- Table View
- List View
The Gospels, Jesus Christ
by Terry EagletonRevolutions: Classic revolutionary writings set ablaze by today's radical writers. This essential new series features classic texts by key figures who took center-stage during a period of insurrection. Each book is introduced by a major contemporary radical writer who shows how these incendiary words still have the power to inspire, to provoke and maybe to ignite new revolutions... In this new presentation of the Gospels, Terry Eagleton makes a powerful and provocative argument for Jesus Christ as a social, political and moral radical, a friend of anti-imperialists, outcasts and marginals, a champion of the poor, the sick and immigrants, and as an opponent of the rich, religious hierarchs, and hypocrites everywhere-in other words, as a figure akin to revolutionaries like Robespierre, Marx, and Che Guevara.
The Gospels: "Lost" and Found
by Dr Timothy Paul JonesGospels: "Lost" and FoundWho really wrote the Gospels? Was it really Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Or were the gospels written by people who were utterly unconnected with eyewitnesses as some books and TV shows claim? Were the gospels written so long after Jesus' death and resurrection that they cannot be relied upon? Were there gospels that were included in the New Testament -- and later removed? Why were these four books chosen and not others?Gospels: "Lost" and Found gives solid reasons to trust the New Testament writings, and provides answers to Bart Ehrman's book Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why. Author Timothy Paul Jones, Ph.D., shows where the critics are incorrect and provides us with a logical, well-reasoned arguments for believing that Jesus lived, died, and rose again--according to the Scriptures. Now is the time to discuss textual criticism, because critics are bringing this to the public debate and claiming that the Bible cannot be trusted. It is important help Christians become better informed -- ready to "defend the faith."Dr. Jones' interest in this topic began many years ago when he came across arguments against the Bible. At first his faith was badly shaken and he wondered if he still believed in the Bible. But as he researched more he found answers. In just fourteen concise pages, Dr. Jones shows the errors in critics' logic and facts --and does it in an easy-to-understand style.Dr. Jones, professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has received the Baker Book House Award for excellence in theological scholarship. He is author of Answers to the Da Vinci Code and Christian History Made Easy.
The Gospels: A New Translation
by Sarah RudenAn &“electrifying [and] compulsively readable&” new translation of the Gospels, destined to become a definitive edition of these canonical texts, from &“one of our greatest living translators&” (The Christian Science Monitor)&“For anyone wanting to read the Gospels anew . . . a welcome and challenging companion.&”—The New YorkerNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLYSince nearly two millennia ago, the first four books of the New Testament have been formative texts for the modern world. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell of the life and ministry of Jesus. These four separate versions of the same story show complex origins, intricate interweavings, and inherent contradictions. Faithfully pointing the reader back to the original Greek, this masterful new translation from the renowned scholar and acclaimed translator Sarah Ruden is the first to reconsider the Gospels as books to be read and understood on their own terms: grounded in contemporary languages, literatures, and cultures, full of their own particular drama, humor, and reasoning, and free from later superimposed ideologies. The result is a striking and persuasive reappraisal of the accounts of these four authors, and presents a new appreciation of the ancient world as the foundation of our modern one. This robust and eminently readable translation is a welcoming ground on which a variety of readers can meet, and a resource for new debate, discussion, and inspiration for years to come.
The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral
by Robert A. ScottThe great Gothic cathedrals of Europe are among the most astonishing achievements of Western culture. Evoking feelings of awe and humility, they make us want to understand what inspired the people who had the audacity to build them. This engrossing book surveys an era that has fired the historical imagination for centuries. In it Robert A. Scott explores why medieval people built Gothic cathedrals, how they built them, what conception of the divine lay behind their creation, and how religious and secular leaders used cathedrals for social and political purposes. As a traveler's companion or a rich source of knowledge for the armchair enthusiast, The Gothic Enterprise helps us understand how ordinary people managed such tremendous feats of physical and creative energy at a time when technology was rudimentary, famine and disease were rampant, the climate was often harsh, and communal life was unstable and incessantly violent. While most books about Gothic cathedrals focus on a particular building or on the cathedrals of a specific region, The Gothic Enterprise considers the idea of the cathedral as a humanly created space. Scott discusses why an impoverished people would commit so many social and personal resources to building something so physically stupendous and what this says about their ideas of the sacred, especially the vital role they ascribed to the divine as a protector against the dangers of everyday life. Scott's narrative offers a wealth of fascinating details concerning daily life during medieval times. The author describes the difficulties master-builders faced in scheduling construction that wouldn't be completed during their own lifetimes, how they managed without adequate numeric systems or paper on which to make detailed drawings, and how climate, natural disasters, wars, variations in the hours of daylight throughout the year, and the celebration of holy days affected the pace and timing of work. Scott also explains such things as the role of relics, the quarrying and transporting of stone, and the incessant conflict cathedral-building projects caused within their communities. Finally, by drawing comparisons between Gothic cathedrals and other monumental building projects, such as Stonehenge, Scott expands our understanding of the human impulses that shape our landscape.
The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral
by Robert A. ScottThe great Gothic cathedrals of Europe are among the most astonishing achievements of Western culture. Evoking feelings of awe and humility, they make us want to understand what inspired the people who had the audacity to build them. This engrossing book surveys an era that has fired the historical imagination for centuries. In it Robert A. Scott explores why medieval people built Gothic cathedrals, how they built them, what conception of the divine lay behind their creation, and how religious and secular leaders used cathedrals for social and political purposes. As a traveler’s companion or a rich source of knowledge for the armchair enthusiast, The Gothic Enterprise helps us understand how ordinary people managed such tremendous feats of physical and creative energy at a time when technology was rudimentary, famine and disease were rampant, the climate was often harsh, and communal life was unstable and incessantly violent.While most books about Gothic cathedrals focus on a particular building or on the cathedrals of a specific region, The Gothic Enterprise considers the idea of the cathedral as a humanly created space. Scott discusses why an impoverished people would commit so many social and personal resources to building something so physically stupendous and what this says about their ideas of the sacred, especially the vital role they ascribed to the divine as a protector against the dangers of everyday life.Scott’s narrative offers a wealth of fascinating details concerning daily life during medieval times. The author describes the difficulties master-builders faced in scheduling construction that wouldn’t be completed during their own lifetimes, how they managed without adequate numeric systems or paper on which to make detailed drawings, and how climate, natural disasters, wars, variations in the hours of daylight throughout the year, and the celebration of holy days affected the pace and timing of work. Scott also explains such things as the role of relics, the quarrying and transporting of stone, and the incessant conflict cathedral-building projects caused within their communities. Finally, by drawing comparisons between Gothic cathedrals and other monumental building projects, such as Stonehenge, Scott expands our understanding of the human impulses that shape our landscape.
The Governess of Highland Hall: A Novel (Edwardian Brides #1)
by Carrie TuranskyWorlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help? Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents' financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn't sure what to make of the estate's preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey. Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin Randolph's two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from the financial ruin. The last thing he needs is any distraction coming from the kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith. While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families--common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia's steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall's future?
The Governess of Penwythe Hall: The Governess Of Penwythe Hall, The Thief Of Lanwyn Manor, The Light At Wyndcliff (The Cornwall Novels #1)
by Sarah E. LaddLaunching a brand-new series, beloved Regency author Sarah E. Ladd shares the tale of a governess who would risk anything to protect five recently orphaned children—even if it means returning to Cornwall.“Absolutely captivating! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put down The Governess of Penwythe Hall. This blend of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, and Jamaica Inn has it all. Intrigue. Danger. Poignant moments. And best of all a sweet, sweet love story. This is by far my favorite Sarah Ladd book. Don’t hesitate to snatch up this title!” —Michelle Griep, Christy Award–winning author of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas seriesCornwall was in her blood, and Delia feared she’d never escape its hold.Cornwall, England, 1811Blamed for her husband’s death, Cordelia Greythorne fled Cornwall and accepted a governess position to begin a new life. Years later her employer’s unexpected death and his last request for her to watch over his five children force her to reevaluate. She can’t abandon the children now that they’ve lost both parents, but their new guardian lives at the timeworn Penwythe Hall . . . back on the Cornish coast she’s tried desperately to forget.Jac Twethewey is determined to revive Penwythe Hall’s once-flourishing apple orchards, and he’ll stop at nothing to see his struggling estate profitable again. He hasn’t heard from his brother in years, so when his nieces, nephews, and their governess arrive unannounced, he battles both grief at his brother’s death and bewilderment over this sudden responsibility. Jac’s priorities shift as the children take up residence in the ancient halls, but their secretive governess—and the mystery shrouding her past—proves to be a disruption to his carefully laid plans.Rich with family secrets, lingering danger, and the captivating allure of new love, this first book in the Cornwall series introduces us to the Twethewey family and their search for peace, justice, and love on the Cornish coast.“Brimming with dangerous secrets, rich characters, and the hauntingly beautiful descriptions Sarah Ladd handles so well, 1800s Cornwall is brought vividly to life in this well-crafted tale that kept me glued to the pages. What a brilliant start to a new series!” —Abigail Wilson, author of In the Shadow of Croft Towers“The Governess of Penwythe Hall is a delightful and emotionally gripping tale that will tick all the boxes for any Regency lover: romance, history, and enough unpredictable intrigue to keep you up past your bedtime.” —Kristi Ann Hunter, author of A Defense of Honor“Lovers of sweet and Christian romance alike will fall in love with Delia’s strength amid the haunting backdrop of her tragic past and the Cornish coast. Throw in a handsome leading man willing to turn his life upside down for the children in Delia’s charge, and you have a story you can’t put down.” —Josi S. Kilpack, Whiney Award–winning author of the Mayfield Family series
The Governess's Dilemma
by Pamela GriffinMYRNA McBRIDE IS HEADING TOWARD HER FUTURE When her train derails in Hillsdale, Michigan, a wealthy stranger offers her shelter-and a position in his household. Grateful yet wary of the mysterious man, Myrna must guard her secrets-and her heart. Returning home upon his brother's death, Dalton Freed is now heir to a grand estate and guardian to his niece. Dalton desperately needs Myrna's help. But even as he looks forward to seeing the beautiful governess each day, he suspects she's keeping secrets. Can she ever earn Dalton's trust and bring light and laughter back to his life?
The Grace Awakening Devotional: Believing in grace is one thing. Living it is another.
by Charles SwindollNow, there's a companion to the life-revolutionizing, bestseller The Grace Awakening from Charles Swindoll. The Grace Awakening Devotional is a 30-day spiritual journey exploring the amazing truths of God's grace. Every day for a month, you will study grace by reading excerpts from Swindoll's book, The Grace Awakening, along with selected passages of Scripture. You then make personal application of what you've read, including space to record thoughts. The personal application sections include: Thinking-What is God saying to me? Hearing-An additional Scripture passage for further thought Reflecting-How do I apply this to my life? Speaking -Talking with God about the truths of the day The Grace Awakening Journal...the perfect way to begin enjoying the freedom God has planned for you!
The Grace Awakening Workbook
by Charles SwindollThe Grace Awakening called all Christians to wake up and reject living in such legalistic, performance-oriented bondage. The God of the universe has given us an amazing, revolutionary gift of grace and freedom. This freedom and grace set us apart from every other "religion" on the face of the earth. Now, in this ground-breaking Workbook, filled with questions, exercises, journaling ideas, and scriptures to explore, Charles Swindoll teaches you how to start living a grace-filled life. Freedom and joy-not lists and demands and duties-await all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Grace Awakening: Believing in Grace Is One Thing. Living it Is Another.
by Charles R. SwindollThe Grace Awakening calls all Christians to wake up and reject living in such legalistic, performance-oriented bondage. The God of the universe has given us an amazing, revolutionary gift of grace and freedom. This freedom and grace set us apart from every other "religion" on the face of the earth. In this best-selling classic, Charles Swindoll urges you not to miss living a grace-filled life. Freedom and joy-not lists and demands and duties-await all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Grace Controversy: Answers to 12 Common Questions
by Michael L. BrownThe songwriter got it right—God&’s grace is truly amazing. But the beauty of this gift is getting lost amid misinformation and outright error. In The Grace Controversy, Michael L. Brown, PhD, reveals the truth about God&’s grace, separating the facts from the extreme message of the modern &“grace revolution.&” Brown explains:Why the law is goodHow to break free of legalismHow to be victorious over sinHow to enter into God&’s rest—and run with perseveranceAt a time when the church needs a fresh encounter with Jesus, the hyper-grace message is lulling many to sleep. The Grace Controversy carefully presents what the Bible says about grace, sin, and sanctification, and empowers readers to avoid compromise and live holy, victorious lives in Christ.
The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief
by Larry Alex Taunton“Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.”What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it. Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired Ukranian orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace. Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.” Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day.Endorsements:"In The Grace Effect -- Larry Taunton's deeply moving and personal story of how his family adopted a Ukranian girl -- we behold the staggering contrast between a culture suffused with Christian faith and one that has utterly rejected it. Atheists must assiduously avoid exposure to stories like this one. If you've ever been unsure of how much good Christianity does in the world, read this book." —Eric Metaxas, New York Times Best-selling author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy."This highly readable book is a collection of powerful insights into the long-term consequences of spiritual indifference and, above all, a remarkable example of how to conquer it." — Dr. Olivera Petrovich, research psychologist, University of Oxford"What would a world without Christianity look like? We don't have to guess because such a world does exist: it exists in the current and former Communist bloc. Through the inspiring story of a little girl born in Eastern Europe and now living in America, Larry Taunton draws a sharp contrast between the life-giving influence of Christianity and the worn out theories of atheism and radical secularism. The effect?The Grace Effect?is nothing less than powerful and moving." ?Dinesh D'Souza, former White House policy analyst, fellow of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and current president of Kings College
The Grace Goes With the Chair: A Journey in Leadership
by Stu JohnsonHas God called you to do something beyond your qualifications? Are you drowning in a sea of expectations and self-doubt? In The Grace Goes With the Chair, Colonel Lee S. “Stu” Johnson shares what he has learned from decades of leadership service: it is our character, not our abilities, that qualifies us to lead. Give God your best, and He will empower you to get the job done. Whether you are on the path to leadership in your workplace or in the church, The Grace Goes With the Chair will help you overcome fear and insecurity and see your potential as God does--limited only by your faith. If God called you to be a leader, be confident that you are the right person for the job.
The Grace Guide: Live Your One Beautiful Life
by Susie DavisA guide for extending God’s grace to yourself and others. What would you like to say to your younger self? That God loves you. To love the woman you are becoming. To not be so hard on yourself and others. With The Grace Guide: Live Your One Beautiful Life, Susie Davis invites readers to experience the grace upon grace God has for their life. It is a spiritual guide for women to grow in the Lord by reflecting on memories both joyful and hurtful with challenges like writing a letter to your younger self, questions of self-examination, and prayers to consider how God showed up for them in special times. The Grace Guide shows readers how to love themselves like their good Father has always loved them and how to live their one beautiful life. Product Features: Includes a challenge to write a letter to your younger self. Offers spiritual guidance to learn to extend grace to yourself and others. Makes a great women’s gift.
The Grace Marriage: How the Gospel and Intentionality Transform Your Relationship
by Brad Rhoads Marilyn RhoadsWe live in a performance-based world—but happy and hope-filled marriages thrive on grace. Marriage was God&’s idea, so we know He designed it to be very, very good. But why do most marriages look disengaged, unappealing, or at best a bit stagnant? For Brad and Marilyn, &“the honeymoon was over before the honeymoon was even over.&” Both found themselves disillusioned and disappointed. In The Grace Marriage, the authors share how a revelation of God&’s grace and fresh conviction of the need for intentional investment transformed their hearts and relationship. What does a grace marriage look like? This book invites couples to explore:Grace and IdentityGrace in the Day-to-DayGrace in CrisisGrace and CommunicationGrace and SexGrace and Money . . . and more.Choosing to show your spouse the same grace Christ has showed you liberates you to walk in freedom and fullness of joy. If you want your marriage to reflect the vibrancy, creativity, and oneness God intends, you must show proactive, ongoing investment.This book is an essential resource for couples who desire to thrive—not just survive—and who want a marriage that showcases the grace of God to the watching world.
The Grace Message: Is the Gospel Really This Good?
by Andrew FarleyWhat Is God&’s Grace—and What Does It Mean for You? Grace. It&’s a word we&’ve heard since the very first step in our faith journey—but do we really believe in God&’s grace? Grace raises eyebrows. It begs questions. Grace turns everything upside down. The Grace Message invites you to discover the best flavor of Christianity and celebrate the good news of the Gospel to the fullest. Here, you&’ll learn: • how to abandon rule-based living and stop trying to measure up • why your new identity in Jesus matters more than you can imagine • how you can now enjoy God&’s New Covenant way of grace Bestselling author and radio host Andrew Farley&’s no-nonsense straight talk will awaken you to a revolutionary perspective every healthy Christian should have. Life is too short to miss out on God&’s best—and what you don&’t know can hinder you from experiencing Jesus in every area of your life. So if you&’ve been weighed down by ruthless religion, or you&’ve been searching for that high-octane version of the Gospel that you know must be out there somewhere, here it is. This thought-provoking book will challenge you to dismiss the lies you&’ve believed and to make up your own mind about how big God&’s grace really is. &“Andrew Farley shows why the good news is actually great news. This extraordinary, battle-tested message of hope and freedom has a proven track record of transforming lives. The Grace Message is bursting with truth. The love of God practically drips from its pages. Read it and see for yourself!&” —Bart Millard, singer/songwriter for MercyMe
The Grace Of Everyday Saints: How a Band of Believers Lost Their Church and Found Their Faith
by Julian GuthrieSt. Brigid Church was one of San Francisco&’s great landmarks in the early 1990s. The church itself had weathered depressions and natural disasters, epic earthquakes and a massive fire. Its loyal congregation was active, vibrant, and growing. But in 1993, without warning, the Catholic archdiocese mysteriously ordered its doors to be closed.The Grace of Everyday Saints is the story of how a ragtag group of believers came together in a crusade to save their church. What they discovered would be devastating: that around the country, parishes like theirs were threatened by the higher echelons of the Church, all to hide a terrible secret. Soon there were near-daily headlines that shocked the world. But still this unlikely group of heroes—led by a renegade lawyer, a reformed Catholic, and an antiestablishment priest—continued to meet weekly, to fight, to prove that their beloved St. Brigid was worth saving.A dramatic narrative that takes readers from the streets of San Francisco to the halls of the Vatican, The Grace of Everyday Saints is about injustice and betrayal, redemption and grace.
The Grace Outpouring: Blessing Others through Prayer
by Dave Roberts Roy GodwinAn inspiration for the creation of houses of prayer around the world, The Grace Outpouring is a captivating account of spiritual renewal on a Welsh hillside. When Roy Godwin turned his back on a lucrative consulting job to lead the quiet retreat center Ffald-y-Brenin in West Wales, he wasn't sure what was next. Then God showed up. In the years since the Godwins welcomed their first surprise guests to Ffald-y-Brenin, God has drawn thousands of seekers to this converted hill-farm with a tangible presence of healing and power. Along with its accompanying study guide, The Grace Outpouring offers fascinating stories of God's work on a remote hillside as well as inspiring insight into how God can work in readers' own communities.
The Grace That Leads Us Home
by Kim Vogel SawyerThey were supposed to spend the rest of their lives together... In the wake of her husband's death, Alice Deaton will do anything to hold her family together. But with life handing her challenge after challenge, will her faith crack under the strain? Or will a kind stranger be able to offer refuge that Alice and her two small children so desperately need?
The Grace Walk Experience
by Steve McveyFor years, Steve McVey's Grace Walk has inspired Christians to leave behind a performance and fear-based faith to embrace a faith lived in abundance and grace. The Grace Walk Experience helps readers move that message of hope from their heads to their hearts as they explore eight truths that have changed lives worldwide daily, interactive studies that reveal grace as much more than a doctrine ways to quit "doing" for God so that He can live through them, illustrations of the wonder and miracle of faith as God intended God's Word, salvation, and evangelism with new perspective This excellent tool for church classes, small group discussion, and individual study will lead believers to understand their identity in Christ, let go of legalism, and make room for the overflowing love, mercy, and purpose of life lived wholly in God's grace.
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded: Declared And Practically Improved
by John OwenJohn Owen (1616 – 24 August 1683) was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford. Owen was educated at Queen's College, Oxford, where he studied classics and theology and was ordained. Because of the "high-church" innovations introduced by Archbishop William Laud, Owen left the university to be a chaplain to the family of a noble lord. His first parish was at Fordham in Essex, to which he went while the nation was involved in civil war.Oliver Cromwell liked Owen and took him as his chaplain on his expeditions both to Ireland and Scotland from 1649-1651. As a result, Owen's fame was at its height from 1651 to 1660, during which he played a prominent part in the religious, political, and academic life of England. Shortly after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, he moved to London, where he was active in preaching and writing until his death. He declined invitations to the ministry in Boston (1663) and the presidency of Harvard (1670) and chided New England Congregationalists for intolerance.-Print ed.
The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance (LifeChange Books)
by Randy AlcornChristians trying to model their lives after Jesus may find that He gets buried under lists, rules, and formulas. Now bestselling author Randy Alcorn offers a simple two-point checklist for Christlikeness based on John 1:14. The test consists of balancing grace and truth, equally and unapologetically. Grace without truth deceives people, and ceases to be grace. Truth without grace crushes people, and ceases to be truth. Alcorn shows the reader how to show the world Jesus -- offering grace instead of the world's apathy and tolerance, offering truth instead of the world's relativism and deception.Grace or Truth...or Both? Truth without grace breeds self-righteousness and crushing legalism. Grace without truth breeds deception and moral compromise. Is it possible to embrace both in balance? Jesus did. Randy Alcorn offers a simple yet profound two-point checklist of Christlikeness. "In the end," says Alcorn, "we don't need grace or truth. We need grace and truth. And for people to see Jesus in us, they must see both."From the Hardcover edition.
The Grace in Aging
by Kathleen Dowling SinghLearn to use your later years for awakening and spiritual growth.Encouraging, inspiring, and practical, The Grace in Aging invites all those who have ever experienced spiritual longing to awaken in their twilight years. Since aging, in and of itself, does not lead to spiritual maturity, The Grace in Aging suggests and explores causes and conditions that we can create in our lives, just as we are living them, to allow awakening to unfold -- transforming the predictable sufferings of aging into profound opportunities for growth in clarity, love, compassion, and peace. Kathleen Dowling Singh streamlines vast and complex teachings into skillful means and wise views. Straightforward language and piercing questions bring Singh's teachings into the sharp focus of our own lives; the contemplative nature of each chapter allows for an uncommon depth of inquiry. Examples from our lives and from the chatter in our own minds touch the reader personally, offering the chance to absorb the implications deeply and do the work of freeing his or her own mind. Ecumenical in spirit, tone, and language, Singh offers wisdom from teachers from a variety of spiritual backgrounds: Thich Nhat Hanh, the Apostles, Annie Dillard, and more. Lessening our attachments, decreasing our aversions, unbinding what binds us, we bear witness to the possibility of awakening for all beings. The Grace in Aging offers guidelines for older individuals of any wisdom tradition who wish to awaken before they die; no need for caves or seven-year retreats. This is spiritual practice for the lives we live.
The Grace in Dying: A Message of Hope, Comfort and Spiritual Transformation
by Kathleen Dowling SinghIn this brilliantly conceived and beautifully written book, Kathleen Dowling Singh illuminates the profound psychological and spiritual transformations experiences by the dying as the natural process of death reconnects them with the source of their being. Examining the end of life in the light of current psychological understanding, religious wisdom, and compassionate medical science, The Grace of Dying offers a fresh, deeply comforting message of hope and courage as we contemplate the meaning of our mortality.While the prevailing Western medical tradition has seen death as an enemy to be fought and overcome, Singh offers a richer and more rewarding path of understanding. Combining extensive training and education in developmental psychology with profound spiritual insight, she balances expert analysis with moving accounts drawn from her experiences working with hundreds of dying patients at a large hospice.Singh moves beyond the five stages of dying revealed in Kübler-Ross's classic On Death and Dying, and finds in the "nearing death experience" even more significant and forming stages of surrender and transcendence. These stages involve the qualities of grace: letting go, radiance, focusing inward, silence, a sense of the sacred, wisdom, intensity, and, in the end, a merging with Spirit. Through this intense process, we come to experience at last the reality of our true self, which transcends our finite ego and bodily existence, and our merging with the source of being from which we originated. Dying is safe.In clear, nontechnical language, Singh reveals the transformations that come with dying, using the vocabulary of growing Western, as well as Eastern, wisdom.Written for those aware that their life is coming to an end, those who care for the dying, and, ultimately, for all of us who inevitably face our owndeath and the deaths of the people we love, The Grace in Dying reveals that dying is the most transforming, powerful, and spiritually rich of life's experiences.