Love In Uncertain Times


Book Description

A boxed set of five full-length romance novels set in modern times. When the western world is focused on cyber connections, social networking and internet matchmaking, certain individuals, like those in these stories, have decided from past experience that guarding the heart is preferable to being attached, which means avoiding entanglements at all costs. At least that's their intention... Until love enters the picture.




The End of Love


Book Description

Western culture has endlessly represented the ways in which love miraculously erupts in people’s lives, the mythical moment in which one knows someone is destined for us, the feverish waiting for a phone call or an email, the thrill that runs down our spine at the mere thought of him or her. Yet, a culture that has so much to say about love is virtually silent on the no less mysterious moments when we avoid falling in love, where we fall out of love, when the one who kept us awake at night now leaves us indifferent, or when we hurry away from those who excited us a few months or even a few hours before. In The End of Love, Eva Illouz documents the multifarious ways in which relationships end. She argues that if modern love was once marked by the freedom to enter sexual and emotional bonds according to one’s will and choice, contemporary love has now become characterized by practices of non-choice, the freedom to withdraw from relationships. Illouz dubs this process by which relationships fade, evaporate, dissolve, and break down “unloving.” While sociology has classically focused on the formation of social bonds, The End of Love makes a powerful case for studying why and how social bonds collapse and dissolve. Particularly striking is the role that capitalism plays in practices of non-choice and “unloving.” The unmaking of social bonds, she argues, is connected to contemporary capitalism which is characterized by practices of non-commitment and non-choice, practices that enable the quick withdrawal from a transaction and the quick realignment of prices and the breaking of loyalties. Unloving and non-choice have in turn a profound impact on society and economics as they explain why people may be having fewer children, increasingly living alone, and having less sex. The End of Love presents a profound and original analysis of the effects of capitalism and consumer culture on personal relationships and of what the dissolution of personal relationships means for capitalism.




Gospel Virtues


Book Description

Virtues are in, but the work of Bill Bennett and others says little about specifically Christian virtues. Jonathan Wilson now recounts the recent rise of virtue ethics and provides a compelling Christian account and justification of them. Wilson engages such key figures as Alasdair MacIntyre and Stanley Hauerwas. Focusing especially on the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, he not only sets forth a closely reasoned intellectual argument but suggests how an embrace of virtue ethics might change the nitty-gritty practice of the church's education, worship, and hospitality. Accessible, informed, and faithful, 'Gospel Virtues' is important reading for all who care about issues of character and community.




The Art of Uncertainty


Book Description

What if we could learn to accept I don't know and embrace the possibility that the future is full of mystery, excitement, and unlimited opportunity? The Art of Uncertainty is an invitation to the reader to consider its essential message: learning to love the unknown by staying present in the moment. If the difficulties of recent years have taught us anything-particularly those who "did everything right" and still saw it all fall apart-it's that none of us has as much control over our lives as we believe. The only thing we can control is our next thought. What if we could learn how to be at peace with uncertainty and embrace the possibility that the future is full of mystery, excitement, and unlimited opportunity? What if we discovered that a new paradigm can be more fulfilling, more rewarding, and more peaceful than what we have known? Living in the I don't know and loving it is an art form we can all master, and The Art of Uncertainty is the perfect guidebook.




Comfortable with Uncertainty


Book Description

Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema Chodron offers short, stand-alone readings designed to help readers cultivate compassion and awareness amid the challenges of daily living.




Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already There


Book Description

The bestselling author of In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart—and Billy Graham’s daughter—returns with a rousing look at how to spiritually tackle the fears we all face during times of change, uncertainty, and crisis.' Ruth Graham empathizes with readers who feel inadequate, outnumbered, overpowered, overwhelmed, or even beyond hope. As she honestly admits, she’s experienced all these emotions. But in the midst of the rough patches in her life, she experienced the depth of God’s mercy. In Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already There, Graham shows the tremendous assurance of discovering that God can truly be trusted as our ultimate caretaker. He does have a plan for all His children, and He provides us with the tools we need to flourish when our world turns upside down. Ruth Graham’s strength as a speaker and writer is found in her vulnerable transparency. Writing not from an ivory tower of theological discourse, but from the battlefields of her own personal struggles, Ruth sheds light on her own life experiences, growing up as a Graham, faltering in difficult challenges, yet always landing in the open arms of a welcoming heavenly father. Drawing on the troubled lives of relatable Bible figures, Fear Not Tomorrow, God Is Already There awakens readers to have the courage to face uncertainties with true confidence in God. This is an essential volume for everyone.




Emergent Ecologies


Book Description

In an era of global warming, natural disasters, endangered species, and devastating pollution, contemporary writing on the environment largely focuses on doomsday scenarios. Eben Kirksey suggests we reject such apocalyptic thinking and instead find possibilities in the wreckage of ongoing disasters, as symbiotic associations of opportunistic plants, animals, and microbes are flourishing in unexpected places. Emergent Ecologies uses artwork and contemporary philosophy to illustrate hopeful opportunities and reframe key problems in conservation biology such as invasive species, extinction, environmental management, and reforestation. Following the flight of capital and nomadic forms of life—through fragmented landscapes of Panama, Costa Rica, and the United States—Kirksey explores how chance encounters, historical accidents, and parasitic invasions have shaped present and future multispecies communities. New generations of thinkers and tinkerers are learning how to care for emergent ecological assemblages—involving frogs, fungal pathogens, ants, monkeys, people, and plants—by seeding them, nurturing them, protecting them, and ultimately letting go.







God Has Not Forgotten You


Book Description

For anyone who is lonely or struggling with anxiety in times of uncertainty, find comfort in knowing that you are deeply loved by God. In God Has Not Forgotten You, New York Times bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah will help you navigate the uncertainties of the present while embracing God's promises for the future. This book invites you to experience the transforming power of God's Word that will help you: Trust God in uncertain and challenging times Know God is at work even when you can't see it Deal with confusing or disappointing circumstances The embellished cover design, presentation page, and a ribbon marker make this a thoughtful gift for: Someone who is experiencing a challenging season Anyone wanting to grow closer to God and trust in His greater plan God Has Not Forgotten You is the perfect reminder that you are not alone and that God is working all things together for your good.




The Master's Garden


Book Description

In the gospel of John, Jesus tells us that He is the Vine and His Father is the Gardener. He explains that His followers are the branches and need to remain in the Vine and bear much fruit. Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant by that or how remaining in the Vine might look in your daily life?Then enter into the fantasy world of Plantasia? where plants come alive! This is a witty tale told by a grandmother to help her struggling granddaughter find true significance under God's care. The Master Gardener created this beautiful world where plants can think, see, hear, and speak. He longs for all to come under His loving care and be grafted onto His beloved Vine. Through this connection, plants are able to flourish and reach their full potential. See what happens when a spindly rose, who yearns to be more than she is, meets the Master Gardener. Listen in on the conversations she has with the Gardener, Mighty Oak, Ginni (the Obedient Plant), and Mr. Bugleweed. Learn with her as she discovers the secrets of how to abide in the Vine and experience true riches.If you enjoyed the allegory Hinds' Feet on High Places, you will love this allegory ofabiding in Christ, the Vine!




Recent Books