Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Medieval vision of the afterlife
This was required reading for a graduate course in medieval history.
"The Divine Comedy" describes Dante's journey through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso), guided first by the Roman epic poet Virgil and then by Beatrice, the subject of his love and another of his works, "La Vita Nuova." While the vision of Hell, the Inferno, is vivid for modern readers, the theological niceties presented in the other books require a certain amount of patience and scholarship to understand.Purgatorio, the most lyrical and human of the three, also has the most poets in it; Paradiso, the most heavily theological, has the most beautiful and ecstatic mystic passages in which Dante tries to describe what he confesses he is unable to convey (e.g., when Dante looks into the face of God: "all'alta fantasia qui mancò possa" - "at this high moment, ability failed my capacity to describe," Paradiso, XXXIII, 142).

Dante wrote the Comedy in his regional dialect.By creating a poem of epic structure and philosophic purpose, he established that the Italian language was suitable for the highest sort of expression, and simultaneously established the Tuscan dialect as the standard for Italian. In French, Italian is nicknamed la langue de Dante.Publishing in the vernacular language marked Dante as one of the first (among others such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Giovanni Boccaccio) to break from standards of publishing in only Latin or Greek (the languages of Church and antiquity).This break allowed more literature to be published for a wider audience - setting the stage for greater levels of literacy in the future.

Readers often cannot understand how such a serious work may be called a "comedy".In Dante's time, all serious scholarly works were written in Latin (a tradition that would persist for several hundred years more, until the waning years of the Enlightenment) and works written in any other language were assumed to be comedic in nature.Furthermore, the word "comedy," in the classical sense, refers to works which reflect belief in an ordered universe, in which events not only tended towards a happy or "amusing" ending, but an ending influenced by a Providential will that orders all things to an ultimate good.By this meaning of the word, the progression of Dante's pilgrim from Hell to Paradise is the paradigmatic expression of comedy, since the work begins with the pilgrim's moral confusion and ends with the vision of God.

The Divine Comedy can be described simply as an allegory: Each canto, and the episodes therein, can contain many alternate meanings.Dante's allegory, however, is more complex, and, in explaining how to read the poem (see the "Letter to Can Grande della Scala"), he outlines other levels of meaning besides the allegory (the historical, the moral, the literal, and the anagogical).The structure of the poem, likewise, is quite complex, with mathematical and numerological patterns arching throughout the work, particularly threes and nines.The poem is often lauded for its particularly human qualities: Dante's skillful delineation of the characters he encounters in Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise; his bitter denunciations of Florentine and Italian politics; and his powerful poetic imagination.Dante's use of real characters, according to Dorothy Sayers in her introduction to her translation of "L'Inferno", allows Dante the freedom of not having to involve the reader in description, and allows him to "[make] room in his poem for the discussion of a great many subjects of the utmost importance, thus widening its range and increasing its variety."

Dante called the poem "Comedy" (the adjective "Divine" added later in the 16th century) because poems in the ancient world were classified as High ("Tragedy") or Low ("Comedy"). Low poems had happy endings and were of everyday or vulgar subjects, while High poems were for more serious matters. Dante was one of the first in the Middle Ages to write of a serious subject, the Redemption of man, in the low and vulgar Italian language and not the Latin language as one might expect for such a serious topic.

Paradiso
After an initial ascension (Canto I), Beatrice guides Dante through the nine spheres of Heaven. These are concentric and spherical, similar to Aristotelian and Ptolemaic cosmology.Dante admits that the vision of heaven he receives is the one that his human eyes permit him to see. Thus, the vision of heaven found in the Cantos is Dante's own personal vision, ambiguous in its true construction.The addition of a moral dimension means that a soul that has reached Paradise stops at the level applicable to it.Souls are allotted to the point of heaven that fits with their human ability to love God.Thus, there is a heavenly hierarchy. All parts of heaven are accessible to the heavenly soul.That is to say all experience God but there is a hierarchy in the sense that some souls are more spiritually developed than others.This is not determined by time or learning as such but by their proximity to God (how much they allow themselves to experience him above other things).It must be remembered in Dante's schema that all souls in Heaven are on some level always in contact with God.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in literature and medieval history.

Difficult text, rendered well
I am not a professional Dante scholar, and in fact, speak no Italian at all, so my judgement as to the accuracy of the translation is suspect. That said, Musa does an admirable job of helping the reader understand this very difficult final third of the Divine Comedy. Of the three sections of the Comedy, my feeling is that Paradise is the least interesting, though it would be a shame to read the first two parts and neglect the third, since they all are integral to understanding what Dante was trying to accomplish. But the characters in Paradise are all literally perfect and sinless, and there is not nearly as much of interest as in the other books. There is a lot of symbolism involving what shapes the saints stand in and the like, but its all rather trying and sometimes monotonous, to me anyway. Musa is a good guide though. The translation smartly abandons any hope of recreating Rima Terza, and goes with a straight blank verse rendering. The translation is subtle and effective, even when the poem itself is slow and tedious. Despite my beliefs about Paradise, both history and personal experience tell me that Divine Comedy is an important and fulfilling part of the Western Canon that should not go neglected. I have no problem recommending Musa's version of Paradise.

Wonderful, Informative, Scary Story
My interest in classic literature did not arise until recently. I read many reviews which indicated that people with this such interest absolutely MUST read Dante's Inferno. With that hefty weight upon my "newbie" shoulders I decided to undergo the journey that so many others have made over the last 700 years.

As it turns out, Mark Musa's translation of Inferno is fantastic. Each chapter begins with a very brief but informative synopsis, followed by the prose, then finally capped off my Musa's notes on the text. Musa's notes give backgroud on all of the characters and situations that take place throughout the story. These notes are a MUST for any newcomer to Dante and classical literature in general. So, not only is there the original text in English for us non-Italian speakers, but there are notes to increase the readers comprehension.

Dante is guided by the author of the Aeneid, Virgil.Virgil takes Dante through the Nine Levels of Hell to show him the pain and suffering of all those who do not love and follow God.Dante learns a great deal on this journey as does the reader.

Mark Musa's translation of Dante is smooth, entertaining, and very informative. Anyone interested in Christianity, Hell, famous Greeks, and classical literature should definitely indulge themselves as this translation is not overwhelming in the slightest. Five stars across the board.

I understood the grace and beauty
The pilgrim's journey continues to heaven.

If you, like me, are intimidated by Dante but are interested in these great works of Western Literature, you now have an accessible translation of the Divine Comedy.Musa's translation communicates the divinity of the events in the story onan understandable level. The Divine Comedy colored my perception ofreligion and helped me to a new understanding of the harmony ofresponsibility and grace. The work also educates the reader in an enrichingway about the belief system of the middle ages.

Don't miss this book anddon't read any other translation.

Divine Comedy : Paradise
In this translation of paradise, Mark Musa exhibits the same sensitivity to language and knowledge of translation that enabled his versions of the Inferno and Purgatory to caputure the vibrant powers of Dantes poetry.Thats what it says on the back of the book and boy you couldnt have said itbetter than that.This book is by far better than the first and a perfectsequel to the secound translation.Mark Musa puts Dante's complex poetryinto plain english so that even a common student like myself canunderstand.I think anyone who likes Dantes interpretations about lifewill love this addition to his work. ... Read more

Product Description
Coming from a society where women were barred from serious writing and teaching, Julian, an anchorite of the great medieval city of Norwich, nevertheless uses her womanliness and the English vernacular of the day to describe a series of revelations which she received from God in the year 1373. She identifies the female nature of Christ's suffering and the motherhood of God, using images from domestic daily life, emphasizing the homeliness of God's love. She writes in a lively and unpretentious manner and her theology is precise without ever being pedantic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

superb service
I ordered these books for the Adult Religious Ed class at my church. The books arrived in perfect condition in a timely manner. I am very pleased as the price was within the range of the students. I had checked other sources and could not get the number I needed from the same source so that all would be the same version. Thankyou for your service. Roberta

Revelations of Divine Love
A very spiritual book.Not one you read quickly for full comprehension, it is a contemplative writing that rewards you when you meditate on it's meaning.

Kindle Edition Unreadable
Download a sample before purchasing the Kindle Edition.It is not worth the effort to try to decipher.Amazon needs to be more careful about Kindle editions.

Kindle format
This book was easily downloaded and yet unreadable.
The format that came through read like computer code. While the words/content of the book were there - so was the formatting code.

Those Who Love Olde English
This is a goodtranslation of the revelations, as the author spells out exactly where he is coming from in the Introduction.Be sure to read this before hitting the content so you will know from where you are coming from.It is a more difficult read for thosenot used to Olde English, but one that is good to have at hand along with a more modern translation. ... Read more

Product Description
Bring out the divine in your canine!

Obedient, devoted, and happy -- that’s what we all want our dogs to be. Let Brother Christopher and the Monks of New Skete show you how to get there through the stories of sixteen unruly dogs who came to them with more than a few lessons to learn. In this engaging and informative companion book to the hit Animal Planet series, the Monks of New Skete, renowned masters in the art of raising and training dogs, demonstrate tried and true techniques for influencing animal behavior, showing how a caring attitude and honest communication can turn any dog into a divine canine.

Featuring:

• The Monks’ Way: inspiring insights into the special New Skete training methods
• Tips on tackling problems: dominance, aggression, separation anxiety, and more
• "What if" guides when things don’t go as planned
• Glossary of key training techniques
• Step-by-step photos and full-color illustrations of dogs in training at the New Skete monastery

A must-have for anyone who loves dogs, Divine Canine offers unique and entertaining lessons that resonate far beyond the food dish and water bowl ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Dog Training
I've just started reading this book, but if it's like the Monks of New Skete training your puppy book, it will be great.
We're getting a rescue dog and I think this will be a great addition to my dog training book library. The Monks make everything very understandable and easy to do.It's the doing it consistantly that's the catch.Just as in raising children, children need to know who is boss...so does your dog/puppy.

Divine Canine
I give this a 4.5.My wife and I got a 12 month old shepherd that had not been trained. We bought several books, took her to atrainer, and nothing seemed to work. We started using this book and got very good results in quick time.Our dog is very responsive to this kind of training, and we are grateful for the monks' delightful book.

I love this book!
The Art of Raising a Puppy is classic but I love this book too. I have always been around dogs that had behavior issues and I found this book inspirational and so needed! It is also written with clarity, humor and kindness.

Divine Canine
The book is of the quality I've come to expect from the Monks at New Skeet.I appreciate the training tips and anecdotes which reinforce their philosophy of the relationship between canines and humans.

My Canine id Divine thanks to this book!
A great book for those how want a great friend and well trained dog! Start early, or fix bad habits... with more work.... so start early! ... Read more

Product Description
The question of the nature of God's foreknowledge and how that relates to human freedom has been pondered and debated by Christian theologians at least since the time of Augustine. And the issue will not go away. More recently, the terms of the debate have shifted, and the issue has taken on new urgency with the theological proposal known as the openness of God. This view maintains that God's knowledge, while perfect, is limited regarding the future inasmuch as the future is "open" and not settled. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views provides a venue for well-known proponents of four distinct views of divine foreknowledge to present their cases:Gregory A. Boyd of Bethel College presents the open-theism view, David Hunt of Whittier College weighs in on the simple-foreknowledge view, William Lane Craig of Talbot School of Theology takes the middle-knowledge view, and Paul Helm of Regent College, Vancouver,presents the Augustinian-Calvinist view. All four respond to each of the other essayists, noting points of agreement and disagreement. Editors James K. Beilby and Paul R. Eddy introduce the contemporary debate and also offer a conclusion that helps you evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each view. The result is a unique opportunity to grapple with the issues and arguments and frame your own understanding of this important debate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Divine Foreknowledge
Much of the discussion of the Divine Foreknowledge of God comes from 1) the fact that God is a being we don't understand and 2) the fact that there are times when it is indispensible to defend an attack on the omniscience of God.

Views or opinions about God are too numerous to count and the topic of Divine Foreknowledge has its fair share on views.Concerning theology, the more one reads, studies, and meditate on the Holy Scriptures, the more one knows that the knowledge about God and knowing Him are never-ending tasks.The reason is that God is eternal and everything concerning Him is eternal as well.It is wise to hear other Christians who may have a different perspectives or points of views concerning God, His nature or His character.Since no one church or individual has the whole counsel of God or since no one church or individual has the monopoly on God, all views concerning Him must be heard and analyzed according to Scripture or, better stated, according to what one understands Scriptures are teaching concerning God: in this case, His Divine Foreknowledge.

The Open Theism View
The Open Theism View holds that "God knows the future partly as a realm of possibilities, not exclusively as settled facts.In this view, the sovereign Creator settles whatever he wants to settle about the future, and hence he perfectly foreknows the future as settled to this extent.He leaves open whatever he wants to leave open, and hence he perfectly foreknows the future as possible to this extent."

What this view holds, in my opinion, is that there are things that will come to pass in the future no matter who votes for it or against it.For example, the first coming of Christ to earth is something that God foreknew long before it happened and the second coming of Christ to earth is something that God foreknows long before it happens.

The positive issue with this view is that there are things that are not certain or that God has not decreed that they will necessarily happen.A good example of this deals with the salvation for everyone in the world.The uncertainty of the spiritual future of everyone has not been predetermined or decreed in advanced before a person makes the decision to reject or accept Jesus Christ as their savior.The choice or option for a person to do so is in their hands.God has already provided the way and wishes for all mankind to repent and be saved but the choice is entirely theirs.The negative issue with this view is that it limits what God knows or what He is able to know about the entire future.No matter how it is viewed, God cannot be called or viewed as omniscience in this view.

The Simple-Foreknowledge View
"Unlike the open view, the simple-foreknowledge view rejects the notion that any aspect of the future is open from God's perspective.God simply knows what free agents shall do, not what they would do in different circumstances or what he ordains them to do."

What this view holds, in my opinion, is that there are things that will come to pass in our lives even though we are doing them on our own free will, though God foreknew they will happen.No matter how this view is explained, at the end I came out confused because it is impossible for any intelligent person to believe that what God has foreknown will happen contrary to what He willed or what He foreknew.

The Problem of Human Freedom, the Problem of Divine Agency, and the Problem of Divine Providence are not necessarily solved if one totally embraces this view of the foreknowledge of God.It is very hard to accept that people are free agents that God endowed them with the power to, for example, alter their future spiritual dwelling (heaven or hell) while at the same time believing that God has foreknown, since the beginning of times, what their spiritual dwellings will be.It sounds as though people are not really free agents with free will.It is as if people are following a written script which they can't deviate from.Though I identify myself more with this view, this is too big for me to fully understand God's foreknowledge and man's free will.

The Middle-Knowledge or Molinist View
"In the middle-knowledge view, God know not only what shall come to pass, he knows what would have come to pass if he had chosen to create any other world - this is his "middle knowledge.He simply has an innate eternal knowledge of how free agents would behave in all possible circumstances."

What this view holds, in my opinion, is that no matter what a person chooses to do, whether "A" or "B", God has already taken into consideration the outcome of either one.In other words, God is not taken by surprise but knows ahead of time, what will a person choose to do while, at the same time, that person remains a free agent.What this view also holds is that God may create all the necessary circumstances for people to choose freely what He wants them to do without coercing or forcing them to perform them.I think this view is very well debated for but it did not answer to my satisfaction the relationship between man's free will and God's Divine Foreknowledge.It is like we are back to the drawing board to try to figure out how these two can be reconciled.

The Augustinian-Calvinist View
"In this view, God knows all that shall come to pass because he preordains all that shall come to pass.Agents are free to do as they want and are morally responsible for the choices they make.But all their choices nevertheless fall within the sovereign plan of God, which governs all things."

What this view holds, in my opinion, is that though people are free agents, what they do is what God has preordained from the foundation of the world.In other words, they are free to do whatever they choose to do but they are morally responsible for their doing even though what they did was preordained.Human freedom, in this view, and God's Divine Foreknowledge are incompatible.No matter how it is debated for, this view holds that what God foreknew in the past concerning a futuristic event, that event will necessarily has to happen; there is no other way.

Conclusion
I wish very much that Christians view Scriptures from God's point of view and not from the point of view of others, especially people like John Calvin.Calvinists believe that they themselves were chosen by God and that they will go to heaven because they are the elect.Those who hold on to the Augustinian-Calvinist View of God's Divine Foreknowledge believe that they are saved because not only God willed it (which the Bible clearly states) but it was bound to happen because God foreknew it.

In my opinion, all the views on God's Divine Foreknowledge failed to take into great consideration that God is outside our time dimension and that the future is ever present before Him.To us God foreknows the future but the Bible seems to portrait a God that foresees the future.

High quality arguments and interaction
This is not a book for the faint in heart (or should I say mind?) in that it took me a good three years just to get familiar with all the terms and issues that each of the authors understand and try (valiantly) to communicate. If you are looking for an introductory book to the various views of foreknowledge in Christian thought, this is probably the best option available, but newcomers to the debate will struggle. Seminary students or general students of the foreknowledge debate will enjoy it, though it is light on biblical exegesis (minus Boyd's chapter).

Like it or not, philosophical theology weighs heavily in the foreknowledge debate, and it cannot be ignored. Yet there is nothing wrong with editing a book that explores those philosophical presuppositions which involve some very interesting and profound questions such as:

1) Is everything in the future knowable?
2) How are human beings free if God knows what they will do?
3) Does God's omniscience include knowledge of what we would or would not do in certain circumstances?
4) If God controls everything how could we be free agents?
5) Is world history fated to happen a certain way?

Each author brings their own strengths to the debate. Paul Helm ably defends the Augustinian view from a Calvinist perspective. Craig carries the day with perhaps the best written and best argued essay on middle-knowledge. Hunt offers some helpful critiques of Augustinianism and Open theology that should not go unnoticed. And Boyd offers a biblically rooted case for Open Theism that must be dealt with seriously if it is to be rejected.

If you are a looking for a fantastic educational experience on an important attribute of the divine character, this volume should be on your shelf.

Fantastic
I keep coming back to this book, re-reading the various arguments, especially Craig's and Boyd's summaries of their positions.A very useful Four Views book.

Misses the mark
Rather than repeat what has been written by the prior reviewers I wish to add some useful observations.

First:The exegesis of scripture in this work ignores several important facets of proper exegesis.Particularly, the English translation is referenced rather than the original Hebrew or Greek.This results in the author arguing the meaning of the English rather than considering the nuances inherent in the ancient Greek of Hebrew for which no adequate English structure exists.Along these lines, the authors tend to treat scripture as a treatise on God's Divine Attributes rather than what scripture is: a witness to Divine revelation.This divine revelation is not concerned with the issue of God and time, knowledge and foreknowledge, but of God, man and salvation history.Scripture witnesses through and by men what God has unveiled to man and what remains veiled remains beyond our accessibility.

Secondly: Logic cannot solve the problem of God's knowledge and experience of time.Logic operates inside creation and God exists outside of creation.Thus, the authors miss a key issue involving the necessary difference between the infinite creator (of which there can only be one) and the creature (of which man and time both are).As creatures, man and time cannot share in God's infinitude or in the infinite nature of any attribute.Man is not God and the author's flip back and forth carelessly between the two as if they can be considered under the same rubric.An example may be found in Adam's sin.The authors miss the biblical point that Adam sinned because he is a creature and as a creature is not infinitely perfect like his creator.When God gave Adam a choice, God made it a human possibility to choose rightly or wrongly.Adam's fall is the result of his being a creature and not God.This has nothing to do with God's foreknowledge or God's omnipotence.God saw fit to create and anything created (including time) must be finite.

Third:The authors throw around terms such as free will and quote the great authors on the subject (Augustine, Calvin) without defining what the will is or what freedom of the will means in the context of the theological discourse.The controversy over "free will" suffers more from the lack of definition concerning what the will is and what is implied by freedom and bondage.Edwards was the first to attempt to define the will and his definition affects his conclusions.The will, by being free or in bondage, is so in relation to sin and not simple choice.Luther concludes that unregenerate man's will is in bondage to sin and is free from sin through Christ and by faith.This freedom is to be free to conform the will to that of God.This concept of freedom/bondage is much different than our modern notions and we must be mindful of this.

Forth:Paul's use of "foreknew" and foreknowledge" in Romans is taken out of context by the authors who apply it universally to all knowledge.Paul's aim was to explain God's plan of salvation, Israel's salvation history and how it has come to completion in the "Christ event."His use of foreknowledge in Romans must be taken in context of the whole argument which is Christological and Soteriologic rather than philosophic and metaphysical.The one God foreknows from eternity is The Son, Christ.In Christ, God has foreordained his plan of redemption of fallen man.If a man is in Christ he is assured of receiving God's Soteriologic promise and what God promises will come to be.Outside of Christ, man is lost.This is corporate salvation and election.

Fifth:Failure to treat time as a creature and consider God's position outside time, man's limitations inside time, man's perception and understanding of time in terms of memory and anticipation is a major omission.No consideration is give to how God interacts with and within time as opposed to how God acts in eternity.Likewise, the question of how and if time is operative and/or determinative in eternity and for God is left unexplored.


Finally, as scripture is biblical witness to divine revelation it was recorded by men for man.The authors fail to consider how ancient man viewed time and how radically different the ancient perception of time was (See von Rad: Old Testament Theology Vol. II).Ancient time was seasonal and circular reflecting nature and the seasonal festivals.The concept of linear progressive time came after the exile and was not fully developed even in the 2nd Temple period.Therefore to make inferences about how the scriptural witness communicates its confession of the revelation it received to the people of the individual author's day requires an appreciation of how time was understood then and now.They fail to ask with Augustine "What is time?"

This volume does succeed in making accessible the four theories of divine foreknowledge.However, the arguments are flawed, boring and narrow.The subject deserves a better effort that should begin with answering the basic questions of creature and creator, time and perception, memory and anticipation and what the limitations of scripture and man's logic are.The authors are flagrant materialists applying post-enlightenment assumptions to an eternal question.Consider that the answer could be that we do not know the answer and cannot figure it out.The glass we look through is indeed dark.

A Book Worth Looking Through
If you are looking for more of a philosophical look into the issue of God's foreknowledge at an acceptable reading level, then this is the book for you. I, however, was not. I found that Greg Boyd was the only author to present his view starting with the biblical witness and then move to the philosophical to supplement the biblical work. He was then chastised for his approach because he was not using an "objective" philosophical framework by which to defend the case of "open theism."

I found the articles by both David Hunt and William Lane Craig to be highly speculative and way too dependent upon philosophy to be helpful. BUT, I must say that the worst article was the presentation of the Augustinian view by Paul Helm. For someone who has written an entire book on the Providence of God, this article looked thrown together and showed a complete lack of passion.

If for no other reason, read the the "Open-Theist View" by Greg Boyd. Even if you don't agree with his position, it gives an excellent overview of the biblical data in favor of open-theism.

Fortunately, there is now a better book on the subject of foreknowledge and free will. It is called Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: Four Views (Perspectives) ... Read more

Product Description
Haunted by half-forgotten nightmares since her childhood, Clare Kimball, a shining star in the New York art world, returns to her hometown and finds new love with the town's sheriff, Cameron Rafferty, once the high school rebel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

THIS was a Nora Robert's Book???
Clare Kimball is having nightmares about devil worship and cult rituals, so she goes home to her tiny rural town to overcome them, since her hometown is the scene of her nightmares. She meets up with an old acquaintance, Sheriff Cam Rafferty. And learns that maybe her nightmares are actually memories.

This book was, well, evil. Couldn't believe it was Nora Roberts. First of all, if you're looking for a ROMANTIC suspense, do NOT read this book. I would not consider this a romance at all. The "romance" in this book had come and gone before you realize that there's the teeniest sliver of tender feelings. You're like, "Wait... what? That's it?!" And the synopsis is misleading. It says that Cam Rafferty had loved Clare from afar when they were younger, when NO, he didn't. More like he had HEARD OF HER from afar. Which doesn't change the plot, but I had a vision in my head about his long lost love coming home to him- I have NEVER been more wrong. The cult ritual descriptions were terrifying. I got chills, it was so disturbing. The ending- there is no real ending. Everything just gets cut off and there's no more to read. There was so much potential, and I was so incredibly disappointed. I'm writing this book off as Nora Roberts's big mistake, but will continue to read her books. BIG disappointment.

I loved this book!
Honestly I don't understand why people keep saying this book was so disturbing, I personally found it intriguing. I adore light romance novels, but this really was gripping. It grabbed you and would not let go until you finished. The dark undertone truly is what made this book in my opinion. The different characters are portrayed well and the ending is a complete surprise unlike some of Roberts' books.

Now all this being said, I still wouldn't recommend this book for people who are easily disturbed. I started reading Roberts' books when I was twelve (two years ago) while I enjoyed her lighter romances, I looooved this one. She took more of her J.D Robb persona into this book, I think. Over the last few years of her work I begin to notice a pattern, The newer the books get, the more graphic and violently inclined they are. Frankly, I enjoy her newer books much more than her old ones simply because she adds to the characters and the plot so much more.

Anyway here's a summary:

Within the dark woods of Emmitsboro something evil spreads its poisonous power. Now the once-peaceful town is wrapped in a cloak of terror, hiding a teacherous heart. And now Clare must pay the price for digging up the secrets of the past. . . and confront an evil that may be unstoppable -- because those who practice it may be divine.

A decade ago, sculptor Clare Kimball fled Emmitsboro, Maryland, to take the art world by storm. Now she's celebrated as the artist of her generation. But no amount of success can eclipse the nightmares that haunt her--or the memories of her father's suicide. Just as her star is shining brighter than ever, Clare leaves it all behind to face her demons.
Emmitsboro sheriff Cameron Rafferty loved Clare from afar all through high school. Now that she's back, they form a bond that grows stronger each day--fueled by an attraction that's been simmering for years. But Clare's past soon rises up with a vengeance, rocking the town with a sinister murder that is clearly linked to her return. As an investigation gets under way, Clare and Cameron will learn that evil can linger anywhere--even in those you love and trust the most. But it's a discovery that may come too late to save them....

One more time for kicks, I truly loved this book!

Romance? just a little...
I just finished the book and usually all the books that i read from Nora are ALWAYS a 5 star book, well not this one. The book was good interesting but at the end of the book it left a few things that i would have love for the author to go over, it ended soooo fast! Let me just warned that this book is not the regular romantic Rora's book this book has a lot of violence related to a cult and dark religion. The characters are nice with a good personality... but not one of her best book especially after reading The Reef.

Divine Evil by Nora Roberts
This book was received in excellent condition.It was delivered in a timely manner which was greatly appreciated. I love reading and plan to use Amazon again and again.

Still wondering....
B+

Forgettable? Probably. "Divine Evil" kept me entertained throughout and there was never really a dull moment.

I'm still not sure why this wasn't a 5 Star for me...it might have been the characters (or maybe just my personal lack of connection with them), or the fact that the "cult" killed and raped for more than 20 years and no one in this teeny/gossipy small town noticed. WTH?!

Even after my negatives this was still a great summer read and I really enjoyed it. Nora never lets you down (well until her recent works)...When you buy one of her books you always have the comfy cozy "never a waste of money" feeling b/c you know you're getting a good story, fast action, a real romance, and an ending that never leaves any questions unanswered.
... Read more

Product Description
Would you like to have an unwavering and reliable source of wisdom to guide your life? An inner resource that gives you unfailing direction towards your hopes and dreams? Instructions to create greater peace and harmony in your life? In Divine Intuition, intuitive consultant Lynn A. Robinson demonstrates that this wisdom does exist--it comes through the whispers of your soul via your intuition. Intuition is part of your birthright, your instructions from a Higher Power, or whatever you choose to call God. You are constantly surrounded, filled, and informed by its wisdom, although you may not know how to access it. Divine intuition is beautifully illustrated to help you tap into the myriad ways you can receive this invaluable insight and develop it for practical use in everyday life. Use this wonderful guide to discover and achieve your life goals. Begin now to make your dreams come alive.Amazon.com Review
It's hard to imagine a more elegant or spiritually sound book on developingintuition than Divine Intuition. Using full-color graphics, heavy-stock paper, and sophisticated type, Lynn Robinson has created a fittingtribute to the divine connection between inner guidance and the voice ofGod. "Every person has a unique sense of the meaning of the word 'God,'"writes Robinson (TheComplete Idiot's Guide to Being Psychic). "To me, the concept ofGod means an invisible intelligence that animates our world and provideswisdom and love to guide our lives." Regardless of how you imagine or knowGod, intuition is its voice, she explains.

Although the book works best as a primer, it can also be enjoyed a refreshercourse. Robinson gently walks readers through intuitive training. "Justfor today," she begins, pay attention to your daydreams--the images thatcome to you, the longings that you imagine can "inform you about your lifepurpose." In the next chapter, she helps readers explore the act ofintuitive decision making: when faced with two options, she show readershow to listen for the answer that gives a sense of peace and calm. "Yourbody provides a wealth of guidance and feedback to you," says Robinson. Each chapteroffers a manageable means to hone the art of intuitive listening--theability to hear and interpret "the still, small voice of God." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

A beautiful book to hold and read
I relished every chapter in this beautifully laid out book.
This book came into my life at a time I needed to hone in on my intuition, and I was guided by the author in an effortless way, to get in touch with my inner knowing when I needed it and where I needed it.
I will keep it at my bedside, and reread the quotes and passages for inspiration and affirmation.

A welcomed practical book on intuition
Generally, I come naturally to a strong intuition which I rely on heavily, however something about this book caught my eye. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and garnered some additional insight and skills due the astute, friendly, yet practical writing style the author employs. This book is good for anyone interested in developing or deepening their intuition. I've never before found a book on intuition worth reading.

Trust Your Gut With Divine Intuition
Divine Intuition by Lynn A. Robinsion is a beautiful Dorling Kindersley book that brings us back to the inner source and resource that is within all of us. It often requires taking a quiet moment to be still and to listen in order to find the answers.When you tap into the divine intuition it is possible to create the life that you want just by discovering the answers within.Divine Intuition is a practical, tranquil guide with beautiful photographs and thoughtful quotes which reminds us all that what we want and need is within our heart.Divine Intuition takes us to the power source that lives in each of us so that all of us can truly create and manifest our dreams.Nothing is impossible when you use Divine Intuition.This book is a great gift that will help us understand and to truly know that we all have the ability to tap into this inner knowledge to find the answers to all that we seek. For more information on Lynn Robinson please visit her website under her name and listen to the onlinewithandrea interview with host Andrea Garrison.

Andrea Garrison
Host/Producer - Onlinewithandrea
Author/Producer The Crossing Over Of Mattie Pearl

Glad that I purchased it.
I once told a friend of mine that I think my body is trying to communicate with me, she placed her hand on my forehead in order to check my state of health whether I was crazy or not. It can be hard to talk to people about these stuffs if they don't have an open mind.

So, I decided to give this book a try and she confirmed my point of view on the subject.

Divine Intuition is a great book, but I was hoping that she told us more onhow to develop it...

Divine Intuition
This book was not only helpful for a paper I wrote in intuition, it is written in an easy style to read and includes thoughtful exercises for becoming more aware of the self. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (10)

good Bible study for younge or career age women
Friends share secrets and there are secrets of the Kingdom God wants us to understand.
Olsen, a staffer with Proverbs 31 Ministries, believes, "...each new generation of women needs to encounter God and discover His truths for themselves."(22)She covers a dozen hidden treasures from God's Word.
Olsen uses honest examples from her own life as well as stories of biblical characters to illustrate each secret and highlight its importance.At the end of each chapter is a Bible study that can be used individually or in a group.This book, I think, would be best suited for younger women as seasoned believers may not find new revelation contained in it.
Olsen is quick to point out that the secrets in her book are by no means all of God's deep secrets.If we are faithful with these, however, God will reveal more secrets to us along the way.
This book was provided for review by The B&B Media Group, Inc.

It's No Secret
I've been looking for a great book to help me study the Word of God. So was excited to find It's No Secret.Have you ever thought to yourself "I read the Bible, but I just don't understand it. I never get anything out of it." If you have, God divinely directed you here today because Rachel Olsen, has written a book that is a must have for every woman who longs to find and understand, in real and practical ways, the truths and promises found in the Word of God.
There are many, many nuggets of information in this wonderful read.Nuggets that help us to realize that it is no secret what God can do!As I read this book that old song, 'It Is No Secret What God Can Do!' flooded my mind.Because God is so good, so mighty and so loving I truly believe that He longs for there to be No Secrets! No secrets also means that we must present ourselves to God in truth and honesty as Rachel writes about in the first chapter of this book, Always RSVP-Revealing the Secret to Responding to God. Respond to God with your whole heart and with no holes barred!
Also, at the end of every chapter is a Bible Study.There are (sometimes) questions for you to answer, mini thoughts/devotionals, scripture references that go with the chapter and places for you to write in the book.I think leaving spaces to write in the book is a great idea because then you can reread or go back to your answers as a reference point.
Rachel writings are down to earth sometimes humorous, sometimes serious and always right on target.
The chapter entitled, Adjust Your Scale:Revealing the Secret of Perfection in God's Eyes, is a chapter that all ladies and teen girls need to read.In our society where women are praised for being "perfectly thin" or beautiful to look upon God sees our hearts. . . our compassion for others and our love for doing the Lord's work is a challenging but yet realistic goal.This chapter reminded me of being a Proverbs 31 lady.A lady that many of us strive to emulate.
Are you wanting to draw closer to God?Do you long to understand His Word and do His will?Then you'll want to read this 5 star informative, sweet read!
This book with your morning cuppa is the best way to jump start your day!
*I reviewed this book for The B & B Media Group, Inc*
A David C. Cook Book

Bling for your soul....
This book has been a pleasure to read.I put it in my car to read while waiting in the carpool line.I couldn't put it down.Rachel Olsen does a superb job of sharing secrets we should know but somehow we don't always grasp.She shares in a way that is lighthearted and easy to grasp.The world is ready to tell you how to live your life but those rules change every day.The "secrets" Rachel reveals are timeless.I want every woman to read this book--it will change your life.

Be a Yahweh Sister
Rachel Olsen has written an encouraging book about developing a deeper relationship with God.Adding real bling to a woman's Christian walk by digging deeper to overcome boredom and inertia with the current acceptable type of walk.This is written in a lighthearted chatty girlfriend style but contains amazing depth in the 13 lessons or secrets.Each lesson is followed by a bible study that reinforces the secret and makes the reader really think.

Thank you to David C Cook Publishing house for a copy of this book through B&B Media Group for review purposes

This Book is Like Sitting Down with an Old Friend
When you're having a bad day, who do you call?When you have a funny story to share, who do you share it with?Who is the first person with whom you want to share every little detail of your day?Your husband?A girlfriend?Your mother?The Lord?

Reading It's No Secret:Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know is like sitting down for a chat with a girlfriend, and yet the message is unmistakable, God wants a "growing relationship"with each of us.He want to be our father, our mother, our husband, and our friend.He wants us to share our thoughts, our desires, our needs, our praises, and our prayers.

In It's No Secret, Rachel Olsen shares twelve "God-sized" secrets for "successful living in the kingdom of God."Each chapter is a quick, easy read in part due to Rachel's friendly, laid-back writing style.The Bible study at the end of each chapter will help the reader demystify the secret and apply the message to her life.

Next time, you feel the need to talk with a friend, pick up It's No Secret and your Bible, instead of the phone, and spend some time with the Lord.You will leave the conversation renewed and re-energized.Whether you are struggling with loneliness, perfectionism, business, or an unnamed dissatisfaction or overwhelm, It's No Secret will speak to your heart, drawing from the words of the Bible, the way only a good friend can.

I received this book from The B&B Media Group, Inc. in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts printed in this review are entirely my own. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (20)

Heavenly music
I love this CD. I feel sure that the angels in heaven croon this to homesick souls when they first get there! I like to listen to it at night after a hard day. I follow the instructions to listen to it in bed and I do fall asleep about halfway through it (which is what you're supposed to do).

I that it produces actual physical and mental results when I listen to it. I feel calmer and happier when I listen to it.

It's the name of God, Yahweh, chanted vowel and letter by vowel and letter. Of course the vowels are filled in; Hebrew doesn't provide them: Yahweh properly rendered in English letters is YHWH. It is a sacred name, and the orthodox do not say it because it is too sacred to be spoken. I'm thankful that it's been recorded.

The Divine Name CD w/ pamplet
This is an awesome cd to listen to when you are going to bed.I feel a deeper peace within and I am also starting to remember my dreams more.It is very interesting...I suggest you also buy the The Divine Name book w/ cd and The Seven Sounds of Healing w/cd also to go along with this.Very, very interesting to know. Very enlightining.

Raise Your Vibration!
Jonathan Goldman and Gregg Braden - what an amazing pair!Sometimes I listen to this CD as I'm going to sleep.I drift off in an energy of healing.I sleep deeply, I have dreams that bring resolution and solution to things going on in my life.Other times, I play this CD as a meditation aid.I chant and tone the sounds along with the CD.Again, the results are measurable and profoundly worthwhile.I can literally feel any misqualified energy draining away and being replaced with Grace and Light.This is a wonderful, wonderful CD.If everyone on the planet bought and listened to this CD, the world would indeed be a much different place!
Jaci Sivley, EFT-ADV[...]

Leads you to a higher level of consciousness!
Listening to this can lead one to accept all emotions, let go completely, and come to a higher level of consciousness where you can hear and even FEEL what "shines in all things."Some may find this a little eerie when listening to it at first, as I did.But I found it was because of being in a bad mood to begin with.I decided to allow the emotions without judgment, and the music quickly became a portal to embrace these feelings, and also to remember that all polarities of life come from One Source.Now when I listen to this, I come back to a different way of seeing reality, a way that is comforting, and empowering.I highly recommend this, not just to relax and to meditate, but to EVOLVE.TWO THUMBS UP!!!

deep sleep reactivated
Dealing with trauma's, for a long time, 20 years, my deep sleep patterns were not working. Making it impossible for me to sleep more than lightly for a few hours. I play the divine name cd when i go to bed. Since playing it i fall asleep again very quickly. This is really a divine gift. ... Read more

Product Description
Although the role of the visual is essential to Indian tradition and culture, most attempts to understand its images are laden with misperceptions. Darsan, a Sanskrit word that means "seeing," is an aid to our vision, a book of ideas to help us read, think, and look at Hindu images with tolerance and imagination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Hindu Worship Clearly Explained
This is not a book about Hinduism as such.But it explains the concept of "Darsan",the Hindu practice of the devotee ritually communing with the divine, rather beautifully.The author hits the nail on its head with her reasoningthat the Westerner is at a disadvantage understanding Hindu ritual practices because of his/her upbringing in an Abrahamic (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) tradition which particularly shows "hostility to graven images expressed in the Commandments and echoed in the Hebrew Bible combined with the distrust of senses in the Greek tradition highlighted in Plato's allegorical cave."Further she highlights that the Quran and Bible are filled with injunctions to "proclaim" and "hear" the word rather than "see" the divine.The author presented arguments cogently about the Western misunderstanding of Hindu worship as "sin of idolatry" and she puts the blame where it belongs: in the eyes of the beholder.I have never seen anyone express this concept so clearly nor could I have articulated in such clear terms.

A wonderful book
This book really captures the incredible beauty of Hindu devotional practices.I treasured this book.

Not too helpful for me
Having read this book twice, it simply is not for me, nor would I strongly recommend it.While the scholarship is evidently good, I can't see anything in here which an accomplished scholar of Hinduism wouldn't already know, nor can I see this as a particularly helpful introduction to Hinduism for beginners.Yes, it does get the idea of "Darsan - seeing the divine" down well, and debunks the Western criticisms and shallow reactions to Hinduism.I cannot see, however, how this would be useful to an introductory student of Hinduism, because it is far too brief and the manuscript wanders freely from topic to topic, asking far too many questions, giving too little context and in-depth answers.I feel like this was originally a scholarly essay which turned into a book, and which probably worked better as a shorter scholarly essay.A good topic, but not the best read I would say.

Excellent and essential
This is a required text for just about every introductory course on Hinduism. Essential reading for anyone wishing to understand how Hindus worship and see the divine.

Solid introduction to the concept of Hindu iconography and related ritual experience
Diana Eck is a wonderful scholar who has written several great books on Hinduism. Darsan (or "darshan," if you're transliterating it simply for an English-speaking audience) is a wonderfully simple introduction to Hindu iconography and the related ritual experience, a subject that is overwhelmingly broad and often unwieldy.

If you are an undergraduate studying Eastern religions, a graduate student new to Hinduism, a Western devotee wanting better cross-cultural knowledge of how to respectfully relate to your chosen god or goddess as Hindus do, or a curious layperson wanting to know more about the Hindu religious experience and what all the images and rituals are about, this is a great book for you to begin with. This slim volume doesn't go into elaborate depth, but covers a lot of ground and introduces many key terms in a very readable way, and is a useful introductory work. ... Read more

Product Description
In the tradition of The Black Family Reunion Cookbook, Celebrating Our Mothers' Kitchens, and A Gracious Plenty, The Church Ladies' Divine Desserts brings together more than two hundred recipes, culled from local, church, and family cookbooks. But this book is much more than a compilation of recipes for decadent (or divine) sweets. It honors church ladies, those revered African-American women who have contributed immeasurably to their churches as teachers, mentors, keepers of tradition, and as culinary experts.

A homemade dessert is more than just a sweet finale to a meal in the African-American kitchen. It is a way to demonstrate special affection while underscoring the bounty of God's blessing on the home. And no one more than a church lady is aware of the power of a fine chocolate confection or a down-home bread pudding prepared with love and served with respect.Amazon.com Review
The African American church-going experience is richly defined through therecipes and stories collected in Brenda Rhodes Miller's The ChurchLadies' Divine Desserts: Heavenly Recipes and Sweet Recollections.Throughout the book, Miller introduces us to many church ladies and sharestheir sweet yet significant contributions to their neighborhood churchesand communities.

The phrase "church social" is equivalent to homemade and the recipes are of thesort one would expect to find on the tables at a church social or bakesale, ranging from Pineapple Upside-Down Cake to Sweet Potato Pie. Boxedcake mixes are forbidden with this crowd and Miller even includes a storyof one church lady from her childhood who was quite comfortable sendingindividuals back home if they had brought "store-bought" baked goods to agathering.

The stories and church-lady bios make for pleasant reading, and the recipesin this book are great to have on hand the next time you're asked to bringdessert to a social gathering. Whether you need a tasty and tart fresh limepie or a chocolate brownie recipe that requires more effort than justadding water, The Church Ladies' Divine Desserts is a welcome andcomforting resource, full of rich flavor as well as history. --TeresaSimanton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

This is an excellent cookbook!!!!
I have had the Church Ladies Divine Desserts cookbook since the summer of 2003.It has remained one of my favorite cookbooks.I have made just about everything in it. I really enjoy this cookbook and would recommend it to anyone who loves to cook.Even first time cooks would enjoy this cookbook.

An important piece of our history
The praline recipe in this book is outstanding, as well as the cover recipe, the lemon-coconut pound cake. Both get rave reviews whenever I make them. The stories and pictures are also wonderful, and should bring up wonderful memories for anyone who grew up in the church.

Needs An InteriorRedesign
Don't get me wrong this is a good collection of recipes not all of which are directly from church ladies.

However, as a baker I prefer to see a presentation- a photo of the finished product. This edition has too many pictures of the cooks and not enough of the cooking. I was not expecting a Church fashion show!Maybe the writer could compromise and in a next edition put the baker with her product?

The interior pages which were of a type of recyclednon-luminious paper that was a bit hard on my eyes.

dw

Treasure Trove!
I used to eat well at my church in Little Rock, AR. I loved how everyone had a signature dish that generated multiple requests for the recipe. You can now have your own signature dessert with this book!

The book is divided into the following chapters:
Cakes
Pies, Cobblers and Trunoers
Cookies and Candy
Custards and Puddings
Frozen Treats
Specialty Desserts
Beverages
Top It Off (Sauces)

You will get your money's worth with this book.There is a huge number of recipes!In the cake chapter alone there are 50 recipes. Unfortunately there are no pictures of the desserts, but the book is filled with images of the women who made them and their stories. This is a book to be treasured.

This book takes me back to my church socials.It contains the varied and quirky dessert recipes (buttermilk ice cream and Mississippi Mud Cake) that made the teas and dinners special.You should be able to find a number of recipes to use for your next bake sale, tea or dinner with family.

This is a wonderful book.
I came across this book while weeding the large print collection. I took a moment to leaf through it, and I was amazed. This is a gorgeous book, filled with history, photos, and tasty recipes -- and the writing in it is very clever.

This is a special book, more than just a cookbook. I would highly recommend checking it out, but you better not read it hungry! ... Read more

Product Description
Stop dancing for the world's applause and step into God's studio. We want to be liked--that's why we put so much energy into pleasing others. Life has become a dance that we perform for others, auditioning for a place in the hearts of everyone we meet. We put our energy into performances to please our parents, friends, teachers, boys--even people we don't know. It's simple: We all desire to be loved and accepted. But in this busy, complicated world, we should be dancing as we were designed to--for the One who really cares. When the audiences are gone and we take off our masks, that's the part the Director likes best. Away from the alluring lights and demanding crowds, we can know ourselves and God in a powerful, meaningful way. When we realize that the One who matters already loves us, we will flourish in this life that is the Divine Dance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Who are you performing for?
This book would make a great gift for any young woman, but especially those that are into performing through dance, song, theatre, etc.- it calls the reader to realize that we are performers for an audience of one- God- and that in the end, our attention must turn toward Him in order for us to be truly fulfilled. The author discusses how young women are constantly looking to others for attention and affection- everyone always wants to put their best foot forward, but she delves into the beauty of a life free of the pressures of others pulling on you from every direction- free to dance for your Creator. Rather than being focused on earthly trophies, our eyes should seek heavenly ones: this book will be a beautiful addition to any library, but particularly to the library of someone who loves to perform, but desires to serve God with her whole heart.

Divine Book ;)
This book is really great for teen girls! This book was really eye opening for me!! Shannon has amazing books!

Perfect fit
My teenage daughter is a ballet dancer who loves God with all her heart.This book was a perfect fit for her.She loved it.

The Divine Dance: If the World is Your Stage, Who Are You Performing For?
My 15 year old daughter loved this book! - She hardly put it down, took notes and has now lent it to a friend.My daughter is a dancer and could really relate to the book - well done to the author! ... Read more

Product Description
Divine Nourishment
A Woman's Sacred Journey with Food

Did you realize that living and eating seasonally is actually a map for transformation that brings health and balance on the physical, emotional AND spiritual levels? Divine Nourishment offerssuperb support in reclaiming lost and rejected aspects of ourselves. Learn how to recognize your authentic self through the eyes of nature as you deepen your relationship with the naturalrhythm and flow of life. Ground and nourish yourself according to the Earth's wisdom while healing the collective wounding of the feminine that perpetuates the imbalance in our culture. Applypractical daily use of healthy organic seasonal foods, recipes, potions, tonics, practices, and cleanses that are nourishing and appropriate for alignment with the seasonal journey.

"Mary Lane infuses her cooking, her thinking, her dance on this earth with exquisite feminine grace and wisdom."
~ Gabrielle Roth, author of Sweat Your Prayers & creator of 5RHythms®

"Mary is a wonderful chef, plant spirit medicine practitioner, lover of nature, and world traveler. Her book is a mystical-made-physical journey into the depths of self, body, and spiritual connection. This long-awaited treasure holds such a simple key to satisfying a deep spiritual connection: nourishing ourselves, body, mind, and spirit, as well as connect with Mother Earth through the sacred act of nourishment. I love, love, love the book, though I have to admit reading of the 'wounding' absolutely tore me apart... truly from the heart."
~ Dianne Seale

"Mary's book offers us a brilliantly conceived and richly layered compilation of the wisdom of the ages. Mary's offering draws from hermany years of study as well as from her own experience and direct communication with the Divine. Ranging from a profound explanation of the very forces of Creation to practical suggestions for embodying these forces in daily life, Mary's book is a true guide for healing and restoring the Divine Feminine within us and in our world."
~ Katia Wolf

"Finally.....I am sitting in my room in Rome and using the extraordinary early awakenings to read Mary's book in total...not just fragmentsallowed to me over the last few months. I am touched by the passion of her conviction and knowledge and opened to tears of recognition of dynamics long left without words. She has had some amazing journeys that I am thrilled to read about again in book form. It gives outline to ajourney that often can be daunting as there is no map for this ride! However, she tells it with the grace of hindsight with all of the trials and glory, highs and lows that come with this human form with a desire and commitment to live a spiritual life. Kudos to Mary and the healing for those who come to read her story."
~ Stevie Gayle ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Every women needs this book!
This book is so wonderful. It's easy to read and full of so much great information. I am going to buy additional copies for friends.

A little jewel of a book.
I loved this book.It is small and tasty.It has a wonderful philosophy and uses great visual imagery.This is one of those times when I wish I knew this author well.I want her as a friend; I want her in my life.I have suggested this book, read excerpts over the phone to sisters, and begun to think of ways to incorporate the author's suggestions and recipes into a new women's retreat.The only reason I gave this book four stars out of five is the editing problems.Otherwise, it is a little jewel.Oh, and I love the cover art as well.Very evocative.

Divine Nourishment for the whole Being
Divine Nourishment has truly changed my life. In this book Mary Lane has providedwisdom and tools that will deeply touch your heart and forever change the way you perceive food and the word nourishment. I am now eating consciously, with a deep reverence for the Earths wisdom and rhythms. I have already shared this book with many friends who would agree.Thank you Mary Lane for sharing your Light!

The Tao of Nourishment
Mary's sincere warmth, compassion, and passion comes through her book as she shares with us practical ways to follow nature's natural ebbs and flows and allow our innate feminine wisdom to permeate our every day lives dissipating fears and expanding our joys. The book is helping me change my personal perspectives and even those around me are aware and appreciative of seeing the beginnings of those changes take place. I have spent the last 10 years immersed in education about healthy eating, so I cannot express how important I feel Mary's 5-element approach to self-nourishment, following seasonal cycles, and eating locally grown foods - using Mother Nature as our role model -is to nourishing not only our bodies, but our mind and spirit as well.Hats off to you. . . and many thanks.

A Journey Into Wholeness
I actually felt like I was with Mary on her journey!Of course I know EXACTLY what she is talking about with the dark feminine and the reunion of the animus in a woman to full health due to my own life passage into experience in the underworld. I LOVE that she is bringing all these healing powerful archetypes together through eating and cooking!!!!This is a wonderful book for those who seek greater wholeness, nourishment and healing through eating and the art of cooking.
... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Such a great series!
This is such a great series, and Divine Madness is no exception.

In this adventure of CHERUB, James and his crew are up against a religious cult known as The Survivors'. Anyone in this cult is an Angel, and everyone else in the world is a Devil. It's up to James and his fellow agents to become a part of the cult and see what is going on and to see if there are any links to the violent group of environmentalists knows as, Help Earth.Help Earth has no problem in harming industries and kill anyone who they feel is hurting the Earth.The things is that The Survivors' are excellent in brain washing. Soon, James isn't only battling The Survivors and Help Earth, but his own mind.He has to find a way to counter their brain washing abilities, or he'll be lost forever.

This is such a fantastic read! I love how James has to come to terms with his mind, and see through the brain washing.This added a lot of tension to the book. It will keep the reader glued to every page.I also like how Lauren is turning out. She's a fantastic character that has many layers to her.She is part of the reason why this series is such a fun read. We also get to meet another member of CHERUB, and it's interesting how she turns out.

Over all, this is such a great installment to the CHERUB series. If you haven't stated it, I suggest you start with the first book, and enjoy the ride. I know I am.This series has kept me glued to every page of every book. Muchamore has a fantastic writing style.

I can't wait to start the next one.

Great series for adolescents
My son is 12, is NOT an avid reader....difficult to find books that generate any enthusiasm for him.Well, this series did it.I could hardly keep up with ordering the next book....he would read voluntarily for long periods of time.If you have a reluctant reader, give this set a try, I think you won't be disappointed!

Great Addition To A Great Series
Divine Madness is an exciting, sometimes disturbing look into cults and extremists. James continues to grow as a character. The best thing about these books is that although the premise is child spies th Cherubs are still believable as people, James and the others could be any kids you knew growing up in terms of their personalities and thought processes. I was also glad for the character of Dana finally advancing in Cherub ranks and I hope we find out more about The Rat in future books.

teenage book
I purchased this book for my 14-year old son.He loves this series.Read each book in a couple of days because he couldn't set it down. ... Read more

Product Description

Even though Jayd’s finished with the AP exams and finally has some space of her own at her mother’s house, she’s got to deal with the drama all around her. Mickey blames Jayd for her ruined baby shower; Rah, her ex, is bristling over her renewed relationship with beach boy Jeremy; and her #1 frenemy, Misty, is hard at work conjuring trouble. With so much going on, it’s hard for Jayd to concentrate on her spirit lessons and hair braiding business. But Jayd’s determined to push back and claim some peace for herself, ’cause focusing on the gift from her ancestors could hold the key to bringing the chaos under control for good… ... Read more

Product Description

With the big 5-0 fast approaching, Josie Brooks begins to question her structured, picture-perfect (mid)life. 
 
Josie Brooks, at the age of 47, thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor.
 
Throw in hot flashes, a dose of loneliness, a peculiar longing for intimacy, an unquenchable thirst—not to mention a mysterious snowglobe with a serene landscape, complete with a flowing river and lush greenery that seems to be beckoning her in—and Josie’s buttoned-up life is on the verge of coming completely undone. Maybe her solitary existence isn’t as fulfilling as she has convinced herself to believe.
 
It will take a few new friends, a mystical encounter, and an unexpected journey to set Josie on her own path to “right-sizing” and making the life changes that really matter. Filled with laugh-out loud moments and a gentle dash of inspiration, Divine Appointments is another heartwarming charmer from a master storyteller.

Customer Reviews (4)

This is your life..
Snowglobes aren't just for Christmas. You can have any scene you want. In this book, instead of a Christmas scenes, a brook with running water is featured. Or is it? I thought the premise of this book was very interesting. The snowglobe plays a prominent yet subtle role in the lives of the characters in the book. The writing is very engaging and I found myself being drawn into the story like the characters found themselves being drawn into the snowglobe.

Josie's job reminded me of the movie Up in the Air, where she had the job of telling people they were fired. Her job involved her doing it in an abrupt, terse manner that left no room for emotions or sympathy. Meanwhile Lyle is oozing with sensitivity and building relationships with the workers. This could have led to a lot of arguments between the two of them but instead there's a strange sort of chemistry. Both of them had very interesting stories and I found myself being intrigued by their family stories as well. The third character involved was Barb and she has an unexpected story line that I did not see coming at all.

The only part I felt was unresolved was Josie's intense thirst. Well, I believe that it was there and was explained but I felt as if I somehow missed it. This is probably my own fault but it just didn't seem all that clear to me. I did however find myself drinking LOTS of water while reading the story! I enjoyed this book very much. To be honest, I liked it a lot more than I did the first book in the series. While there are brief mentions of a characters from the first book, this volume can be read as a standalone. There are multiple story lines which might confuse you at first but you soon see that everyone is tied together. It's really interesting to see the different angles of the same situation and see how everything and everyone is connected. This is another good book from Baumbich that features magic realism. I'll be looking forward to reading more books in the series.

A great Fall read!
In a delightful coming-of-age story at 47, I found Josie to be a feisty character with a tough shell in need of cracking. The mystical snowglobe is an added speculative twist that tickles the imagination. With characters including a melodramatic wannabe writer, one cheerful encourager, and a "bleeding-heart" hero, I thoroughly enjoyed Divine Appointments. Snuggled up with a warm throw and a cup of hot tea, Novel Journey and I recommend it for a great Fall read.

Charming ...
Not everyone has the opportunity to grasp hold of a second chance in life, but Josie Brooks does. Though she might not realize it, and might not even want it, an unexpected message is held within the clear waters of a simple yet mysterious snow globe.

This is a charming story, full of engaging characters, wit, and the gentle reminder that sometimes we have to get shaken up to see what really matters.

whimsical second chance at life fantasy
In Chicago forty-seven years old Josie "Dragon" Brooks loves her work as a successful business consultant at Diamond Mutual who also enjoys being single as she can do what she wants in her personal life.No one does downsizing better than Josie, who is no purring pussycat when it comes to her favorite part of her job; as she has no concern for what happens to employees she kicked to the curb; that is why her nickname as the bottom line profit is all that matters.She makes Scrooge before the ghostly visits seem altruistic.

Out of nowhere, a snow globe shows up at her apartment.Suddenly her perfect cold life falls apart when people befriend her and one person even offers her love.As she examines her commitment phobia, Josie feels like Scrooge during the transformation.

The second Snow Globe whimsical second chance at life fantasy (see Stray Affections) is an engaging pleasant contemporary fiction.The vast support characters enable the readers to see deep inside the frozen heart of the Dragon lady to what made her icier than the pre melting tundra.However, the key element to the potential transformation of a Scroogette is even the queen of mean has redeeming qualities.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description
This book includes 366 dailing readings drawn from the original diary of Blessed Faustina Kowalska. Each month focuses on a different theme in the diary. Those who want to learn more about this devotion will apprciate the historical background. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

revelations of st faustina
This is an excellent book.It gives daily readings for the whole year taken from St Faustina's diary.Very inspirational especially for those who have a devotion to the Divine Mercy.This was written whilst she was still a "Blessed" and had not as yet been canonised but that makes no difference to the contents.

the right book for the right time
I purchased this book for the time of lent and i have to say that was a great choice. This book help you understand the meaning of Divine Mercy.This book got me closer to the chapelet of Divine Mercy. I don't think i'll ever stop reading this book.

Revelations of Divine Mercy
Those who are serious learning about Divine Mercy will surely appreciate this book.
This book will help you improve your spirituality making Divine Mercy "A Way of Life".

devotion book
this book is to take you for a higher level of divotion as it's a conversation and prayer between Faustina and Jesus for each day.
excellent book

Good inspirational gift
Bought this as a gift for a friend who loved it. I have not read it. ... Read more

Product Description
For the millions of Americans combining the spiritual and the decorative in their homes—from dramatic crosses in a modern log cabin to handcrafted Native American spirit masks in a sprawling Southwestern ranch—this beautifully rendered book of interior design depicts how the serene touch of religious design elements can be effortlessly incorporated with a modern sensibility.

Whether as a reflection of fervent belief, a secular nod to nostalgia, or a purely aesthetic choice, devotional objects such as religious idols, crosses, and Buddha statues have a profound visual power. Within these pages are thirty homes in which works inspired by religious traditions form a vital and varied part of the sumptuous and serene design of these spaces.

Some of the people featured in this dramatic book collect with a geographic interest, some define their collections stylistically, and still others choose a historical framework. Yet all of the residences share a distinctly personal touch. Personality, in fact, runs rampant through these interiors that tell stories about the owners, the objects, and the houses themselves, such as CeCe Cord’s sunny Texas residence, John Saladino’s calm California villa, Kelly Klein’s soaring Manhattan loft, and Adrienne Vittadini’s richly textured Florida home.

While some of the residents have personal spiritual connections with their pieces—like a Santa Fe psychoanalyst and his varied collections of Outsider art, African works, and Judaica—others merely find in the antiquities a sense of beauty and comfort. An interior designer who updated a rustic Colorado cabin is drawn to decorating with crosses for their geometric appeal as opposed to their religious connotations. In New York and Los Angeles, two different homeowners escape their busy lives in peaceful, calming environments created with Asian art.

While the religious or spiritual elements are quite pronounced, they blend seamlessly into fascinating, eye-catching hybridized environments—from French Provençal to Spanish Colonial to light, airy patrician. Each residence—captured by one of the most sought-after interior photographers—will enchant you with its beauty and originality and perhaps inspire you to begin a spiritual collection of your own. A collection, as these homeowners explain, starts with one artwork, but it is one piece that can lead to a magnificent obsession. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Super Find
If you collect Spiritual Objects, this book is a must have! Each and every page is full of eye candy. Great display ideas.

Bringing the spiritual in your home
I always thought I was a little odd with my love of spiritual objects such as statues and crucifixes and wanting them in my home, thanks to this book, I am delighted to say I am not the only one with this artistic inclination! Peter Vitale's beautiful color photographs illustrate how stunningly beautiful these religious artifacts are, whether they be in a place of worship or a residence!! Looking at the photographs and reading about the lovely collections the owners have amassed over the years reaffirms that love of beauty is quite beyond religious denomination and that beauty illustrates a small quantity of "The Divine Spark".A divinely beautiful book that will not fail to inspire!!!

Love It!
The Divine Home is a wonderful book; inspirational, with beautiful photographs and good narrative text.

A book for everyone.
It is so nice a refreshing to see such a quality interiors book with such high quality photographs by one photographer with a clear vision.The book is so well designed and is a must for all libraries.In addition to being a monograph by a very talented photographer, who's work you see in all the best design magazines, it is a book about collectors with a passion for objects that are displyed in beautiful homes.Buy it!

Beautiful and really divine
Beautiful book, from cover to cover. I've been waiting for this kind of publication for some time because I also collect religious and spiritual artifacts. I was amazed by the quality and variety of the art showed. The homes were beautiful and text were greatbut what impressed the most was the the way they have been displayed. I was surprised though to learn that most of the owners are not religious at all. I own a very small collection compared with the ones showed but they have a meaning of past experiences.But they love and respect the objects they own and this is good enough for me.Congratulations to Vitale and publishers for a beautiful and honest book.
Con ... Read more

Product Description
Synopsis
The human imagination is the key battleground in the conflict between the kingdom of God and the consumer culture. Drawing from the vivid imaginations of Impressionist painters, particularly Vincent van Gogh, each chapter of The Divine Commodity uses personal narrative, biblical exposition, and cultural observation to show how consumerism has shaped our faith, and then challenges the reader to use their sanctified imagination to envision an alternative way of expressing the Christian life in our culture.

Description:
The challenge facing Christianity today is not a lack of motivation or resources, but a failure of imagination.

A growing number of people are disturbed by the values exhibited by the contemporary church. Worship has become entertainment, the church has become a shopping mall, and God has become a consumable product. Many sense that something is wrong, but they cannot imagine an alternative way. The Divine Commodity finally articulates what so many have been feeling and offers hope for the future of a post-consumer Christianity.

Through Scripture, history, engaging narrative, and the inspiring art of Vincent van Gogh, The Divine Commodity explores spiritual practices that liberate our imaginations to live as Christ's people in a consumer culture opposed to the values of his kingdom. Each chapter shows how our formation as consumers has distorted an element of our faith. For example, the way churches have become corporations and how branding makes us more focused on image than reality. It then energizes an alternative vision for those seeking a more meaningful faith. Before we can hope to live differently, we must have our minds released from consumerism's grip and captivated once again by Christ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Wow.
This is one of the best books about modern Christianity I have ever read. I find myself reading it slowly so that I can let the words sink in. I think about it when I am not reading and find my conversations keep coming back to points the author addresses in the text. Even though I consciously choose to limit my overt consumption this book has given me a deeper (and shocking!) realization of how the culture I grew up in has entwined itself into my very thought process. I have never written a review before, but I am so shaken by this book I feel compelled to write. I encourage all to read it and deal honestly and thoughtfully with the challenges it presents.

A Vital Read for Our Time
As the pastor of a growing church in Seattle, I'm inundated with products, newsletters, and articles, inviting me to 'brand', and 'market', the church.I'm increasingly convinced, along with Skye, that our attempts along these lines might be providing answers to the wrong question.In other words, though we might gain the ABC's of success (Attendance, Buildings, Cash), we might fall terribly short of our true calling, which is to make God's good reign visible by being disciples of Jesus and helping other people be disciples too.

There's a great deal of sitting in American Christianity, and Skye points to our culture's addiction to vicarious experiences as one of the reasons.Using Van Gogh's journey from ministry to art as a backdrop, he invites us to seek the authentic over the institutional, the relational over the programatic.This is both a refreshing, and challenging perspective.

Finally, I'm grateful that we're not left in either the posture of either the pride filled outsider's judgement (as if Skye and we, his readers, have it all together), nor the despairing condemnation of the hopeless.Recognizing that consumerism is the thick air of our daily cultural breathing, he offers a way out by calling us to the traditional disciplines of prayer, solitude, hospitality, and more.

My own book O2: Breathing New Life into Faith ([...] offers help in developing these disciplines, much needed in our time.

Good critiques, poor prescriptions
This book brings up great points, and I certainly feel like Jethani has opened my eyes to the perils of a church culture that attempts to reach the world simply by mimicking its trends. It is very inspiring in parts.

However, the presentation can be downright grating at times. Just keep a tally of how many times Jethani uses the words "imagination" and "conventionality" in the first chapter and you'll see what I mean. It appears in virtually every paragraph. He uses many of the same words and phrases over and over, often in a vague and generic sense, which sometimes made me wonder whether they represent genuine, thoughtful ideas, or whether they are used because they sound fresh and alternative. For example, Stephen was martyred because he was "imaginative" and the his killers were "conventional". When Jesus says we must have child-like faith, he means that we must use "imagination" and abandon "conventionality". For our imaginations to be "set free", Jethani explains, we need to be "illuminated by the ray from on high" so that we can that we can see the "real" world - "saturated with the presence and love of God."

This books strengths are in its warnings against a Christianity that compromises with its surrounding culture. But its weaknesses are that its summaries of Christianity and the state of the world were maddeningly superficial, and that its prescriptions are often so flimsy that I don't know what to do with them. When the advocacy of "imagination" is so vague, and the dismissal of "conventionality" so broad, i find myself wondering if this is anything that, say, Deepak Chopra would disagree with. Are these just flowery thoughts?

In the end, I think that the best way for Christians to transcend consumerism is to strive towards deep obedience to God. In doing so, we must open ourselves up to the creative and unpredictable ways that God works, being careful not to over-emphasize the "conventional" ways the church has worked in the past. We must be constantly strengthening our knowledge of scripture, so that our imaginations can be guided and focused by pure truth. And we must boldly accept our calling as culture-makers, not culture-mimickers.

As for the book, there have been many points where I was ready to call it quits, but I've always found it compelling enough to keep going.

Masterful
Unexpected beauty in nonfiction. More than a call to change. A call to think about motives and how we live life.

Profoundly obvious, yet always unseen
Have you ever found yourself incredibly detached from what is going on around you on Sunday mornings, wondering why you can't seem to relate to the hype of the "worship service?" If so, this book will help you put a finger on your disconnectedness. This book is not about bashing the church, it is about realizing how we as Christians have adopted the numbing effects of consumerism, and how the American church keeps the anesthesia flowing through its consumer driven programs. Pastor, you may think your church is unique and is different from the mega-churches who push polished programs and worship services. Think again. Ask yourself how your services and the culture of your church is any different from the mega-church catering to the "seeker." The bottom line, if we are honest, is the mega-church has more money and talent to lavish on its programs. Read this book and free your mind from the anesthesia of programmatic consumption of the Gospel. ... Read more

Product Description

This study guide expands the discussion begun in The Divine Conspiracy, focusing on and clarifying key issues and encouraging a fuller understanding of Christian discipleship. Here you will find:

Overviews and summaries of each chapter of The Divine ConspiracyScripture meditations to enhance your understanding of the textStudy questions to facilitate stimulating discussion and reflection

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointed
I have read Willard's Divine Conspiracy a good many times and it is my favorite book--and I've been a Christian for 30+ years!Recently a few friends and I gathered over the course of a year to discuss the book.We found that the Study Guide was not much of a help, altho we kept using it for quite some time.We finally just gave it up, but I'm sorry I have no supporting detail as to why.As for Divine Conspiracy I find it a constant inspiration for worship!Chapters 9 and 10 lift me to glory!!

A great way to study a great book
Dallas Willard's "Divine Conspiracy" is a great read. But with the guidance of this study guide, it can become a personal workbook about you and your faith... and its envelopment into your actual "life."

Dallas Willard's Study Guide to Divine Conspiracy
This is a great study guide to add to the depth of reading that The Divine Conspiracy is known for.

Oops!
If you are smart enough to read and understand the complex ideas that Willard presents -- and some of them are quite provocative -- then you don't need this study guide.It is almost insultingly immature.A group or individual is really missing out on the depth of this fabulous book by using this study guide.

Dump it and think for yourself! ... Read more

Book Description
This coming-of-age guide for Christian girls is written by a college-age author with relevant experience and insight to the teenage years who addresses issues of self-esteem and inner beauty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Read it together with your daughter
Are you looking for a bonding experience for you and your daughter? Read the Divine Dance together and form your own mother/daughter book club.

Reading it together you will be able to reinforce the positive lessons that are taught in this book.

I highly recommend it.

Keleigh Crigler Hadley- author of Preacher

Hannah
I truly adored this book. I love how Shannon uses dancing as a example. I would tell all girls to read it. It made a big impact on my life and I hope it changes your aswell.

A Must Read
The Divine Dance confronts issues of image, integrity, dating, family relationships, friendships, and maintaining a personal relationship with Christ in an eloguent and upfront fashion.

Using the analogy of life as a performance, Shannon Kubiak accurately paints a picture of the pressure facing young women today.

I it a must read not only for young women but women of all ages!

I couldn't put it down.I read it in one sitting.I recently read it again!I highly recommend it! ... Read more