Organizations and Institutions Books

This book is a must for those who are involved in music & worship

This is a thoughtful, intelligent, and well-researched book which should be required reading for anyone interested in the fascinating history of French Catholicism. There is much here for professional historians, interested amateurs, and anyone who has ever climbed the hill of Montmartre and pondered the immense church at its summit. Jonas, author of _Industry and Politics in Rural France: Peasants of the Isère, 1870-1914_, convincingly explores the history of the Sacred Heart devotion, the national feelings of guilt after the Franco-Prussian War, and elaborates upon an important aspect of the conservative politics of modern France. The work nicely complements the works of Ruth Harris, Thomas Kselman, Timothy Tackett, and Dale Van Kley. I recommend it very highly.

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This one volume history of the origins and development of the Franciscan Order is quite simply the best introduction that a reader could hope for. Short, a Franciscan, has conveyed both the history of the order in a manner that all readers can understand.

Cathy Packer is one of my professors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There's no one that knows media law like she does. This book is just another example of how brilliant she is with her subject matter. Buy this book today. You won't regret it. A+

To the layman, the Freemasons are a mysterious brotherhood. But in this book, Jasper Ridley attempts to separate truth from myth.

The Freemasons follows the development of Freemasonry from the lodges of the original 'freestone masons' - expert carvers who were the elite of the skilled labour force - through to its position in society today. This broad history takes in the 'gentleman masons' and speculative lodges of the eighteenth century, formation of the Grand Lodge in London in 1717 and the Papal Bull of 1738 condemning Freemasonry, which was beginning of a two hundred and fifty year war between the Freemasons and the Catholic Church.

Ridley also details the role of the Freemasons in the American Revolution of 1776 and the creation of the United States, their responsibility for the French revolution and their persecution by the Nazis. Incidents of murder, their difficulties all over the world, the effect of their secrecy, their controversial attitude toward women and their left - and right-wing branches: all are covered in a fascinating study.

Are the Freemasons a menacing conspiracy, a worldly society, or a group of harmless eccentrics? Ridley examines the evidence, and considers how far current fears are justified and whether the Freemasons will be able to adapt to modern developments in the twenty-first century world.
--- from book's back cover

This book is amazingly well done. It is remarkably error-free, especially given the breadth of religious positions represented by the various faith groups in Manhattan. Dunlap understands religion and religious beliefs, and he understands architecture as well. I have been hoping (perhaps praying?) for such a book for years and to have my wish fulfilled -- and not have to do it myself -- has been joyous. I've only had it two weeks but I've already passed it around to others who are equally impressed. If the subject interests you at all, buy this book!

WHAT A GREAT BOOK! VERY ENLIGHTEN TO PROMOTE THE LIBERATION AND SERVANT THEOLOGIES OF CHRIST. TO BRING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INTO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. HE SPEAKS ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL,SOCIAL,ECONOMIC,EDUCATIONAL,AND HEALTH NEEDS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. REBUILDING THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATING ECONOMIC SELF-HELP.HE SPEAKS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC INJUSTICES.I AM HAPPY THAT THERE ARE CHURCHES ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS.DR.WALTER MALONE,JR.ALSO GIVES A CASE STUDIES:RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS WITH MINISTRIES OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.THIS BOOK IS A MUST!READ.VERY INFORMATIVE!

Complete "kit" for worship during Lent and Easter: sermons, drama, suggestions for a seder on Maundy Thursday, tenebrae service, Easter sunrise drama, bulletin notes. The author is a Methodist pastor from Iowa.

Great book! A straightforward and readable history of megachurches with lots of photos.

Being a minister-musician obviously has its visible dimensions. Platform responsibilities make for familiarity with the public side of folks who serve the church through music. Is that all these folks do, however? There's more-much more-behind the scenes for these skilled, dedicated, servant leaders. This "much more" is the focus of C. Randall Bradley's "From Postlude to Prelude: Music Ministry's Other Six Days."

There are more than a few books available directed toward the goal of worship and ministry leadership for musicians. From Postlude to Prelude focuses on what happens in the between times, when one Sunday's worship services are done and the next ones begin.

Bradley is well-versed in all dimensions of the music ministry by virtue of his experience as a student, teacher, and practicing church musician. His writing is clear and succinct. He offers an excellent overview of the music ministry that is nigh unto encyclopedic.

An experienced minister of music will be familiar with the topics addressed in this book, although they would be hard-pressed to find a more well-organized and broad identification of these matters. Non music ministers would likely experience more than a few "gee, I didn't know that" moments in reading this book. It could be an invaluable resource for a music minister search committee; indeed, Bradley addresses such groups specifically at some points in the text.

The sheer number of topics included means that none of them are treated in depth. Yet Bradley's vast knowledge and experience is also reflected in the two appendixes and bibliography contained at the end of the book. These provide plenty of resources (websites, periodicals, and books) to cover any and all topics raised in "From Postlude to Prelude" in depth.