A Day Apart

The Sabbath is the original feast day, a day of joy and freedom from work, a holy day that allows us to reconnect with God, our fellows and nature. Now, in a compelling blend of journalism, scholarship and personal memoir, Christopher D. Ringwald examines the Sabbath from Creation to the present, weaving together the stories of three families, three religions and three thousand years of history. A Day Apart is the first book to examine the Sabbath in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A marvelously readable book, it describes the three weekly holy days--the Muslim Juma on Friday, the Jewish Shabbat on Saturday and the Christian Lord's Day on Sunday--and introduces us to three families, including Ringwald's own, and shows how they observe the holy day and what it means to them. The heart of the book recounts the history of the Sabbath, ranging from the Creation story and Moses on Mount Sinai to the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad, the impact of the Protestant Reformation and the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of the modern weekend. Ringwald shows that the Sabbath instinct, to observe a special day of withdrawal and repose, is universal. Indeed, all religions and philosophies teach that life is more than toil, that time should be set aside for contemplation, enjoyment and culture. In today's frantic 24/7 world, the Sabbath--a day devoted to rest and contemplation--has never been more necessary. A Day Apart offers a portrait of a truly timeless way to escape the everyday world and add meaning to our lives. "I can not recall reading anything on the three faiths that so deftly engages them in robust conversation. Amazingly learned, Ringwald nonetheless has a light, friendly touch. The warmth of his soul is unmistakable." --Christian Century

An examination of the Sabbath--encompassing its customs and its controversies--from Creation to the present in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam shows how three families observe the holy day and what it means to them.

A complete guide to Shabbat, from preparation to Havdalah, in 13 chapters. Each chapter starts with basics (all prayers translated and transliterated) and expands with "Getting Started" (insights for the beginner), "Parent-Child Corner," "From Tradition," as well as stories, discussion starters, and lots of art. Full color throughout.

In the late nineteenth century, most jobs were strictly segregated by sex. And yet, despite their separation at work, male and female employees regularly banded together when they or their unions considered striking. In her groundbreaking book, Ileen A. DeVault explores how gender helped to shape the outcome of job actions—and how gender bias became central to unionism in America. Covering the period from the formation of the American Federation of Labor in 1886 to the establishment of the Women's Trade Union League in 1903, DeVault analyzes forty strikes from across the nation in the tobacco, textile, clothing, and boot and shoe industries. She draws extensively on her research in local newspapers as she traces the daily encounters among male and female coworkers in workplaces, homes, and union halls. Jobs considered appropriate for men and those for women were, she finds, sufficiently interdependent that the success of the action depended on both sexes cooperating. At the same time, with their livelihoods at stake, tensions between women and men often appeared. The AFL entered the twentieth century as the country's primary vehicle for unionized workers, and its attitude toward women formed the basis for virtually all later attempts at their organization. United Apart transforms conventional wisdom on the rise of the AFL by showing how its member unions developed their central beliefs about female workers and how those beliefs affected male workers as well.

Growing up in a tradition-filled rural community, Sarai is given an opportunity to visit the city and discover life on the other side. Betrothed and unsure if she wants the traditional life of her family, Sarai seeks to understand where God is leading her, whom she should marry and what she really believes. Will she return to her home and follow the life of her community or will she forsake the traditional life for the modern world?

In this six-week Bible study through the beatitudes, author Jennifer Kennedy Dean examines the promise of blessedness in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. Unlike a circumstance-driven emotion, such as happiness, blessedness is eternal and grounded in the reality of Christ in you. You are able to live in the state of blessedness that God has created for you when you discover the key to true holiness—a call to freedom and joy. We were made for holiness, and this core concept of the beatitudes is accessed through a praying life—a life lived in the present-tense power of God. It is only when we continually pursue holiness that blessedness comes, and we discover the power and fulfillment of the promise of God. An accompanying DVD and online resources are available to enhance the study experience.

The ultimate resource for separated and divorced parents, written by an internationally acclaimed expert on divorce and its impact on children. This comprehensive and empowering guide is filled with practical, effective ways to minimize the effects of divorce on children, and offers immediate solutions to the most critical parenting problems divorce brings. In this go-to resource, Christina McGhee addresses the issues of utmost importance to parents: ? How and when to tell the children about the divorce ? Guiding children through transition ?Helping children cope with having two homes ?Dealing with finances ?Managing a difficult relationship with an ex ?And more Offering advice on explaining things to every age group-from toddlers to teenagers-in plain, consistent, and age-appropriate terms, Parenting Apart also offers practical suggestions for parents to help them maintain their own sense of stability and take care of their own well-being while taking care of their kids.