Book of the Month

The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture: How Media Shapes Faith, the Gospel, and Church. Shane Hipps. 176pp, Zondervan, US. $37.99. (NB Arriving mid-July)

Hipps tests the impact of technology and media on the church while engaging readers with questions such as:

·         How has technology changed the way we think about Scripture, community, and worship?

·         What cultural opportunities has the church missed and how should the church position itself to take advantage of coming cultural trends?

Says one reviewer, ‘The old adage of “the methods change but the message stays the same” is blown to pieces by Hipps’ reading and interpretation of Marshall McLuhan’s thoughts on media, culture and its influences in our lives and for our churches.’

Other featured titles

Jazz meets hymns. CD. Juju Song–pianist, with Cool Springs Jazz Quartet. 12 tracks. $25.00.

Smooth relaxing jazz arrangements of favourite hymns including: What a friend we have in Jesus; It is well with my soul; Were you there? Ideal background music for worship or personal listening. We play this CD often in our shop!

Also in this series at $25.00:

• Worship Collage: (piano & orchestra)
• Guitars in Worship (acoustic guitars)
• Lord of the Hymn (Celtic violin, flute & orchestra)

The Resurrection of Jesus: John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright in Dialogue. Robert B. Stewart ed. 220pp SPCK, UK. $42.99.

Two of today’s most important and popular New Testament scholars – John Dominic Crossan and N T Wright – here share their very different understandings of the historical reality and theological meaning of Jesus’ resurrection. This lively and informative book highlights points of agreement and disagreement between them in a long-overdue discussion and, with the help of significant scholars from a variety of disciplines, explores the many attendant issues

God’s Advocates: Christian thinkers in conversation. Rupert Shortt. 284pp. Eerdmans, US. $44.95.

Veteran journalist Shortt introduces thinkers who have provoked the recent renaissance in theology — addressing the thorniest objections to religious belief, reviving trinitarian teaching, wrestling with gender issues, and speaking to the political dilemmas of our day.

Includes conversations with: Tina Beattie, David Burrell, J. Kameron Carter, Sarah Coakley, Stanley Hauerwas, Christopher Insole, Rowan Williams and many others.

Pastoral Care in Hospitals. 2nd edition. Neville Kirkwood. 301pp. Moorehouse, US. $53.95.

This new edition, with additional sections addressed to clergy and trained lay pastoral workers, as well as ordinary lay people who simply want to visit their fellow-parishioners, shows visitors ways to make the encounter meaningful and enriching to the patient. Many exercises and a section of prayers for specific circumstances make this a must-have resource for all who work with the sick and dying, and an excellent text for course work.

Also available on this topic, are these excellent pocket-sized books from Moorehouse:

·         Pastoral Care to the Aged: a handbook for visitors. Neville Kirkwood. 113pp $22.95

·         Attending the Dying: a handbook of practical guidelines. Megory Anderson. 109pp $23.95

·         Lay Pastoral Worker’s Hospital Handbook: tending the spiritual needs of patients. Neville Kirkwood. 186pp $29.95

·         Hospital Handbook on Multiculturalism and Religion: practical guidelines for health care workers. Neville Kirkwood. 130pp $23.95.

Do Christians Know how to be Spiritual?: the rise of new spirituality and the mission of the church. John Drane. 186pp. DLT, UK. $51.00.

The search for meaningful community is central to contemporary concern with spirituality. So, why are people not drawn towards the communities found in Christian churches? Is there more the Christian churches can do to reach out to spiritual seekers? Drane explores what an effective church might need to look like for the postmodern culture of the 21st century. “Church leaders need to ask, not ‘Will we change?’but ‘Are we willing to take the initiative to become the agents of intentional change that will reflect and grow out of the values of the Gospel?’”

The Little Book of Trauma Healing: when violence strikes and community security is threatened. Carolyn Yoder. 90pp. Good Books, US. $16.95.

Yoder addresses communities caught in cycles of victimhood and/or violence: those of who have been traumatised by terrorists or natural disasters, by unsafe and ongoing occupation or oppression. She looks at breaking free to safety, taking risks successfully and recognising our interdependence.

Also available in this series:

·         Little Book of Restorative Justice – Howard Zehr

·         Little Book of Conflict Transformation – John Paul Lederach

·         Little Book of Biblical Justice – Chris Marshall.

Please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery.

Today’s New International Version Bible: timeless truth in today's language. 1170pp hbk & audio CD. Zondervan, US. $36.99.

The TNIV is the new translation that features uncompromising reliability, the clarity of today's language,   and the heritage of the popular NIV translation. It combines the latest Biblical scholarship with pinpoint accuracy and easy accessibility.

This edition includes an audio CD of the story of Jesus' passion from John’s Gospel.

Wisdom from the Monastery: The Rule of St. Benedict for everyday life. Patrick Barry, Richard Yeo, Kathleen Norris. 127pp Liturgical Press, US. $38.95.

The Rule of St Benedict, written 1500 years ago, has proved to be one of the most timeless, influential and lasting of all texts. Its realism about human character, its extraordinary practical wisdom and its original recipe for creating a work/life balance have made it famous way beyond the monastic communities whose lives it has shaped for centuries. Today many secular people are finding that the Rule makes sense of their lives too.

Here is a contemporary translation of the Rule of St. Benedict and short reflections on the seven basic elements of Benedictine spirituality.

Also by Kathleen Norris: Cloister Walk $34.99. An intimate glimpse of the cloistered life in modern times.

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