In this series of deeply meditative retreat conferences, Christopher Pramuk leads the reader through a sustained meditation on Wisdom-Sophia, the feminine face of God’s presence alive in the world, who speaks and sings in the writings of Thomas Merton. With the sensitivity of a poet and the intellectual acuity of a seasoned teacher and Catholic theologian, Pramuk invites readers to taste and see for themselves the hidden presence of Christ and the dynamism of Love at play in creation; the biblical and mystical tradition from East to West calls this presence Sophia. Looking beyond Merton to seek out her presence in the silent and broken landscapes of our world today, Pramuk shows Sophia above all to be the bearer of hope in an age of unspeakable violence and planetary destruction. Includes illustrations and photos.

Many people see the environmental crisis as a spiritual one. Author Ellen Bernstein sees the Book of Genesis as a guide to living peaceably with the Earth. The creation story, according to Bernstein, invites a deep appreciation of nature and may be the perfect muse for a world that is hungry for an integrated ecological vision. Written from a Jewish perspective, this book is both accessible and compelling to a broad audience, as it explores Genesis 1, verse by verse, reflecting on the language that contributes to a holistic ecological vision.

The Spirituality of a quarter of all Christians can be characterized as "charismatic." Pentecostalism itself is one of the most rapidly growing religious movements in America and abroad. Despite these facts, little serious effort has been made to develop a systematic Pentecostal theology - until now. Word and Spirit at Play is the first work to outline a theology that does full justice to the Pentecostal experience of God's Word and Spirit. Dutch scholar Jean-Jacques Suurmond, who is himself a Pentecostal, draws on two decades of work in Pentecostalism to demonstrate in a simple yet scholarly way how a charismatic approach shapes the lives of Christians and the church. Suurmond describes the history and characteristics of present-day Pentecostalism, discusses the significance of Spirit baptism to the Pentecostal life, reflects seriously on the "gifts of grace," (including tongues), and celebrates the role of "play" in Pentecostal worship. This book will be invaluable both to theologians - who have long wanted a scholarly synthesis of charismatic theology - and to laypeople, especially Pentecostals wanting to deepen their faith and other believers searching for a spirituality that opens up new sources of Christian community. JEAN-JACQUES SUURMOND is a Reformed minister in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands.

If we are to touch the hearts of hurting children, we must enter their world, the world of play. Play therapy honors children by meeting them in their world. Children say with toys what they have difficulty saying with words. Toys become the play therapist's tools to help unlock the healing process for wounded children. Whether you are a psychologist, a social worker, a family therapist, a pastoral counselor, a group-home worker, or a children's ministry worker, this book will help you build relationships that minister to the souls of hurting children and bring understanding to the confusion of their pain. Through these nurturing relationships, children will be freed to understand and process emotional pain.

Even as evidence accumulates that humans have significantly contributed to global climate change, many Christians have questions about what it means to care for creation. Some question whether focusing on creation care takes away from a person's spirituality or from caring for other humans. Others wonder to what extent we can live peaceably with nonhuman creation. Still others wonder whether we should be better stewards of the environment and whether developing better technology might save us from the current crisis. The diverse authors of this volume address these questions in an accessible way.

For centuries Christians have gathered for worship and for rest on Sunday. But does that ancient practice still matter? Still deeply engrained in both the Christian and secular calendar, nonetheless, what Sunday is and why it matters is no longer clear. Why Sunday Matters explores the forgotten reasons why Sunday is essential to Christian life. It also uncovers some of the contemporary obstacles keeping people from living Sunday faithfully. From youth sports to our neglect of the poor to our addiction to technology, Why Sunday Matters takes a wide-ranging look at the importance of the Lord’s Day and why it’s urgent we recover the Christian practice of Sunday.