An acclaimed short-story writer has created a miraculous first novel about an American family on the verge of a breakdown–and an epiphany. In the summer of 2000, Israel teeters between total war and total peace. Similarly on edge, Helen Michaelson, a respectable suburban housewife from Michigan, has brought her ailing husband and rebellious college-age son, Jeremy, to Jerusalem. She hopes the journey will inspire Jeremy to reconnect with his faith and find meaning in his life . . . or at least get rid of his nose ring. It’s not that Helen is concerned about Jeremy’s sexual orientation (after all, her other son is gay as well). It’s merely the matter of the overdose (“Just like Liza!” Jeremy had told her), the green hair, and what looks like a safety pin stuck through his face. After therapy, unconditional love, and tough love . . . why not try Israel? Yet in seductive and dangerous surroundings, with the rumbling of violence and change in the air, in a part of the world where “there are no modern times,” mother and son become new, old, and surprising versions of themselves. Funny, erotic, searingly insightful, and profoundly moving, Faith for Beginners is a stunning debut novel from a vibrant new voice in fiction.

This 7 chapter book explains basic topics such as belief in God; the history and writing of the Bible; the person of Jesus; the nature of salvation and more. All presented in an easy to understand approach suitable for those less familiar with the Bible or the Christian religion. #1 Belief in God - This first chapter in the series reviews the reasons why Christians believe in a Supreme Being. This idea is looked at from both a philosophical and theological perspective. #2 The Christian Religion - In this lesson we will examine the Christian religion and see how it compares to the other major religions in the world. #3 The Bible - This lesson examines the history of Bible authorship, how the Bible was organized into its present form, and some key reasons why Christians believe that it is inspired by God. #4 Jesus Christ - The Christian faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ. In this lesson we will look closely at this person in order to more clearly define His true nature and character. #5 Salvation - This lesson lays out the simple yet powerful plan that God has initiated to save mankind from eternal condemnation due to personal sin and how Jesus Christ fits in to this plan of salvation. #6 The Church - The church is the physical presence of Jesus Christ in the world today. In this lesson we will examine the New Testament in order to determine what the inspired text says the church should be like and how it should function. #7 The Christian Lifestyle - A final lesson describing the new motivation and lifestyle that God has designed for those who are followers of Jesus Christ. ----- BibleTalk.tv -----

THEOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS FRANK SHEED — A Catholic Classic! — Includes Linked Headings, Index and Table of Contents — Includes Religious Illustrations Publisher: Available in Paperback: ISBN-13: 978-1-78379-502-4 “Not on bread alone doth man live,” said Christ Our Lord, quoting Deuteronomy to the Devil. Everybody knows the phrase, and most people tend to complete it according to their own fancy of what is most important to the hungry soul of man. But it had its own completion in Deuteronomy and Our Lord reminded the Devil of that too—“but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.” Revealed truth, then, is food. Now it is a peculiarity of food that it nourishes only those who eat it. We are not nourished by the food that someone else has eaten. To be nourished by it, we must eat it ourselves. PUBLISHER: CATHOLIC WAY PUBLISHING

Offers a straightforward look at the Christian mystical tradition, using examples of the classical mystical journey from the lives of Christian mystics.

As with very many of Augustine’s works, Instructing Beginners in Faith is a response to a request, an answer to questions put to him by others. In this case we know from the first words of the work itself that the one making the request is named Deogratias (Augustine calls him “brother”), and a couple of lines later we learn that he is a deacon in Carthage, the principal city of Proconsular Africa, where he enjoys popularity as a teacher of the faith. In the most general terms, he wanted Augustine to send him “something in writing which might be of use to him on the question of instructing beginners in faith (de catechizandis rudibus)”. The term rudes in this expression referred specifically to people who were approaching the Church for the first time with the wish to become Christians. Instructing Beginners in Faith has been frequently and creatively adapted to serve the needs of education in faith in many different contexts, including the education of clergy and religious education more generally. The two model catecheses that Augustine sketches not only continue to have relevance today but also provide an important insight into his understanding of the use of scripture and tradition. Augustine's awareness of the problems that religious educators face demonstrates his profound grasp of the human condition. Written as a reflection on the most suitable way of communicating the heart of Christian faith to those applying for membership of the Church.

In this personal, easy-to-read book, James Sire offers a basic introduction to the foundational beliefs of Christianity for seekers and believers who want to understand the central teachings of the Bible. The chapters in this expanded edition are organized around a simple scheme: creation, fall, redemption, new life in Christ, life in the church.

What do you do when you want to find your faith, but don't know where to start? Lifestyle blogger Ashley Hetherington tackles the question so we can finally start living the life that's waiting for us. Many women have no idea how to get into their faith. It's even easier for them to wonder what the heck is out there and if there really is someone Divine looking over them. Ashley Hetherington understands this problem. But she also discovered that no matter where you come from or how much you know, there is a way to start a relationship with Jesus from scratch. Her experience helps us: · Learn how to pray, and see that it's a lot easier than you'd think.· Open up the Bible and actually understand it.· Find a church home, even if you don't have anyone to go with.· Make friends that will support you on your faith journey, and what Christian community looks like. Hetherington, a former Jesus-googler herself, delivers just how you can find your faith from ground zero. By the end of A Scoop Of Honey, you will understand more about your purpose, gain a sense of your worth, and you will surely feel closer to your Maker.