Showing results by author "Clive Johnson" in All Categories

This most celebrated collections of tales feature shape-shifting and miraculous transportation across continents, powerful jinn who rise like smoke from simple vessels, and dreams that delve into the secrets of the subconscious. This innovative book retells a selection of tales that have captured the imaginations of countless people over many centuries. Accompanying each is a contemporary short story that reframes the messages and teachings of the original, specifically written for an adult audience.

This delightful book offers 24 guided meditations, focused on giving and receiving loving-kindness. Suitable for newcomers and well-seasoned meditators alike, and using imagery and metaphors that should resonate with people of any faith tradition or none, these meditations may be used to inspire a personal meditation practice, or as ready-made scripts for a meditation host.

Labyrinths have fascinated the people of many different cultures across many millennia. Their popularity in recent times is phenomenal - more labyrinths have come into being since the start of the 21st century than in the remainder of human history put together. Today, hundreds of thousands of people regularly walk labyrinths. Labyrinths are found in public squares, hospital gardens, university campuses, and school playgrounds. This book sets out to explore why this explosion in interest is happening.

Managing Conflict at Work provides practical guidance on how to prevent, contain and resolve conflict in the workplace. It demonstrates how effective conflict management can have a powerful impact on the way organizations channel their energies, encouraging positive mindsets and building stronger and happier workforces. Aimed not just at mediators and conflict practitioners, but at staff managers and anyone who needs to deal with people disputes, the book emphasises simple and practical ways for dealing with conflict situations.

A beloved son, despite being left for dead by his evil brothers, survives imprisonment and enslavement in a foreign land to become the most favored among the Pharaoh’s advisors. Enjoy again this colorful tale of dreams, disaster, and treachery, as we see Joseph rise to become the hero of Egypt in a time of disaster, and learn from him the important lessons that his story still has to teach us today.

The magic and wonder of fairy stories have inspired children from generation to generation. These are perennial tales, cropping up in different cultures in different guises, but relating the same adventures. All have the power to entertain and spark the interest of young minds. In this collection, 24 classic fairy tales are brought together for a new generation of children to enjoy. With some minor adaptations to some of the tales to suit our times, where girls don’t always rely on the ingenuity of their brothers to resolve their dilemmas, the plots stay faithful to the originals.

Loving-kindness is the way of all religions. It is the essence of the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, is the foundation of the Shinto virtues of kiyoki and akaki kokoro, sits at the heart of the Jain principle of ahimsa, and guides the Golden Rule of all major faiths. It has no allegiance to any particular culture, and discriminates between no one and nothing in its attention. Taking an interfaith perspective, the book describes why cultivating loving-kindness is essential for anyone who is set upon a spiritual path.

Joshua may be well known for fighting the battle of Jericho, but this mighty warrior was a man who was faithful to God, too. In this delightful retelling of the classic bible tale, told in the spirit of the countless storytellers who’ve enthralled audiences young and old with their dramatic retellings through the centuries, we journey with Joshua as he fights many battles and leads the children of Israel into the land promised to them by God.

Abraham, the father of a great nation, demonstrates his love for God through many adventures. Travel with him, as he leads his family and his people, even to the point of standing ready to give up the life of his own son to honor God. Recall the fate that awaits the wife of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, as she looks back to see her beloved city of Sodom burned to cinders. Marvel, as Abraham’s wide Sarah finally bears a child, and spare a tear for her slave girl Hagar, as she flees in terror from her tormenting mistress.

Ruth, a poor and humble servant girl, pledges her allegiance to her widowed mother-in-law, forsaking her own chance of happiness. Ruth faithfully follows her grieving relative across deserts, laboring in the lowliest occupations to earn their food. When the pair’s livelihood is threatened, her mother-in-law begs for her faithful companion to perform one final task that might ensure their safety.

Poor Job – the faithful man, who loses nearly everything, except for his trust to do right before God. Losing his family and his livestock, and stricken by a terrible disease, all seems hopeless for this once celebrated man. Friends come to give their advice and support, yet it takes the voice of God to challenge Job, bringing him back to the life of happiness and richness that he once enjoyed.

When he is crowned king of Israel as heir to the beloved King David, Solomon prays to God to give him wisdom, fearing that his youth and inexperience make him unready to rule over a mighty nation. God blesses Solomon with wisdom and many riches too, while the now famous king sets about building the imposing temple for his Lord that his father David had never seen completed. Yet soon, Solomon’s love for luxury gets the better of him, and the glorious future that seemed destined for both the king and his people can no longer be assured.

Together with three trusted friends, Daniel is taken into service in the court of the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar. When the king threatens to kill all sages and magicians in his kingdom following the failure of their kind to tell him what he had dreamed, Daniel bravely offers to face the king. Through some fancy footwork and close listening to God, Daniel wins over the king and rises to high office, while attracting the jealousy of others who are commanded to serve under him. A devious plot sees Daniel condemned to die in a den of lions. Will God save him from his terrifying prospect?

A handsome young shepherd boy seems an unlikely choice for one who will one day become king of Israel. Yet, talented, wise, and brave, God’s chosen son David rises to be a worthy ruler, killing a giant, and dealing gently with a wayward king along the way. Follow his many adventures and strange path to fame in this, one of the best-loved among bible stories. This delightful retelling of the classic bible tale is told in the spirit of the countless storytellers who have enthralled audiences young and old throughout the centuries.

A beautiful orphan who becomes a queen, Esther risks her life out of her faithfulness to God and her people. Yet her bravery challenges the cunning of one of the most feared men in the kingdom. Will it be her head or his that ends up on top of a pole? This delightful retelling of the classic bible tale is told in the spirit of the countless storytellers who have enthralled audiences young and old throughout the centuries.

God tells Jonah to warn the wicked people of the powerful city of Nineveh to change their ways. Fearing that what his Lord has asked him to do is beyond his strength, Jonah runs away. Arriving at a busy harbor, he is taken on board a ship that’s making ready to sail to a distant land. Yet, a terrifying storm, and a tumbling into the deep, dark waters of a violent sea await this cowardly traveler. Can Jonah survive the perils that befall him, or will God work a miracle that allows Jonah a second chance to go where God wants him to be?

Elijah bemoans that he is alone in proclaiming God’s warning to an evil people, yet never ceases to plead with his kinsfolk to turn back to God. Facing an evil king and queen, while suffering famine and ridicule, this great prophet of God stays faithful to his cause. Yet, what will be the fate of those who scheme against Elijah, and others who walk carefully along God’s holy path?

The displays of strength of the fearless judge Samson amaze all who meet him, yet his enemies become ever more desperate to discover the secret of this mighty man of God’s power. Will they succeed, or will they themselves be crushed by the might and faith of the man who they plot to kill? In this colorful tale of intrigue, scheming, and double-crossing, there are adventures aplenty to enjoy – and too, important lessons to be learned.

How many disasters and miracles will it take before the evil Pharaoh sees that he must let the people who have worked his land for centuries, God's own children, return to their homeland? Moses, the brave and faithful servant of his Lord, takes the tyrant ruler to task, as ever-more calamitous disasters fall upon then once mighty kingdom, then leads a dramatic exodus of his kinsfolk across the Red Sea, and on a long and perilous journey of wandering, miracles, and learning in an unrelenting desert.

An enchanted garden, and the promise of heaven on earth. This is the setting for one of the greatest and best-known stories of all - how the Earth came to be, and the beautiful home that God gave to Adam and Eve. Yet, as is well known, when they insist on disobeying the God who created them, the fate of these original humans turns out to be one to be feared.