The Ladder of the Beatitudes


Book Description

Drawing on stories from the lives of the saints, scripture, and everyday life, Jim Forest opens up the mysteries of the Beatitudes. These ancient blessings, with which Christ began his Sermon on the Mount, are all aspects of communion with God. As Forest shows, they are like rungs on a ladder, each one leading to the next. They appear at the doorway of the New Testament to provide an easily memorized summary of everything that follows, right down to the crucifixion ("Blessed are you who are persecuted") and the resurrection ("Rejoice and be glad").




Partnering with God


Book Description

The idea that we can partner with God strikes some people as audacious. Others consider it pretentious. Some may think it’s downright blasphemous! Can creatures actually can partner with God? This book answers that question... in the affirmative. The responses vary and the proposals provoke new insights. Along the way, the ideas break new ground. It turns out “partnering with God” has various meanings and dimensions. The seventy-seven contributors explore this rich diversity in accessible language, deep insight, and multiple stories. Their explorations inspire, elucidate, and motivate! What they're saying... This helpful book provides both important concepts and lived experience that invite us to consider how what we think about God affects how we live in the world. - Sarah Heaner Lancaster, Methodist Theological School in Ohio These essays are insightful, practical, thoughtful, and worth our consideration. Each author brings unique insights into the divine. - Christopher Fisher, God is Open Get a copy of Partnering with God!




The Ladder of Divine Ascent


Book Description

John Climacus (c. 579-649) was abbot of the monastery of Catherine on Mount Sinai. His Ladder was the most widely used handbook of the ascetical life in the ancient Greek Church.




Climbing the Spiritual Ladder


Book Description

Once we make the decision to follow the spiritual path, we may at first wander uncertainly and even lose sight of the way. Whatever doubts and misgivings we may have can't triumph over the inner power that has turned the current of our life. The aliveness that has been born can't be stifled. Yes, we will slip, make mistakes, fall away from the path, but these are only temporary sidesteps. The spiritual path has called and eventually we will find it again.




Jacob's Ladder


Book Description

There are ten important questions everyone should ask; ; and the answers to these questions, which lead to ultimate ; truth, are a matter of reason, not of faith. Well-known Catholic philosopher and writer Peter ; Kreeft tackles each of these questions in a logical ; step-by-step way, like climbing the rungs of a ladder. ; Because questions are best answered by dialogue, Kreeft ; answers these fundamental questions in an imaginary ; conversation between two very different people who meet at ; the beach. Kreeft's characters begin at the ; beginning, at the bottom of the ladder, which is the ; passion for truth. When it comes to the most important ; questions a person can ask, no mere interest in ; philosophical dabbling will do. The passion for truth does ; not stop there, however, but carries the reader from one ; page to the next in this thought-provoking adventure of the ; mind. Among the topics, or "steps", that ; Kreeft's characters delve into include: Do you ; have the passion to know? Does truth ; exist? What is the meaning of life? What ; is love, and why is it so important for our ; lives? If there is a God, what proof is there for ; his existence? Has God revealed himself to us in a ; personal way? And many other important ; questions and topics to help climb the ladder to the truth ; about life.




The Ladder of Divine Ascent


Book Description