Reference Books - Page 5

Practice of the Presence of God

Brother Lawrence

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Templegate Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $0.07

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Brother Lawrence
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> Inspirational
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 87 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Radical...not necessarily practical 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Brother Lawrence's spiritual classic can be summarized in a few short steps:

1. Have a mystical vision of the divine love of God. (Unfortunately, no hint of how this can be accomplished is given.)

2. Renounce the world and everything in it. (Larry Bro apparently had no family, career, or other extenuating circumstances, so he joined a monastery as a lay brother and cook.)

3. Pray ceaselessly, even while you're asleep. Don't worry about temptation, your neighbor, suffering, mortification, responsibility, complications, penance, formality, growth, doctrine, vocation, redemption, and anything else you can think of.

After around four to ten years of tormenting doubt and fear (by his accounts) you'll be ready to bask in the warm glow of grace!

The message of complete faith in God is indeed a great one. But the line between self-sacrifice and self-indulgence sometimes gets blurred. We are not given an account of any works of charity, love, or mercy that Brother Lawrence may have accomplished. Only that he went around happy all day. Somtimes he was so giddy with God's love that he would have to pinch himself to keep from giggling in front of other people. Then he derides normal people for not being drunk all day on spiritual consolations.

What is truly ironic is that Brother Lawrence's path was, at the time, thought to be a great shortcut. Compared to the discipline required of monks in those days, I'm sure it was. Nowadays, Deepak Chopra Winfrey would probably be unimpressed. The great Saints would probably recommend that you pick up your cross and eschew the easy path.

Editorial Review:

This work contains letters, ways and spiritual principles of Brother Lawrence, the 17th-century French monk who in his monastery kitchen discovered an overwhelming delight in God's presence.

Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self

Joyce Rupp

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sorin Books Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $11.15

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Reference -> Meditations -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Open the Door by Joyce Rupp 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I am using this book with a group of 8 women. They pray with the material and then we meet once a week to discuss it and use the group sharing ideas in the back of the book. Would highly recommend it.

Open the Door: A journey to the true self 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Certain type of people can enhance their prayer life with this type of well thought out format like this book.

Editorial Review:

The long-awaited book from best-selling spiritual guide Joyce Rupp, creatively leads readers to explore how the image of the door can guide them in a process of discovering their true self.

Joyce Rupp brings new life to the ageless spiritual image of the door, weaving insights from East and West with the wisdom of contemporary spiritual writers, poets, and novelists in a practical format that is just right for contemporary readers. Structured as a daily prayer guide for everyday use over six weeks, each day offers a thematic reflection, a guided meditation, an original prayer, a thoughtful question, and a related scripture quote. A built-in guide for small groups makes this the perfect resource for groups of all kinds as well as individuals.

3:16: A Study for Small Groups

Max Lucado

Amazon Price: $9.99 List Price: $9.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Thomas Nelson Amazon Marketplace: 75 new & used starting at $0.64

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( L ) -> Lucado, Max -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( L ) -> Lucado, Max -> Paperback
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( L ) -> Lucado, Max -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The bible verse that still shakes the world today! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As the title of Mr. Max Lucado's "3:16: The Numbers of Hope" suggests, this book is almost entirely centered on the most famous bible verse, John 3:16. Mr. Lucado's writing style is very easy to read and digest and his use of analogies throughout the book provide an excellent context to some of the deeper meanings of this simple yet so complex bible verse.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 King James Version)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 English Standard Version)

You see references to this verse throughout your daily walk. People at sporting events hold it up for the television cameras, etc. But have you really ever sat down and thought about the profound meaning of this short verse? That is exactly what this book tries to do. While it does go too deeply into theology, it provides an excellent platform to build off of. Some people have complained in their review of the book about the fact of a lack of deeper study but I don't think that was the intended audience of this book.

Jesus turned the world upside down with his teachings and many argue that this quote is perhaps the cornerstone of Christianity. Contrary to many religious theologies this verse points out the fact that you can't "earn" your way to heaven. How could you? How could you ever good enough in the eyes the perfect being? Instead John 3:16 shows the beauty and easiness to receive eternal life. And yet we as human beings take it and make it difficult.

This is the third book I have read by Mr. Lucado. The other two were Facing Your Giants: A David and Goliath Story for Everyday People and And the Angels Were Silent: Walking with Christ toward the Cross (Chronicles of the Cross). I would also recommend both of these books.

Editorial Review:

If 9/11 are the numbers of terror and despair, then 3:16 are the numbers of hope. Best-selling author Max Lucado leads readers through a word-by-word study of John 3:16, the passage that he calls the "Hope Diamond" of scripture. The study includes 12 lessons that are designed to work with both the trade book and the Indelible DVD for a multi-media experience.

Praying God's Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds

Beth Moore

Amazon Price: $24.95 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $19.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Buy this!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have this and have bought it for others. I have actually written down prayers on index cards. When I am struggling with an area, like forgiveness, I carry the card with me to read / pray throughout the day. It is effective and helps me put my focus where it should be.

Beth Moore is always a winner! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Beth Moore's Bible Studies are always great. No matter which one you choose, it will be good. They are meaty, easy to do and make you think more than just a fill-in-the-blank study.

Editorial Review:

How do we practice II Corinthians 10:3-5, "tearing down strongholds by captivating our minds with the knowledge of God"? Beth Moore shows you how in Praying God's Word.

A topical prayer guide addressing fourteen common strongholds and what Scripture reveals about each of them, Praying God's Word presents Scriptures in prayer form to be incorporated into your daily prayer life.

God's Word, through prayer, helps you overcome bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness, setting you free from each and every stronghold which claims your life, and replacing it with the mind of Christ.

The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life

A. W. Tozer

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HarperOne Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $11.95

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Authors, A-Z -> ( T ) -> Tozer, A.W.
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Reference -> Theology -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Theology -> Pneumatology

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 73 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This classic of Christian testimony and devotion explores the attributes of God in words that fly straight to the heart. A superb aid to strengthening and deepening the spiritual life, each chapter begins with a prayer, lucidly discusses a divine aspect -- from God's infinity to God's love -- and relates that aspect to today's world, while pointing always to God's wonder and inscrutability.A. W. Tozer asserts that the cause of many of our modern spiritual woes is the loss in today's church of a lofty concept of God. He argues persuasively that the cure lies in our rediscovery of God's majesty. "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us," he writes. "The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God." The Knowledge of the Holy bearseloquent witness to the concept of God's majesty, encourages reverent meditation on the being of God, and offers a way to bring back spiritual power to our lives.

The One Year Chronological Bible NIV (One Year Bible: Niv)

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Tyndale House Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $15.67

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Bible & Other Sacred Texts -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Bible & Other Sacred Texts -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Bibles -> Specific Types -> Chronological

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent reference book for the Bible 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am Catholic and as you may know Catholics don't read or study the Bible. Of course, the readings for each Mass are from both the Old and the New Testiments but there is no continuity or chronological flow. This book rearranges some of the books of the Bible based on when they were actually written. Has a section detailing when each book occurred in time,and a descriptions of weights and measurement (actually tells the size of the famous "cubit"). The language of the verses has been modernized almost to the extent that you appear to be reading a novel instead of the old text of the Bible. I have compared the theme of the verse with the actual Bible version and the meanings are exactly the same only this book makes it understandable.
The daily selections take about 15 minutes but it becomes so interesting I tend to read ahead.

Editorial Review:

The One Year Chronological Bible is ideal for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the Bible by reading it in the order the events actually happened. You can read the entire Bible in as little as 15 minutes a day with this One Year Bible, the best-selling daily reading Bible brand. Scripture index included.

The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth

Scott Hahn

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Doubleday Amazon Marketplace: 83 new & used starting at $8.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> Roman Catholicism
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Catholicism -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 149 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent book to understand what we celebrate in Holy Mass and book of Revelation in Holy Bible.

Regards,
Manoj Devassy

Perhaps the most inspiring book I have ever read 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book changed my life. I read it in one weekend, and I was so excited about it that I kept reading parts of it to my husband. He found it to be so interesting and compelling that he did something I had been praying for (for a very long time). He got up the next Sunday and went to Mass with me. Six weeks later, he is attending every week. And we sit in Church and point out to each other the parts from Revelation. The Mass has turned into an amazing and exciting experience for us! By the way, God put this book into my hands. I had asked our local used book store to call me if they got any of the Scott Hahn books in - and this was the book that found it's way into my home!

Editorial Review:

Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar us the Mass. With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes. Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sundays fail to see the powerful supernatural drama that enfolds them. Pope John Paul II described the Mass as "heaven on Earth," explaining that what "we celebrate on Earth is a mysterious participation in the heavenly liturgy."

The Bondage Breaker® Audiobook

Neil T. Anderson

Amazon Price: $14.24 List Price: $18.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harvest House Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $11.65

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Bibles -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Christian Living -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Bondage Breaker 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book by Neil Anderson can help everyone live more successful lives even though it is written specifically for those who are Christian. For the Christian, it shatters myths and teaches Biblical principles for victorious living.

Editorial Review:

Over a million people have discovered the liberating truths of Neil T. Anderson’s The Bondage Breaker. Now on 3 CDs and with a new cover, this dynamic audio presentation by the author sheds light on God’s power over sin and reveals what it means to be set free as a child of God.

For 20 years the biblical guidance of The Bondage Breaker has helped people discover how to break negative thought patterns, break out of the bondage of sinful behavior, and experience freedom when they:

• fight the temptation to do it their way
• trade deception for grace
• confront the power of Satan
• actively affirm their identity in Christ

This life–changing resource helps anyone facing a struggle understand Jesus’ promise to win the spiritual battles that confront them.

The City of God (Modern Library Classics)

Saint Augustine

Amazon Price: $12.44 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Modern Library Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $2.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> History & Criticism -> Criticism & Theory -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> History & Criticism -> Criticism & Theory -> General AAS
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> General -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 38 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Some things are better read about than read 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 17 people found this review helpful.

I read this for a book group I was in, and was rather peeved at being forced to blow so much time on what is essentially useful only to the Classical historian or Scholasticism buff. Realistically, Augustine is just a particularly eloquent proponent of a religious argument we all get in Sunday School at age 10: The things of this world are transitory and passing, but the things of the next world are eternal and more valuable. You can almost hear the monotonous cadence. If what you want is to add to your already-considerable knowledge of the particulars of late Roman civilization, then this is the book for you. If you're in seminary and reading Aquinas, and you're thinking, "I'd certainly like to know more about his major intellectual influences," then this is the book for you. But if what you want is an increased familiarity with the major ideas of Western civilization, then do yourself a favor and go pick up a pair of textbooks: one on ancient history, the other on classical philosophy. Augustine of Hippo will get a few pages in each one, and that's honestly all he's worth. Plowing through the entirety of The City of God for simple philosophical or theological curiosity would be like reading the complete works of Louis Agassiz just to see what scientific racism was like. Both efforts would be fruitful, in one sense, but in another sense you'd have spent an awful lot of time learning about antiquated theories.

Editorial Review:

One of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian philosophy, The City of God provides an insightful interpretation of the development of modern Western society and the origin of most Western thought. Contrasting earthly and heavenly cities--representing the omnipresent struggle between good and evil--Augustine explores human history in its relation to all eternity. In Thomas Merton's words, "The City of God is the autobiography of the Church written by the most Catholic of her great saints."

This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition is a complete and unabridged version of the Marcus Dods translation.

The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions

David Berlinski

Amazon Price: $16.29 List Price: $23.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Crown Forum Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $15.95

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Current Events -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Current Events -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Christianity -> Reference -> Theology -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 67 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Militant atheism is on the rise. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have dominated bestseller lists with books denigrating religious belief as dangerous foolishness. And these authors are merely the leading edge of a far larger movement–one that now includes much of the scientific community.

“The attack on traditional religious thought,” writes David Berlinski in The Devil’s Delusion, “marks the consolidation in our time of science as the single system of belief in which rational men and women might place their faith, and if not their faith, then certainly their devotion.”

A secular Jew, Berlinski nonetheless delivers a biting defense of religious thought. An acclaimed author who has spent his career writing about mathematics and the sciences, he turns the scientific community’s cherished skepticism back on itself, daring to ask and answer some rather embarrassing questions:

Has anyone provided a proof of God’s inexistence?
Not even close.

Has quantum cosmology explained the emergence of the universe or why it is here?
Not even close.

Have the sciences explained why our universe seems to be fine-tuned to allow for the existence of life?
Not even close.

Are physicists and biologists willing to believe in anything so long as it is not religious thought?
Close enough.

Has rationalism in moral thought provided us with an understanding of what is good, what is right, and what is moral?
Not close enough.

Has secularism in the terrible twentieth century been a force for good?
Not even close to being close.

Is there a narrow and oppressive orthodoxy of thought and opinion within the sciences?
Close enough.

Does anything in the sciences or in their philosophy justify the claim that religious belief is irrational?
Not even ballpark.

Is scientific atheism a frivolous exercise in intellectual contempt?
Dead on.

Berlinski does not dismiss the achievements of western science. The great physical theories, he observes, are among the treasures of the human race. But they do nothing to answer the questions that religion asks, and they fail to offer a coherent description of the cosmos or the methods by which it might be investigated.

This brilliant, incisive, and funny book explores the limits of science and the pretensions of those who insist it can be–indeed must be–the ultimate touchstone for understanding our world and ourselves.