- Table View
- List View
Open My Heart to Hear: Hymn-Based Devotions
by Northwestern Publishing HouseDive deeper into the beauty of time-treasured and new favorite worship songs in this collection of hymn-based devotions!Open My Heart to Hear is an opportunity to meditate on the words of beloved hymns and marvel at how they point you to the amazing nature of God's love for you. From "Savior of the Nations," "Come," and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," to "Christ Is with Me" and "Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled," hymns both familiar and new form the foundation for the faith-strengthening truths expressed in these 90 brief devotions based on hymns from Christian Worship: Hymnal. Explore the riches of God's grace in each hymn's poetry in this collection of devotions and pray alongside the hymn writer: "Lord, open now my heart to hear, and through your Word to me draw near"
Open Secret: Postmessianic Messianism and the Mystical Revision of Menaḥem Mendel Schneerson
by Elliot R. WolfsonMenaḥem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994) was the seventh and seemingly last Rebbe of the Habad-Lubavitch dynasty. Marked by conflicting tendencies, Schneerson was a radical messianic visionary who promoted a conservative political agenda, a reclusive contemplative who built a hasidic sect into an international movement, and a man dedicated to the exposition of mysteries who nevertheless harbored many secrets. Schneerson astutely masked views that might be deemed heterodox by the canons of orthodoxy while engineering a fundamentalist ideology that could subvert traditional gender hierarchy, the halakhic distinction between permissible and forbidden, and the social-anthropological division between Jew and Gentile. While most literature on the Rebbe focuses on whether or not he identified with the role of Messiah, Elliot R. Wolfson, a leading scholar of Jewish mysticism and the phenomenology of religious experience, concentrates instead on Schneerson's apocalyptic sensibility and his promotion of a mystical consciousness that undermines all discrimination. For Schneerson, the ploy of secrecy is crucial to the dissemination of the messianic secret. To be enlightened messianically is to be delivered from all conceptual limitations, even the very notion of becoming emancipated from limitation. The ultimate liberation, or true and complete redemption, fuses the believer into an infinite essence beyond all duality, even the duality of being emancipated and not emancipated-an emancipation, in other words, that emancipates one from the bind of emancipation. At its deepest level, Schneerson's eschatological orientation discerned that a spiritual master, if he be true, must dispose of the mask of mastery. Situating Habad's thought within the evolution of kabbalistic mysticism, the history of Western philosophy, and Mahayana Buddhism, Wolfson articulates Schneerson's rich theology and profound philosophy, concentrating on the nature of apophatic embodiment, semiotic materiality, hypernomian transvaluation, nondifferentiated alterity, and atemporal temporality.
Open Secrets
by Rabbi Rami Shapiro". . . a rare jewel, a powerhouse of spiritual wisdom that you can read and reread."--Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. author of A Woman's Journey to God and Seven Paths to God"[Open Secrets] invites us into the most intimate of settings, the whispered wisdom passed from an authentic Hasidic master to his student. It radiates warmth, passion for the divine, and earthy confidence in sacredness. A treasure for the spiritual seeker of any tradition." --Judith Simmer-Brown, Naropa University, author of Dakini's Warm Breath"Open Secrets is my favorite way to introduce readers to the essence and depth of Judaism."--Bo Lozoff, author and founder of the Human Kindness Foundation"A master teacher."--Thomas Keating"A prophetic voice for a 21st-century Judaism"--Reb Zalman Schachter-ShalomiThe fictional East European Hasidic Master Reb Yerachmeil writes to his hasid Herschel who has moved to America, in response to his student's perennial questions about God, what it means to be Jewish, whether all religions are true, about death, the soul, good deeds, intermarriage and more. The rebbe writes, "My Judaism seeks only the heart of the teaching and the essence of the practice and leaves the details to others." At the urging of his own rebbe, Shapiro, through these letters, creates a ". . . a Judaism for people who wish to learn from it as they do from Buddhism or Sufism, a Judaism for everyone."Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro is regarded as one of the most creative voices in contemporary American Judaism. He is an award-winning poet and essayist, and his liturgies are used in prayer services throughout North America. His previous books include Minyan: 10 Principles for Living a Life of Integrity and The Way of Solomon: Finding Joy and Contentment in the Wisdom of Ecclesiastes.
Open Secrets: A Memoir of Faith and Discovery
by Richard LischerOpen Secrets is Richard Lischer's story of his early career as a Lutheran minister. Fresh out of divinity school and full of enthusiasm, Lischer found himself assigned to a small conservative church in an economically depressed town in southern Illinois. This was far from what this overly enthusiastic and optimistic young man expected. The town was bleak, poor, and clearly not a step on his path to a brilliant career.It's an awkward marriage at best, a young man with a Ph.D. in theology, full of ideas and ambitions, determined to improve his parish and bring them into the twenty-first century, and a community that is "as tightly sealed as a jar of home-canned pickles." In their own way, they welcome him and his family, even though they think he's "got bigger fish to fry." Thus begins Richard Lischer's first year as a pastor: bringing communion to the sick (but forgetting to bring the wafers); marrying two unlikely couples--a pregnant teenager and her boyfriend, and two people who can't stop fighting.Often he doesn't understand his congregation, and sometimes they don't understand him; for instance, why does his wife hire a baby-sitter and instead of leaving, put on her bathing suit, grab a stack of novels, and hide from the kids? Or why can't Pastor Lischer see how important it is for a woman with little money to buy an elaborate coffin to bury her husband in? There are also the moments of grace, when pastor and parishioner unite for a common goal: when he asks for prayers for his infant son, and can feel everyone in the congregation ministering to him; when old hurts are put aside to help a desperate young woman finish college and raise her baby; or when he helps save a woman from dying of a drug overdose.In Open Secrets Lischer tells not only his own story but also the story of New Cana and all of its inhabitants--lovable, deeply flawed, imperfect people that stick together. With his sharp eye and keen wit, Lischer perfectly captures the comedy of small town life with all of its feuds, rumors, scandals, and friendships. In the end he learns to appreciate not only the life New Cana has to offer, but also the people who have accepted him, at last, as part of themselves.
Open Theism (Elements in Religion and Monotheism)
by Alan R. RhodaThis Element shows Open theism as a monotheist model of God according to which the future is objectively open-ended, not just from the finite perspective of creation, but from God's perspective as well. This Element has three main sections. The first carefully defines open theism, distinguishes its major variants, compares it to other monotheistic models, and summarizes its history. The second develops biblical and philosophical arguments for open theism against its main rivals, emphasizing a novel philosophical argument that a causally open future must also be ontically, alethically, epistemically, and providentially open as well. The third responds to common objections against open theism related to perfect being theology, the ethics of risk-taking, biblical prophecy, and theological tradition.
Open Your Eyes
by Alexandra StoddardFor nearly forty years and in numerous books, Alexandra Stoddard has shared her keen eye for design and sure sense of style. Now this renowned decorator and lifestyle philosopher teaches you hoe to see with the expertise and clarity of professional designers. First, Alexandra helps you become more attuned to your surroundings-as you set a table, straighten out a linen closet, stroll through a garden, or browse in a thrift shop. Then, through personal anecdotes; examples from masters; a rich array of ideas, tips, and techniques, she reveals hundreds of ways to see and solve problems or proportion, pattern, color, and composition. Her simple suggestions-whether it's changing a lampshade, rearranging treasured objects on a table, or moving a chair-will yield dramatic results. Filled with practical solutions offered with warmth and encouragement , Open Your Eyes helps make each day a visual feats as it deepens your understanding not only of what makes something beautiful but what makes something beautiful to you.
Open Your Eyes: 10 Uncommon Lessons to Discover a Happier Life
by Jake OlsonDoctors removed Jake Olson's left eye at ten months old. When he was twelve, after years of radiation and chemotherapy, the cancer took his right eye as well. That's when Jake's story really began. When ESPN met Jake Olson, he was a twelve-year-old boy who wanted to spend his final weeks of sight with the USC football team. Jake's story became one of the most recognized pieces in the network's history, earning an award, instantly viewed by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. But Jake's story didn't end with his final surgery or with ESPN--not by a long shot.Now sixteen, Jake Olson dreams of becoming the first blind golfer in the PGA. How is such a thing even possible? How does that level of perseverance endure in someone with so many reasons to give up? In Open Your Eyes, Jake Olson tells more than his story. He reveals the ways of thinking, living, and praying that have kept him and his family triumphant in the face of their tribulations. Told with sincerity and humor in tandem with leadership coach McKay Christensen, Open Your Eyes is not just a heartwarming chronicle of the Olson family's struggle. Jake's story is a step-by-step lesson in perseverance and motivation from a young man who knows how to put the past in the past.From the USC locker room to the fairways of Pebble Beach, Jake Olson will inspire you, your family, and your team with bravery, ability, and faith. It is time to learn from this remarkable young man and open your eyes to a happier life.
Open Your Hand: Teaching as a Jew, Teaching as an American
by Ilana BlumbergFifteen years into a successful career as a college professor, Ilana Blumberg encounters a crisis in the classroom that sends her back to the most basic questions about education and prompts a life-changing journey that ultimately takes her from East Lansing to Tel Aviv. As she explores how civic and religious commitments shape the culture of her humanities classrooms, Blumberg argues that there is no education without ethics. When we know what sort of society we seek to build, our teaching practices follow. In vivid classroom scenes from kindergarten through middle school to the university level, Blumberg conveys the drama of intellectual discovery as she offers novice and experienced teachers a pedagogy of writing, speaking, reading, and thinking that she links clearly to the moral and personal development of her students. Writing as an observant Jew and as an American, Blumberg does not shy away from the difficult challenge of balancing identities in the twenty-first century: how to remain true to a community of origin while being a national and global citizen. As she negotiates questions of faith and citizenship in the wide range of classrooms she traverses, Blumberg reminds us that teaching - and learning - are nothing short of a moral art, and that the future of our society depends on it.
Open Your Heart (Sierra Jensen #7)
by Robin Jones GunnFrom the bestselling author of The Christy Miller Series, this series centers around Christy Miller's friend Sierra Jensen. Sierra is a spunky and bold sixteen-year-old with big dreams and unconventional clothes. Today's teens can truly relate to what is going on in Sierra's life -- whether it's friendships, dating, or learning to trust in God. Sierra shows readers how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and how to grow in their commitment to Him.
Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom
by Taro Gold“Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: a beautiful collection of engaging inspiration. This is Life’s Little Instruction Book meets Enlightenment.” —The Chicago TribuneOpen Your Mind, Open Your Life encourages and uplifts readers with more than 300 inspiring guideposts based on the timeless wisdom of Eastern thought. It’s filled with sage advice on opening life to its inherent joy, including:Master your past in the present, or the past will master your future.Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in theirs.True happiness in life is found always within.As water carves through stone, those who persevere will win.Turn your face to the sun and shadows will only fall behind you. Open Your Mind, Open Your Life is richly illustrated with exquisite Far East-inspired patterns and original watercolor art. The book also includes profiles of great Buddhist and Eastern thinkers such as Nichiren, Lao-tzu, Confucius, and Mahatma Gandhi.“This book will enlighten and ennoble the reader.” —Arun Gandhi, Gandhi Institute director and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi
Open the Bible in 30 Days (Ten Keys Unlocking the Bible)
by Colin S. SmithDiscover the whole Bible story.Though the Bible is the perennial best-selling book, many people don&’t know where to begin. Open the Bible in 30 Days is a comprehensive and engaging tool that gives you an overview of God&’s Word. Colin Smith opens the Bible in three stages: the Old Testament where we meet God the Father, the Gospels where we learn to trust Christ the Son, and the New Testament letters where we discover life in the Holy Spirit. Open the Bible in 30 Days can be used individually or alongside &“Open,&” an online guided journey through the life-changing story of Scripture. Grab a copy of Open the Bible in 30 Days and visit openthebible.org to get started.
Open the Bible in 30 Days (Ten Keys Unlocking the Bible)
by Colin S. SmithDiscover the whole Bible story.Though the Bible is the perennial best-selling book, many people don&’t know where to begin. Open the Bible in 30 Days is a comprehensive and engaging tool that gives you an overview of God&’s Word. Colin Smith opens the Bible in three stages: the Old Testament where we meet God the Father, the Gospels where we learn to trust Christ the Son, and the New Testament letters where we discover life in the Holy Spirit. Open the Bible in 30 Days can be used individually or alongside &“Open,&” an online guided journey through the life-changing story of Scripture. Grab a copy of Open the Bible in 30 Days and visit openthebible.org to get started.
Open to Desire: The Truth about What the Buddha Taught
by Mark Epstein“A masterpiece. . . . It teaches us how not to fear and repress, but to rechannel and harness the most powerful energies of life toward freedom and bliss. ” —ROBERT THURMAN It is common in both Buddhism and Freudian psychoanalysis to treat desire as if it is the root of all suffering and problems, but psychiatrist Mark Epstein believes this to be a grave misunderstanding. In his controversial defense of desire, he makes clear that it is the key to deepening intimacy with ourselves, each other, and our world. Proposing that spiritual attainment does not have to be detached from intimacy or eroticism, Open to Desire begins with an exploration of the state of dissatisfaction that causes us to cling to irrational habits. Dr. Epstein helps readers overcome their own fears of desire so that they can more readily bridge the gap between self and other, cope with feelings of incompletion, and get past the perception of others as objects. Freed from clinging and shame, desire’s spiritual potential can then be opened up. .
Open to Reason: Muslim Philosophers in Conversation with the Western Tradition (Religion, Culture, and Public Life #36)
by Souleymane Bachir DiagneWhat does it mean to be a Muslim philosopher, or to philosophize in Islam? In Open to Reason, Souleymane Bachir Diagne traces Muslims’ intellectual and spiritual history of examining and questioning beliefs and arguments to show how Islamic philosophy has always engaged critically with texts and ideas both inside and outside its tradition. Through a rich reading of classical and modern Muslim philosophers, Diagne explains the long history of philosophy in the Islamic world and its relevance to crucial issues of our own time.From classical figures such as Avicenna to the twentieth-century Sufi master and teacher of tolerance Tierno Bokar Salif Tall, Diagne explores how Islamic thinkers have asked and answered such questions as Does religion need philosophy? How can religion coexist with rationalism? What does it mean to interpret a religious narrative philosophically? What does it mean to be human, and what are human beings’ responsibilities to nature? Is there such a thing as an “Islamic” state, or should Muslims reinvent political institutions that suit their own times? Diagne shows that philosophizing in Islam in its many forms throughout the centuries has meant a commitment to forward and open thinking. A remarkable history of philosophy in the Islamic world as well as a work of philosophy in its own right, this book seeks to contribute to the revival of a spirit of pluralism rooted in Muslim intellectual and spiritual traditions.
Open to the Spirit: God in Us, God with Us, God Transforming Us
by Dave Ferguson Scot McKnightWorld-renowned New Testament scholar offers a straightforward examination of what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit.Who exactly is the Holy Spirit? What does he do in our lives? How can we know him more deeply, and is it possible to tap into his power? Should we pray to the Holy Spirit? Is it possible to be aware of his promptings and speaking into our lives? Dr. Scot McKnight answers these questions and more in this comprehensive examination of what the Bible says about this divinely important, but often confusing member of the Trinity. This is the third work in a three-part series examining some of the more mysterious components of the Christian faith. Scot's The Heaven Promise examines the afterlife. The Hum of Angels elucidates the Bible's teaching on God's supernatural messengers and protectors. Now, Open to the Spirit examines the most mysterious member of the Trinity.Scot blogs at Patheos, a large multi-perspective blog format. It serves many influential voices from many faith and non-faith traditions. Scot's blog draws primarily a Christian readership; one that is looking for intellectual engagement and thoughtful analysis of Scripture, Theology, and Culture.
Opened Treasures: A Daily Devotional Reader
by Frances Havergal William PellThe meditations and songs of Frances Ridley Havergal have provided solace, comfort, and everlasting peace to thousands of souls. Her ministry in poetry and prose is ever being used by the Spirit of God to teach, comfort, exhort, and convict.All her poetry and prose is saturated with the living Word of God; it has a freshness and power which only the eternal dew of heavenly truth could impart. Frances always looked to the Lord for her messages before writing anything. On one occasion she wrote to her sister of her strong belief that, “If I am to write to any good, a great deal of living must go into a very little writing.”In an effort to preserve her prose for this generation, Opened Treasures was first published in 1962.“She yielded herself utterly to God. By virtue of this, her writings reached and moved a multitude of souls.”—T. H. Darlow
Opening Doors Within
by Eileen Caddy Mike ScottFor 20 years, meditators have relied on these simple teachings which offer advice on faith, fulfillment, and stillness. Serving as a perennial meditational diary, this new edition presents inspirational and practical messages for everyone embarking upon the journey to find a true inner self and spiritual truth. Anyone who meditates-whether inexperienced or seasoned-will find these adages helpful and inspirational. A new foreword, layout, and revised illustrations create an accessible and uplifting treatise on daily spiritual satisfaction and internal happiness.
Opening Doors Within: 365 Daily Meditations from Findhorn
by Eileen CaddyA new edition of the much-loved perennial meditation diary whose messages radiate spiritual wisdom, encouragement and serenity throughout the year • Provides messages of spiritual insight and guidance for every day of the year from Eileen Caddy, co-founder of the Findhorn Community • Offers specific suggestions for your daily spiritual growth and development • Includes a new introduction by Jonathan Caddy, one of Eileen’s sons, who adds a fresh perspective to the profound influence this guidance can have One of the much-loved books of Eileen Caddy (1917-2006), co-founder of the Findhorn Community in Scotland, Opening Doors Within is a perennial meditation diary offering down-to-earth inspirational messages of spiritual guidance for every day of the year. For over 35 years, people have used these practical teachings that offer advice on achieving stillness, faith, and fulfillment. Specific suggestions for your daily spiritual growth and development enhance the impact of the supportive words. Eileen’s brief messages, from what she called “the still, small voice within,” offer inspirational, uplifting, and powerful words of love and support. Her daily guidance was the bedrock of the early Findhorn Community, and the concept of “inner listening” is still very much part of individual and community practice there today. The encouraging and practical messages speak to those embarking upon the journey to find their divine inner self and spiritual truth. Anyone who meditates--whether inexperienced or seasoned--will find the wisdom shared both insightful and heartening. A new foreword by Jonathan Caddy, Eileen’s son who lives in the Findhorn Community, adds a fresh perspective to the profound influence this guidance can have. No matter how you use the wisdom shared in this small book, take these teachings into yourself and carry them within you, until they have done their silent, gentle, and loving work of opening the doors within.
Opening Heaven's Door
by Patricia PearsonFrom the award-winning, groundbreaking author of A Brief History of Anxiety...Yours and Mine comes a touching, exhilarating, challenging exploration of the inexplicable gleamings of another world many of us experience, in life, in grief, and near death. Sparked by extraordinary experiences that occurred in her family when her father and her sister both died in 2008, Patricia Pearson was launched on a journey of investigation into what she calls "a curious sort of modern underground--a world beneath the secular world, inhabited by ordinary human beings having extraordinary experiences that they aren't, on the whole, willing to disclose." Roughly half the bereaved population, about 20% of those near death who recover, and an unreported number of the dying witness or experience a sensed presence, the mystery of near-death awareness, and, if they are not in horrible pain or medicated into unconsciousness, rationally inexplicable feelings of transcendence and grace as they depart on the journey from which none of us return. Pearson brings us effortlessly into her illuminating quest for answers, inspiring us to own up to experiences we may never have shared with anyone. Secular or religious, all of us wonder deeply about these things if we let ourselves, and also about the medical, social and psychological implications of understanding what it means to pass through heaven's door.
Opening Her Heart (Rocky Mountain Family)
by Deb KastnerFighting for her dream could have unexpected consequences…She can handle the Texan threatening her plans…But can she resist his adorable little girl?The Colorado mountain cabin is perfect for Avery Winslow’s dream—a B and B for service dogs and their families. Except fast-talkin’ Texan Jake Cutter wants the land for a luxury resort. Now Avery’s fighting for her dream and her town. But Jake and his sweet little girl have already charmed Avery’s favorite service dog…and her guarded heart might just be next.From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.Rocky Mountain Family
Opening His Holiday Heart: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Thunder Ridge #3)
by Renee RyanWith a little boy&’s help, can he let go of painful memories? Casey Evans wants no part in the holidays, which is a major problem for Mayor Sutton Wentworth. Sutton has her heart set on their town winning a national Christmas contest, and Casey&’s refusal to decorate his coffee shop could ruin everything. Thankfully, her precious son has worked his charms on Casey. But can one little boy—and his mother—change the mind of the local grinch?From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.Thunder Ridge Book 1: Surprise Christmas FamilyBook 2: The Sheriff's PromiseBook 3: Opening His Holiday Heart
Opening Israel’s Scriptures
by Ellen F. DavisOpening Israel's Scriptures is a collection of thirty-six essays on the Hebrew Bible, from Genesis to Chronicles, which gives powerful insight into the complexity and inexhaustibility of the Hebrew Scriptures as a theological resource. <P><P> Based on more than two decades of lectures on Old Testament interpretation, Ellen F. Davis offers a selective yet comprehensive guide to the core concepts, literary patterns, storylines, and theological perspectives that are central to Israel's Scriptures. <P><P> Underlying the whole study is the primary assumption that each book of the canon has literary and theological coherence, though not uniformity. In both her close readings of individual texts and in her broad demonstrations of the coherence of whole books, Davis models the best practices of contemporary exegesis, integrating the insights of contemporary scholars with those of classical theological resources in Jewish and Christian traditions. Throughout, she keeps an eye to the experiences and concerns of contemporary readers, showing through multiple examples that the critical interpretation of texts is provisional, open-ended work--a collaboration across generations and cultures. Ultimately what she offers is an invitation into the more spacious world that the Bible discloses, which challenges ordinary conceptions of how things "really" are.
Opening Our Spiritual Eyes
by Sriama Qala PhoenixKarma is generally understood as personal, and clearing karma is often considered an individual effort, with individual rewards. In Opening Our Spiritual Eyes, spiritual teacher Sri'ama Qala Phoenix shows how karmic clearing can also be used in collective healing. Karma is shared within families and communities, and clearing karma releases it from the etheric body of our children and future generations. The book was inspired by the ongoing "Celestial Project," a four-year global endeavor of Australia's Divine University that began in 2009. The project involves people gathering worldwide on specific dates to focus on the karmic cleaning of the etheric body of a major city.Opening Our Spiritual Eyes draws on the author's experiences of meeting the Enlightened Masters, those wise spirit guides who, through her, present new understandings of the collective karma held within the world's primary cities and our etheric bodies--and how to free ourselves, our families, and our world from it with grace. Revealing what Sri'ama Qala Phoenix calls "the true nature of the divine plan for humanity and our Earth," the book shares essential keys for how we can become empowered to live in alignment with our divine purpose.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Opening To You: Zen-inspired Translations Of The Psalms
by Norman FischerA week with the Trappist monks of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky left Norman Fischer feeling inspired by the uplifting, soaring verses chanted each day, but he was also astonished by the violence, passion, and bitterness they expressed. This experience started him on a journey through eastern and western spirituality and his own Jewish roots, resulting in these moving and intimate translations of the Psalms. Fischer's aim was to translate the Psalms in a way that would convey their beauty and power in accessible English for readers of every spiritual path or religious background. In ninety-three poems of praise, celebration, suffering, and lamentation, he brings the Psalms alive for today's readers, revealing an interfaith aspect to these sacred songs that is completely contemporary.
Opening Up
by James W. PennebakerAnyone who has ever entrusted a troubling secret to a journal, or mourned a broken heart with a friend, knows the feeling of relief that expressing painful emotions can bring. This book presents astonishing evidence that personal self-disclosure is not only good for our emotional health, but boosts our physical health as well. Psychologist James W. Pennebaker has conducted controlled clinical research that sheds new light on the powerful mind body connection. This book interweaves his findings with insightful case studies on secret-keeping, confession, and the hidden price of silence. Filled with information and encouragement, Opening Up explains Why suppressing inner problems takes a devastating toll on health How long-buried trauma affects the immune system How writing about your problems can improve your health Why it's never too late to heal old emotional wounds When self-disclosure may be risky--and how to know whom to trust