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The Luminous Darkness
by Howard ThurmanThe Luminous Darkness is a commentary on what segregation does to the human soul. First published in the 1960s, Howard Thruman's insights apply today as we still try to heal the wound of those days. Thurman bares the evil of segregation and points to the ground of hope which an bring all humanity together.
The Luminous Heart of Jonah S.
by Gina B. NahaiLonglisted for the 2016 International Dublin Literary AwardFinalist for the Jewish Book Council's 2014 JJ Greenberg Memorial Award"Lyrical, shrewd, and daring novelist Nahai...writes with acute emotional and nearly anthropological perception, laser-wit, and deep compassion....With touches of magic realism, extraordinary characters, and a spiraling, multigenerational plot involving fraud, a murder mystery, epic suffering, heroic generosity, women's struggle for freedom, and the clash between East and West, Nahai's mythic, tragic, often beautiful immigrant family saga illuminates timeless questions of prejudice, trauma, inheritance, loyalty, and love."--Booklist, Starred review"A riveting tale....Readers will be well rewarded."--Publishers Weekly, Starred review"A wide-ranging, page-turning, magical realist, multigenerational family saga and Iranian-Jewish-American immigration tale enveloped in a murder mystery...it both entertains and instructs, and its differing genres seem more complimentary than conflicting."--New York Journal of Books"Nahai has crafted an engaging combination of family saga and murder mystery, placed it in the framework of a relatively unknown subculture, and people it with fascinating characters. Flavored with both elements of magical realism and down-to-earth observations, The Luminous Heart of Jonah S. brings a little-known Los Angeles community to vivid life."--Shelf Awareness"What results is a novel that feels more universal than anything, and an engrossing, expansive epic that charts not only thousands years of Iranian Jewish life, but the brutality of one family's survival amidst revolution and cultural upheaval."--Kirkus Reviews, Feature on Gina B. Nahai"A bold, brave novel...as surprising as it is satisfying....Captivating."--Forbes"One of the many pleasures of this sprawling, multigenerational story is the way it transcends the specifics of the Iranian diaspora with insights that could apply to anyone."--LA Weekly"One of Nahai's gifts is her astute observation of this community, her own, which she describes with unsparing precision."--Los Angeles Review of Books"The Luminous Heart of Jonah S. is a masterpiece that is simultaneously poetic in its unfurling, trans-generational plot, and brutally to the point in the style of a hard-boiled crime novel...This is a book you should not miss."--San Francisco Book Review"Nahai's eye for detail, whether it's succinctly summing up a funeral or providing a description of a Tehran summer, always seems to be spot on."--PopMatters"An intriguing murder-mystery journey anchored within the Iranian-Jewish community of Los Angeles. Vivid and raw...Nahai masterfully introduces us to the mythical and mundane layers that make up Iranian-American identity."--Washington Independent Review of Books"This is irresistible storytelling...Nahai uses her estimable gifts to offer a nuanced, sometimes satirical portrait of the tight-knit Iranian-Jewish exile community in Los Angeles...It's a fascinating read."--BookPageFrom Tehran to Los Angeles, The Luminous Heart of Jonah S. is a sweeping saga that tells the story of the Soleymans, an Iranian Jewish family tormented for decades by Raphael's Son, a crafty and unscrupulous financier who has futilely claimed to be an heir to the family's fortune. Forty years later in contemporary Los Angeles, Raphael's Son has nearly achieved his goal--until he suddenly disappears, presumed by many to have been murdered. The possible suspects are legion: his long-suffering wife; numerous members of the Soleyman clan exacting revenge; the scores of investors he bankrupted in a Ponzi scheme; or perhaps even his disgruntled bookkeeper and longtime confidant.Award-winning novelist Gina B. Nahai pulls back the curtain on a close-knit community that survived centuries of persecution in Iran before settling and thriving in the United States, but now finds itself divided to the core by one of its own members. By turns hilarious and affecting, The Luminous Heart of Jonah S. examines the eternal bonds of family and community, and the lasting scars of e
The Luminous Landscape of the Afterlife: Jordan’s Message to the Living on What to Expect after Death
by Matthew McKay• Reveals the afterlife as a fluid realm of imagination and invention, a luminous landscape created entirely of consciousness • Explains how to navigate the early stages of the afterlife, how we learn and grow in the spirit world, and how to release anxiety about the end of life • Includes exercises and meditations to prepare you for navigating and communicating in spirit There is no better source of information on death and the afterlife than someone who has died and lives in spirit. Channeling his late son, Jordan, psychologist Matthew McKay offers a postdeath guide for the living, revealing in vivid detail what to expect when we die and how to prepare for the wonders of the afterlife. Specifically describing the transition experience and the early stages of the afterlife, including how to navigate each stage, Jordan shows how death is a fluid realm of imagination and invention, a luminous landscape created entirely of consciousness. He explains how a soul that has newly crossed over is an amnesiac, arriving without senses, a nervous system, and all that has anchored us to the world. Jordan details how to navigate without a body, how we learn and grow in the spirit world, and how to release anxiety about the end of life and instead view it as another stage of being. He shows that the inferno described by Dante is an optional nightmare caused by thought projections that overwhelm the newly transitioned soul, and he reveals that the bardos are where souls who are beset with fear and false beliefs spend time learning and recovering. Providing profound relief from the fear of death, as well as exercises to prepare you for navigating and communicating in spirit, Jordan&’s message reveals how love is the bonding element that holds all of consciousness--and the afterlife--together. McKay also documents the unbreakable bond between the living and the dead and teaches the skill of channeling, allowing you to connect to loved ones who have passed.
The Luminous Life of Our Prophet
by Resit HaylamazDespite hundreds of years that have passed by, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) remains fresh in the hearts and minds of millions of people. The Luminous Life of Our Prophet is a book which aims to keep fresh the noble personality of the last Prophet by giving insights into his family as a loving father and husband, and his social life as a leader and mediator, and his spiritual life as a devoted servant of Allah the Almighty.
The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices and Rituals to Remember Who You Are
by Tracee StanleyA guide to self-remembrance with practices, meditations, and self-inquiry questions inspired by yoga and Tantra to help you connect with your inner wisdom, remember your wholeness, and live with clarity and compassion—by the bestselling author of Radiant Rest.The Luminous Self shares teachings and practices that can help us connect with our true Self and reclaim our inherent power and wisdom—essential for living with purpose and grace in our turbulent world. In this book, Tracee Stanley shares teachings and practices in each chapter—including meditation, yoga nidra, breath work, dreaming rituals, community care practices, journaling, and more—that can help us remember and honor our deepest Self.The book is a journey of inner exploration for anyone who desires to know themselves more deeply. Chapters introduce different paths to personal discernment—including facing obstacles to liberation, forgiveness, the power of memory, transitions as portals to wisdom and devotion, and nature as a teacher—and include stories from Stanley's life, teachings, and practice. 6 audio practices accompany the book.
The Luminous Vision: Six Medieval Mystics and Their Teachings (Routledge Library Editions: Medieval Culture, Society, & Religion)
by Anne BancroftMystical understanding transfigured Christianity in the Middle Ages and led to some of its most sublime prose and poetry. Originally published in 1982, this was the first book of its kind to bring together some of the medieval mystics and to relate the depths of their understanding to modern life and to world views. The author, a writer and broadcaster on modern mystics and on the mystical aspects of eastern religions, particularly Zen, has interpreted each of these very different medieval mystics afresh.
The Lunar Tao
by Deng Ming-DaoWe all live our lives by the Sun and the Moon The lunar calendar is a main pillar of Chinese tradition and culture, encompassing many festivals and stories. Though most explorations of Taoism take place within the realm of scripture, exercises, and formal lectures, Deng Ming-Dao looks to the lunar calendar and highlights where these festivals and stories coincide with Taoism, giving readers a renewed and original way into this ancient philosophy. Each day of the lunar year is represented with a reading meditation, original translations, illustrations, and illuminating facts about festivals and traditions, providing readers with the context that gives Taoism such depth and resonance. Unlike any other book, and beautifully illustrated with more than 400 photo-graphs and drawings, The Lunar Tao offers a new way to explore Taoism and shows readers how to include the tenets of Taoism in daily life.
The Lure and Legacy of Music at Versailles
by John Hajdu HeyerLouis XIV and his court at Versailles had a profound influence on music in France and throughout Europe. In 1660 Louis visited Aix-en-Provence, a trip that resulted in political and cultural transformations throughout the region. Soon thereafter Aix became an important center of sacred music composition, eventually rivaling Paris for the quality of the composers it produced. John Hajdu Heyer documents the young king's visit and examines how he and his court deployed sacred music to enhance the royal image and secure the loyalty of the populace. Exploring the circle of composers at Aix, Heyer provides the most up-to-date and complete biographies in English of nine key figures, including Guillaume Poitevin, André Campra, Jean Gilles, François Estienne, and Antoine Blanchard. The book goes on to reveal how the history of political power in the region was reflected through church music, and how musicians were affected by contemporary events.
The Lure of Images: A history of religion and visual media in America (Media, Religion And Culture Ser.)
by David MorganThis is the history of the relationship between mass produced visual media and religion in the United States. It is a journey from the 1780s to the present - from early evangelical tracts to teenage witches and televangelists, and from illustrated books to contemporary cinema. David Morgan explores the cultural marketplace of public representation, showing how American religionists have made special use of visual media to instruct the public, to practice devotion and ritual, and to form children and converts. Examples include:studying Jesus as an American idolJewish kitchens and Christian ParlorsBilly Sunday and Buffy the Vampire SlayerUncle Tom’s Cabin and the anti-slavery movement. This unique perspective reveals the importance of visual media to the construction and practice of sectarian and national community in a nation of immigrants old and new, and the tensions between the assimilation and the preservation of ethnic and racial identities. As well as the contribution of visual media to the religious life of Christians and Jews, Morgan shows how images have informed the perceptions and practices of other religions in America, including New Age, Buddhist and Hindu spirituality, and Mormonism, Native American Religions and the Occult.
The Lure of Their Graves: Book Two of The Cursed Crown series (The Cursed Crown Duology)
by Laura R. SamotinIn the heart-wrenching sequel to The Sins on Their Bones, The Lure of Their Graves forces Dimitri and Vasily to confront old ghosts and a new threat: political enemies-turned-suitors, all coveting Dimitri&’s throne and his hand in marriage.Dimitri Abramovich may have won back the throne of Novo-Svitsevo, but even after defeating his former husband, the usurper Alexey Balakin, he seems no closer to securing lasting peace for his people. Enemies are closing in on all sides, and pressure is mounting for Dimitri to play the one card he has left in a bid for stability—offering his hand in marriage for a second time.But Dimitri is still healing from the tragedies of the war, his return to the throne, and Alexey's years of torment. Vasily Sokolov is the only person with whom he feels safe, and giving up the comfort of their budding relationship feels unfathomable, even if it's the only way to sever the alliances being formed among the countries surrounding Novo-Svitsevo. So as Dimitri and Vasily reckon with political treachery, the lasting consequences of Dimitri's resurrection, and the sinister legacy of Alexey&’s use of the Holy Science, they must also work to understand what it means to love each other even as they prepare to let each other go—which might prove the most difficult of all.
The Lure of the Dark Side: Satan and Western Demonology in Popular Culture
by Eric S. Christianson Christopher H. PartridgeDemons, devils, spirits and vampires are present throughout popular Western culture in film, music and literature. Their religious significance has only recently begun to be explored. 'The Lure of the Darkside' brings together the work of some of the most important and creative scholars in the field of Biblical and Religious Studies. The essays explore demonology in popular culture from a range of perspectives: Satanism within contemporary music; the relationship between hymn and horror film; the career of Hannibal Lecter; the portrayal of Satan in films about Christ; and spiritual perversion in the Harry Potter Stories. This fresh and ground-breaking volume will be of interest to students of religious studies and theology, as well as literary and popular culture.
The Lure: Still More Stories of Families, Fishing, and Faith
by William J. Vande KoppleThey say that a fisherman never runs out of stories. Lucky for readers of this book, William J. Vande Kopple wants to do more than regale us with tales of the one that got away. In this winsome collection, Vande Kopple spins fifteen funny, poignant yarns out of his experience as a father, angler, and believer. From its haunting opening vignette to more expansive recollections of road trips, family reunions, and solitary forays into nature, Vande Kopple effortlessly perceives the connections between families, fishing, and faith. He is steadfast in his faith yet comfortable with doubt (see the starkly untidy ending of "Not a Hair Shall Fall," in which he and his son wrestle with both a big fish and the question of God's providence). He is contagiously exuberant yet mindful of the vicissitudes of aging (Have I waited too long? he wonders after a much-delayed fishing trip with his father in "Time Is Tapping on My Forehead"). He is an able raconteur whose spirits are never dampened for long (in "Longing," he promises never to drive up to Canada on a whim again to fish-until the locals tell him about a river he just has to try). Fishermen and their longsuffering friends and family members will relish Vande Kopple's latest book. So, too, will nature lovers of all stripes-particularly those who know the beauty of the pristine wildernesses of Michigan and Northwestern Ontario. In any case, whether or not readers share Vande Kopple's love for fishing, these stories are sure to catch those who are angling for a good story!
The Lyon Legacy
by Peg Sutherland Ruth Jean Dale Roz Denny FoxThe LYON LEGACYThree original stories by three popular Superromance authors-in one volume. And The Lyon Legacy continues! Watch for Family Secrets, Family Fortune and Family Reunion-full-length novels coming in the next three months.It's fifty years since the Lyon family of New Orleans ventured into what was then an exciting new business-television. Despite objections from some in the family, Margaret Hollander Lyon believed it was the wave of the future...and the past fifty years have certainly proven her right!The Lyons created a legacy for their children and grandchildren-a legacy of business success and family loyalty.But the Lyon Legacy is also a history of feuding, betrayal, deceptions. Every family has its secrets, and the Lyons have more than most.Margaret, André, Leslie-three generations of the Lyon family. Three stories about the power of family bonds...and the life-changing power of love.
The Lyons Den (Shelton Heights)
by Norman-Bellamy KendraLieutenant Stuart Lyons is a single father and a well-respected veteran law enforcement officer. In addition, he serves as head of security at the ever-popular New Hope Church in Atlanta, GA and above all, he loves the Lord. When sudden pandemonium strikes his "normal" life and he begins receiving threats from an unknown person who only identifies himself as "Dr. A. H. Satan," Stuart's life is turned upside down. This faceless stalker seems to know everything about Stuart: where he lives, where he works, where he worships, who his friends are and, most unsettling of all, that he has a son whom he adores. A series of disturbing events sends the Dekalb County Police Department into over-drive, trying to find the recently released, elusive madman who is now suspected of seeking long-awaited revenge on the officer who was responsible for putting him behind bars. Bizarre happenings—some explainable, and others that yet remain mysteries—have been known to find their way into the lives of many of the residents of the infamous Shelton Heights subdivision, and apparently, it's now Stuart's turn. Will his faith and the prayers of the righteous help put an end to his distress, or will the Legend of Shelton Heights swallow him whole?
The MBI Story: The Vision and Worldwide Impact of the Moody Bible Institute
by James VincentMoody Bible Institute will celebrate 125 years of ministry in 2011. The "official" history of MBI is being updated by Jim Vincent, to be released in time for Founder's Week in February, 2011. Jim Vincent (BA, UCLA; MA, UIC), was a member of faculty, an editor of Moody Magazine, and is today a senior editor for Moody Publishers. Jim helped update The Story of MBI (released in 1986), and has written Parting the Waters and co-authored A Vision with Wings. This volume will be the most comprehensive, up to date review of the history, ministry and impact of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. A four color photo insert is planned, along with a helpful appendix with the original constitution and bylaws, as well as a timeline of significant dates and events.
The MBI Story: The Vision and Worldwide Impact of the Moody Bible Institute
by James VincentMoody Bible Institute will celebrate 125 years of ministry in 2011. The "official" history of MBI is being updated by Jim Vincent, to be released in time for Founder's Week in February, 2011. Jim Vincent (BA, UCLA; MA, UIC), was a member of faculty, an editor of Moody Magazine, and is today a senior editor for Moody Publishers. Jim helped update The Story of MBI (released in 1986), and has written Parting the Waters and co-authored A Vision with Wings. This volume will be the most comprehensive, up to date review of the history, ministry and impact of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. A four color photo insert is planned, along with a helpful appendix with the original constitution and bylaws, as well as a timeline of significant dates and events.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary
by John MacarthurThe MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the OT and NT phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies as sidebars throughout.
The MacArthur Bible Handbook
by John MacarthurThe MacArthur Bible Handbook is the ultimate book-by-book survey of the Bible, including charts, graphs, and illustrations from today's leading expository teacher.A unique reference tool that is committed to quality and biblical teaching--will help you easily understand each book of the Bible, its historical context, and its place in Scripture. Bible Book Basics at a Glance!The meaning of each Bible book's nameWho wrote itThe date and settingThe theme and purposeIts key words, verses, and chaptersHow Christ is presented (even in the Old Testament)Its contribution to the Bible as a wholeA broad summary of the events and highlights it recordsA detailed outline of the bookMacArthur has put in over 60,000 hours of sermon preparation time in his 35 year ministry!
The MacArthur Daily Bible: Read through the Bible in one year, with notes from John MacArthur
by John Macarthur Thomas NelsonTake a tour through the Bible with pastor-teacher John MacArthur - unleashing God's truth, one verse at a time.T<P> The MacArthur Daily Bible takes a portion of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs for each day of the year, with daily comments that guide and inform you as you read through the Bible in a year. John MacArthur's insight maximizes the benefit of each day's reading. If a commitment to daily Bible reading never worked for you before, this is the answer. With John at your side, there'll be no such thing as a tough portion of Scripture.<P> Part of the Signature Series line of Thomas Nelson Bibles
The MacArthur Topical Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Major Topic Found in the Bible
by John MacarthurFinally, a contemporary topical Bible that's as easy to use as a dictionary! Wouldn't you like to have all the Scriptures on an important Bible topic, such as marriage, end times, the Holy Spirit, or money management in one place and instantly available - not just the references but the entire passage?The MacArthur Topical Bible is the most user-friendly Bible study tool released in decades. An amazing time-saver for teachers and pastors planning their lessons. A comprehensive volume of 20,000 Bible topics and more than 100,000 Bible passages, carefully cross-referenced and organized for quick and complete visual location.Designed for beginning students as well as seasoned scholars, The MacArthur Topical Bible is useful with all Bible translations.Next to the Bible this is the best companion a Christian can have for in-depth study for thousands of spiritual subjects.A resource that belongs in every Christian's basic Bible reference library.
The Mackerel Plaza: A Novel
by Peter De VriesAn irresistible comedy about faith, desire, and middle-class morality from the man described by Kingsley Amis as &“the funniest serious writer to be found on either side of the Atlantic&” Pity the poor reverend Andrew Mackerel of the People&’s Liberal Church of Avalon, Connecticut. His is the first split-level church in America, a bastion of modern thought and sophisticated virtue, yet even his prosperous parishioners are not immune to the backsliding evangelism infecting other parts of the country. One misguided congregant wants to sing hymns to hospital patients. Another goes so far as to put up a billboard with the message &“Jesus Saves&” written in phosphorescent green-and-orange letters. How is Mackerel supposed to write sermons with a vulgarity like that staring him in the face? Worse yet, the recently widowed pastor has fallen in love with Molly Calico, a former actress turned city hall clerk, well before the church is ready to stop mourning Mackerel&’s saintly wife. Plans are under way for a shopping mall and memorial plaza commemorating the dear departed, and Mackerel must go to ever-greater lengths to keep his new romance a secret and his new paramour happy. Meanwhile, it is becoming clear that his devoted sister-in-law, Hester, has plans of her own when it comes to the reverend&’s matrimonial future. As Mackerel twists and turns to get what he wants and avoid what he does not, the plot of this rollicking portrait of suburban piety kicks into high—and hilarious—gear.
The Mad Dog of Lobo Mountain (D. J. Dillon Adventure #5)
by Lee RoddyD.J. didn't see any harm in unfastening the leash from his little dog, Hero, for a run in the mountains, but that simple act caused the boy a world of fear and pain.
The Madman: His Parables and Poems
by Kahlil GibranWidely known in America as author of The Prophet, which sold more copies in the 20th century than any other book but the Bible, the great Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) first became known to Americans in 1918 with the publication of The Madman.Thought-provoking and inspiring, the book is a collection of memorable, life-affirming parables and poems, many of them casting an ironic light on the beliefs, aspirations, and vanities of humankind — and many reminiscent of the work of Tagore and Nietzsche, both of whom were strong influences on Gibran.Among the 35 poems and parables in this volume are "How I Became a Madman," "The Two Hermits," "The Wise Dog," "The Good God and the Evil God," "Night and the Madman," "The Three Ants," "When My Sorrow Was Born," "And When My Joy Was Born," and many more.The book includes several illustrations by the author, whose exquisite drawings are reminiscent of Rodin and the best of Blake. ". . . the greatest of Arab Romantics and father of a 20th-century Romantic tradition whose impact on Arab writers has been at least as strong as that of 19th-century figures such as Wordsworth and Keats on their English-speaking counterparts." — Dr. Suheil Bushrui, Director of the Kahlil Gibran Chair on Values and Peace, University of Maryland
The Madonna Painter
by Linda Gaboriau Michel Marc BouchardAt the end of the Great War, to protect his village from the Spanish flu epidemic, a priest commissions an Italian painter to decorate the local church with a fresco dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The painter is to choose, among four local women all named Mary, a model for his work. Superstition collides with desire, and lies are unmasked.