Gifted youth leader Mark Hart, aka the Bible Geek, asks and answers the real questions that puzzle Catholics. This updated and expanded edition of a bestselling classic deals with concerns about God, temptations, personal issues, social media and technology, and more. Solutions to typical situations you face today are rooted in Scripture and Catholic tradition and provide fascinating advice and strong encouragement for living an authentic Christian life.
How often do we view the Our Father only as a series of petitions rather than as a way to the heart of our heavenly Father? Popular Catholic author Mark Hart says that the prayer Jesus gave us is a “reactionary” prayer—one that calls for a response from us. As he reflects on each of the words and phrases of the Our Father, he emphasizes the intimate relationship that God desires to have with us. Each of the fourteen ways Hart suggests for responding to the Lord’s Prayer begins with the letter “R”—from “remembrance” to “repentance” to “reliance” to “resolve.” This book will give readers a new appreciation for this profound yet simple prayer as well as a deeper understanding of the love that our Father pours out on us, his children. Informal and engaging style will appeal to both younger and older Catholics. Makes a thoughtful Confirmation gift.
The essential companion for the geek era: a fusion of inspirational quotes, philosophy, and pop culture drawn from the entire cult-classic canon of film, TV, books, comics, and science. Celebrate nerd culture by taking a page out of your all-time favorites, like Star Wars and Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings and Dune—and much more! Computer nerds are our titans of industry; comic-book superheroes are our Hollywood idols; the Internet is our night on the town. Clearly, geeks know something about life in the 21st century that other folks don’t—something we all can learn from. Geek Wisdom takes as gospel some 200 of the most powerful and oft-cited quotes from movies (“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads”), television (“Now we know—and knowing is half the battle”), literature (“All that is gold does not glitter”), games, science, the Internet, and more. Now these beloved pearls of modern-day culture have been painstakingly interpreted by a diverse team of hardcore nerds with their imaginations turned up to 11. Yes, this collection of mini-essays is by, for, and about geeks—but it’s just so surprisingly profound, the rest of us would have to be dorks not to read it. So say we all.
Countless graces flow from the use of Holy Water when you understand its role in God’s plan of salvation, and how it brings new graces into your life. In clear, convincing language, Father Theiler lays out for Christians countless surprising, but long-forgotten truths about Holy Water, and explains the interior acts and dispositions that are necessary for this blessed gift of God to have the sanctifying effect our Lord intends for you. Read these pages attentively; consider them thoughtfully; incorporate their truths and suggestions into your daily spiritual life. In these pages, you’ll also learn: The time that God Himself commanded the use of Holy Water (Do you know where the Bible tells this story?)Why God chose water as the means to impart so many blessings – even before He created man and woman!What you should — and should not — expect from the graces conferred by Holy WaterDid you know that Holy Water helps not merely the souls, but even the bodies of the Faithful DepartedWhy, although it’s not necessary for salvation, Holy Water may be just what you need to be savedHoly Water actually does protect you against ills, physical and spiritual – but only if you use it properly. Do you know how?Making the Sign of the Cross with Holy Water: what it ought to bring to your mind.A simple way to use Holy Water to ease and deepen your prayers at MassYou know your children face many dangers. Here are ways Holy Water can protect themThe Rite of Sprinkling with Holy Water: what should you do if no drops of water reach you?Many prayers — short and long — to help you use Holy Water frequently and efficaciouslyEight practical ways you can use Holy Water for the well-being of yourself and your loved ones.
My image of God the Father, enthroned in heaven in flowing white robes and Birkenstock sandals, was overshadowed by my certainty that he didn't want me to have any fun. God was all about rules.--from Chapter Five Too many young Catholics experience their faith as Mark Hart did: They rarely miss Mass even if they don't understand it; they have a Bible even if they never read it; they go to confession even if they aren't particularly repentant. Is that your experience of Catholicism? Is yours a faith of Thou Shalt Nots? If so, forget about a dreary life of mindless obedience to rules you don't understand. It's time to enter into the transforming light of your Creator who invites you to live from the still center of his undying love. The author's humorous and hard-hitting reflections drive home the point that God isn't calling the reader to be a good person--someone who merely obeys the rules--but a new person in Jesus Christ. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.
Whether you've just begun to pray or have been faithfully praying for years, the wisdom in this book will help you pray better. Fr. Lawrence Lovasik here shows you innumerable ways you can avoid common obstacles and deepen your prayer life, no matter how much or how little you may have prayed before.
Many people are often understandably intimidated or overwhelmed by the sheer size and complexity of the Bible. But now popular author and Boston University professor Peter Kreeft has written a clear road map of the Bible, focusing his keen insight and engaging wit on the core message of each book. It won't take long for you to understand why his guide to scripture has become a best-seller! Sparkling with intelligence and Kreeft's trademark humor, You Can Understand the Bible will transform dry study into spiritually satisfying adventures in God's Word. Regardless of how you approached- or didn't approach- the Bible before, you'll come away with a new appreciation of its depth and meaning. Kreeft also provides practical guidance for praying the scriptures every day, allowing the reader to delve into the messages of scripture in a manner that will surprise, delight, and reward.
The Historical Jesus in Context is a landmark collection that places the gospel narratives in their full literary, social, and archaeological context. More than twenty-five internationally recognized experts offer new translations and descriptions of a broad range of texts that shed new light on the Jesus of history, including pagan prayers and private inscriptions, miracle tales and martyrdoms, parables and fables, divorce decrees and imperial propaganda. The translated materials--from Christian, Coptic, and Jewish as well as Greek, Roman, and Egyptian texts--extend beyond single phrases to encompass the full context, thus allowing readers to locate Jesus in a broader cultural setting than is usually made available. This book demonstrates that only by knowing the world in which Jesus lived and taught can we fully understand him, his message, and the spread of the Gospel. Gathering in one place material that was previously available only in disparate sources, this formidable book provides innovative insight into matters no less grand than first-century Jewish and Gentile life, the composition of the Gospels, and Jesus himself.
