Into God

A profound book of spiritual insight that helps believers live a deep life in God beneath the turmoil of our hurried business.

For many people, the word mysticism conjures up occult, secretive rituals held after midnight in some dark cave. But true mysticism isn’t at all sinister or secretive, says author John Mabry, an Anglican-rite Congregational minister. In fact, mysticism is at the heart of an authentic Christian life. It is nothing more and nothing less than the pursuit-and enjoyment-of union with God, which is the goal of all Christian spirituality. Christian mysticism is the discipline of growing the soul into God—shedding illusory identities, deepening prayer, seeing God in all things, and acting as Christ in the world. Mabry’s great passion is to bring theology to everyday life by explaining complex ideas in everyday language that anyone can understand and find useful. In Growing into God, he “demystifies” mysticism, providing a friendly and accessible entry point to some of the teachings, practices, and experiences of the Christian mystical tradition. Mabry explores the classic mystical journey, which begins with the Awakening of a unitive consciousness that experiences everything as Divine and interconnected. The journey continues with Purgation, in which we empty ourselves of illusion; Illumination, in which we begin to see God in all things and all things in God; and, finally, Union, in which we marry our lives with God’s life. Our hands become God’s hands, our lips become God’s lips, our touch becomes God’s touch, in order to bring help, comfort, and healing to the world. ,p>Along the way, and with an entertaining teacher’s clarity, Mabry recounts the stories of many Christian mystics, including inspiring quotations. He also enriches each chapter with questions and answers to simplify points as well as experiential practices to help readers embark upon the mystical journey themselves

An annotated translation of Bonaventure’s Itinerarium mentis in Deum presenting both the Latin text side-by-side with a new English translation which attempts to avoid the use of Latin cognates while remaining critically faithful to Bonaventure’s text. Using endnotes to open the text, Regis Armstrong opens each chapter from the perspective of historical theology referring the reader to authors prior to Bonaventure, e.g. Augustine, the Victorines, Philip the Chancellor, Avicenna, as well as first-and-second-generation Franciscan authors. While maintaining Bonaventure’s architectonic approach, Armstrong studies each chapter as Bonaventure does by focusing on its unique character, e.g. by means of cosmology, epistemology, biblical theology, mystical theology. In a same way, the translator attempts to explain his translation of certain cognates into Anglo-Saxon English by citing contemporary linguistic tools, e.g., Brepolis Latin Texts.

The Christian life cannot be fully understood or experienced without first grasping the importance of prayer. Yet prayer, as it is found in the Christian scriptures, has received limited attention as a topic of study. Into God's Presence explores the nature and use of prayer throughout the entire New Testament. Written by twelve leading biblical scholars with diverse confessional perspectives, this insightful volume first discusses Christian prayer in relation to prayer in the Old Testament, the Greco-Roman world, first-century Judaism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The rest of the book takes an instructive look at prayer as it appears from Matthew to Revelation, with special attention given to Jesus as an exemplar and teacher of prayer.

Plugging into God's Story: A practical introduction to reading and understanding the Bible is a book that helps you learn the Bible through a simple process of reading and reflection. Familiarity with the Bible is essential for any individual wishing to understand literature, culture, and most importantly, the spiritual realities of life. This book gets you reading the Bible right away and helps you understand what you are reading by providing helpful information as you go. Containing a series of 100 selected passages, Plugging into God's Story takes you from the first book of the Bible, Genesis, to the last book of the Bible, Revelation. "A nice, user-friendly introduction to the plot-line of the Bible. Should be very helpful for seekers and new believers to begin to get into the message of Scripture." - Dr. Robert Newman, Professor Emeritus, Biblical Seminary The Reverend Canon Kevin Goodrich O.P. is an Anglican Dominican priest, a parish pastor and diocesan staff member in the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota, and traveling teacher of Christian spirituality and living. He is the author of several published articles, as well as the book, "Cell Phone Spirituality: What your cell phone can teach you about life and God." You can interact with Father Kevin by visiting his blog at CellPhoneSpirituality.com

God’s Love is a journey that starts as a born-again child and goes on forever, as people catch the vision of faith and answer the high calling of God. Journey Into God’s Promises is about discovering grace, and living with God’s promises from His holy Word. God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is His written revelation, containing many promises that can liberate His people. Knowing them is a key to finding their meaning, and ultimately, filling us with joy. This book contains 30 topics enhanced with examples from the author’s personal experience and with deep insight of the true spiritual meaning behind the written Word of God. God’s Word is filled with mysteries and parables, but the goal of this book is to break them down for the average reader, so you can truly begin the everlasting journey into God’s promises.

While the dream of a "Post-Racial" America remains unfulfilled, the struggle against racism continues, with tools both new and old. This book is a report from the front, combining personal stories and theoretical and theological reflection with examples of the work of dismantling racism and methods for creating the much-needed "safe space" for dialogue on race to occur. Its aim is to demonstrate the ways in which a new conversation on race can be forged. The book addresses issues such as reasons for the failure of past efforts to achieve genuine racial reconciliation, the necessity to honor rage and grief in the process of moving to forgiveness and racial healing, and what whites with privilege and blacks without similar privilege must do to move the work of dismantling racism forward. The authors of this important book engage the question of how dismantling racism in the 21st Century has to be different from the work of the past and offer ways for that journey to progress.

Even Jennifer herself has in the light of severe recent tragedies found herself gaining a new understanding of all she has been through. This book looks back at the traumas and insecurities of her childhood, the joys and trials of family life through the most testing of circumstances, the confusion caused by her life-threatening illness and subsequent miracle healing, the pain of bereavement and - the most recent chapter that no-one foresaw - divorce from her husband Tony. Journey Into God's Heart is an epic saga of a unique woman's journey through the fire. An adventure that lasts a lifetime, a path strewn with heart-testing challenges. Written as compellingly as a novel, it presents a completely new perspective on the story told in Jennifer's previous autobiographical books Beyond Healing and Unexpected Healing. Her journey unfolds against the backdrop of the momentous changes undergone by the evangelical and charismatic church in the mid and late twentieth century.