|
Spirituality and Religion January 2020
|
|
|
|
|
Embodied hope : a theological meditation on pain and suffering
by Kelly M. Kapic
Too often the Christian attitude toward suffering is characterized by a detached academic appeal to God's sovereignty, as if suffering were a game or a math problem. Or maybe we expect that since God is good, everything will just work out all right somehow. But where then is honest lament? Aren't we shortchanging believers of the riches of the Christian teaching about suffering? In Embodied Hope Kelly Kapic invites us to consider the example of our Lord Jesus. Only because Jesus has taken on our embodied existence, suffered alongside us, died, and been raised again can we find any hope from the depths of our own dark valleys of pain. As we look to Jesus, we are invited to participate not only in his sufferings, but also in the church, which calls us out of isolation and into the encouragement and consolation of the communal life of Christ. Drawing on his own family's experience with prolonged physical pain, Kapic reshapes our understanding of suffering into the image of Jesus, and brings us to a renewed understanding of―and participation in―our embodied hope.
|
|
|
Stillness is the key
by Ryan Holiday
The author draws on great thinkers like Confucius, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius and Christian monks to show us what stillness is and how it might be achieved. He believes stillness is the doorway to self-mastery, discipline, and focus. He examines many of the figures that exemplify the power of stillness, including Winston Churchill, Fred Rogers and Anne Frank. This book aims to equip you with everything you need to find stillness in your own life.
|
|
|
Beholding and Becoming
by Ruth Chou Simons
You are in the process of becoming. Every day is an opportunity to be shaped and formed by what moves your heart&drives your thoughts&captures your gaze. Is it any wonder that where you direct your eyes and your heart matter in your day-to-day? We become what we behold when we set our hearts and minds on Christ and His redemption story here in the details of our daily lives. Not just on Sunday, not just on holidays, not just when extraordinarily hard or wonderful things happen&but today. Bestselling author and artist Ruth Chou Simons invites you on a new journey to Beholding and Becoming. With more than 850 pieces of intricate, original artwork, Ruth encourages you to elevate your gaze to the One who created all things. Today is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His love and His faithfulness in the midst of your mundane. No circumstance is too ordinary or too forgotten for Him to meet you there in worship. His transforming grace turns your everyday ordinary into a holy place of becoming.
|
|
|
Finding meaning : the sixth stage of grief
by David Kessler
Drawing on hard-earned experiences, as well as wisdom garnered from decades of work, an expert on grief and the coauthor of the iconic On Grief and Grieving introduces the stages of grief with the same transformative pragmatism and compassion.
|
|
|
Rhythms of renewal : trading stress and anxiety for a life of peace and purpose
by Rebekah Lyons
"Daily struggles with anxiety and stress make it difficult to receive God's peace. In Rhythms of Renewal, Rebekah Lyons helps you walk through four rhythms to the vibrant life you were meant to live. By learning to rest, renew, connect, and create, you will find mindful habits that quiet inner chaos and make space for the peace you long for"
|
|
|
Gracefully you : finding beauty and balance in the everyday
by Jenna Dewan
The former host of World of Dance shares uplifting recommendations for how to navigate the stresses of modern life while connecting with one’s true voice, cultivating personal happiness and finding beauty. Illustrations.
|
|
|
Something needs to change : a call to make your life count in a world of urgent need
by David Platt
In these pages, Platt shares how he found a deeper, fuller hope on the other side of foundation-shaking questions like, 'Is Jesus really the hope of the world after all?' Platt realized that soul-piercing questions don't just demand answers. They require action. And that action, as we change our lives to resemble the way of Jesus, brings hope, light, and life to the world. This is your call to risk more, to let what breaks God's heart break yours, and to take action where God has placed you.
|
|
|
The Lost Art of Scripture: Rescuing the Sacred Texts
by Karen Armstrong
What it is: an incisive argument in favor of a different way of looking at scripture: not as historical documents, rulebooks, or justifications, but instead as paths to commune with the divine.
What makes it unique: The discussion takes place in the context of religious texts not usually discussed in tandem, from the Pali Canon to the Torah.
|
|
| Initiated: Memoir of a Witch by Amanda Yates GarciaWhat it's about: This engaging and thought-provoking memoir tells the story of the author's circuitous (and occasionally traumatic) path to becoming "the Oracle of Los Angeles" and "a professional witch."
Why you might like it: Although interest in witches and their practices is currently on the rise, Amanda Yates Garcia was actually raised by a neopagan mother, making her story relatively unique among witchcraft memoirs.
Who it's for: anyone interested in women's spiritual journeys or narratives of returning to one's ancestral faith traditions. |
|
|
God's hand on America : divine providence in the modern era
by Michael Medved
The conservative radio host presents a sweeping follow-up to The American Miracle that reveals the instruments of fate that the author credits with elevating America from the divisions of the Civil War to a dominant global player. Illustrations
|
|
| The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances FitzGeraldWhat it's about: the rise and development of the American evangelical movement, from its beginnings in the 18th century to its role in political life in the modern era.
Read it for: its sweeping, comprehensive scope; the impartiality of the author's analysis.
Reviewers say: "a timely and accessible contribution to the rapidly growing body of literature on Christianity in modern America" (Publishers Weekly). |
|
| The End of White Christian America by Robert P. JonesWhat it's about: The origins and development of the concept of America as a white, Protestant nation and why that idea doesn't stand up to qualitative or quantitative analysis.
Who it's for: readers across the political and social spectrum who are interested in the past, present, and future effects of religion on politics (and vice versa).
About the author: Robert P. Jones is the CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and writes regularly about religion and American society for the Atlantic. |
|
| Genghis Khan and the Quest for God: How the World's Greatest Conqueror Gave Us... by Jack WeatherfordWhat it's about: The surprisingly light hand that Genghis Khan took toward the practice of religion in his vast empire, with an exploration of attitudes toward religious tolerance in the centuries before and after his reign.
Why you should read it: for a better understanding of the Mongol Empire, which despite its violent creation could also be strikingly cosmopolitan for the era.
Did you know? Many of the wives, extended families, and even descendants of Genghis were Nestorian Christians, and more than one group of Catholic priests traveled east to try converting the Mongols to the Roman rite. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Iredell County Public Library 201 North Tradd Street Statesville, North Carolina 28677 704-878-3090 Connect With Us: |
|
|
|