"This collection includes prayers for personal use, prayers for use at communal gatherings, prayers and readings for moments of grief and moments of joy, a collection of daily Psalms, and focus phrases and questions for meditation"--

On 31 August 2008, Sister Jesme left the Congregation of Mother of Carmel. The authorities repeated attempts to have her declared insane, she says, left her no other option. This book, a first of its kind in India, is an outpouring of her experiences as a nun for thirty-three years. Spirited and fun-loving, from a good family, deeply-rooted in Catholicism, Jesme was drawn to religious life at seventeen after a Retreat at junior college. As a nun, seven years later, she felt distressed at the many ills growing inside the convent and being forced to remain silent about them. There was corruption, by way of donations for college seats; sexual relations between some priests and nuns, and between nuns; class distinctions whereby the cheduthies, or poorer and less-educated sisters, did menial jobs; and a wide gap between comforts and facilities enjoyed by the priests and nuns. Jesme was permitted to complete her doctorate in English Literature, to pursue her passion for literature, cinema and teaching college students. She exposed them to classic films, believing that aesthetics enhances spirituality. But these joys were clouded by the troubles she faced. Searing, sincere, and sensitive, Amen is a plea for a reformation of the Church and comes at a time of its growing concern about nuns and priests. It affirms Jesmeâ¬"s unbroken spirit and faith in Jesus and the Church, living like a nun, but outside the Four Walls of the convent.

Women's Study

"Featured here are the words of great historical figures like Frederick Douglass, Jupiter Hammon, and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as such contemporary leaders as Jesse Jackson, Maya Angelou, and Marian Wright Edelman. Classic prayers like "Ere Sleep Comes Down to Soothe the Weary Eyes" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" appear alongside such modern devotions as "Grace at Mealtime," "Peace in the Community," and "Prayers for a Kwanzaa Celebration."" "There are prayers for welcoming God into your life, fighting loneliness, thankfulness for friends and family, confronting racial oppression, and living with illness. There are also prayers for celebrating special occasions, such as marriages, baptisms, and birthdays. Each prayer speaks to the heart of the African American experience, touching, comforting, and inspiring."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

A riveting tale of unfathomable success great joy deep pain, and redemption that can come only from above. From a working-class background in North Carolina to a job as a cook and club singer in Nashville to his "overnight success" with his smash 1986 album Storms of Life--which launched the neotraditional movement in country music--Randy's first three decades are a true rags-to-riches story. But in 2009, this seemingly charmed life began a downward spiral. His marriage dissolved, he discovered that his finances had unraveled, and his struggles with anger led to alcohol abuse, public embarrassment, and even police arrest in 2012. Then, just as he was putting his life back together, Randy suffered a devastating viral cardiomyopathy that led to a massive stroke which he was not expected to survive. Yet he not only survived but also learned to walk again and, in 2016, accepted his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame by singing the hymn that explains his life today: "Amazing Grace." Filled with never-before-told stories, Forever and Ever, Amen is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at dizzying success and the miraculous road to restoration.

Few people have been exposed to the history of our religious past. Only by having a true understanding of how our beliefs in God originated can we proceed on a path of knowledge about God and our purpose in life. Such knowledge will challenge many of us who have been brought up with a prescribed set of religious dogma. People around the world are witnessing the murder of innocent human beings advocated by religious extremist factions. This book brings to light why the scriptures of our monotheistic religions are in dire need of being revised. Nicholas P. Ginex, author of Future of God Amen, has researched the past of a very spiritual people and found that Amen is the fi rst-universal god that has profoundly infl uenced the development of the Judaic, Christian, and Islamic religions.