Religious Writings

The Thomas Keating Reader gathers for the first time 30 articles (some never published elsewhere) to offer a valuable overview of some of the main strands of Fr. Thomas’ thinking and practice on centering prayer, lectio divina, and interreligious dialogue. Rich with insight and humanity, The Thomas Keating Reader offers a broad introduction to the concepts that have animated Contemplative Outreach and reveals the gifts and challenges of the practice of the spiritual life.

The Yoder Family Saga follows widow Miriam Yoder and her four unmarried daughters, Megan, Rebecca, Josephine, and Lillian, as they discover God’s plans for them and the hope He provides for a happy tomorrow. Rebecca Yoder is twenty years old and fears she might be single forever. At one point, she was on the verge of being engaged to a handsome young man in town. Then things went sour, leaving Rebecca to wonder what is wrong with her and whether she is unlovable. Can she let go of her memories with her lost love long enough to find joy with another? Or, will her insecurities keep her from...

Former bookseller, longtime publisher, and author Jon M. Sweeney shows—with history and anecdotes centering around books such as Thoreau's Journal, Tagore's Gitanjali, Martin Buber's Hasidic Tales, and Tolstoy's Twenty-three Tales—what it means to be carried by a book. He explores the discovery that once accompanied finding books, and books finding us. He ponders the smell of an old volume, its heft, and why bibliophiles carry them around even without reading them. He demonstrates how and why there is magic and enchantment that takes place between people and books.

It was known as the Living Grave: A remote Hawaiian peninsula called Kalaupapa, housing the largest settlement for leprosy patients in the United States. Once it had been a forbidding place of exile, inhabited by thousands of the disease's victims who had been removed from their families and confined against their will, far away from a society that feared and misunderstood their condition.

The Yoder Family Saga follows widow Miriam Yoder and her four unmarried daughters, Megan, Rebecca, Josephine, and Lillian, as they discover God’s plans for them and the hope He provides for a happy tomorrow. Josephine Yoder works for bachelor Abe Schmidt on his horse farm despite her mother’s concerns. When a new farmhand arrives, tensions rise and tempers flare. However, a missing horse forces their unlikely alliance, igniting passions of a different sort. Will the horse thief be caught? Can Josephine’s wild heart be tamed, or will she be unwilling to sacrifice her independence?A ...

Many Christians are familiar with The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan's famous book written from a prison cell, which portrays the Christian life as one traveling from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. During Bunyan's life, however, he produced nearly sixty books and tracts. Roger Duke and Phil Newton, with Drew Harris, trace the significant events that shaped Bunyan's life and thought in a biographical introduction and, in thirty-one excerpts from a variety of this great man of faith's writings, give us a glimpse of his piety, which flowed from his desire to venture all for God.

Welcome to Morrissey County! This fictional region in Pennsylvania Amish country is home to several generations of strong-willed Amish women who know what they want in life, even if others disagree. Join these women on their search for love and acceptance. Morrissey County, 1979 Sarah Kauffman has always abided by the Ordnung, and not only because her father happens to be the town’s bishop and would, she feels, disown her if she didn’t. But when her mother passes away, she longs to escape the clutches of her father and run away to the Englisch world. When her father wants her to marry ...

Most scholars consider Melanchthon to be a Reformation enigma. He, the developer of the Reformation doctrine of forensic justification, is contrarily condemned as a synergist. Known well as the Protestant preceptor of Germany, he was Martin Luther's lifelong friend, colleague, teacher of Greek, and fellow reformer. Upon arriving at Wittenberg, Melanchthon was a theologian neither by trade nor by training. He was a classically trained expert in classical languages, neo-Latin poet, textbook author, Greek scholar, humanist, and above all, an educator

Jonah has lost his community, and he’s struggling to get by in the English world. He yearns for his Amish roots, but his past mistakes keep him from returning home. Mary Lou is recovering from a medical scare. Her journey has impressed upon her how precious life is, so she decides to go on rumspringa to see the world. While in the city, Mary Lou meets Jonah. Unable to understand his foul attitude, especially towards her, she makes every effort to share her faith with him. As she helps him heal from his past, an attraction develops. Will Jonah’s heart soften towards Mary Lou? What will ...

Why does a Church Cardinal, a man of the cloth, need a fixer to retrieve a package for him? What could possibly be in the package requiring such secrecy? Charlie Franklin’s clients are usually unsavory denizens climbing from the underbelly of Cleveland, Ohio. He would like to believe the Cardinal is different but, early on, he has his doubts. Follow Charlie as he searches for the truth while dodging a growing number of curious characters who, quite suddenly, are very interested in Charlie’s mission: a local mob boss, the quirky T.K. Constantine, and the mysterious little man all dressed...

Is the Bible just an abstraction or a real living entity? This book aims to answer the question. Part adventure story, part archaeological detective work, part spiritual exploration, this is the account of Bruce Feiler's perilous 10,000 mile journey across the Middle East in search of the roots of the Bible. Both an exhilarating journey and uplifting spiritual quest, Feiler recounts his experiences with humour whilst offering fresh answers to the most profound questions of human spirit.

A scientist and former evangelical argues that holding onto a belief in a literal, historical Adam has forced many Christians to reject science and become intellectually isolated from the modern world.

Sky-Hitching to Heaven, Experiencing the Fun Side of God is an entertaining book that includes thirty amazing experiences in which God intervened in unexpected ways. Mary Gordon has lived a life filled with thrills. Whether “sky-hitching” across the country, whitewater canoeing, hiking, primitive camping, or cooking exotic multi-course meals, she sees God involved in the everyday and the extraordinary aspects of life. There’s even a chapter involving a shopping miracle. In 1977 Mary sky-hitched from mid-Ohio to Spokane, Washington.

The Bible tells us that Satan was thrown out of heaven: "And there was a war in heaven; And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan" - Revelation 12:7-9

We have collected stories of his coming to earth from numerous ancient accounts. We have gathered scientific evidence of his coming to earth. Satan was indeed thrown out of the heavens. We have the proof. Satan caused great evil on earth. We have come to know him as the personification of all evil.

In war zones witnessing widespread conflict, what makes life at all worth living? When chaos becomes a way of life in places where religion and violence intersect, what do people hold on to? If religious belief is, as Christopher Hitchens argues, the cause of wars and genocide, then is faith the cure?

Discover a world of love, faith, and community in this prequel to an exciting Amish romance series. Follow the Lancaster County Amish as they navigate the challenges of balancing their beliefs with the allure of the wider world. In a world where expectations and traditions are highly valued, eldest daughter Hannah Fisher's dream of attending college creates a rift within her Amish community. As Hannah struggles to find a balance between her Amish faith and her desire to explore the outside world, tensions rise, and relationships are put to the test. To complicate matters further, Samuel ...

A malefic transitioning of the Sun in your horoscope or birth chart may manifest as gastrointestinal issues (like acidity and/or constipation) and medical problems related to eyes and bones. One begins to experience decreased confidence and lack of motivation, often gets discredited or dishonored in society and is belittled by seniors. The relationship with the father worsens, or the father might face severe health problems. If you are experiencing similar challenges, this book is for you. This book contains the transliteration and meaning of Surya Chalisa, Surya Aarti, Surya Mantras, ...

This is only one of the many revelations in Eugenia Price’s intimate account of the many months she spent sorting through voluminous historical research and writing Margaret’s Story, the third novel in her Florida trilogy. Published as a companion to the novel, this journal offers a fascinating view of the author at work as the novel developed week by week.

The Yoder Family Saga follows widow Miriam Yoder and her four unmarried daughters, Megan, Rebecca, Josephine, and Lillian, as they discover God’s plans for them and the hope He provides for a happy tomorrow. The Yoder women struggle to survive after Jeremiah Yoder succumbs to a battle with cancer. The family risks losing their farm and their livelihood. They are desperate to find a way to keep going. Will Miriam and her daughters be able to work together to keep their family afloat? Will God pull through for them and provide for them in their time of need? A Promised Tomorrow is the ...

Some people believe questioning the Bible, the direction God is going, or even God himself, is blasphemy. Some think it’s a sign of disbelief. Daniel Thornton is one such man. He believes his son, Rusty Thornton, is lost without God and takes him to a faraway place in the early 1950s near Spicewood, Texas, where he would never come in contact with people. He has an old King James Version of the Bible and began to try and cure his son’s affliction of skepticism.