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These thematic collections of spiritual teachings from the best Christian writers in history are sure to be popular with book study groups, Centering prayer gatherings, adult Christian formation, and for individual spiritual reading.

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An Anonymous Monk of the 14th Century, Thomas a Kempis, Saint Augustine, Saint Catherine of Siena

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This book of poems is about the spiritual life and is organized according to a monastic logic. The compact and powerful language speaks to the lifelong Christian or to the spiritual seeker.

Practicing Silence bears every evidence of a poet who has done precisely that, and bespeaks monastic experience with true authenticity. The poetry emerges from a mind given over to the One hidden in silence. -Brother Paul Quenon ocso, poet, author of Unquiet Vigil: New & Selected Poems

Bonnie Thurstons entire Practicing Silence allows that Light abides in the core, yet there is darkness always in the edges. The recognition of such encroachment gives this pure and intense collection an added sense of urgency. These holy verses will draw us inexorably in. -Sofia M. Starnes, Poet Laureate of Virginia, 2012-2014

With masterly craft and authentic voice, Thurston offers us poems that both challenge and comfort, that dance on the living waters of wisdom and offer a midrash of insight for our tempestuous world. Practicing Silence is a brilliant and most welcome offering! -Dr. Michael S. Glaser, Professor Emeritus, St. Marys College of Maryland, Poet Laureate of Maryland, 2004-2009

The old desert monks insisted that staying in ones cell would teach you everything. Bonnie Thurston shares, in finely crafted language, what she has learned in these deeply contemplative poems welling up from her own solitude. It is sheer grace to receive the fruit of her own spiritual journey. -Lawrence S. Cunningham, The University of Notre Dame

Formerly a professor of New Testament, Bonnie Thurston is a poet and spiritual director who lives quietly in her home state of West Virginia. She also writes theological works and travels to give lectures and retreats.

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Writings and Teachings on Prayer by Father Alexander Men

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According to Father Alexander Men (1935-1990), the Russian Orthodox priest and popular spiritual teacher who was publicly martyred in 1990 in the former USSR, prayer is the flight of the heart toward God. This work, available for the first time in English, is a collection of his writings, lectures, and sermons on prayer. You will discover both ancient and modern wisdom, and you will see how one Eastern Orthodox priest taught his parishioners to pray.

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A new collection from one of our favorite poets. Fourteen Idiot Psalms, surrounded by dozens of other poems, make this his most challenging collection yet.

Idiot Psalm 1

O God Beloved if obliquely so, dimly apprehended in the midst of this, the fraught obscuring fog of my insufficiently capacious ken, Ostensible Lover of our kindwhile apparently aloofallow that I might glimpse once more Your shadow in the land, avail for me, a second time, the sense of dire Presence in the pulsing hollow near the heart. Once more, O Lord, from Your Enormity incline your Face to shine upon Your servant, shy of immolation, if You will.

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This bold, fresh look at the historical Jesus and the Jewish roots of Christianity challenges both Jews and Christians to re-examine their understanding of Jesus commitment to his Jewish faith. Instead of emphasizing the differences between the two religions, this groundbreaking text explains how the concepts of vicarious atonement, mediation, incarnation, and Trinity are actually rooted in classical Judaism. Using the cutting edge of scholarly research, Rabbi Zaslow dispels the myths of disparity between Christianity and Judaism without diluting the unique features of each faith. Jesus: First Century Rabbi is a breath of fresh air for Christians and Jews who want to strengthen and deepen their own faith traditions.

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A True Story of Martyrdom, Faith, and Survival

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The Last Monk of Tibhirine is the story of the Cistercian monk Jean-Pierre Schumacher, the last surviving member of a monastic community kidnapped and killed in Algeria. On the night of March 26, 1996, seven monks from the monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine were kidnapped. Only two members of the community, Brother Jean-Pierre and Brother Amedee (since deceased) had the chance to escape. They did; and today Brother Jean-Pierre lives alone devoted to prayer and unconditional love and welcome. Author Freddy Derwahl was struck by the faith of Jean-Pierre and the book recounts his childhood in Lorraine through years of World War and recalls lost friends and brothers. Derwahl enlightens and illuminates the words of Jean-Pierre, and the profound witness of his brother monks.

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There is an old proverb from Eastern Europe that says, Who does not thank for little, will not thank for much. In other words, the person who goes through life being thankful for Gods gifts and blessings usually experiences more of lifes goodness  and inhabits more of Gods blessings. This beautiful book challenges people to live in a way that blesses God, from whom all good things come. Reflections from a wide array of authors are included: Henry van Dyke, Abraham Lincoln, and Louisa May Alcott, as well as many songs, psalms, and prayers.

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SAIDs 99 Psalms are poems of praise and lament, of questioning and wondering. In the tradition of the Hebrew psalmist, they find their voice in exile, in this case one that is both existential and geographical. His decision to include 99 in this collection recalls the ancient Muslim tradition that ascribes 99 names to Allah, though the lord whom this psalmist addresses is not bounded by this or any other religious tradition. As psalms that turn to the lord with a lovers vulnerability, they avoid every trace of sentimentality. Rather, they seek to open us to the mystery of human life, warning us of the difficulties we face in our attempts to live peaceably together in the midst of our differences.

These psalms sound the urgent need for revelation, implying a strong corrective to our modern material life. It is a joy to witness the vision of such an arresting poet. This is a book to savor.
-Maurice Manning, recipient of the 2009 Hanes Poetry Award from the Fellowship of Southern Writers, and author of The Gone and the Going Away

Seldom have I found prayers such as these  that bypass the usual religious cliches to speak in an immediate, compelling, and living way. SAID is surely the beneficiary of true spiritual encounter! Here you will find insight, breadth, daring honesty and the kind of love that sees clearly because it has allowed itself to be seen. 
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, founding director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM, and author most recently of Falling Upward 

Rarely do collections of prayers cut to the bone. These are prayers for passionate seekers and confounded believers, Muslim, Jewish or Christian. Taut-lined cries to God evoke the Hebrew psalms, yet their voice is from our world  speaking fiercely to what our current world forces upon us: the pierced and anguished heart in exile, wrestling Jacob-like with God while taking human flesh seriously to call our religious cliches into account. 
Don E. Saliers, Wm. R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emory University and author most recently of A Song to Sing, A Life to Live

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Who is the Holy Spirit? What role does the Spirit play in the life of the Church and of the individual Christian? Beginning with the belief in the Holy Spirit as a Person of God, and not just a force, this book reveals the Catholic understanding of the presence and influence of the Spirit God in every aspect of the Christian life. The book focuses on the unique aspects and development of Catholic devotion to the Holy Spirit from antiquity to the present, culminating in a look at Catholic theology of the Holy Spirit today and the new and exciting ways the Spirit is working among Catholics and all Christians in the 20th and 21st centuries.

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Creating a Funeral or Memorial Service for Your Pet

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This gentle, instructional book will help anyone create a funeral or memorial service for their beloved pet, and create opportunities to share memories, to laugh, to cry, and to record these feelings in the pages of this book. As the book says: "Don't worry about what others may think. Surround yourself with friends during this time. It is good to grieve, and to share your grieving with others who care about you." Contents include: Dedication Page, How to Use this Book, Planning a Memorial Service, A Simple Order of Service, Suggested Readings, Memories!, and Additional Resources.

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A Creative Process for Artists, Activists, and Jesus Followers

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Troy Bronsink shows how the rhythms of God's creative work can be rediscovered through design thinking and creative processes. By understanding God in this new way, Christian creatives are then invited to be "drawn in" to the creative, ongoing, divine work. Exercises throughout the book invite participation in God's life and redemptive rhythms. This holistic approach will shift how Christian creatives and church leaders think of mission, worship, collaboration, and everyday discipleship.

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A Scientist Retells the Genesis Creation Story

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"A deeply inspiring overview of the grand epic of cosmic, biological, and cultural evolution written for Christians and grounded in scientific revelation. Bravo!" ~ Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution

What would the biblical creation story look like if it was written today? Is it possible to view modern scientific explanations as "creation stories"? Using biblical imagery and vivid metaphors, popular author and leading science-and-religion scholar Karl Giberson recasts the Genesis creation story within the framework of the latest ideas from modern science. Seven Glorious Days takes the reader on a grand ride through the history of the universe from the Big Bang, to the origin of stars and planets, to the appearance of living creatures bearing the image of God. The narrative is accessible, lively and faith-affirming. Readers worried about the tension between science and religion will welcome their harmonious convergence in this timely and provocative book.

Karl W. Giberson is a physicist and scholar who has lectured all over the world, including at the Vatican, Oxford, and MIT. His work has appeared in many venues, including the New York Times, USA Today, and the Huffington Post, where he blogs regularly.

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"As heat and pressure make diamonds out of coal, so pain and prayer have made this book a priceless gem." Robert Owens Scott, Editor in Chief, Spirituality and Health

Prayers for all in the midst of grief and sadness.

As fixed-hour prayer gains in popularity among Christians of all persuasions, it is only natural that they should want to adapt this ancient practice to particular life circumstances. Drawing on her own experience of losing her young husband to cancer, in this poignant offering, Lisa B. Hamilton accommodates the practice of fixed-hour prayer for those who mourn. For anyone coping with sadness and grief.

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Jews have been celebrating the Passover through a special meal, called a seder, for millenia. Jesus himself celebrated the Passover feast with his disciples in what we refer to as The Last Supper.



In this special book, co-authored by a rabbi and a pastor, we have the unique opportunity to experience an authentic Jewish Passover seder, from a distinctively Christian perspective. There are many haggadot used in Jewish homes and synagogues, but this one offers meaningful insights on how Christians can both learn from Judaism as a means of deepening their Christian faith, and better understand the Jewishness of Jesus.

Always respectful of the differences between Judaism and Christianity, this Passover guide provides:

*a complete guide (plan and script) to a meaningful seder experience

*a deeper knowledge of the great themes of the Exodus story, in combination with Christian insights

*rich opportunities for a better understanding Lent and Holy Week

*a fuller knowledge of why Jesus placed such importance on the universal themes of slavery, freedom, and community around the seder table.



"Explores the rich liturgy of the Passover seder from both the Jewish and Christian traditions without compromising the distinctive beliefs of either faith tradition. Smith and Shapiro have given us a model of interfaith cooperation, based on their evident respect for one another, that contributes to greater mutual understanding. A splendid contribution to worship education!"

-Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University; executive editor of Christianity Today



"If Christian churches choose to observe Passover, this is the resource they should use. . . . a comprehensive but easy-to-use tool for broadening and deepening their understanding of Passover.

-Jan Turentine, Managing Editor, Acacia Resources, Baptist Center for Ethics

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Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Pastor Michael Smith

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Discover how to listen for Gods voice as you read the Holy Scriptures.

This new series of books is designed to open up the meaning of one ancient way of Christian prayer in a relatively short amount of time. In Praying the Holy Scriptures, the late Father Pennington:

* Briefly introduces Three Steps to Daily Lectio * Offers profound reflections of Waiting on the Lord and how to Use Our Imaginations in prayer * Presents ten examples of doing these things based on his own prayerful meditations.

The wisdom and advice in Praying the Holy Scriptures will guide you into a lifetime of changing how you read the Bible and how you pray.

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A Complete Introduction to the Sacrament of Baptism

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The perfect guidebook for curious parents, enthusiastic newcomers, and confused cradle Catholics. Frankly, this is the best book on baptism Ive ever read. James Martin, S.J. author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything



Baptism is the beginning of ones life in the community of the church, and the gateway to the rest of the sacraments.
 Isnt it better to get baptized when youre older, and can understand what youre doing?
 Does my baby have to be baptized immediately?
 Will my child go to hell, limbo or purgatory ifGod forbidhe or she dies before baptism?
 Why are so many baptisms done during the Mass these days?
 Whats the role of the godparents? Do they have to be Catholics? Christians? Believers?
These are questions from good Catholics that deserve good answers. If people remain confused about baptism, they will be confused about the sacramental life of the church, and, by extension, their faith.

Thomas Scirghi has written a fine book on baptism for the 21st century church. Rooted deeply in Scripture, the authoritative teaching of the Catholic Church, and the living tradition of sacramental practice, Scirghis book is laced with literary, cultural, and everyday examples that allow readers to grasp (or grasp anew) the continuing significance of baptism in the life of the Church and in their own lives. Timothy Brunk, Assistant Professor of Theology, Villanova University

Thomas Scirghi S.J. is associate professor of systematic theology at Fordham University in New York. Hes a practical theologian writing for an audience of non-theologians who desire a deeper understanding of the faith.

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he Imitation of Christ has enjoyed an unparalleled place in the world of books for more than five hundred years. 5000 different editions have been published over the centuries, and it has been translated into almost every language in the world.


Why is this little book so valued? The Imitation of Christ transcends its era and author, having become a testament that speaks to the perennial human condition on the issues of our human relationship to God. It offers insight that is unparalleled in works before and since. The wisdom of Thomas a Kempis is for every age, for every person who seeks to live a more integrated spiritual life of seeking and finding, doing and being still.


Br. Benet Tvedten writes a new introduction for this special edition. He brings his trademark insight and humor to bear on the lessons of The Imitation of Christ for every generation.

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The Rabbis of old believed that the Torah was divinely revealed and therefore contained eternal, perfect truths and hidden meaning that required elucidation. The meaning of a text was more complicated than simply reading it. And meaning changed over time. This understanding of how the Bible mystically relates to all of life is the fertile ground from which midrash emerged.

"The rabbis believed that nothing in the Bible, not the choice of words or their spellings, not the order of events or the relationship of one text to another, was haphazard or inconsequential. Everything was there with purpose. They deemed it their reponsibility to discover connections and harmony where on the surface none appeared to exist. A text may contain multiple meanings. Time is of no consequence. They felt free to read back into old stories what happened in future eras, and to see in the early stories of Genesis a foreshadowing of future events."

In this engaging book, Rabbi Sasso explores how midrash originated, how it is still used today, and offers new translations and interpretations of more than twenty essential midrash texts.

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This fascinating book explains that the gospel is about the restoration of "cracked Eikons" (fallen humans) so that humans can be in union with God and in communion with the saints. In the candid and lucid style that has made McKnight's The Jesus Creed so appealing to thousands of pastors, lay leaders, and everyday people who are searching for a more authentic faith, he encourages all Christians to recognize the simple, yet potentially transforming truth of the gospel message: God seeks to restore us to wholeness not only to make us better individuals, but to form a community of Jesus, a society in which humans strive to be in union with God and in communion with others.

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The wisdom of St. Therese of Lisieuxfor all who want to pray



How did this saint's preciouseven precociouschildhood devotion to God develop into such wisdom? Therese Martin entered a Carmelite convent at age 15 and died of tuberculosis at age 24. In that short time, her "little flower" of a life came into vibrant, spiritual bloom.


Millions of people know and adore St. Theresethe world's most popular saint during the first half of the 20th centuryfrom her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, an international bestseller.


This warm, wise little book will help you to discover firsthand how to receive God's presence and love. You will:
 Walk with Therese through days of humility, suffering, beauty, and spiritual sensitivity.
 Discover how, through prayer and growing faith, you too can follow your own Little Way to authentic Christian experience.