Church Body

When news outlets reveal church scandals or we hear stories about people leaving the church, it can seem as though we are in a bit of a crisis as the Body of Christ. In Being a Sanctuary, Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez—who has experienced abuse, trauma, and racism within the church—takes us on an honest, biblical, and reflective journey as she examines the state of the church and offers us a hopeful path forward.

In Jezebel Unhinged Tamura Lomax traces the use of the jezebel trope in the Black church and in Black popular culture, showing how it is pivotal to reinforcing men's cultural and institutional power to discipline and define Black girlhood and womanhood. Drawing on writing by medieval thinkers and travelers, Enlightenment theories of race, the commodification of women's bodies under slavery, and the work of Tyler Perry and Bishop T. D. Jakes, Lomax shows how Black women are written into religious and cultural history as sites of sexual deviation.

As a Black autistic pastor and disability scholar, Lamar Hardwick lives at the intersection of disability, race, and religion. Tied to this reality, he heeded the call to write How Ableism Fuels Racism to help Christian communities engage in critical conversations about race by addressing issues of ableism. Hardwick believes that ableism—the idea that certain bodies are better than others—and the disability discrimination fueled by this perspective are the root causes of racial bias and injustice in American culture and in the church.

Since a global pandemic abruptly closed places of worship, many Christians have skipped church life, even neglecting virtual services. But this was a trend even before COVID-19. Polarizing issues, including political and racial strife, convinced some people to pull away from the church and one another. Now it’s time to recommit to gathering as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Bible has plenty to say about the human body and clothing in ancient times, but modern translations and socially conditioned assumptions have drifted significantly away from ancient cultures and the intent of the earliest texts. Do you you know what the Bible really says in the original Greek and Hebrew, or have you trusted what you hear? Perhaps it is time to make a detailed exposition of what the Bible has to say about clothing and nakedness for a believer's life. In these pages, journey with me through a comprehensive study of nearly every passage relating directly to the topic so ...

Decode the Body's Secret Language to Transform Your Life Have you ever wondered what your body is trying to tell you? Discover the transformative power of understanding the language of the body and its profound impact on your physical and emotional well-being. Expertly crafted by acclaimed life coach and EFT practitioner, Tessa Cason, this book is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking deeper insight into their personal healing journey. Dive into the depths of emotional and physical healing through three enlightening parts. First, explore the intricate relationship between body parts and...

Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability.

When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote English countryside, it's meant to be a fresh start, away from the bustle of London and the scene of a violent assault she is desperate to forget. But a vicious debate about violence against women inflames the tensions and mounting rivalries in her creative-writing class. When a troubled student starts turning in chapters that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognizes herself as the main character in his book - and he has written her a horrific fate.

Life in the Body of Christ is a must-listen for every Christian. Every age group in every evangelical church should make it a point to study this book chapter by chapter, look seriously at every suggestion, and meditate on every scripture suggested for that purpose. Curtis Thomas has given us a gift, a stimulus to edifying reflection and action on every pertinent aspect of corporate and individual responsibility and privilege to be pursued in the life of a local church. His suggestions are brief but turgid with biblical insight and healthy church experience.

Two years ago, a man broke into James Blakely’s apartment and shot him in his sleep, killing him instantly. Dead and confused, James discovered he had a choice: move on into the afterlife or stay behind. Knowing his past sins would lead him straight to the fires of Hell, James chose to haunt his old apartment building instead. Now, James spends his days visiting his daughter and ex-wife, welcoming new neighbors, and conversing with those who can see the dead. It’s a simple, peaceful existence, but with each passing day, his memories of his former life—and even his own identity—begin...

Just as a physically healthy person - at an ideal weight and with good blood pressure and cholesterol numbers - might not actually be fit enough to run a 5k, so churches can appear healthy - with no obvious issues, maintaining a healthy size - and yet not exhibit fitness. A fit church is one that is not satisfied with merely coasting along with no problems. A fit church is actively making disciples, maturing in faith, developing strong leaders, reaching out to the community, and more.

Hollywood, the music industry, and large corporations promise happiness, pleasure, popularity, and power if we would just buy what they are selling. But their tactics are smoke and mirrors, and their promises are hollow. From photoshop to misleading advertising to the use of paid celebrities, a cocktail of lies tell us how we are supposed to look and feel about ourselves.

In 1987, when Hilary Mantel was first published in the London Review of Books, she wrote to the editor, Karl Miller, ‘I have no critical training whatsoever, so I am forced to be more brisk and breezy than scholarly.’ This collection of 20 reviews, essays and pieces of memoir from the next three decades tells the story of what happened next.

The evangelical church is hemorrhaging. Over 40 million Americans have dechurched in the last 25 years alone, and multiple generations have been raised to believe the most spiritual thing they can do is follow God by following their heart—right out of the church. Yet, this shift is happening right as society is hitting record levels of loneliness, stress, and anxiety. In The Reason for Church, pastor Brad Edwards connects the dots of our current church crisis and provides compelling reasons to come back.

Marian Apparitions in the Catholic Church have been appearing throughout the centuries to a variety of people to give them messages of hope, prayer, penance, and conversion. In this audiobook, we cover 32 of these Marian Apparitions to give you an overview of the events and messages of each one. This audiobook gives you an overview and insight into a subject otherwise only understood through lengthy study.

Discover the Divine Connection Within To heal unwanted behaviors, habits, and destructive tendencies, the root cause needs to be discovered then addressed. EFT Tapping can aide in your transformation. Knowing the correct statements to say as you tap is critical to the success of tapping. Tessa Cason’s collection of EFT Tapping Statement books provide statements to help you heal your bottom-line root causes of your turmoil. In a world brimming with uncertainties, the age-old question of God's existence and role in our lives continues to intrigue and elude us. Is God merely a concept, or a ...

In today's highly charged social and political environment, we often don't know how to talk well with others - especially with people whose backgrounds differ from our own. C. Christopher Smith, coauthor of the critically acclaimed and influential Slow Church, addresses why conversation has become such a challenge in the 21st century and argues that it is perhaps the most-needed spiritual practice of our individualistic age.

The Catholic Faith was formed by many things including most importantly scripture and tradition. But it was the General Councils of the Catholic Church which defined and shaped these beliefs into a tangible and understandable system of belief. Complex in their histories, they can be summarized to present the most important points of these grand moments in faith history. This audiobook gives you an overview and insight into a subject otherwise only understood through lengthy study.

Every year, millions visit a stunning circuit board city starring gorgeous collections of interconnected rectangular buildings and charming houses in shades of beige, sandy-brown, and other earthy tones. Zoom in a little closer, and one can see the Renaissance-style exterior of its buildings and the exquisite detail captured in the statues mounted on the tops of its palaces and cathedrals.

It’s a long road to Portugal, especially for missionary Elder Ross Wrencher—geek, MCU fan, and Gamma World war-gamer. But things took a turn for the worse when he accidently swaps bodies with Olympian swimmer and fellow missionary Sister Signe Hagen. Will these two be able to swap back, before the APs and mission president catch on?