A Conspiracy Of Love

Before there were worshippers of Jesus, there were followers of Jesus. Before there were organized churches with creeds and doctrines, there were small communities of love, equality, and sharing dedicated to the practice of Jesus' teachings and committed to a wholly new way of living. Today, the churches of the Global North are in decline and younger generations no longer seek meaning there. Traditional "church Christianity" is gradually giving way to some new way of faithful living. From a Nazi prison cell, German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer imagined a future "religionless Christianity" consisting of contemplative prayer and righteous action in the secular world. A Conspiracy of Love presents the contours of such a faith based on the "way" of Jesus. It calls us to become troublemakers, revolutionaries, seekers of change, and agents of transformation engaged in conspiracies of love to establish justice and peace in a postmodern world. It offers many different people--those who remain in the church, those who have left, and those who have never ventured near--with a life of faith that is meaningful, intelligent, and passionate.

Before there were worshippers of Jesus, there were followers of Jesus. Before there were organized churches with creeds and doctrines, there were small communities of love, equality, and sharing dedicated to the practice of Jesus' teachings and committed to a wholly new way of living. Today, the churches of the Global North are in decline and younger generations no longer seek meaning there. Traditional "church Christianity" is gradually giving way to some new way of faithful living. From a Nazi prison cell, German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer imagined a future "religionless Christianity" consisting of contemplative prayer and righteous action in the secular world. A Conspiracy of Love presents the contours of such a faith based on the "way" of Jesus. It calls us to become troublemakers, revolutionaries, seekers of change, and agents of transformation engaged in conspiracies of love to establish justice and peace in a postmodern world. It offers many different people--those who remain in the church, those who have left, and those who have never ventured near--with a life of faith that is meaningful, intelligent, and passionate.

Though this book is intended to speak primarily to adults who have suffered childhood sexual abuse, anyone who seeks to find meaning in suffering, or who grapples with the concepts of evil and holiness, will appreciate the truth and wisdom contained in this book. Issuing from a deep appreciation of and wrestling with scripture, A Conspiracy of Love can also empower preachers, educators, and pastoral care providers to hear the Word anew, from the perspective of one who has suffered much. In short, those who have been abused, their friends, and their ministers will find A Conspiracy of Love thought-provoking, inspirational, and a beacon of comfort and hope. Not that it is an easy read. At times the reflections lay bare both the horrific reality that some children endure, and the searing emotional and spiritual pain that is carried into adulthood. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has described the writing as "heart-breaking and heart-enlarging."

“We are at a crossroads: either we can try to prop up the old, broken marketing model, or we can create a new model, one that is fit for the unique challenges of today.” —From Good Is the New Cool Marketing has an image problem. Media-savvy millennials, and their younger Gen Z counterparts, no longer trust advertising, and they demand increased social responsibility from their brands—while still insisting on cutting-edge products with on-trend design. As always, brands need to be cool—but now they need to be good, too. It’s a tall order, and with new technology empowering consumers to bypass advertisements altogether, it won’t be long before the old, advertising-based marketing model goes the way of the major label. If only there was a new model, one that allowed companies to address environmental, civic, and economic issues in a way that grew their brand and business, while giving back to society, and re-branding branding as a powerful force for good. Enter Good is The New Cool, a bold new manifesto from marketing experts Afdhel Aziz and Bobby Jones. In provocative, whip-smart, and streetwise style, they take aim at conventional marketing, posing the questions few have had the vision and courage to ask: If the system is broken, how can we fix it? Rather than sinking money into advertising, why not create a new model, in which great marketing optimizes life? With seven revolutionary new principles—from “Treat People as Citizens, Not Consumers,” to “Lead with the Cool”—and insights and interviews from a new generation of marketers, social entrepreneurs, and leaders of such brands as Zappos, Citibank, The Honest Company, as well as the culture creators working with artists like Lady Gaga, Pharrell, and Justin Bieber, this rule-breaking book is the new business model for the twenty-first century, and a call to action for anyone committed to building a better tomorrow. This visionary book won’t just change your business—it will change the world.

Ronnie’s elder brother has helped her land a tutoring job on the Italian island of Sardinia, but he’s also warned her that her employer, Guido, is dangerous. The first sight of him leaves her speechless?what a gorgeous man! But even before Ronnie starts her job teaching English to his niece, Guido is visibly hostile toward her. While sensing there will be some trouble ahead, Ronnie finds herself falling for Guido despite herself.

He was out of her league. She was out of her depth. When Miranda, the Miss Lonely Hearts of Shepherd's Bush, suddenly finds herself romanced by a tall, dark and deadly spy, she finds her life turned upside down. Could it have anything to do with the book she innocently took from the library, a book with a conspiracy theory about 'love' so devastating that every other copy has been destroyed by MI5 and the writer 'disappeared'? Spliced through Miranda's romantic adventure are pages from the 'lost' book itself. But the loudest voice in this piece of postmodern madness belongs to the lovelorn book itself, a sentient mass of paper and ink that cannot help falling in love with its reader. Marius Brill's send-up of po-faced conspiracy stories, spy thrillers and pulp romance is as sharp as Tom Sharpe - imagine Umberto Ecco with a sense of humour. Ludicrously logical and finely spun, this is hare-brained literary fantasy, an erudite romp, and above all, a novel to fall in love with ...

Do you want more love in your life? More respect? More joy? This book is designed to help the reader explore issues of personal and transformative power. It will help the reader determine the necessary ingredients for love and happiness. It will allow the reader to lovingly challenge his/her own unfinished business toward healing themselves and the larger community. This book is mostly about generosity towards oneself and all those who cross our paths. This book is about growing consciously through our joys and our pain. This book is about transformation. This book is about LOVE. Please enjoy!

The theft of a book from the library puts Miranda's life in danger. She is oblivious to the fact that the book contains the astonishing secret that love does not exist. Told as if by the book itself this hilarious tale involves a sick MI5 agent who is sent to break her heart, or, her neck.