Art For God S Sake

What does God say about the arts? Can you be a Christian and an artist? How do the arts impact your church? The creation sings to us with the visual beauty of God's handiwork. But what of man-made art? Much of it is devoid of sacred beauty and is often rejected by Christians. Christian artists struggle to find acceptance within the church. If all of life is to be viewed as "under the lordship of Christ," can we rediscover what God's plan is for the arts? Philip Graham Ryken brings into sharp focus a biblical view of the arts and the artists who make art for God's sake. This is a concise yet comprehensive treatment of the major issue of the arts for all who seek answers.

If you are 16 or 18 or in your 20s, in school or just moving into marriage and career, there are many ways to invest your time. But the Bible is clear that none is better than the pursuit of godliness: in your speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. As Paul told Timothy, set an example, be an example. Make your life a beautiful work of art.

If you’ve ever asked yourself why you do what you do, or wondered what your purpose is in life, this book is for you. The lives of an intensely-driven basketball coach, an ultra-successful CEO, and an unassuming janitor all intersect in this captivating parable about leadership, relationships, and the pursuit of success. An unforgettable story packed with profound truths, LEAD . . . for God’s Sake! will challenge you to think deeply about who you are as a leader, what success means to you, and why you do what you do. Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or your own family, this book is the first and most important step to becoming the leader you were meant to be.

Four Australian thinkers come together to ask and answer the big questions, such as: What is the nature of the universe? Doesn't religion cause most of the conflict in the world? and Where do we find hope? We are introduced to the detail of different belief systems - Judaism, Christianity, Islam - and to the argument that atheism, like organised religion, has its own compelling logic. And we gain insight into the life events that led each author to their current position. Jane Caro flirted briefly with spiritual belief, inspired by 19th century literary heroines such as Elizabeth Gaskell and the Brontë sisters. Antony Lowenstein is proudly culturally, yet unconventionally, Jewish. Simon Smart is firmly and resolutely a Christian, but one who has had some of his most profound spiritual moments while surfing. Rachel Woodlock grew up in the alternative embrace of Baha'i belief but became entranced by its older parent religion, Islam. Provocative, informative and passionately argued, For God's Sake encourages us to accept religious differences but to also challenge more vigorously the beliefs that create discord.

This radical book reveals the real, historical Jesus – and reminds us what he actually said. Who was Jesus Christ? Was he God in human form? Was he the divine Son of God, conceived by a virgin, who came down to earth to found the one true religion? This is what the Church has been preaching since the Middle Ages, but the Church’s portrait is a far cry from the Jesus Christ described in the New Testament. For Christ’s Sake is Tom Harpur’s classic study of what the Bible actually tells us about Jesus. Controversial and radical, in that it goes to the roots of what is known, Harpur’s book strips away the mythology about Jesus to reveal a man whose message is still fresh and relevant today.

This book holds a treasure of deep in -sights into the great mystery of breathfrom a spiritual perspective. Inspiringdis courses, eVective and safe practicesand beautiful poetry from various tradi -tions encourage the reader to explorethe wonder of breath on many levels.What is breath, really? What is themeaning of this life-giving secret? Howimportant is conscious breathing fortrue spiritual transformation? Whatdo we make of the fact that our life'spossibilities lie between an in- and anout-breath? How is breath related tothe rhythm of the universe and, thus,to time? What is its role in the "beco-ming of being" from the ever present"womb of the moment"? How can webreathe in food and distill it into thealchemical elixir needed for real changein our life to come about? How can webreathe out to change the atmospherein a room or in a given situation, in fullresponsibility for the people around usand for "the world to come"? Whatcould it mean that Jesus "walked onwater" and that "breath and Spirit areone"? What is, esoterically speaking,the relation be tween Mary, Jesus, theSpirit of God, Ruh Allah,and Christ? On the basis of his lifelong studies ofthe world's major spiritual traditions,and especially from the inner essence ofSuWteaching, Reshad Feild providesfood for thought and practical means tohelp people work with the breath ineveryday life. For more than forty yearshe has been of considerable inXuence atthe forefront of spiritual teaching inthe West. Among his books are the auto -biographical bestselling novels The LastBarrier and To Know We're Loved.

This is the – all too true – story of one person’s tragi-comic quest for spiritual enlightenment. Having given up on the (entirely godless) realm of would-be smart London restaurants, he journeyed widely (and frequently wildly) through India, China, Tibet, and parts of West Yorkshire. He also worked for various would-be deeply spiritual organisations. This unflinching quest for truth – incorporating walk-on parts for everyone from Marianne Faithfull to the Dalai Lama – led, not entirely unexpectedly – to a far from enlightened descent into alcoholism and misery. Having sobered up, and grown up (a bit), our hero began to ponder: what is really at the heart of all this spiritual carry-on anyway? And can it be of any use, given the challenges we face? What if we’re all for it anyway? What’s the appropriate response –spiritual or otherwise, to that? All good questions For God’s Sake is spirituality without the usual self-help smugness, written by a normal, flawed human being, in the hope of engaging a similar audience. It deals with serious themes of spiritual development, and the role this might play in our current environmental crisis – all in the form of a heartfelt, and often very funny personal memoir.

An intriguing, substantive look into the relationship between the church and the world of art.