Other books that might interest you

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  Anunnaki The: The History and...

  Editors Charles River

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  Today the Mesopotamians and their religion are sources of curiosity, but thousands of years ago, the religions were integral parts of their lives. From their birth to their death, deities surrounded them, and whether their social interactions were on the level of a smaller city or that of a larger nation-state, deities played key roles in the social fabric of their society. Whereas the Israelites were one people who worshipped a single god, Mesopotamian religions hailed from many sources that spanned thousands of years.  
  	Myth content and structure also changed as different dynasties came and went from Babylon. When modern Assyriologists – the term for scholars who study ancient Mesopotamia – began compiling the myths of the region, they realized that many of the most popular myths had several versions and were often copied into multiple languages. Although myths are part of a culture’s religion, Mesopotamian people’s religious rituals were usually independent of any myth: rituals were a way for humans to connect and gain favor with their gods, while the myths explained the way things came to be, as well as elucidating moral elements of society.  
  	In ancient Mesopotamia, families formed the basis of local communities, and from that core, states, kingdoms, and empires often derived their identity and legitimacy. Of course, the family unit also played a crucial role in the development of religious beliefs and myths, and one of the most influential is the Anunnaki. Scores of religious texts from ancient Mesopotamia – written in Sumerian cuneiform and Akkadian cuneiform – relate how the Anunnaki were the second generation of gods and goddesses. However, scholars debate their abilities, roles, and even which deities were considered among the Anunnaki. Many texts describe the Anunnaki collectively as guardians of the Underworld, yet in other texts, they are mentioned as protectors of the heavens.

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  Gather and Give - Sharing God’s...

  Amy Nelson Hannon

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  Read by the author. 
  Now more than ever, the world is hungry to gather and thirsty for connection. 
  Many of us wish to share a meal, share our faith, and share our lives with others. We want to open our home to friends and neighbors for the sake of meaningful community, but we're overwhelmed with hospitality hang-ups. How do I extend an invitation? What will they think of my house or the food? Our welcome has been influenced by the messages of the world that tell us hospitality is about our ability to be, host, live, and cook a certain way. 
  In Gather & Give, Amy Hannon inspires you to embrace the simple hospitality of the Bible that values connection more than perfection and people more than presentation. Amy shares scriptural principles and practical ideas to make everyday hospitality a natural, joy-filled part of your life. You will feel encouraged and equipped to view your home as:a holy wellspring of welcome to offer hope to a weary world;a strategic springboard for ministering to those around you; andthe perfect platform for influencing others for Christ. 
    
  Find freedom in knowing that the hospitality of the Bible is uncomplicated and effortless, that a welcome can be used by God to share His love and hope with the world, and that there is abounding joy in following the Lord in His hospitality command. Whether preparing shrimp and grits for a crowd or picking up barbecue with new neighbors, you can invite with intention, plate with purpose, and love others well. 
  Reflection questions and recipes are included in the audiobook companion PDF download.

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  Forsaken - The Trinity and the...

  Thomas H. McCall

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  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
  How should a Christian interpret this passage? What implications does the cross have for the trinitarian theology? Did the Father kill the Son?
  Theologian Thomas McCall presents a trinitarian reading of Christ's darkest moment--the moment of his prayer to his heavenly Father from the cross. McCall revisits the biblical texts and surveys the various interpretations of Jesus' cry, ranging from early church theologians to the Reformation to contemporary theologians. Along the way, he explains the terms of the scholarly debate and clearly marks out what he believes to be the historically orthodox point of view. By approaching the Son's cry to the Father as an event in the life of the Triune God, Forsaken seeks to recover the true poignancy of the orthodox perspective on the cross.

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  Grieving the Death of a Mother

  Harold Ivan Smith

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  A mother's death can make a shambles of schedules, priorities, agendas, commitments, and, sometimes, even our most important relationships. A mother's last breath inevitably changes us. Drawing on his own experience of loss, as well as those of others, Harold Ivan Smith guides listeners through their grief, from the process of dying through the acts of remembering and honoring a mother after her death.

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  The New Human Revolution vol 10

  Daisaku Ikeda

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  Through this novelized history of the Soka Gakkai-one of the most dynamic, diverse, and empowering Buddhist movements in the world today-readers will discover the organization's goals and achievements even as they find inspiring and practical Buddhist wisdom for living happily and compassionately in today's world. The book recounts the stories of ordinary individuals who faced tremendous odds in transforming their lives through the practice of Nichiren Buddhism and in bringing Buddhism's humanistic teachings to the world. This 1st volume looks at events that occurred in 1960 when Soka Gakkai was first brought to North and South America from Japan. This inspiring narrative provides readers with the principles with which they can positively transform their own lives for the better and realize enduring happiness for themselves and others.

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  Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to...

  Jonathan "JP" Pokluda, John Green

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  We live in an upside-down culture. We wink at our vices as coping strategies while restricting our virtues to our online personas, where they won't interfere with our real lives. And we wonder why we feel empty, exhausted, and directionless. But why do we do things that we know are harmful for us? 
   
   
   
  Jonathan "JP" Pokluda wants you to know there's a better, more fulfilling way to live, and it doesn't involve looking inside yourself for the answers—because that's not where you'll find them. With his signature wit and wisdom, he explains, unpacks, and expands on the age-old virtues we're told to pursue in Scripture: humility, forgiveness, generosity, diligence, self-control, authenticity, rest, and optimism. Far from being restrictive, these God-given goals for living free us to love and live as we wish we would. 
   
   
   
  Practicing virtues is not just something you do—it's something done in you, slowly but surely transforming you into the person you were meant to be all along. Whether you're eighteen or eighty, it's never too late to redefine what's important to you and reclaim a life of virtue.

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