Without question this new book is one of the most gratifying biographies of a saint that I have ever read. Don Brophy, former managing editor of Paulist Press, and author of One Hundred Great Catholic Books, and The Story of Catholics in America, show us the real Catherine of Siena, and not one painted in the rosy hues of hagiography. In thirteen chapters, Brophy guides us through the life of St. Catherine including four pages of bibliography, and thirty-nine pages of notes.
The moment I began to read Shirt of Flame: A Year with Saint Therese of Lisieux, I knew that something very special was happening; an epiphany if you like. Heather King does not pull any punches or hide her own sins. In fact, she hangs them out for all to see and then places them in the context of her relationship to God. There is a bravery in this act that most writers would never dream of attempting.
ERB editor Chris Smith has written a little ebook called
The Virtue of Dialogue: Conversation as a Hopeful Practice of Church Communities,
which is now available from Patheos Press.
This ebook narrates Englewood Christian Church’s practice of conversation, how we — a failed megachurch — stumbled in the practice of conversation 15 years ago, and how it has transformed us and continues to transform us. A strong case is made that open, conversation is an essential and timely practice for all churches.
“There is something very 1st Century about Englewood, and there’s also something very postmodern — that’s because Englewood is seeking to be missional, not by theorizing about it but by actually doing it. Where they began is where we all need to begin: with conversation. We must face one another in a listening mode. Only then can our words become genuine conversation. This little book could be revolutionary for your own faith community.” - Scot McKnight, author of The King Jesus Gospel and Junia Is Not Alone
“The story of the Englewood Christian Church is a compelling one, not because it’s unusual (which it is), but because it narrates a story of church rebirth many people are experiencing under the radar of the ‘success-driven’ U.S. Christian establishment. Beautifully written, stunningly simple, this piece by Chris Smith gives hope for all those working in churches in the midst of long decline. To you who are looking for a way forward that is different from the latest mega church conference, I urge you to read this little book.” – David Fitch, B.R. Lindner Professor of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary, author of The End of Evangelicalism?
The Virtue of Dialogue is available for download as a Kindle ebook for only $2.99! http://amzn.to/virtueofdialogue
(if you want to tell others about this ebook, use this shortlink which benefits the ERB)
About 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in cities or suburbs. Yet as most of us flock to crowded, fast-paced urban areas, there’s a longing for nature and the simplicity of rural life.
All around us, we see signs of this longing – from the popularity of magazines like Real Simple, to well-known blogs such as The Pioneer Woman, which depicts life on an Oklahoma ranch, and A Holy Experience, the blog of farm wife and best-selling author Ann Voskamp [Editor's Note: Click here to read our review of Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts].
D. Mark Davis’ Left Behind and Loving It is a witty contribution to the conversation the church should be having about eschatology. The book makes some excellent points, but for a book about our [mis]understandings of the “end times”, it is surprisingly light in its treatment of the biblical text of Revelation.
Are you a subscriber to our quarterly print edition?
Our latest issue is Advent 2011; our next issue (Lent 2012) should arrive in late February.
Advent offers us the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s coming to earth, and in this issue, we have focused particularly on Christ’s coming as the “prince of peace,” and what that might mean for us as his followers. This issue features interviews with Jamie Arpin-Ricci and Dorothy Ranaghan, an essay by Ragan Sutterfield on the discipline and joys of handwriting letters, our Best Books of 2011 list, reviews by L.L. Barkat, John Nugent and much more!
We will post sample reviews on the website in the next few weeks,
after our subscribers start receiving their copies.
***Subscribe today, and we’ll send a free copy of Issue #5 out in the mail to you ASAP…
Your subscription will begin with our next issue!!! A subscription to our print edition makes a wonderful gift for the reader in your life!
If you are located outside North America (the United States / Canada), you are eligible to receive our print edition for FREE via email (sent as a PDF file). GO HERE to sign up… This global edition of issue #5 will be emailed within two weeks.
Sam Wells’ new book, Be Not Afraid, is a powerful antidote to the fear-based news and views so prevalent in our time. These short essays read like sermons – very good sermons – grounded in scripture and bringing to life some important insights and reminders about courage, authenticity and candor. A person seemingly acquainted with despair and fear, Wells writes from a heart-felt place of deep reflection that would invite even the most intractable soul to reconsider what it means to live in the world today as a person of faith. Read the rest of this entry »
A Life Focused on Christ
