Best Episcopalian Christianity
In An Altar in the World , Taylor shows us how to discover altars everywhere we go and in nearly everything we do as we learn to live with purpose, pay attention, slow down, and revere the world we live in. Gentle, humbly crafted, lyrical, and deeply wise, Altar is Barbara Brown Taylor as she was meant to be, a pastor who understands that knowing God occurs in a place beyond theology.” (Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence). “Elegant, wise, and insightful, this book is also sacramental: it mediates the life it describes.” (Marcus Borg, author of Jesus). Your mind, your body and your soul will be well fed by this wonderful book.” (Nora Gallagher, author of Things Seen and Unseen and Changing Light). One of the best-known preachers in the country offers equal amounts of wisdom and erudition spent longing for more meaning, more feeling, more connection.” (Booklist). And this volume, which focuses on spiritual practices, simply adds to her growing reputation.” (Kansas City Star).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Things like physical work, paying attention to our surroundings, appreciating the people who pass through our lives mostly unnoticed, the practice of blessing, and several others. Author Barbara Brown Taylor is an episcopal priest renowned for her preaching, with a good sense of humor, and extensive learning."
"I've read a LOT of spirituality books, especially those on spiritual practices."
"It deals with the art of slowing down, the goal of blessing others, of taking walks and doing dishes. The book deals with the common to make it an uncommon experience of walking with God."
"In our own skins, our own senses, we experience this world."
"She was recognized in 1996 by Baylor University as one of the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world and received the Emory medal in 1998 for distinguished achievement in education. Taylor wrote a memoir of her shift from parish ministry to teaching in a book entitled “Leaving Church,” and her latest work is “An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith.” These later works seem to target the “spiritual but not religious” segment of the reading public and are filled with the same skilled prose that marked her earlier writings. “An Altar in the World” reviews a variety of spiritual practices with the laudable goal of showing the reader that “the treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company.” For the author, “there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experiences of human life on the earth.” She states, “If you have run out of breath yourself—or out of faith—then this book is for you.” Her hope for the book is that it will help the reader “recognize some of the altars in this world—ordinary looking places where human beings have met and may continue to meet up with the divine More that they sometimes call God.”. Taylor is very comfortable writing about themes in spirituality from a progressive viewpoint. Take a look at the following extract from the essay, “The Practice of Wearing Skin”: “One of the most remarkable conversations I have ever had about the physics of divine love took place in a far country, where a male colleague and I were involved in a month-long service project. My goal for this review is to alert the potential reader of this book that the author is in a very different place than when we first met her in “The Preaching Life” or “When God was Silent,” and I am not yet persuaded that this represents a good change. If you are tempted to move the cursor toward a “not helpful” vote for this review, please consider leaving a comment instead and begin a conversation with me about this author."
The book encourages dialogue between Centering Prayer enthusiasts and those classic institutions of Christian nurture―churches, seminaries, and schools of theology―that have yet to accept real ownership of the practice and its potential. This book will be inspiring, clear, and helpful to those who look well into it. Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a superb book, a wonderfully accessible introduction to Centering Prayer and the role it can play in your own ‘salvation unto eternity.'. Her simple and clear explanations of the contemplative process so apparently based in her own experience re-ignited my own yearning to live a deeply God-centered life and renewed my commitment to the practice.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Loved this book for its insights and clarity of writtin."
"Very informative and helpful."
"Reading this book first makes more sense."
"Struggling with anxiety and ADHD really wore me down and contributed to my depression."
"It provides a good overview of the material but more practical steps (in a briefer fashion) would have been helpful, at least to me."
"I especially appreciate the clarity of thought and the incisive distinctions in this presentation of Centering Prayer."
"Having read a few books and just starting on this journey, this book was equally instructive and profound."
In The Supper of the Lamb , Capon talks about festal and ferial cooking, emerging as an inspirational voice extolling the benefits and wonders of old-fashioned home cooking in a world of fast food and prepackaged cuisine. “The Supper of the Lamb is a rare, distilling nectar, albeit fizzy with bubbles of humor and wit...it is fully capable of rescuing us from the dangers of mediocrity daily foisted upon us by the too-fast pace of our lives.”. —From the Introduction by Deborah Madison.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Page by page, this is the most delightful book I have ever read for its literary splendor."
"Such a fun read!"
"Two of my greatest loves in this world are theology and food & drink (both the preparation and the consumption!). Some chapters of special interest: "Wave Breast and Heave Shoulder" -- even if I was so inclined, I could never be a vegetarian after reading this work of poetry. "The Long Session" -- and you thought formal dinner parties were passe! "The Burning Heart" -- Capon's discussion of "The Greater Heartburn" alone is worth the price of the book."
"All the while, food preparation and consumption is tied to a higher purpose, leaving the reader with a transcendent view of the enjoyment of both preparing and consuming delicious food."
"I was excited when I read the introduction."
"I read this over four decades ago, and it colored my thinking on meal preparation."
"Bought this book for a friend; she likes it."
Best Anglican Christianity
Drawing from the diversity of her life as a campus minister, Anglican priest, friend, wife, and mother, Tish Harrison Warren opens up a practical theology of the everyday. "To live in the vision that Warren is offering―to find sacredness in the everyday practices of life―will require that we engage with these and other institutional realities in our midst. Her words can help us grasp what my grandfather learned through a lifetime of commonsense faith―and a lot of sweeping: The 'new life into which we're being baptized is lived out in days, hours, and minutes. Under Tish Harrison Warren's insightful gaze, our seemingly 'boring' daily routines become a liturgy of their own―calling us to confession and community, Scripture and Sabbath, baptism and embodiment. This marvelous little book is that certain slant of light that illuminates the everyday as an arena of sanctification, where the Spirit makes us holy in ways we might miss. No mundane daily task will be the same once these pages open your eyes to how the work of your hands reflects the ways of the Creator and the rhythms of eternity." "In this moment in culture, when much feels complicated and shallow, Tish Harrison Warren offers a beautiful and life-giving narrative: a way toward the ordinary sacred. "If Christianity is to retain its witness in our frenetic and fragmented age, it must take root not only in the thoughts and emotions but also in the daily lives and even bodies of those who call Christ Lord. Tish Harrison Warren has beautifully 'enfleshed' the concepts and doctrines of our faith into quotidian moments, showing how every hour of each day can become an occasion of grace and renewal. If you want to know how faith matters amid messy kitchens, unfinished manuscripts, marital spats, and unmade beds, Liturgy of the Ordinary will train your eyes to see holy beauty all around." The highest compliment I can offer is that her book inspired me to go back to my dirty sink and my screaming kids with a renewed sense of purpose."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book challenges the idea that following Christ must only be bold and dramatic and has reminded me that God breathes life into my ordinary."
"Tish Harrison Warren takes us through the mundane, everyday parts of our lives and shows their connection to the sacred. From waking up to brushing our teeth to eating leftovers and fighting with our spouses, every part of our day is an echo of our relationship with God. As someone who struggles with spiritual disciplines, this book taught me I can work in so many of them during my normal routine."
"Though seemingly simple, it dives into how we live our lives as Christians in everything, even in making the bed!"
"The author's vignettes about making the bed, drinking tea, resting, and more remind each of us that we are God’s beloved creation and to rejoice in how we are created."
"So thankful for Tish's insights and connecting all the dots!"
"I was worried that it wouldn't be applicable for me as a single woman, but many of the chapters hit home."
"We tend to compartmetalize our life in Christ."
"Absolutely loved it."
Best Presbyterian Christianity
New York Times bestselling author of the forthcoming God's Wisdom for Navigating Life and nationally renowned minister Timothy Keller exposes the error of making good things "ultimate" in this book, and shows readers a new path toward a hope that lasts. "Keller's wisdom and biblical understanding, served up in clear, engaging writing, can help both Christians and non-Christians to identify the idols in our own hearts and replace empty promises with hope in Christ." Keller argues that Christians cannot understand themselves or their culture unless they discern the counterfeit gods." "Smashes the arrogant conclusion that violation of the first commandment was merely an ancient problem. Combining biblical theology with experienced surgery on the soul over the years in modern Manhattan .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Read this book if you want to begin to understand the depths of your own heart and figure out how to begin to change."
"The subject about idol can be found throughout the Bible."
"We think of idols as statues that we bow down to or worship, but this book shows that we all have idols that we never thought were idols!"
"This will probably be true especially for those who find themselves in trouble regularly and need help recognizing which of the many temptations we face that they have elevated into a false god that they hope will bring happiness when it does nothing of the sort."
"but read on. I am reading the book with a women's Bible Study group and it so helps to hear others and their thoughts while reading."
"( If you ask Him to). Pro 4:10 — Pro 4:13. Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many."
"Interesting talk about how we can let ourselves become caught up in the things of this world."
"This book was incredibly convicting."
Best Lutheran Christianity
The Lutheran Book of Prayer has assured and guided generations of Christians in their personal prayer life.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is full of wonderful prayers that would be suitable for many different faiths, not just Lutherans."
"There's nothing like holding it in my hands and flipping through different prayers that you never knew you needed THAT day."
"It makes me sad they did not decide to keep it, but I guess I can benefit from Logan's (the name on the cover and inside) book!"
"There are daily prayers that include a morning prayer and an evening prayer. If you are looking for something to help you in your daily prayer life the Lutheran Book of Prayer is a way to do that."
"This is a small book with a comprehensive prayer offering as well as liturgical material."
"The prayers themselves have been a great comfort to me as well, as I am reminded of how very much my Heavenly Farher loves all His children."
"I use this book everyday for my prayers!"
"How can you give a book of prayer a bad review?"
Best Baptist Christianity
This five-volume set is a compilation of Spurgeon's best sermons, covering topics from Israel in Egypt and confession of sin to justification by grace and Paul's first prayer. It is estimated that during his lifetime he spoke to 10 million people, and he became known as the Prince of Preachers. His works fill over 60 volumes; and more than a century after his death, his sermons and devotional texts continue to challenge and touch Christians and non-Christians alike with their biblical grounding, eloquent text, and simple encouragement.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The print quality look like 1850's typewriter type set."
"The print is not quite as high quality as most modern books, but it is still very easy to read and takes nothing from the experience."
"It's Charles Spurgeon in all of his glorious preaching!"
"I couldn't be more thrilled to have these volumes in my collection."
"This is an invaluable reference."
"These are amazing sermons this man was gifted by God for sure."
"I was thrilled with my purchase."
Best Calvinist Christianity
At the age of twenty-six, Calvin published several revisions of his Institutes of the Christian Religion , a seminal work in Christian theology that altered the course of Western history and that is still read by theological students today. This book was written as a theological introduction to the Bible and a vindication of Reformation principles.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I am in the midst of it."
"I never thought about reading anything about Calvin and his commentaries."
"If someone can can either modify the source file or comment, telling me how to mod it for my own download, I will update this review to the five stars the text itself deserves."
"I read of this book but never read it."
"Great book that explains the fundamentals of the Christian religion from the time of the Reformation."
"Good price, great condition."
"Great source for graduate seminarians!"
Best Shake Christianity
Winner of the Communal Studies Association book award (2014) Issachar Bates (1758–1837) was a Revolutionary War veteran in rural upstate New York who, at the age of forty-three, abruptly turned from his family life to become a celibate Shaker. “Carol Medlicott’s choice to allow Bates to speak for himself through his autobiography, poetry, and music gives her fine biography a wonderful sense of immediacy.” (Andrew Cayton, Miami University, Ohio).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A few brave souls have tried to tackle the immense body of journals and manuscripts that remain from the Shaker West, but most of these efforts are so limited and fail to place the western communities in the context of Shakerdom as a whole. For example, anyone wishing to know why the Shaker Church covenant was revised again around 1830 will find the answers in her skillful treatment of the legal implications following the death of Father David Darrow and the closing of the Busro, Indiana, society. Moreover, the growing discontent among the young is not treated as a peripheral topic but is discussed in light of the stress caused by misconceptions about the very nature of the covenant and the inability of leaders to cope."
"Issachar Bates, one of three missionaries sent out from New York to "the west," was an important figure in establishing the Shaker version of Christianity in Kentucky and the midwest."
"Her biography follows the life of Issachar Bates, from his youth in New England and service as a fifer in the American Revolution, to his sudden conversion in 1801 to the Shaker faith, and ensuing role as an influential Shaker preacher."
"His natural gifts as a musician, composer, poet and dancer uniquely equipped him for this mission, and his eloquence was successful in converting hundreds of settlers to embrace Shaker teachings of pacifism, celibacy and gender and racial equality, concepts even more difficult to find acceptance in his day than they are today."
"Author Carol Medlicott brings this fascinating Shaker leader to life; his story jumps off the page and I honestly couldn't put the book down."
"Ms. Medlicott describes the journey of Mr. Bates in a readable, interesting way."
"If you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a Shaker man, this is the book for you!"
Best Methodist Christianity
Undone is author Michele Cushatt’s quest to make peace with a complicated life. "Michele is a friend that I adore and trust to speak truth over deep places in my life where I need a confidant. Michele's story will inspire you, move you, and leave you feeling empowered that you, too, can face overwhelming odds and unknowns with courage and bravery." "This is a hopeful, heartfelt memoir about finding the hidden beauty in the midst of life's greatest struggles. "The hardest things in life have a way of showing up unexpectedly, as do the most beautiful and breath taking. If you feel like you're coming undone, read this book and let Michele's words awaken the hope and courage your heart needs today!"
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you’ve ever struggled with shattered hopes, a fearful diagnosis, a wayward child, a dysfunctional church, or the silence of God, Undone will walk beside you as a companion. My favorite quotes: "Peace isn’t a byproduct of control, the payout of a happy conclusion. One who loves nothing more than to step into the middle of locked and darkened rooms and impossible circumstances, close enough to touch." Including the countless ways my shortcomings and flaws have made me a better character in my own story." (Page 235). "Ministry—of the truest kind—isn’t about impressing unknown strangers with spotless presentations and a flawless life. (Pages 82-83). Undone shows you how God waits on the other side of our thin expectations as He draws us close to Him through painful places, finally opening to us the broad expanse that is His grace."
"After reading Michele's memoir, UNDONE - A Story of Making Peace with an Unexpected Life, she has inspired me to be more vulnerable and to allow my story to live on its own merits."
"Yet, by being real, open and honest, we see how our journey of being undone by life, and how God, “even in our own wickedness” uses even us to perpetuate His story of redemption. Instead of seeing streaks of mud along the way, what you are going to find is a redemption story of how God uses all of her journey to inspire and encourage you on your own journey."
"The life that God calls us to usually is so different than what we plan."
"Raising teenagers is HARD....when you haven't been with them from the beginning and able to teach them the same morals, values, beliefs and just the way of doing things that you yourself have, it's incredibly HARD."
Best Inspirational Christianity
The journey to discovering Jesus— Real Jesus —can be complicated, messy, and a little crazy. If you've ever felt confused by the conflicting representations of Jesus you've encountered in the world, you're invited to join Jami's quest to release all the wrong ideas and get to know Jesus as He really is—bewildering grace and all. Stolen Jesus does not shy away from the hurts inflicted by messed-up religion, yet this is the funniest Christian book I have read. Not only will you want to pay real money just to be in the backseat of her car during her next Starbucks run (because you will...), but this book will make you want to go deeper; truly examining your own Jesus collection and paring it down to one, true, Savior."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Goodbye Idol Jesus and Americanized Jesus."
"She connects with you in such a real and transparent way you almost feel as though you are hanging out on her couch with your feet on her coffee table. Santa Jesus, Mexican Jesus, Scary Catholic Jesus, Assemblies of God Jesus, etc."
"Jami is a beautiful person inside and out, and portrays our loving Father and faithful Friend in a down-to earth, yet magical way. God will stir hearts and move mountains with her words."
"Her family stories are hysterical and her heart for foster children is so beautiful to me."
"This book has helped me realize how much “stuff” we have attached to Jesus that is just a waste of time, energy, and burdens us down."
"Ms Amerine’s interjected many personal humorous stories to bring the reader to the finish line!"
"She speaks her truth...and it's relatable."
"Jami's humor and honesty has helped me identify and clarify the struggles I've had in my Christian walk.."
Best Quaker Christianity
Welcome to Harmony ... Gulley's funny Front Porch Tales (1997) was much admired, selling a quarter of a million copies.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I stumbled onto this book on a Kindle sale and was at first wondering why Gulley was compared to James Harriott and Jan Karon."
"There is the church lady who sits in the same pew every Sunday and has an opinion on everything and who complains about everything. There is the church deacon that is pompous and loud who always manages to do just the wrong thing at just the wrong time, upsetting all those around him and totally oblivious to the chaos he creates. There is also the elderly church secretary who imparts his words of wisdom gleaned from years of living that positively affect those around him. There is also a bit more of a "bite" in here since, while very very humorous, there are people here you really wouldn't want to spend more time with than you had to. Side note: A resident of central Indiana myself, I have had the opportunity to hear Mr. Gulley speak multiple times over the years."
"They both have the knack of taking an incident or a person that might have driven them mad and be able in retrospect to turn it into something funny."
"Love, love, love Philip Gulley's books!"
"A light hearted read that is perfect for the beach or a long plane trip."
"Told from the point of view of a Quaker pastor, the book is engaging and unputdownable -- all without the use of the foul language and explicit scenes used by so many authors to bait and hook readers interest more and more often (like all the time) lately."
"I loved the book!"
"If you're looking for something like this but with more substance, read Jan Karon"s Mitford series or Ann B. Ross' Miss Julia books."
Best Pentecostal & Charismatic Christianity
In a world of fear, disease, crisis, torment, uncertainty, and hopelessness, what you believe about God’s goodness reveals how you will respond to the trials and circumstances of everyday life. Respected pastor and bestselling author, Bill Johnson presents his new groundbreaking book that calls believers to build their lives on one unshakeable foundation: the assurance that God is Good. This leadership network has crossed denominational lines, building relationships that enable church leaders to walk successfully in both purity and power.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Many Christians have hit deep disappoints, so messages that help point us back to the divine goodness of our Father is incredibly important. I wish at times that Bill Johnson would dig into some of the more difficult Scriptures that people get confused with, like the book of Job, but it's clear that dissecting those subjects in a deep manner is not what forms his unique identity and calling. In addition, our desire for depth in theology can remove a child like faith that embraces mystery but pursues more relentlessly. One of the best quotes I pull from this book is one that resonates with my heart to see God restore our relationship capacity in the church: "It's a Father's kingdom. (p. 164). More insights: "It's a theological crime to change the intent and message of the Scriptures in order to make me feel comfortable with my ministry experience." (p. 187). Bill Johnson mentions his father getting cancer and passing away, a story that brings me to tears every time I read or hear it. How Bill and the rest of his family responded to that sickness and loss is an incredible testimony of engaging God's goodness in the midst of it being challenged in what you see."
"Bill Johnson's walk with God is rich and powerful, and his insights into how we view God and how we should view God are so important to grasp - understandings that have the possibility to transfer lives for the good - for God!"
"The authors writing style weaves scripture with heart facts in a way to warm your heart and set your soul on fire."
"This book will challenge what you really think about God."
"Awesome book."
"I love Bill's insight into the God's heart for us!"
"This was a gift for my wife."
"Always love the simple approach that Bill takes to writing his books."
Best Seventh-Day Adventist Christianity
Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. Ellen White was a woman of remarkable spiritual gifts who lived most of her life during the nineteenth century (1827-1915), yet through her writings she is still making a revolutionary impact on millions of people around the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A very good book, well written on the life of Jesus."
"The most beautiful book on the life of Christ."
"Before reading each chapter of this book, I read the Bible text associated with that chapter."
"I highly recommend this book for a better understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ, his life story from Childhood all throughtout his sufferings and crucificion and the resurection."
"This book is one of many that were written by Mrs. White."
"Absolute best book on the life of Christ I have ever read."
"Best book I read on life of Christ."
"This most comprehensive story of the life of Christ creates an understanding of His very special love for us that is beyond human expectations.!"
Best Protestant Christian Theology
The Christian church has a long tradition of systematic theology, that is, studying theology and doctrine organized around fairly standard categories such as the Word of God, redemption, and Jesus Christ. His Systematic Theology provides the core theology content for all my classes and most of the other undergraduate theology courses at the University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Grudem's writting style reveals his knowledge, but is not too stuffy, so that a simpleton like me can read and understand (for the most part)."
"Every believer should own this book."
"Good purchase, be prepared for some meat!"
"I bought this as a kindle version but I know wish I had the hardcover version."
"A perfect guide to assist in communicating the truth."
"It's a great book and answers a lot of my questions."
Best Christian Book of Common Prayer
This handsome NEW edition of the Book of Common Prayer is perfect for the cost-conscious gift giver - even if the recipient is you!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A handsome addition to worship preparation and participation."
"We use the Book of Common Prayer daily."
"Purchased as a gift."
"This is great for daily use!"
"Lost copy in move so needed a replacement."
"Excellent for those who are learning."
"I ordered this because of what it is."
"This is the Chapel size of the BOCP."