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Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
Culture & Mission, Everyday LifeWe are living through a period of cultural climate change. We have outsourced morality to the markets on the one hand, and the state on the other. The markets have brought wealth to many, and the state has done much to contain the worst excesses of inequality, but neither is capable of bearing the moral weight of showing us how to live. This has had a profound impact on society and the way in which we interact with each other. Traditional values no longer hold, yet recent political swings show that modern ideals of tolerance have left many feeling rudderless and adrift. In this environment we see things fall apart in unexpected ways - toxic public discourse makes true societal progress almost unattainable, a more divisive society is fuelled by identity politics and extremism, and the rise of a victimhood mentality calls for 'safe spaces' but stifles debate. The influence of social media seems all-pervading and the breakdown of the family is only one result of the loss of social capital. Many fear what the future may hold. Delivering a devastatingly insightful critique of our modern condition, and assessing its roots and causes from the ancient Greeks through the Reformation and Enlightenment to the present day, Sacks argues that there is no liberty without morality, and no freedom without responsibility. If we care about the future of western civilisation, all of us must play our part in rebuilding our common moral foundation. Then we will discover afresh the life-transforming and counterintuitive truths that a nation is strong when it cares for the weak, and rich when it cares for the poor. Here is an inspiring vision of a world in which we can all find our place, and face the future without fear.£10.99 -
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
The Inner JourneyThere are two ways to live the Christian life. You can live it either for the heart of Christ or from the heart of Christ. You can live for the smile of God or from it. For a new identity as a son or daughter of God or from it. For your union with Christ or from it. The battle of the Christian life is to bring your own heart into alignment with Christ’s, that is, getting up each morning and replacing your natural orphan mind-set with a mind-set of full and free adoption into the family of God through the work of Christ… Jesus’ final prayer on the cross was, “It is finished.” And it is. Our God declared “Let there be light” and there was. He yelled out, “It is finished,” and it is. Our forgiveness and standing are secure because of the finished work of Jesus. We don’t have to live for victory. We can live from it.£14.99 -
A Sunlit : Silence, Awareness and Contemplation
Scripture & Prayer, The Inner Journey"The practice of contemplation is one of the great spiritual arts," writes Martin Laird in A Sunlit Absence. "Not a technique but a skill, it harnesses the winds of grace that lead us out into the liberating sea of silence." In this companion volume to his bestselling Into the Silent Land, Laird focuses on a quality often overlooked by books on Christian meditation: a vast and flowing spaciousness that embraces both silence and sound, and transcends all subject/object dualisms. Drawing on the wisdom of great contemplatives from St. Augustine and St. Teresa of Avila to St. Hesychios, Simone Weil, and many others, Laird shows how we can uncover the deeper levels of awareness that rest within us like buriedtreasure waiting to be found. The key insight of the book is that as our practice matures, so will our experience of life's ordeals, sorrows, and joys expand into generous, receptive maturity. We learn to see whatever difficulties we experience in meditation-boredom, lethargy, arrogance, depression, grief,anxiety-not as obstacles to be overcome but as opportunities to practice surrender to what is. With clarity and grace Laird shows how we can move away from identifying with our turbulent, ever-changing thoughts and emotions to the cultivation of a "sunlit absence"-the luminous awareness in which God's presence can most profoundly be felt. Addressed to both beginners and intermediates on the pathless path of still prayer, A Sunlit Absence offers wise guidance on the specifics of contemplative practice as well as an inspiring vision of the purpose of such practice and the central role it can play in our spiritual lives.£14.99 -
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Hineni : In Imitation of Abraham
Desert Monasticism, Spiritual Direction, Spiritual GrowthHow do you encounter the mystery of the other? This is the central question at the heart of spiritual direction and central to the human quest. Hineni presence is not an answer to the mystery but a response to the challenge. At a time when people on the edges of religion increasingly seek out spiritual direction as a way of confronting life's unanswerable questions, hineni indicates a fundamental reality beyond labels. And in an age that seems to suffer from disconnection, hineni indicates a way in. A helpful resource for anyone interested in spirituality beyond easy answers or (in)convenient labels, Hineni: In Imitation of Abraham is a stark exploration of what it truly means to be present to yourself, to the one before you, and to the one we call God.£13.99 -
Into the Depths : A Chaplain’s Reflections on Death, Dying and Pastoral Care
Everyday Life, Seasons of LifePastoral care is central to Christian ministry, and it can take ministers to the edges of human life. Chaplains often work on the edge of institutions, and frequently on the edge of society. In this thoughtful and practical book, Rosie Deedes draws on her experience as a chaplain in prisons and hospices and reflects on the nature of pastoral care and the contribution chaplaincy can make to the life and ministry of the Church. Focusing particularly on the taboo subject of death and dying, she shows how ministers such as clergy and chaplains are called to go 'into the depths' of human life to share the love and compassion of God. Reflecting on a number of pastoral encounters, the book invites ministers to confront the depths of human life and to develop resilience that enables them to engage in depth with all they encounter.£12.99 -
Wind, water, flame – the Holy Spirit: Print
Creativity, Spiritual GrowthA 21cm square print featuring original artwork by Francesca Ross.£10.00 -
Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of “And” in an Either-Or World
Everyday Life, Scripture & PrayerWhat if certainty isn't the goal? In a world filled with ambiguity, many of us long for a belief system that provides straightforward answers to complex questions and clarity in the face of confusion. We want faith to act like an orderly set of truth-claims designed to solve the problems and pain that life throws at us. With signature candor and depth, Jen Pollock Michel helps readers imagine a Christian faith open to mystery. While there are certainties in Christian faith, at the heart of the Christian story is also paradox. Jesus invites us to abandon the polarities of either and or in order to embrace the difficult, wondrous dissonance of and. The incarnation--the paradox of God made human--teaches us to look for God in the and of body and spirit, heaven and earth. In the kingdom, God often hides in plain sight and announces his triumph on the back of a donkey. In the paradox of grace, we receive life eternal by actively participating in death. And lament, with its clear-eyed appraisal of suffering alongside its commitment to finding audience with God, is a paradoxical practice of faith. Each of these themes give us certainty about God while also leading us into greater curiosity about his nature and activity in the world. As Michel writes, "As soon as we think we have God figured out, we will have ceased to worship him as he is." With personal stories and reflection on Scripture, literature, and culture, Michel takes us deeper into mystery and into worship of the One who is Mystery and Love.£15.00 -
Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety
Influences & Suggested Reading, The Inner JourneyAt one of the lowest points in his life, Henri Nouwen gave a series of lectures on the importance of following Jesus in an age of anxiety. This new work from the archives of the Nouwen estate draws on those talks. It reveals the deep turmoil and sometimes chaotic inner life of the man who has become an icon of compassion and vulnerability for Christians and non-Christians alike. Nouwen writes eloquently about calling and purpose, fear and hope and explains why, with so many choices available to 21st century seekers - including atheism and secularism - the greatest reward for those looking for fulfilment is to choose belief in God. Along the way he offers warm, insightful, practical spiritual practices to help readers navigate the narrow, sometimes arduous, but ultimately fulfilling road of conviction and faith.£13.99 -
What Do We Do With the Bible?
Scripture & Prayer, Spiritual Growth, The Inner JourneyWhat do we do with the Bible? Does this ancient, sometimes violent and contradictory text have anything to teach us today? Selective use of Scripture - by preachers and politicians alike - has been employed to justify violence, racism, misogyny, homophobia . . .the list goes on. Still, we believe the Bible has something important to say. How can we read it in a contemplative and intelligent way? In "What do we do with the Bible?", Richard Rohr answers just this question. He offers a methodology of hermeneutics (interpretation) that creates a foundation for a hopeful and cosmic vision - incarnation from beginning to end of time. (He explores this vision further in The Universal Christ). In particular, Father Richard focuses on Jesus' own method of using his Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus read between the lines to find and follow God's mercy, inclusion, and compassionate justice. For him, everything came down to relationship and transformation.£9.99 -
Alpha and Omega: A4 signed print
Creativity, Spiritual Growth‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’ Revelation 1:8 (NIV) Background: The Chi Rho, also known as chrismon or sigla is one of the earliest forms of christogram, formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters—chi and rho (??)—of the Greek word ??????? (Christos). Alpha and Omega includes a modern take on the Chi Rho symbol and overall offers a reminder of the Godhead of Jesus. Printing and Sizing: This item is 210mm x 297mm and is printed on 300gsm card stock£12.50 -
Just This : Prompts And Practices For Contemplation
The Inner JourneyJust This is a collection of brief and evocative meditations and practices that invites us to cultivate the gift of waking up to the beauty of reality in all its glorious ordinariness. With his signature blend of contemplation, theology, and pastoral sensitivity, Fr Richard Rohr creates a spaciousness for the soul to grow into a kind of seeing that goes far beyond merely looking to recognising and thus appreciating. This is the heart of contemplation, the centrepiece of any inner dialogue that frees us from the traps of our perceptions and preoccupations. The contemplative mind does not tell us what to see; it teaches us how to see what we behold.£10.99 -
Putting Joy Into Practice : Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church
Spiritual Exercises, The Inner JourneyPutting Joy into Practice: Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church is an invitation to a life of joy. Phoebe Farag Mikhail explains what joy is and how to experience it through seven spiritual practices that cultivate our inner lives and connect us to our communities. These seven practices, which include giving thanks, hospitality, praise, and more, take us on a journey that leads to joy through the giving and receiving of sacrificial love. She describes her own experiences and struggles with joy and offers practical ways to implement these practices to increase joy in our own lives and in the lives of all those around us.£13.00
