American composers are at the forefront of a renaissance in concert music, in the process expanding the very definition of the category. The impact of digital technology on the creative process and the unprecedented diversity of contemporary composers are arguably among the catalysts driving the rebirth. In this series of personal interviews with some of the most prominent composers of art music currently working on the American music scene, composer and educator Robert Raines leads the in...

In A Time To Live, Robert Raines explores the spiritual and emotional dimensions of what can be the most rewarding time of life. Drawing on his experiences as an ordained minister and as director of a non-denominational retreat center focusing on issues of personal growth, Raines delineates the important passages we must all make from our middle years in the process of growing older. In an approach that is both meditative and inspirational, drawing from a variety of backgrounds, a...

These fifteen original stories, donated by authors to help keep local theater alive, are fun, quirky, imaginative, and bold - the perfect way to tide over audiences until local stage curtains can once again rise! Each tale turns the spotlight on some unusual snapshot of life or imagination. Sales from this book, along with generous donations from others in the community, will help local theaters survive and eventually thrive despite this most unfortunate "intermission." With new shows - an...

Why does God feel so distant so often, and how do I bridge the gap?Does your hunger for God often seem more frustrating than satisfying?Have you sensed a disturbing disparity between God's promises and life's realities?Have you seen God's promises work, but you've stumbled and want to believe again?Award-winning author Philip Yancey articulates the fundamental questions that confront us all: "How do I relate to a God...

One of America's leading Christian thinkers interweaves the story of his own struggle to reclaim his beliefs with inspiring portraits of people who have succeeded in the pursuit of an authentic faith.In Soul Survivor, Philip Yancey charts his spiritual pilgrimage through the influence of key individuals: "These are the people who ushered me into the Kingdom. In many ways, they are why I remain a Christian today, and I want to introduce them to other spirit...

What on earth are we missing? Philip Yancey believes we are missing the supernatural hidden in everyday life.In Rumors of Another World, Yancey investigates the natural world and discovers the supernatural hiding in plain view. He grapples with why God made the world and what our role truly is, and seeks to answer the question, “How do I live in the natural world while expressing the values of the supernatural?”Philip writes, “I have come to understand faith as the highest form of integrat...

The New York Times Bestseller"A welcome change from the sloganeering, political mudslinging and products of spin doctors."—The Philadelphia Inquirera stirring and provocative trip inside the minds and hearts of a diverse group of people whose beliefs—and the incredibly varied ways in which they choose to express them—reveal the American spirit at its best.Based on the NPR series of the same name,

With more than 400,000 copies in print, Out of Solitude by Henri J. M. Nouwen offers a timeless reflection on the sacred tension between our longing for quiet communion with God and the unrelenting pull and noise of daily life. Drawing on three pivotal moments in the life of Jesus—his retreat to a lonely place to pray, the feeding of the five thousand, and his promise that, after going away, he would return to them—Nouwen shows how Christ himself turned to solitude to receive the ...

From the #1 bestselling author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, an illuminating book about fear—and what we can do to overcome it.An inescapable component of our lives, fear comes in many guises. In uncertain times, coping with these fears can be especially challenging, but in this indispensable book, Harold S. Kushner teaches us to confront, master, and even embrace fear for a more fulfilling life. Drawing on the teachings of religious and secula...

"I am convinced that the fortunate individuals who achieve the most in life are invariably activated by enthusiasm." -- Norman Vincent PealeIf you have a tough time coping with life's disturbances, disappointments, and challenges, this book is for you. Dr. Peale offers a simple, sure-fire solution for stress: a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the magic ingredient that can make the difference between success and failure, and it can help you to:

Evangelism is about reaching out to others**. Really? You think?**Brace yourself. In Nudge, author Leonard Sweet sets out to revolutionize our understanding of evangelism. He defines evangelism as “nudge” – awakening each other to the God who is already there. Sweet’s revolution promises to affect your encounters with others, as well as shaking the very roots of your own faith. So brace yourself.