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Books > Christianity > Christian Religious Experience
'Read this for the chapter on Hillsborough alone' JEREMY VINE
'Makes a powerful plea for the "earthing" of God's vision of
justice' BARONESS HALE 'A plentiful source of comfort, strength
and, most importantly, hope' ANDY BURNHAM For twenty-five years,
Bishop James Jones has been working on the frontlines to try and
create a more just and merciful world. In Justice for Christ's
Sake, he reflects on the work he has been a part of and the ways in
which justice and faith go hand in hand. With touching honesty, he
tells of his time as a Bishop and his role on three key independent
panels into matters of national conscience - including chairing the
panel that investigated the Hillsborough Disaster of 1989, when
ninety-six Liverpool football fans tragically lost their lives. All
the dimensions of justice that James has experienced -
environmental, social, racial, political and judicial - are vividly
conveyed, as he offers up the lessons he has learned in his search
for a better, fairer way to live and how the answers might be found
in the teachings of Jesus. Justice for Christ's Sake is a
remarkable and fascinating Christian memoir, that offers a unique
perspective on some of the most significant inquiries of the last
three decades. It is a book that encourages us all in our longing
for justice, with insight born from first-hand experience, and will
leave you with a better of understanding of events that have shaped
conversations on justice in Britain. Most of us long deep down for
a fairer world, however selfishly we may act on occasions. James
Jones reassures us that we are not alone and that we can all be
part of the fight for justice for Christ's sake.
Open Our Eyes is a welcome accompaniment to the Advent days of
anticipating Christ's birth. Follow its invitation of prophetic
prayers and vibrant artwork to watch and wait for the coming of the
Holy One. Open your eyes and heart to the wideness of God, and
God's gentle but persistent call for justice and mercy.
Do you know how God sees you? Moses is a key character in the
unfolding narrative of God's Kingdom. A foundational leader of
God's people in the Old Testament, he's held up throughout the New
Testament as a man of God, in spite of his flaws. Yet Moses didn't
always believe what God said about him. In this biblically balanced
book, Terry Virgo invites us to walk in the footsteps of Moses so
that, by faith, we can be ready for whatever life brings.
Discover how prayer can completely transform your life and put you
in the presence of God's throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16 says you can
always "approach God's throne of grace with confidence," knowing
that you will "receive mercy and find grace" to help you in your
time of need. That promise is so immense it's difficult for us to
understand. In this six-session video-based Bible study
(DVD/digital video sold separately), Pastor Jim Cymbala explores
how God promises in his Word to always hear you, answer you, and
extend his mercy when you come to him. As you pray with faith, he
will provide his perfect peace and "meet all your needs according
to the riches of his glory" (Philippians 4:19). You will find that
approaching God's throne of grace will change your life and
circumstances like nothing else--and that when you and other
believers call on his name, powerful things happen in the world!
Featuring teachings by Jim Cymbala and interviews with ordinary
people who received extraordinary answers to their prayers, this
study includes video teaching notes, Bible exploration questions,
and personal study and reflection materials for in-between group
sessions. Sessions include: The Throne of Grace Receiving Mercy
Perfect Peace from God Praying with Faith God Brings the Answer The
Church that Prays Together Designed for use with the Life-Changing
Prayer Video Study (sold separately).
Peter Scazzero learned the hard way: you can't be spiritually
mature while remaining emotionally immature. In the Emotionally
Healthy Spirituality Course Participant's Pack, Peter outlines a
roadmap for discipleship with Jesus that is powerfully
transformative. He unveils what's wrong with our current definition
of "spiritual growth" and offers not only a model of spirituality
that actually works, but seven steps to change that will help you
experience authentic faith and hunger for God. The Emotionally
Healthy Spirituality Course Participant's Pack will help you begin
the journey of applying the profound biblical truths found in
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality to your life. This pack includes
one each of the following products: Emotionally Healthy
Spirituality trade book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day-by-Day
book the 8-session Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course Workbook
Each of these books are integral to the Emotionally Healthy
Spirituality Course and will provide the resources to help you grow
in your relationship to Christ and your relationship with others.
Designed for use with the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Video
Study Expanded Edition (9780310131878), sold separately. It is part
of the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course.
In this year's BRF Advent book Sally Welch explores two questions:
What is the Christmas story really about, and how do we share it?
Through each week of Advent, a different aspect of the Christmas
story is examined: light, promise, mystery, love, peace and hope.
Within each week, the days are focused on the ways in which the
Christmas story is shared: prophecies, journeys, new life, signs,
poems, stories and conversations. Each day offers a Bible passage,
followed by a reflection and prayer activity. Suggestions for group
study and group study questions are also included. 'Imbued with
biblical insight, this book delves into the failings, the
forgivings and the foibles of the way we are and the way we behave.
Into the glorious muddle of our lives, we search for God and find
God. In Sally Welch we have a delightful, experienced pastoral
guide.' Gordon Giles, author of At Home in Advent 'Sally has woven
a beautiful golden cord, binding together scriptural truth and
wisdom, profound contemporary relevance and insightful personal
experience. Written with warmth, love and understanding, this is a
genuine treasure.' Margaret Silf, author of Lighted Windows
Why does the allegiance that radical terrorists give to their false
cause exceed the allegiance that most Christians today give to
Jesus Christ? In Insurgence, bestselling author Frank Viola
presents a radical proposal for Christians. Namely, that we have
lost the explosive, earthshaking gospel of the kingdom that Jesus,
Paul, and the other apostles preached. Viola argues that we've lost
this dynamic, titanic, living gospel and exchanged it for a gospel
of religious duty or permissiveness and "easy believism." In
today's politically charged era, Christians on the progressive left
as well as the conservative right both equate their particular
viewpoints with the kingdom of God. Viola challenges and dismantles
these perspectives, offering a fresh and revolutionary look at the
gospel of the kingdom. Viola writes with gripping power,
challenging Christians to embrace an unparalleled allegiance to
Jesus Christ and his kingdom. This high-octane message is being
reclaimed today, launching a spiritual insurgence.
The world needs real men, real bad. And there are all sorts of conflicting ideas and messages about what a "real man" is (and is not). Is a real man one who hunts, loves sports, grills meat, fixes cars, and climbs mountains? Sure, sometimes. But that's not really the point of being a man and it's not the purpose for which men were made.
Into our cultural confusion, Brant Hansen paints a refreshingly specific, compelling picture of what men are made to be: "Keepers of the Garden." Protectors and defenders. He calls for men of all interests and backgrounds (including "avid indoorsmen" like himself) to be ambitious about the right things and to see themselves as defenders of the vulnerable, with whatever resources they have.
Using short chapters loaded with must-have wisdom and Brant's signature humor, The Men We Need explains the essence of masculinity in a fresh, thoughtful, and entertaining way that will inspire any man who dares to read it.
A person can never get too far from God and His plan and purpose for their life that they can’t get back to Him and have a fresh start. There is always a way forward that will prevent a person’s current circumstances from having the final say in life. God has a plan for a comeback. It’s never too late for Him, no matter what kind of challenge an individual is facing.
Adapted from material previously published in The Comeback, Louie Giglio addresses the feelings we all have from time to time that life is disappointing and not working out as we’d hoped. We long for something different, something better, something more.
Never Too Far celebrates new beginnings. It offers readers encouragement and perspective, and it’s for those who feel frustrated or confused; sorrowing or in pain; have made mistakes; are grieving; disappointed; or feel as though life doesn’t make sense. Readers will experience the good news that God is in the business of giving fresh starts to people. He gives hope to the hopeless. Direction to the directionless. Help to those who need help. God is always good, all the time, and God’s plans will always prevail, even when personal plans don’t. God already knows what the solutions are. No matter what kind of disappointment or grief or pain or trouble or heartache a person may encounter, God always offers a new beginning, a change of heart, or a powerful spiritual turnaround. Here is an invitation to accept God’s offer of a way forward and discovering that his pathways are always good.
MIDWC Book Award As our society becomes more socially fragmented,
many Christians feel disconnected and struggle to grow spiritually.
Common models of spiritual transformation are proving inadequate to
address "the sanctification gap." In recent decades, however, a new
paradigm of human and spiritual development has been emerging from
multiple fields. It's supported by a critical mass of evidence, all
pointing to what psychologists Todd W. Hall and M. Elizabeth Lewis
Hall call a relational revolution. In Relational Spirituality, Hall
and Hall present a definitive model of spiritual transformation
based on a relational paradigm. At its heart is the truth that
human beings are fundamentally relational-we develop, heal, and
grow through relationships. While many sanctification models are
fragmented, individualistic, and lack a clear process for change,
the relational paradigm paints a coherent picture of both process
and goal, supported by both ancient wisdom and cutting-edge
research. Integrating insights from psychology and theology, this
book lays out the basis for relational spiritual transformation and
how it works practically in the context of relationships and
community. Relational Spirituality draws together themes such as
trinitarian theology, historical and biblical perspectives on the
imago Dei, relational knowledge, attachment patterns, and
interpersonal neurobiology into a broad synthesis that will
stimulate further dialogue across a variety of fields. Highlighting
key characteristics of spiritual communities that foster
transformation, Hall and Hall equip spiritual leaders and
practitioners to more effectively facilitate spiritual growth for
themselves and those they serve. Christian Association for
Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates
to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology,
counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order
to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their
clients.
Women are often told by their communities that being a mother will
complete or define them. But many mothers find themselves depleted
and spiritually stagnant amid the everyday demands of being a mom.
They long to experience a rich inner life but feel there is rarely
enough time, energy, or stillness to connect with God in a
meaningful way. This book takes the concept of rewilding and
applies it to motherhood. Just as an environmentalist seeks to
rewild land by returning it to its natural state, Shannon Evans
invites women to rewild motherhood by reclaiming its essence
through an expansive feminine spirituality. Drawn from the
contemplative Catholic tradition and Evans's own parenting
experience, Rewilding Motherhood helps women deepen their
connection to God through practices inherent to the life they're
living now. Topics include work-life balance, identity, solitude,
patience, household work, and mission for the common good.
Throughout, Evans encourages women to see motherhood as an
opportunity to discover a vibrant feminine spirituality and a
deeper knowledge of God and self.
If we're honest, most of us feel bored, distracted, or discouraged
in prayer. We look for resources to give us the "right" words or
teach us the "right" technique and are disappointed when they don't
seem to help. What we fail to realize is that prayer isn't a place
for us to be good or right, and it isn't a place for us to perform
or prove our worth. It's a place for us to be honest, present, and
known--a place for us to offer ourselves and receive God. Spiritual
formation experts Kyle Strobel and John Coe want to show you what
you've been missing when it comes to prayer. In this down-to-earth
book, they show you how to fearlessly draw near to a holy God, pray
without ceasing (and without posturing), and delight in the
experience of being fully known and fully loved. Each chapter ends
with prayer projects or practices to help you see a difference in
your prayer life, starting now.
Grab a cuppa and sink into a cosy chair as a father-daughter duo
leads you into the celebration of Christmas through their art and
reflections. Considering not only the story of Mary and Joseph
journeying to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, but also our
modern-day expressions of Christmas, they point to God's light and
life during what can be a fraught and exhausting season. 'Daughter
and father, wordsmith and artist, combine seamlessly to create a
celebration of the warmth, love, promise and glory of Christ's
birth on earth, and what that means for us today.' Pam Rhodes,
broadcaster and writer
Through beautiful prose and meditations, Caryll Houselander depicts
the intimately human side of Mary, Mother of God, as an empty reed
waiting for God's music to be played through her. Lovingly bringing
Our Lady down off her time-honored, ancient pedestal, Houselander
shares her insightful and beautiful vision of Mary on earth, Mary
among us, Mary as a confused but trusting teenager whose holiness
flowered with her eternal "Yes." With profound theological
teachings and appealing imagery, "The Reed of God" is a spiritual
classic written in the mystical tradition of Julian of Norwich.
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