How can someone be perfectly imperfect? Isn't

that a contradiction? The Bible is filled with stories

of people with all kinds of flaws and imperfections.

The astounding thing is what happens

when God changes their lives.

Perfectly Imperfect is about people whose true-to-life

stories are found in the New Testament. They

are like us in many ways confused, tempted,

and often afraid, but then they meet Jesus, and

their lives are wonderfully transformed.

Through the character sketches in this book, we

learn how God works with us. We discover something

about the way God transforms us from what

we are into what we can be. In these sometimes

tragic and broken lives, we get a glimpse of how

God renews us and remakes us into people who

are perfectly imperfect.

Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) is popularly celebrated for his fascinating spiritual life. How could one man, one deeply spiritual man, serve as both a traditional Oglala Lakota medicine man and a Roman Catholic catechist and mystic? How did these two spiritual and cultural identities enrich his prayer life? How did his commitment to God, understood through his Lakota and Catholic communities, shape his understanding of how to be in the world? To fully understand the depth of Black Elk's life-long spiritual quest requires a deep appreciation of his life story. He witnessed devastation on the battlefields of Little Bighorn and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, but also extravagance while performing for Queen Victoria as a member of "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show. Widowed by his first wife, he remarried and raised eight children. Black Elk's spiritual visions granted him wisdom and healing insight beginning in his childhood, but he grew progressively physically blind in his adult years. These stories, and countless more, offer insight into this extraordinary man whose cause for canonization is now underway at the Vatican.

In 1982 aanvaar Nico Smith ’n beroep na die NG Kerk in Afrika se Mamelodi-gemeente. Hy en sy vrou laat hulle gemaklike lewe agter en gaan bly in Mamelodi. Hier leer Nico en Ellen rêrig die hart van Mamelodi se mense ken, en beleef swaarkry saam met hulle. Hulle leer wat dit beteken om swart te wees in Suid-Afrika onder apartheid. Hulle leer ’n ander God ken, nie die God van Nico se vaders nie, maar die God van die verworpenes en die verdruktes.

In 1991, Ahmed Ali Haile returned to the chaos of his native Somalia with a clear mission: to bring warring clans together to find new paths of peace--often over a cup of tea. A grenade thrown by a detractor cost Haile his leg and almost his life, but his stature as a peacemaker remained. Whether in Somali's capital, Mogadishu, or among Somalis in Kenya, Europe, and the United States, Haile has been a tireless ambassador for the peace of Christ. Into this moving memoir of conversion and calling, Haile weaves poignant reflections on the meaning of his journey in the world of Islam. 144 Pages.

Confessions of an Adulterous Christian Woman offers a rare and honest look at the destructive descent into adultery and reveals the redeeming power of God's grace and His ability to restore a ruined life. Author Lyndell Hetrick Holtz was a pastor's wife, Bible study leader, and retreat speaker who never believed she would commit adultery. She thought her involvement with ministry gave her extra protection from the temptation to have an affair. But, in her forties, her life began to crumble, and suddenly adultery seemed to be the solution for an unhappy life and marriage. With emotion and conviction, Lyndell reflects on the disillusionment and faulty beliefs that led to destructive decisions. She tells of the heartache and pain she experienced when her affair was discovered and the resulting consequences, including the loss of her 25 year marriage, her beautiful home, her witness in the community, her friends, and the respect of her four adult children. It seemed as if her life was over and her relationship with Christ forever ruined. But it was here, broken and sprawled in the dust of shame and defeat, where Lyndell encountered love unlike any she had ever known. With worship and humility, she shares how God lovingly embraced her shattered life and began to redeem, restore, and rebuild it in miraculous ways. Confessions of an Adulterous Christian Woman gives women a first-hand look at the destruction of adultery and provides the awareness needed to avoid assuming that Christian women are immune to adultery's snare. This powerful story examines the devastating effects of adultery, but more importantly, reveals a God who continues to write His story of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation on the broken lives of humanity, taking us, from utter despair to undying devotion to Him and the unconditional, healing love He gives.

Eugenio Pacelli, Pope Pius XII, is one of the most studied but least understood popes of the twentieth century while his pontificate remains the most turbulent and controversial. Although there is a general consensus that he faced serious problems during his tenure-fascist aggression, the Second World War, the Nazi genocide of the Jews, the march of communism, and the Cold War-there is disagreement on his response to these developments. Applauded by some as an "apostle for peace" for his attempt to prevent the outbreak of war, he has been denounced by others as an "advocate of appeasement" for this same effort. Praised by both Christian and Jews for his "Crusade of Charity" during the war, he was denounced by many for his "silence" during the Holocaust. These conflicting interpretations, dubbed the Pius Wars, are often narrow in focus, lack objectivity, and have shed more heat than light. Written by one of the foremost historians of Pius XII, the present biographical study, unlike the greater part of the vast and growing historiography of Pope Pius XII, is a balanced and nonreactive account of his life and times. Its focus is not on the pope's silence during the Holocaust, though it does address the issue in a historical and objective framework. This is a biography of the man as well as the pope. It probes the roots of his traditionalism and legalism, his approach to modernity and reformism in Church and society, and the influences behind his policies and actions. This book is the first biography of Eugenio Pacelli to appear in English since the opening of the papers of the pontificate of Pius XI (1922-1939), in which Pacelli served as nuncio to Germany and secretary of state, along with the publication of the memories of figures close to Papa Pacelli.

a This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;a 1 Timothy 1:18

In the early 1990's Kristiane Backer was one of the very first presenters of MTV Europe. For some years she lived and breathed the international music scene, quickly gaining a cult following amongst viewers and becoming a darling of European press. As she reached the pinnacle of her success she realised that, despite having all she could have wished for, she was never truly satisfied. Something very important was missing. A fateful meeting with Pakistani cricket hero Imran Khan changed her life. He invited her to his country where she encountered a completely different world from the one she knew, the religion and culture of Islam. Instead of pop and rock stars she was meeting men and women whose lives were dominated by the love of God and who cared very little for the brief glories of this world. She began to read the Quaran and to study books about the Faith. A few years later, after travelling more widely in the Islamic world and knowing that she had discovered her spiritual path, she embraced Islam in a London mosque. And then her real adventures began.In this very personal memoir Kristiane Backer tells the story of her conversion and explains how faith, despite the many challenges she faced, has given her inner peace and the meaning she sought.

Published to coincide with Mother Teresa's expected canonization in early September 2016

Life, thoughts and travels of a Free Spirit, from his humble origins from a small village in Kashmir to even more unassuming existence in a small town in the UK. His meetings with various saints and, in particular, his associations with his spiritual Master in Kashmir.

Clare of Assisi: The Lady provides new translations of Clares writings and related primary sources, revised and new introductions from earlier editions, as well as previously unpublished documents to chronicle the life of Saint Clare. The first section presents Clares Letters, Testament, and Blessing. The second section includes the papal texts that prompted Clare to write her own Form of Life. The third section contains biographical writings about Clare beginning with Cardinal Hugolinos 1220 letter and ending with the Legend of Saint Clare. The book concludes with a dossier of documents, many translated into English for the first time, from the papacies of Honorius III, Gregory IX, and Innocent IV.

Lasting Impressions gives us a colourful insight into the life of Gary Punch, from his humble beginnings to him becoming a brilliant evangelist and preacher of the Gospel of Christ, to many many people. Lasting Impressions can be enjoyed by anybody and I do hope you like this true story of pictures, which is a great example of love, success, hard work and importantly hope for us all. From the Gary Punch Evangelistic Ministry.

This follows Hugh's lifestory, 'Tales of a Huggable Vicar Stumbling Towards Integrity' Described: * by Bear Grylls as 'a wonderful book', * by Bishop of Salisbury as 'a lovely read - Hugh's a legend', * by Bishop Rupert Hoave as 'gems of theological 'insight and wit'.

This autobiography gives us a colourful insight into the life of Gary Punch, from his humble beginnings to him becoming a brilliant evangelist and preacher of the Gospel of Christ, to many, many people. This autobiography can be read and enjoyed by anybody and I do hope you enjoy reading this remarkable story of love, success, hard work and very importantly hope for us all.