Previously published in the print anthology The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories. Frank Oliver returns to England after years of overseas service only to realize he no longer knows anyone there. On visiting the British Museum, he encounters the “lonely god,” who seems to be experiencing the same sense of isolation he is. Will this strange deity help relieve him of his loneliness?

The Bible doesn't contradict itself, but it often runs counter to what we expect. Part of the problem lies in the limitations of the human mind. The very idea of God exceeds our grasp. Traditional views hold that God himself is the only uncreated being. Everything and everyone else was created by him. But then that means that before God created the things that are, he was alone - for eternity. But that seems impossible. It is possible to understand God, but only on his own terms, and only by his own revelation. When we try to go beyond what he shows himself to be, we risk creating God in our own image. God has not left us in the dark. He has given us clouds of witnesses, some of whom survived a close encounter with God. From their testimony and from the actions of God in history, a picture begins to emerge. So what in the world is God doing? What is God's purpose for mankind? This book is about understanding and knowing God as he wishes to be known, not necessarily as we wish to know him. The picture that emerges is disturbing. God is not only kind, merciful, forgiving, and longsuffering. He is dangerous. This is why the Bible speaks of the fear of God. This insightful, instructive, and provocative book will change the way you think about God.

Poems by Daniel Austin

Young or old, single or married, male or female—at some point in life, we're all confronted with loneliness. We try to fill the void or change our circumstances so we no longer feel the pain. But what if our pangs of loneliness are meant to point us to something greater? Looking at various aspects of loneliness, Lydia Brownback reminds us of God's power to redeem our loneliness and use it in our lives to draw us to himself. Ultimately, she helps us see that even when we feel misunderstood, forsaken, or abandoned, we're never really alone. God is always with us, and only he can meet all of our needs in Christ Jesus.

In a writing style that captivates with its almost poetic insight and lustre, Griffin writes about life's toughest troubles and offers encouragement for fortitude, compassion, grace and peace.

Joseph B. Soloveitchik, the rabbi known as “The Rav” by his followers worldwide, was a leading authority on the meaning of Jewish law and prominent force in building bridges between traditional Orthodox Judaism and the modern world. In THE LONELY MAN OF FAITH, a soaring, eloquent essay first published in Tradition magazine in 1965, Soloveitchik investigates the essential loneliness of the person of faith in our narcissistic, materially oriented, utilitarian society. In this modern classic, Soloveitchik uses the story of Adam and Eve as a springboard, interweaving insights from such important Western philosophers as Kierkegaard and Kant with innovative readings of Genesis to provide guidance for the faithful in today’s world. He explains prayer as “the harbinger of moral reformation,” and discusses with empathy and understanding the despair and exasperation of individuals who seek personal redemption through direct knowledge of a God who seems remote and unapproachable. He shows that while the faithful may become members of a religious community, their true home is “the abode of loneliness.” In a moving personal testimony, Soloveitchik demonstrates a deep-seated commitment, intellectual courage, and integrity that people of all religions will respond to.