Showing results by narrator "Nan Mcnamara" in All Categories

Celebrity—defined as social power without proximity—has led to abuses of power, the cultivation of persona, and a fixation on profits. In light of the fall of famous Christian leaders in recent years, the time has come for the church to reexamine its relationship to celebrity. Award-winning journalist Katelyn Beaty explores the ways fame has reshaped the American church, explains how and why celebrity is woven into the fabric of the evangelical movement, and identifies many ways fame has gone awry in recent years.

Known for her best-selling detective novels, Dorothy L. Sayers lived a fascinating, groundbreaking life as a novelist, feminist, Oxford scholar, and important influence on the spiritual life of C. S. Lewis. Providing a blueprint for bridge-building in contemporary, polarizing contexts, Subversive shows how Sayers used edgy, often hilarious metaphors to ignite new ways to think about Christianity, shocking people into seeing the truth of ancient doctrine in a new light.

Stepparenting with Grace offers a soothing salve and a holy nudge of daily encouragement for anyone navigating the unique dynamics of a blended family. These devotions provide companionship, encouragement, understanding, and biblical insights from a veteran stepmom. This trusted resource will help you gain strength, wisdom, and comfort as you navigate the rocky terrain of creating a blended family.

The Lambspun Knitters are eagerly awaiting a bundle of joy but find themselves heaped with trouble instead! Kelly Flynn and her boyfriend, Steve, are expecting and couldn't be happier. Kelly's got the knitting group working away on blankets and booties, and the story of Giselle Callahan is a popular topic of conversation. Giselle is the young wife of Henry Callahan, a Fort Connor banking scion who traded in his previous wife of 40 years for a newer model.

Rebecca Schwartz, nice Jewish lawyer with a few too many fantasies, is happily playing the piano in a whorehouse when she suddenly finds herself assigned to make sure a near-naked state senator escapes a police raid. That dirty job done, a lovely evening turns even more delightful when she's picked up by the cops and spends the next two hours at the Hall of Justice. Could this day get any worse? Of course! Guess who arrives home to find a dead hooker on her living room floor?

Angels have a vital role in the kingdom of God-and in the lives of believers. Yet many Christians treat the existence of angels lightly or fail to consider them at all. In Angels Are for Real, Judith MacNutt pulls back the curtain on this intriguing topic, recounting inspiring, true-life stories and miraculous interactions, revealing what the bible says about these heavenly beings, and offering insight into the spiritual realm.

In today's technology-driven culture, reading has become a lost art. With smartphones offering information at the tap of a finger, reading a book is often seen as a tedious and outdated activity. Christians are not immune to this problem, as many find it hard to read books - even the Bible - consistently and attentively. Recovering the Lost Art of Reading addresses these timely issues by exploring the importance of reading generally as well as studying the Bible as literature, giving practical suggestions along the way.

Seven Words You Never Want to Hear explores the mystery of salvation through the Scriptures and personal stories. Take the challenge that the apostle Paul gave to the church at Corinth—examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. The gospel changes everything—beliefs, lifestyles, and priorities. Has it changed you?

This is a book for Christians who want to learn how to do better. Heather Matthews has experienced sexism in the church firsthand. In Confronting Sexism in the Church, she explores the history and culture of sexism in our contemporary evangelical world and describes the many ways—subtle and not so subtle—that it lives on in the church today. She gives simple, practical steps for how Christians can actively fight sexism in its many forms.

Goldie Hayes took risks, sacrificed love, and kept secrets to rise to the top in Hollywood. In an instant, it all comes crashing down. She's at the center of a Tinseltown scandal, with her career in free fall. Her only choice is to hide until things blow over. Luckily for her, Irish Hills is the perfect place to disappear.

Hope Venerable's life took a detour, then a left turn, and before she knew it her dream to own a restaurant hit a dead end. Raising kids, paying bills, and being a wife became her life. Add to that her husband putting his own schemes before her dreams made owning a restaurant about as likely as winning the lottery. A food-inspired life is Hope's joy, her gift, and she never stopped working to make at least a small part of her dreams come true. When her husband betrays her and tries to crush her ideas again, she knows she needs a change.

In the everyday battle of raising kids who love Jesus while living in a world that doesn't, God invites you to come to Him. No cleaning up, no pretenses, no fancy words-all you need is to tell Him what's truly on your heart and then ask for the wisdom, encouragement, and protection that only He can provide.

In On the Record: Music That Changed America, Anna Harwell Celenza uncovers the sometimes surprising influence of music on American politics and culture. From "The Star–Spangled Banner" and Billie Holiday's haunting "Strange Fruit" to Paul Simon's Graceland and Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking Hamilton, Celenza explores moments where music wound its way through the halls of Congress, influencing decisions and reshaping culture.

This epic novel follows one extraordinary American woman as she grieves and triumphs through the horrific realities of three wars that threaten the men she loves.

Wine is the most talked-about food in the Bible, and yet western Christianity has largely neglected this important biblical theme and fragrant gift of God. Have you ever wondered what Jesus would drink? Was his family perhaps involved in growing vines and making wine? What would their family...

For decades J.J. Tucker has brought laughter and sunshine to the Sandbar Sisters. But her life has spiraled out of control. A disaster has turned Irish Hills upside down and has left J.J. alone and unsure. She can't bear to look back on her life and moving forward hurts too much. Her future, once bright and filled with love, feels lonely and hopeless. J.J. faces a very different future than she had planned and one she's not sure if she wants. She will have to face her fears and her past if she wants to find the laughter in her life again.

Vivian Blackwood has been through the wringer. The scans say all clear, but is she really? Over the last year, her life has centered around fighting cancer and worrying if she could win. Now her doctors say she's okay. But doubt and fear are ruining what should be the best time of her life. That's when her daughter, Siena steps in. Siena has made a deal for both of them to start fresh in Irish Hills. Siena has devoted herself to bringing back her mother's love of life. To Viv's dismay, Siena has set aside her own dreams for her mom's.

Taylor Swift and Beyoncé aren't just pop megastars. They are working women whose astounding accomplishments defy patriarchal norms. And while not all women can be Rihanna or Dolly Parton or Reese Witherspoon, their successes help us understand the central role of everyday women in today's economy. Swiftynomics assesses the complex economic lives of American women. Drawing insights from pathbreakers like Taylor Swift, Misty Heggeness digs into the data, revealing women's hidden contributions and aspirations—the unexamined value they create by following their own ambitions.

As advancements in health and medicine extend our lifespan, women of the sandwich generation—those balancing the needs of both children and parents—are experiencing a multitude of challenges as they transition out of the workforce and into the promise of retirement. A Beautiful Second Act...

Trawling through the lawless corners of the dark internet is the last thing respectable bank manager, Rachel Foreman, expected to be doing. But she’s just been fired after falling for a cyber-scam, resulting in the identity-theft and online targeting of a female Fortune 500 CEO, accused, among other things, of the murder of a disgruntled former employee.