's early view of prophecy, and the classic text itself. The book will be of interest to students and teachers of religious studies, and general readers interested in Robertson Smith.

Hang in There, Mama! For those moments when you think you'll never live up to the Supermoms around you-when you're elbow deep in the grind of diapers and laundry and peanut butter sandwiches-you need a good dose of Grit and Grace. This refreshing collection of 90 daily devotions comes from two moms who've found themselves face-to-the-floor in need of encouragement and now offer it to you. Through humor and vulnerability, these short messages of truth remove the filters of perfection clouding your vision and bring clarity to your purpose as a mom. As you read the Scripture and prayer that accompany each day's message, you'll discover more fully who you are in Christ and how to raise your children to reflect His love to the world. In giving yourself grace, you will find you have even more grace to give from the One who is present in your life right now and in every moment.

The Book of Hiding offers a fluent and erudite analysis of the parallels between the Bible and contemporary discussions of gender, ethnicity and social ambiguity. Beal focuses particularly on the traditionally marginalised book of Esther, in order to examine closely the categories of self and other in relation to religion, sexism, nationalism, and the ever-looming legacies and future possibilities of annihilation. Beal applies the critical tools of contemporary theorists, such as Cixous, Irigaray and Levinas, challenging widely held assumptions about the moral and life-affirming message of Scripture and even about the presence of God in the book of Esther. The Book of Hiding draws together a variety of different perspectives and disciplines, creating a unique space for dialogue raising new questions and reconsidering old assumptions, which is profoundly interesting and well-articulated.

The 40 Days series of journals helps you to make space for God amidst the busyness and chaos of everyday life.With Bible text, thoughtful comment, challenging questions and space for you to think, write, draw and pray; 40 Days: Matthew gives you the chance to rediscover Jesus and all that he has for you.

We live in the hope of experiencing first-hand the all-sufficient grace, love and forgiveness which are God's alone, a hope that we may know with our heads long before we feel it in our hearts. Such hope may mean encountering God as consoling presence in the darkness, as well as one who challenges us to respond to his call. That call may prove to be costly but, in responding, we are transformed by discovering and rediscovering that we are known exactly as we are, yet still loved beyond understanding, as God's precious children. In a series of Bible reflections - and some poems - this hope is explored in different ways, from the yearning of the psalmist to walking the gentle journey of the Good Shepherd's leading.

The Christian, according to the apostle Paul, lives between two times. The end is already present with Christ's death and resurrection, but the end is yet to come with his second appearing. Pate traces the concept of 'already/not yet' back to its Jewish roots and shows with exceptional clarity how Paul's teachings on God, Christ, human beings, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the church society, and the last things can be successfully placed within this 'already/not yet' framework.

Our oldest Christian traditions invite us to listen as well as speak when we pray, yet often the Voice seems barely audible. With over 40,000 copies sold since its original release in 1996, "Echoes of Eternity: Volume I" is helping many who desire to quiet their hearts and listen. "Echoes of Eternity" presents 365 brief meditations gathered from one pastor's faithful daily practice of listening to God. Each reading includes a Scripture verse and encouraging words that speak of Christ as our anchor, the treasure of God's love, and His lasting peace.

Sized to fit easily into a purse or pocket, "Echoes of Eternity" can facilitate a quiet moment alone with God at any time or place.

"Pray with your heart open. Pray with your ears open---open to Me and My word. Enter My presence with thanksgiving, and come "boldly" to the Throne of grace. I welcome you, My beloved child."

Incorporating overviews of the bigger story, reflection questions and prayers, this resource explores the challenges experienced by Moses, Mary, Abraham & Sarah, Ruth & Naomi, Ezra & Nehemiah, David and Paul and invites you to question how their experience links to your own as a parent. Use the tear out bookmarks to mark the place of the stories in your Bible and say the prayers as you read the Scriptures. God With Us is a short booklet which will enrich your reading of the Scriptures, see how these well known characters overcame the challenges they faced and share that understanding with your children as they come to know and love the Bible too. Key Benefits *An ideal resource for all parents following the baptism of their children into the Catholic faith *Focuses on seven key biblical characters *Includes attractive, detachable colour bookmarks to help move from reading about the Bible to reading the Bible itself *Enables better engagement with and understanding of the Scriptures.

Whether we are going through a period of being house-bound through ill health or facing a short or longer stay in hospital, we can find help and consolation in the Bible. This book offers 24 undated reflections drawing on a range of relevant Bible passages, and offering ways of connecting more closely with God and drawing strength, peace and security from the knowledge of his presence with us.

First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The greatest story ever told, as you've never heard it before.Brought to you by Bible Society and dramatised by Riding Lights Theatre Company, this audio CD set brings to life the whole New Testament in a dynamic and vibrant way.*Let the power of audio storytelling take you back to first century Palestine*Listen to the extraordinary life and teaching of Jesus*Hear the compelling dramas of the early churchDiscover more than you thought possible - enter into this audio experience and encounter the New Testament afresh. The stunning recording is an unabridged reading of the CEV New Testament - featuring Russell Boulter, Israel Oyelumade and 31 other actors.Sections from this recording previously used as part of Bible Society's You've Got the Time programme.Features*A box set of 20 CDs which can be played in standard CD players, computers and car stereos*Running time approximately 20 hours

A powerful devotional commentary series designed to inform and inspire

The Straight to the Heart commentary series brings greater accessibility to the Bible so that people can understand the message that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors to write. It aims to get people reading so that they can hear God's voice for themselves; it will challenge them and provide a springboard into a deeper relationship with the divine.

The series will cover the whole Bible in 25 volumes to be published through 2015. Previously published volumes include Genesis, Moses, Matthew, Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and Revelation.

"Phil Moore has served us magnificently."
--Terry Virgo

"Most commentaries are dull. These are alive. Most commentaries are for scholars. These are for you "
--Michael Green

"Think of these books as the Bible's message distilled for everyone."
--Adrian Warnock

Acclaimed for its masterful new translation and insightful commentary, The David Story is a fresh, vivid rendition of one of the great works in Western literature. Robert Alter's brilliant translation gives us David, the beautiful, musical hero who slays Goliath and, through his struggles with Saul, advances to the kingship of Israel. But this David is also fully human: an ambitious, calculating man who navigates his life's course with a flawed moral vision. The consequences for him, his family, and his nation are tragic and bloody. Historical personage and full-blooded imagining, David is the creation of a literary artist comparable to the Shakespeare of the history plays.

How do the wilderness years between Egypt and the land of promise connect with believers in today's world? The message of God's covenant love gives Numbers a distinctive quality and a direct relevance for believers in our uncertain world.

Feasting on the Gospels is a new seven-volume series that follows up on the success of the Feasting on the Word series to provide another trusted preaching resource, this time on the most prominent and preached upon most preached upon books in the Bible: the four Gospels. With contributions from a diverse and respected group of scholars and pastors, Feasting on the Gospels includes completely new material that covers every single passage in the Gospels, making it suitable for both pastors who preach from the lectionary and pastors who do not. Moreover, these volumes incorporate the unique format of Feasting on the Word, giving preachers four perspectives to choose from for each Gospel passage: theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical. Feasting on the Gospels offers a unique resource for all who preach, either continuously or occasionally, on the Gospels.

NT Wright offers reflections on the Sunday readings in the "Revised Common Lectionary for Year A." This book brings together his widely read columns in the "Church Times", and also contains new pieces, to cover all the Sundays and major festivals. Scholarship, history and insights into the world and language of the Bible are woven together to give a deeper understanding of the Word of the Lord. This book will be invaluable to anyone who wants to gather their thoughts in preparation for Sunday worship, or for regular Bible study throughout the year.