Showing results by publisher "Blackstone Publishing" in Religion & Spirituality

In the sixth volume of the Swans Are Not Silent series, John Piper celebrates the importance of poetic effort by looking at three influential Christians whose words magnificently display a commitment to truth and a love of beauty. Examining the lives of George Herbert, George Whitefield, and C. S. Lewis, Piper helps us appreciate the importance of carefully crafted words by exploring how Christians can use them to testify to God's glory, wonder at his grace, and rejoice in his salvation.

The Portal explores how meditation and mindfulness will unlock your power, grow your compassion for those around you, and awaken your thirst for change. Sharing personal stories from six people who healed their lives through meditation, as well as compelling insights from some of today’s most innovative thinkers, The Portal shares a vision for humanity transformed.

Benedict XVI: A Life offers insight into the young life and rise through the Church’s ranks of a man who would become a hero and a lightning rod for Catholics the world over. Based on countless hours of interviews in Rome with Benedict himself, this two-volume biography is the definitive record of the life of Joseph Ratzinger and the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI. This first volume follows his early life, from his days growing up in Germany and his conscription into the Hitler Youth during WWII to his career as an academic theologian and eventual archbishop of Munich.

According to James Montgomery Boice, Paul’s great letter to the Ephesians is “a minicourse in theology, centered on the church”. Writing to the church in a city much like modern-day New York, Paul laid out his mature vision of the Christian faith’s central elements. The apostle set these fundamental doctrines in the context of the church as the body of Christ. In this compelling commentary, Boice presents the message of Paul with great depth and clarity.

In this carefully curated selection of everyday reflections, Richard Wagamese finds lessons in both the mundane and sublime as he muses on the universe, drawing inspiration from working in the bush-sawing and cutting and stacking wood for winter as well as the smudge ceremony to bring him closer to the Creator. Embers is perhaps Richard Wagamese's most personal volume to date. Honest, evocative, and articulate, he explores the various manifestations of grief, joy, recovery, beauty, gratitude, physicality, and spirituality-concepts many find hard to express.

There was something different about the way Jesus communicated with the lost: He didn't force answers upon people, he asked questions. So why don't we? Following Christ's lead, Randy Newman has been using a questioning style of evangelism for decades. In this provocative book, he provides practical insights to help Christians engage others in meaningful spiritual conversations. He challenges us to examine how we think about people, their questions, and our crucial message.

Buddha and Einstein Walk into a Bar explores the revolutionary idea that sensing how long we can live is a latent capacity in us, currently unknown - just like the introduction of fire, the invention of flying, and the discovery of radio waves were before we “discovered” them. Understand how the knowledge of transcendence, consciousness, and self-healing are integral to your well-being.You could drive a car without a fuel gauge, but knowing how much gas you have clearly gives you more control of your vehicle.

Covering Psalms 42–106, this second volume on the book of Psalms portrays the realities of human life and the peace that is found in God alone. James Montgomery Boice explores the life of David—his pain, trials, joy, and spiritual aspirations.

Kahlil Gibran's aphorisms, stories, and poetry on a theme remain among some of those best known to Western readers. His views, however, extend beyond the most-quoted "greeting card" sayings to a wide realm of human emotions and relationships - passion, desire, idealized love, justice, friendship, and the challenges of dealing with strangers, neighbors, and enemies. This little book captures love and life in all of their complexities and nuances.

James Montgomery Boice challenges believers to follow the first-century church, encouraging them to glean the vital principles that enabled the early church to expand, and then to apply them to our modern-day church.

For more than 70 years, the crash at Roswell and its ensuing controversies and cover-ups have been investigated, and yet despite continually mounting evidence there are still disbilievers. Roswell: The Ultimate Cold Case is Carey and Schmitt’s final and commanding word on the case in which they declare victory once and for all.

Whether you’re a serious Bible student probing through Psalm 19 or a first-time student inspired by the promise of Psalm 23, this first volume on the book of Psalms explores each of the first 41 Psalms, uncovering deep reflections, wisdom for living, and verses of praise, confidence, and repentance.

People in Glass Houses tells how a small church in a suburban Australian school hall became a multimillion-dollar tax-free enterprise and a powerful international force. Providing memorable portraits of charismatic leaders Brian and Bobbie Houston, this is a powerful, personal, and at times very funny exploration of an all-singing, all-swaying mega church. The church is more than a faith—it’s a brand. And one fraught with scandal.

In 1966, two authorities on LSD—Richard Alpert, PhD, AKA Ram Dass, and Sidney Cohen, MD—spoke out on the merits and dangers of the psychedelic drug as acclaimed photographer Lawrence Schiller documented the experiences as they were happening. This Commemorative Edition of LSD looks back at the public’s use of LSD in the 1960s and features a new introduction that explores the book’s relevance to today’s psychedelic renaissance.

Hexes, curses, and other unsavory notions - most magical practitioners won’t even discuss them. Why? Because they’d much rather find a positive solution that benefits all concerned. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Occasionally, though, our problems are such that nothing in the positive solution arena will handle them. It’s time to make a decision to stand tough, be strong, and take definitive action to defend ourselves. And if you‘re ready to do that - if you‘re ready to own that action, and take responsibility for it - then Utterly Wicked is for you.

Through Daniel’s visions and experiences as an exile in Babylon, the Book of Daniel gives us a clearer understanding of history than any other part of the Bible. Daniel also makes it clear that God is in control of all human events that have unfolded or will occur in later times. At the same time, he shows us how to live for God in ungodly times - like our own. In this new addition to James Montgomery Boice’s popular commentary series, pastors, Bible students, and laypersons will find analysis of Daniel’s illuminating insights into history.

For author Jennie Blonde, witchcraft is, in and of itself, comforting. Sure, there are not-so-comfortable parts as well—working with the shadow, coming face to face with that which holds you back. But for Jennie, witchcraft is about connecting with nature, your higher self, and with something beyond—a deity, deities, Spirit, the universe—and being comfortable with your true self in all aspects of your life.

Forest bathing is a gentle, meditative practice of connecting with nature. Simply being present with all of our senses, in a forest or other wild area, can produce mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. It is a simple, accessible antidote to our nature-starved lives and can inspire us to become advocates for healing our relationships with the more-than-human world. This book is both an invitation to take up the practice of forest bathing and an inspiration to connect with nature as a way to help heal both the planet and humanity.

Elemental Magick offers listeners insight into the inner teachings of the elements. Author D. J. Conway explains in depth the forces behind the elements and how they provide a framework for literally everything in the universe. She also explains the all-important and powerful element of spirit that belongs to each of the other elements and how these intimate connections allow the magickal energy to flow in a continuous circle of existence.

What can we gain from studying the book of Genesis? According to James Montgomery Boice, starting at the beginning of everything causes us to think about God and to understand ourselves as fallen yet redeemable. This knowledge not only deepens our understanding of the Christian faith but also enhances our ability to impart the gospel’s truth to a world desperately in need of it. This first volume on the book of Genesis, exploring chapters 1-11, shows how the story of redemption—essentially all of Scripture—has no significance apart from the story of creation and fall.