What a compelling read..... I was afraid to put the book down for fear I would miss something! I think this novel really gets you thinking about what could REALLY be going on in the world. GREAT work!

Teaching The Dead Bird To Sing: Living The Hermit Life Without And Within is the memoir of theologian and former social activist W. Paul Jones, who describes the phases of his life and meditations as he progressed toward an internal and external retreat from the evils of the world and the self. Teaching The Dead Birth To Sing is highly recommended reading as a deeply spiritual and inspiring autobiographical treatise about embracing a solitary life for greater understanding and clarity.

This book brings together articles previously published in a variety of journals. The range of authors having differing viewpoints helps bring perspective to a difficult subject. Each of the 22 articles is in depth and has a bibiliography. The collection succeedes in being contemporary, highlighting current thinking in New Testament textual criticism.

This book was a conversation about prayer. It has the tone of a work in process because it began as a series of talks to a parish. It has helped me turn in my prayer to make room beside myself for the poor of the world. Give us more like this, Father Reiser!

Bill Bausch is not only a great story teller, but he is also an insightful and compassionate pastor. This manual will indeed help pastors to empower their parish communities to continue the mission of Christ on earth. The very pratical and deatailed tips included in this manual will give pastors a plethora of tools for use.

This book is exellent for those that are responsible for HR, oir those that write policies and procedures.

The Ten Commandments that a judge from Alabama fought to hang on the wall were not the commandments of God that Christians serve. Those same commandments are not a general call for morality that can save the pluralistic society of the United States of America. According to the authors, these commandments must be understood within the context of the Christian community. This work declares the Ten Commandments to be the way that the worshiping church relates to God and each other. Hauerwas and Willimon seek to explain the commandments from that context so that they may be known "perfectly."

Only the worshiping church is able to understand the Ten Commandments. They are not, as explained by the authors, "timeless ethical principles that are applicable to all Americans." This work reclaims another part of the church's heritage necessary for life as resident aliens. Clearly, Hauerwas and Willimon are working within and driving the trend toward understanding the church as a community. Their attack on American individualism serves to push the church to understanding itself as a holy people. These holy people are the possession of the "God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the God of Jesus Christ."

The Truth about God is a striking look at the Ten Commandments. This work exposes the ways that our society is so sinful that the institution of the Church is the only hope for Christians to survive and obey God. Only within this context are the people of God able to truly obey his words to us. Despite the informal tone of some sections of the book, it strikes deeply in exposing our sinfulness and the churches need for grace. Hauerwas and Willimon teach at Duke University in Durham North Carolina. Hauerwas serves as the professor of Theological Ethics, and Willimon serves as the Dean of the Chapel and professor of Christian Ministry.

Untwisting Twisted Relationships This is an incredible book. For those seeking to have healthy relationships, this book, by Dr. William Backus, should not be missed. It pointedly yet gently describes the subtle dangers that can enter into a relationship, and dissolve it. A must for Christians who want to keep their relationships with family and friends in a healthy balance, or for Christians who want to undo the damage that has already been done in their relationships. Married couples will especially want to read this book together. After reading this book, spouses will understand why excellent books like "Men are From Mars, Woman are From Venus", by Dr. John Gray, and other excellent titles, are not enough. Not only does Dr. Backus explain how to undo damage that has been done, he explains ways to make sure it doesn't happen again, so that children, spouses, or friends can have consistent, peaceful, mutually respectful relationships. Has enough been said? AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR MATURE CHRISTIANS!!!!

I read this book several years ago. A friend suggested I read it...he knew I was a Vietnam Vet and thought it might be good for me. This is one of the most moving and inspiring books I've ever read. It gave accounts of different people who served in Vietnam and how their experiences affected their relationship with God. Tremendous (but somewhat difficult~I had to stop reading several times...couldn't see the print for the tears) reading! I'd recommend it to anyone-but especially to Vietnam Veterans and anyone currently serving in our armed forces.

"The Voice of Blood" is an excellent account of modern day (mid 70s) martyrdom by Jesuits priests in El Salvador, Rhodesia, and Brazil.

My favorite section of the 3 sections in this book (called Brazil) studies the life and dramatic death of Fr. John Bosco-Burnier in defense of indigent Indian tribes. (Extermination of the Indians is certainly not a difficult concept for an American to understand.)

Bosco, surprisingly enough, is portrayed as less than competent in his pre-missionary work. He seems to have been not very well liked and/or remembered. But for all his faults, when news reached him of the torture of 2 women in a tiny Brazilian frontier jail--he answered the call for justice in a big way.

O'Malley has written an insightful book which is both sensitive to the plight of the poor and the humanity of the martyrs. He writes as if he knew his subjects very well.

This is another excellent book by the author of "God: The Oldest Question".