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Tao Te Ching

Lao-Tzu

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 76 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Worse than worthless. 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 21 people found this review helpful.

The tao teaches the virtue and power of being empty with no desire. It's just an ancient crowd control formula.

"Clay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that
their use depends." Use to who? To those who would use you, of course.

"Always without desire we must be found"

Think about it. How many truly great non-mythical people that you're aware of fit that profile? Feynman? Beethoven? D H Lawrence? Cezanne? Michelangelo? the Williams sisters?

Beyond brilliant 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Tao Te Ching..meaning Book of The Way, or book of the Word. One of the best books ever written. Certainly , the book that has had the most profound positive influence on my life.

If you are like me, you may be wondering should I get this particular version, and how does it compare with other versions like the Stephen Mitchell, Wayne Dyer and Jonathan Star versions, or even the Ursula Le Guin version.

No matter how great a writer you think Jane English is, she did not write the Tao, yet her rendition is consistent with the best versions I have read. The distinguishing trait of English's version is the photos and graphics, and this version is coffee table size.

My personal favorite version is the Stephen Mitchell version. The Tao is wise, paradoxical, counterinituitive, puzzling, fascinating, mysterious, inspiring, amazing and true. These concepts bypass ego based thinking, and the idea of doing things by not striving is allowing a higher more authentic way of thinking to inform your being and your action.

The Jane English version also has a regular size 25th Anniversary version which is the version I own.

One of the Jonathan Star versions has Chinese symbols at the back, with multiple meanings of each symbol. This is a great idea, which allows you to come up with your own version of the Tao, and would really open up your thinking on the Tao.

If you are like me, then as you read you discover the wisdom
like a raw jewel which you shape into a glittering diamond. That is the brilliance of the book.

The Tao is always present within you.
You can use it any way you want.


81 chapters, all less than one page. Like any great mystery, the Tao is there to be experienced and not necessarily understood. Here is a selection from verse 81 to illustrate the difference between different versions.

True words aren't eloquent;
Eloquent words aren't true;
Wise men don't need to prove their point;
Men who need to prove their point aren't wise.

A different version might substitute the word beautiful for eloquent.

You can feel comfortable buying the Jane English version, or any of these other versions.

The Ursula Le Guin version, I liked her take on verse 1, but I did not find it as useful on other verses, and felt if did not really capture the Tao as well as these other versions. You might feel differently.

I also recommend The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, which is another classic book of wisdom, and The Dhammapada featuring the succinct teachings of the Buddha. For more Taoist writing, I recommend the Way of Chuang Tzu, by Thomas Merton. You will discover many parallels with the Tao, and he is also an incredible story teller.

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Editorial Review:

The most accessible and authoritative modern English translation of the ancient Chinese classic. Offers the essence of each word and makes Lao Tsu's teaching immediate and alive.

Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith

Barbara Brown Taylor

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Total reviews: 80 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

By now I expected to be a seasoned parish minister, wearing black clergy shirts grown gray from frequent washing. I expected to love the children who hung on my legs after Sunday morning services until they grew up and had children of their own. I even expected to be buried wearing the same red vestments in which I was ordained.

Today those vestments are hanging in the sacristy of an Anglican church in Kenya, my church pension is frozen, and I am as likely to spend Sunday mornings with friendly Quakers, Presbyterians, or Congregationalists as I am with the Episcopalians who remain my closest kin. Some-times I even keep the Sabbath with a cup of steaming Assam tea on my front porch, watching towhees vie for the highest perch in the poplar tree while God watches me. These days I earn my living teaching school, not leading worship, and while I still dream of opening a small restaurant in Clarkesville or volunteering at an eye clinic in Nepal, there is no guarantee that I will not run off with the circus before I am through. This is not the life I planned, or the life I recommend to others. But it is the life that has turned out to be mine, and the central revelation in it for me -- that the call to serve God is first and last the call to be fully human -- seems important enough to witness to on paper. This book is my attempt to do that.

After nine years serving on the staff of a big urban church in Atlanta, Barbara Brown Taylor arrives in rural Clarkesville, Georgia (population 1,500), following her dream to become the pastor of her own small congregation. The adjustment from city life to country dweller is something of a shock -- Taylor is one of the only professional women in the community -- but small-town life offers many of its own unique joys. Taylor has five successful years that see significant growth in the church she serves, but ultimately she finds herself experiencing "compassion fatigue" and wonders what exactly God has called her to do. She realizes that in order to keep her faith she may have to leave.

Taylor describes a rich spiritual journey in which God has given her more questions than answers. As she becomes part of the flock instead of the shepherd, she describes her poignant and sincere struggle to regain her footing in the world without her defining collar. Taylor's realization that this may in fact be God's surprising path for her leads her to a refreshing search to find Him in new places. Leaving Church will remind even the most skeptical among us that life is about both disappointment and hope -- and ultimately, renewal.

Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History

Joseph Telushkin

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Total reviews: 79 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

How much do you know about Judaism?

• How did the Ten Lost Tribes become lost ?
• Are circumcisions performed on the Sabbath ?
• Which country first granted Jews equal rights ?
• When was polygamy outlawed for Jews ?
• Why does Jewish law compare gossiping to murder ?

You'll find the answers to these questions -- and much more -- in this insightful and comprehensive guide. Written by esteemed rabbi and bestselling author Joseph Telushkin, Jewish Literacy has become one of the most respected and widely used reference books on Jewish life, culture, religion, and tradition. Now revised and updated, this fascinating volume distills a vast body of scholarship into 348 short, readable chapters, making the rich and complex history of Judaism accessible to any reader.

Organized by subject, the book's fifteen sections include:

History and Contemporary Life
From the biblical and Talmudic periods through the Spanish Inquisition to modern times, with special sections on the Holocaust, Israel, and American-Jewish life.

Beliefs, Ethics, and Rituals
From monotheism to Judaism's views on the afterlife, "chosenness," and human relations with God; ethical concerns ranging from the proper treatment of animals to the real meaning of "an eye for an eye"; along with explanations of the major prayers and synagogue practices.

Jewish Holidays and Life Cycle
The origins and distinctive customs of each holiday, and the rites sanctifying every major life event from circumcision and baby naming to burial and mourning.

Answers to the questions from the front flap:

• They were dispersed when the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.E. (see Chapter 45).
• The United States (see Chapter 203).
• Around 1000 C.E., when it was proscribed by Rabbi Gershom; however, most Sephardic Jews did not accept the ban (see Chapter 95).
• Because gossip, like murder, can do irrevocable damage (see Chapter 271).

Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No (Unabridged)

John Townsend

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wish I had realized I was in the religoius section. 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 12 people found this review helpful.

I originally did a search for a book on teen behavior. I didn't realized that this book was in the religous section, otherwise I would not have purchased it, as I am not religous. The author uses a lot of quotes from the Bible and overuses the word "God". I got 3/4 of the way through the book and decided I had had enough of the religous references.
Overall, the author did a good job using examples of poor behavior, good behavior, and how to deal with the poor behavior.
I would recommend the book for religous people but not to those who prefer non-religous based books.

Good help for parents with teens 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Boundaries with Teens has been very helpful for us. We were given the book but since we both have so little time to read, we purchased the book on CD and listen to it in the car. The advice is solid and from a man who actually raised teens. Save me from the eggheads who think they can tell you how to raise kids when they have never had any themselves!

Editorial Review:

In this exciting new book, Dr. Townsend gives important keys for establishing healthy boundaries—the bedrock of good relationships, maturity, safety, and growth for teens and the adults in their lives. The book offers help in raising your teens to take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions.

How People Grow

Henry Cloud, John Townsend

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Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the spring of his sophomore year in college, the future Henry Cloud had envisioned for himself dissolved into questions too pressing to ignore about his career path and his relationships. This time of personal turmoil set him on a path of inquiry and discovery into the heart of the Bible—a journey that Dr. Cloud and his partner, Dr. John Townsend, have taken together through the years. What they found out about how God produces change and growth in our lives did more than surprise them. It has formed the bedrock for their entire approach to counseling.

In How People Grow, Drs. Cloud and Townsend give you age-old keys to growth from the Scriptures, with life applications that may be different from what you’ve always thought and were told. Whether life is going well or whether you’re struggling in some area, the insights in this book are essential to progressing spiritually, relationally, and emotionally. How People Grow shows you why all growth is spiritual growth, and how you can experience such growth in ways you never thought possible.

Our desire to grow runs deep. Yet the issues in our lives and relationships that we wish would change often stay the same, even with our best efforts at spiritual growth. What does it take to experience increasing strength and depth in our spiritual walk, our marriages and family lives and friendships, our personal development—in everything life is about? And how can we help others move into growth that is profound and lasting?

In How People Grow, counselors and Gold Medallion Award-winning authors Henry Cloud and John Townsend address our gut-level issues with insight and hope. This book will do more than revolutionize your understanding of Christianity—it could very well change your life.

How People Grow is the result of the authors’ own journey of discovery, personally and professionally, as they began to compare various “Christian” approaches to growth with what they found really works—and what the Bible really says. Unpacking the practical and passionate theology that forms the backbone of their counseling, Drs. Cloud and Townsend shatter popular misconceptions about how God operates and how growth happens. You’ll discover
· What the essential processes are that make people grow
· How those processes fit into a biblical understanding of spiritual growth and theology
· How spiritual growth and real-life issues are one and the same
· What the responsibilities are of pastors, counselors, and others who assist people in growing—and what your own responsibilities are in your personal growth

Shining focused light on the great doctrines and themes of Christianity, How People Grow takes you to the heart and the power of faith. It shows why all personal growth is spiritual growth—and best of all, it helps you understand the Bible in a way that will help you head with confidence down the high road of growth in Christ.

Hiding from Love

John Townsend

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Hiding From Love: The Book that Helped Change My Life 5 out of 5 stars.
70 of 73 people found this review helpful.

Hiding From Love provided me with the insight I needed to understand all the why's I had dealt with my entire life. At the age of 45 I was finally able to understand why I had felt so "unlovable", "insecure" and "stupid" as a child, that there were very valid reasons for my thinking that way about myself that were NOT MY FAULT. I began to see myself with confidence, and worthy of being loved, for the first time in my life! I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone struggling with childhood abandonment issues.

Specific answers, not platitudes 5 out of 5 stars.
50 of 50 people found this review helpful.

I have read almost everything I can get my hands on to help me understand myself, my ex, and why it all went wrong. I finally feel like I understand why we have the defenses we do, and why it's so hard to snap out of it. The author combines years of solid experience working with people in real clinical situations with inspirational insight into issues of the heart in light of the Biblical understanding God gives us about how He created us. This book was rare for me, because it is solid and specific about why we are afraid to reach out and grasp what we most need to truly heal. I found it especially different because it addresses the problem of well-meaning Christians who come across as judgemental when they are really trying to be loving and helpful, as well as the tendency sometimes in counseling to provide acceptance and safety without the truth and responsiblity we need to grasp the power to actually change. It is refreshing because it is solid, specific, and treats us as complex, wonderful but fallable children of God who are hurting and so to protect ourselves from further injury we hide, afraid to reach out and try again. But it is not a how-to formula book so much as a scriptural guidebook to see how God made us and how he heals us. This book is not just the same old same old. For me, this book was tremendously important for unlocking hurts and helping me understand. It's not as easily readable as some of his other books like Changes that Heal, Boundaries, or Safe People, but I think it builds on the others and goes deeper. It's about exactly what it says it is, why we hide from love and how to safely come out of our fears and become who we were created to be.

Editorial Review:

Dr. John Townsend helps you to explore the hiding patterns you've developed in dealing with your emotions and guides you toward the healing grace and truth that God has built into safe, connected relationships.

Mother Teresa: In My Own Words

Mother Teresa

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Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The legendary Mother Teresa's work for—and among—the poor has become the yardstick by which the entire world measures compassion, generosity, and selflessness. Her words and actions have inspired millions of people from every race and religion and country to help the poor and needy, a legacy that is her gift to all mankind for generations to come.
From 1950, when she founded the order of Missionaries of Charity, to winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, and then, in 1985, being awarded the Medal of Freedom—the United States' highest civilian award—to her final days, Mother Teresa served the world as a beacon shedding the light of hope, comfort, and peace on all.
Mother Teresa: In My Own Words is a timeless testament to the power of her words. Here are the same quotes, stories, and prayers that helped strengthen and inspire the poor, the dying, the suffering, and the doubting who she met during her lifetime, and that will continue to strengthen and inspire all who read them.

The Imitation of Christ (Dover Thrift Editions)

Thomas à Kempis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

All Jesus 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This book changed me. It taught me to stay away from anything that will hinder my faith and to follow Jesus with all my heart and soul and mind. Even though I'm still in the process of reading it, it changes me every day. Thomas A Kempis is the most devoted person I have encountered and I pray that many more people will be changed by this inspirational book. It taught me to be all about Jesus and about nothing else.

Deeply spiritual, good even for non-Christians 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the most inspiring, spiritual books I have ever read. Thomas A Kempis really pierces the deepest depths of the soul. He has presented here a deep raw truth of how a man should live, and in a very inspiring way. It is a very compelling, thought-provoking read. One must stop and read and contemplate his words, and I think it will be nigh impossible to not be affected on a profound level. Although this book probably resonates best with Christians, I think it can be equally valuable to people of any faith. Such is the way of the Brethren of the Common Life, their focus is not so much doctrine, but very much on how a man should live, imitating Christ as the title implies. Regardless of what you believe, I think if you read Thomas A Kempis' words and deeply reflect on them, I think they will move you to a profound truth that transcends all doctrine and dogma and really affects the spirit of all mankind.

Editorial Review:

This classic, second only to the Bible for religious instruction and inspiration, has brought understanding and comfort to millions for centuries. Written in a candid and conversational style, the topics include liberation from worldly inclinations, preparation and consolations of prayer, and the place of eucharistic communion in a devout life.

Seventh Day (A. D. Chronicles, Book 7)

Bodie Thoene, Brock Thoene

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Realistic Fiction 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I love this authors series. This one follows the life of Christ with very interesting characters. They weave truthful facts and stories into a well developed story line. I am always anticipating the next one in the series - can't wait! Very well written.

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

This is the 7th book in the A.D. Chronicles series. This is the best series of books I have ever read, and I have read many. I would highly recommend this book. I am understanding the Bible better as I get insights into the history and traditions of the 1st century A.D.

The A D Chronciles 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I am interested in good clean stories that leave one feeling like life has some value. The A D Chronicles are such books. I would recommend them
for any adult's reading. The Thoenes are wonderful writers that have the ability to transport a reader back in time to share the action first hand.

Editorial Review:

As Yeshua continues his ministry, and is challenged by the religious leaders, his beloved friend Elazar (Lazarus), in Bethany, falls ill. When Yeshua finally arrives, it is too late . . . or is it?

The Kingdom of God Is within You

Leo Tolstoy

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Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

First published in Germany in 1894, after being banned in Russia, The Kingdom of God Is within You reveals Tolstoy’s world outlook after his conversion to Christianity. He argues that the kingdom of God is within reach of all.

The core of the book deals with his nonresistance to evil, a principle Tolstoy passionately advocated. Gandhi was won over by the book. Tolstoy clearly describes the hazards that bullying governments and false beliefs produced. “The situation of the Christian part of humanity—with its prisons, forced labor, gallows, saloons, brothels, constantly increasing armaments, and millions of confused people ready like trained hounds to attack anyone against whom their masters set them—this situation would be terrible if it were the product of coercion, but it is above all the product of public opinion.”

Abhorring the violence of revolution, Tolstoy calls on Christians to remember that the only guide for their actions is to be found in the divine principle dwelling within them, which in no sense can be checked or governed by anyone or anything else.