This second collection of plays by Robert A. Parker explores our spiritual and metaphysical lives, as well as the daily world of human reality. Many of these plays feature priests, who interface with the reality that confronts others. Other plays deal with we humans and the reality of our conscience, a reality we may also call our guardian angel. Still other plays bring an understanding of reality through our human confrontation with death.

THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY is for the minister or Bible student who wants to understand and expound the Scriptures. Notable features include:* commentary based on THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION;* the NIV text printed in the body of the commentary;* sound scholarly methodology that reflects capable research in the original languages;* interpretation that emphasizes the theological unity of each book and of Scripture as a whole;* readable and applicable exposition.

"How can you believe all this stuff? This is the number-one question Catholics get asked and, sometimes, we ask ourselves. Why do we believe that God exists, that he became a man and came to save us, that what looks like a wafer of bread is actually his body? Why do we believe that he inspired a holy book and founded an infallible Church to teach us the one true way to live? Ever since he became Catholic, Trent Horn has spent a lot of time answering these questions, trying to explain to friends, family, and total strangers the reasons for his Catholic faith. Some didn't believe in God, or even in the existence of truth. Others said they were spiritual but didn't think you needed religion to be happy. Some were Christians who thought Catholic doctrines over-complicated the pure gospel. And some were fellow Catholics who had a hard time understanding everything they professed to believe on Sunday. Why We're Catholic assembles the clearest, friendliest, most helpful answers that Trent learned to give to all these people and more. Beginning with how we can know reality and ending with our hope of eternal life, it s the perfect way to help skeptics and seekers (or Catholics who want to firm up their faith) understand the evidence that bolsters our belief and brings us joy" --

Deep in the heart of every believer, there is a faint whisper. A call. A prompting. We go about our business and we hear it. We see and interact with lost people each day, and the whisper echoes again: "Share your faith. Tell them about Jesus." But fear, busyness, and lack of tools or motivation silence the whisper. Another day, another year, another life passes and we haven't told anyone about the best thing that ever happened to us -- the life-changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Modern-day messages of kindness and acceptance deceive us into thinking we never have to open our mouths and actually share the truth with others in love. And yet the whisper is trying to tell you that you have the key to eternity in your possession. Can you hear it? In Compelled, Dudley Rutherford shares his earnest desire for each and every believer to be equipped and bold with the good news of salvation. He encourages you with inspiring stories of men and women, young and old, who have accepted the irresistible call to share Jesus with everyone they meet. And he provides practical methods to overcome your fears and effectively articulate the message of salvation. Allow these pages to strengthen the gentle nudging in your spirit until it's too loud to ignore -- until you are compelled to tell others about the hope you've found.

Meet the mighty spirits sent by God to enlighten and guide us, defend us from harm, and lead us on the path to eternal life. Learn how angels are invisibly present at every moment of your life, and how they can pray with you and for you, amplifying your praise by reflecting it directly to God face-to-face Angels do not form a separate universe — they are an integral part of our own world sent forth for the sake of our salvation. They are pure spirits who communicate to us God’s grace, His goodness, and His truth. In these pages, Fr. Horgan unveils the surprising role of the angels in our lives — and what you must do to gain their help. You’ll learn how to imitate the angels in prayer and how they offer you the enlightenment and the encouragement God so desperately wants to give you. By praying with the angels, you will be strengthened for what lies ahead, better able to discern and do the Lord’s will in all your actions. You’ll also learn: Why the Church teaches that the angels were created at the time of creationThe responsibilities of the angels at every MassThe key difference between spirits and angelsSeven habits you must develop to grow closer to God through His angelsThe difference between Archangel Gabriel’s apparitions to Mary and ZechariahHow St. Joseph can expose you to the inspirations of the angelsThe difference in the way humans and angels thinkHow you can imitate the warrior nature of the angelsThe three ways you must respond to your angel’s guardianshipThe five roles that every angel takes in their service for the LordThe surprising ways in which angelic warfare is carried out

Departing from scholarship dedicated to the socio-historical realities of priesthood at Qumran, this book explores, in two parts, the most pervasive literary representations of priesthood in the Dead Sea Scrolls as a reflection of the religious worldview of the Qumran community and broader segments of Second Temple society. Part one compares depictions of otherworldly priesthood in non-sectarian and sectarian documents. Part two examines the historical and traditional roots of portrayals of messianic/eschatological priesthood. The study reveals a fresh understanding of the integral role of priestly imagery in the tension-filled eschatological identity of the Qumran community. It concludes with a consideration of the relationship of the evidence treated to the phenomenon of democratization of priestly holinesses in rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.

Angels are God’s messengers and His spirit army, and they are very numerous. Make no mistake, angels do exist! They exist to serve “those who will inherit salvation”. But because they are invisible, we tend to forget their role in carrying out God’s purpose and plan. Many angels have been given the duty of serving our needs, and their responsibilities and assignments may change with circumstances. Inside study aid: -- The Origin of the Spirit Realm -- The Vast Multitudes of Heaven’s Armies -- Should We Worship or Pray to Angels? -- Appearing in Human Form -- Did Angels Interbreed With Women to Produce Giants? -- Popular, But Wrong, Ideas About Angels -- Where Did the Idea of Angels as Babies Originate? -- Leading Angels: Michael and Gabriel -- What Is the Origin of Satan and Demons? -- Different Kinds of Angels -- Serving God and Mankind -- Personal Stories of Angelic Encounters

The Bible is full of passages in which angelic beings are sent to accomplish God’s will. Angels speak for God, direct the course of nations, and protect God’s people. They worship God and deliver God’s judgment. In Angels in the Bible, George Smiga examines some of the Bible’s most fascinating passages about angels, exploring their ministry on God’s behalf and drawing insights for our own spiritual lives. Because angels are mediators of God’s presence and action, studying angels is studying God. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayer, and access to online video lectures are included. 6 lessons.

31 prayers for priests