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The Grace of Incorruption: The Selected Essays of Donald Sheehan on Orthodox Faith and Poetics

by Christopher Merrill Donald Sheehan Xenia Sheehan

Professor of literature, scholar, teacher of poets and poetry, convert to the Eastern Orthodox Church, man of prayer, Donald Sheehan wrote these wide-ranging essays with a common commitment to understanding the ways in which the ruining oppositions of our experience can be held within the disciplines of lyric art—held "until God Himself can be seen in the ruins . . . and overwhelmingly and gratefully loved." That is what Sheehan means by "the grace of incorruption." Part One weaves together themes from Sheehan's life and pilgrimages; the spiritual art of Orthodox Saints Gregory of Nyssa, Isaac and Ephraim of Syria, Sergius of Radonezh, Herman of Alaska; the literary art of Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Frost, Salinger, and contemporary poets Jane Kenyon, Sydney Lea, and Nicholas Samaras; the philosophy of RenÉ Girard—examining the nature of penitence, prayer, personhood, freedom, depression, and the right relationship to the earth. Part Two delves into the poetics of Psalms, especially LXX 118: a "poetics of resurrection," a poetics that came to govern the lifework of an extraordinary man, blessed with faith, learning, and humility.

The Grace of Les Miserables (The Grace of Le Miserables)

by Matt Rawle

Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a truly epic story. Whether you’ve tackled the 1,400-page 19thcentury novel, witnessed the Broadway musical (and memorized its soundtrack), or seen the several screen adaptations of it, you already know the power of its story.In the six-week study The Grace of Les Misérables, author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo’s story. As these imperfect and relatable characters interact, we can see how these ideals work together (perhaps even in spite of each other) out in the world.In keeping with his previous works, Matt Rawle brings us to the intersection of Church and Pop Culture by drawing parallels between the iconic story and musical and our Christian calling, inspiring us to both understand our faith and live it out in the world.A DVD, Leader Guide, youth resources, and Worship Resource Flash Drive are also available for a six-week study.

The Grace of Les Miserables Leader Guide (The Grace of Le Miserables)

by Matt Rawle

Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a truly epic story. Whether you’ve tackled the 1,400-page 19thcentury novel, witnessed the Broadway musical (and memorized its soundtrack), or seen the several screen adaptations of it, you already know the power of its story.In the six-week Lenten study The Grace of Les Misérables, author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo’s story. As these imperfect and relatable characters interact, we can see how these ideals work together (perhaps even in spite of each other) out in the world.In keeping with his previous works, Matt Rawle brings us to the intersection of Church and Pop Culture by drawing parallels between the iconic story and musical and our Christian calling, inspiring us to both understand our faith and live it out in the world.The Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the six-week study including session plans, activities, and discussion questions, as well as multiple format options.

The Grace of Les Miserables Youth Study Book (The Grace of Le Miserables)

by Matt Rawle

Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a truly epic story. Whether you’ve tackled the 1,400-page 19thcentury novel, witnessed the Broadway musical (and memorized its soundtrack), or seen the several screen adaptations of it, you already know the power of its story.In the six-week Lenten study The Grace of Les Misérables, author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo’s story. As these imperfect and relatable characters interact, we can see how these ideals work together (perhaps even in spite of each other) out in the world.In keeping with his previous works, Matt Rawle brings us to the intersection of Church and Pop Culture by drawing parallels between the iconic story and musical and our Christian calling, inspiring us to both understand our faith and live it out in the world.This Youth Study Book takes the ideas presented in Matt Rawle’s book and interprets them for young people grades 6-12.

The Grace of the Italian Renaissance

by Ita Mac Carthy

How grace shaped the Renaissance in Italy"Grace" emerges as a keyword in the culture and society of sixteenth-century Italy. The Grace of the Italian Renaissance explores how it conveys and connects the most pressing ethical, social and aesthetic concerns of an age concerned with the reactivation of ancient ideas in a changing world. The book reassesses artists such as Francesco del Cossa, Raphael and Michelangelo and explores anew writers like Castiglione, Ariosto, Tullia d'Aragona and Vittoria Colonna. It shows how these artists and writers put grace at the heart of their work.Grace, Ita Mac Carthy argues, came to be as contested as it was prized across a range of Renaissance Italian contexts. It characterised emerging styles in literature and the visual arts, shaped ideas about how best to behave at court and sparked controversy about social harmony and human salvation. For all these reasons, grace abounded in the Italian Renaissance, yet it remained hard to define. Mac Carthy explores what grace meant to theologians, artists, writers and philosophers, showing how it influenced their thinking about themselves, each other and the world.Ambitiously conceived and elegantly written, this book portrays grace not as a stable formula of expression but as a web of interventions in culture and society.

The Grace-Filled Life: 52 Devotions to Warm Your Heart and Guide Your Path

by Maxie Dunnam

The Wesley Study Bible gives you a fresh way to hear God’s voice, share in God’s grace, and become more like Jesus Christ through study of the scriptures. Journey with popular author, Maxie Dunnam, as he guides you with steps to read through the Bible in one year. These fifty-two devotions refer to the Life Application Topics in the Wesley Study Bible, so that you will grow as a more faithful disciple. These heart warming stories and prayers will form you as a follower of Jesus—whose daily life is marked by holy love and faithful living. Each devotion includes scripture references, thoughtful stories, a prayer, and reflection questions that are suitable for private meditation or group settings. This book will be your trusted companion to the Wesley Study Bible as you grow to love God with a warmed heart and serve God with active hands.

The Grad's Pocket Guide to Greatness

by Jenny Youngman

This is a collection of uplifting, encouraging, and inspirational thoughts for the graduate. This little book mixes Scripture and the wisdom of some of the most thoughtful people in history, including St. Francis, Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, John Wooden, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Julian of Norwich, and many others. Many literary greats are represented, including A.A. Milne, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Emily Dickinson, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare. It is perfect for casual reading, or whenever the new graduate needs a bit of encouragement or some timeless wisdom to face a new challenge.

The Grail Chronicles: Tracing the Holy Grail From the Last Supper to its Current Location

by E C Coleman

This is the story of a plain silver chalice from the first century AD that now rests in the heart of England. From its momentous beginnings as the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper, and as the vessel used to catch His blood at the Crucifixion, to its unrecognised discovery in the late nineteenth century, the chalice has passed through the hands of saints, crusaders, kings, queens, Templar knights and 'Guardians'. This account revisits the beginnings of the Knights Templar and their rise to incredible wealth and power; it introduces a completely new version of the origins of the Arthurian legends; and it disputes the supposed loss of the Crown Jewels in the Wash and the cause of King John's subsequent death. It re-examines the murder of Thomas Becket and resurrects the forgotten story of a knight who went from disregarded son and child hostage to Regent of England and Guardian of the Grail. The story reveals the reason behind one of England's greatest church mysteries: an early thirteenth-century clue that has taken over 700 years to be deciphered. Most importantly of all, however, it establishes where the Holy Grail is now.

The Grail: The Celtic Origins of the Sacred Icon

by Jean Markale

A comprehensive look at the Grail that reveals its fundamentally Celtic nature beneath layers of Christian interpretations• Emphasizes the significance of the Quest as an archetype of spiritual seeking• By the world's preeminent authority on Celtic civilizationThe Grail has long excited the imaginations of those seeking to see beyond the world of appearances. No other sacred object has inspired such longing or such dread. The Grail is the archetype of the marvelous object in which each individual can enclose the goal of his own personal quest. For some the goal of this quest has been divine grace or the Philosophers' Stone, for others it is simply a treasure that connects various episodes of the King Arthur legend.Yet the Grail, as an object that is both close and unapproachable, was not the original focus of these stories. The Celtic tales on which the Grail legend is based emphasize the theme of the Quest. Through his exploration of several versions of this myth that appeared in the Middle Ages, Jean Markale digs deep beneath the Christian veneer of these tales, allowing us to penetrate to the true meaning of the Grail and its Quest, legacies of a rich Celtic spirituality that has nourished the Western psyche for centuries. He also examines how these myths were later used by the Knights Templar, as well as how their links with Alchemy and Catharism played a decisive role in the shaping of Western Hermetic thought.

The Grail: The Scandinavian Bestseller

by Lars Muhl

The Grail is neither a secret, a world treasure in the shape of a cup, a specific mortal woman, nor a hidden, chosen family.The Grail is a state of heart and mind!An old Spanish manuscript is given to Lars, and for two years it lies untouched in his office until one day the sun falls upon the book and Lars is drawn to pick it up once again. The pages reveal symbols and signs that he had not previously seen, and so begins the final part of his journey to discover the importance of the feminine archetype for our times.His travels take him to the caves of the holy mountain of Montsegur and on to the Southern Pyrenees and Mary Magdalene’s secret cave near Perillos. During his travels Lars meets a nameless Being of Light who presents him with the answers to many of today’s spiritual dogmas.

The Grammar of God: A Journey into the Words and Worlds of the Bible

by Aviya Kushner

For readers of Bruce Feiler's Walking the Bible and Kathleen Norris's The Cloister Walk comes a powerful exploration of the Bible in translation. Aviya Kushner grew up in a Hebrew-speaking family, reading the Bible in the original Hebrew and debating its meaning over the dinner table. She knew much of it by heart--and was therefore surprised when, while getting her MFA at the University of Iowa, she took the novelist Marilynne Robinson's class on the Old Testament and discovered she barely recognized the text she thought she knew so well. From differences in the Ten Commandments to a less ambiguous reading of the creation story to a new emphasis on the topic of slavery, the English translation often felt like another book entirely from the one she had grown up with. Kushner began discussing the experience with Robinson, who became a mentor, and her interest in the differences between the ancient language and the modern one gradually became an obsession. She began what became a ten-year project of reading different versions of the Hebrew Bible in English and traveling the world in the footsteps of the great biblical translators, trying to understand what compelled them to take on a lifetime project that was often considered heretical and in some cases resulted in their deaths. In this eye-opening chronicle, Kushner tells the story of her vibrant relationship to the Bible, and along the way illustrates how the differences in translation affect our understanding of our culture's most important written work. A fascinating look at language and the beliefs we hold most dear, The Grammar of God is also a moving tale about leaving home and returning to it, both literally and through reading.Praise for The Grammar of God "Aviya Kushner has written a passionate, illuminating essay about meaning itself. The Grammar of God is also a unique personal narrative, a family story with the Bible and its languages as central characters."--Robert Pinsky "Kushner is principally interested in the meanings and translations of key Biblical passages, and she pursues this interest with a fierce passion. . . . A paean, in a way, to the rigors and frustrations--and ultimate joys--of trying to comprehend the unfathomable."--Kirkus Reviews "A remarkable and passionately original book of meditation, exegesis, and memoir. The biblical passages are of a piece with stories of Kushner's childhood, her quest to become a writer, and commemoration of her Israeli grandfather, the only one of his German family to escape extinction at the hands of the Nazis. In Kushner's redemptive vision, the Bible in its many translations is a Noah's ark, and her book, too, does a work of saving. When I put it down, I wept."--Rosanna Warren, author of Stained Glass "What a glorious book! From Sarah's laughter to the idea of Jewish law being a dialogue and not a rigid set of rules, this is a book not only to learn from but to savor."--Peter Orner, author of Love and Shame and Love "In this splendid book, each page is a wonder."--Willis Barnstone, author of The Restored New Testament "Kushner reminds us in The Grammar of God that in Hebrew beautiful things are also beautiful words. Her gift as a writer is to take us very near to the text, breathe into it, and give it a new life."--Rodger Kamenetz, author of The Jew in the LotusFrom the Hardcover edition.

The Grand Delusion: What We Know But Don't Believe

by Steve Hagen

This is a fun, unique book that goes deep into the great mysteries of knowing—and makes it enjoyable.In The Grand Delusion, bestselling author Steve Hagen drills deeply into the most basic assumptions, strengths, and limitations of religion and belief, philosophy and inquiry, science and technology. In doing so, he shines new light on the great existential questions—Why is there Something rather than Nothing? What does it mean to exist? What is consciousness? What is the nature of truth?—and does so from an entirely unexpected direction. Ultimately, this book reveals how all of our fundamental questions stem from a single error, a single unwarranted belief—a single Grand Delusion.

The Grand Inquisitor's Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God

by Jonathan Kirsch

The Surprising History and Legacy of the InquisitionThe renowned historian and critic Jonathan Kirsch presents a sweeping history of the Inquisition and the ways in which it has served as the chief model for torture in the West to this day. Ranging from the Knights Templar to the first Protestants; from Joan of Arc to Galileo; from the Inquisition's immense power in Spain after 1492, when the secret tribunals and torture chambers were directed for the first time against Jews and Muslims, to the torture and murder of hundreds of thousands of innocent women during the Witch Craze; and to the modern war on terror—Kirsch shows us how the Inquisition stands as a universal and ineradicable reminder of how absolute power wreaks inevitable corruption.

The Grand Paradox: The Messiness of Life, the Mystery of God and the Necessity of Faith

by Ken Wytsma

If we were made for relationship with God, why do we often feel lost and distant from Him?The life of Christian faith is and always has been a beautifully awkward reality. Following Jesus is done--can only be done--in the messiness of this world into which we were all born. Yet many Christians expect the walk of faith to be easier, neater, and relatively devoid of hassles.So perhaps it's time for a frank conversation about the true nature of Christian faith. Maybe there are many desperately in need of a clear dialogue about how--despite living in a turbulent, chaotic world--our greatest joy is found in our pursuit of God.In The Grand Paradox, Ken Wytsma seeks to help readers understand that although God can be mysterious, He is in no way absent.God's ways are contradictory and counter to the way the world tells us to pursue happiness.Doubt is okay, it will accompany in the life of faith.What looks like struggle can actually be the most important and meaningful season of our lives.This book is an exploration of the art of living by faith. It is a book for all those wrestling with the paradoxes that confront those who seek to walk with Christ. It's an honest look at how faith works, here and now, in our culture, our time--and how to put down real roots and flourish in the midst of our messy lives.

The Grand Scheme (Phantom Hollow Series #3)

by Kathy Herman

Fast-paced, intriguing, and suspenseful, "The Grand Scheme" picks up the story from book two, "Never Look Back. " Rue Kessler has married Ivy and together they learn that the best defense against the deadly poison of envy is to discover the rich inheritance they have in Christ.

The Grand Sweep Leader Guide: 365 Days From Genesis Through Revelation

by J. Ellsworth Kalas

Study the whole Bible in a year with J. Ellsworth Kalas.The Grand Sweep is designed for personal use. The added component of a Leader Guide enables congregations and study groups to share the experience. It provides an overview of how to use the book as a study, along with specific content for weekly, monthly, or occasional group meetings.The Grand Sweep guides readers through the Bible in a year by having them read three - four chapters daily. The Psalms and Proverbs are scattered throughout the readings as devotional elements. Because the reading plan moves through the Bible in biblical sequence, readers grasp the grand sweep of the Scriptures—something missed in most Bible studies. Daily readings are manageable allowing someone just beginning a serious devotional life to have the positive experience of developing a new spiritual discipline. Individuals can start reading at any time of the year. When the year of reading ends, they will have a grasp of the biblical story from beginning to end and a stronger devotional life. Kalas also provides a faithful daily summary of readings, but with a devotional quality to encourage warmth of spirit as well as knowledge of mind. Includes selected quotations from Kalas's 35 books.

The Grand Sweep: 365 Days From Genesis Through Revelation

by J. Ellsworth Kalas

Study the whole Bible in a year with J. Ellsworth Kalas.The Grand Sweep: 365 Days from Genesis through Revelation guides adults to read through the Bible in a year, reading three to four chapters daily. The Psalms and Proverbs are scattered throughout the reading as devotional elements. Because the plan moves through the Bible in biblical sequence, readers grasp the grand weep of the Scriptures--something missed in most Bible studies that take up only a certain book or section of the Bible. Also, daily readings are manageable; someone who is just beginning a serious devotional life need not feel threatened or inadequate. By the time readers finish their year of reading, they will have a grasp of the biblical story from beginning to end. And with it, because of the daily discipline, a stronger devotional life. Kalas also provides a faithful daily summary of each day's reading, but with a devotional quality to encourage warmth of spirit as well as knowledge of mind. Congregations, study groups, and individuals can begin The Grand Sweep at any time during the year with this study. Allow at least 30 minutes daily when using this resource. Includes selected quotations from Kalas's 35 books.The book includes: Questions or directions and daily devotional summary/commentary for Days 1-7 each week call for written response to the assigned Scripture and provide a devotional element. "Prayer Time" suggests a focus for daily and weekly praying and invites you to identify persons and concerns for prayer. "How the Drama Develops" summarizes the week's Scripture and situates it in the ongoing biblical story. "Seeing Life Through Scripture" invites you to view life through the lens of Scripture in order to draw guidance and insights for living. Think of yourself in conversation with Scripture. "The Sum of It All" in a verse or verses, sums up the week's Scripture. Over the course of fifty-two weeks, the verses become a synopsis of the biblical story.The Grand Sweep is designed for personal use. The added component of a Leader Guide enables congregations and study groups to share the experience. It provides an overview of how to use the book as a study, along with specific content for weekly, monthly, or occasional group meetings.

The Grand Weaver: How God Shapes Us Through the Events of Our Lives

by Ravi Zacharias

With inspiring stories and thought-provoking questions, Ravi Zacharias traces the multiple threads of our lives, describing how the unseen hand of God guides our joys, our tragedies, our daily humdrum to weave a pattern of divine providence and meaning.

The Grandees: America's Sephardic Elite

by Stephen Birmingham

The true story of the first Jewish immigrants to the New World, their private society and stunning success, and their lasting impact on contemporary America In 1654, twenty-three Jewish families arrived in New Amsterdam (now New York) aboard a French privateer. They were the Sephardim, members of a proud orthodox sect that had served as royal advisors and honored professionals under Moorish rule in Spain and Portugal but were then exiled from their homeland by intolerant monarchs. A small, closed, and intensely private community, the Sephardim soon established themselves as businessmen and financiers, earning great wealth. They became powerful forces in society, with some, like banker Haym Salomon, even providing financial support to George Washington's army during the American Revolution. Yet despite its major role in the birth and growth of America, this extraordinary group has remained virtually impenetrable and unknowable to outsiders. From author of "Our Crowd" Stephen Birmingham, The Grandees delves into the lives of the Sephardim and their historic accomplishments, illuminating the insulated world of these early Americans. Birmingham reveals how these families, with descendants including poet Emma Lazarus, Barnard College founder Annie Nathan Meyer, and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, influenced--and continue to influence--American society.

The Grandmother's Bible

by Various Authors

For many women, being a grandmother is God’s finest gift—they have achieved great depth of experience and breadth of love, and they have grandchildren with whom to share these qualities. The Grandmother’s Bible is the first Bible published for this active, engaged, Bible-reading audience. Over 60 well-known Christian women—including Ruth Graham, Elisa Morgan, Elizabeth George, Thelma Wells, Karen Kingsbury, and Carol Cymbala—share their thoughts, stories, and encouragement in this Bible’s articles and daily devotionals. With a focus on daily prayer, this uniquely personal Bible offers guidance, inspiration, and practical tools as grandmothers share their love and God’s Word with their grandchildren. Features: • 365 devotions – readings draw grandmothers closer to their Lord and to their grandchildren • Grandchild in Focus – a simple plan to help grandmothers pray regularly for their grandchildren • Praying the Scriptures for Your Grandchild – Bible verses in a prayer format • Stories to Share – over 150 key Bible stories ideal for sharing specific life lessons • Talking Points – a practical guide for using Scripture to discuss over 40 relevant topics, such as salvation, knowing God’s will, friendship, etc. • Perspectives – original, thought-provoking articles addressing personal aspirations and the joys and challenges of being a grandmother • Special sleeve to hold grandchild’s photo • Custom presentation pages • Two-color design in an easy-to-read type • Book introductions, topical index, and more • Complete New International Version

The Granny Game (The Cul-de-Sac Kids #20)

by Beverly Lewis

Abby Hunter's two grandmothers show up to oversee her and her siblings for a weekend. Will the very opposite grannies be able to get along?

The Grass Flute Zen Master: Sodo Yokoyama

by Arthur Braverman

What motivated Sodo–san to spend the last twenty years of his life in a “temple under the sky”— a corner of a public park where he taught passersby what it means to be forever young through the funky tunes he played on his grass flute? In The Grass Flute Zen Master: Sodo Yokoyama, we are seeking not only a truer understanding of this well–loved monk, but of zazen, Zen meditation, itself. In his search for insights into Sodo Yokoyama’s life, Arthur Braverman skillfully weaves a tapestry from seemingly disparate threads—the brief taisho period into which Sodo–san was born and where individualism shone; his teachers, both ancient and contemporary practitioners of Zen Bhuddism; the monk’s love of baseball; and the similarities Braverman finds between Sodo–san and Walt Whitman, who both found the universal in nature.Through conversations with Joko Shibata, Yokoyama’s sole disciple, and careful study of his teacher’s poetry, an intriguing tension between the personal and the universal is revealed. The Grass Flute Zen Master is a meditative examination not of just one life, but of many. The lineage of teacher and protégé is traced back through generations, contemporaries are drawn up from unexpected places, and Braverman examines his own long journey in Zen Buddhism; confronting his own expectations and surprising disappointments (the monk lived in a boarding house and later took a cab to his park when he could no longer walk the whole way) and the understanding and acceptance that followed. “When you play the leaf,” Sodo–san once wrote, “you’ll usually be a little out of tune. That’s where its very charm lies . . .”

The Grassfire Effect: How One Small Spark Can Change Your World

by Steve Elliott

Elliott shares how sparks of creativity can become world-changing ideas and actions, using stories from his organization Grassfire.Org and other testimonies of those who are making a difference.

The Gratitude Path: Leading Your Church to Generosity

by Kent Millard

The Gratitude Path is a five-session study designed for use by churches, leadership teams, and small groups. This step-by-step guide helps congregations grow in generosity by focusing on gratitude for God’s blessings. Chapters conclude with questions for personal reflection and devotion. The book includes a 12-step plan for pastors and other leaders to successfully conduct their own Gratitude Campaign in a church of any size or denomination. If you have ever cringed at the thought of the annual giving campaign, this is the book for you. With practical instruction for conducting a gratitude campaign, it will not only bring about positive stewardship but may very well shift the culture of your community to walk and live that path of gratitude.--Carolyn Scanlan-Holmes, Senior Minister, Avon Christian Church, Avon, INThis is a practical and accessible tool for developing generous givers, and an invitation into relationship with our bounteous God. --Bruce R. Ough, Bishop of the Minnesota Conference, UMCKent Millard has helped countless other pastors and congregations conduct ‘Gratitude Campaigns’ with spectacular results. With this book his plan is now available to everyone. I hope many church leaders read and follow this pathway to improved stewardship.--Michael J. Coyner, Bishop of the Indiana Conference, UMCThis wonderful resource helps us move stewardship from fundraising to an experience of God's transforming grace. --Rob Fuquay, Senior Pastor, St Lukes UMC, Indianapolis, INThe first five chapters of The Gratitude Path are spiritually energizing, personal, and thoughtfully devotional. Pastors could preach sermons based on each one of them. Chapter six is a pivotal organizational chapter for pastors and lay leaders. Here, Millard outlines his Gratitude Campaign step by step. This is a resource that we are happy to recommend to congregations.--Bill Enright, Senior Fellow, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana UniversityThis book demonstrates how to develop an attitude of gratitude in each facet of the local church. Every leader in our church will read this book.--Jacob Williams, Jr., Senior Pastor, First Valparaiso UMC, Valparaiso, IN

The Gravity of Joy: A Story of Being Lost and Found

by Angela Williams Gorrell

&“My vocation was supposed to be joy, and I was speaking at funerals.&” Shortly after being hired by Yale University to study joy, Angela Gorrell got word that a close family member had died by suicide. Less than a month later, she lost her father to a fatal opioid addiction and her nephew, only twenty-two years old, to sudden cardiac arrest. The theoretical joy she was researching at Yale suddenly felt shallow and distant—completely unattainable in the fog of grief she now found herself in. But joy was closer at hand than it seemed. As she began volunteering at a women&’s maximum-security prison, she met people who suffered extensively yet still showed a tremendous capacity for joy. Talking with these women, many of whom had struggled with addiction and suicidal thoughts themselves, she realized: &“Joy doesn&’t obliterate grief. . . . Instead, joy has a mysterious capacity to be felt alongside sorrow and even—sometimes most especially—in the midst of suffering.&” This is the story of Angela&’s discovery of an authentic, grounded Christian joy. But even more, it is an invitation for others to seize upon this more resilient joy as a counteragent to the twenty-first-century epidemics of despair, addiction, and suicide—a call to action for communities that yearn to find joy and are willing to &“walk together through the shadows&” to find it.

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Showing 67,776 through 67,800 of 86,821 results