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Spirituality and ReligionSeptember 2014
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"There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German theologian
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New and Recently Released!
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| No Place to Hide: A Brain Surgeon's Long Journey Home from the Iraq War by W. Lee Warren, M.D.During the Iraq war, brain surgeon Major Lee Warren volunteered for duty at Balad Air Base, leaving behind marital problems and a lay worship ministry in his church. In Iraq, he witnessed horrifying injuries to American personnel and Iraqi civilians, including children, as well as other disturbing aspects of the war. The impact of what he saw in the war zone forced him to examine his relationship with God. After he returned home, strengthened by renewed faith, he confronted his problems there as well as the PTSD caused by his war experience. This disturbing but ultimately inspiring war memoir offers a compelling read, whether you're interested in military memoirs or spiritual autobiographies. |
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Focus on: Faith and Courage
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| Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women are Transforming the Middle East by Isobel ColemanWithin both Islamic and other cultures, Muslim women are often viewed and treated as second-class citizens with even fewer rights than women everywhere. In Paradise Beneath Her Feet, author Isobel Coleman draws on extensive research, including visits to several Islamic countries, such as Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, to describe efforts to change these conditions. She finds that, while remaining devoted to their faith, many Muslim women (and some men) are courageously working to improve opportunities for women and girls. Coleman reports directly -- often through interviews and short biographies -- on the feminists' work. Anyone interested in the relationship between Islam and feminism will find a compelling testimony in this book. |
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| Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life by Adrian HouseFrancis of Assisi, founder of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), is one of the best known among Christian saints. Author Adrian House offers an engaging portrait of Francis, focusing more than previous biographers on how understanding Francis' historical context helps modern readers interpret the legends about him. House relates Francis' early life, his conversion and courageous rejection of his family's wealth, his relationship with St. Clare (founder of the Poor Clares order), his dangerous journey to Egypt during the Crusades, and the events surrounding his death. Writing for a broad audience, House neither accepts nor rejects the supernatural aspects of Francis' legend, offering a "vivid, interesting, and readable" (Library Journal) saint's life. |
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Simplify : ten practices to unclutter your soul
by Bill Hybels
From exhausted to energized : replenishing your energy reserves -- From overscheduled to organized : harnessing your calendar's power -- From overwhelmed to in control : mastering your finances -- From restless to fulfilled : refining your working world -- From wounded to whole : making room for forgiveness -- From anxious to peaceful : conquering your fears -- From isolated to connected : deepening your relations circles -- From drifting to focused : claiming God's call on your life -- From stuck to moving on : welcoming new seasons in your life -- From meaningless to satisfied : the legacy of a simplified life.
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| Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World by Harold S. KushnerFear -- and how to cope with it -- is the focus of this book by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, bestselling author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Noting that the phrase "do not be afraid" occurs in the Old and New Testaments over 80 times, Kushner rejects the notion of a God who intentionally causes widespread devastation or inflicts suffering on individuals, maintaining that "God is moral, Nature is not." He covers specific fears, ranging from losing a job to losing loved ones to natural disasters and terrorist attacks; he also discusses the role of religion both in assuaging and instilling fear. This compassionate book offers faith-based and realistic, practical advice on maintaining courage in fearful situations. |
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| Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric MetaxasGerman Protestant pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer risked his life for years to counter Adolf Hitler's anti-Semitic National Reich Church by opposing the Nazis' hate-filled, distorted theology. This illuminating biography traces Bonhoeffer's life from childhood through his role in leading the anti-Nazi Confessing Church movement. Motivated by his faith to return from New York City in 1931 to stand with fellow opponents of Hitler in Germany, Bonhoeffer worked to secure support from outside the country while joining as a conspirator in failed plots to assassinate Hitler -- and was executed for his efforts three weeks before the war's end in 1945. For another recent inspiring account of Bonhoeffer's life, read Charles Marsh's Strange Glory. |
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Nature's God : the heretical origins of the American republic
by Matthew Stewart
Discusses how America's revolutionaries—including Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen—were inspired by ideas that were ancient and pagan in nature, including the work of Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius and Dutch heretic Benedict de Spinoza. 20,000 first printing.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Yolo County Library at
530-666-8085, 226 Buckeye St., Woodland, CA 95695
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