Books

Here is an illuminating modern English translation of The Book of Margery Kempe. With its comprehensive endnotes and indices, this volume takes account of the most recent findings in the field of fourteenth- and fifteenth-century affective devotion. While there are a number of articles and chapters in books, theses, and dissertations on various aspects of Margery Kempe's spirituality, this translation presents a synthesis of Margery's many diverse spiritual practices, contextualizing these in time to such inspirational early thirteenth-century texts as the Ancrene Wisse, as well as transnationally to her contemporary mulieres religiosae, who often formed their identities as they remained in the world, living as devout laywomen across Europe. Luke Penkett's introduction provides a scholarly yet accessible way to The Book of Margery Kempe. Luke Penkett is a prolific writer with over ten books published, in addition to many articles, and innumerable reviews in several international academic journals. He is currently the honorary secretary of the Margery Kempe Society, curator of the Margery Kempe Collection at King's Lynn Minster (known in Margery's day as St. Margaret's), and book reviews editor for the journal Medieval Mystical Theology. +

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The world is imbued with a life force, a thrumming relational energy of creativity. That life force is Eros, and connecting with the erotic opens up a world full of possibility, sensuality, and creativity. For far too long we have relegated the erotic to the bedroom, when in reality it is a fundamental energy that helps us connect more deeply with ourselves, each other, the earth, and the creative potential within us. We also live in a world that equates our productivity with our worth, leaving us feeling overtaxed, exhausted, burned out, and completely disconnected from ourselves and others. In Turned On, artist and musician Brie Stoner redefines the erotic, stating that it is more than just human intimacy; it can be the antidote to feeling anxious, disconnected, and uninspired. By reframing Eros as the energy of life and creativity itself, Stoner invites us to reawaken presence, playfulness, and possibility as the gateways to transformation. Just as physical relationships are contingent upon the right context, good communication, and embodied presence, Stoner offers a similar contextual shift and the tools needed for us to access creativity through the body and in the present moment. Fittingly, she explores how the erotic has been minimized and misunderstood in modern life. She then offers practical applications of how an erotically enlivened life is a creatively fulfilling one, in which our relationships, parenting, work, and creativity flourish. For those of us who yearn for life to be more inspired, adventurous, and sensual, Turned On is our guide to relighting the spark within us.

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"Anne Lamott is my Oprah." -Chicago Tribune From the bestselling author of Help, Thanks, Wow comes an inspiring guide to restoring hope and joy in our lives. In Dusk, Night, Dawn, Anne Lamott explores the tough questions that many of us grapple with. How can we recapture the confidence we once had as we stumble through the dark times that seem increasingly bleak? As bad newspiles up--from climate crises to daily assaults on civility--how can we cope? Where, she asks, "do we start to get our world and joy and hope and our faith in life itself back . . . with our sore feet, hearing loss, stiff fingers, poor digestion, stunned minds, broken hearts?" We begin, Lamott says, by accepting our flaws and embracing our humanity. Drawing from her own experiences, Lamott shows us the intimate and human ways we can adopt to move through life's dark places and toward the light of hope that still burns ahead for all of us. As she does in Help, Thanks, Wow and her other bestselling books, Lamott explores the thorny issues of life and faith by breaking them down into manageable, human-sized questions for readers to ponder, in the process showing us how we can amplify life's small moments of joy by staying open to love and connection. As Lamott notes in Dusk, Night, Dawn, "I got Medicare three days before I got hitched, which sounds like something an old person might do, which does not describe adorably ageless me." Marrying for the first time with a grown son and a grandson, Lamott explains that finding happiness with a partner isn't a function of age or beauty but of outlook and perspective. Full of the honesty, humor, and humanity that have made Lamott beloved by millions of readers, Dusk, Night, Dawn is classic Anne Lamott--thoughtful and comic, warm and wise--and further proof that Lamott truly speaks to the better angels in all of us.

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"The tendency nowadays to wander in wilderness is delightful to see. Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life." The words could have been written yesterday, in any part of the world where people feel trapped by the excesses of modern life. John Muir's stature as a visionary leader was already on the rise on New Year's Day, 1898, when the above passage first appeared in print. Muir was president of the Sierra Club, which he had cofounded in San Francisco six years earlier. Harvard University and the University of Wisconsin had recently awarded him honorary degrees. Influential editors were encouraging him to share his ideas with a wider audience. Muir's reverence for nature and uncompromising integrity would ultimately play a vital role in awakening the American public to the need to rein in rampant industrial development before it was too late. Scots born John Muir was happiest heading off into the wild with a loaf of bread, a bag of tea, a journal and sketchbook, and a head full of dreams. He was a modern-day Merlin, a real-world Gandalf who showed how much one determined, hard-working individual with a song in their heart can accomplish. John Muir: A Miscellany is a gathering together of a rich and hugely entertaining collection of Muir's writings. His writing is as relevant now - possibly even more relevant - than when it was first published over 100 years ago.

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This is a contemplative reflection on the spirituality of healing, the fruit of the author's lifetime in conducting spiritual direction and psychotherapy, drawing on his lessons from Thomas Merton and study of the mystical path. It is largely written in the form of a memoir of his own recovery from the traumatic wounds of his early life (abusive father, abuse by his confessor in the monastery, a dysfunctional marriage, and his road to healing and wholeness. But it is not just about his story--it is an invitation to the reader to reflect and resonate with the lessons that apply to their own stories.

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New York Times BestsellerThe renowned and beloved New York Times bestselling author of An Altar in the World and Learning to Walk in the Dark recounts her moving discoveries of finding the sacred in unexpected places while teaching the world's religions to undergraduates in rural Georgia, revealing how God delights in confounding our expectations. Barbara Brown Taylor continues her spiritual journey begun in Leaving Church of finding out what the world looks like after taking off her clergy collar. In Holy Envy, she contemplates the myriad ways other people and traditions encounter the Transcendent, both by digging deeper into those traditions herself and by seeing them through her students' eyes as she sets off with them on field trips to monasteries, temples, and mosques. Troubled and inspired by what she learns, Taylor returns to her own tradition for guidance, finding new meaning in old teachings that have too often been used to exclude religious strangers instead of embracing the divine challenges they present. Re-imagining some central stories from the religion she knows best, she takes heart in how often God chooses outsiders to teach insiders how out-of-bounds God really is.Throughout Holy Envy, Taylor weaves together stories from the classroom with reflections on how her own spiritual journey has been complicated and renewed by connecting with people of other traditions--even those whose truths are quite different from hers. The one constant in her odyssey is the sense that God is the one calling her to disown her version of God--a change that ultimately enriches her faith in other human beings and in God.

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Blossoming Upward is a step-by-step account of one man following an extraordinary spiritual teacher, becoming a disciple and the miraculous ways this can transform a person. His story moves from the Bronx to India and on to Greece, Afghanistan, and Hawaii; from student activist to chiropractor; and from swami to husband and father. At every step, Steven Auerbach felt drawn, as if led by an invisible hand to his next adventure.This is the story of a man who, through a regimen of service and meditation, realizes the fundamental teaching that God exists in every human heart-and who later seeks to apply this truth in his family life and his work as a doctor. It is a story of spiritual integration.

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ECPA BESTSELLER - The creators of the wildly popular Girls Gone Bible podcast walk alongside you in your hardest seasons, with daily encouragement to reconnect with God and his Word to bolster your faith. "Each page is a personal invitation to explore the promised land of God's living, breathing Word."--Lisa Bevere, New York Times bestselling author, speaker, co-founder of Messenger International When you find yourself in a wilderness season, it can feel as if God has abandoned you. Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma, creators and hosts of the Girls Gone Bible podcast, learned through their own struggles that the hardest parts of your journey might just be where you draw closest to God--and where you discover your greatest sense of purpose and joy. In this encouraging devotional, Ang and Ari share stories from their spiritual journeys, enriched by Scripture, biblical insights, and guided prayers. With the same authenticity that makes Girls Gone Bible so popular, Out of the Wilderness explores - what it means to find our identities in Christ- why surrendering to God brings our greatest sense of security- how to let go of the mistakes made in the past- ways God uses wilderness seasons to draw us closer to him- how to find God's comfort in loneliness and loss Out of the Wilderness contains thirty-one devotions for all the moments you seek God but feel like he doesn't hear you. Join Ang and Ari in finding the peace, hope, and connection that only a relationship with God can bring.

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Have you ever felt a yearning to connect with your ancestral roots? Discover the wisdom of the ancient Yoruba tribe from the West African coast of Nigeria. Embark on a transformative journey that delves into the rich spiritual traditions and profound knowledge of the ancestors.Many people in the United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America today can trace their ancestry to the Yoruba tribe, as countless Yoruba people were forcibly transported to the New World during the era of slavery. The Yoruba Kingdom flourished until the 18th and 19th centuries when the transatlantic slave trade began. During this period, innumerable Yoruba individuals were captured, transported across the Atlantic Ocean, and subjected to slavery. This resulted in a significant decline of the Yoruba population and caused severe destabilization of the empire. Despite these challenges, Yoruba culture persists and thrives globally, manifested through art, music, dance, and various religious traditions, including Santería, Candomblé, Umbanda, and aspects of Haitian Vodou."The Yoruba Spiritual Training Manual" delves into the rich traditions of the Yoruba people, exploring their core beliefs, practices, and practical applications of their spiritual tradition. It teaches you how to: Create a sacred ancestral shrine and build a dedicated space to honor your ancestors.Connect with the Yoruba Orishas and explore over twenty in-depth descriptions of the powerful Orishas, uncovering their roles, symbols, and offerings.Master the techniques of both Obi Agbon (coconut) and Obi Abata (kola nut) divination.Gain a concise understanding of the sixteen major Odu Ifa.Explore the concepts of Ori (destiny) and Iwa-Pele (character), and learn how they shape your life's journey, and much more!This book is an invaluable resource for both newcomers and those well-versed in Yoruba spiritual practices. It provides a comprehensive understanding of contemporary beliefs, offering readers a solid foundation to build upon.

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OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD - Discover a deeper connection with God with the Prayer Journal for Women, a 52-week bible study journal and devotional with Scripture, reflections on the Word, and journaling prompts to guide your walk with God and strengthen your faith. This bible study for women is organized thematically: Love & Inner Beauty - Provision & Faithfulness - God's Love - Adversity & Trials - Awe & Sovereignty - Strength Through Faith - Fear - Grace & Forgiveness Each week includes: Scripture - An inspiring Bible verse to reflect and meditate on throughout your week, making it a great daily devotional for women. Reflect - A "Reflect" page with thoughts and questions prompted by the weekly Scripture verse, along with space to record your own thoughts and responses. Journal - Two full pages serving as a gratitude journal to express your praise for God, your prayer requests, the things on your heart, and how you wish to be taught and guided. Answered Prayers - A tracker with space to record your prayers, so you can see how God moves in your life throughout the course of a year. A perfect companion for individual worship or for group Bible study, this 12-month journal features: A generous 8 x 10 trim size with plenty of space to write Four full pages for each week of the year Original illustrations on each page by author and artist Shannon Roberts

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