“A funny yet surprisingly nuanced look at the legends and ideas of the self-help industry” (People, 3.5 stars), Promise Land explores the American devotion to self-improvement—even as the author attempts some deeply personal improvements of her own. Raised by a child psychologist who was himself the author of numerous self-help books, as an adult Jessica Lamb-Shapiro found herself both repelled and fascinated by the industry: did all of these books, tapes, weekend seminars, groups, posters, t-shirts, and trinkets really help anybody? Why do some people swear by the power of positive thinking, while others dismiss it as so many empty promises? Promise Land is an irreverent tour through the vast and strange reaches of the world of self-help. In the name of research, Jessica attempted to cure herself of phobias, followed The Rules to meet and date men, walked on hot coals, and even attended a self-help seminar for writers of self-help books. But the more she delved into the history and practice of self-help, the more she realized her interest was much more than academic. Forced into a confrontation with the silent grief that had haunted both her and her father since her mother’s death when she was a baby, she realized that sometimes thinking you know everything about a subject is a way of hiding from yourself the fact that you know nothing at all. “A jaunty, cannily written memoir” (Chicago Tribune), Promise Land is cultural history from “a witty and enjoyably self-aware writer…Jessica Lamb-Shapiro’s talent as a storyteller is undeniable” (The New York Times Book Review).

Presents the deeds and adventures of the Book of Mormon retold in simplified language.

Master storyteller Jakob Streit retells stories from the Old Testament, including the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Saul and David.This book is perfect for use in Year 3 (age 9-10) in the Steiner-Waldorf curriculum, or as a reader in Year 4.This is the second of Jakob Streit's three books of Bible stories, along with And There Was Light and We Will Build a Temple.

What really happened during Israel's journey from slavery to the promised land? Bible scholar Nicholas Perrin explains the true story of the Exodus while adding helpful background information from biblical history, archaeology, and more. You will . . . Explore the unvarnished Bible story of the Exodus Learn about ancient Egypt and Pharaoh Come to know the man and the mission of Moses Find out why the Ten Commandments were given Discover God's promise and plan for his people, then and now Appreciate why every New Testament writer builds on the Exodus See how the Exodus story relates to you, today You will gain a much richer understanding of what God has done for you and why the Exodus is the pivotal event in the Old Testament.

A Christian theological interpretation of the border reality is a neglected area of immigration study. The foremost contribution of A Promised Land, A Perilous Journey is its focus on the theological dimension of migration, beginning with the humanity of the immigrant, a child of God and a bearer of his image. The nineteen authors in this collection recognize that one characteristic of globalization is the movement not only of goods and ideas but also of people. The crossing of geographical borders confronts Christians, as well as all citizens, with choices: between national security and human insecurity; between sovereign national rights and human rights; between citizenship and discipleship. Bearing these global dimensions in mind, the essays in this book focus on the particular problems of immigration across the U.S.-Mexico border. The contributors to this volume include scholars as well as pastors and lay people involved in immigration aid work. Daniel Groody has also produced a documentary on immigration, "Dying to Live." "A Promised Land, A Perilous Journey offers a rich, interdisciplinary treatment of the subject of migration, showing the human face of contemporary migration as a global phenomenon. The authors explore historical antecedents in Biblical and early church history, the political debates about borders and the right to migrate, and the role of race, ethnicity, and gender in the 'perilous journey' of migrants. This is an indispensable text for all interested in the theology of migration and the ethics of migration policy." --William O'Neill, S.J., Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley "At times saddening, at times inspiring, A Promised Land, A Perilous Journey, brings fresh perspectives to the discussion of immigration. These essays reach beyond the policy debate and the heated emotions of the moment and provide much needed reflection on larger truths." --Roberto Suro, University of Southern California

The Egyptians in Exodus 1 were intent on enslaving the Israelites, wearing them down so that God’s chosen people would become disillusioned and not live up to their destiny. Of the original two million Israelites who received God’s invitation to enter the Promised Land, only two actually entered it! Similarly, modern day Christians often hear and understand the promises of God each Sunday morning at church but then rarely choose to experience them in everyday life. In One in a Million, Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer invites us to change that pattern for good, living beyond our circumstances and expecting to see God move in miraculous ways day after day. Without a doubt, we can find and follow God’s purpose for our journey. We can make it to the Promised Land!

Fear, drama, suspense... and hope. Amid the ruins and chaos left by the Second World War, a family sets out from a small town in Russia to escape the uncertainty of living under the iron fist of Stalin. Their arduous journey takes them through Poland and then Germany, where they hear first-hand accounts of the holocaust where millions of Jews and others were exterminated only a few years earlier... and then on to France and England. A few years later, the son Simon, and his wife Rose visit Israel after discovering their Jewish roots and heritage. They arrive just in time to experience the dramatic Six Day War when the surrounding Arab nations attempt to destroy Israel. You will be kept wondering how this family can possibly survive as they flee the only home they've ever known. This powerful story is based on the true accounts of friends and strangers that the author has woven into fascinating fiction.

The blend of scholarship and artistry of the DVD documentary Journey of Faith (Maxwell Institute, 2006) continues in expanded form in the book Journey of Faith: From Jerusalem to the Promised Land. Containing numerous threads of historical detail and scholarly insight not included in the DVD, this visually stunning look at the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi's trek through the harsh Arabian desert reflects a synergistic collaboration of talented scholars, artists, and photographers seeking to illuminate an epic event in scriptural history and situate it in a real-world setting. Aside from assembling commentary and images from the DVD, this book includes a foreword by the editors, their reflections on the project in two separate chapters, additional commentary by scholars, an appendix on the famed Incense Trail across the Arabian Peninsula, and a bibliography.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR “A deeply reported, deeply personal history of Zionism and Israel that does something few books even attempt: It balances the strength and weakness, the idealism and the brutality, the hope and the horror, that has always been at Zionism’s heart.”—Ezra Klein, The New York Times Winner of the Natan Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Ari Shavit’s riveting work, now updated with new material, draws on historical documents, interviews, and private diaries and letters, as well as his own family’s story, to create a narrative larger than the sum of its parts: both personal and of profound historical dimension. As he examines the complexities and contradictions of the Israeli condition, Shavit asks difficult but important questions: Why did Israel come to be? How did it come to be? Can it survive? Culminating with an analysis of the issues and threats that Israel is facing, My Promised Land uses the defining events of the past to shed new light on the present. Shavit’s analysis of Israeli history provides a landmark portrait of a small, vibrant country living on the edge, whose identity and presence play a crucial role in today’s global political landscape.