Essays discuss attempts to save Russia's remaining literary and cultural monuments from ruin, the degradation of Russia's environment, and the fate of Russian Orthodoxy under communist rule.

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.

The publication of the King James version of the Bible, translated between 1603 and 1611, coincided with an extraordinary flowering of English literature and is universally acknowledged as the greatest influence on English-language literature in history. Now, world-class literary writers introduce the book of the King James Bible in a series of beautifully designed, small-format volumes. The introducers' passionate, provocative, and personal engagements with the spirituality and the language of the text make the Bible come alive as a stunning work of literature and remind us of its overwhelming contemporary relevance.

To everything there is a season and a purpose under heaven, so goes the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3. Casting Stones digs deep into this one chapter of Scripture, exploring the seasonal ebb and flow of life and wrestling with the place of difficult concepts like hate, uprooting, and tears in our lives. If you are in a season of joy or a season of struggle, Casting Stones will tend to your soul and send you throughout Scripture to find deeper meaning in each day. I Love My Shepherd studies have five days of study in the Word each week. Each day is a 15-20 minute read. Some days contain questions for exploration, while others leave more space for prayers and journaling, and engaging in the Scripture in creative ways. Gather to study with a group or enjoy a quiet moment, one-on-one with God. Intensely theological, while intensely practical, every time.

The first collection of poems by this Irish-American author is inspired by her search for her ancestral background. "Gathering Stones" captures her haunting journey of self-discovery.

In this contribution to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, Trevor Longman takes a canonical-Christocentric approach to the meaning of the fascinating but puzzling book of Ecclesiastes.

The national directory addresses the dimensions and perspectives in the formation of deacons and the model standards for the formation, ministry, and life of deacons in the United States. It is intended as a guideline for formation, ministry, and life of permanent deacons and a directive to be utilized when preparing or updating a diaconate program in formulating policies for the ministry and life of deacons. This volume also includes Basic Standards for Readiness for the formation of permanent deacons in the United States, from the bishops' Committee on the Diaconate, and the committee document Visit of Consultation Teams to Diocesan Permanent Diaconate Formation Programs.

More than 40 years after his debut and nearly a decade since his last appearance, one of the most renowned characters in all of crime fiction is back on the case. Well past retirement age and feeling his years-but still staying sober one day at a time-Matthew Scudder learns that alcoholics aren't the only ones who count the days since their last slip. Matt's longtime partner, Elaine, tells him of a group of former sex workers who do something similar, helping each other stay out of the life. But when one young woman describes an abusive client who's refusing to let her quit, Elaine encourages her to get help of a different sort. The sort only Scudder can deliver. A Time to Scatter Stones offers not just a gripping crime story but also a richly drawn portrait of Block's most famous character as he grapples with his own mortality while proving to the younger generation that he's still got what it takes. For Scudder's millions of fans around the world (including the many who met the character through Liam Neeson's portrayal in the film version of A Walk Among the Tombstones), A Time to Scatter Stones is an unexpected gift-a valedictory appearance that will remind readers why Scudder is simply the best there is.