Spirituality Books

I read Nancy's book and thought that it was very open and honest about her life and her family. It's rare in today's world when so many are too busy to even say "hi" to their neighbors that they would ever get to the point of revealing some of their inner thoughts and darkest secrets. In Nancy's book, she faces this fear of being rejected head-on and allows everyone to see her just as she was and is. She understands that she is not perfect but that she is still on the path that God has set for her to, one day, attain that perfection. Nancy is willing to share her shortcomings in her book so that others might learn from them. Ideally, I'm sure that Nancy intends to try to help others from making some of the same mistakes but she's also clear in pointing out that God is gracious when we do make mistakes and that he will never turn his back on us if we continue to follow Him.

Aside from Nancy's rare honesty, she also shows dilligence and perserverance in her life by dealing with the things that have come her way in life in the only way that she knows how, by trusting God to get her through. She shows that it's OK to doubt God, and maybe even his existence at times, but that in the end, it was trusting God that has brought her through all of her trials thus far. The honesty of doubting God shows that she is real however and instead of saying to just "trust God" she shows that it's OK to be a real person, just as Jesus was when he walked on the earth. Way to go Nancy.

Nancy's book is filled with inspiration. Nancy's desire to overcome adversity gives hope to anyone dealing with serious life problems. From the first page to the last Nancy's witness and testimony inspired me to be a better person.

I read Nancy's book in one sitting. I was captivated by her descriptions, by her determination, and by her reliance on God for guidance and answers. I loved the way the book opened and closed. It left me wanting more. This is a great book to share with others whether they are going through trials or just need reassured that God has a plan for their lives. I'm looking forward to a follow up book soon.

"Hope When the River Rages" by Nancy Kaltenberger is a beautiful well written story. The story is about the authors journey in life which is one of risk and rescue, struggle and strength, fear and faith.

This book brings out the importance of "Hope" as the author tells her story. I have always felt the secret of success in life was health, wealth, and happiness. Since reading this book I have changed this to hope, health, wealth, and happiness.

This is a very interesting and enjoyable book to read. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The author brings out in the book that she has a severe and rare form of Atrial Fibrillation and is unable to use a blood thinner medication like the majority of us millions of people that have Atrial Fibrillation can use. The author continues to "Hope" that the medical field will soon come up with something for her Atrial Fibrillation problem.

In spite of the many problems that appeared to block the authors way during her life she has managed to reach success in her work and has become a dynamic speaker in the Christian arena today. Her story is a story of "Hope" that the author wishes to pass on to anyone in need of "Hope".

I will highly recommend "Hope When the River Rages" by Nancy Kaltenberger. I know I enjoyed it

Nancy Kaltenberger retells her own personal story with honest candor in a humble, down-to-earth and friendly tone in "Hope When The River Rages."

A book geared toward "believers," each chapter is begun with a verse from the Bible and ends in a prayer. Also at the end of each chapter, in a section called "A Little Deeper," there are relevant Bible verses, questions readers are to ask themselves or think about in a way that relates to the author's story.

Ms. Kaltenberger's is a story of survival in the midst of spiritual and physical tribulations that almost left her dead many times. In her 20s, she was diagnosed with a permanent heart arrhythmia (Atrial Fibrillation) with the ongoing potential for aneurysms and constant trips to the hospital. A white-river rafting trip turned into a life and death struggle when she was thrown from the turbulent boat. At age 49, she suffered a heart attack which led to heart and lung failure but encountered a subsequent miracle of recovery, with no evidence of the lingering damage that should have been. One year later, she was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage, and later still - a stenosis in the upper spinal column aggravated by a tumor that attached itself to the outer spine, requiring back surgery. Continuing to suffer through the chronic A-Fib for more than half her life, Nancy was later diagnosed with a life-threatening condition called Ventricular Tachycardia.

Throughout the story, there are accounts of personal problems in addition to the physical problems that besieged Ms. Kalenberger, including a divorce and a prodigal son (who thankfully, did return). Having to change her lifestyle due to health problems included leaving her high-powered career and six-figure income, selling her dream home and relocating to a different part of the country.

Finding a deeper meaning to life than the addictive significance found through her career and accomplishments, Ms. Kalenberger tells the reader of her Hope in the inspiring book, "Hope When The River Rages."

This is a great book. These tales are heartwarming true story of horses and people who loved them. Some of these tales are heartbreaking while other are joyful one. This book will touch anybody heart that loves animals expecially horses.

Bonnie Marlewski-Probert is a nationally recognized equestrian authority and horsewoman who was professionally trained in Hunt Seat and Western riding disciplines. Hooked on horses at the age of eight, horses and riding have been her life-long passion. Capably edited by Susan Strafford, each of three volumes comprising Bonnie Marlewski-Probert's outstanding series, Horse Tales For The Soul, contain 40 original stories submitted by horse lovers from around the world and is divided into chapters highlighting life lessons such as gratitude, overcoming adversity, appreciation, etc.

Bonnie Marlewski-Probert is a nationally recognized equestrian authority and horsewoman who was professionally trained in Hunt Seat and Western riding disciplines. Hooked on horses at the age of eight, horses and riding have been her life-long passion. Capably edited by Susan Strafford, each of three volumes comprising Bonnie Marlewski-Probert's outstanding series, Horse Tales For The Soul, contain 40 original stories submitted by horse lovers from around the world and is divided into chapters highlighting life lessons such as gratitude, overcoming adversity, appreciation, etc.

Bonnie Marlewski-Probert is a nationally recognized equestrian authority and horsewoman who was professionally trained in Hunt Seat and Western riding disciplines. Hooked on horses at the age of eight, horses and riding have been her life-long passion. Capably edited by Susan Strafford, each of three volumes comprising Bonnie Marlewski-Probert's outstanding series, Horse Tales For The Soul, contain 40 original stories submitted by horse lovers from around the world and is divided into chapters highlighting life lessons such as gratitude, overcoming adversity, appreciation, etc.

The windows of the soul that Volume 1 opens, Volume 2 takes you all the way home! So many topics covered by such generous folks sharing what only their equine friends can teach! Bravo to all.

The most remarkable aspect to this book is the sincerity that is apparent throughout, without becoming simplistic or highminded. Katsof satiates a deep yearning for spirituality in the soul of the public without resorting to "new age" psychobabble. Anyone who wants the first step to understanding the deeper meaning to meaningful conversations with G-d need look no further than this tome. It truly is a valuable guideline for the "lost" as well as the "found." I enthusiastically recommend it to all, young and old alike.

What I love best about this book is its simplicity. Five simple steps. Yet they are so profound. At the end one feels incredibly inspired that God was really listening, and that it would be a real loss not to talk to Him every day. He listens and answers if one just knows how to tune in. This books shows how. It is a prayer answered in itself.

This book is a must read for people of all faiths and backgrounds. I have found amongst the members of our community that people are looking for a way of getting closer to their Father in heaven. This books provides the tools.

Rabbi Katsof does a masterful job of keeping it simple and easy to understand. He writes like a wise father telling his children a story. I was captivated. I am not a religious person, yet I found myself with new questions and thoughts. I actually found myself praying at times while reading his book. To me that's like taking a giant step. I enjoyed it so much that I will read it again. Best of all I think his formula works for all religions. I heartily recommend this book for all ages & religions.

I could not put the book down once I started it. I am not a religious person, yet the message appealed to my spiritual side. What impressed me most about the book was that it has appeal for anyone.

When I bought India, Mirror of Truth, I only knew this was a book written by a Westerner, who was sent by his Guru to teach meditation in India. The idea sounded extremely ridiculous by itself, and I was very eager to read the book. Well, the book proved to exceed my expectations in all ways. It is full of the author's very fine and subtle insights; it shows the country by the eyes of a person who is not at all indifferent, neither to the huge spiritual heritage, nor to the future of this great nation. Speaking in terms of Indian philosophy itself, the book shows the unity of Rishi, Devata, and Chandas - The Seer, the object of seeing, and the process of cognition, and how they intertwine with each other all the time, as the teacher is student himself, and this is all just one whole thing. The author's sublime perceptions of the Divine are a red thread that goes throughout the book. This book is an exceptionally inspiring reading for anyone seeking fine spiritual insights and wishing to visit India together with the author, in his heart.

As another western teacher of meditation, reading Steve's experiences held my attention on both the level of a "would be" pilgrim to India myself and more deeply on the level of Spiritual clarity as an aspirant of Enlightenment.

Dr. Briggs' descriptions of his own subtle awareness of the Divine, lifts the heart of every meditator and/or seeker of Truth. His gift of identifying the most precious value associated with the Indian culture should be an inspiration to the entire world.

He certainly nullifies the Rudyard Kipling quote "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,When two strong men stand face to face,tho' they come from the ends of the earth!"

Whether the reader is interested in travel as an Indian pilgrimage, or a seeker of the ancient Truth as revealed by the inmost celestial experience, "India, Mirror of Truth" delivers.

When I moved to India in 1997 to work with Steve Briggs, Will Fox and the other monks mentioned in Steve's book, my initial experience with India was that of culture shock. Tim Jones informed me that most people take about 6 months of dealing with Indians and Indian way of life before they get a handle on how things are done. What I found is that for the Westerner, India is a multi-layered mystery. It is structured much like a lotus blossom, with layer after layer of traditions and customs, that are radically different from those of the West. It has now been 2 and a half years since I moved back to the USA, and reading Steve's book puts me right back into India. It has the feel of the place.

Each of the stories about the people and the places rings true. Somehow Steve has managed to bridge the cultural gap with stories that are engaging, funny, and poignant yet accurate.

India is a country of contrasts. The devastatingly poor, the incredibly rich; the natural, spontaneous and happy villagers, the hard-bitten, cynical residents of the cities; pompous, arrogant, mean-spirited government babus, the kind and generous people who accept strangers into their homes and treat them as family. Those who revere the timeless traditions of their ancient culture; and those who have lost their way in globalization and mass merchandizing. Those caught in material pursuit; the sanyasins and sadhus who have renounced it all in pursuit of the divine. Steve's book tells the stories of all these diverse groups intermingling to make up a rich fabric of one billion people. And he tells the stories so well that his book is a page-turner.

For me the best part of his superb book are his descriptions of experiences of the divine. People everywhere have heard of being in The Zone, they have read stories of saints, they have heard about inner experiences of self-realization, but it is all so far away for them. Yet something draws them to wonder what it must be like when the swirl of thoughts and agendas ceases. Steve unfolds amazing experiences of transcending the relative mess, taking a dip in the cool serene silence and having the inner dimensions open to reveal a taste of the divine. He manages to give the reader vicarious experiences of spontaneous right action, of thought and action supported by Nature, of divine personages revealing themselves in all their celestial glory in deep meditative experiences, of seemingly chance encounters that were predestined by actions taken lifetimes earlier.

It is a glorious book. Anyone who is curious about mystical experiences of enlightenment would get a lot out of Steve's book. Anyone who has been to India and wants to sort out why things there are the way they are will find this book illuminating. Anyone who is curious about other cultures will discover the perspective of a ageless civilization that is very different from their own. Anyone who wants a very good read that has adventure, strong characters, swift moving plot and is entertaining through out should read this book.

I have recently read this excellent book on Steve's travels in India. I did not expect the book to be as good as it is - it starts slowly and builds 'forcing' me to stay up late to read just a little more. I found my self in tears several times for the book is more than just about a complex diverse culture and country but a spiritual odyssey that is captivating and reminding me of my own journey in life. Having spent a little time in India enlivened the book even more as it is a country and experience one can only have be visiting there. I found it to be a very provocative book in that it brings one back to his own self - and to that I thank Steve for this marvelous read.

Steve Briggs was a fellow tennis professional in the late seventies shortly before he first traveled to India. It does not surprise me how well written his recollections of his seven year pilgrimage to India is, for he discovers the soul and spirit of the Indian people, the heart of their culture, and their tradition of knowledge which continue to be of timely importance for those who find the game of life so fascinating and enjoyable.

As an educator/instructor, and now as a writer, Steve is perfectly capable of guiding his students/readers on a journey that will satisfy the timeless thirst for the most important discovery of all - the awakening to one's Self and living a life of value, enlightenment, and service to humanity.

"India: Mirror Of Truth," is a composite view the author shares with his reader on his journey through a country that is home to the world's most ancient wisdom and mature family values, while uncovering the very personal ambitions that were accomplished by Steve's own search for knowledge of that illumination.

I feel this book is a must read for anyone who has ever had the desire to take the trip of a life time to a country whose magnificence is a reflection of it's inner spirit which is available to all seekers looking for truth! His book is an absolute mirror of the heart, heroic character, and noble reflections of a man whose experience demands that he write another book, the sooner, the better.

I saw the 2005 edition of this annual award-winner when I was in Los Angeles this August. It was somewhat embarrassing to take my first peak into its visual abundance while standing in a crowded book room: public "ooo's", gasps, involuntary laughter, and soulful tears are not my usual style. Every year I believe I'm more touched by the words of Spirit and the images of Its manifestation than the year before.
Because I lack words to transport you the way these pages will, I am going to recommend that you go (on line) to the publisher's home page and see the dynamic slide show of 14 of the 52 weeks of the calendar. Just go to yogananda-srf dot org (not 'com'), and scroll down to the "Insight & Inspiration" link. Be sure to open your browser window as large as possible, because they have generously provided high-resolution photos that will scale upward according to your window size.
Is anyone going to tell me they aren't gloriously tickled to see the lion cub chomp on poppa's hind quarter and elicit a kingly roar - while momma smiles from a distance? While the editors have us smiling, Yogananda's words remind us, "The best way to live is to take life as a cosmic game..."
I encourage you to come back to A m a z o n to get your copy - they really deserve to be supported for stocking such unsurpassed spiritual quality. (Besides, you'll get free shipping via their Super Saver Shipping option.)

Simply said, this is one of the best engagement calendars I've ever seen. The photographs are absolutely breathtaking and vibrant with color. Couple that with quotations from the enlightened master Paramahansa Yogananda and you have a match made in heaven. At the end of the year, you can rip out the calendar pages and keep the photographs in the calendar as a beautiful and inspirational photo album!

I highly recommend it for anyone looking for weekly inspiration and as gifts for friends and family.

With so many beautiful images on calendars today, you'd think it would be difficult to pick a favorite. It was - until I saw the 2004 Inner Reflections calendar. SRF has done an astounding job of tying in Yogananda's most powerful inspirations with Nature's most moving physical beauties. What a comfort to log the duties and events of my week along side these physical and spiritual spectacles.
Please treat yourself to this issue - you'll see why it repeatedly wins top honors when judged by Associations of Calendar Publishers. Uplifting in evernew ways!

For the past 5 years I have made this calendar a part of my own tradition. This desktop calendar is a wonderful decoration as well as an inspirational start to my days. It is universal in its scope of spirituality and beauty. I cannot bring myself to toss it at the end of the year so I keep a sort of library of the pictures. The scenery is beautiful, the animals astounding and the still life works of art in nature.

I highly recommend this calendar to anyone who has any interest at all in life!

The nature photography in these annual appointment/desk calendars continues to win awards. From majestic mountain, sky, and ocean views, to minute details of gems and blossoms, to touching mother-cub candids... the range of photography over the weeks of the year is gorgeously varied.

If you have never treated your eyes to the pictures or your soul to the inspirational quotes, you definitely owe it to yourself to get this year's (2004 calendar year) edition. I'd be surprised if you didn't decide to order gift copies for spiritual Christmastime presents. The visual beauty the spiritual universality make it a highly appropriate gift for loved ones of ANY spiritual orientation.

Finally, more good news about the 2004 calendar: the week-at-a-time calendar pages (that alternate with the photographic sheets - and which have space for noting appointments, etc.) are on a less slick paper this year -- an improvement over recent years where glossy pages made it almost impossible to write in ink without smearing. Now there's no reason not to replace an ordinary desk weekly calendar with this splendor!

You can't go wrong with Turretin. This is one of the best Systematic theologies you could ever buy. Makes much of the current stuff seem quite fluffy!

I really loved it! Wasn't by grace that Turretin was called "the best systematizer of the reformed doctrine in the world! This is a wonderful set, with a good translation, well arranged, theologically sound and deep but devotional/experimental as well. A great addition to the library of the serious students of the God's Word! If you are an overseas customer, Amazon.com has the best price (already including shipping costs)on this set on anywhere of the Internet!May God raise up more theologians as Turretin in our age!

Francis Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology

This large 3 volume work is a gold mine of precise and careful thought. Turretin has been the object of odium in some (even Reformed) theological circles, but the one who takes time to read Turretin will find such sentiment to be unwarranted. Turretin was not a rationalist, merely rational. He was a seventeenth century Reformed pastor and theologian who clearly articulated Reformed doctrine in the midst of those who were opposing such doctrine. I have found Turretin to be biblical in his doctrine, delicate and precise in his thought, clear in his articulation, and powerful in his argumentation.

Turretin organized his Institutes into 20 topics (loci) that range from "Prolegomena" (that is, very necessary introductory considerations) to "The Last Things." Each topic (locus) is organized by specific questions. For example, locus 20 is divided into 13 questions. Question 2 reads, "Are the same bodies numerically which have died to be raised again? We affirm against the Socinians." Turretin raised this particual question because he wanted to defend the biblical doctrine of the bodily resurrection from an error that was being taught in his day. Turretin's theology is indeed elenctic (that is, polemic or argumentitive), for a great portion of his Institutes is written against the Roman Catholics, Arminians, Socinians, Anabaptists, and others. Turretin's Institutes is not merely a negative work (exposing the errors of unbiblical doctrine), but is positive. He builds up and defends biblical doctrine in every locus.

As for the edition, Dr. Dennison has blessed us all in editing and indexing the whole work. He has also provided a 19 page biography of Turretin, the message given at Turretin's funeral, and a short biography of George Giger (the translator). These volumes are sturdy and will last for decades.

As for the translation, this edition is a publication of George M. Giger's translation of the Institutes. Giger died in 1865 having produced this translation at the behest of Charles Hodge. The translation strikes me as unduly bulky and difficult at times, yet clear and quite understandable at others. There are other translations of particular loci, but one cannot find the entire work in English except in this translation.

Francois Turtetin's _Institutes of Elenctic Theology_ is arguably the most systematic and nuanced works of High Calvinist Scholasticism. A copy should grace every serious historical (and systematic) theologian's bookshelf no matter what the theological tradition. (Personal disclosure: I am an "orthodox" Thomist and a Catholic priest.) Easy 5 stars.
That said, this translation needs revision and a new edition. G. M. Giger (Prof. of Classics at Princeton Univ.) whipped off this translation at the request of Charles Hodge in the 1850s. It was kept hidden behind the charge desk at Princeton Seminary so that Hodge's Latin-defective students could consult it when they tried to puzzle through the Latin original. Although some corrections and enendations have been made, this translation bears the marks of its hasty origins and is mostly a typescript of Giger's hand-written manuscript.
While the editors are to be commended for tracking down the citations to Church Fathers and a handful of famous writers, for whom they usually also include indication of modern translations, little has been done to identify Turretin's citations the the hundreds of contemporary authors (Catholic and protestant). These authors' names are left in their Latin dress: "Toletanus" "Bannes" "Sixtus Sennensis" etc. The editors needed a copy of Huerter's _Nomenclator_ and so does the user. A shame because Turretin's wide and ecumenical reading is one of the strong points of his work.
One would hope that a future edition will track down who the all the authors cited and add indication of their books and the pages in point. Knock off two stars (sorry).

Turretin has, arguably, the best systematic understanding of scripture ever. He draws on the foundations that Calvin built and makes irrefutable arguments. Baptists should take note of his arguments for baptizing infants. He makes an argument unlike any other I have seen. If you read Turretin honestly, you will see the genius of this man's mind in his 3 volumes.

His elenctic approach means that he sets out to refute his opponents in order to prove his own position. I think the modern reader may find some of his wording cumbersome, but, like Owen, he is worth plowing through.

He unifies his systematic theology by the use of theology proper. Inman (Westminster PhD) has done a good service of bringing out the rich covenantal strain in Turretin's works.

If every Christian followed the principles in this book, the world would take notice. No American Christian should neglect meditating on the truths Swindoll delivers in this short audio book.

Coming from the premise in Ecclesiastes, "God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated," Swindoll suggests four principles to overcome ourselves for a better, more God-honoring life. Simplicity is a discipline 21st Century Christians need, and we aren't going to find it at the mall or in many other Christian books.

This small, quick read packs quite a powerful punch for the Christian looking for a closer walk with the Almighty.
The author shares with us his experiences with his walk with the Lord and helps us to see, through his life how he was able to draw closer to the Almighty, bringing him to a more fulfilled relationship.

He uses examples, such as turning from our busy lives and being still to know that He is God. He speakes to us of what it is to trust God and to surrender to One that loves us. Tenderely he leads us step by step into a deeper knowledge of knowing the way to a closer walk with Him.
This is a very good read, not too long, but extremely useful to the Christian seeking intimacy with their Maker.

I could never imagined how taking the time to enjoy solutitude with my Lord and Savior was what was missing from my life. Swindoll reminds us that when we are sooo busy, we are missing what is most important--HIM, our Almighty, the great I AM. This book was so short, but it's words and basis will remind you of what is probably lacking in your life. I was reminded that depth is needed for a relationship to grow. Solitude is needed to "grow" that depth and stillness to hear HIM. Go for it--read this book! What have you got to lose?

Satan has a unique strategy for every culture. In North America today he has chosen the rat race. Keep Christians too busy doing good things that they forget Who they are doing them for! This little book helps us get back on track. Slow down, find time to be alone with God in a quiet place. Journal your thoughts. Then surrender! I have purchased several copies and given them to leaders in our church. Thank you Chuck!

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I'm a HUGE fan of brother Chuck, and I have great love and admiration for him as one of today's preeminent Christian leaders. Of all the persons I could choose to emulate, it would be Chuck Swindoll. In reviewing this book, my comments are intended to be totally objective and not a criticism of the author.

My main impression of this book is that, while it provides some valuable insights about some spiritual disciplines that every committed Christian should undertake, it stops far short of being a truly practical resource. Chuck Swindoll steps aside briefly from his hectic life to take stock of some key things that many (most?) Christians miss in their day to day walk with God. He introduces some disciplines which we would all do well to practice, but doesn't really talk about the "how."

In other words, and at the risk of sounding flippant, my reaction on finishing this book (about a one-hour undertaking) was: "Tell me something I don't already know." As a believer who seeks a closer relationship with God, I have long since recognized the need to try to slow down my lifestyle and find time to get alone with God for prayer, study and meditation. I have been struggling with these very issues for some time: how to balance work, parenthood, church activities, household chores, rest, etc. while still finding a way to spend a meaningful amount of time communing with God.

It was my hope that this book would be more of a "how-to guide" than just a simple overview of these truths, and in that sense I was a bit disappointed. Don't misunderstand me, I think the book is great as far as it goes, but I wish Chuck had taken the time to take this important subject into much greater detail. He speaks of "depth" but doesn't really provide it here. Had he done that, I'm sure I could have derived much greater benefit from it.

Anyone into Isis spirituality will thoroughly enjoy this book..it's packed with magical info and ritual work that can be used for solitary or group practice...it has become my handbook and reference book for all my workings!

This book on Isis is great because it focuses on cultivating a relationship with Isis, and the tons of rituals in this book reflect that. It really drew me close to the Goddess Isis because it wasnt all just fluff and puffed up imagination seen in a lot Wiccan books. Isis became real to me after reading this book and its great how you start out as a Votary and progress to higher levels. The history in the beginning is great because it shows you Isis is not just a purely Egyptian diety, but universal. You can tell that the woman who wrote this really is full of joy to be worshipping Isis and is glad to share it with others. If you want to feel close to Isis this book will surely aid you!

I used this book extensively to do some research for a book I'm writing, and it was very useful and inspiring to those ends.

But it's not really meant for people like me. It really is a lovely book for worshippers of the Isiac faith, and is aimed at becoming a practitioner. In a way, it is like an Isiac bible, with stories and versus, and educational information. It's lovely both in layout and content, and is unapologetic in its spirituality.

ISIS MAGIC
BY M. ISIDORA FORREST

Isis the Great Mother, Isis the Goddess of Magick, Isis the Lady of wisdom these titles fit her suitably. M. Isidora does a beautyful job of describing the Great Isis. She describes her worship in ancient times. How in the ancient world her worship spread throughout Egypt, Rome, Greece, Romania and many other parts of Europe. She tells the myths of Isis, her history, and how through out the ancient world and to the present about how people love and worship her. Isis is the magician, the initiater, the warrior queen, the goddess of those who travel by water, the Goddess of mothers, the Goddess of children, the Goddess of love, the Goddess of marriages, The protectress, she is this and many more things. The auther describes the plight of women in the ancient world and the history of the queens of Egypt and the famous queens the Ptolomy royal family. She describes many of Isis' aspects even her Black aspect. She tells! how the Golden Dawn and many other famous magicians adopted Her.She describes people's love and experience with the goddess Isis. She also describes how Isis became a prominent Goddess in the ancient world. She has some info on Nepthys, Osiris, Anubis, Set, Ra, Horus in this book as well. She has two parts to this book one is the information on Isis the second part is the rituals that allow you to dedicate yourseld to Isis step by step. The second part you start out as the votary of Isis, the next step is becomming the handmaiden or servent of Isis, when you are ready you become the magician of Isis, then you become the prophet/ess of Isis. Even if you have been her priest/ess of Isis for a long time or a priest/ Goddess there is nothing wrong with starting the rituals as a votary (where there is humility there is no room for the ego) The rituals in this book are lovely. The Goddess Isis is alieve in this book! For those of you who are witches/magicians you may enjoy th! is book, for those who are interested in learning about Isis or the Egyptian path than this is a great selection. For those who want to have more contact with the Goddess and the feminine power of the universe than this is a great book for you. The autho!r's love for Isis really shows by her dedication to this huge 624 page book. This book is one you probably will not be lending out at all! M. Isidora Forrest did a wonderful job with Isis Magic! She must have spent a very long time writting Isis Magic. This book is a true masterpiece. May Isis bless the author!

Kalimir~Kalamere

And this book can help you meet her (or just learn A LOT about her)! As Isis knew both joy and sorrow, she is a goddess that knows love and compassion, and has historically been known as one of the very few deities able to change fate. This book is filled with detailed accounts of her myths, her history, and her followers from all around the world. It also has many Isis-based rituals and meditation that can help you develop a deep relationship with her.

The signs that our loved ones send us just reinforce that they are still around us. Although their physical bodies are gone, their spirit lives on.

I know Lindsay from our work in the consulting field and met his wife briefly. Lindsay did everything possible for his wife during her illness to make her last days meaningful and comfortable. Reading this book reminded me of how much he loved her and how much she is missed. The stories are heartrending. It is a beautiful memorial that Lindsay created for his wife. Everyone who has lost a special person should read this book.

If you have a love one, if one of your love ones has passed away then this book will be a beautiful and touching read for you. It is filled with the stories of many people.

Lindsay honored me when he was writing it by asking me to share some of my stories about rainbows in my life. With his guidance I combined a few of them into a single story that he included about rainbows and my beautiful wife Merry.

After reading this book my hope for you is that you will never be able to look at rainbows the same way ever again.

Buy this book. Read it. And then from then on share the wonder and beauty of rainbows for the rest of your life.

Jan's Rainbow combines inspirational words of comfort and wonder with pragmatic advise to survive major changes as a result of the death of a loved one. Lindsay Collier brings tears to the eye and hope to the soul as he recounts the events following Jan's death - his own emotions as well as the mysterious appearance of rainbows. He also provides sound wisdom based on his own experience of surviving loss. A moving and informative book.

Lindsey Collier has created a unique book from a set of experiences that sooner or later will bind us all together--love, loss, grieving. And he stretches for a glimpse of the road that leads from there....

In Jan's Rainbow, he takes the risk (and takes the reader along in that same risk) to tell with candor, humor and vulnerability about the loss of his wife of forty years to ovarian cancer. The book contains timely quotes, examples and advice that are thoughtful and soothing in times of loss.

In addition to the uplifting story of Jan's rainbow and its impact on Lindsey and his family, he has included stories by other everyday people about their experiences as well. But most of all, it's a great love story....

Often people are not all that curious as to what makes a heroic character heroic. Perhaps it's because the bold actions of a heroic person can speak for themselves. Take Rosa Parks as an example. It doesn't matter why Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, an action that spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement. Her action is enough. However, when it comes to traitors, we're more than curious. Why did Brutus betray Julius Caesar, his close friend? Some historians claim Benedict Arnold could have been a great leader in a new nation? Why did he turn sides? Of all traitors/betrayers/turncoats in history, the one who causes the most speculation is Judas Iscariot, the infamous (?) apostle who sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Judas' actions have caused questions, questions that are centuries old, as the recent discovery of the Gospel of Judas demonstrates. We wonder, why did Judas do what he did? Was he jealous of Jesus? Disappointed? Was he trying to cause Jesus to act? Stephen Adley Guirgis pondered the question of Judas and the result was the play THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT. The play is set in a courtroom and Judas is put on trial, giving him the opportunity to either explain his actions or perhaps seek forgiveness. Guirgis wanted accuracy so he sought out a "theological advisor." Jesuit priest James Martin seemed well suited for the task and the book tells the story of his first becoming involved in the project to his follow through when the curtain falls for the last time.

Martin weaves a number of different threads together as he shares his experiences as an advisor for the play. Readers see how a play develops from an idea to a finished product, growing and changing numerous times along the way. We also get a glimpse at how a theater company works, in this case the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York City, and the varied personalities that populate the group. We see the frustrations of the company as the play develops ever so slowly, as well as the way it finally takes shape. Martin also introduces readers to current biblical scholarship regarding the New Testament as well as concerns regarding contemporary biblical interpretation.

The book's greatest strength is not the information about scripture, nor is it in how a play comes to life, as compelling as both can be. Throughout the book we see relationships develop between Martin and the writers and cast. We learn of their struggles with faith for some and the strong faith of others. We see Martin go from being an advisor, almost an outsider looking in, to an integral member of the production and in a real way we see communal bonds develop. Martin is changed from the encounter, and no doubt the others involved were too.

While A JESUIT OFF-BROADWAY tells a number of different stories, James Martin's ministry as a priest is what holds the book together, and for me it's a compelling read. Priests serve God in a myriad of ways, and while it may be a bit cliché, a priest never knows how God will be found in any given situation. James Martin's task was to answer questions so a play on a religious matter would be theologically accurate. Far more happens in this book, and as the book progresses, the advising becomes less and less but relationships develop and God's hand can be seen at work and God's presence can be found. This is the ministry of a priest, regardless of the setting. It is what happened during the production of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT and it is what happens in parishes, schools, hospitals, prisons, and just about anywhere else priestly ministry takes place.

Jesuit priest James Martin presents A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage With Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions, a memoir recounting the six months during which he served as a theological consultant for the New York theater production of "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot", directed by Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and starring Sam Rockwell and Eric Bogosian. Even as Martin taught his charges about religion and spirituality, he learned about the amazing labor of love that is the theater, as well as the toll it takes upon a cast and crew to pour their blood, sweat and tears into a successful play. A wondrous journey into two worlds: the world of the stage and the inner world of the humanity's soul-searching questions.

Because of Fr. Martin's presence with the cast, each member grew tremendously in their faith. I recommend this to all Clergy. Father William T. Burke, S.J.

While strikingly different from his previous work, both in subject and method, this book about his experience working with the cast and crew of an off-broadway show called the "Last Days of Judas Iscariot," is phenomenal. It has been a while since I last read one of Jim Martin's books - the last major one was "Becoming Who You Are," which was sort of an expansion of some of his thoughts in "My Life With the Saints" - I immediately fell into the rhythm of his writing style. He writes in a very approachable and down-to-earth way that is neither insulting nor overly complicated. It is an intelligent mix of narrative based on his personal experience of growth with this acting troupe and theological insights that arose during the process and afterward by way of theological reflection.

Like every other book written by Martin, I highly recommend this one!! Even before I read it, I purchased 3 copies of it for gifts for people, knowing that a book by James Martin will not disappoint. Enjoy this book!

I had a rather odd experience a couple months ago. I went to a book reading for this book, A Jesuit Off-Broadway, by James Martin, SJ. What was odd about it was that the author, the usual reader at these events, was only one of the readers. Guirgis, and many of the original cast (other than the "big" names, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Rockwell) of Guirgis' play, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, joined Martin in reading excerpts from the book at the Public Theater--in the same space where the play was performed and my wife and I had watched it with interest a couple years back. It was a wonderful and surreal evening.

What made it surreal, at least for me, was listening to the others besides Martin read their "parts." Martin writes extensively about Guirgis and the cast in this book, their religious backgrounds, experiences and motivations. He quotes them all rather extensively though I can't believe he was taking copious notes at the time (though I could be wrong about this). As these actors read about themselves I couldn't help but notice that what I was watching was a person playing another person's interpretation of themselves. Most brought it off brilliantly but some (Guirgis, in particular) seemed to squirm with discomfort at reading his motivations aloud as interpreted by Martin. It made me more aware than usual, as I read the book, of how an author shapes experiences--as "real" as they are--to his own ends by his choices and presentation. The other cast and crew may have perceived these same events quite differently.

I know I, for one, perceived some of the things he writes about quite differently. As an attendee at one of the "talk back" nights, I agree with Martin that some of the questions can be thoughtless and rude. On the other hand, I found the cast and crew to be unforthcoming and rude to those of us with an interest enough in the work to support it. I myself only listen at these nights, looking for a deeper insight into what I've seen; however, I'm constantly disappointed in how little appreciation the cast and crew gives to their audience. As a sometime actor myself who does talk backs on occasion, I understand the weariness that can overwhelm at the end of a performance, but I always try to charge myself up for talk backs and remain even-handed with rude questions because I respect those who support me and my work.

I also understand Martin's sensitivity to the criticism leveled in some of the reviews of the play. It does demonstrate how enmeshed he got with the development of this show. On the other hand, though I liked the play immensely, I did not think it was without its weaknesses--the length and the appropriateness of some of the monologues, for example. In my mind, an unwillingness to explore justified criticism shows a weakness in judgement. (He was also reluctant to take Guirgis to task for his slowness in writing a play to which he had committed. I was much more sympathetic to the actors waiting for pages.)

Still, Martin deserves kudos for many of the great things he does in the book. He gives great amounts of historical background that inform the story of Judas and how they played out in this show. He explores how developing a play, particularly one like this, can be a spiritual journey and he uses this theme to great advantage. He gives insight into how a new play is created and brought to the stage, in some respects better than I've seen in writing by theater "professionals." Plus, he does so in a situation where he can talk in a bit of depth about some of the greats of stage and screen--Guirgis, Hoffman, Rockwell, Bogosian, etc.

Finally, I have to express my pleasure in his relating some of the background of the Jesuits and their involvement in theater. I am the product of a Jesuit education and I have great respect for these men who have always seemed to me the powerhouse of intellectual Catholicism. Having Martin's insights is something I value very much.

Ultimately, I guess I have to turn the critical lens back on myself. Though I was only peripherally involved in the events Martin discusses, I am perhaps too close to the events. My judgement may be somewhat swayed by the brief encounters I had with the play, its cast, its author and its "theological advisor." Still, that cannot get me to value my observations and opinions any less than Martin's. Much like the play Martin discusses, this is not a book without flaws; however, also like the play, this is a book that should be experienced.