Attraction this strong can lead to only one thing… Co-owner of New York's most successful auction house, Marcus Davies meets the woman of his dreams on a flight to Wyoming. The attraction is instant and overwhelming. After they narrowly escape a crash landing, Claudia Montgomery disappears at the airport, and Marcus fears he'll never see the sexy, headstrong Brit again. So he's stunned when their paths cross at a rock star's ranch and he discovers that he and Claudia are vying for the same glittering prize. Ever since their fateful encounter on a storm-tossed plane, Claudia hasn't been able to get Marcus out of her mind. Now, as fierce rivals, they have no chance of a future together…until fate steps in once more. From a sprawling Western estate to a magnificent Hamptons mansion, Claudia and Marcus soon realize they have no choice but to join forces in business—and in pleasure. But will it lead to lasting passion…and a love worth fighting for?
A taste of temptation... Cooper Davies doesn't need to look for his ideal mate. He's already found her. Gloria Adams is everything he wants in a woman, except she's taken. But Cooper--adopted brother of Marcus Davies and co-owner of a prestigious New York auction house--knows something truly precious when he sees it. And he's waited long enough to finally win the smart, sexy woman who's been haunting his dreams. After her disastrous relationship ends, Gloria's confidence is shattered. A gorgeous, charming millionaire like Cooper seems just too good to be true. Gleaming beaches and warm turquoise waters are the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable seduction. Can Gloria trust Cooper enough to let him break through her defenses, or will she let the clock run out on their blissful summer passion?
“Wealth without work Pleasure without conscience Science without humanity Knowledge without character Politics without principle Commerce without morality Worship without sacrifice. https://vidjambov.blogspot.com/2023/01/book-inventory-vladimir-djambov-talmach.html The goal of the Christian life is to acquire the Holy Spirit, in communion with God. Communion with God is the essence of our salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord. /// The path to salvation is the fulfillment of the commandments of God, life in Christ, or, what is the same, the Christian pious, virtuous life. /// The Christian virtuous life of every Christian has two essential aspects: the struggle against tempting evil (the struggle against sinful passions and vices) and the acquisition of Christian virtues. /// This book is devoted to these vital issues - the fight against the main sinful passions (vices) and the acquisition of basic Christian virtues. /// This far from finished work arose on the basis of conversations that the author, acting as a mentor, conducted with students of the seminary. These conversations have been completed and expanded, brought into the system. /// Many books have been written on the fight against passions and on Christian virtues by people experienced in the spiritual life under the guidance of Sts. fathers. There are also extensive scientific works from the field of asceticism. /// This same book is not a scientific treatise or study; rather, it is a systematized collection of patristic thoughts on individual, most important, issues of active Christian life, which has, mainly, a moral and edifying purpose. The author in his work sought to present the patristic teaching and experience in a form that is understandable and intelligible to the modern reader and to show their necessary applicability in the life of every Christian, for the commandments of God and the laws of spiritual life are common to all Christians, no matter what way of life and ascetic labor they pursue. /// In particular, the author had in mind that the book would serve as a manual for students of the seminary, candidates for the priesthood, so that they could get acquainted with the patristic teaching on this issue in an assembled form. Acquaintance of the candidate of the priesthood with the questions of Christian asceticism according to the teaching and experience of Sts. fathers and ascetics is of great importance for their future pastoral activity. /// The second and immediate goal of writing this work was also one’s own benefit: “in order to move oneself to correction, to the denunciation of one’s poor soul, so that, although being ashamed of words,” as St. John of the Ladder, - began to work having not yet acquired any good deed, but only words . And Rev. Nilus of Sinai points out that “he who does not do good should speak of good things, so that, being ashamed of words, he begins deeds” 2 . /// The book is divided into two parts. The first part gives general concepts about sin, sinful passions and self-love as the source of all sin and vice. Then a strategic teaching is presented about each of the main passions separately: about pride and vanity, about gluttony and fornication and the fight against them, about greed and anger, about envy, slander and condemnation, and, finally, about sinful sadness and despondency. /// The second part is devoted to the study of the main Christian virtues: love, humility, meekness, temperance and chastity - those virtues that a Christian needs to acquire in the active eradication of the above main passions. /// Therefore, when studying chapters, for example, on carnal passions (gluttony and fornication), it is useful to follow this (from the 2nd part) to assimilate the patristic teaching about the main eradicators of these passions - the virtues of temperance and chastity. When studying the issue of struggle with self-love, pride, greed and envy, one should follow this by studying the patristic teaching on love and humility. Anger has its opposite in meekness, etc.
Challenging misconceptions on all sides of the homosexuality debate, Burk and Lambert show how a biblical view of same-sex orientation, temptation, and desire gives hope for profound personal change.
In this systematic philosophical critique of the major tenets of Christianity, Michael Martin examines the semantic and epistemological bases of religious claims and beliefs. Beginning with a comparison and evaluation of the Apostles' Creed, the Niceno-Chalcedonian Creed, and the Athanasian Creed, Martin discusses the principal theological, historical, and eschatological assumptions of Christianity. These include the historicity of Jesus, the Incarnation, the Second Coming, the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, Salvation through faith in Jesus, and Jesus as a model of ethical behavior. Until now, an adequately convincing criticism of Christianity did not exist. Martin's use of historical evidence, textual analysis, and interpretations by philosophers and theologians provides the strongest case made to date against the rational justification of Christian doctrines.
Comprising groundbreaking dialogues by many of the most prominent scholars in Christian apologetics and the philosophy of religion, this volume offers a definitive treatment of central questions of Christian faith. The essays are ecumenical and broadly Christian, in the spirit of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, and feature lucid and up-to-date material designed to engage readers in contemporary theistic and Christian issues. Beginning with dialogues about God's existence and the coherence of theism and then moving beyond generic theism to address significant debates over such specifically Christian doctrines as the Trinity and the resurrection of Jesus, Debating Christian Theism provides an ideal starting point for anyone seeking to understand the current debates in Christian theology.
