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Illuminating the Intent: An Exposition of Candrakirti's Entering the Middle Way (Library of Tibetan Classics #19)
by Thupten JinpaThe Dalai Lama&’s translator and author of the definitive biography of Tsongkhapa here presents the first translation of one of that master&’s seminal and best-known works.This work is perhaps the most influential explanation of Candrakirti&’s seventh-century classic Entering the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara). Written as a supplement to Nagarjuna&’s Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, Candrakirti&’s text integrates the central insight of Nagarjuna&’s thought—the rejection of any metaphysical notion of intrinsic existence—with the well-known Mahayana framework of the ten levels of the bodhisattva, and it became the most studied presentation of Madhyamaka thought in Tibet. Completed the year before the author&’s death, Tsongkhapa&’s exposition of Candrakirti&’s text is recognized by the Tibetan tradition as the final standpoint of Tsongkhapa on many philosophical questions, particularly the clear distinctions it draws between the standpoints of the Madhyamaka and Cittamatra schools. Written in exemplary Tibetan, Tsongkhapa&’s work presents a wonderful marriage of rigorous Madhyamaka philosophical analysis with a detailed and subtle account of the progressively advancing mental states and spiritual maturity realized by sincere Madhyamaka practitioners. The work remains the principal textbook for the study of Indian Madhyamaka philosophy in many Tibetan monastic colleges, and it is a principal source for many Tibetan teachers seeking to convey the intricacies of Madhyamaka philosophy to non-Tibetan audiences. Though it is often cited and well known, this is the first full translation of this key work in a Western language.
Illuminating the Path to Vibrant American Jewish Communities: Linking Data to Policy (Studies of Jews in Society #4)
by Jacob B. UkelesThis book argues that the way to ensure that American Jewish life flourishes is to create vibrant local communities and that the ability to thrive will be won or lost in the trenches of each locality. For every generalization about the Jews of America, one can say, “maybe, but it depends where.” In the United States, Jewish life is up close and personal where local variations on national themes make a huge difference. The author presents case studies using in-depth analysis of data from nine Jewish community studies to illuminate eleven critical American Jewish policy issues. The analysis is used to formulate a range of policy options for different types of communities. This book is for anyone who cares about the future of American Jewry. It should be of particular interest to the lay leaders and professionals who play a role in Jewish nonprofits. It is also of great interest to researchers and students of Jewish studies and Jewish communal service.
Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva
by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche Chokyi Dragpa Heidi I. KopplA unique presentation of the Buddhist path by Chökyi Dragpa, the foremost Gelug disciple of the famed nineteenth-century Tibetan master Patrul Rinpoche.Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva's quotations and direct instructions from realized sages of the past reinforce one another, subtly penetrating the mind and preparing it for meditation. This book, while fully accessible to newcomers, is especially powerful for serious, established practitioners. Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva was previous published under the title Uniting Wisdom and Compassion.
Illuminating the Vitae patrum: The Lives of Desert Saints in Fourteenth-Century Italy
by Denva GallantDuring the fourteenth century in Western Europe, there was a growing interest in imitating the practices of a group of hermits known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Laypeople and religious alike learned about their rituals not only through readings from the Vitae patrum (Lives of the Desert Fathers) and sermons but also through the images that brought their stories to life.In this volume, Denva Gallant examines the Morgan Library’s richly illustrated manuscript of the Vitae patrum (MS M.626), whose extraordinary artworks witness the rise of the eremitic ideal and its impact on the visual culture of late medieval Italy. Drawing upon scholarship on the history of psychology, eastern monasticism, gender, and hagiography, Gallant deepens our understanding of the centrality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers to late medieval piety. She provides important insights into the role of images in making the practices of the desert saints both compelling and accessible to fourteenth-century city dwellers, who were just beginning to cultivate the habit of private devotion on a wide scale.By focusing on the most extensively illuminated manuscript of the Vitae patrum to emerge during the trecento, this book sheds new light on the ways in which images communicated and reinforced modes of piety. It will be of interest to art historians, religious historians, and students focusing on this period in Italian history.
Illumination of the Hidden Meaning Vol. 2: Yogic Vows, Conduct, and Ritual Praxis (Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences #2)
by Tsong Khapa DrakpaThis is the second volume of the annotated translation of Tsong Khapa’s Illumination of the Hidden Meaning (sbas don kun gsal), a magnificent commentary on the Cakrasamvara Tantra.This is the first English translation of this important work, which marked a milestone in the Tibetan understanding and practice of the Indian Buddhist tantras. It covers the vows, observances, and conduct of the initiated yogi, particularly in relation to the yoginis, whose favor he must cultivate. It describes in great detail the rites of the tradition, including homa fire sacrifice and the uses of the mantras of the mandala’s main deities. The author provides a trilingual English-Tibetan-Sanskrit glossary. Together with the present author’s related publications in this series—including a translation of the Cakrasamvara root tantra (2007) and critical editions of its Sanskrit and Tibetan texts (2012), and the first volume of this master Tibetan commentary (2017)—the reader will have the first full study of this important tantra available in English.
Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method
by Rebecca LiA modern guide to the transformative practice of silent illumination from Chan Buddhist teacher Rebecca Li.Silent illumination, a way of penetrating the mind through curious inquiry, is an especially potent, accessible, and portable meditation practice perfectly suited for a time when there is so much fear, upheaval, and sorrow in our world. It is a method of reconnecting with our true nature, which encompasses all that exists and where suffering cannot touch us.The practice of silent illumination is simple, allowing each moment to be experienced as it is in order to manifest our innate wisdom and natural capacity for compassion. It can be integrated into all aspects of daily life and is meaningful for secular and Buddhist audiences, new and seasoned meditators alike. After guiding readers through the history and practice of silent illumination, Rebecca Li shows us how we can recognize and unlearn our &“modes of operation&”—habits of mind that get in the way of being fully present and engaged with life. Cultivating clarity on the empty nature of these habits offers us a way to unlearn and free ourselves from unhelpful modes such as harshness to self, perfectionism, quietism, striving for spiritual attainment, and more.Illumination offers stories and real-life examples, references to classic Buddhist texts, and insights from Chan Master Sheng Yen to guide readers as they practice silent illumination not just on their cushions, but throughout their lives.
Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen
by Matthew FoxAn introduction to the life and work of Hildegard. • Reveals the life and teachings of one of the greatest female artists and intellectuals of the Western Mystical Tradition. • Contains 24 full-color illustrations by Hildegard of Bingen. • Includes commentary by Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing (250,000 sold). Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was an extraordinary woman living in the Rhineland valley during most of the twelfth century. Besides being the abbess of a large and influential Benedictine abbey, she was a prominent preacher, healer, scientist, and artist. She also was a composer and theologian, writing nine books on theology, medicine, science, and physiology, as well as 70 poems and an opera. At the age of 42, she began to have visions; these were captured as 36 illuminations--24 of which are recorded in this book along with her commentaries on them. She also wrote a text describing these visions entitled Scivias (Know the Ways), now published as Hildegard of Bingen's Mystical Visions. Author Matthew Fox has stated, "If Hildegard had been a man, she would be well known as one of the greatest artists and intellectuals the world has ever seen." It is a credit to the power of the women's movement and our times that this towering genius of Western thought is being rediscovered in her full grandeur and autonomy. Virtually unknown for more than 800 years in Western history, Hildegard was featured as one of the women in Judy Chicago's Dinner Party in the early 1980s and published for the first time in English by Bear & Company in 1982. In addition to her mystical teachings, Hildegard's music has been performed and recorded for a new and growing audience.
Illusion of Certainty: How the Flawed Beliefs of Religion Harm Our Culture
by James T. HoukIn this examination of religion's influence on society, an anthropologist critiques fundamentalism and all mindsets based on rigid cultural certainties. The author argues that the future can only be safeguarded by a global humanistic outlook that recognizes and respects differing cultural perspectives and endorses the use of critical reason and empiricism. Houk coins the term "culturalism" to describe dogmatic viewpoints governed by culture-specific values and preconceived notions. Culturalism gives rise not only to fundamentalism in religion but also stereotypes about race, gender, and sexual orientation. Turning specifically to Christian fundamentalism, the author analyzes the many weaknesses of what he calls a faith-based epistemology, particularly as such thinking is displayed in young-earth creationism, the reliance on revelation and subjective experiences as a source of religious knowledge, and the reverence accorded the Bible despite its obvious flaws. As he points out, the problem with such cultural knowledge generally is that it is non-falsifiable and ultimately has no lasting value in contrast to the data-based and falsifiable knowledge produced by science, which continues to prove its worth as a reliable source of accurate information. Concluding that there is no future to the fundamentalist mindset in a diverse world where religion often exacerbates conflicts, he makes a strong case for reason and mutual tolerance.
Illusion of God's Presence: The Biological Origins of Spiritual Longing
by John C. WatheyAn essential feature of religious experience across many cultures is the intuitive feeling of God's presence. More than any rituals or doctrines, it is this experience that anchors religious faith, yet it has been largely ignored in the scientific literature on religion. Starting with a vivid narrative account of the life-threatening hike that triggered his own mystical experience, biologist John Wathey takes the reader on a scientific journey to find the sources of religious feeling and the illusion of God's presence. Hisbook delves into the biological origins of this compelling feeling, attributing it to innate neural circuitry that evolved to promote the mother-child bond. Dr. Wathey, a veteran neuroscientist, argues that evolution has programmed the infant brain to expect the presence of a loving being who responds to the child's needs. As the infant grows into adulthood, this innate feeling is eventually transferred to the realm of religion, where it is reactivated through the symbols, imagery, and rituals of worship. The author interprets our various conceptions of God in biological terms as illusory supernormal stimuli that fill an emotional and cognitive vacuum left over from infancy. These insights shed new light on some of the most vexing puzzles of religion, like the popular belief in a god who is judgmental and punishing, yet also unconditionally loving; the extraordinary tenacity of faith; the greater religiosity of women relative to men; religious obsessions with sex; the mysterious compulsion to pray; the seemingly irrepressible feminine attributes of God, even in traditionally patriarchal religions; and the strange allure of cults. Finally, Dr. Wathey considers the hypothesis that religion evolved to foster reproductive success, arguing that, in an age of potentially ruinous overpopulation, magical thinking has become a luxury we can no longer afford, one that distracts us from urgent threats to our planet. Deeply researched yet elegantly written in a jargon-free and accessible style, this book presents a compelling interpretation of the evolutionary origins of spirituality and religion.
Illusion's Game: The Life and Teaching of Naropa
by Chogyam TrungpaIn what he calls a "200 percent potent" teaching, Chögyam Trungpa reveals how the spiritual path is a raw and rugged "unlearning" process that draws us away from the comfort of conventional expectations and conceptual attitudes toward a naked encounter with reality. The tantric paradigm for this process is the story of the Indian master Naropa (1016-1100), who is among the enlightened teachers of the Kagyu lineage of the Tibetan Buddhism. Naropa was the leading scholar at Nalanda, the Buddhist monastic university, when he embarked upon the lonely and arduous path to enlightenment. After a series of daunting trials, he was prepared to receive the direct transmission of the awakened state of mind from his guru, Tilopa. Teachings that he received, including those known as the six doctrines of Naropa, have been passed down in the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism for a millennium. Trungpa's commentary shows the relevance of Naropa's extraordinary journey for today's practitioners who seek to follow the spiritual path. Naropa's story makes it possible to delineate in very concrete terms the various levels of spiritual development that lead to the student's readiness to meet the teacher's mind. Trungpa thus opens to Western students of Buddhism the path of devotion and surrender to the guru as the embodiment and representative of reality.
Illusion: A Novel
by Frank PerettiThe New York Times bestselling author of This Present Darkness and &“master storyteller&” (Karen Kingsbury, New York Times bestselling author) crafts a stunning thriller about a grieving husband who encounters a mysterious teen identical to his dead wife. Is this magic at work or something darker? After a car wreck tragically claims the life of his wife and magic partner, Mandy, Dane Collins finds himself in a quaint coffee shop transfixed by a magician whose illusions even he, a seasoned professional, cannot explain. Even more mysterious is the performer herself. Nineteen-year-old Mandy has never met him, doesn&’t know him, is certainly not in love with him, but is in every respect identical to the young beauty he met and married some forty years earlier. They begin a furtive relationship as mentor and protégée, but as Dane tries to figure out who Mandy really is, the two have no idea that she is being watched by those who not only possess all the answers but who also have the power to decide her fate.
Illusions of Love: A Novel
by Cynthia FreemanA long-denied love reignites after decades—and puts a marriage at risk—in this &“absorbing&” New York Times bestseller (People). Twenty-five years ago, Martin Roth made the most difficult decision of his life. He gave up the girl he loved, married a different woman, and raised a family. But he&’s just been given another shot at happiness. Sylvia has loved Martin since she was a young girl. They have two great children and a wonderful life together—until a love from Martin&’s past threatens everything she&’s worked so hard to build. Jenny McCoy can&’t believe she and Martin have found each other again—but she&’s never gotten over his cruel betrayal. Is she ready to forgive the sins of the past for a second chance? Moving between countries and across time, Illusions of Love tells the story of a man, his heritage, and the crisis of faith that brings his life to a crossroads.
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
by Richard BachWhat if a Siddartha or a Jesus came into our time, with power over the illusions of the world because he knew the reality behind them? And what if I could meet him in person, if he were flying a biplane and landed in the same meadow with me? What would he say, what would he be like?
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
by Richard BachIn the cloud-washed airspace between the cornfields of Illinois and blue infinity, a man puts his faith in the propeller of his biplane. For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard Bach, belief is as real as a full tank of gas and sparks firing in the cylinders...until he meets Donald Shimoda--former mechanic and self-described messiah who can make wrenches fly and Richard's imagination soar....In Illusions, the unforgettable follow-up to his phenomenal bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings: that people don't need airplanes to soar...that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them... and that messiahs can be found in the unlikeliest places--like hay fields, one-traffic-light midwestern towns, and most of all, deep within ourselves.
Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction
by Ed Hindson Elmer L. TownsIllustrated Bible Survey introduces all the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Based on more than thirty years of scholarly research and classroom teaching, editors Ed Hindson, Elmer Towns, and scholars from Liberty University provide a visually engaging, practical, readable, and insightful overview of God's Word and its eternal message. Ideally suited for undergraduate students, laymen, and pastors, this volume features: * Introductions to each book of the Bible, including background, date, author, outline, and message * Introductory chapters on the themes of the Bible, how we got our Bible, and the people and places of the Bible * Sidebars on the unique features, beneficial insights, and practical applications of biblical truths * Study questions and recommended further reading ECPA Gold Medallion award winners Hindson and Towns draw from a lifetime of teaching more than 100,000 students. They represent quality evangelical scholarship, along with a passion to make the Scriptures come to life as they open windows of insight into the biblical text. This exciting survey highlights the key elements of the literature, history, archaeology, and wisdom of the biblical text with an eye on the practical application of its timeless truths, moral principles, and theological insights so desperately needed in today's world.
Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction
by Ed Hindson Elmer L. TownsIllustrated Bible Survey introduces all the books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Based on more than thirty years of scholarly research and classroom teaching, editors Ed Hindson, Elmer Towns, and scholars from Liberty University provide a visually engaging, practical, readable, and insightful overview of God's Word and its eternal message. Ideally suited for undergraduate students, laymen, and pastors, this volume features: * More than 200 full-color photographs, maps, charts, and illustrations * Introductions to each book of the Bible, including background, date, author, outline, and message * Introductory chapters on the themes of the Bible, how we got our Bible, and the people and places of the Bible * Sidebars on the unique features, beneficial insights, and practical applications of biblical truths * Study questions and recommended further reading ECPA Gold Medallion award winners Hindson and Towns draw from a lifetime of teaching more than 100,000 students. They represent quality evangelical scholarship, along with a passion to make the Scriptures come to life as they open windows of insight into the biblical text. This exciting survey highlights the key elements of the literature, history, archaeology, and wisdom of the biblical text with an eye on the practical application of its timeless truths, moral principles, and theological insights so desperately needed in today's world.
Illustrated Introduction To Taosim: The Wisdom of the Sages
by Jean C. CooperContaining 118 stunning color illustrations, this beautiful book provides an introduction to Taoism, one of the great religious and philosophical movements in Chinese thought. Incorporating selections from J.C. Cooper's writings, it explores the concept of the Tao (Way), the symbolism of Yin-Yang, and the thought of the leading Taoist sages. Also included are sections on Taoist art, the symbolism of plants and animals, the Taoist garden, and the relationship of Taoism with Buddhism and Hinduism.
Illustrating Well: Preaching Sermons that Connect
by Jim L. WilsonCommunicate well by illustrating well Preachers face all kinds of obstacles on Sunday mornings. A sermon that employs interesting and appropriate illustrations can help break through barriers and convey truth in a fresh way. In Illustrating Well, Jim L. Wilson provides pastors with the tools to effectively use sermon illustrations to help them communicate the Bible's teachings. To reach the hearts and minds of their congregations, preachers must do more than explain the truth; they must demonstrate how the truth relates to real life. Every sermon should be theologically rich and thoroughly biblical, but a good illustration can take what might be an abstract concept and turn it into a concrete reality for the listener. In Illustrating Well, preachers will discover what makes for a compelling illustration as well as the benefits and potential pitfalls of particular types of illustrations.
Ilumínate: Alcanzar la iluminación es cosa de todos los días
by Amoda MaaLa iluminación no es algo exclusivo de los sabios, los monjes o las personas que meditan. La iluminación se puede experimentar en la vida diaria y este libro te explica cómo. Amoda Maa elimina algunos de los mitos más comunes sobre la iluminación y ofrece una explicación accesible de los alcances de la conciencia despierta para cualquier persona que desee encontrar paz y plenitud en medio de este mundo caótico. Con claridad, pasión y gracia, Ilumínate ofrece orientación sobre cómo tu vida diaria puede llevarte al despertar y a la trascendencia. Este libro te ayudará a balancear la espiritualidad con temas recurrentes de la vida cotidiana como la abundancia, las relaciones personales, el bienestar físico, el trabajo, el dinero y la creatividad para alcanzar la felicidad y la plenitud en tu vida. Prólogo de John Welwood
Ilusiones (Centro Literario)
by Richard BachPor el autor de Juan Salvador Gaviota. Historia para descubrir lo más hondo de nosotros mismos. En el espacio aéreo sin nubes que se extiende entre los campos de maíz de Illinois y el azul infinito, un hombre deposita su fe en la hélice de su biplano. Para ese piloto, la fe es tan real como un depósito lleno de gasolina# hasta que se encuentra con Donal Shimoda, un antiguo mecánico que se define como un mesías y es capaz de lograr que las penas desaparezcan y que la imaginación remonte el vuelo. En Ilusiones descubrimos las verdades atemporales que dan alas a nuestras almas: que la gente no necesita máquinas voladoras para levantar el vuelo, que incluso las nubes más oscuras tienen un sentido cuando nos situamos por encima de ellas y que los mesías pueden encontrarse en lugares tan insospechados como un campo de heno, un pueblo perdido en medio de la llanura o, sobre todo, en lo más hondo de nosotros mismos.
Ilustraciones Inolvidables: Historias, cuentos y anécdotas para aquellos que hablan en público
by Wayne Rice¡QUE TUS CHARLAS CON LOS JÓVENES BRILLEN CON LAS ILUSTRACIONES INOLVIDABLES DE LOS MEJORES Y MÁS EXPERIMENTADOS ORADORES! Se acabó la búsqueda de ilustraciones animadas para energizar tus charlas con los jóvenes. ¡Llegó Ilustraciones Inolvidables! Wayne Rice, un experimentado pastor de jóvenes seleccionó y pulió cien de las mejores historias, parábolas y anécdotas disponibles en la actualidad. Todas las ilustraciones aparecen organizadas por categorías y te ayudarán a llevar tus predicaciones, pláticas, charlas o conferencias a un nuevo nivel. Este material te hará un mejor conferencista y te permitirá comunicar las enseñanzas eternas de la Palabra de Dios de una manera fresca y digna de recordar. ¡TUS JÓVENES TE AGRADECERÁN QUE USES ESTE LIBRO!
Im Waiting, God - Women's Bible Study Guide with Leader Helps: Finding Blessing in Gods Delays (I’m Waiting, God)
by Barb RooseFind help and hope for times when it's hard to wait on GodDo you ever feel like God is taking too long to answer your prayers? Have you ever taken matters into your own hands, only to discover that you’ve made the situation worse?Waiting on God challenges our faith when the bills are stacking up, our families are falling apart, or our dreams feel like they won't come true. We know that God hears our prayers, but it’s hard when the clock is ticking yet He hasn’t shown us the answer.In this four-week Bible study, Barb Roose invites us to explore the stories of women in the Bible who had to wait on God— women such as Hannah, Ruth, Tamar, and the unnamed woman who suffered for over a decade with a painful medical condition. If you’ve felt anxious, angry, discouraged or depressed because God isn’t giving you what you want, their stories will breathe fresh hope and practical next steps in your life. As a reforming control lover, Barb mixes in her personal stories of learning how to wait for God during long seasons of unanswered prayers, family difficulties, and challenging times in ministry. Together we will discover that there is goodness and blessing to be found in times of waiting, including a closer relationship with God than we’ve ever dared to dream.Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a DVD."Barb Roose tackles the topic of patience in a way that really hit home for me personally. I have a lot of "why, how, and when" questions for God. Combining in-depth Scripture study with practical tools and personal stories, this study is one of the best I’ve ever read! —Melissa Spoelstra, Bible teacher, speaker, and author of Romans: Good News That Changes Everything and numerous other Bible studies and booksWhen waiting is hard and long, the last thing you need is someone disregarding your pain, with platitudes like "just push through." In I’m Waiting, God, Barb walks with us in our waiting. Warm, tender, and a help for moving forward, Barb’s study has left me stronger, knowing I can wait so His glory is seen. —Lynn Cowell, author of Make Your Move and member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker and writer teamBarb Roose is a wonderful role model of walking out biblical truth while in life’s waiting room. This study is a must read for anyone wondering what to do while waiting and wanting to stay close to God in the meantime. —Pam Farrel, best-selling author of over forty books, including Discovering Hope in the Psalms: A Creative Bible Study Experience Bible Study Features: A shorter four-week study is ideal for in-between or busy times. Accessible and friendly format. Each week concludes with a devotional lesson featuring prayer journaling, helping women create "memorial stones" during a waiting season. DVD features dynamic, engaging teaching in four 20-minute segments. Participant Workbook includes group session guides, discussion questions, prayers, video viewer guides, and leader helps.
Image Bearers: Restoring our identity and living out our calling
by Michael Lloyd Rachel AtkinsonRestoration is one of the basic building-blocks to Christian growth: it affects the way we relate to God, to ourselves, and to others. When we allow God to restore us, shape us and refine us into the people we were made to be, we can enjoy His presence more fully, live more freely, and reflect His image more closely.Drawing on the work of a close friend and counsellor, Ruth Miller, who died in 2013, Image Bearers has been inspired by Ruth's significant ministry of individual counselling and pastoral healing. Beginning with a theological framework for restoration, each chapter builds on the brokenness we experience in life - our anxieties, fear and failures - and equips us with spiritual practices to improve our prayer, evangelism and pastoral care, giving us a greater vision for God's restoration in our own lives. Image Bearers is written for anyone wishing to grow into greater Christian maturity. In this joint venture, Rachel Atkinson and Michael Lloyd encourage us to live lives that are theologically grounded and practically applied; restoration cannot simply be taught but must be experienced, lived and modelled.
Image Control: Breaking a Faulty Eyesight
by Talaya JessieWhat do you do when wisdom is calling you by your name? What do you do when purpose is yearning to be fulfilled in your spirit? What do you do when your mind can no longer grasp the anonymity of your destiny? Image Control takes you on a journey of discovering your perception. It helps you realize the factors in shaping your identity. The generation I am apart of is filled with so many creatives, but it seems as if we are afraid to pull out our maximum potential by the roots. It is almost as if we are waiting for people to see our value and validate why and what we were put on this earth to do. In a world where who you are and what you do matters the most, it is so easy to get consumed with the opinions of others. What if life was not necessarily about the things you accomplish? What if it was about how you accomplished those things? Was it with integrity or did you have to sacrifice a piece of yourself to be accepted? When you push past the boundaries and extremities of understanding your perception, you will then realize what was blocking your true self. You will begin to understand the why behind your actions. You will begin to understand the why to specific things your heart may desire. We all have dreams, misfortunes and pain. But what if we took back our treasure from the hands of others and the pit of our shortcomings? Will there be a possibility to sharpen our God given tools and gain understanding toward the use of those tools? Who would we actually become in the process? Will we continue to walk in facades? What if everyone in the world did the work to look deep within their soul? Would there be substance or lack? What if we took the blinders off? Would we only see the things that hurt us in life or the entirety of every situation we have had to encounter? The process of breaking a faulty eyesight is no easy one, but it leads you to an atmosphere that can no longer be controlled outside of you. The definitive question is will you do the work and be okay with looking a little funny while doing it?
Image RESTored - Includes Six-Session Video Series: Tear Down Shame and Insecurity to Experience a Body Image Renovation
by Rachael GilbertThis whole-person, interactive approach to body image includes coloring sheets, journaling prompts, and therapist insights that ground you in God&’s love and build you up in truth. Are you tired of being at war with your body—and with your thoughts about your body? Rachael Gilbert struggled with shame when she didn&’t measure up to her dream body image. Then, as a fitness instructor and licensed counselor specializing in disordered eating, she realized how many of us bury the same painful insecurities. But keeping up appearances is exhausting. We need restoration from the inside out. In Image RESTored, Rachael offers professional guidance, coloring pages, Scripture, prayers, journaling prompts, and a link to online teaching videos to help you experience true freedom. See your whole self in a new way as you learn: A biblical perspective on eating, weight loss, fitness, and self-confidence rooted in God&’s love. Counselor-inspired strategies to help you appreciate how God made you. How to reframe stories that formed your attitude toward your body. Tools for overcoming comparison and trauma. Ways to use thoughts and feelings so they help you rather than sabotage you. Rich with spiritual and therapeutic insights, this Christian body image workbook calls you to experience healing and wellness that starts with knowing God&’s love for you—mind, soul, body, and spirit. Presented by Esther Press: Books for Courageous Women This interactive study guide includes a free QR code and URL to access all six videos, plus additional content for engaging study as a group or on your own. To aid you in your planning, following are the session titles and video run times: 1 Counselor's Cornerstone / Video Chat One 8:41 2 Counselor's Cornerstone / Video Chat Two 9:02 3 Counselor's Cornerstone / Video Chat Three 8:23 4 Counselor's Cornerstone / Video Chat Four 7:10 5 Counselor's Cornerstone / Video Chat Five 8:53 6 Counselor's Cornerstone / Video Chat Six 7:20