Melvyn Bragg's acclaimed epic novel is set at the tumultuous dawn of Christianity in Britain and Ireland. It is a stunning story of adventure and spirituality, war and romance, but it is deeply rooted in Bragg's historical studies of the Dark Ages, and it throws into question our modern-day conceptions of faith, hope, and true love. Two people destined to be lovers sacrifice themselves for what they believe to be a greater destiny. For the warrior Padric, a charismatic British prince, it is the salvation of his people and homeland from warring Northumbrian overlords; for Bega, a bewitching Irish princess, it is carrying out her self-imposed commitment to spread the word of God. She, bearing a fragment of the true cross, is gifted with miraculous powers; he is a swordsman without peer. Their disparate missions send them apart as they travel throughout the frigid wilderness of a primitive England beset by terror and villainy. Faith is pitched against doubt, spiritual fulfillment against physical desire, romantic ideals against political expediency and pragmatism against theory. The Sword and the Miracle rose quickly to the top of the British bestseller lists, heralded by critics as an absorbing, wonderfully evocative work, several cuts above contemporary attempts at historical fiction. The reader will find an exciting narrative informed by insight, knowledge and understanding.

When old Limpy McGhee swears he’s seen the Virgin Mary and received a miraculous cure at the ancient Mass Rock, the villagers of Inisbreen are sceptical. But they reckon without the religious fervour and ambition of Father Burke, the youngest parish priest in Ireland.It’s not long before the devout, the hopeful and the gullible arrive, one of whom is an apprentice hack from the Northern Reporter who believes he’s stumbled upon a major scoop and a shortcut to a Pulitzer Prize.The owner of the local hotel, Dermot McAllister is delighted at the rise in business, as tourists, pilgrims and journalists continue to pour in, but he’s not so happy with the fall in his libido, which is having an adverse effect on his illicit affair with a local schoolmistress. But perhaps some holy water from the Mass Rock might work a miracle!And through all of this, the Miracle Man himself is plotting to get back with his lost love of forty years before.Set in a tiny village on the Irish coast, this is a humorous novel in the classic tradition of Clochemerle and Whisky Galore, packed full of colourful characters, comical situations and hilarious incidents.

This volume explores the rhetorical role that miracle discourse plays in the argumentation of the New Testament and early Christianity. The investigation includes both the rhetoric within miracle discourse and the rhetorical role of miracle discourse as it was incorporated into the larger works in which it is now a part. The volume also examines the social, cultural, religious, political, and ideological associations that miracle discourse had in the first-century Mediterranean world, bringing these insights to bear on the broader questions of early Christian origins. The contributors are L. Gregory Bloomquist, Wendy Cotter, David A. deSilva, Davina C. Lopez, Gail O'Day, Todd Penner, Vernon K. Robbins, and Duane F. Watson.

Everyone is looking for a miracle. Families devastated by a faltering economy. A college student facing the horrific diagnosis of cancer. Corporately, whole nations are teetering on the brink of despair and chaos. The Miracle of Israel is a stunning examination of the millennia-old love that God has for His people that: Clearly conveys the promise God gave to Abraham Examines the ancient prophecies regarding Israel that have happened and are unfolding even today Provides an easy-to-read timeline of miracle after miracle related to the nation of Israel Tracing the history of the Jewish people to the present day, the authors look at prophecy after prophecy that clearly attest to the Lord’s miraculous promises. From historical records to personal, dramatic stories, the Miracle of Israel shows us that in keeping epic promises to the nation of Israel, God’s provision for each of us is sure, perfect, and on time, every time.

This eBook edition of "King Arthur and His Knights" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The Story of King Arthur and His Knights consists of a large series of episodes in the legend of the mythological first king of Britain King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. First part of the book tells how young Arthur pulled a sword out of an anvil, how he learned of his royal lineage, and how he thus became king. Second part tells the stories of Merlin, Sir Pellias, Sir Gawaine and other noble knights.