From the earliest days of recorded history, conflict has been an integral part of human life. Although conflict and crisis are painful, they are visible and vital signs of the perpetual work of the church and society. Viewed in this light, they become sources of growth and gifts to be pressed into service.The trouble with Jesus was-and is-that he stands in the midst of conflict, and allows the conflict actually to live in him even though it tears him apart, in order that new life m...

Calling upon teachers G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, Sam Portaro wades into the abyss of confronting a life of faithfulness in a world where the Church has created a dictionary unintelligible to anyone not part of itself. Acknowledging it a risky adventure to attempt to put into printed words his faith, Portaro steps boldly onto the pages of Sheer Christianity: Conjectures on a Catechism.

In these meditations on the lesser feasts and fasts of the church calendar Sam Portaro asks the question, “What do these saints and commemorations have to say to Christians today?” His answers are often surprising and always thought-provoking, with fresh insights into the lives and teachings of those who have gone before us in the Christian faith. The cycle of the year begins in Advent with St. Andrew and ends in late November with Kamehaneha and Emma of Hawaii. Each reflection looks at th...

At once “travel guide” and vision for the future, the Transformation series is good news for the Episcopal Church at a time of fast and furious demographic and social change. Series contributors - recognized experts in their fields - analyze our present plight, point to the seeds of change already at work transforming the church, and outline a positive new way forward. What kinds of churches are most ready for transformation? What are the essential tools? What will give us strength, direct...

Daily Lenten reflections with a novel approach.Lent is often a season given to denial of physical pleasure and sensation, but we're already denied these by a cultural atmosphere saturated with visual images, noise and air pollution, violence, and processed foods that dull the senses. The physical senses play an integral role in the human capacity for emotion and feeling. Overstimulation in the physical senses gradually erodes one’s ability to feel emotion. Yet empa...

“Dayspring, my dictionary tells me, is an archaic word meaning 'dawn.' But I have chosen Daysprings as the title for this collection of meditations for the several meanings in the ancient word and its components. I hope these brief reflections shed new light on old, familiar passages and illuminate the way through new ones. I also hope these pieces will prove to be springboards to new and creative meditation for readers, pastors, and preachers, and that they will find within these...

In After You Believe, award-winning author and esteemed spiritual leader Bishop N.T. Wright (Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope) addresses the often neglected question of what happens after you believe, exploring how the development of Christian character is the key to a vibrant faith. Newsweek calls Bishop Wright "the world’s leading New Testament scholar," and After You Believe is an essential work of spiritual formation for fans of C.S. Lewis's M...

A revised and updated edition of the manifesto that shows how simplicity is not merely having less stress and more leisure but an essential spiritual discipline for the health of our soul.

“This is a book about getting, and staying, involved with God-what it takes, what it costs, what it looks and feels like, why anyone would want to do it anyway. It is at the same time a book about reading the Old Testament as a source of Good News and guidance for our life with God. The key piece of Good News that the Old Testament communicates over and over again is that God is involved with us, deeply and irrevocably so.”-from the IntroductionWith sound scholarship and her...

Dr. J. I. Packer offers biblical reflections on life's tough issues. Discussing topics like pleasure, health, disappointment, and holiness, he maps out problematic situations and then superimposes relevant biblical teachings.

This book responds with passion and skill to the growing concerns of spiritual seekers and teachers of the Catholic faith.

This thought-provoking guide takes a candid look at the moral issues we face in our daily lives. Using the Ten Commandments as a starting point, the authors bring fresh analysis to such problems as the morality of war in a nuclear age, equitable tax structures, abortion, marital fidelity, capital punishment, care of aging parents, euthanasia, homosexuality, and other contemporary concerns. Beyond Moralism offers solid guidance that is consistent with the Word of God as heard throughout the...