Robert P. Vande Kappelle's Books

Into Thin Places

One Man’s Search for the Center

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Into Thin Places

One Man’s Search for the Center

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

In this third volume of his "Adventures in Spirituality" trilogy, Dr. Robert Vande Kappelle travels from Amsterdam to Cairo in search of his cultural and spiritual roots, inviting readers to join him in exploring fabled places across the Mediterranean World. Despite the grave problems centered in this region, it is the birthplace of Western civilization and the source of the world's three guiding religions. Readers unfamiliar with the emergence and development of Western civilization will find Into Thin Places a compelling introduction; others will discover here a new perspective. Affirming the human quest for adventure, meaning, and wholeness, Professor Vande Kappelle beckons adventurers to enjoy the wonderful experiences described in the book's "travel entries." Those seeking historical and cultural perspective will want to examine the numerous "explanatory entries" scattered throughout the narrative. These vignettes expand and deepen the storyline, piquing curiosity about seminal events, persons, and places that helped shape Western sensibility. As Dr. Vande Kappelle points out in his closing chapter, our world is in a state of crisis, precipitated by numerous factors but primarily by the loss of the sacred. "Whether the current crisis is curable is debatable, but it will clearly require massive cultural reorientation. More importantly, it will require a transformation of the human spirit and a commitment of will." Into Thin Places encourages readers to find "thin places"--places transparent to the divine--in their own transformative journeys of discovery.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

423

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1498273513

ISBN 13

9781498273510

Love Never Fails, Second Edition

The Story of Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle: Missionaries to Latin America

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Love Never Fails, Second Edition

The Story of Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle: Missionaries to Latin America

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Love Never Fails is Robert Vande Kappelle’s biographical tribute to Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle, career missionaries to Latin America. The book introduces the reader to two contrasting nations, placid Costa Rica and turbulent Colombia. During Jake and Bert’s seven terms as missionaries, democracy and Marxism contended for the soul of Latin America. Against this backdrop, Catholic and Protestant traditions clashed, and then cooperated, in their struggle against poverty and disbelief. The book narrates the spiritual conflict while highlighting the opportunities created when individuals of faith contend against forces of superstition and despair. Love Never Fails will cause all readers to evaluate the meaning of faith and look for renewal of heart and mind. This second edition, an updated and abbreviated version of the popular first version, eliminates the photographs of the original version while adding new material to the preface and abbreviating the ending. Nevertheless, it contains the vivid narrative and the inspiring stories of the original, all designed to make the volume more affordable to the public.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

156

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666748099

ISBN 13

9781666748093

Response to the Other

Jews and Christians in an Age of Paganism (The Greco-Roman World from 500 BCE–500 CE)

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Response to the Other

Jews and Christians in an Age of Paganism (The Greco-Roman World from 500 BCE–500 CE)

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Human beings seek meaning and purpose. To do so, we tell stories about the past, which we call history, and stories about what will occur in the future, constructed from memory and imagination. History is not a subject we study, but one we live. History is our medium, as water is to fish. No period of antiquity is more informative and influential for Western civilization than the Greco-Roman, the period from the time of Alexander the Great to the fall of the Roman Empire, an age that saw the emergence of Judaism and Christianity--twin traditions shaped against the background of pagan dominance. The meeting between Jew and Greek, Christian and pagan, revolutionized the ancient world. It represented a crucial moment in the history of Western society, when politics, economics, culture, and religion took a new turn. In time, these separate streams mingled and merged, forming the single and ever-widening current that gave birth to modernity. Moving against the stream of religious exclusivism, this book does not seek to further the cause of one particular religious perspective, but rather to gain insight on how ancient pagans, Jews, and Christians interacted with one another. This study advances contemporary attempts at dialogue and cooperation, enabling people of differing agendas to focus their energy on finding solutions to problems plaguing our planet. Response to the Other has much to offer specialists and non-specialists alike. This work can be used as a study guide, the questions at the end of each chapter suitable for individual or group use.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

164

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725285754

ISBN 13

9781725285750

Power Revealed

The Message of Luke-Acts: Then and Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Power Revealed

The Message of Luke-Acts: Then and Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Three conditions plague us individually and socially—the compulsion to be successful, to be powerful, and to be right. Jesus faced these demons in the wilderness, and they tempt us as well. When used selfishly or for personal gain, success, power, and ideology can weaken and corrupt. However, when applied humbly and compassionately, they can be useful, even transformative. Central to the Christian Scriptures are the stories of Jesus and his disciples, and no account is more inspiring than that told by an anonymous author we call Luke. His Gospel, aptly described as “the most beautiful book in the world,” and its sequel, the book of Acts, narrate the history of Jesus and early Christianity. These books, known by scholars as Luke–Acts, constitute over one quarter of the New Testament. Together they reveal what success, power, and truth look like spiritually, from God’s perspective. Because Luke does not “do theology” in a vacuum, that is, for the sake of theology alone, questions of Luke’s purpose in composing his two-volume work impact Christianity’s relationship to the secular world, particularly issues of peace, equality, and social justice. In fact, social and political categories may be as important for understanding Luke as traditional theological ones. While exploring fascinating perspectives on Luke as historian, literary artist, and theologian, Power Revealed approaches Luke–Acts exegetically, expositing the biblical text for practical, pastoral, and spiritual needs. Useful for individual or group study, each chapter contains aids to learning, including (a) chapter summaries or outlines, (b) homework assignments, and (c) learning objectives.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

279

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725253755

ISBN 13

9781725253759

Rebuilding the Temple

Spirituality in Classic Christian Literature

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Rebuilding the Temple

Spirituality in Classic Christian Literature

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

As the Bible indicates, our lives are a construction zone, for our bodies are temples of the divine Spirit. Formed initially in the image of God, human beings lost intimacy with God through corruption, rebellion, or neglect. In response, the divine Creator loves us back into relationship, providing means of grace to help restore us to wholeness, beginning with our body and continuing through our mind, soul, and spirit. As buildings need cleaning, maintenance, and ongoing care, so our inner temple needs spiritual stimulus, cleaning, and care. Rebuilding the Temple is the fourth book in Vande Kappelle’s series on spirituality and the arts. Books in this series reinforce the essential principle underlying all authentic spirituality: “Go deep in any one place and you will meet the infinite aliveness that is God, for God is everywhere!” Whereas earlier books consider the connection of spirituality with creative arts such as poetry, film, music, theater, drama, dance, and modern literature, this volume takes readers on a journey through classic Christian literature, beginning with the Bible and continuing through inspirational works written by diverse spiritual mentors such as Augustine, Dante, Luther, Calvin, Teresa of Ávila, George Fox, Blaise Pascal, Henri Nouwen, A. W. Tozer, John McLaren, John Shelby Spong, Richard Rohr, and Marcus Borg. Reading their works reminds us that Christian literature is most practical and inspirational when it takes a narrative approach to theology, interpreting the spiritual journey through the ongoing stories of people and communities rather than trying to capture timeless truths analytically or through rational argumentation. Like its companion texts, Wading on Water, Deep Splendor, and Deeper Splendor, this volume is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

252

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666742015

ISBN 13

9781666742015

Addiction

How We Get Stuck and Unstuck in Compulsive Patterns and Behavior

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Addiction

How We Get Stuck and Unstuck in Compulsive Patterns and Behavior

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

What is addiction, and how do we know if we are addicted? Speaking sociologically, we are addicted because we live in addictive societies that turn us into consumers and materialists. Speaking biologically, we are addicted because that is how we are hardwired. Speaking spiritually, we are addicted because we seek spiritual satisfaction through things other than God. Humans can be addicted to most any object, ideology, and belief, but they cannot be addicted to the true God, for reasons disclosed in this text. As this book demonstrates, addiction is a pattern of learned behavior that utilizes ancient mental pathways designed to promote survival and reproduction. When neural connections intended to promote eating, reproduction, parenting, and social relationships are diverted into addiction, their blessings can become curses. While heredity, parenting, trauma, and additional psychological and sociological factors play significant roles in compulsive behavior, addiction is essentially a developmental disorder, a way to manage an environment that feels threatening and overwhelming. Change (getting unstuck) is possible, but it requires five ingredients: acknowledgment, resolution, substitution, human help, and divine help. Because addictions represent complex interactions between biological, psychological, social, and spiritual forces, the solution must be holistic as well. Designed as a study guide for groups or individual use, this book approaches the topic comprehensively, examining the nature of addiction; its cause, symptoms, consequences, and means of recovery.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

202

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532690223

ISBN 13

9781532690228

Living Graciously on Planet Earth

Faith, Hope, and Love in Biblical, Social, and Cosmic Context

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Living Graciously on Planet Earth

Faith, Hope, and Love in Biblical, Social, and Cosmic Context

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Humans are happiest when they live virtuously. Building on the premise that the purpose of life is happiness conducive to the equitable flourishing of all humanity, Living Graciously on Planet Earth argues that the appropriate way to regard our abilities and moral opportunities is as gifts for the common good, to be used for the glory of God, guided by the biblical principles of stewardship and community. Utilizing a biblical approach and a Trinitarian perspective, while maintaining an appreciative eye to the contributions of the world's living religions, Dr. Vande Kappelle argues for a hierarchy of values necessary for gracious living in the twenty-first century. Ancient wisdom claims there are seven primary virtues, four "natural"--prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance--and three "supernatural"--faith, hope, and love. As the natural virtues help us grow morally, the supernatural virtues are designed for transformation. Using insights from the Enneagram as well as from diverse scholars such as Karen Armstrong, Marcus Borg, James Fowler, Matthew Fox, C. S. Lewis, Robin W. Lovin, and Huston Smith, Living Graciously examines the seven virtues in biblical, social, and cosmic context. This book's uplifting message delivers the perfect antidote to the current social malaise, characterized by arrogance, suspicion, negligence, and consumption. In addition, this book addresses difficult questions such as "Do we live in a moral universe?"; "Is there a benevolent deity watching over us?"; "Is there a purpose to life on earth?"; and "Is there a summum bonum (a greatest good)"? The answers in this insightful presentation will challenge your thinking and energize your living. Useful for individual or group use, each chapter contains aids to learning, including (a) a thesis statement indicating the central idea of the chapter, (b) a list of key biblical passages, (c) a chapter summary, and (d) questions for discussion and reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

159

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1498294154

ISBN 13

9781498294157

Outgrowing Cultic Christianity

Restoring the Role of Religion

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Outgrowing Cultic Christianity

Restoring the Role of Religion

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

We live in a time of religious warfare, not just between different religions, but also between those with differing versions of the same faith. This religious distrust and political conflict may be the worst in American history since the Civil War. Speaking as a "progressive conservative," biblical scholar Robert Vande Kappelle uses a four-stage model of faith development to rethink core Christian doctrines. Starting with current events and a discussion on the role of religion, this book examines how inadequate faith development makes people of faith susceptible to misinformation, conspiracy thinking, and even to cultic mindsets. People of faith do not choose to believe a lie; they all want to believe what is true. Hence, it is surprising that, in the realm of religion, so many people are willing to rely upon untested and even highly disputed beliefs, beliefs most received as children. Unfortunately, many of these teachings are based upon ancient hopes and fears rather than upon factual historical information. Taken literally, dualistic teachings concerning heaven and hell, sin and salvation, good and evil, and apocalyptic beliefs such as the "end times" and the imminent return of Christ to earth are questionable, not only because they are beyond historical and scientific verification, but also because they can be misused by authoritarian leaders to control and mislead devout individuals. Thankfully, there is a way to outgrow cultic Christianity. The path to spiritual maturity comes by restoring the role of religion, a form of spirituality discovered not by addition, but by a process of subtraction. Outgrowing Cultic Christianity is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

169

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725299771

ISBN 13

9781725299771

Heart to Heart--The Journey Outward

75 Readings for Lifelong Spiritual Growth

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Heart to Heart--The Journey Outward

75 Readings for Lifelong Spiritual Growth

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Whether religiously theists, atheists, agnostics, or simply seekers, each of us is on a journey of faith, spiraling through stages, seasons, or phases of spirituality. On this journey, we discover that spirituality is more caught than taught, and that faith, enriched more by subtraction than by addition, is more about unlearning than learning. At the center of Jesus’ life and message stands the exhortation to receive and share divine love. The two volumes of Heart to Heart, excerpted from Dr. Vande Kappelle’s published writings, examine the meaning and implications of the biblical Great Commandment to love God and others as oneself. Whereas the first volume examines the spiritual journey inward, this companion volume examines the journey outward. Ultimately there is only one spiritual journey—the journey Godward—and there is only one commandment. Divine love is the key to everything. Unloved people misbehave, fail to love, or fail to change. Loved people aren’t concerned with rules, regulations, or beliefs. Rather, because they are loved, they take proper care of themselves, and in so doing, care for nature and others as extensions of themselves. Heart to Heart is written for those who affirm the value of lifelong spiritual growth, realize the limits of logic, and embrace the paradoxes in life. If you are willing to commit less than ten minutes a day over a seven-month period, you will undertake a spiritual journey of epic proportions, guaranteed to transform you morally and spiritually. In addition, you will come to embrace Christianity as the transformative movement envisioned by Jesus for humanity, a way of life grounded in compassion, justice, service, humility, and love of others.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

185

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666768081

ISBN 13

9781666768084

Christlikeness

Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Christlikeness

Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Human beings are happiest when they live virtuously. For Jesus and his first followers, living virtuously meant loving God and others as extensions of oneself. However, what began as an inclusive ethical way of life based on unconditional love gradually degenerated into an exclusive social and political religious movement that came to be known as Christendom. Originally a continuation of Jewish messianism, the Christian movement aligned itself with Platonic and Aristotelian elements, comprising a marriage of specific elements of Greek philosophy with Roman imperialism. What if, instead of aligning with the dualist, idealist, exclusivist, and supremacist Socratic movement perpetuated by Plato and his followers, ancient Christians had aligned with the nondualist, realist, inclusivist, and egalitarian Stoic movement spread by Zeno and his followers, an ethical tradition that, like the teachings of Jesus, was guided by providential and natural law ethics? The results of such a synthesis, laid out in this innovative study, are practical, inspiring, and transformative, for they are based on the greatest vision possible for humanity, a nondualist approach to life that counters authoritarian and exclusivist behavior fostered by supremacist political, ethical, and social religious ideologies. Unlike Christendom, based on ecclesiastical triumphalism, the way of Christlikeness, envisioned by Jesus for humanity, is grounded in humility, compassion, service, and love of others.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

171

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666764965

ISBN 13

9781666764963

In the Potter’s Workshop

Experiencing the Divine Presence in Everyday Life

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

In the Potter’s Workshop

Experiencing the Divine Presence in Everyday Life

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

When you think of God, what images come to mind? Do you see God in others? Do you acknowledge God's presence in each circumstance and situation of your everyday life, no matter how trivial? How you conceive God determines how you experience God. As contemporary author Frederick Buechner advises, "Listen to your life. Listen to what happens to you, because it is through what happens to you that God speaks." While spiritual life of some kind is necessary for psychological health, psychotherapist Thomas Moore indicates in Care of the Soul that excessive or ungrounded spirituality can be dangerous, leading to compulsive and even violent behavior. It is better for religious seekers to embrace a religious practice that has been tested and refined over time than to experiment solo or by joining some exotic new sect. In this book, Dr. Vande Kappelle explores the richness of Catholic and Protestant spiritual traditions and the power of intuition and imagination to chart an approach to the sacred that is simple, practical, and effective. Holistic religion requires three elements in creative tension: a historical or institutional element, a mystical or emotional element, and an intellectual or scientific element. If you want to know what this means and how it is accomplished, read this book. Designed as a study guide for group or individual use, In the Potter's Workshop will challenge and inspire you to experience God in ways that are sustainable and transformative.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

153

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532681267

ISBN 13

9781532681264

Iron Sharpens Iron

A Discussion Guide for Twenty-First-Century Seekers

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Iron Sharpens Iron

A Discussion Guide for Twenty-First-Century Seekers

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Iron Sharpens Iron is grounded in the conviction that humans have the capacity to transcend conventional spirituality to a genuine and wholesome faith that is dynamic rather than static, future-oriented rather than past-oriented, and owned rather than passively acquired. Classroom tested, this discussion guide is an ideal way for thoughtful Christians--in individual and group settings--to interact with timely topics. Like its companion text, Beyond Belief: Science, Faith, and the Value of Unknowing (2012), this guide is written for those who affirm the value of lifelong spiritual growth. Topics covered include the authority of scripture, the uniqueness of Christ, faith and reason, religion and science, biological evolution and morality, cosmological evolution and the nature of God, and the doctrines of salvation, resurrection, and the afterlife. This guide encourages a high degree of interaction. The discussion questions are engaging and appeal to various levels of intellectual and spiritual awareness. Sessions follow a fourfold pattern: (a) "Getting Started" provides an overview of each session; (b) "Gaining Momentum" provides questions for discussion or further reflection; (c) "Going Deeper" encourages participants to acquire further perspective; and (d) "The Essentials" summarizes key points from each chapter of Beyond Belief.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1621898067

ISBN 13

9781621898061

Heart to Heart—The Journey Inward

75 Readings for Lifelong Spiritual Growth

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Heart to Heart—The Journey Inward

75 Readings for Lifelong Spiritual Growth

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Whether religiously theists, atheists, agnostics, or simply seekers, each of us is on a journey of faith, spiraling through stages, seasons, or phases of spirituality. On this journey, we discover that spirituality is more caught than taught, and that faith, enriched more by subtraction than by addition, is more about unlearning than learning. At the center of Jesus' life and message stands the exhortation to receive and share divine love. The two volumes of Heart to Heart, excerpted from Dr. Vande Kappelle's published writings, examine the meaning and implications of the biblical Great Commandment to love God and others as oneself. This volume examines the spiritual journey inward, and its companion volume, the journey outward. Ultimately there is only one spiritual journey--the journey Godward--and there is only one commandment. Divine love is the key to everything. Unloved people misbehave, fail to love, or fail to change. Loved people aren't concerned with rules, regulations, or beliefs. Rather, because they are loved, they take proper care of themselves, and in so doing, care for nature and others as extensions of themselves. Heart to Heart is written for those who affirm the value of lifelong spiritual growth, realize the limits of logic, and embrace the paradoxes in life. If you are willing to commit less than ten minutes a day over a seven-month period, you will undertake a spiritual journey of epic proportions, guaranteed to transform you morally and spiritually. In addition, you will come to embrace Christianity as the transformative movement envisioned by Jesus for humanity, a way of life grounded in compassion, justice, service, humility, and love of others.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

147

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666716693

ISBN 13

9781666716696

Radical Discipleship

Following Jesus in the Twenty-First Century

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Radical Discipleship

Following Jesus in the Twenty-First Century

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Discipleship is a universal experience all human beings share. In our lifetime, each of us has had a mentor, tutor, teacher, or role model, someone we admired, respected, and followed. As the central character in the Bible, the world’s best-selling book, Jesus is known and revered the world over. What would it be like to be mentored by such an individual? Of course, we can follow the accounts of the historical Jesus and his disciples in the gospels, but what would it mean to be discipled by a contemporary, twenty-first-century Jesus? While people across the world claim to follow Jesus, what would it mean to live in the modern world guided by a modern Jesus on religious issues such as faith, God, and scripture, and on social issues such as poverty, healthcare, social justice, political reform, and caring for the environment? A good place to begin is with compassion, for Christianity and compassion are largely linked. To be apprenticed to Jesus is to follow one whose profound love for the hungry, sick, and dying inspired more compassion than any single person, movement, or force in history. Addressing discipleship as a priority in our lives, Radical Discipleship illustrates its subject with stories and accounts of ordinary Christians living out their discipleship in authentic and inspiring ways. Useful for individual or group study, this volume serves as a resource for people seeking tools necessary to fulfill Jesus’ vision for a more vibrant and equitable world, one in which every human being can thrive.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

215

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666752738

ISBN 13

9781666752731

The Second Journey

Visions and Voices on First- and Second-Half-of-Life Spirituality

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Second Journey

Visions and Voices on First- and Second-Half-of-Life Spirituality

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Spirituality is our connection to a greater whole. It is a journey "from God, to God, and with God," and thus a journey toward Self. Through this process, we come to differentiate between our temporary self, called ego, and our permanent self, the part of us made for ongoing relationship with God. In the end, we discover that we know God by being known, much like one loves by being loved. There are two "halves" or phases in spirituality, sometimes flawed, sometimes overlapping, and other times distinct. While many people experience first-half-of-life spirituality, most never get to second-half-of-life thinking and living. Designed as a study guide for group or individual use, The Second Journey examines the development of Christian spirituality, starting with its conception in the biblical and Greek philosophical tradition and continuing in orthodox and heterodox expressions. Reading this book is like looking through one's favorite album of photographs, each illustrating some aspect or dimension vital to spirituality. The range of portraits examined is extensive, including groups such as Platonists, Stoics, Gnostics, Quakers, Revivalists, Neo-Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox, and individuals such as Philo, Valentinus, Origen, Dionysius, Augustine, Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard, Barth, Tillich, and Richard Rohr. Examining traditional and non-traditional thinkers, readers will discover that knowing God involves both light and darkness, usually in that order. "Spirituality does not make us otherworldly; it renders us more fully alive." --Matthew Fox

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

245

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725283123

ISBN 13

9781725283121

Truth Revealed

The Message of the Gospel of John—Then and Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Truth Revealed

The Message of the Gospel of John—Then and Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

If the New Testament represents the crown jewels of Christianity, the Gospel of John is its "pearl of great price," the most beloved, most read, most quoted, most distinctive, most memorable, most debated book in its canon. Truth Revealed is ideal for individual and group study. It divides the Gospel of John into twelve units, providing helpful introductory features, summaries, learning objectives, and questions for each unit, and concludes by offering perspective on a specific topic that arises as one follows the narrative, always with an eye on the big picture, namely, guidance for daily living. Few sayings attributed to Jesus are better known or more widely quoted than the words "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). At his trial before Pilate, Jesus declared that his purpose in life was to witness to the truth. Pilate responds with the Gospel's most memorable question: "What is truth?" The answer is explored in Truth Revealed, a commentary that provides literary, theological, historical, and textual guidelines for understanding the message of this ancient work in a way that is accessible and applicable to twenty-first century readers.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

295

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1498202217

ISBN 13

9781498202213

Holistic Happiness

Spirituality and a Healing Lifestyle

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Holistic Happiness

Spirituality and a Healing Lifestyle

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

As the founders of the US republic make clear in the Declaration of Independence, human beings have an unassailable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While the meaning of these “unalienable rights” is debated, it is clear that these rights are interrelated. Concerned with these “rights,” Holistic Happiness focuses on happiness, defining the purpose of life as achieving and maintaining happiness “conducive to the equitable flourishing of all.” To this end, happiness should not be confused with pleasure, which is momentary and transitory, for happiness is not so much a feeling as an attitude, associated with what we call achieving meaning and purpose in life. Properly understood, happiness can be achieved, but only by inner discipline, requiring a transformation of one’s outlook, attitude, and approach to life. As this book emphasizes, good health is an important foundation for happiness. However, to experience and maintain good health requires good genes, a balanced lifestyle, supportive companions, wholesome eating and drinking, regular exercise, a positive mindset, an active disposition, and good fortune. While happiness and good health are frequently disrupted by accidents, disease, stress, chemical and emotional imbalance, and numerous other factors, wellness is achievable and sustainable, but it needs balanced input from an individual’s four constituent dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. In this regard, this volume is a resource for individuals seeking holistic happiness. While benefitting from recent scholarly research, Holistic Happiness is unique in content and conception and is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

190

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666747769

ISBN 13

9781666747768

Our Exodus Story

Reclaiming the Image of God

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Our Exodus Story

Reclaiming the Image of God

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Every person has an exodus story, a vast, complex, multilayered spiritual journey. On the one hand, it is a biological journey from birth to death, and a social journey from infancy to adulthood. In this regard, it is a story of growing up, of leaving home and taking risks, of making mistakes and learning from them, of reaching goals and surpassing them. Our Exodus Story speaks of human life as a gossamer bridge that binds us as people with God, others, and with our inner being. This journey of faith is described as a "holy balancing act" between the three sources of authority for people of faith--experience, Scripture, and tradition. Bonded umbilically to one another and to God, each of us bears exodus-like and cross-like experiences. Personality and spirituality are deeply interrelated, so much that neither function adequately apart from the other. Though not identical, they strive to be in sync, balancing one another in profound and intimate ways. Personality takes the lead, and where personality goes, spirituality follows, though not blindly or passively. Spirituality has its own voice, and when its desires are addressed and heeded, personality thrives. This book is unique in that each of its four protagonists exhibits distinct dominant personality characteristics, their experiences bearing archetypal relevance and universal appeal. Their stories, individual and combined, are epic, the protagonists and families as complex as their biblical patriarchal and matriarchal counterparts, yet as current as today's top stories. As you read, you are invited on your own inner journey to peace, wholeness, and well-being.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

131

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666782815

ISBN 13

9781666782813

Deep Splendor

A Study of Spirituality in Modern Literature

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Deep Splendor

A Study of Spirituality in Modern Literature

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

People concerned with spirituality are seekers; instead of possessing truth, they seek to be possessed by it. Thus, a fully spiritual person is forever learning and growing. William Blake, the seminal mystic poet who worked to bring about change both in the social order and in common ways of thinking, taught that "all we need to do is cleanse the doors of perception, and we shall see things as they are--infinite." And nothing cleanses--and enlarges--the doors of perception like great literature. Whether it be poetry, a short story, a novel, historical fiction, fantasy literature, or biographical writing, the literary experience is slightly beyond a reader's horizon of understanding. When literature enhances spirituality--as is true of the dozen or more selections examined in Deep Splendor--each literary moment confounds in order to keep us forever enthralled, forever longing. The authors and works examined in this study explore timeless spiritual themes such as coming of age, relationships, self-integration, the struggle of good versus evil, the nature of change, and the corruptive aspects of power. When we think about great literature, it is easy to focus objectively on the literature itself, on what makes literature "bad" or "good." However, another essential distinction involves the reader, replacing the category "good book" with that of "good reader." As master teacher C. S. Lewis wrote, a quality of good readers is that they seek an enlargement of their being. Deep Splendor will teach you how to read great literature and how to be a good reader.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

204

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666794449

ISBN 13

9781666794441

The Scandal of Divine Love

A Study on Biblical Christology for Skeptics, Seekers, and Survivors

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Scandal of Divine Love

A Study on Biblical Christology for Skeptics, Seekers, and Survivors

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

There is no more important topic for inquiry today than the meaning and message of Jesus, for in this quest lies the solution to human discontent and despair. Examining an array of titles for Jesus found in the New Testament, expressions ranging from rabbi and messiah to Wisdom of God, Word of God, and Lord, this study explores why Christology is not simply the study of Jesus Christ but also of the highest and best in us all. Who is Jesus Christ, and what is his significance for today? Was he fully human, the perfect human, God in disguise, or somehow all of these simultaneously? The key is to begin where the first Christians began, with their experience of Jesus, and then to press forward with the development of that understanding in our experience of Christ. While The Scandal of Divine Love is designed for Christian believers (survivors), it embraces skeptics and seekers alike, mindful that within each of us are multiple voices, sometimes affirming, sometimes questioning, occasionally even denying. Whether you consider yourself primarily as skeptic, seeker, or believer, this study encourages you to listen, appreciate, and cultivate each voice. This volume, ideal for individual and group study, will help you discover anew the magnificence of the life and person known to us as Jesus of Nazareth, as guide, exemplar, and Lord.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

204

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532640625

ISBN 13

9781532640629

Beyond Belief

Faith, Science, and the Value of Unknowing

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Beyond Belief

Faith, Science, and the Value of Unknowing

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

The current age marks the transition from modernity to postmodernity, a period as impactful to the Western sensibility as any previous era. The role of religion and the future of Christianity are at stake. At this time of transition, many thoughtful individuals find themselves at a quandary, having reached a critical stage in their spiritual journey. Prompted by academia, science, reason, culture, and their own experience, they feel compelled to choose between the beliefs they inherited as children and the claims of science, reason, pluralism, and secularism. Beyond Belief suggests that one need not take an either/or approach on these issues; there is a better way, one that embraces adventure and ambiguity, science and religion, reason and faith, evolution and creation, and finds ways to live creatively with realities for which there are no easy explanations. Building on a paradigmatic journey of faith that involves three stages (precritical, critical, and postcritical understanding), Beyond Belief describes the quest for God and for authentic faith in the twenty-first century. The key point for this understanding is to replace belief with faith, acknowledging that belief in doctrines is not central, since they are themselves unprovable. This new theological perspective requires rethinking many of our cherished doctrines, including our understanding of God, Jesus, Scripture, prayer, miracles, and revelation.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

297

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1620324741

ISBN 13

9781620324745

A Bible for Today

An Abridged Version for Seekers and Survivors

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

A Bible for Today

An Abridged Version for Seekers and Survivors

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

If you ever wished to read through the Bible but hit a snag along the way, this book is for you, for it presents an ideal opportunity to become intimately acquainted with the biblical message and storyline while providing momentum for even the most skeptical and hesitant reader. If you can commit fifteen to twenty minutes a day and are willing to stick to the schedule presented in this book, in less than a year, you can read through the Bible and know you have acquired a basic grasp of its individual and overall message. Aggressive readers can complete the task in half the time if they wish to double the time commitment or split their reading into two fifteen-minute blocks a day. Those who follow this method will find that the readings reduce the Old Testament by 44 percent and the New Testament by 32 percent, for a total reduction of 41 percent of the biblical text. To counter immature, skewed, or harmful attitudes regarding scripture, A Bible for Today offers an approach to biblical reading and study that is valid, inspiring, and practical. It does so by eliminating not only repetitive passages, but also blocks of material that modern readers wishing to build on a Christian foundation find ponderous, lengthy, and no longer applicable. In contrast to most abridgments and condensations of scripture, this volume provides a logical sequence of readings that students of scripture can follow in whatever version they select, acquainting themselves with essential biblical passages and teachings in less than a year's time. In addition, this book provides introductory overviews to each book of the Bible, succinct enough to be readable, yet literarily, historically, and theologically reliable and informative.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

143

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666756466

ISBN 13

9781666756463

Deeper Splendor

Spirituality and Personality in Modern Literature

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Deeper Splendor

Spirituality and Personality in Modern Literature

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Life’s ultimate adventure—its grandest game and greatest challenge—is the spiritual transformation of the self. According to Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, personality and spirituality are interrelated, spirituality flowing out of individuality. Noting that people differ in fundamental ways, even though they possess the same instincts to drive them from within, Jung discovered that preference, rather than instinct, upbringing, environment, or genetic conditioning, is central to personality. The task of spirituality, then, is not to help us achieve correct doctrine or attain saintly status, but rather to help us best understand our humanity. This endeavor drives Deeper Splendor, a study of spirituality and personality in modern literature. We focus on modern literature, rather than on theology, philosophy, psychology, or sociology, because, as this volume makes clear, one of the best resources for studying transformative spirituality is great literature. The great power of literature is that it speaks of human action and thought, not in the dry, matter-of-fact terms of history, ethics, psychology, or some other science, but in ways that are lively, uplifting, and productive. Engaging with great literature is like beginning a love affair. Such encounters may appear daunting at first, but when you fall in love, you want to know everything about the object of your love, and every encounter leaves you wanting more. When literature enhances spirituality—as is true in the dozen or more selections examined in Deeper Splendor—each literary moment renders us more fully alive. Like its companion texts, Wading in Water and Deep Splendor, this volume is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

204

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666737909

ISBN 13

9781666737905

Grace Revealed

The Message of Paul’s Letter to the Romans—Then And Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Grace Revealed

The Message of Paul’s Letter to the Romans—Then And Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

At the heart of Christianity and at the center of the New Testament lies the epistle to the Romans, the most groundbreaking letter ever written. The author is Paul, an early convert from Judaism and the greatest early figure in the development and spread of Christianity. Romans contains his most cogent and compelling presentation of Christian faith and practice. The author takes logic and argument, poetry and imagination, scripture and prayer, history and experience, and weaves them into a letter that has become the premier document of Christian theology. The importance of Romans for Christian tradition is incalculable. Each generation of believers has found inspiration, relevance, and transforming power in this letter. To read Romans is to confront one's faith at its source. In Romans, Paul deals with problems as contemporary as today's headlines: divisions and sectarianism in society; fixation with violence; discrimination, prejudice, and inequality; social injustice; the destiny of the Jewish people; the role of the individual in the total sweep of history; the responsibilities of citizens to their government; and the morality of actions in which adults engage, sexual and otherwise. Grace is pervasive in Romans, present in every theme. As expected, it is evident in Christ's life and death, in God's righteousness (God's faithfulness and righteous justice), in justification, predestination, election, and saving faith; but grace is also present in Mosaic law and perhaps most surprisingly, in God's judgment and wrath. If grace can be said to underlie the Christian gospel and to embody the biblical portrayal of God's identity and activity, what does the word "grace" mean, and what is its transformative power? The answers are explored in Grace Revealed.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

237

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532630913

ISBN 13

9781532630910

Adventures in Spirituality

A Journey from Belief to Faith

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Adventures in Spirituality

A Journey from Belief to Faith

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Contrary to popular culture, the goal of life is not happiness, but meaning. Those who seek happiness by trying to avoid or finesse conflict, suffering, doubt, and change will find life increasingly superficial. Feeling good is a flawed measure of life, but living meaningfully is transformative, for then one is living a developmental rather than a regressive agenda. The ego does whatever it can to make itself comfortable, whereas spirituality is about wholeness. Adventures in Spirituality represents the culmination of Dr. Vande Kappelle’s forty-year teaching career, incorporating in one volume his views on topics as varied as theology, Christology, biblical interpretation, spirituality, ethics, world religions, religion and science, faith and reason, and church history. Reared in Costa Rica, the son of missionary parents, Dr. Vande Kappelle describes his journey from belief to faith as a transition from precritical to postcritical understanding, from evangelical Christianity to what he calls “alternative orthodoxy.” Narrating the shift from first- to second-half-of-life experience, he introduces readers to core principles that shaped his values, thinking, and way of life. Useful for individual or group study, Adventures in Spirituality encourages readers to take risks with their lives and faith, affirming that this is how one grows spiritually.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

236

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725263882

ISBN 13

9781725263888

Wading in Water

Spirituality and the Arts

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Wading in Water

Spirituality and the Arts

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

At a time when people are increasingly considering themselves “spiritual but not religious,” Wading in Water speaks of spirituality as an individual’s connection to a greater whole. Hence, the process of coming to know what we call God is also the process of knowing oneself. Thinking comprehensively, spirituality involves what is, what can be, and what ought to be. When activity, rationality, and morality are infused with creativity and imagination, meaning that when body, mind, and soul are inspirited or harmonious with Spirit, spirituality is authentic, healthy, and vital. Healthy spirituality is integrative, both individually and corporately, in that it emerges from wholeness and yearns for wholeness. How do we know if we are on a path to increased wholeness? When we experience not only individual well-being, but help generate the same well-being toward others. In other words, wholesome self-love leads to greater love for others and for all of life. While Wading may be seen as a text on spirituality, its uniqueness is its connection of spirituality with creative arts such as poetry, literary allegory, film, music, theatre, drama, and dance. Wading is not a comprehensive study, for the purpose is to promote the enrichment of life through beauty, creativity, diversity, risk-taking, newness, serendipity, and synchronicity, joint features of spirituality and the arts. Like its companion text, Walking on Water, this volume is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

224

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

166679127X

ISBN 13

9781666791273

Refined by Fire

Rethinking Essential Teachings in Scripture

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Refined by Fire

Rethinking Essential Teachings in Scripture

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

From time immemorial, in every age, a set of questions has persisted, perplexing human beings. Does God exist? Where did the universe come from? Is there any purpose to our lives? Why is there so much suffering? Do we live on after death? How can we find release from suffering and sadness? For what can we hope? These have been called life's "big questions"; they are the ones that never go away. It is the main business of religion to answer ultimate questions. To accomplish this task, every generation of believers benefits by reexamining its theology, thereby providing society with vision. A stagnant theology reflects a religion that is limited in usefulness and effectiveness. Refined by Fire is written for those who affirm the value of lifelong spiritual growth, realize the limits of logic, and embrace the paradoxes in life. This guide provides a mechanism for individuals and small groups to interact with timely theological topics such as the nature of God, Christ, Scripture, truth, faith, evil, sin, salvation, heaven, hell, creation and evolution, the role of the church, and the future of the human race. Each session (chapter) follows a threefold pattern: (a) "Getting Started" provides an initial assignment; (b) "Gaining Momentum," the central part of the text, provides perspective; and (c) "Going Deeper" provides questions for discussion or further reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

176

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532662386

ISBN 13

9781532662386

Wisdom Revealed

The Message of Biblical Wisdom Literature—Then and Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Wisdom Revealed

The Message of Biblical Wisdom Literature—Then and Now

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Humans, seeking to understand the nature of reality, have learned to discern life's patterns and to respond to life's vicissitudes by acting wisely, doing what brings happiness and success. The Bible is a record of that journey. It represents the inspired attempt to become wise at the deepest level, living harmoniously with one's community, the earth, and the Creator. Through their inspirational teachings, the sages of the biblical wisdom tradition offer time-honored advice about some of life's most difficult concerns, including the problem of pain, the suffering of the innocent, the nature of evil, the justice of God, and the pervasiveness of death. Wisdom Revealed, a survey of biblical wisdom literature, offers perspective on topics that arise as one follows the text, always with an eye on the big picture, namely, daily living. Those who read this literature will be exposed to a set of core values necessary for vital citizenship and effective leadership at all levels of life. They will also obtain time-honored advice about how to deal with life's uncertainties in a holistic and pragmatic manner, focusing on what it means to be human in the presence of God.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

279

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1498217494

ISBN 13

9781498217491

The Church Alumni Association

A Handbook for Believers in Exile

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Church Alumni Association

A Handbook for Believers in Exile

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Many people today, including Christians of deep conviction, are deciding, for one reason or another, to stop attending church. They have been swept up by the avalanche in America known simply as the "nones," thereby joining the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated dubbed the "church alumni association"--or perhaps more accurately "believers in exile"--by Anglican Bishop John Shelby Spong. Research shows that during the first two decades of the twenty-first century, a seismic shift occurred in the U.S. population away from religious institutions and toward disaffiliation. While the causes and effects of this dislocation are varied and numerous, by 2015, the phenomenon of shrinking faith communities was so widespread that "nones" became the third largest religious identity in the world, behind Christians and Muslims. Today there are more religious "nones" than Catholics or evangelicals, and 36 percent of those born after 1981 do not identify with any religion. Does this shift mark a loss of spirituality, or do these changes point to a new global religious awakening, one that affirms religious pluralism and views faith relationally rather than dogmatically--as a way of the heart and not of the head? While some Christians are staying put, experiencing the current shift in traditional church settings, this book proposes a new understanding of the church, a new pattern and vision for Christian living and thinking that can transform our understanding of God, others, nature, and ourselves. Useful for individual or church study, each chapter of The Church Alumni Association concludes with questions for discussion and reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

147

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666725765

ISBN 13

9781666725766

Understanding Scripture

Forty Things to Know about the Christian Bible

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Understanding Scripture

Forty Things to Know about the Christian Bible

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

The Bible is the single most important book in the history of Western civilization; it is also the most widely misunderstood. To understand the Bible, we must consider its historical and literary context. Utilizing the contributions of three disciplines—biblical introduction, biblical theology, and biblical interpretation, Understanding Scripture sets the record straight. Intended as a handbook or study guide, this work provides forty practical guidelines to make your reading of the Bible more useful and your understanding clearer. The goal of this book is not simply to persuade you to read the Bible more frequently, but to encourage you to read it with discernment. The forty concepts alluded to in the book’s subtitle are not factual in nature, meaning they are little concerned with biblical information. Rather, they comprise interpretive tools, “insider” techniques used by biblical scholars but widely unknown or ignored by average readers or believers. Parabolic in nature, the forty statements are designed to promote conversation rather than close or clinch an argument. This book is designed to keep you awake at night, romancing Scripture rather than mastering it, nourishing your spirituality rather than gorging or starving it. Understanding Scripture is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

210

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725291614

ISBN 13

9781725291614

Into Thin Places

One Man’s Search for the Center

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Into Thin Places

One Man’s Search for the Center

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

423

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1498273513

ISBN 13

9781498273510

Soul Food

106 Stories for Life’s Journey

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Soul Food

106 Stories for Life’s Journey

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Everyone loves a good story--one with interesting characters, an intriguing plot, lots of twists and turns, and a surprise ending. Storytelling is an entertaining art, but it is also instructive and essential to intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth. Literature, as all art, is a gift of divine grace, a pathway to mystery. Each literary experience is slightly beyond our horizon of understanding. What a gift literature is! When it enhances spirituality, each literary moment confounds in order to keep us going and growing. The restoration of wonder is the beginning of the inward journey toward the awaiting God. Soul Food contains stories that are both entertaining and inspiring, wholesome and heart-warming. Some are humorous, others are tragic or sad, but all are memorable. The collection is divided into five sections: (1) personal stories, (2) biblical and faith stories, (3) classic stories, fables, and tales, (4) literary and historical stories, and (5) inspirational stories. Some of these stories come from personal experience, my own and that of family and friends. Others, including myths, legends, fantasies, and tales, come from folklore and oral tradition, while others are taken from the public domain. As you read these stories, sequentially or randomly, I trust they will aid you in your quest for meaning, direction, and stability. Enjoy these stories, and may they enhance your journey through life and its manifold seasons. I hope you will return to this collection repeatedly, finding in these stories courage, wisdom, and inspiration.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

157

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666766399

ISBN 13

9781666766394

Love Never Fails

The Story of Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle, Missionaries to Latin America

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Love Never Fails

The Story of Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle, Missionaries to Latin America

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Love Never Fails is Dr. Robert P. Vande Kappelle’s biographical tribute to Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle, career missionaries to Latin America. The book introduces the reader to two contrasting nations, placid Costa Rica and turbulent Colombia. During Jake and Bert’s seven terms as missionaries, democracy and Marxism contended for the soul of Latin America. Against this backdrop, Catholic and Protestant traditions clashed, and then cooperated, in their struggle against poverty and disbelief. The book narrates the spiritual conflict while highlighting the opportunities created when individuals of faith contend against forces of superstition and despair. Love Never Fails will cause all readers to evaluate the meaning of faith and look for renewal of heart and mind.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

258

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1725240513

ISBN 13

9781725240513

Love Never Fails, Second Edition

The Story of Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle: Missionaries to Latin America

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Love Never Fails, Second Edition

The Story of Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle: Missionaries to Latin America

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Love Never Fails is Robert Vande Kappelle's biographical tribute to Jacob and Bertha Vande Kappelle, career missionaries to Latin America. The book introduces the reader to two contrasting nations, placid Costa Rica and turbulent Colombia. During Jake and Bert's seven terms as missionaries, democracy and Marxism contended for the soul of Latin America. Against this backdrop, Catholic and Protestant traditions clashed, and then cooperated, in their struggle against poverty and disbelief. The book narrates the spiritual conflict while highlighting the opportunities created when individuals of faith contend against forces of superstition and despair. Love Never Fails will cause all readers to evaluate the meaning of faith and look for renewal of heart and mind. This second edition, an updated and abbreviated version of the popular first version, eliminates the photographs of the original version while adding new material to the preface and abbreviating the ending. Nevertheless, it contains the vivid narrative and the inspiring stories of the original, all designed to make the volume more affordable to the public.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

150

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666748110

ISBN 13

9781666748116

Securing Life

The Enduring Message of the Bible

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Securing Life

The Enduring Message of the Bible

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Securing Life represents a novel yet timely approach to reading and understanding the Bible. While reverence for the Bible and respect for its authority remain high in our society, biblical illiteracy, misinterpretation, and selective reading place us at risk. The Bible seems to have a conserving effect on conservative readers, a moderating effect on moderate readers, and a liberating effect on liberal readers. Do biblical texts contain conserving and liberating messages simultaneously? Should biblical texts be limited to specific meaning and perspective, acceptable by all, or do they contain multiple levels of meaning? While this book addresses these questions, it does not approach the Bible as an answer book but rather as a collection of books, multifaceted in nature, its enduring purpose being to provide us with perspective for living faithfully and fully through the stages and seasons of our lives, in harmony with God, nature, others, and self. Rather than starting chronologically with creation, followed by accounts of the patriarchs, the exodus, the conquest, and the monarchy, this book follows a compositional approach used by the Yahwist, an unknown author in Judea who composed Israel's first religious epic. Like the Yahwist, this book moves backward from Covenant through Community to Creation, but because it includes the New Testament, it moves forward to New Covenant, through New Community, to New Creation. A chapter is devoted to each topic. These motifs are preceded by five preparatory chapters--three dealing with introductory matters, one with biblical theology (the doctrine of God), and one with biblical anthropology (the doctrines of sin and salvation). Utilizing the contributions of three disciplines (biblical introduction, biblical theology, and biblical interpretation), Dr. Vande Kappelle demonstrates that the Bible, like religion in general, has both a conserving and liberating effect, providing perspective for formation and for transformation.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

218

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1532600348

ISBN 13

9781532600340

The Invisible Mountain

A Journey of Faith

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Invisible Mountain

A Journey of Faith

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

In 1989 Dr. Robert Vande Kappelle cycled solo cross-country. The 3,400-mile trip was the seed project for the Washington County (Pennsylvania) chapter of Habitat for Humanity. For forty-two days he went "Homeless for Habitat," placing himself and his personal needs in the hands of strangers he met along the way. At the beginning he cycled across some of the most mountainous--and spectacular--terrain in America. After he crossed the Rockies, a nagging headwind arose, which only intensified with time. That, coupled with a deteriorating bicycle--along one of the most desolate stretches of the journey--produced spiritual testing of epic proportions.He was tempted to compromise the integrity of the trek, then to quit the trek, and finally to curse his circumstances. He sensed he was climbing an invisible mountain, whose top could not be reached. After venting his anger and frustration, he discerned that tailwinds and flat terrain rarely evoke wisdom. Insight flows freely, however, from the watershed atop life's invisible mountains.The Invisible Mountain narrates the account of that trek. The story examines the trek as adventure, spiritual odyssey, and as metaphor for the journey of life.In the words of Millard Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity International and The Fuller Center for Housing: "Ride with [Bob Vande Kappelle] as you read. You will enjoy the trip and you will gain all sorts of insights . . . and perhaps most importantly, you will learn about yourself and grow spiritually as you experience vicariously the wonderful adventure of this 'journey of faith.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

175

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1608998606

ISBN 13

9781608998609

Blue Notes

Profiles of Jazz Personalities

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Blue Notes

Profiles of Jazz Personalities

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Music, like romance, is the language of the soul. Music allows us to express ourselves, and in so doing makes us feel alive. Jazz music, the only art form created by Americans, reminds us that the genius of America is improvisation; a good beat, a contagious rhythm, an emotional ballad, creative improvisation, jazz has it all. Jazz is the story of extraordinary human beings, black and white, male and female, children of privilege and children of despair, who were able to do what most of us only dream of doing: create art on the spot. Their stories are told in Blue Notes. Blue Notes contains profiles of 365 jazz personalities, one for each day of the year. Each vignette tells a story, some heartwarming, others tragic, but all memorable. The daily entries also provide valuable information on jazz styles, jazz history, instruments and instrumentalists, and such related topics as jazz and religion, women in jazz, drug and alcohol abuse, and racism. These topics can be referenced through an extensive set of indexes. The book's appendix includes helpful background information, a concise overview of jazz music, and even a quiz on jazz biography. While Blue Notes is written for jazz fans in general, experts will value its comprehensive nature. So whether you are curious about jazz or simply love and appreciate music, Blue Notes will provide daily moments of discovery and help you recognize what the rest of the world already has, a music so compelling that it can be said to define the human being in the twentieth century.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

493

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

161097283X

ISBN 13

9781610972833

Soul Food

106 Stories for Life's Journey

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Soul Food

106 Stories for Life's Journey

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Everyone loves a good story—one with interesting characters, an intriguing plot, lots of twists and turns, and a surprise ending. Storytelling is an entertaining art, but it is also instructive and essential to intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth. Literature, as all art, is a gift of divine grace, a pathway to mystery. Each literary experience is slightly beyond our horizon of understanding. What a gift literature is! When it enhances spirituality, each literary moment confounds in order to keep us going and growing. The restoration of wonder is the beginning of the inward journey toward the awaiting God. Soul Food contains stories that are both entertaining and inspiring, wholesome and heart-warming. Some are humorous, others are tragic or sad, but all are memorable. The collection is divided into five sections: (1) personal stories, (2) biblical and faith stories, (3) classic stories, fables, and tales, (4) literary and historical stories, and (5) inspirational stories. Some of these stories come from personal experience, my own and that of family and friends. Others, including myths, legends, fantasies, and tales, come from folklore and oral tradition, while others are taken from the public domain. As you read these stories, sequentially or randomly, I trust they will aid you in your quest for meaning, direction, and stability. Enjoy these stories, and may they enhance your journey through life and its manifold seasons. I hope you will return to this collection repeatedly, finding in these stories courage, wisdom, and inspiration.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

181

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666766372

ISBN 13

9781666766370

Living Water

A Wisdom Approach to the Parables of Jesus

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Living Water

A Wisdom Approach to the Parables of Jesus

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Everyone loves a good story—one with interesting characters, an intriguing plot, lots of twists and turns, and a surprise ending. Jesus was a master storyteller, teaching primarily through a technique we call parables. In fact, over one third of the gospel material in the New Testament is parabolic in nature. Examining the parables of Jesus, Living Water views parables as a wisdom genre belonging to mashal, the Jewish tradition of sacred poetry, stories, proverbs, riddles, and dialogues through which wisdom is conveyed. In the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), mashal is often associated with perplexing sayings, for its meaning is deliberately obscured in order to force the reader or listener to deeper thought and higher consciousness. While examining the parables of Jesus, Living Water focuses not so much on traditional explanations and interpretations but on their paradoxical and perplexing nature. In addition, this book encourages us to take a parabolic approach to all Scripture, viewing it as an aid to help us move from egoic existence to unitive existence. This Spirit-led way of living, thinking, and being requires a transformation from our False Self to our True Self, from dualist self-obsession to nondualist consciousness characterized by risk-taking, compassion, generosity, availability, and joy, a path charted by the parables of Jesus. Benefitting from recent scholarly research, Living Water is unique in content and conception and is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions suitable for discussion or reflection.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

183

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1666762415

ISBN 13

9781666762419

The Invisible Mountain

A Journey of Faith

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Invisible Mountain

A Journey of Faith

By: Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

175

Publisher

Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

1608998606

ISBN 13

9781608998609

Book's by Robert P. Vande Kappelle

Username

Password

Password again

Birthday

Email