At a time of change, uncertainty and widespread anxiety, we need to discover again the freshness of our most familiar spiritual resources. Stephen Cherry's Lent Book does exactly this by inviting the reader to immerse themselves in the most central, important and iconic of Christian prayers – the Lord's Prayer, the Our Father. Mining the tradition for wisdom and insight, and finding inspiration in the theologians of the past such as St Paul, Gregory of Nyssa, John Calvin, but also more contemporary voices such as Evelyn Underhill, Simone Weil, and Michelle Obama, Thy Will Be Done presents the comforts and challenges of the prayer in 36 short chapters. This most accessible Lent Book, rich in anecdote as well as analysis, is daily bread for the spiritually hungry.
Forgiveness is a lovely idea, wrote C. S. Lewis, and in recent decades it has been seen and admired in situations ranging from therapy to politics, and proposed as a constructive pathway in the aftermath of abuse and atrocity. Not everyone is impressed, however, and in parallel with praise and promotion of forgiveness, cries of 'unforgivable' are uttered with increased shrillness and frequency. In this hugely compelling, wide-ranging, and thought-provoking book, Stephen Cherry argues that while forgiveness can be transformative in the aftermath of harm, it can also, if not handled with care, become an additional pressure and anxiety for those who have been harmed. He teases out the way in which Christian understandings often lie behind pressure to forgive, identifying a number of typical mistakes with the Christian approach to forgiveness. Reflecting on many examples from real life as well as literature, and on the insights of psychologists and philosophers, Cherry uses the tension between the desire to forgive and the protest that a person is unforgivable to push towards understandings of forgiveness that avoid the harshness of binary models. Forgiveness is not, he insists, the only good way forward after harm. A positive understanding of non-vengeful unforgiveness is vital if the harmed are to be given the care and support they need and deserve, and if forgiveness itself is to be authentic and liberating. Cherry's challenging book brims with energy and blends human insight with intellectual vision. It argues that if forgiveness is to play a part in the aftermath of harm without inflicting further harm it must be presented in a non-idealized way and only following acknowledgement of the depth of the human impact of the harm done.
A book specially written to help you give up busyness in just one hour and get your life back! Following the success of his previous book, Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom for Ministry, Dr Stephen Cherry has distilled the essence of Time Wisdom into this bite-sized book, essential for anyone seeking to restore some balance in their busy life.
Connecting the reality and experience of time with the demands and realities of ministry today, this book helps ministers to take positive steps towards navigating the very considerable time pressures that many face today.
Set in Russia at the turn of the twentieth century, THE CHERRY ORCHARD chronicles a noblewoman’s return to her family estate after a five-year absence to escape troubling memories of her son’s death. Lyubov Ranevskaya arrives home to find the cherry orchard in full bloom, but the finances of the estate on the verge of ruin. Lyubov and her brother, Gaev, find themselves scrambling to retain a vision of gentility amidst a climate of huge social and economic transition.
Sin' is an old-fashioned word for some startlingly contemporary problems. Far from being about trivial naughtiness or seedy self-indulgence, it's about the financial scandals that have rocked our world, and most of the ills that beset us today. In The Dark Side of the Soul, the author explains and illustrates the 'Seven Deadly Sins' with contemporary examples. In clear and accessible language, he shows that the traditional Christian concept of sin is a vital tool in understanding what is wrong with human beings. Far from leading people into a guilt-trap, 'sin' is a healthy and truthful word that can help to set us free. Human beings are neither intrinsically evil nor congenitally inclined to virtue, but many of the problems and predicaments that trouble us today can be better understood, and more effectively resolved, if their deeper roots are taken into account. In this fresh interpretation, the author shows that, for example, our economic problems, and our fixation on financial criteria in decision-making, can be understood through the twin lenses of avarice and lust. Our obsessive busyness is a manifestation of sloth; and our desire to control, and our perfectionism, are outworkings of spiritual pride. Crucially, although sin is an important and necessary word for people to understand and come to terms with, it is never, in the Christian worldview, the last word.
Stephen M. Cherry draws upon a rich set of ethnographic and survey data, collected over a six-year period, to explore the roles that Catholicism and family play in shaping Filipino American community life. From the planning and construction of community centers, to volunteering at health fairs or protesting against abortion, this book illustrates the powerful ways these forces structure and animate not only how first-generation Filipino Americans think and feel about their community, but how they are compelled to engage it over issues deemed important to the sanctity of the family. Revealing more than intimate accounts of Filipino American lives, Cherry offers a glimpse of the often hidden but vital relationship between religion and community in the lives of new immigrants, and allows speculation on the broader impact of Filipino immigration on the nation. The Filipino American community is the second-largest immigrant community in the United States, and the Philippines is the second-largest source of Catholic immigration to this country. This ground-breaking study outlines how first-generation Filipino Americans have the potential to reshape American Catholicism and are already having an impact on American civic life through the engagement of their faith.
Psalm Prayers is a devotional companion to the Psalms and a practical resource for creating prayers for public worship. It introduces each of the 150 Psalms and their central themes before offering a prayer in response, crafted in a traditional style that complements the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
In a world where religion refuses to expire, two responses predominate. The first, to retrench within the certainties of one's native or adopted faith, questioning nothing; the second, to sneer and snarl from the secular side-lines. Here, Stephen Cherry offers a third alternative for religious believer, agnostic, and atheist alike - to engage with the study of theology. Confessing himself to be a reluctant theologian, Cherry puts forward three positive reasons why more people should take theology seriously - because it's fascinating, fun and important. He suggests that genuine theology is the antidote to fundamentalism, contrasts the theological approaches of Jesus of Nazareth and Richard Dawkins, introduces some of the biggest puzzles unravelled by theology, and reviews the history of the subject in fewer than 20 tweets. Drawing people at all stages of life into a more serious engagement with the riches, delights and fun of theology, it is a book for any who find themselves to be a little God-curious.
The rediscovery of genuine, passionate humility as a healthy, life-giving and community-building virtue, capable of transforming our BSE (Blame Someone Else) society.
Discipleship is a foundational concept of Christian life which has become a popular and ubiquitous description of belonging and growth in early 21st century ecclesiastical language. Discipleship courses and popular writings abound, and the term is used liberally in official church documents and strategies for growth and development, particular in a western context. But does recent use of the word risk reducing the wide range of meanings of discipleship to something less rich and inclusive than is warranted? With contributions from an array of leading thinkers, scholars and theologians, including Rachel Mann, Kirsteen Kim and Anthony Reddie, this book argues that there is need for more clarity, precision and depth in defining what meaningfully and constructively is construed as discipleship. Beginning with an overview of how the concept of discipleship has been understood in history, the volume goes on to consider some of the key figures who have shaped our understanding of the concept, and finally to reflect on what discipleship might look like in contemporary society.
Revised Edition A much improved version of the original, more compassionately and tastefully written, with even more helpful information. Inspired by true stories, Cherry Lane is an enlightening experience into, and out of, the realm of sexual abuse. Yes, it is a gripping tale of tragedy. But much more importantly, it was also written to help us find the path (the way) to healing, and to happiness as well. It is a journey of discovery. And as part of that, you may find this book as a must-read for relationships, a need-to-know for parenting, and the essentials of simply learning to deal with life. But even more than all of that, you may also find it to be a marvelously wonderful and spiritually edifying story that offers us something which all of us very much need - hope; and help and understanding in terms of people, relationships, and love; and maybe even the meaning of life itself.
Our appetites are like fire! They can fill our lives with warmth, or they can become an uncontrolled inferno that is capable of destroying a career, a marriage, a soul. If you've ever struggled with cravings, whether for chocolate, shopping, alcohol, sex, cars, work, or power, you know how it works. Best-selling author Stephen Arterburn and Dr. Debra Cherry reach below the surface of such harmful behaviors to address the underlying needs that drive us all, and how those hungers can bring us fulfillment, not frustration. Discover the original and very good purpose for your appetites Develop useful strategies for managing your misdirected cravings Understand the connections between appetites, addictions, and sin Expose phony and inadequate sources of satisfaction Avoid the trap of "spiritual anorexia," which numbs you to what you really need Maybe you haven't given much thought to what drives your life. Here's your chance to consider all your appetites in a new light, and to bring under control the ones that are keeping you from the life you long to live.
Drawing on rich ethnographic and survey data collected over a four-year period, Cherry's study explores the role Catholicism plays in shaping the professional and community lives of foreign-born Filipino and Indian American nurses. Their stories provide unique insights into the often-unseen roles race, religion, and gender play in the daily lives of new immigrants employed in American healthcare. Seeing nursing as a religious calling, they care for their patients with a sense of divine purpose but must also confront the cultural tensions and disconnects between how they were raised and trained in another country and the legal separation of church and state. How they cope with and engage these tensions plays an important role in not only shaping how they see themselves as Catholic nurses, but their place in the new American story.
This collection reveals what forgiveness looks like in practice from the standpoint of those working in the helping professions. Written from many different perspectives, this eclectic volume challenges the reader to reconsider their assumptions about forgiveness, and illuminates everyday impact of forgiveness.
The story of Cherry Lane is an exciting and enlightening journey into, and out of, the realm of sexual abuse. Yes, it is a gripping tale of tragedy, but much more importantly, it is designed to help us to find the path (the way) to healing, and to happiness as well. As part of that path, however, you may discover this book as a need-to-know for parenting, a must-read for relationships, and the essentials of simply learning to deal with life. But even more than all of that, you may also find it to be a marvelously wonderful and spiritually edifying story which offers us something which all of us need — help and understanding (hopefully) in terms of people, relationships, love, and maybe even the meaning of life itself.
In this guide to personal freedom, Arterburn offers insight and hope for anyone whose life has spun out of control due to addictions. His revolutionary and refreshing approach to recovery positively recognizes and affirms that one's capacity to enjoy and savor life is a gift from God.
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