Love's Oneing

Grounded in Christian love mysticism, Love’s Oneing gives voice to the luminous consciousness that awakens from within our oneness in God in contemplation. With great sensitivity, the book offers nuanced insight into the marriage of kenosis and desire in contemplation, through the rich tapestry of writings from nine mystics: Julian of Norwich, the Cloud of Unknowing author, Meister Eckhart, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Clare of Assisi, John of the Cross, Teilhard de Chardin, Beatrice Bruteau and Ilia Delio. With the delicate eye of a spiritual director immersed in mystical literature, Kerrie Hide situates these mystical teachings within contemplative prayer, whilst offering a scholarly exploration of contemplative practice to embody the insights. Deeply grounded in traditional and contemporary mystical classics, Hide celebrates how the Christian mystical tradition lays a foundation for the evolutionary growth of communion consciousness and the insights of quantum science, highlighting key moments in contemplation that when surrendered into, open into divine love. Born of intellectual reflection, lived experience and contemplative wisdom, Love’s Oneing makes a unique contribution to the existing literature on contemplation at a time when the recovery of the mystical dimension of life is crucial for the future of our planet in this climate crisis moment.  

Love's Caravan

Everyone has an imagination, but how many of us can say we use it to its full potential? Not only Ibn Arabi, the “greatest Shaykh” of Sufism, but poets and mystics in every age have developed their imagination to the point where they can apprehend a silence that speaks in symbol and a dynamic stillness that can transform the world.

This journey starts from where we are as novice meditators in a bustling, distracted world and guides us into the mystical imagination with twelve short discussions, each illustrated by accessible, memorable poems. With creative challenges in each chapter, you can chart your own exploration by writing a poem, painting a picture, or making a piece of music using the suggestions as a starting point.

Stops along the route of this armchair pilgrimage include dreams, alchemists, Sufi stories, bardo states, angels, synchronicities, prophecies, a mermaid, and a well-known crucifixion. This book is for seekers, yogis, and believers of all traditions and at all stages, as well as those who simply want to better connect with their creative imagination.

Lines of Evidence: How Recent Science Infers the Existence of God

Secular science demands we accept the philosophical dogma of scientific materialism—that only material entities exist. Yet recent science has discovered the immaterial!

Also mandated is the assumption that all things must be explained by natural causes. But we now are certain that the universe had a beginning. There was a time when “nature” didn’t exist—and yet we must attribute the origin of the universe to nature!

And what about Darwin’s theory of evolution—taken as fact that every plant and animal owe its origin to a common ancestor and naturalistic causes. At the time of Darwin, over a century and a half ago, no one knew the true complexity of the cell. We now know the simplest of living organisms has 159,662 base pairs of DNA and 182 protein-coding genes. What naturalistic cause put all of this together? Could this be assembled by blind, purposeless accident? What does recent science have to say?

And what about recent discoveries in origin-of-life research? Do we now know enough to suggest life could not have created itself?

A lot is happening in today’s science that is best explained through the Christian worldview. Let’s see what some of today’s scientists are now saying.

Let God in: One Ignatian Journey

Perhaps you are a lifelong Christian as is the author, John A. Cooper. Perhaps you are thinking, "I have already let God into my life and my salvation is assured." Perhaps you are not a Christian, maybe you are Muslim, or atheist, or maintain another belief system, or no system at all. Then, this book is for you! Even if you have a relationship with God, would you open the door to your heart even wider and give up everything to live only in the love and Grace of God? Notice the cover art and symbol for the Holy Spirit, the light from the Father, and Jesus, all One God, all of the same substance. Jesus' hands reach out for you… Will you let Him into your life? Will you open the door even wider if he already lives in you? May Jesus be your Peace? John, You share yourself beautifully, both in your life experiences and in your imagination of scripture scenes, in the way you image Jesus, and how you apply those prayers to your personal and spiritual growth. This is a book that will invite all who read it with humility and courage to seek God in their everyday life experiences, with greater depth, trust, and unity. Thank you for sharing this book with me. - Bob Fitzgerald, former Executive Director Ignatius House, Atlanta, GA; currently Adjunct Lecturer, Spring Hill College; and Spiritual Director. This book is both a personal testimony and a practical guide. As in the story of St. Ignatius, the sudden loss of lifelong ambitions led to the grace of transformation, from self-confident determination to profound surrender, to the living Christ. Cooper shares a condensed version of his personal journal during the Spiritual Exercises in daily life. His notes for 32 weeks of prayer and reflection offer a very practical template for others to make their own journey of transformation. - Christopher Viscardi, S.J., Director of Spiritual Direction Program, Spring Hill College.

Jesus: The Gift Without the Wrapping

In Jesus: The Gift Without the Wrapping, Terry O’Brien presents an enlightened understanding of the humanity of Jesus. A window to God is opened because through Jesus, in his humanity, in the person he was and is, we can know God.

This book is for the open-minded who want to live fully by following the spirit of the ‘human’ Jesus and who want to gaze at the mystery of God revealed in the human.

Jesus Is Adam

Jesus Is Adam is not just another book on the shelf. Its title, echoing above Caravaggio’s evocative painting of Jesus and the incredulity of doubting Thomas, beckons readers to delve deeper into the true identity of Jesus. Despite the vast number of Christians worldwide, many remain unaware of the profound connection between Jesus and Adam. With over 2.56 billion Christians globally, including 27.3 million in England alone, the significance of this revelation cannot be understated.

This book isn’t solely for Christians. It aims to enlighten everyone, from atheists and agnostics to Muslims and beyond. By unraveling the life and teachings of Jesus, it presents a compelling case for understanding him as Adam. Given the universal reverence for Jesus, a book that offers such a fresh perspective is bound to captivate readers worldwide. Dive in and discover the simplicity and profundity of Jesus Is Adam.

In My Father’s Arms

There is something peculiar about holding on to someone’s hands. Likewise, a hug or to be found in the arms of someone that means a lot to you is a feeling which is hard to express or utter into words. The feelings and emotions linger even when that hug or touch is over. The past is the past, so is the present or what might unfold in the future. That’s what we have been taught and may also teach others. In My Father’s Arms unfolds and looks at individuals’ perspectives of a father. It also unlocks the door of their past on those memories which they dearly cherished. Those memories are some of the building blocks for their current present, which might be unfolding while trying to navigate and adjust the foundation laid to present a lasting future. Remember that you are not alone, whatever your current circumstance may be, and whichever story may resonate with you when reading or listening to this book. May you be surrounded in this life’s journey by others who cherish not only your present story or your prospect future but also value your precious past.

I Am a Christian

The author is a scientist and not a Bible scholar or teacher. His conversion from a churchgoing Christian to real Christian lasted years, if not decades. The transformation was completed in 1983 when he bought NIV Bible for £4.50. In the 1990s, he was impacted by many Christian TV channels that he regularly watched, in addition to regular Christian literature. On 7 October 1992, he started reading his Bible from cover to cover and cycle after cycle. The fruit of that transformation is his first book about the Christian faith. It is a book for everyone, Christians and the ones on the road to become Christian. In this book, he talks about Christianity and what it means to be a Christian. He highlights the core Hebrew Bible and Jesus Christ’s ministry. Many quotations about the Christian faith are given in addition to a large section of Christian dictionary to define every aspect related to a Christian person.

God's Day of Salvation

“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever’—therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” From Genesis 3.

We were shut out of the garden of Eden; lost the right to the tree of life; were cursed to painful toil (men); were cursed to painful childbearing (women); and became innately disobedient to the God who created us.

The problem is serious, but the solution is wonderful. It centres on the person Jesus Christ, who will as the Bible describes redeem us from our fallen state and restore our right to the tree of life – and to eternal life. This book unpacks what the Old and New Testaments say about God’s day of salvation.

Culture: The Great Escape

Humanity has long sought to answer the big questions, like who are we and where are we going? It is possible that some of these questions are actually too big to be tackled by the rational mind. Religions claim to have the answer, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to believe in them. If you don’t believe in religious answers, you have a rather more complex answer to the problems of existence. Among other things, there arises the question of why so many people do believe in religions and a rather smaller number of people find it difficult or impossible to accept religious tenets. This seems to be a neurological problem, even a psychiatric one. What is the answer?

The preceding book in this series, ‘The Unreasonable Silence of the World’ provided one interpretation of the available evidence in relation to the unique survival of Homo sapiens out of a wide variety of hominid forms following our departure from the primate line approximately seven million years ago. The remarkable invention of mythologies occurred about 100,000 years ago, dominated human belief and social systems until the present day, and was probably mainly responsible for that unique survival. Mythology achieved this dominance by creating a reality that relegated the real world to second place. ‘Culture: The Great Escape’ explores this departure - the escape - as it affects the modern world and considers how it is that science is often thought to be reducing these traditional avenues of escape.

Corona Virus: Is There a Word from the Lord?

The current pandemic (Covid-19) has left many wondering: ‘is there a word from the LORD?’  

The Psalms deal with features of everyday life from pain and suffering, fear and failure, through to victorious success and prosperity. Understanding the Bible, especially Psalm 119, is essential to making sense of living in the aftermath of the Corona Virus. This alphabetical Psalm deals with the blessing known by following after God’s ways, recognising the temporal world and reflecting upon eternity. Its central message points to the promised Messiah – The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the fulfilment of the Psalm and urges all mankind to wholly trust in Him for salvation.

Christian Experiences & Spiritual Growth

Christian Experiences & Spiritual Growth addresses the search for satisfaction with heart and soul happiness. God and being a Christian are seen as its sources. The book defines who is a Christian and how to become one. It dodges none of the trials and temptations in the Christian life but explains how that God as Father, Jesus as Saviour and the Holy Spirit as Guide, Teacher and Comforter, constantly help towards victory, growth, and maturity. Prayer, reading and obeying God’s Word have a pivotal role in the experiences of satisfaction and happiness and the truth that every Christian has a home in heaven is cheering.  

Readers will gain spiritual knowledge and be able to correct erroneous practice as they read through the book with the Bible alongside, paying attention to the scriptural references on subject areas, put suggestions into practice appropriately and grow spiritually. Reading the book over many sittings will be more profitable than attempting to rush through it. I have employed an explanatory strategy for ease of understanding. For example, I have explained the meaning of some words, phrases, and terms in the body of the book and set out comparative tables to illustrate narratives in the text. These can be used for quick references and reminders.