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Opening the Heart of the Cosmos: Insights on the Lotus Sutra
by Nhat Hanh ThichZen Master Thich Nhat Hanh uses the Lotus Sutra, one of Mahayana Buddhism's most revered texts, to illustrate the Buddha nature inherent in everyone. With great passion and clarity, he demonstrates how each human being has the capacity to transform their own individual suffering, develop compassion, and help create more peace in the world.Nhat Hanh's insights invoke a wide range of contemporary topics and concerns, from war and the threat of terrorism to individual anxiety and the degradation of our environment. He proposes a radical new solution to current conflicts, encouraging each of us to work on our own mindfulness practice to create greater peace and harmony. His accessible analysis of the sacred text demonstrates its practical and direct applicability to today's concerns.
Opening the Red Door: The Inside Story of Russia's First Christian Liberal Arts University
by John A. BernbaumAfter the Berlin Wall fell, a group of Christian colleges in the U.S. seized the opportunity to begin strategic faculty and student exchanges with universities inside the Soviet Union. They could not have foreseen the doors that would open next. During a 1990 visit to Russia, John Bernbaum and his colleagues received a surprising invitation from a Russian government official: come help build a faith-based university in Moscow. Thus, after seventy years of fierce religious persecution under communism, the Russian-American Christian University (RACU) was born. In Opening the Red Door, Bernbaum presents an insider's account of the rise and fall of a Russian-American partnership. As a founder and later president of RACU, Bernbaum offers a ground-level perspective on Russia’s post-communist transition and the construction of a cultural-educational bridge between the two superpowers. He describes how American RACU staff worked to understand Russian history and culture—including the nation's rich spiritual heritage—so they could support their new Russian friends in rebuilding an educational system and a society. He documents the story of the first private Christian liberal arts university to be accredited in Russia's history, from its first steps, through its major successes, to its facing increasing opposition during the Putin era. Opening the Red Door offers unique insight not only into Russian culture and post–Cold War history but also traces the dynamics within international educational institutions and partnerships. When he first traveled to Russia, Bernbaum writes, he thought of it as a nation of mystery. But after more than twenty-five years of work there, he believes Russia can be understood. His journey of understanding will prove instructive to educators, administrators, students, missionaries, and anyone interested in international relations.
Opening the Sealed Book: Interpretations of the Book of Isaiah in Late Antiquity
by Joseph BlenkinsoppOf all the texts in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, perhaps no book has a more colorful history of interpretation than Isaiah. A comprehensive history of this interpretation between the prophet Malachi and the first days of Christianity, Joseph Blenkinsopp's Opening the Sealed Book traces three different prophetic traditions in Isaiah -- the "man of God," the critic of social structures, and the apocalyptic seer.Blenkinsopp explores the place of Isaiah in Jewish sectarianism, at Qumran, and among early Christians, touching on a number of its themes, including exile, "the remnant of Israel," martyrdom, and "the servant of the Lord." Encompassing several disciplines -- hermeneutics, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Second Temple studies, Christian origins -- Opening the Sealed Book will appeal to Jewish and Christian scholars as well as readers fascinated by the intricate and influential prophetic visions of Isaiah.
Opening the Treasure of the Profound: Teachings on the Songs of Jigten Sumgon and Milarepa
by Drikung Chetsang Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche Khenmo Trinlay ChodronSpiritual teachings in the form of songs--spontaneous expressions of deep wisdom and understanding that reveal the nature of reality--have been treasured since the dawn of Buddhism in India. In Opening the Treasure of the Profound, Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen translates nine such songs, by Milarepa and Jigten Sumgön, and then explains them in contemporary terms. His insights take the Buddha's ancient wisdom out of the realm of the intellectual and directly into our hearts. Here, we are invited into the world of transmission from master to disciple in order to discover truth for ourselves--to open the treasure of profound wisdom that fully realizes the nature of reality.
Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer
by David G. BennerMost Christians want to experience spiritual transformation. But many are frustrated by the limited progress of our spiritual self-improvement efforts. We find our praying burdened by a sense of obligation and failure. But prayer is not merely something we do; prayer is what God does in us. Prayer is not just communication with God—it is communion with God. As we open ourselves to him, God does the spiritual work of transformation in us. Spiritual director and psychologist David Benner invites us to discover openness to God as the essence of prayer, spirituality, and the Christian life. Prayer is far more than saying words to God; all of life can be prayer when offered to God in faith and with openness. Using the four movements of lectio divina, Benner explores prayer as attending, pondering, responding, and being. Along the way he opens us to a world of possibilities for communion with God: praying with our senses, with imagination, with music and creativity, in contemplation, in service, and much more. Learn how prayer can be a way of living. Move beyond words to become not merely someone who prays, but someone whose entire life is prayer in union with God. This expanded edition includes a new afterword and an experiential guide with questions for individual reflection or group discussion.
Opening to Meditation: A Gentle, Guided Approach
by Diana LangIn this beautiful book and downloadable audio companion, Diana Lang demonstrates that meditation is as simple as breathing. There is no mystery to it. Her pleasant, straightforward guidance makes meditation available to all. Along the way, she shows us the numerous benefits to be gained from meditation, and she writes and speaks beautifully about breathing, acceptance, intention, and the power of love.
Opening to Meditation: A Gentle, Guided Approach
by Diana LangBreathe, Be Still, and Listen Diana Lang’s books, audio programs, webinars, and workshops have allowed thousands to access the physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits of meditation. Drawing on her wide experience in studying spiritual teachings from around the world, Lang has put together a gentle, guided approach to meditation that is very easy to implement. In Opening to Meditation, she demonstrates that meditating is as simple as breathing. There is no mystery to it. Her instruction goes to the core, avoiding the analytical theory, fixed rules, and intellectual razzmatazz that often intimidate would-be practitioners. Instead, she shows us how to reconnect with our foundational essence of soul and self, where peace and centeredness are always and everywhere available. Includes downloadable guided-meditation program
Opening to Oneness: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to the Zen Precepts
by Nancy Mujo BakerStop trying to become &“better&” by suppressing or hiding parts of yourself, and learn what it means to be fully human with this accessible guide to the core ethical teachings of Zen Buddhism. In Opening to Oneness, Zen teacher Nancy Baker offers a detailed path of practice for Zen students planning to take the precepts and for anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, interested in deepening their personal study of ethical living. She reveals that there are three levels of each precept: a literal level (don&’t kill, not even a bug), a relative level that takes moral ambiguity into account (what if it&’s a malaria-spreading mosquito?), and an ultimate level—the paradoxical level of nonduality, in which the precepts are naturally expressed from a state of oneness. Full of nuance, intelligence, and compassion, the first half of the book addresses the ten grave precepts mostly from the relative level, including instructions for how to practice these precepts individually and in pairs or groups. The second half of the book takes a deep dive into looking at the precepts from the ultimate perspective, largely through an exploration of the writings of Dogen, the thirteenth-century religious genius who founded the Soto Zen school. At once comprehensive and innovative, Opening to Oneness will take its place alongside classics like The Mind of Clover, The Heart of Being, and Being Upright as a cherished guide to Zen Buddhist ethics.
Operation Bonnet
by Kimberly StuartTwenty-year-old Nellie Monroe has a restless brilliance that makes her a bit of an odd duck. She wants to be a private investigator, even though her tiny hometown offers no hope of clients. Until she meets Amos Shetler, an Amish dropout carrying a torch for the girl he left behind. So Nellie straps on her bonnet and goes undercover to get the dish. But though she's brainy, Nellie is clueless when it comes to real life and real relationships. Soon she's alienated her best friend, angered her college professor, and botched her case. Operation Bonnet is a comedy of errors, a surprising take on love, and a story of grace.
Operation Gladio
by Paul L. WilliamsThis disturbing exposé describes a secret alliance forged at the close of World War II by the CIA, the Sicilian and US mafias, and the Vatican to thwart the possibility of a Communist invasion of Europe. Journalist Paul L. Williams presents evidence suggesting the existence of "stay-behind" units in many European countries consisting of five thousand to fifteen thousand military operatives. According to the author's research, the initial funding for these guerilla armies came from the sale of large stocks of SS morphine that had been smuggled out of Germany and Italy and of bogus British bank notes that had been produced in concentration camps by skilled counterfeiters. As the Cold War intensified, the units were used not only to ward off possible invaders, but also to thwart the rise of left-wing movements in South America and NATO-based countries by terror attacks. Williams argues that Operation Gladio soon gave rise to the toppling of governments, wholesale genocide, the formation of death squads, financial scandals on a grand scale, the creation of the mujahideen, an international narcotics network, and, most recently, the ascendancy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit cleric with strong ties to Operation Condor (an outgrowth of Gladio in Argentina) as Pope Francis I.Sure to be controversial, Operation Gladio connects the dots in ways the mainstream media often overlooks.
Operation Gladio: The Unholy Alliance between the Vatican, the CIA, and the Mafia
by Paul L. WilliamsThis disturbing exposé describes a secret alliance forged at the close of World War II by the CIA, the Sicilian and US mafias, and the Vatican to thwart the possibility of a Communist invasion of Europe. Journalist Paul L. Williams presents evidence suggesting the existence of “stay-behind” units in many European countries consisting of five thousand to fifteen thousand military operatives. According to the author’s research, the initial funding for these guerilla armies came from the sale of large stocks of SS morphine that had been smuggled out of Germany and Italy and of bogus British bank notes that had been produced in concentration camps by skilled counterfeiters. As the Cold War intensified, the units were used not only to ward off possible invaders, but also to thwart the rise of left-wing movements in South America and NATO-based countries by terror attacks. Williams argues that Operation Gladio soon gave rise to the toppling of governments, wholesale genocide, the formation of death squads, financial scandals on a grand scale, the creation of the mujahideen, an international narcotics network, and, most recently, the ascendancy of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit cleric with strong ties to Operation Condor (an outgrowth of Gladio in Argentina) as Pope Francis I.Sure to be controversial, Operation Gladio connects the dots in ways the mainstream media often overlooks.
Operation Inasmuch: Mobilizing Believers beyond the Walls of the Church
by David W. CrockerOperation Inasmuch is a proven way to mobilize believers in hands-on local church missions through one-day ministries that have significant impact both on the community and the church. It creatively combines how-to with stories and testimonies that will inspire and energize local congregations. Engaged in local mission projects, participants gain spiritual renewal and continued commitment to respond to the needs of others in the community. Operation Inasmuch is Christians doing the work of the church instead of church work. They go beyond the walls of church buildings to apply God’s love to human hurts and hopes wherever they are found.
Operation Jihadi Bride: My Covert Mission to Rescue Young Women from ISIS - The Incredible True Story
by Clifford Thurlow John CarneySoldier Magazine's Book of the MonthFascinating... Incredibly dangerous. The TimesGripping. Adrenalin fuelled true-life account with all the makings of a military thriller. The action unfolds like a Le Carre novel. Soldier Magazine/h2>'If there are young women with children trapped in that hell and we can get them out, don't we have a duty to do so?'Hearing terrifying stories first-hand from naive young girls who'd been tricked, abused and enslaved by ISIS, ex-British Army soldier John Carney set up a high-risk operation to rescue as many as he could.This is the breath-taking true story of how he repeatedly led his men behind enemy lines into the Syrian lead storm to liberate women and children, delivering them to de-radicalization programmes and fair trials.Believing that 'every person we can bring back is living proof that ISIS is a failure', Carney tackles the complex issue of Jihadi Brides head on, as he and his men endanger their lives, not always returning safely home.
Operation Jihadi Bride: My Covert Mission to Rescue Young Women from ISIS - The Incredible True Story
by Clifford Thurlow John Carney"Fascinating" - The Times'Jihad isn't a war. It's an objective. An aberration. If there are young women with children, lost boys... If they are trapped in that hell and we can get them out, don't we have a duty to do so? Every person we can bring back is living proof that Islamic State is a failure.'Ex-British Army soldier John Carney was running a close protection operation for oil executives in Iraq when the family of a young Dutch woman asked him to extract her from the collapsing 'Islamic State' in Syria. Hearing first-hand about the naive young girls, many from the West, who'd been tricked, sexually abused and enslaved by ISIS, he knew only one thing - he had to get them out of that living hell.This is the incredible true story of how - armed with AK-47s and 9mm Glocks - Carney launched a daring, dangerous and deadly operation to free as many of them as he could. From 2016 to 2019, he led his small band of committed Kurdish freedom fighters into the heart of the Syrian lead storm.Backed by humanitarian NGOs, and feeding intel to MI6, Carney and his men went behind enemy lines to deliver the women and their children to the authorities, to deradicalization programmes and fair trials.Carney, a born soldier, was moved to action by the women's terrifying stories. He and his men risked their lives daily, not always making it safely home...Gripping, shocking and thought-provoking, Operation Jihadi Bride tackles the complex issue of the jihadi brides head on - an essential read for our troubled times.
Operation Jihadi Bride: My Covert Mission to Rescue Young Women from ISIS - The Incredible True Story
by Clifford Thurlow John CarneySoldier Magazine's Book of the MonthFascinating... Incredibly dangerous. The TimesGripping. Adrenalin fuelled true-life account with all the makings of a military thriller. The action unfolds like a Le Carre novel. Soldier Magazine/h2>Jihad isn't a war. It's an objective. An aberration. If there are young women with children, lost boys... If they are trapped in that hell and we can get them out, don't we have a duty to do so? Every person we can bring back is living proof that Islamic State is a failure.'Ex-British Army soldier John Carney was running a close protection operation for oil executives in Iraq when the family of a young Dutch woman asked him to extract her from the collapsing 'Islamic State' in Syria. Hearing first-hand about the naive young girls, many from the West, who'd been tricked, sexually abused and enslaved by ISIS, he knew only one thing - he had to get them out of that living hell.This is the incredible true story of how - armed with AK-47s and 9mm Glocks - Carney launched a daring, dangerous and deadly operation to free as many of them as he could. From 2016 to 2019, he led his small band of committed Kurdish freedom fighters into the heart of the Syrian lead storm.Backed by humanitarian NGOs, and feeding intel to MI6, Carney and his men went behind enemy lines to deliver the women and their children to the authorities, to deradicalization programmes and fair trials.Carney, a born soldier, was moved to action by the women's terrifying stories. He and his men risked their lives daily, not always making it safely home...Gripping, shocking and thought-provoking, Operation Jihadi Bride tackles the complex issue of the jihadi brides head on - an essential read for our troubled times.
Operation Shylock (Vintage International)
by Philip RothTime Magazine Best American Novel (1993)In this fiendishly imaginative book (which may or may not be fiction), Philip Roth meets a man who may or may not be Philip Roth. Because someone with that name has been touring Israel, promoting a bizarre reverse exodus of the Jews. Roth is intent on stopping him, even if that means impersonating his own impersonator. With excruciating suspense, unfettered philosophical speculation, and a cast of characters that includes Israeli intelligence agents, Palestinian exiles, an accused war criminal, and an enticing charter member of an organization called Anti-Semites Anonymous, Operation Shylock barrels across the frontier between fact and fiction, seriousness and high comedy, history and nightmare.
Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (Operation World Resources)
by Jason MandrykOperation World,All the countries of the world featuredMaps of each countryGeographic informationPeople groups within each countryEconomic informationPolitical informationReligious make-up of each countryDaily Prayer CalendarAnswers to prayerChallenges for prayerOperation WorldNote: Because this ebook is richly illustrated, please allow a little extra time to download after purchase.
Operation: Married By Christmas
by Debra CloptonUnmarried Men Of Mule Hollow: Run For Your Lives! When Haley Bell Thornton arrives back in Mule Hollow wearing a wedding gown, no one bothers to ask where the groom is. Especially not Will Sutton, the first of her ditched fiancés. The runaway bride has done it again! And now the woman he loved and lost ten years ago is tottering around the dusty ranch town in her high heels and fancy honeymoon clothes. Will vows not to care. Definitely a problem, since Haley's granddad--and the matchmaking ladies--have a secret holiday plan to make wedding bells chime by Christmas Originally published in 2007
Operation: Married by Christmas
by Debra CloptonUnmarried Men Of Mule Hollow: Run For Your Lives!When Haley Bell Thornton arrived back in Mule Hollow wearing a wedding gown, no one bothered to ask where the groom was. Especially not Will Sutton, the first of her ditched fiancés. The runaway bride had done it again! And now the woman he loved and lost ten years ago was tottering around the dusty ranch town in her high heels and fancy honeymoon clothes. Will vowed not to look. Definitely a problem, since Haley's granddad--and the matchmaking ladies--had a secret holiday plan to make decade-old wedding bells chime by Christmas!
Opinions and Opossums
by Ann BradenA School Library Journal Best BookAgnes has been raised to keep her opinions to herself, but how do you keep silent when you&’re full of burning questions?Agnes has been encouraged not to question authority by her mom—but that&’s especially hard in religion class, where it bugs her that so much gets blamed on Eve and that God&’s always pictured one way. Fortunately, Agnes&’ anthropologist neighbor, Gracy, gets Agnes thinking after they rescue an opossum together. Playing dead didn&’t serve the opossum well, so maybe it&’s time for Agnes to start thinking for herself. And when Agnes learns that some cultures picture God as a female, she feels freed to think—and write—about things from new perspectives. As she and her best friend, Mo, encourage each other to get out of their comfort zone at school as the quiet kids, they quickly find it&’s sorta cool seeing people react when they learn you are very much full of thought-provoking opinions. Ann Braden has written a fast-paced, funny novel that will resonate with anyone who&’s ever been afraid to say what they think or question the status quo.
Oportunidades y retos contextuales
by Dr John R. W. StottVIVIMOS UNOS TIEMPOS DE CAOS ANTE ESTOS RETOS COMPLEJOS, ¿CÓMO DEBE ACTUAR LA IGLESIA?. En un mundo que se enfrenta a problemas sin precedentes, la voz de John Stott llama a la iglesia a convertir las crisis y desafíos en grandes oportunidades para el pueblo de Dios. Oportunidades y retos contextuales es el primer libro de esta serie y considera el contexto mundial de la iglesia en nuestros tiempos. ¿Se contaminaría la iglesia si se inmiscuyera en los problemas de nuestro mundo siempre cambiante? ¿Cuáles son las responsabilidades bíblicas de los creyentes en un mundo que se ha vuelto loco? John Stott, con un estilo lúcido, revisa el legado histórico de las relaciones entre la iglesia y el mundo y sus problemas; y al recurrir a una doctrina más completa de Dios, el mundo, Cristo, la salvación y la iglesia, dicta las bases bíblicas para unas relaciones adecuadas entre la iglesia y el mundo. El libro incluye una guía de estudio y su lectura debe ser esencial para cada cristiano que desee enfrentar nuestra cultura con perspectiva, pasión y fe.
Oportunidades y retos globales
by Dr John R. W. StottVIVIMOS UNOS TIEMPOS DE CAOS. ANTE ESTOS RETOS COMPLEJOS, ¿CÓMO DEBE ACTUAR LA IGLESIA? En un mundo que se enfrenta a problemas sin precedentes, la voz de John Stott llama a la iglesia a convertir las crisis y desafíos en grandes oportunidades para el pueblo de Dios. En Oportunidades y retos globales, el segundo libro de esta serie, John Stott nos presenta los cuatro retos globales más apremiantes: Paz y guerra, el desafío del deterioro del medio ambiente, la pobreza persistente y el desafío de las violaciones de los derechos y dignidad humanos. Este libro incluye una guía de estudio y su lectura debe ser esencial para cada cristiano que desee enfrentar nuestra cultura con perspectiva, pasión y fe.
Oportunidades y retos personales (Grandes oportunidades y retos para el cristianismo hoy)
by Dr John R. W. StottVIVIMOS UNOS TIEMPOS DE CAOS. ANTE ESTOS RETOS COMPLEJOS, ¿CÓMO DEBE ACTUAR LA IGLESIA? En un mundo que se enfrenta a problemas sin precedentes, la voz de John Stott llama a la iglesia a convertir las crisis y desafíos en grandes oportunidades para el pueblo de Dios. En Oportunidades y retos globales, el cyarti libro de esta serie, John Stott nos presenta los retos de un mundo pluralista en el campo personal. Desde las relaciones entre los géneros humanos, las nuevas normas del mundo incrédulo para el matrimonio, ;a cohabitación y la tragedia del divorcio, hasta una cuidadosa consideración del aborto y la eutanasia y el nuevo mundo de la biotecnología escrito por John Wyatt. Este libro incluye una guía de estudio y su lectura debe ser esencial para cada cristiano en una era en que las normas del mundo acerca de la conducta personal parecen estar cambiando todos los días.
Oportunidades y retos sociales
by Dr John R. W. StottVIVIMOS UNOS TIEMPOS DE CAOS. ANTE ESTOS RETOS COMPLEJOS ¿CÓMO DEBE ACTUAR LA IGLESIA? En un mundo que se enfrenta a problemas sin precedentes, la voz de John Stott llama a la iglesia a convertir las crisis y desafíos en grandes oportunidades para el pueblo de Dios. En Oportunidades y retos sociales, el tercer libro de esta serie, John Stott nos presenta un mundo práctico de trabajo, iniciativas empresariales, diversidad étnica y un cuadro realista de un estilo de vida auténticamente cristiano. Este libro incluye una guía de estudio y su lectura debe ser esencial para cada cristiano que desee comprender la complejidad del mundo laboral y empresarial, así como la problemática de la discriminación. Al final nos ofrece una visión de una vida cristiana viable, sencilla y generosa.
Opportunity Leadership: Stop Planning and Start Getting Results
by Roger ParrottDon't create change. Capture it.Get ready to forget everything you know about "working your plan." In this counterintuitive book, innovative university president Roger Parrott turns leadership on its head and shows you how unexpected opportunities--the ones you may be missing--are the key to your success.With an Opportunity Leadership mindset, you'll see God-directed results like never before. In plain language, Dr. Parrott guides you in developing six traits to focus your leadership outlook on untapped opportunities. Not only that, he provides a step-by-step plan for you to create six organization-wide tendencies that enable your team to respond to opportunities with expediency, adeptness, and energy.