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Spirituality and Religion July 2020 |
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Why should you read it: This book shows how Augustine can be a pilgrim guide to a spirituality that meets the complicated world we live in. Augustine, says Smith, is the patron saint of restless hearts--a guide who has been there, asked our questions, and knows our frustrations and failed pursuits. Augustine spent a lifetime searching for his heart's true home and he can help us find our way. Augustine's timeless wisdom speaks to the worries and struggles of contemporary life, covering topics such as ambition, sex, friendship, freedom, parenthood, and death and offers a fresh articulation of Christianity that speaks to our deepest hungers, fears, and hopes. - Named One of the Top 100 Books and One of the 5 Best Books in Religion for 2019 by Publishers Weekly
- Christianity Today 2020 Book Award Winner (Spiritual Formation)
- Outreach 2020 Resource of the Year (Spiritual Growth)
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A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith by Timothy Egan What it’s about: the Via Francigena (a medieval Christian pilgrimage route from England to Italy) and writer Timothy Egan's modern journey along it. At a time when Britain, America, and much of Europe have never been so secular--and when his mother's death and his Irish Catholic family's complicated history with the church prompted a reckoning with his own beliefs,Timothy Egan decided to follow in the footsteps of centuries of seekers. He embarked on a thousand-mile pilgrimage through the theological cradle of Christianity, to explore one of the biggest stories of our time: the collapse of religion in the world that it created. Read it for: the conversational tone and the author's reflections on the generous hospitality he encountered along the way. Making his way through a landscape laced with some of the most important shrines to the faith, Egan finds a modern Canterbury Tale in the chapel where Queen Bertha introduced Christianity to pagan Britain; parses the supernatural in a French town built on miracles; and journeys to the oldest abbey in the Western world, founded in 515 and home to continuous prayer over the 1,500 years that have followed. He is accompanied by a quirky cast of fellow pilgrims and by some of the towering figures of the faith--Joan of Arc, Henry VIII, Martin Luther. |
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What can it mean to you: In this inspiring book, Kristen Welch calls you to step out in faith and climb the mountain in front of you--not because you are good enough or adequate or able, but because God makes a way where there is no way. With heartbreaking and hopeful personal stories, Scripture, and questions for contemplation, she draws you out of fear and into a holy confidence, showing you that the mountain in your path was put there on purpose, so that you could exercise--and grow--your faith. |
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Why it matters: With Joel's encouragement, you'll see how God's goodness uplifts you every day. He wants you to reach new levels of fulfillment, new levels of increase, new levels of promotion, new levels of victory. You have been called out, set apart, and chosen to live a distinctively favored life. When you realize you have been marked for blessings, you will feel the force of His favor and overcome challenges that you can't face on your own. |
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Broken faith : inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, one of America's most dangerous cults by Mitch Weiss What it is about: An investigation into the Word of Faith Fellowship cult traces its 1979 origins through its expansion across three continents, sharing insights into Jane Whaley’s abusive and absolute control over her followers. Pulitzer Prize winner Mitch Weiss and Holbrook Mohr’s Broken Faith is a terrifying portrait of life inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, and the harrowing account of one family who escaped after two decades. What do the authors report: The authors based their book on hundreds of interviews, secretly recorded conversations, and thousands of pages of documents. They reveal that In 1979, a fiery preacher named Jane Whaley attracted a small group of followers with a promise that she could turn their lives around. In the years since, Whaley’s following has expanded to include thousands of congregants across three continents. In their eyes she’s a prophet. And to disobey her means eternal damnation. The control Whaley exerts is absolute: she decides what her followers study, where they work, whom they can marry—even when they can have sex. |
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Take It Too Far : Abundant Life, Boundless Love, Unending Grace by Jess Connolly What is it about: Take it Too Far is a 100-day journey exploring topics such as peace, rest, purpose, hope, wonder, discipline, and courage. Each entry includes a scripture verse, a reflection from Jess, and a special section encouraging you to take it too far, today! Read it for: Are you playing it safe? We sometimes hold back on using our gifts because we're afraid we'll fail. We have forgotten that we're made in the image of our passionate, loving, wild, and good God. Just as Jesus offered extravagant love for us on the cross, God calls us to live extravagantly for Him as we take grace, forgiveness, and faith even further than we thought they could go in our lives.
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Have a Great Day : Daily Affirmations for Positive Living by Norman Vincent Peale What is it about: This reprint of Peale's popular Have a Great Day will gladden the heart with essential insights and inspirations to help each of us live every day to its fullest. What it offers: Each dose of Dr. Peale’s thought-provoking words of wisdom addresses a specific topic in a wide range of emotional, psychological, and physical concerns—from tapping into our inner strengths to dealing with criticism and negativity, from achieving our personal and professional goals to learning how to release tension and relax. From profound “thought conditioners,” accentuating the everyday positive, to “spirit lifters” devised to help us soar above our troubles, Dr. Peale’s effective affirmations are “daily vitamins” keeping us mentally and spiritually healthy throughout each and every day of the year.
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I am a leader : when women discover the joy of their calling by Angie Ward What it is about: In I Am a Leader, Angie explores the concept of "calling" as it applies specifically to women leaders-those women of influence both in Christian ministry and the broader world: What is calling? How do you discover it? And what does it look like to live out that calling practically amid a multitude of challenges? Why you should read it: With nearly 30 years of ministry experience, Angie Ward knows firsthand the unique challenges that women leaders face as they seek to pursue their calling. Thoroughly researched, theologically and biblically integrated, and uniquely personal, I Am a Leader will resonate no matter where you are on the calling journey: whether you are wondering about your God-given purpose; sensing an inkling of an invitation to a particular ministry; or embarking on the path but encountering challenges. |
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Anchor and Flares: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hope, and Service by Kate Braestrup What it is about: the popular author's candid, bittersweet memoir detailing the intersections of her Christian faith, work as a chaplain, inclusive social beliefs, and her role as a mother (and stepmother). Kate Braestrup's life was transformed by the loss of her husband; now Kate faces the possibility that she may lose her eldest son when he joins the Marines. As a young mother, Kate Braestrup discovered the fierce protectiveness that accompanies parenthood.
Why should you read it: Kate is at a crossroads: Can she reconcile her desire to protect her children with her family's legacy of service? Can parents balance the joy of a child's independence with the fear of letting go? As Kate examines the twinned emotions of faith and fear -- inspired by the families she meets as a chaplain and by her son's journey towards purpose and familyhood -- she learns that the threats we can't predict will rip us apart and knit us together.
Reviewers say: "Sensitive and wholesomely charming" and "another appealing, tenderhearted memoir braiding faith and family" (Kirkus Reviews). | | Joan of Arc: A History by Helen Castor What it's about: the life and legend of Joan of Arc, the devout peasant girl who galvanized a divided France to defeat their English occupiers and later became a Catholic saint.
What sets it apart: rather than a biography, this history of the Hundred Years' War examines the "Maid of Orléans" as a social force, from the circumstances that allowed for her ascent to the later attempts to control her legacy. Helen Castor tells this gripping story afresh: forwards, not backwards. Instead of an icon, she gives us a living, breathing woman confronting the challenges of faith and doubt, a roaring girl who, in fighting the English, was also taking sides in a bloody civil war. We meet this extraordinary girl amid the tumultuous events of her extraordinary world where no one--not Joan herself, nor the people around her, princes, bishops, soldiers, or peasants--knew what would happen next. | |
The Language of Love : The Secret to Being Instantly Understood by Gary Smalley What it is about: Written by best-selling authors Gary Smalley and John Trent, it shows how "emotional word pictures" can infuse understanding and intimacy into all of your relationships. What does it offer: Words have incredible meaning, especially when they say what you mean. But often tongues get tied, and thoughts and ideas are expressed in ways that are easily misunderstood. Make the most of your messages by learning The Language of Love. Great for personal growth, small-group studies, or couples classes!
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What it is about: Terence Lester calls us to see the invisible people around us. His personal encounters and real-life stories challenge Christians to become more informed about poverty and homelessness, and to see the poor as Jesus does. What it means: Countless people are invisible to us. We overlook the poor and homeless, partly because we don't share much space with them. More seriously, we often choose not to see the realities around us. We hold misconceptions about who is deserving or not, or make false assumptions about people's poverty being their own fault. When we see people through God's eyes and hear their stories, we restore their dignity and help them flourish. And when we recognize our own inner spiritual poverty, we have greater empathy for others, no matter their circumstances. |
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Why it matters: Like a close friend, Rosalinda gives inspirational, down-to-earth advice with a dash of humor thrown in. She explains the Seductive Slayers of Success --things that add up and try to stop you from realizing your dreams Like the snooze button on your alarm clock. The “brilliant shortcut” that makes you late. The unwritten to-do list that you follow from the time you get out of bed till the time you crawl back in it, making each day seem like the last. Using stories from her own life as well as Scripture, Rosalinda offers encouragement to help you kick the negative aspects of life to the curb and jump start your way to a brighter tomorrow. |
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What does it offer: Ryan Romeo is convinced of two things. First, God knows where you come from. He knows about the seemingly impossible situation you may find yourself in. The other thing Ryan has learned is this: Your daily habits bring about the reality of your calling. How you treat your current job, your current boss, and those around you matters. How you serve your leader's vision or your church's vision matters too. So, as you pursue your calling, don't forget to keep your head in the clouds. Never let the worries, the fears, the "what-ifs?" in your heart dampen God's unique call on your life. At the same time, you need to keep your feet on the ground - to stay engaged and connected right where you are, so you don't miss out on the foundation God wants to build. |
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Be Angry but Don't Blow It : Maintaining Your Passion Without Losing Your Cool by Lisa Bevere What it is about: This book interweaves powerful scriptural truths with practical, personal examples and prayer. Readers will learn to channel passionate emotions constructively. Anger is not wrong, it is how we express it and how far we take it that determines the outcome. For those really ready to be honest and get free, this book will light the way. How can it help: Anger controlled Lisa for years, exacting a devastating toll upon her life and relationships. Desperate, Lisa cried out to God . . . and found help. If you, too, are at a turning point - longing for change yet stuck in a whirlwind of fury and rage -then Be Angry, But Don't Blow It will help you regain control. Lisa shares all she has learned about handling this powerful emotion, What you can take away: Lisa discusses how you can: Learn to say things so you'll be heard: Move beyond mere apologies into genuine confession ; Yank the defiling root of bitterness ; Find forgiveness and release for yourself. .Be Angry, But Don't Blow It also includes a three-week program to help move you from destructive to constructive anger and recapture the healthy passion God wants you to have.
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What does it mean: Whether it's now or later, we're all faced with a choice between good and easy, between continuing on through difficulty or giving up. Doug Gehman observed firsthand how God used one man's relentless perseverance to change a country, and it changed him. He'll teach you how to cultivate a gritty perseverance that counts the cost and follows through. By becoming a person of courage and commitment, it'll cost you dearly, but it will change your life forever. |
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7 : An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker What it is about: 7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of materialism and overindulgence: food, clothes, possessions, media and technology, spending, waste, and stress. Revised and updated to reflect newer challenges of modern life, 7 is funny, raw, and not a guilt trip in the making. Why read it: Jen once considered herself unmotivated by the lure of prosperity, but after she was called “rich” by an undeniably poor child, evidence to the contrary mounted and a social experiment turned spiritual journey was born. So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God—a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends a social experiment to become a radically better life.
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Read it for: This book is perfect for believers who want to understand what happened when they believed and for non-Christians who are curious about what a new life in Christ is all about. The single most important event in a person's life is the new birth. Yet, this is also one of the most neglected doctrines in the church. Many Christians would be hard-pressed to describe exactly what the new birth is, let alone what it means to the rest of their walk with God. What happens when we are born again? Lawson shows you the necessity of the new birth, how God changes our hearts through it, and what follows after, from baptism and involvement in a local church to handling doubts and setbacks. |
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Does the Bible tell me so? by Margaret Nutting Ralph What it is about: What does the Bible teach and what does it not teach? Does the Bible Tell Me So? The author examines how the Bible has been misinterpreted in the past and then asks if the same mistakes are being made today. What approach is used: Ralph looks at the literary form the biblical author is using, the beliefs at the time of the original author, the intended audience, and the two-thousand-year process of ongoing revelation modeled in scripture. She demonstrates how the Bible was abused to support the deep-seated prejudices of well-meaning people of the past. She then uses this approach in relation to current issues to determine whether scripture is being misused today. Some of the topics include slavery, women's right to vote, the Creation, evolution, homosexuality, divorce, the Eucharist, Mary, and the End.
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Adamant : finding truth in a universe of opinions by Lisa Bevere What it is about: Uses biblical quotations and the analogy of a rock to stress the importance of remaining committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ, while dealing with a world with shifting values and opinions. What does the author show us: By ancient definition, the adamant was known as both a diamond and a mythical stone of indestructible wonder. In more modern terminology, it describes a posture of unshakeable resolve and determination. Using Scripture and story, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Bevere takes readers on a journey into the Mountain of God, to the one place they can learn not only to abide in God's unshakeable truth and love, but become adamant--people who are unmovable, determined, and steadfast. Sometimes the most loving thing we will ever do is to speak the truth, but speaking truth begins with living it. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books! |
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