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Stars and Their Purpose
by Dr Werner Gitt"To my mind, scientific findings and biblical affirmations are inseparable. It is a tragic fact of history that these two approaches have diverged and become separated." -From the Introduction Did you know that there are 200 billion stars in our galaxy alone? And that according to current data, there are at least 100 million galaxies in existence? The sheer number of stars in the universe attests to the awesomeness of God's creation. The purpose and features of stars are discussed in this exciting and fascinating book by Dr. Werner Gitt. Learn about topics such as: How are stars different from each other? How big is the universe? Why did God create the stars? Surprising facts about the sun and moon. How and when do solar eclipses happen?
Stars at Dawn
by Wendy Garling"A contemporary and provocative examination of the life of the Buddha highlighting the influence of women from his journey to awakening through his teaching career--based on overlooked or neglected stories from ancient source material. a In this retelling of the ancient legends of the women in the Buddha's intimate circle, lesser-known stories from Sanskrit and Pali sources are for the first time woven into an illuminating, coherent narrative that follows his life from his birth to his parinirvana or death. Interspersed with original insights, fresh interpretations, and bold challenges to the status quo, the stories are both entertaining and thought-provoking-some may even appear controversial. Focusing first on laywomen from the time before the Buddha's enlightenment-his birth mother and stepmother, his co-wives, and members of his harem when he was known as Prince Siddhartha-then moving on to the Buddha's first female disciples, early nuns, and to female patrons, Wendy Garling invites us to open our minds to a new understanding of their roles. "
Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish
by Abigail PogrebinSixty-two of the most accomplished Jews in America speak intimately--most for the first time--about how they feel about being Jewish. In unusually candid interviews conducted by former 60 Minutes producer Abigail Pogrebin, celebrities ranging from Sarah Jessica Parker to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, from Larry King to Mike Nichols, reveal how resonant, crucial or incidental being Jewish is in their lives. The connections they have to their Jewish heritage range from hours in synagogue to bagels and lox; but every person speaks to the weight and pride of their Jewish history, the burdens and pleasures of observance, the moments they've felt most Jewish (or not). This book of vivid, personal conversations uncovers how being Jewish fits into a public life, and also how the author's evolving religious identity was changed by what she heard. Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg, Gene Wilder, Joan Rivers, and Leonard Nimoy talk about their startling encounters with anti-Semitism. Kenneth Cole, Eliot Spitzer, and Ronald Perelman explore the challenges of intermarriage. Mike Wallace, Richard Dreyfuss, and Ruth Reichl express attitudes toward Israel that vary from unquestioning loyalty to complicated ambivalence. William Kristol scoffs at the notion that Jewish values are incompatible with Conservative politics. Alan Dershowitz, raised Orthodox, talks about why he gave up morning prayer. Shawn Green describes the pressure that comes with being baseball's Jewish star. Natalie Portman questions the ostentatious bat mitzvahs of her hometown. Tony Kushner explains how being Jewish prepared him for being gay. Leon Wieseltier throws down the gauntlet to Jews who haven't taken the trouble to study Judaism. These are just a few key moments from many poignant, often surprising, conversations with public figures whom most of us thought we already knew. "When my mother got her nose job, she wanted me to get one, too. She said I would be happier." --Dustin Hoffman. "It's a heritage to be proud of. And then, too, it's something that you can't escape because the world won't let you; so it's a good thing you can be proud of it." --Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "My wife [Kate Capshaw] chose to do a full conversion before we were married in 1991, and she married me as a Jew. I think that, more than anything else, brought me back to Judaism."--Steven Spielberg. "As someone who was born in Israel, you're put in a position of defending Israel because you know how much is at stake."--Natalie Portman. "Jewish introspection and Jewish humor is a way of surviving ... if you're not handsome and you're not athletic and you're not rich, there's still one last hope with girls, which is being funny." --Mike Nichols. "I felt not only this enormous pride at being a Jew; I felt this enormous void at not being a better Jew."--Ronald O. Perelman. "American Jews, like Americans, have a very consumerist attitude toward their identity: they pick and choose the bits of this and that they like."--Leon Wieseltier. "I thought if I had straight hair and a perfect nose, my whole career would be different." --Sarah Jessica Parker. "I've always rebelled a little when people say, 'My Jewish values lead me to really care about the poor.' I know some Christians who care about the poor, too." --William Kristol.
Stars of Wisdom: Analytical Meditation, Songs of Yogic Joy, and Prayers of Aspiration
by Dalai Lama Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso The Seventeenth Karmapa Ari Goldfield Rose TaylorTibetan Buddhist master Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso is known for his joyful songs of realization and his spontaneous and skillful teaching style. In this book he explains how to gain clarity, peace, and wisdom through step-by-step analysis and meditation on the true nature of reality. He also introduces readers to the joy and profundity of yogic song, and reveals the power of aspiration prayers to inspire, transform, and brighten our hearts. To learn more about the author, visit his website at www.ktgrinpoche.org.
Starstruck: A Sweet Contemporary Romance
by Amy ClipstonCan a small-town waitress capture the heart of a world-famous heartthrob?For Heather Gordon, life in her small North Carolina town has always been simple and uneventful. Until one night when a rowdy food fight breaks out in her family&’s restaurant where she&’s a waitress. The culprits? The internationally famous rock band, Kirwan. And when Alex Kirwan, the charming and enigmatic lead singer, wants to make amends for his brothers&’ (and bandmates&’) behavior and invites her to attend one of their concerts as a guest of the band, Heather&’s world is turned upside down . . . and sparks fly.Alex has always loved music, but his rock-star life isn&’t all glamorous people and parties. It&’s also paparazzi and online tabloids, a new city every week, and the loneliness of touring—even if he has his brothers with him. But with Heather things are different, and he&’s instantly smitten and determined to get to know the sweet, pretty woman who has absolutely no interest in his fame. If only he can convince her to take a chance on his crazy life.Once Alex leaves on tour, he and Heather begin exchanging messages and calls. Despite the distance between them, they find themselves learning they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. But even while Heather and Alex&’s relationship deepens, they must face the harsh realities of fame and the pressures it puts on their personal lives. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges that come with celebrity, or will the rigors of distance and Alex&’s life on the road tear them apart?Filled with heart and the intoxicating allure of possibility, Starstruck is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of finding love in surprising places.Charming friends-to-lovers romanceBook length: approximately 90,000 wordsStand-alone novelIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
Start Becoming a Good Samaritan Participant's Guide: Six Sessions
by Michael Seaton Ashley WiersmaWhat does it take to “love your neighbor” in a global community? This groundbreaking training program helps small groups, families, entire churches, and organizations of every size explore the most pressing issues of our time—then start actually doing something about them. This study takes Christians out of the pews and into the streets where, as the hands and feet of Christ, they will live out the gospel, positively impacting those suffering from poverty, social injustice, pandemic diseases, and more. Visit www.juststart.org to learn about the nationwide church experience and the growing list of national and international supporters. Designed for use with the video.
Start Here
by Nicole Unice David DwightAre you wondering what saying yes to following Jesus really means? Do you want to know more about Christianity but you're not sure what, or how, to ask? Are you just beginning in a new faith in Jesus Christ? Then Start Here. Written by two authors who also know what it's like to seek God, Start Here answers questions such as: If God is real, now what?What is the relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?What does the church have to do with my life and my faith?Why did Jesus have to die?Isn't grace too good to be true?Can I accept that Jesus is the way to God? Following Jesus isn't about rules--it's all about relationship. So start here to find practical help and encouraging stories about what authentic Christianity looks like. Welcome to the journey of a lifetime.
Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation
by Susan PiverIf you want to meditate but have no idea where to begin, this book by best-selling author and Buddhist teacher Susan Piver will help you: it contains everything you need to know to start a meditation practice and, even more important, to continue one. It defines what meditation is (and what it is not); dispels the three most common misconceptions about it; advises ways around obstacles; addresses the most frequently asked questions; and shows how meditation can have positive impact on relationships, creativity, and difficult emotions. However, Piver presents meditation as something more than the self-help technique du jour--it is a path to love, joy, and courage. This book contains two self-paced programs to help you start here--now!
Start Here, Go Anywhere: Making Good Choices, Recovering from Bad Ones
by Richie HughesUnleash Your Full Potential Start Here, Go Anywhere gives you the tools you need to make good choices and recover from the bad ones you may have already made. With moving stories from his own life, including losing his only brother to AIDS, and testimonials from former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz and Mac Powell of Third Day, Richie Hughes provides a fresh treatment of both failure and redemption. No matter where you are today, with God’s help you can go anywhere. Poor choices in the past do not destroy your future potential to do great things. God loves you so much that He wants to transform your future for His glory.
Start Here, Start Now: A Short Guide to Mindfulness Meditation
by Bhante GunaratanaA new book distilling Wisdom&’s definitive masterpiece on mindfulness and all-time bestseller, Mindfulness in Plain English, down to a pocket-sized guide with everything you need to get started practicing mindfulness right now.In a clear, friendly voice, this concise collection of beloved and renowned meditation master Bhante G&’s bestselling instructions will teach you everything you need to know to start—and maintain!—your mindfulness meditation practice. The book includes practical advice on What to do with the body and mind in meditation; What to do when the mind wanders and how to work with distraction; How to deal with physical discomfort in meditation; How to overcome drowsiness, boredom, and inability to concentrate; How to work with fear and agitation, judgments, and self-criticism; How to avoid trying too hard, expecting too much, or getting discouraged; 11 common misconceptions about meditation; 10 tips for effective practice; and how to get the most out of your practice.
Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are
by Alex Harris Brett Harris Elisa Stanford"Do Hard Things" inspired thousands of young people around the world to make the most of their teen years. Now the Harris brothers are back and tackle the questions their previous work inspired: How do I get started? and How do I inspire others?
Start This, Stop That: Do the Things That Grow Your Church
by Jennifer Cowart Jim CowartWe need less conventional wisdom and more creative leadership.Not all of the advice you’ve heard on church growth works. Judging by results, most doesn’t. It’s time we re-evaluate the standard thinking on how to grow a church, especially considering new voices questioning the worth of church growth.Jim Cowart is shepherding an amazing story. 1800 professions of Christ in ten years have propelled Harvest Church from a church plant of four – Jim’s family – to a thriving community of Jesus disciples. Harvest is changing their world and having a party while they do it. Learn why conventional church thinking such as pastoral care, long-term planning, stewardship campaigns, committees and even staff inhibit church growth. Learn how to do less, and lead more people to Christ.
Start Where You Are
by Charles Swindoll"To start fresh, to start over, to start anything, you have to know where you are," says Charles Swindoll. "Seldom does anybody just happen to end up on a right road." In Start Where You Are, Swindoll offers upbeat and practical advice on creating a life worth living, no matter what the circumstances are now or where they may lead in the future.
Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living
by Pema ChodronStart Where You Are is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are"--embracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema Chödrön frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment." Working with these slogans and through the practice of meditation, Start Where You Are shows how we can all develop the courage to work with our inner pain and discover joy, well-being, and confidence.
Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living
by Pema ChödrönStart Where You Are is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema Chödrön presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are"--embracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema Chödrön frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment. " Working with these slogans and through the practice of meditation, Start Where You Are shows how we can all develop the courage to work with our inner pain and discover joy, well-being, and confidence.
Start With Me: A Modern Parable (START)
by John Blase Michael SeatonC2, Zondervan, and World Vision are teaming together on the most ambitious and ecumenical curriculum promoting Christian social responsibility and justice ever conceived. A topic that has been building a great deal of buzz within the ranks of Church leadership, but has not yet ignited as an action based movement among North American Christians. That’s 77 million potential Good Samaritans sitting in the pews. And the time is now. The people are ready. The market is ready for the book, START – becoming a Good Samaritan. START’s headliner curriculum (list attached) brings together topical experts, theologians, mega-church pastors, front-line workers, victims, encouragers, and even “unknowns” to offer a complete picture of the problem and a practical understanding of how to be a Good Samaritan right now, right where each of us lives. We are all too painfully aware that the Church today is not known as Good Samaritans. We’re known more as the Priest or the Levite from the story – or worse. Rick Warren put his finger on the aching need for this curriculum and book when he said, “It’s time for a second reformation, not one of theology, but of works.”
Start Your New Life Today: An Exciting New Beginning with God
by Joyce MeyerJoyce guides readers to making the most important decision they will ever make. Beginning with the decision to accept Christ, Joyce explains the life-changing impact that comes from knowing God in the most personal way possible. She walks readers through what makes everyone unique creations as a tri-part being--spirit, soul, and body--and how God relates to them in all three areas. Joyce demonstrates the importance of each part aligning to serve God fully and helps readers avoid pitfalls that keep them from being their best.Joyce breaks the book into sections covering each of the parts that make up human beings and explains in great detail the various challenges faced in becoming healthy in those areas and how to anticipate and overcome those obstacles. With brief chapters that each cover a clear and concise thought this book is very reader friendly and accessible.Joyce's unique style shines through and delivers her core message of the importance of an intimate relationship with God and the many-fold ways that will change lives.
Start Your New Life Today: An Exciting New Beginning with God
by Joyce MeyerJoyce guides readers towards making the most important decision they will ever make. Beginning with the decision to accept Christ, Joyce explains the life-changing impact that comes from knowing God in the most personal way possible. She walks readers through what makes everyone unique creations as a tri-part being - spirit, soul, and body - and how God relates to them in all three areas. Joyce demonstrates the importance of each part aligning to serve God fully and helps readers avoid pitfalls that keep them from achieving their best.Joyce breaks the book into sections covering each of the parts that make up human beings and explains in great detail the various challenges faced in becoming healthy in those areas and how to anticipate and overcome obstacles.Joyce's unique style shines through and delivers her core message of the importance of an intimate relationship with God.
Start with Amen: How I Learned to Surrender by Keeping the End in Mind
by Beth GuckenbergerOne power-packed word: amen. Millions of Christians all over the world say this word every day. Yet few realize what richness, depth, truth, and connection are packed into this sacred phrase. Throughout the centuries, Christian tradition has taught us to end prayers with amen. But the Bible is full of stories and passages where God’s people started their prayers with amen. Why? As Beth Guckenberger shows, amen is more than just a way to punctuate a conversation with the God of the Universe. Amen is a declaration of who God is and who we are in relation to him. It is a moment of submission and worship, saying “So be it” to a Sovereignty that holds all things, and acknowledging “It is as you say” to him who holds our lives. In Amen, Beth unpacks all the Bible has to teach us about the moment we say amen to God. Using key scripture passages mixed with fresh teaching and personal stories, she invites readers to experience the richness they’ve been missing. Amen is more than just a word. Amen is a full invitation from God packed with all that he requires from us and all he longs to bestow upon us as his beloved children. As Beth writes, “He is beckoning us all. Come to me. Learn my ways. You are my child, whom I dearly love and bought with a price. The God of Amen rescued you so you can echo amen back to him. God intended this word to be a moment of intimacy, drenched in reverence, replete with peace—the moment when you rest in him and are rejuvenated by him. There is so much more he wants to give. Amen.” If Christians long to be truly connected to their Creator, they must begin with amen. For, as Isaiah 65:16 says, “Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of Amen.”
Start with Prayer: 250 Prayers for Hope and Strength
by Max LucadoDo you find it difficult to turn to prayer when you need it most? Do you have trouble finding the words to capture exactly how you&’re feeling? Start with Prayer, by pastor and New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado, will give you the tools you need to feel more comfortable when you communicate with God. When struggles and anxieties come up in our lives, we invite God into our world, watching our fears surface and then depart. But how do we help prayer become a tried-and-true practice in our daily lives? Finding the right words to pray can be challenging, but Max is here to help. Whether you&’re learning to pray for the first time or you&’re hoping to reinvigorate your prayer life, Start with Prayer will change the way you think about your relationship with God. Pairing timeless scripture with thoughtful prayers, Start with Prayer is a special collection of 250 prayers that will help you develop the strength and hope you need to turn to prayer first in any situation you're facing. Adapted from Max&’s series of Pocket Prayers with brand new prayers added, Start with Prayer is divided into categories designed to foster prayers that impact every aspect of life, including prayers centered around: Clarity and creativity Healing and safety Inspiration and encouragement Preservation and endurance Wisdom and leadership Start with Prayer is a trustworthy resource that you can turn to no matter what season of life you&’re in right now, reminding you that starting with prayer is always the right answer.
Start with Welcome: The Journey toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation
by Bri StensrudAsking the hard questions about immigration in light of Jesus' call to love our neighbors as ourselves.You've seen the headlines. You've watched the TV footage. People around the world are in dire situations and on the move. Current estimates suggest over 100 million people are forcibly displaced from their homes and seeking refuge in other countries. It seems as if everyone wants to come to the U.S., and if we're honest, that gives many of us pause.We wonder how it would impact our culture and communities if we showed welcome to the world, and many of us wonder how to separate the political rhetoric and talking points on present day immigration from what the Bible really has to say about immigrants and strangers.Start with Welcome dives into the whole narrative of Scripture to better understand what God calls us to do concerning immigrants and refugees. Bri Stensrud will guide you through pressing questions that will ignite your compassion and leave you curious about our calling as followers of Christ—questions like:Is Immigration a Pro-Life Issue?What does the Bible say about Immigrants?Who is Welcome here?What does Christlike Welcome look like? You have questions. You have fears. But you also have compassion.So, let's start there.Bri Stensrud welcomes you into the conversation—a conversation that&’s more urgent now than ever. It all starts with one word: Welcome.
Start with Your People: The Daily Decision that Changes Everything
by Brian DixonFor all who want to build a life that abounds with connection, friendship, purpose, and meaningful success, Brian Dixon presents a simple yet profound mantra: Start with Your People. It can be easy to become task-oriented, focusing on the goals ahead of us and checking off our to-do lists rather than focusing on the people in our lives. Entrepreneur and business coach Brian Dixon knows firsthand, and after one too many burned bridges and failed projects, he set out to discover the secret to living a life that matters and finding work you love.In Start with Your People, Brian shares principles, tips, and personal stories to help you maximize the most important resource to succeed in both life and calling: relationships. Join Brian on a journey to discover the people-first mindset that changes everything, including:Why your family actually helps you succeed, and how to see your kids as a legacy instead of a liabilityThe fastest, safest way to deal with the difficult people in your lifeA 10-step method to create your own personal mission statementThe #1 key to unlocking a powerful networkPlus, you get 11 powerful mindset hacks including Brian's life-changing morning practicePerfect for anyone looking to better live their purpose--whether a business executive, employee, stay-at-home mom, college graduate, entrepreneur, pastor, etc.--and lean into your home team as you move forward with clarity and confidence.Brian says, "When we really get down to it, our main legacy will be the investment we made in people."What's yours?
Starting A New Church
by Ralph Moore<P>According to the author perhaps our greatest responsibility is to evangelize our own generation. Yet established churches are not able to do that. In fact, rising generations of Americans live in ignorance of Jesus Christ and have no moral absolutes. Aggressive church planting, the author believes, is the answer to the problem, because new churches focus on the needs of each new generation and present biblical truth in the cultural context that best reaches those people. <P>The objectives of this book are to lay down the challenge to consider becoming a church planter while at the same time screen out wishful thinking and focus on the practical challenges of church planting. This authoritative and edgy message is the next thing in evangelism.
Starting From Scratch When You're Single Again: 23 Women Share Stories, Encouragement, Recipes, and Lessons Learned When Starting Over Was All They Could Do
by Sharon M Knudson Mary Fran HeitzmanYou're suddenly single again. What do you do now? Where do you turn? Starting From Scratch When You're Single Again serves up poignant stories from twenty-three widowed or divorced women who survived a horrific deathblow to their dreams for a happy, secure future. Somehow, with white-knuckle faith, each one found enough strength in themselves and in their God to move forward. Let each woman's story and the guiding principles she offers be an encouragement to you, and as a bonus, let the taste and aroma of her favorite recipe comfort and nourish your soul.
Starting Missional Churches: Life with God in the Neighborhood
by Mark Lau Branson Nicholas WarnesAll mission is local--the people of God joining the work of God in a particular place. In Starting Missional Churches Mark Lau Branson and Nicholas Warnes introduce us to seven missional churches while examining common challenges regarding their genesis. Using stories, interviews with pastors and a look at common preconceived notions of church planting in the West, this guide brings together resources of the missional church conversation with the creativity and energy of those who are experimenting with diverse planting activities and practices across the country. Curated by a pastor and a professor, this work highlights diverse modern examples of congregations focused on reaching their communities with a missional mindset. Learn from these stories how to build a vibrant, engaging church--one that generates redemptive witness in our neighborhoods and in our world.