It provides a foundation of insight, wisdom and discernment on the nature of the battle and the keys to victory.

    Dubay's many years of study and experience in spiritual direction and in it he synthesizes the teachings on prayer of the two great doctors of the Church on prayer--St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila--and the teaching of Sacred Scripture.But the teaching that Fr. Dubay synthesized is not collected from Teresa and John for contemplatives alone. It is meant for every Christian and is based on the Gospel imperative of personal prayer and the call to holiness. All the major elements of these great teachers are ordered, commented on and put in the context of their scriptural foundations. Here is an outstanding book on prayer and the spiritual life written by one of the best spiritual directors and retreat masters of our time, and based on the writings of the Church's two greatest mystical doctors.

    He will discover that his outward man (soul) is not in harmony with his inward man (spirit). Our only hope is that the Lord may blaze a way out of us, breaking our outward man- breaking it to such a degree that the inward man may come out and be seen. This is precious! This is the way to serve the Lord.

    Eugene Peterson, well known as "a pastor's pastor," here speaks words of wisdom and refreshment for pastors caught in the busyness of preaching, teaching, and "running the church." In The Contemplative Pastor Peterson highlights the often-overlooked essentials of ministry, first by redefining the meaning of pastor through three strengthening adjectives: unbusy, subversive, andapocalyptic. The main part of the book focuses on pastoral ministry and spiritual direction "between Sundays": these chapters begin with poetic reflections on the Beatitudes and then discuss such themes as curing souls, praying with eyes open, the language of prayer, the ministry of small talk, and sabbatical--all with engaging, illustrative anecdotes from Peterson's own experience. The book ends with several meaning-full poems that pivot on the incarnation, the doctrine closest to pastoral work. Entitled "The Word Made Fresh," this concluding section is a felicitous finale to Peterson's discerning, down-to-earth reflections on the art of pastoring.

    Nikkel, president, Prison Fellowship International"The story of Lupton's ministry is one of the most inspiring in America. Those of us who are trying to accomplish something of value in urban settings look to him and his co-workers as models." —Tony Campolo, author of Stories That Feed Your SoulUrban ministry activist Robert Lupton moved into a high crime area of Atlanta intending to bring Christ’s message into the ghetto—but his humbling discovery of a spiritual life already flowering in the city’s urban soil forces the minister to reexamine the deepest parts of his own soul, confronting his own patronizing, materialistic attitudes and the biases he himself held against the urban poor.

    Peterson speaks to Christians who realize the necessity for prayer and yearn for it but who find their prayer unconvincing and unsatisfying. Addressing the causes of this dissatisfaction, Answering God offers guidelines for using the Psalms as dynamic tools for prayer.

    Clowney takes a fascinating walk through the Old Testament, revealing Christ in places where he is usually overlooked.

    He reflects that there are ultimately only three philosophies of life and each one is represented by one of these books of the Bible—life is vanity; life is suffering; life is love.In these three books Kreeft shows how we have Dante's great epic The Divine Comedy played out, from Hell to Purgatory to Heaven. But it is an epic played out in our hearts and lives, here and now. Just as there is movement in Dante's epic, so there is movement in these books, from Ecclesiates to Job, from Job to Song of Songs. Love is the final answer to Ecclesiastes' quest, the alternative to vanity, and the true meaning of life. Finally, Kreeft sees in these books the epitome of theological virtues of faith, hope and love and "an essential summary of the spiritual history of the world".

    Drawing on his own struggles and years of teaching and counseling experience, Bob cuts right to the heart of why many Christians start out as enthusiastic believers but end up merely "going through the motions" of the Christian life. With understanding and wisdom, he shows us the way back to the life Christ had in mind when He set us free. Readers will discover what it means to have Christ living in them; how to experience the joy of the Lord daily; and why Christians still struggle with sin. Life's too short to miss the real thing!

    This minibook explains why salvation, healing, and many other blessings belong to the believer through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

    For a society that measures successful leadership in terms of the effectiveness of the individual, Father Nouwen offers a counter definition that is witnessed by a "communal and mutual experience." For Nouwen, leadership cannot function apart from the community. His wisdom is grounded in the foundation that we are a people "called."This beautiful guide to Christian Leadership is the rich fruit of Henri Nouwen's own journey as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the 20th century.

    This is why they won't address Ken's monumental work. Before Jerusalem Fell is a scholarly and thorough study of the dating of Revelation. This is a must-read for all serious students of prophecy regardless of their position.

    Does the grave appear to be the final stop? According to Christ, your death is just the start of the something great.There is a truth greater than all the losses and sorrows of life. And it can be discovered in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.In "Six Hours One Friday," Max Lucado delves into the meaning of Jesus' last hours on the cross. Through his death, your life has purpose and meaning. You are forgiven and loved by a Savior who died for you. And an empty tomb proclaims that death does not have the final word."Peace where there should be pain. Confidence in the midst of crisis. Hope defying despair. "Does death have the last word?" I can see Jesus wink as he gives the answer, "Not on your life.""

    He writes with fresh insight into many Bible passages, and challenges Christians to walk on and take the victory that is already won." -- Faith at Work". . . a very inspiring and helpful book." -- Baptist Standard"This is one of the most helpful treatments of a neglected subject which has come to this reviewer's attention." --The Baptist Bulletin". . . the author evidences keen insight into the definition and activity of the two natures of the believer and the path to victory. This path is explained with refreshing theological objectivity." --The Sunday School Times"A deeply spiritual study of the doctrine of the indwelling Christ. . . . Complete surrender is our need that Christ may live through us. We found the book helpful and enriching." -- The Southern Baptist S.S. Board

    It features current theories on dating, historical reconstruction, and archaeological information. Contemporary perspectives and topical articles of an introductory nature include Hermeneutics, Canonicity, Old Testament themes, and coverage of biblical theology. Additional commentary includes articles on Jesus, the early Church, Gnosticism, and the subapostolic church. Especially for seminarians and clergy who require a commentary on the Scriptures both during their formal study of theology and for preaching in their ministry. Also, for those interested in religion and theology on all levels and feel the need for an adequate background in the Bible.

    He has selected the best and most representative passages and arranged them in an order that gives sense to the whole and aids in the understanding of each excerpt. Pieper's reputation rests on his remarkable ability to restate traditional wisdom in terms of contemporary problems. He is a philosopher who writes in the language of common sense, presenting involved issues in a clear, lucid and simple manner. Among his many well-known works included in this anthology are selections from Leisure: The Basis of Culture, The Four Cardinal Virtues, About Love, Belief and Faith, Happiness and Contemplation, and Scholasticism.

    . . when God offers everlasting treasures in heaven? It's time to rethink our perspectives on money and possessions. In this thoroughly researched classic, Randy Alcorn shows us how to view these things accurately―as God's provision for our good, the good of others, and his glory.About the AuthorRandy Alcorn is an author and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to teaching principles of God's Word and assisting the church in ministering to unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled, and unsupported people around the world. A New York Times bestselling author of over 50 books, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, If God Is Good, Happiness, and the award-winning novel Safely Home, his books sold exceed eleven million copies and have been translated into over seventy languages. Randy resides in Oregon with his wife, Nanci.

    He lifts up the enduring character of each tradition and shows how a variety of practices, from individual study and retreat to disciplines of service and community, are all essential elements of growth and maturity. Foster examines the unique contributions of each of these traditions and offers as examples the inspiring stories of faithful people whose lives defined each of these "streams."

    An army is now being formed that will be greater than anything ever seen or dreamed of, and it will gain victory by magnifying the King who leads it.

    He writes in a direct and lucid style that will help ministers, students and laymen alike to a clear understanding of this Confession and to its relevance and application to our modern age. This exposition was originally published in 1989 to mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of the Second London Confession, which also became known as the '1689 Baptist Confession of Faith'. Today, reformed Baptists world-wide hold this Confession in high esteem and many churches continue to regard it as their official statement of faith. After being one of the pastors of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids for almost 24 years, Sam Waldron is now attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where in May of 2005 he will complete a Ph. D. in Systematic Theology. With his wife, he is a member of Heritage Baptist Church, a Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky where in January 2005 he became one of the pastors.

    This volume delineates the link between Judaism and Christianity, between the Old and the New Testament, and calls Christians to reexamine their Hebrew roots so as to effect a more authentically biblical lifestyle.As an introduction to the world of Hebrew thought, Our Father Abraham is biblical, historical, and cultural in nature. At the same time, the writing is personal and passionate, reflecting Marvin Wilson's own spiritual pilgrimage and his extensive dialogue with Jews. The book (1) develops a historical perspective on the Jewish origins of the church, (2) sets forth the importance and nature of Hebrew thought, (3) discusses how the church can become more attuned to the Hebraic mind-set of Scripture, and (4) offers practical suggestions for interaction between Jews and Christians. The study questions at the end of each chapter enhance the book's usefulness as a text and also make it suitable for Bible-study and discussion groups. All Christians--and Jews too--will profit from Wilson's sensible treatments of biblical texts, his thorough understanding of both the Christian and the Jewish faith, and his honest historical analysis of the general failure of the Christian church to acknowledge and understand its relation to Judaism.

    It is the theologian's task to make manifest the link between dogma and personal spirituality, to show how every dogma responds to a deep need and longing in the human heart, and how it has practical consequences for society. Dogmas, he is convinced, do not enslave but liberate; theology is essentially freedom.' Kallistos Ware>

    New Catholic World Ephrem the Syrian: Hymns translated and introduced by Kathleen E. McVey preface by John Meyendorff Blessed be the Child who today delights Bethlehem. Blessed be the Newborn Who today made the humanity young again. Blessed be the Fruit Who Bowed Himself down for our hunger. Blessed be the Gracious One Who suddenly enriched all of our poverty and filled our need. Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373) Ephrem was born in the Mesopotamian city of Nisibis toward the end of the third century. An outpost of the Roman Empire, Nisibis and its Christian citizens were to be formed by the reign of Constantine and by the doctrines of the Council of Nicea. There, in the context of a large and sophisticated Jewish population and numerous Gnostic sects, Ephrem sought to defend orthodox Nicene Christianity. His teaching and writing made him an influential voice in the life of Syriac Christianity through the peaceful years of Constantine's patronage, the years of persecution after 361 under Emperor Julian, and the conflict between Persians and Romans which ultimately forced Ephrem to move to Edessa where he stayed until his death in 373. It was as a poet that Ephrem made his greatest impact. Writing in isosyllabic verses called madrashe, he attained a literary brilliance that won him a place of prominence not only in his own tradition, but also in the Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian, and Arabic traditions as well. His hymns, praised in the West by Jerome, had a formative influence on the development of medieval religious drama in Europe. Blending Greek forms with his native style, he wove a highly crafted poetry of rich symbolism, attempting to fit the events of his day into a cosmic framework of God's redemptive act in Christ. Ephrem's combination of elements of Stoicism and Middle Platonism with Christian belief in a form reminiscent of the great second century apologists produced a corpus that speaks of his own literary genius and even more eloquently of the majesty and beauty of the divine source of all true poetry. Here, in a fresh and lively translation, are the Hymns on the Nativity, Hymns Against Julian, and the Hymns on Virginity and the Symbols of the Lord in which that voice may be heard closely and appreciated, wondered at, and enjoyed.

    A challenging look at today's evangelical church in the light of the early Christians.

    . . In a dead-end career for a breakthrough . . . In an unhappy marriage for relief or escape . . . In a chronic illness for a ray of hope . . . In solitude for the loneliness to subside . . . In turmoil for peace to come . . . Sometimes we find our lives placed on hold. Deep questions begin to surface. How long must I wait? Is there any meaning to all this waiting? Can I trust God? We can't help but wonder what is happening--and why? In Waiting, Ben Patterson uncovers two cardinal virtues required for successful waiting--humility and hope. You will learn how humility teaches us we exist for God's sake, not for our own; and you will learn how hope assures us that there is something worth waiting for.

    

    The day Christians celebrate that God's purpose wasfinally revealed in the coming of the savior, Jesus Christ. Eachdevotion traces the heritage of Jesus through the stories and propheciesof the Old Testament. This book enables individuals and families toengage in a more meaningful celebration of the Christmas season. Thesedaily Advent devotions are written in two versions (one for children andone for adults) including a scripture, a story and commentary, questions to ask, a prayer, and a song. Each devotional story is paired with a representative symbol thattraces the heritage of Jesus... Such as a lamb, a dove, a rainbow, aheart, a star, etc. Children and their parents can utilize the symbolicline art printed with each daily devotion to craft meaningful ornaments.These symbols coincide with the prayers, memory verses, questions forchildren, and songs found in the devotions for that day.Finally, on Christmas day, your tree will be filled with reminders of 25 Bible stories that led up to Christ's birth.

    Profound spiritual insight into God's wondrously loving character from one of history's most important writers.

    Its central figure, the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), was and is a Jew. Vicarious atonement, salvation, immersion (baptism), the new covenant and the very concept of a Messiah are all Jewish. In sum, the New Testament is built upon and completes the Hebrew Scriptures.Freshly rendered from the original Greek into enjoyable modern English by a Messianic Jew (a Jew who honors Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel), the "Jewish New Testament" challenges Jews to understand that Yeshua is a friend to every Jewish heart and the New Testament a Jewish book filled with truths to be accepted and acted upon. At the same time, while reaffirming the equality of Gentiles and Jews in the Messianic Community, it challenges Christians to acknowledge the Jewishness of their faith and their oneness with the Jewish people.

    Raising Them Right provides both practical and spiritual insight into a variety of areas of concern to parents, such as baptism, guiding the spiritual and psychological development of children through their teens, and preserving grace in a child's life. A fresh redesign of a spiritual classic. "What good fortune therefore it is to receive a good, truly Christian upbringing, to enter with it into the years of youth, then in the same spirit to enter into the years of adulthood." --Saint TheophanFind practical advice for reaching these goals for your children in RAISING THEM RIGHT.

    It is possible with God's help to live sexually pure lives. But what we lack, and desperately need, is a deeper understanding of our vulnerability, and clear, preventive guidelines we can follow to avoid immorality.

    He then develops the Thomistic position that reality is also the basis for the good and therefore the norm of conscience and ethical action. As Pieper himself expresses in part of the thesis of the second treatise, "An insight into the nature of the good as rooted in objective being, of itself compels us to carry it out in a definite human attitude, and it makes certain attitudes impossible."

    Patrick, also known as The Deers Cry, these meditations help readers experience faith as a vital, living relationship with God.

    Lake's miraculous ministry flowed in the energizing power of the Holy Spirit and brought demonstrations and miracles of God's presence.According to the author, Lake possessed a strong, rugged character with a loving and winning personality.

    

    This booklet by Navigator author Jerry Bridges explains the three essential biblical truths about God that we must believe if we are to trust Him in times of trial.It also points out the three crucial elements that helped hymn writer John Newton ("Amazing Grace") to trust God when his wife was dying.Learn more about God's will, making decisions, and your relationship with God.Includes:• application questions• suggested Scripture memory verses

    Drawing on Lutheran tradition, Chemnitz explores all the major theological categories, as well as topics such as the Trinity, creation, revenge, poverty, grace and justification, mortal and venial sin, and sacraments.

    We worry about our children, our friends, our careers, our families, our spouses—and the list goes on. We want to be content and trust God with our worries, but it’s a struggle to let go and free ourselves from the burden of anxiety.If you’re tired of worrying about all the what-ifs in your life and want to experience the calm and contentment that the Bible promises, Calm My Anxious Heart is what you’ve been looking for. Filled with encouragement and practical help for overcoming anxiety, this book includes a ten-week Bible study to help you discover what the Bible says about anxiety and contentment and ways to apply it to your daily life. This classic book has been field-tested, revised, and updated for a new generation of readers. A companion journal is also available to record your thoughts as you listen to God’s teaching, embrace the present, and live with joy. With Calm My Anxious Heart, you can let go of anxiety and experience contentment that comes from trusting God.

    Pastors, seminarians, and theology students will eagerly welcome this invaluable tool into their biblical studies libraries. In this succinct yet thorough survey, Carson examines sets, one-volume commentaries, and New Testament introductions and theologies, before offering extensive comments on the available offerings for each New Testament book, noting intended audience, levels of difficulty, and theological perspective. He records the publisher, price, and current publication status, identifies those texts he considers overpriced, and advises readers when to delay purchase for forthcoming works. The book concludes with a useful "Best Buys" section where Carson indicates the most valuable works for each individual New Testament book.

    

    This groundbreaking study investigates four approaches to the theology of Israel Past, Present and Future, and scrutinizes beliefs that tend to confuse the identities of both Israel and the Church. The Biblical Evangelist called Israelology a "tremendous, masterful book... Amillennialism, postmillennialism and other forms of Covenant Theology go up in smoke under the withering blaze of biblical light Fruchtenbaum places on them

    St Isaac's monastic anthropology had a major influence on all of Byzantine spiritual literature.

    This thesis is then resolutely confronted with our contemporary and above all psychoanalytical knowledge of man's nature, as well as with the Christian conception of man's existence, thus revealing its amazing unexpected relevance. "Man's real spiritual patrimony is achieved and preserved only through a willingly accepted openness: openness for divine revelation, for the salutary pain of catharsis, for the recollecting power of the fine arts, for the emotional shock brought about by eros and caritas-in short, through the attitude rooted in the mysterious experience that Plato called theia mania." -Josef Pieper

    It is a book to be reckoned with by all serious students of the Bible."--from the Introduction by Dr. William W. Adams of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Internationally known among Bible scholars for his significant books in the field of biblical theology, Dr. Robert Shank here offers a penetrating study of all the pertinent New Testament Scriptures on the doctrine of perseverance. In doing so, he calls into question the popular doctrine of "eternal [unconditional] security."Are the proof passages used to support eternal security possibly misconstrued? Dr. Shank convincingly argues that the question confronting us is not, Is the believer secure? but rather, What does it mean to be a believer? If apostasy is an actual peril for every Christian, the Scriptural warning passages must be frankly accepted rather than interpreted into irrelevance or circumvented by theological hypothesis.

    But instead of writing about the Sacred Heart, he began to discern in my own heart a real desire to speak to the heart of Jesus and be heard. The result is an extraordinary book that expresses the longings and expectations of the human heart responding to the heart of Jesus as revealed in the gospels.

    Foundations of Christian Doctrine presents a simply-written explication of the great doctrines of the Christian faith for use in classroom instruction and personal study.

    It contains a distillation of both esoteric doctrine and scientific methodology. Additional essays by students and friends of Dr. Regardie make this an invaluable compilation of mind/body magical teachings. Dr. Regardie describes the need for this book, and the value of the techniques he offers here, in the following words:In the course of my professional life, what struck me vividly was that when people were enabled to shuffle off the unconscious armor of gross muscular tension, thus achieving a never-before-experienced delight and pleasure in the relaxation of psyche and soma, entirely new attitudes towards religion and prayer spontaneously developed. They needed no orientation, no preparation, no coaching. It was just there. And a whole new life of fervor, inspiration and prayer made its appearance. Not prayer in the conventional institutionalized form, but an intimacy with Life and Love that was intense, devout, springing from wells deep within the psyche.This is the voice of the mature Israel Regardie, distilling the knowledge of a lifetime devoted to the study and practice of Magic, Natural Healing, and Psychology. It has been enhanced with original essays on the Philosophy and Technique of Active Prayer by Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D.; The Middle Pillar as a Group Working by James Wasserman; a Qabalistic analysis of The Sacred Ritual of the Pentagram by AIMA, and A Pentagram Exercise by Lon Milo DuQuette.

    Each focuses on a specific aspect of theology or spirituality and presents it with all the richness which comes from his immense erudition, but in a style that is directed and intelligible since few of these essays were intended for scholarly audiences. These volumes present a rare opportunity to experience Balthasar's synthetic and comprehensive treatment of major themes in theology without having to make one's way through much more extensive works which cover a much wider scope. These volumes will provide an excellent introduction to the thought of von Balthasar for those unfamiliar with him, and their chapters will focus on specific themes treated throughout his works for those who are familiar with him. An excellent overview of the writings and thought of one of the outstanding theologians of this century.

    What would happen if you made your business decisions by the book? By the Bible that is.This updated version of the best-selling Business by the Book offers radical principles of business management that go beyond the Ten Commandments and other biblical maxims.Business by the Book is a step-by-step presentation of how businesses should be run according to the Creator of all management rules: God.Larry Burkett, founder and president of Christian Financial Concepts, provides business principles from his own experience as well as what God’s Word says on topics such as:Hiring and Firing DecisionsPay Increases and PromotionsManagement SelectionEmployee Pay DecisionsBorrowing and/or Lending DecisionsForming Corporations and PartnershipsBusiness TithingRetirementWhether you are the owner of a business, a corporate executive, or a manager, this best-selling classic is for you.

    Hardon has compiled an invaluable guide to books discussing what the Catholic Church is, what it believes, and what its great teachers have thought, felt and imagined. Father Hardon journeys through the centuries to find the authors he believes can be read for spiritual profit. In his appraisals of over a hundred writers, he considers pertinent biographical information, recommends favorites, and provides moving quotations from the books under discussion. This exceptional book is not just an anthology, but a planned program of self-education through systematic readings of the leading Catholic writers, from the Church Fathers to modern times. The selection will acquaint the reader with the ideas and ideals that have sustained the Catholic Church for over two thousand years.

    Originally broadcast on the radio, the homilies in this volume span decades and represent some of the best of Father Hans Urs von Balthasar’s preaching. They are arranged to correspond with the Church’s liturgical calendar, and include homilies on major feast days of Christ, his Mother, and the liturgical seasons. Each homily makes for insightful, informative, and inspirational spiritual reading, deepening the reader’s appreciation for the Word of God and helping him to enter into the great Mystery of God. Also included are Father von Balthasar’s Year’s End Examination of Conscience and four talks on Jesus Christ, that address contemporary debates about the Lord. This work is a feast for the heart and the mind presented by a man described by Pope Benedict as “a priest who, in obedience and in a hidden life, never sought personal approval, but rather in a true Ignatian spirit always desired the greater glory of God”.

    Intended for children from five years of age and above, the books have modern cartoon-style illustrations by Mick Inkpen, who won the 1991 Children's Book Award for Threadbear.

    Griffiths was formerly Benedictine Prior of Farnborough Abbey in England, who journeyed to India in 1955 to assist in founding an ashram that was a pioneer attempt to found a Christian community in India which would incorporate the customs of a Hindu ashram and the traditional forms of Indian life and thought.

    In this encouraging book, she helps readers discover the loving Saviour who came to earth to reach people. The one who makes it possible to come closer to Him.

    Includes more than 1,000 illustrations, charts and time lines.

      In a treatment that is both fresh and profound, Balthasar describes the central elements of all Christian meditation, provides a guide for making the meditation and then points the way to the union that prayer achieves in the footsteps of Mary, within the Church and in and for the world. "Consequently, Christian meditation is entirely trinitarian and at the same time entirely human. In order to find God, no one need reject being human personally or socially, but in order to find God all must see the world and themselves in the Holy Spirit as they are in God's sight." - Hans Urs von Balthasar

    

    Unless affluent societies escape the addiction to materialism, they will be unable to feel the depth of compassion from which works of mercy and justice spring. Laurence Freeman teaches a way to spiritual health that is both ancient and new. The desert fathers practiced silent prayer and the church in our own day has rediscovered its liberating power. To sit down before God in silence does more than empty our minds of our own concerns. It opens us to the mystery of life, to seeing thing from God's perspective rather than our own limited viewpoint, to the power of faith that heals and raises us to love God and our neighbour.

    Smith, an Episcopal monk, is among the most useful and beautifully written books about prayer in print. Its title, taken from Deuteronomy 30:14 ("The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.") is a relief, a promise, and a challenge. Smith's straightforward, flowing prose sparkles with natural wit and insight as he describes how laypeople can participate in the ancient practice of lectio divina ("holy reading"), a very slow, meditative engagement with Scripture whose effects flow out into a person's whole inner and outer life. Smith explains, "Meditative prayer ... does not confine itself to the surface levels of reasoning and talking and thinking. It won't be a matter of the head, and tidy, controlled conversations with the Lord. This kind of praying will involve the inner world where the invisible springs of our actions lie, it will penetrate to levels of deep need, disturbance, feeling, levels where we are hurt and warped, and levels where we have wants not at all satisfied by conventional palliatives, and gifts waiting to come out of bud." The first half of this book explains what meditative prayer is, and how it often works in the life of a believer. The second half contains suggested themes and biblical passages for prayer. Smith, who is widely known among Episcopalians as a spiritual director, has masterful knowledge of Christian tradition and of modern psychology, and his book wears this considerable learning very lightly. As a result, he can speak an ancient message in contemporary language with greater integrity than anyone writing about Christian spirituality today. If you are looking for one book about prayer that will honor your emotions, respect your mind, give you rest, shake you up, and change your life, this is it. The Word Is Very Near You has such good news: you really can do it. --Michael Joseph Gross

    

    The book also includes photographs illustrating the development of the devotion. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is intimately linked to our response in love to the Eucharistic Christ. It lies at the core of Catholic spiritual life and is the key to effective renewal of individuals, the Church and the world. For those who haven't yet lived this devotion—or who want to understand and live it more fully—they will discover its richness and beauty in Heart of the Redeemer. Years of careful research have produced a one volume synthesis of how the devotion to the Heart of Jesus has developed over the centuries. The result is a moving overview of how the love for Jesus Christ has grown in the hearts of the faithful from Calvary to the present day.

    Sandra Collin's volume on counseling adult children of alcoholics is past of the Resources for Christian Counseling series, a series that integrates accurate psychology and a careful use of Scripture.

    Its special features include: a topical index, outlining Bible subjects, persons, and places; application-oriented introductions to each book of the Bible; in-text theme notes; and in-text topical notes.

    As the culmination of a lengthy process of preparing a 'general hymn-book, ' he selected the 525 hymns presented here from more than fifty hymnbooks published during the preceding forty-three years. It was very distinctly Methodist in character. The arrangement of the hymns was carefully designed to reflect the Wesleyan concept of the way of salvation and the pattern of Christian experience

    

    H. A. Maxwell Whyte provides practical answers to the most frequently asked questions about demons, including…What exactly is a demon?How does a person come under demonic influence?Can we inherit evil spirits from our ancestors?Can a believer be possessed?How can Christians resist the powers of darkness?Can just anybody cast out a demon?Are there any dangers in casting out demons? Discover how you, as a Christian, have the authority to defeat oppression, addiction, sickness, mental problems, and unexplainable behavior with lasting results.

    He explains how the traditional metaphors of Atonement, drawn from the battlefield, the altar and the law courts, all express something of the meaning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus—and examines their bearing on human life in today's world.

    The Heart of Creation includes John Main's treatment of themes which are important to everyone concerned with deepening their spiritual life: -- our need for a spiritual discipline and how to cope with its challenge-- how to see the fruits of prayer in daily life-- solitude and community for those living in the world-- how meditation deepens our relationship with Christ-- the contemplative experience as the meeting-point of religions.

    He brings together the teachings of the Magisterium, Sacred Scripture, Doctors of the Church, and writings of the saints from the beginning of Christendom to the present era. Included in this work are: a lengthy discourse on the meaning of suffering, a brief history of Mariology, numerous extraordinary mystical gifts, biographies of twenty-five stigmatists, a comprehensive glossary, dozens of rare photographs and a two-part indexing system.

    The author has also included the latest scholarship in Old Testament studies. Written with a high school Old Testament survey course in mind, the book is also ideal for independent study. The tear-out study guides may be used as homework or in-class assignments or as a basis for group discussions.