Bøger af Carole McDonnell

Do you want your spiritual life to be more productive? Do you feel as if New Age practices get you better benefits than Christian prayers? Do you feel as if you are not quite getting the instructions right and are somehow missing the mark? Do you believe that either Christianity is failing you or that you are failing Christianity? Are you tempted to leave the ancient paths of Christianity and to find other more productive, and efficient spiritual help? Or, do you think that there is no difference between Christianity and New Age practices?There are definitely similarities and differences between the Law of Attraction and the Christian Faith Walk. As it is with the various currencies throughout the world, so it is with spiritual currencies, spiritual truths, and spiritual wisdom. Thieves never counterfeit bad or unreal things; they only counterfeit the good and the real. The only way to truly discern the similarities and differences between the Law of Attraction and the Christian Faith Walk is to truly know the Bible. Not someone's interpretation of the Bible. Not some denominational doctrine. Not a trendy pop culture belief. The Bible.To the best of my ability, I want to show that the Judeo-Christian Scriptures do promise blessings, wonder, and supernatural help. And we must do what God commands and believe and speak God's word in order to see these blessings, wonders, and supernatural help in our lives. The most important aspect of the kingdom is that the kingdom will take care of you if you follow the rules of the kingdom and seek first the kingdom of God. This book is written to help the reader examine himself and his obedience to the conditional promises given in God's word. In order to help self-examination, I've filled this book with questions we should prayerfully ask ourselves. I hope this book will be a blessing to Christians of all denominations and spiritual maturity.

Bible-believers are well-aware of that, and we consciously strive to make our hearts pure. And yet, deceptions and self-delusions persist in our subconscious. And often these deceptions occur when we interpret Bible stories. Throughout the generations, false teachings have veiled God's words from us. The reason for these veils of misunderstandings are many: adherence to denominational doctrine, not searching out the scripture for ourselves, lack of education, and human sinfulness. Most Christians will agree that racism, sexism, and social class has affected Christian doctrines throughout the centuries. But we often believe that we are in a generation that is finally freed from false interpretation of Scripture. However, this is not true. Many preachers and Bible teachers still turn Bible stories into simplistic "good guy/bad guy" stories based on subtle racism, xenophobia, sexism, and societal or class issues. Certain Bible characters are either treated with extreme disdain or with such glowing praise that a listener wonders if the Bible hasn't been reduced to a book of sacred cows and scapegoats. It's bad enough that many Bible readers often judge the numerous prostitutes and divorced women who turn up in the Bible, often ignoring the historical fact that the ancient Israelites generally had no place for poor widows or for women who had been cast out by their husbands. Readers are often harder on these women than the Bible prophets are because the Bible writers understood their own culture. These aren't simplistic "good guy/bad guy" stories. Many people, for instance, often judge the numerous prostitutes and divorced women that turn up in the Bible. They are often harder on these women than the Bible prophets are. The rigidity, dishonesty, and facile judgmentalism we encounter in Bible studies turns many Christians - new and mature - away from the Church. Christianity is not simply a "moral" religion which tries to lay down the law of good and evil. It is a way that shows people that even the good are flawed. Reading a Bible study in which we can understand or not easily dismiss someone like Potiphar's wife, or Cain or would open our hearts to others. We have had too many men, too many powerful, too many rich, too many secure people interpreting Scripture for us and we have swallowed their interpretations without thinking. Scapegoats in Bible studies come in two wide categories: those people we dislike because they were in opposition to one of God's people whom we have raised to the place of "sacred cow." This kind of scapegoat is a scapegoat by association because if a sacred cow is created, then those who "oppose" him must necessarily be considered evil. This category of scapegoats includes people such as Hagar, Michal, and Job's wife. The other kind of scapegoating is much subtler. These Bible characters are usually people who have truly done something reprehensible and evil. Thus, on the one hand, they really should be disliked. Yet, the scorn and dislike heaped upon them seem a bit excessive when God's loving grace and other characters in the Bible are studied. Often the character's evil is very like our own but because we have so demonized them we cannot see our similarity to them. One of the major purposes of the Bible is to show humanity its sin, its lack of faith and lack of love. It was not written as a fairytale with good and bad characters. Creating Bible studies which seem to be done by rote or traditional patriarchal interpretation leads to writing that is judgmental.

The Holy Bible is full of Bible characters whose sufferings often mirror those of modern readers. Using Bible stories and over fifty Bible personnages, the author shows the human aspects of suffering and what could be learned from the sufferings of Bible sinners and saints. This little book is a good addition to Bible study discussion groups of all ages.

Struggling with grief, her impoverished life, and a needy family, Jamaican-American Denise Higgins accepts a job opportunity as a sober companion. Her job is simple: keep the wealthy French-Korean Ben Moreau away from drugs and his druggie friends. She is also to report back to his parents - something Ben is not aware of and would not appreciate. Ben Moreau, despite being three years Denise's junior, proves to be far more alluring than she ever thought possible. Not only is he gorgeous with an ever so charming personality, he is also generous and willing to befriend her so long as he can have her loyalty. Following her heart may only bring her grief, and ignoring it is certain to because while Denise is a staunch Bible reader and seer of visions, Ben is a jaded profligate surrounded by drug-taking friends. Denise has more than a few hurdles to overcome. Least of which are Ben's money, Ben's ability to manipulate her, her own growing infatuation with him, a shared ongoing secret between Ben and his friends and an ancient curse that hangs over Ben's family line. Her destiny is interwoven with Ben's, and in this bittersweet story that follows the spiritual development of cynical but sensitive Denise and contemplative but loving Ben, that destiny will be sorely-tested. Their backgrounds could not be more different, both in culture and background as his wealthy Korean and French proprieties conflict with her poor Jamaican Christian upbringing. But the prejudices of the well-to-do, and of Christian parents and pagan friends will challenge Denise's expectations and what she believes about herself. Together with Ben, and with his sweet wit and selfish but kind heart, these lovers will grow to discover a fuller and richer life.

This collection of published stories by novelist Carole McDonnell bring together multicultural concerns, spirituality, and speculative fiction. The fantastical elements in these tales range from contemporary worlds, to days of courtly love, to fairytales and to worlds not yet discovered. Carole McDonnell is a Jamaican-American writer of Christian, speculative fiction, and multicultural stories. She is the author of Wind Follower, which was nominated for the Clives Staples award for Christian speculative, and The Constant Tower, among other books. The stories in the UPDATED kindle and paperback collection include newer stories that were not included in the Audible recording. Review from Marvin Katzoff: These short stories are one terrific "read!" Whatever the setting for each story, Carol McDonnell (one of our most gifted authors) manages to imbue each of them with a sense of humanity and compassion that shines through on every page. You'll love them! I especially enjoyed "As in the Days of Noah," which builds terrific suspense in its story of a man on his wedding day, who comes to realize that something ominous may be about to occur to all of us; "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," about a knight returning home to his beloved wife, who's joined by a spirit; and "Housewarming," a lighthearted tale of a harried hostess who has to deal with a pesky ghost at her dinner party (don't you just hate when ghosts show up uninvited?) This wonderfully humorous tale clearly shows that having a ghost hanging around a dinner party doesn't exactly help a harried hostess - especially when he turns out to be a demon! Fortunately our heroine knows how to handle a pesky spirit. "So Far," great story about a man who doesn't appreciate his wonderful wife due to his desire for the "other girl." As the story is related in the second person of "you" rather than the first or third, it enables the reader to more readily identify with the lead character. The decree that each family should have only one child reminded me of China; and the baby girls being killed reminded me of India and other poor nations where baby girls are often put to death. "Lingua Franca" - interesting perspective on how what we would consider a "gift" - the ability to hear and speak - is seen by Mist as a threat to her way of life. Give new meaning to the term "cut throat." "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" - wonderful story. "The Gleaners" - nice to see spirits who want to help the starving inhabitants of a poor village. I like how it shows the power of forgiveness at the end (even with such a villain). "The People of the Dark Mirror" - an interesting parable on segregation, and how people can't stand to see the evil in themselves. Meat For the Journey -- Wonderfully spooky story, with Father Giorgiou trying to save the soul of the dying Louise. Changeling -- This story is a classic, beautifully showing what jealousy and greed can do to families, even royal ones

This collection of published stories by novelist Carole McDonnell -- author of the acclaimed multicultural Christian fantasy novels Wind Follower and The Constant Tower-- brings together multicultural concerns, spirituality, and speculative fiction. The fantastical elements in these tales range from contemporary worlds to alternate worlds, from Europe to Africa to worlds yet to come. Crusaders amid spiritual battles and courtly love are side by side with African fairies, the non-verbal inhabitants of a non-verbal world, a dying old Jamaican witch, and Asian princes.In this multicultural age, fantasy and supernatural stories are joined to stories about spiritual journeys in our own world and beyond.

Although it is not entirely to her liking, grief-stricken Satha, a dark-skinned woman from a poor Theseni clan weds young Loic, the wealthy Doreni son of the king's First Captain. Loic, graced with ability to see into the hearts and minds of others, begins to help Satha overcome her sorrows. Despite coming from different tribes, they begin to forge a life together. But when Satha's own compassion is used against her and a treacherous enemy contrives to dishonor her in Loic's absence, Loic's love turns to anger and disgust. Embittered, Loic must still avenge his honor and Satha's and he sets out on a journey that brings despair as well as spiritual discovery. Battling him are the Arkhai, the spirits of the land who know his quest will lead him toward the God whom they have usurped. After his departure, Satha is kidnapped, sold into slavery and learns, first hand, how cruel the pioneering Angleni tribe can be. Both face great hardship, danger and anguish apart, but with the Creator's aid there remains hope they will be reunited and heal the love the world has torn asunder.

Sickly fifteen year old Prince Psal, the son of the nature-blessed warrior-king Nahas, should have been named Crown Prince of all Wheel Clan lands. A priest-physician like his friend Ephan, Psal lacks a warrior's heart, yet he desires to earn Nahas's respect and become a clan chief. If he cannot do this, he must escape his clan altogether. But his love for Cassia, the daughter of his father's enemy, and his own weaknesses work against him. When war comes, Psal defends Ktwala and her daughter Mahari, wronged by Nahas, and speaks out against the atrocities his clan commits, further jeopardizing his future. And now the mysterious towers that keep humans safe from the Creator's ancient curse are rebelling. A prophecy exists-not that Psal believes such matters-of three great ones who will find the Constant Tower and break the power of the third moon. Could Psal, Ephan, and Mahari be those great ones? Psal must risk losing his father's respect to find his destiny, and with his friends face the dangers of the unmaking night to find the Constant Tower and save all of humanity."Carole McDonnell is a first-class world-builder. A unique, powerhouse epic, The Constant Towers is a treasure trove of great characters, compelling cultural details and political machinations, all lovingly detailed in evocative prose. Yay!" - Stefan Petrucha, author Dead Mann Walking