First Religion

On March, 13, 2013, 115 cardinals elected for the first time a pope from outside of Europe. Pope Francis, a native of Argentina, is not just the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere; he is also the first Jesuit to ever hold the Chair of Peter. Now, a leading expert on the papacy provides the ultimate introduction to this new pope, including biographical information and an absorbing collection of Jorge Mario Bergoglio's most persuasive words.

Western Christianity's long-standing support of Israel has, perhaps unintentionally, nurtured a prejudice against Arab people—the descendants of Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Author Tony Maalouf contends that this bias differs dramatically from the biblical portrayal of Ishmael and the nations that have sprung from him. With meticulous research and theological astuteness, Maalouf surfaces the positive portrayal of the Arab people in ancient and prophetic history, clearly showing that the Israeli-Arab conflict is a recent development in history.

Experience the heart-pounding drama of real-life emergencies. Veteran EMT and physical therapist Andrea Jo Rodgers shares this all-new collection of accounts from her 30-plus years as a volunteer with her town's local first aid and emergency squad.

A quarter of a century before Smith Wigglesworth, John G. Lake, and Maria Woodworth-Etter, Ethan Otis Allen pioneered an extraordinary move of God. Rising from abject poverty, this uneducated man became, in the words of A.B. Simpson, “The father of divine healing in America.” Who was this forgotten man, and what did he discover about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God?

Introduce your child to a variety of classic Bible stories with this enchanting baby book. From Noah's Ark and Jonah and the Whale, to the story of Moses and the birth of Jesus, this book contains 14 of your favorite Bible stories to share and listen aloud to with your child.

The notable German historian and monk Ekkehard of Aurach was also a crusader. He wrote a comprehensive world history text, but upon returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1101, he rewrote his portion on the First Crusade. "On the Opening of the First Crusade" is an excerpt from his larger work on the war, titled Hierosolymita. Modern scholars of history hold his contributions in high respect for his meticulous attention to detail and broad scope.

When wounded people come to church, we often do one of two things, with the best of intentions: We minimize or discount their pain, or we try to "fix" them by being the therapist. Both just cause more damage. And the worst part is, we don't know we're causing damage. We want to help. We have the right heart. We've just never been trained how to receive wounded people effectively. By doing it wrong we make it clear we don't understand their pain, and they keep it secret for their own protection. Because we aren't safe. But what if there's another way?

The Changed Life was originally intended to be given as a spoken address by the renowned 19-century Scottish evangelist Henry Drummond.

Una simple, oración de rima en cada página animará a los más pequeños a hablar con Dios antes de ir a dormir cada noche. Guarda la Palabra de Dios en el corazón del niño mediante el establecimiento de una rutina de acurrucarse, hablar y orar. Texto simple tendrá a los niños pequeños al pendiente de la lectura y memorización de cada oración de agradecimiento.

God...is the master of beginnings. Your circumstances may overwhelm you - but not God, who created everything from nothing. God lovingly offers relief, hope, and renewed energy for every beginning in your life. Join Steve Wiens on a paradigm-shifting walk through the seven days of creation, where he reveals how to apply the genesis of life to every one of your transitions. Discover your place in the creation process and how God longs to work in and through every change you encounter.

The History of Yud-Tes Kislev. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad- Lubavitch Chasidism, was arrested, persecuted, and imprisoned in the year 1798 for his selfless efforts to strengthen the Jewish people and to disseminate Chasidic teachings. Rabbi Schneur Zalman's arrest imperiled not only his own life, but also the future of Chasidism.This book explores this noteworthy turning point in the Chasidic movement, and its importance as a milestone in Jewish History.

In 1997, Atlanta businessman Os Hillman began writing a daily e-mail devotional featuring 4-minute meditations on faith and work life. For men and women in the workplace, this was just what they needed: practical help in applying their faith to their work life; encouragement to live out their faith; empowerment to be more effective in their jobs; support to become powerful witnesses at work; and examples of others who experienced the presence of God at work.

This book is for Christians and everybody else who takes himself too seriously! Buckingham, renowned storyteller and master satirist, goes behind the scenes to name names and talk about hilarious incidents in his life, and the life of others close to him. No one escapes his pointed pen. The big shots, the unknowns, his wife, his kids, his mother, friend, and foe - all are targets of his humor. He even pokes fun at himself - his weight, his balding head, and his often fumbling methods to represent God.

Aaron Nowell is back and this time he's not talking about the Church, he's telling his story. Ever wonder how the author of AA vs. The American Church ended up in AA in the first place? In this book, Aaron tells every detail of his struggle with alcohol -- starting from the first drops of warm beer he ever tasted to the drunk driving accident that nearly claimed his life. Filled with embarrassing stories and deeply personal reflections, this book shows how Aaron went from a Christian to a Christian Alcoholic.

"You shall have no other gods before me." Does the First Commandment serve any purpose for Christians today? What if the first commandment was meant to serve against a much bigger danger to Christianity than just the gods of Egypt and Rome? What if it was considered paramount because of a very specific threat that still torments the Christian faith today? Sorrow of the Godmakers proposes that superstition—specifically human conjecture about the nature of God—has always presented the greater peril. What God put simply, humans would complicate.

Amy Bloch, accomplished psychiatrist, busy and fully in control of her professional and family life, was dealt what she thought was a devastating, insurmountable set-back when her daughter Emily was born with a severe brain malformation. Amy tried desperately to “fix” Emily and exhausted herself in her efforts to deal with the “problem” using her intellect, going at it brain-first, the way we tend to approach any challenge in our society. Emily, by default, lives completely heart-first: She simply doesn’t have the capabilities to approach life brain-first.

In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. The letters in the New Testament, known as the Epistles, contain the first attempts by the church to understand and celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. They point us to the origins of what we believe about Jesus, fully human and fully divine. By spending time with these holy, ancient words this Advent, you’ll come to know the meaning of Christ’s coming like never before.

The First Book of Timothy is one of three letters in the New Testament of the Bible often grouped together as the pastoral epistles, along with Second Timothy and Titus. The letter, traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, consists mainly of counsels to his younger colleague and delegate Timothy regarding his ministry in Ephesus . These counsels include instructions on the organization of the Church and the responsibilities resting on certain groups of leaders therein as well as exhortations to faithfulness in maintaining the truth amid surrounding errors.

First Nations peoples and Native Americans in North America have long believed in the power of spirit animals or totems. They believed that these animals had lessons to teach and healing or inspirational powers. Wayne Arthurson delves into the world of spirit animals and shows the meanings of these animals to Native peoples and how nature has made its mark on their world.

My First Heroes introduces children to real-life heroes who have inspired people all over the world for thousands of years.