Illuminates the spiritual journey we all take and the choices we all take and the choices we make by focusing on five of the monastic hours, from Vigils which reflect on the edges of the day and our own difficulty in choosing to begin the journey, through Compline or night prayer, the time for letting go and remembering the reality of death.

Full of humor and eloquently written, Crossing shows Christians how to bring faith and human experience together.

Why the 17:18 series?

In Deuteronomy 17, Moses is leaving final instructions concerning the future of Israel. As a prophet of God, Moses foretells of when Israel will place a king over the nation (v. 14). In verse 18, the king is commanded to not simply acquire a copy of the law (the entire book of Deuteronomy) from the "scroll publishing house," but to hand write his own copy of the law. Thirty-four hundred years later, educators are "discovering" that students that physically write out their notes by hand have a much greater retention rate than simply hearing or visually reading the information. Apparently, God knew this to be true of the kings of Israel also. From such understanding came the conception of this series of books.

How to Use These Books

Each book is organized so that you can write out your very own copy of Scripture. You will be writing the Bible text only on the right-hand page of the book. This should make for easier writing and allows ample space on the left page to write your own notes and comments. From time to time a question or word will be lightly printed on the left page; these questions are to aid in further study but should not interfere with your own notes and comments.

"The process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others: " so M. Robert Mulholland Jr. defines spiritual formation. Compact and solid, this definition encompasses the dynamics of a vital Christian life and counters our culture's tendency to make spirituality a trivial matter or reduce it to a private affair between "me and Jesus." InInvitation to a Journey, Mulholland helps Christians new and old to understand that we become like Christ gradually, not instantly. Not every personality is suited to an early morning quiet time, so Mulholland frees different personality types to express their piety differently. He reviews the classical spiritual disciplines and demonstrates the importance of undertaking our spiritual journey with (and for the sake of) others. This road map for spiritual formation is profoundly biblical and down to earth. In the finest tradition of spiritual literature, it is a vital help to Christians at any stage of their journey.

Now with a study guide for personal use or group discussion.

In this book on excellence Chuck Swindoll?"America's foremost applicator of Scripture to daily life"?boldly tackles the difficult problems of self-discipline, laziness, and our tendency to accept less of life than we deserve.

"Perhaps his best book . . . both a challenge to easy living and a blueprint for breaking out of patterns of mediocrity. . . . One of the most helpful aspects of this book is Swindoll's ability to distinguish between striving for excellence and the modern-day philosophies of success." ?Today's Christian Woman

"Living Above the Level of Mediocrity epitomizes what has lifted the author above the average. The book itself aims high and reaches its goal through keen thinking and hard work." ?Moody Monthly

"Swindoll combines interesting, insightful Bible exposition with the storyteller's ability to make an anecdote live. Throughout the book he weaves briefs about the eagle, a bird he holds up as an example of the pursuit of excellence. He writes devotionally, giving you constant food for thought." ?Eternity

2010 Christianity Today Book Award winner

2010 Golden Canon Leadership Book Award winner

Think of the moment you last experienced God. Do you know him that closely in this moment? Truly experiencing the love of God gives us a taste of his goodness and his love for us, but often those moments are fleeting. We get distracted by life. Our awareness and understanding fade while our longing to experience him that way again increases. In these pages you can begin to fill that longing by developing your capacity to receive and respond to God's love. Spiritual formation is the process through which one's inner self is opened to the work of the Holy Spirit, who forms us into the image of the Son. Here Richard Foster and Gayle Beebe, both experienced leaders in spiritual formation, introduce you to people from the past who have known God deeply. Each person helps you to grasp one of the seven primary paths to intimacy with God that have been developed throughout Christian history. Chapters are divided into sections, each segment surrounding a key figure and concluding with a reflection and prayer. This rich resource can guide you into the same deep intimacy with God, opening you to the Spirit's work of transformation. A Renovaré Resource.