Religious Life

In 1979, 24-year-old Maura O'Halloran moved to Japan and became the first woman ever admitted to Toshoji Temple. Soshin-san (O'Halloran's monastic name) labored through three intense years of work and study in preparation for becoming a dharma teacher. Her life ended abruptly during a trip to Thailand, and today Soshin-san is revered as a Buddhist saint. The material in this program is from her private and heartfelt journals and letters.

Sfogliando le pagine di quel prezioso libro che è la vita, Papa Francesco ci conduce lungo un sentiero fatto di emozioni, di gioie e di dolori: una finestra sul passato che ci permetterà di conoscere meglio il nostro presente. "Non va dimenticata la lezione più importante: possiamo rileggere la storia della nostra vita per fare memoria e poter trasmettere qualcosa a chi ci ascolta. Per imparare a vivere, però, tutti noi, dobbiamo imparare ad amare." FRANCESCO.

Apart from Jesus, there is no character more vividly presented in the gospels than Peter. To talk of Saint Peter is to talk about a man of action. There is a good reason why he is the apostle with the most mentions in the Gospels, and the most referred to in the New Testament (a total of 195 times). In comparison, John, the next most popular disciple, barely reaches 29 references. It is at decisive moments which require a categorical reaction where the leader of the Twelve shines.

Clergymen rarely make good politicians. There is perhaps no better example of this than Father Charles Coughlin, a Depression-era priest-turned-demagogue who was seen as an angel by some and a devil by others. The same man who cruelly castigated the Jews also spoke eloquently on the needs and rights of the most downtrodden in society. The same orator who said, "Roosevelt or ruin", later cried, "Roosevelt and ruin." In the 1930s, his effective use of the radio revolutionized mass communications, and millions of people listened to his every word.

Herman Bavinck looms large as one of the nineteenth century's greatest Christian thinkers, contributing much to modern Reformed theology. Yet, despite his theological prowess, Bavinck was first and foremost concerned with being “a worthy follower of Jesus.” In this book, John Bolt―editor of the English edition of Bavinck’s four-volume masterpiece, Reformed Dogmatics―brings the great Dutch theologian’s life and work to bear on following Jesus in the twenty-first century, helping us see the direct connection between robust theology, practical holiness, and personal joy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer died a martyr’s death at the age of 39 but remains one of the most influential and challenging theologians of our time. His writings teach us the value of cross-centered theology, and his courageous actions against the Nazi regime compel us to consider the cost of discipleship. From Bonhoeffer, we learn that the Christian life is lived both alone and together, and that there is a stark difference between cheap and costly grace.

In For the Life of Me, Kristina Best takes readers on an intimate journey through love, loss, resilience, and self-discovery. Through the eyes of Gabby Duncan, we witness the struggles of finding one’s identity, overcoming adversity, and embracing personal growth despite life’s toughest challenges.

This deeply personal and emotional story is a testament to the power of hope, healing, and transformation. If you’ve ever questioned your purpose, battled against the odds, or sought meaning in the chaos of life, this book will resonate with you.

Using the torch of logic, Dr. Zaidi guides us into what life after death is. His insight is original, logical, and a breath of fresh air, free of old religious ideas and concepts. Dr. Zaidi's logical approach to spirituality is a true milestone discovery. He uses logic to elaborate: "What is your likely fate after death? You can easily change this fate during this lifetime, simply with wisdom provided in the book. Then you will be stress free in this life and in life after death."

John Calvin, a man adored by some and maligned by others, stands as a legendary figure in Christian history. In Calvin on the Christian Life, professor Michael Horton offers us fresh insights into the Reformer’s personal piety and practical theology by allowing Calvin to speak in his own words.

In this compelling memoir, neurosurgeon Ronald (Yisrael) Bernstein was raised as an orthodox Jew by loving parents in the suburbs of Chicago. He went from the hallowed halls of the University of Chicago during the Viet Nam war era to a neurosurgical residency and professorship at Northwestern University. Eventually he settled in the Southwest where he had a thriving medical practice and became the owner of a hospital. In his climb to prestige and riches, Dr. Bernstein accumulated the American dream: an attractive wife, three beautiful children, exotic cars, and a mansion.

Dr. Kent and Amber Brantly (with David Thomas) tell of Dr. Brantly's near-death encounter with the Ebola virus in Liberia. The first American diagnosed during the 2014 outbreak, Dr. Brantly's ordeal - including his controversial evacuation to and hospitalization in the United States - received worldwide media attention. Interspersed in the account is the full story of how both Kent and his wife, Amber, sought to serve others in the name of Christ in Liberia.

Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad became famous for his popularization of an Afrocentric branch of Islam. In later years, however, the movement came under fire after critics pointed out that its ideology had very little to do with the mainstream faith. Nevertheless, Elijah’s words and teachings still managed to galvanize and capture the hearts of millions of disaffected and oppressed African Americans. During the movement’s heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, Elijah extended his hand to a downtrodden people in a way that few others could.

Life is poetic and poetry is life. Poetry can touch weary soul, inspire, teach, entertain, and heal emotional scars. The gift of poetry transcends understanding and takes the listener and writer to new worlds. Every poet has a unique brand and theme which identifies the poet’s style. Usually, a poet’s prose identifies what style of poetry the poet writes. God has blessed this author with a gift that bears no certain theme or style. Instead, poetry is universal and reaches the masses.

John Fear was born into a religious sect known as the Exclusive Brethren. This sheltered him from the outside world as he grew up, but could not hide him from its influences. A struggle began in his mind that led him to leave the Brethren, along with his young family.

Biography of Leon Rosenberg, the late founder and director of the American European Bethel Mission. A compilation from archives and memory by Vera Kuschnir. Dedicated to the glory of God and to the numerous descendants of Leon and Fanny Rosenberg.

With the discovery of her birth father, 12-year-old River has definite thoughts about how her life should turn out - and that certainly does not include any of the challenges that keep popping up! It's not easy to decide if she should live with Gram, who has been her family for the past 10 years, or with her father, who she's over-the-moon to have just met but knows little about. When River gets diagnosed with scoliosis, she fears it will impact her hopes and dreams. River decides to ask God for help.

Sam grew up in a loving, chaotic, cult-attending, sheltered family. He explains how his core values and beliefs were shaped by his family and the events that take place around him. Then, you discover how they come to be tested and broken down after several life-changing moments. Obstacles such as depression, fear, pride, and greed attempt to keep him from truly knowing Jesus, and it wasn’t until he hit rock bottom that he was forced to look to God for help.

Can God take an abandoned, fearful child and make her a Christ-like example and a soul-winner? Does he still do more than we can ask or think? Rena's personal story, simply told in both humility and triumph, will convince you that nothing is impossible when you surrender to Jesus. Her many, colorful adventures are a catalog of miracles which most of us dream about.

In this provocative new contribution to public theology, world-renowned theologian Miroslav Volf (named "America's New Public Intellectual" by Scot McKnight on his Jesus Creed blog) and Matthew Croasmun explain that the intellectual tools needed to rescue us from our present malaise and meet our new cultural challenge are the tools of theology. A renewal of theology is crucial to help us articulate compelling visions of the good life, find our way through the maze of contested questions of value, and answer the fundamental question of what makes life worth living.

I am not famous. I will never be rich. I will most likely never stand and speak before thousands of people. But, I have a story to tell. You could say this is an adventure. Once you begin listening to this you will see how God took an ordinary man from a little hollow in Johnson City, TN through many different trials; ranging from thoughts of suicide, drinking, and going from one bad marriage to another. During all this, the Lord was directing me (most of the time without me realizing it).