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Best Christian Church History

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors
Seldom does one find serious scholarship so easy to read.” – The Times , Book of the Year A New York Times bestseller, this major new history of the knights Templar is “. a fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger" – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem A faltering war in the middle east. These are the first Knights Templar, a band of elite warriors prepared to give their lives to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Over the next two hundred years, the Templars would become the most powerful religious order of the medieval world. In this groundbreaking narrative history, Dan Jones tells the true story of the Templars for the first time in a generation, drawing on extensive original sources to build a gripping account of these Christian holy warriors whose heroism and alleged depravity have been shrouded in myth. His aim is to present a gripping historical narrative, and in this he succeeds… As he describes it, the order comes across as a combination of Blackwater, Goldman Sachs, Kroll International, FedEx, Fort Knox, Bechtel and the Red Cross. Information is unreliable and easily manipulated, allowing conspiracy theories to take root and spread.” – Cullen Murphy, The Washington Post "Dan Jones has created a gripping page-turner out of the dramatic history of the Templars, from their spiritual warrior beginnings until their tragic destruction by the French king and the pope. …In Jones’s bravura account, this tension between aristocratic killer and humble monk shadows the Templar story. “Gripping… Jones tells the story of the Templars with energy and verve, regalling readers with well-chosen details and anecdotes. He has done precisely that.” – Peter Frankopan, The Telegraph "Business chiefs listen up, especially in the world of big tech where egos are becoming rather inflated . The caution, although not explicit, comes in the epic story of the warrior monks known as the Knights Templar whose activities have given rise to much speculation and theories, some reasonable and some absurd. “The story of the Templars, the ultimate holy warriors, is an extraordinary saga of fanaticism, bravery, treachery and betrayal, and in Dan Jones they have a worthy chronicler. “A fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger, featuring a cast of exuberantly monstrous sword swingers spattering Christian and Islamic blood from Spain to Jerusalem.” -- Simon Sebag Montefiore author of Jerusalem: The Biography "In this thrillingly lucid account, Dan Jones demystifies the Templars in a story spanning hundreds of years and countless rulers, knights and archbishops, a seemingly disproportionate number of whom ended up beheaded . Anyone who has read Jones’s earlier medieval chronicles will know what to expect here: fast-paced narrative history depicted with irresistible verve, bloody battle scenes and moments of laugh-out-loud wit. There are contemporary parallels, too, with the Templars eventually being laid low by the medieval equivalent of a kind of 'fake news': anti-Templar propaganda spread by the church. “Thank God this book is sane… Jones tells the engrossing story of an ascetic order of warrior knights chiefly dedicated to the defense of pilgrims on the road to Jerusalem… Templars is based on a wide-ranging and thorough research and relies overwhelmingly on primary sources… It reads like a morality tale.” – Robert Irwin, Literary Review. Jones examines the storied Templars, an organization of quasi-monastic warriors who rose to fame and power in the midst of the Crusades, only to rapidly collapse in questionable scandals . Jones chronicles the Templars’ actual record of great military achievement, fiduciary responsibility, exceptional faithfulness, and lasting cultural significance.” --Booklist. A thrilling dynastic history of royal intrigues, violent skullduggery, and brutal warfare across two centuries of British history.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Young Stalin. “Dan Jones’s epic portrait of the medieval royals is a timely reminder that things haven’t always been so rosy for those on the throne.” —GQ. There is fine scholarly intuition on display here and a mastery of the grand narrative; it is a supremely skillful piece of storytelling.” —The Sunday Telegraph. “If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones or The Tudors, then Dan Jones’ swashbucklingly entertaining slice of medieval history will be right up your alley. “Jones is a born storyteller, peopling the terrifying uncertainties of each moment with a superbly drawn cast of characters and powerfully evoking the brutal realities of civil war.” —The Evening Standard. “Dan Jones has an enviable gift for telling a dramatic story while at the same time inviting us to consider serious topics like liberty and the seeds of representative government.” —Antonia Frasier. Dan Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of The Templars, The Plantagenets, Wars of the Roses, and Magna Carta . He wrote and presented the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles and appeared alongside George R.R.
Reviews
"Dan Jones continues his trend of offering a sweeping history at a glance. If you know nothing of the Templars except what you have seen in movies or read in popular fiction, Jones offers up a delightful dose of reality that is no less fascinating than the myths surrounding this famed group."
"As my first book by Dan Jones, I found this book superb. It was a solid overview of the Templars' history."
"There is not much to dislike about this book."
"Jones asserts that the first time Bernard knew the Templars needed his help was when the king of Jerusalem sent Bernard a letter in 1126. Yet the Count of Champagne had given Bernard his abbey in 1115, was a life-long associate of Hugh de Payens who founded the Templars in 1119, and the Count became a Templar himself in 1125, at which time Bernard sent him a glowing letter on his wise choice to become a Templar and expressing his gratitude for the Count’s generosity. And Jones would have us believe that the only way Bernard knew the Templars needed his help was when the king of Jerusalem sent Bernard a letter in 1126?"
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Church History in Plain Language: Fourth Edition
Includes contemporary developments related to the spread of the gospel Discusses how technology has an impact on how the church worships and grows Covers the explosion of Christianity in the southern hemisphere. Dr. Bruce Shelley was senior professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Denver Theological Seminary.
Reviews
"I had no idea why the Crusades occurred, why the Reformation was so important, how the books of the Bible were chosen, why there are so many denominations today, and why there's a giant mosque sitting over the site of the temple in Jerusalem. This book was a fantastic introduction into church history, covering a huge span of time yet maintaining enough detail in each chapter that keeps you wanting to find out more."
"The author is from the West, so it’s clearly written from a Western perspective, but I feel like he does an admirable job of surveying over 2000 years of church history in a readable book."
"This is an excellent one-volume church history book."
"HIGHLY RECOMMEND as perhaps the second church history book to read, the Christian History Made Easy by Rose Publishing is what I would read first (easier and smaller) and also teach an adult class from (and a powerpoint set can be found at the Rose Publishing website), but this Church History in Plain Language is what I would study."
"It is more of an overview, so if you are looking for detailed history accounts, you may want to skip this book."
"This is for certain people and I chose this for my Christian studies."
"It is not the Bible."
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The City of God (Coterie Classics)
The City of God by Augustine of Hippo Shaw from Coterie Classics. All Coterie Classics have been formatted for ereaders and devices and include a bonus link to the free audio book. Lyrical without any sacrifice of sense, it compares consistently well with both Dyson and Bettenson and is certainly the most beautiful and up-to-date of the existing versions ... Augustine used multiple Latin versions of the Bible besides Jerome's, including his own, and one great advantage of the edition under review is that, where past translators have used pre-existent English versions of the Vulgate for scriptural citations, Babcock renders each scriptural quotation directly and individually ... Babcock takes the unique step of removing the titular headings which have formed an integral part of the work since the first printed edition, but which are in all probability non-authorial ... [the] absence has a clarifying effect ... Lyrical without any sacrifice of sense, it compares consistently well with both Dyson and Bettenson and is certainly the most beautiful and up-to-date of the existing versions Augustine used multiple Latin versions of the Bible besides Jerome's, including his own, and one great advantage of the edition under review is that, where past translators have used pre-existent English versions of the Vulgate for scriptural citations, Babcock renders each scriptural quotation directly and individually Babcock takes the unique step of removing the titular headings which have formed an integral part of the work since the first printed edition, but which are in all probability non-authorial Its absence has a clarifying effect The notes are comprehensive enough to suffice for any level of reader and are given as footnotes for ease of reference (neatly including the kind of material on key people and events that is glossarial in the Cambridge University Press edition) [A] truly new, elegant and intelligent translation well worth both the committed Augustinian's and the neophyte's while.
Reviews
"If you are looking for a biblical theology of the City of God throughout all of Scripture then this is a great read for you. It will also give you an appreciation for how the current trend of 'gospel-centered' is not anything new but really old and Augustine was a master at making Christ-centered connections from the OT. Moreover, after the father had been prevented from striking his son, since it was not right that Isaac should be slain, who was the ram whose immolation completed the sacrifice by blood of symbolic significance?"
"used this with a lecture series."
"Excellent read."
"This book provided an interesting glimpse into the thought of one of the Christian tradition's greatest minds and into the events of his time, the fifth century."
"Ancient wisdom with modern day implications for individual Christians and thinkers."
"A very hard book to read, but well worth the time if you want to invest learning about an interesting perspective about the Lord and the kingdom of heaven."
"Affords many hours of reaching insights into God's purpose for our lives."
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Best Christian Biographies

Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas comes a brilliant and inspiring biography of the most influential man in modern history, Martin Luther, in time for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. On All Hallow’s Eve in 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a document he hoped would spark an academic debate, but that instead ignited a conflagration that would forever destroy the world he knew. A beautifully balanced separation of fact from fiction.” —Hugh Hewitt “If you had to make a list of five people who shaped the modern West, Martin Luther would be on it. With a light and rapid touch that nonetheless is capable of conveying deep truths and insights, Metaxas deftly blends these many elements into a narrative that reads as compellingly as a novel. I imagine that Luther himself—not an easy man to please—would be deeply impressed by this master portraiture.” —Mark Helprin, bestselling author of Winter’s Tale and A Soldier of the Great War. With his customary verve and elegance, profound reverence, and biting wit, Metaxas’s Martin Luther is an education in the meaning of man’s relation to God. Gerald L. Schroeder, lecturer and teacher at College of Jewish Studies Aish HaTorah’s Discovery Seminar “This massive but eminently readable biography of Luther deserves no less an adjective than ‘formidable.’ Eric Metaxas is to religious biographers what Pixar is to cartoons.” —Peter Kreeft, author of Catholics and Protestants: What Can We Learn from Each Other? “If you wish to know why Martin Luther is remembered as one of the most consequential figures in history, and why Eric Metaxas has emerged as one of the most prominent storytellers of our generation, you’ll find the answers in this book. Eric’s skill as a writer and biographer are on full display here, even as he corrects the myths and secures the history of a monk who changed the world.” —John Stonestreet, president of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. “A biography designed to peel back the myths and reveal Luther as the fascinating and influential man he was . the author’s fast-paced style and attention to interesting details sets this 450-page book apart.” —Institute for Faith, Work & Economics “Turns some centuries-long legends upside down.” —The Blaze “A masterful portrait of a seminal figure.” — Booklist (starred review) “A meaty autobiography of the Reformation leader. Bold, fast-paced, and magisterial like its hero, yet always stylish and witty like its author, this account blows the cobwebs off long-settled expectations, and helps us to understand the man who shook the medieval world and helped to shape the modern world.” —Os Guinness, author of Impossible People “When Martin Luther made it possible to read the Bible for yourself, he did more than anyone else to create the future. Read this book for yourself to understand the story we’re all still living through.” —Peter Thiel, cofounder of PayPal, entrepreneur, and author of Zero to One “Eric Metaxas has blessed us with yet another indispensable biography. With his customary verve and elegance, profound reverence, and biting wit, Metaxas’s Martin Luther is an education in the meaning of man’s relation to God. Gerald L. Schroeder, lecturer and teacher at College of Jewish Studies Aish HaTorah’s Discovery Seminar “This massive but eminently readable biography of Luther deserves no less an adjective than ‘formidable.’ Eric Metaxas is to religious biographers what Pixar is to cartoons.” —Peter Kreeft, author of Catholics and Protestants: What Can We Learn from Each Other? A tour de force.” —Johnnie Moore, Jr., founder of The Kairos Company “If you wish to know why Martin Luther is remembered as one of the most consequential figures in history, and why Eric Metaxas has emerged as one of the most prominent storytellers of our generation, you’ll find the answers in this book. Eric’s skill as a writer and biographer are on full display here, even as he corrects the myths and secures the history of a monk who changed the world.” —John Stonestreet, president of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview.
Reviews
"He starts off perfectly, explaining how MLK, Jr. got his name, which basically leaves no doubt -- this is important to all of us. Not to ruin the surprise, but key information literally "unearthed" in 2008. So yes, Metaxas adds new information to a well told 500 year old story, and it is really worth examining. But here's the best part about Metaxas' biography -- he makes sure God gets the glory. Metaxas pulls out the pieces of Luther's life that show how God was always part of the story. I heard that earnest but lighthearted Metaxas voice delivering several lines, and it struck me as very humorous."
"For most of my life I worked in the Printing profession so I was glad to see the Eric gave the invention of the printing press it's proper due in why Martin Luther's reforms work where other before him fell short. I personally rank him 2nd to Johann Gutenburg who moveable type combined with the Printing Press was the Reformation and the biggest event of the last millennium. The fact that this Monk could not be killed like nearly everyone else who dare question Catholic dogma of the time is in fact a GREAT story!"
"I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in church history and those of you that don’t really know how Martin changed the world."
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Best Christian Ministry & Church Leadership

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors
Seldom does one find serious scholarship so easy to read.” – The Times , Book of the Year A New York Times bestseller, this major new history of the knights Templar is “. a fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger" – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem A faltering war in the middle east. These are the first Knights Templar, a band of elite warriors prepared to give their lives to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Over the next two hundred years, the Templars would become the most powerful religious order of the medieval world. In this groundbreaking narrative history, Dan Jones tells the true story of the Templars for the first time in a generation, drawing on extensive original sources to build a gripping account of these Christian holy warriors whose heroism and alleged depravity have been shrouded in myth. His aim is to present a gripping historical narrative, and in this he succeeds… As he describes it, the order comes across as a combination of Blackwater, Goldman Sachs, Kroll International, FedEx, Fort Knox, Bechtel and the Red Cross. Information is unreliable and easily manipulated, allowing conspiracy theories to take root and spread.” – Cullen Murphy, The Washington Post "Dan Jones has created a gripping page-turner out of the dramatic history of the Templars, from their spiritual warrior beginnings until their tragic destruction by the French king and the pope. …In Jones’s bravura account, this tension between aristocratic killer and humble monk shadows the Templar story. “Gripping… Jones tells the story of the Templars with energy and verve, regalling readers with well-chosen details and anecdotes. He has done precisely that.” – Peter Frankopan, The Telegraph "Business chiefs listen up, especially in the world of big tech where egos are becoming rather inflated . The caution, although not explicit, comes in the epic story of the warrior monks known as the Knights Templar whose activities have given rise to much speculation and theories, some reasonable and some absurd. “The story of the Templars, the ultimate holy warriors, is an extraordinary saga of fanaticism, bravery, treachery and betrayal, and in Dan Jones they have a worthy chronicler. “A fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger, featuring a cast of exuberantly monstrous sword swingers spattering Christian and Islamic blood from Spain to Jerusalem.” -- Simon Sebag Montefiore author of Jerusalem: The Biography "In this thrillingly lucid account, Dan Jones demystifies the Templars in a story spanning hundreds of years and countless rulers, knights and archbishops, a seemingly disproportionate number of whom ended up beheaded . Anyone who has read Jones’s earlier medieval chronicles will know what to expect here: fast-paced narrative history depicted with irresistible verve, bloody battle scenes and moments of laugh-out-loud wit. There are contemporary parallels, too, with the Templars eventually being laid low by the medieval equivalent of a kind of 'fake news': anti-Templar propaganda spread by the church. “Thank God this book is sane… Jones tells the engrossing story of an ascetic order of warrior knights chiefly dedicated to the defense of pilgrims on the road to Jerusalem… Templars is based on a wide-ranging and thorough research and relies overwhelmingly on primary sources… It reads like a morality tale.” – Robert Irwin, Literary Review. Jones examines the storied Templars, an organization of quasi-monastic warriors who rose to fame and power in the midst of the Crusades, only to rapidly collapse in questionable scandals . Jones chronicles the Templars’ actual record of great military achievement, fiduciary responsibility, exceptional faithfulness, and lasting cultural significance.” --Booklist. A thrilling dynastic history of royal intrigues, violent skullduggery, and brutal warfare across two centuries of British history.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Young Stalin. “Dan Jones’s epic portrait of the medieval royals is a timely reminder that things haven’t always been so rosy for those on the throne.” —GQ. There is fine scholarly intuition on display here and a mastery of the grand narrative; it is a supremely skillful piece of storytelling.” —The Sunday Telegraph. “If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones or The Tudors, then Dan Jones’ swashbucklingly entertaining slice of medieval history will be right up your alley. “Jones is a born storyteller, peopling the terrifying uncertainties of each moment with a superbly drawn cast of characters and powerfully evoking the brutal realities of civil war.” —The Evening Standard. “Dan Jones has an enviable gift for telling a dramatic story while at the same time inviting us to consider serious topics like liberty and the seeds of representative government.” —Antonia Frasier. Dan Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of The Templars, The Plantagenets, Wars of the Roses, and Magna Carta . He wrote and presented the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles and appeared alongside George R.R.
Reviews
"Dan Jones continues his trend of offering a sweeping history at a glance. If you know nothing of the Templars except what you have seen in movies or read in popular fiction, Jones offers up a delightful dose of reality that is no less fascinating than the myths surrounding this famed group."
"Jones offers an engaging narrative on the Templars."
"As my first book by Dan Jones, I found this book superb. It was a solid overview of the Templars' history."
"Jones asserts that the first time Bernard knew the Templars needed his help was when the king of Jerusalem sent Bernard a letter in 1126. Yet the Count of Champagne had given Bernard his abbey in 1115, was a life-long associate of Hugh de Payens who founded the Templars in 1119, and the Count became a Templar himself in 1125, at which time Bernard sent him a glowing letter on his wise choice to become a Templar and expressing his gratitude for the Count’s generosity. And Jones would have us believe that the only way Bernard knew the Templars needed his help was when the king of Jerusalem sent Bernard a letter in 1126?"
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Best Israeli History

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND THE ECONOMIST Winner of the Natan Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award An authoritative and deeply personal narrative history of the State of Israel, by one of the most influential journalists writing about the Middle East today Not since Thomas L. Friedman’s groundbreaking From Beirut to Jerusalem has a book captured the essence and the beating heart of the Middle East as keenly and dynamically as My Promised Land . We meet Shavit’s great-grandfather, a British Zionist who in 1897 visited the Holy Land on a Thomas Cook tour and understood that it was the way of the future for his people; the idealist young farmer who bought land from his Arab neighbor in the 1920s to grow the Jaffa oranges that would create Palestine’s booming economy; the visionary youth group leader who, in the 1940s, transformed Masada from the neglected ruins of an extremist sect into a powerful symbol for Zionism; the Palestinian who as a young man in 1948 was driven with his family from his home during the expulsion from Lydda; the immigrant orphans of Europe’s Holocaust, who took on menial work and focused on raising their children to become the leaders of the new state; the pragmatic engineer who was instrumental in developing Israel’s nuclear program in the 1960s, in the only interview he ever gave; the zealous religious Zionists who started the settler movement in the 1970s; the dot-com entrepreneurs and young men and women behind Tel-Aviv’s booming club scene; and today’s architects of Israel’s foreign policy with Iran, whose nuclear threat looms ominously over the tiny country. the least tendentious book about Israel I have ever read.” —Leon Wieseltier, The New York Times Book Review “Spellbinding . --This text refers to the Audio CD edition. This is the least tendentious book about Israel I have ever read. Shavit’s book is an extended test of his own capacity to maintain his principles in full view of the brutality that surrounds them.” —Leon Wieseltier, The New York Times Book Review “Spellbinding . In this divided, fought-over shard of land splintered from the Middle East barely seventy years ago, Mr. Shavit’s prophetic voice carries lessons that all sides need to hear.” — The Economist “One of the most nuanced and challenging books written on Israel in years . [The] book’s real power: On an issue so prone to polemic, Mr. Shavit offers candor.” —The Wall Street Journal “A tour de force.” —Jewish Journal “Reads like a love story and a thriller at once.” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times. “[A] searingly honest, descriptively lush, painful and riveting story of the creation of Zionism in Israel and [Shavit’s] own personal voyage.” —The Washington Post “Shavit is a master storyteller. Required reading for both the left and the right.” — The Jewish Week “The most extraordinary book that I’ve read on [Israel] since Amos Elon’s book called The Israelis, and that was published in the late sixties.” —David Remnick, on Charlie Rose “ My Promised Land is an Israeli book like no other. Not since Amos Elon’s The Israelis, Amos Oz’s In the Land of Israel, and Thomas Friedman’s From Beirut to Jerusalem has there been such a powerful and comprehensive book written about the Jewish State and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ari Shavit is one of Israel’s leading columnists and writers, and the story he tells describes with great empathy the Palestinian tragedy and the century-long struggle between Jews and Arabs over the Holy Land. My Promised Land is the ultimate personal odyssey of a humanist exploring the startling biography of his tormented homeland, which is at the very center of global interest.” —Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Israel “With deeply engaging personal narratives and morally nuanced portraits, Ari Shavit takes us way beneath the headlines to the very heart of Israel’s dilemmas in his brilliant new work. Ari Shavit has made a storied career of explaining Israel to Israelis; now he shares his mind-blowing, trustworthy insights with the rest of us. My Promised Land is a remarkable achievement.” —Jeffrey Goldberg, national correspondent, The Atlantic “Ari Shavit’s My Promised Land is without question one of the most important books about Israel and Zionism that I have ever read. Both movingly inspiring and at times heartbreakingly painful, My Promised Land tells the story of the Jewish state as it has never been told before, capturing both the triumph and the torment of Israel’s experience and soul. This is the book that has the capacity to reinvent and reshape the long-overdue conversation about how Israel’s complex past ought to shape its still-uncertain future.” —Daniel Gordis, author of Saving Israel and Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College, Jerusalem.
Reviews
"I chose this book on recommendation from a magazine article lost to the waste basket and was not disappointed. My Promised Land is a great start on the journey to understand because it humanizes the clash of cultures involved."
"I have witnessed first hand some of the latter day changes from a secular to a more conservative, religious-based environment; not necessarily for the better, and a contributor to current day problems."
"A must read for all interested in finding lasting solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the author beautifully justifies the Exodus and poses serious questions to define the challenges awaiting Arabs and Israelis alike."
"I love it that he always starts with a personal story, he opens up a whole part of history with zooming out from one single person or family to a bigger picture, connects me a lot!"
"many more scholarly reviews have critiqued this book..every Jewish person over the age of 16 should read this."
"In being selective and offering challenges to his interviewees' positions and even reflecting on his own views, we get to understand the developments of the region through somewhat neutral lens."
"If you've been looking for a book that explains Israel, as I was, I recommend this one."
"The book is an insightful history of the struggles of recent times by an ancient people."
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Best History eBooks of Protestantism

Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Contemporary Americans
A chilling and highly convincing account of possession and exorcism in modern America, hailed by NBC Radio as "one of the most stirring books on the contemporary scene." “Malachi Martin ... was the greatest expert on the subject of possession and exorcism in the English speaking world.” (M. Scott Peck, M. D., author of Glimpses of the Devil ). A chilling and highly convincing account of possession and exorcism in modern America, hailed by NBC Radio as "one of the most stirring books on the contemporary scene."
Reviews
"The scariest book i ever read!"
"Everything in the book was important to know, but Father Martin rambled on a bit too much at times."
"Very good book that gives us some info to what happen when we give the control of your life to a third party."
"Great writing from Fr."
"The book presents a serious and very interesting account of the diabolic possession phenomena and the exircism ritual, its challenges, and risks."
"very interesting and Fr."
"I will read again and have already recommended this to a friend who is interested in this subject as well."
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Best Roman Catholicism

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life
Filled with user-friendly examples, humorous stories, and anecdotes from the heroic and inspiring lives of Jesuit saints and average priests and brothers, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything is sure to appeal to fans of Kathleen Norris, Richard Rohr, Anne Lamott, and other Christian Spiritual writers. This includes not only believers in God, but those who eschew religion, reject God, explore the spiritual terrain, or are just plain confused. Translating the essence of the Jesuit philosophy into layman’s terms, he uses both traditional stories and personal anecdotes to vividly illustrate the Jesuit approach to God, friendship, social justice, decision-making, prayer, simplicity, obedience, and self-actualization.
Reviews
"James) for seeing God in your life and putting into practice this wisdom. James's flashes of incisive humor as well as various accounts from his personal journey, and you have a fine book."
"On the one hand there are plenty of great theological texts to read (Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Rahner, Barth, etc), but suffice it to say they are not the type of book you curl up with at the end of the day. Martin honestly and respectfully engages readers who may be atheists or agnostics, as well as any Christian still examining their faith. But give Martin credit for not being embarrassed of his faith and making a strong case for Christianity. The essence of the book is that every aspect of your life is spiritual -- faith is not just concerned with your thoughts on God, but what you say in those emails to a coworker. This theme plays a major role throughout the book as Martin explores how those of us who are not Jesuits can still actively incorporate spirituality into our lives. Finally, many readers may be surprised to hear that people who pledge obedience see their spiritual life as one of freedom and detachment from distracting influences as opposed to a set of rules to follow. He came to his own faith decisions after a, ahem, active collegiate experience and after having a successful business career. He knows what many people deal with daily, and although not the head of a family, he understands the stresses the life of a parent has to contend with in addition to finding prayer time. In Martin's version (and we learn throughout that Jesuits are a pretty flexible lot on faith issues) we start with gratitude for what went well, and then review all actions of the day. Regardless of one's faith inclination, a thorough review of the day and an accounting for one's actions is bound to create opportunities to move forward."
"This book has been transformational for me."
"Recommend it for anyone wanting to deepen their spiritual journey - Catholic or not."
"It would also be an excellent source of information for anyone searching to explore which path of belief they are drawn toward but at the same time offers opportunity for deeper exploration for those committed to a specific religious path."
"Should have bought this as a 'real' book instead of a Kindle book, will probably have to do that."
"I really enjoyed this book."
"Martin is his usual charming, sharing, caring self and yet the sheer joy which he feels in sharing this beautiful path with the reader just makes this book something special."
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Best Christian Church Growth

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit. -- Francis Chan is the founder of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. The author of the bestselling Crazy Love pleads passionately for the church to live by the power of the forgotten God: the Holy Spirit. Calling Christians to more than just a better life, Chan says he wants to live a life unexplainable without the Holy Spirit, so dependent on the Spirit that, he says, if he doesn't come through, I'm screwed. He offers vivid personal stories and illustrations about how the church ought to help Christians discern the powerful gifts of the Spirit, rather than toning down radicals. Through solid scriptural support and compelling narrative, breakthrough author Francis Chan returns us to the Holy Spirit as the Bible describes Him.
Reviews
"I highly recommend this book to anyone who is serious about growing in their relationship with God or for anyone who wants to understand what life as a follower of Jesus Christ could/should look like."
"This is a wonderful study of the Holy Spirit and what He should mean in our lives."
"Jesus died to make it possible for us to receive Holy Spirit, and we can’t live the redeemed life apart from Him."
"I liked the way this was written l found it very enlightening and informative."
"I have bought it in book form and given it to many people because of the powerful truths in this book."
"He does this primarily through sharing testimonies of believers who exemplified spirit-filled lives (such as Joni Eareckson Tada and Francis Schaeffer), and by gently confronting pre-conceived notions about the work and purpose of the Spirit through asking tough questions ("I think most of us would...choose a physical Jesus over an invisible Spirit. and pointing out uncomfortable truths ("Let's be honest: If you combine a charismatic speaker, a talented worship band, and some hip, creative events, people will attend your church."
"There are a lot of questions in here that most ppl are afraid to ask."
"Really good book.... my goto recommended book."
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Best Christian Church Leadership

Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective Relationships
discover and develop the qualities of an effective "people person" improve your relationships in every area of life understand and help difficult people overcome differences and personality traits that can cause friction inspire others to excellence and success. (Zig Ziglar) John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 18 million books.
Reviews
"I also find the list of things people need very helpful and insightful as well."
"Seeing that this has never been my strong point, I believe it has given me meaning insights and tools to better lead my team at work."
"No on knows more about leadership and communicating with others than John Maxwell."
"love it great book!"
"Very enlightening!"
"Love John Maxwell’s writings and this was no exception!"
"I enjoyed this book."
"This book is a valuable resource for individuals in positions of leadership."
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Best Christian Church Administration

Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive
Whether your church is vibrant or dying, whether you are a pastor or a church member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church will walk you through the radical paths necessary to keep your church alive to the glory of God and advancement of Christ’s Kingdom! Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world.
Reviews
"Sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of maintaining things that we don't realize we are neglecting the purpose for why it was created or even the fact that it doesn't belong to us."
"If you belong to a church that seems to be not going anywhere, you need to buy this book and give it to your pastor, I bought this book and immediately saw my church."
"We all know something about death!"
"Since church sickness is very common, tends to develop slowly--and is often unrecognized-- over a period of years, this book can serve as a lifesaver, if read and acted on every 2 to 3 years by church leaders."
"This is a truly informative book about how not to run your church."
"Or, at least, they might have, had they not allowed the Great Commission and Great Commandment to be eclipsed by lesser things, ultimately resisting the increasingly difficult steps towards renewal."
"Concisely written in approximately 100 pages, he describes the common themes, including: 1. the past is the hero, 2. the church refused to look like the community, 3. the budget moved inwardly, 4. the great commission becomes the great omission, 5. the preference driven church, 6. pastoral tenure decreases, 7. the church rarely prayed together, 8. the church had no clear purpose, and 9. the church obsessed over the facilities."
"Thom Rainer, the author did not bite his tongue about the reasons for a dying church."
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Best Christian Canon Law

Book of Mormon - Revised Authorized Version
The Book of Mormon chronicles stories of ancient peoples migrating from the Near East to the Americas, their beliefs and instructions, wars and contentions, and revelations about righteous living. -- The Salt Lake Tribune, October 3, 1998 Octavo editions give readers a firsthand experience of a milestone text: each includes page-by-page views, expert commentaries, and appropriate "marginalia."
Reviews
"I love having on my kindle, which is very convenient and easy to find passages and cross references."
"A whole new world of history of ancient indian races and their stories."
"Great price, great condition."
"This is sort of a beginner's book to the words and meanings of the Mormon. religion."
"The book is wonderful, exclent,I know it is true."
"Poorly fomatted."
"how the put the text in isn't good and doesn't look anything like your scriptures at home and it is encrediblly hard to read."
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Best Christian Pastoral Resources

Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ
· Realize the power of your identity in Christ. · Free yourself from the burdens of your past. · Stand against the spiritual forces of this world. · Win the battle for your mind. · Become the spiritual person you want to be. · Discover the truth about God's view of you. Learn to apply the truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew your mind and become the person Christ empowers you to be. Countless people have found genuine freedom in Christ through the insights God has given Neil Anderson. Reading Victory Over the Darkness has been the catalyst for numerous people on the journey of spiritual freedom in Christ. As part of our core curriculum studies, we encourage every new member of our church to complete Dr. Anderson’s Steps to Freedom in Christ. The Lord has given Neil Anderson a marvelous counseling and discipleship model that is a genuine blessing to the Body of Christ. Dr. Neil Anderson shares solid biblical guidelines for how Christians can be used of God to help set the captives free. Jack W. Hayford President, The King’s Seminary, Founding Pastor, The Church On The Way, Van Nuys, California. Dr. Neil Anderson has done a masterful job of taking a rather complex truth and making it plain enough for all to understand and practical enough for all to experience. He trained our intercessors in discipleship counseling, and they still experience the power of God when they walk people through the Steps to Freedom in Christ. In Lombardi-like fashion, Neil Anderson has entered our locker room and re-introduced our “football,” reminding us of the power found in the fundamentals of our faith. Victory Over the Darkness spells out practical and productive ways to experience Christian growth based on Christ's promise. Learn to apply the truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew your mind and become the person Christ empowers you to be. Praise for Victory Over the Darkness "Countless people have found genuine freedom in Christ through the insights God has given Neil Anderson. "The Lord has given Neil Anderson a marvelous counseling and discipleship model that is a genuine blessing to the Body of Christ."
Reviews
"If you struggle to overcome personal struggles, take time for this book and it will pay back in multiples!"
"I needed this so much."
"I am in a bible study with this book being used as the text, along with the work book."
"I love this line: "For some unknown reason, we have left the Resurrection out of the gospel presentation."
"most powerful spiritual growth book i've read in 10years!"
"This is an excellent book that reveals Christian's true identity and has the grace to deliver Christians from the devil's oppressive lies and unlock their potential to live out their most."
"Whether you are just curious, beginning to learn more about your faith/spirituality, or a seasoned vet that has been "walking in the spirit" for quite some time, Victory Over the Darkness is a tremendous resource."
"It is written by an educated man and it shows...at times his writing style might get a tad boring for those with short attention spans - but I still think the message gets across and is impacting."
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Best Christian Institutions & Organizations

The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors
Seldom does one find serious scholarship so easy to read.” – The Times , Book of the Year A New York Times bestseller, this major new history of the knights Templar is “. a fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger" – Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem A faltering war in the middle east. These are the first Knights Templar, a band of elite warriors prepared to give their lives to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Over the next two hundred years, the Templars would become the most powerful religious order of the medieval world. In this groundbreaking narrative history, Dan Jones tells the true story of the Templars for the first time in a generation, drawing on extensive original sources to build a gripping account of these Christian holy warriors whose heroism and alleged depravity have been shrouded in myth. The warrior monks have always appealed to conspiracy theorists, and although Jones strips away the myths, he has great fun recounting their bloodthirsty crusading exploits.” -- The Sunday Times , History Book of the Year "Dan Jones gives no credence to the conspiratorial fantasies that have been spun around the Templars over the years . - Cullen Murphy, The Washington Post "Dan Jones has created a gripping page-turner out of the dramatic history of the Templars, from their spiritual warrior beginnings until their tragic destruction by the French king and the pope. …In Jones’s bravura account, this tension between aristocratic killer and humble monk shadows the Templar story. He has done precisely that.” – Peter Frankopan, The Telegraph "Business chiefs listen up, especially in the world of big tech where egos are becoming rather inflated . The caution, although not explicit, comes in the epic story of the warrior monks known as the Knights Templar whose activities have given rise to much speculation and theories, some reasonable and some absurd. “The story of the Templars, the ultimate holy warriors, is an extraordinary saga of fanaticism, bravery, treachery and betrayal, and in Dan Jones they have a worthy chronicler. “A fresh, muscular and compelling history of the ultimate military-religious crusading order, combining sensible scholarship with narrative swagger, featuring a cast of exuberantly monstrous sword swingers spattering Christian and Islamic blood from Spain to Jerusalem.” -- Simon Sebag Montefiore author of Jerusalem: The Biography "In this thrillingly lucid account, Dan Jones demystifies the Templars in a story spanning hundreds of years and countless rulers, knights and archbishops, a seemingly disproportionate number of whom ended up beheaded . Anyone who has read Jones’s earlier medieval chronicles will know what to expect here: fast-paced narrative history depicted with irresistible verve, bloody battle scenes and moments of laugh-out-loud wit. There are contemporary parallels, too, with the Templars eventually being laid low by the medieval equivalent of a kind of 'fake news': anti-Templar propaganda spread by the church. “Thank God this book is sane… Jones tells the engrossing story of an ascetic order of warrior knights chiefly dedicated to the defense of pilgrims on the road to Jerusalem… Templars is based on a wide-ranging and thorough research and relies overwhelmingly on primary sources… It reads like a morality tale.” – Robert Irwin, Literary Review. Jones examines the storied Templars, an organization of quasi-monastic warriors who rose to fame and power in the midst of the Crusades, only to rapidly collapse in questionable scandals . Jones chronicles the Templars’ actual record of great military achievement, fiduciary responsibility, exceptional faithfulness, and lasting cultural significance.” --Booklist. Fast-paced and accessible, The Plantagenets is old-fashioned storytelling and will be particularly appreciated by those who like their history red in tooth and claw.” —The Wall Street Journal. A thrilling dynastic history of royal intrigues, violent skullduggery, and brutal warfare across two centuries of British history.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Young Stalin. “Dan Jones’s epic portrait of the medieval royals is a timely reminder that things haven’t always been so rosy for those on the throne.” —GQ. There is fine scholarly intuition on display here and a mastery of the grand narrative; it is a supremely skillful piece of storytelling.” —The Sunday Telegraph. “If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones or The Tudors, then Dan Jones’ swashbucklingly entertaining slice of medieval history will be right up your alley. “Jones is a born storyteller, peopling the terrifying uncertainties of each moment with a superbly drawn cast of characters and powerfully evoking the brutal realities of civil war.” —The Evening Standard. “Dan Jones has an enviable gift for telling a dramatic story while at the same time inviting us to consider serious topics like liberty and the seeds of representative government.” —Antonia Frasier. Dan Jones is the author of The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queen Who Made England , a New York Times bestseller; Wars of the Roses , which charts the story of the fall of the Plantagenets and the improbable rise of the Tudors; Magna Carta: The Birth of Liberty; and Summer of Blood. He wrote and presented the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles and appeared alongside George R. R. Martin in the official HBO film exploring the real history behind Game of Throne s. He is the historical consultant to Knightfall , a major new production from A&E Studios and The History Channel on the legend of the Templars, produced by Jeremy Renner and due to air in early 2018.
Reviews
"Dan Jones continues his trend of offering a sweeping history at a glance. If you know nothing of the Templars except what you have seen in movies or read in popular fiction, Jones offers up a delightful dose of reality that is no less fascinating than the myths surrounding this famed group."
"Jones asserts that the first time Bernard knew the Templars needed his help was when the king of Jerusalem sent Bernard a letter in 1126. Yet the Count of Champagne had given Bernard his abbey in 1115, was a life-long associate of Hugh de Payens who founded the Templars in 1119, and the Count became a Templar himself in 1125, at which time Bernard sent him a glowing letter on his wise choice to become a Templar and expressing his gratitude for the Count’s generosity. And Jones would have us believe that the only way Bernard knew the Templars needed his help was when the king of Jerusalem sent Bernard a letter in 1126?"
"It’s a highly readable, highly relatable narrative history of an extraordinary organization that has become mythologized; if not fantasized."
"Excellent book!"
"This book is a good intro into the world of the Templars."
"What makes this book so interesting is Dan's exciting narrative shows you the actual history of the Templars is more interesting than the Legend."
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Best Ecclesiology Christian Theology

The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth
Beautifully written, in clear direct language, bestselling Catholic author Scott Hahn's new book will help readers see the Mass with new eyes, pray the liturgy with a renewed heart, and enter into the Mass more fully, enthusiastically, intelligently, and powerfully than ever before. The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth reawakens a surprising ancient view of the Eucharist, as the harbinger of the supernatural drama described by the New Testament book of Revelation. --Michael Joseph Gross As with his earlier Rome Sweet Home, Hahn's The Lamb's Supper seeks to bring scriptural exegesis and Roman Catholic ritual tradition into fruitful dialogue. The only consideration noticeably absent from Hahn's liturgical review of Revelation is whether the doxological splendors of the Mass are marred or made manifest in the hastily prepared English translations of the Latin Rite issued in the wake of the Second Vatican Council.
Reviews
"If you have any questions about what the Catholic mass represents this is a book that really will inlighten your understanding of what is taking place at the altar of Christ."
"Totally made Mass much clearer, as to why we do what we do and pray what we pray as Catholics during our celebration of the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Word."
"Awesome book!"
"Helps one understand that Mass is not just a service to go to, it more a family meal."
"awesome book!!"
"Truly a marvelous connecting of the dots."
"Scott Hahn is my favorite spiritual author."
"Dr. Hahn uses his deep understanding of the Old and New Testaments to reveal the presence of the Mass in all its glory in the Book of Revelations."
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