Showing results by narrator "Bob Souer" in All Categories

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most venerated Christian figures, and his profound teachings, deep love of nature, and commitment to simplicity have resonated with generations of followers. St. Francis of Assisi, a title in the Essential Wisdom Library, offers a simple and universal introduction to Francis' life, his key teachings, and the spiritual practices that enriched his faith and the lives of those who follow his legacy.

We admire these men for their greatness, but the truth is Augustine grappled with sexual passions, Martin Luther struggled to control his tongue, and John Calvin fought the battle of faith with worldly weapons. Yet each of these men will always be remembered for the messages they declared - messages that still resound today. John Piper explores these men's lives, integrating Augustine's delight in God with Luther's emphasis on the Word and Calvin's exposition of scripture. Through their strengths and struggles, we can learn how to live better today.

Ted Gioia's History of Jazz has been universally hailed as a classic - acclaimed by jazz critics and fans around the world. Now Gioia brings his magnificent work completely up-to-date, drawing on the latest research and revisiting virtually every aspect of the music, past and present. Gioia tells the story of jazz as it had never been told before, in a book that brilliantly portrays the legendary jazz players, the breakthrough styles, and the world in which it evolved. Here are the giants of jazz and the great moments of jazz history.

Did Jesus of Nazareth really intend to start a brand-new religion called Christianity? Or did he come to fulfill that which all of the Hebrew prophets had foretold since the fall of man, something the holy scriptures mysteriously call the restitution of all things? Veteran journalist and author Joseph Farah seeks to shed light on what few sermons today teach about, few authors expound upon, and few Bible studies explore: the coming kingdom of God.

Many people see Mormons as just another branch of the Christian church, and to be admired, perhaps, for their family life, morality, and upright culture. But the theology and spirituality of this cult are very far from an orthodox biblical understanding of true saving faith. And yet Christians are often fearful of engaging in conversations about the Gospel with Mormons, knowing that there are suspicions and complex issues that lie beneath the surface.

Award-winning historian Brian A. Catlos rewrites the history of Islamic Spain from the ground up, evoking the cultural splendor of al-Andalus, while offering an authoritative new interpretation of the forces that shaped it. Prior accounts have portrayed Islamic Spain as a paradise of enlightened tolerance or the site where civilizations clashed. Catlos taps a wide array of primary sources to paint a more complex portrait, describing how Muslims, Christians, and Jews together built a sophisticated civilization that transformed the Western world.

Despite today’s hardships, the Bible promises that a glorious new era is rapidly approaching. God’s plan for what’s ahead includes our rapture, our rewards, our participation in Jesus’ triumphal return, and our eternal glory in heaven. As a believer, you can trust that a wonderful future awaits you. In Future Glory, prophecy expert Dr. Ed Hindson helps you explore the Bible’s seven unique promises that outline what’s in store for every Christian.

Institutes of the Christian Religion is John Calvin's seminal work on Protestant systematic theology. Highly influential in the Western world and still widely read by theological students today, it was published in Latin in 1536 and in his native French in 1541. The book serves as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith for those with some previous knowledge of theology and covers a broad range of theological topics from the doctrines of church and sacraments to justification by faith alone and Christian liberty.

Sex, Time, and Power offers a tantalizing answer to an age-old question: Why did big-brained Homo sapiens suddenly emerge some 150,000 years ago? The key, according to Shlain, is female sexuality. Drawing on an awesome breadth of research, he shows how, long ago, the narrowness of the newly bipedal human female's pelvis and the increasing size of infants' heads precipitated a crisis for the species. Natural selection allowed for reconfiguration of hormonal cycles, entraining women with the periodicity of the moon - and imbuing women with the concept of time.

In the beginning, North America was Indian country. But only in the beginning. After the opening act of the great national drama, Native Americans yielded to the westward rush of European settlers. Or so the story usually goes. Yet, for three centuries after Columbus, Native people controlled most of eastern North America and profoundly shaped its destiny. In Facing East from Indian Country, Daniel K. Richter keeps Native people center-stage throughout the story of the origins of the United States.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, often regarded as the greatest preacher of the 19th century, crafted The Treasury of David over the span of nearly half his ministry. Concise and provocative, Spurgeon's magnum opus on the Psalms has been prized by Christians ever since. Available for the first time in unabridged audio, this collection features Spurgeon's crucial commentary on Psalms 120-150.

All Loves Excelling is John Bunyan's sermon on Ephesians 3:18-19: "That ye...may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." It was first titled The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love, is worthy of being ranked alongside Sibbes, and deals with a much neglected subject area.

It's a wonderful secret the Jewish people have known for centuries. A gift Christians have neglected for far too long. It is the life-transforming power of the "Prophetic Blessing." And in this remarkable audio book by pastor and New York Times best-selling author John Hagee, you'll learn what it is, the way it is presented throughout the narrative of Scripture, and most importantly, how you can release it into the lives of your loved ones and receive it in your own life.

Is it harder for you to change and grow as a Christian than it should be? Do you wonder what is holding you back? Have you ever considered that it might be idolatry? Using real-life stories and examples, Brad Bigney shows us how the idols we might not even recognize can still have devastating effects in our lives. In this transparent, honest book, he helps us to identify our idols, understand how they lead us to commit treason against the gospel - and finally repent of them and root them out forever by turning to the only One who can fill our every need.

From the moment of his conversion, Paul was a man of prayer. His many prayers scattered throughout his letters are among the richest sources in all of Scripture for getting a practical insight into the subject matter of God-honouring prayer. Pink's detailed study captures the essence of the apostle's concern for the congregations on whose behalf he consistency prayed. However, Gleanings from Paul is much more than a mere study of Paul's prayers. Pink's insights help to gain a more rounded understanding of the apostle himself, the God he served, and the churches he worked with.

Mark Jones addresses the uncomfortable topic of backsliding believers—and, to a lesser extent, apostasy—in a serious, hopeful, and pastoral work informed by wise theologians of eras past.

John Bunyan admitted he was one of the worst sinners to have ever lived. But after converting to Christianity, he was constantly amazed by the fact that God saved him from his wrongdoings. As a minister of the Gospel, he loved to proclaim the grace of God to sinners, and he earnestly persuaded them to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ. Published in 1688, the year of his death, The Jerusalem Sinner Saved brings together the fruit of Bunyan's thoughts on the grace of forgiveness.

This compelling counter-narrative to the familiar story of the Puritans combines a rich understanding of the period with a close reading of early texts to bring the contentious Morton to life. This volume sheds new light on the tumultuous formative decades of the American experience.

John Piper shows us the blazing glory of Christ and urges us to set him as the sun at the center of our personal solar systems, so that each area of our life might orbit in the way it was designed to. When Christ is our supreme treasure, we are able to keep money, sex, and power in their proper place, enjoying them and glorifying God with them instead of rejecting them or worshiping them.

Systematic Theology is the culmination and creative synthesis of John Frame’s writing on, teaching about, and studying of the Word of God. This magisterial opus at once biblical, clear, cogent, listenable, accessible, and practical summarizes the mature thought of one of the most important and original Reformed theologians of the last 100 years. It will enable you to see clearly how the Bible explains God’s great, sweeping plan for mankind.