Practical Religion

The human heart’s greatest longing is to see God as he is. And yet, many people simply want to escape hell’s pain, or even worse, they follow our disordered fallen nature in choosing sinful pleasures. Our Lord said the road to heaven is narrow, but the road to hell is wide (see Matt. 7:13). Is choosing the road to heaven merely wanting to avoid pain, or is it actively pursuing the greatest good beyond imagining?

No one is immune from life’s difficulties, yet many people are reluctant to talk about mental health or seek professional help when they are struggling. People of faith who are battling issues such as anxiety, depression, life changes, stress, or relationship problems may suffer in silence, believing things will get better if only their faith was stronger, they prayed more, or they had more self-discipline. The stigma about needing to seek help is all too real. But seeking professional help isn’t a sign of weakness.

Is there a way to walk into the final chapters of life with peace and confidence, and with support and wisdom? We all are living an earthly story with a beginning, middle, and end. While aspects of our story's closing hold mystery, we do not have to feel lost as we move toward it. We instead can lean on the support and wisdom of others who know the path ahead. In Anticipating Heaven, Dr. Pyle offers that same practical advice and spiritual comfort to you and your loved ones as you navigate a serious illness.

There is much at stake in God making humanity male and female. Created for one another yet distinct from each other, a man and a woman are not interchangeable — they are designed to function according to a divine fittedness. But when this design is misunderstood, ignored, or abused, there are dire consequences.

Like a succession of failed diet regimens, the much-touted techniques that are supposed to bring us closer to God "in our hearts" can instead make us feel anxious, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Phillip Cary explains that discipleship is a gradual, long-term process that comes through the gospel experienced in Christian community, not a to-do list designed to help us live the Christian life "right." He covers ten things we don't have to do to be close to God, skillfully unpacking the riches of traditional Christian spirituality. The expanded edition includes a new afterword.

Building on the best-selling go-to guidebook Sticky Faith, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family shows parents how to actively encourage their children's spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith.

Drawing directly from the actual surviving Icelandic books of magic, Stephen Flowers presents a complete system of magic based on Icelandic lore and magical practices from the 16th century onward. He explores the history of magic in Iceland in pagan and early Christian times and reveals specific practical techniques and ritual templates that readers can adapt to their unique purposes. Illustrating traditional Icelandic magical practices and the Icelanders’ attitudes toward them, he shares original translations of Icelandic folktales.

The “watchman anointing” is being released in this hour! If you seek to better understand the times and seasons, read on. If you are compelled by Jesus’ words to watch and to pray, this audiobook is for you! Throughout scripture, God appointed his watchmen to guard and protect Israel. The watchman’s duty was to warn of coming danger, calling God’s people to follow the Lord’s ways. A watchman’s ministry offered both warning and hope. Though they were often not well received, their message and ministry were critical. It is no different today.

Have you ever felt you possessed a 'sixth sense' or intuition which you've found difficult to explain? Despite man's extraordinary advances throughout history, do you still feel something is missing: a deeper, more spiritual meaning to life? Discover Your Psychic Self addresses these issues and much more by taking you into the realms of greater awareness; it shows you step by step how to uncover your own true potential, using both meditative and physical exercises.

Drs. Dennis and Jen Clark have spent years cultivating their daily communion with the Lord, and trained thousands of everyday Christians to do the same. Having struggled, learned, and grown in this practice, they are able to help you create a constant place of secret encounters with God.

Discover why people like Russell Simmons Jr., Jennifer Aniston, Phil Jackson, and Brad Pitt all incorporate the life-changing practice of Buddhism into their lives. Mindfulness meditation is everywhere these days, from the therapy couch to the Google campus, from prisons to athletic events.

What makes this translation different is that it is a modern, simplified interpretation. One that updates the ancient language to a more modern understanding, yet without touching the spirit of Lao Tzu’s timeless work, or altering his guidance towards working with the principles of the universe instead of against them.

We know it deeply. It is so hard to juggle work, home, and spiritual life. As working women, we've wrestled with tough questions: How can I be effective in my work, and stay committed to the Gospel? How can I be dedicated to my family, when my job is so demanding? Why am I working so hard, and still so unfulfilled?

In this unique book, Hamish Miller gives an earthy, honest, practical demonstration and instruction to using basic dowsing tools and techniques as well as a fascinating historical overview. Dowsing is a sacred practice that has been used by ancient cultures for millennia to find not only water sources but sacred places of energy and much more. This book takes you on a journey revealing that there is much more to dowsing than the popular perception of it being "just a way of finding water.

Wicca is an Earth-centered religion that focuses on the life-giving and sustaining powers of nature. In this book, we are going to look at just what Wicca is, what its core beliefs are, and how you can start practicing Wicca. This extensive volume is meant to educate you and also to explain exactly what Wicca entails. I encourage you to keep an open mind, and also to explore as many resources as you can while you’re gathering the facts about these seeming mystic beliefs.

Gateway to Unity and Faith is one of the clearest and most enduring works on the meaning of "G-d is one" from a Chasidic point of view. Through carefully reading traditional texts, the author radically reimagines the meaning of Jewish Monotheism and imparts a sense of nearness and direct accessibility to G-d, beyond the confines of religious practice. Volume Two is a complete and independent work which stands on its own and does not require the prior study of Volume One.

The church in America is getting smaller and smaller. Each year average church attendance decreases, while the number of Americans who identify as no religious affiliation increases. Even traditionally Christian areas, such as the Bible Belt, are seeing the same trends as the rest of the nation. America is not alone in experiencing these trends. Western Europe, once a strong Christian continent, is also going the same way. What is the cause of the decline of Christianity in America as well as Western Europe?

Mindfulness can help us to improve our physical and mental well-being by helping us to improve our awareness of ourselves and our surroundings. As a tradition, mindfulness has deep roots stretching back thousands of years into the timeless wisdom of the East. Scholars have detailed how mindfulness practices can be used as a way to wisdom while people from the worlds of sport, business, and government today adopt mindfulness as part of their strategies for success.

In the fast-paced world of ministry, every lead pastor dreams of seeing their church surge forward, fueled by purpose and passion. Just like a precision-engineered Formula 1 car hurtling down the track, your church has the potential to achieve remarkable speed and impact. In XLR8, lead pastor and author Michael Murphy harnesses the thrilling metaphors of F1 racing to lead you on an exhilarating journey toward accelerating your church’s growth.

From its pre-Christian beginnings to its contemporary practitioners, Heathenry has long fascinated people from every corner of the world. Written from the unique perspective of a Heathen gythja, or Godwoman, A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru shows how to bring the beliefs and traditions of this ancient faith into your life today.