|
Reviews
Evangelism in a Spiritual Age The Pilgrim's Progress The Vision and the Vow Women of the Word – discovering the women of the Bible Bible Make and Do: Book One All Stitched Up A Pocket Guide to Sects and New Religions When the Son of God is Dancing
Evangelism in a Spiritual Age By Yvonne Richmond and various £11.99 ISBN 0 7151 4054 X
People today are still asking life's big questions. Interest in spiritual matters is booming. So how can the Church offer its ancient wisdom in a way that will make sense to this generation? That's the question being posed by six writers in Evangelism in a Spiritual Age, recently published by the Church of England in its 'Explorations' series.
Yvonne Richmond, Nick Spencer, Rob Frost, Anne Richards, Mark Ireland and Steven Croft tackle the issues and emerge with practical suggestions for the local church. Drawing on research carried out by the Diocese of Coventry in their 2003 'Beyond the Fringe' project, the 'six questions that won't go away' are identified as:
why are we here? what happens after we die? the universe: accident or design? is there a God? what about the supernatural? why is there so much suffering in the world?
The 2001 national census figures put Christian affiliation at nearly 72%, and yet this does not translate into church attendance. The new book looks at the challenge for the Church in reaching out and connecting with people searching for spirituality – people who are not currently looking towards the Church for answers to those 'big questions.'
The Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan's Classic with Extra Features for a new generation By John Bunyan, £9.99 ISBN 1 84550 102 0
This autumn, why not read one of the greatest Christian classics of all time? Bunyan's masterpiece is one of the most influential books in the English language. But 'The Pilgrim's Progress' is so much more than an historical novel. Bunyan's plan for his readers is for them to travel through this book as an adventure through the Christian life - retold on paper and in pictures. The story of Christian and his companions has been a favourite for generations. John Bunyan's imaginative text brings out the same, practical, necessary lessons that everyone needs to know - both today and yesterday.
Additional features and study sections have been included to help today's generation of adults and children alike to understand the book. These will help you to get behind some of the characters and places that Bunyan describes. You will also learn about Bunyan himself through a 'life summary' and get some ideas on how to use this book. A small number of archaic words have been changed to modern equivalents and there is a dictionary and footnotes to provide additional help.
This means that Christian and Faithful talk like the medieval travellers they are, and not like modern day tourists, but you can also get what they are on about!
The Vision and the Vow By Pete Greig £6.99 ISBN 1842910965
This inspiring and beautifully illustrated book is the only published account of The Vision, a poem that has touched literally millions of lives already from Washington D.C. to the underground churches of China. Flip the book (it's double-sided) and author Pete Greig chronicles his own pilgrimage from the writing of The Vision to the discovery of The Vow - an ancient oath of deep friendship in allegiance to Jesus.
Included is a 40 day devotional to dig deeper into biblical principles, plus a full colour visual interpretation of The Vision, the powerful prayer manifesto that's become the rallying cry of a generation.
Women of the Word – discovering the women of the Bible Ed by Jackie Stead £5.99 ISBN 1 8410 1425 7
Sometimes the lives of others can help shed light on our own life. This book contains accessible studies of 15 Bible women, some familiar, some unnamed and shows what we can learn from these women to help us in our walk of faith today. Written by an experienced group of women writers and first published in Woman Alive magazine as part of the Good Foundations series, this book is for women looking for accessible devotional material. Jackie Stead is editor of Woman Alive, Britain's only Christian magazine specifically for women.
Bible Make and Do: Book One Craft ideas inspired by stories from the Bible By Gillian Chapman £5.99 ISBN 1 84101 332 3
If your children enjoy crafts, then this is a great book for them to dip into. It's got a wealth of ideas and inspiration. There are some fresh ideas for Christmas and Easter preparation, as well as bringing Old and New Testament stories to life.
Craft ideas vary from the very simple to the more challenging, but the emphasis is strongly on using inexpensive materials and equipment, recycling and using domestic materials where possible. Children will experience the thrill of making something wonderful almost 'out of nothing'.
Each double page spread features a retelling of a Bible story, followed by instructions on how to make a project to bring the story to life. Cutting guides are also included. Stories include: God made the world; Joseph's coat; Moses in the bulrushes; David's harp; Jonah and the big fish; The Christmas story; The centurion's servant; The storm on the lake; The lost sheep; and Jesus enters Jerusalem
All Stitched Up By Alie Stibbe £8.99 ISBN 1 85424 713 1
All Stitched Up evolved over a year of idle moments, redeemed courtesy of the internet, doctor's waiting rooms, bookshop coffee bars and the scouring the daily press in front of satellite sport. The collection should provoke you, stir you, wake you up to look at your life and examine what you believe - and why.
A Pocket Guide to Sects and New Religions By Nigel Scotland £6.99 ISBN: 0 7459 5159 7
People believe some extraordinary things these days. Certainly new religious movements are a subject of increasing interest and relevance in our multi-cultural society.
So this little book comes in very handy. It offers a concise overview of the main new religious movements that have come to prominence in the western world in recent years. In total, it features information about 40 major sects and religious movements in today's world, including: • The Church of Scientology; • Falun Gong; • The Mormons; • Jehovah's Witnesses; • The Unification Church; • Christian Science; • The Family (Children of God); • Satya Sai Baba Society; • Paganism • UFO Religions
Nigel Scotland is Field Chair in the School of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Gloucestershire. He contributed to Lion's Encyclopaedia of New Religions (2004)
When the Son of God is Dancing By Adrian and Bridget Plass £6.99 ISBN 1-8507.8607-0
This is the unlikely title of a book that looks at the extent of the Aids pandemic in Zambia. On visiting this colourful country the authors saw the problem - and what is being done about it. Their investigations included the preventative projects with sex-workers to care of orphans. The desperation there left them determined to make westerners see how ordinary families are affected.
It is not all bad news: the Plasses tell of the World Vision rehabilitation schemes for girls forced into prostitution - one is enabling training in alternative occupations, including hairdressing and tailoring. There were no miracles in Zambia - only the miracle of people allowing God to use them. God acts through us and the truth is that if we do nothing, we withhold his love from them. This is a heart-warming, inspiring (and sometimes even humorous) account with a serious message: God won't act to lessen the HIV/Aids crisis if we don't.
|