Religion

John Stott believes that the Thessalonian letters offer us a model for Christian ministry, a vision for the local church, and an affirmation of the foundation facts of our faith.

Based on the famous Eight Verses of Training the Mind by the great Tibetan Bodhisattva, Langri Tangpa, this inspiring book reveals essential methods for transforming all life's difficulties into valuable spiritual insights and for developing universal love and compassion, the source of true happiness for both self and others.

"To me, the commandments, all that the Word of God comprises, are a lamp."--Elisabeth ElliotElisabeth Elliot had an early acquaintance with the Bible. Before she could read or write, God's holy words were read aloud to her twice a day. In her life, this gift of a deep and personal association with Scripture has been priceless: a drink in times of thirst, an inspiration in times of fear, and a light in times of darkness. Join Elisabeth Elliot for six months of daily meditations, each holding the power to bring you deeper into God's abiding love.

In this best-selling book, Mary Magdalene takes us on a profound journey into the world of sacred sexuality, guiding us through the sexual practices known to priestesses in the temple of Isis. SUBLIME UNION presents Mary's full instruction, interwoven with Kirkel's stirring story of applying the teachings with her partner. A sacred sexuality manual and erotic memoir, with 23 tasteful illustrations.Building on the messages in MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS (Book I of the Magdalene Teachings), readers are now given another piece to completing our spiritual work at the third dimension. Mary's path of sacred sexuality is fully explained, with compassionate and insightful guidance. SUBLIME UNION gives us a profound and vulnerable map to engaging intimacy as a spiritual path. "e;SUBLIME UNION is the book we've all been waiting for. I highly recommend this thrilling read."e; --Christiane Northrup, MD, bestselling author "e;Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom"e; . . . "e;Mercedes Kirkel is one of the clearest channels of Mary Magdalene known to humankind. SUBLIME UNION is an extraordinary and thorough work."e; --Michael Mirdad, author "e;An Introduction to Tantra and Sacred Sexuality"e; and "e;Creating Fulfilling Relationships"e; "e;Beautifully written and juicy, to put it mildly, SUBLIME UNION is a landmark book--a poignant, courageously vulnerable love story and finely illustrated manual for sexual practice in the realms of communication, energy exchange, and more. I recommend this book highly!"e; --Saniel Bonder, author "e;Healing the Spirit/Matter Split"e; and "e;While Jesus Weeps"e; "e;Awakened sexuality is an opening to the Divine. I applaud Kirkel's courage for sharing her sacred sex life with the world in order to teach this, so people will have an opportunity to have a much more fulfilling and spiritual relationship."e; -- Joanna Prentis, coauthor "e;Power of the Magdalene"e; and "e;The Magdalene Version"e; "e;A multifaceted jewel of a book that shimmers with light and love. Candid and intriguing personal transformation is delicately interwoven with profound wisdom and amplified by valuable energy-raising practices. Compelling and convincing."e; -- Diana Richardson, author "e;The Heart of Tantric Sex"e; and "e;Slow Sex "e;Passionate, powerful, and, best of all, extremely practical, SUBLIME UNION can help couples open to the sacredness of sex and love, and heal their bodies, minds, and souls."e; -- Stephanie Riseley, author "e;Love From Both Sides"e; "e;For those who choose sacred sexuality as a path to touch enlightenment and embrace sublime union, Mary Magdalene and Mercedes Kirkel offer clear and timely guidance pointing the way."e; -- Claire Heartsong, author "e;Anna, Grandmother of Jesus"e; and "e;Anna, The Voice of the Magdalenes"e; "e;These teachings bring illumination to the sacredness of sex for all of us--integrating passion, pleasure, and love in a sacred way."e; -- Diane Riley, coauthor "e;Tantric Secrets for Men,"e; author "e;Sexy and Sacred"e; http://www.sublime-union.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=ANlicS24rWU

Apela Colorado, the inspirational authority on indigenous wisdom, shares her lifelong journey of connecting with the essence of indigenous spirituality and culture. From China to Alaska, Benin to France, Apela recounts her work to communicate, conserve, and celebrate sacred indigenous ways, all while reawakening to the wisdom of her own ancestors.

**Longlisted for the Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing**'A tragic portrait of a disappearing world, created with passion and literary grace' SALMAN RUSHDIE'Janine di Giovanni is a humane and persistent witness' HISHAM MATAR'Profoundly moving' MARK TULLY_______________________The Vanishing reveals the plight and possible extinction of Christian communities across Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine after 2,000 years in their historical homeland.Some of the countries that first nurtured and characterized Christianity - along the North African Coast, on the Euphrates and across the Middle East and Arabia - are the ones in which it is likely to first go extinct. Christians are already vanishing. We are past the tipping point, now tilted toward the end of Christianity in its historical homeland. Christians have fled the lands where their prophets wandered, where Jesus Christ preached, where the great Doctors and hierarchs of the early church established the doctrinal norms that would last millennia.From Syria to Egypt, the cities of northern Iraq to the Gaza Strip, ancient communities, the birthplaces of prophets and saints, are losing any living connection to the religion that once was such a characteristic feature of their social and cultural lives.In The Vanishing, Janine di Giovanni has combined astonishing journalistic work to discover the last traces of small, hardy communities where ancient rituals are quietly preserved amid 360 degree threats. Full of faith and hope, di Giovanni's riveting personal stories make a unique act of pre-archeology: the last chance to visit the living religion before all that will be left are the stones of the past.

The Catechism Of The Council Of Trent has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

The first biography of its kind about Desmond Tutu, this book introduces readers to Tutu's spiritual life and examines how it shaped his commitment to restorative justice and reconciliation. This book explores Tutu's contemplative practices-particularly Tutu's understanding of Ubuntu theology.

St. John Chrysostom (347 - 407), was one of the most important Early Church Fathers, who served first as priest in Antioch and then as Archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his sharp preaching, and his denunciation of the moral shortcomings of authority in the church and the state, which ultimate led to his untimely death. He is also famous for the Liturgy used by the Eastern Orthodox church in almost every service, which bears his name: the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. His epithet Chrysostom means "golden-mouthed" in Greek and denotes his famous eloquence for which people would flock to hear him. Chrysostom was an extremely prolific author, exceeded only by St. Augustine of Hippo in the quantity of his surviving writings. He is held in great honor as a saint in the Orthodox and Catholic world. The Eastern Orthodox church regards him as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs (alongside Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus). As such it is fascinating to hear the great master of preaching expound upon marriage and family life, a particularly controversial subject as the roles of men and women having been changing in modern society.The four homilies presented here are expositions on the following scriptures: 1) 1 Cor. vii. 1 - 36, 2) Ephesians v. 22-35, 3) Ephesians vi. 1-4, and 4) Colossians 3:18-25.They are taken from: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vols. 13, 14. Edited by Philip Schaff (1819-1893) (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.)

Revealing the Fastest Path to Enlightenment, with a remarkable approach never seen before in the history of Kriya Yoga.Each chapter is infused with the powerful Lightening of Kriya, the infinite Love of Bhakti and the timeless Wisdom of Jnana Yoga.This book will share teachings no other Kriya Yoga book ever shared. Do not expect to find superficial and common Kriya teachings in here.It exposes the direct yogic path without unnecessary pages full of useless information that is not relevant to your awakening and Self-Realization, leaving no stone unturned.No more detours, distractions and lifetimes. It is now that we are going to do it.What you will find in the book:Crystal clear practical explanation of how Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga can turbo-charge your Kriya Yoga practice beyond the unimaginable.The disclosure of a secret no Kriya Yoga Guru will ever tell you.Answering the most relevant Kriya questions like "What kind of Kriya Yoga is the best?" or "Do I need a Guru?"Upgraded Kriya practices for a more powerful energetic boost toward Kundalini awakening.All of the Samadhi mysteries will be revealed.Authentic non-dual teachings that will help you break free from duality, accompanied by the essential words of many Self-Realized Masters.Clear and direct pointers to who you really are, awakening true Wisdom-Discernment and revealing the imperishable, everlasting happiness and peace that is the natural fragrance of the Absolute.And much more.After exposing Kriya Yoga, in the first volume of this collection, Kriya Yoga Exposed, we will now unleash its tremendous power, as the basis for all Yogas to come into fruition, going beyond our apparent existence and mortality, into the realmless realms of the Absolute beyond comprehension.That is our destination, going faster than light, faster than anything conceivable, into the inconceivable beyond nothingness.Do you dare to go that deep inside?Are you ready to unlock all the secrets of the Universe and Existence?You are. Here and now you will recognize your forgotten infinity.

Ramadan planners are designed to help us to focus and reflect upon our actions, and work on self-improvement during this month. This Special Edition Ramadan planner is written specifically for teens and pre-teens, and enables users to focus on physical and mental health, as well as spiritual health. Writing down what you''ve eaten and keeping track of your exercise habits makes you accountable to yourself, and helps you to see where you can improve. Allowing yourself a bit of ''me-time'' each day using the self-care ideas provided and writing about your thoughts and feelings helps to gain some control of your emotions - which is especially effective if you struggle with stress, anxiety or depression. The planner focuses on:ΓÇó Du''as ΓÇó Qur''anΓÇó Zakat and SadaqahΓÇó Nutrition and DietΓÇó Exercise and Self-CareThere are pre-planning pages, where you can identify your goals and action plans before the month begins, along with daily reflection pages for 30 days. The planner also provides du''as of the Prophet (pbuh), 40 Rabbana du''as, valuable informative content on nutrition, self-care, and various other areas.InshaAllah this planner will inspire you to have a healthier Ramadan, which in turn will make it a more focused month and benefit you physically, mentally and spiritually. 6 x 9 inch (approx UK A5), paperback. 132 pages.Please note, this planner is undated, so can be used any year.

Shunryu Suzuki’s extraordinary gift for conveying traditional Zen teachings using ordinary language is well known to the countless readers of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. In Zen Is Right Here, his teachings are brought to life powerfully and directly through stories told about him by his students. These living encounters with Zen are poignant, direct, humorous, paradoxical, and enlightening; and their setting in real-life contexts makes them wonderfully accessible. Like the Buddha himself, Suzuki Roshi gave profound teachings that were skilfully expressed for each moment, person, and situation he encountered. He emphasized that while the ungraspable essence of Buddhism is constant, the expression of that essence is always changing. Each of the stories presented here is an example of this versatile and timeless quality, showing that the potential for attaining enlightenment exists right here, right now, in this very moment.

Spirituality & Practice “Best Books of 2021” Award WinnerIn this new collection of quotes from Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and stories from his students, the presence, wisdom, and humor of a great Zen teacher come alive once more.The teachings of Shunryu Suzuki have served for innumerable people as the gateway to Zen practice and meditation. In Zen Is Right Now, devoted student and biographer David Chadwick sheds new light on Suzuki’s presence and teachings through selected quotes from his lectures and a variety of stories told by his students. Complementary to another collection about Suzuki, Zen Is Right Here, this book offers a joyful bounty of anecdotes and insights, revealing a playful and deeply wise teacher who delighted in paradox and laughed often. Each of the stories and quotes presented here is an example of the versatile and timeless quality evident in Suzuki’s teaching, showing that the potential for attaining enlightenment exists right now, in this very moment.

A timely and galvanizing work that examines how right-wing evangelical Christians have veered from an admirable faith to a pernicious, destructive ideology.Today’s right-wing Evangelical Christianity stands as the very antithesis of the message of Jesus Christ. In his new book, Christians Against Christianity, best-selling author and religious scholar Obery M. Hendricks Jr. challenges right-wing evangelicals on the terrain of their own religious claims, exposing the falsehoods, contradictions, and misuses of the Bible that are embedded in their rabid homophobia, their poorly veiled racism and demonizing of immigrants and Muslims, and their ungodly alliance with big business against the interests of American workers.He scathingly indicts the religious leaders who helped facilitate the rise of the notoriously unchristian Donald Trump, likening them to the “court jesters” and hypocritical priestly sycophants of bygone eras who unquestioningly supported their sovereigns’ every act, no matter how hateful or destructive to those they were supposed to serve.In the wake of the deadly insurrectionist attack on the US Capitol, Christians Against Christianity is a clarion call to stand up to the hypocrisy of the evangelical Right, as well as a guide for Christians to return their faith to the life-affirming message that Jesus brought and died for. What Hendricks offers is a provocative diagnosis, an urgent warning that right-wing evangelicals’ aspirations for Christian nationalist supremacy are a looming threat, not only to Christian decency but to democracy itself. What they offer to America is anything but good news.

Are you looking for God's best for your life? Do you have a plan for getting there? God created you for an amazing adventure of faith, and the twelve spiritual practices found in The Divine Adventure offer a practical road map for your journey. By learning to apply ancient spiritual disciplines, you'll discover a life of wonder, passion, and flourishing faith.Intensely personal and deeply practical, The Divine Adventure unpacks powerful disciplines that will revolutionize your prayer life, deepen your intimacy with God, create balance between rest and work, cultivate meaningful community with others, and more. Drawing from Scripture, ancient writings, visits to holy sites, and her own life experiences of brokenness and breakthrough, Rebecca Friedlander shares the keys that any follower of Christ can use to unlock their own divine adventure. Whether you're a new believer or a seasoned disciple, you'll find that implementing these practices will both empower your passion for Jesus and open new opportunities to express God's heart to others. Are you ready?

Louie Giglio helps you find encouragement, hope, and strength in the midst of any valley as you reject the enemy voices of fear, rage, lust, insecurity, anxiety, despair, temptation, or defeat.

This study guide by Dane Ortlund helps readers reflect further on the biblical truths found in Gentle and Lowly through discussion questions organized into 10 helpful lessons. Designed for individual and small-group use.