Bøger udgivet af Paraclete Press

Happy marriages don't just happen. Despite the abundance of magazines and self-help books available, people continue to struggle with marriageNaked and Unashamed describes the diligent, necessary work to maintain marriage, as well holistic character-that the nakedness asked of each individual extends from how we communicate, to how we grow spiritually, to how we manage our finances, and to how we make love. Every marriage is a snapshot of and testimony to God's covenant relationship with His Church. Without mincing words, Dr. Jerry, Claudia, and Jeremy offer real help through practical and spiritual advice on these topics and more. Undressing for IntimacyUnpacking CommunicationExploring ExpectationsUndressing for SexNaked and Unashamed challenges couples to embrace a holistic, lifelong undressing for marriage. Throughout, the book presents a picture of marriage in which relational and spiritual intimacy may be found in every aspect of the relationship. The book should enrich both marriages and the Christian life of the individuals within marriage. "e;I have performed scores of weddings over the years, and my wife and I have done the premarital counseling. I wish this insightful book had been available for us."e;-LYLE W. DORSETT, PhD, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, Beeson Divinity School"e;Naked and Unashamed is a must-read for any couple seeking to do Christian marriage in a way that is glorifying to God. Part master class, part playbook, this frank and easy-to-understand guide is packed with critical insights and practical wisdom that can be applied immediately. This book leaves its readers equipped to engage in their marriage relationship in a truly transformational way. I cannot recommend it highly enough."e;-MICHELLE MOUJAES, Founder and Executive Director, Faithtree Resources"e;This is the premarital resource I have been waiting for! Incredibly rich with wisdom and insight, Naked and Unashamed is for every couple who are more interested in staying married than they are in getting married. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking a deeper, fuller, richer, understanding of biblical marriage."e;-JIMMY DODD, Founder and President of PastorServe, author of Survive or Thrive: Six Relationships Every Pastor Needs

Seeds of Faith by Jeremy Langford covers an astonishing variety of spiritual practices, and does so in such a joy-filled and inviting way that we instantly feel at home. Buy this book. --Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and Life with GodJeremy Langford's multiple talents as a superb writer, a loving father, a dedicated worker, and an ardent believer, combine to make his new book perfect for anyone seeking to lead a faith-filled life in the real world. Through an artful use of the Christian tradition, insights from the spiritual masters, and compelling real-life examples, Langford shows seekers and believers alike how God can be found in all things, and how the ordinary events in our lives can be places of extraordinary grace. --James Martin, SJ, author of My Life with the SaintsIn every moment and event in our lives, God plants seeds which we may or may not notice in our paths. Our challenge is to prepare the soil of our lives to receive and nurture these seeds so that they may take root and help us grow closer to God. By tapping into the spiritual practices revealed in scripture and throughout Christian tradition, we come to embrace what God the Gardener is doing in our lives and, in turn, to share God's grace with the world. The healthier our spiritual lives, the more abundant will be the fruits of our love, hope, joy, and kindness. This book is for seekers of all ages and walks of life - college students, parents, professionals, the lapsed and the weary, as well as seasoned saints who wish to deepen their faith in small but meaningful ways, and it covers topics such as: Why Believe? The Practice of Doubt Awareness: The Practice of Seeking Loneliness vs. Being Alone: The Practice of Solitude Spiritual Exercise: The Practice of Practice Touchstones of the Sacred: The Practice of Living Sacramentally How, Then, Shall I Live? The Practice of Vocation Happy Are They: The Practice of Celebration When Did We See You Hungry? The Practice of Mercy Following Christ: The Practice of Discipleship

Drawing from Scripture, church history, and the author's own ministry experiences among those who live on the margins, Vulnerable Faith bridges the often enormous gap between the conceptual ideal of faithfulness we talk about in church and a genuine, practical, radical obedience to Jesus. "e;This book is an invitation to radical faithfulness found in willing vulnerability. Jamie Arpin- Ricci guides readers through a process of transformation, which exposes our pretense and promises new life through and beyond the cross of Christ."e; -Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking"e;The urgency of the invitation to each of us in Vulnerable Faith cannot be ignored. In a world of terror and hatred, of protection and retaliation, it is a bold and important reminder to Christians of the radical nature of our witness as followers of Jesus. He is the Word made flesh, the vulnerable incarnation of God's love for each and every one of us."e; -Jean Vanier, from the foreword"e;In Vulnerable Faith the life of St. Patrick meets the spirituality of the Twelve Steps. It is a surprising, potent and challenging combination, one that Jamie Arpin-Ricci uses to profound effect in setting before us a vision of Christian community characterized by loving vulnerability, sacrificial generosity and a radical welcome of the stranger into the Shalom of God's Kingdom. An inspiring and life-changing book."e; -Richard Beck, author Unclean and Slavery of Death"e;If you are intrigued by the life of early Celtic leader St. Patrick, and if you see a need for transformation in your own life, Vulnerable Faith is your invitation to take some time to explore what greater faithfulness in the people of God might look like. Jamie juxtaposes the life of St. Patrick with lessons learned from AA's Twelve Steps in a way that is refreshing and challenging. This is not for the faint-hearted but for those who want to take steps deeper into the love of God. I loved it, was inspired by it and recommend it to all who take their faith seriously."e; -Christine Sine, author of Return to Our Senses"e;Using an array of examples that is both wide and deep, Jamie Arpin-Ricci draws us into a very deep place. This place of questions, trembling, fear, hope, faith, is at the heart of our vulnerability. It is in this very place that we most intimately find God and one another"e;-Fran Rossi Szpylczyn, Catholic blogger, contributed to Homilists for the Homeless"e;Jamie is an expert storyteller who with compassion and imagination seamlessly weaves together the old and the new, the saint and the sinner, the practical wisdom of the 12 Steps with the timeless wisdom of the Scriptures. But his greatest feat in Vulnerable Faith is showing how transformative spirituality can be woven into the context of restorative community, where it belongs. Using the life of Saint Patrick as his guide, Jamie paves a way for all of us - on our own and in community - to approach a vulnerability worthy of our redemption. Vulnerable Faith is a primer on authentic community, a personal devotional book, and an insightful look into the human heart, all in one"e; -Amy Hollingsworth, author of The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers and Runaway Radical"e;Jamie Arpin-Ricci knows only too well that spiritual growth and transformation are the result of God's grace. In 'Vulnerable Faith', he masterfully shows how the 12 Steps help facilitate an openness to God with the life of St. Patrick as our guiding example. I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in teaching that has stood the test of time."e;-Albert Haase, O.F.M., author of Catching Fire, Becoming Flame: A Guide for Spiritual Transformation"e;In Vulnerable Faith, Jamie Arpin-Ricci has found a unique way to blend the life struggles of St Patrick to help us restore our own dilemma of neglected discipleship. Referencing the 12 Steps model, the reality of Patrick's life and the need for Christ in our own lives slowly unfolds into an understanding of how Christ fulfills shalom in all the areas of our lives. We all need this book"e;.-Randy Woodley, author of Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision"e;Vulnerable Faith is a wonderfully creative exploration of missional life that draws from the story of St. Patrick as well as contemporary culture. The artful retelling of the story of St. Patrick is done with imagination and care. Each chapter's installment of the story of the beloved saint is followed by theological reflection that probes and prods the reader toward holiness. This book is a fine resource for clergy, congregations, and missional communities."e;-Elaine Heath, author We Were the Least of These"e;In this age of self-reliance and faux invincibility, the spiritual discipline of vulnerability is a rare thing indeed. Gently and yet provocatively, Jamie Arpin-Ricci uses the life and teaching of St Patrick to show us that it is only through accepting our common weakness, our brokenness and our unequivocal need for grace that we can find the opportunity for fullness of life and true freedom."e; -Michael Frost, author of Incarnate"e;With creativity, skill, vulnerability, and insight Jamie Arpin-Ricci reintroduces readers to the risk of Christian faith, the hope of prophetic witness, and the true reward of costly grace for our time. St. Patrick and the tenets of the twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous serve as new and inspiring companions as Arpin-Ricci guides us along the path toward renewing our commitment to be missionary disciples of Christ."e; -Daniel P. Horan OFM, author, The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton

Going to college brings a time of discovery. Are you ready for what lies ahead?How will you fare going to college - leaving behind the safety of home, community, and church? How will you keep your faith in college? Drawing on their own experiences and years of ministry to young men and women during this transition of going to college, Nic and Syler provide a game plan you can follow to survive and thrive, to live out your faith in college. "e;Game Plan has the potential to equip our college students (and soon to be college students) with an anchored, informed, buoyant love for God that can breathe through every corner of their lives."e; -Mark DeVries, president of Youth Ministry Architects and author of Sustainable Youth Ministry"e;This wise, straight-talking book offers much practical advice on the many challenges that Christian students face when they step onto the university campus. I highly recommend it."e; -Paul Copan, Professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University"e;Get this book into the hands of your college bound students and children! Too many students go off to college unprepared to face the spiritual, moral, intellectual and practical challenges they will face and I see the negative effects in their lives on campus. With practical wisdom and real life stories, this book hits all the big topics a young student needs to not just survive college but mature and grow a dynamic Christian walk."e; -R. Shannon Marion, National Field Director, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship"e;For every student headed to college, this is a must-read. Gibson and Thomas have written a practical, spiritual, timely book that addresses real concerns of those who are continuing their education at a college or university, secular or faith-based."e; -Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, President, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church

Based on Catholic teaching, Angels for Kids offers proof of the true existence of angels while dispelling prevalent contemporary myths. This inspiring book will open the eyes and hearts of youth and their families to a greater awareness of the unseen world.

For thirty years, Fr. John-Julian has practiced contemplative prayer daily as a monk of the Order of Julian of Norwich. The book is a record of letters of advice written to a young seminarian who was interested in investigating the practical dimensions of the contemplative way for himself, full of questions: "What is all this contemplative prayer people are talking about these days? I never heard anything about that back in my parish. Is this really part of the Christian tradition or some New Age import from Buddhism or some other -ism?" The answering letters have been edited, re-written, expanded, and polished into Letters to Jacob: Mostly About Contemplative Prayer (with a nod to C.S. Lewis)--a rare look at the contemplative life from the inside, with a series of cautions and warnings based on the realities of the contemplative way, not some intellectual concept. It faces into the unpopular but essential dynamics that few others have dared to present, with all the masks removed. There are a few theological side trips as well, exploring subjects like the nature of God, sin and repentance, salvation, good liturgy, the keeping of rules, and the spiritual value of bad posture.

Discover how icons can become part of your life of prayer.

Now in paperback for the first time, this book helps you mark the events of the season.

Learning about the ancient Jewish tradition of midrash, a rabbinic form of textual interpretation that seeks and imagines answers to unanswerable questions, felt to Amy Bornman like a poetic invitation to re-engage with the Bible in a new way. There is a Future: A Year of Daily Midrash ΓÇô an award-winner in the Paraclete Poetry Prize competition ΓÇô grew from a yearlong project to read the Bible daily, and write daily midrashic poems in response to the readingsΓÇöto honor the text by wondering about, and struggling with, it. By engaging particular passages of scripture across the Old and New Testaments directly, these poems imagine new dimensions of the text, and make vivid connections to the world as it is now and to the authorΓÇÖs own lifeΓÇöemerging at yearΓÇÖs end with new hope in a future that at times feels impossible, as the days pile on days and the textΓÇÖs enduring questions continue to ring.

Original Edition of I Will See You in Heaven

This collection contains daily and weekly literary and inspirational readings to help the reader prayerfully experience God through the liturgical seasons of winter.

"e;This advice is from a spiritual father who loves you and gives you the sort of counsel that will shape your whole life."e;"e;Listen, my child. I want you to put the ear of your heart to the solid ground of the master's wisdom (what I received, I'm passing on to you). It's advice from a spiritual father who loves you - the sort of counsel you receive by letting it shape your whole life."e;So begins the famous opening paragraph of Benedict's Rule in Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's vital, new, contemporary paraphrase. The entire text of the Rule is here plus a lengthy introduction from Jonathan, and detailed explanatory notes throughout that explain difficult passages. The result is a classic re-introduced that will enliven any 21st-century expression of religious community.

For over a thousand years, Benedictine monks around the world have followed the daily pattern of morning, noon, and evening prayer known as the Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office.Gathered from the Benedictine tradition, the prayers included in this book grew up around the celebration of the Divine Office—embellishing it, illuminating it, and echoing it for generations of the faithful. The Saint Benedict Prayer Book also reclaims little-known prayers (Little Offices, Commemorations, and Litanies) from long ago. For anyone seeking a way of prayer rooted in ancient wisdom, this little book offers a sure path. 

This book is a collection of some of the more famous and not so famous stories about animals in the Bible, the lives of Catholic saints, and instances in the author''s own life. A sprinkling of theological reflection and biblical commentary helps us not only become more familiar with these amazing stories, but also appreciate how God sometimes uses his creation to draw us closer to him and help guide us to the life he wants us to live.

A grandmother’s prayers are of significant importance through every age and stage of a grandchild’s development! These prayers are amazing and lovely blessings that can powerfully nurture and help shape a grandchild’s conscience and future life! It is so important to recognize the great gift and role grandparents have in praying for grandchildren in utero.   This grandmother’s prayer journal offers a delightful and unparalleled opportunity to not merely sit back and wait for the wondrous arrival, but instead, to use the time wisely by prayerfully waiting for your grandchild throughout what can be a meaningful and powerful nine-month novena of prayer.   Month-by-month, inspired with holy insights, you will learn, discover, and note the development of your precious “grand-blessing.” Spaces are provided for you to personalize this special unborn baby book, as well as lovingly record your thoughts and prayers as you pray for your grandchild’s first nine months of life.   From beginning to end, you’ll be partnering with St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, to swaddle your unborn grandchild with prayer. You’ll journey with Mother Mary, and all the saints, to prayerfully prepare for the little one’s birth.  

The poems in Flying Yellow cry out for the day just out of reach, the day which unaccountably may in a moment or a season let down a joyful light into the obscurity of human trial. A hopeful belief in heaven and the end of suffering colors these profoundly spiritual, often uneasy, poems. Carried by musical currents that shape her work, Rhodes ventures into what she calls “the good dark stuff” of experience—good because the dark is where Christ went, willingly, to take it captive. Whether probing the meaning of her own personal traumas or those of historical figures like Mary Rowlandson and Dorothy Bradford; whether peeling back layers of habitual sight to see the natural world of robins and ghost crabs and shorelines more truly, she brings the reader alongside in each surprising encounter to see the possibilities of light.

From best-selling author and speaker Fr. Ronald Rolheiser comes The Fire Within: Desire, Sexuality, Longing, and God.

The book is a gathering together of all of Kenneth Steven's poems concerning the island of Iona through the years.

The most ancient form of prayer is probably petition. Scot McKnight has set out to understand this better, and guide pray-ers and churches to reinvigorate their practice of asking God. To You All Hearts Are Open begins with the Collects of the Book of Common Prayer - timeless prayers that have been used by Christians for centuries, are rooted in the Catholic tradition of prayer, and are deeply biblical. These prayers common to churches of nearly every denomination illustrate five elements of prayer itself: addressing God, asking God, reminding God of how God has acted in the past, expecting God to answer, and accessing God through Christ. They are the Bible's pattern of petitioning God which Scot McKnight seeks to rediscover a reliable path to relationship and true conversation with God.

A companion book for anyone celebrating the season of Easter, prayers and practices from a variety of denominations and traditions.