Real marriage : the truth about sex, friendship, and life together

 by Mark Driscoll. High-profile pastor Driscoll and his wife, Grace, have not only pulled back the curtain on the condition of marriage but have opened wide the door to their own home, taking readers into arguments, dating life, mistakes, and healing in their own marriage. While written from a theological point of view, they also did their homework in a wide range of therapeutic marriage books and have done thousands of hours of counseling and teaching marriage seminars along with their regular teaching in their Seattle church, Mars Hill. This is a book about married friendship, sexuality, healing broken marriages, and "reverse engineering" a marriage that will last-beginning with a vision of the end result and working back toward that. It includes no-holds-barred chapters on sex-how Mark held sex as "god" and Grace as "gross" and how they together discovered sex as a "gift" from God. The Driscolls' Neo-Reformed views come shining through, with much emphasis on sin's role in wrecking marriages today and Christ's role in redeeming them. Taken to heart and put into practice, this boldly refreshing approach can change couples across America by letting God do the changing. --Publishers Weekly (Check Catalog)

Through the year with Jimmy Carter : 366 daily meditations from the 39th president

 by Jimmy Carter. In Through the Year with Jimmy Carter, the thirty-ninth President of the United States takes you on a unique journey into the heart of the Christian faith. Based on more than three decades of practical Bible teaching, these readings draw from the riches of God's Word and the compelling experiences of Mr. Carter's own life. Whether through fascinating glimpses into behind-the-scenes activity at the White House, or insightful remembrances of his career in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Carter never ceases to connect the wisdom of Scripture with your own crucial place on the stage of life. Frank, honest, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and always relevant, Through the Year with Jimmy Carter challenges readers to be more Christ-like every day of their lives. --Summary (Check Catalog)

Aging as a spiritual practice : a contemplative guide to growing older and wiser

 by Lewis Richmond. Although this is a user's guide to aging well written from the perspective of a Buddhist priest and meditation teacher, you don't have to be a Buddhist or, for that matter, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or even a believer to appreciate its very helpful reflections. The crux of the book is the simple declarative sentence, Everything changes. The first truth of Buddhist teaching and the first truth of aging are the same. As Richmond poignantly observes, Everything we love and care about . . . will change, transform, and eventually pass away. Richmond believes this potent idea need not be depressing. On the contrary, it can be positive and transformative. Each chapter explores a specific facet of the aging process, from a discussion of the stages of aging to the science of healthy aging, and concludes with a series of contemplative reflections. Included are stories of ordinary people, some of whom like growing old and others who do not. In addition, Richmond offers examples of contemplative Buddhist practices. An effective primer. - --Booklist (Check Catalog)

The body politic : the battle over science in America

 by Jonathan D. Moreno. According to Moreno (David & Lyn Silfen University Professor, Univ. of Pennsylvania; Senior Fellow, Ctr. for American Progress; Mind Wars: Brain Research and National Defense), the American dream is founded on a belief in a future of scientifically driven progress. That is why the new biology (his term for recent developments in the life sciences) strikes at the heart of America's political consciousness, challenges established alliances, and has the potential either to bring people together or to drive them apart. Moreno shows how biological discoveries aggravate cultural tensions, challenge our political system and values, and stimulate debate about the place of science and scientists in America. Although his progressive leanings are clear, he gives balanced treatment to a variety of views and arguments, equally discussing the promise of the new biology and the cultural, political, and social uncertainties it brings. VERDICT This is a sophisticated, useful, and well-written guide to the history and complex political issues surrounding the new biology. Recommended for anyone, general and scholarly readers alike, interested in a deeper understanding of the new biology, bioethics, and the political debates they engender. --Booklist (Check Catalog)