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Singing Jeremiah: Music And Meaning In Holy Week (Music And The Early Modern Imagination Ser.)
by Robert L. KendrickA defining moment in Catholic life in early modern Europe, Holy Week brought together the faithful to commemorate the passion, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this study of ritual and music, Robert L. Kendrick investigates the impact of the music used during the Paschal Triduum on European cultures during the mid-16th century, when devotional trends surrounding liturgical music were established; through the 17th century, which saw the diffusion of the repertory at the height of the Catholic Reformation; and finally into the early 18th century, when a change in aesthetics led to an eventual decline of its importance. By considering such issues as stylistic traditions, trends in scriptural exegesis, performance space, and customs of meditation and expression, Kendrick enables us to imagine the music in the places where it was performed.
Singing To The Plants: A Guide To Mestizo Shamanism In The Upper Amazon
by Stephan V. BeyerIn the Upper Amazon, mestizos are the Spanish-speaking descendants of Hispanic colonizers and the indigenous peoples of the jungle. Some mestizos have migrated to Amazon towns and cities, such as Iquitos and Pucallpa; most remain in small villages. They have retained features of a folk Catholicism and traditional Hispanic medicine, and have incorporated much of the religious tradition of the Amazon, especially its healing, sorcery, shamanism, and the use of potent plant hallucinogens, including ayahuasca. The result is a uniquely eclectic shamanist culture that continues to fascinate outsiders with its brilliant visionary art. Ayahuasca shamanism is now part of global culture. Once the terrain of anthropologists, it is now the subject of novels and spiritual memoirs, while ayahuasca shamans perform their healing rituals in Ontario and Wisconsin. Singing to the Plants sets forth just what this shamanism is about--what happens at an ayahuasca healing ceremony, how the apprentice shaman forms a spiritual relationship with the healing plant spirits, how sorcerers inflict the harm that the shaman heals, and the ways that plants are used in healing, love magic, and sorcery.
Singing Yoruba Christianity: Music, Media, and Morality
by Vicki L. BrennanSinging the same song is a central part of the worship practice for members of the Cherubim and Seraphim Christian Church in Lagos, Nigeria. Vicki L. Brennan reveals that by singing together, church members create one spiritual mind and become unified around a shared set of values. She follows parishioners as they attend choir rehearsals, use musical media—hymn books and cassette tapes—and perform the music and rituals that connect them through religious experience. Brennan asserts that church members believe that singing together makes them part of a larger imagined social collective, one that allows them to achieve health, joy, happiness, wealth, and success in an ethical way. Brennan discovers how this particular Yoruba church articulates and embodies the moral attitudes necessary to be a good Christian in Nigeria today.
Singing for the Dead: The Politics of Indigenous Revival in Mexico
by Paja FaudreeSinging for the Dead chronicles ethnic revival in Oaxaca, Mexico, where new forms of singing and writing in the local Mazatec indigenous language are producing powerful, transformative political effects. Paja Faudree argues for the inclusion of singing as a necessary component in the polarized debates about indigenous orality and literacy, and she considers how the coupling of literacy and song has allowed people from the region to create texts of enduring social resonance. She examines how local young people are learning to read and write in Mazatec as a result of the region's new Day of the Dead song contest. Faudree also studies how tourist interest in local psychedelic mushrooms has led to their commodification, producing both opportunities and challenges for songwriters and others who represent Mazatec culture. She situates these revival movements within the contexts of Mexico and Latin America, as well as the broad, hemisphere-wide movement to create indigenous literatures. Singing for the Dead provides a new way to think about the politics of ethnicity, the success of social movements, and the limits of national belonging.
Singing in Babylon: Finding Purpose in Life's Second Choices
by Jeff LucasEveryone has to live with second choices—events and circumstances that they would not choose, some trivial, some tragic. Daniel was a man whose life was filled with second choices, but he did more than just survive; he stayed faithful to God and thrived. So what is there to learn from his story in Scripture? Pastor and author Jeff Lucas challenges readers to ask, &“How can we, like Daniel, be faithful in the &‘Babylon&’ of second choices?&” Down-to-earth but inspirational, Singing in Babylon explores how the reader, like Daniel, can find purpose and meaning in life&’s second choices.
Singing in My Soul
by Jerma A. JacksonBlack gospel music grew from obscure nineteenth-century beginnings to become the leading style of sacred music in black American communities after World War II. Jerma A. Jackson traces the music's unique history, profiling the careers of several singers--particularly Sister Rosetta Tharpe--and demonstrating the important role women played in popularizing gospel.Female gospel singers initially developed their musical abilities in churches where gospel prevailed as a mode of worship. Few, however, stayed exclusively in the religious realm. As recordings and sheet music pushed gospel into the commercial arena, gospel began to develop a life beyond the church, spreading first among a broad spectrum of African Americans and then to white middle-class audiences. Retail outlets, recording companies, and booking agencies turned gospel into big business, and local church singers emerged as national and international celebrities. Amid these changes, the music acquired increasing significance as a source of black identity.These successes, however, generated fierce controversy. As gospel gained public visibility and broad commercial appeal, debates broke out over the meaning of the music and its message, raising questions about the virtues of commercialism and material values, the contours of racial identity, and the nature of the sacred. Jackson engages these debates to explore how race, faith, and identity became central questions in twentieth-century African American life.
Singing in a Strange Land: C. L. Franklin, the Black Church, and the Transformation of America
by Nick SalvatoreNick Salvatore's Singing in a Strange Land tells the story of C. L. Franklin (1915-1984), one of the greatest black preachers in American history. The father of Aretha Franklin, C. L. was a spellbinding preacher who channeled his charisma into his gospel music and compelling sermons which spoke through faith to the personal and social problems rural African Americans encountered in their migration north. Stressing unity between the sacred and the profane allowed him to embrace all aspects of African American culture, and jazz, blues, and gospel performers mingled in his Detroit home. Franklin also embraced the night life that surrounded his musician friends, even as he served on the Executive Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Council and organized the 1963 "Walk Toward Freedom" march with his close friend, Martin Luther King, Jr. In June of 1979, Franklin was shot during a robbery of his home, and died five years later. Over 10,000 people attended his funeral at the Detroit church he made famous, the New Bethel Baptist Church. Nick Salvatore spent over eight years doing research and conducting interviews to present Franklin's biography in amazing detail. Singing in a Strange Land tells the story of black migration and activism, alongside the rise of gospel, blues, and soul music, with a cast of characters including Martin Luther King, Jr., B. B. King, Art Tatum, Coleman Young, Jesse Jackson, Clara Ward, Mahalia Jackson, and many others.
Singing in the Dark: Finding Hope in the Songs of Scripture
by Ginny OwensFar too often, life&’s challenges and questions cause people to fight feelings of doubt and despair, as they search endlessly for hope. In Singing in the Dark, Ginny Owens introduces the reader to powerful ways of drawing closer to God and how the elements of music, prayer, and lament offer rich, vibrant, and joyful communion with Him, especially on the darkest days. Ginny has gained a unique life perspective, as she has lived without sight since age three. She brings rich, biblical teaching that will encourage readers and compel them to dig deep into the beautiful songs, prayers, and poetry of Scripture—the same words through which the people of the Bible flourished in impossible circumstances. Singing in the Dark includes reflection and journaling prompts at the end of each chapter.
Singing the Congregation: How Contemporary Worship Music Forms Evangelical Community
by Monique M. IngallsContemporary worship music shapes the way evangelical Christians understand worship itself. Author Monique M. Ingalls argues that participatory worship music performances have brought into being new religious social constellations, or "modes of congregating". Through exploration of five of these modes--concert, conference, church, public, and networked congregations--Singing the Congregation reinvigorates the analytic categories of "congregation" and "congregational music." Drawing from theoretical models in ethnomusicology and congregational studies, Singing the Congregation reconceives the congregation as a fluid, contingent social constellation that is actively performed into being through communal practice--in this case, the musically-structured participatory activity known as "worship." "Congregational music-making" is thereby recast as a practice capable of weaving together a religious community both inside and outside local institutional churches. Congregational music-making is not only a means of expressing local concerns and constituting the local religious community; it is also a powerful way to identify with far-flung individuals, institutions, and networks that comprise this global religious community. The interactions among the congregations reveal widespread conflicts over religious authority, carrying far-ranging implications for how evangelicals position themselves relative to other groups in North America and beyond.
Singing the Goddess into Place: Locality, Myth, and Social Change in Chamundi of the Hill, a Kannada Folk Ballad (SUNY series in Hindu Studies)
by Caleb SimmonsSinging the Goddess into Place examines Chamundi of the Hill, a collection of songs that tells the stories of the gods and goddesses of the region around the city of Mysore in southern Karnataka. The ballad actively transforms the region into a land where gods and goddesses live, embedding these deities within the social worlds of their devotees and remapping southern Karnataka into sacred geography connected through networks of devotion and pilgrimage. In this in-depth study of the songs and their context, Caleb Simmons not only provides the first English-language translation of these songs but brings to light the unstudied folk perspectives on the foundational myth of Mysore and its urban history. Singing the Goddess into Place demonstrates how folk narratives reflect local context while also actively working to upend social inequities based on caste and ritual/devotional practices. By delving into this world, the book helps us understand how a landscape is transformed through people's relationship with it and how this relationship helps build meaning for the communities that call it home.
Singing the Himalayan Crossroads: Traditional Songs of Ladakh
by Noé DinnersteinIntroduces the traditional songs of Himalayan Ladakh through their history, ethnology, poetry, and Tibetan Buddhism beliefs.Singing the Himalayan Crossroads places the traditional song repertoires of the former Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh in both their historical and modern contexts. Although scholarly, it is aimed at a broad general audience, including people interested in ethnomusicology, Tibet, Buddhism, the Silk Road, or the music and cultures of Central and South Asia.While many songs contain texts that evoke Buddhist meditative visualization practices, at the same time, Muslims, both Sunni and Shia, were prominent in Silk Road caravans that enriched the Buddhist aristocracy. Songs from these Muslim traders often mention important religious sites in Kashmir while having nostalgia for the sights of the Ladakhi capital, Leh. Interweaving these themes, author Noé Dinnerstein mixes a relaxed, conversational narrative with the music and poetry of the songs to evoke the crossroads of High Asia.A separate anthology of recordings is available online.
Singing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land 35011
by Joseph E. LoweryFrom the earliest meetings of the Civil Rights Movement to offering the benediction for the first African American President of the United States, Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery has been an eyewitness to some of the most significant events in our history. But, more important, he has been a voice that speaks truth to power--inspiring change that moves us forward.In Singing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land, you will find Dr. Lowery's most enduring speeches and messages from the past fifty years including Coretta Scott King's funeral and the benediction given at President Obama's inauguration. This book, however, is not simply a collection of words. It is the heart of a movement and a call to a new generation to carry the mantle--for all people.
Singing the Way: Insights into Poetry & Spiritual Transformation
by Patrick LaudeSinging the Way explores the relationship between poetry and true contemplation. Author Patrick Laude seeks first to disperse romantic notions of how the poetic process works, but goes on to suggest that it is inherently more profound than modern practitioners imagine. Laude tells us that in itself true poetry is "transformative" since it brings the soul and all its faculties under the catalytic &“spell&” of the sacred through the mediation of rhythm and the &“lure&” of imaginal and verbal beauty. Singing the Way illustrates its points through examples drawn from five rich spiritual and poetic traditions (viz. Hinduism, Sufism, China, Japan, and the European Neo-Platonic and Romantic current).
Singing through Struggle: Music, Worship, and Identity in Postemancipation Black Churches
by Carolynne Hitter BrownSinging through Struggle: Music, Worship, and Identity in Postemancipation Black Churches offers an innovative look at the vital role music and worship played in nurturing Black citizenship and identity during the Reconstruction era. In such border cities as Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, the church was where newly emancipated migrants and members of the free Black community merged identities, priorities, and experiences through a process of cultural negotiation. Music, as a sign of Black achievement and as a genuine expression of identity, produced both bastions and battlegrounds in the fight for democracy.The music of Black churchgoers, singing together in sanctuaries as well as in homes, schools, and outdoors, expressed resistance to uplift ideologies within and to white supremacy without. Even while using hymns and music of the European sacred tradition, members infused the songs they chose with new meanings relevant to their evolving concerns and situations. Drawing on fresh archival sources, Singing through Struggle sheds light on the unexplored gap in the study of African American religious music between slavery and the Great Migration, demonstrating the continuous stream of Black creativity and dignity that existed in religious music making between gospel music and the spirituals. This close-up investigation of three Black congregations draws out previously forgotten stories of men and women who understood church music as key to shaping a collective purpose and civic identity. Their stories demonstrate how faith, music, and ritual gave the Black community means for exploring a deeply complex and ever-changing reality.
Singing with the Mountains: The Language of God in the Afghan Highlands
by William ShermanWinner, Carolina's Outstanding Contribution to Middle East and Islamic Studies Book AwardAn illuminating story of a Sufi community that sought the revelation of GodIn the Afghan highlands of the sixteenth century, the messianic community known as the Roshaniyya not only desired to find God’s word and to abide by it but also attempted to practice God’s word and to develop techniques of language intended to render their own tongues as the organs of continuous revelation. As their critics would contend, however, the Roshaniyya attempted to make language do something that language should not do—infuse the semiotic with the divine. Their story thus ends in a tower of skulls, the proliferation of heresiographies that detailed the sins of the Roshaniyya, and new formations of “Afghan” identity.In Singing with the Mountains, William E. B. Sherman finds something extraordinary about the Roshaniyya, not least because the first known literary use of vernacular Pashto occurs in an eclectic, Roshani imitation of the Qur’an. The story of the Roshaniyya exemplifies a religious culture of linguistic experimentation. In the example of the Roshaniyya, we discover a set of questions and anxieties about the capacities of language that pervaded Sufi orders, imperial courts, groups of wandering ascetics, and scholastic networks throughout Central and South Asia.In telling this tale, Sherman asks the following questions: How can we make language shimmer with divine truth? How can letters grant sovereign power and form new “ethnic” identities and ways of belonging? How can rhyme bend our conceptions of time so that the prophetic past comes to inhabit the now of our collective moment? By analyzing the ways in which the Roshaniyya answered these types of questions—and the ways in which their answers were eventually rejected as heresies—this book offers new insight into the imaginations of religious actors in the late medieval and early modern Persianate worlds.
Single Dad Cowboy (Cooper Creek)
by Brenda MintonWhen a young woman returns to Oklahoma, she leaves her difficult past behind—and discovers a forever family—in this Western romance series finale.Harmony Cross returns to Dawson, Oklahoma determined to start over—and hoping to keep a low profile. She needs time and space, not complications. Especially not in the form of the charming Dylan Cooper. But the handsome cowboy is not the man Harmony remembers. These days, Dylan is a single dad with two sweet and vulnerable children to raise. Harmony never thought she’d see the day—not only is Dylan more kindhearted than she ever imagined, but she’s falling for the last man she ever thought she’d love. Perhaps this particular complication is exactly what she’s been searching for . . .
Single Jewish Male Seeking Soul Mate: A Novel
by Letty Cottin PogrebinThis novel &“unflinchingly confronts the issue of Jewish continuity in a diverse and changing America&” (Anne Roiphe, author and journalist). Feminist icon Letty Cottin Pogrebin&’s second novel is the story of Zach Levy, the left-leaning son of Holocaust survivors who promises his mother on her deathbed that he will marry within the tribe and raise Jewish children. When he falls for Cleo Scott, an African American activist grappling with her own inherited trauma, he must reconcile his old vow to the family he loves with the present reality of the woman who may be his soul mate. A New York love story complicated by the legacies and modern tensions of Jewish American and African American history, Single Jewish Male Seeking Soul Mate explores what happens when the heart runs counter to politics, history, and the compelling weight of tradition. &“A beautifully written and heartwarming masterpiece.&” —Menachem Z. Rosensaft, founding chair of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors &“Cleareyed, courageous.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Single Mama Dating Drama
by Michelle Mitchell Kimberly D. Taylor Monica Lynn Foster Sonia Johnston Candice Y Johnson Dwon D Moss Cherritta Smith Tomeka Farley Daugherty Leiann B Wrytes Trina Charles Patricia A Bridewell Michelle Cornwell-Jordan Michelle Lynn Stephens Jasmyne K. Rogers Denise Anquenette Charlie Marcol Princess F.L GoodenSingle Mama dating! It doesn't get anymore complicated than that. How can you find love when you have a career and kids? Where can you find that love connection? Is he on-line, in church, standing in front of the grapefruit in the grocery store? In these hilarious and heart-warming stories, you'll find single moms finding love in the most interesting of places, all while steering clear of the crazies, the lazies and definitely, the shadies. In Single Mama Dating Drama, seventeen talented writers share fictional stories about the woes, pitfalls, and joys of dating while raising kids. From Monica Lynne Foster’s explosive tale of an ex who fights for custody of his child while fighting to gain his ex-wife back from her newfound love…to Dwon D. Moss’ hilarious Internet dating spin on a widow who runs into a holy roller, a pretty boy and a liar….to Candice Y. Johnson’s laugh-out-loud take on a mama whose baby girl prophetically dismisses all of her potential suitors…to Denise Anquenette’s story of how one woman's attempt to take back control of her life strains the bonds and boundaries of her relationship with her children…..to Michelle Mitchell’s sticky tale of a woman who meets her mate at a sperm bank…. these captivating stories are sure to make you laugh, shake your head, clutch your pearls, and cheer for these mamas and all their dating drama!
Single Sashimi (Sushi Series #3)
by Camy TangThe third book in the Sushi series reunites four cousins—Lex, Trish, Jennifer, and Venus—for romance with the spice of ginger. In the world of video games, innovation is king. And Venus Chau has been reigning queen, one of the high-powered developers in the industry. But Venus also has a reputation for not being the easiest person to work with. After her massive weight loss at age twenty-five that turned her from a geeky blimp into JLo, CEO Drake Yu tried to force her to use her looks to benefit his company, and Venus has never forgiven him. Now Drake needs her expertise for his sister&’s startup and is asking for a second chance. Grandma bribes Venus to do this favor for Drake&’s wealthy family with an introduction to an investor for Venus&’s game development company. They form an uneasy truce for the next few months. But one wild youth group, a two-faced assistant, and Grandma&’s determined match-making threaten to make them both fail—or go insane. And Venus discovers that even a wounded heart can undergo a beautiful transformation …
Single Today: Conquer Yesterday's Regrets, Ditch Tomorrow's Worries, and Thrive Right Where You Are
by Ryan WekenmanAn empowering guide to the gift of singleness that will help you leave shame in the past and let go of anxiety about the future in order to thrive today—from a thirtysomething single pastor who understands that the struggle is real.&“Raw, relatable, and encouraging.&”—New York Times bestselling author Granger SmithRyan Wekenman has been an unmarried pastor for over a decade. He&’s heard all the usual questions: &“Are you dating anyone? Any wedding plans in the future?&” But he knows the real question they&’re asking is, &“Hey, do you think you&’ll be single for the rest of your life?&”Ryan believes that singleness isn&’t a curse to endure. Rather, it&’s a gift to enjoy, even if at times it can be hard to see it that way. But he has discovered firsthand—and from hundreds of meetings with other single people—that we are often consumed by regrets or shame from the past, together with worry or fear of the future, making it feel impossible to find peace in the present.But it doesn&’t have to be that way. Single Today shares Ryan&’s perceptive anecdotes, thought-provoking questions, biblical insight, and disarming humor as he invites you into his journey of learning to fully embrace his current reality.Single Today will encourage you to• gain practical tools to help handle the annoying and uncomfortable situations single people get placed in• learn how to talk to family and friends about your singleness with confidence• practice opening your heart and embracing true intimacy• stop believing your marital status is keeping you stuck• start living the full and abundant life available todayNo amount of shame will change the past, and no amount of worry will fix the future, but with a little faith and work, you can start thriving today.
Single White Monk: Tales of Death, Failure, and Bad Sex (Although Not Necessarily in that Order)
by Shozan Jack HaubnerThink the life of a Zen monk is all serenity, peace, and austerity? Think again. Here, Shozan Jack Haubner gives an often-hilarious, always-candid account of what it’s really like behind those monastery walls. Haubner’s adventures include memories of his dysfunctional Midwestern family that drove him ultimately to declare, “I think I should be a monk!” to a madcap account of the night he got stoned and snuck out of the monastery, alongside more sobering accounts such as his life-threatening brush with illness, the profound impact of a dear friend’s death, and reflections on the controversy that rocked his Zen community. That he finds timeless wisdom in both the tragic and the absurd is a tribute to Haubner's gifts as a writer and humorist, and to his clear insights into the nature of self and what the practice of Zen is all about.
Single, Dating, Engaged, Married Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Navigating Life + Love in the Modern Age
by Ben StuartDiscover how to embrace God's design for your relationships, no matter what stage you're in.God has given us a specific, compelling reason for each of the four relational seasons: singleness, dating, engagement, and marriage. Whichever one of these seasons you're in now, this study unlocks its God-given purpose and shows you how to thrive within it.Thriving in your current stage of life is not easy, especially in this modern age. It's never been easier or more convenient for people to connect with one another. Yet more and more people today are describing themselves as lonely. If everything in this world is so connected, why are so many of us feeling profoundly disconnected?In this six-session video Bible study (video streaming code included), pastor and bestselling author Ben Stuart will help you navigate through the four stages of a relational life and show you how to look at the truths and intentions God has established for each.As you embark on this journey, you will discover:How to live singleness to make an impact for the kingdom of God.How to pursue dating with clarity and purity.How to use the season of engagement wisely to prepare for marriage.How to maximize your life as a married couple for shared ministry.And how to continually seek God and his will throughout each stage. This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:The study guide itself—with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide.An individual access code to stream all video sessions online (you don&’t need to buy a DVD!). Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
Single, Dating, Engaged, Married Study Guide: Navigating Life + Love in the Modern Age
by Ben StuartTruly, it's never been easier or more convenient for people to connect with one another. Yet more and more people today are describing themselves as lonely. Why? If everything in this world is so connected, why are so many of us feeling disconnected? How can we better navigate life and love in today's complex world?In this six-session video-based Bible study (DVD/digital video downloads sold separately), pastor and bestselling author Ben Stuart will help you navigate through four relational stages of life: singleness, dating, engagement, and marriage.As you embark on this journey, you will discover:How to leverage your singleness to make an impact for the kingdom of GodHow to pursue dating with clarity and purityHow to use the season of engagement to prepare for marriageHow to maximize your life as a married couple for shared ministryHow to continually seek God and his will throughout each stageThis study will show you how to embrace God's design for each stage, invest your life in what matters most, and find purpose—whether you are single, dating, engaged, or married.Designed for use with Single, Dating, Engaged, Married Video Study (sold separately).
Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age
by Ben StuartNavigating the Four Critical Seasons of RelationshipThe vast majority of young people will still pass through the key phases of singleness, dating, engagement and marriage in their twenties. Yet they are delaying marriage longer than any generation in human history. Why? For the first time in history, the average age for an American woman having her first child, 26, is younger than the average age of her first marriage, 27. More children than ever are growing up in fatherless homes, despite the overwhelming evidence that in every measurable way this is bad for the child. The Center for Disease Control also recently reported a dramatic rise in sexually transmitted disease nationwide. In Rhode Island alone, since the onset of online dating, reported cases of Syphilis has risen 79%, and HIV has increased by 33%. Though many young people can avoid early pregnancy and STDs, most cannot dodge the depression and feelings of isolation that characterize this modern generation. Studies show a dramatic rise in self-reported loneliness among the young. All of our technological connectivity has not made us feel more connected. In many ways, the very screens that are meant to link us to others have become shields blocking us from the deep intimacy we crave. Many have discovered that where there is a lack of intimacy,addiction often rises to take its place. How can a young person navigate such troubled waters? Is there hope out there?Like a sailor on turbulent seas, we need to look up and see the North Star: the fixed points in the sky whereby we might navigate the objective realities in life. We need the skill-set to know how to journey through life and how to select the right people to journey alongside. In this book we will chart a course through the four relational phases that the vast majority of human beings on the planet will pass through in their twenties: singleness, dating, engaged and married. In each of these phases, we will look at what eternal purposes should be pursued in each stage, and how to pursue them. SINGLENESS: DEVOTIONDATING: EVALUATIONENGAGED: UNIFICATIONMARRIED: MISSION Our desires for intimacy are powerful. This power can be constructive or destructive. Our satisfaction and our safety will be ensured if we can aim these powerful desires toward divine purposes.