2013-01-03 14:02:45ZPlough Publishinghttp://www.plough.cominfo@plough.comhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/a-joyful-pilgrimage2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

If life was a battle for Emmy Arnold, it was also a celebration. This is the secret to her joy: she lived an undivided life, a life where the practical and the spiritual, the personal and the political, were one. Her memoir is a challenge to faith and commitment against all odds, and a testimony to the leading of a uniting Spirit stronger than everything that keeps people apart.

Not many people talk about "joy" these days. Emmy Arnold's memoir radiates just that - an enthusiasm for life and an unflagging optimism grounded in faith. In a genre awash in sordid sex and dysfunctional relationships, she offers a refreshing account of a hard life lived victoriously, of people brought together, despite their own weakness and turbulent times, to experience new levels of freedom, trust, and unity. The setting is the tumultuous aftermath of World War I, when thousands of young Germans defied the social mores of their parents - and the constricting influence of the churches - in search of freedom, social equality, nature, and community. Hiking clubs were formed and work camps organized, and hundreds of rural communes sprang up across the country. In the 1930s Nazism swallowed this so-called Youth Movement virtually whole. A Joyful Pilgrimage is the story of a remnant that survived: the Bruderhof, a community movement that began when Emmy Arnold and her husband Eberhard, a well-known writer and lecturer, abandoned their affluent Berlin suburb to live a completely different life. It is her own story, candidly told, of a venture dared and realized, in spite of poverty, persecution, skepticism, and trust betrayed. Through it all Arnold clung to her belief that we can break free from the structures of power, greed, and injustice that divide us.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housejoycommunitybruderhoffaithhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/a-little-child-shall-lead-them2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

A pastor offers down-to-earth insights every parent can apply. Topics include fatherhood, motherhood, spoiling your child, discipline, adoption, special needs, building character, academics, sports and play, sex education, role of grandparents, media consumption, and homeschooling.

Parenting was never easy. In these times of cultural decline and moral confusion, it has only gotten harder. But what if parenthood is not just a duty but a privilege, and what if our children can draw us closer to God and each other? Pastor Johann Christoph Arnold offers down-to-earth insights every parent can apply. His prose is simple, straight to the heart, and filled with wisdom. Topics include fatherhood, motherhood, spoiling your child, discipline, adoption, special needs, building character, academics, sports and play, sex education, the role of grandparents, media consumption, and homeschooling.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseparentingchildrenhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/a-testimony-to-church-community2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

A concise, readable introduction to the life and writings of a man who, in his search for Christ, spent his life turning conventional Christianity on its head.

For a concise, readable introduction to a man who, in his search for Christ, spent his life turning conventional Christianity on its head, this is a good place to start. Eberhard Arnold (1883-1935) is relatively unknown today, yet his life's work continues to bear fruit today as few lives have. In 1920, venturing into an unknown future—and leaving wealth, security, and a public speaking career—he moved with his wife Emmy from Berlin to a tiny village, where they started a small community on the basis of early church practices as described in the Book of Acts. A Testimony to Church Community contains a biographical sketch, selections from his most important works, and brief memoirs by friends and colleagues.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housecommunitychristian livinghttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/a-third-testament2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

In this illuminating collection of portraits, Muggeridge explores the spiritual wanderings seven maverick thinkers: Augustine, Pascal, Blake, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Bonhoeffer.

Based on an acclaimed TV series, this illuminating collection of portraits brings to life seven men in search of God – seven maverick thinkers whose seeking for Christian discipleship make for unforgettable reading. Saint Augustine, a headstrong young hedonist and speechwriter who turned his back on money and prestige in order to serve Christ... Blaise Pascal, a brilliant scientist who warned people against thinking they could live without God... William Blake, a magnificent artist and poet who pled passionately for the life of the spirit and foresaw the plight that materialism would usher in... Soren Kierkegaard, a renegade philosopher who spent most of his life at odds with the church, and insisted that every person must find his own way to God... Fyodor Dostoevsky, a debt-ridden writer and sometime prisoner who found, in the midst of squalor and political turmoil, the still small voice of God... Leo Tolstoy, a grand old novelist who swung between idealism and depression, loneliness and fame--and a dual awareness of his sinfulness and God's grace. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor whose writings--and agonized involvement in a plot to kill Hitler--cost him his life, but continue to inspire millions. The Author: Often compared to G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, British writer and television commentator Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990) is best known for having introduced Mother Teresa to the English-speaking world through his classic biography Something Beautiful for God. A tart-tongued agnostic for most of his life, Muggeridge converted to Catholicism at 80. But he never stopped asking questions, which surely explains his enduring appeal.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristian discipleshipmemoirhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/action-in-waiting2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

The seventeen essays in this free ebook give a fresh look at the spiritual life as "active expectation" of God's kingdom breaking into this world. This kingdom is no longer relegated to some afterlife, but takes effect today.

Ours is a time of intense searching. Few of us are satisfied with what the church and society have served up. The honest among us will readily admit we lead fractured lives - with a disembodied spirituality on one side, and a soulless daily existence on the other. We are desperate for something more, for a faith with the power to transform both ourselves and our world. Enter Christoph Blumhardt. With unabashed clarity of focus, Blumhardt's words cut through the clutter of our post-modern existence. He offers a concrete vision that inspires even the most disillusioned. His enthusiasm rekindles our passion to live a life of purpose. Action in Waiting is not abstract theology - it's too blunt, too earthy, too real. These seventeen essays reflect the gripping reality of the living Christ. They give us a fresh look at the spiritual life as one of "active expectation" of God's kingdom breaking into this world. Blumhardt shows us that the object of our hope is no longer relegated to some afterlife, but takes effect today. Blumhardt tells us how we can experience the future Christ promised now, in such a way that death and human misery are overcome. In his life, he experienced God's saving actions every day. Demons were cast out, sick were healed, and sinners turned from evil. Action in Waiting shatters the walls of institutional Christianity. Having been both a pastor and a politician himself, Blumhardt was qualified to say, "State and church are no soil for the fire of God." All human institutions stand in the way of God's kingdom. "Nothing is more dangerous than a religion: for that is what makes us heathens...God does not care a fig for our religion." Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseFaithBlumhardtKingdom of Godhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/against-the-wind2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

A journalist's biography of Eberhard Arnold, a man who, in his search for Christ, ended up turning the Christianity of his day on its head. Markus Baum looks at the forces that shaped Arnold's life, recreates the colorful era in which he lived, and shows Arnold's connection with other thinkers of his day.

This is the story, told in full for the first time, of Eberhard Arnold (1883-1935). A man for today's seekers, he faced life's essential questions head on, and once he had struggled his way through to an answer, he tried to live it. For him, discipleship meant the radical self-sacrifice of living in community like the Early Christians. Against the Wind (originally pubished in German) explores the forces that shaped Arnold's life and his own influence on other spiritual leaders of his day - Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, and Martin Buber among them. It recounts his renunciation of private property and military service, and explains his abhorrence of conventional piety on the one hand, and his love for the early church fathers on the other. Most of all, Against the Wind gives flesh, blood, and personality to a man whose unwavering convictions made him at once hated and admired, a man whom some called an enemy of the State and others a modern Saint Francis. Arnold walked resolutely against the prevailing winds, even as Nazism engulfed Germany. The Bruderhof movement, which carries on his commitment to integrate faith and social action, is a witness to his continuing legacy. The author, Markus Baum, is a popular German journalist and radio commentator. From the foreword: "Since the time of Jesus, small groups of earnest Christians have tried to live by the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount. From St. Francis to the Benedictines to the Anabaptists, living as disciples of Jesus in community has been a sought-for ideal. While many Christians have viewed these ethics as for a time yet to come, others have insisted that Jesus meant for his followers to live them in the here and now. Here is the account of one such Christian." - Jim WallisAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housediscipleshipliving in communitybruderhofhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/an-easter-story-for-children2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

Jacob, a boy from Jerusalem, tries to find Jesus at Easter time.

The boy, Jacob, led his father down the rocky hillside that led up to Jerusalem from Jericho. His father, Ezra, had been blind from birth. Each day from daybreak until dusk he sat on a boulder, always the same boulder, begging for food or money from pilgrims on the road. Sometimes very few passed by, and he would get only a few denarii, but today there were many groups going up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseeasterpassoverhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/an-embassy-besieged2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

The story of a Christian community in Nazi Germany. This is an amazing account of a community who stayed true to the nonviolent way of the Cross, and how, despite relentless Nazi opposition, God protected and victoriously led them along the way.

Here for the first time in print is the story of a small group who dared to confront Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich with the love of Jesus Christ. Avoiding covert resistance on the one hand and complicity and compromise on the other, the Rhön Bruderhof, under the courageous leadership of Eberhard Arnold, boldly witnessed to the politics of the Kingdom of God in Nazi Germany. Although "less than a gnat to an elephant," in Arnold's words, they believed that as God's ambassadors love could overcome hatred-even of Adolf Hitler himself. This is an amazing account of a community who stayed true to the nonviolent way of the Cross, and how, despite relentless Nazi opposition, God protected and victoriously led them along the way. Scripture tells us that we are to be a counter-cultural community, living out the radical teachings of Christ. This book sets a pattern for those who want to live faithfully in opposition to the dictatorial consumeristic culture of our age. -Tony Campolo, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA In An Embassy Besieged, a small community of Christians courageously and graciously refuses to compromise their faith in the face of the worst human evil. Their witness has much to teach us today in a world so riddled with prejudice, so tired of militarism, so starved for grace, and so desperate for imagination. -Shane Claiborne, author, activist Seeking to embody the Sermon on the Mount and articulating a clear Anabaptist theology of church and state, the early Bruderhof movement gives a courageous testimony to nonviolence in a harsh totalitarian state. Emmy Barth tells a compelling and well-crafted story that is hard to put down. -Donald B. Kraybill, author of The Upside Down Kingdom Download PreviewAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housebruderhofpersecutionnonviolencehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/anni2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

This book is the story, told in Annemarie’s own words, of her path from doubt and despair to a life of purpose, faith, and joy. Annemarie was set on this path when she responded to a call from God so strong and direct that it abolished all her doubts. This call led her to a life in Christian community where she could dedicate herself completely to working towards God’s coming kingdom of justice and love.

Although she was for many years the wife of a pastor, Annemarie Wächter Arnold was known for her dislike of religious speech and pious utterances, preferring instead to express her faith in practical gestures of love. A cheerful and energetic woman, she touched the lives of thousands with small deeds of generosity, kindness, and encouragement. Few who knew her as an adult would have recognized her as the teenager who wrote in her diary: There is simply nothing in me, I am nothing, I have no opinion, no conviction, no direction, no nothing…what is God? I don’t know whether I believe in him or don’t believe in him…this inner loneliness is the worst thing there is, sometimes it could kill you. This book is the story, told in Annemarie’s own words, of her path from doubt and despair to a life of purpose, faith, and joy. Annemarie was set on this path when she responded to a call from God so strong and direct that it abolished all her doubts. This call led her to a life in Christian community where she could dedicate herself completely to working towards God’s coming kingdom of justice and love. As she wrote, It is infinitely reassuring to know that there is an absolute truth, an infinitely great love. It is wonderful to know that one does not have to squander one’s life, one does not need to ask anymore what life is really for, what its purpose is.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housebiographycommunityhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/a/awakening2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

A must-read free ebook for anyone who has doubts about spiritual warfare, The Awakening provides a rare glimpse into the eternal fight between the forces of good and evil...

When Blumhardt, a 19th-century pastor from the Black Forest, agreed to counsel a tormented woman in his parish, all hell broke loose - literally. But that was only the beginning of the drama that ensued. Zuendel's account, available here in English for the first time, provides a rare glimpse into how the eternal fight between the forces of good and evil plays itself out in the lives of the most ordinary men and women. More than that, it reminds us that those forces still surround us today, whether we are awake to them or not. Beginning in the fall of 1841, Blumhardt was drawn into a spiritual struggle, which he referred to for the rest of his life as "the fight." At first he tried to keep a cautious distance from it, but it soon became obvious that he would not be able to stay uninvolved. Gottliebin Dittus, a young woman from a pious Möttlingen family who had once been Pastor Barth's favorite pupil, was regarded in her village as a "God-fearing" member of the parish. At the same time she was known, ever since her childhood, to have suffered recurring nervous disorders and various other maladies, including inexplicable attacks not unlike epileptic seizures. Repulsed by her peculiar behavior, Blumhardt kept his distance from her. He would come when summoned during her worst attacks, but he went reluctantly, feeling that her case was no task for him as a pastor. Village physician Dr. Späth, on the other hand, argued that Gottliebin's disorders were beyond the scope of his medical knowledge, if not symptomatic of supernatural forces at work. It was on this account that Blumhardt finally agreed to observe the woman. Before long he was so deeply involved in Gottliebin's struggle that no one could hold him back. For one thing, he was ashamed at the thought of conceding power to the darkness affecting her. Moreover, he pitied her. Little did he know that he had embarked on an uncharted journey of the most bizarre kind and entered a battle so intense that it would demand all of his energies for the next two years. The Awakening tells what happened over their course, and beyond.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseMiraclesConversionStrugglehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/be-not-afraid2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

In this hope-filled free ebook, stories of real men and women offer hard-won insights on dealing with uncertainty, loss, grief, and the fear of death. Arnold knows that the biggest challenges in life are the ones that won't fit the script. All the same, he is convinced that there are plenty of common truths worth holding to the light.

In Be Not Afraid, Arnold addresses fears that every person faces - fear of death and loss, illness, aging, fear of vulnerability, and fear of suffering. A pastor who has worked with the dying for three decades, Arnold knows that each of us must meet death in our own unique way. Yet through stories of people he has known and counseled as a pastor, relative, or friend, he shows how all suffering can be given meaning, and despair overcome. These real-life stories offer sure proof that even today, in our culture of isolation and death, there is reason for hope. Based on his popular 1997 book, I Tell You a Mystery, this new version has been broadened in scope to include discussion of contemporary issues such as AIDS, suicide, and euthanasia. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housefear of deathcomfortanxietyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/beauty-of-the-lily2013-05-21 03:14:11Zen2012

Sometimes the oldest stories are the best stories. This well-loved tale has been read thousands of times, but still has an Easter message for children and adults alike. 3-page .pdf, .prc or .epub.

Now it happened one Easter morning that Ivan, feeling restless, rose early and went and stood before the door of the hut. The trees were budding, the air was full of bird-songs, the dew lay glittering on the grass, and a near-by brook ran leaping and gurgling along. The rays of the rising Sun shone slanting from the tops of the distant hills, and seemed to touch the hut. And as Ivan looked, he saw a young man coming swiftly and lightly from the hills, and he bore on his arm a sheaf of pure white Lilies. The stranger drew near, and stopped before the hut...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseeasterlilyresurrectionshort storyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/behold-that-star2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Looking for a fresh collection of Christmas short stories to usher in the season of joy and giving? For those grown tired of commercialism, who feel that Santa Claus and red-nosed reindeer do not project the true Christmas spirit, this book may be the answer.

Looking for a fresh collection of stories to usher in the season of joy and giving? For those grown tired of commercialism, who feel that Santa Claus and red-nosed reindeer do not project the true Christmas spirit, this book may be the answer. Containing little-known classics by old and new masters of the genre, this bestselling anthology includes stories from many lands, interspersed with songs and poems – over half the contents available in English for the first time. Also available as an itunes-ready free audio file (.zip) below.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmas short storieshttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/bell-of-sundown-hollow2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

A timeless short story suitable for family reading in Spring. Depression and poverty had overtaken the residents of Sundown Hollow, until a boy's faith and perseverance lifted their hearts toward Easter.

A timeless short story suitable for family reading in Spring. Depression and poverty had overtaken the residents of Sundown Hollow, until a boy's faith and perseverance lifted their hearts toward Easter. Alvin and little sister Sandy, who had not one but two dimples, and who sang wherever she went even though she was only six, meandered happily toward Buffalo Hill. Cabin fever had engulfed the children and Naomi Conway was glad to let them go. Sandy’s heart was full of springtime and it overflowed in a continuous torrent of happy song. But Alvin walked quietly, his eyes and mind taking in the details around him as he went...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechildren's storyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/birth-of-jesus2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Luke 2:1-40 - and Matthew 1:18-25, telling of the birth of Christ and the story of Simeon and Anna.

Merrill Mow (1928-1987) had a fascination and a love for Bible history, nurtured by his parents and stimulated by his professors at seminary in the late 1940s. Towards the end of his life Merrill began using his knowledge to inspire classes of elementary school students with weekly Bible study. This is an excerpt from one such class held in 1983 in which he recounts the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. From the ebook: ...The main reason Augustus ordered a census was because his whole empire was supported by taxes that came in from all over the empire and he had to know how many people they could collect taxes from. It was a burden he laid on the people he had conquered. This is the first time that one of these world enrollments ever took place. It says: This was the first enrollment when Quirinius was Governor of Syria. Now these names are means by which we know the date, because the Bible doesn't give the dates even in Hebrew years here. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (that's where David grew up) because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn....Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasjesushttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/bread-and-wine2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Many readers may well find that this collection—a sequel to the highly successful Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas—is the one book they return to year after year, forgoing their usual custom of buying a new Lenten devotional each spring.

Has there ever been a more hard-hitting, beautifully written, theologically inclusive anthology of writings for Lent and Easter? It’s doubtful. Many readers may well find that this collection—a sequel to the highly successful Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas—is the one book they return to year after year, forgoing their usual custom of buying a new Lenten devotional each spring. Six separate sections (Invitation, Temptation, Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection and New Life) guide readers through the essential elements of spiritual preparation and feature writings from some of Christendom's most celebrated masters. Classic thinkers such as Martin Luther and John Donne share space with 20th-century theologians like C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy Day. There is also a generous sampling from contemporary writers, including Philip Yancey, John Updike, Frederick Buechner, Madeleine L'Engle, Henri Nouwen and Brennan Manning. Caveat lector: no one should have this much pleasure during Lent! —Publishers Weekly Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houselenteasterresurrectionhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/b/brother-robber2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

A 9 page story of St. Francis for family reading at Christmas - when Brother Angelo turns away the hungry robbers, what will St. Francis say? .pdf, .epub, .prc, and now an audio book!

A short legend of St. Francis for family reading at Christmas. When Brother Angelo sends the hungry robbers away at Christmas, what will St. Francis do?Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasebookaudio fileshort storyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/c/carpenters-christmas2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

A 10 page story for Christmas set as a European folk tale. A nagging wife is horrified when her carpenter husband fixes a neighbor's roof instead of going to church on Christmas Eve. Who is right?

A Christmas short story set as a European folk tale. A nagging wife is horrified when her carpenter husband fixes a neighbor's roof instead of going to church on Christmas Eve. Who is right? "...What an unhappy woman she was, she finally managed to stammer, to have such a husband! True, he was usually quiet and industrious, but he had simply no religion! Just no religion at all! And if she were to live to be a hundred, she would never forget that night! "Not a single 'Our Father' did he say, nor did he welcome the Christ Child with so much as a single short prayer! What an end such a man will come to! Even this morning, people are going from house to house telling each other that they have never heard anyone curse as much as this husband of mine on Holy Night! You must have heard it yourself, Your Reverence, after Midnight Mass! I was shivering in my soul!"Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmashttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/c/chess-player2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

13 pages: Crusty old farmer Dyhema wants to play chess on Christmas Eve, but the parson can't get there through the snow storm. Instead, someone arrives to play a game that is life-changing... but who will win? .epub, .prc, .pdf and now audio book!

Crusty old farmer Dyhema wants to play chess on Christmas Eve, but the parson can't get there through the snow storm. Instead, someone arrives to play a game that is life-changing...but who will win? A short story suitable for family reading this Christmas. Many families make it a Christmas tradition to settle down with a cup of cocoa and listen to "The Chess Player" every year.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmashttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/c/christian-and-the-sword2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Concerning the Sword is the fourth article of the Article Book, a major doctrinal tract of the Hutterites of the sixteenth century. Its author is not named but was probably the Hutterian bishop Peter Walpot (1521-1578). This article, originally published in the Mennonite Quarterly Review, gives Biblical references for Christian nonviolence.

Concerning the Sword is the fourth article of the Article Book, a major doctrinal tract of the Hutterites of the sixteenth century. Its author is not named but was probably the Hutterian bishop Peter Walpot (1521-1578). The book deals with the following five articles: (1) Concerning true baptism (and how infant baptism contradicts it); (2) Concerning the Lord's Supper (and how the sacrament of the priests is against it); (3) Concerning the true surrender (Gelassenheit) and Christian community of goods; (4) That Christians should not go to war nor should they use sword or violence nor secular litigation; (5) Concerning divorce between believers and unbelievers. The book is not a theological tract, but rather like all Anabaptist doctrinal writings is a collection of biblical texts topically arranged to prove the position of the brotherhood with regard to the question at issue. The title of the larger edition, A Beautiful and Pleasant Little Book Concerning the Main Articles of our Faith, is quite colorless; more to the point is the title used in the Chronicle of the Hutterian Brethren: The Five Articles of the Greatest Conflict Between Us and the World. It does not pretend to contain a complete system of Anabaptist thought but only a collection of those points and their arguments that distinguish the Brethren from the "world" and justify their particular stand. The large Article Book comprises in one codex 286 quarto leaves; this size explains the later appearance of a condensed edition, which in print comprises only 18 pages. The Article Book must have been widely known in its time. Catholics as well as Lutheran polemics against it are known. The Hutterites continued to use and to copy the book as later codices prove. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseHutteritesAnabaptistsnonviolencehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/c/christoph-blumhardt-and-his-message2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

He was an embarrassment to Christians and non-Christians alike. He seemed to challenge and disconcert everyone. And yet he possessed a strange confidence in God’s history; a confidence that inspired hope in many, and continues to do so even today.

Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919) was an original. He was at home nowhere – he belonged neither to church circles nor to secular ones. He was an embarrassment to Christians and non-Christians alike. He seemed to challenge and disconcert everyone. And yet he possessed a strange confidence in God’s history; a confidence that inspired hope in many, and continues to do so even today. In this newly revised volume, Lejuene gives a short summary of Blumhardt’s life followed by nineteen of his thought-provoking sermons. From Karl Barth: Blumhardt can do something which most of us cannot do: represent God’s cause in the world yet not wage war on the world, love the world and yet be completely faithful to God, suffer with the world and speak a frank word about its need while simultaneously going beyond this to speak the redemptive word about the help it awaits.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseChristoph BlumhardtSermonsBiographyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/c/cries-from-the-heart2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

If you've ever felt that praying was like talking to a wall, the last thing you need is another ebook that holds out religion like a good-luck charm. Where has the real God gone? Arnold tells stories about real men and women with very real problems finding strength to face life's challenges. Their experiences - which range from extreme to quite ordinary and universal - will comfort and encourage even the most jaded reader.

Cries from the Heart answers a specific hunger millions share - a longing for a personal connection to the divine. In times of crisis, all of us reach for someone,or something, greater than ourselves. Some call it prayer. Others just do it. For many, it's often like talking to a wall. People are looking for assurance that someone hears them when they cry out in their despair, loneliness, or frustration. The last thing they need is another book telling them how to pray or what to say, holding out religion like a good-luck charm. So instead of theorizing or preaching, Johann Christoph Arnold tells stories about real men and real women dealing with adversity. Their difficulties - which range from extreme to quite ordinary and universal - resonate with readers, offering a challenge, but also comfort and encouragement. People will see themselves in these glimpses of anguish, triumph, and peace. Donna Schaper,author, Shelter for the Spiritually Homeless Cries from the Heart is written by someone who knows heartache and what life is like on the other side…Arnold embraces our despair and restores our confidence. Diane Komp, author, Breakfast for the Heart I love a riveting story that won't go away. That's exactly the type of word picture that Johann Christoph Arnold paints, from dark to light, from despair to courage, from pain to joy, from doubt to faith. But always, Arnold points our crying toward the light. John Dear, Fellowship of Reconciliation In Cries from the Heart, Johann Christoph Arnold offers a simple but profound gift—a word of hope.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseprayerpraystrugglehopehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/d/discipleship2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Sometimes sensitive, sometimes provocative, but always encouraging, Arnold guides readers toward leading Christlike lives amid the stress and strain of modern life. With free study guide and leader's guide.

Sometimes sensitive, sometimes provocative, but always encouraging, Arnold guides readers toward leading Christlike lives amid the stress and strain of modern life. Perhaps the hardest thing about following Christ is translating our good intentions into deeds. Christ calls us, and we yearn to answer him, but time and again we lose resolve. Is discipleship really possible today? Many of the selections in this book offer answers to specific needs or problems. Others grapple with broader themes such as world suffering, salvation, and the coming of the kingdom of God. All of them pulsate with conviction and compassion, giving fresh hope to those who and themselves lonely or disheartened in the daily search to follow Christ. Also available, a free Study Guide (English .pdf) for personal or group study, and a Leader's Guide to facilitate group discussion. Reviews Helen Prejean, CSJ, author, Dead Man Walking Discipleship is not simply a book. It is a cry from the heart of a man passionately alive for God. Tony Campolo, author, Red Letter Christians Discipleship helps us to understand what spiritual goodness is all about…It provides a mystic nurturing of the soul that translates into action that makes for justice. Jürgen Moltmann, author, Theology of Hope I have not experienced a book like this except when reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Christoph Blumhardt. Arnold sees beyond the present into the wonderful future of God’s kingdom. Cardinal Joseph O’Connor, Archdiocese of New York …a clear call to greater conviction and faith. Readers who open their hearts to the witness of this book will be challenged and inspired.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housediscipleshipchristian livinghttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/d/drained2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Dedicated to all "who refuse to run on empty," Drained tells the stories of ordinary people who overcame their greatest obstacles. For anyone ready to go beyond quick fixes, it provides realistic stepping stones toward a fulfilled life.

Gerald had an affair. And an illegitimate child. He carried these secrets for decades, doing his best to blot them from memory. He failed--but he achieved something far greater... Ann finally had everything she ever wanted: a loving spouse, a home to call her own, financial security, beautiful kids. Everything, that is, except happiness. She couldn't figure out what was wrong. Until she stopped trying to outrun the ghosts of her abused childhood... Mick and Bridie's only son was gunned down in Northern Ireland, and they wanted blood. So they tried suicide. But something stopped them... Ashley worked the runways of Paris and Milan, modelling for the likes of Giorgio Armani. Drugged up and sexed out, he flirted with despair. Then a friend offered him a book that changed the course of his life forever... In Drained, Arnold tells their stories and those of many others who overcame their greatest obstacles. He builds his book on the premise that the longing for peace lies deep within every person. Drained makes no attempt to present a cure-all for life's problems, but for those ready to go beyond quick-fix "remedies," it offers stepping stones to finding peace. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseptsdanxietyworrydepressionhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/e/early-christians2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

What did Christianity look like before it became an institution? Find out for yourself with this collection of firsthand accounts of the early church. Includes excerpts from Origen, Tertullian, Polycarp, Clement of Alexandria, Justin, Irenaeus, and others—and equally revealing material from their critics, detractors and persecutors. Free ebook in three formats and four languages.

What did Christianity look like before it became an institution? In these firsthand accounts of the early church, the spirit of Pentecost burns with prophetic force through the fog that envelops the modern church. A clear and vibrant faith lives on in these writings, providing a guide for Christians today. Its stark simplicity and revolutionary fervor will stun those lulled by conventional Christianity. The Early Christians is a topically arranged collection of primary sources. It includes extra-biblical sayings of Jesus and excerpts from Origen, Tertullian, Polycarp, Clement of Alexandria, Justin, Irenaeus, and others. Equally revealing material from pagan contemporaries -- critics, detractors and persecutors -- is included as well. "The spirit of Christ translates love of God into divine service of love to others. Whoever serves the poor, the destitute, the downtrodden, serves Christ himself, for God is near to them. To be loved by God means to love God and one’s neighbor: community with God becomes community with one another. Expecting the kingdom shapes life and service in the church and unites the believers in one common will. True community and common dedication are the positive results of opposing the present age."Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseEarly ChristiansEarly ChurchDiscipleshiphttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/e/eberhard-arnold2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

If you've never read any of Eberhard Arnold's writings before, this collection may be the best place to start. For those already familiar with the author, this ebook might be described as the Portable Arnold - a collection of the strongest and best of his prolific output.

If you've never read any of Eberhard Arnold's writings before, this collection is a good choice. For those already familiar with the author, Writings might be described as the portable Arnold - a collection of the strongest and best of his prolific output. Arnold is best known for his emphasis on living out Christ's message in community with others, but Writings shows him to be equally at home in other spheres. Whether assailing the hypocrisy of conventional church life or pointing out the pitfalls of a purely social gospel, whether celebrating the spirit of childlikeness or defending his unyielding refusal to allow that warfare can ever be just, this writer has surprises in store for even the most jaded reader. Widely sought after as a writer and lecturer in his day, Eberhard Arnold remains largely unknown to modern readers. Small but growing numbers of readers, however, are discovering the relevance of his work to Christian discipleship, which Thomas Merton said "stirs to repentance and renewal." Much more than a writer, philosopher, and theologian, he was loved most of all for his humility, his fatherly friendship, and his deep faith. Born in 1883 into a long line of academics, his life was hardly conventional. In a time and place where church and state were anything but separate, he threw away what might have been a brilliant career as a theologian when he left the state church at age twenty-five. By thirty-seven, he had abandoned middle-class life altogether. He spent his last fifteen years at the Bruderhof - the religious community he founded in 1920 - but remained active in traveling, lecturing and writing until his death in 1935. Little of what he wrote is available to readers today: only a small number of the thousands of talks, essays, and letters he left behind have ever been published in English. In a certain way, however, this would cause him no dismay: especially toward the end of his life, he spoke often of his own inadequacies, pointing instead to the working of the Holy Spirit. And yet his witness, however small, cannot be left unrecognized. His insights into the human condition are as relevant today as they were in the early twenties, and his call to discipleship rings as true now as it did then.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseEberhard Arnoldphilosophydiscipleshiphttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/e/endangered2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Free ebook written for parents (and teachers and caregivers) weary of trying to do the "right" thing, Endangered will empower you to act on the wisdom you already possess.

A book for everyone who cares about parenting children, Endangered will renew your confidence that no matter how great the odds, the love we give children is still the most decisive factor. Every parent and educator wants to be more effective. Endangered shows them how, not by offering child-rearing tips, but by transforming the way they view children and empowering them to act on the innate wisdom they already possess. For parents who try to do "the right thing" but feel frustrated at every turn, or for teachers and caregivers who worry that no matter what they do, it is not enough, Arnold offers the reassurance that no deed of love is ever wasted, and that even the smallest sacrifice has lasting value and significance. Arnold concedes that bringing up children in the 21st century is going to demand everything of us. But he insists that as long as we raise them with the reverence that lets them know they count, we will win their confidence and their trust. And in the end, he says, if we are willing to put them first, they will give us "more than we can ever give them."Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housedivorcechildrenparentinghttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/e/escape-routes2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

In Escape Routes, Arnold explores the roots of loneliness, frustration, alienation, and despair and the keys needed to leave them behind. No self-help mumbo jumbo here - just lots of real-life stories and straightforward advice. Potent medicine for anyone willing to down it.

After decades of being a pastor, Johann Christoph Arnold still marvels at our capacity to make life miserable for ourselves and one another. Escape Routes, his tenth book, aims to show the only sure way out of these self-made hells. In contrast to the makeovers and quick fixes hawked by popular culture, Escape Routes offers a tougher prescription. Using real-life stories, Arnold exposes the common seeds of loneliness, frustration, alienation, and despair, and gives us tools to uproot them from our lives. The choices he presents are clear: "to be selfish or selfless to forgive or to hate to burn with lust or with love to defend your personal power, or dismantle it." Why stake your hopes on some eternal hereafter, Arnold asks, when you can taste heaven right here and now? No matter your problems, or who you are, this book will help you on your way, provided you're ready to take its medicine.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseanxietydepressionprayerhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/f/freedom-from-sinful-thoughts2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2013

Drawing on the words of Jesus, and on years of experience as a pastoral counselor, Arnold guides the reader from frustration, guilt and self-doubt to single-minded freedom and finding peace in Christ. Foreword by John Michael Talbot. New edition, 2013.

We don't talk about them, but all of us have them - private jealousies, resentments, fantasies, and temptations. For over four decades, Arnold's sensitive wisdom has helped thousands of readers battle these unwanted thoughts. Now his quiet but steady-selling little classic is available to a new generation in an expanded and revised new edition. Arnold assures us that tempting thoughts are not sinful in and of themselves. It's what we do with them that matters. He offers concrete steps we can take to turn away from them and toward God. Drawing on the words of Jesus, and on his own experience as a pastor, Arnold guides the reader from frustration, guilt and self-doubt to single-minded freedom and finding peace in Christ. Freedom from Sinful Thoughts has proved itself invaluable for new believers, pastors, counselors, youth ministers, and anyone seeking a closer relationship with God. Foreword by John Michael Talbot. Publishers Weekly Concise, straightforward...from the heart. Arnold sounds a warning to the self-oriented, therapeutic tendencies of our day: "The goal should always be liberation. We want to find Jesus, not ourselves." Henri J. M. Nouwen Arnold's writing is full of love. His deep-rootedness in Christ makes him a very wise, a very safe, and a very challenging guide. E. Glen Hinson, Baptist Theological Seminary Reminds me of Kierkegaard's great classic, Purity of Heart. Both force you to look deep within your own life. Howard R. Macy, George Fox University Loving and sensitive, Arnold makes his readers feel encouraged rather that judged. Here are nuggets of practical wisdom which deserve to be read, pondered, and treasured. Dallas Willard, Author, The Spirit of the Disciplines With deep insight into the workings of the mind, Arnold brings us towards deliverance by union with Christ.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housetemptationaddictionprayersinhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/g/gods-revolution2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Eberhard Arnold doesn't approach discipleship as a benign route to religious fulfillment, but as revolution - a transformation that begins within and spreads outward to encompass every aspect of life. Here is the raw reality of the gospel that has the power to change the world.

God's Revolution, a collection of topically arranged writings from Eberhard Arnold, a maverick theologian and co-founder of the Bruderhof Communities, challenges readers to break out of the stifling complacency of conventional life and live out the uncompromising but healing truths of Christ. Be warned: Arnold doesn't approach discipleship as a benign route to religious fulfillment, but as revolution - a transformation that begins within, with the purging of self, and spreads outward to encompass every aspect of life. Here is the raw reality of the gospel that has the power to change the world.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housejusticecommunitykingdomhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/g/gospel-in-dostoyevsky2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Free ebook of excerpts from Dostoyevsky's greatest novels exploring the devastating (yet ultimately healing) social implications of the Gospels. This collection of passages vividly reveals - as none of his novels can on their own - the common thread of the great God-haunted Russian's questioning faith.

"If you are assailed by doubt, even total rejection of God, try Dostoyevsky. And don't be daunted by the fact that most of his books are fat. Start with this volume of power-laden excerpts." - a reader An excellent introduction to one of the world's most important authors, this volume vividly reveals - as none of his novels can on their own - the common thread of the great God-haunted Russian's questioning faith. Drawn from The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, Crime and Punishment, and The Adolescent, the seventeen selections are each prefaced by an explanatory note. Newcomers will find in these pages a rich, accessible sampling. Dostoyevsky devotees will be pleased to find some of the writer's deepest, most compelling passages in one volume. Illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg, foreword by Malcolm Muggeridge, introduction by Ernest Gordon, author of Miracle on the River Kwai. For those busy souls intimidated by the length of his great novels, this book offers a wonderful sampler. Grab it. Read it. And, be careful: you may find yourslef – as I did – scouring used bookstrores for every obscure work of this incomparable writer.  – Philip Yancey, Christianity TodayAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseGospelspiritualpsychologyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/g/grandfathers-stories2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

11 page Christmas short story for older children: It is Christmas Eve on a large Prussian estate shortly after the great upheaval now known as World War II, and several tenants have gathered with their masters for the evening. Christoph, their elderly coachman, has been coaxed into telling a story for old times’ sake.

A Christmas short story suitable for family reading. It is Christmas Eve on a large Prussian estate shortly after the great upheaval now known as World War II, and several tenants have gathered with their masters for the evening. Christoph, their elderly coachman, has been coaxed into telling a story for old times’ sake.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmashttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/g/guest2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

11 page short story: Many years ago, in Czarist Russia, a man was traveling through Siberia. While he was staying with a family in a remote village, his host told him this story...

Many years ago, in Czarist Russia, a man was traveling through Siberia. While he was staying with a family in a remote village, his host told him this story...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmashttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/h/hidden-christ2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

How are Christians to bring the gospel to the world? After centuries of misguided crusades, how can we rediscover mission as Jesus understood it? Must people embrace Christianity to know Christ and his liberation?

These letters from Blumhardt to his son-in-law, a missionary in China, turn the traditional concept of Christian mission on its head. For Blumhardt, the gospel of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with religion. There is no need to bring Christianity to people. What they need is the good news Jesus promised--liberty for the oppressed and help for the poor. In fact, as Blumhardt sees it, the "unchurched" and the "heathen," and especially the oppressed, already belong to Christ, and he is at work in their hearts before we arrive. Jesus did not come to found churches, but to set in motion a movement of the Spirit that will encompass nations and lead to peace and social justice. "No longer religion against religion, but justice against sin, life against death." Blumhardt writes from a passionately moved heart, hastily jotting down thoughts with little regard for the choice of words or the skillful marshalling of ideas. It is not a matter of theology, but of daring something in faith, of experimenting, and of finding new ways for God’s kingdom to advance.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housegreat commissionmissionhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/h/homage-to-a-broken-man2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Those who knew J. Heinrich Arnold later in life wondered at the way people were drawn to this strange man with a thick accent and easy smile. In his presence, complete strangers poured out their darkest secrets and left transformed. Others wanted him dead.

Without your wounds where would you be? The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children of earth as can one human being broken in the wheels of living. ~ Thornton Wilder People who knew J. Heinrich Arnold (1913-1982) say they never met another person like him. Some speak of his humility, sensitivity, and compassion; others of his frankness and earthy humor. In his presence, complete strangers poured out their darkest secrets and left transformed. Others wanted him dead. Writer Henri Nouwen called him a "prophetic voice" and wrote of how his words "touched me as a double-edged sword, calling me to choose between truth and lies, selflessness and selfishness...Here was no pious, sentimental guide; every word came from his experience." Few knew Arnold's past, or could have imagined the crucibles he had endured. Until now. Three years ago, Peter Mommsen, 28, set out to uncover the story of his grandfather's life. This is what he found: A boy who faced down Nazis and hunger, growing up on potatoes and radical ideas. The son of a famous intellectual, determined to drop out of school and take to the road. A young lover fleeing his homeland. A new father losing his first child. An unlikely pioneer in the heart of South America. There, in the jungles of Paraguay, the religious community his parents had founded was twisted by legalism and power-hungry leaders into a cold and lifeless caricature. Arnold was betrayed by those he trusted most, separated from his wife and children, and exiled to a leper colony. Often his life hung on a knife's edge. But he couldn't die yet, because he hadn't fulfilled his calling, or the promise he had made as a child... Homage to a Broken Man is a remarkable story of betrayal and forgiveness. Read it, and you’ll never look at your own life the same way again.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housebiographybruderhof historyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/i/individual-and-world-need2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Timeless yet as timely as ever, this short ebook explores the relationship of the individual to world suffering and points clearly to a solution. Now available as a .prc and .epub file for your Kindle or Nook, as well as a .pdf.

Timeless yet as timely as ever, this short book explores the relationship of the individual to world suffering and points clearly to a solution. Enlivened by a wide variety of anecdotes--from the ancient myth of Prometheus to the expressionist Franz Werfel--Eberhard Arnold's message is simple but revolutionary: only by overcoming the cancer of individualism can we begin to address the need of the world. Arnold's essential diagnosis of what is wrong in the world--fragmentation, alienation, lust for power and wealth--is as precise today as when he penned this essay in the 1920s. The agony he has us confront is so grim, it could lead one to despair. But instead he faces despair head on, grapples with it, and emerges writing about joy. How is this possible? Readers solely interested in personal salvation may not like this essay. Arnold calls for a commitment that may seem too demanding to some. Yet without that commitment the world will remain as it is, full of illusions about self and material things and unable to see the consequences. Arnold believes that this state of affairs does not have to be. It can be transcended by the faith that moves mountains.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housepovertyjusticewarhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/i/inner-words2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Daily meditations selected by Emmy Arnold from the writings of her husband Eberhard Arnold, as well as those of Augustine, Blumhardt, Bodelschwingh, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Meister Eckhart, Hermann Loens, Martin Luther, Thomas a Kempis, Hudson Taylor and others.

Remember the Daily Dig emails? Now you can download and print out an entire year's worth of daily thoughts all at once. These prayers and meditations were selected by Emmy Arnold, drawing from the writings of her husband Eberhard Arnold, as well as those of Augustine, Blumhardt, Bodelschwingh, Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Meister Eckhart, Hermann Loens, Martin Luther, Thomas a Kempis, Hudson Taylor and others. As Emmy Arnold writes, "We need voices of our time which speak to people's hearts. It has been important to me in choosing these words that they come from people who have not only expressed their faith in words, but who have actually lived what they thought and wrote and believed."Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housedevotionalsprayermeditationhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/i/innerland2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Arnold's classic guide into the heart of the gospel invites readers to turn from the chaos of a society distracted by violence and greed to that "inner land of the invisible, where our spirit can find the roots of its strength."

It is hard to exaggerate the significance of Innerland, either for Eberhard Arnold or his readers. It absorbed his energies off and on for most of his adult life - from World War I, when he published the first chapter under the title War: A Call to Inwardness, to 1935, the last year of his life. The fruit of this long labor of love was not only a book, but a wellspring of remarkable depth. Packed in metal boxes and buried at night for safekeeping from the Nazis, who raided the author's study a year before his death (and again a year after it), Innerland was not openly critical of Hitler's regime. Nevertheless, it attacked the spirits that animated German society: its murderous strains of racism and bigotry, its heady nationalistic fervor, its mindless mass hysteria, and its vulgar materialism. In this sense Innerland stands as starkly opposed to the zeitgeist of our own day as to that of the author's. At a glance, the focus of Innerland seems to be the cultivation of the spiritual life as an end in itself. Nothing could be more misleading. In fact, to Eberhard Arnold the very thought of encouraging the sort of selfish solitude whereby people seek their own private peace by shutting out the noise and rush of public life around them is anathema. Thus he writes in the section "The Inner Life": These are times of distress. We cannot retreat, willfully blind to the overwhelming urgency of the tasks pressing on society. We cannot look for inner detachment in an inner and outer isolation...The only justification for withdrawing into the inner self to escape today's confusing, hectic whirl would be that fruitfulness is enriched by it. It is a question of gaining within, through unity with eternal powers, a strength of character ready to be tested in the stream of the world. Innerland, then, calls us not to passivity, but to action. It invites us to discover the abundance of a life lived for God. It opens our eyes to the possibilities of that "inner land of the invisible where our spirit can find the roots of its strength and thus enable us to press on to the mastery of life we are called to by God." Only there, says Eberhard Arnold, can our life be placed under the illuminating light of the eternal and seen for what it is. Only there will we find the clarity of vision we need to win the daily battle that is life, and the inner anchor without which we will lose our moorings.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housegospelspiritualityhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/i/innkeepers-son2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

12 page Christmas story for children: The blind son of a cruel innkeeper takes in a stranger on Christmas Eve. Who is he and where is he going?

It was a bitter night, though very clear. Under the sparkling stars a wild north wind drove cold into the veins, into the cracks and crannies of the tightest dwelling, and the tree limbs sighed and creaked. The snow that had fallen yesterday swirled up afresh and made new drifts, and the frozen earth was swept bare in wide swathes. No creature moved abroad, and except for the moan of the wind the world lay silent. But the inn was warm and cozy in the firelight... This short story is part of the free ebook The Secret Flower by Jane Tyson Clement.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasstoryhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/i/innocent2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Who can comfort a mother who lost her only son?

Tabitha’s only child was killed by Herod’s soldiers at Bethlehem. Thirty-three years later she searches for the one woman who can unlock her grief. With an authentic voice and a mother’s insight, Clement opens a new window on “the greatest story over told” for adults and older children alike. Nathanael and Tabitha's house was on the edge of town, by the north gate, and from their roof top one could see the rocky hills, the grazing pastures, the brown sheep cropping slowly and at peace. It was a good house, with a large room and a neat well-swept court open to the sun and sheltered from the wind. All day little Eliab played at his mother's feet...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseEasterJesusshort storyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/j/jesus-and-the-nonviolent-revolution2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

In this free ebook, you'll encounter a Jesus you may have never met before—a Jesus who not only calls for spiritual transformation, but for practical changes that answer the most perplexing political, economic, and social problems of our time.

André Trocmé (1901-1971) is famous for his role in saving thousands of Jews from the Nazis, as pastor of the French village of Le Chambon. But his bold deeds did not spring from a void. They were rooted in his understanding of Jesus’ way of nonviolence and the social implications of Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God on earth. In this book, you’ll encounter a Jesus you may have never met before – a Jesus who not only calls for spiritual transformation, but for practical changes that answer the most perplexing political, economic, and social problems of our time. Newly revised and expanded, this edition includes a concise biography of André Trocmé, and extensive notes on how contemporary thinkers have grappled with his ideas.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housepacifismnonviolencehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/j/jesus-is-the-victor2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

If you ever doubt that Jesus has power to change the world, or despair of seeing his victory come to fruition in your own personal life, you should read this free ebook.

A controversial German pastor, Christoph Blumhardt (1842-1919) didn’t care much for religion. His critique of Christianity touched a nerve that is still raw today. For him faith was a matter of fighting for God’s kingdom, the victory of Christ over all injustice and suffering here on earth. Throughout his life, “Jesus is the victor!” was his battle cry. Compiled from Blumhardt’s talks, sermons and writings, Jesus Is the Victor reveals his unconventional understanding of this battle and victory, which ought to define the life of every follower of Christ. For Blumhardt, Jesus’ triumph over sin and death wasn’t an abstraction, but something that he experienced as a reality in his life and the lives of those around him. Sick were healed, sinners forgiven, relationships restored. When the miraculous healings caused too much of a sensation, Blumhardt retired from preaching and entered politics, sensing Christ at work in movements for social justice. But he soon left that as well, saying, “State and church are no soil for the fire of God.” If you ever doubt that Jesus has power to change the world, or despair of seeing his victory come to fruition in your own personal life, you should read this book.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housedevotionalsicknesshealingrepentancehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/l/lift-thine-eyes2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Christian prayers of comfort, courage, and hope for every day of the year, each with a corresponding verse from the Old or New Testament. The peace that flows from Blumhardt's prayers comes from an unshakable conviction that God's kingdom is indeed on the way.

Children the world over are taught to say prayers at bedtime - but how many adults take time to turn to God at the end of the day? This collection of prayers is one of the few daily devotionals especially intended for use in the evening. In Lift Thine Eyes, the faith of a man who recognized human despair but refused to give in to it offers a wellspring of hope to turn to again and again. Blumhardt's prayers (and the corresponding Bible passages he has chosen for them) bespeak a certainty in God's nearness. The peace that flows from them comes from an unshakable conviction that God's kingdom is indeed on the way. In turbulent times like our own, most people need this reassurance frequently, if not daily. Blumhardt's prayers flow out of his feeling for the suffering of the whole world. They all point in the same direction - to the prayer that God's kingdom shall come, that the Savior shall come. If we pray, all suffering and need can only strengthen our faith in the certainty of God's promise that he will complete his work and bring an end to all affliction. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseprayermeditationdevotionalhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/l/love-is-like-fire2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Peter Riedemann's first confession of faith, written as a 23-year-old from a dungeon in Austria, is an important historical document and a refreshing reminder of the spirit which fired the early Anabaptists.

 Peter Riedemann (1506-1556) wrote this confession as a 23-year-old while imprisoned in Austria on account of his faith. At the time, the Anabaptists - spiritual forefathers of the Bruderhof movement - were being drowned, beheaded, and burned at the stake as heretics by the thousand for their commitment to baptism of believers, economic sharing, nonviolence, and the restoration of a New Testament Christianity free from state control and institutional hierarchy. In addition to the confession are two important supplements: How We Should Build the House of God and The Seven Pillars of This House. These meditations, like the confession, are of a deeply spiritual character. From the book: Love is like fire – When it is first kindled in a man, small troubles and temptations smother and hinder it; but when it really burns, having kindled the man's eagerness for God, the more temptations and tribulations meet it, the more it flares, until it overcomes and consumes all injustice and wickedness. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseconfession of faithanabaptisttestimonyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/l/love-letters2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

They were passionately in love, yet they rejected romance as the basis of their relationship, building instead on the promise of Jesus' words, "Seek first the kingdom of God." Circumstance (and scandalised parents) kept them separated for most of the next three years. But that separation bore its own fruit: an intense exchange of letters.

Everyone’s looking for true love, but few people seem willing to work at making it last. With separation and divorce so commonplace that most people see them as inevitable, it seems the very idea of marital commitment is fast becoming a foreign one. What’s gone wrong? On Good Friday 1907, in the German university town of Halle, a young couple sealed their secret engagement with a kiss – and a vow to follow God wherever he led them. They were passionately in love, yet they rejected romance as the basis of their relationship, building instead on the promise of Jesus’ words, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Circumstance (and scandalised parents) kept them separated for most of the next three years. But that separation bore its own fruit: an intense exchange of letters. Anthony Tony Campolo, Eastern University More than love letters. They show how a man and a woman can nurture each other toward spiritual maturity. Father Philip K. Eichner, S.M. Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights A rare find. It is a privilege to be invited into such an intimate conversation. Prof. John Briggs, Oxford University Here are letters of both immense intensity and the deepest intimacy, almost too sacred for publication. They witness to a deeply based love nurtured in the context of an absolute commitment to Christ. Prof. Lawrence S. Cunningham, The University of Notre Dame These inspiring letters interweave a profound love for Jesus Christ with a deep love between two young people, as well as an utterly transparent search to do God’s will. Denton Lotz, General Secretary, Baptist World Alliance For modern secular humanity these Love Letters of Eberhard and Emmy Arnold must seem from another planet! But for Christian believers these letters are a powerful reminder of God’s transformation of ordinary human relationships into divine grace and the mystery of God’s love. Love Letters portrays the depth of human emotions that can be kindled by expressing through the written word the meaning and purpose of Christ’s love. With enthusiasm I commend reading these letters for one’s own spiritual growth. In so doing one will also gain a greater appreciation for the tremendous spiritual movement that renewed the Church universal at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. This renewal raised up a generation of young men and women completely dedicated to Christ and the evangelisation of the world in their generation. The love story of Eberhard and Emmy is a thrilling testimony of what complete commitment and obedience to Christ can do. Read it, pray about it, and your marriage will take on new life and joy!Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houselovelettersromancelovehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/m/magnificat-of-mary2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Luke 1:26-56 - Covers the Annunciation of the Angel to Mary and her response to the Angel's words.

Merrill Mow (1928-1987) had a fascination and a love for Bible history, nurtured by his parents and stimulated by his professors at seminary in the late 1940s. Towards the end of his life Merrill began using his knowledge to inspire classes of elementary school students with weekly Bible study. This is an excerpt from one such class held in 1983 in which he explains the story of the Annunciation, and Mary's response to the angel's words. From the ebook: ...Now the word "handmaid" in Greek literally means "a slave". It means a girl slave, and nobody told her to be like that. She said it from herself. "I want to be completely taken and enslaved by God. My life belongs completely to God; he can do with me what he wants, because I love him so much.” That is such a wonderful example, and these words of Mary have been repeated through all ages, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasmagnificatmaryhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/m/manger-mouse2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

4 page Christmas story for children: A cat and a mouse meet at the manger on Christmas Eve. Suitable for family reading with younger children, who will enjoy the lovely descriptions of that starry night.

The light seemed to come in from the sky, as if an enormous star hung outside, but he could only see the dark sky and little stars winking. The doves cooed softly now and the hens ruffled their feathers and made musical conversation with one another, while the rooster stood up on his perch and kept his silence—this was no dawn light, he knew: this was star light, though most astonishing star light, and he would not be deceived...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasmanger mousehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/m/my-search2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Growing up Jewish under the shadow of the Nazis, forced into exile in Siberia, barely escaping with his life from starvation and disease in southern Asia, he finally made it to the land of Israel. But the inhumanity of war continued to pursue him, along with the question: why can't men and women live together in peace?

In a world that is increasingly torn by violence, hatred, injustice and war, is there an answer to the need of humanity? Here is the story of one man who grappled with this question in an intensely personal way: growing up in Germany in a Jewish family under the shadow of the Nazis, forced into exile in Siberia, barely escaping with his life from starvation and disease in southern Asia, he finally made it to the land of Israel. Faced with the horror of the Holocaust, he was determined to fight for the independence of his new homeland. But the inhumanity of war continued to pursue him, along with the question: why cannot men and women live together in peace? This is a fascinating account of survival against all odds, but it is more than that – the story of one man’s search for the answers to the questions that in one way or other face us all.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Householocauststorybiographyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/n/no-lasting-home2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

As Hitler’s armies turn mainland Europe into a mass graveyard, a little group of 300 pacifist refugees – half of them babies and young children – looks for a new home. Where should the refugees try to resettle next? This is one year of their story.

It is summer, 1940. As Hitler’s armies turn mainland Europe into a mass graveyard, his feared Luftwaffe rain bombs on England. Meanwhile, amid the green hills of the Cotswolds, a nest of “enemy aliens” has been discovered: the Bruderhof, a Christian commune made up of German, Dutch, and Swiss refugees, and growing numbers of English pacifists. Having fled Nazi Germany to escape persecution, the Bruderhof had at first been welcomed in England. Now, at the height of the Battle of Britain, it is feared. Curfews and travel restrictions are imposed; nasty newspaper articles appear, and local patriots initiate a boycott. Debates over whether the community should be allowed to exist go all the way to Parliament. Determined to remain together as a witness for peace in a war-torn world, the little group of 300 – half of them babies and young children – looks for a new home. No country in Europe will allow them to stay, and Canada and the United States refuse to take them. Where should the refugees try to resettle next? This is their story.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseparaguaybruderhof historypacifisthttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/n/no-one-can-stem-the-tide2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

A collection of Christian poetry in a free ebook that explores the varied emotions of life - of love, longing, and loss; memory, sacrifice, and desire; struggle and frustration, joy and resolve.

Though most of Jane Tyson Clement's poems remained hidden in private notebooks during her lifetime, the few that traveled beyond her hands were widely admired and drew critical acclaim. Now, with this first comprehensive anthology of her work, the public can at last discover this gifted poet and give her the audience she deserves. Evoking comparisons to such better-known contemporaries as Jane Kenyon, Wendell Berry, and Denise Levertov, Clement is direct and understated. Even when technically sophisticated, her poetry speaks with a familiar voice and draws on accessible images from the natural world. Still, these are no mere "nature poems." In exploring the varied emotions of life - of love, longing, and loss; memory, sacrifice, and desire; struggle and frustration, joy and resolve - they reveal the tireless seeking of a generous and honest heart and beckon the reader down new avenues of seeing and hearing.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housepoemsjoystrugglehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/n/now-is-eternity2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

A collection of seventy short but striking Christian meditations to battle weariness and despair.

Bad days are one thing – everyone has them now and then. But what about the darker clouds that settle over a life for weeks or even months at a time? What about separation and divorce, prolonged illness and hospitalization? What about the loss of a friend or a parent, the absence of a child or a spouse? Sometimes there is nothing you can say in the face of death or illness. The simplicity of this little volume offers something most well-meaning sympathy cards forget: a gentle insistence that there is still a God who watches over all, and a stubborn faith that the worst trials of life’s difficult hours will one day be over shadowed by his comfort and peace. In reminding us of the power conferred by hope and faith, Now Is Eternity is a source of daily strength. Given the understated beauty and brevity of its texts, it is one the thirsty reader will surely come back to again and again. Christoph F. Blumhardt (1842-1919) influenced a whole generation of Europeans, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Emil Brunner, Oscar Cullman, and Karl Barth. His father, Johann C. Blumhardt (1805-1880) was a Swabian pastor and is regarded by many as the father of German pietism.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housecomfortdespairdevotionalhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/p/pastor-johann-christoph-blumhardt2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

The terrifying battle between the spiritual forces of good and evil described here, and the awakening that followed, catapulted Blumhardt's parish into the public eye and still draws seekers to it. Here is an almost unbelievable account of one person's faith in the inbreaking of God's kingdom and its victory over powers that bind and divide humanity.

Though relatively unknown in America, Johann Christoph Blumhardt (1805-1880) is widely recognized in his native Germany, in part because of Friedrich Zündel's landmark biography, now available in English for the first time. The terrifying battle between the spiritual forces of good and evil described here, and the awakening that followed, catapulted Blumhardt's parish into the public eye and still draws seekers to it. Zündel's account is fascinating on a historical level, but it is also infused with enduring pastoral insights and spiritual wisdom. Here is an almost unbelievable account of one person's faith in the inbreaking of God's kingdom and its victory over powers that bind and divide humanity. "Karl Barth once noted that German systematic theology missed out on the Blumhardts in a sleepy daze. One can only wonder how much was lost, including the vibrant spirituality, the progressive politics, and the strong sense of the reality of the work of God for which these men were known. Once again we need to be awakened from our slumbers, and the Blumhardts could be catalysts in this process, reminding us that theology and the church must be squarely located in the pressures and struggles of this world." – Joerg RiegerAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housespiritualfaithbiographyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/p/poems-and-rhymed-prayers2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

Eberhard Arnold published most of his essays during his lifetime, but almost none of his poems. It might have been shyness: many are love poems, and others reveal private struggles. All of them open a window on a man's inmost thoughts, and show him at his most essential and Christ-centered.

Eberhard Arnold published most of his essays during his lifetime, but almost none of his poems. It might have been shyness: many are love poems, and others reveal private struggles. But if they open a window on a man's inmost thoughts, they also show him at his most essential and Christ-centered. A few days after Eberhard's death, his wife Emmy approached a neighbor with a folder of his unpublished poems in hand: "They are not mine anymore...I want to share them." Belated as it might be, this volume is a fruit of her generosity.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseprayermeditationhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/p/prayer-god-answers2013-05-21 03:14:12Zen2012

In this free ebook, Eberhard Arnold describes the kind of prayer that pleases God, and challenges us to rediscover the prayer that has the power to transform our lives and our world.

Why should I pray? What should I pray for? Why has God not answered my prayers? What if everything we prayed for came true? Would I be ready? In this essay, Eberhard Arnold describes the kind of prayer that pleases God, and the power of prayer to transform our lives and our world. First published in German in 1913, The Prayer God Answers has been revised and expanded in this new exclusive free ebook to include important insights from Arnold's other talks and writings on the importance of prayer for individuals and the church. Arnold explores the teachings of Jesus, as well as the example of the Hebrew prophets and the early Christians, and challenges us to rediscover the prayer that shakes the world. From the book: Do we have the faith that through our prayer the status quo can be shattered? Can we believe that at our call Christ will come among us to judge and save? When we ask for the Holy Spirit, are we ready for God to strike us like a burst of flaming lightning, so that at last we experience Pentecost? Do we really believe that God's kingdom is imminent? Are we capable of believing that through our pleading, this kingdom will break in? Are we able to believe that as a result of our prayer the entire history of the world will be turned topsy-turvy? Let us come to God in the absolute certainty that Jesus' words are true: "The kingdom of God has drawn near!" and, "If you have faith, nothing will be impossible for you." Wonders will take place, mountains will be torn from their place, and the whole situation as it is on earth will be changed. Mighty things will happen when we have faith.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseprayermeditationhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/p/provocations2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

The most accessible introduction to the spiritual writings of Søren Kierkegaard, Provocations contains a little of everything from his prodigious output, including his wryly humorous attacks on "the mediocre shell" of conventional Christianity, his brilliantly pithy parables, his amazing insights on the human condition, and his incisive attempts to pare away the fluff of modern spirituality to reveal the basics of the Christ-centered life.

There are few authors as repeatedly quoted and consistently unread as Søren Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard himself is partly to blame for this: his style is dense, his thoughts complex. And yet embedded within his writings and journals are metaphors and truths so deep and vivid, they can overwhelm you with an almost blinding clarity about the life of true discipleship. Editor Charles E. Moore has done us an invaluable service by putting together arguably the most accessible and complete Kierkegaard volume to be published in decades. Here is a book for anyone who takes the search for authenticity seriously. Divided into six sections, Provocations contains a little of everything from Kierkegaard's prodigious output, including his wryly humorous attacks on what he calls the "mediocre shell" of conventional Christianity, his brilliantly pithy parables, his amazing insights on the human condition, and his incisive attempts to dig through the fluff of theological jargon and clear a way for the basics: decisiveness, obedience, passion, and recognition of the truth. Provocations is a must for those who truly seek a life of Christian discipleship. Indeed, the wealth of sayings and aphorisms collected in its final section is reason enough to download the ebook.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseparableschristianitychurchhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/qr/rachoff2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Meet a revolutionary who spends his last savings on a night at the opera, only to disrupt the performance; a zealot whose habit of exposing hypocrisy in high places lands him behind bars. He's a failure by most standards, and yet his memory still challenges and inspires.

Meet an upstart who disarms his wealthy parents by taking in a homeless man (he is robbed, of course); who receives accolades for teaching illiterates to read and write but gets run out of town for telling them about Jesus as well. Meet a revolutionary who spends his last savings on a night at the opera, only to disrupt the performance; a zealot whose habit of exposing hypocrisy in high places lands him behind bars. Meet a visionary who inspires ardor but refuses to accept followers; a counselor who turns souls toward Christ by turning lives upside down. He’s a failure by most standards, and yet his memory still challenges and inspires. Meet Rachoff. Der Fall Rachoff (“The Case of Rachoff ”) was first published by the FurcheVerlag, Berlin, in 1919. Though based on historical fact (the original source is a summary of Rachoff ’s life in Hefte zum Christlichen Orient), the story was fleshed out by the author, and similar liberties (including a few abridgments) have been taken in preparing this translation. The anecdotes and spirit of the story remain unchanged.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housefaithseekerhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/qr/razor-wire-christmas2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

18 page Christmas short story for teens and others: Stuck behind bars this Christmas, Julio worries about his wife, who is about to have their first child. Escape is impossible, or is it?

Julio worries about his wife who is expecting a baby this Christmas. But he is in prison, and can't get out. Or can he?Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasprisonhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/s/salt-and-light2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2013

Now back in print! Seventeen challenging talks and essays on the Sermon on the Mount, by a writer who believes their demands are viable and inescapable - and must be lived out today.

Salt and Light puts hands and feet to the demands of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount from the viewpoint of a writer who believes they are not only viable, but inescapable - something for us to live out today. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus puts aside his usual parables and speaks plainly in language anyone can understand. Yet for centuries countless scholars have dissected and analyzed these important words - and dismissed their demanding precepts as unrealistic or symbolic. Now back in print:February 2013 Like Francis of Assisi and others, Arnold chose to live Jesus' words. He found new life by embracing the self-sacrificing and nonviolent demands of the Sermon on the Mount. This collection of talks and essays vividly describes a healing, energizing power for those burdened by the concerns of daily life. Arnold calls us to live for the Sermon's ultimate goal: the overturning of the prevailing order of injustice and building in its place a just, peaceable society motivated by love. Arnold grappled with the Sermon on the Mount his whole adult life. His relentless faithfulness to its demands bore practical fruit in a community movement that is still thriving today. Although Arnold was addressing a Germany in political and social ferment, his words are not bound to time and place. They direct us out of our bankruptcy to a new, revolutionary way. Arnold shows us that following these commandments consistently is neither an ideal nor an ordeal, but a matter of course in the community of Jesus. In the community of Jesus, life becomes clear, simple, decisive, and unequivocal. Gone are the many doubts and compromises, the many half-truths and the half-heartedness. Salt and Light has all the simple, luminous, direct vision into things that I have come to associate with Eberhard Arnold. It moves me deeply. It is the kind of book that stirs to repentance and to renewal. I am very grateful for it. -Thomas MertonAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housepacifismsermon on the mountcommunityhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/s/secret-flower2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Written with a measured beauty that recalls Tolstoy and Tolkien, Clement's poems and short stories carry an uplifting sense of expectancy - of something new on the way. Jane Tyson Clement (1917-2000) was a mother, teacher, and poet.

In an age when cleverness often counts more than substance, the writer of these stories (and poems) offers a break from all the noise. Clement, a teacher, mother and poet, writes with a measured beauty that recalls Tolstoy and Tolkien. There is nothing heavy or stilted about these tales, which rely less on plot devices than on allegorical symbols and the evocation of moods. But there is the thrill of expectancy, a sense that something new is on the way, and the belief that the Someone for whom humanity longs and waits is seeking us, just as we seek Him. Beautiful – offers quietude in the midst of cacophony and literary cynicism. – Poughkeepsie Journal Clement writes with simplicity and directness, a gentle, probing insistence, and conviction. One lays down the book in thought, and with thankful heart. – Friends JournalAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housestorieschristian fictionhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/s/seeking-peace2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2013

Where can we find peace of heart and mind – with ourselves, with others, and with God? Now available in .pdf, .prc and .epub files, this free ebook explores many facets of humankind's ageless search for peace.

Where can we find peace of heart and mind – with ourselves, with others, and with God? Arnold says most people are looking in the wrong direction. In a culture that bombards us with feel-good-about-yourself spirituality, Seeking Peace may not dispense popular wisdom, yet it is sure to satisfy a deep hunger. There is a peace greater than self-fulfillment, a peace greater than nations no longer at war. But it will demand a relentless pursuit kept up only by hope and courage, vision and commitment. Seeking Peace explores many facets of humankind's ageless search for peace. It plumbs a wealth of spiritual traditions and draws on the wisdom of some exceptional (and some very ordinary) people who have found peace in surprising places. Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: Seeking Peace inspires each of us to seek peace within our own hearts...It gives hope that we can find wholeness, happiness, and harmony. Jonathan Kozol, author: Seeking Peace is a tough, transcendent envisioning of peace. Arnold writes in the tradition of the Berrigans, of Simone Weil and Thomas Merton. Tony Campolo, Eastern College: Everybody talks about peace, even as they prepare for war. This is a book that talks about peace in a way that prepares us to make it happen.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housepeaceanxietydepressionhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/s/selfish-giant2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden. One day the Giant came back...

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden. It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. "How happy we are here!" they cried to each other. One day the Giant came back...Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HouseEaster storyshort storyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/s/sex-god-and-marriage2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

A refreshing new look at sex, love, and marriage that sees past the usual issues and gets to the root: our relationship with God, and the defining power of that bond over all other relationships.

In this groundbreaking book, Arnold, a pastor for almost forty years, addresses the pain resulting from broken relationships and the misuse of sexual intimacy. He provides fresh biblical insights into critical issues including the sacredness of sex, the struggle against temptation, the decision to remain single or to marry, child rearing, homosexuality, divorce and remarriage. Sex, God, and Marriage offers healing to anyone who has known discouragement or guilt - and hope to anyone who is willing to take a bold new look at a topic of universal interest and concern. Unlike the vast majority of "marriage books," Sex, God, and Marriage digs deeper than the usual "issues" and goes to the root: our relationship with God, and the defining power of that relationship over all others in our lives. More than ever, we need to come back to an understanding of the church as a living body of committed members who share life in practical deeds of love...We must show the world that the unique teachings of Jesus and his apostles are the only answer to the spirit of our time...Sadly, too many people today have simply given up on the possibility of a pure life. They have bought into the myth of sexual ‘liberation’ and tried to live with its disappointments, and when their relationships fall apart, they explain away their failures. They fail to see what a tremendous gift purity is...Wherever there is a faithful church—a community of people who are committed to living in genuine and honest relationships—there is help and hope for every person and every marriage. Sex, God, and Marriage carries a Foreword by Mother Teresa and was formerly titled A Plea for Purity. Also available, a free study guide to facilitate group discussion or personal study. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housesexmarriagerelationshipspurityhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/s/shepherds-pipe2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

A cycle of poems centered on the stable on Christmas Night. The ordinary, commonplace things participated in the miraculous birth, as did the everyday people who also came to worship – and which of us might not see himself among them? Download ebook of original poetry, sheet music and audio file.

This collection of poems and songs revolves around the stable on Christmas Night. The ordinary, commonplace things participated, each in its own way, in the miraculous birth, as did the everyday people who also came to worship – and which of us might not see himself among them?  The poems were found in a book shop in Germany in 1935. Their unpretentious, genuine approach to that Night of nights brought an immediate response, and the little book took its place in our congregation’s common Christmas experience. In the English translation of them, one of our members, Marlys Swinger, found the impetus she had been hoping for to help her bring into reality a Christmas cantata for our children to sing. We know that Christ came, not in a gorgeous, gilded, royal setting, but in surroundings so humble and poor that even the lowest and meanest of God’s creatures could see His power for what it was – not of this world but of God. The little path, the bed of hay, the linden tree – do they not point to Christmas every day? While the Shepherd’s Pipe has at its center the very fact of Christmas, all of the voices that speak through it are for every day and every time.  Read a review of The Shepherd's Pipe. Sample Audio Clip (The Candle): The Candle.mp3 The Candle.wav Sing The Shepherd's Pipe sheet music. Download The Shepherd's Pipe poems. Listen to the complete The Shepherd's Pipe. (Download the .zip file.)Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing HousepoetryChristmasaudiohttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/t/thoughts-on-children2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2013

In this little book two fathers share thoughts and helpful practical advice on the essence of bringing up children.

It is sometimes said that each child is a thought in the mind of God. But even if we believe this, and approach parenting the children entrusted to us with reverence, we may often feel helpless—whether in the face of a two-year-old’s tantrum or a teenager’s silence. In this little book, two fathers (themselves a father and son) share their thoughts on the essence of bringing up children, as well as some helpful practical advice. Both lived in Germany more than a hundred years ago, in an era when parents and teachers tended to be overly strict; today most tend to be very lenient. All the same, there is plenty in what they say that is timeless.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechildrenkidsparentinghttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/t/three-young-kings2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

17 page Christmas short story set in Cuba. Three boys play the Three Kings who deliver gifts on the eve of Epiphany. But what will they give the poor children they pass on the street? A delightful story of strong tradition broken by the power of love. In English and Spanish.

A Christmas short story set in Cuba. Three young boys play the Three Kings who deliver gifts on the eve of Epiphany. But what will they give the poor children they pass on the street? A delightful story of strong tradition broken by the power of love. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housethree kingsmagiepiphanyhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/t/thy-kingdom-come2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Christians the world over pray "Thy kingdom come" daily, but do they know what they are asking for? These short selections will spark a burning expectation for this kingdom to break into this world, here and now. Compiled by Vernard Eller.

Christians the world over pray "Thy kingdom come" daily, but do they know what they are asking for? These short selections will spark a burning expectation for this kingdom to break into this world, here and now. Meet Johann Christoph Blumhardt and Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, two German pastors who experienced this kingdom as a daily reality, through this compilation of excerpts from their sermons and discussions. This book is not intended to be an analysis of the Blumhardts' thought, rather an opportunity for the Blumhardts to introduce their thoughts for themselves. "If their own words fail to inform, enlighten, or move the reader," writes Eller, "there are no words of mine that could reverse that situation." From the book: Jesus sees every person as abnormal but gives up no one as lost. If people were not as they are, they would have no need of Salvation. So, in the next place, Jesus allows all to come to him as they are: sinners and righteous, poor and rich, healthy and sick. Jesus gives himself to each person as he is; and people ought not play up their own piety and put down that of others. Signs and wonders are all right as legitimate proof that one has to do with our dear God; but they cannot truly help us. What helps us is justice and truth; and a hundred thousand miracles are of little use in comparison to one word of truth, or one command of truth through which God makes something straight that was crooked. The capacity to hope is extremely important both for the kingdom of God and for our own development, because something very real and powerful has been laid in our hearts with this hope. One might say that we have been given a power that corresponds to the power of God. A power goes forth from God to make something of us; and from us there goes forth a hope that we shall become something. And this power of God and our hope go together hand in hand, as in a marriage, walking together. We in hope and God in his power, we belong together so that we can follow a purpose, the good purpose of God.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housekingdomsermonsdiscussionshttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/t/thy-will-be-done2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

With childlike confidence in the possibility of miracles and a deep trust that the Creator is supremely wise and good, the Blumhardts point us away from our woes and to Jesus. As the Great Physician, he offers lasting comfort and healing without cost. And even in the face of agonizing death, Jesus lifts us out of our misery and restores our souls by offering the peace that passes all understanding.

In a world where medical advances seem to promise cures for everything, it’s tempting to believe that we can live free of pain. But we know that even the best medicine cannot forestall death and decay, or solve the riddles of mental and emotional illness. All of us will get sick, and all of us will die. How, then, to respond to the inevitability of suffering? And how to help those who live in fear of disease; people who spend their waking hours worrying about what the doctor said, or asking God to remove real or perceived burdens? With childlike confidence in the possibility of miracles and a deep trust that the Creator is supremely wise and good, the Blumhardts point us away from our woes and to Jesus. As the Great Physician, he offers lasting comfort and healing without cost. And even in the face of agonizing death, Jesus lifts us out of our misery and restores our souls by offering the peace that passes all understanding.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housesicknessfaithhealinghttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/uv/violence-of-love2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2013

A powerful free ebook of eloquent, simple meditations, bearing witness to the hard life of a man who was martyred for his faith. .pdf, .prc, .epub and now audiobook!

From the stirring foreword by Henri Nouwen to the last page of Romero's text, this powerful little volume of eloquent, simple meditations never wastes a word. Yet the real depth of Romero's message lies not in his words themselves, poetic as they are. It lies in the life they give witness to: the hard life of a man who was martyred for his faith. Thus The Violence of Love gives more insight, perhaps, than any biographical account of his life. Now a free audiobook! During his three years as archbishop of San Salvador, Óscar Romero became known as a fearless defender of the poor and suffering. His work on behalf of the oppressed earned him the admiration and love of the peasants he served, a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, honorary degrees from abroad - and finally, an assassin's bullet on account of his outspokenness. Romero was martyred for his insistence that following Christ cannot be relegated to the spiritual realm. He did not die in vain - the people of Central America say his spirit lives on in them. As their struggle for justice and dignity intensifies, his words take on renewed urgency.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housepacifismnonviolencehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/walk-in-the-light2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

An unrivaled introduction to a literary and spiritual giant, these 24 short stories in a free ebook have stood the test of time for over a century.

Long hailed as one of the western world's greatest writers, Leo Tolstoy is best known for his epic War and Peace and his novel Anna Karenina. Yet the undiminished popularity of his shorter works - including the two dozen collected here - attests to his equal prowess as a master of the short story. Uncluttered by the complexities of plot and character that daunt so many readers of the longer Russian masterpieces, Tolstoy's tales illumine eternal truths with forceful brevity. While inspired by a sense of spiritual certainty, their narrative quality, subtle humor, and visionary power lift them far above the common run of "religious" literature. Moralists purport to tell us what our lives should mean, and how we should live them. Tolstoy, on the other hand, has an uncanny gift for simply conveying what it means to be truly alive. From "Walk in the Light," a parable-like piece that reflects Tolstoy's fascination with the early Christians, to beloved tales such as "Ivan the Fool," "A Prisoner in the Caucasus," and "What Men Live By," the stories in this volume have stood the test of time for over a century. Together they form a rare treasure-trove you will want to return to often.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristian fictionhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/war-a-call-to-inner-life2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

We live in a time of war. From Baghdad to New York, the fabric of society is being torn apart by hatred and greed, and everyone's nervous about something - if not the weather or the economy, then another terrorist attack. That's why we're offering you this free ebook.

We live in a time of war. From Baghdad, New York, and London, to Buenos Aires, Tokyo, and Kabul, the fabric of human society is being torn apart by hatred and greed, and almost everyone is nervous about something – if not droughts or floods, then the stock market, or another terrorist attack. That’s why we put together this ebook: as an antidote to fear, and to the isolation and mistrust it breeds. The passages in this ebook were selected by Bruderhof members. (If they told us why they chose a particular quote, we included their comments.) Some passages pertain to the events of September 11, 2001; others to escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere. Still others address the broader themes of suffering, injustice, retribution, forgiveness, peace, and the eternal battle between evil and good. Directly or indirectly, all of them sound a common note: our faith that though there will be war and rumors of war, God ultimately directs the course of history and holds us in his hands. And he is not a God of fear, but of hope.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housewarpeacenonviolencepacifismhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/watch-for-the-light2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Providing a break from the commercialized frenzy of the season, these daily Advent readings invite us to examine the deepest meaning of Christmas. Watch for the Light gives new meaning to the phrase “holiday preparations.”

Selections from the world’s greatest spiritual writers provide inspiration for the most widely-celebrated holiday of the year. Writers include: Johann Christoph Arnold, C.S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, Philip Yancey, Madeleine L'Engle, Henri Nouwen, Kathleen Norris, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Annie Dillard, Dorothy Day, and many others. Providing a break from the commercialized frenzy of the season, these daily Advent readings invite us to examine the deepest meaning of Christmas. Watch for the Light gives new meaning to the phrase “holiday preparations.” “It’s hard to go wrong with writers such as these. . . Born of obvious passion and graced with superb writing, this collection is a welcome—even necessary—addition to glutted holiday bookshelves.” —Publishers WeeklyAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseadventchristmasholidayshttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/when-the-time-was-fulfilled2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

The meditations in this collection witness to the fact that the birth of Jesus is more than history – it is a reality – but only for those who feel their need and are personally ready to come to the manger. A revised and expanded edition of an old favourite, the 40 short, pithy readings in this free ebook will not leave you sitting comfortably this Christmas.

The meditations in this collection are written by three seekers who struggled hard and long to find, in the words of Søren Kierkegaard, “the contemporary Christ.” They witness to the fact that the birth of Jesus is more than history – it is a reality – but only for those who feel their need and are personally ready to come to the manger. A revised and expanded edition of an old favourite, the 40 short, pithy readings in this book will not leave you sitting comfortably this Christmas. From the book: Christmas did not come after a great horde of people had completed something good, or because of the successful result of any human effort. No, it came as a miracle, as the child that comes when his time is fulfilled, as a gift of the Father which he lays into those arms that are stretched out in longing. This is how the first Christmas came; in this way it always comes anew, both to us as individuals and to the whole world. – Eberhard Arnold How many of us, in our good-hearted way, have ridden past the stable on the high horse of our opinions and convictions, leaving the Child behind, not realizing he was there? How many of us have stood up for what we believed, even in defiance, but were not awake to the fact that we were riding past a miracle – the miracle of life and love? – Alfred Delp The star of hope has to appear again, but it will come only when our hearts seek it, when there is a passion for it – a sighing, striving, and aching for the great mercy to come. Yes, the star will return, and then it will shine not just for a few, but it will quickly spread its brilliance over the whole world. – Christoph BlumhardtAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasmeditationsadventhttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/white-robin2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Short story for children about racism and intolerance.

In this delicately written short story a group of children confront their own racism and intolerance when a small white bird is seen in the village. Through drought, fire, and suffering they learn to appreciate each other for bravery and courage, and ignore their physical differences. "The white robin flew along the hill, and perched in the old hickory. It flicked its tail and sang its evening song over and over. The boys watched it, amazed and staring..." Clement writes with simplicity and directness, a gentle, probing insistence, and conviction. One lays down the book in thought, and with thankful heart. -- Friends JournalAttribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseshort storyracismintolerancehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/why-children-matter2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

In an age when common sense too often gives way to the opinions of “experts”, Arnold offers an approach to childrearing that is grounded in faith and old-fashioned in the best sense. This short ebook offers up concrete steps to bolster and encourage those parents who want to pass on to their children the values their parents gave them.

Raising a child has never been more challenging. In his latest book, pastor Johann Christoph Arnold offers time-tested wisdom and common-sense advice on what children need most, what holds a family together, and how to rediscover the joy of parenting. With chapters on founding a family, the unborn child, birth, motherhood, fatherhood, teaching respect, building character, discipline, the role of grandparents, the special child, consideration for others, teenagers and more, Why Children Matter is a timely handbook for every parent and anyone who cares about children. Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseparentingeducationmarriagehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/why-forgive2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

No matter the weight of our bitterness or despair, forgiving is the surest way to get out from under it. But that's easier said than done. Why Forgive? brings together survivors of crime, betrayal, bigotry, and abuse - and ordinary men and women plagued by everyday strife. Together, their stories will challenge and encourage others wherever they are on the road to healing.

In Why Forgive? Arnold avoids glib pronouncements by letting the untidy experiences of ordinary people speak for themselves – people who have earned the right to talk about overcoming hurt, and about the peace of mind they have found in doing so. "Hurt" is an understatement, actually, for these stories deal with the harrowing effects of violent crime, betrayal, abuse, bigotry, gang warfare, and genocide. But Why Forgive? examines life's more mundane battle scars as well: the wounds caused by backbiting, gossip, strained family ties, marriages gone cold and tensions in the workplace. As in life, not every story has a happy ending – a fact Arnold refuses to skirt. The book also addresses the difficulty of forgiving oneself, the futility of blaming God, and the turmoil of those who simply cannot forgive, even though they try. Twelve years ago, Why Forgive? appeared in bookstores under the title "Seventy Times Seven" – a reference to Jesus’s advice on how many times we should be ready to forgive in one day.  Today, translated into more than 20 languages, this modest but compelling volume of true stories has been reprinted hundreds of times, and sold or distributed to audiences around the world. Why Forgive? Read these stories, and decide for yourself.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Houseforgivenessreconciliationpeacehttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/why-we-live-in-community2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

In this time-honored manifesto, Arnold adds his voice to the vital discussion of what real intentional community is all about: love, joy, unity, and the great "adventure of faith" shared with others along the way. He does not describe (or prescribe) community here, but provides a vision to guide our search.

 Everyone’s talking about "community" these days, but in this classic manifesto, Arnold (a founder of the Bruderhof Communities) argues that it can be lived. Discussing the pillars of real community – self-sacrificial love, honest relationships, and the joy and unity that arises from both – he does not prescribe step-by-step solutions or offer easy "answers." But he does describe the great "adventure of faith" shared by those who are willing to trade isolation for companionship, and he will further inspire those who are already traveling the road of community. Henri J. M. Nouwen: One of the most challenging statements on community that I have ever read. Its radical God-centeredness makes it not only very demanding, but also very inviting, comforting, and reassuring.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housecommunitybruderhofanabaptisthttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/willibalds-trip-to-heaven2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

11 page Christmas short story: Willibald Krautmann and Christmas—these two things belonged together like a door and its hinges, like a clock and its face, like a bell and its tower. The whole year round he dreamed of and prepared for Christmas....

Willibald Krautmann and Christmas—these two things belonged together like a door and its hinges, like a clock and its face, like a bell and its tower. The whole year round he dreamed of and prepared for Christmas. In his lifetime he had carved more than a thousand figurines; he had built sixty manger scenes, and never once had he missed the annual crèche-makers’ conference in Innsbruck.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmashttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/wisdom-of-the-sadhu2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

A collection of anecdotes, sayings, parables, and meditations from one of the most fascinating spiritual guides of the 20th century. Rooted as it is in a distinctively Indian idiom, his Christian wisdom challenges Western readers to step beyond theological ideas and encounter the essence of the Gospels.

Mourned by millions at his death, Sundar Singh (1889-1929) awaits rediscovery at the dawn of the 21st century. Though known in his lifetime as India's most famous convert to Christianity, that reputation is misguided, for Sundar Singh never accepted the religion as such but emphasized instead the life-changing starkness of Christ's original teachings. If anything, he was the ultimate heretic - an uncompromising critic of convention, and a scandal to the comfortable. Leaving the wealth of his home at sixteen to live as a sadhu, or wandering holy man, Sundar Singh's beggar-like existence, his intense bhakti (devotion), his mystical encounters with Jesus, and his simple yet profound parables became the stuff of legends. No one who met him - including the thousands who flocked to hear him during two visits to Europe - was unaffected by this modern St. Francis. Though hugely popular in India and Europe during his lifetime, Sundar Singh's writings have not been readily available to readers in the English-speaking world for decades. Now, with Wisdom of the Sadhu, a collection of anecdotes, sayings, parables, and meditations, his spirit has been brought alive for a new generation. Couched as they are in a distinctly Indian idiom, his teachings probe the essence of the Gospels with unusual freshness and offer insights of great depth and value to every serious reader.Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housewisdomfaithparableshttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/w/wisemen2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Matthew 2:1-23 - telling of the journey of the Magi and Herod's reaction to the news of the birth of Christ.

Merrill Mow (1928-1987) had a fascination and a love for Bible history, nurtured by his parents and stimulated by his professors at seminary in the late 1940s. Towards the end of his life Merrill began using his knowledge to inspire classes of elementary school students with weekly Bible study. This is an excerpt from one such class held in 1983 in which he explains the role of the Magi, or wise men, and Herod's reaction to the news of the birth of Christ. From the ebook: ...Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him." That in itself is extremely unusual, that Gentiles would come seeking the one who is to be the future king of more than just the land of Judea. From their writings they believed that there would be a king who would be greater than a king who only rules one country and that there would be something divine about him from God. So to these people it was important enough that they made this long journey of about five hundred miles....Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmaswisemenmagihttp://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/xyz/zechariah-and-elizabeth2013-05-21 03:14:13Zen2012

Luke 1: 5-23, 39 - explains the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and how God used them for the preparation of the coming of His Son.

Merrill Mow (1928-1987) had a fascination and a love for Bible history, nurtured by his parents and stimulated by his professors at seminary in the late 1940s. Towards the end of his life Merrill began using his knowledge to inspire classes of elementary school students with weekly Bible study. This is an excerpt from one such class held in 1983 in which he explains the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and how God used them for the preparation of the coming of His Son. From the ebook: ...They were both righteous people before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless. They were really devout people; they loved God, old Zechariah and Elizabeth. When Jesus grew up and came into the temple, he overturned the tables of the moneylenders in the temple and was very angry because of what was going on. But this man Zechariah was not like those that had to be driven out at the cleansing of the temple. He loved God and he looked for the coming of the Messiah. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Now in all ancient and oriental societies, and especially in Bible times, it was considered to be a terrible, terrible calamity for a couple to be unable to have children. Children were regarded as the most wonderful gift from God, and everybody looked forward to having children, also to have someone to carry on the family name. If they didn't, it was a public disgrace and they were very sad... Attribution (cc by)The Plough Publishing Housechristmasbible study