Profiling Saints: images of modern sanctity in a global world by
Profiling Saints" follows and expands the papers presented at the homonym online international conference (December 2021), which focused on cultural, theological, artistic, and social aspects of models of sanctity and their importance in the modern world up to the post-revolutionary period. This volume aims thus to shed light on the cultural value of canonizations and models of sanctity as models of Christian perfection, including the role of iconography and artworks, in the broader context of modern, global Catholicism. The topics presented by the authors include veneration to, and canonization and representations of, saint theologians, missionaries, martyrs, mystics, and reformers, men and women. "Profiling Saints" looks at modern sanctity and saints from multidisciplinary perspectives, ranging from liturgy, theology, and Church history up to history of ideas, cultural history, history of emotions, and art history, and contributes to shed light on such a complex phenomenon of Christian history in its modern developments.
Scenes with My Son : love and grief in the wake of suicide by
A celebration and an elegy, Scenes with My Son sensitively renders the terrible privilege of grief in the wake of suicide. After years of battling clinical depression exacerbated by autism, Auggie Hubbard died by suicide at the age of 19. In this poignant tribute to his son, Robert Hubbard--a theatre scholar and actor--stages Auggie's life in a series of vivid and tender scenes: Auggie's insatiable hunger for Accelerated Reader points. His tireless lightsaber practice in the local park. His sonorous tuba practice in the ward of his inpatient program. Through these anecdotes of Auggie's life and the days following his death, readers journey with a family shaken by mental illness and share in their hard-won joys in defiance of depression. Refusing easy answers and clichés about "God's plan," Hubbard unflinchingly asks: Does faith matter amid such tragedy? What do you do when awareness isn't enough? When you've tried so hard to keep your child safe, but your efforts fail? His honesty and vulnerability--and his tender portrait of Auggie--are gifts to all who live with their own questions in the wake of a loved one's death.
This Here Flesh : spirituality, liberation, and the stories that make us by
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In her stunning debut, the creator of Black Liturgies weaves stories from three generations of her family alongside contemplative reflections to discover the "necessary rituals" that connect us with our belonging, dignity, and liberation. "This is the kind of book that makes you different when you're done."--Ashley C. Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Somebody's Daughter "Reaches deep beneath the surface of words unspoken, wounds unhealed, and secrets untempered to break them open in order for fresh light to break through."--Morgan Jerkins, New York Times bestselling author of This Will Be My Undoing and Caul Baby ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Root, Library Journal "From the womb, we must repeat with regularity that to love ourselves is to survive. I believe that is what my father wanted for me and knew I would so desperately need: a tool for survival, the truth of my dignity named like a mercy new each morning." So writes Cole Arthur Riley in her unforgettable book of stories and reflections on discovering the sacred in her skin. In these deeply transporting pages, Arthur Riley reflects on the stories of her grandmother and father, and how they revealed to her an embodied, dignity-affirming spirituality, not only in what they believed but in the act of living itself. Writing memorably of her own childhood and coming to self, Arthur Riley boldly explores some of the most urgent questions of life and faith: How can spirituality not silence the body, but instead allow it to come alive? How do we honor, lament, and heal from the stories we inherit? How can we find peace in a world overtaken with dislocation, noise, and unrest? In this indelible work of contemplative storytelling, Arthur Riley invites us to descend into our own stories, examine our capacity to rest, wonder, joy, rage, and repair, and find that our humanity is not an enemy to faith but evidence of it. At once a compelling spiritual meditation, a powerful intergenerational account, and a tender coming-of-age narrative, This Here Flesh speaks potently to anyone who suspects that our stories might have something to say to us.
God, I'm Angry!: anger, forgiveness, and the psalms of vengeance by
Is it a sin for Christians to be angry? After all, didn't Jesus teach his disciples to forgive unconditionally? Rev. Dr. Maggie Low answers both of these questions with a resounding "No!" Debunking unhealthy assumptions about anger and forgiveness, God, I'm Angry! lays the groundwork for a biblical understanding of righteous anger, conditional forgiveness, and unconditional love. Low thoroughly engages both Old Testament and New Testament texts to demonstrate that biblical forgiveness is always reliant upon repentance. Examining the psalms of vengeance in their original context, she also establishes that there is such a thing as a healthy, and holy, expression of anger - a way to "do anger" with God that makes space for healing and restored relationship. Alongside profound theological insight, this book provides a step-by-step guide for application in pastoral counseling contexts and includes real-life examples from Low's extensive ministry experience. It is a source of practical wisdom for spiritual and emotional growth towards freedom, wholeness, and fullness of life.
In thought, word, and seed : reckonings from a Midwest farm by
"A collection of literary essays that reveals connections between culture, landscape, faith, and literature"-
Prayer Books and Piety in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe / Gebetbucher und Frommigkeit in Spatmittelalter und Fruher Neuzeit by
This collected volume is dedicated to the role of prayer books in lay piety in medieval and early modern contexts. Instead of focusing on individual examples, it places them within the broader genre of devotional literature and considers them in connection with prevailing cultural, religious and artistic developments, taking into account the Reformation, the printing press and growing interest in lay piety, in the context of increasing individualism, developing literacy, privatization and/or personalization of religion. Contextualising devotional literature, the volume refines understandings of religious practice fostered by traditional Catholicism and early modern Protestantism and its relationship with the written word, locating the use of books within a devotional 'diet' that included oral recitation of prayers as well as contemplation of images. Stressing continuities, often against the grain of existing literature, this volume highlights differences between regional cultures of prayer in contrast to norms set by the universal Church and emphasizes the tension between public/communal and private/individual devotion.
The Theology and Spirituality of the Psalms of Ascents by
The Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) are an important collection within the book of Psalms and have played a significant role in the history of spirituality. While scholars disagree on what precisely is meant by "ascents", it is clear that these psalms are focused on the journey towards the presence of God, a God who is at once the "maker of heaven and earth" but also encountered in a particular place and among a particular people. This book will explore the rich imagery of these fifteen psalms to show how they nourish the search for God's presence in a world that is marked by crises and hostility, not only in the world but tragically also within the people of God.This collection of psalms reflects postexilic Israel's confidence that in seeking God in Jerusalem the worshipper finds a blessing and peace that radiates out from Zion to infuse the most quotidian aspects of everyday life. The Psalms of Ascents are a summons to a spirituality for priest and commoner, the powerful and the marginalized, those near and those far, and anyone else suspended between fear and hope on the journey towards God. While this book will give readers a focused discussion on the theology and spirituality of these individual psalms, it will do so in a way that will provide a model for how the whole book of Psalms can be read responsibly and fruitfully. As such, the book will provide a resource for studying, teaching, and preaching these fifteen Psalms, but can also serve as an entryway into the rest of the book of Psalms. +
Ethic of Christian Freedom and Discipleship by
Ethics of Christian Freedom and Discipleship is written for teachers and students of Christian ethics within the English-speaking world. It demonstrates the basis of Christian ethics in Christian theology. Twenty-nine years ago, before leaving the Nigerian theological college where the author had been teaching, Between Two Worlds: An Ethic of Christian Freedom was privately printed. In Kenya, at what became St. Paul's University, the author primarily used copies of this book for eleven years of teaching Christian ethics. Ethics of Christian Freedom and Discipleship manifests continuity with the author's earlier book, but is a distinctly different work.
Hope Today (Pro ecclesia series ; 11) by
Hope is not about uncertain possibility. There is a robust sense of hope: something has happened, and it has happened in a certain way. This volume addresses the question: What is the way of Christian hope? What does it mean to act with hope? And in particular, what does it mean to act, to live, with hope in our churches and in society today?
Leading Faithful Innovation: following God into a hopeful future by 
On the Formation of Clergy. (Fathers of the Church Medieval Continuations) by
Among the intellectuals of the Carolingian Renaissance of the ninth century, few are as prolific and influential as Hrabanus Maurus (c.780-856), a monk and abbot of the monastery of Fulda and then archbishop of Mainz. Most famous among modern authors as the putative author of the hymn "Come, Holy Ghost," Hrabanus was highly esteemed by generations of medieval intellectuals, including Dante, who located the archbishop among St. Bonaventure's cohort in the sphere of the Sun. This volume presents for the first time in English translation Hrabanus's pedagogical masterpiece On the Formation of Clergy (De institutione clericorum). Unveiled on the Feast of All Saints in 819, at the dedication of the great Salvator basilica, Hrabanus' work addresses the most important focuses of the Carolingian Renaissance: education and ecclesiastical reform. The treatise promotes a careful balance between classical training and Christian ethics and features the robust pedagogy of the early medieval monastic curriculum. At points it even offers glimpses into the energetic environment of Fulda's classrooms. On the Formation of Clergy also supplies a program for ecclesiastical reform. It provides readers with a primer on ecclesiastical hierarchy and liturgy, providing glosses on church offices and explanations of important church activities. Hrabanus divided his opus into three books. Book One explains Holy Orders. It lays out the distinctions between clergy and laity, enumerates the ranks of the priesthood, describes clerical vesture, and explores the sacraments. Book Two examines priestly life. It considers ascetic disciplines appropriate for priests at different grades, describes expected prayer routines, and identifies important doctrinal teachings and principal liturgical feasts. Book Three treats biblical studies and preaching. It lays out a curriculum for the liberal arts, connects the liberal arts to catechetics and homiletics, and integrates academic study with moral instruction. On the Formation of Clergy was widely read throughout the Middle Ages. Beyond its impact on the Carolingian Renaissance, the treatise guided legal analysis in Gratian's Decretum, supplied examples for Peter Lombard's Sentences, and is cited by theological titans from Rupert of Deutz to Thomas Aquinas to Gabriel Biel.
Theological Interpretation of Scripture As Spiritual Formation by
Academic expertise is essential. But have you ever wondered how it itself is spiritually formative? This book, coming from an interdisciplinary assortment of scholars, shows how the exegetical methods of Theological Interpretation of Scripture (TIS) are themselves spiritually formative. This book provides a diverse collection of essays that focus on theological interpretative methods that result in a unique transformational experience not achieved through historical-critical or grammatical-historical approaches alone. Renowned thinkers--such as biblical scholar Ben Witherington III, historical theologian Mark Elliott, and theologian Arthur Sutherland--offer new works that explore how reading theologically can transform theology, cultures, and individuals. These new studies focus on the theological exegesis of such thinkers as Mother Teresa, Thomas Aquinas, Ignatius of Antioch, and Clement of Alexandria. The collection also includes several important and timely pieces that show how theological interpretation leads to moral formation within diverse cultural groups including African American and Latinx communities.
Introduction to Spirituality: cultivating a lifestyle of faithfulness by
This introduction explores Christian spirituality as a pursuit of the global church today. It encourages students to adopt a lifestyle spirituality, which involves relational intimacy with the triune God. Gary Tyra is well known for his work in the field of Christian spirituality and has years of experience in the classroom and in the church. In this book, Tyra encourages us to adopt a Pauline lifestyle spirituality, whereby we keep in step with the Holy Spirit so that we might experience an ongoing mentoring relationship with the Son in order to faithfully and fruitfully engage in the mission of the Father. Keeping in step with the spirit unfolds in a "lifestyle spirituality," a collection of convictions, commitments, and customs that constitute the disciple's lifelong journey with the triune God. This book is part of a new series that reflects the changing face of global Christianity. Series volumes are written by leading Pentecostal/Charismatic scholars who highlight themes of interest to Pentecostal/Charismatic students; however, the books are respectful, appreciative, and inclusive of a variety of church families and traditions. Series editors are Jerry Ireland, Paul W. Lewis, and Frank D. Macchia.
A Benedictine Reader : 1530-1930 by
A Benedictine Reader shares the treasures of the Benedictine traditionthrough the collaboration of a dozen scholars. It provides a broad and deep sense of the reality of Benedictine monasticism using primary sources in English translation. The texts included are drawn from many different genres and originally written in six different languages. The introduction to each of the chapters aims to situate each author and text and to make connections with other texts and studies within and outside the Reader. This second volume of A Benedictine Reader looks at Benedictine monks and nuns from many angles, as founders, reformers, missionaries, teachers, spiritual writers and guides, playwrights, scholars, and archivists. In four centuries, they went from Bavaria to North America and Africa, from England and Spain to Australia, adapting to new environments. Committed to the liturgy by their profession, they played an important role in the liturgical renewal that culminated at Vatican II. Rooted in God, church, and their surroundings, they showed remarkable resilience in the face of wars, confiscations, suppression, and exile. Their impact has been deep and stabilizing, and their story is a microcosm of the history of the church in modern times.
Living Accountably : accountability as a virtue by
In contemporary culture, accountability is usually understood in terms of holding people who have done something wrong accountable for their actions. As such, it is virtually synonymous with punishing someone. Living Accountably argues that accountability should also be understood as a significant, forward-looking virtue, an excellence possessed by those who willingly embrace being accountable to those who have proper standing, when that standing is exercised appropriately. Those who have this virtue are people who strive to live accountably. The book gives a fine-grained description of the virtue and how it is exercised, including an account of the motivational profile of the one who has the virtue. It examines the relation of accountability to other virtues, such as honesty and humility, as well as opposing vices, such as self-deception, arrogance, and servility. Though the virtue of accountability is compatible with individual autonomy, recognizing the importance of the virtue does justice to the social character of human persons. C. Stephen Evans also explores the history of this virtue in other cultures and historical eras, providing evidence that the virtue is widely recognized, even if it is somewhat eclipsed in modern western societies. Accountability is also a virtue that connects ethical life with religious life for many people, since it is common for people to have a sense that they are accountable in a global way for how they live their lives. Living Accountably explores the question as to whether global accountability can be understood in a purely secular way, as accountability to other humans, or whether it must be understood as accountability to God, or some other transcendent reality.
Christ and the Christian Life : two essays from Christian dogmatics by
On its publication nearly 40 years ago, Christian Dogmatics, a two-volume survey of the twelve major loci of Christian doctrine, seemed destined to become a classic. It rapidly took its place among the top multi-volume theologies and became a foundational text for generations of theological and ministerial students. Each loci, treated from the perspective of the Lutheran tradition and deeply examined in terms of its biblical foundations, historical tradition, and contemporary significance, was written by a scholar wise beyond their years. Each of the six authors went on to have influential and esteemed teaching and writing careers. Here, presented together for the first time, are the two loci written by Gerhard Forde for the project. In The Work of Christ, Forde examines "what God did in Jesus Christ", exploring the dominant doctrines, views, and motifs that undergird the "chief article" on which doctrines like the justification rest. In Christian Life, he undertakes justification and sanctification with a special focus on their relevance in contemporary life. Helpful for students and scholars alike, this convenient assembly of Forde's early work will broaden the impact of his thought for a new generation.
Belonging: five keys to unlock your potential as a disciple by
Ministry leaders and other Christians find a deeply personal pathway to discern what discipleship means for them in Belonging by Karoline Lewis.What does it look like for you to belong to Jesus Christ? Not your colleague, or your professor, or your neighbor, or the leaders of your denomination, but you? How might your one-and-only life be patterned differently, to more truly align you with Christ? What pretense might you give up? What potential might open up for you as a leader and disciple?Belonging:5 keys to Unlock Your Potential as a Disciple helps readers to understand and live out Christian discipleship in a way that is most deeply authentic for themselves. It's for the leader who is exhausted from trying to live by other people's templates, who wants to figure out what it looks like to live & lead as only they can. It's for the student or layperson desiring to follow Christ with integrity, to be themselves fully as a disciple.This book is scholarly but accessible for pastors, students, ministry leaders, and laypersons. Karoline Lewis structures it around the story of the Samaritan woman and guides the reader to discover deep connection with biblical characters who lead to self-discovery. Questions for reflection throughout the book evoke deep insights about self, theology, and discipleship.Belonging is excellent for clergy development and ministry leader development in any setting and can be read and studied alone or in groups. Pastors and other congregational leaders can work their way through the book together, in order to lead the church with greater integrity.
The Future of Christian Spirituality : in our lives, in our churches, and in the academy : essays in honor of Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI by 
Unexpected Abundance : the fruitful lives of women without children by
Meet 25 women who generated life without giving birth In many Christian communities today, women are expected to have children--to "be fruitful and multiply." To be childless is to be less of a woman, less of a Christian, or so it can feel. Elizabeth Felicetti is deeply familiar with this pressure as an Episcopal priest who never had the children she imagined would be part of her life. But in the landscape of her childhood in Arizona Felicetti found fresh eyes. If she's "barren," so is the desert--and if you look closely, the desert teems with unexpected life. This is also true of women throughout history. Biblical women like Mary Magdalene, medieval mystics like Julian of Norwich, and modern activists like Rosa Parks did not have children, yet their lives bore fruit in their communities and in the church at large. In reflecting on her own experience alongside those of these remarkable women, Felicetti deepens our understanding of the many ways to be fruitful. Women without children--by choice or chance--who have felt frustrated or voiceless in the church will find solidarity and inspiration in the pages of Unexpected Abundance.
Sacred Pregnancy : birth, motherhood, and the quest for spiritual community by
Sacred Pregnancyis part a retrospective on changing paradigms of and feminist discourse on motherhood, part sociological study of changing religious demographics and understandings of religious experience in the United States, and part exploration of the spiritual movements and spiritually guided reproductive health services that bring all these themes together. Resting on the premise that motherhood in general and pregnancy specifically should not be brushed aside as beneath intellectual inquiry or as settled subjects, Ann Duncan explores a new form of religious community: a growing number of diverse movements that blend business with a spiritual approach to the reproductive health of women. This new mode of spiritual ritual is centered not around a particular conception of the divine but by the shared experience of pregnancy and birth as sacred rites of passage and women's reproductive health as an avenue toward spiritual experience, community, and even economic opportunity. These spiritual birth movements are an invitation to further investigate and understand not only the social construction of motherhood and the cultural understanding and practice of pregnancy, but also the life-changing experiences of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood and the concomitant desire for religious ritual in the lives of American women.
Practicing the Way of Jesus: Life Together in the Kingdom of Love by
Take a casual survey of how people practice their faith, and you might reasonably conclude that Jesus spent his life going door to door offering private lessons, complete with chalkboard and pop quizzes. We think about God in the comfort of our own minds, in isolation from one another; meanwhile the world waits for a people to practice the way of Jesus together. Mark Scandrette contends that Jesus has in mind something more lively for us: not a classroom so much as a kingdom, where our formation takes place not only in our heads but in our hearts and our bodies, and in the company of one another, in a way that blesses the world we've been entrusted with. In Practicing the Way of Jesus Scandrette draws from his experience as a spiritual director and leader of an intentional community, as well as the best contemporary thinking on kingdom spirituality, to paint a picture of life lived together, in the way of Jesus--which is another way of saying life lived to the full.
Living Spiritual Praxis : foundations for spiritual formation program development by
Christian ministers working in congregations and with nonprofits seek to discern what it is that God has been doing and where it is that the "Spirit" might be leading them. In Living Spiritual Praxis Eric Kyle looks to address the lack of resources on the work and dynamics of Christian spiritual formation that actually develop a specific process for spiritual formation programs. Kyle strives to provide a guide for spiritual formation by using the "praxis-oriented" fields of action research and practical theology. He explores a process for understanding the nature and dynamics of a situation, discerning specific formative interventions, assessing various approaches, and continually assessing and modifying these understandings and approaches. Living Spiritual Praxis will be an invaluable resource for all Christians, leaders and laity alike, who are challenged by the spiritual formation of church members, communities, groups, and individuals.
What Matters Most: conversations on the art of living by
The ancient Greek philosopher Plotinus insisted that philosophy should be concerned with nothing less than τo τιμιώτατον (to timiotaton), generally translated as "what matters most". This collection of philosophical conversations by many of the world's leading thinkers seeks to honour Plotinus' vision by addressing questions related to the art of living. When thinking about the art of living, we may conjure up ideas of therapy, meditation, peace, happiness, and so on. However, this collection aims to expand the scope of this idea, foregrounding social and political questions, alongside more traditional existential ones. How are we to think about the art of living together, of living with technology, of living under oppression, of living in the end times? These engaging and urgent conversations invite us to think anew about the complexities and challenges involved in living a good life in a world characterized by uncertainty and change.
Freedom and Imagination : trusting Christ in an age of bad faith by
We suffer today from a crisis not of confidence, but of trust. With the constant barrage of lies, untruths, and alternative facts, all words are dubious, all deeds are debatable, and all motives are suspect. To tell the truth in such a world requires fortitude. To believe the truth demands even more. In Freedom and Imagination, S. D. Giere recovers the idea of faith as trust and of faith in Christ as trusting what God has done through him. Tending to faith is like tending to the heart and, thereby, the health of the whole. By trusting Christ, one is free to live without the fear of sin and death, free to live in love toward the friend, the neighbor, and even the enemy. Faith reveals the cosmos as it is: a world reconciled to the Triune God. Yet, that freedom frequently conflicts with experience. Only faith can bend the imagination towards seeing the world in and through Christ. Freedom and Imagination recovers faith as the theological heart of the human being's participation in the life of God, and imagination as faith's interpretive lens. Three areas of ministry and life are explored through the imagination of faith: biblical interpretation, proclamation, and Christian freedom.
Reconstructing Prayer: beyond deconstructing your faith by 
Guerrillas of Grace : prayers for the battle by
For four decades, this classic collection of tough, beautiful, and earthy prayers has lightened hearts and dared spirits to soar.
Soul Boom: why we need a spiritual revolution by
**New York Times Bestseller** Comedic actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson, cofounder of the media company SoulPancake, explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly challenging world. The trauma that our struggling species has experienced in recent years--because of both the pandemic and societal tensions that threaten to overwhelm us--is not going away anytime soon. Existing political and economic systems are not enough to bring the change that the world needs. In this book, Rainn Wilson explores the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a "Soul Boom," to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level For Wilson, this is a serious and essential pursuit, but he brings great humor and his own unique perspective to the conversation. He feels that, culturally, we've discounted spirituality--faith and the sacred--and we need profound healing and a unifying understanding of the world that the great spiritual traditions provide. Wilson's approach to spirituality--the non-physical, eternal aspects of ourselves--is relatable and applies to people of all beliefs, even the skeptics. Filled with genuine insight--not to mention enlightening Kung Fu and Star Trek references--Soul Boom delves into ancient wisdom to seek out practical, transformative answers to life's biggest questions.
Lest We Lose Love: rediscovering the core of Western culture by
Few are aware that since antiquity, there has always been the philosophy of love at the core of Western culture. It articulates what makes life meaningful and worthwhile, and how we can live a good life together through an ethic of love. This book fills this significant gap, not only reconnecting the reader with such important wisdom, and more crucially, also reorienting our socio-economic institutions and collective actions towards more loving and caring, and more concerned with the qualities of our lived experiences. By re(dis)covering the gifts of love, we may challenge the existing systemic dehumanisation, and draw from knowledge and understanding already present in our culture. This is timely because the global crises we are facing are catastrophic, especially when it comes to climate change. Therefore we must respond from a place of love rather than fear. Whether it is reducing the use of fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse emission, choosing the right food to eat, or advocating for structural transformation, our concerted endeavours start with an appropriate appreciation of the nature of our well-being which includes the planet's well-ness. This book highlights a clear pathway forward: to ensure collective healing and co-flourishing with nature, we must practise the art of loving.
Praying Through Pain : a scripture-based journey by
2023 Illumination Book Awards Silver Medalist, Illness/Death/Dying 2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards, First Place, Books About Prayer 2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards, Honorable Mention, Grief and Bereavement IT'S DIFFICULT TO PRAY DURING times of suffering. Words simply may not come. You may feel angry or confused, and that can make it tough to turn to God. Well-meaning friends or family may offer suggestions like "Just be patient" or "Offer it up," which only leave you feeling worse. In Praying through Pain, award-winning author and spiritual director Barbara Lee offers a simple and practical way of communicating with God in difficult times, including Relevant and relatable Scripture stories of pain Principles of Ignatian spirituality and how to use them effectively Mini-prayers, words, and phrases that you can use when everything else is too difficult Read this book any way that suits your personal journey. Dip into a chapter that speaks to the emotions you're feeling today. Sit with a passage of Scripture until it sinks deep inside your heart. Talk to God about what you're feeling. Then listen for the voice of God. And know that you are not alone.
Lived Vocation: stories of faith at work by
Lived Vocationis a collection of short reflective essays based on stories of contemporary work. Together these reflections offer a window into the struggle to find meaning at work today. These stories explore how we come to our work and jobs, the hardship and "toil" of our working lives, and the surprisingly small but powerful ways in which God may nonetheless be at work in these stories. Author Tim Snyder asks: What if vocation were less about being certain that you're following God's master plan for your life and more about noticing the presence of God as we tell our stories from everyday life? The book challenges congregational leaders to listen to the stories of actual Christians putting their faith into action. It offers ordinary Christians the assurance that they are not alone in their struggle to make sense of faith in everyday life. The book provides congregational leaders with an accessible window into the lives of ordinary Christians trying to put their faith into action at work. It helps such leaders empathize with the difficulties of integrating faith in everyday life today and inspires them to listen to and tell more stories of their own.
Remorse: finding joy through honest apology by
Does it matter if you are sorry for what you have done--or that you have not done? Does your being sorry--does your remorse--matter? If so, how? Who is helped or changed by it? Can spiritual leaders help people wrestle with some of the most challenging dilemmas of their lives? These are a few of the questions addressed in Remorse: Finding Joy through Honest Apologyabout the deep and joyfulrelief that comes from healthy remorse. Episcopal priest and licensed therapist Stephen Crippen describes remorse as the crisis--both destructive and creative--that erupts within the human spirit at the point where sin and grace collide. Through personal story and accessible biblical and theological reflection, he explores the experience of remorse, the recognition of this simple truth: "I did this thing, and I should not have done it." Remorsealso speaks to faith leaders who want to help people identify, understand, and work with their burdens of conscience to discern more deeply the grace of God at work in their lives. This work is not easy, Crippen affirms, but it is rich and ultimately satisfying. Whatever the reader's perspective, this book offers a path and reassurance to all who long for the grace of remorse and need learn only how to begin.
Our Unforming: de-westernizing spiritual formation by
Christian spiritual formation resources and teachings have primarily come from Western spiritual traditions. Our current approach to formation comes out of that way of thinking and being, communicating that the white experience of God is the norm and authority. In Our Unforming: De-Westernizing Spiritual Formation, Cindy S. Lee proposes that we as the church need a new way to engage in spiritual formation. To thrive in our increasingly diverse contexts, we need an unforming and a reforming of our souls. We need to unform the ways Western-dominated church leaders have understood formation. We need to reform--to imagine and create a more intricate spirituality that includes diverse experiences of God. Our Unformingis organized into three cultural orientations and eight postures. Lee proposes that when we consider non-Western cultural ways of being--turning from linear to cyclical, from cerebral to experiential, and from individual to collective--the formation journey shifts. We live out these movements through postures, ways of entering into deeper spiritual transformation. The eight postures reflect our experience of time, generations, imagination, uncertainty, language, work, dependence, elders, and harmony. Lee offers a more robust spirituality to hold the complexities of a multicultural God and the God-human relationship. Our Unformingis sure to inspire further conversation as it shifts how we approach formation in our diverse communities.
Redeeming Vision: a Christian guide to looking at and learning from art by 
A Body of Praise : understanding the role of our physical bodies in worship by 
Christian Kinship: family-relatedness in Christian practice and moral thought by 
One with Christ: 40 biblical meditations on Paul's "in Christ" idea by
Paul's most common phrase was "in Christ." It is a tiny phrase, used almost as frequently as punctuation, yet within it is abbreviated a whole universe of delight which many of us have barely tasted. For Paul being in Christ is so normal he never even explains what he means by it, or what he means by Christ dwelling in us for that matter. He is not exactly forthcoming about what exactly is involved in us having been crucified with, or having died with, been buried with, raised with, or seated with Christ either. He just expects us to keep up. What he does give us are a few little hints at what this union with Christ does. We get glimpses into the amazing things it does for us.In forty days we visit just about every time Paul uses a phrase like "in Christ," "in him," "with Christ," and so on, meditating on each of the little hints that Paul provides. We do this in the hope of discovering just how deep this union goes.